Blockchains and Bagels Daily Market Roundup – 08.09.2018

CoinsquareAugust 9, 2018

Blockchains and Bagels: the morning market update to get you ready for the day ahead. Today, IBM-Maersk Blockchain Platform adds new partners; Bitmain raises capital from major technology backers.

Thailand: 20 companies have applied for crypto exchange licenses

After the release of new regulatory framework around Thailand’s domestic crypto sector, as many as 20 companies have applied for cryptocurrency exchange licenses. Coming into effect on July 16th, Thailand’s SEC became one of the world’s first securities regulators to recognize cryptocurrency payments for ICO purposes.

IBM-Maersk Blockchain Platform adds 92 clients on global launch

Work on a collaborative project between the world’s largest shipping company, Maersk, and IBM, has now grown to include 92 other companies. The platform, codenamed TradeLens, seeks to facilitate global trade on their blockchain platform without the use of middlemen, potentially lowering overall transaction costs.

New Australia Bitcoin mining development could be country’s first solar-powered operation

A new data center facility is being developed by an Australian cryptocurrency operator, and will become the country’s first cryptocurrency focused data center powered by renewable energy. The first stage of the data center and solar farm will supply up to 4 megawatts and is expected to come online in early 2019. The data center is estimated to mine up to $6 million per annum worth of bitcoin based on current market rates.

Uber’s biggest shareholder backs Bitcoin mining giant Bitmain

According to a Chinese publication, Bitmain has completed a pre-IPO round of financing that includes notable technology backers, such as Tencent and Japan’s Softbank. As of late July, Bitmain was in the process of securing a $1 billion round of financing, which would value the firm at $15 billion.