Between fervent cryptocurrency pushers, concerns about its energy cost and rumors of scams, it’s safe to say blockchain has a bit of a PR problem.
And that’s unfortunate, because there are a ton of startups out there putting distributed, immutable and freely accessible ledgers to all sorts of genuinely interesting and constructive uses. Here, we look at four Seattle-based startups using blockchain technology for all the right reasons.
Using blockchain for: Pushing back on greenwashing in the coffee industry
Details: Yave’s technology traces coffee from source farms throughout Asia, Africa and South and Central America, using a distributed ledger so consumers can know where their coffee comes from — and see how much the grower makes on each bag. The ledger gives coffee a digital ID, which users follow to see contracts and quality certifications for every bag.
Using blockchain for: Putting users in control of their digital identities
Details: LifeID’s open-source blockchain technology makes sensitive online activities safer. The company’s public identity protocol allows users to choose exactly how much information they’d like when verifying their income to qualify for a loan or transferring money, preempting nogoodniks who seek to violate privacy and sell personal data. LifeID’s technology is designed to operate on any smart contract-based blockchain.
Using blockchain for: Securing IoT devices against manipulation by bad actors
Details: Once 5G connectivity comes online in a meaningful way, we’re going to see IoT everywhere — from water distribution to insulin pumps, the energy grid to traffic lights. Atonomi thinks it can secure those masses of devices with blockchain technology that records and validates device identity on an immutable ledger, calculates a device’s reputation based on monitored transactions and facilitates transactions between recognized devices regardless of their manufacturer or operating system.
Using blockchain for: Recording original ideas on a blockchain
Details: Using Operem’s technology, users can capture and encrypt PDFs, photos and audiovisual files that describe an original idea. Those encrypted files are then placed on a blockchain, creating a timestamp and digital signature to verify who owns that idea, and when they had it. Users can share ideas with one another for collaborative purposes and track the chain of custody, knowing that a fixed log will reliably trace ownership back to its source.
