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Crypto Briefs is your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s crypto news.

Blockchain news

Dfinity , a blockchain-based cloud computing company, unveiled an open version of LinkedIn , dubbed LinkedUp . The Telegraph reports that the network will run on the highly anticipated, USD 2 billion platform Internet Computer, the goal of which is to challenge the monopoly of big tech and show that there’s no need to go through servers of Amazon Web Services or Microsoft’s Azure to set up a website, but that it can be hosted on the internet directly.

, a blockchain-based cloud computing company, unveiled an open version of , dubbed . The Telegraph reports that the network will run on the highly anticipated, USD 2 billion platform Internet Computer, the goal of which is to challenge the monopoly of big tech and show that there’s no need to go through servers of Web Services or Azure to set up a website, but that it can be hosted on the internet directly. The blockchain in insurance market size is expected to grow from USD 64.5 million in 2018 to USD 1.39 billion by 2023, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 85% during the forecast period, says market research firm MarketsandMarkets . The major growth drivers of the market include the emerging need to have transparent and trustworthy systems, and the increasing number of fraudulent claims in insurance companies, the company says.

. The major growth drivers of the market include the emerging need to have transparent and trustworthy systems, and the increasing number of fraudulent claims in insurance companies, the company says. The government of South Korea is expecting 12 Seoul-backed blockchain projects to commercialize their offerings this year, per Decenter. Among the green-lighted projects, which have been backed with both public and private funds, are an ID platform to be used by the nation’s military, as well as a medical prescriptions platform and HACCP food hygiene certification issuance incentives.

The ETC Cooperative, a decentralized platform that runs smart contracts: applications, announced that Grayscale Investments, a major digital currency asset management firm and sponsor of Grayscale Ethereum Classic Trust, has extended its funding of the ETC Cooperative, extending the initial pledge made upon the creation of the platform in November 2017. In order to promote the growth and development of the Ethereum Classic network, Grayscale will donate up to one third of the Trust’s annual fees to the ETC Cooperative, the platform says.

Stablecoins news

Japanese members of the Blockchain Collaborative Consortium (BCCC) have claimed it has made a stablecoin breakthrough, reports media outlet Crypto Watch. The consortium consists of a large number of companies and crypto exchanges, and in previously successfully conducted a transaction on the Zaif crypto exchange. The BCCC will now conduct an inter-company transaction involving some 30 companies as part of a further pilot initiative. The consortium says that it is focusing on developing yen- and foreign fiat-pegged stablecoin solutions for use in international transactions.

Payments news

Major provider of crypto payment services BitPay today announced a partnership with Simplex , a processor of fiat-to-crypto transactions, that gives BitPay app users the ability to buy bitcoin and other supported cryptocurrencies directly in the app with a credit card. Users can now buy cryptocurrency, transfer funds, make purchases, buy gift cards and pay friends around the world all from a single app, the company said.

today announced a partnership with , a processor of fiat-to-crypto transactions, that gives BitPay app users the ability to buy bitcoin and other supported cryptocurrencies directly in the app with a credit card. Users can now buy cryptocurrency, transfer funds, make purchases, buy gift cards and pay friends around the world all from a single app, the company said. Payments company Square, co-founded and led by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, was granted the patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a new network that allows crypto-to-fiat transactions. The filing describes a payments system that enables users with different asset types to transact in real-time, which could be particularly beneficial for the retail sector. The system could potentially be expanded to include support for other asset classes, such as securities, derivatives, and loans.

Dapps news

Samsung has added the Sentinel Protocol decentralized app (dapp) to its mobile blockchain wallet, reports News1. The dapp’s developer, Singapore-based Uppsala Security, claims the solution can be used to fight crime and money-laundering – and can provide alerts to cryptocurrency users to warn them if a given wallet address has been flagged as a potential cybercrime violator before they transfer funds.

Wallet news

Crypto wallet MyEtherWallet (MEW), in collaboration with blockchain domains provider Unstoppable Domains, now includes “.crypto” domains within its suite of tools. Per an emailed announcement, this collaboration will introduce Unstoppable Domains users to MEW’s in-platform features, including cryptocurrency swaps, NFT (non-fungible token) management, and a MakerDAO DeFi portal. Users can share Ethereum public wallets without a 42-character long hex string, using instead a unique domain like “name.crypto” to send or receive ETH or tokens.

Exchanges news

Gemini said it has completed its independent SOC 2 Type 2 examination by Deloitte & Touche , which covers the security compliance of the exchange and Gemini Custody. In January 2019, the exchange completed a SOC 2 Type 1. While a SOC 2 Type 1 evaluates the design and implementation of system controls at a point in time, a SOC 2 Type 2 evaluates whether these system controls have been operating effectively over a period of time, the exchange explained.

said it has completed its independent SOC 2 Type 2 examination by , which covers the security compliance of the exchange and Gemini Custody. In January 2019, the exchange completed a SOC 2 Type 1. While a SOC 2 Type 1 evaluates the design and implementation of system controls at a point in time, a SOC 2 Type 2 evaluates whether these system controls have been operating effectively over a period of time, the exchange explained. Regulated derivatives exchange ErisX , backed by major U.S. brokerage TD Ameritrade , today announced support from Etale ’s institutional trading platform. Members of ErisX are able to view real-time market data, and manage account balances and order execution via a connection using either Etale’s front end or API, the company said.

, backed by major U.S. brokerage , today announced support from ’s institutional trading platform. Members of ErisX are able to view real-time market data, and manage account balances and order execution via a connection using either Etale’s front end or API, the company said. Based on Exchange Benchmark grading methodology by CryptoCompare , a provider of the crypto market data, on aggregate, trading volume on top-tier exchanges, such as Gemini, itBit , Coinbase , Kraken , Binance , OKEx , etc., decreased 26% in December, while volume from low-tier exchanges, such as Bithumb , Kucoin , CoinBene , Yobit , etc., decreased 20%. The review adds that aggregate Top-tier exchange volume still only represents 27.4% of the total market.

, a provider of the crypto market data, on aggregate, trading volume on top-tier exchanges, such as Gemini, , , , , , etc., decreased 26% in December, while volume from low-tier exchanges, such as , , , , etc., decreased 20%. The review adds that aggregate Top-tier exchange volume still only represents 27.4% of the total market. Digital asset management firm CoinShares says it has seen a significant growth in 2019 for its exchange-traded products (ETP), with a 97% increase in assets under management in the ETP line, totaling USD 522 million as of January 1, 2020. The announcement also states that the eight ETPs accounted for USD 1.58 billion in trade volume last year, averaging just over USD 6 million in volume a day.

Regulations news

Brazilian tax authorities admit it may take up to two and a half years to implement a system whereby citizens can use cryptocurrency to pay their taxes. Per Criptonoticias, tax officials believe that the process of instructing banks and companies will take time to complete – with a “one to 2.5 years” timeframe likely. The government has stated that it would be prepared to allow citizens to pay for income tax using bitcoin and other tokens.

The AARGOS Funds SICAV , a regulated tokenized real estate fund, has been approved as an alternative investment fund (AIF) by the Financial Market Authority (FMA) of the Principality of Liechtenstein, says Aargos . The company states that the fund provides exposure to a global real estate portfolio through AARGO security tokens.

, a regulated tokenized real estate fund, has been approved as an alternative investment fund (AIF) by the (FMA) of the Principality of Liechtenstein, says . The company states that the fund provides exposure to a global real estate portfolio through AARGO security tokens. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Bank of Thailand (BOT) published a report on a joint Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) research project named Project Inthanon-LionRock, launched for studying the application of CBDC to cross-border payments. The project was completed in December 2019 and a distributed ledger technology based proof-of-concept (PoC) prototype was developed “successfully” together with ten participating banks from both places.

Crime news

75-year-old Frances Foster, from Plymouth, lost GBP 11,000 (USD 14,417) to a scam “bitcoin” company that promised high returns. BBC News reports that the hospital ward clerk said she clicked on an advert on the MSN news website last year for LTC Markets , which claimed to be based in Switzerland, and that she first paid GBP 250 (USD 328), followed by thousands of pounds in further payments, while someone from the ‘company’ even called to wish her a happy Christmas. She said she had contacted her bank and fraud charities, including ActionFraud , but has no hopes of seeing her money again.

news website last year for , which claimed to be based in Switzerland, and that she first paid GBP 250 (USD 328), followed by thousands of pounds in further payments, while someone from the ‘company’ even called to wish her a happy Christmas. She said she had contacted her bank and fraud charities, including , but has no hopes of seeing her money again. South Koreans have been scammed out of a total of USD 2.6 billion in crypto-related fraud cases, claims the country’s Supreme Court. Ilyo Seoul reports that crypto-scammers have been particularly active over the past 12 months, with a sharp rise in the number of cases coming before courts around the country.

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