Consensys cutbacks

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December 11, 2019 CONSEN-SPLITS: ConsenSys, the ethereum development firm with over 30 hubs around the globe, has shut down operations in India and the Philippines. The layoffs have affected about a dozen people and may put some projects in question. Last year, Consensys cut approximately 13 percent of its staff. Full story XRP BASE: Ripple has condensed its broad Xpring developer platform into a single hub, to allow crypto and non-crypto developers to integrate XRP payments into any mobile application. Xpring.io also offers developers a wallet, new tools, technical documentation and customer service. Full story FRENCH FUND: French asset management firm Napoleon AM has launched a new fund tied to CME’s cash-settled bitcoin futures. The Napoleon Bitcoin Fund began trading on Dec. 6 with a minimum €100,000 buy-in for professional investors residing in France. Full story SIMPLER BITLICENSE: The New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has proposed guidance to allow blanket approvals for new cryptocurrencies listed under its controversial BitLicense. Currently, the NYDFS works on a case-by-case basis on every crypto, with individual exchanges holding the license. Full story ASX BACKING: Digital Asset (DA) has raised $35 million in Series C funding, signaling a comeback for the enterprise blockchain startup a year after the sudden departure of CEO Blythe Masters. The round was led by Jefferson River Capital, the family office of former Blackstone president Tony James, and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), which is working on a partial conversion to blockchain settlement using DA’s technology. Full story FLOOR COMING?  Bitcoin's slow descent continues with both daily and weekly chart flashing bearish conditions. Even so, sellers should exercise caution, as the cryptocurrency is closing on the historically strong price support of the 21-month exponential average, currently at $7,097. Repeated bear failure there could invite technical buying. That said, a bullish reversal still needs a convincing move above $7,870. Full story MATIC PANIC: Nike's got a new patent, and MATIC is in the slumps. CoinDesk's Adam B. Levine and Brad Keoun look behind the noise at the bigger trends driving the market in today's episode of Markets Daily. Listen now WHO WON #CRYPTOTWITTER   Copyright © 2019 CoinDesk, All rights reserved.  Our mailing address is:  250 Park Avenue South New York, NY, 10003, US  Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

REMINDER: Early Bird Rate Expires Friday

Don't Miss The Chance to Save $500

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Here’s your midweek reminder that the early bird rate of $999 expires on December 13, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET. That means you have just over 48 hours to take advantage of $500 in savings before they disappear for good.  Consensus, May 11-13, 2020 in New York, NY, will be here before you know it and we want to help you save while you still can.  Many of your peers have registered since Monday. Don’t be the only one to miss out on these rates. They will never be this low again.  Secure your pass and your savings. REGISTER TODAY 2019 Fast Facts |  2019 Sessions | 2019 Speakers This email was sent by: CoinDesk   250 Park Avenue South New York, NY, 10003, US   Want to change how you receive these emails? update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Saga launches stablecoin / SEC chair speaks about Libra / Arianna Simpson thinks Libra can rival WeChat

Inside Libra presented by CARIUMA.

Presented by Subscribe | View in browser 1. Saga Monetary Technologies has launched its SGA stablecoin, which it hopes will answer global regulators' concerns regarding stablecoin projects, namely Facebook's Libra. Visualized last year by the Saga Foundation, the SGA token will initially be pegged to a number of fiat currencies such as the dollar, euro, renminbi, pound sterling and yen, which will ensure the stablecoin's price. Speaking about the token, Ido Sadeh Man, founder and chair at the Saga Foundation, stated that tokens will come into being as people buy into it, with smart contracts issuing new tokens to meet demand; excess tokens will be burnt as holders sell them back. Over time, though, as users put more of their trust into the SGA stablecoin, the aim is for it to move away from the fiat currencies to become unpegged. However, because of the regulatory environment in the U.S., Man said they have chosen to not allow people in the U.S. to onboard onto its platform at the moment. –COIN DESK       2. Jay Clayton, chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has testified before the U.S. Senate Committee to address issues relating to the crypto space, including Libra. Explaining that the SEC has taken a "measured, yet proactive regulatory approach" to address areas such as innovation while keeping investors and the market in mind, Clayton stated that the distributed ledger technology (DLT) can help provide "promising investment opportunities for both institutional and Main Street investors." Turning his attention to Libra, Clayton added that "it's here, [and] we should not go around it." –AMB CRYPTO       A MESSAGE FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Earn a Certificate in Product Management from Georgetown University in just six weeks. In today's fast-paced environment, where needs constantly change, understanding customer needs at multiple points is critical to a product's success. That's where well trained product managers come in. Georgetown has launched a six-week Certificate in Product Management to prepare professionals to fill this growing need. Visit Georgetown's website to learn more.     3. In this opinion piece, Arianna Simpson, founder of Autonomous Partners, an investment fund focused on cryptocurrencies and digital assets, states that Facebook's Libra could transform into a rival of China's WeChat. According to Simpson, the vast majority of consumer commerce runs on WeChat. Considering it started as a simple chat app, it is now used for much more. Simpson adds that "most of the rest of the world lacks this kind of fully integrated experience" and the key to offering it is scale, something she believes Facebook has. Going further, Simpson notes that when initially integrated into Whatsapp and Messenger – likely also Instagram – "[Libra] could instantly be ready for use by billions." –WIRED       4. Facebook has set up a second Libra unit in Geneva. Libra Networks II was established in the Swiss federal business directory and comes despite the project facing tough opposition from global regulators about its proposed plans. The second unit's goal is to provide "services in the fields of finance, technology as well as the production of software and related infrastructure" associated with the blockchain and big data. Facebook is planning to launch its Libra stablecoin in 2020 but has stated that it won't launch until all regulatory concerns have first been addressed and it has received U.S. regulatory approval. –BLOOMBERG LAW       A MESSAGE FROM CARIUMA Cariuma is sneaker brand you need to know about TIme to replace your old shoes? How about getting some kicks that aren't just good for your feet, but also the world they walk around? Brazilian brand Cariuma is fast-becoming a hit around the world with their ethically-made and eco-friendly sneakers that are handcrafted for crazy comfort and shipped to your door in recycled packaging.   5. EU finance ministers have stated that private currencies such as Facebook's Libra shouldn't be permitted into the European Union until the risks they pose have been addressed. In a joint statement, they stated that "no global stablecoin arrangement should begin operation until the legal, regulatory and oversight challenges and risks have been adequately identified." –REUTERS       6. U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin has said that he's fine with Libra as long as it's fully compliant with bank secrecy and anti-money laundering regulations (AML). Mnuchin was making his comments in front of a U.S. House Financial Services Committee in Washington last week. His statement came in response to a question about Libra, which he said: "in no way can this be used for terrorist financing." –COINTELEGRAPH       7. According to this top 10 post focusing on blockchain predictions for 2020, Facebook's Libra will launch but it will have limited functionality. The post goes on to state that the stablecoin won't be the "payment rails and onboarding vehicle" it originally promised but will demonstrate signs of progress. –FORBES       This newsletter was written and curated by Rebecca Campbell. She has been writing and reporting on various industries for the past 10 years, more specifically tech in the last three. Connect with her on Twitter.         Ad Order your pair of CARIUMA shoes today and get 10% off with code MyFirstPair!

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