Last week, news of at least three major players applying for blockchain-related patents emerged: Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) sought to legally protect its blockchain-based system allowing the external validation of data, Barclays (LON:BARC) filed two patent applications relating to the transfer of digital currency and blockchain data storage, while MasterCard’s application mentioned a form of a public blockchain-based method for linking assets between blockchain and fiat accounts.
As blockchain technology continues to be one of the most discussed things in 2018 and a subject for mass adoption, the number of crypto-related patents is steadily growing — and with patent trolls joining the game, a legal war over blockchain might occur in the future.