# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – June 28th, 2019 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/2417 Published: 2019-06-28T11:37:06.000Z Updated: 2019-06-28T11:37:06.000Z Section: Technology > FATF to move cryptocurrency operators from "dark shadows” as it calls for stronger regulations The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will focus on combating money laundering and terrorism financing by strengthening c… [FATF to move cryptocurrency operators from "dark shadows” as it calls for stronger regulations]() The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will focus on combating money laundering and terrorism financing by strengthening cryptocurrency regulations for its member nations. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said the new policy will require crypto-asset service providers to follow the usual procedures of traditional institutions in complying with anti-money laundering (AML) and combating the financing of terrorism (CFT) protocols. [IRS in hot pursuit of cryptocurrency tax evaders]() The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will start auditing taxpayers who own crypto-assets, according to Bloomberg. As per the report, the IRS has established a list of taxpayers who have failed or underreported their earnings from crypto income. Identified U.S. citizens should expect to receive a notice letter in the near future. [SEC to begin bitcoin ETF public discussions]() In a recent announcement, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is finally scheduling a public discussion of a possible exchange-traded fund (ETF) using bitcoin. This has been something that many traders and SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce have been pushing for. [Bank of International Settlements calls for coordinated regulation on big tech firms Facebook, Google, Amazon]() The Bank of International Settlements (BIS) has cautioned that financial services provided by giant companies like Alibaba, Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Tencent could come with new risks for the banking sector as well as some market failures. The report, which was released after Facebook recently announced its cryptocurrency project Libra, warned that these major companies can “rapidly establish a dominant position because of their large user bases.” [Malta to require all rental contracts to be registered on blockchain]() The Malta government’s new rent laws will require all property rental contracts to be registered on the blockchain, Malta Today reported, citing the island nation’s Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. According to the report, the new initiative, which will implement distributed ledger technology (DLT), aims to protect contracts from being tampered with and accessed by unauthorized parties. [Facebook to face House and Senate inquiries over Libra]() Facebook is no stranger to being called by the House of Congress and the Senate, with this happening several times in the past due to the social network’s controversial activities. This time, Mark Zuckerberg’s company will be facing scrutiny over its Libra crypto venture. Lawmakers from all sides are basically alarmed at the prospect of the biggest social media company in the world having its own cryptocurrency. Research Studies - Digital assets benefitting from ongoing regulatory clarification; IEO is the new crypto fundraising instrument: [CVA and PwC Strategy& Report]() Company News - Blockchain startup [dfuse raises $3.5M](), led by Multicoin Capital and Intel Capital - Blockchain protocol [Polkadot sells 500K DOT tokens](), claims on track its $1.2B valuation - [Kraken’s]() lofty promise pushes crowdfunding figure to over $13M - Blockchain-based smart contract startup [Clause]() secures $5.5M led by Galaxy Digital - Imgur secures $20M investment from former [Ripple Labs CTO's startup Coil]() - [CoinMarketCap acquires Hashtag Capital]() to enhance crypto data offering - [Paysend acquires blockchain firm Rapid SD]() following stablecoin launch - Reserve Bank of India choking crypto growth, [Koinex]() most recent casualty - Hackers steal over $4M in crypto from Singaporean exchange [Bitrue]() - Irish cryptocurrency exchange [Bitsane disappears]() with customers’ funds: Report - Crypto firm [LedgerX obtains CFTC approval]() for physically-settled derivatives contracts Partnerships/Consortiums - New [Ripple partnership]() represents major anti-money laundering move - [Mizuho’s J-Coin Pay]() app adds 7 participating financial firms - [Global telecom blockchain initiative]() announced, major carriers launching new platform Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives - [tZERO]() launches crypto wallet and exchange app; announces trading of second digital security on PRO Securities ATS - Blockchain media platform [PUBLISH]() announces beta launch of decentralized hot wallet - Propy completes [TechCrunch founder's $1.6M property sale]() on blockchain - Crypto startup [Orbs to help Trump administration]() solve Israeli-Palestinian conflict using blockchain - [Square]() rolls out bitcoin deposits for all Cash App users - Startup [Lolli partners with Hotels.com]() to reward travelers with bitcoin - [TP ICAP]() enters crypto business to trade bitcoin futures - Circle, Coinbase unveils their new [CENTRE stablecoin network]() - [Galaxy Digital]() to launch crypto options contracts as demand increases - New [Kakao blockchain platform]() 'Klaytn' set to transform Southeast Asia - [Graph Blockchain]() secures another blockchain pilot project with Korea Post - [Bofrost Italia selects EY]() to develop blockchain platform for tracking frozen foods - EY to utilize [Guardtime’s blockchain, Sensyne Health’s AI]() for outcome-based health payments - [Q2 Solutions, HSBlox, and R3]() successfully conduct proof-of-concept blockchain application in clinical research - [Walmart China]() using blockchain to convince shoppers of food safety - [SWIFT]() to give blockchain-based firms access to its GPI payments - Germany's [CDU and CSU Union]() wants to incorporate blockchain in public services ## Links in this article - [FATF to move cryptocurrency operators from "dark shadows” as it calls for stronger regulations](https://tokenpost.com/FATF-to-move-cryptocurrency-operators-from-dark-shadows-as-it-calls-for-stronger-regulations-2344) - [IRS in hot pursuit of cryptocurrency tax evaders](https://tokenpost.com/IRS-in-hot-pursuit-of-cryptocurrency-tax-evaders-2346) - [SEC to begin bitcoin ETF public discussions](https://tokenpost.com/SEC-to-begin-bitcoin-ETF-public-discussions-Crypto-Mom-gets-her-wish-2377) - [Bank of International Settlements calls for coordinated regulation on big tech firms Facebook, Google, Amazon](https://tokenpost.com/Bank-of-International-Settlements-calls-for-coordinated-regulation-on-big-tech-firms-Facebook-Google-Amazon-2350) - [Malta to require all rental contracts to be registered on blockchain](https://tokenpost.com/Malta-to-require-all-rental-contracts-registered-on-blockchain-2345) - [Facebook to face House and Senate inquiries over Libra](https://tokenpost.com/Facebook-to-face-House-and-Senate-inquiries-over-Libra-2358) - [CVA and PwC Strategy& Report](https://tokenpost.com/Digital-assets-benefitting-from-ongoing-regulatory-clarification-IEO-is-the-new-crypto-fundraising-instrument-CVA-and-PwC-Strategy-Report-2388) - [dfuse raises $3.5M](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-startup-dfuse-raises-35M-led-by-Multicoin-Capital-and-Intel-Capital-2384) - [Polkadot sells 500K DOT tokens](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-protocol-Polkadot-sells-500K-DOT-tokens-claims-on-track-its-12B-valuation-2410) - [Kraken’s](https://tokenpost.com/Krakens-lofty-promise-pushes-crowdfunding-figure-to-13M-2357) - [Clause](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-based-smart-contract-startup-Clause-secures-55M-led-by-Galaxy-Digital-2409) - [Ripple Labs CTO's startup Coil](https://tokenpost.com/Imgur-secures-20M-investment-from-Coil-to-pay-creators-2389) - [CoinMarketCap acquires Hashtag Capital](https://tokenpost.com/CoinMarketCap-acquires-Hashtag-Capital-to-enhance-crypto-data-offering-2385) - [Paysend acquires blockchain firm Rapid SD](https://tokenpost.com/Stable-coin-heats-up-with-new-Paysend-acquisition-2360) - [Koinex](https://tokenpost.com/Reserve-Bank-of-India-choking-crypto-growth-Koinex-most-recent-casualty-2403) - [Bitrue](https://tokenpost.com/Hackers-steal-over-4M-in-crypto-from-Singaporean-exchange-Bitrue-2393) - [Bitsane disappears](https://tokenpost.com/Irish-cryptocurrency-exchange-Bitsane-disappears-with-customers-funds-Report-2415) - [LedgerX obtains CFTC approval](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-firm-LedgerX-obtains-CFTC-approval-for-physically-settled-derivatives-contracts-2368) - [Ripple partnership](https://tokenpost.com/New-Ripple-partnership-represents-major-anti-money-laundering-move-2405) - [Mizuho’s J-Coin Pay](https://tokenpost.com/Mizuhos-J-Coin-Pay-app-adds-7-participating-financial-firms-2399) - [Global telecom blockchain initiative](https://tokenpost.com/Global-telecom-blockchain-initiative-announced-major-carriers-launching-new-platform-2378) - [tZERO](https://tokenpost.com/tZERO-launches-crypto-wallet-and-exchange-app-announces-trading-of-second-digital-security-on-PRO-Securities-ATS-2413) - [PUBLISH](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-media-firm-PUBLISH-announces-beta-launch-of-decentralized-hot-wallet-2412) - [TechCrunch founder's $1.6M property sale](https://tokenpost.com/Propy-completes-TechCrunch-founders-16M-property-sale-on-blockchain-2351) - [Orbs to help Trump administration](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-startup-Orbs-to-help-Trump-administration-solve-Israeli-Palestinian-conflict-using-blockchain-2411) - [Square](https://tokenpost.com/Square-rolls-out-bitcoin-deposits-for-all-Cash-App-users-2382) - [Lolli partners with Hotels.com](https://tokenpost.com/Startup-Lolli-partners-with-Hotelscom-to-reward-travelers-with-bitcoin-2370) - [TP ICAP](https://tokenpost.com/TP-ICAP-enters-crypto-business-to-trade-bitcoin-futures-2362) - [CENTRE stablecoin network](https://tokenpost.com/Circle-Coinbase-unveils-their-new-CENTRE-stablecoin-network-2353) - [Galaxy Digital](https://tokenpost.com/Galaxy-Digital-to-launch-crypto-options-contracts-as-demands-increase-2347) - [Kakao blockchain platform](https://tokenpost.com/New-Kakao-blockchain-platform-set-to-transform-Southeast-Asia-2401) - [Graph Blockchain](https://tokenpost.com/Graph-Blockchain-secures-another-blockchain-pilot-project-with-Korea-Post-2398) - [Bofrost Italia selects EY](https://tokenpost.com/Bofrost-Italia-selects-EY-to-develop-blockchain-platform-for-tracking-frozen-foods-2396) - [Guardtime’s blockchain, Sensyne Health’s AI](https://tokenpost.com/EY-to-utilize-Guardtimes-blockchain-Sensyne-Healths-AI-for-outcome-based-health-payments-2365) - [Q2 Solutions, HSBlox, and R3](https://tokenpost.com/Q2-Solutions-HSBlox-and-R3-successfully-conduct-proof-of-concept-blockchain-application-in-clinical-research-2363) - [Walmart China](https://tokenpost.com/Walmart-China-using-blockchain-to-convince-shoppers-of-food-safety-2355) - [SWIFT](https://tokenpost.com/SWIFT-to-give-blockchain-based-firms-access-to-its-GPI-payments-2366) - [CDU and CSU Union](https://tokenpost.com/Germanys-CDU-and-CSU-Union-wants-to-incorporate-blockchain-for-public-services-2369)