The blockchain/crypto week at a glance

Ripple releases Q4 2018 XRP Markets Report

Ripple (XRP) sold $535.56 million worth of XRP in 2018, according to its quarterly report for Q4 2018.

IBM involved in healthcare industry/blockchain initiative

Aetna, Anthem, Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), PNC Bank and IBM are working together to design and create a network using blockchain technology to improve transparency and interoperability in the healthcare industry. 

Levi Strauss taps blockchain tech for worker welfare project

Levi Strauss & Co, Harvard University’s public health graduate school and US think-tank New America have teamed up to develop a blockhain-based system designed to augment outside auditors of factory health and safety with self-reporting by workers, Reuters reports.

tZERO security tokens begin live trading

Online retailer Overstock’s subsidiary tZERO announced that secondary trading of tZERO tokens is now live.

It’s all good for Robinhood in NYC

Robinhood has received a BitLicense to operate in New York, the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) reports.

Galaxy Digital raising credit fund for crypto companies

Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital venture is raising at least $250 million to offer loans to crypto firms, according to a report by Business Insider.

Crypto OTC services now available on Binance

Binance has launched its crypto-to-crypto over-the-counter (OTC) trading desk for larger transactions.

LSEG Technology to power AAX

LSEG Technology, London Stock Exchange Group’s technology solutions provider, has announced the selection of Millennium Exchange by ATOM Group for its new digital asset exchange venue AAX.

Blockchain makes Bitcoin SV announcement

Crypto wallet venture, Blockchain, has added limited support for Bitcoin SV, it announced in a blog post.

Anchorage ready to roll

Anchorage, pitched as the world’s first crypto-native custodian, has launched.

The venture has raised $17 million in a Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Khosla Ventures, PayPal co-founder Max Levchin’s SciFi VC, and individual investors Mark McCombe of Blackrock, entrepreneur Elad Gil, and AngelList co-founder Naval Ravikant.

Falcon ‘strengthens first mover position in blockchain banking’

Switzerland-based Falcon Private Bank has introduced direct transfers of selected cryptocurrencies for both private and institutional clients. 

Big hitters back Symbiont.io 

Nasdaq and Citigroup are among firms that are investing $20 million in blockchain venture Symbiont.io, Bloomberg reports.

Tangem lands major funding

Tangem, a producer of blockchain smart card wallets, has raised $15 million from SBI Crypto Investment.

Securitize eyes blockchain tech first

Securitize has joined the IBM Blockchain Accelerator programme, Forbes reports. Carlos Domingo, Co-Founder and CEO of Securitize, says that the venture’s “goal is to build the world’s first debt issuance platform with blockchain technology in 2019.”

Crypto Garage admitted to Japan regulatory sandbox

Japanese regulators have given the green light to blockchain startup Crypto Garage’s settlement system trial using a Bitcoin sidechain from Blockstream.