Local Chinese government grants RMB1.5m to blockchain startup BankLedger

BankLedger, a China-based blockchain startup, has received RMB 1.5 million yuan from the government of Nanjing City, the capital Jiangsu Province, 8btc reported. This marks the first time that a Chinese company has received grant directly from the government. CEO of BankLedger, Dr. Shentu Qingchun told the publication house that the grants are pure help from the government, adding that the company’s ownership structure, management and operation will not be affected.

US Court authorises IRS to seek user records from Coinbase bitcoin exchange

A federal court in the Northern District of California authorised the IRS to serve a “John Doe” summons on San Francisco-based Coinbase Inc., seeking information about U.S. taxpayers who conducted transactions in a convertible virtual currency during the years 2013 to 2015. In the court’s order, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley found a reasonable basis for believing that virtual currency users may have failed to comply with federal tax laws.

ESMA to have power to ban blockchain-based products or processes in January 2018

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) will have the power to ban or restrict products or processes based on blockchain or distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), starting 01 January 2018. This was revealed by Patrick Armstrong, Senior Risk Analysis Officer, at a blockchain conference last week in London.

ADCCA launches first Australian Digital Currency Industry Code of Conduct

The Australian Digital Currency & Commerce Association (ADCCA) today launched the first Australian Digital Currency Industry Code of Conduct – a self-regulatory scheme developed in response to a recommendation of the Senate Enquiry into Digital Currencies from August 2015.

Digital Currency/Blockchain research studies:

Blockchain startup Bitmark releases whitepaper on digital property

Conferences/ Events:

Big Data & Analytics for Banking Summit to explore blockchain and cryptocurrencies

UAE government to hold virtual blockchain hackathon

What to expect at Smart Contracts Symposium on December 5

Important deals, partnerships, and more:

JPX to form blockchain consortium, PoC testing to start in 2017

Hyperledger reaches 100-member milestone with six new members

MasterCard files four blockchain-related patents

R3's Corda blockchain platform goes open source

Indian multinational Mahindra and IBM to develop blockchain solution for supply chain finance

New 16-partner consortium to explore blockchain application in logistics

Chamber of Digital Commerce, Hyperledger partner to boost blockchain advocacy and education efforts

Calypso and R3 partner to develop post-trade solutions on R3 Corda blockchain platform

Several incidents involving Bitcoin Ransomware emerge: Canada’s Carleton University hit by bitcoin ransomware; Hackers breach Valartis bank, ask for bitcoin ransom; Bitcoin ransomware hits San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency

Royal Mint and CME Group to launch digital gold product on blockchain

Deutsche Bundesbank and Deutsche Börse build blockchain prototype