# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – November 9th, 2018 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/697 Published: 2018-11-09T11:34:19.000Z Updated: 2018-11-09T11:34:19.000Z Section: Technology > PBoC now targets airdrops in its cryptocurrency crackdown efforts The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) is now targeting airdrops as part of its efforts to crack down on cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings (ICOs) … [PBoC now targets airdrops in its cryptocurrency crackdown efforts]() The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) is now targeting airdrops as part of its efforts to crack down on cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings (ICOs) in the country, CoinDesk reported. The PBoC has released its financial stability report for 2018 in which it has highlighted the growth in disguised ICOs including airdrops – the free distribution of cryptocurrency tokens or coins. [French lawmakers push for lower crypto tax]() The Finance Commission of France’s lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, has backed a plan to cut the tax on bitcoin sales, Reuters reported. The finance commission on Wednesday adopted an amendment to the 2019 budget bill that would reduce the tax on the sale of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin to 30 percent. [South Korean lawyers urge government to establish cryptocurrency laws]() South Korean lawyers urging the government to quickly establish a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, Reuters reported. The Korean Bar Association (KBA) is pressing for cryptocurrency laws in the country with the objective of fostering the domestic crypto industry and to protect investors. [South Korean customs officials tap blockchain technology to clear e-commerce goods]() South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT, in collaboration with the Korea Customs Service (KCS), has announced its plans to build a blockchain-based e-commerce goods customs clearance system. The main goal is to automate the existing system to reduce the inefficiencies in clearing goods purchased through direct buying at overseas online stores, according to Aju Business Daily. [Mauritius Financial Services Commission to issue custodian services licence for digital assets]() Mauritius’ Financial Services Commission (FSC) has published a draft on regulatory framework for ‘Custodian Services (Digital Assets) Licence’ and is seeking public feedback on the same. The consultation period will conclude on 30 November 2018. [Switzerland’s FINMA recommends 800 pct risk weighting for bank crypto trading]() The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has issued guidance for banks that engage in cryptocurrency trading, swissinfo.ch reported. When calculating loss-absorbing capital buffers, banks should risk weight crypto assets at eight times their market value, the regulator said in a recently issued letter to EXPERTsuisse, viewed by the news portal. [Taiwan amends AML/CFT law to crack down on anonymous cryptocurrency transactions]() The Legislative Yuan, the Taiwan-based unicameral legislature of the Republic of China, has passed amendments to the country’s existing anti-money laundering and terrorism financing prevention laws that regulate cryptocurrency transactions, Focus Taiwan reported. Research Studies New research finds 300 pct increase in [blockchain-related jobs]() [EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum]() focuses on tensions between GDPR and blockchain in new report [PBoC]() says current bubble in blockchain-based financing is “obvious” Over a dozen fraudulent ICOs shut in the past year: [US SEC’s Enforcement Report]() Fundraising/Investments/Acquisition Blockchain startup [Bitfury]() completes $80M private placement Partnerships/Consortiums [SIRIN LABS]() partners to enable Ethereum payments at 1,000 stores in South Korea via blockchain smartphone FINNEY [Huobi and Gemini]() seek to bridge crypto communities of East and West Port Authority of Valencia joins IBM Maersk [blockchain shipping solution “TradeLens”]() 15 banks join testing phase of [DTCC’s blockchain project]() for credit derivatives [Nippon Wealth, Shinsei Bank]() collaborate with blockchain startup ConsenSys Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives [eToro]() launches cryptocurrency wallet BBVA, BNP Paribas and MUFG put [$150M syndicated loan agreement]() on blockchain [VMware]() announces new service to provide permissioned blockchain for enterprise consortiums [HRD Antwerp]() taps blockchain technology for diamond tracking [Deloitte, Attest]() collaborate to build blockchain-based identity management solutions for governments China Merchants Bank successfully issues [blockchain-based electronic invoice]() MIT-backed startup [SendFriend taps Ripple’s xRapid]() for cross-border payments [Interswitch, Microsoft]() launch blockchain-based supply chain financing platform in Nigeria [Tencent]() seeks to build blockchain-based supply chain finance platform HSBC and ING execute [blockchain-based trade finance transaction]() for Reliance Industries [Ontario Securities Commission]() launches educational initiatives on cryptoassets South Korean crypto exchange [Bithumb]() partners with Qoo10 to launch payment service Crypto exchange [Binance]() launches new analysis division [Seagate, IBM]() partner to curb hard drive counterfeiting with blockchain ConsenSys’ [Kaleido]() rolls out Blockchain Marketplace for enterprises South Korean, Japanese and Chinese [postal services sign MoU]() to co-develop blockchain solution ## Links in this article - [PBoC now targets airdrops in its cryptocurrency crackdown efforts](https://tokenpost.com/PBoC-now-targets-airdrops-in-its-cryptocurrency-crackdown-efforts-661) - [French lawmakers push for lower crypto tax](https://tokenpost.com/French-lawmakers-push-for-lower-crypto-tax-688) - [South Korean lawyers urge government to establish cryptocurrency laws](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korean-lawyers-urge-government-to-establish-cryptocurrency-laws-685) - [South Korean customs officials tap blockchain technology to clear e-commerce goods](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korean-customs-officials-tap-blockchain-technology-to-clear-e-commerce-goods-679) - [Mauritius Financial Services Commission to issue custodian services licence for digital assets](https://tokenpost.com/Mauritius-Financial-Services-Commission-to-issue-custodian-services-licence-for-digital-assets-674) - [Switzerland’s FINMA recommends 800 pct risk weighting for bank crypto trading](https://tokenpost.com/Switzerlands-FINMA-recommends-800-pct-risk-weighting-for-bank-crypto-trading-670) - [Taiwan amends AML/CFT law to crack down on anonymous cryptocurrency transactions](https://tokenpost.com/Taiwan-amends-AML-CFT-law-to-crack-down-on-anonymous-cryptocurrency-transactions-662) - [blockchain-related jobs](https://tokenpost.com/New-research-finds-300-pct-increase-in-blockchain-related-jobs-686) - [EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum](https://tokenpost.com/EU-Blockchain-Observatory-and-Forum-focuses-on-tensions-between-GDPR-and-blockchain-in-new-report-681) - [PBoC](https://tokenpost.com/PBoC-says-current-bubble-in-blockchain-based-financing-is-obvious-671) - [US SEC’s Enforcement Report](https://tokenpost.com/Over-a-dozen-fraudulent-ICOs-shut-in-the-past-year-US-SECs-Enforcement-Report-660) - [Bitfury](https://tokenpost.com/Blockchain-startup-Bitfury-completes-80M-private-placement-672) - [SIRIN LABS](https://tokenpost.com/SIRIN-LABS-partners-to-enable-Ethereum-payments-at-1000-stores-in-South-Korea-via-blockchain-smartphone-FINNEY-687) - [Huobi and Gemini](https://tokenpost.com/Huobi-and-Gemini-seek-to-bridge-crypto-communities-of-east-and-west-683) - [blockchain shipping solution “TradeLens”](https://tokenpost.com/Port-Authority-of-Valencia-joins-IBM-Maersk-blockchain-shipping-solution-TradeLens-684) - [DTCC’s blockchain project](https://tokenpost.com/15-banks-join-testing-phase-of-DTCCs-blockchain-project-for-credit-derivatives-676) - [Nippon Wealth, Shinsei Bank](https://tokenpost.com/Nippon-Wealth-Shinsei-Bank-collaborate-with-blockchain-startup-ConsenSys-689) - [eToro](https://tokenpost.com/eToro-launches-cryptocurrency-wallet-678) - [$150M syndicated loan agreement](https://tokenpost.com/BBVA-BNP-Paribas-and-MUFG-put-150M-syndicated-loan-agreement-on-blockchain-680) - [VMware](https://tokenpost.com/VMware-announces-new-service-to-provide-permissioned-blockchain-for-enterprise-consortiums-673) - [HRD Antwerp](https://tokenpost.com/HRD-Antwerp-taps-blockchain-technology-for-diamond-tracking-669) - [Deloitte, Attest](https://tokenpost.com/Deloitte-Attest-collaborate-to-build-blockchain-based-identity-management-solutions-for-governments-667) - [blockchain-based electronic invoice](https://tokenpost.com/China-Merchants-Bank-successfully-issues-blockchain-based-electronic-invoice-666) - [SendFriend taps Ripple’s xRapid](https://tokenpost.com/MIT-backed-startup-SendFriend-taps-Ripples-xRapid-for-cross-border-payments-665) - [Interswitch, Microsoft](https://tokenpost.com/Interswitch-Microsoft-launch-blockchain-based-supply-chain-financing-platform-in-Nigeria-664) - [Tencent](https://tokenpost.com/Tencent-seeks-to-build-blockchain-based-supply-chain-finance-platform-663) - [blockchain-based trade finance transaction](https://tokenpost.com/HSBC-and-ING-execute-blockchain-based-trade-finance-transaction-for-Reliance-Industries-659) - [Ontario Securities Commission](https://tokenpost.com/Ontario-Securities-Commission-launches-educational-initiatives-on-cryptoassets-658) - [Bithumb](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korean-crypto-exchange-Bithumb-partners-with-Qoo10-to-launch-payment-service-693) - [Binance](https://tokenpost.com/Crypto-exchange-Binance-launches-new-analysis-division-692) - [Seagate, IBM](https://tokenpost.com/Seagate-IBM-partner-to-curb-hard-drive-counterfeiting-with-blockchain-690) - [Kaleido](https://tokenpost.com/ConsenSys-Kaleido-rolls-out-Blockchain-Marketplace-for-enterprises-696) - [postal services sign MoU](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korea-Japan-and-China-collaborate-to-introduce-blockchain-technology-in-postal-services-695)