# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – January 25th, 2019 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/1159 Published: 2019-01-25T11:18:46.000Z Updated: 2019-01-25T11:18:46.000Z Section: Technology > Government of Ireland to host two-day blockchain hackathon for public services Ireland’s Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in association with The Department of Finance, is going to host Blockathon Ireland.… [Government of Ireland to host two-day blockchain hackathon for public services]() Ireland’s Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in association with The Department of Finance, is going to host Blockathon Ireland. The two-day event aims to identify and analyse potential real-life use-cases of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), namely blockchain, in public services. [Wyoming lawmakers introduce bill to clarify classification of digital assets]() Lawmakers from the U.S. state of Wyoming have introduced a new bill that seeks to clarify the classification of cryptocurrencies. Republican Jared Olsen, Senator Chris Rothfuss (Democrat), and seven other Republican representatives have filed Senate Bill 125, titled “Digital assets-existing law.” The bill categorizes crypto assets as digital consumer assets, digital securities and virtual currencies. [UK Financial Conduct Authority launches consultation on cryptoasset guidance]() The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced on Wednesday that it is consulting on guidance for cryptoassets. Once finalized, the guidance will set out the cryptoasset activities that fall under FCA regulation. Accordingly, firms will be able to better assess if they need to get approval from the FCA and ensure if they compliant and have appropriate consumer safeguards in place. [Japan’s Regulatory Sandbox authorizes Crypto Garage to test yen-pegged stablecoin]() The Regulatory Sandbox in Japan, managed by the country’s Cabinet Secretariat, has announced the names of the companies that have been selected to test their projects. In an announcement dated January 21, Crypto Garage, a joint venture between Digital Garage and The Tokyo Tanshi Co., Ltd., said that it is the first blockchain and finance project authorized by the regulatory sandbox. [South Korea to develop blockchain-based intelligent system for imported food products]() The government of South Korea is planning to leverage blockchain technology to innovate its customs inspection system to ensure the safety of imported food products. The Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) has announced its plans to establish “an intelligent import food integration system” that will use blockchain technology prevent the forgery and alteration of information of imported food. [RBI’s R&D institute proposes blueprint for blockchain adoption]() The Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT), an arm of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), has published a blueprint for the implementation of blockchain technology in the banking sector, Business Standard reported. [Saudi-Emirati cross-border cryptocurrency pilot announced]() The joint cryptocurrency project between the UAE and Saudi Arabian authorities has been officially announced. At its first meeting in Abu Dhabi, the Executive Committee of the Saudi-Emirati Coordination Council announced seven joint initiatives in important sectors. Among these seven initiatives, the Saudi-Emirati cryptocurrency pilot has also been included. Acquisitions/Investments/Fundraising - [OKCoin]() founder acquires majority stake in Hong Kong-listed firm - Nasdaq Ventures leads blockchain startup [Symbiont’s $20M Series B round]() - [Blockchain Industries, BTHMB]() sign binding LOI to merge and become publicly traded crypto exchange company - Indonesian unicorn company [Go-Jek acquires Filipino crypto startup]() Coins.ph - “Smart banknotes” startup [Tangem secures $15M]() from SBI Crypto Investment Consortium/Partnerships - South Korea-based [KEB Hana Bank]() joins Enterprise Ethereum Alliance - [Hyperledger]() blockchain project announces new project to build supply chain solutions - Dubai telecom giant du joins [Carrier Blockchain Study Group]() Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives - Switzerland’s [Falcon Private Bank]() allows direct transfers of cryptocurrencies - [Stock Exchange of Thailand]() plans to launch digital asset exchange - [Bitwage]() allows companies to pay crypto salaries via new partnership - [Standard Chartered Singapore]() completes blockchain-based trade finance deal - JP Morgan spin-off Kadena launches [Blockchain-as-a-Service solution]() on AWS Marketplace - [Smartrac, Citizens Reserve]() partner to improve supply chain using blockchain - Australian startup [Power Ledger]() announces another blockchain-based energy trading project in Japan - Dutch banking giant [ING signs five-year deal]() with blockchain startup R3 - Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras joins [IBM Maersk blockchain shipping solution]() “TradeLens” - [Kuwait Finance House]() launches cross-border remittance service using Ripple’s blockchain - Securitize joins [IBM Blockchain Accelerator program]() - [WISeKey, BRI]() partner to create interconnected Blockchain Centers of Excellence around the world - [Seed CX]() targets institutional investors with bitcoin spot trading - Binance launches [crypto-to-crypto OTC trading desk]() - Robinhood and LibertyX latest to receive [New York BitLicense]() - Overstock.com’s [tZERO security token trading]() platform goes live - IBM, PNC Bank and healthcare companies collaborate to establish [blockchain-based healthcare ecosystem]() - [British Standards Institution seeks to develop blockchain-based supply chain solutions via OriginTrail partnership]() ## Links in this article - [Government of Ireland to host two-day blockchain hackathon for public services](https://tokenpost.com/Government-of-Ireland-to-host-two-day-blockchain-hackathon-for-public-services-1155) - [Wyoming lawmakers introduce bill to clarify classification of digital assets](https://tokenpost.com/Wyoming-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-clarify-classification-of-digital-assets-1118) - [UK Financial Conduct Authority launches consultation on cryptoasset guidance](https://tokenpost.com/UK-Financial-Conduct-Authority-launches-consultation-on-cryptoasset-guidance-1144) - [Japan’s Regulatory Sandbox authorizes Crypto Garage to test yen-pegged stablecoin](https://tokenpost.com/Japans-Regulatory-Sandbox-authorizes-Crypto-Garage-to-test-yen-pegged-stablecoin-1124) - [South Korea to develop blockchain-based intelligent system for imported food products](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korea-to-develop-blockchain-based-intelligent-system-for-imported-food-products-1150) - [RBI’s R&D institute proposes blueprint for blockchain adoption](https://tokenpost.com/RBIs-RD-institute-proposes-blueprint-for-blockchain-adoption-1139) - [Saudi-Emirati cross-border cryptocurrency pilot announced](https://tokenpost.com/Saudi-Emirati-cross-border-cryptocurrency-pilot-announced-1132) - [OKCoin](https://tokenpost.com/OKCoin-founder-acquires-majority-stake-in-Hong-Kong-listed-firm-1152) - [Symbiont’s $20M Series B round](https://tokenpost.com/Nasdaq-Ventures-leads-blockchain-Startup-Symbionts-20M-Series-B-round-1145) - [Blockchain Industries, BTHMB](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-Industries-BTHMB-sign-binding-LOI-to-merge-and-become-publicly-traded-crypto-exchange-company-1137) - [Go-Jek acquires Filipino crypto startup](https://tokenpost.com/Indonesian-unicorn-company-Go-Jek-acquires-Filipino-crypto-startup-Coinsph-1126) - [Tangem secures $15M](https://tokenpost.com/Smart-banknotes-startup-Tangem-secures-15M-from-SBI-Crypto-Investment-1120) - [KEB Hana Bank](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korea-based-KEB-Hana-Bank-joins-Enterprise-Ethereum-Alliance-1131) - [Hyperledger](https://tokenpost.com/Hyperledger-blockchain-project-announces-new-project-to-build-supply-chain-solutions-1143) - [Carrier Blockchain Study Group](https://tokenpost.com/Dubai-telecom-giant-du-joins-Carrier-Blockchain-Study-Group-1121) - [Falcon Private Bank](https://tokenpost.com/Switzerlands-Falcon-Private-Bank-allows-direct-transfers-of-cryptocurrencies-1125) - [Stock Exchange of Thailand](https://tokenpost.com/Stock-Exchange-of-Thailand-plans-to-launch-digital-asset-exchange-1123) - [Bitwage](https://tokenpost.com/Bitwage-allows-companies-to-pay-crypto-salaries-via-new-partnership-1119) - [Standard Chartered Singapore](https://tokenpost.com/Standard-Chartered-Singapore-completes-blockchain-based-trade-finance-deal-1151) - [Blockchain-as-a-Service solution](https://tokenpost.com/JP-Morgan-spinoff-Kadena-launches-Blockchain-as-a-Service-solution-on-AWS-Marketplace-1147) - [Smartrac, Citizens Reserve](https://tokenpost.com/Smartrac-Citizens-Reserve-partner-to-improve-supply-chain-using-blockchain-1141) - [Power Ledger](https://tokenpost.com/Australian-startup-Power-Ledger-announces-another-blockchain-based-energy-trading-project-in-Japan-1138) - [ING signs five-year deal](https://tokenpost.com/Dutch-banking-giant-ING-signs-five-year-deal-with-blockchain-startup-R3-1134) - [IBM Maersk blockchain shipping solution](https://tokenpost.com/Port-Authority-of-the-Bay-of-Algeciras-joins-IBM-Maersk-blockchain-shipping-solution-TradeLens-1130) - [Kuwait Finance House](https://tokenpost.com/Kuwait-Finance-House-launches-cross-border-remittance-service-using-Ripples-blockchain-1129) - [IBM Blockchain Accelerator program](https://tokenpost.com/Securitize-joins-IBM-Blockchain-Accelerator-program-1128) - [WISeKey, BRI](https://tokenpost.com/WISeKey-BRI-partner-to-create-interconnected-Blockchain-Centers-of-Excellence-around-the-world-1117) - [Seed CX](https://tokenpost.com/Seed-CX-targets-institutional-investors-with-bitcoin-spot-trading-1149) - [crypto-to-crypto OTC trading desk](https://tokenpost.com/Binance-launches-crypto-to-crypto-OTC-trading-desk-1148) - [New York BitLicense](https://tokenpost.com/Robinhood-and-LibertyX-latest-to-receive-New-York-BitLicense-1158) - [tZERO security token trading](https://tokenpost.com/Overstockcoms-tZERO-security-token-trading-platform-goes-live-1156) - [blockchain-based healthcare ecosystem](https://tokenpost.com/IBM-PNC-Bank-and-healthcare-companies-collaborate-to-establish-blockchain-based-healthcare-ecosystem-1157) - [British Standards Institution seeks to develop blockchain-based supply chain solutions via OriginTrail partnership](https://tokenpost.com/British-Standards-Institution-seeks-to-develop-blockchain-based-supply-chain-solutions-via-OriginTrail-partnership-1153)