Bakkt, the cryptocurrency platform created by the operator of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), announced that they are hiring for a number of high-up positions in a tweet Jan. 22. The Intercontinental Exchange’s (ICE) much-awaited crypto platform published a list of eight evidently new vacancies at the company, all of which are based in Atlanta and New York City. Some of the positions also have Hong Kong, Tokyo, San Francisco, London, Tel Aviv and Singapore listed as available locations. The page specifies that the company is mostly trying to hire a number of developers, mostly at director and senior …

United States enterprise supply chain developer Chronicled has raised $16 million in a Series A funding round, the company confirmed in a press release Jan. 15. Chronicled — which will use blockchain technology to power a platform helping clients secure and automate supply chains — saw its round led by Hong Kong venture capital firm Mandra Capital. Streamlined Ventures, The Perkins Fund, Frank Fiore and David Aho also participated in the funding round The company reports it is planning to launch its platform this year. “While many companies in the space are conducting ICOs — fueling speculation and hurting the …

Major crypto derivatives trading platform BitMEX says there are major inaccuracies in a recent media report that alleged the exchange was closing United States and Québec residents’ accounts due to a regulatory crackdown. Cointelegraph Japan reported the news on Jan. 16, following comments from a BitMEX representative. In detailed comments to CT Japan, BitMEX claimed there were as many as six major mistakes in the report, which was published on Jan. 15 by Hong Kong-based English-language newspaper South China Morning Post (SCMP). SCMP had reported that BitMEX was moving to bar traders from the Canadian province of Québec after the …

This article was updated on Jan. 14 to include recent developments. On Jan. 10, news emerged that Chinese Bitcoin mining giant Bitmain’s co-founders, Jihan Wu and Micree Zhan Ketuan, will step down as co-CEOs of the company. The move follows a streak of reports suggesting that Bitmain has been facing mass layoffs, class action lawsuits and difficulties related to its initial public offering (IPO) during the last quarter of 2018. So what exactly is happening with one of the world’s most influential crypto outfits? Brief introduction to Bitmain, the world’s most powerful crypto mining giant Bitmain was founded in 2013 …

Chinese Bitcoin mining hardware manufacturer Canaan Creative is considering a new initial public offering (IPO) in New York, Bloomberg reported on Jan. 8, quoting anonymous sources. Canaan, China’s second-largest hardware player, could begin selling its shares in a private placement in the first half of this year, according to the people familiar with the matter who declined to reveal their identity. Canaan, like industry leader Bitmain Technologies, had originally planned to conduct an IPO in Hong Kong, but the $400 million plans lapsed in November. Without quoting the anonymous sources directly, Bloomberg added that “deliberations are at an early stage, …

A Hong Kong-based entrepreneur has been accused of duping numerous investors in a cryptocurrency mining hardware investment scheme. A local English-language newspaper South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported the news Jan. 6. The Democratic Party — currently the second-largest political party in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong — has reportedly received over 20 complaints since October 2018 in regard to the scheme, allegedly spearheaded by a 24-year old businessman named Wong Ching-kit. Four of those affected, who are reported to have suffered losses of between HK$20,000 and HK$1 million ($2,500 - $127,600) each — a combined loss of about …

Henri Arslanian, the Asia fintech and crypto leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Hong Kong, has predicted that many institutional players will enter the crypto industry in 2019. Arslanian made this claim during an interview with Bloomberg published on Dec. 24. When asked about his outlook on crypto for the next year, Arslanian said that he thinks “there’s a lot of exciting things that the crypto ecosystem is looking forward to in 2019.” Arslain explained that he expects the next year to be different from 2018 because of the increasing regulatory clarity. Arslanian also declared that he expects “many more big banks” …

Crypto exchange BitMEX and a fine French wine retailer are reportedly partnering to acquire a majority stake of licensed — but as yet inactive — Japanese crypto exchange BitOcean. Cointelegraph Japan reported on the potential partnership on Dec. 21. Madison Holdings Group, which is currently listed on the Growth Enterprise Market (GEM) of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, reportedly plans to acquire a 62.7 percent stake of BitOcean for 1.68 billion yen ($15.12 million) — paid to existing third-party stakeholders — in addition to a further $15 million in extra fees. The deal, as yet incomplete, is reportedly to be …

Top Stories This Week Blockchain Firm Blockstream Launches Fifth Bitcoin Blockchain Streaming Satellite Blockstream, a blockchain development firm, expanded its satellite service this week with a fifth leased satellite broadcasting the Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain to all of Earth’s major land masses. This new satellite brings potential internet-free BTC transactions and information sharing to crypto users throughout the Asia Pacific region, adding to its beta satellite coverage around Africa, Europe, and South and North America. Blocksteam’s BTC space initiative aims to allow crypto users to access the Bitcoin network without access to the internet. New Report Shows Majority of Bitcoin Trading …

Ebang, a crypto mining ASIC hardware producer, has suffered “significant decreases” in revenue in the third quarter of 2018. This development was reported in a new IPO filing submitted by the company to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) on Dec. 20. This is not the first time Ebang has tried to launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO), as the company’s first application from June has reportedly lapsed. HKEX only requires the financial period reported by IPO applicants not to end more than six months from the day of the listing document. Following this requirement, Ebang included its financial information …

Crypto hardware wallet supplier Ledger has signed an agreement with crypto payment startup Crypto.com to allow users to pay for its products with crypto, according to a press release shared with Cointelegraph on Dec. 19. Hong Kong-based Crypto.com has reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ledger that will enable Ledger to adopt their service Crypto.com Pay. The payment platform will purportedly allow Ledger clients to pay for products with cryptocurrency. Crypto.com Pay will purportedly be incorporated into Ledger’s online store, where customers will able to make purchases via Crypto.com Wallet and Card application. While the press release does …

Hong Kong’s stock market regulator is reportedly reluctant to allow Bitcoin mining equipment manufacturer Bitmain to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) in the city. Local English-language newspaper South China Morning Post (SCMP) made this claim in an article published Dec. 19, with reference to anonymous sources. Citing two “sources familiar with the matter,” SCMP poured more cold water on the plans of mining giant Bitmain to go public, just a day after the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) told Cointelegraph that any reports of hesitation on the part of the company were “rumors.” According to the publication’s sources, Hong …