# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-up – August 24th, 2018 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/228 Published: 2018-08-24T12:04:45.000Z Updated: 2018-08-24T12:04:45.000Z Section: Technology > FINRA’s ICO warning: Investing in SAFT contract does not ensure the offering’s regulatory compliance The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has issued a warning against investments in digital assets, such… [FINRA’s ICO warning: Investing in SAFT contract does not ensure the offering’s regulatory compliance]() The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has issued a warning against investments in digital assets, such as initial coin offering (ICO) tokens and cryptocurrencies. “Know that investing in a SAFT contract does not mean the offering is "safe" or compliant with applicable federal and state laws,” FINRA emphasized. [U.S. Customs and Border Protection to trial blockchain technology]() The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is going to test blockchain potential in verifying North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) certificates, American Shipper reported. [UK Ministry of Justice explores DLT potential to secure digital evidence]() The U.K. Ministry of Justice is exploring how it can use blockchain technology to secure digital evidence, CoinDesk reported. Deputy director Balaji Anbil said that the objective is to use the technology to simplify court processes for handling digital evidence. [Anquan, Deloitte and Nasdaq join MAS and SGX for blockchain-based settlement of tokenised assets]() The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) have announced that they are partnering with Anquan, Deloitte and Nasdaq for the settlement of tokenized assets using blockchain technology. The companies will leverage the open-source software developed and made publicly available in Project Ubin Phase 2. [Bank of Thailand taps R3’s Corda DLT platform for wholesale central bank digital currency]() The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has announced that it is developing a wholesale central bank digital currency (wholesale CBDC) using R3’s Corda platform. The central bank has officially unveiled “Project Inthanon” aimed at exploring the implications and the potential benefits of distributed ledger technology (DLT) to enhance efficiency of the Thai financial market infrastructure. [Blockchain Law Society set to debut in South Korea]() South Korean blockchain experts have announced plans to launch the Blockchain Law Society to study the legal issues surrounding this emerging technology, Yonhap News reported. It will focus on various legal aspects related to blockchain technology as well as blockchain-related legislation. [South Korea's National Assembly to discuss blockchain, cryptocurrencies and ICOs during extraordinary session]() The extraordinary session will see discussions on the measures that should be taken to encourage blockchain and cryptocurrency industry in South Korea as well as formulating guidelines on initial coin offerings (ICOs), Business Korea reported. Standing committees and political parties will also discuss the proposal to designate Jeju Island as a special zone for blockchain and cryptocurrencies. [Chinese regulators look to block 124 foreign crypto exchanges amid wider crackdown]() Referring to a report from Shanghai Securities Times, CoinDesk reported that the China National Fintech Risk Rectification Office, a government agency tackling financial risks in areas such as p2p lending and cryptocurrency trading, has identified 124 trading platforms with overseas IP addresses and is looking to block these platforms. [Kenya mulls to tap blockchain technology for elections]() Kenya’s electoral agency is seeking to tap into blockchain potential to offer real-time results, according to Bloomberg. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati told the media house that the agency was considering using distributed-ledger technology (DLT) to improve transparency and enable secure access to results. The move comes as part of the agency’s efforts to enhance the integrity of voting. Funding/Investment/Acquisition Blockchain marketing startup [Atlas Protocol]() raises $3M in new funding led by Softbank China Capital Bitmain invests in blockchain data storage startup [Lambda]() [Softbank, Tencent refute]() reports on investment deal with bitcoin mining giant Bitmain Consortiums Leading cryptocurrency exchanges join [Virtual Commodity Association Working Group]() [RiskBlock Alliance]() picks EY as blockchain security and risk services provider [Universal Protocol Alliance](): Blockchain at Berkeley, Uphold, Brave, and Cred team up to enable interoperability of digital assets Crypto and Blockchain Initiatives [Stockholm IT Ventures]() (SVAB) joint ventures with German Bank to deal in Crypto-Fund [World Bank]() to settle A$100M blockchain bond this month National Research Council of Canada launches [Ethereum blockchain explorer]() Privacy-focused blockchain platform [ZenCash]() announces new brand “Horizen” Four [telecom giants]() team up to trial blockchain New partnership to allow [Aussies pay household bills with cryptocurrencies]() UAE-based [ADAB Solutions]() announces First Islamic Crypto Exchange (FICE) [eToro]() to pay for partnership deals with seven football clubs in bitcoin Italian Retail Association [Confimprese]() partners with blockchain loyalty startup qiibee [MetLife]() trials blockchain-based automated health insurance solution [Shanghai Stock Exchange]() and insurance industry players partner to tap blockchain potential Hyundai-backed [Hdac Technology]() signs MOU with blockchain real estate startup DREAMChain South Korea’s [Chuncheon city partners with blockchain startup Swytch]() to reduce carbon footprint Liechtenstein’s [Union Bank AG]() seeks to become one-stop crypto and blockchain solution provider, to issue security tokens and stable coin ## Links in this article - [FINRA’s ICO warning: Investing in SAFT contract does not ensure the offering’s regulatory compliance](https://www.econotimes.com/FINRAs-ICO-warning-Investing-in-SAFT-contract-does-not-ensure-the-offerings-regulatory-compliance-1417934) - [U.S. Customs and Border Protection to trial blockchain technology](https://www.econotimes.com/US-Customs-and-Border-Protection-to-trial-blockchain-technology-1417854) - [UK Ministry of Justice explores DLT potential to secure digital evidence](https://www.econotimes.com/UK-Ministry-of-Justice-explores-DLT-potential-to-secure-digital-evidence-1419889) - [Anquan, Deloitte and Nasdaq join MAS and SGX for blockchain-based settlement of tokenised assets](https://www.econotimes.com/Anquan-Deloitte-and-Nasdaq-join-MAS-and-SGX-for-blockchain-based-settlement-of-tokenised-assets-1420050) - [Bank of Thailand taps R3’s Corda DLT platform for wholesale central bank digital currency](https://www.econotimes.com/Bank-of-Thailand-taps-R3s-Corda-DLT-platform-for-wholesale-central-bank-digital-currency-1419308) - [Blockchain Law Society set to debut in South Korea](https://www.econotimes.com/Blockchain-Law-Society-to-officially-launch-in-South-Korea-on-August-24-1418335) - [South Korea's National Assembly to discuss blockchain, cryptocurrencies and ICOs during extraordinary session](https://www.econotimes.com/South-Koreas-National-Assembly-to-discuss-blockchain-cryptocurrencies-and-ICOs-during-extraordinary-session-1418250) - [Chinese regulators look to block 124 foreign crypto exchanges amid wider crackdown](https://www.econotimes.com/Chinese-regulators-look-to-block-124-foreign-crypto-exchanges-amid-wider-crackdown-1419428) - [Kenya mulls to tap blockchain technology for elections](https://www.econotimes.com/Kenya-mulls-to-tap-blockchain-technology-for-elections-1419552) - [Atlas Protocol](https://www.econotimes.com/Blockchain-marketing-startup-Atlas-Protocol-raises-3M-in-new-funding-led-by-Softbank-China-Capital-1418265) - [Lambda](https://www.econotimes.com/Bitmain-invests-in-blockchain-data-storage-startup-Lambda-1417827) - [Softbank, Tencent refute](https://www.econotimes.com/Softbank-refutes-reports-on-investment-deal-with-bitcoin-mining-giant-Bitmain-1418404) - [Virtual Commodity Association Working Group](https://www.econotimes.com/Bitstamp-Bittrex-bitFlyer-USA-and-Gemini-join-Virtual-Commodity-Association-Working-Group-1418078) - [RiskBlock Alliance](https://www.econotimes.com/RiskBlock-Alliance-picks-EY-as-blockchain-security-and-risk-services-provider-1419226) - [Universal Protocol Alliance](https://www.econotimes.com/Universal-Protocol-Alliance-Blockchain-at-Berkeley-Uphold-Brave-and-Cred-team-up-to-enable-interoperability-of-digital-assets-1419862) - [Stockholm IT Ventures](https://www.econotimes.com/Stockholm-IT-Ventures-SVAB-joint-ventures-with-German-Bank-to-deal-in-Crypto-Fund-1419554) - [World Bank](https://www.econotimes.com/World-Bank-to-settle-A100M-blockchain-bond-this-month-1419528) - [Ethereum blockchain explorer](https://www.econotimes.com/National-Research-Council-of-Canada-launches-Ethereum-blockchain-explorer-1419275) - [ZenCash](https://www.econotimes.com/Privacy-focused-blockchain-platform-ZenCash-announces-new-brand-Horizen-1419244) - [telecom giants](https://www.econotimes.com/Four-telecom-giants-team-up-to-trial-blockchain-1418891) - [Aussies pay household bills with cryptocurrencies](https://www.econotimes.com/New-partnership-to-allow-Aussies-pay-household-bills-with-cryptocurrencies-1418764) - [ADAB Solutions](https://www.econotimes.com/UAE-based-ADAB-Solutions-announces-First-Islamic-Crypto-Exchange-FICE-1418759) - [eToro](https://www.econotimes.com/eToro-to-pay-for-partnership-deals-with-seven-football-clubs-in-bitcoin-1418742) - [Confimprese](https://www.econotimes.com/Italian-Retail-Association-Confimprese-partners-with-blockchain-loyalty-startup-qiibee-1418444) - [MetLife](https://www.econotimes.com/MetLife-trials-blockchain-based-automated-health-insurance-solution-1418297) - [Shanghai Stock Exchange](https://www.econotimes.com/Shanghai-Stock-Exchange-and-insurance-industry-players-partner-to-tap-blockchain-potential-1418277) - [Hdac Technology](https://www.econotimes.com/Hyundai-backed-Hdac-Technology-signs-MOU-with-blockchain-real-estate-startup-DREAMChain-1417816) - [Chuncheon city partners with blockchain startup Swytch](https://www.econotimes.com/South-Koreas-Chuncheon-city-partners-with-blockchain-startup-Swytch-to-reduce-carbon-footprint-1417793) - [Union Bank AG](https://www.econotimes.com/Liechtensteins-Union-Bank-AG-to-issue-security-tokens-and-stable-coin-1418481)