Blockchain-Backed Energy Grid Receives $1 Million US Government Grant
The US Department of Energy (DoE) has awarded a USD 1 million grant to blockchain-backed energy grid company Grid7. The grant came during the DoE’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program as one of 95 businesses that passed the second stage, as announced by the DoE on Monday. Colorado-based Grid7 was chosen for its part in advancing […]
Global Regulators Consider Capital Requirements on Bank Crypto Holdings
Cryptocurrency assets held by banks may soon become subject to new capital requirements enforced by global financial regulators, as they struggle to fit digital currencies into conventional asset ordinance. In a report published Monday by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision outlined an agenda of promoting financial stability through strengthening regulation […]
World’s First Bank-Backed Crypto Exchange Opens For Trading
VCTRADE, the world’s first bank-backed cryptocurrency exchange, is now open for trading in Japan after its launch last month, reports Coindesk.. The exchange, owned by Japanese banking giant SBI Holdings, has now opened trading to users aged between 20 and 70 years, after only servicing limited pre-registered users, providing that they are resident in Japan. […]
Chat Giant LINE Launches BITBOX Crypto Exchange, Signs BitGo Partnership
Global messaging giant LINE, which is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan has announced the launch of the BITBOX cryptocurrency exchange. BITBOX is based in Singapore and offers 15 languages and 30 different cryptocurrencies. Due to lack of regulatory approval BITBOX is unavailable to users in the United States and Japan. The site is blocked off to […]
Coinbase to Acquire Licensed Broker-Dealers to Offer Securities
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has given Coinbase approval to buy three companies, including Keystone Capital Corp, Digital Wealth LLC, and Venovate Marketplace Inc. Keystone Capital and Venovate Marketplace are officially registered as broker-dealers with the SEC and FINRA. Once the acquisition is complete and these companies merge with Coinbase, it will […]
BlackRock CEO Denies Previous Reports of Crypto Foray
On 16 July 2018, a news story that BlackRock was creating a team to explore cryptocurrency investment was thought to have sparked a 5% Bitcoin rally. This news story was based on insider tips to Financial News London. Now the CEO of BlackRock, Larry Fink, has denied these reports. Larry Fink said, “I don’t believe […]
7 Banks to Form Trade Finance Blockchain Platform in Hong Kong
Seven banks including Hong Kong’s banking regulator are to launch a trade finance platform this September using blockchain. The platform is reported to be one of the largest government-led cross-bank cooperation globally. It will include UK banking giant HSBC and Standard Chartered PLC. HSBC is the seventh largest bank globally by assets and the largest […]
China Sees 500% Spike in Blockchain-Named Companies
Blockchain (qukualian in Chinese) is fast becoming a byword in Chinese business circles according to the South China Morning Post, as the word now appears in company names with a six-fold frequency compared to last year. Figures reportedly show that most of this flurry of activity inciting companies to squeeze the word qukualian into company names […]
38% of South Africans Polled Regret Missing Early Bitcoin Uptake
A recent poll in South Africa on awareness and attitudes towards cryptocurrency has shown that 38% of respondents wished that they had invested in digital currency before, writes Cointelegraph. The poll was conducted by Pan-African financial services company Old Mutual Limited. The annual Savings and Investment Monitor survey for South Africa revealed that in general, […]
Blockchain Company R3 Mulls IPO
R3 has announced considerations of launching an initial public offering (IPO). Advisors are being consulted regarding the viability of an IPO, as several potential buyers have already approached the company. The final decision lies on the shoulders of R3’s founder and CEO David Rutter, with input given from R3’s investors. R3 is a blockchain collaboration […]
