The light and shadow of the “blockchain” technology with which Nike raised millions of dollars
The chain of blocks (blockchain) is spreading more and more throughout our environment. It is not only associated with cryptocurrencies, but already exists artwork or other cultural products and even in fashion and wood fields. It is a set of technologies that allow secure, decentralized and distributed record keeping of digital operations without interference from third parties. It has also been used by Galician director Julio Fernández, film producer and distributor FilmMax, to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the premiere of “REC”, a milestone in the film history of the Sitges Film Festival. in Spain.
Fans of the “REC” series can purchase a limited edition of digital collectibles created as NFTs (Fungible Token) which works via blockchain and which gives access to 3D figures and other larger environments. Its peculiarity is that this type of document is unique and unchangeable, there is no one like it.
Products of this type have been used in other film collectibles such as “Matrix”, “No Time to Die” or “Top Gun: Maverick”, among others.
Professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC) from the Economic Analysis and Modeling Group- Manuel Fernández Grela emphasizes that “this is an area that has great promise for the future”. But what is to be found in Europe in general, and in Spain in particular, is that there is a great lack of information and training”. Tuesday in a training day at USC’s Faculty of Economic Sciences in Compostela in collaboration with the Professional College of Computer Engineering of Galicia and the Technical Modernization Agency of Galicia.
will also include Vladimiro Navarro, Blockchain Director at Addalia Which will talk about real world application. Navarro gave part of his speech to FARO, and we also took the opportunity to ask him what blockchain really is.
“In general, all societal models work because they are centralized and someone guarantees us that things work in a certain way. I know I have my money because the bank tells me and everyone else that’s what I have. We all trust the system. In the form of blockchain, it is a technique that allows it to work in the same way, but without anyone in the middle to guarantee everything because it works with defined and implemented rules. So I can send money to another person without a bank guarantee, he says.
Navarro recalls that Blockchain Come looking for a way to exchange money -Although he clarified that bitcoin is not money- without using an intermediary like a bank. “This was the first of the applications of the technology. Cryptocurrencies appeared, mechanisms of exchange and speculation. Soon it was seen that this technology could be used in other areas. For example, it can be used for everyone. This is done to guarantee the traceability of the product from its origin to the table because at all times I have a trace (footprint) of each of the people who participate in that product without relying on third parties. parties. In the food industry it is widely used, he says.
In terms of art, it describes how the NFT blockchain Let us prove that we own a digital work that we can transfer it to another person with every guarantee that we are the owner and that we have transferred it.
These shoes are not bought to run in the field, but to show the avatar
Vladimiro Navarro says the scheme has been chosen by major fashion firms such as Nike to launch NFT products – such as digital sneakers – that represent the avatars of people in the metaverse (a digital world where our virtual selves can move). You can use. “Those shoes were not bought to run in the field, but to show off that I have them. I don’t want to buy them because I’m older, but my son wants to show his avatar in the metaverse or video games. Nike has made 180 million dollars in sales For those shoes”, emphasizes this expert.
But there are other more tangible applications that use blockchain For companies to submit their offers in public tenders. The government of Aragon has implemented it So that a fraction of that offer can be registered in the blockchain. “No one can know what I offer, and neither I nor anyone can change it later. The voltage opening day is verified and you guarantee that there can be no system manipulation”, says Navarro.
In Galicia, says Manuel Fernández Grela, they use Traceability in the timber industry and also for initiatives such as Bitcoin GoldIn which one of the promoters is from Vigo.
The problem with this technology is the lack of training to train professionals in it. “If the potential is not known, it will be difficult to develop a significant activity in Galicia regardless of legal restrictions,” Grela warned.
There are three Galician public universities (USC, Uvigo and A Corua University). Working to start offering programs Including matters related to blockchain.
,They began to be introduced in some subjects related material. What it is not is a specific program dedicated to blockchain or specific topics. For now, the material is only offered in pilot experiences, he explains and is waiting for the Ministry of Education to proceed.
