Top 17 Blockchain Applications & Use Cases in 2024: A Guide for Businesses Exploring Distributed Ledger Technology

ByPaul Christiano Last Update on

Blockchain has evolved from a niche technology into one of the most transformational innovations since the advent of the internet. According to a recent Deloitte survey, over 55% of companies worldwide are now using blockchain technology in production. The global blockchain market size is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 68.4% to reach $162 billion by 2030, per Grand View Research.

So why should your business care about blockchain in 2024 and beyond? In this comprehensive guide, we examine the top blockchain applications across major industries to understand how distributed ledger technology is creating business value today.

What is Blockchain and How Does it Work?

Before diving into applications, let‘s quickly cover the blockchain basics.

A blockchain is a distributed digital ledger of transactions, agreements, records or other data that is decentralized across many computers (known as nodes). It utilizes cryptography to allow network participants to securely add and verify transactions without need for a central authority. Some key attributes of blockchain technology include:

  • Decentralization – No single entity controls the network, power is distributed
  • Transparency – All participants can view transactions on the ledger
  • Immutability – Once data is added to the chain, it is extremely hard to change it
  • Security – Cryptography like hashing and digital signatures secure the network

Blockchain first gained attention as the underlying technology for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. However, its ability to create permanent, tamper-proof records has led to a surge of non-financial use cases as well.

Blockchain Applications in Financial Services

Financial institutions have been at the forefront of blockchain adoption. According to Greenwich Associates, major banks are investing $1.7 billion in blockchain technology for capital markets alone. Global payments revenue on blockchain is estimated to reach $10 billion by 2026, per Juniper Research.

Below are some of the top ways blockchain is transforming financial services:

Faster Cross-Border Payments

Sending money overseas via traditional methods can take days and incur high fees. Blockchain enables faster international payments by removing intermediary banks that slow down transactions.

For example, Ripple‘s global blockchain network RippleNet now reaches over 300 institutions across 50 countries. It leverages digital asset XRP to provide instant settlement.

"With XRP, payments move in seconds and at a fraction of the cost," said Monica Long, SVP of Marketing at Ripple.

Similarly, Santander bank uses Ripple‘s technology to facilitate same-day cross-border transfers. This allows the bank to settle payments in 24 hours, compared to typical 3-5 days.

Streamlined Trade Finance

Trade finance involves multiple parties, paperwork and high reconciliation costs. Blockchain brings greater efficiency to financing cross-border trade.

HSBC executed a live trade finance transaction on blockchain involving export of soybeans from Argentina to Malaysia. The typical process for this transaction takes 5-10 days – HSBC did it in 24 hours by sharing shipping information over its blockchain network.

Similarly, We.Trade‘s blockchain platform for trade finance now has 12 major banks involved, with over $100 million in transactions so far. The automated system minimizes risk and paperwork.

Hyper-Transparent Finance

Capital markets bring together buyers and sellers of assets like equities and bonds. Executing securities transactions is an expensive, fragmented process with auditing challenges.

Blockchain offers a "single version of the truth" by recording transactions in an immutable ledger visible to all permissioned parties. This prevents tampering, reduces reconciliation costs and improves auditing in capital markets.

Over 75% of surveyed financial institutions in a recent Accenture report believe blockchain will broadly scale across capital markets starting in 2022.

Investment bank Goldman Sachs has processed $250 billion in securities trades on its own blockchain network, with plans to expand usage. The Australian Securities Exchange is replacing its clearing and settlement system with a blockchain solution.

Enhanced Identity Management

Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations require financial institutions to verify client identities. However, identity verification remains largely fragmented and manual.

Blockchain‘s immutable ledger allows individuals to control and share their verified identity data with banks and other institutions. This leads to KYC and anti-money laundering processes that are more robust.

For example, Tierion‘s blockchain platform anchors identity data using public networks like Ethereum and Bitcoin. This creates a tamper-proof audit trail of verifiable claims.

TD Bank Group invested in blockchain startup Vouched to help automate identity verification for onboarding. Vouched provides a unified KYC data layer that satisfies compliance requirements.

Blockchain for More Transparent Supply Chains

Supply chains involve many parties, locations and hand-off points. This leads to lack of visibility into product journeys. Blockchain delivers complete transparency by enabling shared tracking of assets across end-to-end supply chains.

According to Allied Market Research, the global blockchain supply chain market size will grow at a CAGR of 87% from 2022 to 2031.

Tracking Origins and Provenance

For food products, customers increasingly want assurance that items are ethically sourced and free from fraud. Blockchain allows consumers to scan items and view details like manufacturing info, ingredients and transport methods.

For instance, Walmart uses blockchain to track leafy greens back to farms instantly, which took up to 7 days prior. This enables targeted recalls and prevents retailer-level food waste.

Luxury brands like LVMH rely on blockchain to confirm authenticity and sourcing credentials for high-value items. Consumers can scan NFC tags to view item histories going back to raw materials.

Monitoring Shipping in Real-Time

Global freight shipments generate vast amounts of paperwork that must be verified. Blockchain enables real-time tracking by recording transactions like customs docs, temperature data, etc directly on a tamper-proof ledger.

Maersk, the world‘s largest container shipping company, has processed over 3 million blockchain-based shipping transactions since 2018. Their blockchain solution reduced customs delays by 80% by enabling instant access to customs documents.

Meanwhile, 300 organizations have joined IBM and Maersk‘s TradeLens consortium focused on digitizing global shipping. Members gain access to shared information on shipment events, documents and more.

Accountability Across Subcontractors

Large manufacturers rely on many subcontractors globally, making it hard to enforce regulations. Blockchain brings transparency across tiers of suppliers to address issues like unauthorized subcontracting, labor policies and environmental impact.

For example, Volkswagen is exploring using blockchain to securely share sustainability data across its vast supply chain. This would allow visibility into emissions and materials sourcing down to individual parts.

Similarly, Mercedes Benz has piloted tracking parts on blockchain to comply with regulations like Dodd Frank conflict mineral reporting. Digitally tracking component origin helps ensure responsible sourcing.

Individual Identity Management with Blockchain

Identity theft leads to over $56 billion in losses annually in the US, according to Javelin Strategy. Individuals struggle to control their personal data, which is fragmented across various institutions.

Blockchain ID solutions allow people to own their identity data in a single decentralized record. Rather than send copies of verification documents to each new institution, individuals can provide reusable attestations.

For example, Microsoft decentralized identifiers (DIDs) built on Bitcoin‘s blockchain let users prove identity claims like being over 21 without sharing sensitive personal details.

Meanwhile, DoubleBlind applies zero-knowledge proofs on public blockchains to authenticate users without accessing actual identification documents.

Civic offers blockchain-based digital wallets for identity owners to selectively share verified credentials like age, address, social security numbers, etc. This minimizes data leakage.

More Transparent Voting with Blockchain

Even in mature democracies, doubts around voting integrity persist. Blockchain‘s decentralized, verifiable record-keeping makes election tampering essentially impossible. Voters can independently audit results by verifying their ballot reached the chain.

West Virginia enabled mobile voting using blockchain for absentee voters in 2018 midterm elections. Over 150 votes were recorded on the pilot blockchain system.

Voatz and Democracy Live offer accessible mobile voting utilizing biometrics and blockchain for identity verification and security.

Meanwhile, governments like Moscow and Thailand are evaluating blockchain voting systems for upcoming elections.

Blockchain for Fairer Music Rights & Royalties

The music business involves many intermediaries, which leads to delayed payments and lack of transparency for artists. Blockchain is emerging as an efficient, transparent way to manage rights and distribute royalties.

For example, Royal built a blockchain platform to enable frictionless music royalty distribution based on actual play counts. Artists receive payment within days instead of months.

Similarly, Auddly helps independent musicians securely register and manage the rights to their work on blockchain. This automates licensing and revenue distribution via smart contracts.

Imogen Heap‘s Mycelia Creative Passport initiative aims to give artists more control over their creative identities and compensation on blockchain.

As blockchain gains momentum across content licensing, the media industry could see $250 billion in annual cost savings by 2030, per PwC estimates.

Evaluating Blockchain for Your Business Needs

Hopefully this overview has showcased blockchain‘s expansive applications for business and government. As you strategize how distributed ledger technology could create value, keep these tips in mind:

  • Start small – Run limited scope pilots focused on a pain point before committing to enterprise-wide blockchain adoption.
  • Analyze the benefits – How does blockchain improve functionality, security, transparency, automation, etc compared to existing solutions?
  • Evaluate integration needs – Assess how readily blockchain can integrate with your current systems and data.
  • Weigh public vs private models – Public networks promote decentralized governance but private blockchains might better suit your use case.
  • Develop in-house expertise – Building up an internal blockchain competency is key for long term success.

The future is bright for blockchain as it transitions from early use cases like cryptocurrency into the business mainstream. While challenges around scale, regulation and security persist, its transformational potential propels blockchain toward widespread enterprise adoption.

I am Paul Christiano, a fervent explorer at the intersection of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and their broader implications for society. Renowned as a leading figure in AI safety research, my passion lies in ensuring that the exponential powers of AI are harnessed for the greater good. Throughout my career, I've grappled with the challenges of aligning machine learning systems with human ethics and values. My work is driven by a belief that as AI becomes an even more integral part of our world, it's imperative to build systems that are transparent, trustworthy, and beneficial. I'm honored to be a part of the global effort to guide AI towards a future that prioritizes safety and the betterment of humanity.

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