Understanding FinTech-Part 3 (Blockchain, Bitcoin & Others)

From start-ups in California, New York, London, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa, entrepreneurs are applying their creativity and technical ingenuity all along the financial services value chain. This wave of innovation promises a revolution in the production and consumption of financial services. Aptly combining the words “financial” and “technology” the Fin Tech revolution promises changes that will democratize financial services. The Fin Tech revolution holds much promise. Expected benefits include;Consumers who will get more choice, better-targeted services and keener pricing. Small and medium sized businesses who will get access to new credit. Banks that will become more productive, with lower transaction costs, greater capital efficiency and stronger operational resilience. The financial system itself that will become more resilient with greater diversity, redundancy and depth. New forms of currency (like Bitcoin) that will change the way we think of and use money. And most fundamentally, financial services that will be more inclusive; with people better connected, more informed and increasingly empowered. Because of its seemingly vast and varied scope Fin Tech is not really understood by many in the real world, whether they be business executives, managers or staff (who fail to understand what technology can do) or technologists themselves (who have scant knowledge of the practical needs/problems of business and finance). This three part course is a basic primer to understanding Fin Tech in all its forms and guises. In Part 3 we take a wider view the blockchain, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in terms of what they are and how they work as well as their respective advantages and disadvantages and the risks they could introduce.