With its volatile socio-political environment, South African residents are increasingly turning to cryptocurrencies as a way around the uncertain economic climate. According to Business Insider, international Retail Company, Spar, is looking to pave the way for easier mainstream adoption by installing a cryptocurrency ATM in Johannesburg.

The ATM will be installed at Northwold Spar in the country’s biggest city this week and will support multiple virtual currencies, including Dash, Ethereum, Bitcoin, and others. Users will be able to exchange cash for cryptocurrencies without the need of a bank account.

Read More: https://news.bitzamp.com/south-africa-to-launch-its-first-cryptocurrency-atm-this-week/

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China has published its ranking of blockchain networks, evaluated according to three criteria: technology, application and innovation.

The list rates types of projects in the cryptocurrency sector and puts Ethereum at the top (not very surprisrising as ETH is considered the mother of tokens). Steem came in as second followed by Lisk, NEO and Komodo. However, the most surprising aspect of the aspect of the ratings was that Bitcoin, the first blockchain project was placed at the 13th position.

Read More: https://news.bitzamp.com/chinese-government-ranks-ethereum-1st-bitcoin-13th-in-cryptocurrency-rating/

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) is looking to utilize blockchain technology for lending financial derivatives to investors and firms.

The firm is developing a blockchain-based securities lending platform in consortium with Israeli FinTech hub The Floor, Accenture and Intel.

Read More: https://news.bitzamp.com/tel-aviv-stock-exchange-to-launch-blockchain-securities-lending-platform/

With the growing adoption of cryptocurrency across the globe, regulation of this asset class has become a major concern for global financial regulators.

While some countries such as Japan, South Korea and Thailand are implementing laws that would foster the cryptocurrency industry while minimizing its associated risk, other nations such as India, have taken a stricter stance that may result in an outright ban of crypto-related transactions and Chile look to be next up on the register.

Currently Cryptocurrencies are not currently as money or securities in Chile. However, there are no laws in place that prevent citizens from executing crypto transactions.

The President of Banco Central De Chile is considering establishing strict regulations for cryptocurrencies in order to monitor risks and protect investors.

Read More: https://news.bitzamp.com/chilean-central-bank-to-consider-cryptocurrency-regulation/

The first cryptocurrency exchange powered by Nasdaq is set to launch in June 2018, Finance Magnates reported on Monday.

Estonia’s DX.exchange has partnered with Nasdaq to integrate its platform with the leading stock exchange’s trading engines along with its own in-house technology, allowing institutions and individuals to purchase cryptocurrencies with fiat, trade cryptocurrencies, and convert crypto back to fiat.

Read More: https://news.bitzamp.com/first-nasdaq-powered-crypto-exchange-set-to-launch-next-month/

LINE PLUS, the mobile platform subsidiary of social messeging app LINE, has partnered with cryptocurrency startup ICON, in a joint venture to develop LINE’s blockchain network.

Last Month, LINE announced the launch of its blockchain subsidiary Unblock, marking its first venture into the blockchain space. LINE PLUS and ICON has co-founded Unchain, a blockchain network which aims to develop various DApp services while building synergies with ICON to expand the blockchain ecosystem.

Read More: https://news.bitzamp.com/chat-giant-line-partners-with-icon-to-build-blockchain-network-unchain/

Cryptocurrency startup Stratis has released its zero-fee ICO platform which it claims will boast a number of user-friendly features designed for regulatory compliance and security.

The new platform will enable users to quickly deploy an ICO via a ‘Deploy to Azure’ button.

Read More: https://news.bitzamp.com/stratis-releases-its-commission-free-ico-platform/

Cathy Bessant, chief technical officer of Bank of America (BoA), has reiterated the  bank’s stance on Bitcoin saying that cryptocurrencies are designed to be non-transparent.

In an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box, Bessant said it’s important to differentiate the two major uses of cryptocurrencies. As a payment system, she thinks cryptocurrencies are troubling because the technology is “designed to be not transparent.”

Read More: https://news.bitzamp.com/bank-of-america-cto-clarifies-stance-on-cryptocurrencies-calls-bitcoin-troubling/