# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – February 7th, 2020 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/5058 Published: 2020-02-07T12:32:07.000Z Updated: 2020-02-07T12:43:05.000Z Section: Technology > U.S. Federal Reserve exploring DLTs and a potential CBDC, confirms Governor Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard has revealed that the central bank is conducting research on distributed ledger technology (DLT) and i… [U.S. Federal Reserve exploring DLTs and a potential CBDC, confirms Governor]() Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard has revealed that the central bank is conducting research on distributed ledger technology (DLT) and its potential for a central bank digital currency (CBDC). "Given the dollar's important role, it is essential that we remain on the frontier of research and policy development regarding CBDC. Like other central banks, we are conducting research and experimentation related to distributed ledger technologies and their potential use case for digital currencies, including the potential for a CBDC." [U.S. Navy and Air Force seek to secure communications using blockchain technology]() The U.S. Navy and the Air Force are looking to blockchain technology for securing communications. SIMBA Chain has been awarded $9.5 million by the Naval Air Warfare Center to deploy a secure, blockchain-based messaging and transaction platform. Fluree has won a contract from the US Air Force to bring commercial best-in-class technologies to the Air Force and the Department of Defense. [Newly formed central bank digital currency research group to hold first meeting in April: Report]() The recently formed consortium of six central banks and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) is going to hold its first meeting in mid-April, Nikkei reported. The Bank of Canada (BoC), the Bank of England (BoE), the Bank of Japan (BoJ), the European Central Bank (ECB), the Sveriges Riksbank, and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) teamed up with the BIS last month to look into potential cases for central bank digital currency (CBDC). [Australia releases National Blockchain Roadmap]() Australia’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources has released the National Blockchain Roadmap, setting out a strategy for governments, industry, and researchers to capitalise on opportunities and address challenges presented by the technology. The development of the roadmap was announced last March by Karen Andrews, Minister for Industry, Science And Technology, and the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator Simon Birmingham. [Germany’s financial regulator issues guidance on licensing process for crypto custody firms]() Germany's Financial Supervisory Authority (or BaFin) has released new guidelines to clarify how the country’s new law, which came into force last month, will apply to firms offering or intending to offer crypto custody services to German customers. The law implementing an amendment to the Fourth EU Money Laundering Directive came into effect on January 1, 2020. With this, Germany has classified crypto depository services as a financial service under the German Banking Act. [UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention launches blockchain-based data storage platform]() The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) of the UAE has launched a blockchain-based platform that stores the data for health, pharmaceutical government and private facilities, health practitioners and drug information, Emirates News Agency reported. The platform has been launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, Dubai Healthcare City and health authorities. Insights [U.S. Treasury]() includes digital assets among top vulnerabilities to financial system Funding/Acquisitions Salesforce, Samsung join blockchain startup [Digital Asset’s $35M Series C]() round Pantera Capital, Square join blockchain payments startup [Transparent's $14M series A round]() Deutsche Telekom, HKT and other telecom firms back blockchain startup [Clear’s $13M Series A round]() Sony Financial Ventures joins digital asset platform [Securitize’s latest financing round]() Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group seeks to acquire stake in [SBI and blockchain firm R3’s joint venture company]() [SBI Holdings]() invests $20M in OpenLegacy to support blockchain-based payments app MoneyTap [Lightning Labs]() raises $10M in Series A funding, launches new major product Ethereum-based savings game [PoolTogether]() raises $1M from IDEO CoLab Ventures, ConsenSys Labs Blockchain-based trade finance startup [Envoy raises $13.5M]() from Alcedo Digital Ventures Blockchain startup [ConsenSys acquires broker-dealer Heritage]() to transform municipal bond market [Bakkt to acquire Bridge2 Solutions]() from ICE to boost crypto consumer app development Other Company News Crypto exchange [Indodax]() receives license from Indonesia’s regulatory authority BAPPEBTI Singapore-based [iSTOX]() becomes fully regulated DLT-based capital markets platform Hong Kong-based blockchain remittance startup [Bitspark]() shuts down due to failed internal restructuring South Korean crypto wallet [Bitberry]() shuts down due to “uncertainty of the blockchain industry” Blockchain startup [Waves]() launches a non-profit organization in Germany Blockchain startup [ConsenSys]() lays off 14% of its workforce Partnerships/Consortiums Avril Group latest to join blockchain-based [IBM Food Trust]() SITA launches [MRO Blockchain Alliance]() for the air transport industry IBM, KPMG, Merck and Walmart form blockchain-based [Pharmaceutical Utility Network]() Digital Currency Initiatives Former OKEx executive to launch [crypto derivatives exchange 'ACDX']() in Q2 2020 Twitter co-founder Biz Stone-backed [Mode launches bitcoin banking app]() for iOS users Jack Dorsey adds [Bitcoin emoji on Twitter]() Seychelles' MERJ exchange partners to [tokenize supercars]() including Ferrari [SBI Holdings]() offers Ripple’s XRP cryptocurrency as shareholders’ benefit Blockchain Initiatives Goldman Sachs-backed [Axoni]() launches DLT network for equity swap processing [Neogen]() partners with Ripe.io to bring blockchain technology to food safety and animal genomics Hedera Hashgraph partners with [Armanino]() to leverage blockchain-based assurance technology platform TrustExplorer Gini launches blockchain lottery game; signs [MOU with Giving Ledger]() [Intermex]() partners with blockchain startup Ripple faster cross-border payments between Mexico and U.S. Japan’s [JASRAC]() to trial blockchain technology for music copyright management Indian IT firm launches accelerator program for [Telangana's ‘Blockchain District’]() [Walmart Canada]() launches blockchain-based freight and payment network 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 - [U.S. Federal Reserve exploring DLTs and a potential CBDC, confirms Governor](https://tokenpost.com/US-Federal-Reserve-governor-conducts-research-about-DLT-for-digital-currencies-5047) - [U.S. Navy and Air Force seek to secure communications using blockchain technology](https://tokenpost.com/US-Navy-and-Air-Force-seek-to-secure-communications-using-blockchain-technology-5046) - [Newly formed central bank digital currency research group to hold first meeting in April: Report](https://tokenpost.com/Newly-formed-central-bank-digital-currency-research-group-to-hold-first-meeting-in-April-Report-5041) - [Australia releases National Blockchain Roadmap](https://tokenpost.com/Australia-releases-National-Blockchain-Roadmap-5044) - [Germany’s financial regulator issues guidance on licensing process for crypto custody firms](https://tokenpost.com/Germanys-financial-regulatory-authority-clarifies-cryptocurrency-custody-law-5038) - [UAE’s Ministry of Health and Prevention launches blockchain-based data storage platform](https://tokenpost.com/UAEs-Ministry-of-Health-and-Prevention-launches-blockchain-based-digital-platform-for-health-data-storage-4989) - [U.S. Treasury](https://tokenpost.com/US-Treasury-identifies-digital-assets-as-among-top-vulnerabilities-in-the-financial-system-5054) - [Digital Asset’s $35M Series C](https://tokenpost.com/Salesforce-Samsung-join-blockchain-startup-Digital-Assets-35M-Series-C-round-5011) - [Transparent's $14M series A round](https://tokenpost.com/Pantera-Capital-Square-join-14-million-series-A-funding-for-real-time-cryptographic-settlement-network-5032) - [Clear’s $13M Series A round](https://tokenpost.com/Deutsche-Telekom-HKT-and-other-telecom-firms-back-blockchain-startup-Clears-13M-Series-A-round-5034) - [Securitize’s latest financing round](https://tokenpost.com/Sony-Financial-Ventures-joins-digital-asset-platform-Securitizes-latest-financing-round-5025) - [SBI and blockchain firm R3’s joint venture company](https://tokenpost.com/Sumitomo-Mitsui-Financial-Group-seeks-to-acquire-stake-in-SBI-and-blockchain-firm-R3s-joint-venture-company-4985) - [SBI Holdings](https://tokenpost.com/SBI-Holdings-invests-20M-in-OpenLegacy-to-support-blockchain-based-payments-app-MoneyTap-5000) - [Lightning Labs](https://tokenpost.com/Lightning-Labs-raises-10-million-Series-A-funding-to-improve-payments-technology-and-launches-new-major-product-5035) - [PoolTogether](https://tokenpost.com/Ethereum-based-savings-game-PoolTogether-raises-1M-from-IDEO-CoLab-Ventures-ConsenSys-Labs-5007) - [Envoy raises $13.5M](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-based-supply-chain-and-trade-finance-startup-Envoy-receives-13-million-from-Alcedo-Digital-Ventures-5020) - [ConsenSys acquires broker-dealer Heritage](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-startup-ConsenSys-acquires-broker-dealer-Heritage-to-transform-municipal-bond-market-5030) - [Bakkt to acquire Bridge2 Solutions](https://tokenpost.com/Intercontinental-Exchange-acquires-Bridge2-Solutions-for-Bakkts-digital-assets-5037) - [Indodax](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-exchange-Indodax-receives-license-from-Indonesias-regulatory-authority-BAPPEBTI-5026) - [iSTOX](https://tokenpost.com/iSTOX-is-now-a-fully-regulated-DLT-based-capital-markets-platform-5001https:/tokenpost.com/iSTOX-is-now-a-fully-regulated-DLT-based-capital-markets-platform-5001) - [Bitspark](https://tokenpost.com/Hong-Kong-based-blockchain-remittance-startup-Bitspark-shuts-down-due-to-failed-restructuring-5017) - [Bitberry](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korean-crypto-wallet-Bitberry-shuts-down-due-to-uncertainty-of-the-blockchain-industry-5006) - [Waves](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-startup-Waves-launches-a-non-profit-organization-5005) - [ConsenSys](https://tokenpost.com/Ethereum-blockchain-solutions-ConsenSys-laid-off-14-of-its-workforce-5018) - [IBM Food Trust](https://tokenpost.com/Avril-Group-joins-blockchain-backed-global-ecosystem-IBM-Food-Trust-5051) - [MRO Blockchain Alliance](https://tokenpost.com/SITA-launches-MRO-Blockchain-Alliance-with-key-industry-partners-5013) - [Pharmaceutical Utility Network](https://tokenpost.com/IBM-KPMG-Merck-and-Walmart-form-blockchain-based-Pharmaceutical-Utility-Network-5002) - [crypto derivatives exchange 'ACDX'](https://tokenpost.com/Former-OKEx-chief-operating-officer-plans-to-launch-crypto-derivative-exchange-ACDX-5049) - [Mode launches bitcoin banking app](https://tokenpost.com/Twitter-co-founder-Biz-Stone-backed-Mode-launches-bitcoin-banking-app-for-iOS-users-5008) - [Bitcoin emoji on Twitter](https://tokenpost.com/Square-CEO-Jack-Dorsey-adds-Bitcoin-emoji-on-Twitter-4997) - [tokenize supercars](https://tokenpost.com/Digital-asset-exchange-MERJ-partners-with-CurioInvest-to-create-supercar-tokens-share-4982) - [SBI Holdings](https://tokenpost.com/SBI-Holdings-offers-Ripples-XRP-cryptocurrency-as-shareholders-benefit-4983) - [Axoni](https://tokenpost.com/Goldman-Sachs-backed-Axoni-launches-DLT-network-for-equity-swap-processing-5045) - [Neogen](https://tokenpost.com/Neogen-partners-with-Ripe-Technology-to-adapt-innovative-blockchain-technology-for-food-safety-5036) - [Armanino](https://tokenpost.com/Hedera-Hashgraph-partners-with-Armanino-to-leverage-blockchain-based-assurance-technology-platform-TrustExplorer-5029) - [MOU with Giving Ledger](https://tokenpost.com/Gini-launches-blockchain-lottery-game-signs-MOU-with-Giving-Ledger-4979) - [Intermex](https://tokenpost.com/Currency-exchange-and-remittance-network-Ripple-partners-with-Intermex-for-easy-and-cost-effective-global-payments-5022) - [JASRAC](https://tokenpost.com/Japans-JASRAC-to-trial-blockchain-technology-for-music-copyright-management-5019) - [Telangana's ‘Blockchain District’](https://tokenpost.com/Indian-IT-firm-launches-accelerator-program-for-Telangana-Blockchain-District-5003) - [Walmart Canada](https://tokenpost.com/Walmart-Canada-launches-blockchain-based-freight-and-payment-network-4990) - [Donate](http://imtranslator.net/extensions/?tp=chr-ImTranslator&a=0) - [TokenPost](https://www.tokenpost.com)