We were back on the Columbia University campus a couple of weeks ago for another panel on blockchain, this time part of the “Startup Columbia Entrepreneurship Festival” series of tech talks. While the seats in the university’s Miller Theater were more comfortable than in most of the other venues we’ve been to recently, the almost absolute darkness and prohibition on using electronics made note taking a bit more challenging. Fortunately, this was a more freewheeling discussion among the moderator, Nat Kelner, associate director of the Columbia Entrepreneurship Blockchain Studio, and three venture capitalists who focus on the blockchain ecosystem. We attended several events earlier in the year where proponents of…
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Bitcoins. Okay, they're not real because bitcoins aren't physical coins but you need something to look at. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for Modern Consensus)When it comes to crypto, WSJ reporter, Goldman Sachs banker, and IBM consultant are on same page
Surprise, surprise! They’re long blockchain, but not so much bitcoin
The “Distributed Leisure” column is intended to be a record of some blockchain and cryptocurrency related events, mostly in the New York City area. In addition it will try to explain the various technologies used, occasionally interview people at the forefront of those technologies, and profile some companies in the vanguard of the evolving ecosystem.The perspective will be that of an observer with a background in both financial services and technology, a basic familiarity with the terms “blockchain” and “cryptocurrency” but no in-depth knowledge of or experience with either. It’s no surprise that an academic institution of public policy is trying to understand something of cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies.…