Image of the day, 6 of August: Forbes, Bloomberg, CNBC and others

John Hamaka is an Editor-in-Chief of the new academic journal “Blockchain in Healthcare Today” and he told us about three opportunities how we can use this technology:

1. Medical Records. When a medical record is generated and signed, it can be written to the blockchain, which will provide absolute proof and confidence that a medical record cannot be changed. The integrity of the medical record is ensured.

2. Consent management. In the current healthcare environment, where every state has different privacy and consent regulations, blockchain could be used to record patient’s consent for purposes of data sharing.   Any party seeking to exchange medical data about a patient could check the blockchain for permission to do so.

3. Micropayments. The idea that patients might be also rewarded is gaining traction. If a patient follows a care plan, keeps his appointments and stays healthy, there might be rewards offered through the blockchain. Similarly, patients might be rewarded for contributing their data to clinical trials and clinical research using the same approach.

2. SUCCESSFUL ALLIANCE (Forbes)

How Blockchain Intersects With Artificial Intelligence

Blockchain, though powerful on it's own, becomes enhanced to a whole new level when coupled with AI technology. New features and capabilities become unlocked, enhanced, and more secure through the convergence:

1. Security: Blockchain technology is more secure than ever before, due to the companies, which have perfected cybersecurity tactics for digital assets. With the implementation of AI and machine-learning, that level of security is brought to new heights, which guarantees secure future application deployments.

2. Efficiency: AI can help optimize calculations to reduce miner load, resulting in less network latency for faster transactions.

3. Trust: The iron cast records of blockchain are touted as one of its main selling points. Blockchains records applied in conjunction with AI allow the users to follow the system's thinking process. This, in turn, will help the bots trust each other, increasing machine-to-machine interaction and allowing them to share data and coordinate decisions.

3. NEW BEGINNINGS (Bloomberg)

Goldman Sachs Is thinking about Crypto Funds

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. could offer a boost for the burgeoning universe of funds betting on cryptocurrencies.

The firm is considering a plan to offer custody for crypto funds, according to people with knowledge of the matter. That means the bank would hold the newfangled securities on behalf of the funds, reducing risk for clients seeking to guard against the threat of losing their investments during rogue attacks.

4. COFFEE FOR BITCOIN (Fortune)

Starbucks Tries to Clean Up Its Bitcoin Mess

Starbucks announced on Friday that it would be trading in Bitcoin, alongside Microsoft and International Exchange (owner of the New York Stock Exchange), in a partnership called Bakkt. A flurry of news headlines suggested that the announcement meant that customers would be able to pay for their coffees using Bitcoin.

But based on Starbucks’ later statement, the maximum that customers can expect to come to paying for their coffee with Bitcoin—for the time being, at least—is that the exchange will convert digital assets like Bitcoin into U.S. dollars, which can indeed be used at Starbucks.

5. NEXT LEVEL (Finance.yahoo)

OATH`s strategic partnership with QuarkChain

The collaboration between OATH and QuarkChain is the first of its kind, and a leading example of a public chain’s use of a decentralized governance protocol.

It is modeled on the common-law jury system and utilizes blockchain, cryptographic algorithms, random algorithms associated with categories and attributes, juror’s credit level, and case-tracking technology.

6. THE DARK SIDE (Forbes)

Bitcoin Donations To Neo-Nazis

Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have long been associated with the far right and other extremists around the world, due to their relative anonymity and ease of use.

The second Unite The Right rally is scheduled for this weekend and will this year happen in the U.S. capital, with some 400 far-right activists expected to flood into Washington D.C. on August 11th. Ahead of the rally, bitcoin and cryptocurrency donations to neo-Nazis are on the rise.

7. IT’S GOING TO BE FINE (CNBC)

Wall Street angst is essentially overrated

Jeffrey Mills (vice-president of PNC) referred to this year's uptick in volatility — sparked by concerns over factors such as rising interest rates, a narrowing yield curve and the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and major trading partners

"The China thing is going to be with us for a while," said Mills, referring to a new round of tariffs both countries slapped on each other last week. "You do have to pay attention to the fact that trade fears will stay with us. So expectations have to be muted to a degree."

Yet, Mills expects the S&P 500 Index will see a positive year.

8. LESS THAN $7000 (Market watch)

Negative trend

Bitcoin prices traded firmly lower early Monday, after the digital currency over the weekend retreated below $7,000.

A single bitcoin BTCUSD has fallen down to $ 6,971 that is 0.9% lower than on Sunday 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the Kraken exchange. Since Friday’s high, the No. 1 digital currency has lost $10 billion in value.