5 min read
Hi, I am Jonathan Hayashi. After graduating from University of Rochester with double degrees in Optical Engineering and Financial Economics, I worked in one of the top 3 investment banks in Japan, SMBC Nikko. Later on, I joined one of the largest VC firms in Japan, SBI, and took charge of growth stage investments in Blockchain, Fintech, and AI Sector. I joined Cornerstone Ventures in 2020.
English version:
- 【Institutional Investors】
The world’s largest digital currency asset manager Grayscale raised $217 in one week after its debut of national TV commercial. (Details) And Grayscale’s trust crypto products begin trading publicly on OTC markets. (Details) Nasdaq-listed software firm MicroStrategy, whose major shareholders include BlackRock and Vanguard, purchased $250M in Bitcoin. (Details) Famous crypto fund Pantera has raised $165M for Fund III. (Details)
- 【Large Crypto Exchanges】
CME becomes the third largest bitcoin futures exchange, behind OKEx and BitMEX, as institutional investors put more money in. (Details) Coinbase will allow US individuals to borrow fiat loans against as much as 30% of their bitcoin holdings. (Details) Crypto exchange INX plans a $117M IPO in US with a small Israeli underwriter. (Details)
- 【Regulation / Compliance / Government】
Singapore’s central bank backs a code of practice that is released by a crypto industry NPO, which focuses on AML and KYC. (Details) US prosecutors seize Bitcoin that allegedly tied to AL Qaeda, ISIS, Hamas. (Details) Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic teams with crypto transaction storage platform Fireblocks to automate AML compliance for institutional clients. (Details) Investing app Wealthsimple (known as Canada’s Robinhood) enters Canada’s crypto sandbox. (Details) China plans a major expansion of testing for its CBDC Yuan, in cities including Hong Kong and Macau, with companies like Tencent, Meituan-Dianping, Bilibili, and Didi. (Details)
- 【Blockchain Application】
Japan’s Keio University partners with major bank MUFJ, major insurance SOMPO, and Sumitomo Life to launch STAR, a blockchain based platform for students (job candidates) and corporate HR (recruiter) to exchange personal information. (Details) SOMPO partners with LayerX to test instant payout for various insurance, using smart contract. (Details) Korea’s tech giant Kakao partners with private stock trading platform Angel League to issue digital ID card on its public blockchain Klaytn. (Details) Walmart partners with shopping loyalty platform StormX to provide cashback on shopping using crypto. (Details)
The Future Is Unwritten.
