Europol establishes working group to fight money laundering through digital currencies

Europol, INTERPOL, and the Basel Institute on Governance last week revealed plans to establish a working group on money laundering with digital currencies. According to the official release, virtual environments offer high levels of anonymity and low levels of detection removing many of the risks associated with real-world money laundering and terrorism financing activities.

ISO selects Standards Australia to spearhead international blockchain standards committee

Standards Australia, an independent and not-for-profit organization, announced that it will lead international blockchain standards committee after International Organization for Standardization (ISO) approved its proposal for new international standards on blockchain.

DARPA awards $1.8M contract to verify blockchain-based integrity monitoring system

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded a $1.8 million contract jointly to two companies – Galois, a Portland-based computer science company, and Guardtime Federal, a cyber-security provider – to advance the state of formal verification tools and all blockchain-based integrity monitoring systems.

Sydney Stock Exchange to develop blockchain solution for instant trade settlement

The Sydney Stock Exchange has partnered with Bit Trade Labs, an Australia-based blockchain startup, for a joint venture on instant settlement of trades using blockchain technology. The partnership, announced in May 2016, is targeting implementing a blockchain solution, subject to regulatory and market participant’s approval and engagement, within months for its private markets network and early in 2018 for the SSX equities market. The firms aim to reduce settlement times from four days to none.

Swedish Bitcoin Foundation cautions users against OneCoin

In an official statement, the Swedish Bitcoin Foundation, a non-profit organization aiming to promote the use of Bitcoin in Sweden, has warned against cryptocurrency OneCoin being a scam or pyramid scheme.

LocalBitcoins issues instructions to bypass Russian ban

The over-the-counter and peer to peer bitcoin exchange LocalBitcoins has issued instructions that will help users to continue using resources despite Russia officially blocking access to its platform.

Goldman Sachs files patent for blockchain-based system for foreign exchange transactions

According to a US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) application published on September 8, Goldman Sachs has highlighted the risks that are associated with current foreign exchange transactions and the benefits that a blockchain-based system could offer. The investment banking giant has described a ledger administration server that controls a ledger to allow a payment or foreign currency exchange transaction to occur in real-time or substantially real-time.

Digital Currency/Blockchain research studies:

Our future work is going to be about research, but also convening: MIT Media Lab Digital Currency Initiative's New Research Director

Blockchain has huge potential to transform reinsurance industry, says PwC report

Conferences/ Events:

Vanbex Group to showcase blockchain integrated payment system ‘Genisys’

'Blockchain: Money' announces speakers for London November event

Steem announces three-day SteemFest in Amsterdam

BitFiniti Florida conference to explore various use cases of blockchain technology

First-ever Hyperledger Hackathon to be held in October

Important deals, partnerships, and more:

IBM, BTMU team up to automate business transactions using blockchain

ConsenSys announces content partnership with Ethereum France

Blockchain startup Ripple raises $55M, adds more banks to network

TØ and Keystone partner in first blockchain-based public equities issuance

Big four firm KPMG introduces Digital Ledger Service

Bisnode partners with blockchain startup Coinfirm

Indian tech giant Wipro establishes blockchain research facility

Bitmain launches open-source bitcoin mining pool

itBit team introduces new blockchain technology firm ‘Paxos’

Straits Financial partners with WB21 to accept bitcoin via BitPay

iOS store removes cryptocurrency exchange app ShapeShift

Apple iMessage to integrate bitcoin trading app Circle