Crypto News: IBM, Stellar Lumens, Switzerland, Bitcoin, Ripple, Binance
No major movement this week.
Current prices:
BTC = around $4k (0%)
ETH = around $136 (-2%)
XRP = around $0.30 (-3%)
EOS = around $3.63 (-3%)
NEO = around $9.03 (-2%)
IOTA = around $0.30 (+2%)
XLM = around $0.10 (-6%)
BNB = around $17 (+7%)
XMR = around $50 (0%)
VET = around $0.006 (+6%)
A lot of analysts agree that we have reached bottom (still be careful) but it might be a long time before we see drastic increases.
IBM and Cryptocurrency
IBM has created a real-time, global payments network to support cross-border transactions and foreign exchange in more than 50 countries using digital assets, also known as cryptocurrencies or “stable coins.”
IBM Blockchain World Wire will help financial institutions improve the services they deliver to their consumers by optimizing and accelerating foreign exchange, cross border payments and remittances in a similar way to Ripple.
It is using the Stellar protocol, World Wire serves as a network provider for international payments, enabling point-to-point money transfers free of the complexities of conventional correspondent banking.
The network is using Lumens, which is the native asset of the Stellar network, but they are looking to introduce cryptocurrencies that could include Bitcoin or Ether
Bitcoin and Switzerland
The Digitec Galaxus Group, Switzerland’s online retail store, announced today that its two web platforms would accept payments in cryptocurrencies. It concerns the popular bitcoin, but also half a dozen other cryptocurrencies.
Users will be able to pay for carts exceeding 200 francs through a third-party service, Coinify. The Denmark-startup would convert crypto payments to fiat in real-time, thereby protecting the merchants from cryptocurrencies’ notorious price volatility. The coins accepted will be Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Ethereum, Ripple, Binance Coin, Litecoin, TRON, OmiseGo, NEO
The retailer employs around 1300 people, has 10 stores as well as telephone orders and online distribution annd 2018 had a reported a revenue of almost 1 billion Swiss francs. It is certainly a good step towards crypto adoption.
Ripple and Gaming Fund
The company behind the XRP digital currency has announced plans to integrate blockchain technology with video gaming. To facilitate development on the project Ripple will be working with Forte, a startup founded this year and backed by Coinbase Ventures, Battery Ventures, and other prominent Silicon Valley investors.
Amongst other things the goal of the project will be to bring greater efficiency to in-game marketplaces using blockchain technology. The current methods used by players to trade in-game assets are often legally questionable and sales take place using third-party services such as eBay.
Storing gaming skins as well as in game currency seems like a perfect use case for blockchain and recent success of Enjin proves that there is plenty of demand in this sector. Because of the $100 million developer fund could see another widespread use case for the much-hyped technology.
Update to the Binance Launchpad Token Sale Format
On 24th of March Binance has released an update on the Binance Launchpad token sale format: Summary
The next Binance Launchpad token launch will be conducted as a lottery, instead of a first-come-first-served system.
The number of tickets you can claim depends on the amount of BNB you hold over a 20-day period in a Binance account leading up to the day of the lottery, up to a maximum of 5 tickets per eligible account (minimum 100, over 500 optimal)
The lottery draw will be done via a transparent, randomized system with a random selection of lottery tickets based on tail digits (explained below).
Account verification (KYC) and country restrictions will still apply.
Since Binance Launchpad project has been successful in the past it wasn't surprising that people were bying BNB in order to get more lottery tickets so they can purchase tokens.