TokenPost reporter
J Russ Isberto
Reporter
Stories by J Russ Isberto
- TradeStation Group's new crypto brokerage platform launches for approved countries, U.S. states
TradeStation Group has now launched the TradeStation Crypto, a crypto brokerage platform that caters five of the most popular cryptocurrencies in the world with more to come in the coming months.
· Business
- Libra will be classified once it goes live; PayPal explains why it backed out of the Association
Libra is still in development and CFTC Heath Tarbert said it’s too early to classify the stablecoin as there’s still a lot of unanswered questions revolving around the product.
· Regulation
- Crypto exchange Shapeshift introduces commission-free trading
Shapeshift has introduced a commission-free trading model into the crypto industry that aims to pull traders out of custodial exchanges and bring them over to the non-custodial model.
· Business
- CryptoCompare drops Binance out of its Exchange Benchmark; Hacking incident cited behind the decision
CryptoCompare’s new Exchange Benchmark data has Gemini leading the pack, while Binance fell out of grace due to the hacking incident that occurred in May.
· Insights & Views
- 1.4M GateHub user information compromised five months after it suffered a hacking incident
Hackers have apparently taken sensitive information out of GateHub clients, with data ranging from passwords to email addresses to mnemonic phrases and wallet hashes.
· Business
- Federal Reserve chairman doesn’t see benefits of CBDC for U.S. consumers
The U.S. Federal Reserve is currently compiling data about a possible CBDC amidst requests from U.S. politicians.
· Insights & Views
- Grayscale Bitcoin Trust aims to become first reporting company under the SEC
Grayscale has just submitted a filing to the SEC that, if deemed effective, would transform it into the first cryptocurrency reporting company, a change that could attract more accredited investors.
· Business
- Tokenized security startup acquires $5M funding from Tokai Tokyo; To launch its services in early 2020
Regulated capital market platform iSTOX has chalked another win on its side as it successfully acquires $5 million funding from Tokai Tokyo, a company that is deeply entrenched in Japan’s business sector.
· Business
- Anti-money laundering law will be applied on stablecoins regardless of what’s backing it, says FinCEN
The U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) is clarifying that all stablecoins should follow the anti-money laundering law and no exceptions will be given regardless of what asset is backing it.
· Regulation
- Libra member Bison Trails secures $25M in Series A funding; More product announcements slated for 2020
Blockchain startup Bison Trails has reportedly acquired $25 million in funding from new and old investors, with the company teasing that it’s going to announce more products next year.
· Business
- CA$16M client funds of Einstein Exchange reduced to CA$45,000 in ‘hard assets,’ interim receiver reported
Einstein Exchange owes its clients CA$16 million but that figure has reportedly vanished as reported by the interim receiver investigating the company.
· Business
- Crypto risk assessment platform secures $4.9M funding with PayPal leading the charge
TRM Labs has announced that it has acquired more funds from investors including PayPal, bringing the platform’s total amount raised to $5.9 million.
· Business
- U.S. SEC to review Bitwise’s Bitcoin ETF proposal; Reason behind the revisit still unclear
The SEC will be revisiting the Bitcoin ETF proposal submitted by Bitwise and NYSE Arca after the regulatory body rejected it last month due to fears of market manipulation.
· Regulation
- Blockchain-based payment processor RadPay secures $1.2M in a series seed round
Decentralized payment company RadPay has reportedly raised $1.2 million in its series seed round and the money will be allocated for the company’s growth a test program slated to launch in January.
· Business
- National Advisory Council urges FEMA to adopt blockchain tech to increase aid efficiency for disaster-stricken areas
The National Advisory Council has advised FEMA to launch a blockchain-based pilot program for disaster operations that would eliminate fraud and increase aid efficiency.
· Technology
- Fledgling crypto money lending platform raises $25M led by Andreessen Horowitz
Compound Finance, a decentralized finance startup, has successfully raised $25 million in its Series A funding, with the money allocated for the bolstering of its own protocol.
· Business
- German airline successfully uses first blockchain-powered tickets
Hahn Air has reported that it has flown three passengers using blockchain-powered tickets and is currently exploring ways to apply the innovation on other operations.
· Technology
- Cashaa to cater U.S. crypto businesses; Account set-up fee is around $1,500
A U.K.-based financial firm will be catering crypto businesses operating in the U.S., with exception of states that have strict jurisdiction over the nascent industry.
· Business
- Paxos launches new product that streamlines the swap between fiat, stablecoins
Paxos has just released a new solution that allows people to easily swap between fiat and stablecoin, with Binance the first company to use the product.
· Technology
- Chainalysis' Krytpos software to help financial players mitigate risks in crypto space
Chainalysis is currently developing the Krytpos software in order to bring transparency into cryptocurrency markets and players, helping financial institutions to better understand their current risk exposure and prov…
· Technology
- Huobi Chain open sources its regulator-friendly financial blockchain 'Huobi Chain'
Huobi Chain is now an open-source network, meaning that blockchain developers, enterprises and others can contribute to its development.
· Technology
- Former bitcoin traders at Circle, Cumberland launch crypto trading firm
Three experienced crypto traders have pulled together $10 million dollars to start a proprietary trading firm on popular digital assets.
· Business
- Fold partners with AirBnB allowing people to use Bitcoin when booking for a place to stay
Airbnb is now accepting bitcoin as a form of payment as it has now partnered with Fold, with users gaining 3% bitcoin reward each time they use the cryptocurrency to book a place.
· Business
- Ant Financial’s blockchain platform to launch in February; Node participants need to meet certain requirements
Ant Financial, the fintech subsidiary of Alibaba, has just launched its testing phase for its blockchain platform that is aimed towards helping small and medium enterprises.
· Business
- CoinMarketCap releases Liquidity metric geared towards filtering out market manipulation
CoinMarketCap just released a new Liquidity tool that means to filter the market manipulation practices of crypto exchanges.
· Business
- Bittrex to release funds of frozen accounts following OFAC’s go-ahead but requirements need to be met first
Bittrex recently announced that it will be releasing the funds from accounts that were frozen in 2017 following OFAC’s approval.
· Business
- Banque de France seeks crypto analyst, development engineer for various financial applications
The central bank of France is currently looking for a crypto analyst and development engineer to study and create proposals that can be applied to the financial sector.
· Technology
- BIS appoints Benoit Coeure as the head of new Innovation Hub; Group to foster fintech cooperation between central banks
Central banks are trying to foster cooperation with each other amidst the evolution of the financial sector and corporate giants entering the payment industry.
· Technology
- Free 7-week crypto lectures to be launched by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz
Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz will be launching a 7-week crypto educational program in February that aims to foster the growth of blockchain adoption and attract talented individuals.
· Technology
- Chinese-state run publication releases positive report about Bitcoin
A Chinese state-run news agency has released a positive result about Bitcoin, spurring speculations that the country might be changing its stance on cryptocurrency amidst massive blockchain adoption.
· Insights & Views
- China to spend $2B on blockchain initiatives by 2023: IDC
China will reportedly spend $2 billion on its blockchain projects after Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted the importance of technology for the country’s development.
· Insights & Views
- Tether fires back at bitcoin price manipulation allegations, claims USDT is fully backed by USD reserves
Tether is disputing the claims of a study accusing the stablecoin of manipulating Bitcoin’s price, firing back that researchers are cherry-picking data to suit their agenda.
· Insights & Views
- The need for blockchain experts rising amidst renewed interest in the crypto space, study finds
The crypto space is currently in need of more blockchain experts as governments and private companies have been launching blockchain-related initiatives in a bid to streamline their operations.
· Insights & Views
- Tencent acquires license from the SFC for its virtual bank
Tencent has successfully acquired a license from the SFC for its virtual bank initiative, highlighting yet again the importance of blockchain technology for the financial sectors.
· Business
- Russia seeks to create legislation that would force cybercriminals to give up stolen crypto assets
Russia is currently planning to create a regulatory framework that would protect the country from the proliferating crimes that are committed in cyberspace.
· Regulation
- SEC greenlights Silvergate Bank’s IPO; Shares valued at $12
The crypto-friendly Silvergate Bank managed to get the go-ahead from the SEC to launch its initial public offering, with each share valued at $12.
· Business
- Shanghai forms blockchain alliance to streamline customs agency’s operation
A blockchain alliance has been struck between the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, Shanghai Customs, and six other banks that aims to streamline the custom department’s operation.
· Technology
- Crypto exchange AAX launches service offering trading on spot, future, OTC P2P contract amidst SFC’s new regulation
AAX is now live after nearly two years of development offering spot, futures and over-the-counter peer-to-peer trading after the SFC released a new regulation concerning crypto futures contracts.
· Business
- Coinbase to reward people who stake on Tezos with a 5% annual incentive; New York, Hawaii barred from participating
Coinbase just announced that it will be incentivizing people with a 5% annual reward by simply holding Tezos.
· Business
- People’s Bank of China, Shanghai regulators highlight blockchain’s importance in shipping, financial industry
The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) and the Shanghai commerce commission essentially reiterated Xi Jinping’s stance on blockchain technology and its importance in the country’s digital evolution.
· Technology