Australia-based blockchain energy firm Power Ledger has purchased a 250 kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic system that will utilize a blockchain-based data management and settlement system. Per a press release shared with Cointelegraph on Jan. 13, Power Ledger purchased the system from Perdaman Advanced Energy, an Australian firm that provides clean energy consulting and project development. The new system will be located in Maddington and integrate a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to make renewable energy trading more transparent. Transformation of the energy market “The renewable energy that the Maddington asset generates will be tracked using blockchain technology to provide a verified audit …

To address the after-effects of the bushfires in Australia, the Binance Charity Foundation (BCF) is donating $1 million worth of BNB tokens to the Australia Bushfire Donations project. In a Jan. 7 blog post, BCF — the philanthropic arm of major cryptocurrency exchange Binance — announced the launch of a new charity project dubbed Australia Bushfire Donations, to which BCF is donating $1 million worth of Binance’s native Binance Coins (BNB). The funds raised within the project will be used to help relieve the devastating impact of fires across the continent. Ensuring transparency of donations Since the Australia Bushfire Donations …

Major cryptocurrency exchange Binance added support for Australian dollars (AUD) and Thai baht. Binance announced support for the national currencies in separate releases on Jan. 7. Thai digital asset exchange Satang Corporation will process Thai baht transfers, while Australian dollar transfers will be facilitated by Banxa, a company specialized in internationally compliant fiat-to-crypto gateways. Satang’s fiat processing service is integrated into Binance’s trading platform by means of a recently launched application programming interface that allows users to deposit and withdraw baht directly to their accounts. Satang CEO and co-founder Poramin Insom said that the collaboration will help the adoption of …

Australia’s former Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy has become chairman of the advisory board for an insurance-focused blockchain firm. Stephen Conroy — an Australian Labor Party Senate member from 1996–2016 — has joined the Melbourne-based blockchain firm Day By Day, according to a Dec. 18 report from ZDNet. Day By Day is focused on the creation of a blockchain-based asset registry management platform intended to innovate insurance inventories and expedite claims in the industry. Commenting on his new role, Conroy said that “problems of under-insurance and fraudulent claims” remain significant issues for both clients and insurers. He …

New Zealand’s ASB Bank, owned by Commonwealth Bank of Australia, has participated in a new $1.7 million funding round by blockchain startup TradeWindow. The startup provides a software-as-a-service supply chain solution to create a “single trading window” accessible by all parties involved in the transaction from the importer to the exporter. ASB Bank is now the second-biggest shareholder after TradeWindow CEO, owns 21% Following the seed round, ASB Bank now owns a 21% stake in the company and is the second-largest shareholder after TradeWindow’s founder and CEO AJ Smith, The New Zealand Herald reports Dec. 16. According to an announcement …

The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) will pilot a peer-to-peer (P2P) solar power trading project in partnership with Australian blockchain energy company Power Ledger. The state power utility UP Power Corporation Limited and UP New and Renewable Energy Development Agency have partnered with Power Ledger to launch a trial of P2P solar energy trading to examine its practicability, according to a Nov. 28 press release. The first phase of the project is set to be completed by March 2020. During the trial, Power Ledger will integrate its blockchain-based platform with smart meter systems to enable residents with rooftop solar …

Big Four audit firm KPMG has officially launched a blockchain-based track and trace platform in Australia, China and Japan. Dubbed KPMG Origins, the tool is designed to increase transparency and traceability of processes in multiple industries such as agriculture, manufacturing and financial services, the firm announced on Nov. 28. The official launch of KPMG Origins in Australia, China and Japan comes after successful pilot implementations with clients in those countries, the press release notes. Trial participants include Cane Growers and SunRice Incorporating a number of emerging technologies like blockchain and the Internet of Things, KPMG Origin intends to improve supply …

Australian blockchain energy firm Power Ledger and Indian electricity distribution company BSES Rajdhani Power Limited (BRPL) have completed a peer-to-peer (P2P) solar power trading trial in the country. Power Ledger announced the news in a press release shared with Cointelegraph on Nov. 14, detailing that it carried out a large-scale P2P energy trading trial in the Dwarka region, South West Delhi, which initially comprised 5-6 megawatts (MW) of already existing solar infrastructure serving an array of gated communities. Monetization of solar energy assets investments The project enabled residents with rooftop solar infrastructure to sell excess solar energy to neighboring households. …

Australian crypto firm DigitalX Ltd. is launching a Bitcoin (BTC) fund, seeded with roughly $1.9 million of its own holdings in cryptocurrency. According to a news release published on Nov. 13, the new fund is offered through an unlisted fund structure to enable investors like family offices and high net worth individuals to gain exposure to the coin via a familiar vehicle. Seeded with 215 Bitcoin — roughly $1.9 mln DigitalX has reportedly been involved in the Bitcoin space since 2014, beginning with mining before evolving to offer trading and other services to the wider blockchain sector. The Australian Securities …

Australian law enforcement arrested an unnamed 38-year-old Australian man for performing unregistered cryptocurrency transactions. The police department of Victoria announced on Nov. 12 that the man has been arrested at his address in the town of Cairnlea. The joint report from the Victoria Police and Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) reads: “Detectives from the E-Crime Squad have arrested a man today as part of an investigation into unregistered cryptocurrency transactions.” Money laundering accusations The Cairnlea resident is accused of violation of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act of 2006 for providing an unregistered crypto exchange service and …

Australian blockchain energy firm Power Ledger has partnered with a local energy retailer to roll out its technology in South Australia. Power Ledger’s blockchain-based software will allow Australians to pool their excess solar and battery storage to a Virtual Power Plant for greater control and management over their energy. Commercial deal with Australian electricity wholesaler Powerclub Within the partnership, Power Ledger will be integrating its blockchain-based energy trading application Virtual Power Plant (VPP) to a commercial offering of Australian electricity wholesaler Powerclub, the firm announced Nov. 7. Similarly to other recent initiatives by Power Ledger, the new project intends to …

The Australian Minister of Home Affairs Peter Dutton warned that terrorists are exploiting cryptocurrencies to “fund their deadly missions.” During a counter-terror conference in Melbourne on Nov. 7, Dutton said that the anonymity of cryptocurrencies allow extremists to avoid scrutiny. He stated that the increased use of digital currencies, stored-value cards, online payment systems and crowd-funding platforms may provide new channels through which terrorism can be financed, adding: "The anonymity afforded by such technologies enables terrorist financiers to obfuscate their activities.” Dutton, who leads the Department of Home Affairs, which is responsible for immigration, border control, domestic security and law …