Illinois State Rep. Michael Zalewski Explains Blockchain's Appeal
An Illinois representative wants the Prairie State to be a leader in blockchain technology. But 23rd district Rep., Michael Zalewski says that the next step is to build a program that proves the technology works.
“We need to find something small like a pilot program that touches a small portion of the economy, like real estate transactions,” Zalewski told Cheddar. “If we do that, if we show a little bit of success, I think it’ll really paint the evidence down the line.”
Illinois has received blockchain and cryptocurrency fairly well, being home to the CBOE and CME, which trade Bitcoin futures. But not every government branch or financial institution is excited about the technology, given that the SEC has continued to issue warnings about the lack of regulations in digital currencies.
Zalewski says, however, that Illinois finds appeal in the technology behind digital coins.
“It allows us to hold information in an individualized way,” he said. “We want to make our government more efficient and leaner, and this has the opportunity to do that for us.”
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/will-chicago-become-the-capital-of-crypto).
Musician Bruce Springsteen, actress Mindy Kaling and designer, Vera Wang were some of the celebrities honored at the White House on Tuesday. President Biden and his wife Dr Jill Biden gave honorees medals. Other honorees included Gladys Knight, Julia Louis Dreyfus and Amy Tan. The medals are Biden's first batch of awards for the arts and humanities. They were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 119,000 people have been injured by tear gas and other chemical irritants around the world since 2015 and some 2,000 suffered injuries from “less lethal” impact projectiles, according to a report released Wednesday.
TikTok has rolled out updated rules and standards for content and its CEO warned against a possible U.S. ban on the video sharing app as he prepares to face Congress.
Tens of thousands of workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District walked off the job Tuesday over stalled contract talks, and they are being joined in solidarity by teachers in a three-day strike that has shut down the nation’s second-largest school system.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is trying project calm after regional bank failures, saying the U.S. banking system is “sound” but additional rescue arrangements “could be warranted” if any new failures at smaller institutions pose a risk to financial stability.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom over the weekend announced that the state has secured a contract with CIVCA to make $30 insulin available to all who need it. He also announced that the state will start manufacturing Naloxone, an emergency medication used to rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
The International Criminal Court said Friday that it has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.
