The ComplexCon Hong Kong app developed by nChain has achieved success by prioritizing user experience over blockchain technology. Luka Topolovec, Head of the Delivery Factory at nChain, led the team in creating an app that allowed users to scan tickets into digital collectibles and earn points. The focus was on providing a simple and effective user experience while hiding the complexity of blockchain technology. The app was stress-tested to ensure it could handle the high volume of users accessing the venue, and it received positive feedback with no reported problems. This achievement marks a significant milestone for nChain [191588bc].
The transformation of global regulatory frameworks in the Web3 space was discussed at the Proof of Talk conference in Paris. Panelists Jenny Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton, and Mo Shaikh, founder of the Aptos blockchain network, covered topics such as banking the unbanked population and the impact of the protocol economy on regulators. Johnson highlighted the progress in Europe with the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and Singapore's sandbox approach to industry regulation. She also mentioned Hong Kong's efforts to attract companies and the UAE's forward-looking approach [cec1f9f9].
CoinDesk explores whether crypto is becoming a mainstream topic in US elections. The article mentions the CoinDesk 20 Index and provides updates on crypto prices. The article also highlights the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX) as the leading reference for the price of bitcoin. It mentions the upcoming Consensus 2024 event and provides links to register. The article mentions that CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group in November 2023 and operates as an independent subsidiary [0785c554].
According to Ben Emons, a senior portfolio manager at NewEdge Wealth, digital assets are more sensitive to interest rate hikes. This highlights the potential impact of monetary policy decisions on the cryptocurrency market. Emons' statement suggests that changes in interest rates could have a significant effect on the valuation and performance of digital assets [e1b5fa7d].
Several crypto firms, including BTC Inc, Bitget, Brink, Chainalysis, Hacken, Nansen, and Unstoppable Domains, have joined forces to push for the creation of a dedicated Bitcoin emoji on digital keyboards worldwide. The initiative, led by Nexo, aims to promote broader acceptance of Bitcoin and will involve a 50-day Change.org petition followed by a direct proposal to the Unicode Consortium [8db13435].
Spirit Blockchain Capital Inc. has made a strategic investment in CryptoSlam, the leading aggregator of non-fungible token (NFT) data. The investment aims to enhance CryptoSlam's technical capabilities, explore tokenization opportunities, and support its strategic goals. Spirit Blockchain Capital's involvement will bring new resources and development opportunities through Troon Technologies, an SBC company [5731a56b].
Franklin Templeton's Jenny Johnson, the president and CEO, discusses the role of blockchain in the firm's long-term strategy, the potential of blockchain to democratize markets and enable access to private markets, and the efficiency and security benefits of blockchain technology. Johnson also expresses her belief in the demand for Bitcoin and the importance of responsible allocation. She mentions that Franklin Templeton has developed a tokenized money-market fund and is exploring other blockchain- or crypto-related products. Johnson acknowledges the potential of NFTs but emphasizes the importance of investing in assets with financial returns [0d629c30].
CME Group is praised for its robust crypto derivatives sector and the upcoming release of a Bitcoin/Ether ratio spread contract. JPMorgan Chase has embraced blockchain technology and launched projects like the J.P. Morgan Wallet. Horizon Kinetics highlights their positions within hedge fund portfolios [8907005c].
The convergence of business, politics, technology, and investments is shaping the future landscape. The DealBook Summit in New York City brought together leaders from various sectors to discuss topics such as inflation trends and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Meanwhile, an exclusive blockchain event in Hong Kong empowered investors with pivotal blockchain knowledge. Dr. David Kelly, a renowned strategist, shared insights on the economic environment and investment opportunities. Additionally, OKX Ventures explored the transformative potential of zero-knowledge technology in finance. Kuwait Finance House participated in a conference on digital transformation, women empowerment, and emerging technologies, emphasizing their commitment to diversity and innovation [0c65f1c4] [d1862881] [c633aeca] [a63334fe] [77c3bcfe].
The common theme across these inputs is the impact of technology, digital transformation, and empowerment on investments. This theme explores the intersection of finance, emerging technologies, and societal changes, shaping the future of investment strategies and opportunities.
Crypto Twitter this week was dominated by the industry’s new hottest topic, Bitcoin Runes. Runes, a new protocol that can support fungible tokens like meme coins, surged in popularity. DOG, a new Runes meme token, was airdropped to holders of the Runestones Ordinal project, making it the most popular Runes token yet created. Runes fever took hold over the cryptosphere, with activity on the protocol surpassing the entire Bitcoin network. Ethereum also saw bullish news with the multi-million dollar sale of a CryptoPunk NFT. However, Yuga Labs, the company behind Bored Ape Yacht Club, laid off employees, and Consensys filed a lawsuit against the SEC, alleging that the regulator is seeking to sue the company and potentially declare Ethereum a security [af9cc906].
This week, a gamified competition called Fantasy Top generated a frenzy of posts and profits on Crypto Twitter. The game paid out $1.25 million to creators and tribes of Crypto Twitter users furiously commented and reposted to support their chosen influencers. Tom Brady and Donald Trump also made headlines in the crypto world. Brady faced some criticism at his Netflix roast over his commitment to crypto, while Trump hosted an event for holders of his NFTs and declared his intent to embrace crypto in the United States if re-elected. The event also had an impact on the meme coin BODEN. Additionally, there is speculation about crypto becoming a wedge issue in the upcoming election, with commentators calling for a clear regulatory framework [2b0ddb92].
Eric Balchunas, a Bloomberg Intelligence Senior ETF Analyst, underscores the rising popularity and influence of ETFs in investment markets. CoinDesk is the world leader in news, prices, and information on bitcoin and other digital currencies. CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group in November 2023. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence [2eb197aa].
The 2024 edition of the Proof of Talk conference in Paris discussed the transformation of global regulatory frameworks in the Web3 space. Panelists Jenny Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton, and Mo Shaikh, founder of the Aptos blockchain network, covered topics such as banking the unbanked population and the impact of the protocol economy on regulators. Johnson highlighted the progress in Europe with the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and Singapore's sandbox approach to industry regulation. She also mentioned Hong Kong's efforts to attract companies and the UAE's forward-looking approach. The article is from Cointelegraph [cec1f9f9].
The article discusses the annual BIS Innovation Summit and its focus on small steps and gigantic leaps in transforming the financial system through technology. It highlights tokenization and smart contracts as key components that have the potential to disrupt and drive the digitalization of trade and finance. The article also mentions the application of tokenization to the trade finance supply chain, with case studies of its practical application. It introduces the concept of an interoperability layer for trade finance and the need for standards to drive adoption of digital trade. The author emphasizes the importance of aligning standards and processes to facilitate data sharing and portability, and the role of an interoperability layer in addressing fragmentation and promoting collaboration. The article concludes by discussing the progress made in digital trade and the potential for 2024 to be a turning point in digital trade with the focus on driving adoption and deepening capacity for digitalization [fddce6e7].