Blockchain is being hyped as never before. A series of Blockchain initiatives has been run by the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), both internally and in consortia with other companies. We have learned quite a few things about what makes a good blockchain problem through these efforts. This experience report will describe the internal checklist that we use to prioritize projects and fend off over-hyped blockchain enthusiasts. Key topics include defining transactions to put on the chain, transparency requirements, Central Authorities, open vs. permissioned Blockchains, transaction speed, consensus mechanisms (and how to reach a single version of the truth), and some examples of business problems where Blockchain can be part of the solution.
Video producer: http://www.sei.cmu.edu/saturn/
Further reading: What We Learned From Our First Blockchain Software Project