TokenPost reporter
Charissa Echavez
Reporter
Stories by Charissa Echavez
- Singapore Shipping Association teams up with ICC, Perlin Network to develop blockchain-based ship registration process
The Singapore Shipping Association, the International Chamber of Commerce, and Singaporean blockchain firm Perlin are developing an International E-Registry of Ships (IERS) system.
· Technology
- India's YES Bank wants to lure more clients for its next planned blockchain model
Private banking firm YES Bank plans to attract more clients for the next version of its blockchain model, according to a report by the Hindu Business Line.
· Technology
- DeltaTrak joins IBM Food Trust to tap into blockchain potential
DeltaTrak, a leading innovator of cold chain management and temperature monitoring solutions, has joined IBM Food Trust.
· Technology
- Grayscale Investment secures FINRA approval for public quote of Digital Large Cap Fund
Digital asset management fund Grayscale Investment has secured regulatory approval from the U.S. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to publicly quote the shares of its diversified cryptocurrency fund.
· Regulation
- Amid exodus of major backers, Facebook’s Libra organizes governing council
After seeing a number of departures, the Libra Association charter has signed a total of 21 organizations.
· Business
- Report: Cyworld shuts down without notice; 'Clink' investors want to sue
South Korean social media platform Cywork abruptly shut down its services on Oct. 1 without any prior notice, according to a report by The Korea Times. Now, investors of its crypto-asset “Clink” are alarmed as the for…
· Business
- 'Kik is here to stay': Canadian messaging app NOT shutting down, to announce 'exciting plans' soon
Canadian messaging app Kik said it is “here to stay,” after it previously announced that it plans to shut down amid legal problems.
· Business
- FXCM introduces basket tracking 5 cryptocurrencies to retail investors
Foreign exchange company FXCM Group announced the introduction of cryptocurrency baskets to its retail investors.
· Business
- U.S. IRS wants to know your crypto ownership in updated income tax form
The U.S. Internal Revenue Services (IRS) has added a question about cryptocurrencies in its updated 1040 income tax form for the coming tax season.
· Regulation
- U.S. SEC, CFTC, FinCEN issue rare statement warning crypto users to abide banking laws
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have issued a three-party joint statement on cryptocurrency.
· Regulation
- Blockchain trade finance network Marco Polo pilots first trade transactions between Russia and Germany
Marco Polo, a blockchain-based trade finance network with over 20 global banks on board, will pilot its first trading arrangement between Germany and Russia.
· Technology
- Crypto exchange Coinbase secures e-money license from Central Bank of Ireland
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is securing a new foothold in Europe after it obtained an e-money license from the Central Bank of Ireland.
· Business
- Telegram may postpone Gram token launch after SEC stops U.S. crypto sale
Telegram is likely postponing the launch of its own cryptocurrency on the Telegram Open Network (TON) after it was ordered to be halted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for “unlawful” token sale in…
· Regulation
- Mastercard, Visa, eBay, Stripe, Mercado Pago abandon Facebook-led Libra Association
Mastercard, Visa, eBay, Stripe, and Mercado Pago have all followed the steps of PayPal, withdrawing their support from Facebook’s Libra Association.
· Business
- Canada's regulatory uncertainty on blockchain stunts exponential growth: Canadian Digital Chamber of Commerce report
Canadian blockchain companies want to know the stance of the government on cryptocurrency and blockchain, according to a report by the Canadian Digital Chamber of Commerce (CDCC).
· Regulation
- Neo banking solution Juno secures $3M to offer interest on USDC stablecoin
Juno has secured $3 million seed round to develop a platform leveraging cryptocurrencies and Ethereum protocols to offer “neo banking” services such as high-yield savings and debit cards.
· Business
- '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.
· People
- Bitfinex, Tether win appeal against NYAG to stop compiling documents
A New York judge has denied the request of the New York Attorney General (NYAG)’s office to make Bitfinex and Tether compile documents related to their alleged $850 million cover-up and $900 million line of credit.
· Regulation
- Vanguard teams up with Symbiont to develop blockchain-powered trading platform for $6 trillion currency market
Mutual funds giant Vanguard has entered into a partnership with Nasdaq Ventures-backed blockchain startup Symbiont to create a trading platform for the $6 trillion currency market.
· Technology
- ConsenSys grants $175K to ethereum-based startups, now accepting another round of projects
Venture studio Consensys has granted $175,000 to support seven Ethereum-based projects.
· Business
- 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.
· Regulation
- 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.
· People
- UNICEF rolls out cryptocurrency fund, starts accepting donations in bitcoin and ether
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a cryptocurrency fund and is accepting donations in bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH).
· Business
- 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.
· Business
- Banking giant UBS officially implements we.trade blockchain
Switzerland’s banking giant UBS has started executing transactions on we.trade blockchain platform for trade finance, which will soon be adopted by other member banks.
· Technology
- Visa, Mastercard, Stripe face pressure as senators urge them to quit Facebook's Libra Association
Lawmakers are starting to pressure members of the Libra Association to reconsider their involvement in the Facebook-led Libra cryptocurrency project.
· Regulation
- Bitfinex asks New York Supreme Court to deny NYAG's request to collect documents
Bitfinex is holding on to its documents amid objects from the New York Attorney General’s office.
· Business
- Lightning network development startup ACINQ secures $8M from Idinvest, Bpifrance, Serena
ACINQ, one of the three main Lightning Network development firms, has secured $8 million in a Series A led by Idinvest Partners, with participation from Serena and Bpifrance, state-owned French investment firm.
· Business
- Telegram finally admits involvement in TON blockchain
Instant messaging app Telegram has finally acknowledged its involvement in the Telegram Open Network (TON) blockchain in public, as it mentioned both TON and GRAMS, the platform’s native token, in the terms of service…
· Business
- South Korea's KB Kookmin Bank resorts to blockchain to enhance internal processes
KB Kookmin Bank, one of the four biggest South Korean banks by asset value, revealed that it plans to integrate blockchain technology into its internal processes. The announcement was made at the Enterprise Ethereum a…
· Technology
- 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.
· Regulation
- EU finance commissioner Valdis Dombrovski commits to regulate cryptocurrencies, Facebook's Libra
European Union’s financial services commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis revealed his plans to create a new regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, particularly Facebook’s Libra stablecoin.
· People
- Hyundai-backed Hdac to invest $10M for mainnet launch, presents new blockchain development plan at KBW 2019
Hyundai Digital Access Currency (Hdac) is reportedly planning to set up a $10 million fund to invest in blockchain.
· Technology
- U.K. Financial Conduct Authority's cryptocurrency probe increases by 74% in 2019
The number of investigations conducted by the U.K.’s financial regulatory body, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has seen a sharp increase in the last year.
· Insights & Views
- CoinFLEX lets you bet on Facebook Libra's likelihood to launch by 2020
CoinFLEX, a Seychelles-based firm launched earlier this year, is offering derivatives that payout based on the possibility Libra will launch by the end of 2020.
· Business
- Microsoft, Intel back Enterprise Ethereum Alliance's token system to reward consortium members
Microsoft and Intel are supporting a new system of reward tokens created by the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA) to incentivize groups of companies.
· Technology
- QuadrigaCX founder's widow to return $9M worth of estate assets to affected users
Jennifer Robertson, the widow of QuadrigaCX’s founder Gerald Cotton, is returning about CAD $12 million ($9 million) of assets to EY Canada, the firm’s bankruptcy trustee, as part of a voluntary settlement.
· Business
- John McAfee rolls out decentralized 'no restrictions' crypto exchange McAfee DEX in beta
Renowned cybersecurity expert and cryptocurrency enthusiast John McAfee has rolled out a decentralized exchange (DEX) running on the Ethereum blockchain.
· Business
- Bitfinex, Tether face $1.4 trillion class-action lawsuit for market manipulation
Bitfinex, Tether, and others are facing a class-action lawsuit, accusing them of cryptocurrency market manipulation, harming traders, and benefiting themselves.
· Business
- NuCypher secures $10.7M funding from Polychain Capital, Bitmain, Arrington XRP Capital
Encryption startup NuCypher has raised $10.67 million via a simple agreement of future tokens (SAFT) Series 2 sale, ahead of its mainnet launch.
· Business