The blockchain industry has become a phenomenon in both a cultural sense and in terms of the potential that the technology holds. Both of these features can be credited largely to the innovators and pioneers that continue to use their platforms to praise the industry, and have dedicated a significant portion of their careers to improving the landscape.In Canada, one of the countrys native blockchain pioneers is Alex Tapscott. In addition to being the son of leading blockchain expert Don Tapscott and serving as a co-founder of the Blockchain Research Institute, Alex Tapscott boasts many accomplishments of his own. As part of a regular series, Coinsquare News is profiling some of the Canadian blockchain industrys most significant figures. This series is designed to provide a view into the backgrounds and minds of these prominent individuals for both new investors and experienced digital currency advocates.
Alexander Tapscott was born in Toronto in 1986 to a family of innovative minds. His father, Don Tapscott, is among the most well-known names in the blockchain industry today and serves as a major player in Canadas blockchain scene.
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In 2004, Alex Tapscott began studying his undergraduate degree at Amherst College, located in Massachusetts. Between 2006 and 2007, Tapscott first represented Canada on a national stage - albeit in the form of an athletic pursuit. He served as both a member and captain of the Canadian Mens Rugby Under 21 team in numerous tournaments. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Law, Jurisprudence, and Social Thought, Tapscott embarked on a career that would earn him many accomplishments both through collaborating with his father, and through his own endeavours in the Canadian blockchain scene.
By his own account, Tapscott spent seven years working in capital markets in both New York City and Toronto. This portion of his career included his role as a senior executive at one of Canadas Big Five investment banks, CIBC.In 2014, he founded the CIBCs blockchain practice after he found himself increasingly interested in the potential applications for blockchain technology in the financial services industry. It was around this time that he released a white paper titled A Bitcoin Governance Network, which explored and discussed several potential use cases for cryptocurrencies - which were largely unheard of among members of the public at the time. In 2016, Tapscott joined his father in co-authoring a book titled Blockchain Revolution: How the Technology Behind Bitcoin Is Changing Money. The book, which was one of the first major pieces of literature to attempt to contextualize the emerging blockchain industry, was massively successful. Through its accolades and status as a Globe and Mail bestseller, Blockchain Revolution bolstered the status of both Tapscotts as key authorities in the blockchain space.
Following the publication of Blockchain Revolution in 2016, Tapscott set out to create a research institution that would help mature the blockchain industry in Canada. While the book that he co-authored argued that the blockchain technology will shape the next era of prosperity in fields such as finance, education, governance, and more, these ideas became more tangible with the launch of the Blockchain Research Institute.The BRI was officially established in March 2017 in Toronto as an organization that aims to research and develop real-world applications for blockchain technology. Today, the institute plays a significant role in Canadas blockchain research movement.Most recently, the BRI spoke with the countrys prominent blockchain and digital currency stakeholders to create a series of regulatory suggestions for Canadian lawmakers. These suggestions aim to help foster innovation in Canada and ensure that the blockchain industry is able to continue its growth.
Today, Alex Tapscott is among Canadas leading minds in the blockchain field, and is vocal in almost every opportunity he has to praise the potential of blockchain technology. In addition, he often speaks on how blockchain technology is the product of the world as a whole. This is not something where all the value and innovation is being created in Silicon Valley, he said, in a 2018 interview with VentureBeat. Its not like the early 90s. The technology is global, and the phenomenon is global as well. While the phenomenon may be global, there is no doubt that Tapscott has succeeded thus far in helping to ensure that Canada plays an important role in the global blockchain conversation. Further, he continues to not only praise blockchain technology but help make its potential a reality through his work.Image credit: Alex Tapscott official website
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