TokenPost reporter
Shampa Mani
Stories by Shampa Mani
- Natixis, Raiffeisen Bank and others participate in global tokenised collateral trial on R3’s Corda
A total of 28 organizations, including 18 banks, 3 security exchanges and other large institutions, have participated in a global trial involving collateralized tokens.
· Technology
- Bermuda starts accepting stablecoin ‘USDC’ for tax payments
The government of Bermuda has started accepting USD Coin (USDC), a USD-backed stablecoin from Circle and Coinbase, as payment for taxes, fees and other government services, Circle announced in an online post on Octobe…
· Technology
- Oxford English Dictionary officially adds ‘satoshi’
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), published by the Oxford University Press, has included “satoshi” in its comprehensive English language vocabulary compilation.
· Business
- South Korea seeks to transform trade finance using blockchain technology by 2021
The government of South Korea is pushing to implement blockchain technology in the country’s trade finance sector by 2021, CoinDesk reported.
· Technology
- Layer1 raises $50M from Peter Thiel and others to build bitcoin mining facility in Texas
Crypto investment startup Layer1 has raised $50 million in a Series A funding round from a number of prominent investors including PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel and early-stage investor Shasta Ventures, Fortune reported.
· Business
- Ford trials geofencing and blockchain technology to optimize energy efficiency of vehicles
Auto giant Ford has launched a pilot program that aims to harness geofencing and blockchain technology to meet urban air quality goals.
· Technology
- SEC solicits comments on Wilshire Phoenix Bitcoin and T-Bills ETF proposal
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is seeking comments on an exchange-traded fund (ETF) proposal based on bitcoin and Treasury bonds.
· Regulation
- CipherTrace expands crypto tracing capability to 700 tokens
Blockchain analytics company CipherTrace has announced that it has expanded its cryptocurrency intelligence platform to support more than 700 tokens.
· Business
- TRON unveils partnerships with crypto custodian BitGo and BUPT’s information security center
TRON co-founder Justin Sun has announced two major partnerships – one with crypto custody firm BitGo and the other with the information security center of State Key Laboratory of Networking and Switching at Beijing Un…
· Business
- Italian interbank blockchain project clears technical tests, likely to see full implementation by March 2020
The Italian Banking Association (ABI) has announced that Spunta Project, a blockchain-based application for interbank reconciliations, has successfully completed technical tests.
· Technology
- Ripple, Coinbase back Mexican cryptocurrency exchange Bitso
Blockchain startup Ripple has announced that it is leading an investment round in Mexican cryptocurrency exchange Bitso.
· Business
- Swiss SIX Stock Exchange lists BNB-based crypto ETP
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has teamed up with Swiss fintech firm Amun to launch a new exchange traded product (ETP) with Binance’s native token, BNB, as the underlying asset.
· Business
- UK-based tokenization startup Smartlands teams up with FINRA-licensed IIP Securities
UK-based tokenization startup Smartlands has announced that it is working with IIP Securities, a FINRA-licenced broker-dealer, to bring its security token crowdfunding model to accredited US investors, CoinDesk reported.
· Business
- Blockchain startup Paxos rolls out settlement affirmations service
Paxos Trust Company, a New York-based exchange and stablecoin operator, has announced the expansion of its product platform with the launch of a Settlement Affirmation service.
· Business
- CoinShares, Blockchain and MKS launch gold-backed token secured by bitcoin network
European digital asset investment firm CoinShares, along with leading crypto wallet Blockchain and MKS (Switzerland) SA, part of precious metal company MKS PAMP GROUP, has launched the DGLD – a network for digital gol…
· Technology
- BMW, Ford, GM and others working on proof of concept for blockchain-based vehicle identity system
Leading automakers, including the likes of BMW, Ford, GM, Groupe Renault, and Honda, are developing a multi-stakeholder Proof of Concept (PoC) for a blockchain-based Vehicle Identity (VID).
· Technology
- G7 says global stablecoins like Libra pose threat to financial stability: Report
As it appears, the struggles and regulatory challenges faced by Facebook’s ambitious crypto project Libra are far from over.
· Insights & Views
- Global stablecoins could become systemically important: Financial Stability Board Chair
Financial Stability Board (FSB) Chair Randal K. Quarles has highlighted the challenges posed by global stablecoin to the regulatory community in a letter to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.
· People
- Crypto Valley Association joins International Digital Asset Exchange Association
Crypto Valley Association (CVA), a government-supported Swiss blockchain and crypto advocacy group, has become the latest organisation to join the International Digital Asset Exchange Association (IDAXA).
· Regulation
- tZERO and Box Digital-owned firm files with SEC to launch regulated security token market
BOX Exchange, a national securities exchange registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is seeking to launch a regulated security token exchange.
· Business
- World Federation of Exchanges urges UK FCA not to ban sale of crypto derivatives to retail investors
The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), the global industry association for exchanges and clearing houses, has asked UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) not to ban the sale of crypto derivatives to retail investors.
· Regulation
- Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – October 11th, 2019
'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. “We’ve been very clear o…
· Technology
- AVA Labs releases Athereum testnet subnetwork, moves entire ethereum blockchain on AVA platform
AVA, a blockchain startup that came out of stealth in May this year, has launched Athereum, the first proof-of-concept deployment of its subnetworks functionality.
· Technology
- Overstock sets up R&D center in Ireland with focus on blockchain, machine learning
E-commerce giant Overstock has set up a new state-of-the-art campus in Sligo, Ireland which will focus on e-commerce, machine learning, and blockchain technology.
· Business
- Coinbase launches Coinbase Pro mobile app for crypto traders to make trades on the go
Leading cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has announced the launch of a mobile app for its professional trading platform, Coinbase Pro.
· Business
- Stellar, TRON and others join MouseBelt’s Blockchain Education Alliance as founding members
MouseBelt, a full-service blockchain accelerator and startup studio, has announced a new initiative to encourage blockchain innovation through education.
· Technology
- Australia's official bullion mint and InfiniGold launch gold-backed token on public blockchain
InfiniGold, a precious metals digitisation company, has launched a digital token on a public blockchain backed by government guaranteed gold.
· Technology
- South Korean blockchain startup ICONLOOP raises $8M in Series A round
ICONLOOP, a blockchain-focused company headquartered in Seoul, has secured KRW 10 billion (over $8 million) in Series A funding round led by the Venture Investment Center at Korea Technology Finance Corporation.
· Business
- OpenLibra: New project intends to create an alternative to Facebook’s Libra
A number of blockchain companies and non-profit organizations are teaming up to work on “an alternative to Facebook’s Libra.”
· Technology
- Libra Association’s Head of Product quits within just five months
The Libra Association, the governing body of Facebook’s planned cryptocurrency Libra, lost its head of product within five months, a report from Cointelegraph has revealed.
· People
- UK-based B2C2 launches gold bitcoin derivative product
B2C2, a UK-based Crypto liquidity and OTC provider, has launched a gold derivatives product, which is priced and settled in bitcoin, according to The Block.
· Business
- Ripple’s blockchain network poised for expansion via Finastra partnership
Blockchain startup Ripple has announced its partnership with fintech company Finastra aimed at facilitating faster cross-border payments.
· Technology
- U.S. SEC disapproves Bitwise’s bitcoin ETF proposal citing market manipulation concerns
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has rejected the bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) proposal filed by Bitwise Asset Management.
· Regulation
- Crypto exchange Bitstamp picks BitGo for custodial services
Cryptocurrency exchange Bitstamp has announced that crypto custodian BitGo will provide secure storage for the crypto assets under its management.
· Business
- Bank of England lays ground rules for launch of Facebook’s crypto ‘Libra’ in the UK
The Bank of England has called for “highest standards of resilience” and “appropriate supervisory oversight” for Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency project before it launches in the UK.
· Regulation
- German real estate giant Bauwens buys 15 pct stake in blockchain firm Fundament Group
Bauwens Group, one of Germany's leading real estate project developers, has acquired 15 percent shares of Fundament Group, a Berlin-based blockchain firm that issues real estate security token on the ethereum blockchain.
· Business
- Beowulf Blockchain Partners with Major Taiwanese University To Offer Mandarin Worldwide
Innovative blockchain platform Beowulf has announced a partnership with the National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), a top tier higher education institution in Taiwan. The partnership focuses on easing the barriers t…
· Technology
- Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – October 4th, 2019
Two lawmakers urge Fed to mull a digital U.S. dollar; Philly Fed president thinks digital currencies are 'inevitable' Two U.S. congressmen, Rep. French Hill (R-Arkansas) and Rep. Bill Foster (D-Illinois), have asked t…
· Technology
- Nomura completes investment in LINE’s LVC, finalizes blockchain-based financial business alliance
Japanese financial holding company Nomura has signed a final agreement with chat giant LINE and LVC Corporation, LINE’s subsidiary focused on its virtual currency and blockchain-related business, to form a financial b…
· Business
- Seven EU member states sign MOU to cooperate and share best practices on blockchain technology
Seven European countries this week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation and sharing of knowledge in the area of distributed ledger technologies.
· Technology