Assessing Use Cases
Required Readings:
‘Assessing the Viability of Crypto Projects’ MIT Cryptocurrency Online Short Course (as adapted,
August 2019)
‘Blockchain and Trust’ Schneier on Security (February 12, 2019)
‘Blockchain beyond the hype: What is the strategic business value?’ McKinsey (June 2018)
‘6 Major Reasons Why Decentralized Projects Fail’ Coin Idol (April 25, 2019)
‘The promise of the blockchain technology’ Economist (September 1, 2018)
Optional Readings:
‘When the Tide Goes Out: Big Questions for Crypto in 2019’ Gensler, CoinDesk (December 17, 2018)
‘21st Geneva Report on the World Economy – The Impact of Blockchain Technology on Finance:
Catalyst for Change’ Chapter 2 – A framework for understanding transaction costs and trade-offs
(pages 14 – 16)
‘ICO Evaluation Deep-Dive — 13 Questions to Ask’ Medium, Invictus (April 10, 2018)
Study Questions/Issues to Prepare:
1) What are the strategic and tactical considerations in assessing the viability and value proposition
of a blockchain technology project?
2) What are the attributes of potential use cases and sectors that might best capture value from
such applications? How important are the benefits of censorship resistance to this analysis?
3) How can you separate rigorous analysis from mere assertion and hype in the blockchain
ecosystem?