Exchanges
Although stock trades are often made in milliseconds by algorithms, completing them involves co-ordinating payment and delivery among a mess of databases and then reconciling the records. In big financial centres, trades take two full days to settle. Stock exchanges are starting to consider blockchain’s distributed, tamper-proof ledgers and immutable and transparent transaction records to speed up and simplify the process. Blockchain also shows great potential for commodities exchanges.
Crowdfunding
Blockchain technology, among all its benefits, can be best put to use by providing provable milestones as contingencies, with smart contracts releasing funds only once milestones establish that the money is being used as intended. By providing greater oversight into individual campaigns and reducing the amount of trust required to donate in good conscience, crowdfunding can become an even more legitimate means of funding a vast spectrum of projects and causes.
Voting
Mobile voting using a safe and tested interface could eliminate voter fraud and boost turnout. Using blockchain, all data of the election process can be recorded on a publicly verifiable ledger while maintaining the anonymity of voters, with results available instantly.
ICOs and STOs
ICOs (Initial Coins Offerings) are a popular new way to raise funds and distribution of new tokens or currencies. To hold an ICO, a company needs to create digital coins that represent a share of the company. The company trades these coins for other cryptocurrencies directly with any party who wants to hold them. Horizon Africa allows the easy creation, distribution, and trading of coins and tokens. Lately, STOs (Security Tokens Offerings) has taken more prominence as a regulated way of raising money through the blockchain technology. Smart contracts provide all the functions necessary to make STOs efficient and easily manageable.