This week, $312 billion Bank of America (BoA) filed a patent to offer crypto custody, targeting large-scale institutional investors and retail traders. Some experts have said that the efforts of major financial institutions to create institutional products around cryptocurrencies will bolster the adoption of crypto in US markets, which will naturally lead to other publicly […]

The North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) announced that there are “more than 200 active investigations” by state or provincial-level agencies into initial coin offerings (ICOs) and other crypto-related investment products. NASAA, composed of securities regulators from the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Mexico, said in a press release Tuesday that […]

Trading platform OpenFinance has launched a regulated alternative trading system (ATS) for security tokens, CEO Juan Hernandez announced Tuesday. Accredited investors in the U.S. can now purchase or trade the digital assets on OpenFinance’s platform. Retail investors who cannot receive accreditation may also be able to trade certain assets, though after a 12-month holding period, […]

Sanctions-hit North Korea is planning to host its first-ever international conference focusing on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology in October. According to Radio Free Asia, the event will be held in the hermit kingdom’s capital of Pyongyang and will stretch for two days beginning October 1. Per various reports, the conference is expected to attract blockchain […]

Randy Brito is the head of Bitcoin Venezuela, a non-profit organization dedicated to educate and promote Bitcoin in Venezuela. He is also spearheading the Locha project, which he describes as “an effort to push the needed developments and research for achieving the hyperbitcoinization in Venezuela.”  Brito also sees a use case for bitcoin in countries […]

The Philippines, Thailand, and South Korea are moving towards creating the next crypto valley, after recognizing the success of Malta and Zug, Switzerland in creating crypto and blockchain friendly environments. Most countries in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and Thailand, have cracked down on crypto trading and blockchain-related developments over the past year. A few months […]

The World Bank has launched the first bond on a blockchain with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. The A$110 million ($87 million) bond-i (blockchain operated new debt instrument) — so named, I’m assuming, because of Australia’s famed Bondi Beach (bankers have the funnies!) — is the first bond to be created, allocated, transferred and managed […]

Coinbase has unveiled a set of guiding principles designed to facilitate the adoption and growth of its new range of products and services aimed at institutional investors. In a blogpost signed by Coinbase Vice President and General Manager Adam White, the company stated that these ‘North Star’ principles will create a framework for the market […]

By Laura Desmond The new head of Japan’s primary financial regulator has backed the domestic cryptocurrency sector to grow while ruling out ‘excessive’ regulation for exchanges. In statements certain to encourage the domestic cryptocurrency sector, Toshihide Endo, the newly appointed commissioner of Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA), told Reuters that the authority is aiming to […]

By Alisa Moon Shark attacks are fairly rare, as they accounted for only 439 deaths between 1958 and 2016. However, shark attacks still make for exciting movies. One shark attack movie, “The Meg,” recently promoted itself with virtual shark attacks at an Australian railway station. Village Roadshow Studios, the makers of “The Meg,” teamed up with […]