Introduction

A query for “blockchain” on Google’s news aggregator returns 160 matches for the monthof April, 2018, alone. The media’s interest in blockchain, or“distributed ledger,” technologyand the associated “crypto asset class” over the last 12 to 18 months has mirrored the rapiddevelopment of the blockchain ecosystem.

While a lot has been written about blockchain, and its most media-friendly implementation,bitcoin, there has been less focus on the potential corporate use cases of the blockchainconstruct. This document will attempt to explain the technology in non-technical terms, providean update on the current status of blockchain, and summarize an action plan for corporatedecision makers to evaluate blockchain’s potential. We will also attempt to clearly outline the

potential uses of blockchain while also highlighting the various risks and shortcomings thathave been identified to date.

This is not a technical document. Many have filled that need in their white papers and referencematerials. Rather, we seek to provide an informed view on the corporate implications of therapidly changing interplay between finance and blockchain technology.