Viber Messenger Will Launch Cryptocurrency Next Year; Blockchain Can “Rebuild Societal Trust” And Save £8 Billion; India’s Largest Cryptocurrency Exchange Zebpay Stops Fiat Deposits And Withdrawals
NewsBTC, the instant messaging platform and voice-over IP (VOIP) application Viber has plans to become the main platform for its parent company’s cryptocurrency Rakuten Coin.
CEO of Viber Djamel Agaoua said that Viber will play a key role in Rakuten’s goal of establishing a cryptocurrency. Rakuten will leverage Rakuten Coin via its messaging app, which has over a billion users. Rakuten Coin will allow its users to help spread money across its various services.
Aguoa told reporters:
“Our mother company is creating Rakuten Coin: cryptocurrency, which is supported by the entire Rakuten ecosystem. This Rakuten Coin will be tradeable in Viber. The cryptocurrency will appear in the Viber wallet and it can be exchanged for rubles, dollars, and euros. Company’s specialists are currently studying Russian laws in the cryptocurrency sphere. Very soon you’ll be able to send some Rakuten Coins and to trade Rakuten Coins against rubles, dollars, and euros.”
According to Coin Telegraph, UK housing minister Eddie Hughes released a report calling on the UK government to “show leadership” and make blockchain technology and its benefits a priority.
The report called “Unlocking Blockchain” makes several key proposals that authorities should follow. It states:
“The state should not be allowed to use such technology to intrude into the lives of individuals — but rather the technology should be used to empower individuals in their necessary engagements with the state.”
The report from Hughes proposes a cost-saving method using blockchain that can save one percent — around £8 billion ($10.56 billion).A response to Hughes’ query to blockchain technology use in government states:
“Cabinet Office and the Government Digital Service are researching potential [use cases] of distributed ledger technologies / blockchain jointly with departments and public bodies for future trials and proofs of concepts with a view of driving efficiency and supporting transformation.”
According to The Next Web, India’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Zebpay announced on Twitter that it is disabling rupee deposits and withdrawals. This is in response to the Indian Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the central bank’s directive against cryptocurrency. Banks were given three months to comply with the directive or face regulatory action.
Zebpay asked its users to withdraw their fiat funds from the exchange last month, and warned that users could end up losing all their money if the court’s decision doesn’t go in their favor. No other major cryptocurrency exchanges have come out with a similar announcement as Zebpay.
