The Convergence of Blockchain and the IoT

The Convergence of Blockchain and the IoT

An article by Marc, Editor at IoT Business News.

Blockchain technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) have a lot in common. They are both futuristic technologies in the midst of a ten-second countdown to launching themselves into the stratosphere, where all industries will rely on them and everyday people will begin to take them for granted.

Currently, many crypto fans already possess a bitcoin wallet, and thousands of households have connected devices to make chores easier. This is in spite of the fact that blockchain and IoT are still, arguably, in their early ramp-up periods – assuming they do spread massively as predicted. However, these two areas of technology cannot just be matched up on their growth potential, but they can actually be matched up.

The convergence of the Internet of Things and Blockchain technology is possible, in motion and to the benefit of businesses. Here we will discuss the state of play and find out exactly why businesses could benefit from such a join of technological forces.

How Does the IoT and Blockchain Technology Fit Together?

The internet of Things is developed to spread data without the need for human interaction, for the most part. Spreading information is something the blockchain already does when sending crypto data around the world from wallet to wallet. With this in mind, it is already possible to see some mutually beneficial qualities in both technologies.

Ways of Fuelling IOT Through A Crypto System

The bottom line is that there are ways that the IoT could be fuelled by blockchain and/or crypto. To give a better understanding of these possibilities, here are some speculated examples of how they could be used together and how this benefits businesses.

1. IoT to Excel Microtransactions

If an IoT reliant society does come to fruition, the increase of microtransactions will be unavoidable. We may have to pay small fees for turning lights on or using the washing machine, but can banks keep up with a surge in microtransactions? We already know crypto can, but financial institutions may also begin to look at the blockchain to help deal with such demand. Simultaneously this helps those business providers bring their services to market.

2. Data Security

There is already some distrust between devices that are placed in our home and listen to our commands. Distrust likely increased after Google’s latest admission of listening to private conversations.

On the other hand, blockchain goes far too ensuring data is kept secure and has a glowing reputation for safety and privacy. It is very likely that IoT devices powered by Blockchain technology would increase trust among consumers and improve sales to those providing IoT services and products.

3. Blockchain Protects

Blockchain has already been known to track the usage of a vehicle and prevent tampering with readings and other information. This is primarily to ensure that anyone deciding to sell the car to another person must be honest and upfront about its history, maintenance records and thus, its value.

The same could be done with all the IoT devices currently in homes and IoT concepts being thought up as you read this. All these devices could have their history tracked including repairs and so on. This will protect companies who sell them from warranty fraud but has a number of other benefits.

The IoT and Blockchain could in many ways be a powerful match to give consumers and businesses the trust and confidence they need to buy and use IoT-enabled products and services. This is an important key for massive adoption of IoT throughout the whole society. Time will tell if these technologies become a strong couple but many companies are already investing in this promising combination of technologies to design the next generation of the Internet of Things…

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