TokenPost reporter
Shampa Mani
Stories by Shampa Mani
- Oman-based BankDhofar goes live on Ripple’s blockchain network ‘RippleNet’
Oman-based BankDhofar has started using Ripple’s technology for cross-border payments to India, Cointelegraph reported.
· Technology
- Indian government inaugurates first crypto forensics lab
The government of India has inaugurated a Cryptocurrency Forensics Lab, local news outlet The Hindu reported.
· Technology
- Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation completes blockchain-based trade finance trial
Japanese banking giant Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has completed a proof-of-concept (PoC) using Marco Polo, blockchain-based trade finance platform.
· Technology
- IOTA Foundation, Nova partner to launch seed fund to support blockchain startups
The IOTA Foundation has partnered with Liverpool-based cofoundery Nova to support startups working with distributed ledger technology (DLT).
· Technology
- IBM’s collaborative blockchain-based healthcare initiative gets two new members
Tech giant IBM has announced that Cigna and Sentara Healthcare have joined the recently announced blockchain initiative focused on the healthcare industry.
· Technology
- London-based environmental startup Almond to launch retail Security Token Offering
Environmental impact platform Almond has announced that it is working with a new form of digital crowdfunding and will launch an FCA-regulated Security Token Offering (STO).
· Business
- Exprivia|Italtel announces blockchain-based solution for number portability
ICT services group Exprivia|Italtel has announced that the launch of a blockchain-based number portability solution.
· Technology
- Germany launches consultation to look into blockchain potential
The government of Germany has launched a consultation process on how to utilize blockchain technology as it prepares to present a strategy by the summer, Reuters reported.
· Technology
- Craig Wright once again claims to be Bitcoin inventor ‘Satoshi Nakamoto’
Australian entrepreneur and nChain senior researcher Craig Wright has once again claimed that he is the inventor of Bitcoin – this time in a letter to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
· People
- Sequoia India leads blockchain startup Band Protocol’s $3M seed round
Blockchain startup Band Protocol has secured $3 million in a seed funding round led by Sequoia India, Tech In Asia reported.
· Business
- TRON Foundation, Achain invest in blockchain gaming startup PlayGame
TRON Foundation has made an investment in an Indonesian blockchain-powered gaming platform PlayGame, Tech In Asia reported. The details of the investment have not been disclosed.
· Business
- Bank of Lithuania updates stance on virtual assets and ICOs
The Bank of Lithuania has announced that it has updated its position on virtual assets and initial coin offering (ICO).
· Regulation
- Crypto exchange ShapeShift announces rebranding plans, launches new site in private beta
Leading cryptocurrency exchange ShapeShift has announced that a major rebranding of its platform is currently underway and has launched the new site in private beta.
· Business
- Chinese internet giant Baidu launches blockchain engine for DApp development
Chinese search engine giant Baidu last week announced that it has launched Baidu Blockchain Engine (BBE), Cointelegraph reported.
· Technology
- UAE-based waste management firm Bee’ah, HFZA partner to launch blockchain platform
UAE-based recycling and waste management company Bee’ah is teaming up with the Hamriyah Free Zone Authority (HFZA) to launch a blockchain-based Waste Permit Portal, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.
· Technology
- Rostec subsidiary partners with blockchain platform Vostok
National Center for Informatization, a subsidiary of Russian manufacturing conglomerate Rostec, has entered into a partnership with blockchain platform Vostok, Cointelegraph reported referring to a report from Russian…
· Technology
- JP Morgan’s crypto project draws mixed reaction from industry
J.P. Morgan’s recently announced cryptocurrency project, ‘JPM Coin’ is drawing mixed reactions from the industry.
· Insights & Views
- Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – February 15th, 2019
US SEC working on “supplemental guidance” on crypto-fundraising efforts, says Commissioner Hester Peirce The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is working to offer additional guidance to help people determi…
· Technology
- Dutch firm ElaadNL taps IOTA technology for autonomous smart grid PoC
Dutch tech firm ElaadNL has announced that it is using IOTA technology for a proof-of-concept (PoC) to demonstrate “how smart grids can autonomously balance energy consumption.”
· Technology
- Rabobank pumps €80M into venture fund to drive fintech and agtech investments
Dutch banking and financial services giant Rabobank has announced an additional 80 million euro funding into its venture fund, Rabo Frontier Ventures.
· Business
- Enterprise Ethereum Alliance to launch token task force in 2019
The Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA), a member-driven, standards organization focused on the Ethereum blockchain, is planning to launch a token task force this year, Cointelegraph reported.
· Technology
- BitTorrent unveils new payment card for BTT tokens
Peer-to-peer file sharing service BitTorrent has announced the release of a card for storing and using the BTT token.
· Business
- Luxembourg lawmakers pass blockchain bill into law
Luxembourg lawmakers have passed a bill that will encourage the use of blockchain technology in the country’s financial services, CoinTelegraph reported.
· Regulation
- Canadian crypto exchange Coinsquare acquires StellarX
Canadian cryptocurrency exchange Coinsquare has announced the acquisition of StellarX, a full-featured trading app for Stellar’s universal marketplace.
· Business
- JP Morgan reveals key details of Quorum Blockchain-based JPM Coin
J.P. Morgan has officially announced its digital currency initiative ‘JPM Coin’ and revealed key details of this new cryptocurrency.
· Business
- Samsung SDS develops blockchain accelerator technology to enhance transaction processing speed
Samsung SDS has announced that it has developed “Nexledger Accelerator” in order to boost transaction processing speed.
· Technology
- JP Morgan to trial own cryptocurrency ‘JPM Coin’ for instant client payments: Report
Banking giant J.P. Morgan is reportedly launching its own cryptocurrency in a bid to transform the payments business.
· Business
- Intel announces new product to accelerate blockchain deployment
Intel is seeking to make it easy for organizations to deploy blockchain technology with its new Intel Select Solutions offering.
· Technology
- Huobi Wallet adds support for Japanese and Korean languages
Huobi Wallet, Huobi Group’s multi-chain light wallet, is now available in Korean and Japanese language versions.
· Business
- US CFTC includes cryptocurrencies in 2019 examination priorities
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has, for the first time, announced Examination Priorities for its divisions for 2019.
· Regulation
- Nasdaq to launch Brave New Coin Bitcoin and Ethereum indices on February 25
Nasdaq is going to launch two new indices tracking cryptocurrency prices this month, Cointelegraph reported.
· Investing
- Italian interbank blockchain project enters pre-production phase
The Italian Banking Association (ABI) has announced that its blockchain project for interbank reconciliation is entering the “pre-production phase,” Finextra reported.
· Technology
- Enterprise Ethereum Alliance opens regional office in China
The Enterprise Ethereum Alliance (EEA) has opened its regional office in China and appointed Dr. Weijia Zhang, Wanchain’s vice president of engineering, as the EEA’s Regional Head.
· Business
- UC Berkeley launches blockchain accelerator for early stage startups
The University of California, Berkeley has launched a new accelerator to support startups working on blockchain technology.
· Technology
- Former JPMorgan Chase executive joins blockchain startup Vakt as CEO
London-based blockchain startup Vakt has appointed former JPMorgan Chase executive Etienne Amic as the new chief executive officer.
· People
- New feature to enable Coinbase Wallet users to backup private keys on Google Drive and iCloud
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has announced that a new feature that would allow users to backup an encrypted version of private keys of their Coinbase Wallet.
· Business
- Hyundai Commercial partners with IBM to create blockchain-based commercial financing platform
Hyundai Commercial, a Seoul-based subsidiary of automotive giant Hyundai Motors, is partnering with tech giant IBM to tap into the potential of blockchain technology and accelerate digital transformation.
· Technology
- Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange lists ICNQ token on GBX-DAX
The Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange (GBX) has added support for ICNQ token on its Digital Asset Exchange (GBX-DAX).
· Investing
- Czech-based SDK.finance taps Oracle Blockchain Platform for faster cross-border payments
Oracle has announced that Czech financial firm SDK.finance has integrated Oracle Blockchain Platform into its core payment platform for banks and financial institutions.
· Technology
- Akamai and MUFG expand partnership to form blockchain-focused joint venture ‘GO-NET’
Japanese financial giant Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is expanding its collaboration with Akamai Technologies to establish a new joint venture to offer a new blockchain-based online payment network.
· Technology