Hyundai’s Hdac Launches DApp / Italy’s Banca Sella Opens Bitcoin Trading to 1.2 M / China Launches National Blockchain Network

March 25, 2020

This week in the landscape, Hyundai Blockchain Subsidiary, Hdac has released the first DApp adding that a “blockchain-powered trading platform” will follow. Italy’s Banco Sella launched a Bitcoin (BTC) trading service, via the bank’s Hype platform, to 1.2 million Italians along with the ability to pay for goods and services with the cryptocurrency. China launches a National Blockchain Network in 100 cities, also of note China’s central bank is one step closer to issuing its digital currency. Argentina’s national gas regulator, Gasnor, was approved to pilot a smart contract-based certification platform with the desire to become the common database for Argentina’s entire gas distribution ecosystem. Binance has set up a $50 million fund for blockchain startups in India following a Supreme Court decision to allow banks to service crypto firms. As many are working remotely right now, enjoy this list of 8 essential software tools and their Web3 cousins provide by Decrypt. Toyota revealed its Blockchain Lab that’s been exploring auto-industry blockchain applications since April 2019. Coinbase Wallet makes it easier to earn interest through DeFi apps. YGC announces its startup studio. Bicameral Ventures give us insights on evolving Web3 business models, Blockstack discusses how Web3 solves challenges of data monopolies & abuses of privacy, we get introduced to Ceramic Protocol along with Heartwood, the next major Zcash upgrade, and much more. Have a great week! Enjoy!

BONUS: I recently released the latest Q1 2020 edition of my Blockchain Landscape Map (included below for download) that provides an overview of the industry highlighting over 900 global companies, venture funds, and working groups. If this is the first version you’ve seen of the landscape, consider it your guiding roadmap to further navigate the industry. Get it here in Hi-Res for free!

📈 Hyundai Blockchain Subsidiary Hdac Launches First Dapp on its Mainnet

Hyundai Blockchain Subsidiary Hdac has released the first decentralized app (DApp) on its blockchain network Mainnet and adds that a “blockchain-powered trading platform” will follow. The DApp has been developed by Levoist, which will allow fans crowdfund music projects from their favorite artists and buy a share of songs’ digital rights. Both companies want to push ahead with the next step of their operations by launching the tentatively named WeXDaq “blockchain-based trading platform” on Hdac, where transactions will be made in the Hdac Coin (HDAC)…read more

📈 Italian Bank Opens Bitcoin Trading to 1.2 Million During Lockdown

Italy’s Banca Sella has launched a Bitcoin trading service. Trading is conducted via the bank’s Hype platform, with the bank acting as an intermediary to mitigate against potential security risks with cryptocurrency exchanges. Nearly 1.2 million Italians already use Banca Stella’s Hype to carry out transactions, and not only will they be able to buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC), but they’ll also be able to pay for goods and services with the cryptocurrency. The customers do not need additional documents or Know-Your-Customer requirements to be able to carry out any Bitcoin-related activity. Milan-based startup Conio also announced that they would offer an additional Bitcoin wallet on the Hype platform, along with buying/selling and safe custody of digital assets…read more

Related: 🇨🇳 China Launches National Blockchain Network in 100 Cities

📈 Argentina’s Gas Regulator Greenlights Industry Blockchain Built With RSK Tech

Argentina’s national gas regulator has given Gasnor, a licensed blockchain platform from IOV Labs and software builder Grupo Sabra, approval to pilot a smart contract-based certification platform. “When you want to certify a new gas connection for a home or a company today, you need to send many documents, and it takes up to 3 months to process,” said Grupo Sabra, co-founder Pedro Perrota. “They are using the blockchain to certify the different steps,” said IOV Labs CEO Diego Gutierrez. “They’re giving private keys to each one of the professionals involved in the process, so they do the certification work using this shared system.” Gasnor’s shared ecosystem can facilitate any number of services. The company wants to become the common database for Argentina’s entire gas distribution ecosystem, for all nine regulated companies…read more

📖 The Decentralized Internet

In the podcast, Muneeb Ali, Co-founder / CEO of Blockstack, discusses how the emerging Web 3.0 solves challenges of data monopolies & abuses of privacy and gives users more control over their digital existence. The podcast covers the emergence of an app ecosystem as well as the role of a new crypto economy.…read more

Related: 📖 Introduction to the Ceramic Protocol by Michael Sena

👉 Join next week’s AMA session on April 1st with MaxDapp as we speak about everything DApps, Blockchain, DeFi, and more!

💸 Binance Launches $50M ‘Blockchain for India’ Fund

Binance and its local subsidiary have set up a $50 million fund to reinvigorate growth in blockchain startups in India following a Supreme Court decision to allow banks to service crypto firms. It will make investments in both equity and token acquisitions. The Binance fund is especially interested in initiatives that help develop a full crypto market infrastructure for India. That could include fiat gateways, remittance platforms, stablecoin solutions, and new applications for decentralized finance (DeFi). The fund will make investments anywhere between $100,000 and $5 million. The new fund would be open to collaborating and co-investing with other local funds sharing the same goals…read more

🖼️ Winklevoss Twins Launch a Marketplace for Blockchain Digital Art

Nifty Gateway, a startup from Winklevoss twins, is going to launch a marketplace for nifties, the tradable digital art that can sell for thousands of dollars. The website will allow consumers to buy and sell digital collectibles from artists, including Michael Kagan and Lyle Owerko. The market is predicted to eventually be as big as the ones for art, collectibles, gaming, and digital items combined…read more

🚘 Toyota Reveals Blockchain Lab After 11 Months of Research

Toyota Motors, in collaboration with Toyota Financial Services Corporation, launched the Toyota Blockchain Lab, comprising six Toyota Group companies. Established in April 2019, it intends to use blockchain to develop an environment in which users can connect more openly and yet securely with the companies that provide them with services. The Lab has reportedly been carrying out investigative studies and undertaking trial projects, a phase of which completed in November 2019. The main-use applications identified were in areas of customer and vehicle verification, along with supply chain monitoring, and digitization of assets. Also, the Lab plans to accelerate the social implementation of various existing blockchain platforms globally…read more

🏥 Blockchain Can Save Pharmaceutical Industry $180 Million, Study Says

A study revealed by UCLA Health and LedgerDomain has stated that blockchain technology would save the United States pharmaceutical industry over $180 million each year. The founder and CEO of the company in an interview at Hyperledger Global Forum highlighted that 17% of prescription drugs in the U.S. are incorrectly dispensed and not complied with DSCSA’s new standards. To solve this problem and detect counterfeit prescription drugs, LedgerDomain has partnered with UCLA Health to apply DSCSA requirements within one pharmacy located at one of the nation’s busiest hospitals…read more

More For Your Week:

📈 Trust Spectrum from Multicoin Capital

📈 Working remotely: 8 essential software tools and their Web3 cousins

🇨🇳 China’s central bank is one step closer to issuing its digital currency

📖 March 12: The Day Crypto Market Structure Broke (Part 2) by Kyle Samani of Multicoin Capital

📖 Introducing Heartwood, the next major Zcash upgrade

📖 YGC Announces Startup Studio

📖 ‘Anything That Can Be Decentralized Will Be Decentralized’ 6 Years Later

📖 Cardano touts scaling solution inspired by Greek mythology

📖 Balancer Labs Raises $3M to Supercharge Programmable Liquidity by Fernando Martinelli

DApps (Decentralized Apps) Watch

📖 Dapps Built for 50 Million Users — 8 Cases You Should Know about ICON

Dapp.com has officially added ICON blockchain as the 12th blockchain and became the first dapp analytics platform to partner with ICON blockchain, approved by the ICONcommunity. The iconic use cases of the ICON blockchain that are under the radar of Dapp.com are like MyID, the first blockchain use case by the Government, ICONbet, VisitMe, Broof, Somesing, STAYGE, and ICON Vote. Currently, there are 7 ICON dapps already launched on the main net…read more

📖 Think a Privacy Law Will Stop Surveillance Capitalism? You Don’t Know Google

Today’s business models, where users have the fewest privacy settings, generally are the most profitable. Fundamentally, the expectations from investors for ever-increasing quarterly earnings can never go parallel to a real “private” future led by today’s tech giants. We need more rich data to make better algorithms and more virtual spaces that facilitate deeper, self-sovereign digital interactions rather than more privacy without fixing the underlying paradigm. Here are three key pieces of infrastructure that can contribute are like a mechanism by which new reams of data can be accrued; a suite of digital tools, products & algorithms, and a “data-supply chain” mechanism…read more from bicameral.ventures

📖 How to Create and Fund EOS Liquidity Pools on xNation by Bancor

📖 ZenGo Warns of Major Security Flaw Among DApp Wallets

📖 Uniswap announces its next iteration, set for launch in Q2

📖 Coinbase Wallet makes it easier to earn interest through DeFi apps

🎙️ State of the Blockchain Industry Q1 2020:

Available now, download your hi-res copy of the Q1 2020 edition of the Blockchain Landscape Map. This is now the fifth edition of the landscape I’ve released and includes 747 companies (900+ total unique companies including broader key Ecosystem players) and more than $22 bn in funding raised across the landscape from 2010–2020 — over $18 bn invested since 2017! — Noticeable cycles emerging and full breakdown available.

A full 60 min video overview of the landscape is now available here and free for all. In the video, I breakdown the 2020 landscape, provide a summary of 2019, emerging trends for 2020, DeFi, Libra, CDBCs, Stablecoins, DApps, and more!

👉 Download the NEW Blockchain for Infrastructure Landscape Q1 2020 edition for insights on DeFi, DApps, Infrastructure, Digital Currencies, and more!

Don’t want to wait until next week, Subscribe Now 📥 for real-time industry insights around Blockchain, DApps, and more!