CFTC questions cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase on ether’s June flash crash

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has requested information from leading digital asset exchange company Coinbase regarding a flash crash in Ether price on June 21, 2017, on its GDAX platform, Bloomberg reported.

Japan to use mijin blockchain for game meat supply chain management

Tech Bureau, a fintech and cryptocurrency solutions company headquartered in Osaka, has announced a first blockchain use case for a division of the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Japan Gibier Promotion Association, an agency responsible for the culinary culture and culinary distribution in Japan, is seeking a secure supply chain solution to comply with Japanese distribution standards for wild game meat.

Japan FSA approves 11 firms as cryptocurrency exchange operators

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has announced the names of 11 companies that have been approved as operators of cryptocurrency exchanges. These companies include Zaif Exchange, QUOINE, bitFlyer, Bit Bank, Tech Bureau, and SBI Virtual Currencies, among others.

MAS-backed consortium develops blockchain prototypes for inter-bank payments

A consortium led by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) has developed software prototypes of three different models for decentralised inter-bank payment and settlements with liquidity savings mechanisms. The project marks the Phase 2 of Project Ubin, a collaborative initiative to explore the use of distributed ledger technology (DLT) for clearing and settlement of payments and securities.

MAS working on regulatory framework to address bitcoin money laundering risks

In its response to a parliamentary question on cryptocurrency use and their regulation, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has said that it is working on a regulatory framework to address the money laundering and terrorism financing risks posed by virtual currencies. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of MAS, said that the MAS does not regulate virtual currencies such as bitcoin, but regulates the activities that surround them if they fall within its general ambit as a financial regulator.

Malta taps blockchain technology for academic record management system

The Government of Malta is launching the first nation-state pilot for storing official records of learners and workers on a blockchain. According to the official release, the Ministry for Education and Employment of the Republic of Malta signed an agreement last month with Learning Machine Technologies to launch the blockchain pilot.

Research Studies:

Bank of Canada, R3 publish whitepaper on blockchain research initiative ‘Project Jasper’

Events/Conferences:

US State Department to hold one-day blockchain forum on October 10

Investments/Acquisitions:

Vinny Lingham’s Newtown Partners invests in blockchain startup Wala

Blockchain adtech company StormX raises $16.5M in private pre-sale

ICO platform COMSA raises over $65M in ongoing token sale

Consortium News, Partnerships and More:

Fujitsu, KPMG and 14 new members join Blockchain Research Institute

Bitcoin debit card provider Wirex partners with Dash

Japan’s Tech Bureau and Metaps Plus enter Global Strategic Partnership to bring advanced blockchain technology across Japan and Korea

Asean banking consortium completes proof-of-concept for KYC blockchain

Blockchain insurance initiative B3i adds 23 new members

ShapeShift partners with blockchain startup Civic to enhance Prism's security

Digital Currency and Blockchain Initiatives:

Air France explores blockchain potential for aircraft maintenance processes

InfoCorp Technologies, Maybank Singapore collaborate to bring blockchain mobile application to migrant workers

Bank AlJazira teams up with ShoCard for blockchain identity management solution

Gemalto, Ledger collaborate to provide security solution for cryptocurrency applications

R3 rolls out v1.0 of Corda distributed ledger platform

Four major banks join UBS and IBM to build blockchain trade finance platform

Tech titan Oracle launches enterprise-grade blockchain cloud service

Russia’s NSD runs blockchain-based commercial bonds platform

Propy announces real estate purchase transaction on Ethereum blockchain

Steemit to launch new product to bring blockchain and cryptocurrency to mainstream media

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