Issue #11: Blockchain Beyond Crypto - Real-World Applications, Trends, and the Future of Decentralised Technology

The Next Decade of Blockchain: Interesting Use Cases and What Lies Ahead

Why This Issue, Why Now?

It was just ten years ago—when blockchain was still synonymous with Bitcoin and the rollercoaster ride of crypto markets—that Ethereum entered the scene, unleashing smart contracts and opening the floodgates to decentralised innovation. Today, blockchain has evolved into a foundational technology—powering systems that demand trust, transparency, and resilience. Its influence is steadily expanding, transforming how we manage data, ownership, and collaboration across a wide range of sectors.

This issue explores blockchain’s real impact beyond the headlines: Where is it making a difference? What new possibilities are emerging? And why does its unfolding story matter for all of us?

Blockchain: A Timeline of Transformation

Curious how blockchain actually works?
In this special issue of Kokkle’s Boggles, we demystify the tech—no jargon, just used cases and examples.

Where Blockchain Is Today

Blockchain is no longer just about cryptocurrency. It underpins a wide range of applications across industries, driving transparency, security, and efficiency. Here’s a snapshot of its most significant uses:

Percentages are based on industry adoption estimates

Most Popular Blockchain Applications

1. Finance and Banking: This remains the largest sector for blockchain adoption.

• Decentralized Finance (DeFi): Platforms like Uniswap and Aave allow users to lend, borrow, and trade assets without banks, using smart contracts to automate transactions.

• Cross-Border Payments: Companies such as Ripple use blockchain to enable near-instant, low-cost international money transfers, bypassing traditional banking delays.

• Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs): Over 130 countries—including China’s digital yuan¹ and Sweden’s e-krona—are piloting blockchain-based digital currencies for secure, efficient payment systems.

2. Supply Chain and Logistics²

• Product Traceability: Major retailers and manufacturers (like Walmart³ and Nestlé⁴) use blockchain to track goods from source to shelf, ensuring authenticity and improving recall processes.

• Food Safety: Platforms like IBM Food Trust help trace the journey of food products, boosting consumer confidence and enabling rapid response to contamination.

3. Digital Identity and Governance

• Self-Sovereign Identity: Blockchain-based digital IDs give individuals control over their personal data, enabling secure access to services, voting, and online verification.

• E-Governance: Countries like Estonia use blockchain for secure digital records, e-residency, and transparent government services⁵.

4. Healthcare

• Medical Records: Hospitals and clinics use blockchain to store and share patient records securely, ensuring privacy and interoperability across providers⁶.

• Pharmaceutical Supply Chains: Blockchain helps verify the authenticity of medicines, combating counterfeits and ensuring patient safety.

The Fastest Growing Blockchain Applications

While blockchain is now integrated into many aspects of daily life, its fastest-growing application is in energy management, driven by the global push for sustainability and energy transition.

Blockchain in Renewable Energy

Imagine a city where every rooftop solar panel is part of a local energy marketplace. Homeowners sell excess electricity directly to neighbours using blockchain, with every transaction transparently recorded and instantly settled by smart contracts. This model not only maximises renewable energy use but also empowers consumers to participate in the energy economy, reducing reliance on central utilities and driving sustainability.

A Glimpse Into a Fully Mainstream Blockchain World

Picture waking up in a city where blockchain quietly powers daily life:

• Your digital identity is stored securely on a blockchain, giving you seamless access to healthcare, banking, and government services with a single, private login.

• Groceries come with a scan code showing every step of their journey, from farm to shelf, verified by blockchain for authenticity and safety.

• You buy a share of a community solar project with a tap, and your monthly energy bill is automatically offset by your share of the profits.

• Voting in local elections is done securely from your phone, with results instantly verifiable and tamper-proof.

• Artists and creators receive royalties instantly as their work is streamed or purchased, with every transaction tracked transparently.

In this world, blockchain is as invisible—and essential—as the internet, quietly enabling trust, efficiency, and new forms of collaboration.

Challenges on the Path to Full Adoption

Despite its promise, blockchain still faces several hurdles:

• Scalability: Many blockchains struggle with transaction speed and energy use, limiting their ability to handle mass adoption.

• Regulation: Unclear or inconsistent legal frameworks create uncertainty for businesses and users.

• User Experience: Technical complexity and jargon remain barriers for mainstream adoption.

• Interoperability: Different blockchains often operate in silos, hindering seamless integration across platforms.

• Security: High-profile hacks and scams have eroded trust, underscoring the need for robust safeguards.

Looking Forward: Imagine, Question, Engage

Blockchain’s journey is far from over. As it moves from hype to infrastructure, new questions emerge:
How will decentralized technology reshape power, opportunity, and trust in society? What new possibilities—and risks—will come with a world where blockchain is everywhere, yet almost invisible?

How would you use blockchain to solve a problem in your life or community? What excites or concerns you about a fully decentralised future?

Share your thoughts in the comments or reply to this issue—let’s imagine the next chapter together.

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1. Forbes talks about China’s Digital Yuan, e-CNY in this article.

2. Examples of companies who have implemented blockchain technology for its food safety and traceability highlighted in this article from Built In.

3. Walmart’s blog on blockchain technology in food traceability.

4. Nestlé reports on its blockchain pilot here.

5. Read more on Estonia’s e-Estonia that is powered by blockchain technology here.

6. Singapore used blockchain technology in its Digital Health Passport during the COVID-19 pandemic to track the distribution of vaccines while ensuring that it is tamperproof.