Tag Archives: Cryptocurrencies

18Apr/23

Vechain Launches VORJ – The ‘Web3-as-a-Service’ Platform Eliminating Barriers to Blockchain Adoption

Vechain has officially launched VORJ, a no-code ‘Web3-as-a-Service’ platform designed to revolutionise the blockchain development experience. Launching free-to-use, VORJ offers a simple ‘click-configure-deploy’ interface that drastically expedites the building process for developers and businesses, with users able to deploy tokens, NFTs and smart contracts without fees, irrespective of technical expertise. Continue reading

13Dec/22

The Swiss financial industry has successfully traded and settled tokenized investment products

For the first time, key players in the Swiss financial industry successfully developed and tested a novel settlement mechanism for tokenized investment products on a public blockchain testnet infrastructure. A smart contract, developed by the Capital Markets and Technology Association (the CMTA), allows for streamlined processes, reduces complexity, raises security, and eliminates counterparty risks from trades. The CMTA’s proof of concept marks a milestone for the Swiss financial industry. Continue reading

01Dec/22

FTX collapse crushes crypto dreams in Africa and beyond

  • FTX’s bankruptcy hurts small investors across the world
  • Young African crypto backers fret about damage to sector
  • Regulators repeat warnings about risks of crypto dealing

LAGOS/BANGKOK – Days before his FTX cryptocurrency exchange collapsed, co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried tweeted “Hello, West Africa!” – his latest nod to a region where a growing number of kitchen table investors had put their faith, and savings, in FTX.
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12Oct/22

New Stellar Anchor Platform Bridges Businesses to the Blockchain and to a Global Network of Wallets and Exchanges

Today at Stellar’s 4th annual Meridian conference, the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF), the non-profit that supports the growth and development of the Stellar network, announced the launch of the Anchor Platform, an out-of-the-box solution that makes it easier and faster than ever for businesses to connect to the blockchain. In just three steps, companies such as banks and money transfer operators may access the Stellar network with reduced development cost and time. Continue reading

26Sep/22

South African teens skip school to chase risky crypto dreams

  • Young South Africans see crypto as way to quick wealth
  • Poverty, high unemployment pushes them to crypto
  • Users not fully aware of risks, vulnerable to scams

By Kimberly Mutandiro

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 26 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – John first heard of cryptocurrency three years ago, when the teenager came across slick YouTube videos and Facebook posts of other South Africans claiming to have become wealthy overnight with bitcoin.
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16Sep/22

As ether adopts energy-saving ‘merge’, will bitcoin follow?

  • No. 2 cryptocurrency to adopt energy-saving protocol
  • ‘The merge’ could cut ethereum’s power use by 99%
  • Move seen piling climate pressure on bitcoin

By Avi Asher-Schapiro

LOS ANGELES, Sept 12 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Ethereum, the blockchain underpinning the world’s second-largest crypto token ether, is poised for a software upgrade that will slash the amount of energy it uses – a step that could pile pressure on bitcoin to take similar climate-friendly action. Continue reading

19Jul/22

Africans turn to crypto as charity funding dwindles

  • Fundraising via crypto, NFTs grows amid funding downturn
  • Advocates say crypto donations faster, easier to access
  • Challenges include internet, power access and gender gap

By Kagondu Njagi

NAIROBI, July 19 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A sculpture of a giant tap spewing plastic waste greeted delegates at U.N. environment talks in Kenya earlier this year – a reminder of the urgent need for them to agree a global pact to curb plastic pollution.

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