It isn’t all ape, hodl, and moon. EthSign fights fraud in the startup space
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Hi readers,
Remember how, just a few years ago, a lot of people thought that blockchain was going to change the world for good? Looking back at 2022 and the smoldering wreckage of the cryptoverse, it’s hard to remember why we ever thought that.
But despite everything you’ve read – and will continue to read – about SBF and FTX, there are still crypto players out there looking to make their mark in the digital world without ever using the words ape, hodl, or moon.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve talked to a few different companies that are using blockchain to build Web3 solutions to real-world problems, and EthSign has to be one of the more grounded firms I’ve come across. In fact, it’s downright boring.
The company started by trying to find ways to use e-signatures in Web3. The ability to sign documents led to a protocol that allowed users to sign contracts. Then the founders realized the data being collected on the chain could be used for verification purposes.
TL;DR? EthSign is building a solution that could help combat fraud in the startup space. Will it work? You can read all about it here and judge for yourself.
— Scott Shuey, journalist at Tech in Asia
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Image credit: TImmy Loen
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