Thursday, 20 June 2019
1. Calibra wallet won’t launch in Facebook’s biggest market
Facebook unveiled its audacious Libra cryptocurrency and Calibra digital wallet on Tuesday, through which it plans to transform financial services across the globe. But potentially an equally large group of people would not be able to use Facebook’s new digital payments service when it begins its rollout next year.
Responding to queries from TechCrunch, a Calibra spokesperson said that the digital wallet will not be rolling out to a number of markets that have taken a stand against cryptocurrency, or are sanctioned by the United States.
[Source: TechCrunch] ✩✩✩✩✩
2. Senate Banking Committee Schedules July Hearing on Facebook’s Libra Crypto
The U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs will hold a hearing on July 16 regarding Facebook’s new cryptocurrency, Libra.
The hearing, “Examining Facebook’s Proposed Digital Currency and Data Privacy Considerations,” comes in the wake of calls from members of Congress to more closely examine Libra and its potential risks. There have even been calls to halt work on the project until hearings are held.
[Source: Coindesk] ✩✩✩✩✩
3. Russia to Legalize Digital Assets Within Two Weeks, Facebook’s Libra Not Included
Within two weeks, digital assets and ICOs should obtain legal status and become regulated in Russia. Facebook’s new Libra currency, however, won’t be invited to the party.
[Source: BeinCrypto] ✩✩✩✩
4. Bancor Bans US
For the first time, an ethereum based decentralized exchange has decided to ban US residents from accessing its website.
“Beginning July 8, 2019 (9:00 AM EST) US citizens, domiciliaries or users from US IPs will no longer be able to use Bancor’s web application to convert tokens,” they say.
The relatively small exchange is currently handling only $1.6 million in trading volumes, close to $1.2 million just in BNT/ETH.
[Source: TrustNodes] ✩✩✩
5. Brazil Requires Crypto Exchanges to Report on User Transactions to Authorities
The Department of Federal Revenue of Brazil (RFB) has released new rules requiring that cryptocurrency exchanges inform the regulator about users’ transactions in order to identify tax fraud, Cointelegraph Brazil reported on June 19.
[Source: Cointelegraph] ✩✩✩✩
6. PwC Adds Crypto Transaction Solution to Halo Auditing Tools
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the largest auditing firms in the world, announced this Wednesday that it has expanded its existing “Halo” suite of auditing tools to now provide assurance services for companies that engage in cryptocurrency transactions.
The auditor has added a new software tool to its mix so that it can now provide audit and other assurance services to clients that both hold or transact in nine digital assets — Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold, Bitcoin Diamond, LiteCoin, Ethereum, ERC20 — OAX token, and Ripple (XRP).
[Source: FinanceMagnates] ✩✩✩✩
7. Lightning Labs Launches Lighting Mobile App for Bitcoin Micropayments on the Go
Lightning Labs has taken one step closer to bringing Lightning Network payments to mobile with the launch of the Lightning App for iOS and Android in alpha on the Bitcoin main net. It follows the recent launch of the Lightning App on desktop, bringing the total number of operating systems supported by the program to five.
[Source: NewsBTC] ✩✩✩✩
8. JAPANESE WATCHDOG REPORTS 69% SPIKE IN CRYPTOCURRENCY COMPLAINTS
Japan’s consumer protection watchdog reports an increase in the number of inquiries submitted by cryptocurrency traders in 2018.
[Source: Bitcoinist] ✩✩✩
9. Euroclear leads joint blockchain initiative European CP market
European Investment Bank (EIB), Euroclear, Banco Santander, and EY have together developed an end-to-end blockchain solution for the issuance and settlement of European Commercial Paper (ECP).
The proposed solution will provide one consolidated hub for the issuing of ECP with delivery vs payment (DvP) settlement by Euroclear.
[Source: GlobalCustodian] ✩✩✩
10. Facebook Libra Cryptocurrency Has Its Uses, Says Bank of England Governor
The head of the United Kingdom’s central bank has said Facebook’s new libra cryptocurrency could have genuine use cases if it can conform to regulatory demands, the Financial Times (FT) reported on June 18.
[Source: Cointelegraph] ✩✩✩✩
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