Bitcoin Coming to US Banks, Grayscale Giants, Blockchain.com Gets AI + More News
Get your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptoasset and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s crypto news.
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Adoption news
- Crypto custody firm NYDIG has partnered with fintech giant Fidelity National Information Services to enable US banks to offer bitcoin (BTC) to their customer in coming months, CNBC reported, citing the companies. Customers of some US banks will be able to buy, hold and sell BTC through their existing accounts, while “hundreds of banks are already enrolled in the program,” they added. Banks are asking for bitcoin because they can see their customers sending dollars to Coinbase and other crypto exchanges, the report said, adding that NYDIG plans on other services, including debit card rewards paid in bitcoin and a new type of bank account that is FDIC insured, but pays interest in BTC.
- Major crypto asset manager Grayscale Investments and the New York Giants today announced their partnership making Grayscale the Official Digital Currency Asset Management Partner of the New York Giants. Grayscale will be the Presenting Sponsor of The Giants Foundation Golf Outing. It will also be a Presenting Home Game Sponsor, a Supporting Sponsor of Giants Training Camp, and will host voluntary, educational seminars on cryptocurrencies for Giants personnel each year.
M&A news
- Blockchain explorer, crypto wallet and exchange Blockchain.com has announced the acquisition of technology firm AiX Assets, known for their AI-powered negotiation and matching engine for institutional overt-the-counter traders. They will keep developing services for institutional users within Blockchain.com as well, as part of the parent company’s expansion.
Decentralization news
- Grassroots movement WallStreetBets said they will create a blockchain application to decentralize indices in order to prevent market manipulation. This will allow retail investors to gain access to exchange-traded products, or ETPs, upon which they will be able to vote using the network’s governance token WSB.
Mining news
- Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining company Bit Digital has joined digital asset mining and staking company Foundry Digital’s mining pool, according to an emailed statement. Their 5,679 machines that generate an estimated 280 PH/s of computing power are bringing Foundry closer to their goal of becoming one of the top 5 Bitcoin mining pools in the world, they said.
Exchanges news
- EQUOS, a crypto exchange launched by Diginex Limited, a Nasdaq-listed digital assets financial services company, has revealed that their trading volume has gone up by 300% over the last 30 days, compared to the same period before that. Its trading volumes exceeded USD 2bn thanks to a growing interest in their EQO token, but also an increased number of new traders, both retail and institutional, they said in an emailed announcement.
CBDCs news
- The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) said it is considering launching a publicly available central bank digital currency (CBDC) to leverage new technologies to enhance efficiencies of the domestic payment system and financial inclusion. The bank is inviting technology firms, fintech companies, and interested financial institutions “to join efforts to explore the frontiers of financial technology and solve technological, regulatory, and financial issues facing CBDC adoption through a public-private-partnership (PPP).”
Charity news
- The Crypto Giving Pledge, a charity started by The Giving Block, has unveiled the four members of their Founders Circle: Ryan Selkis, CEO of Messari, Dan Matuszewski, founder of CMS Holdings, Qiao Wang, partner at DeFi Alliance, and Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly Capital. Each of the founders, as well as any newcoming members, pledges to donate 1% of their crypto to nonprofits on an annual basis.
Career news
- Computing and mining company Compute North has onboarded Nelu Mihai as their new Chief Technology Officer, the company announced in an email. Mihai has over 30 years of experience in computer science and is set to participate in the company’s expansion efforts that include low-cost digital infrastructure solutions. “The addition of Dr. Mihai will further accelerate our development and innovation of TIER 0™ data centers that are optimized for highly specialized computing,” Dave Perrill, the company’s CEO, said in an emailed announcement.
