Japanese government lists criteria to evaluate blockchain-based systems

Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry has recently published a document which lists the criteria for evaluating blockchain-based systems. The document is created by the Information Economy Division of the ministry's Commerce and Information Policy Bureau and titled “Evaluation Forms for Blockchain-based Systems ver. 1.0”.

Digital Asset and Blockchain Foundation of India seeks to showcase bitcoin benefits to government

Following the recent announcement by the Indian government regarding the setting up of a committee to examine the existing framework on digital currencies, the Digital Asset and Blockchain Foundation of India (DABFI) has urged the committee to allow it to showcase the benefits this technology can bring to the country.

German financial regulator freezes accounts of OneCoin payment processor

Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) announced that it was freezing the bank accounts of IMS International Marketing Services GmbH, a German limited liability company based in the city of Greven.

Arizona Governor signs blockchain gun tracking bill into law

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has signed a bill that aims to prohibit firearm tracking using blockchain and other technologies. Filed by an Arizona state representative Paul Boyer in January this year, House Bill 2216 seeks to prohibit anyone from using blockchain or distributed ledger technology (DLT) to track any identifiable information on firearms.

Japanese Bankers Association to build common blockchain platform for member institutions

The Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) announced its plans to build a blockchain-based system that will act as a “common basis” for members to experiment with the technology. JBA, in collaboration with FinTech ventures, IT operators and other banks, “decided to proceed with consideration for the development of "Block Chain Cooperation Platform" (tentative name) as a collaboration/cooperation type demonstration experiment environment”.

Bitcoin exchange Kraken launches USD, GBP, and EUR funding options

Cryptocurrency exchange platform Kraken announced that it has added new international wire options for funding accounts with US dollars (USD), euros (EUR) and British pounds (GBP) for both deposits and withdrawals.

Whaleclub trading platform adds support for bitcoin alternative ‘Dash’

Dash, the fourth most valuable cryptocurrency by market cap, has announced its partnership with Whaleclub, a Hong Kong-based trading platform that allows anyone to trade the financial markets by using digital currency. Under this partnership, Dash has been integrated as a base currency on Whaleclub’s unique trading platform. This means that Dash users would now be able to trade against Oil, Gold, Stocks, Forex and Bonds seamlessly and instantly, unlocking a brand new way to make potential gains on the rise and fall of traditional markets.

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex disables all fiat deposits

Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex has announced that it is suspending all wire deposits to its platform. The company stated that all incoming wires to Bitfinex will be blocked and refused by our Taiwan banks. This applies to all fiat currencies at the present time.

Indian retail company launches Future C&D Lab to foster blockchain startups

Future Group, Indian-based leading retail company, has announced the launch of the Future C&D (consumer and digital) Lab in Bengaluru that will bring together companies working on next-generation innovations like blockchain technology.

Poloniex to delist 17 cryptocurrencies on May 02

Leading cryptocurrency exchange Poloniex has announced the delisting of a number tokens, to be effective from 02 May 2017. The exchange did not disclose any reasons for its decision. The cryptocurrencies to be delisted includes BBR, BITS, C2, CURE, HZ, IOC, MYR, NOBL, NSR, QBK, QORA, QTL, RBY, SDC, UNITY, VOX, XMG.

Conferences/ Events:

Tennessee-based Exchange Building to spearhead blockchain workshop on 15-16 May

Important deals, partnerships, and more:

BitFury, Ukrainian Government sign MoU to create blockchain eGovernance program

Blockchain firm Factom secures additional $8M in Series A funding round

Smart Dubai Office, Avanza sign MoU to implement blockchain-based payments platform

EY, EzLab create blockchain platform to trace and certify Italian wines

BNP Paribas, AXA join hands to build blockchain fund distribution platform

Elliptic, Silvergate Bank partner to monitor suspicious activity on bitcoin blockchain

National Bank of Cambodia, Soramitsu partner to co-develop Hyperledger Iroha blockchain project