The world of blockchain technology has revolutionized one
sector after another, from banking and finance, to travel, security, supply
chain and higher education to name a few. Its increase in adoption across
various industries is due to its unique capabilities of organizing data in a
secure and transparent manner that is easily accessible by users around the
world. Accordingly, new opportunities for both businesses and individuals have
opened up, yet optimizing blockchain technology solutions and returns requires
experts.
BDD sat with Jad Adnan (JA), CEO of AETHER, a company
specialized in creating innovative blockchain solutions for clients from
different industries, to discuss disruptions, challenges and the value of
blockchain.
BDD: How did the idea for AETHER come about?
JA: As a freelance developer, came up with the idea for
AETHER after being contacted by members of the Lebanese diaspora in Amsterdam
looking for blockchain technology talent. This sparked my interest in the
growing need for blockchain development, not only in terms of programming
talent, but also in terms of product ownership and understanding how to apply
it across different industries. My passion for blockchain technology turned
into a job when I decided to start AETHER, a blockchain development company.
BDD: What were the challenges you faced while setting up?
JA: Despite the common challenges such as the difficulty in
registering the company due to the lack of a banking system and the difficulty
in finding talent, I was able to turn these problems into opportunities. I also
developed solutions for certificate fraud for the American University of
Science and Technology (AUST) for example, and was able to bring my experience
from hackathons, events at BDD, and being part of the Berytech Agrytech batch
in 2017. This exposure allowed me to identify market trends and needs, and
create a successful business. Today, AETHER serves clients from 10 different
countries in 3 regions.
BDD: What differentiates AETHER from other blockchain
companies?
JA: At AETHER, we stand out from other blockchain
competitors by approaching projects with a unique combination of being truly
results-oriented, ethical, and grounded in reality, while also fostering
creativity and discipline. We start by thoroughly studying the problem at hand,
before developing a solution, ensuring that our approach is not just
technically sound, but also tailored to the specific needs of our clients.
BDD: What should businesses and individual be on the lookout
for, in terms of trends in the world of blockchain?
JA: Blockchain is currently following a trend similar to the
World Wide Web after the .com bubble. At the time, both small and large
companies, as well as startups, were focused on creating real value and solid
business models. Similarly, in this space, there is not only innovation but
invention, and the blockchain world is slowly transforming into a disruptive
technology able to change the way we do business. It can also help solve many
problems across sectors such as REGTECH, EDTECH, Fintech (DEFI) and
entertainment.
In my role, I focus on industries that are diverse, and
untapped in the blockchain world, because I believe in creating more value and
that the blockchain technology can be used for trustless transactions in any
sector. Moreover it can remove many barriers to entry in any industry. Any
business that wants to create a way for customers not only to trust them, but
to be able to verify that trust.
BDD: So what are the benefits for businesses and
individuals?
JA: One of the key benefits of blockchain is its ability to
create a decentralized, tamper-proof ledger of transactions. This can be
particularly useful in industries where trust and transparency are important,
such as in supply chain management or in voting systems. Additionally, smart
contracts can automate processes and reduce the need for intermediaries, which
can lead to cost savings and increased efficiency.
However, this hammer does not fit all nails and not all
applications can use this technology, especially those which require
centralized points of control. And
that’s where we at AETHER come in, we study the problem first and then develop
and implement a blockchain solution that fits the needs of our clients.
BDD: What’s the added value?
JA: Blockchain adds value to clients by increasing
transparency and trust through a tamper-proof ledger, automating complex
processes through smart contracts, improving security through cryptography,
facilitating interoperability with other systems and enabling decentralization
which increases resilience and reduces single points of failure.
It can benefit anyone from designers and artists who want to
authenticate and notarize their work with their sovereign identity so that
everyone knows the original owner, to societies who want to participate in the
global economy without a banking system. It can also add value to news agencies
that want to avoid censorship and to governments who want to make certain
operations less costly on the citizen. Blockchain can not only give tremendous
value to businesses but to customers of these businesses as well increase
trust.
Learn more about the complex world of blockchain
technologies, with AETHER, here: https://www.aether.solutions/
by Beirut Digital District
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