TokenPost reporter
Shampa Mani
Stories by Shampa Mani
- Telegram to produce bank records in ongoing Gram ICO case with SEC
A U.S. court has ordered Telegram to produce its bank records to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
· Business
- Blockchain startup SIMBA Chain raises $1.5M in seed financing
Blockchain startup SIMBA Chain has raised $1.5 million in a seed financing round which saw participation from Notre Dame's Pit Road Fund, Elevate Ventures, First Source Capital, and individual angel investors.
· Business
- CME Group launches options on bitcoin futures
Derivatives marketplace CME Group has announced the launch of options on its bitcoin futures on Monday, January 13.
· Business
- Japan’s FSA to introduce new rule to limit leverage in crypto margin trading: Report
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is planning to limit the leverage in cryptocurrency margin trading to two-times the deposit of traders, The Japan Times reported.
· Regulation
- CipherTrace announces new initiative to train students to investigate crypto scams and thefts
Crypto analytics firm CipherTrace has announced a new initiative to train students and equip them with tools to investigate crypto-related scam and fraud cases.
· Business
- Thai blockchain startup Lightnet raises $31.2M in Series A funding
Thai blockchain startup Lightnet has raised $31.2 million in Series A financing round led by UOB Venture Management, Seven Bank, Uni-President Asset Holdings, HashKey Capital, Hopeshine Ventures, Signum Capital, Du Ca…
· Business
- LedgerX board member raises compliance and funds’ safety concerns with CFTC; company appoints new CEO
A LedgerX board member and investor has raised a number of concerns about the company in a letter addressed to the LedgerX Holdings board, LedgerX LLC board, LedgerX shareholders, and the Office of the Inspector Gener…
· Business
- Fintech startup TigerWit obtains Financial Services licence from Hong Kong’s SFC
TigerWit, a UK-headquartered fintech firm, has obtained a Financial Services licence from Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).
· Business
- South Korean crypto exchange Bithumb to invest $8M into Busan blockchain zone
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb is going to invest $8 million into the Busan blockchain zone, Bitcoin.com reported citing local news outlet News1.
· Business
- PBoC completes joint testing of its planned CBDC
The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has announced that it has completed the top-layer design and joint testing of its planned central bank digital currency (CBDC), Cointelegraph reported referring to a local news outlet…
· Technology
- Cryptocurrency exchange Cobinhood announces shutdown
Cryptocurrency exchange Cobinhood has announced that it has shut down its operations.
· Business
- FCA to supervise AML/CTF compliance of UK cryptoasset businesses
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has become the anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF) supervisor for businesses conducting certain cryptoasset activities.
· Regulation
- Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – January 10th, 2020
Creating sound legal framework for crypto-assets is a key focus area, says ESMA Cryptocurrency regulation is one of the key focus areas for the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) for the next couple of y…
· Technology
- Former Forbes executive to join blockchain-based social media platform Voice as CEO
Voice, a blockchain-based social media platform announced last year, has announced the appointment of Forbes’ global Chief Digital Officer, Salah Zalatimo, as Chief Executive Officer.
· People
- Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg reveals his vision 2030 sans digital currencies
In his vision for the next decade, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed a number of ambitious plans, but surprisingly not anything on digital currencies.
· Insights & Views
- Crypto derivatives exchange Deribit to move out of the Netherlands to dodge 5AMLD regulations
Bitcoin futures and options exchange Deribit has announced that it will be moving to Panama and will be operated by DRB Panama Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of its Dutch operator Deribit B.V., starting February 10.
· Business
- Standard Chartered buys equity stake in Chinese blockchain-focused supply chain firm Linklogis
British banking giant Standard Chartered has announced that it has made a strategic investment into China-based supply chain firm Linklogis. The details of the investment have not been disclosed.
· Business
- Swiss fintech firm AlgoTrader secures $3.8M in Series A round
AlgoTrader, a Switzerland-based capital and cryptocurrency markets technology provider, has raised CHF 3.7 million (approximately $3.8 million) in a Series A round led by an undisclosed global Tier 1 bank.
· Business
- Illinois legally recognizes blockchain records and smart contracts
The Blockchain Technology Act came into effect in the U.S. state of Illinois on January 01, recognizing smart contracts and other blockchain-based digital records as legal instruments, CoinDesk reported.
· Regulation
- Creating sound legal framework for crypto-assets is a key focus area, says ESMA
Cryptocurrency regulation is one of the key focus areas for the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) for the next couple of years, CoinDesk reported.
· Regulation
- US Senator and former Bakkt CEO joins Senate committee overseeing CFTC
Former CEO of crypto derivatives exchange Kelly Loeffler has joined the Senate Agriculture Committee, which oversees the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
· People
- Thailand-based Siam Commercial Bank announces Ripple-powered mobile app for cross-border payments
Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), Thailand’s oldest bank, has entered into a partnership with blockchain firm to build a mobile app to deliver instant, low-cost cross-border payments. Called SCB Easy, the app will run on Ri…
· Technology
- China’s Anhui province to implement blockchain technology in government service centers
The government of Anhui, a province in eastern China, has announced its plan to implement blockchain technology across governmental service centers, The Block reported citing local news sources.
· Technology
- Crypto lending firm BlockFi adds support for litecoin and USDC
Crypto lending startup BlockFi has announced that it has added support for litecoin and USD Coin (USDC), a stablecoin backed by the US dollar.
· Business
- Australia to finalize national blockchain roadmap by early 2021
Australia’s Department of Industry, Innovation, and Science has revealed that it is developing a National Blockchain Roadmap to shed light on the opportunities presented by this technology across the entire economy, Z…
· Regulation
- China’s state-backed Blockchain Service Network to launch in April
China’s national blockchain network is slated to launch in April 2020, Cointelegraph reported citing a report from Sina Finance.
· Technology
- Oman’s largest port joins IBM- Maersk blockchain shipping platform “TradeLens”
Port of Salalah, the largest port of Oman, has joined TradeLens, the blockchain-based digital shipping platform, Times of Oman reported.
· Technology
- Alibaba subsidiary Ant Financial preps to launch its enterprise blockchain next month
Chinese payment giant Ant Financial is planning to launch its enterprise blockchain platform in February, The Block reported citing a report from Mars Finance.
· Technology
- SBI and GMO are reportedly the first customers of the large bitcoin mining facility in Texas
Two Japanese corporate behemoths – SBI Holdings and GMO – have signed a deal with what is said to become the world’s largest bitcoin mining facility.
· Business
- Turkey’s financial regulator develops regulatory framework for cryptocurrency: Report
The Capital Markets Board of Turkey (CMB), the financial regulatory and supervisory agency of the country, has started developing a regulatory framework for the country’s cryptocurrency sector, Cointelegraph reported …
· Regulation
- US Court rejects SEC’s request to compel Telegram disclose bank records
The District Court for the Southern District of New York has ruled in favor of Telegram, denying the request by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to make the messaging giant disclose its bank records, Coint…
· Business
- Crypto exchange Coinbase launches Coinbase Pro mobile app for Android
Leading cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has announced the launch of the Coinbase Pro mobile app for Android customers.
· Business
- U.S. SEC’s OCIE includes digital assets in 2020 Examination Priorities
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to place particular emphasis on digital assets.
· Regulation
- WisdomTree leads Securrency’s $17.65M Series A round, aims to bring blockchain tech to ETFs
Securrency, a provider of institutional-grade blockchain-based financial and regulatory technology, has raised $17.65 million in a Series A funding round led by WisdomTree Investments.
· Business
- Crypto exchange Bithumb establishes blockchain R&D center
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has established a research center in order to strengthen its blockchain R&D capabilities and exchange operation.
· Business
- Baidu launches new service to lower cost and technological barriers for dapp developers
Chinese internet giant Baidu has launched a blockchain-based service network that will help developers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to develop decentralized applications (dapps), CoinDesk reported cit…
· Technology
- South Korean Presidential Committee recommends allowing crypto derivatives
A South Korean Presidential Committee has proposed allowing financial institutions to launch cryptocurrency products, such as derivatives, Business Korea reports.
· Insights & Views
- Telegram issues public statement on TON Blockchain and Grams
Encrypted messaging platform Telegram has issued a public statement on the TON Blockchain and gram tokens.
· Business
- Virginia lawmakers look to blockchain to secure voter records and election results
The Virginia General Assembly, its state legislature, is looking to blockchain technology in a bid to enhance the election process, Cointelegraph reported.
· Regulation
- IBM, Farmer Connect announce blockchain-based mobile app for coffee supply chain traceability
IBM, in collaboration with Farmer Connect – an entity that leverages blockchain technology to drive efficiencies in the agricultural supply chains, announced a blockchain-based app that will show consumers the origin …
· Technology