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As usual, I like Matt Levine's take on this : https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-03-06/cargo-blockchains-and-deutsche-bank https://www.bloomberg.com/v

by dzdt 10y ago

As usual, I like Matt Levine's take on this : https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-03-06/cargo-blockchains-and-deutsche-bank https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-03-06/cargo-blo.... The problem to be solved here is not chiefly technological: It's getting all of those agencies to agree to a single messaging protocol. That's hard! They have long experience of using their own protocols (e.g., paper), and little incentive to switch to Maersk's. Calling the new protocol a "blockchain" makes it sound sexier, and so more likely to be adopted.

fragmede 10y ago
I'm inclined to agree with the premise, that "blockchain" is just what the cool kids are using, and adoption is piggybacking on that. Unfortunately the article fails to go into any detail as to why that is or is not the case, it merely quotes from the press release and then Matt points out that central banking exists. Shipping, especially on Maersk's level, has all sorts of challenges that I'm sure I've never even contemplated, but Matt Levin's piece doesn't mention any details that leads me to think he's working off any more details than I. Large shipping container docks are horrible environments for electronics and wireless technology. Long distances, lots of big metal things, lots of water present - large bodies of water block and bounces radio waves and salt water is corrosive to electronics, concrete everywhere, so laying cables is expensive, and there may not even be power in a lot of places. Add multiple layers of IT contracting on top of that and I'd be surprised if there's anything Internet except at the main office, miles away from everything else. While blockchain doesn't address problems with networking technology, I can easily imagine the blockchain, as a solution for the Byzantine Generals Problem, addresses practical issues when you need to give write access to the database, to multiple parties, some of which cannot be trusted.

by dzdt 10y ago

fragmede 10y ago

I'm inclined to agree with the premise, that "blockchain" is just what the cool kids are using, and adoption is piggybacking on that. Unfortunately the article fails to go into any detail as to why that is or is not the case, it merely quotes from the press release and then Matt points out that central banking exists. Shipping, especially on Maersk's level, has all sorts of challenges that I'm sure I've never even contemplated, but Matt Levin's piece doesn't mention any details that leads me to think he's working off any more details than I. Large shipping container docks are horrible environments for electronics and wireless technology. Long distances, lots of big metal things, lots of water present - large bodies of water block and bounces radio waves and salt water is corrosive to electronics, concrete everywhere, so laying cables is expensive, and there may not even be power in a lot of places. Add multiple layers of IT contracting on top of that and I'd be surprised if there's anything Internet except at the main office, miles away from everything else. While blockchain doesn't address problems with networking technology, I can easily imagine the blockchain, as a solution for the Byzantine Generals Problem, addresses practical issues when you need to give write access to the database, to multiple parties, some of which cannot be trusted.