# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – May 17th, 2019 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/1908 Published: 2019-05-17T11:33:41.000Z Updated: 2019-05-17T11:33:41.000Z Section: Technology > ECB official sees more potential in stablecoins than bitcoin An official of the European Central Bank (ECB) recently said that all cryptocurrencies are not created equally, Bloomberg reported. Speaking in Paris this w… [ECB official sees more potential in stablecoins than bitcoin]() An official of the European Central Bank (ECB) recently said that all cryptocurrencies are not created equally, Bloomberg reported. Speaking in Paris this week, Francois Villeroy de Galhau said that he sees a role for stablecoins – digital tokens pegged to fiat currencies – in the financial system. [ECB invites paper submissions on crypto, stablecoin, and DLT for payments conference]() The European Central Bank and the National Bank of Belgium have issued a call for papers, including those focused on blockchain and cryptocurrencies, for a payments innovation conference to be held on 26 and 27 November 2019 in Brussels. [German state to set up European Blockchain Institute this year]() The government of the German state North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) has announced plans to establish a European Blockchain Institute. NRW Economics Minister Andreas Pinkwart said that the institute will begin its work in Dortmund this year at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML). [US House of Representatives launches fintech and AI task forces]() The US House of Representatives has announced the launch of two task forces – one focused on financial technology (fintech) and the other on artificial intelligence (AI). Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, said that with the emergence of new technologies and their implementation in the financial services industry, Congress must make sure that responsible innovation is encouraged. [HKMA, BoT enter fintech collaboration, hint at joint central bank digital currency project]() The central banking authorities of Hong Kong and Thailand are teaming up to promote financial innovation and undertake joint research projects, including one focused on central bank digital currency (CBDC). On May 12, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bank of Thailand (BOT). [Belfast to launch city-wide digital currency this year]() Belfast City Council has entered into a partnership with UK & Israel based tech startup Colu to launch a city-wide digital currency. Dubbed “Belfast Coin,” the digital currency will operate as a rewards platform, encouraging residents towards impactful behaviors to further improve the city. It is the UK’s first city-wide digital currency designed to encourage positive everyday activities. [Industry groups, fintech want Reserve Bank of India to consider including cryptocurrency in sandbox]() Many technology industry lobby groups and fintech startups have urged the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to include cryptocurrency and other related crypto-assets in the regulatory sandbox framework, the Economic Times reported. Company News - UK blockchain startup [Billon Group]() receives $2.1M grant - Silicon Valley-based staking startup [InfStones]() secures $2M from DHVC, Plug and Play - Privacy-centric crypto startup [Nym Technologies]() raises $2.5M - Blockchain startup [Agoric]() raises $4M from Ripple’s Xpring, Outlier Ventures and others - Kakao-backed [Dunamu]() pumped $46M in blockchain startups over the past year - Crypto payments startup [UTRUST]() obtains Swiss regulatory approval - Hacked crypto exchange [Cryptopia]() appoints liquidators - US Senators ask [Mark Zuckerberg]() to share details on crypto project - Crypto exchange [Coinbase]() in talks to acquire Xapo for $50M: Report - Crypto-focused [Brave Browser]() seeks over $30M in funding round: Report - Banking giants to [invest $50M in]() blockchain-based settlement project: Report Partnerships/Consortiums - Banco Bradesco joins trade finance blockchain network [Marco Polo]() - [Hyperledger]() announces new blockchain-based identity management infrastructure - BNP Paribas, Natixis and Societe Generale to pilot [Finastra’s DLT-based platform]() ‘Fusion LenderComm’ Digital Currency Initiatives - [Samsung]() plans to introduce crypto and blockchain features in budget Galaxy phones - Bitcoin, digital currencies to be accepted by [Starbucks, Amazon’s Whole Food](), other major retailers - Huobi launches regulated [OTC Desk]() for high volume crypto traders - Blockchain startup [Ripio]() launches crypto-fiat exchange and OTC desk - [NAGA]() launches new crypto exchange platform NAGAX - Blockchain startup [Blockstream]() unveils security token platform - [BitGo]() launches off-chain clearing and settlement service for institutional clients - HTC enables in-wallet [crypto swaps in EXODUS]() blockchain smartphone - HTC to release [low-cost blockchain smartphone]() capable of running a full bitcoin node - Crypto wallet [Curv secures $50M insurance]() coverage from Munich Re - [Bakkt]() to start bitcoin futures testing in July - [Boerse Stuggart]() lists exchange-traded notes on Litecoin and XRP Blockchain/Distributed Ledger Technology Initiatives - Bond-i: [World Bank, CBA]() record secondary bond market trade using blockchain - Avery Dennison taps [IOTA’s blockchain]() to track items from Mathew Williams’ fashion label - [Microsoft]() unveils decentralized identity network built on bitcoin blockchain - [Vinturas to use IBM Blockchain]() to provide full automotive supply chain visibility - [Kadena]() to launch public blockchain in October, partners with asset manager USCF - Kakao’s [Ground X]() to launch blockchain platform on June 27 - Polymath, Cardano founder team up to build [security token blockchain]() ‘Polymesh’ - BNP Paribas-backed LiquidShare partners with ConsenSys’ PegaSys for [post-trade blockchain infrastructure]() - [GE Aviation, Microsoft]() develop supply chain blockchain for aircraft parts - [Louis Vuitton]() owner LVMH unveils blockchain provenance platform ‘AURA’ for luxury industry ## Links in this article - [ECB official sees more potential in stablecoins than bitcoin](https://tokenpost.com/ECB-official-sees-more-potential-in-stablecoins-than-bitcoin-1876) - [ECB invites paper submissions on crypto, stablecoin, and DLT for payments conference](https://tokenpost.com/ECB-invites-paper-submissions-on-crypto-stablecoin-and-DLT-for-payments-conference-1898) - [German state to set up European Blockchain Institute this year](https://tokenpost.com/German-state-to-set-up-European-Blockchain-Institute-this-year-1856) - [US House of Representatives launches fintech and AI task forces](https://tokenpost.com/US-House-of-Representatives-launches-fintech-and-AI-task-forces-1840) - [HKMA, BoT enter fintech collaboration, hint at joint central bank digital currency project](https://tokenpost.com/HKMA-BoT-enter-fintech-collaboration-hint-at-joint-central-bank-digital-currency-project-1895) - [Belfast to launch city-wide digital currency this year](https://tokenpost.com/Belfast-to-launch-city-wide-digital-currency-this-year-1843) - [Industry groups, fintech want Reserve Bank of India to consider including cryptocurrency in sandbox](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-industry-groups-fintech-want-Reserve-Bank-of-India-to-consider-cryptocurrency-crypto-related-assets-ban-1896) - [Billon Group](https://tokenpost.com/UK-blockchain-startup-Billon-Group-receives-21M-grant-1884) - [InfStones](https://tokenpost.com/Silicon-Valley-startup-InfStones-raises-2M-funding-from-DHVC-Plug-and-Play-1882) - [Nym Technologies](https://tokenpost.com/Privacy-centric-crypto-startup-Nym-Technologies-raises-25M-1863) - [Agoric](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-startup-Agoric-raises-4M-from-Ripples-Xpring-Outlier-Ventures-and-others-1847) - [Dunamu](https://tokenpost.com/Kakao-backed-firm-Dunamu-invests-46M-in-blockchain-startups-over-the-past-year-1883) - [UTRUST](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-payments-startup-UTRUST-obtains-Swiss-regulatory-approval-1835) - [Cryptopia](https://tokenpost.com/Hacked-crypto-exchange-Cryptopia-appoints-liquidators-1865) - [Mark Zuckerberg](https://tokenpost.com/US-Senators-ask-Mark-Zuckerberg-to-share-details-on-crypto-project-1834) - [Coinbase](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-exchange-Coinbase-in-talks-to-acquire-Xapo-for-50M-Report-1904) - [Brave Browser](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-backed-Brave-Browser-seeks-over-30M-in-funding-round-1902) - [invest $50M in](https://tokenpost.com/Banking-giants-to-invest-50M-in-blockchain-based-settlement-project-Report-1906) - [Marco Polo](https://tokenpost.com/Banco-Bradesco-joins-trade-finance-blockchain-network-Marco-Polo-1854) - [Hyperledger](https://tokenpost.com/Hyperledger-announces-new-blockchain-based-identity-management-infrastructure-1857) - [Finastra’s DLT-based platform](https://tokenpost.com/BNP-Paribas-Natixis-and-Societe-Generale-to-pilot-Finastras-DLT-based-platform-Fusion-LenderComm-1850) - [Samsung](https://tokenpost.com/Samsung-Plans-to-Release-Budget-Blockchain-Galaxy-Smartphones-1873) - [Starbucks, Amazon’s Whole Food](https://tokenpost.com/Bitcoin-digital-currencies-now-accepted-by-Starbucks-Amazons-Whole-Food-other-major-retailers-1867) - [OTC Desk](https://tokenpost.com/Huobi-launches-regulated-OTC-Desk-for-high-volume-crypto-traders-1872) - [Ripio](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-startup-Ripio-releases-crypto-fiat-exchange-and-OTC-desk-1903) - [NAGA](https://tokenpost.com/NAGA-launches-new-crypto-exchange-platform-NAGAX-1866) - [Blockstream](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-startup-Blockstream-unveils-security-token-platform-1885) - [BitGo](https://tokenpost.com/BitGo-launches-off-chain-clearing-and-settlement-service-for-institutional-clients-1862) - [crypto swaps in EXODUS](https://tokenpost.com/HTC-enables-in-wallet-crypto-swaps-in-EXODUS-blockchain-smartphone-1859) - [low-cost blockchain smartphone](https://tokenpost.com/HTC-to-release-low-cost-blockchain-smartphone-capable-of-running-a-full-bitcoin-node-1833) - [Curv secures $50M insurance](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-wallet-Curv-secures-50M-insurance-coverage-from-Munich-Re-1832) - [Bakkt](https://tokenpost.com/Bakkt-to-start-bitcoin-futures-testing-in-July-1851) - [Boerse Stuggart](https://tokenpost.com/Boerse-Stuggart-lists-exchange-traded-notes-on-Litecoin-and-XRP-1846) - [World Bank, CBA](https://tokenpost.com/Bond-i-World-Bank-CBA-record-secondary-bond-market-trade-using-blockchain-1887) - [IOTA’s blockchain](https://tokenpost.com/Avery-Dennison-taps-IOTAs-blockchain-to-track-items-from-Mathew-Williams-fashion-label-1881) - [Microsoft](https://tokenpost.com/Microsoft-unveils-decentralized-identity-network-built-on-bitcoin-blockchain-1877) - [Vinturas to use IBM Blockchain](https://tokenpost.com/Vinturas-to-use-IBM-Blockchain-to-provide-full-automotive-supply-chain-visibility-1874) - [Kadena](https://tokenpost.com/Kadena-to-launch-public-blockchain-in-October-partners-with-asset-manager-USCF-1860) - [Ground X](https://tokenpost.com/Kakaos-Ground-X-to-launch-blockchain-platform-on-June-27-1855) - [security token blockchain](https://tokenpost.com/Polymath-Cardano-founder-team-up-to-build-security-token-blockchain-Polymesh-1845) - [post-trade blockchain infrastructure](https://tokenpost.com/BNP-Paribas-backed-LiquidShare-partners-with-Consensys-PegaSys-for-post-trade-blockchain-infrastructure-1844) - [GE Aviation, Microsoft](https://tokenpost.com/GE-Aviation-Microsoft-develop-supply-chain-blockchain-for-aircraft-parts-1838) - [Louis Vuitton](https://tokenpost.com/Louis-Vuitton-owner-LVMH-unveils-blockchain-provenance-platform-AURA-for-luxury-industry-1897)