MIT paper says blockchain may ‘introduce additional problems’ for voting systems

A scathing report from researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has noted moving from internet voting to blockchain-based voting may be 'going from bad to worse.'

The paper was authored by Neha Narula, director of MIT's digital currency initiative (DCI), Sunoo Park, Ronald L. Rivest, one of the creators of RSA encryption, and Michael Specter. The authors argued studies were 'inconclusive' with regard to online voting, potentially even increasing...

19 November 2020 | Applications

Most cloud-native attacks looking to mine cryptocurrency, report warns

A new threat report from Aqua Security has revealed the majority of attacks analysed on cloud-native infrastructure were for mining cryptocurrency - with a 'growing, organised and increasingly sophisticated' pattern of attacks noted.

The report, from Team Nautilus, Aqua's cybersecurity research unit, detailed a year's worth of attacks observed in the wild, looking at methods used to attack container infrastructure for the first time. The report also highlighted supply chain...

16 September 2020 | Cryptocurrency

Blockchain can be key to immunity passport success – but science must dictate rollout

The COVID-19 pandemic has ignited a reassessment of the role that technology can play in tackling health crises, as well as citizens’ right to privacy. This is particularly the case in the ongoing development of contact tracing apps, which have been heralded as the ticket out of the pandemic.

Another tool that has been suggested as one way of bringing the crisis under control – and has gained more and more attention over the last few weeks – are so-called ‘digital immunity...

29 May 2020 | Healthcare

Chainalysis announces global rollout of anti-money laundering compliance solution for Tether

Blockchain analysis provider Chainalysis has announced the global launch of its compliance solution in partnership with Tether.

Chainalysis Know Your Transaction (KYT) for Token Issuers is a real-time anti-money laundering (AML) compliance solution that monitors a token from issuance to redemption.

Jonathan Levin, co-founder of Chainalysis said: “Stablecoins like Tether, which peg their value to other assets, were developed to appeal to mainstream audiences who are...

14 February 2020 | Banking

Sacramento Kings to auction and verify memorabilia through Consensys-powered platform

The Sacramento Kings have partnered with ConsenSys to introduce a new auction platform that allows users to bid live on in-game sports gear through the latter’s supply chain product Treum. Each auctioned item will be authenticated on this platform, giving fans assurance that every single gear they intend to buy is authentic.

The auction platform will be available via Kings.com/Auction and the award-winning Sacramento Kings + Golden 1 Center app and Kings.com. Fans would be able...

16 January 2020 | Applications

MPC Alliance launches to further multi-party computation message

Consortia are increasingly being seen as the way forward when it comes to true consensus across adoption of blockchain technologies – and the newly-launched MPC Alliance can be seen as the latest example.

The Alliance, which makes its public debut at the Blockchain Expo North America event today, focuses on ‘improving the security and privacy of personal and professional data through the application of privacy-preserving secure multi-party computation (MPC)’, in the...

13 November 2019 | Regulation

US Air Force looking to blockchain for defence data security, says Constellation

The US Air Force (USAF) is looking to blockchain to secure a variety of data sources in its defence operations, according to a statement from Constellation Network.

The San Francisco-based startup announced it had signed a working contract with the Air Force as part of its USAF SMIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Phase I program.

"Constellation will create a leap in the USAF's current capabilities with a focus on the agile interoperability of both legacy and future...

29 August 2019 | Applications

MIT warns again of blockchain security risks in upcoming report

An upcoming report from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) will state that publicly reported losses by cyberattacks against blockchain systems since 2011 has exceeded $1 billion.

The finding appeared in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal written by Stuart Madnick, professor of information technologies at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Madnick noted the upcoming study would analyse 72 cases of publicly reported blockchain system security breaches.

The...

10 June 2019 | Security

Why existing blockchain custody offerings are ‘invariably’ not secure – and what can be done about it

Writing for Bitcoin.com in January, Tanzeel Akhtar explains that, according to research by the Bank of New York Mellon, there is ‘increasing demand in the market for a traditional, established custodian to provide secure storage of cryptocurrencies.’ “For many it is the bridge that will support institutional capital moving into the cryptocurrency market,” Akhtar added.

This need for an extra layer of reassurance – as the crypto markets begin to stabilise following a...

24 April 2019 | Security

Tangem raises $15 million to help push through blockchain-enabled smart cards

Tangem, a Swiss manufacturer of blockchain-based smartcard wallets, has raised $15 million (£11.6m) from Tokyo-based digital asset venture investment firm SBI Crypto Investment.

The manufacturer, which claims to be a pioneer in making cryptocurrencies as easy to use as cash, is now attracting additional investment to hasten the deployment of its technology in various industries where secure storage and circulation of blockchain assets has the highest potential. Industries of...

22 January 2019 | Regulation