This is a guest contribution by Antoine Tardif is the CEO of GoMarketing.com. If you would like to submit a contribution please contact Bill Beatty for submission details. Thank you. 

I recently had the opportunity to attend the 2017 North American Bitcoin conference in Miami, Florida, which focused on Bitcoin, blockchain technology, and alternative crypto currencies. This was my first Bitcoin related conference and the enthusiasm for the future of Bitcoin and blockchain technology was contagious.

Many of the conference sessions focused on existing technology such as Bitcoin wallets, mining, user security, and payroll processing, but it was the new uses for Bitcoin that were the most interesting.

One new exciting technology company called Abra.  Abra is a peer-to-peer payment processing app that will soon be offered in 50 countries.  Users can fund their account with Bitcoin, and send to other users as a cash transfer. The receiver can transfer the cash to their bank account or withdraw physical cash from Abra Tellers in their area. This very easy send, receive, withdraw structure is offering payment processing to the masses who are not familiar with Bitcoin. Abra allows users to bypass intermediaries such as Western Union when remitting funds abroad, adding convenience and saving the users a considerable amount of money.  The best part is the receiver of funds will not even be aware that Bitcoin is behind the technology allowing this seamless peer-to-peer funds transfer.