Highlights: Blockchain dev tools come to Google Cloud, internet hieroglyphics on EtherScan, and shipwrecks become the unlikely next chapter in the rich history of likely ICO scams.
Source: Digital Asset
Google Cloud and Digital Asset will work together to bring decentralized tools and solutions to the Google Cloud Platform. Google has joined Digital Asset’s developer program, which is currently in private beta, to utilize the SDK for their smart contract programming language (DAML) as well as the DAML Platform-as-a-Service.
Source: Tech Crunch
New startup TruStory has an ambitious aim: Verify claims made on the internet, and identify ICO scams before they start. Founder Preethi Kasireddy has attracted over $3 million in funding already. She did not offer details as to how claims would be verified, but did say the incentive to accurately verify claims would be tokens.
Source: Reddit
A Reddit user found a potential vulnerability in the popular Ethereum game FOMO3D, namely, exploiting its airdrop feature. As this targets less than 1% of the total rewards available from playing the game, the team seemed less-than-concerned, and a fix is documented in the thread linked above. We'll be discussing it in detail in another video later today. EDIT: as promised!
Source: Reddit
EtherScan users might have noticed a JavaScript alert while using the block explorer earlier today, containing an ancient internet message: ‘1337.’ According to Reddit, the alert was made possible by leveraging Disqus comments. GG n00bs.
Source: G20
Financial officials at the G20 summit have a familiar sentiment about cryptocurrencies: could be great, but aren’t there yet. The point-by-point statement on the G20 website indicates that cryptocurrencies “do not at this point pose a global financial stability risk” and reiterated a need to monitor the markets. The next update is scheduled for October of this year.
Source: Coin Staker
Vietnam pushed its anti-crypto agenda a step further today, with the Central Bank announcing support for the Ministry of Finance’s decision to impose a ban on mining equipment. The unfriendly attitude towards digital assets stems from a recent ICO fraud, costing investors over $660 million.
Source: Reuters
The Bank of England has successfully completed a proof-of-concept for its payment system, which handles “a third of Britain’s annual economic output,” to be compatible with blockchain users. It’s part of a bigger initiative by the country to increase security and prevent against data corruption.
Source: Bank of Canada
A report issued by the Bank of Canada claims that proof-of-work consensus algorithms are not vulnerable to double-spend attacks. This conclusion is based on a couple of assumptions: 1) That a "dishonest miner" have a wealth of resources, and 2) that they be "risk-neutral." In short, they argue that there is no economic incentive for such an attack in most cases. However, as we've seen, not all proof-of-work networks require deep pockets to launch an attack. The Bank's assumptions only hold if there is a critical mass of miners on the network.
Source: MSN
ConsenSys, a software development company with a focus on Ethereum tools, will serve as a blockchain consultant to a new Chinese smart city project. The city of Xiongan will look to implement blockchain solutions for housing, finance, and other city governance operations.
Source: CoinDesk
Chinese pharmaceutical company Changsheng Biotechnology came under fire this week for falsifying data about its vaccinations. The news is being met with a hard push to put vaccine data, along with other pharmaceutical operations, on the blockchain. Doing so would bring a much-improved degree of accountability and transparency to an industry often criticized for its dire lack of both.
Source: Crypto-News
The Law Commission of India has ruled that cryptocurrency is a valid form of payment, and that it should be used in a move to make gambling and sports betting legal in the nation. Arguing that criminalizing both betting and cryptocurrencies does little more than push the activities underground and exacerbate government financial losses, the Commission recommends regulation as an alternative.
Source: CryptoDisrupt
A group of entrepreneurial wreck divers has allegedly come across some long-lost treasure that they just can’t wait to share. The Shinil Group claims to have discovered the wreck site of a Russian cruiser circa 1900 with over $130 billion in gold. They even have “video proof” of their discovery, a montage of cool-looking but ultimately ambiguous undersea images. Despite a near-total lack of evidence and the fact that the wreck has been “discovered” multiple times, the generous group plans to share their newfound wealth with all of us via an ICO.
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