While it took the advent of cryptocurrencies to bring blockchain technology global recognition, the world has realized its other significant applications. Emerging blockchain trends 2023 are here to drive major transformations across the global business landscape. In addition to being the backbone of cryptos, the business value-add of this sophisticated database tool is so vast that it is predicted to raise the global economy by $1.76 trillion by 2030, according to this report by PwC.
The reason for this is that blockchain has become a key instrument across most industries that rely on transactions. This is primarily because it streamlines verification during transactions, offers robust security measures and enhances data privacy and protection.
Let’s take a look at the biggest blockchain trends to emerge in 2023 and what the future holds for this powerful technology.
Is Blockchain Still Relevant in 2023?
The simple answer to that question is ‘yes’. This is despite the fact that the still-nascent blockchain space has witnessed some major challenges like the dawn of the ‘crypto winter’ and failed algorithmic ‘stablecoins’ in 2022. For 2023, the consensus among experts is that as blockchain technology improves, it will play a greater role in society and the economy. It is likely to be a transitional year where more people and businesses will move towards integrating Web3 technologies like blockchain to utilize their benefits. Banking, finance, supply chain management, healthcare and cybersecurity are some prominent industries that are expected to be disrupted by blockchain technology.
The blockchain industry has opened up a whole new world of possibilities and opportunities on both an economic and business level. This is all thanks to its security and privacy-enhancing abilities. According to the Business Research Company, the global blockchain services market is projected to grow from $3.28 billion in 2022 to $4.7 billion in 2023 to a staggering $19.76 billion by 2027.
So what are the top blockchain trends 2023 that are set to shape the future of tech? Let’s have a look.
1. Value Chains
Blockchain technology facilitates traceability across the entire supply chain. Since blockchains store data in a digital decentralized ledger, they provide instant access to the status or authenticity of a product. This enhances efficiency, ensures reliability and creates a global value chain of goods.
2. International Trade
Smart contracts are an essential element of the blockchain ecosystem that many businesses have grown to adopt. It simplifies documents such as licenses and certificates, among others. This reduces overall costs while eliminating reliability on third parties. Additionally, it improves both speed and accuracy in the conduct of international trade.
ALSO READ: What are Smart Contracts? How are They Integral to Blockchain?
3. Decentralized Finance and Banking
Decentralized Finance (DeFi) involves holding money in a secure digital wallet through smart contracts rather than paying a specific charge or fee for using the bank’s services. This application of blockchain technology can very well prove to be the future of finance.
ALSO READ: What is Decentralized Finance and Why is it Important?
4. Cryptocurrencies and Online Payment Systems
Both cryptos and blockchain payment systems use blockchain technology for storing transactional data in peer-to-peer networks and eliminate the involvement of centralized authorities like banks. This lowers transaction costs, enhances security and creates a greater demand for high performance systems with shorter transaction times.
5. Increased Adoption of Blockchain by Enterprises
One of the biggest blockchain trends 2023 is the growth in enterprise operations that rely on blockchain. The decentralized nature of blockchains offers improved security, transparency and protection from cyber attacks, which is why more companies are likely to leverage this technology to their benefit.
6. Increased Development of Blockchain-Based Applications
Software developers with blockchain expertise will be in great demand in 2023. There will be a surge in the requirement of blockchain technology that can aid in building powerful applications to carry out secure transactions, develop enhanced Know Your Customer (KYC) features and more.
Economy and Finance Will Lead Blockchain Applications
Adopting practices like DeFi in industries like banking and finance are fairly simple and do not demand any radical transformations. Today, many financial institutions are looking at blockchain technology to transform traditional banking operations. According to Research and Markets, the global blockchain market in banking and financial services is forecasted to grow from $2,034 million in 2021 to $17,583 in 2026.
Blockchain can help banks by enabling quicker transactions at lower costs while reducing excessive bureaucracy. It can also be leveraged to launch new cryptocurrencies that will be regulated by monetary policy. This greatly reduces the competitive advantage of standalone cryptos, which is a clear benefit to banks.
Is Blockchain the Future?
The advantages of blockchain are the reasons why it is being considered a critical element of the next technological revolution. Its applications have extended beyond cryptocurrencies to many sectors. These include healthcare, e-commerce, publishing, finance, and insurance, among others. According to Grand View Research, the global blockchain tech market is predicted to reach $1,432 billion by 2030 with a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 85.9% between 2022 and 2030.
In view of the biggest blockchain trends 2023, like the development of the Metaverse, growing popularity of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), emergence of green initiatives and other breakthroughs in the industry, it is evident that blockchain is here to stay.
Incorporating innovative tools such as digital assets, enterprise blockchains, and quantum computing across relevant industries can be transformative to the current tech world. If you are interested in building a career in the blockchain industry, you’ll know that there is a need to stay updated as well as appropriately skilled. To that end, it makes imminent sense to sign up for the highly valuable online technology courses on Emeritus and gain a huge competitive edge in this job market.