Latest Blockchain News: Finextra Research

RSK Labs raises $1 million to bring smart contracts to bitcoin blockchain

We are pleased to announce that in a round led by Bitmain Technology, the world’s largest bitcoin hardware mining producer, Coinsilium, a leading blockchain investment firm based in London and Digital Currency Group, the prolific investor from New York, RSK Labs raised $1 million to further develop the first smart contracts platform secured by Bitcoin and fully compatible with Ethereum.

23 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Standard Chartered opens Singapore innovation lab

Standard Chartered Bank has opened a new innovation lab in Singapore to explore the use of emerging technologies and data sciences in support of the bank's digital transformation strategy.

23 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Ripple opens London office to serve European demand

With European banks showing huge interest in the potential of distributed ledger technology, San Francisco-based startup Ripple has opened a new office in London to serve the region, and hired former Swift exec Patricia Pittomvils as director of sales.

21 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Australian Government bids to build a fintech nation

Robo-advisors, bitcoin and blockchain, P2P lending and crowdsourcing are all too receive a boost in Australia as the Government unveils a comprehensive package of plans designed to stimulate the new fintech economy.

21 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Blockchain intelligence outfit Elliptic raises $5m

Startup Elliptic has closed a $5 million Series A funding round led by Paladin Capital Group, as it seeks to cash in on the distributed ledger craze with its technology for identifying illicit activity on the blockchain.

21 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Swedish central bank calls halt on moves to a cashless economy

While other central banks ruminate on ways to replace cash with digital currencies, Sweden's Riksbank is kicking against the grain with calls for access to cash to be a legal right.

18 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Hitachi establishes fintech innovation lab in Silicon Valley

Hitachi has established a fintech research lab in Silicon Valley, where it will conduct R&D on new innovations in blockchain technology and financial services more generally.

17 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Overstock preps blockchain public offering

In what it claims is a world first, online retailer Overstock is set to issue public shares using its proprietary blockchain technology.

16 March 2016

Company update/Blockchain

Secure Trading hires reformed hacktivist to consult on blockchain project

Secure Trading, the payments and cyber security group, has today announced the appointment of reformed hacktivist and renowned cyber security expert, Mustafa Al Bassam.

16 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Will bitcoin provide banks with their 'Kodak Moment'?

The world's banks are facing a 'Kodak Moment' if they continue to dismiss the virtual currency bitcoin as just the opening act for more revolutionary blockchain-based innovation, says Max Tannahill, a business change and implementation manager at ANZ

16 March 2016

News/Blockchain

US judge paves way for lawsuit against Mizuho over Mt Gox losses

A US judge has given the go-ahead to a class action lawsuit against Mizuho Bank over the Japanese giant's relationship with failed bitcoin exchange Mt Gox.

15 March 2016

News/Blockchain

USAA adds bitcoin balance check feature to site and app

USAA has teamed up with Coinbase to enable members to check their bitcoin balances through the online army bank's website and mobile app.

15 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Icap hails blockchain proof-of-concept as post-trade breakthrough

Icap has completed a proof-of-concept test on the use of distributed ledger-based smart contracts on Traiana's Harmony network, declaring that the technology has the potential to "significantly transform post trade operations".

15 March 2016

Company update/Blockchain

SBI Holdings to join R3 blockchain consortium

SBI Holdings, Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and CEO: Yoshitaka Kitao; “SBIH”) hereby announces that it will join blockchain consortium R3 led by R3 CEV LLC (Head Office: New York City, New York State, U.S.; CEO: David Rutter; “R3 CEV”), a U.S. FinTech company.

14 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Esma expresses case for and against distributed ledgers in post-trade markets

The potential benefits of the application of distributed ledger technologies in the securities markets sit squarely in the post-trade environment, according to initial research findings from Esma (European Securities and Markets Authority) following a year-long review of the technology.

11 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Global funding for VC-backed fintech firms doubles to $13.8bn

2015 was the year that financial technology entered the mainstream, claims a new report from KPMG and CB Insights which estimates that VC-backed fintech firms around the world secured $13.8 billion in funding as they began having a serious impact in every area of banking and insurance.

09 March 2016

Company update/Blockchain

Wall Street Blockchain Alliance adds Juan Llanos to advisory board

The Wall Street Blockchain Alliance (WSBA) has announced that Juan Llanos will be joining the trade group Advisory Board.

09 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Finextra’s NextGen Banking conference fills Level39 to maximum capacity

Senior executives from challengers and incumbents gathered together to debate market access, customer requirements, PSD2 implications, technology issues and collaboration opportunities in front of a packed crowd at Finextra's NextGen Banking conference at Level39.

08 March 2016

News/Blockchain

Mizuho and Fujitsu complete blockchain trial

Japan's Mizuho Bank and Fujitsu say that they have carried out a trial using blockchain technology to streamline cross-border securities transaction settlements.

08 March 2016

Company update/Blockchain

Ipreo improves issuer view mobile app

Ipreo, a leading global provider of market intelligence and productivity solutions to financial services and corporate professionals, announced the release of the next generation of its Issuer View mobile application, which enables banks to communicate with issuers more effectively by giving them a real-time view into the progress of a deal.

08 March 2016