The Blockchain Research Institute, founded by the Tapscotts - Don and Alex - is making a name for itself as a source of analysis from the world of blockchain technology development and applications.

In the spirit of the ongoing FIFA World Cup, they have published their top ten picks for the global hub of blockchain innovation.

The list is constructed based on the following criteria:

• Government support & funding
• Size of regional market
• Regulatory clarity / openness
• Ecosystem
• Banking landscape / openness
• Thought leadership
• Private funding
• Communities of talent e.g. education
• Corporate leadership

Singapore comes in second with a score of 211, just 4 points behind the winners, New York City. They gave a write up on their logic behind Singapore's high placing and I'd tend to agree.

"While Russians and Canadians wrestle to claim Vitalik Buterin as their own, the wunderkind behind Ethereum has hung his hat in Singapore—a global model for forward-thinking policies and an emerging leader in entrepreneurialism and innovation. Its government has regulated cryptocurrency with a deft hand and created blockchain research networks within its post-secondary institutions.

Its monetary authority partnered with the R3 consortium to test inter-bank payments on a blockchain platform. Singapore’s access to Asian markets and the region’s rapidly growing middle class more than makes up for its relatively small population, and we expect continued growth in the city-state’s blockchain ecosystem."

The full results list was:

1. New York City 215
2. Singapore 211
3. Silicon Valley 210
4. Zurich/Zug 207
5. Toronto-Waterloo Corridor 189
6. Beijing 184
7. Seoul 180
8. London 177
9. Tokyo 163
10. Shanghai 160
11. Berlin 153
12. Paris 152
13. Dubai 143
14. Shenzhen 142
15. Guangzhou 140
16. Munich 136

For further information about Singapore's blockchain ecosystem, refer to my previous article - Singapore: A Hotbed for Blockchain / DLT-based Development