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Chamber of Digital Commerce to Testify in US Congress: Hearing Focused on Digital Currencies and Blockchain Technology

Hearing Focused on Digital Currencies and Blockchain Technology

Washington, DC (March 16, 2016) – Today the Chamber of Digital Commerce will testify at 11:00 am ET in the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. The hearing is entitled “Disrupter Series: Digital Currency and Blockchain.” Matthew Roszak, co-founder of Bloq, will testify on behalf of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. Roszak will also leverage this important platform to underline the benefits of blockchain technology, its potential to drive innovation, jobs and investment, as well as highlight the industry’s current scalability challenges and potential solutions to build consensus.

“Given the amount of financial and intellectual capital being poured into the blockchain ecosystem, this new technological frontier presents a generational opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors,” said Matthew Roszak. “I am honored to be representing the Chamber at this special gathering in Congress. Maintaining an open dialogue with policymakers is a critical component to this industry’s long term success.”

The Committee on Energy and Commerce, the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, is vested with the broadest jurisdiction of any congressional authorizing committee. It has responsibility for the nation’s telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health research, environmental quality, energy policy, and interstate and foreign commerce.

The Chamber’s full testimony can be downloaded at: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/IF/IF17/20160316/104677/HHRG-114-IF17-Wstate-RoszakM-20160316.pdf

This hearing is open to the public and will be live streamed at: https://energycommerce.house.gov

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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

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Newsroom

Press Release – IBM Senior Vice President and Director of Research Arvind Krishna to Keynote DC Blockchain Summit

WASHINGTON, DC–(Marketwired – Feb 17, 2016) – The Chamber of Digital Commerce announces Arvind Krishna, Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research, as a keynote speaker at the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s DC Blockchain Summit at Georgetown University on March 3, 2016.

“Blockchain technology is re-imagining the way we transfer, store, and secure assets, including currencies, commodities, property, and identity,” said Perianne Boring, Founder and President of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. “We’re honored to welcome IBM to the DC Blockchain Summit to share their perspective on this groundbreaking technology with Washington, DC.”

Krishna oversees IBM’s Blockchain initiatives, which includes the recent proposal of nearly 44,000 lines of code to the Linux Foundation’s Hyperledger Project. IBM Blockchain code is designed to help developers easily build secure distributed ledgers that can be used to exchange most anything of value. IBM recently announced new cloud-based blockchain services for developers, new garages in New York, Tokyo, Singapore and London that will focus on blockchain and a range of added consulting services to rapidly advance the use of distributed ledger technology across multiple industries.

In addition, Krishna helps guide IBM Research’s overall technical strategy, oversees a global organization of approximately 3,000 scientists and technologists located at 12 labs on six continents. He is the recipient of a distinguished alumni award from the University of Illinois, is the co-author of 15 patents, has been the editor of IEEE and ACM journals, and has published extensively in technical conferences and journals.

The DC Blockchain Summit will also feature CEO of Digital Assets Holdings, Blythe Masters, as a keynote speaker. Additional speakers include: Don Tapscott, Best Selling Author; Sean Murphy, Global Head of Blockchain, Norton Rose Fulbright; Matthew Roszak, Founding Partner, Tally Capital; C. Alden Pelker, FBI; Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ); Jeff Garzik, Core Developer and Co-Founder, Bloq; Adam Ludwin, CEO, Chain; and many more.

The DC Blockchain Summit is open to the DC community, technologists, students, and all those interested in blockchain technology.

For more details, visit: DC Summit

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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

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Newsroom

Press Release – Blythe Masters to Keynote DC Blockchain Summit – Inaugural summit to feature market leaders in the blockchain industry

Blythe Masters to Headline DC Blockchain Summit
Inaugural summit to feature market leaders in the blockchain industry

Washington, DC (February 10, 2015) – The Chamber of Digital Commerce announces that Blythe Masters, CEO of Digital Asset Holdings, will be a keynote speaker at the Chamber’s DC Blockchain Summit on March 3, 2016 at Georgetown University.

“The DC Blockchain Summit is a first of its kind event bringing the best and brightest from both industry and government to address the policy challenges facing this technology that has the power to positively disrupt,” said Perianne Boring, Founder & President of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. “We’re thrilled to have some of the most innovative speakers provide insight into this crucial and emerging innovation.”

Masters spent 27 years at J.P. Morgan Chase and rose to Managing Director at the age of 28. She has served in numerous senior level positions at the firm, including Head of Global Commodities, CFO of J.P. Morgan Investment Bank, Head of Global Credit Portfolio and Credit Policy and Strategy. She is the Chair of the Board of Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc. Masters also serves on the Board of Advisors of the Chamber.

“Distributed Ledger Technology has the potential to solve real world financial problems and create operating and capital efficiencies. However, in order to realize these benefits it is important to preserve the legal and regulatory protections afforded to participants in the existing financial system,” said Blythe Masters, CEO of Digital Asset Holdings. “The DC Blockchain Summit has developed an important platform to enhance the dialogue between policy makers and the industry to promote public trust and confidence in this new technology.”

Digital Asset Holdings recently announced a $60 million+ growth financing, which included ABN AMRO, Accenture, ASX Limited, BNP Paribas, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Citi, CME Ventures, Deutsche Börse Group, Goldman Sachs, ICAP, IBM, J.P. Morgan, Santander InnoVentures, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation and PNC Financial.

Additional speakers include: Don Tapscott, Best Selling Author; Marley Gray, Director Blockchain Technology Strategy, Microsoft; Arvind Krishna, Senior Vice President and Director, IBM; Sean Murphy, Global Head of Blockchain, Norton Rose Fulbright; Matthew Roszak, Founding Partner, Tally Capital; C. Alden Pelker, FBI; Rep. David Schweikert (RAZ); Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC); Jeff Garzik, Core Developer and Co-Founder, Bloq; Adam Ludwin, CEO, Chain; Vitalik Buterin, Founder, Ethereum; Stephen Pair, CEO and Co-Founder, BitPay; John Beccia, CCO, Circle Internet Financial; and many more.

The Chamber invites the DC community, finance and technology entrepreneurs, students, technologist, and all those interested in the future of finance to attend the DC Blockchain Summit.

Details of the event are as follows and a full slate of speakers can be found here.

DC Blockchain Summit
March 3, 2016
8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Georgetown University
McDonough School of Business
Lohrfink Auditorium
37th and O St., N.W.
bWashington, DC 20007
If you would like to apply for press credentials, please email CDC@transform.pr.

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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

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Newsroom

Blockchain Meets the Beltway: Technology Leaders Gravitate to Washington, DC

Inaugural DC Blockchain Summit Features Prominent FinTech Executives

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Chamber of Digital Commerce announces an impressive list of additional speakers for its DC Blockchain Summit (digitalchamber.org/DCSummit), which will take place on March 3, 2016 at Georgetown University. These influential thought leaders will discuss how blockchain technology can solve real world financial problems, and how the current regulatory landscape can affect adoption, growth and investment.

The updated speaker lineup includes:

Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC)

Adam Ludwin – Co-Founder & CEO, Chain

Brian Forde – Director, MIT Digital Currency Initiative

Jim Robinson – Managing Partner, RRE Ventures

Marc Hochstein – Editor in Chief, American Banker

Marco Santori – Global Policy Counsel, Blockchain & Partner, Pillsbury

Sam Cole – Co-Founder, KnCMiner

Stephen Pair – Co-Founder & CEO, BitPay,

Additional speakers include, Don Tapscott, CEO, The Tapscott Group; Marley Gray, Director Technology Strategy – Blockchain, Microsoft; Arvind Krishna, Senior Vice President and Director, IBM; Matthew Roszak, Founding Partner, Tally Capital; C. Alden Pelker, FBI; Rep. David Schweikert; Jeff Garzik, Bitcoin Core Developer; and many more.

The DC Blockchain Summit posed the following question to its distinguished guest speakers: “What is the future of banking and blockchain and what should Washington know about it?” Here’s a sampling of their responses.

“It is imperative Washington understands the breakthrough technologies that comprise the Blockchain. Irrefutable, published value transfer and trade for both digital, and physical, goods is a massive operating system upgrade for all networks. As with the Internet today, we will look back in twenty years and wonder how we ever got along without it. Like the internet, new winners and losers – individual, commercial and nations – will be determined by their capacity to embrace this change.” – Jim Robinson, Managing Partner, RRE Ventures

“Blockchains and other shared ledgers promise to make the financial industry more resilient, efficient and transparent, and there is a fascinating debate underway over how the technology will take hold. From the innovations made possible by bitcoin’s permission-less, open network, to the more cautious recent experiments by financial institutions, this technology has galvanized new thinking in a normally staid industry.” –Marc Hochstein, Editor In Chief, American Banker

“Blockchain technology presents a genuine opportunity for our government to re-examine first principals of regulation and policymaking. The Blockchain Alliance is an important part of this conversation and Pillsbury is happy to represent Blockchain.info on this significant panel.” -Marco Santori, Global Policy Counsel, Blockchain & Partner, Pillsbury

“With some experts predicting over one trillion USD to be saved by the banking and finance industry. The impact of blockchain technology will allow savings not seen since the Internet.” –Sam Cole, Co-Founder & CEO, KnCMiner

“The applications of blockchain technology extend far beyond the financial industry. I believe it’s the most important human invention since the printing press. As far as banking is concerned, it’s difficult to imagine any other way that banking will work in the future than what we see with Bitcoin and blockchain technology.” –Stephen Pair, Co-founder & CEO, BitPay.

The Chamber invites the DC community, finance and technology entrepreneurs, students, technologist, and all those interested in the future of finance to attend the DC Blockchain Summit.

Early Bird registration rates are available until February 10 for $99. The first 100 individuals to register will receive a copy of Don Tapscott and Alex Tapscott’s new book, “Blockchain Revolution.” Special rates are available for government employees, members of nonprofit organizations, and students.

For more information and to register for the conference, visit: DC Summit.

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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

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Newsroom

DC Blockchain Summit Adds Prominent New Speakers and Innovation Showcase

WASHINGTON, D.C.–(Marketwired – Jan 21, 2016) – The Chamber of Digital Commerce today announces additional speakers for its DC Blockchain Summit (digitalchamber.org/DCSummit), including: Arvind Krishna (IBM), Helen Wong (FTC), and U.S. Representative David Schweikert. These speakers will join a lineup of thought leaders gathering at Georgetown University on March 3, 2016, to explore policy challenges and opportunities related to blockchain technology.

Blockchain Innovation Showcase
Following the day’s agenda, the Innovation Showcase will bring together top-funded startups and leading technology firms to demonstrate applicable use cases for blockchain technology. Innovators across specialties including smart contracts, consumer technologies, blockchain analytics, Internet of Things, and many others, will be on hand to showcase their services. The first-of-its-kind Innovation Showcase will immediately follow the DC Blockchain Summit, with all registered attendees and media invited to join.

Who’s Attending the DC Blockchain Summit?
Confirmed guests include representatives from American Express, Booz Allen Hamilton, Capital One, IBM, International Monetary Fund, Microsoft, NASDAQ, Royal Bank of Canada, and many more.

Early bird registration is now open, and special rates are available for government employees and nonprofit organizations. The first 100 individuals to register will receive a copy of Don Tapscott and Alex Tapscott’s new book, “Blockchain Revolution.”

For more information and to register for the conference, visit: DC summit.

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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

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Newsroom

Chamber of Digital Commerce Announces Inaugural DC Blockchain Summit – Registration Now Open for Event Exploring Blockchain Technology and Economic Policy With Keynote Don Tapscott

WASHINGTON, DC–(Marketwired – Jan 14, 2016) – The Chamber of Digital Commerce today announced that the first D.C. Blockchain Summit (digitalchamber.org/DCSummit) will take place on March 3, 2016 at Georgetown University, providing the DC community, government, technologists, finance experts, nonprofits, and students a chance to explore opportunities and challenges surrounding blockchain technology in the nation’s capital.

Headlining the conference with a keynote address will be Don Tapscott, one of the world’s leading authorities on the economic and social impact of technology. Tapscott will discuss the new generation of digital interaction emerging based on blockchain technology. His keynote will explain how blockchain technology enables secure and direct communication of value and money without a trusted intermediary to authenticate and settle transactions.

Additional speakers include: John Beccia (Circle), Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum), Jeff Garzik (Bloq), Marley Gray (Microsoft), Brian Kelly (CNBC), C. Alden Pelker (FBI), Matthew Roszak (Tally Capital), and Jason Weinstein (Steptoe & Johnson, Blockchain Alliance). Presentations and discussions will explore how blockchain technology and distributed ledgers hold the key to solving many economic problems and help create the conditions for a more prosperous world.

“We are bringing together key thought leaders from industry, technology and government in order to create a unique and focused dialogue on blockchain public policy and industry standards,” said Perianne Boring, president and founder of the Chamber of Digital Commerce.

Registration is now open for the DC Blockchain Summit, with special rates available for government employees and members of nonprofit organizations. The first 100 individuals to register will receive a copy of Don Tapscott and Alex Tapscott’s new book, “Blockchain Revolution.”

For more information and to register for the conference, visit: (DC Summit)

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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

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Newsroom

Chamber of Digital Commerce Releases Smart Contracts White Paper

ARLINGTON, VA–(Marketwired – Jan 4, 2016) – BTCS Inc. ( OTCQB : BTCS ) (“BTCS” or the “Company”), a blockchain technology focused company which secures the blockchain through its transaction verification services business, announced its CEO and COO have donated shares of BTCS common stock from their personal holdings, currently valued at 50,000, to the educational affiliate of the Chamber of Digital Commerce (https://www.digitalchamber.org/).

Charles Allen, chief executive officer of BTCS, stated, “The support the Chamber provides to our industry is invaluable, and we’re pleased to be in a position to give back to support their mission. As our success continues, we hope to help the work of other qualified non-profit organizations that back the burgeoning blockchain technology and digital currency industries.” Allen further stated “We are thrilled with the Chamber’s efforts in North Carolina and the recent guidance provided by the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks which clearly exempts our transaction verification service business from requiring a money transmitter license.”

The Chamber of Digital Commerce is a Washington, DC-based trade association representing the digital asset industry. Its mission is to promote the acceptance and use of digital assets and related technologies. Through education, advocacy, and working closely with policymakers, regulatory agencies and industry, the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s goal is to develop a pro-growth legal environment that fosters innovation, jobs and investment.

Perianne Boring, founder and president of the Chamber stated, “Regulatory risk continues to be one of the greatest hurdles to widespread adoption of blockchain-based technologies. With the support of BTCS and our members, the Chamber helps facilitate the enactment of responsible, prudent legislation and regulation, which helps support the vitality of the industry. The Chamber is grateful for the generous gift from Mr. Allen and Mr. Handerhan, and for their partnership in helping to advance the public-private sector dialogue.”

“With the recent successful closing of our financing, BTCS is now well-positioned for continued growth,” stated Michal Handerhan, chief operating officer of BTCS. “Charles and I believe this share donation is a way for the Chamber to share in our success as we move forward.”

About BTCS:
BTCS secures the blockchain through its rapidly growing transaction verification services business and plans to build a broader ecosystem to capitalize on opportunities in this fast growing industry. The blockchain is a decentralized public ledger and has the ability to fundamentally impact all industries on a global basis that rely on or utilize record keeping and require trust. BTCS continues to evaluate and build additional blockchain technology consumer solutions. BTCS also actively partners and integrates with strategic digital currency and blockchain technology companies who provide products or services that are complementary to its business strategy. For more information visit: www.btcs.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements in this press release, including those related to an anticipated merger, constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “continue,” “predict,” “forecast,” “project,” “plan,” “intend” or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward-looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, not limited to Risk Factors relating to its digital currency business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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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

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Newsroom

North Carolina Embraces Blockchain Technology

Multi-sig, Non-hosted wallets, and Blockchain 2.0 Excluded From Onerous Regulation

In response to the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s efforts in North Carolina, the Commissioner of Banks has provided clarification through Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the applicability of the current Money Transmitters Act (Act) to virtual currency businesses in the State. Perianne Boring, President of the Chamber of Digital Commerce, noted: “North Carolina has taken a leadership role in state-level virtual currency debates and is setting an example to other states to take a more thoughtful and deliberate approach to regulating this nascent industry.” This guidance is relevant to all companies in the virtual currency industry regardless of location because North Carolina requires that entities that engage in money transmission obtain a money transmission license to offer such services in North Carolina.

The recently issued FAQs addresses concerns raised by the Chamber regarding scope and regulatory overreach under the current Act. The FAQs clearly state that virtual currency miners, blockchain 2.0 entities (including smart contracts platforms, colored coins, and smart property), multi-signature software, and non-hosted, non-custodial wallets, fall outside the scope of the Act – further clarifying that these business models will not require a money transmitter license in the State.

The Chamber commends the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks for its leadership in providing clarity to the blockchain and virtual currency industry by excluding certain business models from money transmission regulation and promoting business in the State. As Amy Kim, counsel at BuckleySandler LLP noted, “these FAQs are quite remarkable as they define specific activities as falling outside the scope of the regulation, which very well may serve as a template for other state interpretations.”

Arika Pierce, Principal at Gide, also states, “as virtual currency continues to evolve as an industry it’s great to see North Carolina’s willingness to work with industry stakeholders to ensure that innovative companies can operate in the state. Our hope is that other states will follow North Carolina’s lead in being collaborative and thoughtful in their approach to overseeing this industry.”

As background, the North Carolina legislature is considering a bill, at the request of the Commissioner of Banks, that would update the state’s existing Money Transmitter Act to expressly include virtual currency businesses. The Chamber has been actively involved in this process, expressing concern over the proposed legislation’s broad language that could potentially be interpreted to capture certain virtual currency business models that are clearly not engaged in money transmission and should not be regulated as such. The Chamber believes that taking a broad interpretation of money transmission would subject small businesses, startups, and technology companies to onerous reporting requirements and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees and bonding requirements.

The Chamber would like to thank Buckley Sandler and Gide for their assistance in the Chamber’s efforts in North Carolina.

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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.

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