Arab Bank Switzerland announced Tuesday that it will integrate staking, trading and custody services onto the Tezos blockchain’s native token (XTZ) in a bid to provide a digital asset environment for institutions, corporations and high net-worth individuals. The 50-year old establishment partnered with Tezos in the hope of benefiting from the ecosystem's inherent focus on energy conservation, low-gas fees and fast upgrades. Managing Director of Arab Bank Switzerland, Rani Jabban commented on the institution’s ambitions following the announcement: “Digital Assets are a cornerstone of our strategy, requiring strong agility while complying with the highest security standards. Our mission is to …
On Friday the Swiss town of Wetzikon -- formerly best-known for its idyllic pastures and churches -- launched a blockchain-based program to support small and medium-sized local businesses affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Valued at 250,000 Swiss francs ($280,000), the initial aid disbursement will be funded with a municipal credit line earmarked for the Coronavirus and will be distributed to the roughly 25,000 inhabitants of Wetzikon in the form of an eCoupon worth 10 Swiss francs. Residents can access the disbursement through a smartphone app, “ecoo,” which will be using the aid program as a pilot trial for its platform. …
Swiss blockchain-based insurance transaction platform B3i has expanded its group of investors in its ongoing funding round, according to a press release published on April 3. Per the release, B3i has added three new insurer and reinsurers to participate in the company’s current funding round. B3i notes in the announcement that the first phase of the product scheduled to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2019 is being evaluated, while invitations for the second wave of investors are being extended. Additionally, B3i formed a Board of Directors that includes nine senior executives of the investor companies. The chairman of …
Pangea Blockchain Fund has debuted its blockchain fund, securing $22 million with key investors including Bitcoin.com CEO Roger Ver, according to a press release on Feb. 27. Switzerland-based Pangea Blockchain Fund is targeting the development of transformative blockchain-driven solutions and expects the total fundraising to be capped at $200 million. The recent seed round was also participated in by Copernicus Asset Management, a financial services group based in Lugano, Switzerland. The company is licensed as a Swiss Authorized Asset Manager and also acts as an investment manager for Pangea’s fund. Pangea Blockchain Fund’s investment adviser Blockchain Investment Advisory Sagl, is …
The Tezos Foundation has announced it will be issuing financial grants to research institutions for blockchain tech and smart contracts development, according to an official press release published August 9. The Tezos Foundation will provide grants to four research institutions: Cornell University, the University of Beira Interior, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and France-IOI, the press release notes. Emin Gün Sirer will lead the Cornell University team to “develop protocols that may be applied to Tezos,” paying particular attention to sharding, and Portugal's University of Beira Interior will receive four grants for two master’s theses and two Ph.D. projects …