5 Years Ago

Maltese Digital Asset trading platform reports 200% increase in volume

BBFTA News Editor | | PERMALINK

OKEX, based in Malta, is seeing strong growth in Crypto derivate trades as they do more business with institutions.

OKEX offers risk management tools for those wish to trade the crypto market so one potentially can avoid losses as a result of extreme volatility of prices by taking positions in various crypto derivatives.

However, with Cryptos prices falling as well as rising at short notice coupled with up to 100x leverage these services surely are for organisations and traders who are fully aware of the risks and potential profits in this evolving asset class!

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Risk Management
https://www.institutionalassetmanager.co.uk/201...two-months

Canadian Universities accept Crypto as a donations

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Universities and charitable foundations have been accepting crypto donations for several years, in deed The Red Cross has been accepting Cryptocurrencies since 2014. 

If you are looking for ways for a Charity or not for profit foundation to be able to accept cryptocurrencies as donations, then you may find this guide helpful-  https://unblock.net/accept-cryptocurrency-donations/

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Nonprofit Organization Management
https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/bitcoin-donatio...versities/

Texans to Pay for Electricity Using Cryptos

BBFTA News Editor | | PERMALINK

Gridplus is going to enable people who live in Texas to be able to pay for their electricity in Crypto currencies which in itself it nothing remarkable.

What is interesting is that they are going to allow customers to benefit from buying electricity when it is cheap and provided you have the right tech you could turn off devices such are swimming pool pumps or air conditioning units when demand spikes and electricity prices are high. Customers will be able to pay in real time presumably using Smart Contracts.

Gridplus is a project backed by  ConsenSys, which was founded by Joseph Lubin who was one of the key figures behind Ethereum, so no doubt if this proves successful look out for more projects like this in the energy sector elsewhere!

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Energy
https://blog.gridplus.io/gridplus-is-live-in-te...0c1c60e569

Coinbase continues its buying spree to build a stronger Crypto infrastructure

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Coinbase is one of the largest Crypto trading platforms globally and its subsidiary Coinbase VC has just acquired Neutrino.

This latest acquisition adds to the 13 other purchases it has made since being established just last year. Neutrino specialises in Blockchain intelligence to track  cryptocurrency flows across multiple blockchains, is now going to be used by Coinbase on America’s large Crypto client bank.

Coinbase have already announced that they want to expand the number of Cryptocurrencies that use it platform and using Neutrino’s technology they believe that they can help token market mature and further legitimize the Crypto sector. As by analysing blockchains with Neutrino it is possible to help funds being taken illegally from people’s wallets and help Coinbase track down and identify the perpetrators of ransomware attacks.

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
https://www.coindesk.com/coinbase-acquires-bloc...osed-price

Nasdaq to Offer Bitcoin and Ethereum Indices

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NASDAQ is the second largest stock market globally by market capitalization, is to start offering investors Bitcoin and Ethereum indices which are being seen by some as a sign to allow traditional investors to participate in Cryptocurrencies.

NASDAQ has announced that both indices are calculated using data from multiple cryptocurrency exchanges “to provide a single price point for BTC and ETH. The BLX is one of the most widely-referenced BTC indices among crypto traders and has been calculated back to 2010. Likewise, the ELX has been calculated back to 2014.” 

Nasdaq will be basing the prices from 50 bitcoin sources globally which are considerably higher than other exchanges like CBOE and CME Group.

#FrontierInsights
Bitcoin
Cryptocurrency
https://news.bitcoin.com/nasdaq-stock-exchange-...h-indices/

US Fund Manager Grayscale is Attracting Institutional Investors

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Grayscale who hold 203,000 Bitcoins i.e. over 1% of the total circulating supply, in their 2018 report are still optimistic on Cryptocurrencies and say that over 66% of investments into their funds were from institutions.

Interestingly a lot of the institutions are investing cash/fiat and research from JP Morgan has calculated that the amplifier effect of cash on the Crypto sector could be as much as 1:117.5. To put this more simply $1million in cash has the impact of increasing the cryptocurrency market by as much as $117.5 million. As we see greater liquidity and money coming into Digital Assets the amplifier effect no doubt be smaller, but clearly in the short term, it is easy to see how relatively small sums of capital could drive up prices-. Unfortunately would this once again send the wrong message especially to smaller investors looking to make a quick buck?

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Investing
https://www.newsbtc.com/2019/02/15/grayscale-se...ring-2018/

Philippines 10th Largest Bank to Offer Crypto Cash Point Machines

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Union bank in the Philippines is to launch a network of Cash machines/ATMs that will allow one to convert Pesos to Crypto or Crypto to Pesos.

The Philippines central bank has been allowing Crypto payments since 2017 as well as regulating Crypto Exchanges as it aims to ensure that these assets do not attract the wrong users – hence regulation. This is another sign of how Asia seems to be embracing the Digital Asset and follows the lead of a number of South American countries who also have a network or ATMs that handle Crypto currencies.

#FrontierInsights
Banking
Cryptocurrency
https://www.investinblockchain.com/union-bank-p...rypto-atm/

USA Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) to Clarify Crypto Definitions

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One of SEC’s officials recently said that the SEC  working on “supplemental guidance to help organizations clarify “whether their crypto-fund raising efforts fall under the securities laws”.

Currently, the SEC has relied on the “Howey Test” to decide if an Cryptocurrency is a security or not and has decided that a number of Initial Coin Offers ( ICOs) have issued in effect securities and not been regulated to do so. This will lead to prison sentences and substantial fines, so SEC clarification of what is and what is not a security token will be welcomed in the USA.

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Security Token
https://www.coindesk.com/sec-commissioner-peirc...-is-coming

Iran Unveils a Cryptocurrency Backed by Gold

BBFTA News Editor | | PERMALINK

The number of Governments using Cryptocurrencies seems to be gathering pace, with the announcement that Iran has been in discussions with Austria, Bosnia, France, Germany, Russia, South Africa, and Switzerland.

Iran is looking to launch a state-backed Cryptocurrency called Peyman, Persian for covenant. Four Iranian banks are involved, Bank Mellat, Bank Melli Iran, Bank Pasargad, and Parsian Bank. The over-the-counter exchange Iran Fara Bourse will offer the ability to trade the new currency. Initially, the Peyman will only be available for institutions, as Iran looks to accelerate the speed of banking transactions and facilitate payments globally as a way around US-led sanctions. Having been removed from SWIFT last year Iran has struggled to efficiently deal in global financial markets.

#FrontierInsights
Banking
Cryptocurrency
https://www.ccn.com/iran-launches-gold-backed-c...-sanctions

Binance will Initially Allow Users to Buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and XRP with a Credit or Debit Card

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Bianace who are the worlds biggest crypto exchange platform will now be allowing its customers to use Visa and Mastercard cards to buy a range of Cryptocurrencies. 

Over time, as major crypto companies including Binance strengthen the infrastructure surrounding this asset class,  analysts expect the adoption of cryptocurrencies to increase. This is more evidence of how trading Cryptos is being made easier and more accessible for the general public which has to be welcomed provided it does not encourage unsophisticated investors into overtrading these assets.

#FrontierInsights
Bitcoin
Cryptocurrency
Finance
https://www.theblockcrypto.com/2019/01/31/binan...or-crypto/

Lightning Blockchain Gathers Steam and Proves to be Ultra Fast

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Cryptocurrency detractors claimed it would be impossible to handle the volume of Visa or MasterCard. 

Lightning Network is disproving them, it is a matter of when not if Digital Assets will significantly challenge fiat currencies! With transactions costing pennies or less and to be able to use your phone, Lightning completely changes the way money is moved. If banks aren’t paying attention yet, they will be when they look at Lightning payments and realise they are likely to be disrupted!

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Finance
Digital Assets
https://ethereumworldnews.com/lightning-network...of-600btc/

Saudi and UAE to Launch a New Joint Cryptocurrency

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As Saudi and the UAE explore ways to develop closer economic ties they have agreed to launch a new Cryptocurrency initially to be used just between their banks.

This announcement is seen as a step away from the reliance on petrodollars and is another sign of the Middle East embracing blockchain technology. Is this all part of the gradual decline in the dominance of US$ as outlined in https://medium.com/coinmonks/is-time-up-for-the-us-as-the-worlds-reserve-currency-c05b581dec79?

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Finance
https://www.thenational.ae/uae/uae-and-saudi-ar...y-1.815401

New Singapore Crypto Exchange Called Hg to be Launched

BBFTA News Editor | | PERMALINK

Another Crypto exchange is to be launched to enable trading of tokenized traditional publicly quoted shares, private unquoted companies, and tokenized assets.

The Hg exchange has said that it will be using Blockchain technology and aims to be a member exchange for South East Asia meaning that anyone that wants to trade or list on the exchange will need to deal through one of HG’s licensed financial intermediary. One wonders how many more exchanges will be launched and how long will it be before we start seeing consolidation and exchanges being acquired to gain critical scale?

#FrontierInsights
Blockchain
Cryptocurrency
https://www.thecryptoupdates.com/zilliqa-and-ma...-exchange/

UK FCA Crypto Consultation

BBFTA News Editor | | PERMALINK

The FCA has released its long-awaited consultation paper into Crypto assets, exchanges, payment providers, wallets and firms involved in this growing market sector.

The report looks at the risks and potential challenges and opportunities that Crypto assets offer, as well as setting out thoughts for UK regulation and outlining the different activities that should be regulated. This consultation paper is a clear sign that the FCA is trying to offer those firms that are involved in this sector guidance to this new asset class and ought to help the UK keep at the forefront of the development of Digital Assets.

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Regulators
https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/consultatio...yptoassets

London’s Lord Major Supports Cryptocurrencies

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The UK, London Lord Mayor, Peter Estlin believes that while there have been some negative comments around cryptocurrencies the technology that they are built on holds some interesting opportunities that business should grasp but with caution.

He believes that in the same way in 17th century London dominated the insurance sector Fintech and FCA’s incubator approach are set to be at the forefront of digital innovation.

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Finance
https://coinpedia.org/news/london-city-encourag...ocurrency/

VC Fund Investing in Crypto Assets Looks to Raise Another $60m

BBFTA News Editor | | PERMALINK

San Fran based 1confirmation are looking to raise $60m having raised $27m in December 2017. 

One of the first fund’s investments was Coinbase which made $1.3billion in 2018 and now has a valuation of over $8billion proving not all Digital assets had a bad 2018!

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Digital Assets
https://www.newsbtc.com/2019/01/18/crypto-ventu...coin-rout/

European Market Securities Guidance on Crypto Assets and ICOs

BBFTA News Editor | | PERMALINK

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has just published its “Advice” on “Initial Coin Offerings and Crypto-Assets.”

In the past, ESMA has issued several warnings regarding crypto-assets and virtual currencies. The Advice outlines ESMA’s position on the issues that exist in the rules within ESMA’s remit when “crypto-assets qualify as financial instruments and the risks that are left unaddressed when crypto-assets do not qualify as financial instruments.” While not mentioning any country by name, France is the largest EU member that is in the process of creating rules that apply to initial coin offerings (ICOs).

#FrontierInsights
Corporate Finance
Cryptocurrency
ICO
https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=...061952368b

tZero Files a Patent to Allow Integration of Crypto to Legacy Systems

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Crypto Integration Platform” capable of combining market information from a variety of sources to determine best prices.

The system would then “secure both the digital transactional items (i.e., the funds for a buy order and the digital assets or liabilities for a sell order)” before conducting the transaction. These transactional items could include digital assets, liabilities, commodities, cryptocurrencies, tokens or cash.According to the patent, the system will also sign the transactional items cryptographically prior to matching the orders.

#FrontierInsights
Cryptocurrency
Securitisation
https://thetokenist.io/tzero-registers-u-s-pate...-platform/