pilot

BIS And Swiss National Bank Announce Findings of CBDC Pilot Program

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and the Swiss National Bank (SNB) have released the first set of findings from Project Helvetia, a proof-of-concept experiment that aims to demonstrate that the Swiss franc can be tokenized as a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Revealed on Dec 3, the BIS claims the results demonstrate the operational feasibility and legal workability of a digital franc used only for interbank settlement on a blockchain testnet. Project Helvetia Background In the works since 2019, the collaboration brought together the BIS, SNB, and financial market

Cryptocurrency News Roundup for August 14, 2020

In a polarising move that has drawn mixed reaction from the company’s user-base, cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX announced today that it’s making KYC verification mandatory on the platform. The noises surrounding the move are hardly surprising given that privacy and easy-registration were two of the primary factors that contributed to the exchange’s growing popularity. Some BitMEX users are, however, in favor of the decision as it may help the exchange improve its security and appeal to would-be customers. All said and done, the u-turn into a conventional exchange underlines the impact

USDA Proposes Blockchain Ledger for Organic Product Supply Chain

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed amending its rules on organic products to include implementing blockchain technology to trace its supply chain.According to an Aug. 5 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the agency said it expects electronic tracking systems, including digital ledger technology (DLT), will play an “essential role” in the traceability of its supply chain of organic products.“DLT can provide secure, verifiable, transparent, and near-instantaneous tracking at the item level in complex supply chains,” the report stated. “Critically, DLT can also

Q&A: How Blockchain Could Transform the Art Industry

The art world has had a tough time lately. The coronavirus pandemic has forced many galleries and museums to close, with sales of premium pieces also affected.But there could be a solution that helps the industry get back on its feet and achieve much-needed digitization: blockchain. Here, we talk to Niko Kipouros, founder and CEO of 4ARTechnologies, about how this technology could transform the way we purchase and own artwork — and even ensure that the provenance and authenticity of masterpieces are never doubted.1. What are the biggest challenges facing

South Korean Beachgoers Can Now Use Bitcoin to Pay for Services

A pilot project run by Bitbeat-affiliate company CIC Enterprise wants to provide crypto payment solutions at two of the busiest beaches of the country for tourists to use.According to ZDNet Korea, the firm partnered with card and cash payments provider Innotech for the token-powered payments solution in the Haeundae Beach System on the beaches of Busan in South Korea famous with tourists.The program will allow people to pay for water sports-related activities, life jackets, and even parasol rentals, among others, with Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), along with MCI and WAY