Large financial institutions are full of legacy systems and mounds of regulatory risk, making it difficult to implement blockchain, an emerging technology with multiple benefits capable of enhancing industries and companies that heavily rely on transactions and record keeping.

Enthusiasts behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies firmly believe that today's fiat currency will become a thing of the past.  The principal elements behind the utility of traditional fiat money are somewhat comparable to crypto with even more added benefits that go beyond cash....

With all the hype around cryptocurrency these last 6 months, industry enthusiasts are looking to help educate the general public on what truly is considered crypto and what isn’t.

As we reach mid-2018, blockchain (the technology behind cryptocurrencies like bitcoin) has become even more popular and widely discussed.  For many that have put off learning about the new tech, there’s still time to get hands-on …..

Bitcoin, and the cryptocurrency movement, evolved from the financial crisis of 2008 as an industry solution that could stand alone on its own, without an intermediary or governing authority.  In the last 10 years, the crypto sector has gained popularity and mass appeal from its tremendous growth (especially in 2017).  Despite all the headlines, there is still some mystery as to how cryptocurrency can benefit the global financial system, and what else exists beyond Bitcoin.

When fintechs first popped up a few years ago, these startups had a goal of disrupting and displacing banks in the world of financial services.  Banks stood their ground and made small reactive changes, but kept systems and processes mostly the same.  The relationship between these rivals has dramatically changed, with both fintechs and banks now working closely together to impact the future of finance.

Machine learning has been a part of our world for years, but it’s presence and awareness (in our daily life) in the last 18 months has grown tremendously.  Finance is the industry that has most benefited from its insights in present-day applications, with even more dynamic innovation coming beyond 2018.

When it comes to cryptocurrency, everyone already knows about Bitcoin and some are familiar with Ethereum, but what about Ripple?  As the 3rd largest crypto by market cap, Ripple has risen to fame with its promise of real-time, low cost global transfers - - but, how close is the company and its currency (XRP) to realizing this potential?

Millennials embrace technology, growing up in the age of internet and smartphones apps.  Fintech, the connection between finance and technology, has greatly benefited from millennials' quick adoption rates, representing the highest usage by any age group.  Despite older generations having a higher net worth and increasing their own daily tech usage, the fintech community as a whole has ignored their specialized needs.  2018 is the year that the industry will venture beyond millennials to baby boomers and Gen Xers that have complex financial goals, in order to disrupt traditional wealth management.

As cryptocurrency markets start heating back up, there’s increased debate about how investors should categorize this controversial  value source.  Three regulating agencies in the U.S (SEC, IRS, FinCEN) all disagree - - considering it a security, property, or a currency (respectively).  Is cryptocurrency even a financial asset or something completely on its own?

As fintechs expand their core offerings towards becoming digital banks, the challenge of customer loyalty in a digital-only, non-customer facing environment becomes paramount. With only a simple download and a few screen taps needed to switch banks - - how do these companies build a loyal community of primary customers?

Blockchain is becoming widely known as the next big innovative technology, impacting the future of how we do business. The issue faced today is that the answer blockchain provides is still searching for problems to solve that customers are willing to pay for. Which problems will be most realistic and profitable to solve for blockchain?

There is no slowing down fintech as it continues to disrupt traditional financial institutions and processes with innovative technology and enhanced user experiences.  The next level of disruptive technology to be applied by fintechs is AI (artificial intelligence).

As far as fintech companies go, PayPal is among the first and most well-known for its online payment platform that offers an alternative option to using debit or credit cards.  The company is now looking to go further by targeting an underserved market: millions of “unbanked” clients (adult consumers unable to have bank accounts due to various reasons), with deposit accounts and debit cards.

As 2018 rolls along, blockchain continues to be a huge buzzword full of tremendous future potential.  With all this attention and promise of innovation, why has the technology not gone mainstream already to the masses?  The answer lies in creating a clear understanding for everyone, which can be definitely be catapulted by a gaming app.