Blockchain

Large, multinational banks are partnering together to build a new global trade finance platform using Blockchain technology. According to a report in Global Trade Review (GTR), Commerzbank, Bank of Montreal, Erste Group and CaixaBank are joining a project underway by UBS and IBM dubbed Batavia in an expansion of a proof of concept that IBM and UBS launched at Sibos ... Read More »

Singapore Central Bank Reveals 3 New Blockchain Payments Prototypes The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and The Association of Banks in Singapore (ABS) announced today that the consortium which they are leading has successfully developed software prototypes of three different models for decentralised inter-bank payment and settlements with liquidity savings mechanisms. The project, conducted together with 11 financial institutions and ... Read More »

The venture arm of one of the most recognizable names in the tech industry hasn’t yet put its money where its mouth is on blockchain – but that may be about to change. While global tech giant IBM has so far focused mostly on investing employee time and energy into the emerging technology, it’s only just now gearing up to take an ... Read More »

ShoCard, a leading blockchain-based identity management system (IMS), together with Creditinfo, a leading service provider for credit information and risk management solutions worldwide, today announce the ShoCard IMS’s integration into the new Creditinfo app. The app enables individuals to claim their identity and obtain personal credit information that can be shared with any third party, as well as be independently verified ... Read More »

Blockchain is, slowly but surely, reaching corporate consciousness. As the Harvard Business Review has put it, blockchain is a “quiet revolution.” Finance professionals must now compete on a new stage.  First used with bitcoin in 2008, it has gradually grown in use as the technological underpinning of cryptocurrency. However, whilst interest in bitcoin has waned, blockchain has found more and ... Read More »

This article is designed as an introduction to blockchain technology and assumes minimal technical knowledge.    Some common misconceptions:  People use the term ‘blockchain technology’ to mean different things, and it can be confusing.  Sometimes they are talking about The Bitcoin Blockchain, sometimes it’s The Ethereum Blockchain, sometimes it’s other virtual currencies or digital tokens, sometimes it’s smart contracts.  Most ... Read More »

Patent Application Reveals Nasdaq Planning Blockchain-Powered Data System.  Nasdaq is seeking to patent a system for securely distributing time-sensitive information via a blockchain. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) released the patent application – entitled “Systems and Methods for Securing and Disseminating Time Sensitive Information Using a Blockchain” – on August 3, though it was initially submitted in late January of ... Read More »

The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) is releasing new details about a forthcoming five-year development plan focused on its strategy for advancing technology use in the country’s domestic financial industry. According to the announcement by the central bank, the PBoC intends to actively push forward the development of new technologies such as blockchain and AI. It also plans to strengthen its research on applications of fintech ... Read More »

Thomson Reuters announced the launch of Thomson Reuters Labs™ – The Incubator.  Located in Switzerland, the Incubator will host early-stage entrepreneurs building next-generation products in big data, advanced analytics, distributed ledgers, artificial intelligence, machine learning and other transformational technologies.  As part of the official program, startups will receive access to Thomson Reuters world-class data and content sets, mentoring from experienced executives ... Read More »

Blockchain work continues apace in China. Its central bank opened a digital currency research institute, shortly after releasing new details about a forthcoming five-year development plan in which it specifies a development push for new technologies such as blockchain and AI.   A blockchain research lab is also being set up in Shenzhen by a group of research institutions and ... Read More »

The World Economic Forum may have a solution to blockchain governance, one that could boost usability and access. In its latest paper, titled “Realizing the Potential of Blockchain”, the organization proposes a framework to distribute “stewardship” of the technology, tasking stakeholders with ensuring that development benefits a broad base. This could be established, the paper argues, through a global, distributed ... Read More »