It has been quite an interesting week for the digital currency and blockchain community. History was made with the launch of Zug’s bitcoin pilot project and North Carolina Bitcoin Bill, which has been signed into law. Here is the weekly wrap-up of major digital currency and blockchain news:

Zug’s bitcoin pilot project kicks off

The residents of the city of Zug, Switzerland can now pay their fees in digital currency bitcoin. With this, Zug, also known as “Crypto Valley”, has become the first locality in the world to accept bitcoin payments. The announcement of this pilot project was made in May this year. Payments are initially limited to an equivalent of 200 francs. Müller wanted to keep risk at low levels, being aware of the controversies surrounding the digital currency. All bitcoin payments are immediately converted into the Swiss franc.

Netherlands to open blockchain development campus soon

Netherlands is soon going to open a special campus where banks and financial companies will come together to explore the blockchain technology. “Fintech Ambassador” Willem Vermeend made the announcement at a conference organized by Holland Fintech and De Nederlandsche Bank. The campus is expected to launch in September, however, its location has not been disclosed yet.

Litecoin Roadmap 2016 suggests major overhaul

The Litecoin Association in cooperation with the Litecoin Core development team has put forward the 2016 Litecoin Road Map, which outlines recent developments and lays out future plan. This includes new website, release of Litecoin Core v0.13.x, porting Litecoin over to the Lamassu ATMs and much more.

European Union adopts stricter virtual currency rules to check financing of terrorism

The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, announced on Tuesday that it has adopted a proposal to further reinforce EU rules on anti-money laundering (AML) to counter terrorist financing and increase transparency. Among the various measures proposed to prevent the financial system from being used for funding terrorist activities included tackling terrorist financing risks linked to virtual currencies.

US Department seeks paper submissions on blockchain uses in healthcare

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that it is seeking paper submissions on the topic of blockchain technology and its potential uses in the healthcare industry. A notice  states the requirements and registration for “Blockchain and Its Emerging Role in Healthcare and Health-related Research”. The last date for submitting the paper is on 29 July and the winners will be announced on 20 August.

GovCoin Systems tests blockchain-based platform for social welfare payments in UK

GovCoin Systems Limited, a London-based fintech company, together with its partners Barclays, RWE npower and University College London, is trialling a new platform based on blockchain technology for UK’s Department for Work and Pensions.

North Carolina Bitcoin Bill becomes law

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed House Bill 289 into law, thereby expanding the state’s Money Transmitters Act to include activities related to bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Successful blockchain experiments demonstrate Myanmar’s favorable cloud-computing environments

Infoteria announced last month it has successfully demonstrated blockchain application to microfinance services in Myanmar for the first time in the world. Yoichiro Hirano, president and CEO of Infoteria said that as a major achievement of the successful demonstration experiment, it could be said that cloud-computing environments are workable in Myanmar.

Ethereum community to make a decision on hard fork

Following a post by a post by Cornell associate professor Emin Gun Sirer with two students Tjaden Hess and River Keefer that highlighted the vulnerability that soft fork can introduce, the Ethereum community decided not to proceed with the same. It is now left with only two weeks time to make a decision on the hard fork.

Blockchain research studies:

• Blockchain technology can help create efficient capital market infrastructure: Report
   
• Bitcoin price to remain high post-halvening until owners start cashing in on hoarded coins: Juniper Research

Important deals, partnerships, and more:

• Russian finance companies sign memorandum to form blockchain consortium
   
• Heifer International starts accepting bitcoin donations via BitPay
   
• Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Zaif adds support for XEM
   
• Microsoft Azure marketplace includes Emercoin Blockchain Engine
   
• Irish startup FXCH clears first institutional spot-FX trade on blockchain
   
• Swiss bank Vontobel issues bitcoin tracker certificate
   
• Blockchain startup Netki raises $3.5 million as seed funding
   
• PwC China, BitSE join hands to bring blockchain technology to Asia Pacific market
   
• NetCents Technology collaborates with European bitcoin exchange Bitstamp
   
• Poloniex, BTC38, and Bittrex agree to distribute Ardor tokens to customers
   
• Social media platform Steemit distributes $1.3 million to reward users
   
• Elliptic partners with IWF to curb bitcoin usage in payments for online child pornography
   
• Blockchain development platform Stratis launches ICO
   
• Bitcoin startup Vogogo to shut down its operations in Canada
   
• Cryptocurrency exchange Gatecoin raises equity investment of $500K, platform re-launch likely in August
   
• Bitcoin exchange Coinbase teams up with BTMU for international expansion