# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – April 5th, 2019 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/1606 Published: 2019-04-05T11:45:55.000Z Updated: 2019-04-05T11:45:55.000Z Section: Technology > European Commission officially launches International Association of Trusted Blockchain Applications The official launch event of the European Commission’s blockchain initiative was held in Brussels on April 03. Calle… [European Commission officially launches International Association of Trusted Blockchain Applications]() The official launch event of the European Commission’s blockchain initiative was held in Brussels on April 03. Called the International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (or INATBA), the initiative aims to bring together various stakeholders to support the mainstream adoption of blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) across multiple sectors. [European Commission and supervisory authorities launch new fintech innovation forum]() The European Commission (EC) and the European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) have launched a new forum to foster fintech innovation in the common currency area. Called the European Forum for Innovation Facilitators (EFIF), the forum aims to improve cooperation and coordination in support of the application of new technological developments in the EU financial sector. [US SEC releases regulatory guidance for crypto token issuers]() The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has published regulatory guidance for token issuers to help them determine if their cryptocurrencies fall under the scope of federal securities laws. The guidance provides a framework for analyzing whether a digital asset qualifies as one particular type of security – an “investment contract.” [Cyberspace Administration of China announces first batch of 197 registered blockchain companies]() The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) last week announced the names of the first batch of 197 blockchain-based information service providers that have been granted registration numbers. Yicai reported that the companies included in the list includes public internet companies such as Baidu, Tencent, Iqiyi and several startup companies including Lufax, VeChain, and Wanxiang Blockchain, among others. [Copyright Protection Center of China, Xunlei partner to build blockchain-based DCI system]() The Copyright Protection Center of China (CPCC) is teaming up with Chinese tech company Xunlei to build a blockchain-powered digital copyright identifier (DCI) system. In its capacity as a blockchain services provider, Xunlei will leverage its blockchain capabilities to support the operations of CPCC’s DCI system, particularly in the area of the copyright registration of fine arts and photographic works. [Canadian town of Innisfil to start accepting bitcoin for property tax payments this month]() Innisfil, a town in Ontario, Canada, has become the first municipality in Canada to accept cryptocurrency as a method of payment for property taxes. According to a press release dated March 28, Innisfil Council has voted in favor of forming an agreement with Coinberry, a Toronto-based blockchain and digital currency solutions provider, to provide the service for residents as part of a one-year pilot project. [State Bank of Pakistan mulls issuing digital currency]() The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is considering launching a digital currency by 2025, a report from Dawn has revealed. SBP’s Deputy Governor Jameel Ahmad recently said that the central bank was currently working on a concept of issuing digital currency by 2025 with the objective of promoting financial inclusion and reducing inefficiency and corruption. Events/Conferences IBM, Accenture, Microsoft and others to converge at [TEAMZ Blockchain Summit]() Company News - [Okta’s new $50M fund]() makes first investment in blockchain identity startup - Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto fund and Polychain Capital pump $25M into [Celo]() - Crypto trading platform [Liquid achieves unicorn status]() with latest funding from Bitmain, IDG Capital - [PayPal]() joins identity startup Cambridge Blockchain’s series A round - [Aviva, Sesame Bankhall Group]() back blockchain mortgage startup Acre Software’s $6.5M funding round - Airlines Reporting Corp. invests in blockchain startup [Blockskye’s Series A round]() - BK Consortium defers payment to [acquire Bithumb]() cryptocurrency exchange: Report - Crypto exchange [DragonEx lost $7M in hack](), announces compensation plan - Crypto exchange [Bithumb loses $13M in latest hack](), insider job suspected Partnerships/Consortiums - Crypto startup [Coins.ph]() announces collaboration with Western Union - [Universal Protocol Alliance]() to launch Euro-pegged stablecoin Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives - EC-supported [INATBA declaration]() registered on multiple blockchains - [Jamaica Stock Exchange]() to trial bitcoin and ether trading - [Coinbase]() starts offering international payment services with XRP and USDC - Crypto exchange [Coincheck]() launches over-the-counter trading platform - Swiss food tech firm [Bühler]() introduces blockchain-ready solutions - [PwC]() trials blockchain technology for validation of job candidates’ credentials - [Marseille Fos port]() backs blockchain project for enhanced freight logistics - HSBC completes Letter of Credit transaction using [Voltron blockchain platform]() - Blockchain startup [Credits]() launches mainnet with high network capacity - South Korea-based [SBI Savings Bank]() launches blockchain-based authentication service - [Thai state-owned bank]() to launch blockchain-based money transfer services - [R3, Barclays, RBS]() and others trial blockchain for faster property transactions - Bitfury announces [blockchain-based consent management system](); partners with Hancom to distribute Crystal platform - Russian gas giant [Gazprom]() seeks to automate gas supply agreements using blockchain - [BBVA]() closes blockchain-powered loan with Madrid’s regional government - Customs broker Livingston collaborates with [IBM Maersk blockchain shipping]() initiative ‘TradeLens’ ## Links in this article - [European Commission officially launches International Association of Trusted Blockchain Applications](https://tokenpost.com/European-Commission-to-officially-launch-International-Association-of-Trusted-Blockchain-Applications-today-1586) - [European Commission and supervisory authorities launch new fintech innovation forum](https://tokenpost.com/European-Commission-and-supervisory-authorities-launch-new-fintech-innovation-forum-1588) - [US SEC releases regulatory guidance for crypto token issuers](https://tokenpost.com/US-SEC-releases-regulatory-guidance-for-crypto-token-issuers-1594) - [Cyberspace Administration of China announces first batch of 197 registered blockchain companies](https://tokenpost.com/Cyberspace-Administration-of-China-announces-first-batch-of-197-registered-blockchain-companies-1574) - [Copyright Protection Center of China, Xunlei partner to build blockchain-based DCI system](https://tokenpost.com/Copyright-Protection-Center-of-China-Xunlei-partner-to-build-blockchain-based-DCI-system-1575) - [Canadian town of Innisfil to start accepting bitcoin for property tax payments this month](https://tokenpost.com/Canadian-town-of-Innisfil-to-start-accepting-bitcoin-for-property-tax-payments-this-month-1566) - [State Bank of Pakistan mulls issuing digital currency](https://tokenpost.com/State-Bank-of-Pakistan-mulls-issuing-digital-currency-1583) - [TEAMZ Blockchain Summit](https://tokenpost.com/IBM-Accenture-Microsoft-and-others-to-converge-at-TEAMZ-Blockchain-Summit-1584) - [Okta’s new $50M fund](https://tokenpost.com/Oktas-new-50M-fund-makes-first-investment-in-blockchain-identity-startup-1597) - [Celo](https://tokenpost.com/Andreessen-Horowitzs-crypto-fund-Polychain-Capital-pump-25M-into-Celo-1587) - [Liquid achieves unicorn status](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-trading-platform-Liquid-achieves-unicorn-status-with-latest-funding-from-Bitmain-IDG-Capital-1582) - [PayPal](https://tokenpost.com/PayPal-joins-identity-startup-Cambridge-Blockchains-series-A-round-1581) - [Aviva, Sesame Bankhall Group](https://tokenpost.com/Aviva-Sesame-Bankhall-Group-back-blockchain-mortgage-startup-Acre-Softwares-65M-funding-round-1605) - [Blockskye’s Series A round](https://tokenpost.com/Airlines-Reporting-Corp-invests-in-blockchain-startup-Blockskyes-Series-A-round-1601) - [acquire Bithumb](https://tokenpost.com/BK-Consortium-defers-payment-to-acquire-Bithumb-cryptocurrency-exchange-Report-1578) - [DragonEx lost $7M in hack](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-exchange-DragonEx-lost-7M-in-hack-announces-compensation-plan-1568) - [Bithumb loses $13M in latest hack](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-exchange-Bithumb-loses-13M-in-latest-hack-insider-job-suspected-1567) - [Coins.ph](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-startup-Coinsph-announces-collaboration-with-Western-Union-1591) - [Universal Protocol Alliance](https://tokenpost.com/Universal-Protocol-Alliance-to-launch-Euro-pegged-stablecoin-1564) - [INATBA declaration](https://tokenpost.com/EC-supported-INATBA-declaration-registered-on-multiple-blockchains-1592) - [Jamaica Stock Exchange](https://tokenpost.com/Jamaica-Stock-Exchange-to-trial-bitcoin-and-ether-trading-1589) - [Coinbase](https://tokenpost.com/Coinbase-starts-offering-international-payment-services-with-XRP-and-USDC-1572) - [Coincheck](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-exchange-Coincheck-launches-over-the-counter-trading-platform-1570) - [Bühler](https://tokenpost.com/Swiss-food-tech-firm-Bhler-introduces-blockchain-ready-solutions-1595) - [PwC](https://tokenpost.com/PwC-trials-blockchain-technology-for-validation-of-job-candidates-credentials-1593) - [Marseille Fos port](https://tokenpost.com/Marseille-Fos-port-backs-blockchain-project-for-enhanced-freight-logistics-1590) - [Voltron blockchain platform](https://tokenpost.com/HSBC-completes-Letter-of-Credit-transaction-using-Voltron-blockchain-platform-1580) - [Credits](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-startup-Credits-launches-mainnet-with-high-network-capacity-1579) - [SBI Savings Bank](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korea-based-SBI-Savings-Bank-launches-blockchain-based-authentication-service-1571) - [Thai state-owned bank](https://tokenpost.com/Thai-state-owned-bank-to-launch-blockchain-based-money-transfer-services-1569) - [R3, Barclays, RBS](https://tokenpost.com/R3-Barclays-RBS-and-others-trial-blockchain-for-faster-property-transactions-1604) - [blockchain-based consent management system](https://tokenpost.com/Bitfury-announces-blockchain-based-consent-management-system-partners-with-Hancom-to-distribute-Crystal-platform-1603) - [Gazprom](https://tokenpost.com/Russian-gas-giant-Gazprom-seeks-to-automate-gas-supply-agreements-using-blockchain-1602) - [BBVA](https://tokenpost.com/BBVA-closes-blockchain-powered-loan-with-Madrids-regional-government-1599) - [IBM Maersk blockchain shipping](https://tokenpost.com/Customs-broker-Livingston-collaborates-with-IBM-Maersk-blockchain-solution-TradeLens-1598)