South Korean blockchain startups are listing their cryptocurrencies on overseas exchanges one after another. Foreign exchanges have opened the Korean won money market to attract South Korean cryptocurrency projects.

The number of South Korean companies listing their early-stage blockchain projects on foreign exchanges is steadily increasing, industry watchers said on Aug. 18. Medibloc and Temco, which have already listed their blockchain projects on South Korea’s major exchanges are seeking to list their projects listed again on overseas exchanges, including those in the United States and Singapore.

Leading global foreign exchanges are scrambling to open the Korean won market to enter the domestic market. Some foreign exchanges, including Binance Labs, are directly accelerating Korean blockchain projects to attract Korean startups.

BW.com, which recently attracted domestic blockchain projects such as Ziktalk, Storichain, Payexpress and Sigma Chain, is planning to absorb domestic cryptocurrency investors by opening the won market by the end of this month. BW.com is a China-based cryptocurrency exchange which ranks among the top 10 in the world in terms of transaction volume. The exchange is regarded as useful for domestic projects to make inroads into the Chinese and Southeast Asian markets.

Sigma Chain, the developer of South Korean blockchain platform Futurepia, undertook the initial exchange offering (IEO) of its own cryptocurrency PIA on BW.com in May, becoming the first Korean company to do so.

Bitholic, which is to change its name to “Bithumb Singapore,” also owns a large number of domestic blockchain projects in its portfolio. In particular, BOScoin completed the listing of its cryptocurrency on Bitholic in June. The exchange also supports trading of the cryptocurrencies of such projects as Bezant and Medibloc.

Experts point out that domestic blockchain projects are flocking to foreign exchanges largely due to tougher domestic cryptocurrency exchange market conditions. Investors cannot make or withdraw deposits in the Korean currency at Korean exchanges. Excluding the nation’s four largest exchanges, some 200 smaller exchanges cannot open real-name virtual accounts. This is one reason cryptocurrency investors cannot benefit from investor protection.

A low transaction volume is another reason Korean blockchain startups avoid listing on domestic exchanges. Only five or six South Korean exchanges rank among the top 100 in the world in terms of transaction volume. It is no exaggeration to say that 97 percent of domestic exchanges are in danger of going bankrupt due to their low volume of transactions.

Prixbit, a cryptocurrency exchange which closed its operations as of Aug. 9, has failed to overcome its financial difficulties and suspended its cryptocurrency trading services. Many investors criticized the shutdown of the exchange as they were worried about withdrawing their investments.

Binance announced its plans to initiate an open blockchain project, Venus, an initiative to develop localized stablecoins and digital assets pegged to fiat currencies across the globe. Binance is looking to create new alliances and partnerships with governments, corporations, technology companies, and other cryptocurrency companies and projects involved in the larger blockchain ecosystem, to empower developed and developing countries to spur new currencies.

With its existing global blockchain ecosystem, Binance has already reserved its public chain technology and cross-border payment system for secure operations of new stablecoins. Since its launch last April, Binance Chain has been running securely and robustly and has issued a range of stablecoins, including a BTC-pegged stablecoin (BTCB) and the Binance BGBP Stable Coin (BGBP) pegged to the British Pound. Binance will provide full-process technical support, compliance risk control system and multi-dimensional cooperation network to build Venus, leveraging its existing infrastructure and regulatory establishments.

Binance welcomes additional government partners, companies and organizations with a strong interest and influence on a global scale to collaborate with us to build a new open alliance and sustainable community. We encourage like-minded people and organizations to contact us and discuss the infinite possibilities of the digital world together: venus@binance.com.

Data Gumbo Corp., a Houston-based technology company that has developed a blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) platform to streamline smart contracts for oil & gas, today announced Antelope Water Management, the Austin-based company providing sustainable water solutions for the extractive industries in oil & gas, has adopted Data Gumbo’s blockchain network GumboNet™. This is the industry’s first use of a blockchain platform for total water management services in US shale plays. Antelope will tap the power of GumboNet to provide customers and vendors across its water infrastructure, treatment, sourcing and disposal services with real-time data transparency, and automation of contract executions and payments.

GumboNet insights allow all of Antelope’s customers and vendors in a transaction to be certain of immutable data and measurement accuracy for guaranteed and secure transactions. Antelope’s stakeholders and local regulators will benefit from the data certainty to lower overhead costs, reduce outstanding payments between parties, and ensure data certainty for all business transactions.

“As an integrated water management company in the Permian Basin providing tailored management services for water infrastructure, we look forward to incorporating Data Gumbo into each of our business units,” said Dustin Brownlow, CEO of Antelope. “Data Gumbo is a game changer enabling us to provide customers, vendors and regulators the best experience that smart contracts can offer. We are excited to add transparency to our operations while removing needless expenses and duplications of efforts to eliminate incorrect data and DSOs through Data Gumbo’s blockchain for all stakeholders.”

Antelope’s deployment moves Data Gumbo into the Permian Basin, the largest producing oil field in the world and into another sector of oil & gas — total water management. Antelope’s customers will for the first time be able to derive benefit from self-executing contracts on a secure blockchain platform catering to complex, 24-hr operations without the need for manual oversight.

“Data Gumbo was the first blockchain in offshore drilling and now we are the first in oil & gas water management. We anticipate continuing to break ground across the industry as companies realize the vast benefits we afford them such as security, certainty of data and, most of all, savings to the bottom line,” said Andrew Bruce, CEO of Data Gumbo.

Data Gumbo’s executives have more than 200 years of oil & gas industry experience across midstream, drilling and completions operations. Built initially for oil & gas but applicable to a multitude of industrial applications, GumboNet is offered by subscription, and uniquely frees companies from building and sustaining stand-alone, in-house blockchain solutions. With an immutable and auditable record that enables counterparties to trust transactions, no party can unilaterally change details, all stakeholders have the same level of transparency and results, and payments can finally be automated for savings and efficiencies.

Last week, cryptocurrency exchange Binance, was at the center of a controversial KYC data leak that resulted in a massive portion of its customer’s personal data, privacy, and identity being put at risk.

While the company was quick to dismiss the leak and ensuing panic from its users as nothing more than FUD, calling it a “false KYC leak,” in the same official blog post Binance admits that their investigation is still ongoing, and while that the allegedly leaked photos didn’t include the crypto exchange’s digital watermark, all photos appeared to be tied to a month when Binance had outsourced their KYC process to another third-party firm.

Binance appears to be minimizing the situation in the public eye and deflecting any accountability of their own for not ensuring the third-party firm secured its customer’s data.

Hundreds of customer photos uploaded during Binance’s KYC process could be seen being scrolled through on a video recording of a Telegram channel where the photos were uploaded as part of a 300 BTC ransom hackers demanded from Binance – that they ultimately did not pay.

The once poster child of the crypto industry known for thwarting hackers and keeping funds “SAFU” has recently come under fire for barring US users from its exchange, only offering 2x margin on crypto trading, and now, leaking potentially thousand of customer’s data without taking any responsibility or apologizing to those affected in order to save its image.

Cyber Crime: Over 3 Billion Private Personal Records Leaked Last Year

The leak highlights the ever-increasing importance of personal data privacy in the digital age. Over 3.3 billion people were affected by personal data leaks in 2018, and the trend is only growing. In 2018, the equivalent of 291 different people’s personal data was leaked per second. Over 15 billion personal records have been leaked since 2013 when benchmarking first began.

As much as 65% of these leaks involve identify theft, which can involve credit issues, criminal allegations, tax liability, or worse. As much as 13% involve financial access, meaning that cyber criminals were able to directly access financial data and accounts, potentially draining accounts of their holdings – an incident that has become common in the cryptocurrency industry, and elsewhere on the internet.

In 2018 alone, the cryptocurrency industry was exposed to over $1 billion in exchange-related hacks, with nearly all of them involving some kind of data breach or lax security protocol. The rest of the internet is by no means different, with nearly every major internet company or publicly traded corporation experiencing some sort of major data leak over the last decade.

At the start of August, the Entertainment Software Association – a powerful company in the video game industry – leaked the personal data of thousands of industry professionals, journalists, and executives alike. The most alarming issue is that the ESA didn’t even hide this information behind any type of security, and ignored repeated attempts from users notifying the company of the security failure.

Neglect like the case with Binance or the ESA exists everywhere in the world and on the internet. Uploading personal data to platforms that aren’t secure is at the core of the issue.

Personal data is also easy to come by for cyber criminals, making the matter far worse and widespread. According to data, personal records can be obtained for as little as $30 on the dark web. This includes full name, social security number, date of birth, bank account numbers, and more. Driver’s licenses are only $20. Passports fetch up to $2,000 – still relatively cheap to access such important personally identifying data.

How To Protect Personal and Private Data in the Digital Age

Because the issue is so widespread and the trend is only growing each year, personal data protection will only become more important and difficult. Methods and tactics of cyber criminals will improve, and so should the security and safety that companies provide their customers. Better yet, personal data should be kept private, and not required over the internet where sensitive documentation can so easily be leaked.

New systems must ultimately be developed, but many companies can start improving their processes today by accepting responsibility and taking necessary steps to protect their customer’s personal data.

One example of a company taking additional steps to protect customer data is PrimeXBT. PrimeXBT is a Bitcoin-based margin trading platform featuring crypto assets (with up to 100x leverage) similar to Binance but also features traditional assets such as forex, commodities, stock indices, and more. The two worlds of digital and traditional finance coming together under one roof make PrimeXBT unique.

PrimeXBT combines the bank-grade security and focus on customer safety from traditional finance with the value of privacy that is the ethos of the crypto industry.

PrimeXBT requires no personal data to be uploaded at all, and ditches the time-consuming KYC process in favor of offering their customers privacy. The company has even in the past taken steps to move its trading infrastructure to Switzerland to ensure customer privacy remains the highest priority. It’s one of the few places that exist on the internet where there zero risk of personal data loss or leak, because no personal data is ever required.

Conclusion

In the digital age, personal data and privacy are constantly put at risk unnecessarily. Corporations and companies carelessly require this data, then don’t give it the proper protection or care that personal data and privacy deserves.

But until the public begins to vocalize their concerns over personal data and privacy and avoid companies that do not prioritize safety and security, or companies themselves begin to take additional steps and make investments in security, the issue will only grow more severe.

For now, all internet users must do due diligence when using any platform or website which requires personal information to be uploaded, and whenever possible, select a company or website that doesn’t require any personal or private information be uploaded at all.

TRON, one of the world’s largest blockchain projects, announced today the V1.0 code release of TRON’s side chain solution, Sun Network. Sun Network is a scaling solution built to expand the capacity of the TRON MainNet, incorporating a series of scaling projects such as DAppChain, a smart contract optimized application side chain, cross-chain communications and many more. Among these projects, DAppChain is a side chain scaling project designed to provide unlimited scaling capacity for the TRON MainNet, enabling DApps to run with lower Energy consumption, higher security and efficiency on TRON.

Compared to other scaling solutions, Sun Network has two notable features. Firstly, it supports smart contract transactions, focusing on improving the TPS of the smart contract transactions on the MainNet, as well as lowering the transaction fee. Secondly, the side chain can support more customizable requirements, such as setting side chain incentives, transaction rates, transaction confirmation speed and other parameters, catering to the needs of different developer groups.

The overall solution of the Sun Network will provide unlimited scalability to the TRON MainNet, allowing for more possibilities to the development of TRON DApps and the entire ecosystem. The solution also strives to bring positive impacts to the whole blockchain industry while flourishing the TRON network.

TRON’s founder Justin Sun says, “As time goes on, lots of projects have made great progress. We launched the TVM in October 2018. In just 7 months, nearly 500 quality DApps are running on the TRON network. TRON’s total account number reached 3,000,000. A total of 410 million secure transactions took place since the MainNet launch. Moving on, the energy-saving, highly secure and efficient Sun Network will contribute to a more active ecosystem of TRON. Community developers will benefit from the network as well. In addition, a series of scaling projects such as DAppChain and cross-chain communications will further expand the overall capacity of the TRON network, as well as improving the TPS and smart contract execution efficiency on TRON.”

Sun Network Github Code Overview

This code version of the Sun Network is as follows:

* Side Chain The core code of DAppChain is compatible with the features of the TRON MainNet, Developers can easily migrate DApps on the TRON main chain to the side chain.

* Oracle A relay that supports the interaction of the main chain and the side chain; the TRON main chain will interact with the side chain through the Oracle relay.

* Contracts Managing digital assets across both the main chain and the side chain through contracts, ensures safe transfer of assets between the TRON network and the side chain.

* JS SDK The Javascript-version SDK supports simultaneous interactions with both the main chain and the side chain on TRON, similar to TronWeb of the MainNet.

* JAVA SDK The Java-version SDK supports simultaneous interactions with the main chain and the side chain on TRON.

* SideChain Wallet Cli An implementation of the side-chain command-line wallet based on the above-mentioned Java SDK; interacts with the main chain and the side chain simultaneously through the terminal, similar to Wallet Cli of the MainNet.

Coinbase’s goal is to offer support for all assets that meet our technical standards and which comply with applicable laws. Over time we expect our customers around the world will have access through Coinbase to at least 90% of the aggregate market cap of all digital assets in circulation. To make this vision a reality, we evaluate prospective assets against our Digital Asset Framework to assess factors like security, compliance, and the project’s alignment with our mission of creating an open financial system for the world.

Digital Assets Under Review

Today we’re announcing that we are exploring the addition of a range of new assets. As part of the exploratory process, customers may see public-facing APIs and other signs that we are conducting engineering work to potentially support these assets.

These new assets include, in alphabetical order: Algorand, Cosmos, Dash, Decred, Matic, Harmony, Ontology, and Waves.

Our decision to support any asset requires significant technical and compliance review and may be subject to regulatory approval in some jurisdictions. We therefore cannot guarantee whether or when any above-listed asset will be listed on a Coinbase product in any jurisdiction.

As per our listing process, we will add new assets on a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction basis, subject to applicable review and authorizations. The omission of assets from this publication does not disqualify any asset from active review and potential listing.

Our customers can expect Coinbase to make future, similar announcements as we continue to explore the addition of numerous assets across the platform.

BiKi.com announces a new strategic partnership with Ong Jun Hao, founder and CEO of BlockConnectors.io, one of Asia’s top blockchain advisory firms. With over 40 clients, they are also one of the only blockchain consultancy firms experienced in working with publicly listed companies.

Ong will be one of the first official ambassadors of BiKi and will refer high quality projects to BiKi, including world premiere ICO projects. BiKi exchange will be the landing site for ICOs and existing projects with great potential and strong communities. Any project that has attained a certain level in terms of calibre will be recommended to Biki for its first listing. In addition, Ong will act as a strategic advisor to the young exchange in its plans for rapid and extensive expansion.

Speaking on the brand new partnership, Biki.com Southeast Asia CEO, Ethan Ng states, “We are honoured that someone with such great foresight and esteemed reputation has decided to partner with us. His faith in BiKi is going to motivate us to work harder and innovate further as an exchange. We’ve managed to grow even during the bear market conditions in 2018 and are glad that Jun Hao saw something in us and has decided to grow together with us in our new plans for global expansion.”

Ong Jun Hao is equally enthusiastic about the partnership.  “I am excited to partner with BiKi to make it a global exchange. It is already one of the top few exchanges in the Chinese market but I believe in their Southeast Asia CEO Ethan Ng, that he will be able to gain market share in the international markets as well. Having known Ethan for over the past few years, I believe in his capability as well as that of the BiKi exchange team and am looking forward to achieving great things together in the near future.”

“In terms of trading volume, BiKi is also one of the top few and I think this is reflective of what a great exchange they have become despite being so young,” adds Ong.

Rated as one of the top advisors on established ICO review platform, ICO Bench, Ong has also been featured in the June edition of Crypto Investment Times as being one of the more prominent figures in the blockchain space. The Singapore Management University graduate was put under the spotlight when Singapore’s premium news publication Straits Times featured him as a cryptocurrency expert. A frequent speaker on global blockchain events, Ong has amassed over 50,000 followers on the various social media platforms as he continues to guide more people towards understanding the cryptocurrency market.

About BiKi.com

Headquartered in Singapore, BiKi.com is a global cryptocurrency exchange that provides a digital assets platform for trading more than 100 cryptocurrencies and 220 trading pairs. Since beginning operations in June 2018, BiKi.com is considered one of the fastest-growing cryptocurrency exchanges in the world with an accumulated 1.5 million registered users, 130,000 daily active users, and daily trading volumes of USDT 20 – 100 million.

Canadian Pacific has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance (BiTA). In joining the alliance, CP is supporting BiTA’s mission of producing blockchain standards that allow for interoperability between participants in the global supply chain.

Blockchain is an open, extensible platform capable of sharing shipping events, messages and documents across all the actors and systems in the supply chain ecosystem. It uses cryptography to ensure that network participants see only the parts of the ledger that are relevant to them, and that transactions are secure, authenticated and verifiable.

“We are excited to be on this journey,” said CP Vice President Information Services and Chief Information Officer Mike Redeker. ” As part of BiTA, we look forward to creating opportunities and innovative solutions that benefit our customers and the broader supply chain. Joining the alliance is part of CP’s continued focus on developing and supporting technology throughout the supply chain.”

With nearly 500 members from freight, transportation, logistics and affiliated industries, BiTA is focused on education, advocacy, networking and commercial outcomes around blockchain and other emerging technologies. It is committed to overcoming geographic, language and cultural hurdles to enable seamless commerce.

“The alliance is pleased to have CP’s expertise and support as our organization navigates this exciting new digital frontier,” said BiTA President Patrick Duffy. “Blockchain has the potential to smooth the transactions that occur between shippers and carriers, but it requires the active participation of transportation leaders like CP.”

Ethereum Classic Labs Accelerate is focused on funding, educating and mentoring blockchain companies and communities that are building products and services on Ethereum Classic. The first Cohort occurred during the first quarter of 2019 and included 11 blockchain companies while our second Cohort will be announced in the third quarter of 2019.

The goals and objectives for the first Cohort were focused on infrastructure and tools to build decentralized applications. With impactful companies like Button and EtherNode, the first Cohort showcased great successes in the funding, mentorship, and development to advance the utilization, development, and adoption of Ethereum Classic. Accelerate is currently targeting two Cohorts per year, each having a different focus and theme.

Cohort I Highlights

ETC Labs Accelerate Cohort I was born at the beginning of 2019 with 11 blockchain companies and included a combination of funding, mentorship, facilities, entrepreneurship workshops, and development resources. ETC Labs Accelerate provided a structured curriculum that included messaging workshops, investor pitch preparation, core developer access, go-to-market planning, and business structuring for growth. Cohort I was also treated to special guest speakers from prominent legal, compliancy, entrepreneurship, investors, and product designers to give the Cohorts the resources necessary to structure, build and grow successful blockchain companies.

AllForCrypto.org, a Peer-to-Peer cryptocurrency marketplace for vendors and shoppers, eliminates credit card fraud potential by opting not to accept any form of credit card payment. The only way that AllForCrypto.org users will be able to pay for their desired goods and services will be in cryptocurrency.

“We will be focused on eliminating credit card frauds and offering escrow services to safeguard the interests of both the buyers and sellers,” William Leen, CEO commented on the topic.

Due to the irreversible nature of a cryptocurrency transaction, a seller accepting payment this way will never need to worry about the hassles involving credit card charge-backs.

Cryptocurrency spending puts a high level of responsibility on the buyer. AllForCrypto users will be given access to educational materials and guides that will enable them to transact more wisely. This Peer-to-Peer transaction type promotes safety and security of the funds spent and greatly relieves the potential for mistrust between parties.

AllForCrypto brings together e-commerce experts, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, product vendors and consumers in a more secure marketplace for everyday purchases.

AllForCrypto Tokens, called AFCT are available for trading and purchasing by visiting AllForCrypto.org.