nChain CEO Departs Accusing Dr. Craig Wright of Fraud

Christen Ager-Hanssen, the Group CEO of blockchain technology company nChain, has announced his resignation, effective immediately. Ager-Hanssen took to social media on September 30, 2023, to detail the reasons behind his departure, highlighting a series of serious concerns he reported to the nChain board. Among these, he alleged a conspiracy to defraud nChain shareholders orchestrated by a significant shareholder and raised concerns about the ultimate beneficiary shareholder and the real individuals behind DW Discovery fund registered in Cayman. The former CEO also mentioned that the chairman had been taking instructions from shadow directors, which he found unacceptable.

Evidence against Dr. Craig Wright

A notable part of Ager-Hanssen’s revelation was his assertion that he had discovered compelling evidence against Dr. Craig Wright, a controversial figure in the blockchain community who claims to be Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin. Ager-Hanssen stated that the evidence he found suggests Wright manipulated documents to deceive courts about his identity as Satoshi. This led Ager-Hanssen to believe that Wright is not Satoshi and is likely to lose his ongoing legal battles. He expressed regret for not having recognized these issues earlier, referring to Wright as “#Faketoshi” in his tweets.

Reactions from the Crypto Community

Ager-Hanssen’s disclosure generated a significant reaction from the cryptocurrency community. Several individuals, including Ray Youssef and Rahul Sood, supported his decision to come forward with the information. Others inquired about his past support for Wright and what changed his perspective. Ager-Hanssen acknowledged that he was misled into believing that Wright was part of the group that created Bitcoin.

A Look Back at Algorand

Some commentators also touched on Ager-Hanssen’s past involvement with Algorand, suggesting that he should have stayed with the project, regarded by some as superior blockchain technology. Ager-Hanssen admitted his mistake and expressed openness to exploring scalable technologies moving forward. The discussions also delved into the broader implications of the former CEO’s allegations on the Bitcoin SV (BSV) community, which largely rallied around Wright’s claims in the past.

Future Endeavors

Although the immediate future remains uncertain for Ager-Hanssen, he expressed gratitude for the support received and hinted at his willingness to explore other opportunities in the blockchain space. The narrative underscores a significant event in the ongoing saga surrounding the true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto and adds another layer to the controversies enveloping nChain and Dr. Craig Wright.

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Blockchain Technology Powers Brazil’s National Identity Card Issuance

Brazil initiates the use of blockchain technology in issuing the National Identity Card (CIN), enhancing the security of the new identity issuance process. The shared registration platform, developed by Serpro, facilitates secure data sharing between the Federal Revenue of Brazil (RFB) and Civil Identification Bodies (OICs). The adoption begins in Goiás, Paraná, and Rio de Janeiro, with a nationwide implementation deadline set for November 6, 2023, as per Decree No. 10,977 of February 23, 2022.

Blockchain’s Edge in Security

Blockchain technology plays a pivotal role in personal data protection and fraud prevention, offering Brazilian citizens a more secure digital experience. The blockchain platform, dubbed b-Registers, is crucial for the security and reliability of the National Identity Card project, according to Serpro’s president, Alexandre Amorim. Blockchain applications benefit from data immutability, making it nearly impossible to alter or counterfeit recorded data. Additionally, decentralization reduces vulnerability to cyberattacks, while the technology’s transparency feature allows the tracing of all transactions and activities, enhancing user trust.

Implementation Timelines

The transition to blockchain for CIN issuance starts in Goiás, Paraná, and Rio de Janeiro this week. Over the next six weeks, other states will follow suit. The decree mandates all issuing bodies to adopt the new CIN standards by November 6, 2023. Rogério Mascarenhas, the Secretary of Digital Government at the Ministry of Management and Public Services Innovation (MGI), emphasizes the importance of adhering to the set timeline, outlining the CIN project’s significant impact on public safety and organized crime combat.

Citizen-Centric Benefits

Issued since July last year, the CIN incorporates new security elements like a secure QR Code and an automated reading zone, facilitating easy and secure checks by public safety forces. Besides the physical version, a digital version is available on the Gov.br app. A notable change is the adoption of the CPF as the national registration number, ensuring consistent citizen identification across all states.

The initiative aligns Brazil with global trends, as illustrated by a similar program in Buenos Aires, Argentina, granting residents digital wallet access to identity documents. Over the years, Brazil has been striving to unify identity issuance across its nearly 30 states, with blockchain technology significantly advancing this objective.

The announcement comes as Brazil explores a central bank digital currency (CBDC), named Drex, announced in August, marking a step towards modernized, secure, and efficient public service delivery.

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BNB Chain: Driving the Next Billion User Revolution in Web3, NFTs, and the Metaverse – An Exclusive Interview

Blockchain technology has been a game-changer, fueling the rise of decentralized applications and introducing novel concepts like Web3, NFTs, and the Metaverse. Leading this significant transition is BNB Chain, a platform dedicated to creating cross-chain/multi-chain infrastructure and interoperability. They aim to lay the groundwork for the next 1 billion Web3 users, making it effortless for Web3 Gaming, NFTs, and Metaverse dApps to scale.

In our exclusive interview today with Walter Lee, Web3 Gaming Growth Lead  in BNB Chain Innovation, we delve deeper into the strategies BNB Chain is employing to reach this ambitious target, their plans to bridge the gap between decentralized technologies and traditional users, their approach to keeping transaction fees affordable, and a sneak peek into some upcoming updates and features. We also touch upon BNB Chain’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving blockchain space and their unyielding support for the development of decentralized applications (dApps). Keep reading to discover their innovative strategies, upcoming developments, and insights on the future of Web3.

BNB Chain aims to reach 1 billion users. What strategies are in place to achieve this ambitious goal?

BNB Chain provides cross-chain/multi-chain infrastructure and interoperability to lay the foundation for the next 1 billion Web3 users making it super easy for Web3 Gaming, NFTs and Metaverse dApps to scale.

To accommodate a large number of users, BNB Chain will improve performance and scalability. In addition to its storage network BNB Greenfield, it has optimized its infrastructure by implementing layer 2 solutions including opBNB into BNB Chain’s modular stack. Its EVM-compatibility means that it will be a value-add to the network and handle increased transaction volume and user demand

Performance improvements including its Layer 2 solutions such as opBNB is able to hit around 4K TPS. Also, it has an estimated 90% reduction in gas fees at $0.005. This creates a responsive and low latency environment for users.The gaming industry is huge and growing at a rapid pace, there are an estimated 3 billion gamers out there and there has been a lot of growth for web3 gaming on BNB Chain in recent times. Hence, we believe that Gaming will be one of the key verticals for BNB Chain to achieve 1 billion users!

How does BNB Chain plan to bridge the gap between decentralized technologies and users who still rely on consistent, centralized relationships and identities?

Web3 technology is not exactly a revolution for existing industries, it is in fact a market expansion. BNB Chain understands that existing users cannot be disrupted instantly. There has been observable maturity in the development growth in the web3 space to bridge this gap, starting from the user journey. For most dApps, there has been a move away from “forcing” users to connect to a blockchain wallet. Instead, dApps could leverage social logins to generate wallets attached to the social identity and assets would be automatically dropped into the linked wallet. Users would then be empowered to make their own decisions in terms of managing the owned assets.

For developers, BNB Chain’s goal is to provide the best and most extensive infrastructure for true web3 developments. For example, BNB Greenfield, which is a decentralized storage platform designed to revolutionize the data economy by utilizing the power of decentralized technology for data ownership and management. Built within the BNB Chain ecosystem, this platform introduces a decentralized approach to data management that seamlessly integrates with BNB Smart Chain (BSC).

Features include:

  1. Native integration of data permissions and management logic onto BSC as exchangeable assets and programmable smart contract programs.
  2. Providing of developer-friendly API and performance equivalent to popular Web2 cloud storage solutions;
  3. Comprehensive incentivization of all participants of the network to ensure high-quality service and a sustainable ecosystem

Compared to other decentralized storage services like IPFS, Filecoin, Arweave, and Web3.storage, Greenfield offers several advantages. It is designed to be highly scalable, cloud-native, and compatible with both Web2 and Web3 standards. It provides strong performance and reliability regardless of the amount of data being stored. The integration with BSC and the EVM environment allows for fully programmable capabilities and a wide range of use cases.

Overall, the web3 industry is still very young so there will be continued innovations that will aid users and developers in adding benefits and features to various industries such as in Finance and Gaming.

Can you tell us about BNB Chain’s transaction fees, and what measures are in place to keep them affordable for users?

BNB Chain’s transaction fees have been one of the lowest in the industry, starting off at around 5 gwei. In recent times, BNB Chain’s validators have opted towards reducing that further in order to encourage competitiveness, which will result in positive ecosystem growth. As of April 2023, BNB Chain’s gas fees have further reduced to 3 gwei, and that is around a few cents per transaction.

On top of that, BNB Chain has recently launched the testnet for opBNB, which will further reduce the gas fees by around 90% to $0.005! This should be very exciting for both developers and users, opBNB is expected to launch into the mainnet in Q3 this year.

Can you discuss any upcoming updates or features that users can look forward to on BNB Chain?

opBNB – The opBNB Testnet is live and we are calling on testnet Validators and dApp Builders to try the Testnet and provide feedback.

opBNB represents our commitment to ensuring a seamless and efficient experience for users, developers, and projects on BSC. This development is part of our ongoing mission to bring the power of blockchain to everyone while embracing and driving forward innovation.

opBNB is BSC’s answer to the scalability challenge that has limited the mass adoption of blockchain technology. As an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible layer 2 chain, opBNB solution is based on Optimism OP Stack to further enhance BSC scalability while preserving affordability and security.

Optimistic Rollups was proposed to reduce the computational load on the main chain by executing transactions off-chain and only posting transaction data on-chain as calldata. This approach drastically improves scalability by bundling multiple transactions together before submitting them to the main chain.

The mix of BSC’s strong ability and opBNB’s dedicated new features, which includes making data access easier, improving the cache system, and adjusting the submission process algorithm to allow simultaneous operations (also known as batcher), allows OpBNB to push the gas limit up to a whopping 100M. This is a big jump from Optimism’s 30M (source: link). Thanks to these new features, OpBNB can handle over 4000 transfer transactions each second and keep the average cost of a transaction below 0.005 USD. By harnessing the power of Optimistic Rollups, opBNB moves computation and state storage off-chain, alleviating congestion and driving down transaction costs.

BNB Greenfield – The BNB Greenfield testnet is live and the community is calling on testnet Validators, Storage providers (SPs), and dApp Builders to join the decentralized storage tech stack to shape the future of data ownership in Web3.

BNB Greenfield is an innovative blockchain and storage platform that seeks to unleash the power of decentralized technology on data ownership and the data economy. It is a decentralized, open-source storage chain with BNB as its token.

With a focus on facilitating decentralized data management and access, Greenfield aims to revolutionize the data economy by easing the storing and management of data and linking data ownership with the DeFi context of BNB Smart Chain (BSC).

  1. Greenfield, a decentralized storage chain using BNB tokens is now Live, marking asignificant milestone as it implements core features outlined in the whitepaper. Developers can explore various features like account creation, data storage, access control, cross-chain communication, storage provision, node validation, and staking.
  2. Greenfield aims to offer the fastest data service among decentralized storage solutions with cost-effective features, comparable to Web 2 cloud storage. This sets the stage for widespread adoption.
  3.  A native relayer links BSC and Greenfield, enabling BSC Dapps to integrate with Greenfield using a simple SDK and minimal development. Upon Greenfield mainnet launch, thousands of Dapp data sets will be available, fostering rapid ecosystem growth and easing data-related innovation compared to other chains.
  4. Users will have control over their data, meaning they can decide who can access it and set the access fees. This broadens ownership from assets to data.
  5. The BNB token’s use will extend to large-scale data storage and trading, which will enhance its value over time

What sets Greenfield apart from existing centralized and decentralized storage systems are its three key components:

  1. Data Ownership: Users own the data and can grant permissions either manually or programmatically.
  2. EVM Compatibility by Integration with BSC : It allows Ethereum-compatible addresses to create and manage both data.It natively links data permissions and management logic onto BSC as exchangeable assets and smart contract programs with all other assets.
  3. High Performance Rich API/SDK: It provides developers with similar API primitives and performance as popular existing Web2 cloud storage. The performance is comparable to commercial cloud as well.

Hackvolution – BNB Chain are inviting all developers, researchers and scientists to participate in the online Hackvolution event that seeks to redefine and empower the next-generation of dApps with the potential of opBNB and BNB Greenfield.

Whether you are interested in Infrastructure, DeFi, Gaming, or AI, this hackathon provides the platform to explore, innovate, and make a lasting impact. This is your chance to demonstrate your creativity, technical skills, and entrepreneurial spirit as you work alongside a vibrant community of like-minded individuals.

The hackathon is supported by industry leaders such as COMBO, CyberConnect, Hooked Protocol, Alibaba Cloud, Google Cloud and Ultiverse. Generous rewards, including cash prizes, marketing packages, participation in the BNB Chain’s Gas Grant program, and discounted access to essential tools and services, are up for grabs.

It’s an exciting chance for dvelopers to gain recognition, network with industry experts, and propel their project to new heights.

How does BNB Chain plan to stay competitive as the blockchain space continues to evolve and new players enter the market?

BNB Chain is one of the most up to date and extensive infrastructure technology. A good example would be the launches of zkBNB and opBNB, as well as the fully decentralized storage layer, Greenfield. With an extensive infrastructure, developers and users get to build and experience Web3 in the best ways possible, building the strongest advantage of BNB Chain our large and fast growing community.

BNB Chain has more than 3 million in our social communities, and over 1500 dApps. This vibrant range of products and community size are the key contributions for over 1 million daily active on-chain users in this current market.

As “BNB” actually means “Build N Build”, we believe by continuously building with developers and community through support provision and engagements respectively, BNB Chain will continue to be a dominant ecosystem in the web3 industry.

How does BNB Chain support the development of decentralized applications (dApps)?

BNB Chain recognizes the importance of the community and hence, we have been constantly engaging developers and users. We understand that developers are our pillars for growth, and there are many challenges in developing Web3 products, so BNB Chain has been providing various supports including but not limited to:

  1. Marketing collaborations and support – BNB Chain plays an active role in bringing useful information and knowledge of its Web3 dApps to the community
  2. Grants – For projects that are in need of funding, BNB Chain offers the Builders’ & Gas Grants. The Builders’ grant aims to encourage projects to bring value and growth to the ecosystem, while the gas grant helps projects to run growth campaigns by offering grants based on gas fees incurred by the on-chain transactions
  3.  Developer Programs – the industry is ever-changing and the BNB chain is agile in its program creation and implementation to help developers in the space. One of the most popular programs would be the Kickstart program, where providers of various essential web3 services such as on-chain wallet development and security audits are able to list and get connected to new developers. This helps start-ups in web3 navigate and develop their projects effectively

There’s no doubt that BNB Chain is making significant strides in propelling the mass adoption of blockchain technology, particularly in the realms of Web3, NFTs, and Metaverse. The platform’s cutting-edge features such as opBNB, BNB Greenfield, and upcoming initiatives like Hackvolution, promise to revolutionize not just the world of blockchain but the larger digital ecosystem as well.

BNB Chain’s commitment to remaining agile in the ever-changing tech industry, their comprehensive support to developers, and their dedication to building a robust, active, and vibrant community all testify to their potential for continued growth and success. As the blockchain space continues to evolve, we look forward to seeing more innovative developments from BNB Chain and its dedicated team. 

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South Korea’s FSC to Submit Two Crypto-Related Acts to National Assembly

According to Newsis on July 13, the People’s Power Party and the Financial Services Commission of South Korea are planning to submit amendments to the Electronic Securities Act and the Capital Market Act to the National Assembly within this month. The amendments aim to institutionalize token securities. Representative Yoon Chang-hyun of the People’s Power Party, a member of the Political Affairs Committee, will lead the proposal.

Token Securities are securities issued in token form using blockchain technology. They enable the trading of various rights that were difficult to issue as traditional electronic securities. Theoretically, all assets, including commercial buildings, artworks, luxury goods, and intellectual property rights (IP), can be tokenized. This is why the securities industry anticipates new innovative businesses utilizing ST.

In preparation for the legislation, the Policy Committee, Political Affairs Committee, and the Special Committee on Digital Assets of the People’s Power Party will hold a public hearing at 10 a.m. today. The hearing will discuss the legislation that has been prepared so far, under the title “Venture Start-up Energy UP STO (Security Token Offering)”.

The upcoming legislation is expected to reflect the ‘Token Securities Issuance and Distribution Regulation System Improvement Plan’ announced by the Financial Services Commission in February. The improvement plan includes amending the Capital Market Act and the Electronic Securities Act to enable the issuance of token securities and establishing new account management institutions and over-the-counter trading brokerage businesses related to issuance and distribution.

Furthermore, on July 11, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) unveiled a new legislation mandating all companies that issue or manage cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, to reveal their holdings. The objective of this bill is to augment transparency in the accounting and disclosure of crypto assets, adhering to supervisory guidelines that necessitate the accounting of every transaction involving cryptocurrencies.

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Asia Crucial to Web3 Gaming Industry

According to a recent report by DappRadar, Asia is a crucial region for the Web3 gaming industry, given its majority share of gamers and gaming revenue, as well as its high interest in blockchain technology. The report highlighted that the Asian market boasts over 1.7 billion video game players, accounting for 55% of the world’s total. In addition, Asia houses over half of the global gaming revenue and has long been “the driving force” behind the global gaming industry.

DappRadar claims that due to these factors, the Asia region “plays a crucial role in the adoption of blockchain gaming.” However, while China, Japan, and South Korea dominate the gaming industry in Asia, they have varying attitudes towards blockchain technology.

China, for instance, has banned crypto and prohibits gaming companies from integrating blockchain technology into their games. On the other hand, gaming companies in Japan and South Korea are “leading the way in the adoption of blockchain technology in gaming,” the report says. It points to Sony’s recent NFT-related patents and gaming firm Sega’s announcement of its upcoming blockchain game as evidence of this trend.

A survey of 1,030 Japanese men and women ranging in age from their 20s to 70s cited in the report revealed a promising outlook for the Japanese blockchain gaming industry. It revealed just over 40% of respondents were familiar with blockchain games, and over half of those familiar had a favorable impression of them.

The report also addressed the Web3 industry on a global scale, highlighting that “visual quality and game experience” are “slightly” more important factors for gamers when evaluating a new game over other aspects such as entry price, the number of active users, and game economies. The report also emphasized the significance of airdrops in motivating gamers to try out new games. It was stated that airdrops are considered “an essential factor,” with gamers still expecting to receive them before starting a new game.

It is clear that Asia will play a crucial role in the adoption of blockchain gaming in the coming years. While China’s attitude towards blockchain technology remains unclear, Japan and South Korea have already begun leading the way in adopting blockchain technology in gaming. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it is likely that blockchain technology will become an increasingly important factor for gamers and game developers alike.

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Thai Political Party Proposes $300 Digital Currency Stimulus

The Pheu Thai Party, Thailand’s political opposition, has announced a proposal to give every citizen of the country nearly $300 in digital currency should the party win the upcoming election. The plan was announced at a campaign event on April 5, where one of the party’s candidates for prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, described the initiative as a blockchain-based stimulus project aimed at boosting the local economy. The proposed stipend of 10,000 Thai baht, or roughly $292 at the time of publication, would be given to every Thai resident who is 16 years or older.

Thailand’s next general election will take place on May 14, with all 500 seats in the country’s House of Representatives up for election. Current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, a member of the United Thai Nation Party, is eligible to hold his position until 2025 if selected, following a decision from Thailand’s Constitutional Court regarding his term limit.

The proposed crypto project could potentially cost the government between $14 billion to $18 billion, given that Thailand’s population is over 70 million, with around 50-60 million people over 16 years old. While cryptocurrency exchanges and trading are generally allowed in Thailand, the country’s Securities and Exchange Commission has been considering a ban on staking and lending services and has established stricter rules for crypto custody providers. Additionally, the country’s central bank has warned crypto investors about stablecoins pegged to the baht.

Thavisin’s proposal to distribute funds equally to residents is similar to the universal basic income initiative proposed by United States presidential candidate Andrew Yang in the 2020 elections. Yang’s proposal involved giving all eligible people in the United States $1,000 every month.

If the Pheu Thai Party wins the upcoming election and follows through with its proposal, it could potentially have significant impacts on Thailand’s economy and the adoption of blockchain-based digital currencies in the country. However, the proposal also raises questions about the feasibility of such a large-scale distribution of digital currency, as well as the potential risks and challenges that may arise in the implementation process.

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Thai Political Party Proposes Digital Currency Stimulus

The Pheu Thai Party, a major political party in opposition to the current prime minister’s party, has proposed a significant stimulus project using blockchain technology in Thailand. At an April 5 campaign event, the party announced plans to provide all Thai residents over the age of 16 with a stipend of 10,000 Thai baht, or roughly $300, in digital currency. The party’s candidate for prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, touted the initiative as a way to help the local economy, and said that blockchain technology would be used to facilitate the distribution of funds.

The plan is similar to the universal basic income initiative proposed by U.S. presidential candidate Andrew Yang in the 2020 elections, which aimed to provide eligible people in the United States with $1,000 every month. The Pheu Thai Party’s initiative would provide a one-time payment of $300 to roughly 50-60 million Thai residents over the age of 16, which could cost the government between $14 billion and $18 billion.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission has been considering a ban on staking and lending services, and has established stricter rules for crypto custody providers, despite crypto exchanges and trading generally being permissible in the country. Additionally, the country’s central bank has warned investors about stablecoins pegged to the baht. However, the Pheu Thai Party’s digital currency stimulus project has the potential to boost adoption of cryptocurrencies in Thailand, and could pave the way for further developments in the country’s blockchain industry.

Thailand’s next general election is scheduled for May 14, with all 500 seats in the country’s House of Representatives up for grabs. Current Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is eligible to hold his position until 2025, following a decision from Thailand’s Constitutional Court regarding his term limit. The Pheu Thai Party’s proposal could have a significant impact on the election, and could influence voters to support the party’s pro-crypto stance.

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Nigerian President-elect’s Manifesto Includes Blockchain and Crypto Regulations

Nigeria is one of the countries where cryptocurrency adoption is on the rise. In recent years, the country has seen a surge in crypto trading and the use of cryptocurrencies for cross-border payments, remittances, and e-commerce. However, the lack of clear regulations and guidelines for the use of cryptocurrencies has been a hindrance to the growth of the sector.

To address this issue, Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian President-elect, has released a manifesto that includes proposals for the use of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in Nigeria’s banking and finance sector. The manifesto proposes a review of the existing Nigerian Security Exchange Commission regulations on digital assets to make them more business-friendly.

The proposed reforms would require digital asset companies to register with the SEC and comply with SEC regulations. The manifesto also proposes the establishment of an advisory committee to review the SEC regulations on digital assets to create a more efficient and business-friendly regulatory framework. The proposed regulations would enable the use of cryptocurrencies and other digital tokens in Nigeria’s banking and finance sector, as well as in identity management, revenue collection, and other areas.

The government hopes that the proposed reforms to the SEC regulations will help attract more investors in the digital and economic sectors and stimulate economic growth. The manifesto also aligns with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s eNaira, the country’s central bank digital currency. The government plans to expand the adoption of the eNaira, which has not lived up to expectations since its launch.

However, some cryptocurrency enthusiasts have criticized the existing regulations for lacking provisions that allow crypto users to transact with their local banks. The proposed reforms to the SEC regulations would address this issue and provide a framework for regulating digital assets like cryptocurrencies and other digital tokens in Nigeria.

The release of the manifesto coincides with the increasing adoption of cryptocurrencies in Nigeria, which is among the highest in the world. According to a report by Chainalysis, Nigeria ranks second in the world in terms of cryptocurrency adoption, after Ukraine. The report notes that Nigeria’s high adoption of cryptocurrencies is driven by a variety of factors, including high remittance fees, currency volatility, and a large young population with a high level of technology adoption.

The Nigerian government’s interest in cryptocurrencies is also reflected in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s milder position towards stablecoins. The bank recently published a research report titled “Nigeria’s Payment System Vision 2025,” which explores the creation of a new framework to introduce a stablecoin in Nigeria.

In conclusion, Bola Tinubu’s manifesto includes proposals for the use of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in Nigeria’s banking and finance sector. The proposed reforms to the SEC regulations would enable the use of cryptocurrencies and other digital tokens in Nigeria’s banking and finance sector, as well as in identity management, revenue collection, and other areas. The government hopes that the proposed reforms will help attract more investors in the digital and economic sectors and stimulate economic growth.

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Samsung Electronics to Secure its Smart Gadgets With Blockchain-Based Solution

Multinational tech giant, Samsung Electronics has unveiled its plans to protect its connected devices using a Samsung Knox Matrix solution.

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As announced by the firm, the official unveiling of the advanced security solution which is based on blockchain technology will be revealed at this year’s Samsung Developer Conference (SDC).

 

With people doing more work, and getting more entertainment online through connected devices including smartphones, smartwatches, and the like, the risk of threat is becoming higher. Should one of the connected devices suffer a vulnerability no matter how small, other devices are certainly going to be placed at risk, and Samsung believes users do not deserve to have this sort of worry.

The Samsung Knox Matrix solution being presented will serve as a user’s own private blockchain system, wherein your connected devices enhance security through multi-layered mutual monitoring. By taking advantage of the natural security advances being offered by blockchain systems, the tech giant said it will be protecting users’ smart homes from unauthorized inference.

This security solution will not take away the enhanced user experience the tech giant is offering the users of its connected systems and as such, it will make the login process a very convenient one.

“In order to protect user’s smart home from unauthorized access and to make the login process more convenient, Samsung Knox Matrix will share credentials device-to-device and protect sensitive information even between trusted devices. Whether your Samsung devices are based on Android, Tizen, or other OS, Samsung Knox Matrix will be able to provide a unified security SDK. With all that, Samsung will continue to advance common security standards for across various Samsung connected devices,” the announcement reads.

Blockchain technology is being adapted for use in different ways and its embrace has spanned from tech companies to financial institutions to fashion brands. With the broad diversity of the technology, more specific use cases are bound to be introduced in the coming years.

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Hamilton Lane Tokenizes Funds to Offer Individual Investors Access Private Markets

Hamilton Lane, a global private markets investment firm, formed a partnership deal with digital asset securities firm Securitize to tokenize three of its investment funds on Wednesday. 

Through the partnership, funds to be tokenized include unlisted equities, private credit, and secondary transactions.

Hamilton Lane, which has $835 billion in assets under management, plans to give qualified U.S.-based investors access to funds through providing exposure to direct equities, private credit, and secondary transactions, which will be tokenized via Securitize’s blockchain-based digital transfer agency.

Hamilton’s tokenized funds are expected to be available by the fourth quarter, enabling a broader investor base to access the funds. Customers will still need to be accredited, which means those with a net worth of more than $1 million or income above $200,000.

Victor Jung, Head of Digital Assets at Hamilton Lane, commented about the development: “This collaboration with Securitize is our latest step toward enabling access to the strong returns and performance opportunities generated within the private markets space for a newer set of investors while increasing usability and transparency through the use of blockchain technology.”

The new tokenized funds highlight Hamilton’s commitment to expanding ease of access to the private markets through the use of blockchain technology. Private-equity investments are generally accessible only to institutional investors or ultra-high-net-worth investors. But blockchain has opened up the access of private-market strategies to retail investors.

Therefore, converting funds into security tokens enables individual investors to place money in assets previously only accessible to institutions. It reduces issuance and administration costs and enables fractional ownership.

Hamilton Lane’s move follows the announcement last month when KKR tapped blockchain technology further to open its private equity strategy to individual investors. The developments signal a series of asset management firms using intermediaries to expand access to funds to high net-worth individuals and accredited investors.

Other asset managers, like Partners Group, Investcorp, and Temasek-backed Mapletree, also tokenized their funds recently, as they know that individual investors will increasingly drive their growth investments.

 

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