It was not too long ago that the entire mindset surrounding blockchain was as an open, digital ledger that recorded transactions without the need of a third party to verify what was taking place.  This was the original use of Bitcoin.

In a few short years, we saw the blockchain world evolve.

![](https://steemitimages.com/DQmQxR3fStKcKeD4E2mRXWE9uM1zQ2tt4mbXAzJfA7cNWz4/image.png)

Today, it seems as if blockchain is something that everyone is trying to get into.  Not only are there all the decentralized ones, we are seeing companies such as IBM set up centralized networks for different businesses and industries.

One of the major areas of focus by the traditional companies is in the area of "supple chain" management.  Companies are seeking out ways to better control this process and blockchain is offering a fine solution.

Of course, since control is at the core of this move, these networks are centralized with either an individual company or reliable third party running it.  

The manufacturing industry is one of the biggest in the world.  There are trillions of dollars worth of products produced and shipped around the world each year.  Estimates are that this is almost $2T in the United States this year alone.

Robotics received a great deal of attention the last couple decades as automation entered the manufacturing arena.  In the US, the number of manufacturing jobs is down 1M from 20 years ago even though production is at an all-time high.  Automation is the cause for this.

The next wave of automation in the manufacturing industry is going to come, not from robotics, but a technology that is decades old.  

3D printing is going to set the manufacturing world on end.  Over the next decade, we are going to see a shift towards the movement of a digital file and then the creation of the product locally as opposed to the manufacturing of it which is then shipped.  Regional manufacturing is going to be the norm.  As we progress through the next decade, as the printers improve and costs come down, we will see more of the $2T moved into this realm.  In my opinion, we should see a jump in this industry starting in 2019.

We are already seeing networks of 3D printers being configured together.  This is going to be the norm.  At some point, we should see this utilized by companies covering their entire selling area.  It is very likely this will end up being a totally automated process meaning that an order comes in and the system directs the printer cluster closest to that person to produce the item.  

The challenge to all this comes when one realizes that it is not a single company that is setting up the printers.  We are going to see the decentralization driven by entities that set up the printers as a service.  This is where blockchain comes into the picture.  Companies that are looking to have their products printed are going to have to get with the print companies.  Of course, being global and required in a short period of time, trust will need to be established.  

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How do entities that do not know each other establish trust?  Blockchain is the answer...more specifically, decentralized blockchain.

The drawback to centralized blockchains (actually I dont even consider them blockchains since my definition includes open and decentralized), is that one still needs to trust the one running the blockchain.  If it is the company you are doing business with, that might not be in your best interest.  On the other hand, if it is a third party, how do you know if that entity is not just a step removed from the one you are doing business with?  Look at the blockchain the major banks want to set up to replace the existing settlement model.  Do you think that is a system to trust?

Blockchain is going to disrupt supply chains.  3D printing is going to mostly replace them.  When combined, we could see the potential of an order is placed only to see it seamlessly routed to a regional "manufacturer" (read printer) before being shipped out (probably by drone).

Could this take place on the STEEM blockchain?  STEEM is as likely a candidate as any other.  

The point here is to help people understand some of the potential of blockchain technology.  I wrote an article yesterday about everyone on STEEM being an early adopter.  One of the main reasons for this is because blockchain is still in its infancy.  We have not even scratched the surface of what is going to take place.

I made the statement a while back that in 10-15 years, 90% of global GDP will be on blockchain.  This is going to be a basic piece of all that we do.  As we move more things into the digital realm, this will take on added value.  The ability to transmit a digital file is much easier than a physical product.  3D printing is going to be a technology that I predict will bridge this gap.

The key to understanding blockchain and cryptocurrency is not to see what is happening in 2018 but to envision what things most likely will look like in 2025.  It is going to be a time when data is going to be sent all over the world with payments for all kinds of things.  This is going to happen without human intervention and without delay.  

Obviously, there is a long way to go technologically before what I present here comes true.  However, the innovations you see on STEEM today will be used for something much more advanced down the road.  Open networks stimulate a great deal of creativity.  The bottleneck that comes from centralization and proprietary information is removed.  

And now you know why I am so optimistic about STEEM.  I do not look at STEEM in 2018 but, rather, 5 years down the road.  Whatever the hangups today, they will not be an issue 5 years from now.  

We will be at a much different level them.  The convergence of too many technologies is taking place with blockchain right in the middle of it all.

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