In the world of technology, the buzz around blockchain has seen an inordinate increase in the past few years. And if you have still not heard of this term, then you will definitely soon! Having been regarded as a technological novelty for a long time, blockchain is evolving with all speed, and may soon emerge as an operational tool on a global scale.
Of all, trade finance is one of the most interesting areas that blockchain is seeking to address. Blockchain holds a great potential to further amplify financial inclusion to some of the remotest corners of the world. And, it is not only the financial sector that is to be affected by blockchain solutions, the technology is here to stay and shape various other domains as well. Here is what the future of blockchain technology will be in 2018 and years to come.
Understanding Blockchain: What is the Technology All About?
Prior to understanding what will be the future of blockchain technology in 2018, it is to be first understood what blockchain really is. In a single sentence, it is essentially a digital ledger of transactions that is incorruptible.
In the words of a layman, blockchain can be understood as a large decentralized spreadsheet that securely records the transactions. Cryptographic algorithm serves as the means of security for the ownership and transactions which are stored in data blocks. As the blocks are linked to each other, the technology is known as Blockchain.
Blockchain Trends that are Very Likely to Rule in 2018
2017 was a great year for blockchain app development. Since then, there has been an increase in the demand of blockchain applications. The technology is all set to rule this year as well. And below are the blockchain predictions all set to rule in 2018 that every blockchain developer must definitely read.
- Blockchain will Get its Very Own Asset-Tracking Tool: The blockchain platform is all powered by terms like ‘coins’ or ‘tokens’. When it comes to bitcoin technology, bitcoin is also regarded as the token. By making use of a token, it is ensured that it only appears at a single location at one time. Hence, it is very likely that asset management tools will be created for businesses that will be based on blockchain technology.
- Merger with IoT (Internet of Things): It has been predicted that around 20 percent of the total deployments of IoT will be enabled by basic levels of blockchain services. So, it is clear that blockchain technology is here to stay, it is here to rule. The technology will bring various benefits when merged with IoT, for example, reducing costs, accelerating transactions, and building trust.
- Proof-of-Stake (PoS) is Here to Rule: A consensus algorithm of Bitcoin, PoS, or proof-of-stake aims at achieving distributed consensus by deploying cryptocurrency blockchain network. And this algorithm is very likely to see a growth in its usage in order to reach the consensus in 2018.
- Implementation of the Rule of Law by Bitcoin: If you are very much into bitcoin, then you must be definitely aware of the term ‘Smart Contract’. It is basically a program which is stored on every computer network. Smart Contract is considered as a powerful tool when it comes to automating business process operations. Bitcoin will be implementing the ‘Rule of the Law’ when parties to contract get into a dispute.
Growth in the Utilization of the proofs of ‘Zero-Knowledge: There is no denying that blockchain acts as a very powerful platform when it comes to making transactions between two groups or parties. And speaking of ‘Zero-Knowledge proof’, it discloses the veracity of a specific statement, without actually divulging any extra information yonder what it is proving. These zero-knowledge proofs will be acting as a concept in enhancing key elements like privacy and security.
So, this was all about the future of blockchain technology in 2018 and the coming years. If you are indulged in blockchain app development, then you must definitely take these into account.