The big use case for Bitcoin still seems to be getting money out of China. Retail Bitcoin transactions are pretty much dead.<p>Blockchains may have a future as a means of maintaining a consistent ledger between big institutions. The current solution for this involves creating some entity like Depository Trust Company or the Bank for International Settlements to be an intermediary. But this doesn't require "mining"; it just requires a few mutually mistrustful but known players.