# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – April 12th, 2019 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/1653 Published: 2019-04-12T11:53:07.000Z Updated: 2019-04-12T11:53:07.000Z Section: Technology > China’s NDRC considers banning crypto mining activities The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), a macroeconomic management agency under the Chinese State Council, is considering eliminating bitcoin mini… [China’s NDRC considers banning crypto mining activities]() The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), a macroeconomic management agency under the Chinese State Council, is considering eliminating bitcoin mining activities in the country, Reuters reported. The state planner is seeking public opinion on a revised list of industries that it intends to encourage, restrict or eliminate. [G20 leaders to agree on crypto AML/CFT regulations in June: Report]() G20 member countries are going to discuss international cryptocurrency Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regulation at the Finance Minister and Central Bank Governors meeting on June 8 and 9 in Fukuoka, Japan, Cointelegraph reported referring to a report from Kyodo. The finance ministers and central bank governors of the member countries are expected to reach an agreement on the new regulations at the meeting. [Financial Stability Board published crypto-assets regulators directory]() The Financial Stability Board (FSB), an international body monitoring the global financial system, has published a Crypto-assets regulators directory. In a press release dated April 05, the FSB said: “The purpose of the directory is to provide information on the relevant regulators and other authorities in FSB jurisdictions and international bodies who are dealing with crypto-asset issues, and the aspects covered by them.” [US Energy Department’s NETL kick off second phase of blockchain power plant security project]() The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory system, has announced that it has commenced the second phase of a project that aims to prevent cyberattacks on power plants using blockchain technology. The $1 million research project will be carried out with Colorado-based Taekion, formerly Grid7. [South Korea mulls revising cryptocurrency regulations]() The South Korean government is considering revising the regulatory framework on cryptocurrencies, Cointelegraph reported referring to local media outlet ZDNet Korea. At a recent conference, top government officials have reportedly said that it was about time to re-evaluate cryptocurrencies policies to encourage the growth of this emerging market. [South Korea’s Internet agency announces 12 blockchain pilot projects for 2019]() The Korea Internet and Security Agency (KISA) has announced the 12 projects selected for '2019 Blockchain Public Pilot Project' that will aim to innovate public services and discover best practices by applying the blockchain technology. Focus areas include disaster prevention and response service, defense, medical and healthcare, part-time worker rights protection, food safety management certification service platform, carbon credits history management system, and renewable energy certificate (REC) service, among others. [Mauritius FSC publishes regulatory guidance on security token offerings]() The Mauritius Financial Services Commission (FSC) has published regulatory guidance on security token offerings (STOs). The document states, ““Securities tokens” are “securities” as defined in the Securities Act 2005, represented in digital format.” Research Studies/Surveys - Tax, finance execs keen on automating routine tasks, but unsure about blockchain: [KPMG Poll]() - [FxWirePro Poll](): Ethereum’s fortune to get better in 2019, hit $500 by end of the year Company News - Bermuda’s Ministry of Finance gives green light to [Velocity Ledger ICO]() - NYDFS rejects crypto exchange [Bittrex’s BitLicense application]() - NYDFS grants nineteenth [BitLicense]() to US subsidiary of Bitstamp cryptocurrency exchange - [Facebook]() seeks $1B in venture capital for crypto project: Report - More insurers and reinsurers join blockchain insurance startup [B3i’s latest funding round]() - Blockchain startup [EnergyXchain]() receives $225k grant from National Science Foundation - Crypto payments startup [Flexa]() raises $14.1M ahead of public launch - New blockchain development firm [Horizen Labs]() launches with $4M seed round - Canadian crypto exchange [QuadrigaCX]() to file for bankruptcy Partnerships/Consortiums - Japan-based Resona Bank backs out of [Ripple-powered Money Tap]() app - Albertsons Companies to pilot [IBM Food Trust]() blockchain-based food traceability solution Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives - [Edge]() allows selling cryptocurrency to credit cards via Simplex partnership - Coinbase-backed [Securitize]() launches new initiative to simplify token issuance and management - [Coinbase]() rolls out crypto Visa debit card for UK customers - [Opera]() launches desktop browser with built-in crypto wallet - [Binance’s decentralized exchange]() to launch this month - [TCS’ Quartz Blockchain]() powers cross-border securities settlement Maroclear and Kuwait Clearing Company - South Korea’s [DAPA]() to build blockchain platform for transparency in defense acquisition projects - [ISDA teams up with Digital Asset]() to standardize derivatives data - Aviva, Unilever, Johnson & Johnson join blockchain-based data sharing platform [Ocean Protocol]() - Indian city of [Bengaluru]() to trial blockchain-based complaint redressal system in June - [Thomson Reuters]() patents blockchain-based identity management system - Telecom operator [Orange]() joins initiative to fight fake news using blockchain - [Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Telstra]() collaborate to enhance security for online transactions: Report - Japanese bank [MUFG]() to launch yen-pegged stablecoin this year - Société Générale-owned [Kleinwort Hambros]() launches actively managed blockchain note - AR blockchain platform developer [Scanetchain]() releases new dapp "Inxight" - [International Chamber of Commerce]() inks agreement Singaporean startup Perlin to explore blockchain technology ## Links in this article - [China’s NDRC considers banning crypto mining activities](https://tokenpost.com/Chinas-NDRC-considers-banning-crypto-mining-activities-1634) - [G20 leaders to agree on crypto AML/CFT regulations in June: Report](https://tokenpost.com/G20-leaders-to-agree-on-crypto-AML-CFT-regulations-in-June-Report-1609) - [Financial Stability Board published crypto-assets regulators directory](https://tokenpost.com/Financial-Stability-Board-published-crypto-assets-regulators-directory-1617) - [US Energy Department’s NETL kick off second phase of blockchain power plant security project](https://tokenpost.com/US-Energy-Departments-NETL-kick-off-second-phase-of-blockchain-power-plant-security-project-1643) - [South Korea mulls revising cryptocurrency regulations](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korea-mulls-revising-cryptocurrency-regulations-1608) - [South Korea’s Internet agency announces 12 blockchain pilot projects for 2019](https://tokenpost.com/South-Koreas-Internet-agency-announces-12-blockchain-pilot-projects-for-2019-1611) - [Mauritius FSC publishes regulatory guidance on security token offerings](https://tokenpost.com/Mauritius-FSC-publishes-regulatory-guidance-on-security-token-offerings-1635) - [KPMG Poll](https://tokenpost.com/Tax-finance-execs-keen-on-automating-routine-tasks-but-unsure-about-blockchain-KPMG-Poll-1629) - [FxWirePro Poll](https://tokenpost.com/FxWirePro-Poll-Ethereums-fortune-to-get-better-in-2019-hit-500-by-end-of-the-year-1612) - [Velocity Ledger ICO](https://tokenpost.com/Bermudas-Ministry-of-Finance-gives-green-light-to-Velocity-Ledger-ICO-1642) - [Bittrex’s BitLicense application](https://tokenpost.com/NYDFS-rejects-crypto-exchange-Bittrexs-BitLicense-application-1640) - [BitLicense](https://tokenpost.com/NYDFS-grants-nineteenth-BitLicense-to-US-subsidiary-of-Bitstamp-cryptocurrency-exchange-1631) - [Facebook](https://tokenpost.com/Facebook-seeks-1B-in-venture-capital-for-crypto-project-Report-1622) - [B3i’s latest funding round](https://tokenpost.com/More-insurers-and-reinsurers-join-blockchain-insurance-startup-B3is-latest-funding-round-1607) - [EnergyXchain](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-startup-EnergyXchain-receives-225k-grant-from-National-Science-Foundation-1626) - [Flexa](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-payments-startup-Flexa-raises-141M-ahead-of-public-launch-1651) - [Horizen Labs](https://tokenpost.com/New-blockchain-development-firm-Horizen-Labs-launches-with-4M-seed-round-1644) - [QuadrigaCX](https://tokenpost.com/Canadian-crypto-exchange-QuadrigaCX-to-file-for-bankruptcy-1621) - [Ripple-powered Money Tap](https://tokenpost.com/Japan-based-Resona-Bank-backs-out-of-Ripple-powered-Money-Tap-app-1652) - [IBM Food Trust](https://tokenpost.com/Albertsons-Companies-to-pilot-IBM-Food-Trust-blockchain-based-food-traceability-solution-1645) - [Edge](https://tokenpost.com/Edge-allows-selling-cryptocurrency-to-credit-cards-via-Simplex-partnership-1627) - [Securitize](https://tokenpost.com/Coinbase-backed-Securitize-launches-new-initiative-to-simplify-token-issuance-and-management-1632) - [Coinbase](https://tokenpost.com/Coinbase-rolls-out-crypto-Visa-debit-card-for-UK-customers-1639) - [Opera](https://tokenpost.com/Opera-launches-desktop-browser-with-built-in-crypto-wallet-1624) - [Binance’s decentralized exchange](https://tokenpost.com/Binances-decentralized-exchange-to-launch-this-month-1619) - [TCS’ Quartz Blockchain](https://tokenpost.com/TCS-Quartz-Blockchain-powers-cross-border-securities-settlement-Maroclear-and-Kuwait-Clearing-Company-1638) - [DAPA](https://tokenpost.com/South-Koreas-DAPA-to-build-blockchain-platform-for-transparency-in-defense-acquisition-projects-1633) - [ISDA teams up with Digital Asset](https://tokenpost.com/ISDA-teams-up-with-Digital-Asset-to-standardize-derivatives-data-1628) - [Ocean Protocol](https://tokenpost.com/Aviva-Unilever-Johnson-Johnson-join-blockchain-based-data-sharing-platform-Ocean-Protocol-1625) - [Bengaluru](https://tokenpost.com/Indian-city-of-Bengaluru-to-trial-blockchain-based-complaint-redressal-system-in-June-1623) - [Thomson Reuters](https://tokenpost.com/Thomson-Reuters-patents-blockchain-based-identity-management-system-1618) - [Orange](https://tokenpost.com/Telecom-operator-Orange-joins-initiative-to-fight-fake-news-using-blockchain-1616) - [Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Telstra](https://tokenpost.com/Commonwealth-Bank-of-Australia-Telstra-collaborate-to-enhance-security-for-online-transactions-Report-1614) - [MUFG](https://tokenpost.com/Japanese-bank-MUFG-to-launch-yen-pegged-stablecoin-this-year-1630) - [Kleinwort Hambros](https://tokenpost.com/Socit-Gnrale-owned-Kleinwort-Hambros-launches-actively-managed-blockchain-note-1615) - [Scanetchain](https://tokenpost.com/AR-blockchain-platform-developer-Scanetchain-releases-new-dapp-Inxight-1648) - [International Chamber of Commerce](https://tokenpost.com/International-Chamber-of-Commerce-inks-agreement-Singaporean-startup-Perlin-to-explore-blockchain-technology-1647)