The tech can also be used to secure and verify the exchange of any data, which will make it useful to other industries. Via simple templates, companies can create blockchain-based "smart contracts," for instance. However, the main attraction of the tech is still Bitcoin-style money, something that still befuddles financial institutions. Microsoft's tech would let use peer-to-peer networks and "consensus-formation algorithm" to secure the Ethereum-based currency, just like Bitcoin. However they could create their own, far more secure currency than Bitcoin in just 20 minutes and update the value every 15 seconds -- 40 times faster than Bitcoin.