press release
MIT Technology Review and MIT Media Lab's Digital Currency Initiative Announces Business of Blockchain Conference on April 23
CAMBRIDGE, Mass: Today, MIT Technology Review announced the second annual Business of Blockchain event, which will take place April 23, 2018 at the MIT Media Lab. Blockchain is garnering high expectations both within finance and beyond, but the technology itself is not widely understood. The Business of Blockchain 2018 forum, co-hosted by the MIT Media Lab, will bring together pioneers in this emerging field to share their insights on this emerging technology and its potential impact.
The one-day conference will answer some of the industry’s most pressing questions. Digital technologies let people who have never met do business across borders and continents in an instant; but how can they trust one another without relying on bureaucracy and middlemen? How can security, identity and ownership be guaranteed while still operating at the speed of the internet? Blockchains may provide the answer.
“There’s a lot of hype around cryptocurrencies, but there are also signs that blockchain technologies could upend many industries beyond finance,” said Gideon Lichfield, Editor-in-Chief of MIT Technology Review. “We’ve been following these trends closely, but we know that for many people, blockchains and why you should care about them remain something of a mystery. Now in its second year, our Business of Blockchain forum will run the full gamut, from basic concepts to in-depth discussions by some of the world’s leading experts on where this technology is going and how it will impact business and society.”
The Business of Blockchain program is designed to provide the insight and intelligence needed to navigate this rapidly shifting landscape. Discussions will include:
- An examination of the underlying technology, both the strengths and current limitations
- How regulators around the world are taking a closer look at cryptocurrencies
- Lessons learned from early blockchain projects in global industries, including supply chain and healthcare applications
- The potential for blockchain solutions to address pressing social challenges, from serving the unbanked to establishing refugees
The growing line-up of speakers includes:
- Brian Behlendorf, Executive Director, Hyperledger Project
- Gary Gensler, Senior Lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management; Former Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Ibrahim Gokcen, Chief Digital Officer, A.P. Moller - Maersk
- Silvio Micali, Ford Professor of Engineering, MIT
- Frank Yiannas, Vice President of Food Safety, Walmart
New to the agenda this year is a pre-event blockchain primer session, which will be offered in the evening on April 22 for all registered Business of Blockchain attendees that are newly interested in understanding this emerging space. That session will provide the foundation for the full day forum planned for April 23.
Click here for additional conference details, as well as to register and learn more about partnership opportunities.
Media who would like to cover the event should reach out to [email protected] to learn more about obtaining press credentials.
About The EmTech Event Series
MIT Technology Review’s EmTech Event Series dives into emerging technologies that will drive the new global economy. From mainstage keynotes to Q&As and small discussions, these events provide a curated view of the year’s most important developments. EmTech gives attendees the opportunity to discover future trends and learn from the most innovative people and companies in the world. Currently in its 18th year, EmTech events have quickly become a must-attend for entrepreneurs, innovators, policy leaders, media and more. This year’s EmTech events include EmTech Digital, March 26-27; Business of Blockchain, April 23; EmTech Next, June 4-5; and EmTech MIT, September 10-13. Learn more.
About MIT Technology Review
Founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1899, MIT Technology Review is a world-renowned, independent media company whose insight, analysis, reviews, interviews and live events explain the commercial, social and political impact of new technologies. MIT Technology Review derives its authority from the world’s foremost technology institution and from its editors’ deep technical knowledge, capacity to see technologies in their broadest context, and unequaled access to leading innovators and researchers. For 117 years, MIT Technology Review’s mission has been to equip readers with the intelligence to understand a world shaped by technology and the impact upon their careers and lives. Subscribe. Follow: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Instagram.
Media Contact:
Meredith Chiricosta
BIGfish Communications for MIT Technology Review
[email protected]
617-713-3800