ARMONK, N.Y., Dec. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Blockchain has
the potential to transform the way industries conduct business
transactions. This will require a complete ecosystem of industry
players working together, allowing businesses to benefit from the
network effect of blockchain. To help support these organizations,
IBM (NYSE: IBM) announced today a blockchain ecosystem to help
accelerate the creation of blockchain networks.
"The future growth and adoption of blockchain is reliant upon
building a strong ecosystem. Business networks will only reach
critical mass when innovators, industry experts and infrastructure
providers come together in new ways to reinvent how business
transactions happen," said Bridget Van
Kralingen, senior vice president, IBM Industry
Platforms. "The growing maturity of the Hyperledger Project
code is a major milestone. That's why IBM is investing to help
developers accelerate the creation of blockchain networks by
providing an environment where these players can work
together."
The blockchain ecosystem program is designed for innovators
looking to build real networks -- venture capitalists (VCs),
start-ups, systems integrators (SI), independent software vendors
(ISV) and enterprise developers. To support these diverse
organizations, IBM will provide education and tools aimed to reduce
the time required to go from idea to execution. IBM blockchain
professionals will hold "office hours" via the Hyperledger Fabric
Slack channel providing support to developers and help with
troubleshooting. This is in addition to the courses and learning
modules for business users and developers already available on
developerWorks. These will be augmented with code libraries,
smart contract templates and tools currently in development to
speed the creation of blockchain apps.
These programs are designed to support the Linux Foundation
Hyperledger Fabric v1.0 and the IBM Blockchain platform which is
expected to transform the way blockchain networks transact, opening
up new possibilities for development. The Hyperledger Fabric v1.0
will provide a modular approach, much like the network-of-networks
model of the Internet.
IBM Blockchain Ecosystem Participants
The IBM
blockchain ecosystem is an open environment where organizations can
collaborate on shared or complementary technical and business
visions using the Hyperledger Fabric, and access education and
development support. Because blockchain is a network business, an
environment where all interested parties can share tools,
information and relationships is critical. Start-ups, ISVs and SIs
are investing in blockchain and have embraced the Hyperledger
Fabric. Many companies are already joining the IBM blockchain
ecosystem, including:
- Cloudsoft is a software company providing multi-cloud
application management with open source tools. Cloudsoft Blockchain
Service lets developers focus on creating chaincode applications
and reduces time to value for enterprises investigating and working
with blockchain technologies, such as financial institutions
setting-up their own Hyperledger blockchain networks running across
multiple geographies.
- EY helps clients leverage blockchain in their business
solutions. EY teams of professionals bring cross sector experience
and deep industry knowledge of business processes, finance, risk
and regulation, cybersecurity, automation, cloud, and analytics to
develop and execute on strategies to help our clients address their
most challenging business problems.
- Everledger is a UK-based startup that is using IBM
Blockchain to authenticate and trace the origin of high-value and
luxury goods, such as diamonds and wine that are authenticated by
trusted players like certificate houses. Using the IBM High
Security Network, the company is able to trace and validate some of
the world's most sought-after objects in a secure, tamper-resistant
environment.
- Gliding Eagle is a California based company providing a cloud and
mobile based technology system offering transparency and
authenticity in tracking individual products from the producer to
the end consumer, anywhere in the world.
- HACERA adds highly secure Authentication, Authorization
and Accounting/Auditing (AAA) services to blockchains. HACERA is
focused on regulated institutions that must comply with stringent
policies regarding privacy, sensitive data processing and service
availability. Built for scalability, HACERA seamlessly protects
participants' identity properties, even when stored across multiple
identity systems, using strong cryptography.
- The Hive is a Palo
Alto based early-stage fund and venture studio focused on
applications of AI and big data with a strong blockchain technology
portfolio across FinTech, cyber-security, industrial Internet and
compliance. The Hive is actively co-creating ventures within IBM's
blockchain ecosystem by collaborating with entrepreneurs in its
high-touch model.
- IntellectEU is an international Fintegration company
with experienced Blockchain (Hyperledger and Ethereum) teams in the
US and EMEA. IntellectEU is the founding member of Linux
Foundation's Hyperledger Project and is offering specialized
professional services, application development and integration
services.
- Loyyal is reinventing how loyalty is created and
rewarded. Using blockchain and smart contract technology, Loyyal
has created interoperable loyalty and rewards infrastructure to
address a highly fragmented industry, and offer multiple sectors an
innovative way to incentivize customer behavior.
- Mooti Blockchain Digital Identity provides advanced
self-sovereign identity via blockchain technology using its new
standard for cryptographic identification and validation. Mooti
Digital Identity runs Identity Chains across any blockchain and
provides enhanced data privacy and unique features such as time
based revocation and ring signature confidential transaction
anonymity.
- Netki provides open source/open standards based Digital
Identity solutions for worldwide regulatory compliance. Netki is
the only solution that works across all blockchains out of the box:
users can validate once and use on every blockchain.
- Sensify Security is a Palo Alto based IoT security startup that
builds higher resistance to cyber-weapons by enabling operators to
enforce access control in a decentralized manner within their
operating environments. Its tamper-resistant propagation of
security services to gateway-based points of enforcement leverages
Hyperledger Fabric, and offers operators centralized control,
policy management and compliance.
- Skuchain is a Silicon Valley startup building a
blockchain based platform for collaborative commerce called
Brackets. Skuchain is demonstrating the potential of verifiable
information on Hyperledger Fabric to eliminate supply chain
friction in use cases ranging from trade finance, to working
capital to item level authenticity.
Blockchain Connect-A-Thon with Hyperledger Fabric
v1.0
IBM will host a connect-a-thon on December 17, 2016, using the Hyperledger Fabric
v1.0 to set up peers that will operate in a network of networks
mode, providing security-rich, confidential transactions among
known parties.
IBM is rapidly expanding its blockchain capabilities and
actively working with companies to understand what it takes to make
blockchain ready for business. Financial services, supply chains,
IoT, risk management, digital rights management and healthcare are
some of the areas that are poised for dramatic change using
blockchain networks.
For more information on the IBM Blockchain ecosystem, visit:
Http://ibm.com/blockchain/ecosystem.html
To view a video on building a blockchain network for business
please visit: http://bit.ly/2fK0xah.
Contact:
Francine Fiano
IBM Media Relations
1-914-766-4434
fufiano@us.ibm.com
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SOURCE IBM