Vitalik Buterin has recommended that developers work on building a skeletal version of a sharding system until the Ethereum community is able to produce a more precise vision of how sharding will work.
<h1>Russian Organization To Build Blockchain-Based Patent Registry For Kyrgyzstan</h1>
A Russian non-profit has signed an agreement stating that it will build a blockchain database to house the “patent archives” of Kyrgyzstan’s patent office.
<h1>Baidu’s Latest Blockchain Platform Will Serve Photographers</h1>
Baidu has released a new blockchain platform called Totem, which it says will help protect photographers from copyright infringement.
<h1>Projected MasterCard Hires Will Pursue ‘Innovations In Payments’ Through Blockchain</h1>
The payments giant MasterCard plans to hire 175 new employees, some of whom will work on blockchain-related projects for the company.
<h1>Vietnam PM Calls For More Gov’t ‘Management’ Of Cryptocurrency Following Scam ICOs</h1>
After about 32,000 investors allegedly lost the equivalent of $658 million in two Vietnamese ICO scams, the country’s prime minister called for the proposal of ICO and cryptocurrency regulations.
<h1>Philippine SEC Defines Cloud Mining Contracts As Securities</h1>
Cryptocurrency cloud mining contracts will now be considered securities in the Philippines, and entities that intend to sell them must apply for licensure.
<h1>Indian Government Body Developing Blockchain PoC To Fight Drug Counterfeiting</h1>
A government think tank in India is working on a proof of concept for a blockchain-based system that could track all drugs produced and consumed in the country.
<h1>Golem Launches Beta Software On Ethereum Mainnet</h1>
Golem has released a beta version of its software, an “MVP” meant to support CGI rendering, on the Ethereum mainnet.
<h1>Class Action Suit Against Nano Core Devs Calls For Hard Fork</h1>
XRB investors have sued Nano, the rebranded firm that issued those tokens, and requested that the company be ordered to execute a hard fork in order to restore stolen funds.
<h1>NJ Bill Would Prohibit Certain Uses Of Customer Funds By Cryptocurrency Firms</h1>
A proposed law in New Jersey would make it illegal for firms holding cryptocurrency on the behalf of clients to lend out tokens in its custody.
<h1>Chile’s National Energy Commission To Use Ethereum For Energy Data Pilot</h1>
A governmental energy organization in Chile has launched a blockchain-based pilot for storing energy sector data.
<h1>IBM Seeks To Patent System That Amends, Deploys EDCCs</h1>
A patent application by IBM proposes a system that would automatically reconcile conflicting terms in smart contracts deployed on a blockchain network.
<h1>Cryptocurrency Exchange Coincheck To Accept Acquisition Offer Two Months After Heist</h1>
The Japanese digital asset exchange Coincheck will be purchased by an online brokerage.
<h1>Humana, Other Healthcare Firms To Launch Blockchain Pilot For Data Sharing</h1>
Humana, along with other prominent healthcare organizations, has announced a blockchain pilot for medical data sharing.
<h1>Venezuela In Talks To Purchase Russian Auto Parts Using Petro Cryptocurrency</h1>
Russia may allow Venezuela to purchase auto parts from a domestic manufacturer using its controversial state digital currency, the petro. Both countries are presently subject to US sanctions.
<h1>Russian Central Bank Pitches Ethereum Platform To Support EAEU Payments Network</h1>
An official with Russia’s central bank has said that a proposed pan-EAEU payments network could be launched on an Ethereum-based platform.
<h1>New EIP Suggests Ethereum Hard Fork For ASIC Resistance</h1>
Leading Ethereum developers are currently debating whether to hard fork the blockchain in order to implement a change aimed at undercutting the effectiveness of expensive, tailor-made mining equipment.
<h1>Subsidiary Of Russian State-Owned Bank May Conduct Cryptocurrency Pilot</h1>
A board member with Gazprombank has revealed that the financial institution could run a cryptocurrency-related pilot in Switzerland through a local subsidiary there.
<h1>Intel’s Application For A Patent Relating To Cars And Blockchains Published</h1>
Intel filed a patent application, which was recently published, for a system that would allow vehicles to transmit data to third parties in a way that protects the driver/owner’s privacy. The system would accomplish this, in part, by using blockchain technology, private key encryption, and zero-knowledge proofs.
<h1>Hacked Korean Cryptocurrency Exchange Youbit’s Insurance Claim Is Denied</h1>
A leading South Korean insurance firm has rejected a claim from the cryptocurrency exchange Youbit, which was seeking a $2.8 million payout following a hack in December 2017 that caused it to declare bankruptcy.