Crypto Markets Experience Slight Dip But Still Hold Weekly Gains

Thursday, July 19: crypto markets have seen a slight slump over the past 24 hours, but are still holding weekly gains of up to 64 percent among some of the top ten cryptocurrencies by market cap, according to Coinmarketcap. Market visualization from Coin360 Bitcoin (BTC) keeps hovering around yesterday’s levels, having seen an intraday low of $7,249. The leading cryptocurrency is slightly down by around .23 percent over a 24 hour period, trading at around $7,418 at press time and still up almost 20 percent over the past week. Bitcoin…

‘I’m Pro-Whatever Kind of Blockchain Fits Decentralization Ideals’

This interview has been edited and condensed. Cointelegraph recently spoke to Guy Zyskind, the founder and CEO of decentralized blockchain company Enigma and graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), about the future of blockchain protocols and where Enigma fits in. During TechCrunch’s recent Ethereum Meetup in Zug, Switzerland, Zyskind elaborated on his successful experience teaching a blockchain course at MIT, as well as his regrets over missing out getting into crypto way back in 2010. Molly Jane: First off, could you explain what the Enigma protocol is and…

JPMorgan Files New Patent for Virtual Receipts on Distributed System

JPMorgan Chase & Co has filed a new patent for a system that leverages blockchain for the management of virtual receipts backed by assets or bonds, according to a US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent filing published July 19. The new patent, titled “Systems and methods for management of asset or obligation-backed virtual receipts on a distributed system,” includes a new form of a public blockchain-based method for the management of virtual receipts, which can take the form of tokens.   The document describes Virtual Depositary Receipts, or “Virtual Receipts,”…

Ex-Trump Advisor Steve Bannon Is Making a Cryptocurrency

Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to U.S. President Donald Trump, confirmed that he wants to launch a cryptocurrency of his own. Speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, the Breitbart co-founder said “they’re the future,” adding that “we’re working on some tokens now, utility tokens, potentially, for the populist movement on a worldwide basis.” Bannon first hinted at the idea in June, though at the time he was hesitant about revealing too many details of his cryptocurrency plans, according to the New York Times. He did contemplate naming his token the “deplorables…

Gov’t Owned CrimsonLogic Launches Global Cross-Border Blockchain Platform

Singapore e-government service provider CrimsonLogic has unveiled its cross-border blockchain network for global trade, according to a July 18 press release. Dubbed the Open Trade Blockchain (OTB), the platform is principally designed to boost the efficiency of trade corridors between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations. Various operators have already signed up to join OTB, including the China-ASEAN Information Harbor Co., TIFFA Group, and Singapore’s Commodities Intelligence Centre. According to Eugene Wong, the chairman of CrimsonLogic and its subsidiary, GeTS, which will operate the platform, blockchain…

Digital Currency Group Founder Barry Silbert

Seven months into a severe cryptocurrency market downturn, the bears have finally run out of steam, leaving the bitcoin price primed for a breakout. That’s according to Barry Silbert, founder of the Digital Currency Group (DCG), perhaps the cryptocurrency industry’s most prolific investment fund. Speaking with CNBC on Tuesday, Silbert said that the recent surge above $7,000 likely indicates that the bottom is in for the bitcoin price. “I think the bears just kind of ran out of energy,” he said, noting that “a lot of institutional money” was looking…

Former Trump Advisor Steve Bannon Considers Creating Utility Tokens for Populist Movement

Steve Bannon, co-founder of Breitbart News and former Chief Strategist for U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, confirmed his plans to enter the cryptocurrency market July 18, telling CNBC he was “working on” his own tokens. As part of an extensive interview on a range of current affairs subjects, Bannon told the network he owned an unspecified amount of Bitcoin (BTC), adding “We are working on some tokens now, utility tokens, potentially for the populist movement on a worldwide basis. But they have to be quality.” Bannon also noted that he…

‘World’s First’ Trade Blockchain Launches in Singapore to Link China and ASEAN Nations

A Singapore-based e-government service provider – notably owned by a government body and a port operator – has launched a blockchain platform focused on cross-border trade between ASEAN nations and China. Singapore-based CrimsonLogic, an e-government solutions provider with a presence in over 20 countries, announced [PDF] details of its ‘inclusive and extensible blockchain service’ that the company says will will ‘boost overall efficiency, security and transparency’ for global trade. The company launched the blockchain platform through its fully-owned subsidiary GeTS, labeling it the GeTS Open Trade Blockchain Platform. The platform…

The Countries Which Adopted, Rejected or Researched the Concept

On July 5, Germany rejected the idea of issuing a central bank-issued digital currency (CBDC) — the Ministry of Finance deemed it would be “too risky” to implement one. The concept of CBDCs, or national digital currencies — the scenario in which the trend of digital currencies gets adopted by a federal regulator, essentially under its rules, with the central bank issuing digital fiat money, rather than cryptocurrencies in their most popular, decentralized form and becomes not only a regulator, but clients’ account holder as well — has attracted many…

Malta Stock Exchange, Crypto Exchange OKEx to Launch Security Tokens Trading Platform

The Malta Stock Exchange (MSE) in collaboration with digital asset exchange OKEx will create a new institutional grade security-tokens trading platform, says a MSE press release shared with Cointelegraph on July 19. In mid-spring, major crypto exchange OKEx had moved to Malta, noting their “confidence” in the Maltese government’s approach to cryptocurrencies. The joint project, named OKMSX, launched after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between MSE and OKEx, and aims to become a platform for digital asset exchanges with security expertise and client due diligence. MSX has…