I have just completed a course on Blockchain Technologies by INSEAD and I feel humbled to share some of my thoughts here.

Blockchain technology has profound implications for every business and every aspect of our lives. I'm not just talking about cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, it's much bigger than that. It's about the power and the potential of the underlying technology platform. It's a potent force free from geographic and economic barriers. Simply put, two people who don't know each other, with no reason to trust each other can now do business together on a blockchain, because they can trust the blockchain protocols. Maybe you're an entrepreneur and you're looking for different ways to build a new business, or an artist, or musician looking for new ways to make a living off your creations, or an immigrant who's sick of paying high fees to send money to your family in your country of origin. Maybe you're a consumer who wants to know where that Romaine lettuce really came from, or a citizen fed up with the lack of transparency and accountability of your government leaders. Blockchain is a tool for protecting your privacy, your security, and your property rights. As I am writing this today, innovators all over the world are building blockchain based apps for each of these goals, and they're just beginning.

As the saying goes, 'the only free cheese is in the mousetrap'. So, is this tool good or bad? Does it advance the human condition or does it degrade it? Such debates are raging now. The reality is, that individuals and organizations can use innovations for good and for evil. It has been true across a broad range of technologies, from electricity to the internet. You may recall the story of Lev Termen, and how his legendary invention of wonder became instruments of tyranny under Stalin. There is no doubt the obstacles facing the blockchain are formidable. While technology can change business and society dramatically, it doesn't determine outcomes one way or the other. That is a function of social, political, and cultural forces.

These are exciting and perilous times. But if we all get this right, we will fundamentally change business and society for the better. So, rather than predicting a blockchain future, I am advocating for one. I believe the economy works best when it works for everyone. Ultimately, my message is about prosperity for all.

To borrow a quote from Steve Jobs. "Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart — and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them"