Chicago-based business 1871 recently announced that it’s launching a new project called the Chicago Bitcoin Center, which will aim to research the use of bitcoins in Chicago and developing secure networks for transferring bitcoins and other forms of digital currency.

According to reports from the Chicago Tribune and Inside Bitcoins, the Chicago Business Center is a “bitcoin-focused incubator” and the team will work with other tech startups to develop safer methods of transferring bitcoins, along with increased investments toward block chain technology.

The Center was announced at the Inside Bitcoins Conference in Chicago and was launched on Friday, July 10. CEO Howard A. Tullman recently told the Chicago Tribune that the use of digital currency is rising — even Citibank announced that it’s developing its own digital currency called Citicoin.

“When you have the biggest banks in the world starting to acknowledge that this is a viable currency and everybody has to be involved in it, we think it’s going to have implications for our companies,” Tullman stated.

Online consumer purchases are already driving the economy in the U.S., with around $1.2 million spent via e-commerce shopping platforms every 30 seconds, and an estimated $140 billion worth of mobile shopping sales generated by 2019.

The Center has already pulled together an impressive team of financial and tech experts, including Don Wilson, founder and CEO of DRW Trading, and Matthew Roszak, CEO of the Chicago Bitcoin Center and a founding partner at the Chicago-based Tally Capital.

Participating startups already include Glidera, which provides merchant payment processing systems for bitcoins, and Red Leaf, which is currently implementing bitcoin ATMs throughout Chicago.

According to Roszak, 1871’s unique combination of entrepreneurs from a variety of industries is exactly what makes the company so capable of building up companies that wish to focus on bitcoins; the Center’s “network of experienced technologists, marketers, advocates, investors and others” aim to transform the way businesses and consumers use digital currency.

After a triumphant season helping bring the Chicago Blackhawks to Stanley Cup victory, defenseman Duncan Keith has taken some time for himself.

The Canadian player wound up relaxing after the championship win, having played more than 700 minutes during the postseason and taking home the Conn Smythe trophy.

“For a while I think all I had was Tim Hortons and ice cappuccinos and chocolate glazed donuts,” he said in a phone interview with the Chicago Tribune. “You need to be able to relax and have that break physically and mentally.”

Yet there are other reasons why Keith may have needed a break after the busy season: namely, due to his separation with wife Kelly-Raw one year prior.

The split was the subject of several rumors in the local press, and may have led to fighting between Keith and teammate Patrick Sharpe. Although gossip columns implied that Sharpe played a role in the separation, both players addressed the issue in the spring to say that the rumors of conflict were unfounded.

Keith and Kelly-Rae, who have begun working with divorce lawyers, also has a two-year-old son, Colton.

“Kelly and I are doing our best to co-parent Colton and raise him in a loving environment whether he’s with her or with me,” he explained.

Splitting custody is a relatively new phenomenon in many divorce proceedings, and it often requires some kind of third party decision. In 2011, 11% of custody decisions were made during mediation in a divorce; 5% of such cases were decided afterwards through court order custody evaluations for one or both parents.

In addition to taking time out for himself, Keith also needed to be there for Colton, which meant missing the Blackhawks convention in Chicago this past weekend.

Did he feel like he was missing out interacting with fans and teammates? Of course, Keith said.

“Obviously, I’d really like to be there at the convention because I always enjoy meeting new fans and seeing old ones, so that’s a little frustrating not being able to celebrate with all of them,” Keith said. “But in my own situation, I am going through a divorce. I’ve been separated for over a year now.”

Keith hopes that fans will be understanding of his absence, given his personal situation. “I hope everybody can respect that and our privacy,” he stated.