Blockchain, the digital scaffolding behind cryptocurrency bitcoin, has hit critical mass and is being taken seriously by major conglomerates and governments alike. Canvas8 spoke to technology strategist Paul Armstrong to understand how it might make an impact beyond the financial world.

Blockchain is being touted as the next great technological disruptor, with financial firms investing heavily and cyber-libertarians hoping it’ll enable decentralised transactions and P2P commerce. But can it break into everyday usage, or will it become just another buzzword from the world of tech?

China is the world’s second largest economy, but 2015 was its weakest year for economic growth in a quarter of a century. These market woes have left Chinese consumers feeling increasingly worried about their incomes, raising concerns for the country’s willingness to spend.

House-flipping is one way for property moguls to make big money. But in a bid to hammer-home the idea that ‘housing is for living in, not speculation’, local governments in China have rolled out controls that ban home-buyers in second-tier cities from selling their houses on.