The Blockchain Hurricane is back

What do you want to know about blockchain and crypto? I have re-started posting two-minute blockchain and crypto bites to my YouTube channel, the Blockchain Hurricane. In the past I’ve covered some of the blockchain basics – busting the jargon, discussing wallets, exchanges and keys, addressing good security practices, and occasional comments on current events…

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New insights from The Digital Commonwealth

Thursday 2nd May saw the second of The Digital Commonwealth‘s Mansion House Summit series. I’ve known the people behind this since they were delivering high quality journalism and events through CryptoAM, and James Bowater, Darren Parkin and the team have made The Digital Commonwealth a bigger and better version of what came before. It’s well…

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The power of Ask Me Anything

Last Wednesday, May 1st, saw my formal book launch at the headquarters of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, featuring a fabulous Ask Me Anything fireside chat. Having questions fired at me from all angles is something I thrive on. It keeps me on my toes, makes me consider my knowledge critically or present it…

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The quest for digital identity

Digital world

Digital identity is one of the most potentially transformative applications of blockchain. Having an official identity is the gateway to everything we take for granted. Without one, we would struggle to access government services and education, jobs and financial services. As the paperwork for all of these moves inexorably online, the quest for reliable digital…

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DAOs, decisions and dangers

DAOs – Distributed (or Decentralised) Autonomous Organisations – feel like a great way of putting power back in the hands of a community. They are recognised as having huge potential for social impact – the World Economic Forum has described them as ‘nascent and aspirational’ – and there are huge sums of money held in…

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How to bottle lightning

The world of crypto moves so fast that taking a realistic snapshot of its development is like trying to bottle lightning. But this is exactly what I was asked to do by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, for my new book “Getting Started with Cryptocurrency: An introduction to digital assets and blockchain“. And not…

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Celebrating the Ethereum Merge

Ethereum Merge

It took 17 seconds to change the landscape of cryptocurrency. At a fraction before 6.43am UTC on 15th September, block number 15537394 was confirmed by a staking pool, not by a miner. The Ethereum Merge, also known as the Paris Network Upgrade, was complete. Celebrations all around. But what does this actually mean? Let’s go…

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Inside Axie Infinity

Axie Infinity screenshot

Axie Infinity is hitting the headlines. This germ of an idea that emerged in 2017 has now reached a $30 billion valuation and sees activity on a par with mainstream games, according to Forbes. During the pandemic it became a lifeline for many people in the Philippines who earned enough from play to replace their…

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NFTs and digital fine art – a love match

Three artworks

Artist James Atkins launched his first crypto art collection on Valentine’s Day 2021. As at 1st September 2021, 99 digital fine art pieces had been sold to thirty different collectors around the world, and the hundredth piece, the signed complete set with unlockable content, is up for auction. How did James hit the ground running…

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Central Bank Digital Currencies gather steam

British bank notes

Central Bank Digital Currencies, or CBDCs, are gathering steam. The years since the 2008 financial crash have seen both the emergence of cryptocurrencies and a rapid rise in the use of digital forms of payment. The Bank of England published their second discussion paper on CBDC a few days ago, and Governor Andrew Bailey told…

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