Block Network

October 14, 2020

UK FCA crypto derivatives ban ignored 97% of consultation respondents

The U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority is accused of ignoring its own consultation and cherry-picking data. Last week’s blanket banning of cryptocurrency derivatives by the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority ignored 97% of respondents to its consultation, according to the FCA’s own policy statement.The 527 respondents included exchanges and companies involved in crypto assets and derivatives, […]

Starbucks and McDonald’s reportedly not testing China’s digital yuan

Starbucks and McDonald’s are reportedly not part of the 3,000 merchants piloting China’s CBDC. American fast-food giants like Starbucks and McDonald’s are reportedly not participating in China’s ongoing digital yuan tests.According to an Oct. 14 report by news agency Sina Finance, China’s central bank digital currency, or CBDC, is still being piloted on a “small […]

Blockchain firm Monerium thinks Europe ‘already has’ a digital euro

The ECB should grant e-money issuers access to central bank reserves, says Monerium. Consensys-backed e-money issuer Monerium thinks the route to a digital euro is simpler than the European Central Bank suggests.The fintech, which focuses on bridging fiat money with blockchains by issuing programmable digital cash, published a response to the ECB’s recent public consultation […]

Six Binance Smart Chain DeFi projects awarded grants from $100M fund

More than 180 projects have applied for grants since the $100 million accelerator fund was announced in September. Global cryptocurrency exchange Binance announced funding for six projects building on the firm’s smart chain.In an Oct. 14 statement, Binance stated that blockchain projects AnySwap, Arkane Network, BakerySwap, Bitquery, PancakeSwap and Proxima will receive $350,000 in grants […]

New WEF study reveals issues facing blockchain and crypto standards

WEF study says the ongoing efforts from blockchain organizations are not enough to set global blockchain standards. A study conducted by the World Economic Forum and Global Blockchain Business Council reveals the reasons why the blockchain industry still lacks well-defined standards on the global level.Dubbed the Global Standards Mapping Initiative, the study notes that the […]

Public companies hold almost $7B in Bitcoin in heads-up to Grayscale

Grayscale’s $5.1 billion in Bitcoin under management is fast being challenged by firms including CoinShares and MicroStrategy. Bitcoin (BTC) holdings at public companies topped $6.8 billion this year as newcomers catch up with industry heavyweight Grayscale.According to monitoring resource Coin98 Analytics, a total of 13 public companies have now invested in Bitcoin.Putting Grayscale’s “sun” in […]

Unqualified investors can buy up to $8K of crypto, says Bank of Russia

Russia’s central bank wants to limit the amount of cryptos and digital rights acquired by non-professional investors. The central bank of Russia proposed to set limits on annual cryptocurrency investments by non-professional investors.The Bank of Russia suggested that unqualified investors in Russia should not be allowed to invest more than 600,000 Russian rubles ($7,800) in […]

Cruise ship ‘Satoshi’ to house crypto companies and digital nomads

The first 200 cabins in a crypto-themed cruise ship will go on sale in November Ocean Builders, a company that builds “floating, off-grid seapod homes,” has bought an old Australian cruise ship it renamed ‘Satoshi’ and plans to fill with crypto companies, entrepreneurs, and digital nomads off the coast of Panama.In an announcement, Ocean Builders […]

Security token trading volume crashed by 60% in September

Two dozen security tokens drove $9.15 million in trade during September. Following four months of spectacular growth, security token trade volumes have crashed by nearly 60%.From May through August, monthly volume gains for the sector ranged between 113% and 280%, posting record highs that increased from $998,000, to nearly $22 million, according to Security Token […]

FSB releases recommendations to regulate ‘global stablecoins’ such as Libra

The Financial Stability Board has warned that global stablecoins could pose systemic risks to the monetary systems of nation-states. The G20’s financial watchdog, the Financial Stability Board (FSB), has published regulatory recommendations opposing the trans-national ambitions of “global stablecoins,” such as Facebook’s Libra project.The FSB’s report offers regulatory recommendations to G20 member states and the […]