TokenPost reporter
Shampa Mani
Stories by Shampa Mani
- COFCO International joins with Cargill, Bunge and others to digitize agricultural commodity trade operations using blockchain and AI
COFCO International, the overseas agribusiness platform of Chinese food giant COFCO Corporation, is joining other global food and agricultural firms in their efforts to standardize data and digitize global agricultura…
· Technology
- Crypto exchange OKEx rolls out instant messaging service on OTC trading platform
Crypto exchange OKEx has rolled out an instant messaging service on its over-the-counter (OTC) trading platform which will facilitate better communications between buyers and sellers and further streamline the whole t…
· Business
- Former Mastercard executive joins blockchain startup tZERO
Overstock.com’s blockchain subsidiary tZero has announced the appointment of Alan Konevsky as its Chief Legal Officer (CLO).
· People
- eToro's crypto subsidiary eToroX receives Gibraltar DLT Licence
The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has granted a distributed ledger technology (DLT) licence to eToroX, a digital asset subsidiary of global investment platform eToro.
· Business
- Waves Platform secures $120M to launch universal blockchain solution ‘Vostok’
Blockchain startup Waves has announced that it has raised $120 million in latest funding to launch its private blockchain platform and system integrator, Vostok.
· Business
- Blockchain journalism startup Civil announces new token sale with no hard cap, soft cap, or time limits
After the first failed attempt, blockchain journalism startup Civil has announced that it is going to launch a token sale again, but with no hard cap, soft cap, or time limits.
· Business
- UK tax authority issues tax guidance for crypto users
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, the UK government department responsible for the collection of taxes, on Wednesday published tax guidance for people who hold crypto assets.
· Investing
- Intel, Vodafone, Ericsson and others team up for new blockchain industry group
The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), a not-for-profit standardization organization in the telecommunications industry in Europe, has announced the setting up of a new blockchain-focused industry…
· Technology
- Blythe Masters steps down as CEO of blockchain startup Digital Asset
Blockchain startup Digital Asset has announced that Blythe Masters, who was serving as the CEO since 2015, is now stepping down from her role.
· People
- South Korean government launches blockchain pilot for container shipping industry
South Korea’s Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning has launched a blockchain pilot in collaboration with the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to explore the technology’s potential in the container shipping ind…
· Technology
- Brazilian National Social Development Bank to issue Ethereum-based stablecoin ‘BNDES’
The Brazilian National Social Development Bank is going to issue a stablecoin, called “BNDES” token, pegged 1:1 to the national currency, real, CoinDesk reported.
· Technology
- Change Healthcare in talks to buy blockchain startup PokitDok: Report
Change Healthcare, a healthcare information technology company, is close to buying PokitDok, a blockchain healthcare startup, CNBC reported.
· Business
- UAE Banks Federation discusses blockchain adoption for KYC processes
The Advisory Council of the UAE Banks Federation (UBF) discussed the adoption of blockchain technology for know your customer (KYC) processes at its 4th meeting this year.
· Technology
- German bank KfW trials blockchain technology for public finance management in Burkina Faso
KfW, a German state-owned bank, has announced that it is testing a blockchain application for use in public financial management in Burkina Faso, CoinTelegraph reported.
· Technology
- Honeywell rolls out new blockchain-based e-commerce platform for aviation parts
Honeywell has announced a new blockchain-based e-commerce platform which aims to revamp the buying and selling of aviation parts.
· Technology
- Coinbase enables direct cryptocurrency conversions
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has announced that it is rolling out a new feature that would allow its customers to convert one cryptocurrency into another.
· Business
- Acciona taps blockchain technology for traceability of renewable energy
Acciona, a Spanish company focused on renewable energy projects, is going to allow its clients to trace renewable energy in real-time from anywhere in the world by using blockchain technology.
· Technology
- Israeli financial services firm GMT joins Ripple’s blockchain network
GMT, Israel's leading financial services firm, has announced that it has joined Ripple’s blockchain network and has been chosen to be the latter’s representative in Israel.
· Technology
- European blockchain-based post-trade settlement infrastructure for SMEs ‘LiquidShare’ enters pilot phase
LiquidShare, a European blockchain fintech venture, has announced that it has entered into a pilot phase, Finextra reported.
· Technology
- Russian lawyers set up new commission to help crypto industry
The Russian Lawyers Association is teaming up with Blockchain Lawyers to set up a specialized commission to address the legal issues faced by local crypto firms, Block Tribune reported.
· Technology
- Crypto exchange Coinbase enables PayPal withdrawals for US customers
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has announced that it has enabled instant withdrawal of Coinbase balances to PayPal for U.S.-based customers.
· Business
- Bitcoin is one of the most popular search queries: Google Trends data for 2018
Bitcoin was the most popular search query in the “What is…?” category among internet users in the United States and the United Kingdom, the Google Trends data for 2018 has revealed, Forklog reported.
· Insights & Views
- Canadian government launches funding competition, seeks blockchain and AI applications in agriculture
The Government of Canada has launched a new funding competition for national scale initiatives in automation and digital technology applications in the agriculture and agri-food sector.
· Technology
- Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to be called “crypto-assets” in Japan: Report
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is going to place the names of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies under a single category “crypto-assets”, The Japan News reported referring to a report from The Yomiuri Shimbun.
· Regulation
- European Parliament seeks to foster blockchain adoption in trade
The European Parliament is seeking to foster blockchain adoption in trade and business in the common currency area and has adopted a resolution last week on these lines, CoinDesk reported.
· Technology
- Swiss Federal Council seeks to improve legal framework for blockchain via selective adjustments
The Federal Council, a seven-member cabinet making up the Swiss government, believes that the country’s legal framework needs some “selective adjustments” to better deal with emerging technologies, including blockchain.
· Regulation
- Blockchain Beyond Finance: A look at technology’s implementation in P2P power trading
Utility firms around the world are collaborating with blockchain startups to test the potential of blockchain technology in peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading.
· Technology
- Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-Up – December 14th, 2018
US CFTC seeks to better understand Ethereum Blockchain The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is seeking to better understand the technology, mechanics, and markets for cryptocurrencies, with a particula…
· Technology
- Porsche taps BBVA blockchain platform for acquisition term loan
Spanish banking giant BBVA has closed a €150 million term loan for Volkswagen subsidiary Porsche using blockchain technology.
· Technology
- San Francisco-based security token platform TokenSoft invests in SEC-registered broker-dealer
Security token platform TokenSoft has announced that it has made an investment in a broker-dealer registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
· Business
- PwC Russia partners with Bitfury to launch accelerator for blockchain projects
Leading ‘Big Four’ consultancy firm PwC’s Russian arm is partnering with blockchain startup Bitfury Group to create an accelerator for Russian blockchain projects.
· Business
- Former Apple executive Phillip Shoemaker joins blockchain identity startup Civic
Blockchain identity startup Civic has announced the appointment of former Apple executive Phillip Shoemaker as Executive Director of Identity.com.
· People
- South Korean internet giant Kakao pumps $15M in Israeli blockchain startup Orbs
Kakao Investment, the venture arm of South Korean internet giant Kakao Corp., has made an investment in Israeli blockchain startup Orbs.
· Business
- Finablr’s Swych introduces blockchain-based global gifting and shopping platform using Stellar Network
Swych, a digital gifting platform which was acquired by financial services giant Finablr last month, has announced a blockchain-based platform that it believes will significantly reduce the fees and other friction poi…
· Technology
- UAE, Saudi central banks to co-develop cryptocurrency for cross-border transactions
The Central Bank of the UAE, in collaboration with the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) is embarking on a joint project to develop a blockchain-based digital currency which would be used in cross-border transac…
· Technology
- CULedger latest to join R3 blockchain consortium
CULedger, a credit union service organization (CUSO) focused on distributed ledger technology (DLT), has joined the global blockchain consortium led by enterprise blockchain software firm R3.
· Technology
- Opera launches new browser for Android with built-in crypto wallet
Opera, a web browser for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, has announced the launch of its new blockchain-ready browser for Android with a built-in crypto wallet.
· Technology
- Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital Ventures, Fidelity and others invest $4M in crypto lender BlockFi
Crypto asset lending platform BlockFi has announced that it has raised an additional $4 million convertible debt investments lead by.
· Business
- UAE Exchange, Ripple to launch cross-border remittances to Asia by Q1 2019
Finablr’s UAE Exchange and San Francisco-based blockchain startup Ripple are planning to roll out blockchain-based cross-border remittances to Asia by the first quarter of 2019, UAE Exchange’s group CEO told Reuters.
· Technology
- Maersk, Heidmar and others to trial blockchain-based seafarer certification system
Maritime Blockchain Labs (MBL), an initiative founded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation and Blockchain Labs for Open Collaboration (BLOC), has announced a new consortium that will pilot a blockchain-based seafarer certif…
· Technology