| MYSTERY STARTUP: Former employees of Bitmain who focused on bitcoin cash development are planning to launch a new startup that will offer cryptocurrency custody, over-the-counter (OTC) trading and lending services, CoinDesk has learned. According to two sources with knowledge of the matter, the former employees include those from the mining giant's Copernicus project that was impacted by company-wide layoffs last year. Full story
CRYPTO CHEAT SHEETS: Israel-based social investing platform eToro has launched a cryptocurrency trading platform allowing U.S. customers from 31 states and territories to trade 13 cryptocurrencies. At launch, the platform will offer three CopyPortfolios to let users mimic the bets of established traders. eToro also announced a multi-signature crypto wallet for the U.S. that supports six cryptocurrencies initially. Full story
SIX PICKS CORDA: SIX Group, the Swiss stock exchange operator, has picked R3’s Corda Enterprise platform as the blockchain on which to build its upcoming digital-asset trading, settlement and custody service. Revealed exclusively to CoinDesk, SIX said it chose Corda Enterprise because it was designed for a highly regulated space. Its use cases beyond finance, as well as the flourishing open-source Corda ecosystem also appealed to SIX. Full story
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE? The city of Denver, Colorado, plans to utilize a blockchain system to store and track votes in its municipal elections in May. The pilot program will allow overseas voters, active-duty military personnel and their eligible dependents to vote using a blockchain-based smartphone app from a startup called Voatz. The city hopes the technology will make voting easier and more secure for eligible residents abroad, as well as for those living with disabilities. Full story | 
