Different aspects of the Libra proposal that various authors have emphasized: Jameson Lopp on OneZero: A “database of programmable resources;” Move; “[p]erhaps the network as a whole can switch to proof of stake, but in order for the stablecoin peg/basket to be maintained, some set of entities must keep a bridge open to the traditional financial system. This will be a persistent point of centralized control via the Libra Association”; not a blockchain, the “data structure of the ledger...
Read More »Industry challenges blockchain during hackathon
Hackathons are high-octane events that challenge teams to provide solutions using technology More than 200 hackers from 19 countries converged on Switzerland at the weekend to take part in the Swiss Blockchain Hackathon. Participants were challenged to come up with blockchain innovations in a variety of sectors as diverse as finance, logistics and agriculture. Switzerland has hosted numerous hackathons over the past few...
Read More »REAL RECOVERY OR MARKET TRICKERY? Claudio Grass On The Everything Bubble – And The Asset Class That’s Still Cheap
[embedded content] Mainstream analysts and market bulls have some powerful numbers on their side: government-published unemployment figures remain low, America just had the best first quarter of a year for stocks since 1998, and the U.S. dollar is still the world’s reserve currency. But is all of this really indicative of a strong economy and a sustainable market, or is it just an illusion? You have a right to know the truth, so Portfolio Wealth Global just published a powerful interview...
Read More »Watchdog confirms illegal activity by cryptocurrency firm Envion
The company is in the middle of bankruptcy proceedings handled by the Zug bankruptcy office. An investigation by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has revealed the that Zug-based cryptocurrency venture Envion unlawfully received deposits from at least 37,000 investors. Envion unlawfully accepted over CHF90 million ($90.5 million) in its Initial Coin Offering (ICO) without the necessary statutory...
Read More »JPM Coin
In the FT, Robert Armstrong reports about the new “JPM coin” launched by JP Morgan. “JPM Coins” will be transferable over a blockchain between the accounts of the bank’s corporate clients, who will purchase and redeem them for dollars at a fixed 1:1 ratio, making them “stablecoins” in the crypto-jargon. The technology will facilitate near-instantaneous settlement of these money transfers and will, according to the bank, mitigate counterparty risk. According to my reading, the coins are...
Read More »JPM Coin
In the FT, Robert Armstrong reports about the new “JPM coin” launched by JP Morgan. “JPM Coins” will be transferable over a blockchain between the accounts of the bank’s corporate clients, who will purchase and redeem them for dollars at a fixed 1:1 ratio, making them “stablecoins” in the crypto-jargon. The technology will facilitate near-instantaneous settlement of these money transfers and will, according to the bank, mitigate counterparty risk. According to my reading, the coins are...
Read More »Swisscom Blockchain head departs abruptly
The state-owned Swiss telecoms operator has branched out into blockchain technology. Daniel Haudenschild has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Swisscom Blockchain with immediate effect. The state-owned telecommunications group gave no reason for the shock move by the top manager and shareholder of its blockchain advisory unit. News of Haudenshild’s departure clearly came out of the blue for the Swiss blockchain...
Read More »Blockchain-basierte Abstimmungen?
Die Unabhängigkeitspartei up! hat die Vor- und Nachteile von traditionellen Wahlsystemen und E-Voting verglichen. Wir sind zum Schluss gekommen, dass ein dezentralisiertes, blockchain-basiertes System die Vorteile von beiden Modellen verbinden und so ein sichereres, effizienteres System ermöglichen könnte. Wir haben unsere Überlegungen in einem Positionspapier zusammengefasst.
Read More »Swiss blockchain industry sees meteoric growth
The booming Swiss blockchain sector continues to grow: over 600 companies and institutions are now located in the ‘Crypto Nation’ and neighbouring Liechtenstein, according to recently-released data. The industry employs around 3,000 people in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as well as many more abroad, says investment group Crypto Valley Venture Capitalexternal link (CV VC). Taken together, the top 50 blockchain...
Read More »Solutions without Historical Templates: Cryptocurrencies and Blockchains
Crypto-blockchain technologies are leveraging the potential of computers and the web for direct political-social innovation. We’re accustomed to three basic templates for system-wide solutions or improvements: 1. an individual “builds a better mousetrap” and starts a company to exploit this competitive advantage; 2. a company invents something that spawns a new industry (the photocopier, the web browser, for example)...
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