Blockchain Technology Archives

Wyoming Introduces a Bill Aiming to Define Virtual Currencies as Money

A bill meant to clarify the classification of cryptocurrencies has been introduced in the U.S. state of Wyoming Jan. 18, according to the official state legislature website. The bill places crypto assets into three categories: digital consumer assets, digital securities and virtual currencies. The bill defines assets falling…

Corporate Blockchain Adoption Reaches 44%, Says Survey

Indian telecoms giant Tata Communications named the key barriers to blockchain adoption for businesses globally, in a survey published Dec. 12. Part of a survey on emerging sectors — dubbed ‘The Cycle of Progress’ — Tata’s report noted concerns around costs, security and privacy as…

Blockchain Payments’ Mass Adoption Is 3-5 Years Away, Says BitPay CEO

The CEO of crypto merchant platform BitPay Stephen Pair stated that speculation on future adoption drives Bitcoin’s (BTC) price more than “actual utility,” in an interview on CNBC Dec. 13. Speaking on the reasons behind Bitcoin’s current value, compared to its historic price highs, Pair…

Blockchain Could ‘Jeopardize the Safety’ of Current Financial Marketplace, DTCC Exec

Fintech is believed to be a “systemic risk” to the broader economy, according to a survey conducted by the United States Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), Dec. 11. 20 percent of respondents to the so-called “DTCC Systemic Risk Barometer,” identified fintech among…

Russian Draft Bill Blocking Suspicious Financial Websites ‘Could’ Cover ‘Scam’ ICOs, Experts Note

A group of Russian members of parliament (MPs) has introduced a draft bill on blocking suspicious financial websites on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Russian crypto media outlet Forklog believes it can encompass “scam” Initial Coin Offerings (ICO). According to the document, the country’s central bank will be…

IBM Research Teams up With Agritech Firm to Boost African Agribusiness with Blockchain

IBM Research has teamed up with United States-based agriculture tech firm Hello Tractor to boost the African agriculture industry with blockchain. The partnership was described in a Dec. 11 blog post on IBM’s official website. According to the post, the IBM Research division in Kenya is working with Hello Tractor’s developers…

Report: Stablecoins See Significant Growth in Adoption Over Recent Months

According to analysis by research firm Diar published Dec. 10, the adoption of stablecoins is growing based on the increasing number of on-chain transactions. Per Diar, four major stablecoins to date — USDC, True USD (TUSD), Paxos (PAX) and the Geminidollar (GUSD) — have broken…

State Farm Tests Blockchain Solution to Speed Up Auto Insurance Claims

U.S.-based insurance company State Farm is testing a blockchain-based solution to speed up the subrogation process for auto claims, according to an announcement published Dec. 10. State Farm is a large group of insurance and financial services firms that provides auto insurance in the U.S.…

SBI Holdings, R3 Embark on ‘Joint Venture’ to Boost Corda Blockchain Use in Asia

Japanese financial services company SBI Holdings will partner with software firm R3 to expand local use of its Corda blockchain platform, Cointelegraph Japan reported Dec. 5. Quoting local news outlet Nikkei, the report reveals that SBI, which is involved in multiple cryptocurrency and blockchain-related activities, will expand on its existing investment in R3…

Malta, Italy Issue Joint Warning Over Potential Unlicensed Cryptocurrency Exchange

Malta has warned citizens about an unlicensed cryptocurrency exchange serving its domestic market. Regulators ordered the platform to stop operating in a notice Dec. 5. The offending platform, OriginalCrypto, had first come to the attention of Italian officials concerned it may not have the required license to…