Top Crypto News from Asia- Aug 6th- Aug 8th
What Crypto insiders are reading on Asia.
We added a “Deals” section to bring you the latest relevant Crypto deals from Asia, funded by the top US and Asian Crypto investors.
Top News from Monday through Wednesday
Korea’s Jeju Special Self-governing Province Governor pledges to make Jeju a blockchain hub city, issue a cryptocurrency, dubbed “Jeju Coin,” and use the raised funds for the residents of the island. http://bit.ly/2OhGlZS
Bank of Thailand passed a resolution to allow local banks to set-up cryptocurrency-focused subsidiaries for dealing with related businesses. http://bit.ly/2OgeE3M
*China Media* Binance announcement?—?looking to launch 3 cryptocurrency exchanges this year. Can launch decentralized exchange in as little as a half a year. Google translated
Singaporean blockchain startup Rate, with its Cross-Border Payment Protocol built on Stellar, and a Credit Scoring Protocol built on ethereum, has raised $15 mn private sale from Matrix Partners China, Fenbushi, Node Capital, Kenetic, FBG Capital, AlphaCoinFund and IOST. http://bit.ly/2MqFTbr
Japan’s primary financial regulator is looking at updating its regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency sector to curb speculative investments. http://bit.ly/2Mbeihv
Michael Arrington, the Founder of Techcrunch and the Partner Arrington XRP Capital said that XRP is better than Bitcoin and Ethereum in terms of transactions. http://bit.ly/2M6wdWF
*China media* INBlock along with several Chinese firms released a The Blockchain Game Industry Whitepaper in 2018. Google Translated
Crypto Deal News
Singapore-based ODX Pte. Ltd., a global decentralized marketplace to deliver free internet access to consumers in emerging markets, has raised $60mn from notable investors including BlockTower Capital, Pantera Capital, Kenetic Capital from Hong Kong, DNA Fund, Andromeda from Switzerland. http://bit.ly/2OUp222
*China Media* EveriToken, a blockchain technology built on EOS and used to digitize real-world certificates and tickets, has received millions of dollars in financing, led by Fenbushi capital, Yuandao Capital, Qianfang Fund, Shuimu Fenghua Fund. Google translated
Bitmain has reportedly secured China’s biggest technology company Tencent and Japan’s Softbank, Uber’s biggest shareholder, as investors in a pre-IPO financing round. http://bit.ly/2Ms8Dk3
Crescent Crypto Asset Management, a cryptocurrency index fund manager led by Goldman Sachs alumni, completed its Series A and launch of its offshore Cayman fund, led by FBG Capital. https://prn.to/2Omhh4b
The blockchain payment platform EPC has received strategic investment of US$30mn led by Fenbushi, partner Shen Bo will also be the project strategy consultant. http://bit.ly/2MpXsYY
Coin and Token News
New ICON (ICX) repurchase program authorizes the foundation to repurchase up to $5 million of currently circulating ICX + new open source release schedule. http://bit.ly/2Mr1T61
In China, a MacCoin, a physical token which is given away with the purchase of a Big Mac in McDonalds, has been hyped up to 800Rmb or $115. http://bit.ly/2OfrrmW
Blockchain platform VeChain has been selected to be among the first batch of partners for NTT Docomo’s 5G Open Partner Program. NTT Docomo is Japan’s largest telecom company with over 76mn subscribers. http://bit.ly/2OiCLi2
Roger Ver has recently sent the governor of Jeju Island of South Korea $100 worth of Bitcoin Cash at a public event. http://bit.ly/2Ok6JlV
BitTorrent has been elected as a Super Representative in TRON’s Super Representative Elections. http://bit.ly/2OQoOZY
Exchange News
In India, exchange Zebpay has enabled Trueusd (TUSD) trading, deposits and withdrawals. http://bit.ly/2Okc7We
Huobi streamlines Token listing application process. http://bit.ly/2MqZ3xN
UPbit, currently the biggest crypto exchange in South Korea, came out clean in an audit report which proved the exchange had 100% of the amount its balance sheet demonstrated. http://bit.ly/2Mo5CRO
Da Hongfei and Erik Zhang on NEO from last week’s Reddit AMA. http://bit.ly/2Mvkqhe
The Korean government announced a new set of tax amendment which will strip away substantial tax benefits for bitcoin exchanges. http://bit.ly/2Ofop2b
Business News
Director-general of the Institute of Digital Money of the People’s Bank of China shared his thoughts the Chinese central bank’s two-layer Digital Fiat Currency model in a New York Conference. http://bit.ly/2Oj0VZM
7 large banks in Hong Kong are working together to promote the development and launch of a Hong Kong trade finance blockchain platforms, led by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. http://bit.ly/2MrvagE
China’s Fudan University creates decentralized exchange for unused power. http://bit.ly/2MoyDg5
Korea’s Macrogen, Bigster to create blockchain-based medical data platform. http://bit.ly/2OkDvmP
Regulation News
Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association, a body comprised of all 16 licensed cryptocurrency exchanges, have formally applied for certification from the country’s financial regulator to form a self-regulatory body. http://bit.ly/2Ok6mI3
The Financial Services Bureau of Sichuan Free Trade Zone has cooperated with blockchain startup PrimeLedger, a subsidiary of UCF Group, to jointly establish a financial regulatory sandbox system. http://bit.ly/2MrxFj2
NEM.io and the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority looking to build Philippines’ first blockchain hub in a bid to promote technology in local business processes. http://bit.ly/2MozOfv
The Central Bank of the Philippines is exploring the possibility of issuing the central bank’s digital currency. http://bit.ly/2MvsSwY
How to end Japan’s deflation? Abolish cash. A national digital currency is an experiment worth trying. https://bloom.bg/2MnmEiO
Malaysia authorities raided an illegal cryptocurrency mining center, occupying two floors of a shophouse at Uni Central Commercial Centre for stealing electricity. http://bit.ly/2OkiGYP
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Check our past 6 weekly pieces on A Guide to Asia Crypto funds/investors, Takeaways on Asia Crypto from Techcrunch Zug, Cryptokitties, Binance, Bitmain, and China’s Crypto winners