Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – June 14th, 2019
G20 leaders welcome efforts of global regulatory bodies on cryptocurrencies G20 finance ministers and central bank governors have welcomed the efforts of global regulators on cryptocurrencies and have recommended cons…
G20 leaders welcome efforts of global regulatory bodies on cryptocurrencies
G20 finance ministers and central bank governors have welcomed the efforts of global regulators on cryptocurrencies and have recommended considering multilateral responses as needed. In a joint communiqué published on June 9, the G20 leaders have welcomed the efforts of international organizations including IOSCO, FATF, and FSB in this area.
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will reportedly release a note to clarify how participant nations should manage the digital assets sector, Bloomberg reported citing FATF spokeswoman Alexandra Wijmenga-Daniel. As per the report, the new rules are applicable to businesses dealing with tokens and cryptocurrencies, including crypto exchanges, custodians and crypto hedge funds.
Russia may start imposing cryptocurrency mining fine this month
The parliament of Russia, the State Duma, is considering imposing administrative penalties for those who mine cryptocurrencies using open blockchains, media outlet TASS reported. Speaking to TASS, Anatoly Aksakov, the chairman of the State Duma Committee on the Financial Market, said that operations related to cryptocurrencies are not covered by the Russian laws and will be considered as illegal.
Brazil considers promoting blockchain in public administration in new proposed bill
The government of Brazil is seeking to encourage implementation of blockchain and other advanced technologies in all local public administration units, Cointelegraph Brazil reported. A new bill, PL 3443/2019, aims to offer the “Digital Provision of Public Services in Public Administration – Digital Government.”
Blockchain companies get rent subsidies in China's Fuzhou City
Fuzhou City in China is providing rent subsidies for blockchain businesses with the hope to enhance the sector’s growth, according to state-run People’s Daily. The grant, which is a part of the city’s “three measures to accelerate the development of blockchain industry,” aims to help the blockchain industry by providing a rent subsidy of up to 600,000 yuan (~$86,800) for 3 years.
Indian lawmakers propose 10-year jail term for dealing in cryptocurrencies: Report
The inter-ministerial committee led by the Indian Department of Economic Affairs secretary Subhash Chandra Garg has reportedly proposed a draft bill that seeks to make it illegal to hold, sell or deal in cryptocurrencies in the country. The draft law has allegedly proposed 10-year prison sentence for persons who "mine, generate, hold, sell, transfer, dispose, issue or deal in cryptocurrencies.”
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to verify financial power of attorney using blockchain
South Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a blockchain pilot that will aim to verify the authenticity of the notarized financial power of attorney from diplomatic office. Part of the government’s core innovation projects, the project will be carried out in cooperation with the Korea Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute (KFTC).
Research Studies
FxWirePro Survey: Battered bitcoin set for new highs; hit $25,000 by end-2019
McKinsey underscores retail banking sector's hesitation for blockchain adoption in new report
Ethereum blockchain is the standard default for most DApps: Report
Less than 5% of GitHub crypto contributors are women: Study
Company News
Blockchain startup Spring Labs raises $23M to stop auto financing fraud
Crypto news site CCN cancels shut down plans
Cryptocurrency cybersecurity startup Fireblocks bags $16M in Series A funding led by Fidelity, Tenaya Capital, Cyperstarts
US NAR invests in blockchain real estate startup Propy
Cryptocurrency analytics company Coin Metrics acquires Bletchley Indexes
Blockchain startup BanQu receives Series A extension round from Corona, Budweiser-owned investment arm
Blockchain startup Ripple opens new office in Brazil
Former Bitmain CEO Jihan Wu to launch new crypto venture in a month: Report
Bitcoin startup Bitrefill closes $2M seed round led by Coin Ninja
Partnerships/Consortiums
R3, Bradesco, Itau team up to develop blockchain-enabled platform for foreign trade and insurance: Report
Russian Ministry of Transport signs MoU to launch IBM-Maersk blockchain shipping solution TradeLens
Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives
CryptoCompare debuts cryptocurrency Exchange Benchmark to tackle fake trading volume
Nasdaq, CryptoCompare collaborate to launch new cryptocurrency pricing product
Bakkt to begin bitcoin futures testing on July 22
Beaxy launches cryptocurrency exchange after fending off hackers last month
John McAfee launches new cryptocurrency trading platform
Reuters, Bloomberg, TradingView add support for new cryptocurrency index ‘CIX100’
Facebook set to release cryptocurrency white paper later this month, confirms exec
Aon to provide crime insurance coverage to cryptocurrency custody firm Metaco
KB Kookmin Bank to develop digital asset management services via Atomrigs Lab partnership
Hyperledger Fabric-powered identity solution launches in Brazilian banking sector
Arizona Care Network diabetes patients to use Solve.Care-Boehringer Ingelheim healthcare blockchain network
Blockchain genomics startup to begin pilot project with Merck's subsidiary EMD Serono on lung cancer patient
IBM, Azerbaijan's customs committee to use blockchain for cargo transportation
Swiss firm Panalpina launches blockchain supply chain pilot
National Fisheries Institute to begin seafood blockchain pilot with IBM Food Trust
Retail giant Target reveals details of blockchain supply chain project
Legal & General taps Amazon Managed Blockchain service for corporate pension deals
Visa announces commercial launch of DLT-based cross-border payments network
United States National Archives explores blockchain technology for information management
Overstock.com's blockchain subsidiary Medici Land Governance inks MoU with Liberia
Dubai Land Department, Emirati's Etisalat sign MoU to implement blockchain
Russia's Yugra partners with Universa Blockchain to launch future-oriented tourism platform
Turkey's BKM launches blockchain-based digital certificate platform co-developed with Microsoft and VeriPark
Canada's University of British Columbia launches first graduate blockchain training program
Indian government-backed learning initiative SWAYAM offers free course on cryptocurrencies and blockchain