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Latest Blockchain News


Asia Crypto Ecosystem Faces New Opportunities and Challenges

The crypto space in Asia is set to undergo a great deal of change in the coming months, as Singapore prepares to introduce strict guidelines on virtual digital assets and China increases its efforts to reduce crypto transactions. However, the Asian crypto space is increasingly diverse, with a number of positive developments around cryptocurrencies and… Read More


New UK rules require crypto exchanges to report sanction breaches

Numerous nations, notably the UK and European states, have placed sanctions on Russia in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. However, there are worries that cryptocurrencies like bitcoin are being utilised to circumvent these regulations.


Ukraine joins the European Blockchain Partnership

The Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for IT Development of Ukraine, Alexander Bornyakov, recently announced that the country has become just the third non-EU nation to join the European Blockchain Partnership. Following the membership of Norway and Liechtenstein, Ukraine hopes this move will be another positive step in the direction of integrating its own digital economy… Read More


Hive Blockchain partners with EcoCooling for ultra-efficient HPC research

HPC specialist Hive Blockchain is partnering with cooling experts EcoCooling to develop environmentally friendly High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure.

The two companies partnered as part of EcoCooling’s involvement in the Boden Type Data Centre (BTDC) project, an award-winning EU initiative researching data centre efficiency.

The BTDC pilot project, in Boden, Northern Sweden, utilises a range of techniques, processes and equipment developed by a pan-European consortium of members. A prototype constructed in 2019 achieved a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of less than 1.1.


C’ya Calibra: Facebook changes name of digital wallet to Novi

Facebook has changed the name of the digital wallet to be used with its new cryptocurrency, the latest in a number of changes to the digital currency and its ecosystem.

The virtual wallet associated with the Libra virtual currency will now be known as Novi.

When first announced last year, the wallet was known as Calibra.

The change is the latest in a series of tweaks to the Libra network since its unveiling last June, following intense scrutiny from global banks and regulators.


UCL team designs Covid-19 tracking system that stores data away from the cloud

Scientists say they have developed a Bluetooth tracing system which is ready to be deployed into an app in the fight against coronavirus.

A team at UCL (University College London) have been working on the technology with data privacy experts to ease concerns of misuse.

Contact tracing has been widely discussed as a potential solution to help end the Covid-19 lockdown, following in the footsteps of Singapore, where a similar offering has been adopted.

The idea is to use Bluetooth technology to keep a log of those who have been in close proximity to you, and send out an alert if any anonymously declare themselves as tested positive, with advice on further steps to take.


Taiwan-based ITM reveals blockchain IoT collab with Microsoft and Qualcomm

Taiwan-based blockchain firm International Trust Machines Corp. (ITM) has touted a new blockchain SDK for Azure IoT chipsets that it claims improves the security and viability of edge-based blockchain applications.

ITM, which claimed  1st runner-up honours at the recent Qualcomm Innovate in Taiwan Challenge 2019 (QITC 2019), claims it “co-developed” the solution with the American chipmaker and Microsoft.

The Taiwan blockchain specialist’s bitesize edge agent is certified for use in Microsoft Azure Sphere, Microsoft’s “secure environment” for IoT devices spanning OS, hardware and cloud services.


Blockchain-based cloud storage service reveals pricing and launch date

A distributed cloud storage service that stores encrypted data on the spare disk space of users around the world using blockchain technology has revealed its pricing model and launch date.

Storj Labs’ Tardigrade service has been in beta for developers, businesses and consumers since August and currently has 400 active users. Today, the company has come forward with a pricing model which it claims is more economical than legacy cloud storage providers.


Volvo to trace cobalt used in electric car batteries on blockchain

European car giant Volvo has announced it will start using blockchain-tracked cobalt in electric car batteries, having reached an agreement with Chinese and South Korean suppliers.

China-based CATL and South Korea-based LG Chem, also members of the blockchain network, will provide battery equipment for new Volvo and Polestar models for the next decade.

By deploying blockchain to track cobalt used in batteries, Volvo wants to prove to customers that the material is extracted in conflict-free zones and not in areas known to exploit child labour. 


Facebook officially launches controversial Libra digital currency

Facebook has officially moved forward with its plans to create a new digital currency called Libra, despite several high-profile defections from the project and intense criticism from US regulators and politicians.

The Libra Association, the non-profit group that will govern the currency, officially signed 21 charter members on Monday at the organisation’s inaugural meeting in Geneva.


Cryptocurrency mining giant launches platform to connect miners with data centres

A cryptocurrency mining giant that produces the chips used to generate most of the world’s virtual coins is launching a data centre matching platform to help miners find the best locations to host their mining machines.

Bitmain, which currently dominates the crypto mining hardware sector, is seeking to extend its grip on the industry by helping hardware owners find the most economical locations to host their machines.

Presently there is no easy, centralised, way for mining farms to connect with miners who need facilities in which to host their rigs. As a result, farm owners typically have excess capacity that goes to waste.


UK police sell £300,000 of crypto seized from TalkTalk hacker

UK police have raised a pretty penny through the auction of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency seized from a crypto trader and hacker.

On September 26, Irish firm Wilsons Auctions sold 62 lots of crypto from a stash that included Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and Bitcoin Satoshi Vision.

It is the first time that UK police have auctioned off criminally-seized cryptocurrency.