In a move that will surely make the world’s accountants weep with either joy or existential dread, Hong Kong and Shanghai have declared their intent to “accelerate digital trade innovation” via a shared blockchain platform. Because nothing says “progress” like replacing physical red tape with its ethereal, cryptographic cousin. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), Shanghai Data Bureau (SDB), and National Technology Innovation Center for Blockchain (NTICBC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)-a document so overflowing with ambition it could power a dozen Silicon Valley startups, or at least a very determined intern.