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Digital Currency and Blockchain Weekly Round-up, August 05, 2016

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex hacked, around 120k BTC reportedly stolen

The cryptocurrency ecosystem is once again under a major hack, and this time the target is Hong Kong-based digital currency exchange Bitfinex. The exchange discovered a security breach and halted all trading on its platform, along with all digital token deposits to and withdrawals from it. It recently announced that it plans to restore full functionality of the platform in progressive stages.

EU seeks to end bitcoin anonymity with central database

In order to better counter the financing of terrorism and ensure increased transparency, the European Commission has proposed amendments to Directive (EU) 2015/849 (the Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive or "4AMLD"). The new AMLD draft seeks the creation of a database consisting of information on users of virtual currencies, linking the cryptocurrency users to their real-world identities. Such a move would effectively end the “anonymity” feature that has been associated with digital currencies for long.

Credits provides its Blockchain-as-a-Service to UK public sector

Blockchain platform provider Credits has announced that it now supplying its secure Blockchain-as-a-Service to the UK public sector through the Government Digital Services' Digital Marketplace. The Crown Commercial Service (CCS), an executive agency and trading fund of the Cabinet Office of the UK Government, awarded a place on the G-Cloud 8 framework agreement to Credits for the supply of distributed ledger technology (DLT).

Ukraine's Independence Day festival to witness purchases in cryptocurrencies

Tethys Festival, a two-day event to be held in Ukraine’s island in the center of Kiev, has announced that it will feature bitcoin purchases apart from music, entertainment, innovation, and technology.

Ethereum Classic becomes third largest cryptocurrency by market cap

Earlier this week, Ethereum Classic (ETC) claimed the place of third largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, taking over Ripple. However, it has slipped to the fourth position at the time of writing, after being beaten by Steem.

Coinsource becomes largest bitcoin ATM operator in America

Bitcoin ATM network Coinsource has announced that it has installed four new Bitcoin ATMs last month, thereby becoming the largest Bitcoin ATM operator in the United States, and the most geographically diverse. In July, the Dallas-based firm installed new Bitcoin ATMs in New York, Nevada, and Pennsylvania, bringing its total number of machines to 42 across seven states.  Of the four new machines, one was installed in Las Vegas, one in Staten Island, and two in Philadelphia. 

Blockchain research studies:

  • Credit Suisse assesses blockchain impact on payments, capital markets, financial services and media
     
  • Bitcoin economy has matured since its inception six years ago – Study
     
  • Misys-Celent research explores applications of blockchain technology beyond cryptocurrencies
     
  • New paper discusses ‘Cryptocurrencies’ among Scottish currency options post-Brexit
     
  • Wholesale insurance market keen to embrace blockchain, says Z/Yen, PwC report

Blockchain conferences:

Important deals, partnerships, and more:

  • Swedish bank SEB invests in Coinify to help it expand business in Asia
     
  • Transferwise blocks deposits to Cashila without prior notice
     
  • LexisNexis Risk Solutions, Elliptic team up to fight illicit bitcoin uses
     
  • Calypso Technology joins Wall Street Blockchain Alliance as a corporate member
     
  • R3 blockchain consortium welcomes Thomson Reuters
     
  • Brave Software secures $4.5 million seed funding
  • Market Data
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