# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – February 22nd, 2019 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/1332 Published: 2019-02-22T11:44:10.000Z Updated: 2019-02-22T11:44:10.000Z Section: Technology > Germany launches consultation to look into blockchain potential The government of Germany has launched a consultation process on how to utilize blockchain technology as it prepares to present a strategy by the summer,… [Germany launches consultation to look into blockchain potential]() The government of Germany has launched a consultation process on how to utilize blockchain technology as it prepares to present a strategy by the summer, Reuters reported. Sources familiar with the matter told the media giant that the government is seeking recommendations from companies and industry groups that could become stakeholders in the blockchain deployment process in the country. [Indian government inaugurates first crypto forensics lab]() The government of India has inaugurated a Cryptocurrency Forensics Lab, local news outlet The Hindu reported. The crypto forensics lab is, in fact, a unit of the National Cyber Forensic Lab (NCFL) inaugurated by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday. [Seoul Metropolitan Government to support blockchain startups via $1B innovation fund]() The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced that it will invest 1.2 trillion won ($1.07 billion) in startups by 2022 via an investment fund, CoinDesk reported. The investment will be made via the Seoul Innovation Growth Fund, which was announced last year. [Bank of Lithuania updates stance on virtual assets and ICOs]() The Bank of Lithuania has announced that it has updated its position on virtual assets and initial coin offering (ICO). The updated stance aims to ensure a level playing field for all financial market participants and has taken into account current market developments and evolving regulatory regimes. [Chamber of Digital Commerce proposes National Action Plan for Blockchain]() The Chamber of Digital Commerce, a leading blockchain trade association, has released its proposed National Plan for Blockchain. Perianne Boring, founder and president, Chamber of Digital Commerce, said that the plan is part of the chamber’s ongoing advocacy work and its efforts to promote the acceptance and use of digital assets and blockchain-based technologies. Funding/Investments/Acquisitions Blockchain security company [CipherTrace]() secures $15M in venture capital [Coinbase]() acquires blockchain intelligence platform Neutrino Sequoia India leads blockchain startup [Band Protocol’s $3M seed round]() [TRON Foundation, Achain]() invest in blockchain gaming startup PlayGame [IOTA Foundation, Nova partner]() to launch seed fund to support blockchain startups [Pantera Capital]() on track to achieve $175M target for third crypto fund Partnerships/Consortiums [IBM’s]() collaborative blockchain-based healthcare initiative gets two new members Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives [Samsung Galaxy S10]() to offer secure storage for crypto private keys [Binance DEX and Binance Chain]() enter public testnet phase BitGo to offer [crypto insurance]() through Lloyd’s of London Indian e-commerce giant [Mjunction]() partners with blockchain startup SHIPNEXT [South Korean and German telcos]() collaborate to create blockchain ID [KPMG]() partners with Guardtime to harness blockchain potential SBI Holdings’ subsidiary inks agreement with [BIG Blockchain Intelligence Group]() Japanese trading firm [Marubeni]() partners with blockchain startup LO3 Energy [BBVA]() issues structured green bond for MAPFRE using blockchain Oman-based [BankDhofar]() goes live on Ripple’s blockchain network ‘RippleNet’ [Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation]() completes blockchain-based trade finance trial Exprivia|Italtel announces [blockchain-based solution for number portability]() Chinese internet giant [Baidu]() launches blockchain engine for DApp development UAE-based waste management firm [Bee’ah, HFZA]() partner to launch blockchain platform [Rostec subsidiary]() partners with blockchain platform Vostok Liechtenstein-based [Bank Frick]() targets institutional investors with new digital asset trading platform [Baidu]() offers XuperChain blockchain network to industries in Hainan province Samsung-backed [Blocko]() to implement blockchain-based land registry system in South Korea [Telefónica and Wibson]() partner to trial blockchain-based personal data marketplace [Continental, Commerzbank and Siemens]() complete blockchain money market trial Blockchain-based AR platform Scanetchain announces beta launch of marker scanning reward system ## Links in this article - [Germany launches consultation to look into blockchain potential](https://tokenpost.com/Germany-launches-consultation-to-look-into-blockchain-potential-1294) - [Indian government inaugurates first crypto forensics lab](https://tokenpost.com/Indian-government-inaugurates-first-crypto-forensics-lab-1301) - [Seoul Metropolitan Government to support blockchain startups via $1B innovation fund](https://tokenpost.com/Seoul-Metropolitan-Government-to-support-blockchain-startups-via-1B-innovation-fund-1305) - [Bank of Lithuania updates stance on virtual assets and ICOs](https://tokenpost.com/Bank-of-Lithuania-updates-stance-on-virtual-assets-and-ICOs-1290) - [Chamber of Digital Commerce proposes National Action Plan for Blockchain](https://tokenpost.com/Chamber-of-Digital-Commerce-proposes-National-Action-Plan-for-Blockchain-1314) - [CipherTrace](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-security-company-CipherTrace-secures-15M-in-venture-capital-1308) - [Coinbase](https://tokenpost.com/Coinbase-acquires-blockchain-intelligence-platform-Neutrino-1303) - [Band Protocol’s $3M seed round](https://tokenpost.com/Sequoia-India-leads-blockchain-startup-Band-Protocols-3M-seed-round-1292) - [TRON Foundation, Achain](https://tokenpost.com/TRON-Foundation-Achain-invest-in-blockchain-gaming-startup-PlayGame-1291) - [IOTA Foundation, Nova partner](https://tokenpost.com/IOTA-Foundation-Nova-partner-to-launch-seed-fund-to-support-blockchain-startups-1298) - [Pantera Capital](https://tokenpost.com/Pantera-Capital-on-track-to-achieve-175M-target-for-third-crypto-fund-1331) - [IBM’s](https://tokenpost.com/IBMs-collaborative-blockchain-based-healthcare-initiative-gets-two-new-members-1297) - [Samsung Galaxy S10](https://tokenpost.com/Samsung-Galaxy-S10-to-offer-secure-storage-for-crypto-private-keys-1321) - [Binance DEX and Binance Chain](https://tokenpost.com/Binance-DEX-and-Binance-Chain-enter-public-testnet-phase-1311) - [crypto insurance](https://tokenpost.com/BitGo-to-offer-crypto-insurance-through-Lloyds-of-London-1309) - [Mjunction](https://tokenpost.com/Indian-e-commerce-giant-Mjunction-partners-with-blockchain-startup-SHIPNEXT-1320) - [South Korean and German telcos](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korean-and-German-telcos-collaborate-to-create-blockchain-ID-1319) - [KPMG](https://tokenpost.com/KPMG-partners-with-Guardtime-to-harness-blockchain-potential-1316) - [BIG Blockchain Intelligence Group](https://tokenpost.com/SBI-Holdings-subsidiary-inks-agreement-with-BIG-Blockchain-Intelligence-Group-1315) - [Marubeni](https://tokenpost.com/Japanese-trading-firm-Marubeni-partners-with-blockchain-startup-LO3-Energy-1312) - [BBVA](https://tokenpost.com/BBVA-issues-structured-green-bond-for-MAPFRE-using-blockchain-1307) - [BankDhofar](https://tokenpost.com/Oman-based-BankDhofar-goes-live-on-Ripples-blockchain-network-RippleNet-1302) - [Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation](https://tokenpost.com/Sumitomo-Mitsui-Banking-Corporation-completes-blockchain-based-trade-finance-trial-1300) - [blockchain-based solution for number portability](https://tokenpost.com/ExpriviaItaltel-announces-blockchain-based-solution-for-number-portability-1295) - [Baidu](https://tokenpost.com/Chinese-internet-giant-Baidu-launches-blockchain-engine-for-DApp-development-1288) - [Bee’ah, HFZA](https://tokenpost.com/UAE-based-waste-management-firm-Beeah-HFZA-partner-to-launch-blockchain-platform-1287) - [Rostec subsidiary](https://tokenpost.com/Rostec-subsidiary-partners-with-blockchain-platform-Vostok-1286) - [Bank Frick](https://tokenpost.com/Liechtenstein-based-Bank-Frick-targets-institutional-investors-with-new-digital-asset-trading-platform-1324) - [Baidu](https://tokenpost.com/Baidu-offers-XuperChain-blockchain-network-to-industries-in-Hainan-province-1329) - [Blocko](https://tokenpost.com/Samsung-backed-Blocko-to-implement-blockchain-based-land-registry-system-in-South-Korea-1328) - [Telefónica and Wibson](https://tokenpost.com/Telefnica-and-Wibson-partner-to-trial-blockchain-based-personal-data-marketplace-1327) - [Continental, Commerzbank and Siemens](https://tokenpost.com/Continental-Commerzbank-and-Siemens-complete-blockchain-money-market-trial-1325)