Cryptocurrencies: Beneath the bubble
Cryptocurrencies have soared in popularity since 2008, with more than 1, 000 in existence today and an aggregate value greater than the market capitalization of IBM. But we are highly doubtful whether they will ever become mainstream currencies. The need for companies and individuals to pay tax receipts in government-issued currency, and the potentially unlimited crypto-money supply, pose significant barriers to widespread adoption. We think the sharp rise in crypto-currency valuations in recent months is a speculative bubble.
Building the trust engine
Building the trust engine, a UBS Group Technology white paper on the blockchain technology and how it can transform the industry (and the world). While there has been no shortage of blockchain white papers recently, most focus on the technology and are written for an industry audience â those likely to use blockchain to retool the financial system. Here instead, UBS Group try to paint a picture of what blockchain can do in a way that is, hopefully, clear and accessible for the average user of that system. To their knowledge, this is the first attempt by a major bank to do so.
Blockchain manoeuvres: applying Bitcoin’s technology to banking
Bitcoinâs blockchain is being hailed as revolutionary. But will the likes of UBS, ING and Nasdaq, who are exploring the potential of the technology, be able to overcome the challenges that remain, not least security and regulatory issues?
