OANDA Senior Market Analyst Craig Erlam reviews the latest market news with Jonny Hart and previews the week ahead. They discussed another sell-off in equity markets, bitcoin’s plunge, and Boris Johnson.

The world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock has filed for the registration of the iShares Blockchain and Tech ETF that will track the investment results of the NYSE FactSet Global Blockchain Technologies Index. According to a Friday filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the ETF will track companies involved in ‘(a) cryptocurrency mining, (b) cryptocurrency trading and exchanges, or (c) crypto-mining systems.’ The underlying index is also composed of ‘(i) blockchain technology companies, (ii) cryptocurrency mining, (iii) cryptocurrency trading and exchanges, (iv) crypto-mining systems, and (v) video multimedia semiconductors,’ per the filing. The proposed fund will not invest in crypto directly or indirectly via crypto derivatives but plans to invest at least 80% of its assets in stocks included in the index including 20% in futures, options, swap contracts, cash, and cash equivalents. The filing doesn’t come as a surprise as Salim Ramji, the head of BlackRock’s global ETF initially hinted on a blockchain-themed ETF during a December episode of Bloomberg’s ‘Trillions‘ podcast. At the time, he said that the company would hold its crypto ETFs to its high standards for liquidity and transparency. “As the regulatory environment becomes clearer, and as the underlying liquidity dynamics of that market become more to our satisfaction, that some of those dynamics will work in our favor,” he added. BlackRock’s move into crypto ETF’s already aligns with the company’s indirect investment in Bitcoin (BTC). The company has invested close to $400 million in Bitcoin (BTC) mining stocks throughout 2021. Earlier this month, the asset manager revealed that its Strategic Income Opportunities Fund (BASIX) and its Global Allocation Fund (MDLOX) could invest in cash-settled bitcoin futures traded on commodity exchanges registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). BlackRock has nearly 400 iShares ETFs trading in the US, with combined assets under management of roughly $2.4 trillion. The firm’s total asset under management (AUM) stands at about $10 trillion.

The post BlackRock to Track Blockchain and Crypto Firms With New ETF appeared first on Cryptoknowmics-Crypto News and Media Platform.

BlackRock's iShares filed Friday to create a new "blockchain and tech ETF" that will track the performance of an index that follows companies working in this area.

The post BlackRock files for ETF to track performance of blockchain and crypto company-focused index appeared first on The Block.

OANDA Senior Market Analyst Craig Erlam reviews the latest market news with Jonny Hart and previews the week ahead. Today they discussed the market’s response to Netflix earnings, bitcoin falling below $40,000, and the week ahead.  

DUBAI / KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - Under the patronage of YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Annuar Bin Musa, Malaysian Minister of Communications and Multimedia, and with the participation of Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on January 12th, 2022, between Capt. Koh Chen Tien, Chairman of Verofax Asia, and Mr. Haisam Jamal, CEO of Distichain. The event took place at the Address Dubai Marina, where attendees from around the world were present for the opening of Malaysia Digital Week, taking place at Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE.
The aim of the MoU is to create the first digital ASEAN B2B cross-border trade platform to facilitate a potential of RM 50 Billion Malaysian trade internationally with seamless digital transactions over the next 5 to 10 years. The collaboration between Distichain and Verofax Asia will offer a platform that delivers Digital B2B marketplaces as a service (MAAS) to enterprises by offering full marketplaces or through API integration.

Using blockchain and AI as core technologies, the platform digitizes global trade with end-to-end transactions through its ecosystem of supply-chain, verification, and trade finance providers. The solution enables suppliers to readily plug their catalogs, update product data, manage routes and orders, verify documentation and access aggregate financing and logistics all in one place. This unique platform that simplifies, secures, and empowers every participant in a trade.

"The signing of this MoU is an important step for Distichain's ambition to continue the further development and expansion of its solution. We are especially pleased to be taking this step alongside our partner Verofax Asia, and impact the ASEAN trading industry with rapid digital transformation through our one-day marketplace activation approach," said Mr Haisam Jamal.

Captain Koh added, "This platform will instantly digitalize the entire export and import process in governmental, non-governmental enterprises as well as SMEs. It will generate low-cost opportunity to digitize processes, introduce trade finance and automate supply-chain across all industries, accelerating economic growth in Malaysia and the ASEAN region. Through this partnership agreement signed today, we will further develop our technologies to meet the ongoing digitalization of international trade. Verofax Asia will have a massive impact on the performances of exports and imports with rapid digitalization, all the while building a resilient digital infrastructure and foster innovation for the recently signed Regional Comprehensive Economic Participation (RCEP) Trade Agreement, which came into effect on 1st January 2022."

About Verofax:
Verofax utilizes patented technology incorporating Blockchain, Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence to provide 'Traceability as a Service', enabling brands to turn their offline products interactive, and manage their entire supply chain to trace goods, fend off counterfeit activities, and improve manufacturers' productivity. Brands can extend their reach directly to end-consumers, thereby increasing consumer intimacy with direct engagement, and leveraging the boom in NFTs and metaverse experiences. Visit: www.verofax.com, or Email: [email protected].

About Distichain:
Distichain delivers B2B marketplaces as a service (MAAS) to customers using blockchain and AI, digitizing global trade with end-to-end transactions through its ecosystem of supply-chain, verification, and trade finance providers. SMEs and enterprises alike benefit from automated transactions governed by the system to deliver door-to-door border agnostic trading, with on-platform trade compliance present rules. Using smart contracts, Distichain ensures the highest levels of data privacy, and by connecting to innovative solutions within Fintech and Supply Chain, it facilitates transactions backed by instant trade finance with zero email trading. Distichain's objectives are to simplify cross-border trading, secure end-to-end transactions, and empower decision-makers with real-time AI analytics. Visit: www.distichain.com, or Email: [email protected].

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.comAn MoU was signed on January 12th, 2022, between Capt. Koh Chen Tien, Chairman of Verofax Asia, and Mr.Haisam Jamal, CEO of Distichain. The event took place in the Address Hotel Dubai Marina, where attendees from around the world were present for the opening of Malaysia Digital Week, taking place at Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE.

OANDA Senior Market Analyst Craig Erlam discusses EURUSD as it appears to be fighting back following a big decline in 2021.

The majority of the global population can access internet content that includes audios and videos for information, learning, and entertainment. However, while some people can view recorded content as is, those who are hearing-impaired or hard of hearing need help through captions.  Captions enrich content, allowing more people to enjoy the video and audio materials. […]

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Reading Time: 5 minutesSince 2013, the CryptoLocker malware has been making its way across the Internet in various forms, in various iterations....