IBM has announced a blockchain ecosystem to help accelerate the creation of blockchain networks.
Blockchain has the potential to transform the way industries conduct business transactions. This will require a complete ecosystem of industry players working together, allowing businesses to benefit from the network effect of blockchain.
“The future growth and adoption of blockchain is reliant upon building a strong ecosystem. Business networks will only reach critical mass when innovators, industry experts and infrastructure providers come together in new ways to reinvent how business transactions happen,” says Bridget Van Kralingen, senior vice-president of IBM Industry Platforms. “The growing maturity of the Hyperledger Project code is a major milestone. That’s why IBM is investing to help developers accelerate the creation of blockchain networks by providing an environment where these players can work together.”
The blockchain ecosystem programme is designed for innovators looking to build real networks — venture capitalists (VCs), start-ups, systems integrators (SI), independent software vendors (ISV) and enterprise developers. To support these diverse organisations, IBM will provide education and tools aimed to reduce the time required to go from idea to execution.
IBM blockchain professionals will hold “office hours” via the Hyperledger Fabric Slack channel providing support to developers and help with troubleshooting. This is in addition to the courses and learning modules for business users and developers already available on developerWorks.
These will be augmented with code libraries, smart contract templates and tools currently in development to speed the creation of blockchain apps.
These programmes are designed to support the Linux Foundation Hyperledger Fabric v1.0 and the IBM Blockchain platform which is expected to transform the way blockchain networks transact, opening up new possibilities for development. The Hyperledger Fabric v1.0 will provide a modular approach, much like the network-of-networks model of the Internet.
The IBM blockchain ecosystem is an open environment where organisations can collaborate on shared or complementary technical and business visions using the Hyperledger Fabric, and access education and development support. Because blockchain is a network business, an environment where all interested parties can share tools, information and relationships is critical.
Start-ups, ISVs and SIs are investing in blockchain and have embraced the Hyperledger Fabric after testing a variety of blockchain platforms. Many companies are already joining the IBM blockchain ecosystem, including Cloudsoft, EY, Everledger, Gliding Eagle, Hacera, The Hive, IntellectEU, Loyyal, Mooti Blockchain Digital Identity, Netki, and Sensify Security.
IBM will host a connect-a-thon on December 17, 2016, using the Hyperledger Fabric v1.0 to set up peers that will operate in a network of networks mode, providing security-rich, confidential transactions among known parties.