The crypto winter continues, as all major cryptocurrencies were stable today. The top five cryptocurrencies changed by less than 1% in the last 24 hours. While Bitcoin is slightly below $6,500, Ethereum still maintains its price above $200. The total market cap has also not moved much. It went down from $209.8 Billion to $209.2 Billion.

In other news, Japanese technology giant Sony has revealed a cryptocurrency hardware wallet. The device utilizes IC smart card technology that is popular in Japan. Also, Blockchain platform Stratis has become a Microsoft Silver Partner, giving the startup access to the tech giant’s coveted “marketing and development resources” that are reserved for partner relationships. Stratis CEO and Founder Chris Trew said in a statement that the “partnership is a natural next step for Stratis” as the “only cryptocurrency with full nodes built from the ground up in C#.”

1) Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao unveiled a Blockchain platform at the UN for tracking charitable giving. He launched it at the World Investment Forum 2018 today, a UN conference on trade and development. The blockchain-fueled platform for tracking charitable donations will let people see how their donated funds are being directed. “With better transparency, we can achieve 100 times more results,” said CZ. Tron Founder Justin Sun was there too, tweeting that it was an “honor to be at the heart of the United Nations and witness the innovations of Binance and Tron Foundation.” Sun recently donated $3 million to Binance’s Blockchain Charity Foundation. (Read More)

2) According to tech outlet The Block, an anonymous source revealed that Intercontinental Exchange’s (ICE) Bakkt cryptocurrency platform could get approval to launch its physically-delivered Bitcoin (BTC) futures product from U.S. regulators next week. NYSE’s parent company ICE is creating Bakkt as the regulated ecosystem for institutional investors looking to get crypto exposure. Bakkt could start offering its Bitcoin futures product to its customers as soon as it receives its approval. CBOE and CME launched their non-physical Bitcoin futures late last year. (Read More)

3) ASX Limited, Australia’s leading market operator, has announced that it is planning to roll out blockchain technology for settlements in 2021. The stock exchange now wants to replace its Clearing House Electronic Subregister System (CHESS) with a more innovative, decentralized and digitized blockchain technology. The blockchain platform is expected to bring on board innovation that will yield more efficiency. (Read More)