Oil Majors, Traders and Banks Team Up on Blockchain Platform

Oil Majors, Traders and Banks Team Up on Blockchain Platform

LAGOS (CAPITAL Markets in Africa) – A group headed by some of the world’s biggest oil producers, trading houses and trade finance banks will develop a blockchain-based digital platform to manage physical commodity transactions. The group’s members, including producers BP Plc, Royal Dutch Shell Plc andStatoil ASA; trading houses Gunvor Group Ltd., Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. and Koch Supply & Trading; and banks ABN Amro Group NV, Societe Generale SA andING Groep NV, will form an independent venture to develop and operate the platform,…

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Argentina’s Biggest Futures Market Plans to Join Bitcoin Party

Argentina’s Biggest Futures Market Plans to Join Bitcoin Party

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Argentina, one of the fastest nations to adopt bitcoin, wants to stay at the forefront of the cryptocurrency market. The most important futures market in the country, the Mercado de Termino de Rosario, known as Rofex, is considering offering services for investors in digital currencies. Conversations, which started six months ago, and preliminary drafts include offering custody services for the digital asset and the possibility for clients to use bitcoin…

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Bitcoin Is `Very Definition’ of a Bubble, Credit Suisse CEO Says

Bitcoin Is `Very Definition’ of a Bubble, Credit Suisse CEO Says

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The speculation around bitcoin is the “very definition of a bubble,” Credit Suisse Group AG Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam said as the currency exceeded $7,000 for the first time. Bankers are steering clear of bitcoin out of concern that criminals could use its anonymity to hide their activities, he said Thursday at a news conference in Zurich.  “Most banks in the current state of regulation have little or no appetite to get…

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Shining Star of Initial Coin Offerings Crashing Back to Earth

Shining Star of Initial Coin Offerings Crashing Back to Earth

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Bancor, one of the most successful initial coin offerings in the short history of digital tokens, is proving to be a dud for investors. After raising $153 million in a matter of hours in June, the Tel Aviv, Israel-based startup — whose market maker-like application aims to facilitate trading in other digital coins — has seen the price of its token decline 56 percent, one of the worst performances among…

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Cryptocurrency Push Sends Startup to Biggest Gain Since 2015 IPO

Cryptocurrency Push Sends Startup to Biggest Gain Since 2015 IPO

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) Canadian online lender Mogo Finance Technology Inc. rose the most in eight months after moving a step closer to giving customers the ability to hold bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in digital wallets. Mogo shares rose as much as 35 percent, the most since the company’s initial public offering in June 2015, and closed at C$5.15, up 31 percent. The move gives the company a market value of C$94.4 million ($73.6 million). The Vancouver-based firm said…

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Bitcoin Passes More Milestones as Market Cap Tops $100 Billion

Bitcoin Passes More Milestones as Market Cap Tops $100 Billion

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The most widely used digital currency will now cost you about $6,125 apiece after blowing past the $5,000 and $6,000 price levels for the first time earlier this month. Bitcoin’s total value is just over $100 billion, meaning it makes up more than half of the overall cryptocurrency market.   Cryptocurrency prices have been unfazed by recent regulatory crackdowns across the world and scepticism from Wall Street stalwarts including Warren Buffett and…

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Fintech Firm FIS Is Ready If Bitcoin Trading Takes Off, CEO Says

Fintech Firm FIS Is Ready If Bitcoin Trading Takes Off, CEO Says

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The head of one of the largest U.S. financial technology firms said his company is ready to trade and settle cryptocurrencies as soon as banks demand it. Fidelity National Information Services Inc., which provides technology to thousands of U.S. lenders, has also been experimenting with blockchain, the distributed-ledger technology that processes cryptocurrency transactions, Chief Executive Officer Gary Norcross said Thursday in an interview at Bloomberg’s New York office. FIS, as the…

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