Bitcoin (BTC) is a dynamic monetary asset with the potential of being both — a commodity and a currency. For instance, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) classified BTC as a commodity, whereas El Salvador made Bitcoin a legal tender in 2021. So, does this make BTC a store of value or a medium of exchange? It can do both — On one hand, BTC can be added to treasuries as an inflationary hedge. On the other hand, it could also serve the retail purpose of paying for routine expenses. Almost over a decade ago, the first person to utilize …

What did you do in the 2022 bear market, anon? For one Bitcoiner, the opportunity to take on a second job to “stack sats” (buy more Bitcoin (BTC)), was too great. Isaiah, the founder of the Cleveland Bitcoin Meetup, is delivering food to Ohio residents to earn cash on the side. Isaiah told Cointelegraph “I joined DoorDash 2 years ago. But I only recently started doing it again once the price fell into the 20[K]s.” DoorDash is an American food delivery service (similar to Glovo or Deliveroo), where riders pick up food from restaurants to take to people’s homes. Isaiah …

Rappi, the most popular delivery service in Latin America, is working with Bitso and Bitpay to accept Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrency payments. As reported by Cointelegraph Brazil, Rappi is integrating with Bitso and Bitpay through a trial project in Mexico. However, it's unclear whether the pilot plan will also enable access to the service in Brazil and other Latin American countries. In Mexico, Rappi, a Colombian delivery app with operations in nine Latin American countries, has launched a crypto payments pilot program. Customers will be able to convert crypto into credits that can subsequently be used to complete purchases …

World’s top ecommerce firm, Amazon, filed a patent for a blockchain system that tracks goods as they move on the supply chain. Amazon’s patent — dated May 26 — describes a “distributed ledger certification” system. The document explains that the tracking solution would ensure that consumer goods that are sold on its ecommerce site are authentic. The abstract reads: “Features are disclosed for an interface for verifiable tracking of an item through a supply chain using a distributed electronic ledger.” In the detailed description section of the patent, its author explains that the system at large aims to improve “trust …

Teleport, the logistics division of major airline, AirAsia, has launched a blockchain-based cargo booking system called Freightchain. According to an April 16 announcement, Freightchain is “the world’s first digital air cargo network run on blockchain.” The network — which is launching today — allows shippers or freight forwarders to instantly book and confirm any of AirAsia’s 247 aircraft to carry cargo. Freightchain assigns shippers and their freight forwarders to cargo connections to help them with their supply chain needs, and facilitate bookings in real-time which are processed on-chain. The project’s chief technology officer, Vishal Batra, explained that the network is …

Blockchain shipping startup 300cubits has suspended the operations of its booking module and the circulation of its TEU token. As industry news outlet The Maritime Executive reported Sept. 30, the Hong Kong-based company is believed to be one of the first firms to apply blockchain technologies in shipping. Low transaction volume Per the report, 300cubits’ system began accepting trial shipments in March 2018 and was launched into live production in July 2018. It is also claimed that its TEU tokens are still one of the more recognized digital assets in maritime space. Still, low transaction volume — with only a …

Thailand’s Customs Department intends to use IBM’s Tradelens blockchain solution to track shipping in Thai ports. According to an announcement published on Aug. 28 on the Thai Customs Department’s official website, the country plans to use Tradelens, a blockchain logistics system. Local news outlet Bangkok Post reported the next day that the platform is expected to streamline operations by managing shipment tracking and information sharing. Thailand’s push for innovation The Tradelens platform is the joint project of transport giant AP Moller-Maersk and IBM. The decision to adopt it in the country is reportedly part of a broader Thailand 4.0 modernization …

A United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) advisory committee is planning to launch a live test of its blockchain-based intellectual property rights proof of concept. The Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee (COAC) will run its tests from late August to late September, per a report published on the CBP’s website. The COAC advises the Secretaries of the Department of the Treasury and Department of Homeland Security. The announcement specifically comes by way of COAC’s Next Generation Facilitation Subcommittee, an entity comprised of four working groups that aim to improve trade and government within the CBP. Currently, the subcommittee is …

Samsung SDS, Dutch bank ABN AMRO and the Port of Rotterdam have jointly conducted a proof-of-concept (PoC) shipment from South Korea to the Netherlands in which they tracked a container exclusively using an interoperable blockchain platform, according to a report by The Maritime Executive on July 1. According to the announcement, the container was tracked via the blockchain platform “DELIVER,” which allowed for the shipment to be instantly financed, fully tracked, and conducted paperlessly. According to Port of Rotterdam CFO Paul Smits, the traditional process of shipping is usually paper-heavy and inefficient: “Currently payments, administration and the physical transportation of …

Maritime shipping firms Ocean Network Express and Hapag-Lloyd have joined blockchain tracking platform TradeLens, financial news outlet The Wall Street Journal reports on July 2. The Japan-based Ocean Network Express and Germany-based Hapag-Lloyd will join the TradeLens platform launched by Danish logistics conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk and tech behemoth IBM. As Cointelegraph reported at the time, the world's second-largest shipping company Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) and fourth-largest container shipping firm CMA CGM, have joined blockchain shipping platform TradeLens in May. The platform aims to reduce paperwork and associated costs and time in the logistics industry — which reportedly accounts for $4 …

Two leading global shipping firms, Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) and CMA CGM, have joined blockchain shipping platform TradeLens, Reuters reports on May 28. Switzerland-based MSC, the world's second-largest shipping company, and French CMA CGM, reportedly the fourth-largest container shipping firm, have joined the blockchain platform developed by the world’s largest logistics company Maersk and tech giant IBM. As previously reported, blockchain-powered shipping solution TradeLens intends to reduce paperwork and associated costs and time in the logistics industry — which reportedly accounts for $4 trillion — with over 80% of the goods carried by the ocean shipping sector. According to Reuters, …

Russian shipping logistics company Infotech Baltika will develop a blockchain-based system for the ports in which it operates, Russian maritime news outlet Morvesti reported on Feb. 11. To develop the blockchain-based solution, dubbed Edge.Port, the firm has partnered with Moscow-based blockchain startup Iconic. The network will reportedly allow participants in port activity to store all necessary documentation on a blockchain. According to Morvesti, all services in port, including vessel parking and tug boat rentals, can be ordered and tracked online via the system, without time-consuming paperwork. Infotech Baltika told the publication that Edge.Port will enable the firm to reduce the …