Bitcoin & Blockchains: Landscape and Future Directions

Presentation slides (PDF)

Blockchains and distributed ledger technologies are being rigorously explored by researchers, government agencies, startups, accounting firms, and Fortune 500 companies (mostly in STEM and finance) alike. Their benefits are touted in the pages of the New York Times, TED talks, and best-selling books like “Blockchain Revolution” by Don and Alex Tapscott. Academic research in the area has grown exponentially, as have industrial whitepapers. In this talk, we will introduce the technology, systemize the interest, and provide some impartial insights into the usefulness of blockchain technology.