Blockchain News
May 2020
Blockchain news and distributed ledger tech news from across Asia and Australasia, covering applications in agriculture, finance, food provenance, logistics and many more, as reported online in May 2020.
- ICYMI: Teleport, AirAsia’s logistics arm, launches Freightchain, world-first digital air cargo network run on blockchain
- ICYMI: IBM partners with 3 European electricity grid operators for blockchain consortium, creating Equigy platform to focus on renewable energy
- Visa files patent application for process turning physical fiat currency into a newly digitized version, allowing central banks to mint digital fiat currencies via blockchain tech
- ICYMI: World Economic Forum unveils Presidio Principles, a ‘blockchain bill of rights’ with signatories from Gov’t of Colombia, Deloitte, UN World Food Program and others
- ICYMI: WeTrade blockchain-based firm focusing on supply chain networks gains IBM participation alongside 12 banks including UBS, Deutsche Bank and HSBC
- A look at FilmChain, which collects, allocates and analyses revenues for film, TV and digital projects via a blockchain-based platform
- 3rd annual Asia Blockchain Summit set for July 15-19, a virtual event presented by Asia Blockchain Alliance
- ICYMI: Minecraft partners Enjin open-source blockchain plug-in for in-game currencies, stores, collectibles, p2p trading and more
- AppWorks Accelerator opens applications for batch 21, closing July 1st and seeking tech startups with a focus on SE Asia
- Australia’s Aglive livestock traceability platform completes blockchain-backed beef traceability trial from Australia to China
- China: Tencent launches Tencent Industrial Accelerator for blockchain-focused startups and companies, with applications closing June 6th
- China’s Alibaba gains US patent for blockchain-based system to identify and protect music copyright
- China: Nervos Network launches $5M virtual incubator for early-stage startups and blockchain teams building decentralized applications
- An intro to 30 of the CoinDesk 50, a selection of the most innovative, consequential and viable projects in the cryptocurrency and blockchain spaces
- ICYMI: Hong Kong Blockchain Ecosystem Map 2.0, released in November 2019 by the Fintech Association of Hong Kong
- India: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone, country’s largest port operator, join TradeLens shipping-focused blockchain platform founded by IBM and Maersk
- An intro to the 3 blockchain startups selected for the Starfleet India Accelerator
- ICYMI: South Korea’s GameTalkTalk social gaming app rolled out blockchain project for gamers, offering rewards, platform and digital items exchange
- South Korea: Daejeon University becomes latest university to redesign portions of finance and tech divisions, launching Future Convergence fintech department
- Samsung partners Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, enabling users in US and Canada to buy cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin via Samsung’s Blockchain Wallet
- Singapore Blockchain Week 2020 Virtual Summit set for July 21st, featuring online conference, live chat and exhibitions
- Singapore: VeChain partnered by Bayer pharmaceutical giant for Csecure, aiming to improve drug supply management, data and traceability in clinical trials
- ICYMI: An intro to Twetch, blockchain-based social media platform on which users pay (cents) to post and are rewarded in Bitcoin for likes or reposts
- Vietnam: HDBank joins Contour blockchain-based network to extend trade financing to corporates, speeding Letters Of Credit process and gaining cost savings
- ICYMI: National Bank of Cambodia to launch blockchain-based central bank digital currency, named Bakong, initially focused on domestic payments
- Australia: RMIT Online launches postgrad cybersecurity and blockchain courses, partnering IBM, Palo Alto Networks and Stone & Chalk
- Thai Digital Energy Development public-private JV partners Australia’s fast-growing Power Ledger energy firm to develop blockchain-backed digital energy trading business
