# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – July 26th, 2019 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/2805 Published: 2019-07-26T12:00:06.000Z Updated: 2019-07-26T12:00:06.000Z Section: Technology > US Senate to hold hearing on cryptocurrency and blockchain regulatory frameworks on July 30 The United States Senate Banking Committee is going to hold a full committee hearing on digital currency and blockchain regul… [US Senate to hold hearing on cryptocurrency and blockchain regulatory frameworks on July 30]() The United States Senate Banking Committee is going to hold a full committee hearing on digital currency and blockchain regulatory frameworks next week. The hearing, entitled “Examining Regulatory Frameworks for Digital Currencies and Blockchain,” will be held on July 30. [New York State Assembly names 6 new appointees for its first-ever crypto task force]() The New York State Assembly legislatures have recently appointed six members to join the state’s Digital Currency Task Force. Assemblymember Clyde Vanel revealed in a video announcement that the legislature has selected three chief executives from blockchain startups, two members of industry think tanks, and a regulatory field expert. [New York financial regulators launch new innovation division to regulate, license cryptocurrency businesses]() The New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has launched a new division that will be responsible for regulating and licensing crypto-related businesses. As per a press release, the new Research and Innovation Division will “house the Department’s division responsible for licensing and supervising virtual currencies, and it will assess new efforts to use technology to address financial exclusion.” [Japanese crypto firms demand taxation changes]() The Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA), the country's self-regulatory crypto exchange body, recently sent a letter to authorities to demand tax reforms. The association basically feels that, while regulations have progressed, tax laws remain woefully behind. [Crypto businesses to require BaFin license to operate in Germany]() In Germany, crypto firms will soon be required to be licensed by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) in order to conduct business in the country. Cointelegraph reported that new Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations will go into force in Germany next year and require cryptocurrency-related businesses, including exchanges and wallet providers, to be licensed by the regulator. [Indian panel officially submits report and draft bill to government recommending complete cryptocurrency ban]() The Indian Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) has officially announced that it has received a report on cryptocurrency regulation submitted the inter-ministerial committee which was set up by the Indian government in 2017. In a press release dated July 22, the DEA said that the inter-ministerial committee has submitted its report along with a draft bill. [FINRA gives companies more chances to comply with crypto data request]() The US Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has extended the deadline of its request where member companies will provide data regarding crypto activities that they are involved in. The previous deadline was set for July 31, 2019, but it has now been moved to July 31, 2020. Company News - [Digital Assets Data]() raises another $3.2M for its crypto data platform - Crypto analytics provider [Dapp.com]() secures $500K funding from FBG Capital, Landscape Capital - [Nomura]() backs blockchain and payments startup Omise Holdings - Crypto trading app [Robinhood]() achieves $7.6B valuation after securing $323M funding - Blockchain energy startup [WePower]() secures strategic equity investment from Japan's Marubeni - US investors [Arrington XRP Capital, Arca]() exploit loophole to buy Bitfinex’s LEO tokens - [Workday acquires Trusted Key](), plans to move work credentials onto blockchain - [Ripple]() sells $251M in XRP in Q2 but wants to take "more conservative approach" in Q3 - [Huobi]() becomes fifth licensed cryptocurrency exchange in Thailand - [Circle]() launches subsidiary in Bermuda, receives full Digital Assets Business Act license - Fundament Group gets approval from [German regulator BaFin]() to launch $280M real estate token - Crypto exchange [QuickBit]() confirms major data leak, likely to affect 300K users - Crypto trading app [Robinhood]() sends out warnings after security blunder - Crypto loan startup [YouHodler]() exposed unencrypted data of 86 million customers, assures no one was affected - Crypto firm [FairX]() closes digital doors due to lack of funding Partnership/Consortiums - Japanese brokerage firm [Monex Group]() applies to join Facebook’s Libra - Accounting giant [KPMG]() partners with Microsoft, TOMIA, and R3 for blockchain-based telecom solutions Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives - Albertsons Companies’ subsidiary [Safeway]() partners with bitcoin rewards company Lolli - Travelers can soon pay for [Norwegian Air tickets with bitcoin]() - [Newegg]() extends bitcoin payment option to additional countries - [PUBG, Refereum]() partner to bring blockchain and crypto benefits to gaming - Singapore-based [Forise International]() expands to blockchain consulting - Mercedes-Benz' parent company [Daimler partners with Riddle & Code]() to develop crypto hardware wallet for cars - [PUC Berhard]() teams up with Wanchain to tap blockchain potential - [HSBC]() executes first blockchain LC transaction between Korea and Vietnam - Chinese energy provider [ENN]() to trace the natural gas supply chain using VeChainThor blockchain - [Swisscom Blockchain]() launches self-sovereign identity solution Seraph ID on NEO - [Sumitomo]() partners with bitFlyer Blockchain to digitize housing rental contracts - [The New York Times]() to use blockchain to fight fake news - Ping An's OneConnect partners with [Union Bank's UBX]() to launch blockchain-powered financing platform for MSMEs - [Utah]() county to implement blockchain in municipal mobile voting - [Republic of San Marino]() launches blockchain partnership to encourage sustainable ecological behavior - [Uganda]() looks to blockchain in counterfeit drug battle - [Kenyan Blockchain and AI taskforce]() recommends CBK to consider creating digital currency ## Links in this article - [US Senate to hold hearing on cryptocurrency and blockchain regulatory frameworks on July 30](https://tokenpost.com/US-Senate-to-hold-hearing-on-cryptocurrency-and-blockchain-regulatory-frameworks-on-July-30-2763) - [New York State Assembly names 6 new appointees for its first-ever crypto task force](https://tokenpost.com/New-York-State-Assembly-names-6-new-appointees-for-its-first-ever-crypto-task-force-2760) - [New York financial regulators launch new innovation division to regulate, license cryptocurrency businesses](https://tokenpost.com/New-York-financial-regulators-launch-new-innovation-division-to-regulate-license-cryptocurrency-businesses-2758) - [Japanese crypto firms demand taxation changes](https://tokenpost.com/Japanese-crypto-firms-demand-taxation-changes-2790) - [Crypto businesses to require BaFin license to operate in Germany](https://tokenpost.com/New-crypto-requirement-could-scare-off-business-lawmaker-says-2768) - [Indian panel officially submits report and draft bill to government recommending complete cryptocurrency ban](https://tokenpost.com/Indian-panel-officially-submits-report-and-draft-bill-to-government-recommending-complete-cryptocurrency-ban-2740) - [FINRA gives companies more chances to comply with crypto data request](https://tokenpost.com/FINRA-gives-companies-more-chances-to-comply-with-crypto-data-request-2729) - [Digital Assets Data](https://tokenpost.com/Digital-Assets-Data-raises-another-32M-for-its-crypto-data-platform-2797) - [Dapp.com](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-analytics-provider-Dappcom-secures-500K-funding-from-FBG-Capital-Landscape-Capital-2778) - [Nomura](https://tokenpost.com/Nomura-backs-blockchain-and-payments-startup-Omise-Holdings-2761) - [Robinhood](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-trading-app-Robinhood-achieves-76B-valuation-after-securing-323M-funding-round-led-by-DST-Global-2742) - [WePower](https://tokenpost.com/Australian-wind-and-solar-blockchain-project-gets-Japanese-backing-2750) - [Arrington XRP Capital, Arca](https://tokenpost.com/US-investors-Arrington-XRP-Capital-Arca-exploit-loophole-to-buy-Bitfinexs-LEO-tokens-2783) - [Workday acquires Trusted Key](https://tokenpost.com/Workday-acquires-Trusted-Key-to-address-credentials-issue-2752) - [Ripple](https://tokenpost.com/Ripple-sells-251M-in-XRP-in-Q2-but-wants-to-take-more-conservative-approach-in-Q3-2777) - [Huobi](https://tokenpost.com/Huobi-becomes-fifth-licensed-cryptocurrency-exchange-in-Thailand-2765) - [Circle](https://tokenpost.com/Circle-launches-subsidiary-in-Bermuda-receives-full-Digital-Assets-Business-Act-license-2744) - [German regulator BaFin](https://tokenpost.com/Fundament-Group-gets-approval-from-German-regulator-BaFin-to-launch-250M-real-estate-token-2755) - [QuickBit](https://tokenpost.com/Major-crypto-data-leak-impacts-300K-users-2730) - [Robinhood](https://tokenpost.com/Robinhood-sends-out-warnings-after-security-blunder-2788) - [YouHodler](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-loan-startup-YouHodler-exposed-unencrypted-data-of-86-million-customers-assures-no-one-was-affected-2796) - [FairX](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-trading-FirmX-closes-digital-doors-due-to-lack-of-funding-2724) - [Monex Group](https://tokenpost.com/Japanese-brokerage-firm-Monex-Group-applies-to-join-Facebooks-Libra-2802) - [KPMG](https://tokenpost.com/Accounting-giant-KPMG-partners-with-Microfot-TOMIA-and-R3-for-blockchain-based-telecom-solutions-2719) - [Safeway](https://tokenpost.com/Albertsons-Companies-subsidiary-Safeway-partners-with-bitcoin-rewards-company-Lolli-2801) - [Norwegian Air tickets with bitcoin](https://tokenpost.com/Travelers-can-soon-pay-for-Norwegian-Air-tickets-with-bitcoin-2787) - [Newegg](https://tokenpost.com/Newegg-extends-bitcoin-payment-to-additional-countries-2772) - [PUBG, Refereum](https://tokenpost.com/PUBG-gets-blockchain-payout-in-new-partnership-2771) - [Forise International](https://tokenpost.com/Forise-International-expands-to-blockchain-consulting-2733) - [Daimler partners with Riddle & Code](https://tokenpost.com/Mercedes-Benz-parent-company-Daimler-partners-with-Riddle-Code-to-develop-crypto-hardware-wallet-for-cars-2737) - [PUC Berhard](https://tokenpost.com/PUC-Berhard-Wanchain-partnership-to-launch-e-commerce-blockchain-venture-2791) - [HSBC](https://tokenpost.com/HSBC-executes-first-blockchain-LC-transaction-between-Korea-and-Vietnam-2780) - [ENN](https://tokenpost.com/Chinese-energy-provider-ENN-to-trace-the-natural-gas-supply-chain-using-VeChainThor-blockchain-2775) - [Swisscom Blockchain](https://tokenpost.com/Swisscom-Blockchain-launches-self-sovereign-identity-solution-Seraph-ID-on-NEO-2774) - [Sumitomo](https://tokenpost.com/Sumitomo-partners-with-bitFlyer-Blockchain-to-digitize-housing-rental-contracts-2759) - [The New York Times](https://tokenpost.com/The-New-York-Times-to-use-blockchain-to-fight-fake-news-2757) - [Union Bank's UBX](https://tokenpost.com/Ping-Ans-OneConnect-partners-with-UnionBanks-UBX-to-launch-blockchain-powered-financing-platform-for-MSMEs-2738) - [Utah](https://tokenpost.com/Utah-county-to-implement-blockchain-in-municipal-mobile-voting-2747) - [Republic of San Marino](https://tokenpost.com/Republic-of-San-Marino-launches-blockchain-partnership-for-sustainable-business-2753) - [Uganda](https://tokenpost.com/Uganda-looks-to-blockchain-in-counterfeit-drug-battle-2731) - [Kenyan Blockchain and AI taskforce](https://tokenpost.com/Kenyan-Blockchain-and-AI-taskforce-recommends-CBK-to-consider-creating-digital-currency-2785)