Cryptocurrency has been a hot button issue for the past year with major advances being made to blockchain technology quickly. This in addition to more recognition from lawmakers and agencies like the IRS is lending more legitimacy to cryptocurrency so it’s no longer delegated to just a niche interest for the tech savvy.
Bitmain plans to launch new ASIC miners in anticipation of bitcoin halving
The Chinese manufacturer of devices for mining cryptocurrencies Bitmain intends to launch some new products to the market before halving the bitcoin planned for May 2020. The new ASIC miners of the Chinese giant will be launched at the end of 2019. According to the representatives of Bitmain, the new products are expected to enjoy a high demand thanks to the hopes of the miners in the recovery of the market. According to the company, the S17 and T17 devices will be equipped with 7 nm chips, which are 30% more efficient than the previous generation chips.
A gift card service allows you to make reservations on Airbnb with cryptocurrencies
Bitrefill, a provider of digital gift cards has just added to its list of services. The possibility of making reservations on Airbnb with cryptocurrencies. From now on, users of the service will be able to pay their Airbnb reservations with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dash, Litecoin and Dogecoin. The system works in the following way. Users buy the card with cryptocurrencies and they receive a code that they can use on Airbnb to make their reservations. This means that the hosting platform does not work directly with cryptocurrencies.
India plans to use the blockchain to improve the coffee supply chain
The Coffee Board of India has launched a pilot electronic market based on blockchain in order to integrate farmers in the markets.The Coffee Board, an organization supported by the MCI focused on promoting coffee production in India. It has launched this project in order to reduce the number of intermediaries between coffee growers and buyers.
A Canadian city starts accepting bitcoin to pay taxes
The city of Innisfil will be the first city in Canada to accept bitcoin as a payment method for property taxes. This will be possible thanks to an agreement between the city and the company Coinberry Ltd. to carry out a one year pilot program. Coinberry is a fintech company based in Toronto specialized in blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions. The project should be ready by April this year.
A Russian mining giant plans to tokenize palladium
Russian billionaire Vladimir Potanin intends to create a token backed by palladium. Potanin, who is the executive director of Russian nickel and palladium mining and smelting company MMC Norilsk Nickel PJSC (Nornickel). He intends to launch a token backed by palladium to make it possible to negotiate this metal through a fund of palladium based in Switzerland. In addition, you also want to launch several digital platforms. Palladium is used in various sectors such as dentistry, electronics, jewelry, catalytic and photography.
Also published on Medium.