pwc is launching a blockchain course INFLUENCERS NEWS 

‘Big Four’ PwC is launching a Blockchain Course for 1000 Staff to Meet Clients Needs

One of the worlds ‘Big four‘ professional services firms, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is launching digital training programs for its employees, within which PwC is launching a blockchain course to boost knowledge and meet its clients needs. Set to begin in January, the two-year digital skills course, entitled “Digital Accelerators”, will train 1,000 employees on everything from cleansing data and drones, to blockchain technology and 3D printing. Digital talent leader at PwC and head of the program, Sarah McEneaney explained that PwC clients expect things more digitally in order to control their costs,…

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FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

Google Expands Big Data Analytics Tool to Explore Ethereum Blockchain

Internet search giant, Google expands its Big Data analytics tool to explore Ethereum blockchain using BigQuery, a web service that provides interactive analysis of massively large data-sets, powered by Google Storage. Chrome users are now able to access a daily dose of all of the data stored on Ethereum’s blockchain, by way of BigQuery, a new Google plugin that provides visuals and a variety of tools for analysing the Ethereum platform. In a blog post announcement made on Saturday, the tech behemoth explained that until now, there have only been app platforms for checking transaction status or…

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global blockchain patent rankings FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

Alibaba and IBM Top the Leader Board for Global Blockchain Patent Rankings

Tech giants Alibaba and IBM top the leader board for global blockchain patent rankings, according to a new report by iPR Daily, a global technology media outlet that specialises in intellectual property (IP) ecosystems. The research, published on Friday by iPR Daily, ranks entities by patents filed.  It stated that it consolidated data as of August 10 from across China, the EU, America, Japan and South Korea, consulting the International Patent System from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The report shows that the Chinese internet giant Alibaba managed to seal the top position with its 90 patent applications focused on blockchain-related…

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blockchain trust protocol BCTECH NEWS 

LinkedIn Co-Founder Launches ‘Hub’ a New Blockchain Trust Protocol Network

Eric Ly, Linkedin co-founder launches ‘Hub’ a new blockchain trust protocol network that aims to provide people with verified portable reputation data, to encourage more trustworthy online interactions and transactions. Hub, refers to itself as a ‘human trust protocol’, to some extent it is like an Experian rating system for your integrity, loyalty and trustworthiness, as opposed to just your financial management capabilities. By facilitating connections between users on the internet in areas such as messengers, online communities, social networks, and peer-to-peer marketplaces, Hub aims to make it easier for users…

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Dfinity to Disrupt Cloud Computing BCTECH NEWS 

Major Venture Capital Firms Invest $102 Million in Dfinity to Disrupt Cloud Computing

Andreessen Horowitz and Polychain have led a founding round which has seen major venture capital firms invest $102 million in DFINITY to disrupt cloud computing with its blockchain-based ‘internet computer’. With its foundation based in Zug, Switzerland’s blockchain hub, the Dfinity team working from Palo Alto aims to reinvent computing by replacing large platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure with a decentralised alternative. The not-for-profit organisation believes that by creating millions of nodes that will collectively serve as a public computing resource, its technology could cut the costs of running…

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nasdaq and blockchain startup anquan FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

Deloitte, Nasdaq and Blockchain Startup Anquan Partner for Singapore Stock Exchange

Singapore’s central bank has signed a deal bringing together ‘big four’ accounting and services firm Deloitte, Nasdaq and blockchain startup Anquan for the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) to ease digital asset settlements using blockchain technology. The aim is to develop Delivery-versus-Payment (DvP) capabilities, a commonly used procedure for settling trades of securities, across different blockchain platforms.  MAS’ chief fintech officer, Sopnendu Mohanty cited that the “involvement of three prominent technology partners highlights the commercial interest in making this a reality.” According to an announcement by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and SGX, the…

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UEFA Super Cup tickets using blockchain technology FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

UEFA Successfully Distributes Super Cup Tickets Using Blockchain Technology

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has confirmed that they successfully trialled the distribution of Super Cup tickets using blockchain technology, for last week’s football match between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid held in Tallinn, Estonia. This was not the first live trial however, as well as several other football matches, the blockchain ticketing system was used to distribute 50% of tickets available to the general public, for the 2018 Europa League final in Lyon between  Atlético Madrid and Marseille. It was following the success of those tests, that EUFA implemented the…

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Insurance blockchain consortium FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

Enterprise Giants Accenture and EY Join Insurance Blockchain Consortium RiskBlock

Insurance blockchain consortium RiskBlock appears to be getting set to launch a number of major trials, with it’s recent announcements on bringing enterprise giants Accenture and Ernst & Young (EY) on-board. The RiskBlock Alliance was launched in July of 2017 by The Institute, the world’s leading not-for-profit provider of education and research for risk management and insurance. To date, it has brought 30 global insurers, reinsurers and brokers together as members of the consortium, with the aim of utilising blockchain technology to streamline processes, reducing industry and consumer costs, whilst improving safety…

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blockchain advertising protocol BCTECH NEWS 

Softbank and Baidu Invest in Ex Google Employees Blockchain Advertising Protocol

Major investors, SoftBank China Venture Capital (SBCVC) and Baidu Ventures (BV) have led a seed round for Atlas Protocol (ATP), a startup company founded by ex Google employees, that aims to create a new blockchain advertising protocol. ATP, incubated by Nebulas Labs and the xGoogler Blockchain Alliance (xGBA), is using blockchain technology to change the dynamics of the digital marketing industry, with a new ‘interactive’ advertising ecosystem. Currently, online marketing companies do not provide users with any control over their collected data, and with Europe’s new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), it has become…

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$24 billion deal for china's electric buses FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

Blockchain Company Seven Stars Cloud Wins $24 Billion Deal for China’s Electric Buses

Blockchain focused fintech company, Seven Stars Cloud has won a $24 billion deal for china’s electric buses to be upgraded, in order to meet the governments plan to replace all buses with electric buses by 2021. As stated in a press release published on Monday, Seven Stars Cloud Group (SSC), a publicly traded company on Nasdaq, has signed a three year exclusive contract with China‘s biggest electric bus operator, National Transportation Capacity Co Ltd (NTS). The deal will see SSC manage two funding campaigns to raise $8.75 billion in China, and the other open to…

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blockchain insurance data platform NEWS REGULATORS 

Major US Insurance Advisory AAIS and IBM Pilot Blockchain Insurance Data Platform

One of only two major ‘rating bureaus’ in the US, the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS), has partnered with IBM to launch a blockchain insurance data platform. Entitled Insurance Data Link (openIDL), it aims to simplify regulatory reporting for insurance carriers, which currently requires time-consuming data calls across various parties. Several major US insurers are being on-boarded, and AAIS is reported to be targeting carriers and organisations of “every size and configuration”.

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first ever blockchain bond - world bank NEWS REGULATORS 

World Bank and CBA to Issue First Blockchain Bond with Ethereum and Microsoft

In a major announcement, the World Bank is preparing to issue the first blockchain bond to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) on a private Ethereum-based blockchain, which will run on Microsoft Azure’s cloud platform. Currently, the World Bank issues between US$50-US$60 billion annually in bonds for sustainable development. It says that blockchain technology has the potential to “help simplify raising capital and trading securities; improve operational efficiencies; and enhance regulatory oversight”

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comcast blockchain advertising FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

Comcast Blockchain Advertising Platform Developing with Disney, Channel 4 and TF1

The second-largest multichannel video service provider in the US, Comcast is developing a blockchain video advertising platform in collaboration with major TV networks from around the world, including NBCUniversal, Disney, Altice USA, Channel 4, Cox Communications, Mediaset Italia and TF1 Group. Entitled the ‘Blockchain Insights Platform’, it aims to streamline and improve security using blockchain technology in the process of data sharing for ad’ planning, buying and tracking premium video advertising. Set to launch this year, Comcast believe that it will “ultimately create even more value for the television advertising industry”.

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aidtech worlds first blockchain baby BCTECH NEWS 

World’s First Blockchain Baby is Registered for Care with AID:Tech and PharmAccess

Startup blockchain aid organisation AID:Tech makes history by registering the world’s first blockchain baby in Tanzania, in partnership with Dutch organisation PharmAccess, in an effort to improve access to healthcare throughout Africa. Entitled Chain of Trust (CoT), the project has already attracted a flurry of investment from Techstars, Enterprise Ireland, SGI Innovate, and angel investor, Jason Calacanis. Named by the United Nations as a Sustainable Development Goal Pioneer, AID:Tech is now looking to launch their own Transparency as a Service Token (TaaST).

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blockchain for the aerospace industry FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

Accenture Partners with Thales to Launch Blockchain for the Aerospace Industry

Consulting giant, Accenture has partnered with a major global defence firm, Thales, to launch a blockchain that aims to secure and streamline aerospace and defence (A&D) supply chains. Accenture report that “86% of A&D companies expect to integrate blockchain technology into their corporate systems by 2021”. As prime contractor for advanced air and missile defence capabilities to NATO forces, Thales’ launching this blockchain for the aerospace industry, marks a potential “game changing innovation for this sector”.

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blockchain car financing platform FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

Deutsche Bank, Allianz and Auto1 to Launch Blockchain Car Financing Platform

Europe’s largest car buyer, Auto1 has partnered with Deutsche Bank and Allianz to create a blockchain car financing platform entitled ‘Auto1 Fintech’. As a major supplier to the commercial used vehicle market, Auto1 works with 45,000 dealers across 30 countries, generating a turnover of 1.5 billion euros per year. Collectively owning more than fifty percent, the three German companies aim to streamline the financing and insurance process, from two weeks to a few seconds utilising blockchain technology.

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FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

Telecom Giants Telefonica, Telstra, Colt and BT Trial Blockchain with Startup Clear

Major global telcos including Telefonica, Telstra, Colt and BT trial blockchain with startup company Clear to complete a live international PoC, that aims to dramatically reduce both time and costs for the telecom industry. In March, Colt and PCCW Global carried out the first PoC trial that successfully reduced inter-carrier settlement time from hundreds of man-hours per month to less than a minute. “Intercarrier settlement is an area where fraud costs $17 billion annually for operators”

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nhs blockchain platform guardtime FTSE / NASDAQ NEWS 

UK NHS Blockchain Platform for up to 30 million Patients launches with Guardtime

Software security company, Guardtime has launched a UK NHS blockchain platform, offering 30 million British patients instant access to their primary care information using a smartphone. In partnership with Instant Access Medical and Healthcare Gateway, the MyPCR platform interfaces with all three major UK NHS GP platforms, enabling GPs to develop ‘care pathways’ that can be monitored by both patient and healthcare personnel, with a greater aim of improved medication adherence for potential savings of at least £800 million.

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NEWS REGULATORS 

U.K. Law Commission Researching Law Reform for Use of Blockchain Smart Contracts

Further to the release of a report, the U.K. Law Commission, has begun a formal project researching into law reform for use of blockchain smart contracts in the British legal ecosystem. The agency, set up by Parliament, has dentifyied blockchain technology as a significant area that is seeing uptake, especially in the financial services world. With finance and banking being one of it’s top industries in the UK, and London the world’s largest financial centre. The commission has stated the necessity of reform to remain competitive for enterprise.

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coinbase launches crypto gift cards NEWS REGULATORS 

Coinbase Launches Crypto Gift Cards for Major Retailers in Partnership with WeGift

One of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, Coinbase launches crypto gift cards for its European customers, enabling them to purchase goods and services using their crypto assets with over 120 major brands including Amazon, Tesco, M&S, Thomas Cook and Uber. The new feature comes a few months after securing an e-money license from the UK’s financial regulator. Partnering with digital gift card startup WeGift, customers can convert upto $5000 per day of their cryptocurrency stored in their Coinbase wallets into gift cards.

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