1. ‘Facebook Coin’ Reportedly Coming in First Half of 2019
Facebook Coin could be launched much sooner than expected. According to a recently published New York Times (NYT) report, which cites multiple anonymous sources, Facebook employees are already shopping the coin to cryptocurrency exchanges while ‘trying to get the product out in the first half of the year.’
[Source: U.Today] ✩✩✩✩✩
2. Thai SEC Approves ETC, LTC, BCH for ICOs, Trading
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has expanded its list of approved cryptocurrencies for use in initial coin offerings (ICOs) and as base trading pairs, according to an official statement from the SEC yesterday. These latest updates to the SEC’s approved list include Ethereum Classic (ETC), Litecoin.Com (LTC), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH), joining Bitcoin (BTC), ethereum(ETH), Ripple (XRP) and Stellar (XLM) as cryptocurrencies that can be used in compliance with the country’s national regulations. The SEC reiterated that it does not, however, class any of the above as legal tender, as stipulated in its statement.
[Source: Bitcoinnews] ✩✩✩✩
3. Dukascopy Bank Officially Launches its Own Cryptocurrency
Dukascopy Bank today is airdropping its own cryptocurrency, the Dukascoin, one day ahead of its scheduled date because the forex broker wants to save its self-described designation as “the first regulated bank to launch an ICO.” Dukascoin tokens will be available initially as rewards for using its Connect 911 messenger.
[Source: FinanceMagnates] ✩✩✩✩✩
4. XRP Is Now Live and Trading on Coinbase’s Consumer App
Coinbase is adding XRP to its retail platforms, allowing all customers in select jurisdictions access to the world’s third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. On Thursday, the company, which already offers retail consumers access to bitcoin, bitcoin cash, ethereum, ethereum classic (ETC), Litecoin.Com, USDC, zcash, Brave’s Basic Attention Token, the 0x protocol token and withdrawals of bitcoin cash SV, announced it would be adding XRP to coinbase.com, as well as its Android and iOS apps.
[Source: Coindesk] ✩✩✩✩✩
5. ethereum Upgrades as Hard Forks Activate on Blockchain
Two long-anticipated upgrades appear to have officially activated on the ethereum blockchain, the world’s second-largest by market value, without incident.
At 19:57 (UTC), the sixth and seventh system-wide upgrades to the software, dubbed Constantinople and St. Petersburg, respectively, rolled out on the main network at block number 7,280,000. As seen on blockchain monitoring website Fork Monitor, there is so far no evidence of a chain split that would suggest a portion of ethereum users are still running an older ethereum software.
[Source: Coindesk] ✩✩✩
6. Big Four Auditor PwC Publishes Crypto Insolvency Guide, Cautions Director
Big Four audit and consultancy firm PwC Hong Kong has published guidance for financially distressed or insolvent businesses in the crypto sector. The document, released February 2019, tackles the complexities specific to the nascent industry, in particular in regard to asset valuation and multi-jurisdictional operations.
[Source: Cointelegraph] ✩✩✩✩
7. Time to Explore Cryptos Says Pension Consultant Advising on $400 Billion
Cambridge Associates, a pensions and endowments consultant with $389 billion in assets under advisement, has stated institutional investors should start exploring the crypto space. They recommend that no more than 1% is invested either directly into cryptos like bitcoin and eth, into ICOs or STOs, or otherwise indirectly into crypto/blockchain companies.
[Source: Trustnodes] ✩✩✩
8. German Government to Introduce Blockchain Strategy in Mid-2019
The chief executive body of the German government, the Cabinet of Germany, has revealed that the country’s blockchain strategy will be introduced by mid-2019. The Cabinet commented on the development of fintech in the country on Feb. 26, following a request for information from parliamentarians in the Bundestag. The document notes that fintech sandboxes are currently present in five member states of the European Union: Denmark, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom.
[Source: Cointelegraph] ✩✩✩✩
9. Report: Singapore’s Wealth Fund GIC Among Those to Raise $300 Mln for Coinbase in 2018
Singapore’s Government Investment Corporation (GIC) was reportedly one of the investors to have helped raise $300 million for major United States crypto wallet provider and exchange service Coinbase in 2018. Bloomberg reported the news on Feb. 28, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
[Source: Cointelegraph] ✩✩✩✩
10. California Bill Would Legalize Crypto for Tax Payments From Cannabis-Related Businesses
Lawmakers in the United States state of California have introduced a bill to allow cannabis-related business to pay fees and taxes in stablecoins. The bill was introduced by the California State Assembly on Feb. 21. Assembly Bill 953 would allow the state, city and county tax offices in California to accept stablecoins — cryptocurrency pegged to a physical asset or a fiat currency — from cannabis-related companies seeking to pay their excise or cultivation taxes, with effect from Jan. 1, 2020.
[Source: Cointelegraph] ✩✩✩
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