Digital Assets
Digital assets are about more than just Bitcoin. The global adoption of blockchain, expansion of cross-border payments, new investment vehicles tied to intellectual property, and more, could one day establish a global market of digitized assets worth $50 trillion. This channel provides access to the latest developments, opportunities, risks, and thought leaders in the growing Digital Assets space.
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Robinhood (NASDAQ: HOOD) has launched its Crypto app in the European Union (EU), allowing eligible customers to engage in crypto trading with the added incentive of earning Bitcoin rewards. Customers stand to receive up to 1 BTC as a reward when signing up and can earn an additional 1 BTC for each successful referral. The platform claims to be the sole custodial crypto platform in the EU offering customers a percentage of their trading volume back every month, paid in Bitcoin.
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More Stories on Digital Assets
PayPal is AWOL at Libra Association Meeting on Digital Assets
Paypal was a prominent absentee at a crucial strategy meeting of the Libra Association held in Washington Thursday.
The 28 member Libra Association backs Facebook’s globe-spanning plan for the Libra digital currency. According to a report in the Financial Times, the agenda for the meeting was the global groundswell of regulatory opposition to Libra.
A person familiar with the event confirmed to the FT that all members showed up for the meeting except PayPal.
State Street on Blockchain: The Trickle of Digital Assets Will Soon Turn Into A Flood
State Street, the huge custody bank which holds assets of over $30 trillion, may soon see a flood of blockchain-based digital assets. According to Jay Biancamano, State Street’s head of digital assets and blockchain in capital markets, historically illiquid assets may soon use the blockchain to become more liquid.
Libra Association to Meet in Switzerland to Discuss Digital Assets: Make or Break?
No one thought setting up a globally acceptable cryptocurrency such as Facebook’s Libra would be easy. But the Libra Association’s upcoming meeting in Switzerland may show which of its members are in for the long haul.
WSJ: Libra May Lose Key Partners over Regulatory Scrutiny
The Facebook Libra cryptocurrency project could lose key partners, according to the Wall Street Journal. However, the report did generate a response from David Marcus and Facebook.
Why McAfee Expects Bitcoin to Touch $1 Million by 2020
John McAfee explains in a Forbes interview why he thinks Bitcoin will climb to $1 million by 2020.
McAfee’s bitcoin prediction, famously made in 2017, is still alive and kicking despite the stomach-wrenching volatility in the value of the cryptocurrency.
John McAfee is a colorful tech personality who founded computer firm McAfee Associates. He is also a 2020 United States presidential campaigner.
Wave Financial Launches Yield Fund Based On Cryptocurrency Derivatives
Wave Financial is addressing the fast-developing interest in option strategies in the cryptocurrency sector with its Wave Bitcoin (BTC) Income and Growth Digital Fund. The Wave Financial fund will hold reserves of Bitcoin (BTC) in the custody of Fidelity Digital Assets. The fund will generate income by earning a premium from selling call options on the fund’s BTC reserves with strikes 20% or more above the current BTC trading price.
The New Crypto Rating Council Will Assess Digital Assets
The Crypto Rating Council, launched by big crypto exchanges, will assess digital assets to ascertain if they qualify as securities.
Ant Financial to Develop Blockchain Based Agro-Monitoring Product With Bayer
Ant Financial and Bayer Crop have signed an LOI to develop a blockchain-powered platform to monitor agricultural production jointly.
The new system will boost efficiencies in agricultural production. It will also ensure that consumers receive high quality and safe food, at the same time enhancing farmers’ income.
More Americans Know at Least One Cryptocurrency
A new YouGov survey suggests that more Americans than ever are learning about cryptocurrencies. The survey shows that 81% of Americans have heard of at least one cryptocurrency.
Investors in Ripple’s XRP Rely on SEC Guidance To Claim It Was An ‘Unregistered Security’
The SEC’s Framework for “Investment Contract” Analysis of Digital Assets has given a group of plaintiffs more power to their elbow in a May 2018 lawsuit.
The investors have amended their complaint based on the Framework. The amended complaint reinforces their contention that they were illegally sold XRP, a digital cryptocurrency, as an unregistered security.
Investors in Ripple’s XRP Rely on SEC Guidance To Claim It Was An ‘Unregistered Security’
Investors amended their complaint in a May 2018 lawsuit regarding the XRP cryptocurrency, relying on SEC’s guidance on digital assets. The SEC’s Framework for “Investment Contract” Analysis of Digital Assets has given a group of plaintiffs more power to their elbow in a May 2018 lawsuit. Accordingly, the investors have amended their complaint based on…
CME Group to Launch Bitcoin Options In 2020
CME Group, which introduced futures in bitcoin in 2017, will launch options on the digital currency in 2020.
CME Group’s bitcoin options will enable market participants to hedge or speculate on the cryptocurrency. The new product from CME is an acknowledgment of the increased trading and investing interest in bitcoin.
Swiss Private Bank Launches Digital Asset Services Including for Bitcoin And Ethereum
Arab Bank Switzerland, a leading Swiss private bank, will provide custody and brokerage services for Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The bank will target high net worth clients for the services. It will become one of the first private banks in Europe to offer such facilities for digital assets.
Deutsche Bank Joins JPMorgan Blockchain Project
The project now serves 320 banks around the globe on cross-border payments The JPMorgan Blockchain Project just got another big player in the blockchain game. Deutsche Bank has joined JP Morgan Chase’s Interbank Information Network (IIN). This is the financial industry’s single largest blockchain initiative. The data-sharing product features the connection of 320 banks on top…
Marshall Islands to issue its own national cryptocurrency
Marshall Islands snubbed the IMF and overcame initial US Treasury objections to its issue of a state-backed digital currency
The tiny Pacific republic is about to fructify its year-long effort to escape dependence on the US dollar.
Formally known as the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), the US associated state will soon issue its own digital currency dubbed the Marshallese sovereign (SOV)
Libra Association chief undeterred by regulatory outcry; says Libra cryptocurrency will launch 2020
Bertrand Perez, General Director of the Libra Association, said Facebook would not delay the launch of Libra
In an interview with online French news site Les Echos, Perez confirmed that the association would launch Libra in the second half of 2020. “We are firmly maintaining our launch schedule,” he said.
Facebook’s Libra: Paypal non-committal in the face of regulatory rumblings
PayPal, a member of the Libra Association, said its membership is “a non-binding commitment”
There is somewhat of an international furor around Facebook’s proposed Libra digital currency. Central banks, financial regulators, and governments are coming out with increasingly negative noises around Libra. Fears swirl around money laundering, adequate regulation, international coordination, and risks to consumers.
PayPal’s comment is significant given earlier rumors that some members of the Libra Association were contemplating backing out.
Libra to seek registration as a payment system
Swiss financial regulator FINMA said it had received a request from the Libra Association for assessment of Libra’s classification
The Libra project would indicatively classify under financial market infrastructure regulation, the regulator said. On a current evaluation, it would need a payment system license from FINMA.
Libra on the backfoot as France, Germany oppose virtual currencies
France and Germany oppose Facebook’s proposed Libra cryptocurrency
In a setback for Libra, the finance ministers of France and Germany issued a joint statement opposing the digital currency.
They claimed that virtual currencies were risky for consumers, financial stability, and the monetary sovereignty of European states.
FCA-Approved Crypto-Arbitrage Fund Raises $50 Million
Nickel Asset Management, a London-based hedge fund, has officially launched a cryptocurrency-focused ‘Nickel Arbitrage Fund.’
The new fund has raised $50 million within two months and won rare approval from UK regulators.
Now trade the world’s 1st tokenized hedge fund – 24/7
Protos, the world’s first tokenized hedge fund, opened to public investors this month
Crypto investors can now trade the Protos hedge fund tokens on the OpenFinance Network (OFN). OFN is an SEC-registered Alternative Trading System (ATS).
Leading global macro fund to launch $1 billion crypto fund for institutions
Elwood Asset Management, backed by billionaire Alan Howard, will launch an institutional crypto hedge fund that could raise as much as $1 billion
Elwood manages the personal crypto assets of Mr. Howard and has performed due diligence on crypto hedge funds to establish the quality of governance and security.
The Libra Association Announces $10,000 Bug Bounty for Libra
The Libra Association has launched a bug bounty program that will reward up to $10,000 for a critical flaw found in the testnet code of its Libra stablecoin
The Libra Association, tasked with processing Libra transactions and maintaining the digital currency’s underlying blockchain, has expanded the scope of testing its code for bugs.
For the initial beta bug testing, conducted when Libra first launched, the Association invited 50 security researchers with blockchain expertise. This private program has now been thrown open to the public with rewards promised to anyone finding a bug in the code.
Global Reserve Currency: Mark Carney Pitches Crypto Replacement to U.S. Dollar
Bank of England governor Mark Carney wants to switch to a “Synthetic Hegemonic Currency” as a means to stabilize global financial systems
Trade and currency wars have rocked global financial systems in recent times. In a speech at Jackson Hole, Carney proposed the creation of a “Synthetic Hegemonic Currency” (SHC) that would replace the US dollar as the global reserve currency.