Moving blockchain away from cryptocurrencies: An interview with Billon CEO Andrzej Horoszczak

Interview with Billon CEO and founder

For many people, blockchain is indelibly linked to cryptocurrencies it is set to disrupt the established international financial order. But, is large-scale disruption actually beneficial to the individuals and companies that rely on the international payment system everyday? Billon wants harness the transformative power of blockchain to provide secure and regulated environments for electronic currency transfers, all whilst remaining fully compliant with KYC and AML procedures. In short,...

20 April 2018 | Cryptocurrency

NASA looking into Ethereum-based autonomous spacecraft

Nasa researching Ethereum-based spacecraft

NASA has initiated a new research programme along with the University of Akron to explore the possibility of using blockchain in space communication and navigation. The two organisations want to see whether blockchain technology could be used in the creation of an autonomous spacecraft that is capable of making navigation decisions by itself. Currently, if a craft was operating in deep space, millions of miles from the Earth, it would still need scientists to actively send it...

19 April 2018 | Blockchain

Huawei announces Hyperledger-based BaaS

Huawei launches BaaS

Telecommunications and smartphone giant Huawei has added itself to the list of Chinese tech companies to launch a blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) platform. The company made the announcement at its analyst conference in Shenzhen on Tuesday. The new platform, given the flashy name of Blockchain Service, is designed to allow companies to develop smart contracts on top of a distributed ledger network for a variety of business use-cases. Huawei has been a member and contributor to the...

18 April 2018 | Blockchain

Moody’s: Blockchain could disrupt Swiss and UK banking systems

Moody's - blockchain - banking disruption

In a report released on Monday, Moody’s has highlighted the Swiss and UK banking systems as most at risk of serious disruption as the use of blockchain spreads. The technology’s potential to significantly cut transaction costs and time could initially seem like a positive for banks but could actually start eating into their bottom line. The report states: “While making cross-border transactions faster and less expensive would be credit positive for banks, these efficiencies could...

17 April 2018 | Banking

European Commission to create European Blockchain Partnership

European Commission - European Blockchain partnership

The European Commission has ended its Digital Day 2018 summit by announcing the signing of a declaration to create European Blockchain Partnership. 22 states signed the document, which looks to create a way for member states to cooperate and exchange experience and expertise about the technology. In a press release, the Commission said that the Partnership will also prepare for the launch of EU-wide blockchain applications in the digital single market, in both the public and private...

12 April 2018 | Blockchain

Bank of England partners with Chain for blockchain PoC

Bank of England - Blockchain - PoC

The Bank of England (BoE) is currently developing a blockchain PoC based around maintaining privacy over a distributed ledger network while still keeping data shared across the network. According to a paper released on Wednesday, the UK’s central bank has partnered with blockchain infrastructure startup Chain for the project. The projects main questions are concerned with whether confidentiality can be adequately maintained in a blockchain-based system, and whether there must necessarily...

11 April 2018 | Blockchain

Chile to put energy data on Ethereum’s blockchain

Chile plans to put energy data on Ethereum blockchain

Chile's National Energy Commission (CNE) has announced that it will be utilising the Ethereum blockchain for the nation’s first distributed ledger project. The commission confirmed the plan on April 5th, after first announcing it in February 2018. The CNE will look to authenticate a range of energy data, such as average market prices, marginal costs, fuel prices and renewable energy law compliance data. The hope is that blockchain technology will improve the security of the country’s...

10 April 2018 | Ethereum

International legal challenge to crypto ad ban gathers pace

legal challenge to crypto ad ban

A legal challenge against the internet companies such as Google and Facebook that have severely restricted advertising related to crypto products and services is due to be filed in New York in May. The challenge is a joint effort from a number of international associations and businesses. The initial groups behind the lawsuit were the Eurasian Blockchain Association, the Russian Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Association, the Korea Venture Business Association and the Chinese Association of...

9 April 2018 | Cryptocurrency

Central bank of India bans financial firms from dealing in crypto

India bans financial firms from using cryptocurrencies

The global cryptocurrency market took another regulatory hit on Thursday as India’s central bank issued a ban on the use of cryptocurrencies by regulated financial institutions in the country. The Reserve bank of India (RBI) said in a statement: "In view of the associated risks, it has been decided that, with immediate effect, entities regulated by RBI shall not deal with or provide services to any individual or business entities dealing with or settling [virtual currencies]." The...

6 April 2018 | Blockchain

Vitalik Buterin: ‘bitcoin creator’ Craig Wright is a fraud

Vitalik Buterin calls Craig Wright a fraud

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin did not feel the need to speak diplomatically about Craig Wright at the Deconomy conference in South Korea. Buterin labelled Wright, who claimed to be mythical Bitcoin creator Nakamoto in 2016, a fraud and questioned his validity to speak at the conference. The confirmed founder of Ethereum made a complaint to the organisers of the event asking why Wright was invited, when he makes “so many non sequiturs and mistakes”. He received applause from the...

5 April 2018 | Bitcoin