Blockchain, the complex technology that supports bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies, is poised for a move into mainstream business.
A growing number of industries and at least three national governments are conducting pilots or, in a few cases, actual deployments of blockchain applications. Early use cases are aimed at harnessing the technology to improve supply chain management and food safety, verify identities, conduct real estate transactions, and handle medical records and insurance transactions. There’s serious money involved as IBM, Microsoft and a host of startups are building blockchain platforms, and companies looking for blockchain engineers and developers are paying premium salaries.
