[Crypto Headlines] Mid-October 2018
Pundi X Announces A New Blockchain-Ready Phone
Pundi X recently announced the debut of their new blockchain-ready phone. Currently, the phone is planned to allow users to make both traditional and blockchain-enabled calls. Reportedly, the blockchain-enabled calls would be able to be made without the need for a central carrier. According to an article on Crypto Briefing, the phone would automatically become a node on the network and be identified by a human-friendly name; the human-friendly usernames of the phones will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Pundi X phone is also currently planned to include a novel file transfer system called FXTP and its own operating system, as well as other blockchain-enabled features. The Pundi X phone is still in testing, but will be featured at the XBlockchain Summit in Indonesia and is currently planned to roll out to consumers in 2019.
Other companies, such as Huawei, have also experimented with blockchain mobile devices, but the space is still very new and only just starting to evolve. The complete details of a blockchain mobile network have not yet been established, though the innovations of such a system could be incredibly promising. A mobile network without a central carrier could revolutionize communications in developing areas, during natural disasters, and during high network traffic events.
Esteemed Institutions Start Adding Blockchain Investments to Their Endowments
World-renowned universities such as Harvard, Stanford, Yale, MIT, Dartmouth, and more have started including blockchain and cryptocurrency-based investments in their endowments, reports Coinspeaker. According to Coinspeaker, institutional investors are more optimistic about the long-term investment potential of blockchain than retail investors. Many universities are also starting to offer classes focused on blockchain technology. Do you think this will spur investment, research, and education by other universities? Tell us in the comments below.
Banco Santander is Expanding its Ripple-Centric Payment System
Banco Santander has been one of the early adopters of a Ripple-based platform and is planning to expand that platform to more countries in Europe, as well as to other continents. According to Ethereum World News, Banco Santander also intends to use XRP as its “preferred option for payment settlements.” Ripple has made partnering with banks and traditional financial institutions a major focus of their endeavors. Do you think more banks will start working with Ripple after seeing Banco Santander’s apparent success with the OnePay FX Platform?
Binance Plans to Donate Listing Fees to Charity
After controversy earlier this year concerning supposedly high listing fees, Binance has announced that it plans to donate listing fees to charity. According to Ethereum World News, Binance plans to be transparent about the fee process and not have a set minimum donation. The fees will be donated to Blockchain Charity Foundation, which was founded by Binance, and seeks to help support blockchain-based philanthropic endeavors.
Japan Announces New Minister of Technology and IT
Japan has announced a new minister of technology and IT, Takuya Hirai. According to BitcoinNews.com, Hirai has previously showed support for blockchain technology and cryptocurrency initiatives. Japan has a history of being involved in blockchain and cryptocurrency endeavors, but could the appointment of Minister Hirai help the country’s crypto entrepreneurs even more?
References
[1] Anchata, Andrew. (2018, October 11). Pundi X Calling From A Blockchain-Ready Phone. Retrieved October 13, 2018, from https://cryptobriefing.com/pundi-x-blockchain-ready-phone/
[2] Rud, Daria. (2018, October 11). Harvard, Stanford and MIT All Jump into Cryptos Bringing Huge Investments. Retrieved October 13, 2018, from https://www.coinspeaker.com/2018/10/11/harvard-stanford-and-mit-all-jump-into-cryptos-bringing-huge-investments/
[3] Avan-Nomayo, Osato. (2018, October 9). Banco Santander to Expand Ripple (XRP)-Powered Payment Platform to More European Countries. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://ethereumworldnews.com/banco-santander-to-expand-ripple-xrp-powered-payment-platform-to-more-european-countries/
[4] Chong, Nick. (2018, October 9). U-Turn: Binance To Donate 100% Of Listing Fees To Charity. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://ethereumworldnews.com/uturn-binance-donate-listing-fees-charity/
[5] Vandelay, Harold. (2018, October). Japan Gets New Pro-Crypto Minister to Promote Tech and IT. Retrieved on October 13, 2018, from https://bitcoinnews.com/japan-gets-new-pro-crypto-minister-to-promote-tech-and-it/
[6] Yagami, Ken. (2017, November 2). Japan: A Forward Thinking Bitcoin Nation. Retrieved October 14, 2018, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/outofasia/2017/11/02/japan-a-forward-thinking-bitcoin-nation/#4ce5fbd33a3f
