Blockchain & Digital Assets

Blockchain, distributed ledger technology, crypto, digital assets, tokenization and stablecoin news.

Representative Bill Huizenga Sends Letter to Gary Gensler Demanding FTX Records

Representative Bill Huizenga, the Chair of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, part of the House Financial Services Committee, has sent a letter to SEC Chair Gary Gensler demanding he hand over documents surrounding Sam Bankman-Fried and the collapse of the crypto exchange. The letter… Read More

Vaultavo Introduces Biometric Smart Card Based Crypto Custody Solution

Vaultavo Inc. has developed a patent-pending crypto custody solution “to address the security requirements of the institutional market and its clients.” The Vaultavo Custody Solution “combines the world’s first biometric digital asset custody smart card with state-of-the-art proprietary vaults and secure SaaS digital platform and… Read More

A Paternalistic and Lazy Regulator: SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce Criticizes Kraken Enforcement Action

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce has shared her thoughts on the enforcement action taken against Kraken. The crypto exchange agreed to pay a $30 million penalty pertaining to its staking service. The ability for US clients to earn a return on parked Proof of Stake digital… Read More

SEC Crypto Crackdown Expected to Continue. Who Will Be Next?

  SEC Chair Gary Gensler received some face time this morning on CNBC in the wake of the Commission’s enforcement action taken against crypto exchange Kraken. The platform was compelled to pay a $30 million penalty for its staking service offered to US investors. Staking… Read More

Fireblocks, Proof of Stake Alliance Comment on Kraken’s Settlement with SEC

  Digital asset firm Kraken’s settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has left many wondering what this means for the industry’s future. Fireblocks’ Chief Legal & Compliance Officer Jason Allegrante and Proof of Stake Alliance (POSA)’s Executive Director Alison Mangiero have the… Read More

Bitso Releases “Guiding Principles” for Self-Regulation, Promotion of Standard Best-Practices for LatAm Crypto Sector

Bitso, the cryptocurrency-powered financial services company in Latin America, has released the regulatory principles that “guide its operations and its strategic decisions in adherence with the highest industry standards.” At a time when the crypto industry is facing unparalleled doubt and scrutiny due to both… Read More

Rosbank Demonstrated First Digital Gold Exchange Transaction in Russia Using Digital Rubles

Rosbank demonstrated the first digital gold exchange deal in Russia using digital rubles. According to the bank it involved “the exchange of tokenized gold between two parties using innovative distributed ledger technology (blockchain) to ensure the security and continuity of the process.” The project was… Read More

Dell Technologies Joins Hedera Governing Council to Help Automate Distributed Ledger Technology

The Hedera Governing Council announced Dell Technologies is the latest company to join the Council “to help organizations explore distributed ledger technology (DLT).” As an active member of the Hedera Council and network, Dell will “gain experience with the opportunities provided by the rising technology… Read More

Coinbase Shares Sink 14% Following SEC Enforcement Action Targeting Kraken

Shares in Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), the only publicly traded crypto exchange in the US, tanked today – perhaps reacting to the SEC’s enforcement action taken against rival crypto exchange Kraken. In a complaint revealed today, the SEC claimed that crypto staking, or staking as a service,… Read More

Staking No More: Kraken Hit With $30 Million Penalty by SEC, Halts Crypto Staking for US Accounts

Following industry rumblings anticipating the move, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken action against crypto exchange Kraken in regard to their staking service. Kraken has settled the charges by the SEC without admitting or denying the allegations and paying a $30 million penalty…. Read More

Coinbase CEO Worries that Crypto Staking is Doomed

Brian Armstrong, CEO and founder of Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), took to Twitter yesterday to share his belief that crypto staking is doomed as regulators – the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – will soon kill off the popular method of generating revenue for parked crypto. Currently,… Read More

GHO: Aave based Stablecoin Pegged 1 to 1 to US Dollar Announced

Aave, a web3 protocol company, has announced a new dollar-based stablecoin “GHO” (pronounced Go), on Ethereum’s Goerli Testnet. Pegged one to one to the US dollar, the digital asset is said to be overcollaterizled According to the company, the Aave DAO will manage the supply… Read More

Fireblocks Director of CBDC, Market Infrastructure Says Bank of England Consultation Paper on CBDC Offers Meaningful Engagement Opportunity

Fireblocks Director of CBDC & Market Infrastructure Varul Paul has commented on the recent Bank of England Consultation paper focused on the development of the Digital Pound. Prior to Fireblocks, Varun spent 14 years “at the Bank of England, where he supported key decisions on interest… Read More

Blockchain and AI are Not Complementary

Artificial intelligence is all the rage right now – fueled by the novelty of ChatGPT, an application that helps provide the masses with a concrete example of what is possible today, along with a look into the future. Blockchain has been the new shiny for… Read More

X8 AG Applies for Swiss Fintech License in Pursuit of Operating a Global Stablecoin Platform

According to an email, X8 AG has submitted the application to the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), for a Swiss Fintech license according to Article 1b Banking Act. X8 AG aims to emerge as a “regulated global stablecoin system.” X8 AG said that it… Read More

LCX to Issue Blockchain Powered Euro Bond

LCX says it will become the first company in the crypto industry to issue a tokenized bond that generates a fixed yield for investors. The blockchain-powered “EURt7 tokenized bond” has been approved by the securities regulator in Liechtenstein and is thus available across all EU… Read More

WeTransfer Partners with Blockchain Tech Firm Minima

Minima, a new blockchain platform, announced a unique collaboration with WeTransfer, the world’s “most trusted” platform for sharing digital content. Together, the two companies are “deploying non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the Minima network to empower creators all over the world with Digital Rights Management for… Read More

Digital Assets: Matrixport Operating in the UK Following AR Arrangment with Varramore

Matrixport has had its UK wholly-owned subsidiary, Matrixport Advisors Limited, appointed as an Appointed Representative (AR) of Varramore Partners Limited (Varramore), which is authorized and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The relationship allows Matrixport to conduct a range of investment-related activities in the UK…. Read More

SBI, Standard Chartered-backed Zodia Custody to Set Up Tier-1 Crypto-Asset Custodian in Japan

SBI Digital Asset Holdings Co., Ltd. (SBI DAH) and Zodia Custody Limited, a crypto asset servicing provider for institutional investors and a subsidiary of Standard Chartered, announce that they have reportedly “entered into definitive agreements to launch a joint venture in Japan.” Subject to anti-trust… Read More

Republic Note Quickly Raises $3 Million in Reg CF Offering

Do you remember Republic Note? Back in 202o, Republic sought to raise capital for a security that provides purchasers with a portion of the income generated by the investment crowdfunding platform. At that time, Republic raised about $16 million in a sold-out Reg D 506c… Read More

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