Week Ending March 31, 2017

Three things to know

The Arizona Governor signed into law a bill legalizing blockchain signatures and smart contracts.  Arizona becomes the second state to legally recognize smart contracts, after Vermont.  Expect to see more states advance similar bills, as Blockchain proliferates.  The next state to do so could potentially be Illinois. Illinois is Blockchain/Fintech-friendly and the Cook County Recorder office is in the process of shifting land titles to Blockchain.  Arizona Governor Signs Blockchain Bill into Law

Trade finance continues to be a Blockchain focus-area.  The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, along with five participating banks have completed a trade finance proof of concept (PoC).  The PoC demonstrated that Blockchain can be effective in trade finance, as the project revealed multiple benefits.  Phase 2, the pilot phase, will expand the number of participants and represent the trade finance ecosystem. Hong Kong Central Bank Partners on DLT Trade Finance Test

Closer to home, Blockchain can be applied to everyday real estate transactions. Using Blockchain in real estate can accelerate the transaction process, reduce fraud, and increase transparency.  Real estate transactions are likely to be among the most disrupted by Blockchain adoption with some benefitting more than others. Title insurers are likely to be among the most disrupted by Blockchain, while mortgage originators and mortgage services are likely to experience lower costs.  What Will be the Use of Blockchain in Real Estate

Financial Services

Factom Launches Revolutionary Blockchain Suite of Mortgage Products

MUFG Standard Chartered Plan Blockchain Payments Launch for 2018

Banks and Startups Advance Blockchain Syndicated Loans

Market Enabler Exchanges See Blockchain as New Revenue Play

Healthcare
How Blockchain Technology Can Benefit Healthcare

SAP Joins Hyperledger, Building Healthcare Blockchain Momentum

Blockchain’s Promise Has Healthcare Innovators Eager

Blockchain can help secure medical devices, improve patient privacy

Blockchain: The killer app that will stretch far beyond banking
Blockchain can help secure medical devices, improve patient privacy

Two California Startups Preparing Pharma Companies for Blockchain

Could There be Blockchain Solution High Prescription Drug Prices

Energy
How Utilities Are Using Blockchain to Modernize the Grid

Blockchain A Potential Significant Enabler for UK Solar, Says SolarCoin Co-Founder

Blockchain – A new era for the energy market?

Global

Second Ukraine Bank Launches Blockchain Partnership

Canada’s first commercial blockchain service could become the ‘Interac’ for digital transactions

Alibaba Turns to Blockchain in Fight Against Food Fraud

Blockchain applications unlikely to take hold in business sector anytime soon, say finance experts

Japan Bitcoin Law Goes into Effect Tomorrow

Sweden Moves Next Stage Blockchain Land Registry

Flogging a Dead Horse Bank of England Bets on Blockchain AI

Trafigura Tests Blockchain for Settling US Oil Market Deals

Government

What is Blockchain and How Could It Impact Government

Uses and Applications

Nets partners with blockchain analysis firm to fight dirty bitcoins

Gold on the Blockchain: How Two Blockchain Startups Are Digitizing Gold Investments

Sensify brings blockchain to industrial networks for decentralized access management

Chain and Thales Interlock for Blockchain Key Security Solution

Thought Leadership

Using Blockchain to Keep Public Data Public

Plan to Save Blockchain Democracy from Bitcoins Civil War

Blockchain Accounting and Audit What Accountants Need to Know

10 Ways How Blockchain Will Change Your Life

Global Blockchain Startup Map