Blockchain Success Stories

Chapter 13. Conclusion: Blockchain in Action

The Massachusetts economy is facing clear headwinds, given the current global challenge around COVID-19, but our world-class Innovation Economy will help us address the challenges posed by this crisis and can bolster the Commonwealth’s resiliency.¹

—Mike Kennealy, Massachusetts secretary of Housing and Economic Development

As we were finishing up this book, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

For those readers in the distant future, it’s hard to describe how quickly the pandemic took most of us by surprise. We had read about the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, but it seemed distant and improbable that it would affect those of us in other countries.

We had no life experience—no mental map—of a fast-moving, global pandemic. Even when it began to spread to other countries, we had no idea how quickly things would change.

Overnight, it was like a zombie outbreak straight out of World War Z or The Walking Dead. One day, society was functioning normally; the next day, everyone was ordered to quarantine. Movie theaters shut down; restaurants closed. Streets were empty; cities were quiet. It was eerie and bewildering.

Digital transformation, long a buzzword, now became a necessity. Businesses had to quickly pivot to videoconference and online collaboration tools. Schools had to quickly learn how to manage distance learning. Churches and synagogues had to quickly invent new digital rituals.

It required a massive upgrade to humanity’s tech infrastructure. ...