HashKey secures $30M in funding from Chinese VC firm

Taiwan’s FSC to Release Cryptocurrency Guidelines for Banks in SeptemberHuang Tien-Mu, Chairman of the Taiwanese Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), said at the Legislative Yuan that regulatory guidelines for banks concerning cryptocurrencies will be available in September, as reported by local blockchain media Blocktempo.© Pexels/ Timo VolzHuang’s remarks were in response to questions from Legislator Lee Guei-min about crypto-related issues.Legislator’s three concernsLee raised three concerns: the accessibility of DBS Digital Exchange, currently operating in Singapore, for Taiwanese users; whether traditional banks should be permitted to provide crypto trading platforms; and investor protection against exchange collapses like the one experienced by FTX.FSC Chairman’s answersHuang stated that the FSC has not received any requests related to DBS Digital Exchange. He mentioned the commission’s concerns about the intrinsic value of cryptocurrencies and their ongoing work on regulatory guidelines, set for release in September. Huang also highlighted the importance of financial authorities overseeing crypto trading platforms, citing FTX Japan as an example, where users are protected under Japanese regulations.To safeguard investors from potential collapses, Huang suggested separating assets between hot and cold wallets. Furthermore, he noted that the FSC is not considering allowing the 27 crypto trading platforms registered with the commission to be listed on Taiwanese stock exchanges.

Zero Two Enters Into JV to Develop First Middle East Mining OpZero Two, a digital assets development company based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has partnered with leading North American crypto miner Marathon Digital in a joint venture that will result in the development and operation of the Middle East’s first large-scale crypto mining facility.Photo by Manuel Geissinger on PexelsInitial capacity of 250 MWIn a press release issued on Tuesday, Marathon Digital outlined that the venture is focused on accelerating the global digital economy while also supporting Abu Dhabi’s power grid.To progress the project, the two companies have formed the Abu Dhabi Global Markets JV Entity (AGDM Entity). Initially, two digital asset mining facilities, with a combined capacity of 250 MW, will be developed.One site, at Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, will account for 200 MW of that capacity. The remaining 50 MW capacity will be developed at a site located in the port area of Mina Zayed. The strategy of the firms is to exploit excess network energy in Abu Dhabi. The firms see this as a win/win as increasing the base load of the Abu Dhabi power grid will result in a more sustainable grid. The companies intend to supplement any use of non-sustainably produced energy with carbon offset certificates.80/20 equity splitThe two firms have agreed upon an 80%/20% equity split, with Zero Two being the lead investor. In the initial development period for the venture during 2023, both entities will contribute resources to the joint venture in proportion to the equity division, in the form of capital, equipment and infrastructure.Zero Two and Marathon had previously collaborated on a pilot project with the objective of determining the feasibility of building a large-scale facility. Air-cooled miners have not proven to be a success in hot arid climates like that of the Rub Al Khali Middle Eastern desert.The upshot of the pilot program was a determination that a custom-built immersion-cooled system would be feasible. Mining equipment for the facilities is already on order while construction at the two sites is underway. Both sites are expected to go online before the end of the year with a combined hashrate of 7 EH/s.Ahmed Al Hameli commented on the joint venture: “This alliance leverages Zero Two’s regional expertise, expansive relationships, and growing blockchain infrastructure development and operational capabilities, with Marathon’s technical prowess in developing digital asset sites and innovative mining technologies.These synergies create a powerful combination and lay the groundwork for the success of this pioneering project in the Middle East. Marathon shares our commitment to actively supporting Abu Dhabi’s power grid and developing global digital assets infrastructure. We look forward to working with them on this venture.”Jurisdictional arbitrageMarathon’s CEO Fred Thiel said that Zero Two’s regional relationships were an optimal compliment. It may be both a timely and shrewd move by Marathon to develop this project in the Middle East region. In recent weeks the Biden administration floated the idea of a 30% crypto mining tax. Crypto mining is a global endeavor.That type of additional overhead would make it very difficult for North American miners to remain viable. By opening up new working relationships in other regions, the company may be in a better position to pivot should North America and the firm’s Montana-based mining facility become unsustainable.

Sumitomo Trade Document Network Partnership Adds Chainlink InvolvementA successful proof-of-concept (PoC) venture between Vodafone and Japanese trading and investment giant Sumitomo has resulted in Vodafone’s Digital Asset Broker (DAB) platform now being integrated into the Chainlink network as a node operator.Vodafone provided details on the Chainlink Labs tie-up via a blog post published to its website on Tuesday. The primary objective of this partnership is to enhance the seamless transfer and processing of financial documents within the $32 trillion global trade ecosystem.Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on UnsplashLeveraging Chainlink’s cross-chain interoperabilityThe proof of concept leveraged Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), offering a solution that bridges the gaps in document management and financial transaction processing. DAB’s core function is to provide enhanced security and interoperability among Internet of Things (IoT) devices on the edge of a network.The results of this initiative have demonstrated the potential for Vodafone’s IoT devices and blockchain technology to furnish data for use in contracts and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Furthermore, the prospect of creating a unified interface for data and token transfers is now within reach.For instance, envision a scenario where a cargo vessel detects a fire outbreak. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of DAB’s platform and CCIP, this crucial information could be autonomously relayed to smart contracts, potentially triggering an efficient marine cargo insurance process.Convoluted legacy processTrade documents have long posed a significant challenge due to their existence in both physical and digital formats, often lacking interoperability. This predicament necessitates repeated handovers and makes the exchange of such documents a convoluted process.Vodafone introduced the Digital Asset Broker in February 2022. Their initial application of DAB in the United Kingdom involved a partnership with Mastercard, where they trialed an app designed to assist electric vehicle drivers in locating and paying for the most suitable charging options.In a subsequent move, Vodafone and Sumitomo joined forces in May, culminating in the creation of a new entity in which Vodafone maintained an 80% stake. In addition to transferring DAB, Vodafone also contributed intellectual property, contracts, technology, and software to the new venture. This partnership extended further with joint investments in Safaricom Ethiopia.In August, Vodafone DAB solidified its presence in the enterprise blockchain arena by collaborating with Aventus. Their shared mission is to enhance the efficiency of supply chains within the aviation industry.Chainlink’s CCIP made a significant leap in September when it launched on Ethereum’s Arbitrum One layer 2, promising to enhance scalability. In the same month, it collaborated with the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group to test an Australian dollar stablecoin, underscoring Chainlink’s commitment to transformative developments within the blockchain space.Early blockchain interestSumitomo had expressed a desire to utilize blockchain technology going back a number of years. In 2018, the corporation’s US entity joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA) with a view towards using blockchain technology within its logistics business.Earlier this year, the conglomerate invested in Japanese logistics blockchain project TradeWaltz. In June, its US subsidiary was involved in the first-ever transaction of tokenized carbon credits.As Vodafone and Sumitomo continue to push the boundaries of innovation in trade document management, their partnership with Chainlink brings us one step closer to a more efficient and interconnected global trade ecosystem.