JUL 27 DIGEST: Former EU Stock Market CEO Joins Blockchain Startup; Hewlett Packard Shows Interest in Bitcoin

The former officer of the Chi-X been hired as the CEO of blockchain startup SETL; Hewlett-Packard is blogging about Bitcoin and blockchain, and more news.
The former officer of the Chi-X been hired as the CEO of blockchain startup SETL; Hewlett-Packard is blogging about Bitcoin and blockchain, and more news.

The former chief executive officer of the Chi-X Europe stock market has been hired as the COO of blockchain startup SETL; Hewlett-Packard is blogging about Bitcoin and blockchain technology, and more top stories for July 27.

Former Chi-XEuropeStock Market CEO Joins Blockchain Startup

Peter Randall, the former chief executive officer of the Chi-X Europe stock market, has been hired as the COO of SETL. The startup has developed a payment and settlement system based on blockchain, and is as such using the technology to dramatically speed up the transfer of assets.

Randall said in a statement:

“Clearing and settlement processes are fragmented, cumbersome, costly and in need of technological innovation and simplification […] We are currently in discussion with a number of first-tier institutions who are looking to commercialize blockchain technology.”

Mike Tyson to Enter Bitcoin ATM Business

Mike Tyson's is adding a Bitcoin business endeavor to his legacy, as he began to leverage his brand towards his new Bitcoin ATM venture this weekend. According to its website, the Mike Tyson Bitcoin ATM can turn cash into bitcoin in under 20 seconds. More details are expected to be released soon.

Mike Tyson Hits Bitcoin Bandwagon with 5M Twitter Followers

Winklevoss Twins File Paperwork to Operate Gemini Bitcoin Exchange

Investors Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss have filed paperwork to operate their bitcoin exchange Gemini as a trust company. A trust company is a type of financial institution that has all the powers of a bank to take deposits and make loans, alongside certain fiduciary powers such as acting as an agent for governmental bodies. Gemini will target both individual and institutional investors in New York State.

Hewlett Packard Blogs About Bitcoin and Blockchain

Hewlett-Packard (HP) is showing strong interest in Bitcoin and blockchain technology. The company published a blog post called “The Technology Behind Bitcoin Could Replace Lawyers, Too.” In it, HP describes the promise of blockchain technology and smart contracts:

“In Bitcoin, the contract is the transaction itself: one party sending another funds. But in commercial banking or investments, smart contracts could execute unknowably complex contingencies based on the terms of the contract, all in real-time, with total transparency to the agreeing parties.”

OneBit: Pay with Bitcoin Using NFC at Any Credit Card Accepting Merchant

OneBit, a bitcoin wallet app that enables its users to pay with bitcoin at any credit card accepting store, has entered the alpha stage of development. OneBit announced that users are testing the application worldwide, and that it will go into closed beta very soon.

OneBit CEO Toby Hoenisch said:

“I have been fascinated by Bitcoin for the last three years, but never quite found the right idea to form a company around until now. [...] We managed to get MasterCard and DBS bank interested in OneBit and with their help, I am confident that we can build OneBit without getting burned like Charlie Shrem did.”

OneBit: Pay with Bitcoin Using NFC at Any Credit Card Accepting Merchant

ItBit Hosts Private Blockchain Summit for Wall Street Elite

New York-based bitcoin exchange itBit hosts a private gathering of financial industry professionals today. The all-day, invite-only “Bankchain Discovery Summit” is held at one of the city's Convene locations, a meeting space provider operating in bothNew YorkandWashington,DC. Expected attendees are said to draw largely from major banks, brokerages and exchanges.

An invitation obtained by CoinDesk reads:

“Join us for the inaugural itBit Bankchain DiscoverySummit. Interact with industry peers, hear from our panel of experts and address topical blockchain use cases that will shape the future of the financial services industry.”

DigitalBTC Buys $10.1 Million in Bitcoin Despite Losses

DigitalBTC, the first crypto firm to list on Australian Securities Exchange, bought US$10.1 million worth of bitcoin in the second quarter of this year. This brings the amount of bitcoin DigitalBTC has purchased over the past 12 months to almost US$29.7 million.

It closed the quarter with an inventory of US$1 million in bitcoin. Nevertheless, the company reported a negative operating cash flow of US$1.2 million in Q2 of 2015 having received around US$10.8m for operating activities, but spending close to $12 million.

CoinMate Partners with MoneyPolo, Enabling Purchasing and Selling Bitcoin with Cash in Over 100 Countries

European bitcoin exchange CoinMate has announced a new partnership with payment provider MoneyPolo. This enables users from over 100 countries to exchange cash for bitcoin and back.

CEO of CoinMate parent company Confirmo, Roman Valihrach, said:

“Most Bitcoin markets work with bank deposits and bank withdrawals, however it is estimated that 40% of the world's adult population has no bank account and an even greater share is limited to local transfers. MoneyPolo account allows cost effective cash deposits and cash withdrawals in more than 100 countries of the world through their partnership networks. That's why we decided to integrate MoneyPolo into CoinMate.”

CoinMate Partners With MoneyPolo, Allowing Purchasing and Selling Bitcoin With Cash in More Than 100 Countries