I can literally set up a blockchain that says I own the Mona Lisa. Me saying so, or me putting it on a blockchain doesn't make it so.
A blockchain solves the specific problem of how to track ownership of some piece of data in a decentralized fashion where multiple parties do not trust each other.
This, however is not the hard problem when we talk about ownership databases. The hard problem is ensuring the data entered into that database represents actual real world ownership and having the database universally recognized by everybody as a representation of ownership.
What purpose does a database like that serve, when the actual place where the rubber of ownership hits the road is somwhere else?
> I can literally set up a blockchain that says I own the Mona Lisa. Me saying so, or me putting it on a blockchain doesn't make it so.
Agreed. The parties that are interacting must agree on which blockchain to interact on first. More likely an industry, trade association, or government would say this chain is going to be the system of record of where transactions take place and then individuals and businesses are forced to abide by that. Then once that is decided, any transfer of ownership on that chain would expect to be honored by the transferring party. If not, then consequences would be enforced by the governing industry, trade association, government. etc.
> A blockchain solves the specific problem of how to track ownership of some piece of data in a decentralized fashion where multiple parties do not trust each other.
> This, however is not the hard problem when we talk about ownership databases. The hard problem is ensuring the data entered into that database represents actual real world ownership and having the database universally recognized by everybody as a representation of ownership.
> What purpose does a database like that serve, when the actual place where the rubber of ownership hits the road is somwhere else?
Yes, there is sort of a bootstrapping problem around how do you get people onboarded onto a particular blockchain. For that I think you need some novel use case(s). For Bitcoin it was being the first alternative monetary system. For Ethereum it was the ability to create on-chain programs. Zcash it was private transactions. etc. Once people are onboarded though, then you can use that system to agree on where ownership entry and change of ownership transactions take place. Then you can use the publicly auditable history to prove ownership. For a physical good, then that becomes evidence that can be presented to a third party presiding entity who settles disputes.
> Yes, there is sort of a bootstrapping problem around how do you get people onboarded onto a particular blockchain.
Yeah, but would I like to do that? All these blockchains are literally some shady guy that tells me "trust me and my tech to manage that ownership for you". What is in it for me?
A blockchain solves the specific problem of how to track ownership of some piece of data in a decentralized fashion where multiple parties do not trust each other.
This, however is not the hard problem when we talk about ownership databases. The hard problem is ensuring the data entered into that database represents actual real world ownership and having the database universally recognized by everybody as a representation of ownership.
What purpose does a database like that serve, when the actual place where the rubber of ownership hits the road is somwhere else?