# Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – December 14th, 2018 By Shampa Mani Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/923 Published: 2018-12-14T11:45:08.000Z Updated: 2018-12-14T11:45:08.000Z Section: Technology > US CFTC seeks to better understand Ethereum Blockchain The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is seeking to better understand the technology, mechanics, and markets for cryptocurrencies, with a particula… [US CFTC seeks to better understand Ethereum Blockchain]() The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is seeking to better understand the technology, mechanics, and markets for cryptocurrencies, with a particular focus on ether and its use on the Ethereum Network. On these lines, the CFTC has published a Request for Information (RFI) in order to gather public feedback on a range of questions related to the underlying technology, opportunities, risks, mechanics, use cases, and markets, related to Ether and the Ethereum Network. [Vermont state agencies establish blockchain working group]() Four state agencies in Vermont have come together to establish a working group to look into the opportunities and challenges presented by blockchain technology. Participating agencies include the Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), the Secretary of State, the Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), and the Attorney General’s Office. [Growing use of cryptocurrencies and mobile payments forces EU to strengthen rules on criminalisation of non-cash payment fraud]() The European Union is going to strengthen the rules to combat fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment. According to an official release dated December 11, “The European Parliament and the Council reached political agreement on the Commission's proposal to strengthen rules to combat fraud and counterfeiting of non-cash means of payment – such as bank cards, cheques, mobile payments and virtual currencies.” [UK intends to regulate cryptocurrency exchange providers under EU’s AMLD 5: FATF]() The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has noted the efforts by the UK government to implement a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency exchange providers. The FATF last week announced that it conducted an assessment of the UK’s AML/CFT system which involved a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of the country’s measures and their level of compliance with the FATF Recommendations. [Ontario Securities Commission seeks crypto and blockchain experts for fintech advisory committee]() The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) has announced that it is seeking applications for membership on its Fintech Advisory Committee (FAC). The FAC advises OSC LaunchPad staff on developments in the fintech space and the challenges faced by startups in the securities industry. It will consist of up to 15 members and will meet quarterly, with additional meetings as required. [UAE, Saudi central banks to co-develop cryptocurrency for cross-border transactions]() The Central Bank of the UAE, in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) is embarking on a joint project to develop a blockchain-based digital currency which would be used in cross-border transactions between the two countries, Gulf News reported. Mubarak Rashed Al Mansouri, Governor of Central Bank of the UAE, made the announcement at a high-level meeting for the Arab region on global banking standards and regulatory and supervisory priorities. Acquisition/Fundraising/Investment - [LINE Plus acquires GrayHash]() to boost security of fintech and blockchain services - Crytpo exchange [Kraken]() plans private listing at $4B valuation: Report - [UNICEF Innovation Fund]() backs blockchain-based projects focused on emerging markets - Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital Ventures, Fidelity and others invest [$4M in crypto lender BlockFi]() - [Neo Global Capital]() backs decentralized blockchain computing platform Ultrain - San Francisco-based security token platform [TokenSoft]() invests in SEC-registered broker-dealer - South Korean internet giant [Kakao pumps $15M]() in Israeli blockchain startup Orbs Partnerships/Consortiums - Alibaba Cloud, Citi and others join Hyperledger blockchain project - [Kakao’s]() blockchain platform Klaytn announces eight new partners - CULedger latest to join [R3 blockchain consortium]() Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives - [Boerse Stuttgart Group]() partners with solarisBank to develop crypto trading venue - [Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange]() insures listed assets through Callaghan Insurance - Currencies Direct taps blockchain startup Ripple’s xCurrent for [real-time remittances to India]() - UAE Exchange, Ripple to launch [cross-border remittances to Asia]() by Q1 2019 - [IBM Research, Hello Tractor]() collaborate to bring AI and blockchain to agribusiness - State Farm trials blockchain solution to accelerate [auto claims subrogation process]() - [Coinone Transfer]() launches blockchain-powered remittance service ‘Cross’ - Australia’s [NTI]() joins blockchain trial on end-to-end beef traceability - South Korea’s [Shinhan Bank]() adopts blockchain technology for Interest Rate Swap transactions - [Barclaycard]() partners with blockchain startup Evernym on self-sovereign identity - [Abu Dhabi National Oil Company]() taps IBM Blockchain for oil and gas production - [Bitwala]() launches crypto banking services in Germany - [Opera]() launches new browser for Android with built-in crypto wallet - Maersk, Heidmar and others to trial [blockchain-based seafarer certification]() system - Indian telecom regulator [TRAI]() completes blockchain pilot with IBM - [PwC Russia]() partners with Bitfury to launch accelerator for blockchain projects - [Porsche taps BBVA blockchain platform]() for acquisition term loan - Finablr’s Swych introduces blockchain-based global gifting and shopping platform using [Stellar Network]() ## Links in this article - [US CFTC seeks to better understand Ethereum Blockchain](https://tokenpost.com/US-CFTC-seeks-to-better-understand-Ethereum-Blockchain-900) - [Vermont state agencies establish blockchain working group](https://tokenpost.com/Vermont-state-agencies-establish-blockchain-working-group-899) - [Growing use of cryptocurrencies and mobile payments forces EU to strengthen rules on criminalisation of non-cash payment fraud](https://tokenpost.com/Growing-use-of-cryptocurrencies-and-mobile-payments-forces-EU-to-strengthen-rules-on-criminalisation-of-non-cash-payment-fraud-904) - [UK intends to regulate cryptocurrency exchange providers under EU’s AMLD 5: FATF](https://tokenpost.com/UK-intends-to-regulate-crypto-exchange-providers-under-EUs-AMLD-5-FATF-897) - [Ontario Securities Commission seeks crypto and blockchain experts for fintech advisory committee](https://tokenpost.com/Ontario-Securities-Commission-seeks-crypto-and-blockchain-experts-for-fintech-advisory-committee-885) - [UAE, Saudi central banks to co-develop cryptocurrency for cross-border transactions](https://tokenpost.com/UAE-Saudi-central-banks-to-co-develop-cryptocurrency-for-cross-border-transactions-916) - [LINE Plus acquires GrayHash](https://tokenpost.com/LINE-Plus-acquires-GrayHash-to-boost-security-of-fintech-and-blockchain-services-903) - [Kraken](https://tokenpost.com/Crytpo-exchange-Kraken-plans-private-listing-at-4B-valuation-Report-902) - [UNICEF Innovation Fund](https://tokenpost.com/UNICEF-Innovation-Fund-backs-blockchain-based-projects-focused-on-emerging-markets-901) - [$4M in crypto lender BlockFi](https://tokenpost.com/Mike-Novogratzs-Galaxy-Digital-Ventures-Fidelity-and-others-invest-4M-in-crypto-lender-BlockFi-913) - [Neo Global Capital](https://tokenpost.com/Neo-Global-Capital-backs-decentralized-blockchain-computing-platform-Ultrain-909) - [TokenSoft](https://tokenpost.com/San-Francisco-based-security-token-platform-TokenSoft-invests-in-SEC-registered-broker-dealer-921) - [Kakao pumps $15M](https://tokenpost.com/South-Korean-internet-giant-Kakao-pumps-15M-in-Israeli-blockchain-startup-Orbs-918) - [Kakao’s](https://tokenpost.com/Kakaos-blockchain-platform-Klaytn-announces-eight-new-partners-894) - [R3 blockchain consortium](https://tokenpost.com/CULedger-latest-to-join-R3-blockchain-consortium-915) - [Boerse Stuttgart Group](https://tokenpost.com/Boerse-Stuttgart-Group-partners-with-solarisBank-to-develop-crypto-trading-venue-906) - [Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange](https://tokenpost.com/Gibraltar-Blockchain-Exchange-insures-listed-assets-through-Callaghan-Insurance-890) - [real-time remittances to India](https://tokenpost.com/Currencies-Direct-taps-blockchain-startup-Ripples-xCurrent-for-real-time-remittances-to-India-896) - [cross-border remittances to Asia](https://tokenpost.com/UAE-Exchange-Ripple-to-launch-cross-border-remittances-to-Asia-by-Q1-2019-912) - [IBM Research, Hello Tractor](https://tokenpost.com/IBM-Research-Hello-Tractor-collaborate-to-bring-AI-and-blockchain-to-agribusiness-895) - [auto claims subrogation process](https://tokenpost.com/State-Farm-trials-blockchain-solution-to-accelerate-auto-claims-subrogation-process-892) - [Coinone Transfer](https://tokenpost.com/Coinone-Transfer-launches-blockchain-powered-remittance-service-Cross-891) - [NTI](https://tokenpost.com/Australias-NTI-joins-blockchain-trial-on-end-to-end-beef-traceability-889) - [Shinhan Bank](https://tokenpost.com/South-Koreas-Shinhan-Bank-adopts-blockchain-technology-for-Interest-Rate-Swap-transactions-888) - [Barclaycard](https://tokenpost.com/Barclaycard-partners-with-blockchain-startup-Evernym-on-self-sovereign-identity-884) - [Abu Dhabi National Oil Company](https://tokenpost.com/Abu-Dhabi-National-Oil-Company-taps-IBM-Blockchain-for-oil-and-gas-production-882) - [Bitwala](https://tokenpost.com/Bitwala-launches-crypto-banking-services-in-Germany-907) - [Opera](https://tokenpost.com/Opera-launches-new-browser-for-Android-with-built-in-crypto-wallet-914) - [blockchain-based seafarer certification](https://tokenpost.com/Maersk-Heidmar-and-others-to-trial-blockchain-based-seafarer-certification-system-911) - [TRAI](https://tokenpost.com/Indian-telecom-regulator-TRAI-completes-blockchain-pilot-with-IBM-908) - [PwC Russia](https://tokenpost.com/PwC-Russia-partners-with-Bitfury-to-launch-accelerator-for-blockchain-projects-920) - [Porsche taps BBVA blockchain platform](https://tokenpost.com/Porsche-taps-BBVA-blockchain-platform-for-acquisition-term-loan-922) - [Stellar Network](https://tokenpost.com/Finablrs-Swych-introduces-blockchain-based-global-gifting-and-shopping-platform-using-Stellar-Network-917)