Blockchain tech in Q3 2021
• July, August and September of 2021
• Tech news headlines at a glance
• Quick reference for a time-poor audience
• One-click access to each full tech news article
• Online and drawn from daily tech news
July 2021 | August 2021 | September 2021
Blockchain news: September 2021
- Blockchain & remittances: “According to the World Bank, the global money transfer market reached over $700BN in 2020, with an estimated additional $200BN by 2026”
- BGA Blockchain Game Report Q2 2021: “…daily active wallets for blockchain games is around 375,000 wallets per day…”
- e-news, latest issue: Blockchain gaming in Q2, Philippines Startup Challenge, Taiwan Tech & 500 Startups, 3D printed housing in Australia…
- “The metaverse is not being described as an extension of the internet but a successor. And it’s being built using blockchains and decentralized applications.”
- e-news, latest issue: Indian social gaming, blockchain & China’s green energy, the next 2.5BN netizens, Australian women in tech…
- Fractional real estate ownership and blockchain: “With a piece of real estate costing about the same price of a burger, tokenization drastically lowers the entry barriers.”
- Blockchain bridges “…attempt to unify an increasingly fragmented landscape. As of this writing, there are over 40 different bridge projects.”
- OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum 2021 set to run across dates from September 15th to October 1st, looking at supply chains, finance, virtual assets and more
- DAOs, FWB and the music industry: “Blockchain-enabled groups, such as Friends With Benefits, invest in their own creative communities using cryptocurrency tokens…”
- ICYMI: Franklin Templeton investment management giant seeking $20M for first blockchain-focused venture capital fund, alongside hires for tokenized assets department
- Corporates and blockchain: “…Hyperledger Fabric is the most preferred DLT of choice by the top 100, with 26%….using the technology. This is followed by Ethereum with 18% and…”
- Asia’s tech news, latest issue: Sri Lanka accelerator, India’s crypo-tech industry, Thai digital lending, AWS & fintech mega-trends, blockchain hackathon…
- Vietnam: A brief intro to 4 blockchain-based games, recently launched or currently in development
- China: Economic planning body approves national grid operator trials using blockchain for green power trading
- ICYMI: In July, China’s first blockchain-based carbon offset certificate was issued, the first of the country’s steps towards building a national carbon trading platform
- e-news, latest issue: Food-tech pitches, tokenized real estate, BNPL in Japan, Singapore e-sports…
- China: Tencent partners Dunhuang Academy for NFTs of UNESCO world heritage site wall paintings of Mogao Caves – on a blockchain that demands real-name ID verification
- Evaluating NFTs beyond the hype, Part 1 of 3: “…Gartner’s 2021 Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies termed NFTs as at the ‘Peak of Inflated Expectations’…”
- Evaluating NFTs beyond the hype, part 2 of 3 – legality of ownership: “…the classification of NFT may vary case by case based on the codes of the smart contract.”
- India: New Street gains $4M Series A with blockchain ‘middleware’ focusing on transaction processing in the BFSI – banking, financial services and insurance – sector
- NFTs beyond the hype, part 3 of 3: Real-world potential of non-fungible tokens in real estate, securities and beyond
- India: Hedera India Hackathon launched by Hedera Hashgraph blockchain firm, seeking developers to ideate, build and launch enterprise-ready solutions
- Asia’s tech news, latest issue: Oppo & 5G, Indonesia pitching, Connected Women, India’s blockchain middleware, Australia’s NFT Fest…
- India: Central Board of Secondary Education introduces blockchain tech on last 3 years’ data in first step towards making education certificates verifiable and tamper-proof
- ICYMI: Banque de France and Swiss National Bank to ‘explore cross-border settlement with 2 wholesale CBDC and a French digital financial instrument on a DLT platform’
- A look at 4 NFT use cases for enterprises, in IP patents, fashion and retail, media and entertainment, and in supply chains
Blockchain tech in August 2021
- “The architecture of culture is in need of a massive overhaul, and blockchain will provide it.”
- “Insurance giants and startups alike are using blockchain technology to prevent insurance fraud, track medical records, file claims, and more.”
- ICYMI: Microsoft researchers propose blockchain-based ‘Argus’ bounty system to fight online piracy
- “In the first half of 2021, 24 blockchain gaming companies raised a collective $475 million in funding…”
- Video: Recent blockchain news headlines, articles and downloads – 16 items, QR coded to be read from your screen
- Tech news: Recent technology headlines across artificial intelligence, blockchain, cryptocurrency, cybersecurity and the broad fintech space
- Australian Blockchain Industry Awards 2021 applications close September 30th, showcasing 6 individual and 7 business-focused awards
- Q1 2021 DeFi Report, from Consensys – An analysis of Ethereum’s decentralized finance ecosystem across the first quarter of the year
- Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Bank of Int’l Settlements Innovation Hub join to investigate tokenized, blockchain-based green bonds as a spur to sustainable investments
- Standard Chartered and Hong Kong’s Linklogis partner for Olea, blockchain-based platform connecting institutional investors to businesses seeking supply chain financing
- India: Maharashtra State adopts new Ethereum-based blockchain verification system for educational diplomas and certificates
- India: Securities and Exchange Board to launch blockchain-based system for monitoring certain financial instruments
- India: Samunnati agri value chain enabler partners University of Hyderabad aiming to place agri-tech ecosystem on a single blockchain-based platform, from farmers to financing
- e-news-latest issue: Japan’s Vision Fund, TikTok and blockchain, ISPs and ‘clean pipes’…
- ICYMI: The Currency, the first NFT collection by artist Damien Hirst, featuring 10,000 NFTs which correspond to 10,000 unique physical artworks
- ICYMI: Sotheby’s art brokerage launched a metaverse gallery for NFT-focused works on Decentraland, decentralised virtual reality platform on the Ethereum blockchain
- Philippines: Yield Guild Games, decentralized gaming startup behind Axie Infinity, inks deal with FTX crypto exchange to provide players from developing countries with scholarships
- Singapore: Biconomy blockchain platform raises $9M with multi-chain transaction infrastructure, aiming to simplify cross-chain transactions
- Singapore: Vistas Media Capital to expand into blockchain-based business with launch of Fantico India-focused NFT platform, allowing creators to auction collectibles
- Singapore’s STACS selected for Mastercard Start Path with blockchain-backed infrastructure for financial industry focused on environment, social, and governance issues
- Singapore: CYBAVO digital asset custody provider raises $4M Pre-A funding for blockchain-based services, building on 500 Startups accelerator selection
- ICYMI: The MG Astor mid-size SUV to feature level 2 autonomous tech and blockchain ‘Digital Passport’ for records around insurance, resale, servicing and more
- An overview of how Vietnam’s Axie Infinity NFT game creates real-world work – and payments – in the Metaverse
- Philippine Digital Asset Exchange raises $12.5M, building on success of BondPH which allowed gov’t to sell retail Treasury bonds via a blockchain-enabled platform
- Download: Cryptocurrency and China – Analyzing China’s Historic Cryptocurrency Activity Amidst Government Crackdowns, from Chainalysis (pdf)
- ICYMI: US Army C5ISR Center to leverage blockchain technology for new tactical-level data management capabilities, aiming to combat man-in-the-middle data attacks
- Q2 2021 DeFi Report, from Consensys – analysis of Ethereum’s decentralized finance ecosystem the year’s second quarter
- ICYMI: Shopify now allows eligible sellers to sell NFTs, with NBA’s Chicago Bulls non-fungible tokens selling out within 90 seconds of launch
- Cambodia: Production of MVL e-tuktuks to start in December, with bookings via TADA ride-hailing app and using Mass Vehicle Ledger blockchain to record mobility data
- Download: Cryptocurrencies – A Guide to Getting Started, from the World Economic Forum (pdf)
- Taiwan: XREX secures $17M pre-Series A with focus on speeding cross-border businesses in emerging markets, via services including payment escrow and crypto-fiat exchange
- Philippines: Yield Guild Games gains $4.6M in part from Andreessen Horowitz with play-to-earn NFT-based gaming
- e-news, latest issue: Singapore’s 5G, India’s education blockchain, ransomware in 2021…
- China: TikTok partners Audius, a blockchain-based music streaming protocol, potentially resulting in better royalties for artists with Audius’ user-centric model
- Australian Border Force, Singapore Customs and others concluded blockchain trial for trade document issuance and verification across independent systems
- Ripple adds instant payments from South Korea to Thailand, connecting GME Remittance to Siam Commercial Bank
Blockchain headlines in July 2021
- ICYMI: Freebits, a decentralized, permissionless, censorship-resistant micro-blogging social network outside the control of big tech or government
- Australia: Gov’t Blockchain Pilot Grants program to invest over $5.6M in investigating blockchain use in Australia’s Critical Minerals and Food and Beverage sectors
- Australia: Lygon platform has sights on digitising entire bonds and bank guarantees process using blockchain, backed by IBM and major banks
- Download: Unchaining Blockchain in China – From Wild West cryptocurrenciest o strategic technology, via MERICS, March 2021 (pdf)
- “Out of China’s 34 provinces and province-level cities, 33 have enacted policies to accelerate blockchain innovation…”
- ICYMI: Mastercard unveils new Start Path cohort, focused on fast-growing digital asset, blockchain and cryptocurrency companies
- Decentralized Autonomous Organisations 101: “A DAO uses blockchains and smart contracts to organize the mechanics of corporate governance…”
- Launchpad Luna NFT accelerator launched by Hong Kong’s Brinc and Animoca Brands to identify, mentor and back promising blockchain and NFT startups
- ICYMI: “…new way to collect music or part of an expanding metaverse, NFTs are the near future…that’s the hope for some industry insiders who believe “non-fungible tokens” are going to save music.”
- Singapore’s Dedoco specialising in a digital document and signing platform raises Sg$3.3M, providing blockchain-based audit trailing and document process streamlining
- Singapore: Nansen, blockchain-based data analytics platform for decentralized finance gains $12M Series A led by Andreessen Horowitz
- Sri Lanka: A brief interview intro to Tracified, blockchain-based supply chain traceability solution provider
- Sri Lanka: Niftron and Magicbit take wins at Sri Lankan National finals, moving forward to overall finals at the Entrepreneurship World Cup 2021 in November
- Video: Q3 2021 Unicorn Battle in Asia – startups pitching solutions in blockchain, fintech, online influence and more
- A brief look at NFTs through the lens of regulation: “…ownership in the digital world is not the same as ownership in the physical world…”
- e-news, latest issue: Logistics tech in Malaysia, Amazon and digital currency, Sri Lankan blockchain…
- Hong Kong-based Animoca Brands completes funding round with additional $50M raised, focusing on bringing digital property rights, collectibles and more to gamers via NFTs
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