consensys
Latest
Blockchain company buys asteroid mining firm Planetary Resources
Planetary Resources just took an unusual turn on its path to asteroid mining. ConsenSys, a blockchain company created by Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin, has bought Planetary Resources for an unspecified sum. It sounds supremely trendy given the combination of blockchain and private spaceflight, but it's a logical fit if you ask Planetary Resources' Brian Israel. Blockchain-based smart contracts represent a "natural solution" for commerce in space, Israel said -- there are no territorial divisions, so this may be an ideal way for people from various countries to "coordinate and transact."
Microsoft wants to make Bitcoin easier for banks
Microsoft no longer solely counts on Windows 10 to pay the bills. With CEO Satya Nadella at the helm, it's also betting heavily on cloud services, and just revealed an interesting new one: Bitcoin-style encryption. Redmond joined forces with startup ConsenSys on a platform called Ethereum to help business to play around with the blockchain tech used in crypto-currency. The move is well-timed, as banks are starting to get seriously interested in BItcoin-style currency. However, Microsoft said that Bitcoin applications are "just scratching the surface of what can be done when you mix cryptographic security [with the] reliability of blockchain."
