Technology

Cryptocurrency News From Japan: March 29 – April 4 in Review

This week’s headlines from Japan included the country’s Financial Services Agency revealing feedback from the public on recent regulation, the Cabinet Office Ordinance announcing regulatory changes, Zaif exchange removing three crypto assets, BitBank’s COO predicting crypto exchange mergers, and Nomura Research Institute issuing Japan’s first blockchain-based bond. Check out some of this week’s crypto and blockchain headlines, originally reported by Cointelegraph Japan.Japanese FSA receives comments on new regulationsThe Japanese Financial Services Agency, or FSA, unveiled 172 comments from citizens and groups, pertaining to recent crypto asset laws taking effect on May

April Fools, Celebrity Scams, & Manipulated Markets: Bad Crypto News of the Week

Bitcoin seems to be settling happily above $6,000 and is currently just north of $6,500 again. Let’s hope we’ve seen the last of those $5,000 movements and we’re ready for a steady climb back to double figures before the halving in mid-May. It’s getting closer.In the meantime, the Federal Reserve now appears to have merged into the federal government. An opinion piece in Bloomberg has described how an alphabet soup of financial programs intended to help the economy through the current crisis is allowing the government to buy up securities

Blockchain Experts Weigh in on Russia’s Controversial Coronavirus Tracking App

Experts suggest that blockchain technology could have been a better solution for handling coronavirus-related data in Russia.Moscow’s COVID-19 App is pulled from Google PlayOn March 25, an app called “Social monitoring” appeared in Google Play store. According to the app’s description, it was designed for social monitoring as well as for providing access to emergency services.Users soon noticed that the app required many sensitive permissions, including geolocation, bluetooth pairing, biometric data, and calls. Notably, the data was also being openly transmitted without encryption. The backlash against the app led to

Talking Digital Future: Smart Cities

My journey into smart cities and their future development was a really big surprise, as the way I arrived there was not something that I had planned. I was working as the chief information officer for a company in Northern California called O'Reilly Media when I got a call from a headhunter who asked if I would consider being the chief information office for the City of Palo Alto. I can vividly remember — it was only about eight years ago — my feeling when she asked the question. The

IBM Praises CEO For Playing a Significant Role in Blockchain Development

In a letter to the shareholders, IBM has acknowledged that one of the main achievements of the new CEO is the expansion of its blockchain business.The document notes that its technology portfolio is “built for the future”, with blockchain being one of the technologies underpinning this belief. It denotes IBM as:“...a leader in hybrid cloud, data and AI, security, blockchain, enterprise services”.Discussing the recent appointment of the new CEO, it notes that Arvind Krishna:“Played a significant role in developing IBM key technologies: artificial intelligence, cloud, quantum computing & blockchain”.Blockchain is

Blockchain Provides Trusted Data to Counter Spread of Coronavirus

With each passing day, new data regarding the coronavirus pandemic is being brought to the public’s attention. From the number of cases in various regions to ever-changing safety procedures like wearing masks in public, COVID-19 data is clearly present, yet remains inconsistent.While a lack of accurate information may be frustrating on a personal level, ever-changing data is taking a toll on the health officials and researchers working effortlessly to help subdue the coronavirus crisis. To combat the issue, the San Francisco-based blockchain security company Hacera launched a data analytics platform

IOTA Set for More Exposure on U.S Exchanges After New 2.0 CRC Rating

IOTA (MIOTA), the native token of the distributed ledger technology project led by the IOTA Foundation, could potentially be listed on more cryptocurrency exchanges in the United States in the coming weeks, Coinfomania has learned. The anticipated listing spree, which has already begun with a Bittrex Exchange listing earlier today, follows a recent rating report published by the Crypto Rating Council (CRC) on IOTA. The digital asset has until now been sparsely traded on U.S exchanges. The reason is that its properties and mode of initial distribution (a token sale)

Exchange CEO Forecasts Crypto Market Uptick in Coming Weeks

As the world sits in flux between coronavirus and financial market concerns, AAX crypto exchange CEO, Thor Chan, thinks cryptocurrencies will ultimately make out ok.“During a period of intense panic, many investors fled the markets in search of cash, or to defend their positions elsewhere,” Chan told The Merkle in a March 30 interview, referencing recent plunging crypto and mainstream markets. “Cryptocurrency markets suffered together with all other markets,” he continued, adding:“But over the coming weeks and months, as governments cut interest rates, I think we will see the crypto

150-Year-Old Chinese Gas Company Ramps Up Blockchain Adoption

Chinese energy company, Shanghai Gas, announced an expansion of its blockchain efforts following a successful trial partnership with supply chain management blockchain firm, VeChain (VET), on March 31.Shanghai Gas, founded in 1865, is owned by utility services company, Shenergy Group — which claims to occupy more than 90% of Shanghai’s gas market. The firm has an annual supply of over 8 billion cubic meters.Shanghai Gas expands blockchain adoptionShanghai Gas’ trial used distributed ledger technology, or DLT, provided by VeChain to comprehensively monitor its supply chain and identify opportunities for efficiency

South African National Blockchain Alliance Holds Online Launch

The South African National Blockchain Alliance carried out an online livestream launch while the country is in the midst of a 21-day lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The organization was due to be launched at the beginning of April in Johannesburg but had to be taken online as South Africa and the world tackles a global health crisis.The launch happened during a livestream on YouTube on April 3, which included a panel of speakers elaborating on how SANBA will help nurture blockchain-focused startups and companies that

CryptoKitties Creators Get Partner with the NBA for A New Collectible Token

Dapper Labs, the creators of one of the most popular blockchain games CryptoKitties, are getting ready to turn the digital token world upside down.NBA patent for Dapper LabsThe March 24 edition of the Intellectual Property Magazine of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has listed Dapper Labs for receiving rights to use National Basketball Association (NBA) branding. This will include pictures of games as well as players which will be used for a digital collectible token by the company in Brazil. The new program will be called “NBA Top Shot” and it