Christie’s to become Europe’s first auctioneer to accept cryptocurrency payment

An auction hammer.

Christie’s is due to become the first major auction house in Europe to offer a work with the option for the buyer to pay their payment, including Buyer’s Premium, in cryptocurrency. 

The June 30 sale of Keith Haring’s Untitled (1984, estimate: £3.9m-£4.5m) will also mark the first time that a tangible work of art is being offered in Europe by an auction house with the option to pay in cryptocurrency. 

Originally owned by the celebrated German gallerist...

14 June 2021 | Cryptocurrency

BSV surpasses BTC blockchain in data size

A bitcoin image.

The Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain has surpassed BTC in accumulated data size, according to Bitcoin Association, which works to advance business with the BSV blockchain and digital currency.

On May 16, 2021, the accumulated growth (in data size) of the BSV blockchain surpassed the BTC blockchain for the first time, with the total data stored on-chain reaching 352.9 GB on the BSV network compared to 352.4 GB on the BTC network on that date. Since then, BSV continues to extend its lead...

10 June 2021 | Blockchain

A quarter of students now own cryptocurrency

University students sitting at a table.

One in four (24%) of students are now cryptocurrency owners, according to UNiDAYS, a firm that specialises in offering student discounts.

The study of more than 24,000 UK students also found that a further third plan to buy cryptocurrency within the next three months. The ryptocurreny most commonly owned by students is Bitcoin (26%), followed by Dogecoin (11%), Ethereum (10%) and Ripple (3%).

Almost half (40%) of those questioned expect cryptocurrency to replace...

8 June 2021 | Cryptocurrency

Atari takes steps to enhance its blockchain division

An Atari console

Interactive entertainment producer Atari has unveiled the next stage in the strategic development of its Atari Blockchain division.

The group continues to prioritise the development of NFTs, market places and virtual universes, notably by entering into a new license with CBI (Crypto Blockchain Industries SA), a company founded and led by Frédéric Chesnais, for the development of a blockchain enabled virtual worlds.  

This adds to licenses already granted to...

7 June 2021 | Blockchain

£8.6 billion investment gap in blockchain and AI is holding back the EU

A pile of 100 Euro notes.

The European Union (EU) needs to invest €10 billion (£8.6 billion) more each year in order to stay in the global artificial intelligence and blockchain race.

This was the stark warning from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Commission in its latest new study on the state of play in AI and blockchain technologies in the EU - ‘Artificial intelligence, blockchain and the future of Europe: How disruptive technologies create opportunities for a green and digital...

4 June 2021 | Banking

Daymak Spiritus will be world’s first electric car to mine cryptocurrency while parked

Daymak crypto mining platform.

Daymak, a light electric vehicles (LEVs) manufacturer, has revealed its upcoming Spiritus electric car will include Daymak Nebula, Daymak’s patent-pending cryptocurrency infrastructure. 

The Spiritus, launching in 2023, is the electric car offering in the Daymak Avvenire series, a lineup of EVs spanning e-bikes all the way up to flying electric vehicles.

Daymak is accepting Spiritus pre-order payments in a multitude of cryptocurrencies including Doge, Ethereum,...

3 June 2021 | Bitcoin

Crypto firms failing to meet anti-money laundering standards, warns UK watchdog

A pile of bitcoins.

A substantial amount of cryptocurrency businesses are not meeting the minimum anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism requirements set by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

As of January 2021, cryptocurrency-related companies have had to register with the authority before doing business.

The FCA said it “will only register firms where it is confident that processes are in place to identify and prevent this activity”.

Just five companies are...

3 June 2021 | Bitcoin

HSBC steers clear of Bitcoin due to “volatility”

An HSBC sign.

HSBC has confirmed it has no interest in getting involved with Bitcoin.

The bank has no plans to offer the cryptocurrency to clients due to its volatility and lack of transparency, according to HSBC chief executive Noel Quinn.

He said: “Given the volatility we are not into bitcoin as an asset class. If our clients want to be there then of course they are, but we are not promoting it as an asset class within our wealth management business.

“I view bitcoin as...

26 May 2021 | Banking

Weekly NFT roundup May 19-25: OneOf, Propy and Charlie Bit My Finger

A diary.

Investors plough $63 million into music NFT platform OneOf

Non-fungible token (NFT) platform OneOf has raised $63 million in a seed round from prominent tech and music industry veterans.

The platform was co-founded by tech entrepreneur Lin Dai, digital media executive Joshua James, and music industry veteran Adam Fell, in partnership with Quincy Jones and Quincy Jones Productions.

OneOf says it aims to break down economic barriers to entry in the NFT...

26 May 2021 | Blockchain

How an idea of blockchain for power of attorney turned into a full document management solution

Smart contracts are a key method of digitising supply chains through blockchain technologies - but innovation does not have to stop at a single use case.

One example which has the potential to be transformed through blockchain is power of attorney (POA). It is an idea which has taken shape at certain hackathons, as well as being cited in certain legal blogs. Alongside the process being streamlined, it could also counteract potential issues with fraud.

As a Wikiversity...

25 May 2021 | Applications