FE Seminar: Hanna Halaburda
Monday,
October 28, 2019
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Title: Hopes and limits of blockchain disintermediation
Abstract: Over the past few years, there has been a lot of excitement about blockchain and its promise to decentralize and disintermediate. I will start by discussing how Bitcoin created this expectation of decentralization, and also explain key misperceptions about Bitcoin. Then I will discuss the limitations to how Bitcoin’s principles can be applied in commercial blockchains. These limitations prevent commercial blockchain from reaching the same level of decentralization and disintermediation as is possible in Bitcoin system. I will also discuss under what conditions decentralization and disintermediation is desired or not. I will characterize different roles intermediaries play, and whether blockchain can replace each role.
Bio: Hanna Halaburda is Associate Professor at NYU Stern School of Business. In her research, Halaburda studies how technology and network effects interactions in the marketplace. The most recent theme in her research is the development of digital currencies and blockchain technologies. Halaburda’s work has been published in the leading academic journals. In 2015 she wrote the first book (joined with Miklos Sarvary) analyzing economic forces related to digital currencies, Beyond Bitcoin: The Economics of Digital Currencies (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016).
Abstract: Over the past few years, there has been a lot of excitement about blockchain and its promise to decentralize and disintermediate. I will start by discussing how Bitcoin created this expectation of decentralization, and also explain key misperceptions about Bitcoin. Then I will discuss the limitations to how Bitcoin’s principles can be applied in commercial blockchains. These limitations prevent commercial blockchain from reaching the same level of decentralization and disintermediation as is possible in Bitcoin system. I will also discuss under what conditions decentralization and disintermediation is desired or not. I will characterize different roles intermediaries play, and whether blockchain can replace each role.
Bio: Hanna Halaburda is Associate Professor at NYU Stern School of Business. In her research, Halaburda studies how technology and network effects interactions in the marketplace. The most recent theme in her research is the development of digital currencies and blockchain technologies. Halaburda’s work has been published in the leading academic journals. In 2015 she wrote the first book (joined with Miklos Sarvary) analyzing economic forces related to digital currencies, Beyond Bitcoin: The Economics of Digital Currencies (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016).
Hosted by IEOR and kindly sponsored by Guzman and Co.
LOCATION:
← BACK TO EVENTS
- Morningside
- Seminar
- Engineering
- Students
- Staff
- Faculty
- Postdocs
- Alumni
- IEOR-FE
Date Navigation Widget
Getting to Columbia
Other Calendars
- Alumni Events
- Barnard College
- Columbia Business School
- Columbia College
- Committee on Global Thought
- Heyman Center
- Jewish Theological Seminary
- Miller Theatre
- School of Engineering & Applied Science
- School of Social Work
- Teachers College
Guests With Disabilities
- Columbia University makes every effort to accommodate individuals with disabilities. Please notify us if you need any assistance by contacting the event’s point person. Alternatively, the Office of Disability Services can be reached at 212.854.2388 and [email protected]. Thank you.