Europe
Blockchain.com wins registration next to parent firm on the Cayman Islands
Blockchain.com, one of the oldest Bitcoin (BTC) infrastructure firms, is strengthening regulation and compliance efforts by securing registration in the Cayman Islands. The blockchain wallet and cryptocurrency exchange platform Blockchain.com is expanding operations in the Cayman Islands after receiving registration from the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA). Issued on July 6, the registration officially authorizes Blockchain.com to provide custodial services, operate an exchange, and offer over-the-counter crypto brokerage services for institutional clients under the CIMA’s regulatory framework. Blockchain.com’s chief business officer Lane Kasselman pointed out that the Cayman Islands is an important jurisdiction for the company’s business as the local community and regulators have...
How blockchain can address Austria’s energy crisis
Climate change has become one of the biggest global challenges for humanity. At the same time, the dependence on hydrocarbon energy sources such as coal, oil and natural gas is still strong. Supply lines around these energy sources are further vulnerable to geopolitical tensions. Due to the current sanctions against Russia, experts now expect rising electricity prices and negative effects on the energy market in Europe. The Austrian government understands the urgent need for the energy transition and has set the ambitious goal of being climate neutral by 2040. Alternative solutions to fossil energy have been slow to emerge and, for the most part, are not yet efficient enough on a large scale. But there are promising approaches — especially in the form of decentralized renewable energies or...
11 things to do in Gauja National Park, Latvia
From hiking along precipitous escarpments to exploring ancient caves, we share the best things to do in Gauja National Park, Latvia Over half of Latvia is covered in forest with northern Latvia and particularly the Gauja Valley home to some of the country’s most stunning arboreal scenes. I spent a few days exploring Gauja National Park, the country’s oldest protected area, and found an adventure playground ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Established in 1973 with the purpose of protecting the nation’s most cherished natural landscape, Gauja National Park encompasses swathes of pristine forested wilderness disturbed only by the lethargic flow of the Gauja River and the ancient sandstone cliffs lining its banks. As well as picturesque scenery, the park offers a range of engaging activities thr...
20 Photos That Capture the Astounding EXIT Festival 2022
Numbers don’t lie: with over 200,000 festival-goers passing through its gates and over 1,000 artists performing across a staggering 40 stages, EXIT Festival is celebrating one of the most unforgettable years in its history. Taking place in the beautiful countryside landscape of Novi Sad, Serbia, EXIT 2022 was a diverse nexus of music, arts and people. The true spirit of the festival was palpable all weekend long as fans danced from sundown to sunrise each night. There’s an immense scale to EXIT not easily seen at first glance. The massive Petrovaradin Fortress offers one of the world’s best festival grounds thanks to its sheer size and capability to house an enormous amount of production. The towering Mainstage saw massive performances from the likes o...
Demand for widely used euro stablecoin is huge, says DeFi expert
The market capitalization of Tether (USDT), a United States dollar-pegged stablecoin, is currently over $65 billion. USD Coin (USDC), another stablecoin backed by the U.S. dollar, clocks in near $55 billion. Some reports estimate that the total market cap of dollar-backed stablecoins is over $160 billion. Despite this success of dollar-based stablecoins, there has not been a euro stablecoin that is even remotely comparable in size. By the end of June, the U.S.-based company Circle announced that it will launch its own euro stablecoin, Euro Coin (EUROC), on the Ethereum blockchain. With a euro-based stablecoin, uncomplicated euro transfers will be possible worldwide in the future, as is currently the case with the U.S. dollar. Instead of the eurozone-based business, Circle has opted to issu...
21Shares launches S&P risk controlled Bitcoin and Ether ETPs
With cryptocurrency markets shrinking over 50% this year, 21Shares are working to replicate S&P Dow Jones Indices’ benchmarks with its new risk-adjusted crypto investment products. The Swiss crypto investment firm 21Shares has launched two new exchange traded products (ETP) offering investors exposure to the largest cryptocurrencies — Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) — while aiming to soften volatility via rebalancing assets to the U.S. dollar (USD). The new products, the 21Shares S&P Risk Controlled Bitcoin Index ETP and 21Shares S&P Risk Controlled Ethereum Index ETP, will start trading on the Swiss SIX Exchange on July 20. The ETPs will trade under tickers SPBTC and SPETH, the firm announced on Wednesday. Both ETPs target a volatility level of 40%, which is achieved through dyn...
Binance fined $3M over illegal operations in the Netherlands
Major global cryptocurrency exchange Binance is facing a penalty in the Netherlands after failing to obtain regulatory approval to operate in the country. The central bank of the Netherlands (DNB) has fined Binance Holdings 3.3 million euros ($3.3 million) for offering local crypto services without registration with authority. The Dutch central bank officially announced Monday that the regulator imposed the administrative fine in April 2022. The DNB pointed out that any company offering crypto services in the Netherlands is obliged to register with the central bank in compliance with the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act. The regulator also mentioned that the DNB previously issued a public warning to Binance on Aug. 18, 2021. According to the announcement, the DN...
MiCA and ToFR: The EU moves to regulate the crypto-asset market
On the last day of June, the European Union reached an agreement on how to regulate the crypto-asset industry, giving the green light to Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), the EU’s main legislative proposal to oversee the industry in its 27 member countries. A day earlier, on June 29, lawmakers in the member states of the European Parliament had already passed the Transfer of Funds Regulation (ToFR), which imposes compliance standards on crypto assets to crack down on money laundering risks in the sector. Given this scenario, today we will further explore these two legislations that, due to their broad scope, can serve as a parameter for the other Financial Action Task Force (FATF) members outside of the 27 countries of the EU. As it’s always good to understand not only the resul...
Bogshoeing in Latvia: silly but outrageously good fun
Bogshoeing in Latvia? Nope, we hadn’t heard of it either. But the wetlands of Ķemeri National Park are more than a bog-standard destination It’s a cliché I know, but travel never ceases to surprise me. I’ve hiked all over the world – from high-altitude treks in Nepal and Pakistan to remote expeditions in Greenland and Norway – so when I was invited to the tiny Baltic nation of Latvia with its highest point just 312m (1,024ft) above sea level, I wasn’t expecting to find much in the way of expansive wilderness. But, despite its size, Latvia devotes a substantial amount of space to nature and outdoor pursuits. My itinerary included a morning in the swamps of Ķemeri National Park located around 40km (25mi) from the capital, Riga. Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Ķemeri, known for ...
Andorra green lights Bitcoin and Blockchain with Digital Assets Act
A small light of progress shines from Andorra, a tiny European country nestled between France and Spain. The country’s government, the General Council of Andorra, recently approved the Digital Assets Act, a regulatory framework for digital currencies and blockchain technology. The act is split into two parts. The first regards the creation of digital money, or “programmable digital sovereign money,” which can be exchanged in a closed system. In effect, this would allow the Andorran state to create its own token. The second half of the act refers to digital assets as financial instruments and intends to create an environment in which blockchain and distributed ledger technologies can be regulated. For Paul (who withheld his surname), CEO of local Bitcoin business 21Million, the new la...
CoinShares launches staked Algorand ETP on Deutsche Boerse Xetra
Major European cryptocurrency investment firm CoinShares is expanding its exchange-traded products (ETP) with a new physically-backed ETP based on Algorand (ALGO). CoinShares on Thursday announced the listing of its physically-backed staked Algorand ETP on Xetra, the electronic trading platform run by Germany’s exchange operator Deutsche Boerse. Named the CoinShares Physical Staked Algorand, the new crypto investment product will be trading on Xetra under the ticker RAND. The ETP is enabled through CoinShares’ proprietary technology platform Galata, allowing investors to benefit from the 2% staking rewards associated with participating in Algorand’s blockchain security. The new Algorand ETP joins a family of CoinShares’s staked ETP offerings featuring blockchain networks and cryptocu...
Photos: Look Inside the Eye-Popping Return of Balaton Sound, Europe’s Largest Beachfront Festival
Tucked away in the majestic rolling hills of Zamardi, Balaton Sound returned to Hungary from June 29th to July 2nd. For four days, ravers enjoyed electrifying DJ sets flanked by the scenic Lake Balaton, one of the most unique festival venue grounds in the world. EDM.com was on the ground to capture the 2022 edition of Balaton Sound, Europe’s biggest beachfront music festival, which welcomed over 180 DJs from around the globe. This year, the fest hosted larger-than-life performances from the likes of Alesso, Martin Garrix, Lost Frequencies, Timmy Trumpet, Alok and more. Balaton Sound Festival 2022. brphoto.co British sensation Becky Hill started things off on the Mainstage with roaring energy on the first of three days, kicking off Balaton Sound with an upbeat performance of dance-pop...
