# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – January 17th, 2020 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/4818 Published: 2020-01-17T12:26:32.000Z Updated: 2020-01-17T12:27:38.000Z Section: Technology > United Nations warns people from attending North Korean Crypto Conference The United Nations has warned the people to stay away from the upcoming North Korean Crypto Conference in February, Reuters reported. In a repo… [United Nations warns people from attending North Korean Crypto Conference]() The United Nations has warned the people to stay away from the upcoming North Korean Crypto Conference in February, Reuters reported. In a report published last year, the UN said that North Korea stole $2 billion from banks and cryptocurrency exchanges via cyberattacks to fund its weapons of mass destruction. An excerpt from the upcoming annual report warns attendees that the conference “has included explicit discussions of cryptocurrency for sanctions evasion and money laundering.” [U.S. SEC issues first warning against initial exchange offerings]() The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) [released a statement]() warning investors against initial exchange offerings (IEOs). It said that IEOs can be “used improperly to entice investors with the false promise of high returns in a new investment space. As described, IEOs may be conducted in violation of the federal securities laws and lack many of the investor protections of registered and exempt securities offerings.” [FCA to supervise AML/CTF compliance of UK cryptoasset businesses]() The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has become the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) supervisor for businesses conducting certain cryptoasset activities. The FCA has taken over this new role under the amended Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds Regulations 2017 (MLRs). [PBoC completes joint testing of its planned CBDC]() The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has announced that it has completed the top-layer design and joint testing of its planned central bank digital currency (CBDC), Cointelegraph reported referring to a local news outlet Sina. As per the details revealed by the central bank in its report, “Inventory of Central Bank 2019|Fintech,” the PBoC has completed the top-layer design of its CBDC (dubbed Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DC/EP)), developed standards, and conducted research and development and joint debugging testing of the digital currency. [Indian Supreme Court delays crypto banking ban hearing]() The Indian Supreme Court has decided to push back the hearing against the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for the crypto banking ban it imposed in 2018, Cointelegraph reported. According to Kashif Raza, co-founder of the Indian crypto regulatory news portal Crypto Kanoon, the court’s move to delay the hearing was the result of the various petitions it received. [Uzbekistan to launch national mining pool and licensed cryptocurrency exchange]() Uzbekistan is planning to launch a national mining pool and a licensed cryptocurrency exchange, Bitcoin.com reported citing a report from local news outlet Spot. During a conference on Monday, the National Agency for Project Management (NAPM) shared its crypto trading and blockchain plans for 2020. The agency shared that miners who join the mining pool will benefit from lower electricity rates. [Texas regulators add cryptocurrencies to list of top threats for investors]() Texas regulators warned investors of cryptocurrencies as they added this emerging new asset class to the list of top threats. The Texas State Securities Board has released its “Texas Investor Guide: Strategies for Investing Wisely and Avoiding Financial Fraud”. In the latest edition, they added cryptocurrency as among the investments that investors should think twice about. [U.S. lawmakers seek tax exemption for crypto transactions under $200]() U.S. lawmakers are pushing for a bill to create a tax exemption for low-value cryptocurrency transactions, CoinDesk reported. “The Virtual Currency Tax Fairness Act of 2020” was introduced on Thursday by Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.) and Tom Emmer (R-Minn.). It seeks to amend the IRS tax code to exempt realized gains less than $200. Insights - [FxWirePro Survey](): Bitcoin demand to pick up in 2020; hit $12,000 soon Company News - Blockchain startup [SIMBA Chain]() raises $1.5M in seed financing - Crypto exchange [Gemini]() launches own insurance company "Nakamoto" - [Anchorage]() launches new crypto brokerage service "Anchorage Trading"; acquires Merkle Data - [Kraken acquires]() Australia’s longest-running cryptocurrency exchange Bit Trade - Smartphone retailer [acquires stake]() in U.S.-based Monsoon Blockchain - Crypto exchange [Liquid cancels gram token sale](), returns funds to investors - [Bithumb]() files complaint with Tax Tribunal against NTS’ $69M tax bill - [Coinbase]() offers $1 million settlement in Cryptsy class action lawsuit - [Bitwise withdraws]() bitcoin ETF proposal, plans to refile at appropriate time - [Telegram]() to produce bank records in ongoing Gram ICO case with SEC Partnerships/Consortiums - [Binance]() in talks with TaoTao and Z Corporation for strategic partnerships in Japan - eToro, Radar and OKCoin join Coinbase-led [Crypto Rating Council]() - Blockchain settlement startup Fnality International joins [Enterprise Ethereum Alliance]() - Huobi joins [Blockchain Turkey Platform]() (BCTR) - Calibra, Anchorage, Bison Trails executives elected to [Libra’s new technical steering committee]() Digital Currency Initiatives - Former CFTC Chair launches [Digital Dollar Project]() in partnership with Accenture - ETF challenger [WisdomTree]() plans to launch regulated stablecoin - [CME Group]() launches options on bitcoin futures - Crypto dealer [SFOX]() announces new service for investors and wealth managers - [Huobi and fäm Properties]() to offer crypto payment methods to real estate investors - Venezuelan President [Nicolas Maduro]() orders PDVSA to accept petros for fuel payment - [CipherTrace]() announces new initiative to train students to investigate crypto scams and thefts Blockchain Initiatives - [Beijing government]() registers data from 1,000 offices on blockchain-based system - [U.S. Treasury Department]() finishing up blockchain testing for tracking federal grant payments - Blockchain company [Bitfury to work with UNDP]() on a forest project in Kazakhstan - [Garanti BBVA]() conducts real-time blockchain transfers using Takasbank's BiGA Platform - [Enterprise Ethereum Alliance]() launches blockchain testing environment for members - [Kadena]() announces full launch of its public blockchain - IBM, Salesforce and others develop enhanced capabilities for blockchain-based [IBM Sterling Supply Chain platform]() 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 - [United Nations warns people from attending North Korean Crypto Conference](https://tokenpost.com/United-Nation-warns-people-from-attending-North-Korean-Crypto-Conference-4784) - [U.S. SEC issues first warning against initial exchange offerings](https://tokenpost.com/US-SEC-issues-first-warning-against-initial-exchange-offerings-4783) - [released a statement](https://www.sec.gov/oiea/investor-alerts-and-bulletins/ia_initialexchangeofferings) - [FCA to supervise AML/CTF compliance of UK cryptoasset businesses](https://tokenpost.com/FCA-to-supervise-AML-CTF-compliance-of-UK-cryptoasset-businesses-4745) - [PBoC completes joint testing of its planned CBDC](https://tokenpost.com/PBoC-completes-joint-testing-of-its-planned-CBDC-4749) - [Indian Supreme Court delays crypto banking ban hearing](https://tokenpost.com/Indian-Supreme-Court-delays-crypto-ban-hearing-4781) - [Uzbekistan to launch national mining pool and licensed cryptocurrency exchange](https://tokenpost.com/Uzbekistan-planning-to-launch-national-mining-pool-and-cryptocurrency-exchange-4804) - [Texas regulators add cryptocurrencies to list of top threats for investors](https://tokenpost.com/HOLDTexas-regulators-add-cryptocurrencies-to-list-of-top-threats-for-investors-4789) - [U.S. lawmakers seek tax exemption for crypto transactions under $200](https://tokenpost.com/US-lawmakers-seek-tax-exemption-for-crypto-transactions-under-200-4809) - [FxWirePro Survey](https://tokenpost.com/FxWirePro-Survey-Bitcoin-demand-to-pick-up-in-2020-hit-12000-soon-4770) - [SIMBA Chain](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-startup-SIMBA-Chain-raises-15M-in-seed-financing-4765) - [Gemini](https://tokenpost.com/Gemini-Exchange-launches-insurance-company-for-crypto-custody-for-200-million-4814) - [Anchorage](https://tokenpost.com/HOLDAnchorage-launches-new-crypto-brokerage-service-Anchorage-Trading-4792) - [Kraken acquires](https://tokenpost.com/HOLDKraken-acquires-Australias-longest-running-digital-currency-exchange-Bit-Trade-4785) - [acquires stake](https://tokenpost.com/Smartphone-retailer-joins-blockchain-by-acquiring-Monsoon-Blockchain-stake-4769) - [Liquid cancels gram token sale](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-exchange-Liquid-cancels-gram-token-sale-returns-funds-to-investors-4798) - [Bithumb](https://tokenpost.com/Bithumb-files-complaint-with-Tax-Tribunal-against-NTS-69M-tax-bill-4797) - [Coinbase](https://tokenpost.com/Coinbase-offers-1-million-settlement-for-Cryptsy-class-action-lawsuit-4778) - [Bitwise withdraws](https://tokenpost.com/Bitwise-withdraws-bitcoin-ETF-proposal-plans-to-refile-at-appropriate-time-4791) - [Telegram](https://tokenpost.com/Telegram-to-produce-bank-records-in-ongoing-Gram-ICO-case-with-SEC-4772) - [Binance](https://tokenpost.com/Binance-in-talks-with-TaoTao-and-Z-Corporation-for-strategic-partnerships-in-Japan-4816) - [Crypto Rating Council](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-Ratings-Council-plans-to-refine-explanations-of-lit-after-welcoming-new-members-4813) - [Enterprise Ethereum Alliance](https://tokenpost.com/Fnality-International-joins-Enterprise-Ethereum-Alliance-to-maximize-the-value-of-new-technology-4767) - [Blockchain Turkey Platform](https://tokenpost.com/Huobi-joins-Blockchain-Turkey-Platform-BCTR-4812) - [Libra’s new technical steering committee](https://tokenpost.com/Calibra-Anchorage-Bison-Trails-executives-elected-to-Libras-new-technical-steering-committee-4811) - [Digital Dollar Project](https://tokenpost.com/Former-CFTC-Chair-launches-Digital-Dollar-Project-in-partnership-with-Accenture-4807) - [WisdomTree](https://tokenpost.com/ETF-challenger-WisdomTree-plans-to-launch-regulated-cryptocurrency-4773) - [CME Group](https://tokenpost.com/CME-Group-launches-options-on-bitcoin-futures-4763) - [SFOX](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-dealer-SFOX-announces-new-service-for-investors-and-wealth-managers-4817) - [Huobi and fäm Properties](https://tokenpost.com/Huobi-and-Fm-Properties-to-offer-crypto-payment-methods-to-real-estate-investors-4764) - [Nicolas Maduro](https://tokenpost.com/Venezuelan-President-Nicolas-Maduro-orders-PDVSA-to-accept-petros-as-fuel-payment-4796) - [CipherTrace](https://tokenpost.com/CipherTrace-announces-new-initiative-to-train-students-to-investigate-crypto-scams-and-thefts-4759) - [Beijing government](https://tokenpost.com/Beijing-Tong-registers-data-from-over-1000-offices-on-menu-blockchain-system-4780) - [U.S. Treasury Department](https://tokenpost.com/US-Treasury-Department-finishing-up-blockchain-testing-for-tracking-federal-grant-payments-4768) - [Bitfury to work with UNDP](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-company-Bitfury-works-with-UNDP-for-a-forest-project-in-Kazakhstan-4794) - [Garanti BBVA](https://tokenpost.com/Garanti-BBVA-joins-Turkeys-blockchain-network-BiGA-Platform-4803) - [Enterprise Ethereum Alliance](https://tokenpost.com/Enterprise-Ethereum-Alliance-launches-blockchain-testing-environment-for-members-4793) - [Kadena](https://tokenpost.com/Kadena-announces-full-launch-of-its-public-blockchain-4788) - [IBM Sterling Supply Chain platform](https://tokenpost.com/IBM-Salesforce-and-others-develop-enhanced-capabilities-for-blockchain-based-IBM-Sterling-Supply-Chain-platform-4777) - [Donate](http://imtranslator.net/extensions/?tp=chr-ImTranslator&a=0) - 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