Highlights:.EU on competition in crypto, Metamask delisted from the Chrome store, and crypto puzzles for blockchain devs.
Source: FinExtra
Another study commissioned by the EU Parliament has been released, this one focusing on competition issues in financial technology. It includes a section on crypto, which discusses the implications of competition both between different cryptocurrencies and between exchanges. There are many excellent points made in the article: that network effects result in a substantial barrier to entry for new, competing cryptocurrencies, that incumbent currencies hold a lot of power which could eventually be leveraged into collusion efforts, that central banks can discourage the use of competing digital assets by a variety of means, some bordering on deceptive, and issues surrounding the economy of scale in mining. For a detailed discussion of these points, check out the segment in our video news.
Source: Twitter | More Twitter
Continuing our coverage of the Waves issues from yesterday, we were happy to see another big name in the space stepping up and demanding some accountability. Bugs are excusable; in the age of ubiquitous social media, failure to communicate is not.
Source: Twitter | More Twitter
The Metamask browser extension has been removed from the Chrome store for as-yet unknown reasons. Metamask says the extension should still work for Chrome users who have previously installed it, and is looking into why it was delisted. It is still available for other browsers.
Update: They're back.
Source: ThunderMessage
ThunderMessage, a Reddit-like message board for the Lightning Network, has launched. Users pay satoshi to publish comments and up/downvote posts, meaning that wealthier users can pay to add credibility to their content. More interesting is the pattern of users paying a Lightning Network site to complain about it.
Source: Nano
Nano is now offering BlackBox, a point of sale system that also functions as a full network node. It enables retailers to accept Nano as payment.
Source: TransferTo
The Stellar blockchain platform has partnered with mobile payment processor TransferTo. The partnership emphasizes cross-border payments, leveraging blockchain as an enhancement to TransferTo’s existing infrastructure.
Source: Fortune
Coinbase has concluded its investigation into possible insider trading using Bitcoin Cash, and found that no such activity occurred. According to the source article, the investigation was carried out by “two major law firms,” implying independent parties. Coinbase still has an active class action suit against them regarding Bitcoin Cash, which the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission may be investigating.
Source: Coinbase
Coinbase users in Australia and the EU can now use crypto to purchase gift cards from select retailers, thanks to a new partnership with WeGift. The retailers include Tesco (the UK’s Wal-Mart), Nike, and Uber, among others. Sounds great - U.S. support when?!?
Source: CoinDesk
CoinDesk has put together a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the blockchain-related data trends and events of Q2. Our source link, for example, routes to a particularly interesting slide regarding litigations.
Source: Stratis
The Stratis Platform is offering a $10,000 prize for the first person to solve 12 blockchain-related puzzles. Additionally, the first person to solve at least 10 puzzles will be extended an offer of employment. Each puzzle will reveal one word of a mnemonic phrase after it is solved.
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