For UN related news, please click each organization’s name on the right column.
Selected news articles concerning blockchain technology, other than UN related ones, are also posted here.
Multi-UN Agency Platform
Selected news articles concerning blockchain technology, other than UN related ones, are also posted here.
The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), an academic research centre at Cambridge Judge Business School releases the second edition of the Global Cryptoasset Benchmarking Study.
The new findings reflect the growing maturity – and recent cooling off – of an industry that experienced huge growth in 2017. The aggregate market capitalisation of cryptoassets skyrocketed from $30 billion in April 2017 to more than $800 billion at its peak in early January 2018, until coming down again to hover at around $200 billion.
The annual survey by the CCAF provides a systematic empirical analysis of the rapidly evolving cryptoasset ecosystem, illustrating the structure of a dynamic industry composed of four key segments (mining, storage, exchange, and payments) that collectively grew more than 160 per cent in 2017. The analysis is based on non-publicly available data from more than 180 startups, established companies, and individuals covering 47 countries across all world regions.
Key highlights of the findings include:
The full report can be downloaded here.
Contact:
Michel Rauchs | Lead, Cryptocurrency and Blockchain
Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance
University of Cambridge, Judge Business School
10 Trumpington Street | Cambridge CB2 1AG
The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance is an international interdisciplinary academic research institute dedicated to the study of alternative finance, which includes financial channels and instruments that emerge outside of the traditional financial system (i.e. regulated banks and capital markets). Examples of alternative channels are online ‘marketplaces’ such as equity- and reward-based crowdfunding, peer-to-peer consumer/business lending, and third-party payment platforms. Alternative instruments include SME mini-bonds, private placements and other ‘shadow banking’ mechanisms, social impact bonds and community shares used by non-profit enterprises, and alternative currencies such as Bitcoin. |
Blockchain | ITU-T Standards | Standards
December 10, 2018
Blockchain experts invited to highlight use cases to benefit from standards
Use cases of blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) are emerging in sectors such as telecom, finance, supply chain and government, leading organizations across the United Nations system to examine how applications of blockchain technology could increase the efficiency and transparency of UN operations.
ITU, the UN specialized agency for information and communication technologies, is soliciting input on promising DLT-based use cases, the benefits realized by DLT in these specific use cases, and their associated standardization needs.
All interested parties are invited to submit their input to the ITU Focus Group on DLT applications.
Use cases will be evaluated using the following criteria:
Submissions will assist ITU in highlighting the value of blockchain applications to the pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Use cases received before 4 January 2019 will be considered by the group’s next face-to-face meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 14-17 January 2019, hosted by the Brazilian Development Bank
(BNDES). The meeting will include a workshop on 14 January emphasizing the ability of DLT to support transparency and integrity.
The Focus Group is expected to complete its work by September 2019. One of the group’s priorities is to deliver an ‘assessment framework’ to support efforts to understand the strengths and weaknesses of DLT platforms in different use cases. The group is also developing a high-level DLT architecture – a reference framework – detailing the key elements of a DLT platform.
The Focus Group’s findings are expected to inform ITU technical standardization activities on DLT and blockchain technology.
For more information, contact Suzana Maranhão (BNDES, suzana@bndes.gov.br) and Martin Adolph (ITU, martin.adolph@itu.int).
Keynote speaker:
Contact:
To partner with us: contact Giulio Coppi or Aiden Slavin, IIHA Innovation Fellows
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718-817-5694 iihaoutreach@fordham.edu http://www.fordham.edu/iiha |
Trust Machine is produced by Blockchain entertainment studio SingularDTV, directed by Alex Winter, and narrated by Rosario Dawson.
The film espouses a stirring message of hope and reveals how proponents of the blockchain are already using the technology to change the world — fighting income inequality, the refugee crisis and world hunger. We feel that the film very much aligns with the ethos of your organization, and we would love to find a way to work together, either to offer a few tickets to screenings for you or simply to support one another over social media.
Hacktivist and blockchain expert Lauri Love fights extradition in TRUST MACHINE—his computer skills a threat to the US government.Tech innovators strike a raw nerve as banks and network pundits rush to condemn volatile cryptocurrencies and their underlying blockchain technology.
Among others, these people appear in the film;
Lauri Love, Hacktivist
Vinay Gupta, CEO of Mattereum
Laura Shin, Blockchain journalist
Bill Tai, Venture Capitalist
Imogen Heap, Musician
Tim Draper, Venture Capital Investor
Spiros Michalakis, Quantum Physicist at CalTech
Mark Jeffery, CEO of the Guarding Circle
Joseph Lubin, Founder of ConsenSys
And from UN, Chris Fabian, UNICEF and Houman Haddad, WFP.
The Reactor lounge, the 4th floor,
Company (formerly Grand Central Tech),
335 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/RT8BdQMJPA92
A year-long process of co-production of the book ‘Legal Aspects of Blockchain’ by the Netherland Blockchain Pilots and UNOPS has been now completing. The Netherlands Consulate, Blockchainpilots.nl and UNOPS would like to invite you to the Blockchain Symposium for the book launch on September 26, 2018 as below.
Many of authors of the book and experts in the thematic areas such as financial services, identity, and land registration from startups, academics and international organizations will be present to discuss the latest practices. Among others, speakers include; Ms. Yoka Brandt (Vice-minister of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands), Ms. Grete Faremo (Executive Director / Under-Secretary General, UNOPS), Ms. Jelena Madir (Director, Chief Counsel, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development), Dr. Mariana Dahan (CEO, World Identity Network), Mr. Michael J. Casey (Senior Advisor, Digital Currency Initiative, MIT Media Lab). Please see attached for more details of the program.
ConsenSys and UNOPS’s first iteration of the interactive web-based mapping of blockchain on SDGs will be also presented.
You can also pick up your copy of the book at the venue of the symposium.
Since the capacity of the venue is limited, it would be grateful if you could fill the registration form for Sep 26 if you plan to attend it.
Agenda is available here.
11 July 2018
UNOPS, New York
Background
The United Nations 2030 Agenda emphasizes the role that innovation plays in support of sustainable development. An important emerging innovation that has been in the news recently is blockchain / distributed ledger technology.
Originally, the blockchain’s primary use of blockchain technology was to store and track cryptocurrency transactions (e.g. Bitcoin). However, other uses and implementations have emerged in recent years. Some of these can be used to advance the implementation and monitoring of the SDGs for example by reducing food waste (SDG 12.3), supporting sustainable production by ensuring that products or production inputs are sustainably sourced, encouraging companies to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their products, and ensuring consumers have relevant information for sustainable lifestyles (SDGs 12.6 and 12.7); and providing legal identities and financial services to refugees and the very poor (SDG 2).
Blockchain can be a powerful lever to bring together all the stakeholders involved in value chains and those regulating them: producers, intermediaries, the final consumer – and governments. But value chains are international, and the loops can only be closed in an efficient manner if stakeholders, including governments, cooperate and coordinate across borders.
Target Audience
This roundtable aims at creating a discussion between policy makers, as well as with the private sector, international organizations, major groups and other relevant stakeholders involved in developing innovative solutions based upon blockchain/distributed ledger technology and partnership approach.
Registration
This Side Event will take place during the High Level Political Forum 2018. All participants must register on-line to attend the event.
Objective
The objective of this session is to:
Agenda
13:00 – 13:30 – Speakers
13:30 – 14:00 – Panel Discussion – Moderated by UNECE
14:00 – 14:30 – Open Discussion
Venue
United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
708 3rd Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10017 USA
Contacts:
Downloadable Brochure is here.
United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) wishes to share the first White Paper on Blockchain authored by UN/CEFACT, which is currently out for Public Review.
This document was already referenced a few months back as one of the documents presented to UN/CEFACT 24th Plenary Session. This same document is out for Public Review in order to capture comments and suggestions from the general public.
The Public Review will end on 21 July 2018. UN/CEFACT will welcome all comments entered through this template.
Nikhilesh De, CoinDesk
May 24, 2018 at 02:30 UTC | Updated May 24, 2018 at 02:36 UTC
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is teaming up with the IOTA Foundation to see how the project’s distributed ledger technology can help the UN streamline its workflows.
The UNOPS announced the partnership on Tuesday, saying the two organizations are looking into increasing the operation efficiency of the UN office using IOTA’s tangle technology. Read more.
Following the successful debut edition of Restart Week in San Juan, Puerto Rico this past March, the community-driven event has announced its second gathering which will take place from May 11-19 in Mayagüez on the western coast of Puerto Rico.
With their second event, Restart Week will officially collaborate with the Municipality of Mayagüez and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez to ensure direct impact on the local and surrounding community. Similar to local impact events in San Juan, independent groups and event organizers are planning events with the local community for Restart Week West.
Impact From Restart Week San Juan:
With this move, a more intimate Restart Week West will integrate students and innovators with focused events, mentorships, thought-leaders, and collaborations. While there will be additional activities in Rincón and Aguadilla, most of the events will take place in Mayagüez, the largest city on the Western side of the island with more than 13,000 college students and over 10 universities in the municipality.
Mayagüez is the center for technology innovation on the island with more computer science graduatesthan anywhere else in Puerto Rico, and the city ranks first for engineering, lawyers, accountants and professionals. Restart Week is working with several local startups, entrepreneurs, and companies, along with students and professors from the Entrepreneurship Network at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, to bring resources and connections to advance the innovation and growth on the Island.
The first Restart Week was a week-long series of community-driven events anchored by three major blockchain conferences and a benefit concert. The week brought together a community of locals, new residents, and passionate visitors participating in the mission to support the restart, redesign, rebuild Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
The March edition brought in an estimated 2,500 attendees and over 3,000 participants that took part in D10e, Blockchain Unbound, and CoinAgenda, community organized events like Women in Blockchain, and local charity projects. To the delight of many local businesses, the first restart event led to all hotels from San Juan to Isla Verde selling out for the first time since Hurricane Maria.
Restart Week West will kick off with the EduBlock: Restart Week Hackathon from May 11-12, bringing data enthusiasts, innovators and students together to work on initiatives driving community empowerment and social impact. By doing this, Restart Week seeks to create real solutions to help the people of Puerto Rico. A key focus for Restart Week West will be specific inter-industry collaboration in areas such as energy, agriculture, healthcare, housing and education. There will also be complementary art and design activities and snacks for the children of Mayagüez, which will take place after school from May 11-18. More events can be found on the Restart Week website with more to be added soon.
Restart Week West is partnering with the Startup Societies Summit on May 8th-10th in Washington D.C, which will bring together a consortium of actors to rebuild Puerto Rico with sustainable startup cities. The consortium, headed by policymakers, blockchain entrepreneurs, resilient infrastructure experts and other leaders in innovation, will take steps to create communities for entrepreneurial collaboration.
The Official Media Partner for Restart Week West is The Confluence: A full-service, global media agency that delivers best-in-class publicity, branding and content strategy to many of the world’s most influential brands, launches and causes.
More information on Restart Week and several related initiatives will be announced in the upcoming weeks on the Restart Week website. Those interested in volunteering or submitting an event for Restart Week West as well as anyone that wants to join the Restart effort can do so on their official website.
STAY CONNECTED:
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UNICEF Australia is using Coinhive — a crypto-mining service — to extract cryptocurrency through visitors’ computers and fund its ongoing mission in Bangladesh. The UN branch has long worked to provide humanitarian relief for both children and their mothers in developing nations. The organization has now created what representatives call the “Hope Page,” which allows users to donate through cryptocurrency. Read more.