Chain Partners publish research report "Security Token (STO) Analysis

Chain Partners have published an in-depth research report on Security Token Offers (STO) titled: “Security Token (STO) Analysis”  Chain Partners is one of South Korea’s leading digital asset platform operating an exchange, payments and OTC trading desk. 
https://chain.partners/en/

The research report states that security tokens still remain at an experimental stage, and 2019 will become the initial period for the appearance of legitimate infrastructure for the institutionalization of digital assets. As security tokens fall under the framework of traditional finance, Chain Partners believe it is nearly impossible for Security Tokens to expand into a trillion dollar market without the entrance of financial institutions. (In early 2018 when the majority of the market was utility tokens, the maximum value of the digital asset market was USD 814 billion).

CCAF Research Report "Distributed Ledger Technology Systems: A Conceptual Framework"

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF), at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School, the global leader in Fintech research, has published a document entitled “Distributed Ledger Technology Systems: A Conceptual Framework.”

The authors aim to provide a common framework and terminology for the fast emerging Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) industry also frequently referred to as Blockchain.  This can be helpful in dispelling the confusion that surrounds the DLT / Blockchain industry.

The report provides a list of the key characteristics of a DLT system, which must be capable of  ensuring:

Cryptocompare publishes research report ”Crypto Asset Taxonomy”

CryptoCompare, the global cryptocurrency market data provider published the ‘Cryptoasset Taxonomy Report’ on 16 October.  The report provides retail and institutional investors, regulators and the industry as a whole with an independent classification of cryptoassets, based on the depth, breadth and scope of CryptoCompare’s global datasets.

CryptoCompare indicates that more than 1,000 different cryptoassets have emerged in the last year alone. Each of these cryptoassets can be categorised and understood using numerous frameworks. CryptoCompare state that there is a clear requirement for a unified approach on how to categorise these assets, to make well-informed investment decisions.

Goldman Sachs and Galaxy Digital Ventures invest in BitGo to build $1 Trillion crypto wallet

This week US based BitGo (http://BitGo.com/) the market leader in institutional-grade cryptocurrency security  announced the second close of its Series B funding round.  The new investors were Goldman Sachs’ Principal Strategic Investments group and Galaxy Digital Ventures LLC.   This brings the total amount raised in the Series B round to $57.5 million. BitGo confirm the funding will support BitGo’s development of its $1 trillion crypto wallet.

BitGo provides institutional investors with security, compliance, and custodial solutions for blockchain-based currencies. Earlier this month, BitGo announced the launch of BitGo Trust Company, the first qualified custodian purpose-built for storing digital assets.

Infographic from Raconteur “The Future for Bitcoin”

Raconteur (Raconteur.net) have published a great infographic about the future for Bitcoin.  Raconteur point to the incredible surge in cryptocurrency during 2017.

Bitcoin is seen as too volatile for some investors and lacking the safeguards afforded to most financial assets, bitcoin remains a contentious issue in the trading world. Yet despite warnings of a speculative bubble, interest in bitcoin shows no sign of abating, as hedge funds step up their investments and other companies attempt to bring cryptos into the mainstream.

With strategists and hedge fund managers predicting a further run in bitcoin in the short term at least, what does 2018 hold for its seemingly unstoppable appreciation?