Blockchain Insider Podcast by 11:FS

Latest Episodes:

96. Like FUD off a duck's back May 09, 2019

Show notes

Colin and Sara are joined by a host of brilliant guests this week to talk about the latest and greatest news in blockchain, including:

Aman Kohli, CTO of Banking and Cap markets UKI at DXC Technology
Isabel Woodford, Reporter at The Block
Richard Crook, Director at LAB577

First up, we take a look at Project Libra. Facebook's long-rumored stablecoin will be at the center of a brand new payments network and is in discussions with payment networks Visa and Mastercard. The group discusses whether Facebook could be the Metro Bank or Monzo and asks if there's a strong enough use-case for the coin at all (02:16).

Next we talk about SIX’s planned digital exchange going live with a native token and an “initial digital offering” (IDO) service in 2020. By 2021, they expect the SIX Digital Exchange (SDX) to be tokenizing traditional securities such as equities, fixed income and funds, provided the regulatory set-up is in place. Our guests ask if the token was made just because everyone else was doing it (11:30).

We also have a great Tweet of the Week from @VladZamfir on calling Ether money.

Other stories include:

Fidelity Will Offer Cryptocurrency Trading Within a Few Weeks
Regulators Ready to Approve Ethereum Futures
NY Attorney General’s office alleges “substantial evidence of fraudulent conduct” at Bitfinex and Tether

All this and so much more on this week's episode of Blockchain Insider. And why not send us your best tweets? See if you can get a shout out on the show!

We hope you enjoy the show and, as ever, don't forget to subscribe!

Want to join the conversation on all the topics discussed? Tweet the show @bchaininsider and if you really love the show, please leave us a review on iTunes.

This week's episode of Blockchain Insider was produced by Laura Watkins and Petrit Berisha. Edited by Alex Woodhouse.

Special Guests: Aman Kohli, Isabel Woodford, and Richard Crook.

Links:

95. Curated scavenger hunts May 02, 2019

Show notes

Simon and Colin are here this week to talk about the latest and greatest news in blockchain.

First up, we take a look at banking culture hindering blockchain adoption. Emmanuel Aidoo, the head of digital market assets at Credit Suisse, has stated - it is banking culture that has so far slowed the adoption of blockchain technology in the financial industry. Colin comments it's a refreshing thing to hear and that banks need to learn how to take small risks. Simon adds that companies moving from what they're known for into innovative technologies can be and has been done successfully before (01:11).

Next we talk about how Jaguar Land Rover is planning to allow helpful car drivers to earn cryptocurrency. The car company is testing software that will allow drivers of its cars to earn the IOTA cryptocurrency as a reward for sharing data. The company is developing what it calls “smart wallet” technology to be installed in its automobiles. Simon remarks that it's an interesting concept but it hasn't been tested at scale yet and it makes sense that companies would want to get their hands on that data (13:09).

We have a great Tweet of the Week from @elonmusk on Ethereum.

Colin sat down with Stephen Palley from the Anderson Kill law firm to talk about BSV (34:00).

Other stories include:

Nike’s ‘cryptokicks’ trademark application hints at its new blockchain ambitions
Bitfinex Covered $850 Million Loss Using Tether Funds, NY Prosecutors Allege
After the Bust, Are Bitcoins More Like Tulip Mania or the Internet?

Special Guest: Stephen Palley.

Links:

94. Binance gets Dex’y Apr 25, 2019

Show notes

Simon and Colin are here (well Simon is, Colin's still in a field) to talk about the latest and greatest news in blockchain this week.

First up, we take a look at Societe Generale issuing the first covered bond as a security token on a public blockchain. Societe Generale SFH, the covered bond vehicle of Societe Generale, issued the first covered bond (EUR 100m) as a security token on a public blockchain. Colin remarks that as far as he can tell it appears to be a live transaction on the public Ethereum blockchain which is a big move. Simon adds that as bond issuances go it's not massive but for blockchain transactions it's really significant (01:08).

Next we talk about the London Stock Exchange collaboration on first issue of Blockchain ‘token’ shares. Around £3m worth of shares in technology company 2030 were issued in token form and settled in a test environment on the LSE’s Turquoise equity trading service. Colin comments that he doesn't believe it'll open up a new realm of new issuances of bonds by itself as tokens don't change story from current technology. Simon suggests that momentum is building in the distance (06:25).

We also have a great Tweet of the Week from @mayazi on Consensys raising $200M.

Other stories include:

Binance Launches Decentralized Exchange Ahead of Schedule
Skeptic’s Lens: Can Binance Revive DEXs?
Coinbase Generated $520m in revenue last year
Serena Williams invested in Coinbase

Links:

93. No such thing as a private blockchain Apr 18, 2019

Show notes

Simon and Colin are here this week to talk about the latest and greatest news in blockchain.

First up, we take a look at Blockstack Files With SEC to Raise $50 Million in Reg-A+ Crypto Token Sale. Blockstack, who aim to create the infrastructure for the decentralised internet, has announced it aims to raise $50m in a token sale that would leverage the SEC’s regulation A+ crowdfunding exemption. Colin comments that it's good that the process is being done correctly, it's right that they're doing it correctly and explains what he's learned from his recent conversations with banks (01:30).

Next we talk about Coinbase And Visa Are Making Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple's XRP And Litecoin Payments A Reality. Coinbase has teamed up with global payments processor Visa, launching the Coinbase Card which allows users to "spend crypto as effortlessly as the money in their bank." Simon remarks that we've seen this many times before, explains what costs might be baked into the card and adds that it's interesting to see the Visa logo with the card when usually it's Mastercard and Visa tend to do things at considerable scale (13:45).

We also have a great Tweet of the Week from @richatmakerdao on MakerDAO's new Stability Fee.

Other stories include:

ING Bank experimenting with zero-knowledge proofs
IMF and World Bank launch a ‘learning coin’ to teach staff about blockchain
Japanese Bank Abandons Work With SBI Ripple’s ‘Money Tap’ App

Links:

92. The richest man in the world Apr 11, 2019

Show notes

Simon and Colin are joined by a host of brilliant guests this week to talk about the latest and greatest news in blockchain, including:

Teana Baker-Taylor, Executive Director at GDF
Todd McDonald, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer R3
Stephane Malrait, MD Global Head of Market Structure & Innovation for Financial Markets at ING
Paul Gordon, Founder & Director of Coinscrum

First up, we take a look at Big banks backing a new international blockchain alliance. Barclays, BBVA, Deutsche Boerse and Swift are among the financial services sector names to join a new collective promoting the development of a global framework for the development and adoption of DLT. Teana Baker-Taylor comments that Trade Associations have become in-vogue lately around these issues and that it's a good thing as the industry needs the support and for people to put the work in (02:10).

Next we talk about Barclays, RBS, R3 cutting property transaction times in blockchain trial. R3-affiliated Instant Property Network (IPN), announced Thursday that the trial used test data to carry out simulated property transactions over a distributed ledger system over a five day period. Todd remarks that this is a real tangible case study that can explain what blockchain can bring to property markets (12:17).

We also have a great Tweet of the Week from @VitalikButerin on PTK.

Other stories include:

CME Group Bitcoin Futures Reported Record Trading Volume on April 4
What you need to know: Understanding the SEC’s New Security Token Framework

Special Guests: Paul Gordon, Stephane Malrait, Teana Baker-Taylor, and Todd McDonald.

Links:

91. The great wealth transfer Apr 04, 2019

Show notes

Simon is in Singapore this week but he's not alone. He's joined by Antony Lewis, Director Digital Assets at R3 to talk about the latest and greatest news in blockchain.

First up, we take a look at Google adding hardware security extensions for Firefox and Edge browsers. Antony comments that the technology being used was developed by blockchain companies years ago and Simon adds that we might see an increase in this sort of thing happening across mainstream sectors (1:46).

Next we talk about Bithumb being hacked, Antony suggests that it might have been an accident by management and that you can never be sure if these hacks are coming from inside the company, an exit scam or outside hackers (07:52).

Antony also explains just what a blockchain firewall is for all of those who've been asking.

We have a great Tweet of the Week from @twobitidiot on the great wealth transfer (24:00).

That's not all, Colin caught up with Mance Harmon CEO and Co-Founder of Hedera Hashgraph to talk about what they're doing with 39 blue chip companies and blockchain in Texas (25:47).

Other stories include:

A look inside crypto firm Galaxy Digital, founded by ‘sidelined’ Wall Street legend Mike Novogratz

Special Guests: Antony Lewis and Mance Harmon.

Links:

90. The 'real' bitcoin market Mar 28, 2019

Show notes

Sara is joined by Tim Swanson, Founder and Director of Research at Post Oak Labs, this week to talk about the latest and greatest news in blockchain.

First up, we take a look at Bitwise ETF filing - The ‘real Bitcoin market. A majority of bitcoin trading volume is artificially created by unregulated exchanges, according to Bitwise Asset Management. The firm attached a report, in a bitcoin-based ETF submission, in which it collected and analyzed Bitcoin trading data, over four days in March, across 81 cryptocurrency exchanges. Tim comments that exchanges located in certain areas have a habit of exaggerating their volume and Sara unpacks some of the deeper issues this raises (01:18).

Next we talk about the failed ICO trying to flog itself on eBay. For as little as $60,000, a slice of history could be yours. That's the starting price in an eBay auction for all the documents, all of the branding, all of the strings of 1s and 0s, and all the broken dreams of an initial coin offering (ICO) that never managed to sell a single token. Sarah comments that she has no idea what the company does because it hasn't built anything and Tim adds that they have no capital which is why they're selling on eBay (8:01).

Colin may be gone but he's still managed to do an interview with Alex Batlin, Founder and CEO of Trustology for a scoop on an annoucement they just had to share (15:33).

We also have a great Tweet of the Week from @antony_btc on Deconomy (25:36).

Colin also spoke to Will Martino, CEO and Founder, and Tony Pham, Lead on Marketing at Kadena to talk about blockchain, smart contracts and hitting the reach goals for the industry (26:35).

Other stories include:

Square Staffing up for new Cryptocurrency Unit, Says Jack Dorsey

Special Guests: Alex Batlin, Tim Swanson, Tony Pham, and Will Martino.

Links:

89. Checkmate Mar 21, 2019

Show notes

Colin and Simon are here in the studio to talk about the latest and greatest news in blockchain, including:

First up, we take a look at Binance Coin. The pair talk about why the cost has gone up so much and Simon comments that this isn't too dissimilar to a company doing a share buy-back to grow the value of the shares and if this makes the coin more like a security (01:26).

Next we talk about Citi scrapping its plan for a JPM coin-lke bank-backed crypto having decided that other technologies provide more efficient and effective solutions. It's a topic Colin and Simon have talked about quite a few times before. Colin suggests that JP Morgan's approach has been more considered and analytical with a deeper plan in place than Citi. He adds that being wary and understanding new technologies is important but if you're just looking for a solution then using existing technology makes sense, but too many companies have tried to exist in a halfway house between the two (07:16).

We also have a great Tweet of the Week from @CasPiancey on the d(evolution) of Tether

Finishing off the show we caught up with Kerry Denerstein, Regulatory Affairs Lead at CLS Group (37:25).

Other stories include:

CBOE halts Bitcoin futures, considering conceding market to CME
ASX - Deloitte - Australian Financial Review

Special Guest: Kerry Denerstein.

Links:

88. Fire emoji Mar 14, 2019

Show notes

Colin is joined by a host of brilliant guests this week to talk about the latest and greatest news in blockchain, including:

Michael Coletta, Lead blockchain architect, LSEG
Stefan Loesch, Managing Partner at LexByte
Noelle Acheson, Editorial Producer at Coindesk
Dr. Vic Arulchandran, COO Nivaura
Ric Burton, CEO Balance

Fair warning - this is a firey episode.

First up, we take a look at claims that BitGo may have exaggerated its insurance coverage. One of the underwriters behind BitGo’s $100 million cryptocurrency insurance policy has accused the custodian of exaggerating the scope of its coverage by using “ambiguous language”. Noelle points out that the small print is easy to access and that it's unreasonable to expect marketing documents to have that information clearly laid out and says that calling it misleading is up to interpretation, but probably unfair for an underwriter to say. Brace yourself, the debate gets intense. Seriously. (01:26).

Next we talk about the Swiss Stock Exchange SIX's decision to tokenise equity on R3's Corda Blockchain. The goal for SDX is creating a regulated exchange platform for digital assets, starting with stocks and then exploring other tradable instruments. The intense debate continues with questions around why SIX has decided to use Corda, long term versus short term gains and how the new world can fit into the old world (21:25)

Special Guests: Dr. Vic Arulchandran, Michael Coletta, Noelle Acheson, Richard Burton, and Stefan Loesch.

Links:

Bonus: Omaha blockchain summit Mar 12, 2019

Show notes

Today we have a very special bonus episode of Blockchain Insider for you, from the Omaha blockchain summit we have a rare chance to get some real leaders in the field all together in the same room to discuss some of the most pressing issues in blockchain and how the industry is reacting to changes.

Amber Baldet is joined by a roundtable of some very special blockchain guests including: