TokenPost reporter
Shampa Mani
Stories by Shampa Mani
- AAIS enhances regulatory reporting capabilities of openIDL blockchain platform
The American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS), a not-for-profit insurance advisory organization, has announced the second release of its openIDL blockchain platform.
· Technology
- US Energy Department to fund blockchain R&D projects focused on fossil energy
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced up to $4.8 million in federal funding to support research and development (R&D) projects at universities, including those focused on emerging technologies such as bloc…
· Technology
- European regulators EBA and ESMA call for EU-level response on crypto-assets
Two European regulatory authorities – the European Banking Authority and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) – have called for an EU-level response to the risks posed by cryptocurrencies and initial c…
· Regulation
- Thai Ministry of Finance approves digital asset business license applications of four operators
The Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that four cryptocurrency businesses have been granted digital asset business licenses.
· Regulation
- Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange lists Ripple’s XRP on GBX-DAX
The Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange (GBX) has announced that it has added Ripple (XRP) to its Digital Asset Exchange (GBX-DAX).
· Investing
- Blockchain platform KODAKOne generates over $1M in licensing claims since beta launch
Blockchain-powered image rights management platform KODAKOne’s Post Licensing Portal (PLP) has generated post licensing sales of more than $1 million since its beta launch in October 2018.
· Business
- Crypto exchange Gate.io to refund $200k to users affected by 51% attack on ETC
Cryptocurrency exchange Gate.io has announced that it will cover losses of around 40,000 ETC (approximately $200,000), which its users suffered due to the recent “51% attack” on Ethereum Classic.
· Business
- GE subsidiary GeniusLink seeks to manage experts and on-demand consultants using blockchain
GeniusLink, GE's expert operating system, has partnered with ODEM, creator of the On-Demand Education Marketplace, for blockchain-based tools and technology to support management of experts and on-demand consultants.
· Technology
- Crypto exchange ShapeShift lays off 37 employees following a rough 2018
ShapeShift is the latest company in the crypto space to lay off staff in the wake of the ongoing slump in the cryptocurrency market.
· Business
- Ripple’s blockchain payment network RippleNet surpasses 200 customers
Blockchain startup Ripple has announced that its payment network, RippleNet, has surpassed the 200-customers milestone with the joining of 13 new financial institutions.
· Technology
- Telenor Microfinance Bank taps Alipay’s blockchain technology for cross-border remittances between Malaysia and Pakistan
Pakistan-based Telenor Microfinance Bank, in collaboration with Valyou, a Malaysian fintech subsidiary of Telenor Group, has announced Pakistan’s first blockchain-based cross-border remittance service.
· Technology
- Hong Kong Federation of Insurers launches blockchain application for motor insurance authentication
The Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (HKFI) last month launched a blockchain application to authenticate motor insurance cover notes/policies.
· Technology
- Parity Technologies receives $5M grant from Ethereum Foundation
The Ethereum Foundation has announced a grant of $5 million to Parity Technologies, a blockchain startup founded by Gavin Wood and Jutta Steiner.
· Business
- South Korea to offer tax relief to companies working on blockchain technology
The government of South Korea has added 16 fields such as blockchain and fine dust reduction technology to R&D tax credit in a bid to boost innovation.
· Regulation
- UAE-based telecom giant Etisalat partners with four startups to develop blockchain and AI solutions
UAE-based telecom giant Etisalat is collaborating with four startups to develop Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain-based solutions, Trade Arabia reported.
· Technology
- Argentina’s CISPREN, NEM Foundation collaborate to develop blockchain solution for copyright protection
NEM Foundation in Argentina has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with CISPREN, a local trade union of journalists, to develop a blockchain solution for copyright protection, Cointelegraph reported.
· Technology
- Coinbase, Poloniex, Kraken disable Ethereum Classic deposits and withdrawals following chain reorganisation
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has announced that it has suspended all ethereum classic (ETC) transactions, withdrawals and deposits after detecting a deep chain reorganization of the blockchain, CoinDesk reported.
· Business
- Blockchain and smart contracts-focused firms accepted into Dubai Financial Services Authority’s latest sandbox cohort
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has accepted seven new firms into its cohort process, which permits companies to apply for an Innovation Testing Licence (ITL).
· Technology
- Colorado bill seeks limited exemptions for cryptocurrencies from securities laws
U.S. lawmakers have introduced a new bill to offer cryptocurrencies “limited exemptions” from securities laws in the state of Colorado.
· Regulation
- New Jersey Senate passes bill to establish blockchain initiative task force
A bipartisan bill seeking to establish a blockchain initiative task force in the state of New Jersey has passed the Senate last month.
· Regulation
- Ledger announces Bluetooth-enabled crypto hardware wallet
Crypto wallet provider Ledger has unveiled a new Bluetooth-enabled hardware wallet, Ledger Nano X.
· Business
- Reserve Bank of India calls for constant monitoring of cryptocurrencies
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has called for “constant monitoring” of cryptocurrencies due to financial stability concerns and their rapidly growing use.
· Regulation
- Crypto exchange Coinbase’s venture arm invested in over a dozen companies in Q4 2018
Coinbase Ventures, the investment arm of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, has made investments in 13 companies in the final quarter of 2018.
· Business
- China Banking Association develops blockchain-based inter-bank platform
China Banking Association (CBA), a self-regulatory bank organization, is going to develop a blockchain-based platform to enhance efficiency across the banking sector, CoinTelegraph reported.
· Technology
- Japan’s self-regulatory crypto exchange body JVCEA adds five more exchanges
The Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA) has announced the addition of five more crypto exchanges as Type II members.
· Regulation
- Computer chip maker AMD and ConsenSys partner to develop blockchain-based cloud computing infrastructure
Blockchain startup ConsenSys has announced its partnership with computer chip maker AMD and investment management firm Halo Holdings.
· Technology
- Crypto derivatives exchange Huobi DM exceeds $12B in cumulative trading volume in first month
Cryptocurrency exchange operator Huobi Group has announced that its crypto contract trading platform Huobi DM exceeded $12 billion in cumulative trading volume in its first full month of operation.
· Business
- Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – January 4th, 2019
New York forms cryptocurrency task force New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill last month that would now see the state forming a cryptocurrency task force. According to the bill, the task force will “prov…
· Technology
- Irish cabinet approves bill to prevent use of cryptocurrencies for money laundering and terrorism financing purposes
The Irish government is making efforts to implement stricter laws to fight money laundering and terrorism financing activities using cryptocurrencies.
· Regulation
- Overstock.com to pay commercial activity taxes in Ohio in bitcoin
Overstock.com has announced its plans to pay to pay a portion of its Ohio state business taxes in bitcoin using the state’s new cryptocurrency taxpayer platform, OhioCrypto.com.
· Business
- Cryptocurrency space continues to snowball 10 years after Bitcoin’s Genesis Block
It has been 10 years since Satoshi Nakamoto mined Bitcoin’s genesis block and laid the foundation of the still-evolving token-based economy free from intermediaries.
· Insights & Views
- Crypto exchange DX.Exchange to launch platform to trade tokens backed by real stocks
DX.Exchange, an Estonia-based cryptocurrency exchange founded last year, is going to launch a platform next week that will allow investors to trade crypto tokens that represent shares of major firms such as Apple, Fac…
· Business
- BitTorrent to launch own cryptocurrency “BTT”
BitTorrent, the world’s largest peer-to-peer file sharing protocol acquired by TRON last year, is working on its own cryptocurrency, CoinDesk reported.
· Technology
- South African government sets up crypto assets regulatory working group
The government of South Africa has set up a crypto assets regulatory working group to look into all the aspects of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, BusinessDay reported.
· Regulation
- OKEx comes up with new derivatives contracts of ETC and LTC
Cryptocurrency exchange OKEx has announced the launch of the derivatives contracts for both Litecoin and Ethereum Classic.
· Investing
- New York forms cryptocurrency task force
New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill last month that would now see the state forming a cryptocurrency task force.
· Regulation
- Mike Novogratz controls nearly 80 pct of crypto-focused Galaxy Digital
Former Goldman Sachs partner and bitcoin enthusiast Mike Novogratz has increased his stake in Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. to nearly 80 percent, Bloomberg reported.
· Business
- Thailand’s NECTEC develops blockchain-based e-voting solution
Thailand’s National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC) of Thailand has developed a blockchain-based e-voting solution, the Bangkok Post reported.
· Technology
- Bitcoin ATM manufacturer Lamassu moves to Switzerland
Well-known bitcoin ATM manufacturer Lamassu has announced that it has moved to Swiss canton of Lucerne.
· Business
- Saudi Customs integrates cross-border trade platform FASAH with IBM-Maersk blockchain solution “TradeLens”
Saudi Customs has announced that it has completed a pilot program hat involved integration of FASAH with TradeLens, a blockchain-based global shipping solution jointly developed by Maersk and IBM.
· Technology