Three things to know

The protection and safe-keeping of your personal financial data is an important issue.  To date, based on the frequency of theft of sensitive consumer financial information, it seems fair to say the current methods are inadequate.  Even as online purchasing has soared, the methods of protecting financial information have lagged.  Is Blockchain the solution to protecting consumer financial information?  The article lays out a solid case why online retailers and companies that have databases of customer information should be seriously considering Blockchain for cyber security. The Blockchain: Ending Data Hacks

Toyota Financial Services was the first auto financier join R3, as it quickly recognized the value of using Blockchain in auto finance. Toyota believes that Blockchain will increase transparency, increase efficiency, and lower costs.  Blockchain can deliver those benefits and more, including VIN tracking and ownership verification.  The benefits are clear, though adoption is slow.  These same benefits would also improve the auto insurance industry. Perhaps the next collaboration will be among auto lenders and auto insurers. We’ll see. How is Blockchain set to revolutionize the auto finance industry? 

This week the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) published a paper that takes steps toward helping companies that are implementing Blockchain to understand the potential regulatory implications.  The paper highlights considerations of implementing Blockchain, covers a long list of possible uses, and for each poses a set of questions that can be asked. FINRA is seeking comments on the considerations, which may be submitted through the end of 1Q17.  FINRA Seeks Comment on New Report on the Potential Implications of Blockchain

Weekly Blockchain

Financial Services

7 regulatory challenges facing blockchain
Blockchain could save investment banks up to $12 billion a year: Accenture

Fintech Steemit Migrating Servers to Amazon Unveils Ambitious Blockchain Roadmap

Major banks develop small business blockchain solution

Blockchain: Securities market infrastructure players in the contra-…

Here’s how banks can save big with blockchain

Seven Major Banks Collaborate on a Blockchain-Based Trade Finance Project 

Healthcare

Top 5 Medtech Trend Predictions for 2017
7 Healthcare Trends For 2017
How AI and blockchain are driving precision medicine in 2017
IBM Watson Health Announces Collaboration to Study the Use of Blockchain Technology for …
Bringing Moore’s Law to US healthcare – huge IT opportunities
How Patientory uses blockchain to keep data secure and help connect patients 

Energy

Mercuria introduces blockchain to oil trade with ING, SocGen

Global

Government urged to test blockchain’s potential

Sources: Deutsche Bank Joins Venture to Offer Blockchain Products

Brexit Blues: Why Dublin is Turning into a Haven for Blockchain

Blockchain To Run Welfare Show, Finland May Set Example

Reserve Bank of India Successfully Tests Blockchain Technology

China Ledger White Paper Outlines Industry Blockchain Standards

Blockchain could be coming to Alipay

Blockchain Payments Platform OKLink Launches in Vietnam
China’s Biggest Blockchain Startup Will Release New Tech in 2017

Blockchain Could Help the Middle East Leapfrog into the Digital Age 

Government

Democratizing data: why the public sector is banking on blockchain

Homeland Security to Use Blockchain in Tracking Goods & People Globally

FTC’s Fintech Forum to Focus on Blockchain Technology 

Uses and Applications

Blockchain Use Cases – From Trump to Shakira!

Waves Platform Implements New Blockchain Scalability Approaches

6 Incredible Smart Data for Blockchain Smart Contracts

Patent – A System for Exchanging Value Across Various Cryptocurrency Blockchains

Blockchain and IoT – Re-architecting core and edges

Cryptocurrency specialists Blockchain and Imperial College London launch Digital Asset Research …

WISeKey and Lykke to Integrate Cybersecurity into Blockchain Applications 

Thought Leadership

Why Blockchain Will Trump Populism

The Blockchain Matters More than the President

The DTCC, SWIFT and Blockchain’s 2017 Tipping Point

Blockchain Technology: What Will Be Its Biggest Bang?

The Blockchain ‘Bullies’: Truth, Trolling and Bitcoin Uncensored’s Big Short

Op-Ed: Blockchain – Innocent Until Proven Guilty

‘Blockchain’ May Fail Banks, But Open Software Won’t

Don Tapscott Predicts “Blockchain Davos” at World Economic Forum

Let’s Talk Smart Contracts as Blockchain Technology Lab Opens in NYC

Blockchain: what is it and what does it mean for development?
Seven Industries That Blockchain Will Disrupt in 2017

University of Pennsylvania: Blockchain’s Biggest Challenge is Security

The One Industry That Stands to Gain the Most from Blockchain?

The Blockchain is Still Waiting for Its Web. Here is a Blueprint

Blockchain: cheap, fast and accurate (but consumes a huge amount of energy)

How to Invest in The Institutional Revolution of Blockchain

Demystifying Blockchain
Blockchain Transformations at Davos

WISeKey Cybersecurity Davos Roundtable Debates “Blockchain” and Launches the First IoT Book