Chinese government explores blockchain technology, releases white paper

The Chinese government has released a white paper focused on blockchain technology in order to actively guide the development of the technology and its application in the country. The paper analyses various applications of the technology and also offers blockchain technology development roadmap recommendations.

National Bank of Belarus to launch two blockchain projects

The National Bank of Belarus has recently revealed plans about launching two projects using blockchain technology, Forklog reported. Speaking at the 13th International Forum on Banking Information Technologies "BankIT 2016", Pavel Kallaur, the Chairman of the Board of National Bank of Belarus, shared his opinion on how digital technology will drive economic growth, along with the announcement about the upcoming blockchain experiments.

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange to launch blockchain eVoting service

Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) has announced that it is using blockchain technology for eVoting services, which will allow the concerned parties to directly connect and monitor voting in any Annual General Meeting (AGM). ADX said that its Blockchain eVoting Service will save time, cost, and effort, and will add to the vitality of the AGMs through high attendance and interaction with the decisions.

Five major insurers and reinsurers team up for blockchain initiative B3i

Five leading global insurers and reinsurers have teamed up to launch a blockchain initiative that aims to explore the potential of this innovative technology. Called the ‘Blockchain Insurance Industry Initiative B3i’, the initiative has been launched by Aegon, Allianz, Munich Re, Swiss Re and Zurich. It aims to explore the potential of distributed ledger technologies to better serve clients through faster, more convenient and secure services.

Bitcoin startup Bitbond receives BaFin license

Bitbond, a global peer-to-peer bitcoin lending platform, has announced that it has become the first blockchain-based financial services provider to be licensed by German financial regulator BaFin, as reported by CoinReport.

Countdown for Ethereum hard fork begins

Ethereum network underwent a hard fork on Tuesday between 12:00 and 13:00 UTC. Hard fork, a change to the underlying Ethereum protocol, will create new rules to improve the system. Ethereum users are required to update, failing which they will be stuck on an incompatible chain following the old rules.

Digital Currency/Blockchain research studies:

Virtual currencies do not qualify as currencies from a Union perspective: European Central Bank

Australia’s NTC highlights blockchain potential for future land transport system

Conferences/ Events:

Digital currency investors conference CoinAgenda 2016 to be held in Las Vegas

Buenos Aires to host Latin American bitcoin and blockchain conference in November

Chicago’s Red Chalk Group to host ‘Blockchain Insurance Summit’

John McAfee to keynote at London ‘Blockchain: Money’ conference

Important deals, partnerships, and more:

Bitstamp and Trezor collaborate to enhance bitcoin security

Winklevoss twins choose State Street as administrator and transfer agent of Bitcoin ETF

Walmart joins blockchain pilot project with IBM and Tsinghua University for food traceability in China

Deloitte creates network of startups to leverage blockchain and IoT

Blockchain biometric firm HYPR secures $3M in latest funding

KB Kookmin Card to add blockchain identity solutions developed by Coinplug

Bitcoin company Safello acquires crypto futures exchange platform ICBIT

Blockchain-powered real estate platform Ubitquity collaborates with Priority Title & Escrow

Digital Federal Credit Union joins Chamber of Digital Commerce

Skry and Terbium Labs collaborate to enhance digital currency security

Leading Indian banks experiment with blockchain technology