Transacting on Blockchain when Identity Matters

Very few types of transactions rely on trust only for payment processing and verification. Even commodities trading, for example, requires standardization of quality within a goods tier—which means buyers must trust that sellers within that tier are meeting the guaranteed standard. Outside of blockchain these trust issues are typically solved via certifications, long-term relationships, and brand reputations, all of which require verifiable identity in order to facilitate the desired trust. In this talk, Dr.Barrera will discuss some of the basic economic principles that demonstrate why identity is essential to well-functioning markets. I will outline the economic design issues founding teams should consider as they expand the application of blockchain technology into industries where trust and identity matter for the provision of goods and services.