The third London Blockchain in Government Summit didn't just focus on the United Kingdom—it drew attention to global examples that are leading the way in blockchain governance and regulation. From Estonia to Dubai, success stories are helping reshape how governments view blockchain's potential.
Estonia, often heralded as a digital pioneer, has used blockchain to underpin its national digital identity and various public registries since 2012. As highlighted in the summit, this long-standing integration offers valuable lessons for countries seeking to modernise their governance structures. Citizens in Estonia benefit from streamlined services, faster processing times, and secure access to government data—all enabled by blockchain infrastructure.
Dubai's efforts were also spotlighted, particularly its aim to become a fully paperless government and its progress toward tokenising the land registry. These initiatives are grounded in well-defined regulatory frameworks, which allow innovation while safeguarding public interests. Dubai's Blockchain Strategy 2020 serves as a roadmap for other jurisdictions, combining legal clarity with ambitious digital goals.
Such case studies serve dual purposes. First, they validate the practical feasibility of blockchain governance. Second, they provide templates that other nations—including the UK—can adapt and adopt. Seeing real-world implementations helps overcome skepticism and builds confidence among policymakers and the public.
The panel also discussed the UK's own innovations, including the Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS), which enables real-world testing of blockchain in regulated environments. The DSS has been instrumental in helping regulators, developers, and financial institutions collaborate to ensure safe and compliant blockchain solutions.
Panellists noted that lessons can also be learned from smaller-scale pilot programmes around the world. For instance, Sierra Leone's experiment with blockchain-based election monitoring and Ghana's work in blockchain land registries demonstrate that innovation isn't limited to large economies.
As Rt Hon. Alun Cairns opened the panel, he pointed to the UK's opportunity to learn from these international successes and apply lessons through its own regulatory innovations, such as the DSS and Property Bill.
Panellists echoed this vision. Jennifer Ewing compared Estonia's proactive regulatory environment with gaps in Western banking adoption. Vadgama emphasised that global adaptation must be context-specific but standards-driven. Baker and Daley highlighted that scalable infrastructure depends on both regulatory clarity and implementation muscle—two things that Estonia and Dubai are showcasing.
The summit emphasised that no country has a monopoly on good ideas. Rather, progress depends on an ecosystem of shared learning, adaptability, and continuous regulatory improvement. Countries that are agile in adopting best practices from others are more likely to see blockchain's benefits in action.
Ultimately, these global examples prove that with the right framework and public support, blockchain can become a cornerstone of modern governance. They illustrate that blockchain government regulation, when done right, doesn't hinder innovation—it accelerates it. Regulatory foresight, combined with real-world pilots, provides a compelling argument for wider adoption.
As the panel concluded, borrowing best practices from leading nations can help the UK—and others—develop secure, efficient, and transparent public services backed by blockchain governance. The message was clear: the future of government is global, digital, and decentralised.
The opportunity to engage in critical discussions continues. The London Blockchain Conference, taking place on 22–23 October at Evolution London, will further explore blockchain's transformative impact on public sector innovation. All interested in contributing to or learning from these discussions are welcome to attend.
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