Author: Fin Strathern

Solana adds emissions tracker to boost blockchain’s transparency

Fin Strathern

Layer-1 blockchain network Solana has launched a real-time tracking dashboard with data platform Trycarbonara to measure on-chain carbon emissions. The Solana Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to growing and decentralising the network, said the update makes it the first “major smart-contract blockchain” to provide real-time measures of its carbon emissions. 1/ Today, the Solana Foundation is leading the charge in the climate fight by making Solana one of the first blockchains to have its emissions measured in real time, thanks to a new data portal created with TryCarbonara. Learn more: https://t.co/k4QsZmtjHn…

China to improve national blockchain standards by 2025

Fin Strathern

Fin is an experienced reporter with a focus on the frontlines of global business news and cutting-edge technological trends. When he’s not moderating panels or interviewing industry execs, you’ll find him researching blockchain protocols and AI technologies. You can follow his Twitter @FinStrathern or connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/finstrathern/. China plans to improve its standards for blockchain technology development by 2025, according to the country’s fintech watchdog, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The update comes from guidelines published in a draft post on the ministry’s website that also…

SIMBA Chain gets $30m from US Air Force for blockchain initiative

Fin Strathern

Fin is an experienced editor with a focus on the frontlines of global business news and cutting-edge technological trends. He has published engaging interviews with leading industry figures from the likes of CBS, Rakuten, Spotify, and more. When not tapping away behind a laptop, he can be found exploring web3 and the cryptocurrency markets. You can follow his Twitter @FinStrathern or connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/finstrathern/. Blockchain solutions firm SIMBA Chain has been chosen by the United States Air Force (USAF) for a $30 million (£25m) technology initiative. The Strategic…

California DMV taps Tezos blockchain for digital car title transfers

Fin Strathern

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is trying to digitise car titles and title transfers on a private Tezos-built blockchain. The state agency has collaborated with Tezos and blockchain software firm Oxhead Alpha to build a successful proof-of-concept. The move is part of a wider push to modernise the state’s in-place systems for car titles and increase transparency in title transfers. California’s DMV is responsible for all vehicle registrations and driver’s licences in the state. Oxhead Alpha has built a Tezos testnet designed as a blockchain-based replica of the…

90% of enterprises are adopting blockchain tech

Fin Strathern

Despite a difficult past year for crypto and blockchain, new research from web3 platform CasperLabs has found that 87 percent of businesses say they are likely to invest in blockchain in 2023. ‘The State of Enterprise Blockchain Adoption in 2023’ questioned 603 enterprise “decision makers” across firms from the United States, UK, and China. It found that sentiment towards blockchain remained strong in these countries despite market downturns. On top of the 87 percent that are likely to invest this year, almost 90 percent of businesses said they have already…

Russian Sberbank integrates blockchain with MetaMask

Fin Strathern

Fin is an experienced reporter with a focus on the frontlines of global business news and cutting-edge technological trends. He has published engaging interviews with leading industry figures from the likes of CBS, Rakuten, Spotify, and more. When not tapping away behind a laptop, he can be found exploring web3 and the cryptocurrency markets. You can follow his Twitter @FinStrathern or connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/finstrathern/. Russia’s largest bank Sberbank has given its blockchain platform access to the Ethereum blockchain through an integration with software wallet MetaMask. The bank’s proprietary…

Putin argues for blockchain-based international payments system

Fin Strathern

Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticised the dependency on large banks and third parties in the global financial payments system, calling instead for an independent settlements system using blockchain. The Russian leader made these attacks during a speaking arrangement at the International AI Journey Conference in Moscow on 24 November During the event, which was organised by Russia’s largest bank and major government lender Sberbank, Putin said: “The technology of digital currencies and blockchains can be used to create a new system of international settlements that will be much more…

Blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs nets £60m in expanded Series B

Fin Strathern

Blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs has expanded its Series B funding round with a £60 million injection led by Thoma Bravo. The intelligence company uses blockchain data and advanced analytics to detect and tackle financial crime. The expanded round was led by global private equity firm Thoma Bravo, with Goldman Sachs and previous TRM investors Amex Ventures, Citi Ventures, and PayPal Ventures all participating. TRM’s initial Series B kicked off in December last year, raising £51 million in a round led by Tiger Global. The fresh boost of funding will…

South Korea to launch blockchain-based digital ID scheme by 2024

Fin Strathern

Fin is an experienced editor with a focus on the frontlines of global business news and cutting-edge technological trends. He has published engaging interviews with leading industry figures from the likes of CBS, Rakuten, Spotify, and more. When not tapping away behind a laptop, he can be found researching and exploring the cryptocurrency and NFT markets. You can follow his Twitter @FinStrathern or connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/finstrathern/. The South Korean government is working on a blockchain-based digital ID for its citizens that could launch as soon as 2024. According…

New BlackRock ETF invests in 35 blockchain companies

Fin Strathern

Fin is an experienced editor with a focus on the frontlines of global business news and cutting-edge technological trends. He has published engaging interviews with leading industry figures from the likes of CBS, Rakuten, Spotify, and more. When not tapping away behind a laptop, he can be found researching and exploring the cryptocurrency and NFT markets. You can follow his Twitter @FinStrathern or connect with him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/finstrathern/. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, has launched a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) providing European customers with access to investment in the…