ZA Bank gears up for retail crypto app offering

Bitfinex Forges Strategic Partnership with Zodia CustodyCryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex has formed a strategic partnership with digital assets custodian Zodia Custody to fortify the security of its institutional clients’ assets.The deal struck with Zodia Custody, a subsidiary of the UK multinational banking titan Standard Chartered, aligns with a growing trend within the digital assets sector, one that emphasizes separating asset custody from trading activities. Such a division will result in heightened security measures while better meeting regulatory compliance.Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on PexelsSecuring digital assetsThis collaboration provides an opportunity for institutional clients who maintain accounts with both Bitfinex and Zodia Custody. They can now seamlessly replicate their custodial assets on Bitfinex’s cutting-edge trading platform, all while basking in the security offered by Zodia’s off-exchange settlement solution, aptly named Interchange.With this innovation, the need for actual asset transfers becomes obsolete as the settlement process unfolds periodically on the blockchain. This approach not only ensures efficiency but also provides greater security when interacting with the platform.Industry trendBitfinex’s move towards segregating trading and custodial functions aligns with best practices in the crypto industry but also signifies a wider trend observed among cryptocurrency exchanges as they increasingly adopt a more conventional approach akin to traditional financial institutions.Paolo Ardoino, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Bitfinex, shared the exchange’s perspective, stating:“We are committed to shaping the future of digital market infrastructure and enabling institutional customers to thrive in this space. Working with Zodia Custody is a significant part of that strategy, and together we can look to enable even more institutions to enter or further participate in digital assets.”This partnership serves as a testament to Bitfinex’s continuous efforts to collaborate with reputable custodians, building upon past successful alliances with firms like Koine in 2020 and Digivault in 2022.The significance of segregating asset custody from trading operations has taken on greater importance, primarily in the aftermath of the collapse of FTX, where management gambled with customer’s assets.Zodia’s market expansionZodia Custody, with the backing of Standard Chartered Bank, has recently expanded its footprint into Singapore, offering digital asset custody services to financial institutions in the burgeoning Asian market.Not content with that, in May it launched its crypto custodian service in Dubai. The following month the fledgling firm announced a partnership with blockchain infrastructure firm Blockdaemon relative to crypto staking for institutional clients. There’s been no let up in the firm’s roll-out of services as earlier this month it commenced a yield offering on stablecoins in partnership with Singapore-based DeFi platform OpenEden.Bitfinex’s history includes one of the most infamous hacks in the cryptocurrency sphere, with the pilfering of 120,000 BTC, now valued at over $3 billion. Nevertheless, the exchange has undergone a transformative journey and presently boasts an extensive array of cryptocurrencies and trading pairs.As the regulatory landscape continues to evolve, the practice of separating custody from trading is poised to become a standard procedure, further enhancing the legitimacy and security of the cryptocurrency market.

DeFi investment platform Allbit.com adds portfolio and analytics servicesBlockchain firm Ozys, announced on Nov. 3 (local time) that it has added portfolio and analytics services to its comprehensive Web3 financial investment platform Allbit.com.Photo by rc.xyz NFT gallery on UnsplashIntegration with KlaytnThe beta version of Allbit.com was launched in March, with a trading view chart displaying real-time prices of cryptocurrencies based on trades that are made on KLAYswap, a major decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol launched by Ozys. KLAYswap is built on Korean tech juggernaut Kakao’s open-source public blockchain called Klaytn.Newest features“Users of KLAYSwap and KLAYSTATION can now easily check the status of their on-chain activities without having to track them separately,” explained Ozys CEO Roi Choi.The “My Portfolio” feature on the recently updated platform gives users a convenient way to monitor their asset balances, the liquidity on KLAYswap, and the staking status of KLAYSTATION, a staking tool based on the Klaytn network. For better risk management, the “Net Asset Trend” graphically displays daily changes in the user’s net asset value. Additionally, the “PNL (ROI) Dashboard” provides insights into profit and loss by showing real-time and periodic performance data. Whether tokens are held in a personal wallet or deposited into a particular service, the dashboard tracks token price movements to present users with an up-to-date view of their investment returns.Allbit.com customers can also keep up with activities on various wallets and market trends through their personalized watchlists and share their portfolios with others.Choi added that Ozys plans to add more functions to Allbit.com in the future to enhance the user experience and optimize convenience.

Duncan Chiu, a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Council, has expressed concerns over the stringent regulations imposed on cryptocurrency exchanges by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC). In an opinion piece for the Hong Kong Economic Journal, Chiu argued that these rigorous standards have deterred major global exchanges from entering the Hong Kong market, undermining confidence in the region's commitment to developing Web3 technologies. He highlighted the recent withdrawal of license applications by prominent exchanges such as OKX, Gate.io and HTX as indicative of the flaws in the current regulatory framework.Photo by Chapman Chow on UnsplashLicensing system and industry developmentChiu criticized the fragmented approach to policy development for Hong Kong’s virtual asset market, noting that various aspects like VATP (Virtual Asset Trading Platforms), stablecoin issuance and virtual asset over-the-counter trading are managed by different departments without strategic industry consideration. He also mentioned feedback from license applicants who feel that the authorities lack a forward-thinking vision for fintech and are applying traditional financial principles too rigidly to the dynamic and innovative sector of Web3. Furthermore, Chiu pointed out the disconnect between the industry and regulators, particularly in the experience required of management in licensed crypto operations versus the practical experience of regulators in Web3, complicating effective communication and progress.