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Consensus 2017 Recap: The Biggest Main Stage Moments
A roundup of the major events that took place on the Consensus 2017 main stage earlier this week.
By Stan Higgins
Updated Sep 11, 2021, 1:23 p.m. Published May 27, 2017, 9:25 a.m.
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While CoinDesk's Consensus 2017 blockchain conference may be over, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the action that took place on the main stage.
From breaking announcements by entrepreneurs to key insights by leaders from a wide range of industries, regulators and everything in between, the three-day event was abuzz with activity. In the end, more than 2,700 people attended, coming into Times Square from around the world.
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And so much happened at Consensus 2017 – you can catch up on our video segments on Twitter, with video releases coming soon – we’ve wrapped up some of the biggest moments that took place on the event's main stage this week.
CoinDesk Previews the State of Blockchain 2017
CoinDesk’s Alex Sunnarborg gave the opening presentation at Consensus this year, providing a broad-ranging overview of the blockchain and digital currency sectors.
You can dig into a preview of the State of Blockchain 2017 report by clicking here.
Consensus 2017: EU, India Governments See Path to Global Blockchain Adoption
If there was one panel that showcased the worldwide scope of blockchain, it was this one. Panelists drawn from India, China, the European Union and Australia dug deep into the core issues facing global adoption.
The panel provided a key window into the area of public sector blockchain applications, including insights from NT Arunkumar, special representative for IT & Innovation for the government of Andhra Pradesh.
"There needs to be more cross-border orchestration," he argued, going on to state:
"We definitely believe after the internet, this is the next big thing that will change every aspect of a person's life."
Bitt Reveals Big Plans for Cross-Caribbean Blockchain Settlement Network
News of a blockchain-powered settlement system that’ll span the Caribbean was one of the more groundbreaking announcements to appear on the Consensus 2017 main stage.
The brainchild of blockchain startup Bitt, the effort has drawn close interest from the Central Bank of Barbados, and is the focus of a new partnership with fellow blockchain startup Netki.
The idea is to link the region – with its distinct local cultures, economies and currencies – via the tech, creating a wholly new settlement system.
"The end-game solution is that central banks will be able to use legal tender issued on the blockchain, with all the checks and balances you'd have with regulated financial institutions,” Bitt co-founder Oliver Gale said of the project.
Disclosure: CoinDesk is a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which has an ownership stake in Blockstream, Civic, Coinbase and Netki.
Images by CoinDesk
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