| Yes. I work in the area and have probably researched it more than most... and from quite some number of angles (social, technical, regulatory, etc.). My take is that an asset-neutral, settlement-system neutral transaction layer will certainly emerge. This layer will provide (1) a suitably generic model of transaction state (2) hooks for cryptographic, reputation and logistics/provisioning systems (3) precise but extensible description of transactions including both traditional and digital goods and services It will also facilitate a digital market for RFQs and quotes, and become as important to the JIT/decentralized manufacturing industry, spare parts supply business and the management of power on electrical grids as it will be to general purchasing. Our children will find it inconceivable that archaic, limited, centralized, third party, centralized trust based platforms such as Alibaba, Amazon, eBay, SAP or Taobao and their rudimentary reputation systems ever existed. I've put some thoughts and proposals online at http://ifex-project.org/ .. some of these are in live use already .. but very interested in any feedback. |