DeFI News by Thebittimes.Com

Google Cloud is launching its own layer-1 blockchain for financial institutions, taking on Ripple, Circle, and Stripe in payments. Google Cloud’s Web3 Head of Strategy, Rich Widmann, shared new details about the blockchain, called the Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), in an Aug. 26 post on Linkedin .  “GCUL brings together years of R&D at Google to provide financial institutions with a novel Layer 1 that is performant, credibly neutral and enables Python-based smart contracts,” Widmann wrote.  “Besides bringing to bear Google’s distribution, GCUL is a neutral infrastructure layer,” Widmann added.  “Tether won’t use Circle’s blockchain – and Adyen probably won’t use Stripe’s blockchain.  But any financial institution can build with GCUL.”   By moving into blockchain payments infrastructure, Google Cloud is positioning itself to compete over the financial rails that coul...

NatWest Group has announced a five‑year collaboration with Amazon Web Services and consultancy Accenture designed to modernise the bank’s data, analytics and artificial‑intelligence capabilities. Executives described the 23 July deal as a decisive step towards simpler, faster and more personalised banking for the lender’s 20 million customers. Paul Thwaite , NatWest Group C EO, said: “This collaboration with Accenture and AWS is key to helping us progress the transformation of NatWest as we become a simpler, more technology and data-driven bank.” New alliance will consolidate data and quicken decision‑making Under the agreement, AWS will provide cloud infrastructure and machine‑learning tools, while Accenture will steer migration of hundreds of disparate data stores to a single platform and embed governance aligned with UK regulation. Julie Sweet , Chair and CEO of Accenture , said the programme would “tie together products, channels and customer touchpoints”...

The Rugby League World Cup 2021 is held in the UK between 15 October and 19 November 2022. It is an honor for CoinEx to be a sponsor of the prestigious RLWC event and to have the opportunity to inspire rugby fans to begin their cryptocurrency trading journeys. CoinEx & RLWC Exclusive Collaboration By sponsoring the Rugby League World Cup 2021 (RLWC 2021), CoinEx has become the exclusive cryptocurrency trading platform partner of the RLWC , demonstrating its willingness to engage and establish relationships with industries other than crypto. As the exchange strives to accomplish its vision, it also respects and supports the dedication, work and passion of players from non-crypto communities. Why CoinEx chose to sponsor RLWC? The brand concept of CoinEx is to break down the financial shackles that hold back the common man and to provide a platform that everyone can use. Additionally, CoinEx’s brand philosophy adheres to the principles of sportsmanship advocated by the RLWC....

  Source: AdobeStock / ChiccoDodiFC Get your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptoasset and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s crypto news. __________ Legal news Turkish authorities have seized $40 million in cryptocurrency as part of an investigation into an illegal gambling ring, the Daily Sabah reported. The Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor and the Smuggling and Organized Crime Investigation Bureau said the suspects mediated the funds produced by the illegal gambling operation, which were then transferred to the group's crypto addresses. US-based fintech firm Ripple General Counsel Stuart Alderoty confirmed on Twitter that the company has finally received documents it’s been after for more than a year in their legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “I can say that it was well worth the fight to get them. I’ve always felt good about our legal argu...

Source: AdobeStock / KreangchaiRungfamai Get your daily, bite-sized digest of cryptoasset and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s crypto news. __________ Blockchain news South Korean electronics and software giant Samsung announced on October 13 the implementation of a new security system for its smart devices, called Samsung Knox Matrix . "Samsung Knox Matrix will function as a user’s own private blockchain system, wherein your connected devices enhance security through multi-layered mutual monitoring," said the announcement.  Diversified holding company BitNile Holdings, Inc. said that its subsidiary BitNile, Inc. has begun the development of a Bitcoin (BTC)-based marketplace platform, which expects to leverage blockchain and other emerging technologies. The announcement said that the marketplace is planned for release in the first half of 2023, and that it will be "a multi-vendor e-commerce...