TokenPost reporter
Shampa Mani
Stories by Shampa Mani
- Telefónica, Tech Mahindra and others join Hyperledger blockchain project
Open-source collaborative blockchain project Hyperledger has announced the addition of eight new members to its cohort.
· Technology
- Building Blocks: 5 Reasons Governments Should Embrace Blockchain Technology
By Greg Forst, Director of Marketing at Factom Protocol – an open source, enterprise grade, developer friendly, ready-to-use platform to efficiently build blockchain solutions, utilized by the U.S. Department of Homel…
· Insights & Views
- Beowulf to Power Unprecedented Learning Experience for Vietnam’s Leading University via the Victoria Distance Education Platform
The decentralized communication network pioneer, Beowulf Blockchain, has announced a strategic partnership with Binh Duong University. Under this partnership, Beowulf will help strengthen the academic quality of the u…
· Business
- Binance.US teams up with crypto brokerage Tagomi to offer institutional liquidity
Newly launched American cryptocurrency exchange Binance.US has partnered with Tagomi, an institutional investor-focused crypto brokerage, to provide liquidity for its cross-exchange trading platform.
· Business
- Chinese authorities move forward with plans to introduce blockchain standardization
The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) is reportedly seeking to set industry standards across the financial sector to guide the application of new and cutting-edge technologies.
· Regulation
- Malta-based Binance acquires Indian crypto exchange WazirX
Malta-based cryptocurrency exchange Binance has acquired Indian bitcoin exchange WazirX, allowing Indian users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies with fiat currencies through the Binance Fiat Gateway.
· Business
- Facebook’s Libra marches ahead, logs 34 projects since testnet launch in September
Facebook’s cryptocurrency project Libra has logged more than 30 projects and over 51,000 transactions on the Libra testnet in the last two months.
· Business
- Bitcoin.com to launch $200M bitcoin cash investment fund in 2020
Bitcoin.com has announced a $200 million investment fund in order to foster the bitcoin cash (BCH) ecosystem.
· Business
- $400M of Ripple’s XRP token linked to illicit activity: Elliptic
Elliptic Launches the World's First XRP Transaction Monitoring System - Identifies $400M of Illicit Activity in XRP Transactions
· Insights & Views
- MAS launches consultation on allowing crypto derivatives trading on approved exchanges
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is seeking comments on proposed regulation of cryptocurrency derivatives on approved exchanges. The last date to submit comments is Dec. 20.
· Regulation
- Chinese firms HDFH, ZVCA and Yillion Bank launch $1B blockchain investment fund
Three Chinese firms – Shenzhen Hande Financial Technology Holdings Co., Ltd (HDFH), Yillion Bank and Zhongguancun Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (ZVCA) – have initiated a $1 billion blockchain investment…
· Business
- Lamborghini taps Salesforce Blockchain for authenticating heritage cars
Super SUVs and super cars manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini is using Salesforce Blockchain for authenticating heritage Lamborghini cars in a fast and secure manner.
· Technology
- SABB, HSBC execute blockchain-based trade transaction between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
The Saudi British Bank (SABB) and HSBC have announced that they have used blockchain technology for financing an international trade transaction between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
· Technology
- Deutsche Börse, Swisscom settle securities transactions using tokenized assets and different DLT protocols
Deutsche Börse and Swisscom have announced that they have successfully settled securities transactions with distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based tokenized shares.
· Technology
- Galaxy Digital launches two bitcoin funds with Bakkt and Fidelity Digital Assets as custodians
Galaxy Digital, a digital asset management firm, has launched two bitcoin funds with Bakkt and Fidelity Digital Assets as custodians.
· Business
- Fidelity Digital Assets gets approval to offer crypto custodial services in Empire state
Fidelity’s crypto arm Fidelity Digital Asset Services (FDAS) has been granted a trust company charter by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).
· Business
- Crypto exchange Gemini acquires NFT platform Nifty Gateway
Leading cryptocurrency exchange Gemini has announced the acquisition of acquired Nifty Gateway, a platform for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), by a parent company.
· Business
- Weibo suspends accounts of Binance and Tron amid fresh crackdown of crypto businesses in China
Amid report of a fresh crackdown on cryptocurrency trading activities in China, the official accounts of Binance and Tron have been banned on Weibo, the country’s largest micro-blogging website, last week, Bloomberg r…
· Regulation
- Binance unveils fiat-to-crypto gateway for Turkey
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has announced the early launch of fiat-to-crypto gateway for Turkey in collaboration with regulated payments provider Papara.
· Business
- Factom wins second DHS SVIP award to develop blockchain-based anti-forgery solution
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has awarded $197,292 to Austin-based blockchain firm Factom to develop a blockchain security system for raw material imports.
· Technology
- Nomura’s joint venture ‘Boostry’ releases official webpage of its security token platform
Boostry, a joint venture company between Nomura and Nomura Research Institute (NRI), has announced the launch of the official webpage of its security token platform, ibet.
· Business
- Indian state of Telangana to adopt blockchain tech to fight fraudulent academic certificates
The Indian state of Telangana is going to adopt blockchain technology for issuing academic certificates from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Hyderabad (JNTUH), The New Indian Express reported.
· Technology
- SBI Ripple Asia, SBI Remit launch first Japan-Vietnam money transfer service using distributed ledger technology
SBI Ripple Asia, a joint venture company between financial services giant SBI Holdings and blockchain startup Ripple, in partnership with SBI Remit, an international money transfer service business operator, has launc…
· Technology
- UK Jurisdiction Taskforce recognizes cryptoassets as property and smart contracts as enforceable agreements
The UK Jurisdiction Taskforce (UKJT), one of the six taskforces of the LawTech Delivery Panel (LTDP), has officially recognized cryptoassets as tradeable property and smart contracts as enforceable agreements under En…
· Regulation
- IRS Criminal Investigators scrutinize crypto ATMs, kiosks for potential tax issues
The Criminal Investigation Division at the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has turned its attention to the potential tax issues stemming from cryptocurrency kiosks and Bitcoin ATMs, Bloomberg Law reported.
· Regulation
- Blockchain.com officially unveils crypto lending desk
Blockchain.com, a leading provider of bitcoin wallet and blockchain explorer, last week officially announced its own lending desk from Blockchain Markets.
· Business
- Thai government to launch three blockchain pilot projects
The Finance Ministry of Thailand has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Krungthai Bank for three blockchain pilot projects, Bangkok Post reported.
· Technology
- Chinese military’s official newspaper publishes article on potential blockchain use in PLA’s operations
Following the endorsement of blockchain technology by Chinese President Xi Jinping, the country has been ramping up efforts to introduce the technology in multiple sectors to improve the efficiency of processes.
· Insights & Views
- Nestlé, Carrefour expand blockchain implementation to infant milk products
Nestlé and Carrefour are expanding the use of blockchain technology to track and trace infant milk products.
· Technology
- US Federal Reserve weighs pros and cons of global stablecoins
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board last week weighed on the pros and cons of global stablecoins in the November edition of its “Financial Stability Report.”
· Insights & Views
- Shopping giant Alibaba denies partnership with bitcoin rewards app Lolli
Following recent reports of bitcoin rewards app Lolli striking a partnership with Alibaba, the shopping behemoth has denied the alliance with the startup.
· Business
- Amun AG launches Tezos ETP on Swiss SIX Exchange; makes available 7 crypto ETPs on Boerse Stuttgart
Swiss fintech startup Amun AG has launched a new crypto exchange-traded product (ETP) which tracks tezos (XTZ), one of the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
· Business
- Samsung SDS integrates QEDIT’s private asset transfer solution with Nexledger blockchain
Samsung SDS, an IT subsidiary of South Korean tech giant Samsung Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with blockchain privacy solutions startup QEDIT.
· Technology
- ASX-listed firm DigitalX launches new bitcoin fund
Australian blockchain firm DigitalX has announced a new bitcoin fund, which it will seed with 215 of its bitcoin (worth $1.86 million approximately as of writing).
· Business
- Telegram denies all SEC allegations concerning its gram token and sale
Messaging giant Telegram has denied all the allegations made by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding its yet-to-release gram token and its sale in a new filing.
· Business
- AFME calls for a common approach for regulation of crypto-assets in Europe
The Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has called upon European regulators to collaborate and work towards a common approach for the regulation of crypto-assets in the common currency area.
· Insights & Views
- Chinese bitcoin mining giant Canaan seeks to raise $100M in US IPO
Canaan, a leading bitcoin mining equipment manufacturer is seeking to raise around $100 million in its initial public offering (IPO) in the United States.
· Business
- Crypto data provider Messari raises $4M from Uncork Capital, Coinbase Ventures and others
Crypto data provider Messari has raised $4 million in the latest funding round led by Uncork Capital. As part of the investment, Uncork’s founder Jeff Clavier will join Messari’s board of directors.
· Business
- Crypto wallet startup Bitski secures $1.8M from Winklevoss Capital, Coinbase and others
Digital wallet startup Bitski has raised $1.8M in a seed round from prominent names in the crypto industry including Galaxy Digital, Winklevoss Capital, and Coinbase.
· Business
- CME sets January 13 as target date for bitcoin options launch
Derivatives marketplace CME Group has announced that it will launch options on its Bitcoin futures contracts on Jan. 13, 2020, provided it gets the required regulatory approval.
· Business