1.
EU Initiatives on
blockchain
Podim, Maribor – 16th May 2018
Pierre MARRO, Startups and Innovation Unit
DG CONNECT – European Commission
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2.
Who understands Bitcoin… and
cryptocurrencies, and blockchain,
and ICOs, etc?
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3.
Evolution of blockchain
Blockchain 1.0 is
the CURRENCY,
the deployment of
cryptocurrencies in
apps related to
cash, and financial
transactions
Blockchain 1.0 is
the decentralization
of money and
payments
Blockchain 2.0 is
CONTRACTS, the
deployment of smart
properties, digital
assets, and smart
contracts
Blockchain 2.0 is the
decentralization of
markets
Blockchain 3.0 is
APPLICATIONS, in
new areas of smart
cities, IoT.M2M,
government, health,
science, and art.
Blockchain
1.0
Blockchain
2.0
Blockchain
3.0
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4.
Beyond the financial sector
4Global Blockchain Benchmarking Study,
Cambridge Judge Business School
www.theaccountant.org.mt

5.
Key trends – Investments
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6.
Key trends – ICOs panorama
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7.
Legal and regulatory issues
Smart contracts Legal status Liability/Responsibilty
Compliance with national rules GDPR Identity
Anonymisation/ pseudonimisation AML/KYC "right to be forgotten"
controller/processor of data cross-broder transfer of data
regulatory sandboxing IPR Jurisdiction Litigation
Consumer protection Competition/Antitrust Tax issues
ICOs /tokens Prevention of fraud
Governance
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8.
Key reflections regarding regulation
• Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) / crypto assets / tokenization
• new funding mechanism to raise capital
• Grey regulatory zone
• New tokenomics
• Anti Money Laundering
• e-identity (emerging model of self sovereign-identity);
GDPR (data protection);
• Smart contracts, legal validity and enforceability
• Cybersecurity
• Liability …
• + Sectoral regulations
Technology neutrality – enabling innovaton – harmonisation 8

9.
FinTech Action plan
 Published 8th March 2018
 Aim to help financial industry to make use of rapid
tech advancements, such as blockchain and other IT
applications, and strengthen cybersecurity
 Enable innovative businesses to scale up
 Support uptake of new technologies
 Outlying EU blockchain strategy, beyond FinTech
 Monitoring the dev. of crypto-assets and ICOs
(with ESAs, ECB and FSB…)
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10.
EU Blockchain Observatory
and Forum
• Launched on 1st February 2018
Create an expertise hub to access, share, produce and disseminate
knowledge on blockchain technologies, with objectives to:
• Mapping existing initiatives, focus on Europe + worldwide map
• Monitor technical development and trends
• Develop expertise and community building by
stakeholders' mobilisation and engagement
• Address sectoral and cross cutting issues (governance,
legal & regulatory, scalability, interoperability…)
• Build on EU interest use cases
• Inputs for EU policies / actions
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Prepared by ConsenSys for the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum
A repository of blockchain experiences and
expertise, a source of knowledge and inspiration
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Accelerate
Blockchain innovation and
ecosystem development in Europe
Enable
Citizens and businesses, particularly
SMEs, to benefit from the technology’s
socioeconomic potential
Take advantage
Of blockchain technology to foster the
digital single market and promote cross-
border interoperability
Goals
Activities Produce and share
knowledge
Analyse blockchain
developments and trends
Identify relevant existing
blockchain initiatives
Create an attractive and
transparent forum
Highlight opportunities
and issues at stake
regarding the technology

12.
Prepared by ConsenSys for the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum
Structure, roles and
responsibilities
Academic partners
Produce research papers to
enrich the discussion
• Lucerne Univ. of Applied
Sciences & Arts
• Univ. of Southampton
• Knowledge Media Institute
(Open Univ.)
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EU Blockchain
Community
Open to a large number of
volunteers, managed via online
platform
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Project governance
and management
Prioritize, set objectives and
overview day to day activities
DG CONNECT, ConsenSys,
selected partners
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Working groups
Discuss, analyse and make
recommendations
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Blockchain Policy
and Framework
Conditions
Use Cases and
Transition
Scenarios
Up to 30 selected
contributors
Up to 30 selected
contributors
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13.
Prepared by ConsenSys for the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum
Three online pilars dedicated to the
Observatory and Forum
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eublockchainforum.eu Blockchain map mobilize.io
Note: Visuals do not represent final version
The public face and knowledge repository
Hosting information about the Forum, thematic
reports, case studies, videos, research papers,
educational content about blockchain, FAQs,
news, and…
All blockchain initiatives in one place
Crowdsourced yet verified information about
blockchain initiatives around the world. Allowing
visitors to search and filter information about a
wide variety of blockchain projects
An open and attractive forum discussion
Facilitating engagement with teams,
contributors and community. Bringing together
a large panel of expertise (legal, entrepreneurs,
technologists, government representatives…)
https://eublockchain.mobilize.io/registrations/gr
oups/20630Visit www.eublockchainforum.eu

14.
Digital Day 2 (10th April 2018)
Declaration on a European Blockchain Partnership with
Member States in order to:
• Cooperate towards a European blockchain infrastructure
• Develop governance models, compliant with EU laws and
reflecting its values
• Ensuring interoperability
• Stimulating new business
models
• Positioning Europe in a
leadership role
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15.
Other Initiatives
• Standardisation, Interoperability
Participation into ISO TC 307, ITU-T, CEN-CENELEC White Paper on
blockchain
• Funding R&I actions through EU programmes
~30 collaborative projects already funded (eg IoT, smart grids, home
and cities, Mgt of health data, social goods, Media, transport & logistics
etc…)
• Moving from PoC to pilot to implementation
Feasibility study on the opportunity of a EU blockchain
Infrastructure, other EU programmes (CEF…)
• Skills development and internal expertise 15

16.
Thank you!
• pierre.marro@ec.europa.eu
• @EUBlockchain
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