The congress mostly invited blockchain optimists to share their thoughts on the future of blockchain as a solution for a number of current challenges, from financial markets to the fashion industry. To cool expectations, Robert Braun spoke about the „Social challenges, risks and opportunities of blockchain technology” – reminding blockchain enthusiasts that, as with any technology, before it becomes ubiquitous we need to ask a few questions about what problem blockchain actually addresses.
Besides the enormous energy needs (bitcoin transactions in 2018 required the total energy consumption of Austria in 2014) questions of assessment should include whether applying blockchain designers have taken stock of the risks and unintended consequences? He proposed a social framework for blockchain assessment, not focusing on what blockchain can do, but on whether it is good for society and all potential stakeholders have been engaged in building the right blockchain ecosystem.
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