February 21, 2019

Major European Derivatives Exchange to Launch Cryptocurrency Futures

February 21, 2019 boss

Eurex, a Germany-based derivatives exchange operated by Deutsche Boerse, is reportedly planning to launch futures contracts tied to digital assets, financial technologies-focused news outlet The Block reported on Feb. 21. People familiar with the matter reportedly told the Block that Eurex is planning to launch futures contracts tied to such digital currencies as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Ripple (XRP), having already had meetings with market-making companies to discuss the products. Deutsche Boerse has reportedly been considering the introduction of digital currency futures since December, 2017. A spokesperson for the…

IBM Crypto Chief Sets Massive Bitcoin Price Target

February 21, 2019 boss

IBM VP of Blockchain and Digital Currencies Jesse Lund is bullish on Bitcoin – so bullish, in fact, that he set a long-term $1 million price target. Bitcoin Price Has Million-Dollar Potential Lund revealed his long-term Bitcoin price target at the recent Think Conference, in an interview with Fred Schebesta. The IBM executive pointed out that the higher the price of a crypto asset, the more utility it has. Therefore, he thinks people should focus less on the moving prices of crypto assets and more on their utility. “If the price…

Tracing diamonds supply chain on blockchain

February 21, 2019 boss

With the vast majority of the world’s diamonds estimated to be conflict-free following the development of certification procedures under the Kimberley Process, the mining industry is now developing a blockchain-based solution to track the supply chain of the precious stones. The industry still faces challenges from insurance fraud, the financing of global pipelines and the tampering of official certification. An initiative conceived two years ago by De Beers, the diamonds subsidiary of UK-listed miner Anglo American, has expanded to incorporate other leading manufacturers and retailers, including Russian miner Alrosa and…

Commerzbank, Siemens and Continental Complete Blockchain Money Market Pilot

February 21, 2019 boss

German banking and financial services company Commerzbank and technology companies Continental and Siemens have jointly conducted a money market security transaction pilot using blockchain technology. Cointelegraph auf Deutsch reported on the development on Feb. 21. Money market securities are short-terms assets that serve for financing companies and usually have a maturity of one year or less. Usually, the processing of a payment takes two days due to a clearing process. The aforementioned parties “for the first time” conducted a blockchain-based money market security transaction worth 100,000 euro ($113,340) within a…

New York State as a “Tough” Model of Crypto Regulation

February 21, 2019 boss

Recently the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) granted statewide virtual currency licenses to two applicants: stock trading service Robinhood and cryptocurrency ATM operator LibertyX. The state’s regulatory regime, commonly known as BitLicense, imposes a set of strict disclosure and consumer-protection requirements on any business that offers cryptocurrency-related services to New York residents. Since the framework was introduced in 2015, only a handful of companies had their applications approved by the NYDFS: The elite club of BitLicense holders now counts just 16 entities, the two newcomers included. The state has also…

Brutal Bitcoin Winter is Great for Crypto: Reddit Founder Alexis Ohanian

February 21, 2019 boss

Bitcoin investors should not be discouraged by the brutal Crypto Winter because the mass purge is actually good for the long-term health of the industry. That’s the observation of Coinbase investor Alexis Ohanian, better known as the founder of social media network Reddit. ‘This Is the Spring of Crypto Innovation’ Ohanian — the husband of American tennis star Serena Williams — admits that bitcoin is experiencing a prolonged market slump. However, despite the Crypto Winter, he says now is actually the “spring of crypto innovation.” Why? Because the people that remain…

‘Bitcoin Killer’ Onecoin Is Ashes But Investigations Continue to This Day

February 21, 2019 boss

Back in 2014, a group led by a woman named Ruja Ignatova created a Ponzi scheme called Onecoin which, together with the organization Onelife, defrauded billions from 3 million people. At peak popularity, the group declared that Onecoin would be a “Bitcoin killer” but the pyramid scheme is now in ashes and many of its founders are in hiding after being charged with fraud and money laundering. Also read: Buyer Beware! The Definitive OneCoin Ponzi Exposé The Fall of Onecoin and the $4B Global Pyramid Scheme In 2019, many Onecoin affiliates…

‘Bitcoin Killer’ Onecoin Is Ashes But Investigations Continue to This Day

February 21, 2019 boss

Latin America’s Largest Investment Bank to Launch Its Own Security Token

February 21, 2019 boss

Latin America’s largest investment bank Banco BTG Pactual SA is releasing its own blockchain-based security token, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 21. The token dubbed “ReitBZ” — which will be backed by distressed real estate assets in Brazil — will reportedly enable the bank to provide its real estate business to international investors at lower costs than with traditional means. ReitBZ will be perpetual, with the initial offering period of around 90 days, while proceeds will be reinvested in the distressed portfolio. Andre Portilho, BTG’s partner responsible for the project, reportedly…

What Is an STO, Explained

February 21, 2019 boss

A closer look at STOs and how the process compares to the more familiar ICO and IPO. What is an STO? STO stands for security token offering. Similar to an initial coin offering (ICO), an investor is issued with a crypto coin or token representing their investment. But unlike an ICO, a security token represents an investment contract into an underlying investment asset, such as stocks, bonds, funds and real estate investment trusts (REIT). A security can be defined as a “fungible, negotiable financial instrument that holds some type of monetary…