At World Economic Forum 2023 in Davos, Switzerland, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind catches up with Avery Dennison market development manager Neil Hay who describes how the $8B multinational enterprise uses blockchain to provide atma.io, a cloud service offering that helps the global giant provide supply chain transparency to some of the largest consumer goods companies in the world (and their customers).

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/how-8b-multinational-avery-dennison-leverages-blockchain-across-its-supply-chain/

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGjV6Z1DEIQ

How the $8B Multinational Avery Dennison Leverages Blockchain Across its Supply Chain

There are two types of cryptocurrency exchanges in the cryptocurrency world; centralized exchanges (CEX) and decentralized exchanges (DEX). Both models have their pros and cons and while at World Economic Forum 2023 in Davos, Switzerland, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind caught up with Dylan Peters and Michael Callahan, the Chief Business Development Officer and Vice President of Marketing at Deepwaters; an exchange that is neither fish nor foul. Deepwaters has some of the operational features of a centralized exchange but unlike most CEXes (and more in DEX-like fashion) never takes control of traders' currencies (fiat or crypto). This hybrid model, according to Peters and Callahan offers crypto traders the best of both worlds.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/wake-ftx-deepwaters-claims-its-hybrid-exchange-best-both-cex-and-dex-worlds/

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG_rHdIU-64

In the Wake of FTX, Deepwaters Claims its Hybrid Exchange Is the Best of Both the CEX and DEX Worlds

The way Deloitte Blockchain Practice Leader Rob Massey tells the story, there weren't a whole lot of enterprises interested in distributed ledger technology a decade ago. But despite Deloitte's reputation for working with enterprises, the consultancy took on smaller blockchain projects and startups because it had an idea of blockchain's disruptive potential and wanted to be in position for when enterprise interest in DLT started to ramp. Ten years later, Massey knows of very few enterprises that aren't involved with blockchain in some capacity and Deloitte has been helping many of them to jumpstart their DLT strategies.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/after-10-years-working-blockchain-deloitte-position-help-enterprises-dlt-plans/

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hrMMT344pU

After 10 Years of Working With Blockchain, Deloitte is In Position To Help Enterprises on DLT Plans

Judging by the incredibly stoic demeanor of Yulia Parkhomenko, one of the directors within Ukraine's Ministry of Digital Transformation, you would never guess that she and her colleagues are forging ahead with their plans to revolutionize Ukraine's government services while bombs are randomly falling around them and electricity is only available for four hours on a good day. But with an eye towards a fully digitally transformed country (a vision that comes straight from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky), and in a demonstration of true grit, that's exactly what she and her team are doing and they are moving at a lightning pace. Also, as Parkhomenko explains to Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Ukraine plans to run its first Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) pilot in 2024.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/amid-daily-bombings-ukraines-plans-transform-government-services-blockchain-surge-forward/

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zJhVxtlxXQ

Amid Daily Bombings, Ukraine's Plans to Transform Government Services with Blockchain Surge Forward

Hedera is one of several Layer 1 public Distributed Ledgers talking to world and business leaders at World Economic Forum 2023 about the benefits and use cases for blockchain technology. But, according to Swirlds Labs Chief Marketing Officer Christian Hasker, enterprises are typically concerned with a different set of blockchain issues than are startups and smaller blockchain project developers. Swirlds Labs is the research and development arm of the multi-party coalition that's responsible for Hedera's technology and adoption. According to Hasker, similar to other technologies that enterprises include in their application stacks, scalability, performance, and cost should rank pretty high as issues when considering distributed ledger technology (DLT). 

Disclosure: As reflected by its coverage of other layer one public ledgers, BlockchainJournal.com endeavors to be a fair, independent, and unbiased observer of the blockchain industry. It should be noted that, at the time this video was published, Swirlds Labs was an underwriter of Blockchain Journal.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/hedera-describes-criteria-enterprises-should-consider-when-investigating-blockchain/

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpmfN0Ou9r0

Hedera Describes Criteria That Enterprises Should Consider When Investigating Blockchain Technology

When it comes to working with distributed ledgers and cryptocurrencies, one of the most significant barriers to enterprise adoption is the significant regulatory uncertainty that enshrouds the blockchain industry. This is especially true of the United States where lawmakers, regulators, and the industry have been gridlocked over a multitude of wildly opposing viewpoints. Meanwhile, as the regulatory perimeter shifts continue to shift, enterprises are stuck in a Catch-22; Either move forward with their blockchain pilots and run the risk of irritating officials at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or other American agencies. Or, risk disruption by putting their projects on hold until the legalities of working with blockchain are less ambiguous.

While at DC Blockchain Summit 2023, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind caught up with CFTC Commissioner Summer Mersinger to ask her what she thinks enterprises should do while the wheels of legislation turn at their typical, glacially slow pace. According to Mersinger, the best thing for enterprises to do is come into her office for a chat. Mersinger says she has an open-door policy and room on her calendar for those companies seeking legislative therapy.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/cftc-commissioner-mersinger-invites-nervous-enterprises-come-chat-about-blockchain/

CFTC Commissioner Mersinger Invites Nervous Enterprises To Come Chat About Blockchain Regulations

While at the Outer Edge LA 2023 Conference in Los Angeles, Blockchain Journal technical analyst Bob Reselman interviewed the co-founder and CEO of Decentralized Pictures, Leo Matchett. Decentralized Pictures was founded on the principle that blockchain can be used to democratize the process of creating and approving ideas (everything from scripts to talent choices) for TV shows and movies. 

As opposed to testing piloting production ideas with small audiences, Decentralized Pictures makes it possible for Hollywood studios to test market ideas with larger audiences by using blockchain to financially incentivize reviewers via smart contract-managed compensation. Calling it the "opposite of crowdfunding," Matchett says studios can get a massive amount of feedback on audience resonation before making huge investments in production. 

The system works for the financially incentivized reviewers as well because of how they're scored based on their review history. As a reviewer's score improves, so too might their opportunities to derive more income from the platform.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to: https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/decentralized-pictures-looks-democratize-hollywoods-ideations-blockchain/

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/R4MZOANHolI

Decentralized Pictures Looks To Democratize Hollywood's Ideations With Blockchain

Here in the halls of Blockchain Journal's virtual offices, we've come up with a name for an unsolved blockchain identity problem for which no scalable, technological solution exists as far as we know. We call it "The William Shatner Problem" because, back in July 2020 when a bunch of William Shatner-approved NFTs were posted for sale on Wax.io's NFT marketplace, there was no technological identity standard in place such that buyers could trace any so-called William Shatner NFTs back to the actual William Shatner himself. 

As far as Blockchain Journal can tell, this important element of transactional provenance remains technologically unsolved which in turn means that less scalable non-standard workarounds must be applied when such provenance matters in order to avoid fraud (for example, when purchasing digital assets from a seller that's truly authorized to sell those assets). Those workarounds, which do work but are not inherent to blockchain technology, are currently the basis for much of the trust in the world of blockchain today.

So, when Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind was invited to interview the co-founder of Wax.io William Quigley (who also co-founded Tether) at the NFT.NYC 2023 Conference, he jumped at the opportunity to see if maybe the technological solution existed but was evading the BCJ team. 

According to Quigley, as far as the decentralized ethos of blockchain is concerned, it still remains an unsolved problem. In the interview, Quigley says "One of the challenges with NFTs is understanding the provenance of the item because, while anyone can go on and buy a William Shatner NFT, they would rightly want to know 'Well, did William Shatner actually approve this? Is this really his?'" 

Quigley also points out that technologically speaking, this problem tracks closely to the identity problem that was solved in the Web 1.0 era by Certificate Authorities saying "There are third parties that validate that a company is who they say it is like Verisign for example." But reliance on such central authorities or registries to establish such trust is contradictory to the decentralized religion of distributed ledger technology (DLT). As such Quigley also pointed out that "The goals of blockchain [aren't] where [they need] to be. There's still some trust you have to place in the system. You hear 'trustless' a lot but there are very few things that are trustless. Decentralization is a path and not something that someone has fully done yet." And until standards for technologically assuring (a) the authenticity of an identity and (b) the provenance of digital assets that are connected to that identity are developed, Quigley says "non-blockchain forensics" will be a part of the buyer-beware process. 

Towards the end of the interview, Quigley tells David that NFTs have all sorts of magical properties and applications that are not widely understood and that the buying and selling of digital art, music, and video are just the first of many applications to come.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/decentralization-trust-still-not-fully-solved-blockchain-says-cofounder-tether-and-wax/

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8y_jrQMmUc

Decentralization of Trust Still Not Fully Solved by Blockchain says Co-Founder of Tether and Wax

During an after-hours event on the eve of Consensus 2023 in Austin, Texas, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind speaks with Pascal Gauthier, CEO of Ledger, and Brandon Russell, CEO of Etana Custody about a newly forged partnership between the two companies. 

With products like its line of nanodevices, Ledger is widely known in cryptocurrency circles as a physical "cold wallet" provider that offers hardware-based solutions for the self-custodying of cryptocurrency. But Gauthier takes a broader view of Ledger as a security company that also offers management and governance solutions to businesses where no single individual can or should have full control over an organization's cryptocurrency reserves. 

Meanwhile, few if any enterprises are going to self-custody cryptocurrency reserves in any significant amounts. Much the same way enterprises custody their cash and other assets with enterprise-grade custodians such as banks, Etana claims to offer safe and compliant custody of digital assets to large organizations. However, regardless of where exactly an organization's digital assets are custodied, a management and governance layer of the sort offered by Ledger is still necessary. Thus, the partnership between the two companies brings together the security technology provided by Ledger and the custodian services offered by Etana to provide greater security and governance to digital assets held by their mutual enterprise clients.

In the interview, Gauthier explains that for enterprises with significant crypto assets, it is important to have a governance layer on top of those assets to ensure that there are clear rules of engagement when it comes to who, within the organization, can access and spend those assets. Russell further explains that the role of Etana is to handle the trade lifecycle of the assets, with the goal of mitigating counterparty risks and ensuring that assets are safely kept for the benefit of the underlying clients.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/ledger-ceo-gauthier-and-etana-ceo-russell-discuss-enterprise-crypto-wallets-and-custody

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlbFcycaGKM

Ledger CEO Gauthier and Etana CEO Russell Discuss Enterprise Crypto Wallets and Custody Services

Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews Adam Lowe, the Chief Product Officer for Arculus, an exhibitor at Consensus 2023, about its digital asset and digital identity platform that allows enterprises to enable employees and users with a single smart card that stores their cryptocurrency keys, their application credentials (eg: Microsoft 365) and even their building entry credentials. The same smart card can even be used as a payments card (Arculus already supplies smart cards to many credit card-issuing financial institutions). 

Lowe explains that smart cards have been protecting keys for decades and have never been penetrated. Arculus claims to be the first to put payments, FIDO keys, WebAuth keys, and crypto-keys all on the same card using the same secure on-card microcontroller. Lowe highlights that enterprises are interested in the solution because no one wants to manage multiple systems to handle each of these different use cases.

David asks Lowe if the card and the infrastructure behind it includes all the technology to manage the multi-party permission structure that enterprises might want to apply to the way they involve multiple managers and executives in the cryptocurrency custody process.  Lowe responds that such permissions should be managed with smart contracts and that Arculus can then integrate with those smart contracts. However, other solutions — for example, one that's emerging from a partnership between Ledger and Etana Custody that was announced at Consensus 2023 — are launching in an effort to help enterprises with such permissions management. Even so, the consolidation of all those capabilities into a single smart card is, in Blockchain Journal's estimation, where things are heading. Even from an employee's point of view, nobody wants to carry three or four physical security tokens when they can just have one. 

Toward the end of the interview, Lowe explains some potential consumer applications: the card could be used as a secure digital identity to access things like email, social media, and banking. He also mentions that the card could be used for government applications such as voting, health records, and digital passports.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
/interview/arculus-offers-enterprises-crypto-key-storage-payments-2fa-system-access-and-more-one/

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLiYcuiVV0w

Arculus Offers Enterprises Crypto Key Storage, Payments, 2FA System Access and More on One Smartcard

Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews Miles Paschini, CEO of FV Bank, at Consensus 2023, a blockchain and cryptocurrency conference in Austin, Texas. FV Bank aims to provide an enterprise-grade custody solution to organizations and institutions seeking a reliable, regulation-compliant, and structured way to operate in the digital asset space. 

For those new to the terminology of the blockchain industry,  a custodian is the entity that controls the private keys to digital assets. But simply holding those keys is not enough. Also of import are the legal and regulatory frameworks under which custodians of any assets — digital and non-digital — must operate (although FV Bank specializes in the custodianship of digital assets). 

In the interview, David asks how FV Bank can promise compliance in an environment where there's a dearth of laws regarding crypto and subsequently, a great deal of regulatory uncertainty. Paschini disagrees, saying that both banking and custodianship are very well-understood from a regulatory point of view. For example, know your customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations are well-defined, and the real issue is that some subsections of the blockchain industry have decided to ignore many of those existing laws. That said, Paschini concedes that FV Bank would like regulators to clarify certain aspects of the market, such as what is a security or commodity in the context of digital assets, and to define more market-friendly tax regulations around crypto.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/compliance-is-key-factor-enterprise-choice-crytpocapable-custodians-says-fv-bank-ceo

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsQzuuJwaHo

Compliance is Key Factor in Enterprise Choice of Crytpo-Capable Custodians Says FV Bank CEO

According to Blockchain Journal's research, the number one use case for blockchain technologies across enterprises and global brands (based on several projects) involves using NFTs (non-fungible tokens) for improved customer engagement and loyalty. Meanwhile, the second most common use case is the acceptance of cryptocurrency payments for goods and services.

While Italian supercar manufacturer Ferrari has experimented with NFTs in the past, it has now, in 2023, announced that it will also accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment for its cars. Like many other enterprises that allow for crypto payments, the company has chosen to use BitPay as its processor of those payments.

In this video, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews Mark Venables, founder of The Crypto Merchant, to better understand what the business rationale and motivations are for enterprises like Ferrari to accept cryptocurrency (in addition to fiat currency) as a form of payment.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to: https://www.blockchainjournal.com/interview/supercar-maker-ferrari-joins-growing-list-global-brands-accept-cryptocurrency-payments

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkPAP-JFJTU

Supercar Maker Ferrari Joins Growing List of Global Brands that Accept Cryptocurrency Payments

In this Blockchain Journal podcast episode, BCJ editor-in-chief David Berlind and Customer Journey Analyst Sophie Maxx Waldman discuss the growing trend of global brands integrating NFTs into customer engagement and loyalty programs, moving beyond the perception of NFTs solely as collectibles like Bored Apes or JPEGs. Sophie highlights how brands such as Nike and Michelin are leveraging NFTs to enhance customer experiences and build communities.

The conversation delves into Michelin's unexpected entry into the NFT space with the launch of the Michelin 3xplorer Club (pronounced “Explorer”). Sophie commends Michelin for taking the leap and creating a Web3 strategy to engage up to 5000 customers with its first mint. However, that mint topped out at 2400 NFTs, each of which theoretically grants the holder access to valuable perks and experiences.

The discussion also touches on the challenges Michelin faced during the NFT minting process, including multiple launch delays. Sophie outlines the benefits, including ownership of a piece of Michelin's history, access to unique experiences such as races and Michelin-starred restaurants, and participation in digital experiences.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/analysis/blockchain-journal-reviews-launch-michelin-explorer-nft-program/

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQISc3L2kCk

Blockchain Journal Reviews Launch of Michelin "Explorer" NFT Program

In this episode of the Blockchain Journal podcast, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind explores the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain with guest Casper Labs CEO Mrinal Manohar.  As more people become personally exposed to the productivity gains that can be had from offerings like ChatGPT and MidJourney (automated art and image generation), more enterprises are taking a closer look at how AI can optimize business processes and improve the bottom line. But, in its current state, AI is neither risk-free nor without potential long-term legal consequences. 

During the interview, Manohar discusses the applicability of blockchain's tamper-proof nature to the trustworthiness of artificial intelligence. As Manohar puts it, AI is a "black box," lacks transparency, and suffers from a range of governance issues not the least of which has to do with version control. According to Manohar, Blockchain can bring a certifiable and trustworthy audit trail to AI decision-making, addressing concerns related to biases, data integrity, and accountability.

So who should care among those in the world's largest enterprises where AI is already playing a role? Manohar says the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Risk Officer (CRO) are probably at the top of the list with the former bearing responsibility for technology deployments and the latter concerned with the potential for legal exposure due to the risks associated with AI.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://www.blockchainjournal.com/interview/how-blockchain-can-address-inherent-risks-artificial-intelligence

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNWC-1ZxIC8

How Blockchain Can Address the Inherent Risks in Artificial Intelligence

In this Blockchain Journal Podcast episode, host David Berlind discusses SAP's initiative to tackle one of the biggest challenges businesses have when making or receiving payments with cryptocurrency; the record-keeping and integration of everything having to do with those payments into existing business workflows and systems. David's guest for this interview is SAP Vice President of Product Management Innovation Bernhard Schweizer. 

One of the primary challenges for enterprises of all sizes is the current inability to seamlessly integrate cryptocurrency payments into back-office accounting systems which, not coincidentally, are also the systems of record when it comes to any business's compliance with government regulations (whether they're the older traditional finance regulations or ones that are just now emerging for cryptocurrency and blockchain). SAP's solution for these challenges is SAP Digital Currency Hub. 

During the interview, SAP's Schweizer gives David a demonstration of how the solution not only tracks inbound and outbound cryptocurrency payments but it also ties those payments into existing SAP accounting modules such as that for invoicing. 

During the demo, Schweizer shows how the Digital Currency Hub allows businesses can make and receive payments using stablecoins. One reason SAP is addressing this need is due to its customers' rising interest in working with cryptocurrency as a form of payment due to its faster settlement times, low transaction fees, and multi-party transparency (all of which are regarded as some of the unique value propositions of blockchain).

Schweizer's demo also showcases the platform's user interface, highlighting features like payment creation, account reconciliation, and its self-custodial wallet solution. He emphasizes the importance of stablecoins in cross-border payments, providing stability and reducing the risks of volatility associated with non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. The platform is currently in the pilot phase, with open APIs that allow easy onboarding for both SAP and non-SAP customers.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://www.blockchainjournal.com/interview/saps-digital-currency-hub-eases-pain-enterprise-crypto-payment-recordkeeping-and

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sbgoeCDidI

SAP's Digital Currency Hub Eases Pain of Enterprise Crypto Payment Record-Keeping and Compliance

Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind speaks with Deloitte Global and US Tax Blockchain and Digital Assets Leader Rob Massey about the challenges associated with enterprise cryptocurrency transactions and taxation. As the end of 2023 fast approaches, US-based businesses (and individuals) that are in some way involved with cryptocurrencies and other digital assets will face new challenges, not the least of which will be increased scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Compared to years past, Massey suggests that there's an increased likelihood that the IRS will be summoning many organizations for an “exam” of their financial records (the universally feared “IRS audit”) especially as they relate to digital assets (including cryptocurrencies) and how exactly those organizations accounted for the constantly shifting valuations of those assets relative to fiat currencies like the US dollar. For many organizations, the idea of great digital asset record keeping is easier said than done because many existing enterprise financials and ERP systems are incapable of gracefully tracking cryptocurrency payments in the same way they track flows of fiat currency (never mind the constant volatility of crypto). Nevertheless, the onus will be on organizations to make up for those shortcomings when preparing for an IRS exam, however contemporaneous their ad hoc record keeping might be.

Even more challenging; despite the IRS's increasing interest in digital asset transactions, there’s still a lack of well-publicized comprehensive guidance on how best to prepare for such an exam. According to Massey, IRS examiners might have some latitude when conducting these audits and, as a sign of cooperative intent, organizations that are invited for an exam should come prepared with an overabundance of transparency.

In the absence of guidelines, there's a compelling reason to work with Deloitte or one of the other consultancies with a longstanding global blockchain practice: They've been through enough exams with other customers (both domestically and internationally) to come up with their own guidelines for how to survive such an audit. Not surprisingly, the organizations that perform the best when the taxman comes knocking are the ones that anticipated the increased scrutiny and adjusted the record-keeping accordingly.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/2023-comes-an-end-deloitte-anticipates-greater-irs-interest-taxpayer-crypto-records

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUu-O-LSbk4

As 2023 Comes to an End, Deloitte Anticipates Greater IRS Interest in Taxpayer Crypto Records

In this video podcast interview recorded during an Institutional Digital Assets Forum event in Boston on December 4th, 2023, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind and Boston Blockchain Association (BBA) Chair Doug Mehne talk about the objectives of the BBA, why Boston makes for a great blockchain city, and challenges when it comes to blockchain regulation uncertainties.

The event was produced in partnership with the TABB Group and focused on blockchain adoption within enterprises as well as institutional investment in cryptocurrency. In the interview, Mehne highlights the three pillars of the Boston Blockchain Association: education, advocacy, and leveraging the unique Boston ecosystem on the national and international stage.

On the topic of blockchain regulation, Mehne talked about how regulatory certainty is one of the keys to fostering innovation. He noted how jurisdictions with ever-evolving crypto regulations such as India, Germany, and Singapore, are attracting significant investments while such investments are muted in the US where federal and state regulations have largely been gridlocked. According to Mehne, the BBA is looking to foster a productive dialogue with US regulators to promote responsible blockchain adoption.

As for the city of Boston, Mehne argues that the town's unique blend of world-class universities, traditional finance firms, and a vibrant technological startup scene across various industries, make for a unique ecosystem relative to other global blockchain destinations. 

The interview touches on the challenge of explaining blockchain to individuals with preconceived notions and the negative headlines surrounding cryptocurrency. Mehne emphasized the need to showcase responsible use cases and pointed to some upcoming BBA initiatives designed to further drive adoption strategies.

The full transcript text of this video can be found at 
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/boston-blockchain-associations-doug-mehne-regulatory-clarity-is-key-blockchain-innovation

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEjK_1gZalQ

Boston Blockchain Association's Doug Mehne: Regulatory Clarity is Key to Blockchain Innovation in US

In this podcast video interview recorded on December 4th, 2023, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind speaks with Aon Managing Director James Knox who was one of the panel discussion moderators at the Boston Institutional Digital Assets Forum's end-of-year event in Boston, Massachusetts. The discussion primarily revolved around the current trend where investment into blockchain technology is more likely to happen in international jurisdictions where there's more legal certainty than not. Knox notes that global enterprises are gravitating towards jurisdictions outside the US, such as Germany and Singapore, where there is more regulatory clarity in the digital asset space. Investments, as well as activities like the adoption of blockchain as a platform, are being influenced by the still-evolving yet crypto-permissive guidelines offered by legislation and regulators in these and other international jurisdictions.

The conversation covers specific international examples such as Project Guardian from the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in the European Union. These and other government-led initiatives are essentially welcome mats to blockchain innovation, encouraging early adopting enterprises to set up their operations in these regions. Knox emphasized that regulatory certainty extends beyond investments to broader blockchain activities, including tokenization, stablecoins, and NFTs. Regulator interest in stablecoins is growing due to their efficiency and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional financial instruments based on US dollars.

The interview concludes with insights into Aon's role in the blockchain space. James highlights Aon's provision of consulting advice and insurance to companies involved in digital assets and blockchain. The insurance coverage includes protection against cyber threats, theft of digital assets, and other risks. Overall, the interview underscores the importance of regulatory clarity in shaping the global landscape of blockchain investments and activities, with Aon playing a crucial role in providing risk management solutions for companies navigating the ever-evolving blockchain space.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/aon-managing-director-knox-lack-regulatory-clarity-leads-blockchain-investments-outside

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJYhZ1CsOnE

Aon Managing Director Knox: Lack of Regulatory Clarity Leads to Blockchain Investments Outside of US

TruckCoinSwap (TCS) is a fintech and blockchain-as-a-service startup that provides freight invoice settlement to the transportation industry that, as a whole, appears to shippers as an enterprise. For truckers and freight companies critical to national security, the current options for freight invoice settlement involve egregiously burdensome payment terms and high costs. 

In the worst cases, trucking companies must wait as many as six months to get paid. It's a great example of where the utility of blockchain-as-a-platform (for example, its 24/7 availability and fast settlement times) can be very disruptive to a legacy industry in a positive way. To find out more about how exactly TCS works, Blockchain Journal's editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews TCS co-founder and CEO Todd Ziegler as well as Gabriella "Gabby" Kusz, an advisor to the startup. 

Among other things, David learns about how TCS uses blockchain technology and an ERC-20 token to facilitate faster and less burdensome settlement of freight invoices thereby making it possible for truckers to keep gas in their tanks and food in the bellies of their families. If there was ever an application of blockchain that could inspire lawmakers and regulators to reconsider how blockchain should be considered somewhat separately from retail crypto investment, this is certainly one of them. But not just this one example. During the interview, David and Gabby cover examples in other enterprise industries where blockchain can fuel similar forms of disruption and efficiency.

Key Takeaways: 

* Truck Coin Swap (TCS) provides a blockchain-based solution for faster and cheaper freight invoice settlement in the transportation industry.
* The current options for freight invoice settlement have long payment terms and high costs, which negatively impact small businesses in the industry.
* Real-world use cases like this are crucial for educating policymakers and changing the narrative around blockchain technology in ways that emphasize the utility of blockchain versus crypto as a retail investment instrument.
* Blockchain technology can be applied to many industries to facilitate more timely settlements and reduce the costs associated with traditional financial "rails."

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
BCJ URL:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/how-truckcoinswap-hopes-ensure-backbone-america-keeps-truckin

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deXW02Mtz3c

How TruckCoinSwap Hopes to Ensure that the Backbone of America Keeps on Truckin'

In this episode of the Blockchain Journal podcast, host Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews Pat White, the CEO and co-founder of Bitwave. They discuss the challenges companies face when integrating digital assets into their traditional accounting systems and how Bitwave can help those enterprises overcome those challenges. 

The bottom line is that, as more government organizations like the Internal Revenue Service intensify their interest in organizational digital asset recordkeeping, contemporaneously keeping track of all those blockchain-related flows with out-of-band tools like spreadsheets is just asking for trouble. Especially when it comes time for an audit (and there will be many more of those when it comes to 2023 financials). 

The conversation between David and Pat covers topics such as the integration with backend financial systems, compliance with recently updated or shifting tax regulations and guidelines like FASB, partnerships with NetSuite, and QuickBooks, the new announcement with Deloitte, and Bitwave’s acquisition of Gilded. 

Key Takeaways:

* Traditional accounting systems are not designed to handle the complexities of digital assets, such as decimal points and valuations, leading to the need for specialized solutions like Bitwave.

* Bitwave bridges the gap between traditional financial systems and the blockchain and crypto world, allowing companies to seamlessly integrate digital assets into their existing financial operations.

* Compliance with tax regulations is a critical aspect of using digital assets, and Bitwave provides the necessary tools and support to ensure accurate and efficient reporting.

* Partnerships with companies like NetSuite, QuickBooks, and Deloitte enable Bitwave to offer comprehensive solutions that meet the needs of businesses of all sizes and complexities.

* Trends in crypto adoption include the use of NFTs for customer loyalty and engagement, as well as the growing popularity of staking as a way to earn passive income on digital assets.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/what-your-erp-system-cant-handle-your-crypto-recordkeeping-and-compliance-bitwave-rescue

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-fWUGokMHw

What? Your ERP System Can't Handle Your Crypto Recordkeeping and Compliance? Bitwave to the Rescue

In this episode of the Blockchain Journal podcast, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews Shyam Nagarajan, a global partner with IBM Consulting whose focus is Blockchain and Responsible AI (Artificial Intelligence). Naturally, Nagarajan had a lot to say about the explosive growth of AI, the increasing importance of trusted data in training AI models, and the role that blockchain is uniquely qualified to play when it comes to the responsible, fair, and transparent deployment and governance of AI in the enterprise. 

David and Shyam explore the role of blockchain in ensuring data authenticity and provenance in the so-called "supply chain of AI models." But until actual management consoles and applications are put into business decision-makers' hands, the conversation borders on the theoretical instead of the practical. But IBM is looking to change that with some new application layer governance offerings that sit on top of blockchain with an eye towards ease of access and control. But overall, the conversation highlights the value of blockchain in addressing the challenges and risks associated with AI.

Key Takeaways
* The value of blockchain in the world of AI lies in its ability to ensure the trustworthiness and provenance of the data that AI relies on.
* Blockchain can be used to verify the authenticity and integrity of data used to train AI models, reducing the risks associated with data bias and tampering. 
* An AI-imbued application layer on top of blockchain can provide additional functionality and governance for ease of AI model and data management as well as third-party auditing.
* Education and awareness about AI governance are crucial for organizations to implement responsible AI practices effectively. Today, the need for AI governance is under-appreciated, and it's unclear who within the enterprise should assume the responsibility. This "don't look at me" attitude is delaying the enterprise AI governance conversation while the effects of shadow IT, where unchecked departmental AI deployments start to take root, could become irreversible at the pace things are heading.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/ibm-turns-blockchain-solve-some-ais-thorniest-problems

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xwc2pkZ3_FI

IBM Turns to Blockchain To Solve Some of AI's Thorniest Problems

In this special episode of the Blockchain Journal podcast, host David Berlind embarks on another unboxing adventure featuring a factory-dropped polo shirt from Lacoste's NFT-based customer engagement and loyalty program (better known as UNDW3 or "Underwater"). David explains how he found his way to buying a UNDW3 NFT with Ether (a.k.a. ETH, the protocol token of Ethereum) and then, in an act of "token gating," was able to use that card to gain access to exclusive benefits and customer experiences that are only available to UNDW3 NFT holders. 

Throughout 2023, David earned points in the program by going on UNDW3 missions, similar to how they completed certain journeys in Starbucks' Odyssey NFT program. But those points had nothing to do with his right to access the factory drop. Whereas members in the Odyssey program were gifted certain physical items based on points earned (be sure to watch David's unboxing of the care package he got from Starbucks), his status as a UNDW3 NFT holder only earned him the right to purchase UNDW3-branded polo shirts, sweat pants, and hoodies. David picked the least expensive of the three to purchase with his own money: the polo shirt for $125.

Come along as David rips open the box from Lacoste, discovers what's inside, and figures out how Lacoste married the physical item to a digital, augmented reality experience using the Snapchat platform.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/analysis/unboxing-first-phygital-drop-associated-lacostes-undw3-nft-customer-engagement-program

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?Frsjfr6geBw

Unboxing The First Phygital Drop Associated With Lacoste's UNDW3 NFT Customer Engagement Program

In this episode of the Blockchain Journal podcast, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind unboxes a care package from the Starbucks' Odyssey NFT-based customer loyalty and engagement program. Clad in his "My Mom Thinks I Work at Bitcoin" t-shirt (thanks Alchemy!), David first explains how the Odyssey program worked throughout 2023 (he was an active participant) and how he worked his way into a special tier of accumulated points that earned him access to the physical items in the box. 

One by one, he picks through the contents of the box, which include a Starbucks Odyssey-branded MiiR mug, a Starbucks Odyssey hoodie, a coffee passport guidebook (sort of like a wine taster's diary, but for coffee drinkers), a sticker pack featuring images of some of the NFT stamps that he earned throughout 2023, and a canvas tote bag adorned with the Starbucks Odyssey logo.

While Starbucks isn't tying these particular physical items to the NFTs themselves like other global brand enterprise programs have, David discusses Starbucks' chosen blend of the physical and digital realms (often referred to as a "phygital" strategy in blockchain circles). Starbucks came closest to this marriage when it issued large MiiR tumblers to the holders of its Siren NFT (Starbucks uses the word "Stamp" instead of "NFT"). A siren is a special type of mermaid that Starbucks has chosen as the centerpiece of its iconic logo, and each MiiR mug that the coffee house issued to Siren NFT holders bore images of the sirens on their NFTs. 

David offers insights into the Starbucks Odyssey program's mechanics throughout the unboxing, including accumulating points through various activities and tier-based benefits selection. David also notes the personal data implications of participating in such programs, noting the additional personal information, such as shipping addresses, that Starbucks could not have otherwise gathered were it not for how the Odyssey program works.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/analysis/holy-unboxing-batman-starbucks-odyssey-nft-project-wraps-2023-gifts-program-participants

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?OBStfIiLuRQ

Holy Unboxing Batman! Starbucks' Odyssey NFT Project Wraps 2023 With Gifts for Program Participants

In this interview, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews Garrett Minks, founder of RAIR Technologies. RAIR claims to offer an enterprise-grade NFT minting and marketplace solution that simultaneously serves as a digital rights management solution for gating access to video content.  

One of the most interesting aspects of RAIR's solution is that it's one of the first commercially available solutions that Blockchain Journal has seen that relies on Ethereum's ERC-4337 specification for account abstraction. Among other things, ERC-4337 allows users of a compliant service to log in with credentials (e.g., social credentials, enterprise identity management credentials, etc.) other than a cryptocurrency wallet like MetaMask. This, according to Minks, is a key user-friendly feature that will enable enterprises to onboard users who aren't very blockchain-savvy and who lack the expertise to work with cryptocurrency wallets. 

The conversation concludes with a demo of the RAIR's standard user interface. But another enterprise feature that Minks discusses is the option for private-labeling the entire solution within an enterprise's corporate branding. Not only can the designs and color schemes of the existing user interface be customized to an enterprise's liking, RAIR offers a comprehensive set of application programming interfaces (APIs) that enable enterprises to run the whole solution in a headless mode, thereby allowing organizations to integrate the platform's capabilities into their existing web or mobile applications (or bolt a front-end of their own making to RAIR's NFT and DRM infrastructure).

Key Takeaways

* RAIR Technologies provides enterprise NFT marketplace infrastructure, allowing enterprises to deploy their own NFT solutions and have full control over their data.
* Understanding the new medium of open public blockchains is crucial for enterprises looking to engage with NFTs.
* Smart accounts and account abstraction simplify the NFT experience for users and enable interoperability with a wider Web3 audience.
* DRM solutions can be used to secure digital assets and provide granular permissioning for end-user and customer access.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/rair-technologies-hopes-attract-enterprises-its-erc4337-compliant-hybrid-nftdrm-solution

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a30rBkCZlA

RAIR Technologies Hopes To Attract Enterprises to its ERC-4337 Compliant Hybrid NFT/DRM Solution

In this episode of the Blockchain Journal podcast, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews Daniela Barbosa, the executive director of the Hyperledger Foundation. They cover a wide array of Foundation-related topics, including the formation and growth of the foundation, its flagship project (Hyperledger Fabric, an open source offering that enterprises can use to launch their own public or private blockchains), some of the Foundation's other projects, and the difference between permissioned and permissionless distributed ledgers. 

From a governance point of view, David and Daniela also consider the parallels between the decentralized development and maintenance of open source software and the decentralized governance of public blockchains. With an eye toward improving the adoption of distributed ledger technologies, Daniela talks about the urgency around education and training in blockchain and the building of a commercial ecosystem. The conversation covers blockchain interoperability with existing enterprise platforms and the benefits of Java integration (particularly related to the Hyperledger Foundation's recent announcement of its Web3j project).

Key Takeaways
* The Hyperledger Foundation is the home for blockchain and blockchain-related projects at the Linux Foundation, focusing on open source and open development.
* Hyperledger Fabric is currently the most adopted permissioned distributed ledger platform globally.
* Enterprises are interested in blockchain technology for its potential to bring efficiencies to the market, such as 24/7 liquidity and decentralized identity.
* Open source and open governance are crucial for decentralized technologies, allowing for transparency, security, and collaboration.
* The Hyperledger Foundation aims to support developers, provide education and training, and foster a commercial ecosystem for enterprise blockchain adoption.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/hyperledger-open-source-blockchain-project-looks-make-enterprise-inroads-new-java

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9CWy9XdEO0

Hyperledger Open Source Blockchain Project Looks To Make Enterprise Inroads With New Java Offering

In this special edition of the Blockchain Journal Podcast, Blockchain Journal brings you a recording of a "fireside chat" involving  Boston Blockchain Association (BBA) Chair Doug Mehne and Commissioner Hester Peirce of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 

A key focus of their conversation was Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), their recent (January 2024) approval by the SEC, and the extraordinary amount of time it took for the SEC to finally clear the way for the ETFs to reach investors. At the time of publication, there were 11 such ETFs available on the public markets in the US. Peirce is regretful about the time it took and suggested that she might have taken a different approach had she known back in 2018 what she knows now. It's important to keep in mind that Peirce is one of five commissioners who vote on regulatory matters at the SEC and that she does not bear sole responsibility for the passage of any regulation at the SEC, crypto or otherwise.

Among the many topics they discuss, Peirce is keenly aware of the degree to which the lack of regulatory clarity when it comes to cryptocurrency and blockchain is causing American firms to hesitate with their innovations. She cited the ten-year period that elapsed between 2014, when ShapeShift AG first enabled crypto investors to trade certain cryptocurrencies for other cryptos, and 2023, when the SEC finally closed the books on its enforcement action against the Switerland-based company (for acting as an unregistered dealer of securities). Peirce noted how, even if it's through precedent enforcements of the sort that the SEC took against ShapeShift, ten years was too long to establish such precedents as legal guardrails for other American innovators to observe. It gave other crypto-permissive international jurisdictions an opportunity to not only establish a technological lead over the US but also to foreclose on participation by US companies. Despite her concerns, Peirce feels there is still time for the US to catch up.

An introduction from Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind precedes Blockchain Journal's special presentation of the BBA's fireside chat.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/us-sec-commissioner-peirce-says-its-not-too-late-us-catch-blockchain-innovation

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slFqO_JL-CM

For information about the Boston Blockchain Association, please visit them at:
Web: https://bostonblockchainassociation.com/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boston-blockchain-association
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bostonblockchainassociatio5811

US SEC Commissioner Peirce: International Blockchain Innovation Comes at a "Cost To US Economy"

In an interview conducted at the NFT.NYC conference in New York, David Berlind engages in a conversation with Amy Kalnoki, the COO and co-founder of Bitwave. Bitwave is essentially an accounting solution that bridges the gap between an organization's traditional financial recordkeeping systems (e.g., NetSuite, Quickbooks, etc.) and its implementations of blockchain. The net effect, Kalnoki claims, is an automated consolidation of all financials (fiat and cryptocurrency) into one single source of truth in a way that's designed to simplify both financial recordkeeping and tax compliance. This arrangement overcomes the inability of traditional financial systems to cope with the complexities of cryptocurrency recordkeeping. 

Creating a single source of truth when public blockchains are involved is a highly nuanced process. Different organizations engage with different public blockchains for a variety of applications that involve different financial patterns. For example, whereas some organizations transact in certain cryptocurrencies as a part of their e-commerce workflows, other organizations rely on a public blockchain for non-payment-related applications that require crypto-based payment of a blockchain's service fees. In those and other use cases, organizations end up keeping some amount of crypto in their treasuries, and the tax implications connected to that activity are non-trivial. According to Kalnoki, it's not just fungible token activity that businesses must keep an eye on. Now, with businesses increasingly discovering the transformative power of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to drive new or improved business outcomes – Kalnoki cites ticketing and gaming as two such applications – trying to track all blockchain-related financials using extemporaneous methods is not an option (which explains why Kalnoki was speaking at a conference about NFTs). 

The conversation shifts to regulatory challenges, focusing on IRS regulation 6050I, which aims to treat crypto transactions over $10,000 as cash equivalents, necessitating detailed reporting. It's a rare example of where a small shred of regulatory clarity exists such that businesses (and solution providers like Bitwave) can work with blockchain in observance of certain legal guardrails. But a dearth of such regulatory clarity is still problematic for most American businesses. As the gears of blockchain law and policy-making have essentially ground to a halt in Washington, DC, organizations are holding, back on their blockchain applications for fear of waking up one morning on the wrong side of the law.  Kalnoki acknowledges the need for more clarity in order to foster compliance and, ultimately, innovation. 

Finally, Kalnoki invites viewers to attend Bitwave's Enterprise Digital Assets Summit in Nashville (July 2024), where the conversation will address the challenges and solutions to business adoption of blockchain amid regulatory uncertainty.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/bitwave-looks-ease-accounting-complexities-arise-enterprise-adoption-nfts

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nHeqppkXa8

For information about Bitcoin2024, please visit:
https://bitcoin2024.b.tc/2024

Bitwave Looks to Ease Accounting Complexities That Arise From Enterprise Adoption of NFTs

During the NFT.NYC 2024 Conference in New York, Blockchain Journal editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews one of the speakers at the event: Marc Baumann, founder of FiftyOne Ventures and Dematerialzd.xyz. Baumann is well-known for his opinionated analyses regarding the NFT-based customer loyalty and engagement programs operated by some of the world's biggest brands.  The discussion delves into the evolution of NFT use cases, which famously (or infamously, depending on your point of view) began with collectible digital images. Baumann responds to David's questions with a walk down memory lane, examining the past and current NFT landscapes, and eventually ends with some predictions about some of the more nuanced use cases, focusing on tangible business outcomes.

Baumann identifies four key verticals where NFTs are making waves in business applications. The first, tokenization and phygitals, involves the 1:1 marriage of physical items with their digital counterparts on-chain, often facilitated by near-field communication (NFC) chips. According to Baumann, this results in myriad possibilities for post-purchase activations and direct consumer engagement, such as unlocking rewards or exclusive experiences tied to the possession of specific products. Baumann talks about how physical items become proxies for their digital counterparts and vice versa, paving the way towards the idea of token-gating, a fusion of the physical and digital realms where either "twin" grants the holder exclusive, "velvet rope" style access to real or virtual world (a.k.a. "metaverse") customer journeys. 

Baumann also leans into loyalty and rewards, community and commerce, and data insights as the other three key verticals. Baumann emphasizes the need for brands to move beyond the allure of NFTs as standalone collectibles and instead focus on solving real business problems, creating value for consumers, and generating measurable ROI. 

Baumann and David spend a fair amount of time discussing the history of the recently scuttled Starbucks Odyssey NFT program as a bit of a stain on the NFT landscape. This leaves open the question of how, if a big brand like Starbucks can't make NFTs work, what enterprise can? This brings the discussion full circle back to the challenges associated with collectibility (one of the main features of the Odyssey program).

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/dematerialzd-researcher-marc-baumann-discusses-post-starbucks-business-value-nfts-nftnyc

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV2ZBY7vuOk

Dematerialzd Researcher Marc Baumann Discusses the Post Starbucks Business Value of NFTs at NFT.NYC

In this fascinating bit of tribal storytelling, BlockhainJournal.com editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews Will Entriken, the lead author of the NFT standard (technically referred to as the ERC-721 specification) at the NFT.NYC conference in New York City.

Entriken is a pivotal figure in the history and development of blockchain-based NFTs (non-fungible tokens). Without his Herculean efforts, the ERC-721 spec as it's known today might not even exist. The same might be said for the current process of ratifying any ERC spec. ERC stands for "Ethereum Request for Comments," a phrase and community-driven consensus process that harkens back to the time-tested RFC (Requests for Comments) process used by the Internet Engineering Task Force to set standards for Internet protocols like the Transmission Control Protocol (the "TCP" part of "TCP/IP"). During the interview, Entriken describes how an entire open source political, deliberation, and development process had to be scaffolded before a standard like ERC-721 could be brought across the finish line.  That scaffolding went on to benefit other ERCs, the standards that sit behind the Ethereum public blockchain and that are often used as the basis for the standard specs found on other blockchains. Entriken explains how his history of working at Google on Linux-related open source projects prepared him for the role he played in establishing a standard process for ERC ratification while applying that process to the ERC-721 spec for NFTs.  

Entriken didn't just play a pivotal role in the development of the ERC process and 721 spec – he is the first to very humbly give credit to others who were involved in the work. He was also the first to mint an ERC-721 compliant NFT under the name "Su Squares."  

As the conversation progressed, Entriken and David explored the diverse applications of NFTs beyond the realm of art and collectibles. They discussed how NFTs could revolutionize supply chain transparency, corporate accountability, and consumer trust. Entriken emphasized that while NFTs serve as the underlying technology, the true value lies in the principles they embody, such as transparency, authenticity, and verifiability.

Looking towards the future, Entriken outlined a vision where NFTs seamlessly integrate into commonplace transactions, becoming as ubiquitous as the databases that currently underpin many daily interactions. Much the same way we don't talk about how databases are integral to our everyday lives, he envisions a shift away from a conversation about NFTs as they transition into a somewhat hidden infrastructural role. Of course, for this to be true about NFTs, it must also be true of blockchain as well.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/lead-author-nft-standard-predicts-nfts-will-melt-fabric-our-everyday-lives

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ygg7WcAcj1o

Lead Author of the NFT Standard Predicts NFTs Will Melt Into The Fabric of Our Everyday Lives

From NFT.NYC 2024 in New York City, BlockchainJournal.com editor-in-chief David Berlind interviews Sam Whitaker, the founder of Quixotish, a newly launched startup focused on the usage of blockchain to drive the success of charities and non-profits. Given how Blockchain Journal is focused on implementations of blockchain meant to drive new or improved business outcomes for big brands and enterprises, Quixotish's first customer – St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – caught David's eye as one of the most well-known non-profits on the planet. During the interview, Whitaker explains how Quixotish's novel blockchain-based approach to driving charitable donations works. 

The general idea, as Whitaker describes it, is for a charity like St. Jude to curate donations of valuable blockchain-based assets (e.g., NFTs) and then for the charity to conduct an auction where those assets are sold on the secondary market with the proceeds flowing to St. Judes as fiat currency. On the surface, it sounds pretty simple. But it's also important for donors to know that when they're dealing with a relatively anonymized address on a blockchain, that address actually belongs to the intended charity. In other words, it can be a bit more complicated than it sounds. 

To ensure accountability, Whitaker highlights the steps he took with St. Jude, including the video recording of wallet setup sessions involving St. Jude representatives and the subsequent publication of these videos on Quixotish's platforms. The interview touches upon the significance of St. Jude's reputation and operational scale, framing it as the "Google" or "Apple" of the charity world, given the charity's multi-million dollar daily cash flow. Whitaker underscores the hospital's commitment to providing free care to children and openly sharing its research. 

Towards the end, Whitaker discusses the practical aspects of the auction, including its timing and accessibility to both crypto and fiat currency users by virtue of St. Jude's reliance on a combined NFT marketplace and custodial wallet solution from Magic Eden. By supporting crypto users across a long list of public blockchains as well as non-crypto users who prefer to deal in fiat currencies like the US dollar, he underscores the initiative's inclusivity, welcoming participation from individuals regardless of their familiarity with blockchain technology.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/how-quixotish-is-helping-st-jude-charity-raise-money-blockchain-technology

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHr3gx8Jy78

How Quixotish is Helping the St. Jude Charity To Raise Money with Blockchain Technology

While covering the NFT.NYC 2024 Conference in New York City, BlockchainJournal.com editor-in-chief David Berlind caught up with Mojito CEO Raakhee Miller, who, for nearly two years, has been talking about the idea that NFTs (non-fungible tokens) are the "new cookies." David first heard her talking about the idea in 2022 at the Consensus Conference in Austin, Texas. But when it comes to the role of browser cookies as a means for brands and media sites to maintain intimate connectivity with their customers and users, the technical utility of the cookie is facing more significant headwinds than ever.

This erosion of the cookie's utility is largely attributable to three trends: native and third-party ad-blocking technology for web browsers (which can be configured to block cookies as well), the prevalence of cookie consent forms that give web users the power to reject specific cookies, and the recent announcement by Google that it's disabling support for third party cookies in Chrome. Cookies are literally on their way "out," which begs the question of how that connection can be reformulated in a way that does a better job of respecting privacy than cookies ever did.

Enter NFTs and the idea that the NFT is the new cookie. In the interview, Miller emphasizes how NFTs can offer some of the utility of the cookie while at the same time, relying on the principles of decentralized ownership of data and user sovereignty to give customers more control than they had with cookies. Drawing parallels to the cookie, Miller explained how NFTs enable brands to engage with consumers both online and offline, fostering a more transparent and consent-driven ecosystem.

Miller also discussed Mojito's role in helping businesses navigate this transition, providing both strategic consulting and technological solutions to integrate Web3 principles into existing marketing strategies.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/wait-what-blockchains-nfts-are-new-cookies-mojitos-raakhee-miller-explains

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoIY0Y-RdRg

Wait, What?! Blockchain's NFTs are the New Cookies? Mojito's Raakhee Miller Explains

Blockchain Journal Customer Journey Analyst Sophie Maxx Waldman joins BCJ editor-in-chief David Berlind at the NFT.NYC blockchain conference for a conversation about the buzz at the event and how the death of the NFT-based Starbucks Odyssey customer engagement and loyalty program impacted her as both a program user and a Starbucks customer. 

Sophie has written about her experiences with the Odyssey program multiple times, and not only was she sad to see the program – one of the most visible of its kind in the world – come to an end, but Starbucks' termination of Odyssey raises questions about the viability of such NFT programs for other global brands. What went right? What went wrong? What does it mean for other global brands looking into NFTs to drive new or improved business outcomes? How might Starbucks take some of the learnings from the Odyssey program and incorporate them into its existing Rewards program (one of the largest and most visible customer loyalty programs in the world)?  

As David and Sophie point out, Starbucks tried pretty much everything in the book to make the program work. It integrated augmented reality into several of the user "journeys." It relied on NFTs to provide exclusive token-gated experiences. It rewarded program members with NFTs for repeat purchases and sampling new coffees. It gamified certain elements of the program including its Discord-based community center. But despite Odyssey's success at transforming traditional loyalty programs into immersive, social, and gamified experiences while at the same time fostering deeper customer connections with the brand, the program was still scuttled.

As Sophie and David discuss, one challenge faced by Starbucks and other brands entering the NFT space might have to do with the lack of a pre-existing collectible culture. They discuss how NFT initiatives from brands like Nike and Adidas were able to leverage collectibility as a key feature of the pre-blockchain sneakerhead culture (for which no Starbucks corollary existed). Lack of any mojo on the collectibility front wasn't the only issue with the Odyssey program. But it's one of several industry and brand-specific nuances that must be taken into consideration before launching an NFT strategy.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/starbucks-scuttles-odyssey-one-worlds-most-visible-big-brand-blockchain-projects

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2F1QcFrhnc

Starbucks Scuttles Odyssey: One of the World's Most Visible Big Brand Blockchain Projects

In a recent interview at the NFT.NYC conference in Manhattan, BlockchainJournal.com editor-in-chief David Berlind chats with Nicola Sebastiani, Chief Content Officer of The Sandbox. The Sandbox is a Roblox/Minecraft-style metaverse platform where pretty much all of the assets within, including the land itself, are blockchain-based NFTs that can be bought, sold, and traded on the secondary market. While much of the user experience found within The Sandbox is gamified (similar to that of Roblox and Minecraft), the virtual world platform is actually capable of a diverse range of experiences in music, entertainment, and B2C engagement thus serving as a vehicle for big brands and enterprises to launch their own metaverse experiences.

Sebastiani emphasized The Sandbox's unique proposition as a metaverse provider, enabling brands to create their own immersive experiences within a branded virtual world. Through partnerships and Sandbox-specific tools like Game Maker and VoxEdit, The Sandbox empowers brands to build tailored experiences, whether it's gaming, virtual concerts, learning environments, or museums. These experiences are interconnected within The Sandbox's metaverse, allowing users to travel from one brand's virtual experience to another completely unrelated experience without much friction. 

Blockchain technology plays a pivotal role in The Sandbox ecosystem, with virtual land, avatars, and assets being represented as NFT tokens. Additionally, The Sandbox facilitates occasional primary land sales within the platform (of which there will be a finite number), leaving secondary market transactions to occur externally on NFT marketplaces like OpenSea. Notable brands like Gucci, Warner Music, and The Walking Dead are among the 400 entities already leveraging The Sandbox's metaverse for immersive experiences.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/sandbox-metaverse-pretty-much-everything-including-limited-parcels-land-is-an-nft

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSuZW936qlY

In The Sandbox Metaverse, Pretty Much Everything (Including The Limited Parcels of Land) is an NFT

During the NFT.NYC 2024 Conference in New York City, BlockchainJournal.com editor-in-chief David Berlind interviewed Jonathan G. Blanco, CEO and founder of Niftmint. The two discussed the evolution of his company and the challenges facing enterprises in the realm of tokenization. According to Blanco, Niftmint's namesake service is a blockchain-based tokenization platform that, among other things, allows organizations to offer digital versions or "twins" of their physical products to customers in a way that seamlessly integrates into existing non-blockchain e-commerce platforms. NFT-based strategies that involve this sort of "digital twinning" are referred to as "phygital" strategies.

One key feature of the platform that could appeal to businesses is that brands and customers do not have to transact with one another using cryptocurrencies in a way that's typical of many blockchain-based solutions. While Niftmint manages the crypto-specific nuances of using blockchain in the background, organizations and customers can transact with one another using fiat currency like the US dollar.

In the interview, Blanco explains the use case for tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), particularly in the context of luxury brands like high fashion manufacturers. He explains how brands can offer customers NFT-based digital twins of the physical items they buy, thereby enhancing the consumer's overall brand experience and potentially mitigating issues like counterfeit products where the digital twin can serve as a blockchain-based (and therefore cryptographically secured) Certificate of Authenticity. But certificates of authenticity are simply one advantage of pairing individual NFTs with their real world counterparts. As Blanco explains, once a physical product is paired with something like an NFT that's programmable, all sorts of new experiences and business process efficiencies can be tied to that inventory item in a way that benefits manufacturers, marketers, consumers, and other product ecosystem stakeholders (wholesalers, retailers, etc). 

Blanco was a speaker at NFT.NYC, and in his presentation, he argued that current trends in artificial intelligence are driving a significant amount of distrust in the provenance of content and physical goods and that blockchain-based tokenization of both is the most obvious solution. As a result of AI, Blanco predicts a future where consumers will shift their spending to only those physical and digital products that involve a digital guarantee of provenance.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/risks-posed-ai-could-drive-consumer-demand-blockchaintokenized-physical-and-digital-wares

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_BEGXQU6xI

Risks Posed by AI Could Drive Consumer Demand for Blockchain-Tokenized Physical and Digital Wares

Keith Miller, a partner at the Perkins Coie law firm, joins BlockchainJournal.com editor-in-chief David Berlind on the Blockchain Journal podcast during the NFT.NYC conference in New York City. As law firms go, Perkins Coie is well-known for its expertise in technology and has been involved in blockchain since 2012. During the interview, Miller recounts his journey into the space, representing early exchanges and navigating major crypto cases involving the SEC, such as Library (LBRY) and Ripple. But the conversation quickly turns to the current day environment where American businesses are hesitant to move forward with their blockchain plans so long as there's a chance they could end up on the wrong side of a law that hasn't even been written yet.

Today, Miller and other members of the Perkins Coie team help the law firm's clients figure out how to move forward with their blockchain innovations, given the significant regulatory uncertainty in the United States. While some states have passed blockchain-specific laws, the US Congress has made virtually no headway in terms of drafting such laws at the Federal level. This situation leaves government agencies such as the SEC, the CFTC, and the IRS to rely on existing laws (laws that were drafted before blockchain existed) to guide their regulatory activities when it comes to blockchain and cryptocurrency. Against the backdrop of that lack of regulatory clarity, Miller discusses the challenges facing organizations in the evolving crypto landscape and advises organizations against the idea of engaging in projects solely for fast profits. Highlighting recent cases involving NFTs, Miller stressed the need for organizations to develop a clearly articulated business purpose for their NFT ventures (implying that making a quick buck off primary market sales of NFTs is likely to attract the attention of regulators looking to carry out their next enforcement). 

The conversation delves into the role of the SEC in fostering innovation amidst its primary objectives of investor protection, capital formation, and market integrity. Miller suggests that regulatory clarity is necessary for innovation to thrive, expressing skepticism about imminent changes from the SEC without Congressional intervention. The current highly tribalistic political divide is further complicating the regulatory landscape, potentially hindering progress when it comes to blockchain legislation. And, so long as the laws are slow in coming, organizations would be remiss not to seek the input of legal experts to help them strike the right balance between blockchain innovation and federal enforcement trends.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/given-regulatory-uncertainties-businesses-should-seek-experienced-legal-input-blockchain

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XST_RfApG1Q

Given Regulatory Uncertainties, Businesses Should Seek Experienced Legal Input on Blockchain Plans

From the NFT.NYC 2024 conference, BlockchainJournal.com editor-in-chief David Berlind checks in with Unstoppable Domains COO Sandy Carter to learn about the unique value proposition of Web3 domains over the plain old internet domains that most Web users and internet destinations are familiar with. Unstoppable Domains is both an internet registry and an internet registrar. According to Carter, perhaps the biggest and most noticeable change from legacy domains to Web3 domains is that legacy domains are essentially for rent. They must be renewed by the registrant on a periodic basis. Meanwhile, Web3 domains are owned. But, according to Carter, there are additional advantages to Web3 domains over their legacy counterparts

Another major challenge associated with legacy domains acquired through legacy registrars is how the internet domain itself (i.e., abc.com) cannot verifiably represent anything about the individual or organization that owns the domain. For example, whereas a Web3 domain can behave as a digital proxy for an entity's identity, credentials, education, personal or organizational profiles, and other information that might be useful to the automation of certain business processes, legacy domains have no such inherent capability.  

Referring to how today's social networks are often the repositories of this personal and organizational information, Carter refers to this capability to associate that data directly with an internet domain the "LinkedIn for Web3." However, whereas most entity-specific data that are kept with a social network is discoverable based on a user's global security settings (ie, "friends only"), the different types of identifiable information associated with a Web3 domain can be individually and optionally shared in an infinite number of specific (and non-global) contexts.

To watch the video version of this podcast or read its full-text transcript, go to:
https://blockchainjournal.com/interview/blockchainbased-internet-domains-are-linkedin-web3-says-unstoppable-coo-sandy-carter

The video can also be watched on Blockchain Journal's YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV1A0CZOYXA

Blockchain-Based Internet Domains Are the "LinkedIn of Web3" Says Unstoppable COO Sandy Carter

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