Malta to discuss creation of national blockchain strategy

On December 7, representatives of the Maltese parliament, together with independent experts, will discuss the creation of a national blockchain strategy. The discussion will be held within the conference dedicated to the regulation of cryptocurrency and ICO (Initial Coin Offering).

In September, it was reported about the creation of a working group on the blockchain introduction into the state administration of Malta. The group includes both representatives of state authorities (Vincent Muscat, Secretary of the Parliamentary Committee, and Joseph Cuschieri, Chairman of the agency controlling gambling in Malta), and independent experts, including Steve Tendon, Senior Consultant at Quantum; Ian Gauci, Lead Lawyer and Partner at GTG Advocates; Loui Mercieca, developer of blockchain solutions, software architect at Agilis.
The creation of a new agency is one of Malta's steps to develop blockchain strategy and achieve an ambitious goal: to become the “Silicon Valley of Europe” as for decentralized technologies.
The intention of the republic to stand in the forefront of blockchain technologies has been repeatedly stated in the media by the government representatives. For instance, the Prime Minister of the country Joseph Muscat stated that “Malta can become a global pioneer in this regard”. Now the country is considering the introduction of blockchain into the Land Register and the Health Registry.
In autumn important steps were taken to develop a national blockchain strategy: development of a working group, and a search for new partners from non-state sectors for joint research of blockchain. It is stated that the plans of the country's leaders include establishment of a new regulatory authority that will assume responsibility for the advanced technologies sector.
According to the conference organizers, on December 7, its participants will share the details of creating a national blockchain strategy and ideas as for cryptocurrency regulation.
“The participants of the conference include the working group members Ian Gauci, Loui Mercieca and Steve Tendon, as well as the Parliamentary Secretary of the country Silvio Schembri. Together with them, we will consider the experience of various countries in the blockchain implementation and various models of cryptocurrency regulation and ICO”, said Blockchain & Bitcoin Conference Malta manager Aleksandra Kozlova.