# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – October 11th, 2019 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/3776 Published: 2019-10-11T13:18:36.000Z Updated: 2019-10-11T13:18:36.000Z Section: Technology > 'Ether is a commodity', says CFTC chairman Heath Tarbert Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)’s chairman Heath Tarbert said he views Ethereum’s ether as a commodity, similar to bitcoin. “We’ve been very clear o… ['Ether is a commodity', says CFTC chairman Heath Tarbert]() Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)’s chairman Heath Tarbert said he views Ethereum’s ether as a commodity, similar to bitcoin. “We’ve been very clear on bitcoin: bitcoin is a commodity. We haven’t said anything about ether – until now. It is my view as chairman of the CFTC that ether is a commodity,” Tarbert said. [U.S. IRS issues new cryptocurrency tax guidelines for airdrops, hard forks]() The U.S. Internal Revenue Services has released new guidance in the form of a Revenue Ruling for tax reporting on cryptocurrency airdrops and hard forks. The Revenue Ruling 2019-24 intends to help taxpayers understand reporting obligations for specific transactions that involve cryptocurrencies. [U.S. SEC disapproves Bitwise’s bitcoin ETF proposal citing market manipulation concerns]() The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has rejected the bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) proposal filed by Bitwise Asset Management. The SEC disapproved the proposed rule change saying that it failed to meet the regulatory requirements to prevent fraudulent and market manipulation activities. [Bank of England lays ground rules for launch of Facebook’s crypto ‘Libra’ in the UK]() The Bank of England has called for “highest standards of resilience” and “appropriate supervisory oversight” for Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency project before it launches in the UK. The central bank’s Financial Policy Committee this week published the October Financial Policy and Summary. [Swiss National Bank, SIX and BIS partner to explore use case of digital Franc for trading]() The Swiss National Bank (SNB), Switzerland’s central bank, is working with the country’s stock exchange operator SIX Group to determine the possible use of digital currencies in trading. In a release, SIX Digital Exchange (SDX) said it partnered with the SNB to develop a proof of concept to “explore how digital central bank money could be used in the settlement of tokenized assets between market participants.” [Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission releases new policy targetting crypto fund managers]() The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong has officially released regulations for crypto fund managers. The commission formalized a 37-page framework, which is effective immediately, which aimed to regulate funds that allocate over 10% of their portfolio in virtual assets. [Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Congress on Libra cryptocurrency project on October 23]() Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify before the House Financial Services Committee this month to defend the Libra cryptocurrency. As per an announcement, Zuckerberg will appear at a hearing scheduled on Oct. 23, entitled “An Examination of Facebook and Its Impact on the Financial Services and Housing Sectors.” He will be the only witness. Research Studies - [Survey](): Bitcoin’s bullishness isn’t fading; demand to underpin recovery and support crypto king around $7,000 - U.K. [Financial Conduct Authority's]() cryptocurrency probe increases by 74% in 2019 - Canada's regulatory uncertainty on blockchain stunts exponential growth: [Canadian Digital Chamber of Commerce]() report Company News - German real estate giant [Bauwens]() buys 15 pct stake in blockchain firm Fundament Group - Lightning network development startup [ACINQ]() secures $8M from Idinvest, Bpifrance, Serena - [NuCypher]() secures $10.7M funding from Polychain Capital, Bitmain, Arrington XRP Capital - Neo banking solution [Juno]() secures $3M to offer interest on USDC stablecoin - South Korean blockchain startup [ICONLOOP]() raises $8M in Series A round - [Telegram]() finally admits involvement in TON blockchain - [QuadrigaCX]() founder's widow to return $9M worth of estate assets to affected users - Bitfinex, Tether face $1.4 trillion [class-action lawsuit]() for market manipulation - [Bitfinex, Tether]() win appeal against NYAG to stop compiling documents - Algorand's investment arm [Algo Capital loses up to $2M]() crypto funds in hot wallet breach Partnerships/Consortiums - [PayPal]() drops out of Facebook's Libra Association - Visa, Mastercard, Stripe [face pressure]() as senators urge them to quit Facebook's Libra Association - [Ripple’s blockchain network]() poised for expansion via Finastra partnership - Stellar, TRON and others join [MouseBelt’s Blockchain Education Alliance]() as founding members Digital Currency Initiatives - UK-based [B2C2]() launches gold bitcoin derivative product - [UNICEF]() rolls out cryptocurrency fund, starts accepting donations in bitcoin and ether - [John McAfee]() rolls out decentralized 'no restrictions' crypto exchange McAfee DEX in beta - Galaxy Digital, XBTO execute first block trade of [Bakkt Bitcoin Futures]() - [OpenLibra](): New project intends to create an alternative to Facebook’s Libra - Microsoft, Intel back [Enterprise Ethereum Alliance's]() token system to reward consortium members - [Australia's official bullion mint]() and InfiniGold launch gold-backed token on public blockchain Blockchain Initiatives - [DTCC]() delays blockchain post-trade platform launch to avoid Brexit complications - Banking giant [UBS]() officially implements we.trade blockchain - South Korea's [KB Kookmin Bank]() resorts to blockchain to enhance internal processes - Hyundai-backed [Hdac]() to invest $10M for mainnet launch, presents new blockchain development plan at KBW 2019 - AVA Labs releases [Athereum testnet subnetwork](), moves entire ethereum blockchain on AVA platform - [Vanguard]() teams up with Symbiont to develop blockchain-powered trading platform for $6 trillion currency market Detect languageAfrikaansAlbanianAmharicArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CorsicanCroatianCzechDanishDutchEnglishEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchFrisianGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHawaiianHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKoreanKurdishKyrgyzLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianLuxembourgishMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianPashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanScots GaelicSerbianSesothoShonaSindhiSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTeluguThaiTurkishUkrainianUrduUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosaYiddishYorubaZulu AfrikaansAlbanianAmharicArabicArmenianAzerbaijaniBasqueBelarusianBengaliBosnianBulgarianCatalanCebuanoChichewaChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CorsicanCroatianCzechDanishDutchEnglishEsperantoEstonianFilipinoFinnishFrenchFrisianGalicianGeorgianGermanGreekGujaratiHaitian CreoleHausaHawaiianHebrewHindiHmongHungarianIcelandicIgboIndonesianIrishItalianJapaneseJavaneseKannadaKazakhKhmerKoreanKurdishKyrgyzLaoLatinLatvianLithuanianLuxembourgishMacedonianMalagasyMalayMalayalamMalteseMaoriMarathiMongolianMyanmar (Burmese)NepaliNorwegianPashtoPersianPolishPortuguesePunjabiRomanianRussianSamoanScots GaelicSerbianSesothoShonaSindhiSinhalaSlovakSlovenianSomaliSpanishSundaneseSwahiliSwedishTajikTamilTeluguThaiTurkishUkrainianUrduUzbekVietnameseWelshXhosaYiddishYorubaZulu Text-to-speech function is limited to 200 characters Options : History : Feedback : [Donate]() Close [TokenPost]() | info@tokenpost.com ## Links in this article - ['Ether is a commodity', says CFTC chairman Heath Tarbert](https://tokenpost.com/Ether-is-a-commodity-says-CFTC-chairman-Heath-Tarbert-3766) - [U.S. IRS issues new cryptocurrency tax guidelines for airdrops, hard forks](https://tokenpost.com/US-IRS-issues-new-cryptocurrency-tax-guidelines-for-airdrops-hard-forks-3748) - [U.S. SEC disapproves Bitwise’s bitcoin ETF proposal citing market manipulation concerns](https://tokenpost.com/US-SEC-disapproves-Bitwises-bitcoin-ETF-proposal-citing-market-manipulation-concerns-3750) - [Bank of England lays ground rules for launch of Facebook’s crypto ‘Libra’ in the UK](https://tokenpost.com/Bank-of-England-lays-ground-rules-for-launch-of-Facebooks-crypto-Libra-in-the-UK-3745) - [Swiss National Bank, SIX and BIS partner to explore use case of digital Franc for trading](https://tokenpost.com/Swiss-National-Bank-SIX-and-BIS-partner-to-explore-use-case-of-digital-Franc-for-trading-3738) - [Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission releases new policy targetting crypto fund managers](https://tokenpost.com/Hong-Kongs-Securities-and-Futures-Commission-releases-new-policy-targetting-crypto-fund-managers-3725) - [Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Congress on Libra cryptocurrency project on October 23](https://tokenpost.com/Facebook-CEO-Mark-Zuckerberg-to-testify-before-Congress-on-Libra-cryptocurrency-project-this-month-3746) - [Survey](https://tokenpost.com/Survey-Bitcoins-bullishness-isnt-fading-demand-to-underpin-recovery-and-support-crypto-king-around-7000-3731) - [Financial Conduct Authority's](https://tokenpost.com/UK-Financial-Conduct-Authoritys-cryptocurrency-probe-increases-to-74-in-2019-3721) - [Canadian Digital Chamber of Commerce](https://tokenpost.com/Canadas-regulatory-uncertainty-on-blockchain-stunts-exponential-growth-Canadian-Digital-Chamber-of-Commerce-report-3771) - [Bauwens](https://tokenpost.com/German-real-estate-giant-Bauwens-buys-15-pct-stake-in-blockchain-firm-Fundament-Group-3742) - [ACINQ](https://tokenpost.com/Lightning-network-development-startup-ACINQ-secures-8M-from-Idinvest-Bpifrance-Serena-3730) - [NuCypher](https://tokenpost.com/NuCypher-secures-107M-funding-from-Polychain-Capital-Bitmain-Y-Combinator-Arrington-XRP-Capital-3715) - [Juno](https://tokenpost.com/Neo-banking-solution-Juno-secures-3M-to-offer-interest-on-USDC-3768) - [ICONLOOP](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korean-blockchain-startup-ICONLOOP-raises-8M-in-Series-A-round-3760) - [Telegram](https://tokenpost.com/Telegram-finally-admits-TON-blockchain-involvement-3729) - [QuadrigaCX](https://tokenpost.com/QuadrigaCX-founders-widow-to-return-9M-worth-of-estate-assets-to-affected-users-3718) - [class-action lawsuit](https://tokenpost.com/Bitfinex-Tether-faces-14-trillion-class-action-lawsuit-for-market-manipulation-3716) - [Bitfinex, Tether](https://tokenpost.com/Bitfinex-Tether-wins-appeal-against-NYAG-to-stop-compiling-documents-3764) - [Algo Capital loses up to $2M](https://tokenpost.com/Algorands-investment-arm-Algo-Capital-loses-up-to-2M-crypto-funds-in-hot-wallet-breach-3704) - [PayPal](https://tokenpost.com/PayPal-drops-out-of-Facebooks-Libra-Association-3709) - [face pressure](https://tokenpost.com/Visa-Mastercard-Stripe-face-pressure-as-senators-urge-them-to-quit-Facebooks-Libra-Association-3740) - [Ripple’s blockchain network](https://tokenpost.com/Ripples-blockchain-network-poised-for-expansion-via-Finastra-partnership-3751) - [MouseBelt’s Blockchain Education Alliance](https://tokenpost.com/Stellar-TRON-and-others-join-MouseBelts-Blockchain-Education-Alliance-as-founding-members-3767) - [B2C2](https://tokenpost.com/UK-based-B2C2-launches-gold-bitcoin-derivative-product-3752) - [UNICEF](https://tokenpost.com/UNICEF-rolls-out-cryptocurrency-fund-now-accepting-donations-in-bitcoin-and-ether-3737) - [John McAfee](https://tokenpost.com/John-McAfee-rolls-out-decentralized-no-restrictions-crypto-exchange-McAfee-DEX-in-beta-3717) - [Bakkt Bitcoin Futures](https://tokenpost.com/Galaxy-Digital-XBTO-execute-first-block-trade-of-Bakkt-Bitcoin-Futures-3710) - [OpenLibra](https://tokenpost.com/OpenLibra-New-project-intends-to-create-an-alternative-to-Facebooks-Libra-3757) - [Enterprise Ethereum Alliance's](https://tokenpost.com/Microsoft-Intel-back-Enterprise-Ethereum-Alliances-token-system-to-reward-consortiums-3719) - [Australia's official bullion mint](https://tokenpost.com/Australias-official-bullion-mint-and-InfiniGold-launch-gold-backed-token-on-public-blockchain-3763) - [DTCC](https://tokenpost.com/DTCC-delays-blockchain-post-trade-platform-launch-to-avoid-Brexit-complications-3711) - [UBS](https://tokenpost.com/Banking-giant-UBS-officially-rolls-out-wetrade-to-offer-blockchain-banking-for-SMEs-3739) - [KB Kookmin Bank](https://tokenpost.com/South-Koreas-KB-Kookmin-Bank-resorts-to-blockchain-to-enhance-internal-processes-3727) - [Hdac](https://tokenpost.com/Hyundai-backed-Hdac-to-invest-10M-for-mainnet-launch-presents-new-blockchain-development-plan-at-KBW-2019-3722) - [Athereum testnet subnetwork](https://tokenpost.com/AVA-Labs-releases-Athereum-testnet-subnetwork-moves-entire-ethereum-blockchain-on-AVA-platform-3774) - [Vanguard](https://tokenpost.com/Vanguard-Nasdaq-backed-Symbiont-to-develop-trading-platform-for-the-6-trillion-currency-market-3761) - [Donate](https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=GD9D8CPW8HFA2) - 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