Consortium of banks test first transactions on Blockchain

IBM in partnership with the CaixaBank, Bank of Montreal, Commerzbank, Erste Group and UBS have passed the first live pilot transactions on the IBM built Batavia blockchain platform. The trading of cars from German to Spain and textiles between Austria and Spain were carried out on the network. Do you think this challenges Stellar and Ripples blockchain tech?

Read more at FinExtra.

Bitcoin must go up for profitable mining

According to Morgan Stanley Equity Analyst Charlie Chan, the price of Bitcoin must reach $8,600 for mining to be profitable based on (US$0.03 kW/h) energy price.

Read more at CNBC.

Chip manufacturer blaming crypto for bleak outlook

The world’s largest semiconductor foundry company, TSMC which has become a major player in the Bitcoin mining industry is allegedly cutting its revenue forecast for the year blaming the uncertainty behind the cryptocurrency mining demand.

Read more at CNBC.

Tezos co-founder slapped with pocket change fine

Tezos co-founder Arthur Breitman has been slapped with a $20,000 fine and a two year trading ban by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). This seems like pocket change for an ICO that raised $232 million.

Read more at Reuters.

China’s tech giants skirt ban with Blockchain investments

Three of China’s biggest tech firms Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent are battling for Blockchain stardom while steering well clear of the crypto trading crackdown, cool move eh… by investing and developing Blockchain companies, they skirt round the ban.

Baidu recently launched Totem a blockchain-based image right management platform similar to KODAKOne. They also launched a pet rearing game called Laici Gou.

Alibaba has the most Blockchain patents in the world, they recently launched a system for luxury goods sold on its flagship shopping site Tmall.

Tencent founder Pony Ma is optimistic about identity & document verification. Tencent partnered with a Chinese city to test tracking prescriptions on the Blockchain.

Read more at Quartz.

MP Matt Hancock is pro blockchain

MP Matt Hancock delivered a speech at the Blockchain Conference regarding the momental impact he thinks Blockchain technology will have on people’s lives in the future. He mentioned the World Food Programme Ethereum Blockchain aid initiative, which has transferred vouchers based on cryptocurrencies to 10,000 refugees in Syria, enabling them to buy food without “the need for cash, credit cards or paper.”

Syrian blockchain program receives $2.4 million donation

The United Nations World Food Programme has received $2.4 million dollars from Belgium to support a blockchain-based payment system for refugees. Funds will also be used to expand the UAV project to collect data and analysis to cope with natural disasters.

Read more at CoinDesk.

SophiaTX scoops blockchain company of the year

Enterprise blockchain platform SophiaTX has been named company of the year in this months CIOApplications magazine.

Mark Karpelès has a new job and it’s not in crypto

Mark Karpelès, the CEO of bankrupt Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox has found a new job as the chief technology officer of the world’s largest VPN service, London Trust Media based in Denver. His new boss is more than happy with his past role, stating he skills unarguably continue to exist. Although the CEO of London Trust Media was one of the co-founders of Mt. Gox, friends with benefits? We think so.

Read more at Fortune.

Bitcoin is booming in Venezuela

According to research by VeneBloc, cryptocurrency trading in Venezuela has reached a new record surpassing $1 million dollars of Bolivar currency to Bitcoin in April.

Read more at CNN.

Cryptos back, will it stick?

Buy orders now make up for 90% of the cryptocurrency market for the first time since March 2017.

Read more at TurtleBTC.

$1.5 million dollars gone in a click.

Watch the CEO if Binance burn $1.5 million in just 3 seconds.

Eligma joins Enterprise Ethereum Alliance and Decentralized Identity Foundation

Blockchain firm Enigma announced their membership in the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance as well as the Decentralized Identity Foundation.

Read more at Eligma.

Poland crypto tax protest

After Poland’s finance ministry introduced a a %1 tax on all crypto trades, angry enthusiasts are demonstrated outside the tax ministory on Friday 19th.

Read more at WYKOP.

World’s first IOTA smart charging station released

IOTA have announced the world’s first smart charging station where users can pay with IOTA to charge their vehicle.

Read more AMBcrypto.