Blockchain
Antalpha hosts Digital Asset Conference in Hong Kong
On 23 Nov, 2022, the Antalpha group, a digital asset platform for institutional partners, held a digital asset conference in Hong Kong. This conference, which gathered over 40 industry leaders from industry giants including Animoca Brands, BC Group, Riot Blockchain, S&P Dow Jones Indices and with audience members spanning across private wealth, investment banking and asset management, was held to explore the opportunities in digital assets investment amid the inflationary environment.
The digital asset market has been going through ups and downs in 2022, despite the recent turbulence in the market, many jurisdictions are still increasing adoption towards institutionalised digital assets, and Hong Kong has pledged to position itself as the digital asset hub. “The digital asset market is still in its emergent stages and we see huge potential in its development. The current market is a key opportunity for investors to tap into the potential growth,” said Max Liao, Managing Director of Business Development from Antalpha during his speech.
“The recent chaos in the digital asset market does remind us that we still have a long way to go until digital assets could become mainstream. However, looking back to the time when we are first introduced to the internet, the bubble burst soon after it booms, but you can see how dependent we are on the internet nowadays.” Jake Chan, Managing Partner from alternative investment platform Altive shared his view on the topic. Another speaker of the event, Sharon Liebowitz, Head of Innovation at S&P Dow Jones Indices said, “Digital assets are an emerging asset class with over US$1 trillion market capitalization, according to Lukka as of November 4, 2022. As market interest continues to grow, S&P Dow Jones Indices aims to bring greater transparency to this rapidly evolving market segment and provide market participants with multiple perspectives through our index solutions.”
A panel discussion with Josh Du from Animoca Brands, Dave Chapman from BC Group, Jason Chung from Riot Blockchain, Max Liao from Antalpha and Jake Chan from Altive, went further in discussing the trust and credibility issue and the opportunities amid the recent turbulence in the digital asset market.
“I believe the recent market turbulence will be short lived. FTX was a specific failure due to the lack of corporate governance, and not related at all to the technology of blockchain or the digital asset ecosystem. I’m very confident the industry will rebound given the increased technological adoption as well as improved regulation going forward.” Josh Du, Head of Digital Assets Portfolio from Animoca Brands shared at the panel.
“The FTX collapse crushed investor’s trust, however, I believe many participants will now start to recognize the regulatory space of digital assets. With regulatory support and the right incentive in place, I’m confident the market will return bullish with many opportunities that will emerge sooner than most appreciate.” Dave Chapman, Executive Director of BC Group shared.
“Although the digital asset mining market is cyclical, the long-term potential as a leveraged way to invest into digital assets remains strong. Our key focus in the meantime has been managing our balance sheet to ensure that we have enough liquidity to continue to grow during bear markets, in order to be well positioned to benefit when the cycle turns back in favor.” said Jason Chung, Head of Corporate Development and Strategy, Riot Blockchain.
Blockchain
World Chess and the Algorand Foundation propose leveling the playing field with a “chess passport”
In a whitepaper published today, World Chess (LSE: CHSS) and the Algorand Foundation (ALGO) conceptualize a new blockchain-based system that would establish secure, private, and verifiable credentials for global sports organizations, including chess. Grandmaster Evgenij Miroshnichenko contributed to the paper alongside the Algorand Foundation and World Chess.
The move comes as interest in chess hits a new high, driven by popular television series on Netflix and the BBC, the 2024 awarding of the youngest-ever world chess champion, and the inclusion of chess for the first time in the Esports World Cup later this year.
If adopted, the system would allow chess players to independently manage their identity and credentials across all chess platforms and organizations with a single decentralized ID, and one login credential for everywhere they play. They could then easily “port” their identity, achievements, records of play, rankings, and rewards across online chess platforms, as well as seamlessly from the digital world to in-person games and tournaments. This provides them with a much easier way to prove their identity, no matter their status or documentation; it would also reduce tournament application times significantly. Chess organizations would then be able to welcome even more players to their competitions, including those who have built their chess career solely online, as well as players who have previously only competed in tournaments held by other organizations.
Among other benefits, the adoption of a “global chess passport” would make it much easier for organizers and chess clubs and federations alike to onboard and register players, both online and offline.
Another benefit of the proposed system is to safeguard fair play. As chess becomes increasingly integrated into e-sports and online competitions, the use of AI programs or player fraud (one player representing another) is an increasing concern. Being able to confirm player integrity (including whether they have been banned for cheating on any other platform) ensures credibility of chess contests and competitions. These verifiable credentials also preserve player privacy. They can be used to confirm player eligibility and relevant identity data without providing access to sensitive documentation, such as passports. Finally, identity verification also prevents fraud in tournament payouts. Phishing and other attempts to steal winnings are on the rise; this ensures only the rightful winner can access their prize funds.
“I think that chess needs its version of the global e-version of drivers license. It’s a global game, and using blockchain for the benefit of having one universal independently verifiable ID is something that both players and organizers will certainly benefit from,” says Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess.
“This initiative is not just about chess; it’s about the future of fair play and verifiable achievement across all sports and esports,” said Bruno Martins, principal architect at the Algorand Foundation and co-author of the whitepaper. “Chess has a rich history of proving the usefulness of new technologies. In this case, World Chess is showing the integrity, privacy, and portability of records in any competitive arena is not only possible – it’s in the best interest of every player, everywhere.”
Statista estimates that the market for esports should reach $4.8 billion in 2025, with nearly 900 million players by 2029 (source), all of which could benefit from better cross-platform registration for online and in-person competitions.
The full whitepaper and more information about the proposed open-source system can be found here. Chess platforms, esports organizations and other parties interested in contributing to the project can get involved by contacting [email protected].
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Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 23, 2025 – EDPB, Binance, MicroCloud, Nile Coin, TruaBroker
Welcome to Blocks & Headlines, your daily op-ed–style briefing on the most significant developments in blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency industry. Today’s dispatch spotlights landmark privacy guidelines from the European Data Protection Board, Malaysia’s engagement with Binance’s founder to turbocharge digital finance, a groundbreaking blockchain reconstruction solution from MicroCloud Hologram, the impending launch of Nile Coin on Solana by Hyperscale Data’s subsidiary BitNile.com, and Trua’s AI-driven TruaBroker compliance platform. These stories underscore how regulation, infrastructure innovation, token launches, and compliance automation are shaping Web3’s next chapter.
1. EU’s Privacy Guardrails: EDPB Proposes Blockchain Data Access Guidelines
Source: Decrypt
The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has published draft guidelines aimed at reconciling blockchain’s immutable architecture with GDPR’s privacy mandates. Key directives include avoiding on-chain storage of personal data when it conflicts with Data Protection by Design and by Default, conducting Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) for high-risk processing, and implementing organizational and technical measures to limit default data access to an “indefinite number of persons” Decrypt.
Op-Ed Insight:These guidelines mark a pivotal moment. By mandating privacy-by-design and off-chain anchoring of sensitive information, the EDPB effectively pressures projects to adopt hybrid architectures—where on-chain transparency coexists with off-chain confidentiality. While defenders of pure decentralization decry potential censorship, privacy advocates hail these guardrails as essential to prevent authoritarian misuse of immutable ledgers. Ultimately, projects that bake data protection into their smart contracts and storage layers will secure both regulatory compliance and user trust.
2. Malaysia Taps Binance’s CZ for a Blockchain Finance Overhaul
Source: Bitcoin News
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has initiated high-level discussions with Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Binance’s founder and former CEO, to position Malaysia as Southeast Asia’s preeminent hub for tokenization and digital finance. The dialogue focuses on leveraging blockchain to modernize capital markets, streamline cross-border payments, and foster regulatory sandboxes that attract global Web3 startups Beamstart.
Op-Ed Insight: Engaging CZ signals Malaysia’s ambition to leapfrog legacy financial architectures by importing Binance’s exchange expertise and compliance playbooks. Yet success hinges on crafting balanced regulations that encourage innovation without compromising investor protection. If Malaysia can marry CZ’s technical insights with proactive oversight—such as clear licensing pathways for decentralized exchanges—it could catalyze a shift in regional capital flows from traditional finance hubs like Singapore to Kuala Lumpur.
3. MicroCloud Hologram’s VSS-Powered Blockchain Reconstruction Solution
Source: PR Newswire
MicroCloud Hologram Inc. (NASDAQ: HOLO) unveiled an innovative blockchain reconstruction solution that employs Verifiable Secret Sharing (VSS) technology to split and distribute private key shares across distributed nodes. Four core components—VSS-based key sharding, redundant node storage, dynamic participant verification, and incentive-driven reward/penalty mechanisms—enable rapid, trustless restoration of blockchain data integrity following attacks or node failures PR Newswire.
Op-Ed Insight: As DeFi and on-chain finance proliferate, uninterrupted availability and data consistency have become paramount. MicroCloud’s VSS approach transforms reconstruction from a centralized recovery process into a decentralized protocol, minimizing reliance on any single custodian. This paradigm could redefine disaster-recovery benchmarks: imagine an exploited smart contract whose state is instantly rebuilt through pre-sharded secrets, preserving transactional continuity without manual key escrow.
4. BitNile.com to Launch Nile Coin on Solana Blockchain
Source: GlobeNewswire
Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS) announced that its social gaming subsidiary BitNile.com will launch Nile Coin on Solana on May 1, 2025. Solana’s high throughput and low fees position it as an optimal platform for BitNile’s gaming ecosystems, where Nile Coin will fuel in-game economies, reward completions, and facilitate peer-to-peer transactions. Further details on tokenomics and utility are expected in the coming weeks GlobeNewswire.
Op-Ed Insight: While new token launches are ubiquitous, Nile Coin’s Solana-native design leverages one of the fastest blockchains for scalable micro-transactions—a critical requirement for social gaming. Success will depend on robust token utility, partnership integrations, and community incentives. If BitNile.com can embed Nile Coin across multiple entertainment verticals (e-sports, virtual concerts, NFTs), it could ignite a network-effect flywheel, bolstering both user engagement and on-chain liquidity.
5. TruaBroker: Automating Compliance with AI-Powered Trust Credentials
Source: PR Newswire (via Benzinga)
Trua, a leader in digital trust credentials, launched TruaBroker
, a cloud-based platform that automates compliance for broker-dealers and Registered Investment Advisors. Built on Trua’s patented Continuous Evaluation engine, TruaBroker delivers real-time monitoring of FINRA, SEC, and NFA records; identity verification; and continuous credential checks—all without IT integration. Its AI algorithms flag licensing gaps, disciplinary histories, and civil actions, enabling firms to maintain audit readiness and mitigate risk proactively Benzinga.
Op-Ed Insight: In an era when on-chain transactions intersect with regulated financial activities, seamless compliance is non-negotiable. TruaBroker’s model—issuing reusable, verifiable digital credentials anchored by blockchain—offers a blueprint for how KYC/AML processes can evolve into dynamic, trustless workflows. As DeFi platforms eye tokenized securities and on-ramps, integrating similar continuous-evaluation mechanics could become a competitive differentiator, blending self-sovereign identity with regulatory assurance.
Conclusion
Today’s headlines illustrate blockchain’s multifaceted evolution: from regulatory frameworks enforcing privacy and consumer rights, to infrastructure innovations that ensure resilience; from national strategies enlisting industry titans to drive tokenization, to platform launches forging new digital economies; and from compliance automation transforming institutional trust to AI-powered credentialing.
As the space matures, successful projects will be those that:
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Embed privacy and compliance by design—aligning with GDPR and global regulations.
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Invest in self-healing architectures—leveraging cryptographic primitives like VSS.
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Cultivate vibrant token ecosystems—anchored on high-performance chains.
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Adopt continuous, AI-driven governance—bridging the gap between Web3 innovation and traditional financial oversight.
Stay tuned to Blocks & Headlines for incisive commentary and daily updates on the blockchain stories that shape tomorrow’s decentralized future.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – April 23, 2025 – EDPB, Binance, MicroCloud, Nile Coin, TruaBroker appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
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