is probably one of the most promising technological advancements built on top of Bitcoin to date. Not only does it offer one of the best — if not the best — privacy related innovations so far, it can also provide significant scaling benefits as a payment hub. The solution is also fully compatible with the current Bitcoin protocol and, most important, it is in an advanced stage of development.

Known for its kilts and bagpipes, golf courses and quality whiskey, Scotland is a country full of traditions. It is also rapidly emerging as a burgeoning hotbed for blockchain technology, known for its disruptive potential in creating innovative solutions for the world of business and commerce.

Distributed ledger technology (DLT) and blockchains have caught the attention of many sectors, particularly the finance industry, due to their potential to improve monetary processes and reduce costs. And yet, while an increasing number of industries are undertaking various experiments to understand the benefits that DLT can provide, a new report from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has warned that new regulations for blockchain technology would be “premature” at this stage of its development.

The global business consulting and technology services provider conducted a survey in cooperation with capital markets research firm on the topic of blockchain technology in financial services. Over 200 senior-level financial services and technology decision makers across the U.S., U.K. and Europe were interviewed for this survey. The outcome of the survey suggests that the vast majority of financial institutions believe in the potential of blockchain technology and that it will be in everyday use in the financial industry within the next 10 years.

It appears the United States Postal Service is determined not to be the courier of choice for drug dealers any longer.

Swiss startup Procivis is set to release a pilot version of its blockchain-powered e-government “app store,” including a digital identity service, by Q4 of 2017. The company is currently in talks with clients in Switzerland, two cantons and a national government body, as well as two other countries for potential pilot programs, Daniel Gasteiger, founder of Procivis, told

Two major players in the global insurance industry, Generali Group and Reinsurance Group of America (RGA), have that they are joining the Blockchain Insurance Industry Initiative B3i to further explore the potential use of distributed ledger technology for the insurance and health reinsurance industries.

In April 2016, the Republic of Georgia’s National Agency of Public Registry (NAPR), renowned Peruvian economist Hernando De Soto, and Bitcoin company Bitfury a partnership to design and pilot a blockchain land-titling project. Now, Bitfury and NAPR a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand the blockchain solutions developed by the project to other government departments.