A-Team Mission: Make Bitcoin Mainstream
What if Microsoft came together with Starbucks and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on a mission to take Bitcoin mainstream? A strong enough signal that cryptocurrencies are going mainstream? Well they have! Resulting in a new platform dubbed Bakkt.
Meanwhile what's the significance of the first international scientific conference, backed by the first peer-reviewed scientific journal on Blockchain technology, its applications and uses, the Journal of the British Blockchain Association – which just arrived? (Note: I chair the BBA’s committee on the finance of ICO/DLT Startups).
“Not only is the BBA the largest, most influential, Blockchain association worldwide, with members and advisors over 5 continents, 110 countries, but we’ve set the ‘Gold Standard’ for the highest quality, evidence based, peer-reviewed Blockchain and DLT resources. The JBBA inaugural edition, read by over 7,500 blockchain leaders and influencers distributed to over 1,200 institutions worldwide. In March 2019, we’ll host the world’s first ‘Scholars in Blockchain’ international Scientific Conference” said BBA co-founder Naseem Naqvi.
Returning to that other A-Team: Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), who own the NYSE, have announced that they’re forming this new company with the sole mission to make Bitcoin a mainstream financial asset.
Bakkt, developed in partnership with Microsoft and Starbucks among others, will integrate with the ICE’s US futures market and clearinghouse to list a physically-settled one-day bitcoin futures product, including warehousing in-house managed by ICE, launching in November they’ve announced.
“Bakkt is designed to serve as a scalable on-ramp for institutional, merchant and consumer participation in digital assets by promoting greater efficiency, security and utility,” said Kelly Loeffler, CEO of Bakkt. “We are collaborating to build an open platform that helps unlock the transformative potential of digital assets across global markets and commerce.”
“In bringing regulated, connected infrastructure together with institutional and consumer applications for digital assets, we aim to build confidence in the asset class on a global scale” commented Jeffrey C. Sprecher, founder, chairman, & CEO of ICE.
Sprecher and Loeffler, who’re married, have also said that they envision that, with ICE’s help, Bitcoin can become a ‘bona fide currency’ – the asset of choice for international payments and could “greatly simplify the movement of global money – the first worldwide currency.”
“As flagship retailer, Starbucks will play a pivotal role in developing practical, trusted and regulated applications for consumers to convert their digital assets into US dollars for use at Starbucks,” Maria Smith, Starbucks’ VP, partnerships & payments, said.
Regardless of how strong you like your coffee that’s a strong signal!
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