Fidelity Investments launches crypto custody
1) Fidelity Investments launches cryptocurrency custody and trade execution for institutional investors
In a release, the 72-year old institution announced that they are launching Fidelity Digital Asset Services, which would offer “enterprise-quality custody and trade execution services” for cryptocurrencies to “sophisticated institutional investors such as hedge funds, family offices and market intermediaries.”
“Our goal is to make digitally-native assets, such as bitcoin, more accessible to investors,”said Fidelity Investments Chairman and CEO Abigail P. Johnson. “We expect to continue investing and experimenting, over the long-term, with ways to make this emerging asset class easier for our clients to understand and use.”
“We started exploring blockchain and digital assets several years ago, and those efforts have been successful in helping us understand and advance our thinking around cryptocurrencies,” Tom Jessop, head of Fidelity Digital Assets, said. “The creation of Fidelity Digital Assets is the first step in a long-term vision to create a full-service enterprise-grade platform for digital assets.”
2) Steve Wozniak joins blockchain-powered venture capital firm EQUI Global
In a Youtube video published yesterday, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak appears as a co-founder for EQUI Global, a blockchain-powered venture capital firm where investors can trade their investments using the platform’s native currency, the EquiToken.
“I get ideas pitched to me every single day in fact dozens and I always say no. Since I co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs, this is about the second time in twenty years that I actually said yes,” Wozniak said. “I want to be a part of this. It has to be something I really believe in and I really believe in EQUI.”
3) Coinbase sets up Dublin office
In a blog post, Coinbase’s VP of Operations and Technology Tina Bhatnagar announced that the exchange sets up a Dublin office.
“The number of Coinbase customers in the European Union (EU) grew faster than any other market in 2017,” Bhatnagar wrote. “We explored a variety of cities across the EU, and Dublin was the clear choice. Our new office will help us tap into the city’s diverse talent pool and long-standing support for technological innovation, including a burgeoning cryptocurrency economy.”
4) People can now buy bitcoins using their debit cards from 100,000 Genmega ATMs in the US
In a press release, LibertyX announced that people can now buy bitcoins using their debit cards in 100,000 ATMs in the US through their partner, ATM supplier Genmega.
“We has [sic] been working tirelessly to make it easier to buy cryptocurrencies for the last five years and now are bringing simplicity, convenience and trust to the cryptocurrency purchasing experience through the timeless ATM,” LibertyX Co-Founder & CEO Chris Yim said.
5) Ethereum Foundation awards $3 million to dApps, ETH becomes first base currency on Bithumb’s newly launched decentralized exchange
Ethereum has just granted $3 million to fund several dApps on the platform. In a blog post, the foundation listed the awardees for the Wave 4 of their Grants Program, along with a “wishlist” of dApps they want to see. The fifth wave is also now open.
Additionally, ETH is the first base currency on Bithumb’s newly launched decentralized exchange.