NEM (XEM) refers to the cryptocurrency and the name of a platform for management of a variety of assets, including currencies, supply chains, ownership records, etc. NEM was created in 2015 by an anonymous team that wanted to improve on Bitcoin’s design. The team believed that Bitcoin was too centralized and needed more flexibility. They also thought that the proof-of-work system used by Bitcoin was not effective enough.The NEM platform is built on a blockchain that is different from other blockchains. It uses a “proof-of-importance” algorithm instead of proof-of-work or proof-of -stake . This algorithm rewards users based on how important they are to the network. This encourages users to participate in transactions and helps keep the network secure.The NEM Foundation , which promotes the use and development of NEM , claims that it can be used for any kind o f asset transaction , including things like loyalty points , not just currency . The foundation has also developed other products related to NEM, such as Symbol ( XYM ) –a enterprise -grade blockchain –and Catapult ( CTP )–a serverless smart contract engine.