Awareness of blockchain technology is spreading beyond the walls of software companies, dorm rooms, and other enclaves of seemingly irrelevant nerdery. Almost without exception, the first application of blockchain technology that people hear about is “Cryptocurrency”:

“Bitcoin hits an all-time high”

“Dogecoin makes a coin based on a dog meme”

“Someone’s investment goes 1000x in a month”

“Tesla accepts Cryptocurrency as payment”

These stories are the headline-grabbing face of blockchain. It makes sense: Bitcoin, the first cryptocurrency, was the first wildly successful application of blockchain technology. What’s more, all humans seem to have an enduring shared interest in money.

But did you know that blockchain is more than just digital money? I can remember when I realized this for the…