TokenPost reporter
Charissa Echavez
Reporter
Stories by Charissa Echavez
- Enterprise blockchain firm R3 eyes IPO: Report
Enterprise blockchain technology firm R3 is reportedly considering to launch an initial public offering (IPO), according to Bloomberg.
· Business
- PayFast to stop accepting Bitcoin as payment method due to high fees, slow process time
PayFast, South Africa’s first-ever online payment gateway that accepts Bitcoin, has announced that it will drop Bitcoin support from its platform, citing issues like network congestion and high fees.
· Business
- Georgia VAT-exempts cryptocurrencies
Georgia becomes the latest nation to exempt cryptocurrencies from value-added taxes (VAT), a move that supports Bitcoin’s status as a currency, according to Bitcoin.com.
· Regulation
- Amazon, Deloitte, Fidelity support IDEO CoLab's free blockchain accelerator program
IDEO’s venture arm IDEO CoLab Ventures announced its partnership with 20 leading organizations and protocols to launch a blockchain accelerator called Startup Studio.
· Business
- Trump lashes out Bitcoin, Facebook's Libra, argues they should face banking regulations
U.S. President Donald Trump said he is “not a fan” of cryptocurrencies as they are “not money” and suggested that Facebook may need a “new banking charter” if it plans to launch its cryptocurrency Libra.
· People
- Props launches first SEC-qualified consumer-facing crypto token
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted ethereum-based token Props a Regulation A+ qualification, making it the first consumer-facing SEC-qualified crypto token.
· Business
- Metropolitan Commercial Bank closes Tether, Bitfinex, Digfinex accounts: Report
New York-based Metropolitan Commercial Bank has shut down accounts linked to stablecoin issuer Tether, according to CoinDesk.
· Business
- Winklevoss-backed Virtual Commodity Association wants to help protect cryptocurrency consumers
Winklevoss-backed Virtual Commodity Association is seeking to become a self-regulatory organization (SRO) for the cryptocurrency industry, in a bid to run similarly like the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FI…
· Regulation
- Crypto payments startups Uphold doubles presence in Portugal with Scytale's acquisition
U.S.-based digital finance platform Uphold announced that it has doubled its presence in Portugal following its acquisition of Scytale, a web development and design studio specializing in producing intelligent applica…
· Business
- NEAR protocol developers secure $12.1M in seed round led by Metastable Capital, Accomplice
Near, creator of the NEAR platform for building decentralized applications, has secured $12.1 million in a seed round, led by hedge fund Metastable Capital and venture firm Accomplice.
· Business
- SEC gives green signal to Blockstack's Regulation A+ token offering
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reportedly given blockchain startup Blockstack a go signal to conduct a $28 million digital token offering under Regulation A+, according to the Wall Stre…
· Regulation
- Hybrid ethereum-based energy startup LO3 Energy secures investment deals with Shell, Sumitomo
LO3 Energy, a New York-based startup that uses a modified version of the ethereum blockchain, has scored major investments from Shell Ventures and Sumitomo Corporation to scale its community microgrid operations.
· Business
- Blockchain-based bullion startup Tradewind hires ex-BNY Mellon executive Leon Shklar as new CTO
Tradewind, a fintech company digitizing precious metals using blockchain technology, has appointed former BNY Mellon executive Leon Shklar as its new chief technology officer (CTO).
· People
- IRS wants tech giants to report users' cryptocurrency-related activities: Report
The United States’ Internal Revenue Services (IRS) is reportedly considering to require tech giants to report their users’ crypto-related activities, according to an IRS presentation shared by a Twitter user.
· Regulation
- IBM Food Trust welcomes ORGANO for blockchain-based product traceability
ORGANO, a leading producer of healthy food and beverages, is the latest company to join IBM Food Trust, a blockchain initiative that was established to track food, to implement a traceability strategy by sharing key p…
· Technology
- Torus pockets $2M seed funding from Multicoin, Binance, Coinbase to entice people into dApps
Private key management firm Torus has secured $2 million investment in a second round, spearheaded by Multicoin Capital with participation from Binance Labs, Coinbase Ventures, Sixth Horizon, Accomplice, and Terminal.
· Business
- David Marcus addresses concerns of policymakers about Facebook's Libra project in a new letter
David Marcus, the lead of Facebook’s cryptocurrency project Libra, told policymakers that the social media giant is “taking time to do this right.”
· People
- NEM Foundation, Tech Bureau partner to expedite overseas expansion of blockchain-based 'mijin', 'mijin Catapult'
Nonprofit organization NEM Foundation and Tech Bureau Holdings, a fintech and cryptocurrency solutions company, have partnered to conduct marketing activities relating to “mijin” and its latest core engine “mijin Cata…
· Business
- Singapore Stock Exchange, ConsenSys support new ethereum trading platform 1X
Trading platform for security tokens 1X has launched with support from Singapore Exchange (SGX), the country’s public stock market, and ConsenSys, an ethereum blockchain solution provider.
· Business
- Samsung releases 6 new dApps to its blockchain wallet
South Korean tech giant Samsung has released six new decentralized apps (dApps) to be integrated into the blockchain wallet of its Galaxy S10, according to local media outlet FN News.
· Technology
- LG files trademark application for ThinQ Wallet for cryptocurrency
South Korean electronics company LG has filed a trademark application for the name ThinQ Wallet in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 2, potentially confirming last year’s rumors that the te…
· Technology
- SEC, FINRA issue joint statement on custody issues of digital assets
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) have released a joint statement clarifying the broker-dealer custody of digital asset securities.
· Regulation
- Bitfinex, Tether still continued New York operations until 2019: NYAG latest filings
The latest court filings from the New York Attorney General’s Office (NYAG) have alleged that crypto exchange Bitfinex and stablecoin issuer Tether have carried out extensive New York dealings longer than they claimed.
· Business
- TRON releases official statement after scammed investors swarmed Beijing office
The TRON Foundation, one of the biggest crypto companies that have come out of China, has issued an official statement with regard to the recent protest at its partner firm in Beijing.
· Business
- Facebook's cryptocurrency Libra meets new skeptical contender in India
Facebook’s cryptocurrency Libra has met another pushback, now from the Indian government, as officials of Asia’s third-largest economy are not keen on the social media giant’s upcoming project.
· Regulation
- ShapeShift launches new non-custodial crypto management platform
Digital asset exchange ShapeShift has launched on Monday its new non-custodial crypto management platform.
· Business
- Nigerian Stock Exchange mulls using blockchain, DLT to raise capital
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) is considering using blockchain and distributed ledger technology (DLT) to raise capital, in a bid to align the country’s capital market to developing financial technologies (FinTech)…
· Technology
- Crypto exchange Coinbase faces infringement lawsuit by patent troll
American cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has been hit with a lawsuit for allegedly infringing a registered patent.
· Business
- Binance-backed TravelbyBit launches beta app to allow cryptocurrency payments for hotel, flight bookings
TravelByBit, a company that enables its users to book hotels and flights via cryptocurrencies, has launched the beta version of its app.
· Business
- European Central Bank executive calls to hasten regulatory action of Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency
European Central Bank Executive Board member Benoit Coeure is urging financial regulators to act fast to prepare for the upcoming Libra cryptocurrency of Facebook, according to Bloomberg.
· Regulation
- Blockstream's crypto Green Wallet now supports Liquid Network sidechain
Blockchain technology startup Blockstream revealed that its mobile crypto wallet, Green Wallet, is now compatible with the firm’s Liquid Network sidechain.
· Technology
- IRS to introduce new bitcoin guidance in the 'coming weeks': Report
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will be updating its current 2014 guidance on bitcoin tax in the coming weeks, the Wall Street Journal reported.
· Regulation
- Only 1 in 10 people understand cryptocurrency: Kaspersky Lab report
A new study by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab revealed that only 1 out of 10 people has a full understanding of cryptocurrencies.
· Insights & Views
- Craig Wright allegedly presents fabricated court documents to prove innocence
The Craig Wright saga continues as the self-proclaimed bitcoin founder reportedly provided fabricated court documents to prove a trust deed with his plaintiffs, according to a tweet by trial lawyer Stephen Palley.
· People
- Venezuela President Maduro orders the country's largest bank to accept Petro cryptocurrency
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered Banco de Venezuela, the nation’s biggest bank, to open desk for Petro (PTC), the famous oil-backed cryptocurrency in the country, according to a tweet posted by its loca…
· Regulation
- US, UK dominate Twitter posts on bitcoin, Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency: Study
The United States is leading the world in the number of tweets that talk about bitcoin and Facebook’s cryptocurrency project Libra, according to new research by crypto trading platform The TIE.
· Insights & Views
- Tezos scores $1B STO deal with BTG Pactual, Dalma Capital
BTG Pactual, the biggest standalone investment bank in Latin America, will partner with Dubai-based asset manager Dalma Capital to use the Tezos blockchain for security token offerings (STOs).
· Business
- Telegram cryptocurrency is for sale at three times their ICO price
South Korea’ Gram Asia is selling its rights to Gram holdings beginning July 10 at $4 per token, up three times from its original price, according to Bloomberg.
· Business
- Oracle, World Bee Project collaborate to track origin of honey using blockchain
Oracle, an American multinational computer technology corporation, and the World Bee Project have partnered to use blockchain technology to track the origin of honey.
· Technology
- Facebook's David Marcus addresses trust issues of Libra cryptocurrency project
Amid the political oppositions received by Facebook since revealing its Libra cryptocurrency project, the social media giant’s top executive David Marcus reiterated that the company will have no control of it.
· People