A group that advises the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) –  the EU’s securities watchdog – has recommended regulating most cryptocurrencies and ICO tokens under existing financial rules, but said more clarification is needed. In a report dated Oct. 19, the Securities and Markets Stakeholders Group (SMSG) said that, since transferable crypto assets used in payments (such as […]

“There obviously was a tremendous mistake made, and what compounded the mistake was the attempt to try to cover up,” the official said. Saudi Arabia said Sunday that it had formally apologized to the family of slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, even as its foreign minister called his killing at a consulate in Istanbul “a rogue […]

NEW YORK/MEXICO CITY – The new North American trade agreement ends key legal protections for many U.S. businesses operating in Mexico, leaving their operations exposed to a risk they had avoided under the old trade deal: Mexico’s court system. For thousands of U.S. firms, the change could add complications and uncertainty to doing business south […]

Samsung SDS, the IT subsidiary of Korean giant Samsung, is collaborating with Dutch ‘big three’ bank ABN AMRO for a logistics blockchain pilot tracking the shipment of a container from Korea to the Netherlands. In an announcement on Monday, Samsung SDS revealed details of a new partnership with the Netherlands bank for a joint blockchain pilot to […]

Russia has condemned US plans to withdraw from a Cold War-era nuclear weapons treaty and threatened to retaliate for a “very dangerous step”. On Saturday, President Trump said he intended to “terminate” the three-decade-old 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty. He said Russia had been “violating it for many years”. The deal banned ground-launched medium-range […]

Melbourne is now home to a new blockchain hub where NEM representatives will provide support to members of the public on blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. The hub will host educational programs and blockchain events, and it will also serve as a business incubator and support centre for NEM-based blockchain startups. Having benefited from local support through partnerships […]

Masayoshi Amamiya, Bank of Japan’s Deputy Governor, stated on Saturday that it was unclear whether digital currencies could enhance the monetary policies of central banks.  He elaborated that the Bank of Japan had no plans whatsoever to issue a cryptocurrency. Ongoing Debate Mr. Amamiya said that there was “quite a hurdle” for cryptocurrencies to overcome […]

BRUSSELS/SAN FRANCISCO – Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google will charge hardware firms up to $40 per device to use its apps under a new licensing system to replace one that the European Union this year deemed anti-competitive, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday. The new fee goes into effect on Oct. 29 for […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing by leaps and bounds, with exciting new applications launching every day. But a blockchain-based startup believes the transition from an “information economy” to an “intelligence economy” will prove a bumpy ride for many people. Large corporations have built most  of the common AI systems that many people use today. CEN […]

Millennial-focused money management startup Emma Technologies is expanding into crypto. The startup is behind the Emma app for iOS and Android, which is an artificial intelligence-fueled tool that until now has only supported financial institutions like HSBC, Bank of Scotland, Barclays and others, helping users to avoid overdraft fees, manage debt and save money. Now […]