Newsroom

Chamber of Digital Commerce Forms the Blockchain Intellectual Property Council

March 16, 2016 – Washington, D.C. – The Chamber of Digital Commerce has formed the Blockchain Intellectual Property Council (BIPC), an initiative to promote innovation in blockchain and distributed ledger technologies (DLT) by addressing intellectual property issues. The council will help balance the protection of proprietary information with the openness necessary for innovation.

The Blockchain Intellectual Property Council will be chaired by Marc Kaufman, Partner at Rimon Law; Patrick Murck, Special Counsel, Cooley & Fellow at Berkman Klein Center at Harvard; and James Murdock, Chief Business Officer and General Counsel at Blockstream.

“I am honored to help shape one of the most important discussions for the blockchain community,” said Kaufman. “Many players are aggressively pursuing patents in the DLT space, and managing patent risk must be a shared priority.”

“Balancing the open source mindset with proprietary technology is an early and critical challenge faced by the blockchain community,” said Murck. “An effective solution must be constructed with input from experts in both law and technology – with an eye to preserving opportunities for permissionless innovation.”

“Openness and collaboration are crucial to ensuring that permissionless innovation both thrives and evolves,” said Murdock. “Preserving these elements as the industry develops will be key to the success of the blockchain ecosystem.”

More than 40 institutions across technology, finance, academia and law have already committed to the council, including Blockstream, Bloq, Civic, Cognizant, Deloitte, Digital Currency Group, Gem, Medici Ventures, Microsoft, T0.com, TMX and Wipfli.

“Developing an industry-led defensive patent strategy is paramount to help protect innovation and drive wide adoption of blockchain-enabled technologies,” said Perianne Boring, Founder and President of the Chamber of Digital Commerce.

The BIPC Co-chairs will be presenting on the IP panel at the DC Blockchain Summit, hosted by The Chamber in Washington D.C., March 15-16. A kickoff meeting is scheduled for March 30, 2017. Academics, blockchain technologists, financial institutions, IP experts, open source communities and others interested in intellectual property issues are encouraged to sign up. Please contact Dan@DigitalChamber.org for additional details.

###

About the Chamber of Digital Commerce

The Chamber of Digital Commerce is the world’s leading trade association dedicated to promoting the understanding, acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain technology. Through education, advocacy, and working closely with policymakers, regulatory agencies, and industry, our goal is to develop a pro-growth legal environment that fosters innovation, jobs and investment. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Chamber is the founder of the Blockchain Intellectual Property Council, the Smart Contracts Alliance, the Blockchain Alliance, the Global Blockchain Forum and other key industry initiatives.

For more information, please visit DigitalChamber.org or follow us on Twitter: @ChamberDigital.

Chamber Media Contact:
Erin Tye
Paragon Public Relations
Erin@paragonpr.com
+1.646.558.6226

|

Newsroom

Dr. Robert E. Kahn, the “Father of the Internet” to keynote the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s Blockchain Summit

Chamber Membership Grows to Over 100 Representing a Broad Spectrum of Global Industry Thought Leaders

March 15, 2017 – Washington, D.C. – The Chamber of Digital Commerce, the world’s leading blockchain trade association, today announced that Dr. Robert E, Kahn, “the Father of the Internet,” will be keynoting its second annual DC Blockchain Summit.  The Chamber also announced the addition of more than 20 companies to its membership, as it continues to attract blockchain industry leaders across sectors.

The new members represent financial, legal, healthcare, investment and technology industries, including: Ad Meliora, AlphaPoint, Argon Group, BankCoin.Global, Bitcoin IRA, Blockchain Capital, Blockstream, Cooley LLP, Crowell & Moring LLP, Finchain, Frost Brown Todd, Grupo Cimcorp, Hashed Health, IHS Markit, Locke Lord LLP, Milligan Partners, OTC Exchange Network , PokitDok, Unocoin and Vertex. These companies join a membership base that has more than doubled over the past year, now comprising of over 100 members.

“Our expanding membership is a testament to the impact blockchain technology is already having across multiple industries,” said Perianne Boring, founder and president of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. “The unique perspectives, skills and experiences that these new members bring to the table will be key in furthering the understanding and adoption of distributed ledger technology.”

The new members are being announced in advance of the sold-out DC Blockchain Summit 2017, hosted by the Chamber of Digital Commerce in Washington, DC in conjunction with Georgetown University. The Summit will be held March 15 and 16, and is available via livestream. The full agenda and livestream are available at digitalchamber.org.

###

About the Chamber of Digital Commerce

The Chamber of Digital Commerce is the world’s leading trade association dedicated to promoting the understanding, acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain technology. Through education, advocacy, and working closely with policymakers, regulatory agencies, and industry, our goal is to develop a pro-growth legal environment that fosters innovation, jobs and investment. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Chamber is the founder of the Smart Contracts Alliance, the Blockchain Alliance, the Global Blockchain Forum and other key industry initiatives.

For more information, please visit DigitalChamber.org or follow us on Twitter: @ChamberDigital.

Chamber Media Contact:
Erin Tye
Paragon Public Relations
Erin@paragonpr.com
+1.646.558.6226

|

Newsroom

Tax Coalition Forms to Address Digital Asset Uncertainty

March 8, 2017 — WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Chamber of Digital Commerce and Steptoe & Johnson LLP today announce the formation of the Digital Assets Tax Policy Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based coalition created to help develop effective and efficient tax policies for the growing virtual currency markets. The move comes in response to a lack of recent guidance from the Internal Revenue Service, which since 2014 has considered digital currencies to be property, not currency, for tax purposes.

The Digital Assets Tax Policy Coalition intends to help develop policies that work for both the industry and government.  Developing these policies will allow the IRS to implement the recent recommendations by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) that the IRS develop a strategic plan for its virtual currency program and create third-party tools to allow for greater compliance, while minimizing the need for aggressive and burdensome enforcement actions.

Led by the Chamber of Digital Commerce, industry participants include some of the leading exchanges, wallet providers, and transaction processing companies in the digital asset sector.  Steptoe will serve as counsel to the Coalition.

“Clear tax treatment for digital assets is essential to ensure robust growth of this important sector,” said Perianne Boring, president and founder of the Chamber of Digital Commerce.

“We are proud to be working with the industry’s leading companies to engage with policymakers on an issue of vital importance to the sector. Tax solutions that allow the IRS to do its job without resorting to actions such as a John Doe summons will be of benefit to all,” said Jason Weinstein, partner at Steptoe and co-chair of Steptoe’s Blockchain and Digital Currency practice.

“Blockchain and digital asset technologies pose unique challenges to tax administration. We look forward to working with the Coalition to develop policies that minimize compliance burdens for the industry while also providing the IRS the tools it needs to administer the tax code effectively and efficiently,” said Cameron Arterton, of counsel at Steptoe.

The Digital Assets Tax Policy Coalition is another step in the industry’s efforts to proactively engage with government officials on issues of mutual concern. Last year, the Chamber of Digital Commerce co-founded the Blockchain Alliance to serve as a resource for law enforcement and a forum for open dialogue between the private and public sectors about digital assets and blockchain technology.  Steptoe leads and serves as counsel to the Alliance. The Digital Assets Tax Policy Coalition seeks to follow the same approach of open and cooperative engagement with policymakers on issues of mutual concern.

About the Chamber of Digital Commerce
The Chamber of Digital Commerce is the world’s leading trade association dedicated to promoting the understanding, acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Chamber is the founder of the Smart Contracts Alliance, the Blockchain Alliance, the Global Blockchain Forum and many other key industry initiatives. For more information, please visit DigitalChamber.org or follow us on Twitter: @ChamberDigital.

About Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm widely recognized for vigorous advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, successful representation of clients before governmental agencies, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions.  The firm has more than 500 lawyers and other professionals in offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, Phoenix and Washington.

Steptoe’s blockchain practice has a unique role in the blockchain industry and brings an unparalleled combination of FinTech, financial services, tax, regulatory, and law enforcement experience.  Over the past two and a half years, Steptoe has advised just about every type of participant in the blockchain ecosystem – including investors, entrepreneurs, early stage companies, exchanges, transaction processors, and retailers.  During this time, Steptoe has helped lead efforts to spread the word about the almost limitless possible applications for blockchain technology.  For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.

# # #

Chamber Media Contact
Erin Tye
Paragon Public Relations
Erin@paragonpr.com
+1.646.558.6226

Steptoe Media Contact
Kathy King
Director of Media & Public Relations
Steptoe & Johnson LLP
kking@steptoe.com
+1.202.862.3817

|

Newsroom

Chamber of Digital Commerce and ONC to Host “Blockchain in Health Care Code-A-Thon”

Unveil Blockchain in Securitization White Paper at SFIG 2017 in Las Vegas

WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 27, 2016 – The Chamber of Digital Commerce, the world’s largest trade association representing the blockchain industry, and the Structured Finance Industry Group (SFIG) today announced the formation of a strategic partnership focused on advancing the use of blockchain technology in securitization markets.

The partnership will commence with the publication of a co-sponsored white paper titled, “Applying Blockchain in securitization: opportunities for reinvention” and a series of educational activities at SFIG Vegas 2017, the largest gathering of the structured finance industry, which begins today in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The goal of the partnership is to bring the structured finance and blockchain communities together.  The two organizations will collaborate on research efforts and publications, joint educational programs and online forums.

In addition to a detailed examination of how blockchain can play a role at each stage of the securitization lifecycle, the white paper, prepared by Deloitte, outlines five distinct benefits for blockchain in structured products:

• Single, Consistent source of information – Blockchain enables a single, consistent source of information for all participants in the network.
• Complete, immutable audit trail – From loan origination to primary issuance, servicing, and changes in ownership in the secondary market, blockchain can create a chronological and immutable audit trail of all transactions.
• Better valuation and price discovery – The transparency facilitated by blockchain technology could reduce the information asymmetry and network disadvantages that some entities, especially smaller ones, currently face in the securitization industry.
• Speed and certainty – Blockchain technology, through its disintermediation and simultaneous recording of information across the system, can virtually eliminate time lags in information and payment flows throughout the securitization process, including in the secondary market.
• Security – Blockchain’s capacity to increase the security of transactions and data, and mitigate fraud could be appealing to the securitization industry, where integrity of data is paramount.

“I am pleased to announce this strategic initiative with the Chamber of Digital Commerce, which has established an important position in representing the growing blockchain industry,” said Richard Johns, SFIG Executive Director. “Partnering with the Chamber is a key part of our focus on being a central resource of forward looking education to all market participants.  With this partnership we can create new, forward-thinking and educational opportunities for our members enabling them to stay fully informed of how technology is impacting their business. Today’s whitepaper is just the beginning of what we expect to be a very active and productive partnership.”

“The securitization process is an ideal candidate for the efficiencies of distributed ledger technology,” said Perianne Boring, founder and president, Chamber of Digital Commerce. “Blockchain platforms create a more transparent and secure marketplace allowing the industry to provide better products more securely at lower cost. This will also enable the market to more efficiently comply with regulations, while at the same time allowing automation to create significant efficiencies for the role of the regulator itself. Our partnership with SFIG is an opportunity to accelerate the understanding and adoption of blockchain technology in this sector.”

About Structured Finance Industry Group, Inc.

Structured Finance Industry Group, Inc. (“SFIG”) is a member-based, trade industry group focused on improving and strengthening the broader structured finance and securitization market. SFIG provides an inclusive network for securitization professionals to collaborate and, as industry leaders, drive necessary changes, be an advocate for the securitization community, share best practices and innovative ideas, and educate industry members through conferences and other programs. Members of SFIG represent all sectors of the securitization market including issuers, investors, financial intermediaries, law firms, accounting firms, technology firms, rating agencies, servicers, and trustees.  Further information can be found at www.sfindustry.org

About the Chamber of Digital Commerce

The Chamber of Digital Commerce is the world’s leading trade association dedicated to promoting the understanding, acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Chamber is the founder of the Smart Contracts Alliance, the Blockchain Alliance, the Global Blockchain Forum and many other key industry initiatives. For more information, please visit DigitalChamber.org or follow us on Twitter: @ChamberDigital.

###

SFIG Media Contact
Pat Tucker or Dan Scorpio
Abernathy MacGregor
pct@abmac.com / dps@abmac.com
212-371-5999

Chamber Media Contact:
Erin Tye
Erin@paragonpr.com
+1.646.558.6226

About the Chamber of Digital Commerce

The Chamber of Digital Commerce is the world’s leading trade association dedicated to promoting the understanding, acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Chamber is the founder of the Smart Contracts Alliance, the Blockchain Alliance, the Global Blockchain Forum and many other key industry initiatives. For more information, please visit DigitalChamber.org or follow us on Twitter: @ChamberDigital.

Chamber Media Contact:
Erin Tye
Paragon Public Relations
Erin@paragonpr.com
+1.646.558.6226

|

Newsroom

Chamber of Digital Commerce and ONC to Host “Blockchain in Health Care Code-A-Thon”

Health Care Blockchain Competition to Be Held March 14-15, 2017
in Collaboration with DC Blockchain Summit 2017

Febuary 15, 2017- Washington, D.C. – The Chamber of Digital Commerce is co-hosting the “Blockchain in Healthcare Code-A-Thon” in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). Code-A-Thon participants will develop distributed-ledger-based applications and solutions that address key operational issues in the nation’s health care system – including identity management, data aggregation and data linkage.

The Code-A-Thon is open to the public and will take place over an intense 24-hour period at Georgetown University. Up to 12 winners will be announced at the opening ceremonies of the DC Blockchain Summit on March 15, 2017. Up to $15,000 will be awarded to the challenge winners; prizes range from $500 – $5000.

“ONC’s participation speaks volumes about the serious, long-term potential application of blockchain to the health care sector,” said Perianne Boring, founder and president of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. “This competition will highlight the wide-reaching benefits of blockchain and distributed ledger solutions, while creating new opportunities for innovation in health care.”

“The Code-A-Thon is a great opportunity to follow up on the blockchain in health care challenge we administered, which received over 70 whitepapers, and the subsequent workshop we co-sponsored with our colleagues at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),” said Steve Posnack, ONC’s Director of the Office of Standards and Technology. “We look forward to seeing how this event can expand everyone’s thinking about blockchain-based applications in health care.”

Participants in the Code-A-Thon will be challenged to use open source distributed ledger technology and health-specific standards to address one of the following health information technology (health IT) tracks:

1. Identity Management – Use of blockchain to support the identity management requirements for application programming interfaces (APIs) for both provider-to-provider and provider-to-patient exchanges.

1. Metadata Tagging and Policy Expression – Use of blockchain for securing metadata, tagging information, and managing access to health information.

1. Data Aggregation and Linkage – Use of blockchain technology to securely aggregate, link and share patient data.

The “Blockchain in Healthcare Code-A-Thon” is limited to the first 100 contestants and 50 attendees who register. For more information, rules, registration and prizes, visit: www.cccinnovationcenter.com/challenges/blockchain-in-healthcare-code-a-thon/.

Registration will end promptly March 7, 2017 at 11:59 pm ET.

###

About the Chamber of Digital Commerce

The Chamber of Digital Commerce is the world’s leading trade association dedicated to promoting the understanding, acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Chamber is the founder of the Smart Contracts Alliance, the Blockchain Alliance, the Global Blockchain Forum and many other key industry initiatives. For more information, please visit DigitalChamber.org or follow us on Twitter: @ChamberDigital.

Chamber Media Contact:
Erin Tye
Paragon Public Relations
Erin@paragonpr.com
+1.646.558.6226

|

Newsroom

Accenture, CME Group and TMX Group Join Leading Blockchain Trade Association

February 2, 2017 – Washington, D.C. – The Chamber of Digital Commerce, the world’s leading blockchain trade association, is pleased to announce the addition of three new market leading companies to its membership to help educate, promote and accelerate the adoption of blockchain-enabled technologies.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN), CME Group (NASDAQ: CME) and TMX Group (TSE: X) are among an array of new Chamber members that have joined the roster of influential industry participants over the past year. This includes a wide range of small and large participants committed to innovating with or investing in the blockchain ecosystem.

“It’s been inspiring to see the Chamber’s membership grow into such a prestigious global business community,” said Perianne Boring, founder and president of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. “The diverse expertise and market leadership that these new members bring to the table is invaluable, and their support will help drive our policy efforts forward in Washington, D.C. and beyond.” 

“The prospects for blockchain use in large-scale enterprise IT systems are becoming more and more vivid,” said David Treat, managing director of Accenture’s financial services industry blockchain practice. “With prototypes heading out of labs and into production within regulated sectors like banking, capital markets, insurance and healthcare, industry-regulators are studying the opportunities and challenges this technology presents to traditional compliance frameworks. Accenture is committed to supporting these efforts by leveraging our expertise across the company – from regulation to innovation – to make blockchain a reality for our clients. The mission of the Chamber of Digital Commerce is well aligned to these goals and we are very pleased to be part of it.”

“As a leading global financial institution, we are pleased to support the Chamber’s work to drive appropriate policy around blockchain technology innovation. We look forward to working with the Chamber and its esteemed members to grow this important area of fintech,” said Rumi Morales, CME Group Executive Director, CME Ventures, and Chamber of Digital Commerce Advisory Board Member.

“We are proud to join the Chamber of Digital Commerce,” said John Lee, Vice-President, Innovation and Enterprise Delivery, TMX Group. “As TMX’s digital strategy takes shape, this is an excellent opportunity to collaborate and partner with the Chamber and its members to position Canada as a global leader in the adoption of blockchain-based technology and other digital assets.”

As blockchain and distributed ledger technologies re-imagine global finance and commerce, strategic engagement with the public policy community has become a key element for continued growth and innovation. On March 15-16, 2017, the Chamber is hosting its annual DC Blockchain Summit in partnership with Georgetown University Center for Financial Markets and Policy, where industry and government leaders from around the world will discuss the future state of this transformative technology.

About the Chamber of Digital Commerce

The Chamber of Digital Commerce is the world’s leading trade association dedicated to promoting the understanding, acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Chamber is the founder of the Smart Contracts Alliance, the Blockchain Alliance, the Global Blockchain Forum and many other key industry initiatives. For more information, please visit DigitalChamber.org or follow us on Twitter: @ChamberDigital.

Chamber Media Contact:
Erin Tye
Paragon Public Relations
Erin@paragonpr.com
+1.646.558.6226

|

Newsroom

CME Group Executive Joins Chamber of Digital Commerce Board of Advisors

December 7, 2016 – Washington, D.C. – The Chamber of Digital Commerce proudly announces the appointment of Rumi Morales to its distinguished Board of Advisors.

Morales leads CME Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of CME Group, the world’s leading and most diverse derivatives marketplace. CME Ventures makes minority stake investments in early stage companies that may impact the financial services industry, including digital asset and distributed ledger technologies.

Before joining CME Group in 2010, Morales led the APAC business of Goldman Sachs’ Global Markets Institute in Hong Kong. She was named to Crain’s Chicago Business 2014 Tech 50, Institutional Investor’s 2015 and 2016 Fintech Finance 35, and Crain’s Chicago Business 2015 40 Under 40 lists.

“Blockchain technology is beginning to transform the way financial markets operate and holds the same potential for risk management,” said Morales. “The Chamber of Digital Commerce is securing the future of this technology by driving appropriate policy, and CME Group is committed to advancing this shared vision and encouraging innovation in fintech.”

“The Chamber made great strides in increasing the public-private dialogue since our inception just 30 months ago, however there is much work to do to promote the advancement of blockchain-based technologies,” said Perianne Boring, Founder & President of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. “Rumi brings a wealth of energy and experience and we are excited to have her on our team.”

“To foster institutional adoption of blockchain-based technologies, established financial leaders like CME Group are critical for the transition from promise to reality,” said Matthew Roszak, Chairman of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. “We are honored to welcome Rumi Morales to our advisory board, as the Chamber will greatly benefit from her leadership and expertise.”

The Chamber represents the world’s leading innovators, operators and investors in the digital asset and blockchain technology ecosystem, including start-ups, sofware companies, global IT consultancies, financial institutions and investment firms. Membership is open to all those committed to supporting and growing this thriving community.

###

About the Chamber of Digital Commerce

The Chamber of Digital Commerce is the world’s leading trade association dedicated to promoting the understanding, acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Chamber is the founder of the Smart Contracts Alliance, the Blockchain Alliance, the Global Blockchain Forum and many other key industry initiatives. For more information, please visit DigitalChamber.org or follow us on Twitter: @ChamberDigital.

Chamber Media Contact:
Patrick Sutton
patrick@paragonpr.com
+1.609.489.1781

|

Newsroom

Chamber of Digital Commerce Releases Smart Contracts White Paper

Paper Unveiled Featuring 12 Use Cases at Smart Contracts Symposium in NYC

December 6, 2016 – New York, N.Y. – The Chamber of Digital Commerce published “Smart Contracts: 12 Use Cases for Business & Beyond” at its Smart Contracts Symposium. The inaugural event took place yesterday at the Microsoft Technology Center in Times Square, New York. The white paper was developed by the Smart Contracts Alliance, a working group of the Chamber of Digital Commerce, in collaboration with Deloitte, which is leading blockchain innovation as the world’s largest professional services firm. Smart contracts are a digital, self-executing means of transferring assets or conducting actions based on rules developed utilizing blockchain technology.

In the white paper’s foreword, smart contracts pioneer Nick Szabo who provided the keynote at the Symposium, shared, “blockchain technology appears very much to be the jet fuel necessary for smart contracts to become commonplace in business transactions and beyond. It is a delight to be part of a community committed to fostering the tenants of open source cooperation, privacy and security, education in technology, and working for a common social good.” The white paper presents twelve smart contract use cases across a range of industries and topics, including:

• Digital Identity
• Records
• Securities
• Trade Finance
• Derivatives
• Financial Data Recording
• Mortgages
• Land Title Recording
• Supply Chain
• Auto Insurance
• Clinical Trials
• Cancer Research

The white paper also sets out the legal and regulatory considerations in relation to the implementation of smart contracts.

“Smart contracts will bring clarity, efficiency and predictability to the way we conduct business,” said Jason Brett, Director of Operations at the Chamber of Digital Commerce, at the Smart Contracts Symposium. “On behalf of the Smart Contracts Alliance, I am pleased to present this paper to the business and policy communities, and would like to thank all of our members and contributors for their collaborative and valuable contributions to this white paper.”

The paper is available for download now at www.digitalchamber.org/smartcontracts.html.

Attendees of the Smart Contracts Symposium were the first to receive access to the white paper. The event brought together more than 250 of the world’s leading financial institutions, legal experts and blockchain technologists to discuss the widespread adoption of this new technology.

###

About the Chamber of Digital Commerce

The Chamber of Digital Commerce is the world’s leading trade association dedicated to promoting the understanding, acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Chamber is the founder of the Smart Contracts Alliance, the Blockchain Alliance, the Global Blockchain Forum and many other key industry initiatives. For more information, please visit DigitalChamber.org or follow us on Twitter: @ChamberDigital.

Chamber Media Contact:
Erin Tye
Paragon Public Relations
Erin@paragonpr.com
+1.646.558.6226

|