Current Landscape and What's Next

Blockchain technology is changing rapidly, and it will continue to affect the way we conduct our day-to-day business as new developments emerge. It has challenged existing business models, and promised great benefits such as cost-saving, efficiency, and transparency. So far in this book, we've explored the technical underpinnings of blockchain technology, such as cryptography, consensus mechanisms, and distributed systems concepts. We've looked at cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Zcash, explored Ethereum in detail, and learned how to write smart contracts and DApps. We also saw applications of blockchain technology in the Internet of Things (IoT) and the finance, government, and media sectors, and learned how blockchain technology can address challenges in these industries and others. Moreover, we examined Hyperledger, and some innovative enterprise blockchains such as Quorum and Corda. Finally, we looked at some scalability...