Crypto-Powered Cannabis, Bitcoin Buying on Trezor + More News

Get your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptoasset and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s crypto news.

Tokenization news

• US-based firm Ceres is seeking permission from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to sell a token that represents an equity holding in the company, as well as coins that would be used for transactions in its payments network. Per the application to the SEC, Ceres plans to sell up to USD 30 million worth of its tokens and USD 20 million in coins. Were the application to be approved, Ceres wants to build a “seed to sale” transaction network on the blockchain for cannabis utilizing its USD-backed stablecoin. (Learn more: Does the Cannabis Industry Really Use Crypto?)

Wallet news

• Trezor hardware wallet has integrated the Netherlands-based crypto broker BTC Direct into its Buy feature. According to the announcement, this partnership allows European users to buy bitcoin (BTC) and certain altcoins directly from their Trezor Wallet with a credit or debit card, Single Euro Payment Area (SEPA) bank transfer, or local payment methods that are available for some countries.

Blockchain news

• The Russian Council of Judges has made use of a blockchain technology-powered voting platform, reports legal journal Rapsi. The council used a solution developed by software firm Kaspersky Lab, which was deployed during a video conference chaired by the Chairman of the Russian Supreme Court Vyacheslav Lebedev.
• The global semiconductor industry wants to use a blockchain-powered platform to fight counterfeits, reports Nikkei. The media outlet states that SEMI (formerly Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International), a body of some 900 chip producers, is hoping to begin using the platform as early as next year, but no later than 2022.
• A new South Korean blockchain-powered ID platform to be rolled out in a number of new sectors, says government agency. Per D Daily, the state-run Korea Internet & Security Agency wants to use the platform – now being co-developed by the agency and some of the country’s biggest companies – in online voting initiatives and the renewable energy industry.

Crypto adoption news

• Orchid, a peer-to-peer bandwidth market, said it launched the Orchid VPN app in the Apple App Store. The app will allow users to buy bandwidth from VPN providers on the Orchid Network powered by cryptocurrency.
• The South Korean National Assembly is to host a seminar on how to boost transparency in cryptocurrency transactions, reports the Kukto Ilbo. The seminar will be hosted by Democratic Party MP Lee Soo-jin, and a number of leading blockchain industry chiefs will be in attendance.
• Argentinian crypto use is surging again, per Criptonoticias. The news outlet says that LocalBitcoins and Paxful are seeing a rise in trading volumes in the nation, while the SatoshiTango exchange says that transactions have shot up by 500% “in recent weeks.”

Investment news

• HOPR, a Web3 data privacy-protecting company, and crypto exchange Binance today announced that Binance Labs is leading the strategic USD 1 million investment round for HOPR ahead of the company’s token sale. Other investors are Focus Labs, Spark Digital Capital, Caballeros Capital, and Synaitken.

Career news

• Coinbase has announced that Paul Grewal is joining the exchange as their Chief Legal Officer, coming from Facebook, where he served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. Before that, Grewal was the US magistrate judge for the Northern District of California for more than five years, said the announcement. He will oversee all legal functions of Coinbase’s global business and will manage the growth of their legal team. (Learn more: Coinbase Prepares For Stock Market Listing – Report)