“BoE analysts working on the U.K.’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiative said there was a distinct possibility that private companies could play a much larger part in the issuance and distribution of money.
Although they might introduce new risks into the monetary system, Dyson said private currencies could work alongside any future CBDC initiative if they offered real utility.
[Notably], the BoE’s views about private currencies are distinct from those from other central banks.”
“Bitfinex will offer staking rewards up to 10% per annum on crypto assets underpinned by a Proof-of-Stake algorithm. Products that generate passive income is allowing crypto to ‘compete with banks for users.’
Bitfinex will launch staking with support for three cryptocurrencies: EOS, V-Systems (VSYS), and Cosmos (ATOM) – with Tezos (XTZ) staking currently slated to launch in May.
Bitfinex will also be launching new products “related to P2P margin trading and lending” and derivatives in the near future.”
“It’s the right thing to do these improvements but they won’t suddenly make bitcoin a private currency.
There will be some clear improvements. First, more complex types of transactions will be easier to use [eg. multi-sig transactions]. The multi-sig dependent lightning network could [then] potentially speed up and scale payments. MASTs make it much easier and cheaper to lock up bitcoin with more complicated rulesets.
Right now, developers are battle testing this bundle of new technologies before they try to add it to bitcoin with a soft fork.”
“One of Bitcoin’s most controversial forks, Bitcoin Cash, will halve in approximately 16 hours as of press time, cutting its block reward from 12.5 BCH down to 6.25.
BCH rose from $213 on April 1, to a press time price of $257, while BSV went from $160 to $188 in the same time frame.”
“Tesla is working with the Shanghai Port Group to test if blockchain can make the process of importing goods into China any easier. The announcement doesn’t say much about the type of blockchain used.
The pilot showcased significant efficiency gains not only in the cargo release process but also for downstream supply chain planning by presenting a single source of truth for documentation for all involved parties.”
“Experts agree the country’s $1.5 billion cryptocurrency war chest is used to fund an illicit web of trade networks and supply chains. It’s logical to assume North Korea’s ill-gotten crypto is being moved in trade-based money-laundering networks.
Given the increased anonymity of cryptocurrencies, newly mined cryptocurrency can be used to facilitate sanctions-evasion activity.”
“It aims to leverage blockchain and other technologies to facilitate data access for researchers and healthcare professionals seeking to curb the outbreak coronavirus and prevent future pandemics.
The virtual hackathon also hopes to advance cohesion between life sciences and next-generation experts to develop solutions that strengthen public health without sacrificing user privacy.
This interdisciplinary group will rapidly create highly-relevant solutions with the potential to have both immediate- and long-term positive impact.“
The Disrupt 