Enterprise blockchain platform XinFin is joining the R3 consortium, with the R3 Corda marketplace hosting several XinFin apps for business users, the companies said in a press release Friday (Feb. 8).
The blockchain-powered XinFin applications include invoice financing, trade finance, real-time remittance, digital asset management and apps with other functionality. Financial institutions that use the R3 Corda blockchain platform can gain access to and integrate these apps.
XinFin also noted that its developer community will bridge the Corda private network to XinFin’s public network to support a hybrid, public-private blockchain ecosystem. XinFin’s public eXchange inFinite public network has integrated Know Your Customer and Anti-Money Laundering capabilities designed to maintain security while transacting assets like trade finance instruments and bonds, the announcement noted.
In 2017 XinFin announced that it aimed to standardize enterprise blockchains by adding the XdC01 protocol, which allows firms to “keep their financial transactions private but still verifiable by an immutable record on the public state of blockchain,” XinFin Chief Technology Officer Karan Bharadwaj said in a statement at the time.
XinFin also said in that announcement it would integrate its hybrid blockchain technology into an array of enterprise apps through collaborations with various partners with a focus on “business process re-engineering, supply chain, financing, procurement and settlement.”
R3’s collaboration with XinFin follows last month’s announcement that ING Bank reached an agreement with R3 that allows the financial institution to access an unlimited number of licenses from the Corda Enterprise platform, and to deploy those apps across its own back-office systems. ING said that it would target trade finance, insurance, identity management and other back-office apps.
“Our longstanding joint journey with R3 has proven that this is the most mature [distributed ledger technology] solution to serve the needs of the financial service industry,” said ING Head of Innovation for Wholesale Banking Annerie Vreugdenhil in a statement last month.
As the calendar flips to March, college basketball fans are gearing up for another exhilarating NCAA tournament.
In the future, artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technology could change March Madness as we know it. Let’s break down how the digital revolution could transform the Big Dance.
AI is already being used to predict brackets. Gone are the days of agonizing over your picks based on team mascots or your alma mater’s colors. In 2025, AI-powered bracketology is the name of the game. Fans can use algorithms that crunch data points, from player statistics to historical upset probabilities, all at the click of a button.
But beware, bracket enthusiasts. While these AI tools promise to boost your chances of winning the office pool, they can’t account for the quintessential March Madness chaos. You know, the instance where AI can predict everything except the inevitable Cinderella story that ruins everyone’s bracket by the second round.
In a move that would be sure to ruffle some feathers, AI-generated commentary could be used for games. Digital play-by-play announcers would never need a bathroom break and potentially be able to recall obscure statistics from the 1957 tournament in an instant.
Can’t make it to the Final Four? Ten years from now, games might happen in a digital stadium, Forbes reported. With virtual reality (VR) technology, fans could experience the thrill of courtside seats from the comfort of their living rooms.
“AI-generated athletes, inspired by the procedural generation techniques of video game developers … could perform in virtual arenas, exhibiting strategies and plays conceived by advanced predictive algorithms,” Forbes reported.
Just be careful not to get too caught up in the moment with streaming. Wouldn’t want to have reports of fans attempting to rush the virtual court after buzzer-beaters have led to an uptick in living room injuries — especially when that flat screen falls over.
While human coaches still call the shots, AI assistants could one day be indispensable members of the coaching staff. In the next five years, these digital strategists could analyze opponent tendencies and more.
“Building on existing technologies … AI will provide coaches and players with intricate, multi-dimensional data patterns that dramatically enhance both offensive and defensive strategies,” Forbes reported. “These advanced algorithms will analyze vast datasets from numerous games to uncover hidden trends, strategic insights, and predictive cues about opponents’ potential moves.”
Say goodbye to controversial calls. Advanced computer vision systems could assist referees in making split-second decisions, from determining if a player’s toe was on the line for a three-pointer to detecting the slightest touch on a blocked shot.
The Hawk-Eye system is already used in tennis and cricket to help determine fouls, Viso.AI reported.
“This system uses a network of cameras to track the ball and then compares the trajectory of the ball to a virtual model of the playing surface,” the report said. “This system is accurate within a few millimeters, which is much more accurate than the human eye.”
As we dive into March Madness 2025, it’s clear that technology will change the way we experience the tournament. From AI-powered brackets to virtual reality arenas, the digital revolution is coming for basketball. But at its core, the magic of March Madness remains the thrill of competition, the joy of unexpected victories, and the heartbreak of last-second defeats.
So, whether you’re relying on an AI to pick your bracket this year, or screaming at a holographic referee in the future, remember to enjoy the ride. In the unpredictable world of college basketball, sometimes the best strategy is to embrace the madness — digital or otherwise.
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