PRICE CHANGE WTD/YTD
- BTC ($3.765): +5% / 0%
- ETH ($138): +10% / +3%
- LTC ($44): +5% / +44%
- XRP ($0.30): -3% / -15%
- Crypto Market Cap ($129B): +6% / +2%
- BTC dominance: 52%
THIS WEEK IN CRYPTO
- Coinbase acquired blockchain intelligence startup Neutrino for an undisclosed amount. Neutrino helps map blockchain networks, and in particular crypto token transactions, to pull in information and insight. Initially the startup will be helping Coinbase with security and theft-prevention, but further down the line its technology will be used to discover and analyze new asset listings for Coinbase. Neutrino is Coinbase's eleventh acquisition to date. Link.
- Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange by volume, has launched an initial version of its highly anticipated decentralized trading service (dex). Dex's allow users to trade crypto directly from their wallets, as opposed to relying on a centralized exchange for trading. Link.
- The amount of money allocated to short bets against bitcoin fell to a 6-month low according to trading from Bitfinex. The development came after bitcoin's price increased 8 percent, which led a number of short sellers to cover their positions. Link.
- Mizuho Financial, the Japanese financial giant, will soon be launching its new stablecoin called "J-Coin". The firm is partnering with approximately 60 financial firms - which reportedly host 56 million user accounts- to offer users the ability to easily pay for purchases with a digital wallet. J-Coin will be pegged to the Yen and transfers between bank accounts and J-Coin wallets are set to be zero-fee. Link.
- Brazilian investment bank, Banco BTG Pactual, announced it is raising up to $15 million for a security token. The token will be backed with distressed Brazilian real estate assets. The bank plans to establish a secondary market following the sale in order to provide liquidity to the tokens. BTG Pactual is partnering with the Winklevoss-founded Gemini Trust to utilize its US-dollar backed stablecoin to receive capital and distribute dividends over the ethereum blockchain. Link.
- Votem, the decentralized voting platform aiming to modernize voting via the blockchain, was reportedly set to close a Series B round with Medici Ventures, Overstock.com's venture arm, when new came out that the company had shut down. Votem later clarified that the move was not a shutdown but a restructuring due to a lack of funds. Votem claims to have successfully processed over 13 million blockchain votes across 1,000 elections. The platform was chosen to rebuild LA County's election infrastructure for 2020. Link.
- Following the introduction of Ohio's official crypto payment platform, just two businesses have filed their taxes using bitcoin. The option was launched in December 2018, and lawmakers were hopeful it would attract more blockchain companies to Ohio. Link.
- Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company was considering putting Facebook's login process on a blockchain. He claimed blockchain-based identity verification would give users a better opportunity to govern their own data, especially when providing access to third-party apps. This type of distributed system could replace Facebook's single sign-on application, Facebook Connect. Link.
- AngelList spinoff, CoinList, is rolling out its first token sale of 2019. CoinList will be raising $8 million from accredited US investors and international buyers for Ocean Protocol, a decentralized data-sharing protocol. This is the first token sale on CoinList since July 2018, though according to the company 50 teams have raised $450 million to date through its token issuing platform. Link.
- The LA Kings launched a blockchain-based app that allows fans to ensure their merchandise and memorabilia is authentic. The app, called the AR Authentication App, uses AR to recognize authenticity of items and then registers ownership data on the blockchain. Customers will be able to transfer merchandise ownership with the app. Link.
- Academics from the University of California, San Francisco, have proposed a method of sharing medical data using a blockchain-based system. Researches developed a blockchain-powered system that aims to improve the traceability and immutability of collected clinical data. The system can also improve medical record management and create new methods for reporting adverse events. Link.
- Recruit Holdings, the $45 billion Japanese internet giant that owns Glassdoor among other things, has launched a $25 million blockchain fund. The fund will invest directly into companies (including tokens) and other crypto funds. The strategy will be to invest in companies where Recruit can contribute; its core services today are HR and recruitment, though it also operates in the real estate, travel, and dining categories. Link.