Top Headlines
- SEC Wants to Make “Testing the Waters” Available to All
This week, the SEC proposed to make “testing the waters” capabilities available to all companies planning to go public – expanding access to this concession first afforded to “emerging growth companies” under the JOBS Act. This change would piggy back on the SEC’s allowance (2 years ago) of all companies, regardless of size, to file confidentially when going public. Check out CFI for a breakdown of the SEC’s proposal. (WSJ, CrowdfundInsider)
- Craig Wright Claims to Be Mysterious Satoshi
Craig Wright Claims to be Satoshi in response to CFTC request for input on crypto assets and mechanics. (CoinDesk)
- An End to the Long Crypto Winter?
Another sign the crypto winter is coming to its end? Pantera Capital has secured $125M for its third crypto fund. (CoinDesk)
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Blockchain News
- More Calls for a National Strategy for Blockchain
The Chamber of Digital Commerce, a blockchain advocacy group, is calling for the U.S. government to implement a national strategy for blockchain. President of the organization, Perianne Boring’s, position is that “[o]ther developed nations are promoting the adoption of blockchain and digital assets. It is imperative that the U.S. also recognize the power and potential of blockchain technology. …We can either step forward as visionary leaders or risk falling behind.” (CoinDesk)
- Ohio Eyes Blockchain Tech for Real Property Transactions
U.S. state of Ohio eyes benefits of blockchain technology in real property transactions. (CoinDesk)
- Germany Seeks Industry Feedback on Blockchain Strategy
Calling all “blockchain consultants” LOL. Germany is seeking industry feedback for developing the country’s blockchain strategy by summer. (Reuters)
- Dubai Plans “Smart City” Powered by Blockchain Tech
Expo 2020 preparation is underway and Dubai has big blockchain goals. Its “Smart Dubai” initiative is a public-private partnership to create a smart city powered by blockchain technology. Is it really the world’s first as the article claims? We thought Brock Piere’s Sol f/k/a “Puertopia” was the first… In any event, the Dubai government is involved and their ambition is to become World’s First Blockchain Government by 2020. (Medium, NY Times)
Cryptocurrency Spotlight
- SEC Settles with Gladius Network
SEC settles unregistered securities charges with ICO issuer Gladius Network after self-reporting to the SEC. The company raised $12.7M near the end of 2017 in the form of nearly 24,000 ETH. The SEC press release is available here. (CoinDesk, SEC)
- Arca Seeks Rule Change to List Bitcoin Index ETF
NYSE Arca seeks SEC review of Rule Change to list Bitcoin Index ETF. The SEC will accept public comments on the proposed rule change through March 8th. (CoinTelegraph)
- Is Voting Against a Fork an Anti-Trust Violation?
Bitcoin Cash Miners claim that voting against a fork is not an anti-trust violation in their recent Florida based federal court filing. For a background on the lawsuit, involving Bitmain and Kraken, click here and scroll down towards bottom of page. (National Law Review)
- Bitmain Posts Loss of $500M in Q3
Bitmain also made news this week when it posted that it lost about $500M in Q3 2018 in fulfilling its reporting obligations to the Kong Kong Stock Exchange. HKEx is currently reviewing Bitmain’s IPO application first filed in September 2018. (CoinDesk)
- FBI Outlines Key Features of Scam ICOs
The FBI has outlined key features of scam ICOs – be vigilant, they warn. (CoinTelegraph)
- U of M Considers Cryptocurrency Investment
University of Michigan considers investment in Andreessen Horowitz’s cryptocurrency fund. (Coindesk)
- BTC to $1M!?
IBM Crypto Chief sets massive Bitcoin price target this week. (CCN)
- Fidelity Investments Seeks Next Bearer of “Lightening Torch”
Fidelity Investments received and passed on the “Lightening Torch” as revealed by a tweet by the company sent on Feb. 22. Learn about the (brief) history of the Lightening Torch here. (Coin Telegraph, Bitcoinist)
Digital Securities Spotlight
- Tokenized “Token Funds”?
Tokenized “Token Funds”? Explore how a traditional LP interest can be tokenized too and the types of digital assets these funds are targeting. (Medium)
- Blockchain Enabled Capital Raising?
Blockchain enabled capital raising? BlackBox Labs provides an in depth look at the emergence of digital securities offerings and the securities exemptions that come into play in a tokenized round. (Medium)
- CEO Predicts Boost in tZERO Token Trading This Year
Overstock.com’s CEO predicts a boost in tZERO token trading later this year when retail investors are able to join the exchange and the 1 year lockup period expires on the tokens. Patrick Byrne also appeared at the Oppenheimer event Wednesday in NYC where he shook up the crowd. Click here for a synopsis of his presentation. (CoinDesk)
- CoinList Launches for Tokenized Offering in 2019
CoinList launches for tokenized offering of 2019 – Ocean Protocol – which is seeking to raise $8M USD at $0.25 per token. The OCEAN token will be issued only when there is utility value, which its founder, Bruce Pon, interestingly says is “now”. (CoinDesk)
- Behold! The Digital Securities Ecosystem
Behold! It’s 2019 and we now have a digital securities ecosystem. Who are the issuance platforms, broker-dealers and case studies? (Medium)
- How Ownership is Recorded Using Distributed Ledger Technology
How is ownership actually recorded using distributed ledger technology? A Medium writer provides us with a synopsis (using the generally accepted market lingo around “digital securities”). “It may serve best to consider Digital Securities as an infrastructure improvement in the existing securities markets.” Some of the main value adds that digital securities present as outlined in the article are listed below. (Medium)
Equity Crowdfunding
- Dumb Money: Not So Dumb After All?
The WSJ reports that Main Street investors are actually ‘smart investors’ too in their discussion of a recent publication on what matters to retail investors. (WSJ)