Huobi Wallet to Support MakerDAO Tokens, Decentralized Applications

Major cryptocurrency exchange Huobi has added support for MakerDAO tokens and decentralized apps (DApps) in its wallet.  Huobi Group shared the announcement with Cointelegraph on Aug. 19. MakerDAO has a stablecoin called Dai, a token named MKR, and applications including CPD Portal. The Maker project is a combination of its stablecoin, collateral loans and community governance. MakerDAO is a type of decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), which is an organization that is managed solely by smart contracts and code, not human managers. A DAO is also operated by users via a…

Israeli Financial Authority to Accelerate Blockchain, Fintech Licensure

The Capital Market, Insurance and Saving Authority, a division of Israel’s Ministry of Finance (MoF), is looking to accelerate the process of procuring licenses for blockchain and fintech companies in the country. Israeli business news outlet Calcalist reported the development on Aug. 19. According to the report, the authority has launched dedicated industry teams, some of which specialize in blockchain companies.   According to the report, the authority is hoping to foster local competition by licensing more fintech companies. Moshe Barkat, who was appointed as the supervisor for the department back…

New York Court Rules That State Attorney Has Jurisdiction Over Bitfinex

The New York State Supreme Court has ruled that the New York Office of the Attorney General (NYAG) has jurisdiction over cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex. According to a court filing on Aug. 19, this will allow the NYAG to continue its investigation of the exchange over allegations of fraud and misleading investors.  In the filing, Judge Joel Coehn dismissed a motion by Bitfinex to terminate an action by the NYAG that would prosecute Bitinex under a New York law — the Martin Act. The NYAG originally alleged that Bitfinex and associated…

CoinCorner Cryptocurrency Exchange Paying Staff Salaries in Bitcoin (BTC)

Staffers at CoinCorner, a British bitcoin trading venue and exchange founded in 2014, now receive part or all of their salaries in cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, ether, and XRP, via CoinCoiner Checkout, a crypto payments solution that eliminates the risks of price volatility for users, reports IOMToday on August 19, 2019. CoinCorner Fostering Bitcoin Adoption Per sources close to the matter, staffers at CoinCorner exchange have all shown interest in getting paid in bitcoin and supported altcoins like ether, XRP, and litecoin. Reportedly, the firm gave workers an option of getting paid…

Secondary Market for Telegram Tokens Sees 400% Return for Investors

Telegram’s eagerly awaited blockchain, Telegram Open Network (TON), is set to be launched on October 31. However, the yet-to-be issued tokens are already trading on an unauthorized secondary market. Purchase Agreement Does Not Allow For Resale Investors are already seeing returns as high as 400% on Telegram tokens, known as grams; however, secondary buyers run the risk of their investment being worthless, as a clause in the initial offering of grams prevents their resale in any way before the launch of TON. The company is also running on a deadline,…

Software Engineering Firm EPAM Joins Blockchain in Transport Alliance

Software engineering and IT consulting services firm EPAM Systems Inc. has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) that develops blockchain practices and standards in the transportation, logistics and supply chain industry. According to a press release on Aug. 19, EPAM determined 21 real-world use cases of blockchain tech in industries such as life sciences, transportation, logistics, agriculture, consumer packaged goods, manufacturing and retail, insurance and healthcare. The BiTA will purportedly use EPAM’s software engineering expertise to further improve blockchain development and establish standards. Blockchain hype vs practical applications Commenting…

Binance iOS App Listed on Apple App Store After Delay for Review

Major global crypto exchange Binance has got its iOS application listed on the Apple App Store. In a blog post on Aug. 19, the exchange announced that the Binance iOS App (V1.7.1) has returned to the App Store. Prior to the official announcement, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao revealed the news in a tweet on Aug. 17, stressing that the process of getting listed on the App Store was tough and probably harder than getting listed on Binance, due to a number of rules and procedures. Delay complaints The app’s recent…

Israeli Bitcoiners Petition Banks to Disclose Crypto Policies

The Israel Bitcoin Association, a nonprofit organization that promotes the use of Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies, has reportedly filed a freedom of information petition with a Jerusalem court. The petition purportedly seeks to require local banks to disclose their policies on money originating from digital currencies.  Local news daily Globes reported on Aug. 19 that state banks are required to report reasons for refusing transactions to the country’s central bank, the Bank of Israel. The association previously reached out to Bank of Israel, asking for clarification on the cryptocurrency policies…

Crypto Custodian BitGo Hires Former Xapo Vice-President as CRO

Digital asset trust and security company BitGo has appointed wallet provider Xapo’s former senior vice-president Pete Najarian as its new chief revenue officer (CRO). As finance-focused media outlet Finance Magnates reported on Aug. 19, Najarian will now serve as BitGo’s CRO, reporting to the company’s chief executive officer Mike Belshe. Commenting on the appointment, Belshe said: “Pete has a deep understanding of capital markets and an exceptional breadth of experience in financial services. This makes him a perfect partner for institutional investors who are entering the cryptocurrency market. We’re building…

Winklevoss’ Gemini Crypto Exchange Hires New Chief Security Officer

Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange and custody founded by the Winklevoss twins, has hired cybersecurity expert David Damato as its new chief security officer (CSO). Damato was previously the CSO of cybersecurity firm Tanium.  Tyler Winklevoss announced the new hire in an official blog post on Aug. 19. According to the blog, Damato previously created and led a cybersecurity team at Tanium that provided security services to government agencies, Fortune 500 firms and numerous banks. In the announcement, Tyler Winklevoss emphasized that Gemini has always had a security-first mentality, citing its…