Industry And Government Continue To Champion Blockchain Pilots

California is poised to become the latest state to implement a law clarifying the legal status of blockchain smart contracts with the passage of Assembly Bill 2658, which, if signed by Governor Jerry Brown, would provide a statutory definition for blockchain technology, expand the definitions of electronic record and electronic signature to include records and signatures secured through blockchain, add "smart contract" to the legal definition of a contract, and stipulate that information secured through blockchain is rightfully owned by the creator for purposes of interstate or foreign commerce. In Japan, the city of Tsukuba is adopting a new blockchain-based online voting system designed to prevent tampering with votes, maintain voter confidentiality and achieve better voting efficiency. And South Korea recently announced an additional six blockchain pilot projects − including use cases for livestock supply chain management and customs clearance − that will double the