Only 14 percent of 216 global crypto exchanges were confirmed as being licensed by regulators, regulatory technology (regtech) startup Coinfirm found in its crypto exchange risk report released on March 27. Coinfirm, а London-based regulatory tech firm for digital currencies and blockchain, studied 216 global cryptocurrency exchanges to outline the key risks that can be associated with each platform, as well as to assist monitors in developing necessary regulatory frameworks. The analyzed exchanges reportedly represent more than 90 percent of global crypto market activity. In the study, Coinfirm evaluated the exchanges into seven categories of risk, including license and authorization, …

Cryptocurrency mining is reportedly one of the most observed objectives of hackers attacking businesses’ cloud infrastructures, according to a report by AT&T Cybersecurity on March 14. The cybersecurity wing of United States telecoms firm AT&T stated that organizations of all sizes continue to face major crypto mining attacks despite the ongoing bear market. In the new report, AT&T examined the most significant forms of cryptojacking associated with mining attacks on organizations’ cloud infrastructure. AT&T outlined four major cryptojacking tactics used by hackers such as compromising container management platforms, control panel exploitation, theft of application programming interfaces (APIs), as well as …

Security token offerings (STO) are becoming more popular, relative to initial coin offerings (ICO), according to a new report by Big Four firm PwC's global consulting subsidiary Strategy&. Released on March 8, the firm’s forth ICO and STO report was developed in collaboration with the Swiss Crypto Valley Association. According to the joint report, STOs “are not fundamentally different from ICOs.” The document states that STOs are “a more mature and regulated form” of fundraising, noting — given the definition of a security — that the tokens sold in an STO can provide investors with various financial rights. STOs, the …

Global blockchain spending will account for almost $2.9 billion in 2019, which is an 88.7 percent increase from 2018, according to a new report from United States-based market research firm International Data Corporation (IDC). Published on March 4, IDC's Worldwide Semiannual Blockchain Spending Guide provides analysis of blockchain developments in various segments. According to the report, the financial sector will be the leading industry in terms of spending in blockchain development this year. Banking, securities, investment services and insurance services are forecasted to invest more than $1.1 billion out of the total global blockchain spending. In turn, manufacturing and distribution …

International tech and IT firm Cisco Systems has opened a Co-Innovate Center in Singapore, the Bangkok Post reports on Feb. 25. Cisco CTO Dave Ward reportedly said that the new center — there are 14 worldwide — will help stimulate the development of new technology in the region. The branch in Singapore will purportedly concentrate on cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain technology. The IT firm will reportedly offer various prototypes and display potential applications of new technology in different commercial contexts, as well as in public administration and education. The center will purportedly showcase the Rotterdam Project, …

New York-based blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis has raised $30 million in a Series B funding round led by venture capital giant Accel, the company confirmed in a post on Feb. 12. The fresh funding will reportedly be used to expand Chainalysis’ corporate operations, which include a proprietary Know Your Customer (KYC) product that allows financial institutions and digital asset trading platforms to vet and verify the identity of their clients. The firm reports that the latest funding round was led by Accel, “with participation from existing investors.” Chainalysis reports that it also plans to open an office devoted to research …

The Moscow municipal government is planning to launch a blockchain-based city innovation cluster by summer 2019, Russian news agency TASS reports on Feb. 11. The upcoming platform for the city’s IT innovation cluster will enable participants to find potential partners, as well as learn about their products and equipment, according to Alexey Fursin, Head of the Department of Business and Innovation of Moscow. Fursin noted that the platform’s entrants will be also be able to receive financial support through grants from the Moscow government. According to the official, the upcoming platform is based on the state-supported city navigation hub dubbed …

Initial coin offerings (ICOs) in Q4 2018 raised 25 percent less than in Q3, while the total amount of completed ICOs increased, according to a report by ICO rating service ICObench shared with Cointelegraph on Feb. 6. The number of ICOs completed in Q4 increased to 594 from 554 in Q3, the report says. With that, the number of ICO projects that did not raise funds has also increased in Q4, while the number of successfully completed ICO projects remained equal. According to the report, the total funds raised by ICOs in Q4 was $1.4 billion, down from $1.8 billion …

Initial coin offerings (ICOs) completed in the first half of January have raised around $160 million. The figure was provided in a report by ICO rating service ICObench shared with Cointelegraph on Jan. 18. ICOs completed by Jan. 15 have managed to raise about 33 percent of the combined amount raised in the previous month of December. Half of that sum was secured by just one project, the report notes. According to ICObench, the number of fundraisers that are set to take place in January is more than 150, a figure similar to the past seven months, excluding December. In …

A startup has unveiled bold plans to tackle the excessive levels of energy consumption seen in cryptocurrency mining, all while giving everyday computer users more of a chance to receive block rewards. Resistance argues that proof-of-work mining “has been hijacked by huge mining farms using tons of energy to take control of the market” — isolating normal consumers who cannot afford to get involved with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The company also says the levels of electricity being used is “wasted on mathematical equations” rather than making a positive impact on humanity. As a result, Resistance is seeking to address …

South Korea’s government has added blockchain to the fields of research and development eligible for a tax credit meant to boost innovation, English-language local media TheNews.Asia reports on Jan. 8. The local Ministry of Strategy and Finance announced the proposed changes to the enforcement decree of last year’s tax law, which will be enforced in February. The proposed amendments also include among the eligible fields wearable robots and fine dust reduction technology. According to the aforementioned article, a result of this amendment will be that 30 to 40 percent of the research and development expenses of small enterprises and 20 …

The creation of competing altcoins is likely to place downward pressure on the prices of all cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC). This conclusion was found by research conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and published on Jan. 11. The report cites two perspectives: Bitcoin bulls’ belief that the capped supply and increased demand will increase BTC’s price, and the bears’ belief that its price will fall to zero. The researchers state: “We think the future price path is more likely to remain bounded between these two extremes.” According to the research, the United States dollar price of BTC …