Day: June 9, 2018

With the debate on which digital assets should be considered securities and which shouldn’t dominating the crypto universe in recent months, crypto exchanges are taking measures to align themselves with whichever way the law swings. Coinbase is leading in this race with a number of initiatives in recent months that include applying for a banking license as well as a brokerage license. And in its continued efforts to stay ahead of the pack, Coinbase has announced the acquisition of three key firms that will build on its efforts to become a regulated broker-dealer.

Tokenizing Existing Securities

In a blog post on its Medium page, the San Francisco-based crypto exchange whose popularity in the US is ever-soaring announced that it will soon be able to offer blockchain-based securities, pending the approval of oversight bodies. This would put the exchange under the direct oversight of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Coinbase acquired three firms whose focuses are on investment advising, brokerage, and alternative trading systems. The three, Keystone Capital Corp, Venovate Marketplace, and Digital Wealth LLC are the latest in a series of acquisitions by the exchange as it seeks to establish itself as the undisputed market leader, especially in the lucrative US market.

The acquisition of Keystone Capital is especially instrumental in light of evolving industry regulation. Keystone is a San Diego, California-based FINRA-registered broker-dealer firm which offers its users a simple and multifaceted platform to trade equities, options and digital securities. Once the acquisition is approved, Coinbase users will be able to trade digital assets that are categorized as securities. With the SEC chairman recently declaring that the regulator considers most digital tokens trading today to be securities, the acquisition couldn’t have come at a better time.

Coinbase president Asiff Hirji described the move as “an important moment for the crypto ecosystem, and yet another indication of the maturation of the crypto economy.” Coinbase will be able to diversify its product offerings to include securities trading, margin and over-the-counter trading, and new market data products, he added.

Coinbase views this as a first step toward realizing its vision of a fully tokenized world.

Ultimately, we can envision a world where we may even work with regulators to tokenize existing types of securities, bringing to this space the benefits of cryptocurrency-based markets — like 24/7 trading, real-time settlement, and chain-of-title. We believe this will democratize access to capital markets for companies and investors alike, lowering costs for all participants and bringing additional transparency and inclusion to the ecosystem.

The Race for Market Domination

Coinbase has continued to make moves to secure its position as a premier crypto marketplace. While it has yet to increase the number of cryptos that trade on its platform, it has rebranded its products and introduced new products that are aimed at new markets and solidifying its current market base. Currently, the exchange only offers Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, and Bitcoin Cash. In April, it announced its $100 million acquisition of Earn.com, a startup that uses a blockchain to power a paid email service. The acquisition also saw the CEO of Earn, Balaji Srinivasan, become the exchange’s first-ever chief technology officer. Other M&A’s by the exchange include Cipher Browser, a decentralized Ethereum wallet that merged with Coinbase’s own decentralized mobile browser, Toshi.

Coinbase is in a tight race with Circle Financial, the company that owns crypto exchange Poloniex. Circle recently applied for a federal banking license, a move Coinbase also took earlier this year. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire revealed that the firm had also applied to become a registered brokerage and trading venue which, if approved by the SEC, would make it a direct competitor to Coinbase.

CoinCrowd have made a breakthrough protocol that puts fairness and security at the forefront, and this is committed to changing the token sale scenario for good. The team at CoinCrowd are motivated by the need to bring an equal and level field of fairness back into the market. After a very unsettling few months of companies running the normal token sale model. A year has passed and this new has been in the making, this technological advancement for the token sale infrastructure will lead token sales towards a new standard, marking a new era for token events, using the DAICO model.

The DAICO

The DAICO model stands out far above the current Token Sale model that incorporates certain aspects of DAO’s. The idea was originally suggested by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, and is set for making Token events more secure, using contributors in the initial project development process.

The DAICO Protocol

CoinCrowd using the all new DAICO protocol, is set to be launched with ease, enabling users to utilize any token sale platform, with the aggregation of automatically generated smart contracts. This will all happen internally using a Milestone Control System, providing participants with guarantees. Coins will be released only at the accomplishment of predefined points set into their token sale structure.  Participants will be able to vote-for-refund to have all their contributions returned, if they are not satisfied with the progress being made by the company.

The Exchange

Any DACIO that finishes using this new protocol will automatically get a listing on the new CoinCrowd decentralized exchange. Giving users a safe place to trade using a decentralized critical processes. This new system will also leave the management of private keys and the settlement of assets, additionally allowing instant transactions through off-chain book orders and matching engine. The CoinCrowd Exchange is ready for integration onto mobile/desktop wallets.

The Wallet

CoinCrowd Wallet, gives users a single platform to manage the multiple stages of any token event structure. With an easy-to-trade multiple coins, fiat currency converter and an option to participate in token events, all while finalizing all the KYC processes within the wallet.

The wallet is multi-functional supporting multiple accounts, and it is compatible with ENS, defined resolutions for Ethereum addresses. The wallet provides the best option in security with a combination of Biometric ID and user pin access, with users being the sole owners of their private keys.

The CoinCrowd Token Event

CrowdCoins native XCC token, has a purpose and that is the gas for the entire outfit. This protocol is open source, any persons can sign onto GitHub and read the code, this is to facilitate mass adoption worldwide.

Any fees generated by the exchange are used for token burning, this allows for increasing adoption and decreasing supply, this has an exhaustive value on the remaining tokens. Giving back plentyfull more rewards to the token holders.

The CoinCrowd team is made up from a passionate team of developers who have been working in the Blockchain Technologies sector for a long time, delivering high-end products to the user.

Since the wallet released in March, CoinCrowd has worked tremendously hard to release the prototype of the all new DAICO protocol, which will first be put to test in the CoinCrowds impending event, making it one of the words first to use this protocol

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Two Brazilian public transportation companies Viação Garcia and Brasil Sul have become the first of their kind in the country to offer a cryptocurrency payment option. Both bus companies are owned by GSB Group.

Currently, just Bitcoin is accepted, although the buisnesses are looking to expand into offering Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin payment options by July.

How it works

To choose the cryptocurrency payment method, customers must use the online pre-pay service. They are required to open their person online wallets and scan a code that appears on the screen. Viação Garcia or Brasil Sul will then email a voucher to the customer as payment confirmation.

The bus services offer trips between major metropolitan regions for both urban, and semi-urban areas. Additional options offered include sightseeing trips for clubs, schools, companies, unions, religious groups, as well as general private hire events.

Speaking on the crypto-payment adoption, GSB Group Vice President Estefano Boiko Jr. noted: “Many of the economic and commercial operations are migrating to the digital world, and in the road passenger transport segment it’s no different.”

Mass-adoption milestone

The move is being praised as a significant step in the goal of bringing cryptocurrencies into the mainstream. Brazil’s last population census accounted for nearly 208 million people, a hugely significant market should cryptocurrency payment options be adopted by alternative public transport service providers.

In 2017, Brazilian cryptocurrency exchanges accounted for USD 2.5 billion in Bitcoin, particularly notable considering an estimated 60 million people in Brazil do not have access to a ‘traditional’ bank account.

The adoption of cryptocurrency method by GSB Group is also indicative of a larger, global trend in modernising public transport services. Brisk Pass, a German initiative, offers an international blockchain-based system for recording public transport transactions.

Smart contracts allow members of the wallet to use public transportation located all over the world without purchasing tickets with fiat currencies, as they purchase the native BriskCoin token to make their purchases on the platform.

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ImmVRse has just announced their pre-sale dates, ready to take place over the following month. The blockchain-based VR platform has also recently acquired a strategic partnership with TokenGet, in support of their token sale on a safe and secure platform, as well as ensuring a satisfying experience for all their users.

ImmVRse & TokenGet

TokenGet is a unique and intuitive platform that provides a secure token sale turnkey solution provider that supplies a comprehensive set of tools to act as a crowdsale platform for blockchain businesses.

The two companies have been working in unison to launch the first phase of the pre-sale, which is set to officially commence on the 19th June 2018, and will finish on the 22nd June.

The TokenGet platform provides a great measure of valuable experience when it comes to managing crowdfunding sales, having a previous history working with multiple successful token sales in the past. These include Peculium, a blockchain based savings and management platform that raised USD $7 million, and Tokia, a crypto investment startup that raised USD $20 million.

As ImmVRse are using TokenGet and utilizing their extensive experience, this will allow ImmVRse token sale participants to partake in other currency options including BTC, ETH, USD, DASH and many more.

ImmVRse has also revealed a supplementary payment method provided by the TokenGets advanced pre-sale platform. This will allow a USD/BTC option which is aimed at opening the sale to a wider range of contributors.

The mission for ImmVRse has been to protect the community’s funds, with the aid of Entersoft and its team of ethical cyber security specialists. ImmVRse has ensured safety is covered from all angles.  

The company’s highly trained partners are continuously monitoring the core website along with their Telegram channel in order to assess potential threats.

The Really Early Show

In preparation for the launch of their pre-sale, ImmVRse recently released a YouTube series named “The Really Early Show” an entertaining interview series with members of the ImmVRse team.

Users who intend to watch the show will get the benefit of being formally introduced to the core team members of ImmVRse, along with any of their thoughts on the project itself, virtual reality in general, their experience with the company thus far.

The series is now live, and can be viewed on the ImmVRse YouTube channel. The team also plan to release more content in the upcoming months. ImmVRse is also due to hold a few livestreams on YouTube and Facebook in the coming month, for supporters to ask any pressing questions that they may want to put to the team.

The ImmVRse Team

ImmVRse is a decentralised VR content sharing platform that will allow VR content creators, brands and advertisers around the world to inspire, collaborate, and produce some of the highest-quality VR content available online. ImmVRse is backed by an ensemble of experts from a range of sectors, including relevant technologies, IT Management, VR, computer security and blockchain development.

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Fidelity’s recently revealed crypto fund is seeking a new fund manager after two key members have left to start their own crypto-focused venture capital firm.

Fidelty’s Crypto Fund

The crypto fund at Fidelity, the fund manager and 401(k) provider that manages $2.5 trillion in assets, is ‘small and exploratory,’ and, as of now, inactive, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke with Business Insider. The fund, which has not been previously reported on, actively invested in digital currencies and crypto-related companies before two key members of the project left the company, the people said.

The two members who left are Matt Walsh, a former vice president at Fidelity, and Nic Carter, a former investment research analyst at the firm. The two left the project in order to start their own company, Castle Island Ventures, a crypto-focused venture capital firm. As of today, neither Fidelity or Walsh and Carter could be reached for comment.

Fidelity already allows certain clients to view their crypto holdings next to their other accounts in their Fidelity portfolios. And CEO Abigail Johnson is a noted proponent of Bitcoin. At a crypto conference last month, she described her position as follows:

“I’m a believer, I’m one of the few standing before you today from a large financial services company that has not given up on digital currencies.”

Walsh and Carter aside, Fidelity has lost several other employees in recent months, employees who seem to have caught the crypto bug. 

Ben Pousty, formerly a digital asset marketing lead for Fidelity Labs, left the firm in April to join crypto firm Circle (according to LinkedIn). Kinjal Shah, formerly a senior consulting analyst, also left the firm to join Blockchain Capital, the crypto venture firm. Another person of note is Thomas Pacchia, formerly a director at Fidelity’s crypto incubator, who left Fidelity last year to start HODL Capital, a crypto fund based in New York. 

Crypto Going Mainstream

Fidelity’s crypto project is representative of institutional investors getting involved in the nascent market for digital currencies and related technologies. And other established Wall Street players are also weighing their own moves into crypto.

The New York Stock Exchange, it has been reported, is building a crypto trading platform, and Goldman Sachs has a team dedicated to building a trading operation tied to digital assets and will eventually offer Bitcoin futures trading.

Earlier this week it was reported by NewsBTC that Fidelity is on the lookout for talent to rebuild its digital asset fund, this according to an internal job posting. In it it was revealed that Fidelity is looking for a DevOps system engineer ‘to help engineer, create, and deploy a Digital Asset exchange to both a public and private cloud.’

The company is also looking to hire workers to develop ‘first-in-class custodian services for Bitcoin and other digital currencies,’ according to another internal job ad.

Moving forward, if Fidelity is able to get it’s crypto arm up and running, it will seek to help legitimize the burgeoning crypto market, according to market structure specialist Dave Weisberger.

“Fidelity’s reputation for achieving best execution for their retail clients should help legitimize the asset class,” Weisberger said.

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Three luxury apartments located in Budva Montenegro were purchased this week using Bitcoin to the equivalent of 3.2Mn USD, according to Bitcoin.com

The 420 BTC sales were made according to Notary Office and the firm Astra Montenegro Investment Association (AMIA), which has been promoting cryptocurrency use locally.

Montenegro, meaning “Black Mountain” is a sovereign state in South-eastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the southwest, is bordered by Croatia to the west, and was part of the old Yugoslavia. It has since become a playground for holidaymakers attracted to the Adriatic coast.

The luxury homes are located in the coastal area near the Adriatic Sea where property prices are high. AMIA executive Nila Emilfarba, who has encouraged nearby businesses to accept cryptocurrency, including a marina, said the sale was the biggest so far in the country

“Our company, unlike many who have doubt in cryptocurrency, is the first in the region that started selling real estate for the cryptocurrencies.”

One of the purchasers, a 25-year-old from France, said the settlement process of paying the BTC to the notary and then transferring the funds, which were immediately converted to Euros was very simple, and quicker than a standard method using fiat.

Real estate purchases using Bitcoin is becoming more accepted after the currency’s climb to around $20,000 in early 2017. Other transactions in Miami, Amsterdam, Dubai, Manhattan and other global locations have all gone smoothly. There are now sites that provide a sales service offering properties worldwide payable for in Bitcoin, Ethereum or Litecoin.

A buyer could purchase a property today such as 12 bedroomed French Chateaux in Brizay for the BTC equivalent of 950,000 euros or if a more contemporary lifestyle is sought, a beautiful 2 acre home on the Costa Rican coast for exactly 100 BTC.

Homes are not simply sold at holiday locations or need to be luxury homes in order to make to make a Bitcoin purchase; last year two residential developer properties sold in the UK in Essex and Hertfordshire using Bitcoin. One of the new owners, a cryptocurrency investor, then decided to rent out his new property in BTC.

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CFTC Demands Data from Exchanges Related to Bitcoin Price Manipulation Investigation newsBTC The Bitcoin price is volatile by nature. Not all of this volatility is created out of the blue either. An ongoing investigation regarding Bitcoin price manipulation is taking place. As such, U.S. regulators demand data from various trading platforms to ... US regulators demand trading data from bitcoin exchanges in manipulation probeMarketWatch CFTC Demands Trading Data From Bitcoin Exchanges - CCNCCN Manipulation Probe: US Regulator Demands Info From Bitcoin ExchangesEthereum World News (blog) all 15 news articles »

Last week’s comments by China’s president Xi Jinping that the “blockchain was 10 times more valuable than the internet” clearly highlights the direction that the Chinese government is taking regarding the cryptocurrency space, according to Cointelegraph

Adding to those comments, the president referred to blockchain as “a part of the technological revolution”. If this “revolution” is already underway, where exactly does that leave bitcoin, following cryptocurrency’s trading ban in the country enforced earlier this year? Under the ban, Chinese residents can hold cryptocurrencies, but can’t currently trade them.

Add to that the prohibitive attack on China’s mining industry by regulatory bodies and things don’t look too bright for Bitcoin when juxtaposed to China’s new enthusiasm for blockchain.

Given these current conditions, China is still a major Bitcoin player with 50 to 70 percent of global mining taking place in the country, although this number is not comparable with its far more significant figures before the ban was actually put in place. Many miners have relocated under China’s crypto skeptical regime and the bans have made their mark on global markets when Bitcoin dropped to its lowest level in more than a month, with Ethereum (ETH) declining 19% and Ripple (XRP) collapsing 29%.

In 2013, banks and financial organizations were prohibited to carry out any crypto-related operations, and all companies offering any services involving Bitcoin were obliged to register with the relevant authorities and to follow know-your-customer (KYC) procedures to prevent money laundering and tax evasion, as Cointelegraph points out.

The situation has deteriorated even further now that ICO’s have been clamped, and exchanges shut down. With 15  closing, some moving to Hong Kong or staying on and becoming fiat free, to avoid the governments no trade for fiat regulations. Despite this and a further increase in regulation, China still boasts the top 20 cryptocurrencies in the global market in terms of valuation.

No such problems for blockchain, as exemplified by Xi Jinping latest stance, and his proclamation that the internet pales into insignificance alongside the new technology:

“The new generation of information technology represented by artificial intelligence, quantum information, mobile communication, internet of things, and blockchain is accelerating breakthroughs in its range of applications.”

Hangzhou is fast becoming blockchain’s Chinese Mecca, the city where Alibaba was founded, with its new Blockchain Industrial Park and $1.6 bln innovation fund. Also, Hangzhou will gain from the construction of a research institute established to provide academic support for the development of blockchain tech in the city.

Recently Blockchain was heralded for its internet-crushing-value on a China Central Television (CCTV) broadcast by the state-backed TV channel tagging it as being “the machine that generates trust” whilst in the same program making further attacks on cryptocurrency.

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The Bitcoin price is volatile by nature. Not all of this volatility is created out of the blue either. An ongoing investigation regarding Bitcoin price manipulation is taking place. As such, U.S. regulators demand data from various trading platforms to address these concerns.

Bitcoin Price Manipulation Investigation

There have been swelling rumors regarding major Bitcoin price manipulation taking place. While such a development wouldn’t surprise a lot of people, proving nefarious activity is easier said than done. In this particular case, the manipulation is linked to the launch of Bitcoin futures. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group introduced such vehicles several months ago.

While Bitcoin futures are not spectacularly popular, they do play an integral role in the market. These CME products derive the Bitcoin price from four key exchanges. The list includes Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp, and itBit. If any of these platforms is subject to manipulation, it will also influence the futures spot price.

As such, CME is investigating the manipulation rumors. All four exchanges have been asked to share trading data after the settlement of the first futures contract. Unfortunately, it appears several companies have refused to cooperate in this regard. That doesn’t necessarily bode well in this regard.

CFTC Officials Grow Frustrated

This ongoing debacle has irked some U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulators. This entity is responsible for regulating CME and all of its activities. Yet, not having access to all of the necessary information poses a big problem, which cannot be solved immediately. It even warranted subpoenaing all exchanges for the data in question. Going through such motions shows this investigation is being taken very seriously.

Additionally, this raises the question as to why CME doesn’t have agreements in place to demand such information. It is a grave oversight which doesn’t please the CFTC in the slightest. Having such agreements in place makes it easier to share trading data and avoids subpoenas accordingly. It remains unclear if this situation will be addressed moving forward.

For the time being, there is no evidence to back up the manipulation claims. However, this data debacle shows there may be more to this situation than meets the eye. The CFTC will continue to coordinate with the U.S. Justice Department regarding this investigation. It also shows there is a growing desire to further legitimize cryptocurrencies as a whole.

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For new and experienced cryptocurrency enthusiasts alike, the world of blockchain represents an entirely new framework. The numerous applications and goals of blockchain technology, while impressive and potentially revolutionary, can also be quite daunting. Fortunately, there are a number of educational opportunities to both aid newcomers in getting their footing and enable veterans to master this new class of technology. Here are four resources to help you through the process.

1. University of Nicosia’s MSc in Digital Currency

For those with a bachelor’s degree, UNIC’s master’s program in digital currency represents a unique opportunity for an immersive, all-encompassing education on cryptocurrency and its underlying blockchain technology. UNIC is the largest university in Cyprus, and this program is unrivaled by any other blockchain education program in the world. University of Nicosia’s MSc in Digital Currency is both free and online, which means there is no excuse not to give it a shot if you’re a college graduate. UNIC also recently received funding from Ripple’s US$50 million blockchain education and research fund, suggesting that the program will continue to expand. And of course, a free master’s is nothing to scoff at.

2. CryptoZombies

CryptoZombies is a free, seven-chapter coding course created by Loom Network. CryptoZombies is a fun, intuitive course designed to teach students how to code in Solidity, the contract-oriented language behind Ethereum and its smart contracts. CryptoZombies delivers its lessons using an Ethereum gaming approach. By the end of the course, users will have created their own Ethereum game! More broadly, CryptoZombies imparts invaluable coding knowledge and deep background on smart contracts. This course is certainly a must-try for anyone looking to delve into Ethereum development or smart contract engineering. Solidity is also likely one of the most sought after skills by employers today.

3. ChainXchange

For a more ‘personal’ educational experience, the ChainXchange Super Expo is a great opportunity to receive a crash course in blockchain technology. This convention will be held in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay from August 13 to August 16. ChainXchange will focus on blockchain, AI, and other disruptive technologies. Additionally, there will be a strong educational focus as part of the “Everyone on the Block” mission of the convention, synchronizing newcomers and experts alike in an inclusive blockchain ecosystem. The one-million-square-foot conference space will include 300 breakout sessions over the course of the conference, where attendees can attend a variety of educational workshops. There will also be a number of keynote speakers and live performances each night.

4. Bitcointalk

While community activity has gradually shifted away from Bitcointalk, the forum still represents perhaps the single best resource for newcomers to explore the world of cryptocurrency. Numerous boards allow users to interact with others in the exact niche they are looking for, and the Beginners and Help section dedicated to answering questions and helping newcomers is a wonderful resource unrivaled by anything else in the space. Additionally, activity on the forums is its own reward, as forum participants can be rewarded in Bitcoin and a number of altcoins simply for posting on the forums.

In terms of activity, this past week has been no different than any other in the realm of cryptocurrency. With recent SEC and CFTC statements on cryptocurrency, Ripple’s multi-million dollar research fund, and EOS mainnet launch all taking place this week, the beginning of June has certainly been eventful. However, this has not translated into fluctuations in market valuations, as Bitcoin and altcoins as a whole have seen surprisingly little volatility.

In a market defined by massive price volatility, these past few days have been somewhat out of character. Out of the top one cryptocurrencies on Coinmarketcap, only one has seen a price movement, green or red, of double digits within the past 24 hours (Bibox Token (BIX) +12%). With the exception of a short stint on Monday, Bitcoin has stayed between US$7,500 and $7,700, where it has primarily moved sideways with scared Bart and inverted Bart movements. This represents a range of just 2.5% between floor and ceiling. As days continue, the price of BTC seems to further solidify itself around the US$7,600 mark.

Beyond Bitcoin, the global altcoin market has seen similarly sideways movements in the past week. Excluding Bitcoin, global altcoin market cap has primarily sat between US$210 and $215 billion. Currently just above $210 billion, this is slightly below where it entered the week at $212 billion. Regardless, the range between $210 and $215 billion represents just a 2.3% variance, even thinner than what has been seen by Bitcoin.

Typically, extended sideways movement is followed by an inevitable explosion- either upwards or downwards. Increasingly positive sentiments regarding cryptocurrency among individuals and governments worldwide suggest that recent stagnation will surely precede a massive bull run. However, the drop in volume, about 30% among all cryptocurrency markets, is alarming and an indication that the road ahead may be shakier than what is currently anticipated.

Optimists, however, suggest that a decrease in volume is nothing to be alarmed of. The first week of December 2017 saw a 50% decrease in volume. Of course, early December was a direct predecessor to the explosion of Bitcoin to almost US$20,000 and the subsequent explosion of altcoins across the board in January. Dwindling activity on social media and google searches can also be seen as a good sign. The cryptocurrency seasons of June and December last year invited “get rich quick” individuals to fight for a share of the profit. The diminishing activity suggests that everyone- newbies and veterans alike- who got burnt out looking to make a quick buck and ride on board to realize financial fortunate have been shaken out.

Despite a loss in market cap globally of more than 50% from December’s all-time highs, the technology behind the industry continues to progress and grow each and every day. Those who have stuck around recognize the value and potential in this disruptive technology. The next time a massive fluctuation takes place- regardless of the direction, the current holders and enthusiasts should not be shaken up so easily by any bumps in the road, as their less involved counterparts certainly will be.

Many onlookers on the cryptocurrency industry have noticed that the sector has historically been compromised mostly of male figures. However, research from the London Block Exchange (LBE), a popular U.K.-based exchange, implies that this is changing quickly.

Female Cryptocurrency Investment: 6% to 13% in Six Months

Research done by the aforementioned has indicated that the amount of women willing to invest in cryptocurrencies has doubled over the past six months. With investment interest going from 6% of women last year to over 13% currently, or around one in every eight women.

The LBE has also noticed that there has also been extreme growth with millennial interest in the space, especially with female millennials. This has been a common theme in the industry, with many more millennials beginning to comprehend the vast power of cryptocurrencies and related technologies.

According to the LBE, one in five females in the millennial generation have taken a liking to cryptocurrencies. Although this research may only encompass a few countries and a small amount of demographic groups, it is still promising to see this figure grow.

A senior business analyst from LBE, Agnes de Roeyer noted:

“There’s still a common misconception that cryptocurrency is a game for men, but we’ve seen hundreds of women sign up for our exchange in the last few months and some of the most inspiring and knowledgeable investors, leading the way in the industry are female.”

On the other end of the stick, the growth in men’s interest has stagnated, possibly indicating that cryptocurrency growth will be dominated by females over the next few months.

The report also mentioned that women are 50% less vulnerable to making irrational investments. With the report specifically mentioning that women are not as prone to the fear of missing out (FOMO). Many analysts attributed last year’s run-up, with Bitcoin going from $1,000 to $20,000 over the course of 12 months, to people throwing money at the market in ‘FOMO.’ If the report  from LBE is accurate, more female involvement could help to contribute to tamer price levels for this often volatile market.

This influx of female investment and involvement might just be what the industry needs, as prices and retail investment stagnate. It might make sense for exchanges, along with other cryptocurrency related services, to make a larger effort to draw in more female customers.

Powerful Female Characters in the Industry

Last month, Virginia Rometty, CEO of IBM, noted that IBM will be taking a focus on blockchain technologies. She is unarguably one of the most powerful women in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, and her growing involvement in the space is promising, both for IBM and for her personally.

In addition, the CEO of the long-awaited Tezos coin, Kathleen Breit, has become one of the most powerful female characters in the space. She was one of the original co-founders of what was to become one of the largest initial coin offerings (ICOs) ever, reeling in over $230 million dollars in funding. Glamour named her one of the most powerful people involved in the cryptocurrency.

Sadly, powerful female figures in the cryptocurrency industry are found few and far between, but the aforementioned report suggests that this could change really soon.

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Naeem Aslam, Contributor to Forbes has looked to history in an attempt to answer the question, will cryptocurrency ever replace fiat as the standard currency, reports Forbes.

At the recent Money 20/20 Conference held this month in Amsterdam, the panel discussions between major banks’ representatives were all of the opinions that wouldn’t be the case. During a panel discussion, representatives from Swiss National Bank, the Bank of Lithuania, the Bank of England, and the Bank of Canada took turns in expressing their views on the topic.

The responses were generally in agreement, with Bank of Canada’s James Chapman suggesting that this situation would only occur in a hyperinflation scenario, with Swiss National Bank’s Thomas Moser concurring that a poor fiat performance may well invite more cryptocurrency activity, but argued that “as long as central banks do a good job, there is no real for central banks to disappear”.

This discussion was the first of its kind where major financial institutions were able to address a specific question that is on many private and commercial investors’ minds. Aslam suggests that you only need to look into history to find the answer. He uses the UK pound established in 1694 and the US Dollar created in 1792 as cases in point, both currencies originally only available as precious metals, a troy pound of sterling silver constituting a pound,  and 24.75 grains of gold creating a US dollar.

Aslam observes that in the UK, the process of paper replacing gold was actually created by the private sector, with London goldsmiths furnishing receipts for payment, which of course later became the banknotes that are now traditional currency.

Across the Atlantic, The Massachusetts Bay Colony were the first to print paper money in the U.S. in 1690. As a type of IOU soldiers spent or traded them just like gold and silver coins. About 100 years later, the United States dollar became the country’s standard unit of money.

Due to reports of the decreasing trust in government, and specifically, banks after the last economic crisis, coupled with an increasing number of the population turning to alternative forms of electronic payment, such as cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin could be a portent for the future, especially when one looks at the evolution of cash.

Given the private sector was originally responsible for giving life to the current financial system, so it is possible that history is repeating itself with slow the encroachment on fiat by global cryptocurrency adoption, created by a private individual for global use.

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German software company SAP SE has announced the launch of a blockchain platform that will facilitate the development of blockchain enterprise solutions. The blockchain-as-a-service platform will enable developers to build enterprise-level blockchain applications and will support Hyperledger Fabric and MultiChain, the company said in a statement on June 6. SAP also launched a host of other products that target emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and machine learning.

Low-Cost, Low-Risk Platform

SAP hailed its blockchain platform as “a low-cost, low-risk way for businesses to explore the technology, integrate it into their SAP landscapes, and capitalize on its potential.” The platform will enable developers to innovate on an open platform, extend existing applications with blockchains, and develop new applications. Developers will also have the option of connecting their blockchain networks to SAP’s soon-to-be-released in-memory data management platform, SAP HANA. The cloud platform will allow users to integrate analytical abilities into their blockchain applications.

SAP’s blockchain offerings will enable users to use blockchains for diverse applications, including tracking and tracing goods moving along their supply chains. It will also enhance logistics management with real-time visibility into transportation systems.

SAP’s blockchain product will enable blockchain applications to be built on top of the Hyperledger Fabric platform. This platform is an open-source collaborative effort hosted by the Linux Foundation. SAP is among the founding members together along with other industry leaders in the fields of finance, technology, manufacturing, and supply chains.

SAP has been one of the global tech giants that have been leading the blockchain race. In May, the company announced that it had been appointed as the vice chair of the Chinese Trusted Blockchain Alliance, a joint venture between Chinese companies and research institutions to facilitate innovation in blockchain technology. The alliance is chaired by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, a think tank for the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

SAP previously announced that it had formed a blockchain consortium bringing together like-minded industry leaders to facilitate blockchain innovation. The consortium aims to work in concert with innovative minds to solve some of the biggest challenges that face the industry and to develop new business models that integrate blockchain technology. The founding members of the consortium include Intel, HP, UPS, and Amkor Technology.

Tech Giants and Blockchains

Blockchain technology has become the new frontier for competition among tech giants. Amazon recently announced the launch of blockchain templates for Ethereum and the Hyperledger Fabric that will be offered through Amazon Web Services (AWS). The templates will allow developers to create secure blockchain networks in a simplified way and take advantage of secure Amazon cloud services. In offering blockchain-as-a-service, Amazon hopes to drive mass adoption of blockchain technology.

IBM is the undisputed leader in the creation of blockchain products. The New York-based multinational tech giant has developed a host of blockchain products that encompass a great number of industries. It has previously partnered with Maersk to develop a decentralized logistics platform, with Unilever and Mindshare on a blockchain-based media advertising project, with BMW and Ford on blockchain-based mobility services, and others.