When Now and Z/Yen was young, popularity charts were simple affairs. Some were for singles, some were for albums, but basically they were about music.

No more. Now there are charts about almost everything, even Blockchain Influence – click here.

Back in the mists of crypto-time – a few weeks ago - July 2017 – Z/Yen’s very own Michael Mainelli was languishing at 98 in the Blockchain Influence charts, but then something happened. At the start of August, Michael leapt up the charts, a massive 88 places, “highest riser” into the Top 10 at number 10. A couple of weeks later, Michael was still going up in the charts - Number 8 at the time of writing.

Here, at Now & Z/Yen, we have been scratching our heads to understand why Michael has suddenly stormed up the charts. We can only attribute his success to Z/Yen’s recent publication of Responsibility Without Power? The Governance Of Mutual Distributed Ledgers (aka Blockchain).

Sponsored by The Cardano Foundation, the paper clearly sets out a framework for governing Blockchain-type ledger systems and is generating much interest. Yet, strangely, Michael is not credited with that paper; Bob McDowell and Simon Mills authored it. Meanwhile, the charts describe Michael as a “scientist financier trying to promote societal advance through better finance and technology”. Michael would not choose to describe himself as a financier - not in the sense of him giving away or loaning large sums of money – nor in the sense of a small nutty cake, come to think of it.

But then, even in the pop music charts in days of yore, artistes were often dischuffed with their labelling. Ian Dury, for example, did not like being pigeon-holed as punk or new wave. But at least Ian Dury’s associates, The Blockheads, got a mention in the chart listing.

“Blockheads” would be a good contemporary term for associates of Blockchain Influencers. Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick, Ian Dury And The Blockhead’s biggest hit, could be recast as “Hit Me With Your Encrypted Memory Stick” for the modern blockhead era. But the ‘B’ Side of that massive Ian Dury hit single is perhaps more appropriate for those Blockchain Influencers – click here and have a listen – it should raise a smile or laugh.

Joking apart, do take a look at the Responsibility Without Power paper – it is an influential paper and is a darn good, surprisingly easy, read.