Top Crypto News from Asia — July 30th- August 1st
What Crypto insiders are reading on Asia.
We’ve partnered with Sam Lessin and the team from Slow Ventures to support early childhood education.
At Global Coin Research, we are very passionate about Cryptocurrency education. As a result, we started Blockchains for Schools, a Cryptocurrency research summer program for high school students. This summer, we had the privilege of having local New York City public high school students Raunak Chowdhury and Kevin Li from Stuyvesant High School, Jerry Yu from Brooklyn Tech to be part of the program this summer. Check out what cool things they’ve been up to and their research projects at BlockchainsforSchools.com!
Global Coin Research is proud to support Sam Lessin in his new book, “B is for Bitcoin”, a lovingly written and illustrated children’s primer on Bitcoin- from Algorithm to Zero knowledge proof. Sam is currently the CEO of Fin & Partner at Slow Ventures, and was formerly VP of Product at Facebook.
If you buy “B is for Bitcoin”- know that all the profits from the book are going to early childhood education non-profits. You can purchase the book here. Also be sure to share on your social media.
In fact, for this whole week, we are also running a lottery for our readers at Global Coin Research.
Win a signed copy of the book and an invite to the “B for Bitcoin” private launch party in San Francisco, hosted by The Information and Blockchain in early August. All you have to do is Tweet out this TWEET or your own version but make sure to tag us so we know who you are!
Top News from Monday through Wednesday
Crypto exchange Binance buys Trust Wallet in first acquisition deal. https://tcrn.ch/2vmabVn
Litecoin co-founder Charlie Lee will serve as an advisor to HTC Exodus, the native blockchain smartphone developed by the Taiwanese consumer electronics firm HTC. http://bit.ly/2NYYhZ5
Bitmain to open new data center in Texas as North American expansion continues. http://bit.ly/2vpsOrh
The Agricultural Bank of China has issued a farmland loan worth $300,000 on the blockchain in a trial. http://bit.ly/2O1eBZz
Korean Exchange Bithumb has suspended the issuance of new KYC bank-linked virtual accounts after failure to renew and establish a contract with a bank. http://bit.ly/2vo3Fxt
Japan’s SBI Group to take 12% stake in Clear Markets, a swaps trading venue, as part of its efforts to expand in the cryptocurrency space. https://on.ft.com/2NYM5aU
Google’s plans for censored search in China, one that censors Wikipedia and information on freedom. http://bit.ly/2KgxAx1
Coin and Token News
NEO will have an AMA on August 2nd! (Feel free to send us questions and we will ask for you) http://bit.ly/2O1HTr1
0x Protocol Team’s first official visit to China– meetup in Beijing on August 2nd. http://bit.ly/2vpjYtB
The mobile version of ICONex for iOS is now available. http://bit.ly/2vmt9Lp
TRON is setting up its first office in India. http://bit.ly/2O0a0GT
Ultrain Technology raised US$20 mn cornerstone investment from Danhua Capital, FBG Capital, BlueRun Ventures, 8 Decimal Capital, OK Gang Capital. http://bit.ly/2vpK6EG
TRON launches Tron Virtual Machine and Project Atlas, “a project to strengthen the foundations of Tron to make it more efficient”. http://bit.ly/2vmBWgp
CertiK announced that it has obtained strategic investment from Jingwei China. Jingwei China is one of the earliest investment institutions in the field of blockchain. http://bit.ly/2NYKh1C
Data reveals that approximately $5.2 million worth of Innosilicon mining rigs have been imported from China to the US by Blockstream. http://bit.ly/2vpEZEM
Exchange News
One of the best PR posts in my opinion: “I am still amazed at the number of people who want a selfie with a boring guy like me.” — CZ. http://bit.ly/2vmZdPn
Business News
Rumor of Tencent issuing a digital token is not true. http://bit.ly/2NZAFDP
Hong Kong citizens worry that the economic situation is going down, 23% are considering switching to virtual currency. http://bit.ly/2O0nrGY
JD.com acquires 30% stake of Allianz China blockchain insuranceservice. http://bit.ly/2O0eVaH
Thailand’s largest movie theater chain will accept cryptocurrency Rapidzpay. http://bit.ly/2O0KDEV
Crypto mining firm CEO in Vietnam allegedly flees with $35 mn in investor, company Funds. http://bit.ly/2O0aKfc
IDG Research lists innovative blockchain startups in Southeast Asia. http://bit.ly/2vpAgTt
Regulation News
The state-level Chinese government agency responsible for censoring media output in the country may soon have a cryptographer on the payroll. http://bit.ly/2NViIX1
18,000 victims lost $25mn on scamcoin pyramid scheme in China. http://bit.ly/2NZ6koG
Andrew Yang, a second-generation Chinese American running for U.S. presidency as a Democrat in 2020, has announced his acceptance of cryptocurrency and Venmo as forms of donation. https://on.china.cn/2vsuUae
*China Media* Blockchain technology has been explored in multiple ways under the Xiong’an region of China. Google Translated News
Our third podcast is out in the iTunes store. Check it out!
In our upcoming podcast episode, our guest will be Zac Cheah, CEO of Pundi X, who will be sharing his observations of the Southeast Asia Crypto markets- Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, as well as his insights on the Cryptocurrency market evolution and adoption. Be sure to follow him on Twitter to learn more about Pundi X.
Please send in any questions or topics you’d like our guests to discuss in our upcoming podcast.
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In our last episode, Joyce Yang from Global Coin Research is joined by Jake Smith and Mike Malley, both of whom are advisors to bitcoin.com. Both Jake and Mike grew up in the state but have spent a combined over 30 years in Asia, specifically China and Japan. Fun fact- Jake was the first person to make a retail transaction in Bitcoin in China in 2013.
In our conversation, we cover topics including the differences between the United States, and Japanese and Chinese Cryptocurrency communities and culture, growing adoption locally in Japan and the international adoption of Bitcoin Cash. Check it out!
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