The latest news about bitcoin and blockchain:
USA:
The US House of Representatives introduced a resolution calling on the government to develop technologies in the field of national policy, which would include support for digital currencies and blokcheyn technology. (http://forklog.com/v-kongress-ssha-vnesena-rezolyutsiya-v-podderzhku-bitkoina-i-tehnologii-blokchejn/)
Bitcoin:
Now a key event for Bitcoin - not dismantling around the block size and halving. This is most likely not an endorsement or approval of an application for bitcoin-ETF in the US by the brothers Winklevoss. (Http://forklog.com/exante-etf-uinklvossov-podnimet-tsenu-bitkoina-v-neskolko-raz/)
Russia:
Russian Ministry of Finance, recently predlagavshiyvvesti criminal penalties for the use of virtual currency, suddenly softened his stance.
This follows from the interview given to "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseev. The official said that now the Office pursuant to allow the Russians to acquire cryptocurrency, including Bitcoins, for resale or use in another country. The corresponding bill in his opinion, will be submitted to the Duma by the end of 2016.
However, the "Mining" (that is, the emission of Bitcoin) in the Russian Federation will also be prohibited, Moses said.
(Http://www.newsru.com/finance/19jul2016/rubitcoins.html)