Blockchain technology is known above all because of Bitcoin, the most famous cryptocurrency in the world!
However, there are many other applications the blockchain technology can enable besides banking and payments.
There are three examples of applications of blockchain technology that come immediately to my mind.
1- Supply chain record keeping
2- Voting and
3- Crowdfunding
In particular supply chain record keeping the blockchain can help in reducing loss or counterfeit of products during the supply chain thus giving a guarantee on the originality of the products.
The second one is voting where blockchain will help in increasing transparency and preventing vote fraud. Two startups that are working in building voting systems by using blockchain technology are DemocracyEarth and FollowMyVote
In crowdfunding instead, the blockchain technology can not only make the process faster and transparent but also can allow for very small contributions that otherwise would be not possible (and economically convenient) to accept.
We live in so exiting times for blockchain technology and I belive the future will reserve us many other surprises.