US CFTC issues new guidance for cryptocurrency derivative products
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) Division of Market Oversight (DMO) and Division of Clearing and Risk (DCR) have jointly issued a new guidance for listing cryptocurrency derivative products. Targeted at the exchanges and clearinghouses registered with the CFTC, the guidance highlights certain key areas that require particular attention while listing a new cryptocurrency derivatives contract.
MAS issues warning to eight crypto exchanges and halts one ICO drive
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has issued a warning to eight domestic cryptocurrency exchanges not to facilitate trading in digital tokens that are securities or futures contracts without its authorisation. In addition, it has also warned an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) issuer to stop the offering of its digital tokens in the country.
MAS proposes review of regulatory framework to include blockchain and p2p trading platforms
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has proposed to expand the existing recognised market operators (RMOs) regime in the wake of new business models in trading platforms, which includes peer-to-peer (p2p) and blockchain-based platforms. The MAS has published a consultation paper on the review of the RMO regime.
UK’s Cryptoassets Taskforce agrees on key objectives
UK’s Cryptoassets Taskforce, an initiative announced earlier this year, held its first meeting on 21 May 2018. At its first meeting, the taskforce agreed its objectives, which includes assessing the impact of cryptoassets, exploring the potential benefits and challenges of the application of distributed ledger technology (DLT) in financial services, and scope for regulation.
Australia’s DTA seeks to bring blockchain technology to welfare payments
Australia’s Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) is planning to explore using blockchain technology for delivering welfare payments, ZDNet reported. The announcement comes on the heels of the government’s budget 2018-19 in which it has allocated AU $700,000 to the DTA to look into blockchain applications in government services.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscores blockchain potential in agriculture
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again underscored the importance of blockchain technology, this time in the area of agriculture. Speaking at the Convocation of Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, he said that technology is bringing about change in all spheres of life, and the youth of our country is keeping pace with these developments.
Shenzhen taxation authority looks to blockchain to fight counterfeit invoices
The Shenzhen Municipal Office of the State Administration of Taxation is collaborating with internet giant Tencent Holdings to tap blockchain technology to prevent malpractice and forgery, Xinhua Net reported. Li Wei, deputy director of the office, said by helping to trace the source of an invoice, blockchain technology would help tax supervisors to verify its authenticity.
Taiwanese legislator announces parliamentary blockchain group and crypto self-regulatory organization
Taiwanese blockchain industry got a major boost this week with the formation of a parliamentary blockchain group. MP and Legislator Jason Hsu Yu-Jen made the announcement in a Facebook post dated May 22, CoinTelegraph reported. He will lead the new Taiwan Parliamentary Coalition for Blockchain (TPCB). In addition, a self-regulatory initiative focused on the crypto and blockchain industry has also been announced.
Research Studies:
Bank of England explores balance sheet implications of central bank digital currencies
China IT Ministry releases whitepaper on domestic blockchain industry
Australians lost over AU$2.1M in cryptocurrency scams in 2017, says Australia's consumer watchdog
Norges Bank explores possibility of introducing central bank digital currency
Investments/Acquisitions/ Fund-raising:
Ashton Kutcher announces $4M XRP donation to Ellen DeGeneres on Ripple’s behalf
Acquisition of ‘Paradex’ rebrands ‘GDAX’ to ‘Coinbase Pro’
VC, crypto and healthcare investors inject $8M in new blockchain startup Decent
Kraken donates $1M to cryptocurrency advocacy group Coin Center
Partnerships/Consortiums:
De Beers’ blockchain-based diamond traceability project gets first retail partner
R3's Marco Polo blockchain consortium welcomes Bangkok Bank
Indian IT giant HCL Technologies joins Blockchain in Transport Alliance
Digital Currency Initiatives
Deutsche Boerse considering bitcoin products? Executive says they are ‘deep at work’
Ripple proposes new symbol for XRP token
Blockchain Initiatives
United Nations agency partners with IOTA for blockchain-based document management
Mizuho Financial Group to sponsor Japan's first blockchain co-working space
EY and Guardtime launch marine insurance blockchain platform ‘Insurwave’
Blockchain startup Block.one announces $1B venture fund ‘EOS VC’
Thailand’s Bank of Ayudhya pilots cross-border transaction using Interledger blockchain
Swiss university taps Ethereum blockchain to secure academic credentials
Overstock’s blockchain subsidiary tZERO and BOX Digital to launch security token exchange
æternity launches incubator program Starfleet to boost global blockchain industry
Bank of China to use blockchain to boost poverty alleviation efforts in Tibet: Report
OwlTing USA rolls out blockchain-powered traceability platform
Tradeshift launches cloud-based blockchain payments solution
MUFG, Akamai team up to build ‘most scalable and fastest’ blockchain-based payment network
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