# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – May 3rd, 2019 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/1781 Published: 2019-05-03T11:38:38.000Z Updated: 2019-05-03T11:38:38.000Z Section: Technology > Global fintech sandbox GFIN considers blockchain projects for cross-border testing pilot The Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN), a global fintech sandbox formed last August, is considering a number of blockcha… [Global fintech sandbox GFIN considers blockchain projects for cross-border testing pilot]() The Global Financial Innovation Network (GFIN), a global fintech sandbox formed last August, is considering a number of blockchain-based tests for cross-border testing pilot. The tests currently under consideration for the cross-border trials include those proposed by AlphaPoint, Ascent RegTech, ATLANT, Coinvestion, DACX, Onfido, Starling Trust, and Tradle. [Eight blockchain and DLT-focused projects selected for UK FCA’s fifth cohort of regulatory sandbox]() The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced the names of the firms that have been selected for the fifth cohort of its fintech regulatory sandbox. Of the total 29 projects, eight are focused on blockchain or distributed ledger technology (DLT). [MAS and BoC complete cross-border payment trial using DLT and CBDCs]() The Bank of Canada (BoC) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore have successfully completed a distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based trial on cross-border and cross-currency payments using central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). The BoC and the MAS linked their respective experimental domestic payment networks – Project Jasper and Project Ubin – built on two different DLT platforms. [Finland to introduce regulation for crypto service providers on May 01]() Finland has approved a law to introduce regulation for cryptocurrency service providers, Bitcoin.com reported. The Act on Virtual Currency Providers will come into effect on May 01, 2019, and covers exchanges, custodian wallet providers, and issuers of cryptocurrencies. Events/Conferences - Blockchain-based news technology company PUBLISH, Inc. to speak at ['Publish Asia 2019']() in Singapore on May 8 Funding/Investments/Acquisitions - Blockchain scaling startup Matic Network secures investment from [Coinbase Ventures]() - [ErisX]() launches crypto spot market, raises another $20M in Series B round - [Digital Assets Data]() secures $6M to build crypto data platform - [Binance Labs]() backs crypto anti-phishing solutions provider ‘PhishFort’ - Blockchain powered app for digital collectibles ‘[Editional’]() launches with $1.5M seed funding - [Bakkt]() acquires Digital Asset Custody Company; seeks qualified custodian license from NYDFS Partnerships/Consortiums - 12 crypto exchanges join [CoinMarketCap]()-led Data Accountability & Transparency Alliance - ‘Big Four’ firm [KPMG joins blockchain IoT consortium]() Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives - HTC to release second generation of [Exodus blockchain smartphone]() in H2 2019 - [R.A.C. and Goldroom’s]() new record label to distribute music on Ethereum blockchain - Blockchain-based ID verification system ‘[Verified.Me]()’ goes live with five Canadian banks - [Fenergo]() to deploy blockchain-based national eKYC utility in Bahrain - AWS opens up [Amazon Managed Blockchain]() service for general availability - New technical tests underway at [Italian interbank blockchain project]() ‘Spunta’, says ABI Lab - [Paxos]() to issue up to 100M of PAX tokens on Ontology blockchain - SABB rolls out [Ripple-powered]() cross-border instant payments service - [Jaguar Land Rover]() partners with IOTA Foundation to bring cryptocurrency to drivers - [Nike]() makes inroads into blockchain and crypto space with “CryptoKicks” - [Volkswagen]() to pilot blockchain-based solution for tracing lead - Indian IT firm [Tech Mahindra]() to launch blockchain-based anti-spam call solution - [Qtum]() launches full suite of blockchain developer tools on Google Cloud - [Diamond Standard]() launches blockchain-powered fungible diamond commodity - Microsoft announces [JPMorgan’s Quorum]() as the first blockchain platform on Azure Blockchain Service - [Kaspersky Lab]() rolls out services to protect blockchain and crypto businesses from cyberattacks and fraud ## Links in this article - [Global fintech sandbox GFIN considers blockchain projects for cross-border testing pilot](https://tokenpost.com/Global-fintech-sandbox-GFIN-considers-blockchain-projects-for-cross-border-testing-pilot-1750) - [Eight blockchain and DLT-focused projects selected for UK FCA’s fifth cohort of regulatory sandbox](https://tokenpost.com/Eight-blockchain-and-DLT-focused-projects-selected-for-UK-FCAs-fifth-cohort-of-regulatory-sandbox-1752) - [MAS and BoC complete cross-border payment trial using DLT and CBDCs](https://tokenpost.com/MAS-and-BoC-complete-cross-border-payment-trial-using-DLT-and-CBDCs-1771) - [Finland to introduce regulation for crypto service providers on May 01](https://tokenpost.com/Finland-to-introduce-regulation-for-crypto-service-providers-on-May-01-1744) - ['Publish Asia 2019'](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-based-news-technology-company-PUBLISH-Inc-to-speak-at-Publish-Asia-2019-in-Singapore-on-May-8-1758) - [Coinbase Ventures](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-scaling-startup-Matic-Network-secures-investment-from-Coinbase-Ventures-1768) - [ErisX](https://tokenpost.com/ErisX-launches-crypto-spot-market-raises-another-20M-in-Series-B-round-1764) - [Digital Assets Data](https://tokenpost.com/Digital-Assets-Data-secures-6M-to-build-crypto-data-platform-1762) - [Binance Labs](https://tokenpost.com/Binance-Labs-backs-crypto-anti-phishing-solutions-provider-PhishFort-1761) - [Editional’](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-powered-app-for-digital-collectibles-Editional-launches-with-15M-seed-funding-1759) - [Bakkt](https://tokenpost.com/Bakkt-acquires-Digital-Asset-Custody-Company-seeks-qualified-custodian-license-from-NYDFS-1756) - [CoinMarketCap](https://tokenpost.com/12-crypto-exchanges-join-CoinMarketCap-led-Data-Accountability-Transparency-Alliances-1772) - [KPMG joins blockchain IoT consortium](https://tokenpost.com/Big-Four-firm-KPMG-joins-blockchain-IoT-consortium-1769) - [Exodus blockchain smartphone](https://tokenpost.com/HTC-to-release-second-generation-of-Exodus-blockchain-smartphone-in-H2-2019-1747) - [R.A.C. and Goldroom’s](https://tokenpost.com/RAC-and-Goldrooms-new-record-label-to-distribute-music-on-Ethereum-blockchain-1773) - [Verified.Me](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-based-ID-verification-system-VerifiedMe-goes-live-with-five-Canadian-banks-1770) - [Fenergo](https://tokenpost.com/Fenergo-to-deploy-blockchain-based-national-eKYC-utility-in-Bahrain-1767) - [Amazon Managed Blockchain](https://tokenpost.com/AWS-opens-up-Amazon-Managed-Blockchain-service-for-general-availability-1760) - [Italian interbank blockchain project](https://tokenpost.com/New-technical-tests-underway-at-Italian-interbank-blockchain-project-Spunta-says-ABI-Lab-1751) - [Paxos](https://tokenpost.com/Paxos-to-issue-up-to-100M-of-PAX-tokens-on-Ontology-blockchain-1749) - [Ripple-powered](https://tokenpost.com/SABB-Launches-New-Ripple-Based-Cross-Border-Instant-Payments-1746) - [Jaguar Land Rover](https://tokenpost.com/Jaguar-Land-Rover-partners-with-IOTA-Foundation-to-bring-cryptocurrency-to-drivers-1745) - [Nike](https://tokenpost.com/Nike-makes-inroads-into-blockchain-and-crypto-space-with-CryptoKicks-1743) - [Volkswagen](https://tokenpost.com/Volkswagen-to-pilot-blockchain-based-solution-for-tracing-lead-1742) - [Tech Mahindra](https://tokenpost.com/Indian-IT-firm-Tech-Mahindra-to-launch-blockchain-based-anti-spam-call-solution-1780) - [Qtum](https://tokenpost.com/Qtum-launches-full-suite-of-blockchain-developer-tools-on-Google-Cloud-1779) - [Diamond Standard](https://tokenpost.com/Diamond-Standard-launches-blockchain-powered-fungible-diamond-commodity-1777) - [JPMorgan’s Quorum](https://tokenpost.com/Microsoft-announces-JPMorgans-Quorum-as-the-first-blockchain-platform-on-Azure-Blockchain-Service-1776) - [Kaspersky Lab](https://tokenpost.com/Kaspersky-Lab-rolls-out-services-to-protect-blockchain-and-crypto-businesses-from-cyberattacks-and-fraud-1774)