Tag Archives: blockchain

World Health Organization Launches Blockchain Platform to Fight COVID-19

By | |
Leave a comment

World Health Organization Launches Blockchain Platform to Fight COVID-19


Image courtesy of CoinTelegraph

            MARCH 28, 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) has partnered on March 28 with major blockchain and tech companies to launch a distributed ledger technology (DLT)-based platform for sharing data concerning the coronavirus pandemic.

The platform, MiPasa, is built on top of Hyperledger Fabric and seeks to enable "early detection of COVID-19 carriers and infection hotspots."

MiPasa has been launched in partnership with technology company IBM, computer firm Oracle, enterprise blockchain platform Hacera and IT corporation Microsoft.

WHO launches blockchain-based platform to fight COVID-19

The platform purports to facilitate "fully private information sharing between individuals, state authorities and health institutions."

The project cross-references siloed location and health data is "siloed" on the platform to glean global insights while ensuring patient privacy, with MiPasa describing the platform as a "verifiable information highway." MiPasa is slated to soon host an array of publicly accessible analytics tools too.

According to the project's website:

"MiPasa can help monitor and foresee local and global epidemiological trends and detect likely asymptomatic carriers by feeding big data on infection routes and occurrences to powerful AI processors around the world."

A number of national health institutions are also contributing to the project — including the U.S., European, and Chinese Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the Hong Kong Department of Health, the Government of Canada and China's National Health Commission.

The fight against coronavirus highlights applications for DLT

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted many of the applications for blockchain technology.

On March 25, it was reported that the United Arab Emirates (UAE)s Ministry of Community Development (MOCD) is adopting DLT-based solutions for identity verification and the distribution of official documents — allowing customers to securely engage with the MOCD from home.

Blockchain technology has also been suggested as the most efficient means through which the United States' stimulus package could be distributed — with some proponents even proposing that the U.S. launch a DLT-based "digital dollar."

China has deployed blockchain in numerous applications to assist its efforts to fight COVID-19, using DLT to track the virus' spread, medical records, and the distribution of medical supplies and charity donations.

A Chinese journalist has also used Ethereum (ETH) to bypass censorship and publish an interview with a Wuhan-based doctor on the pandemic.

ecosystem for entrepreneurs
Markethive Advertisement

Original article posted on the CoinTelegraph.com site, by Samuel Haig.

Article re-posted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Microsoft Files Patent For Crypto Mining System Using Body Activity Data

By | |
Leave a comment

Microsoft Files Patent For Crypto Mining System Using Body Activity Data


Image courtesy of CoinTelegraph

            MARCH 27, 2020

Tech giant, Microsoft, is looking to develop a cryptocurrency system which enables individuals to mine cryptocurrency using their body activity data, eliminating the need for specialized mining machines.

Microsoft published a patent dubbed "Cryptocurrency system using body activity data" on March 26. Their paperwork details a method of crypto mining which exploits data associated with a user's body activity to exercise a new form of proof-of-work. The document further details:

"For example, a brain wave or body heat emitted from the user when the user performs the task provided by an information or service provider, such as viewing advertisement or using certain internet services, can be used in the mining process."

Diagram of the invention. Source: Patentscope
Diagram of the invention. Source: Patentscope

To implement the process, a server provides a task to a user's device, which is communicatively coupled to the server. A special sensor then indicates body activity of the individual, while a cryptocurrency system verifies whether or not the body activity data satisfies the conditions set by the cryptocurrency system. Ultimately, the system awards cryptocurrency to the user whose body activity data is verified.

Blockchain patents gain traction

Technology companies continue to experiment with cryptocurrency and blockchain in an attempt to remain a step ahead of their rivals. In the United States alone, the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted 227 blockchain-related patents from January 2014 to October 2019.

Recently, another tech behemoth, IBM, was awarded a patent for the development of a so-called "self-aware token." The idea of the development is that the adoption of new forms of currency will create questions regarding the ability to validate, authenticate, and coordinate transactions across diverse forms of payment and trade that traditionally had little or no interaction.

Brian Amstrong, the CEO of Coinbase, patented a method that enables users to make Bitcoin (BTC) payments using email addresses tied to wallet addresses, without incurring transaction fees.

Original article posted on the CoinTelegraph.com site, by Ana Alexandre.

Article re-posted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

HR Firm Randstad To Use Blockchain Smart Contracts To Help Recruiters

By | |
Leave a comment

HR Firm Randstad To Use Blockchain Smart Contracts To Help Recruiters

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 3/2/2020 10:25 AM ET

Randstad, the world's largest human resources firm, has teamed up with New York-based blockchain start-up Cypherium and Google Cloud to develop a solution to speed up business processes of matching talent to corporate needs.

Randstad has turned to Google Cloud to host its solution in tandem with Cypherium, which will manage the smart contracts. During the pilot, Randstad saw reduced human error in the vetting process.

Randstad believes that these innovations provide a unique opportunity to help recruiters connect with and deliver value to both job seekers and employers.

After the solution is implemented, Randstad will use blockchain technology to automate bureaucratic tasks, augmenting human capabilities and enabling its teams to focus on the critical art and science of matching talent with demand.

Randstad currently relies on humans to verify qualifications, a process which can take months. With Cypherium blockchain, Randstad expects to enable instant verification of academic and professional qualifications from recognized official sources.

"Google Cloud and G Suite already free us from some manual verification tasks, and we plan to use Cypherium's blockchain to hand off even more," says Frank van der Bijl, Global Collaboration Manager at Randstad.

The company also needs a fast, reliable blockchain that keeps the personal data of millions of people safe and secure. The secure-by-design infrastructure of Google Cloud keeps private information safe, while ensuring that Randstad remains compliant with international data regulations, such as GDPR and ISO requirements.

The solution will also enable instant, guaranteed payments via smart contracts, and handle paperwork to bring workers into and out of an organization through onboarding and offboarding.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

ecosystem for entrepreneurs
Markethive Advertisement

Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

France’s Avril Group To Use IBM Blockchain To Track Matines Eggs

By | |
Leave a comment

France’s Avril Group To Use IBM Blockchain To Track Matines Eggs

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 2/7/2020 9:13 AM ET

French agribusiness Avril Group became the latest to team up with IBM Blockchain to apply blockchain technology to trace its “Matines Eggs” range from the farms to the consumers.

The tracking will be done through Cloud network IBM Food Trust solution, which is based on Blockchain Hyperledger technology.

Avril Group is the French market leader in the vegetable oil and protein industry, as well as the owner of the leading fresh egg and oil brands, Matines and Lesieur, among others. It has operations in 22 countries.

The hens that lay the eggs sold under the Matines brand are raised without antibiotic treatment, fed with 100% French cereals, and good breeding practices controlled by an independent body.

Matines egg brand will provide enhanced information and traceability of 25 references on its ranges of organic, outdoors, free-range red label, soil and standard eggs.

Customers of Matines egg brand will be able to scan a QR-code printed inside the egg box using a smartphone that will direct them to a dedicated application to access all information about the eggs’ journey from the farm to the consumer.

The information includes farming method, way the hens are fed, approach to good farming practices, date of egg laying, packing center, date on which the eggs are received, date of packaging, and the date of dispatch to the warehouses of the various distributors.

The blockchain records immutable information at each step of the process and provides transparency for consumers about claims of quality of the product they consume.

The use of blockchain for food provenance will help reduce food fraud, including mislabeled, diluted or substituted foodstuffs.

A recent IBM Institute for Business Value study found that 73% of consumers will pay a premium for full transparency into the products they buy.

IBM Food Trust network connects growers, processors, distributors, shippers, retailers, regulators, and consumers through a permissioned, permanent and shared record of food system data.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Sacramento Kings Launch Blockchain-driven Memorabilia Auction Platform

By | |
Leave a comment

Sacramento Kings Launch Blockchain-driven Memorabilia Auction Platform

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 1/22/2020 9:36 AM ET

American professional basketball team Sacramento Kings launched NBA’s first live blockchain-powered auction platform for authentic memorabilia in partnership with New York-based blockchain technology firm ConsenSys.

Sacramento Kings is using ConsenSys’ Ethereum-powered supply chain product called Treum for fans to bid on in-game sports gear that is worn during matches. During Kings home games, fans will be able to participate in a live auction of game-worn gear. Anyone from the fans watching the game in the arena to the fans watching from home can bid on any Kings live auction item.

Kings guard Buddy Hield’s game-worn jersey was the first to be auctioned off during the game with proceeds used for Hurricane Dorian relief efforts. Proceeds from future auctions will go toward the Sacramento Kings Foundation unless specified.

The total value of the U.S. sports memorabilia market has been valued at $5.4 billion annually. There are currently no industry standards for authenticating items and protecting fans from purchasing counterfeit merchandise.

The auction’s highest bidders will receive the authenticated gear, tagged and verified, along with a token, representing proof of ownership and also serves as a Certificate of Authenticity (CoA).

This partnership follows the Kings recent launch of the NBA’s first physical blockchain-powered range of crypto-collectible in professional sports.

The Sacramento Kings, one of the most tech-savvy ownership groups in the NBA, had partnered BitPay in 2014 to become the first sports team in the world to accept Bitcoin payments for match tickets and promotional products.

Recently, it teamed up with blockchain startup Blockparty to launch NBA’s first blockchain-driven reward program for the NBA’s first predictive gaming app called ‘Call the Shot.’

In July 2018, Sacramento Kings had become probably the first professional sports team to foray into cryptocurrency mining and use the funds for charity program ‘MiningForGood.’ They installed crypto-mining machines inside their arena.

In August, Dallas Mavericks became the second NBA team after Sacramento Kings to accept cryptocurrency Bitcoin (BTC) as an additional method of payment for match tickets and merchandise. It teamed up with Bitcoin payment processor BitPay to process all the payments using Bitcoin.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Canadian Government to Use Blockchain to Trace Steel Supply Chain

By | |
Leave a comment

Canadian Government to Use Blockchain to Trace Steel Supply Chain

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 1/21/2020 9:22 AM ET

The Canadian Government is planning to use blockchain technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to track the steel industry supply chain for Canadian and possibly North American business users and government.

The Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), a government agency, has awarded a C$169,427 or about $130,000 worth contract to Canadian enterprise blockchain start-up Mavennet Systems, Inc. to develop the digital tracing platform by combining the two technologies.

Canada's steel industry is a major international exporter, especially to the U.S.

The solution is intended to provide real-time insights and information to users within minutes of upload on smart phone and web interface, to digitally automate steel supply chain transactions.

The use blockchain technology is expected to ensure secure, accurate and transparency of data. It will also maintain a full digital trail in case of input errors. Users must be able to rectify mistakes by "adding onto the log", rather than deleting mistakes entirely.

Meanwhile, the use of AI enabled data analytics will better capture activities across the steel supply chain. Using AI will enable information on past, current and predicted demand for any input and output and predicting downstream product volume from supply products.

The platform is also expected to provide a comprehensive digital breakdown of the component parts of steel and steel products, such as coal, iron ore, nickel, steel scrap, and finished steel products.

In November last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded a grant of $182,700 to Mavennet Systems to develop a blockchain-powered solution to track cross-border oil import.

Under the terms, Mavennet is required to modify its existing oil and gas tracking platform to meet the requirements of the U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) to track cross-border oil imports.

The CPB expects the new platform to track the evidence of oil flow through pipelines and refinement between the U.S. and Canada and attribute oil imports with the accurate composition and country of origin.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

 

Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

CHO Group To Use IBM Blockchain For Traceability Of Olive Oil

By | |
Leave a comment

CHO Group To Use IBM Blockchain For Traceability Of Olive Oil

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 1/15/2020 9:22 AM ET

Tunisian olive oil producer CHO Group teamed up with IBM Blockchain to apply blockchain technology to provide consumers traceability for its 'Terra Delyssa extra virgin olive oil' from the olive orchards to the consumers.

Terra Delyssa extra virgin olive oil will be tracked using the blockchain-based Cloud network IBM Food Trust solution, which is based on Blockchain Hyperledger technology.

Terra Delyssa, which is claimed to be grown in CHO's pesticide-free orchards with 320 days of sun, is first cold pressed under the highest standards for quality and is made entirely from a single source.

CHO has already begun using IBM Food Trust network to manage and record traceability data for its extra virgin line, the highest grade of olive oil as classified by the International Olive Oil Council and the USDA.

Customers of Terra Delyssa global retailers will be able to scan a QR-code on each label using a smartphone to view a provenance record, starting with its most recent harvest in November last year that is now being bottled. All data about Terra Delyssa lots are being uploaded to the distributed ledger.

Consumers can track the product across eight quality assurance checkpoints, including the orchard where the olives were grown, the mill where olives were crushed, and the facilities where the oil was filtered, bottled, distributed, and more.

Terra Delyssa's fully traceable extra virgin olive oil is currently being bottled and expected to reach store shelves at major retailers in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Denmark and Japan by March.

Media coverage of olive oil mislabeling and illicit counterfeit olive oil operations had caused general confusion about how olive oils are blended, and was driving consumer distrust.

The use of blockchain for food provenance will help reduce food fraud, including mislabeled, diluted or substituted foodstuffs.

A recent IBM Institute for Business Value study found that 73% of consumers will pay a premium for full transparency into the products they buy.

ecosystem for entrepreneurs
Markethive Advertisement

IBM Food Trust network connects growers, processors, distributors, shippers, retailers, regulators, and consumers through a permissioned, permanent and shared record of food system data. This will enable them to work together to trace and authenticate products or optimize supply chain processes.

CHO is the latest major food provider to join IBM Food Trust. Other firms include Carrefour, Topco Associates, Wakefern, BeefChain, Dennick Fruit Source, Scoular, and Smithfield as well as other multinational companies such as Nestlé, Kroger, Tyson Foods, and Unilever.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Samsung And Syniverse To Simplify Mobile Payment System

By | |
Leave a comment

Samsung And Syniverse To Simplify Mobile Payment System

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 1/10/2020 9:02 AM ET

Samsung SDS America, the IT arm of South Korean conglomerate Samsung, and U.S.-based Syniverse are combining their mobile and blockchain technologies to develop a common payment platform that makes the users' mobile phone the easiest payment means. A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed at the 2020 International CES.

Under the partnership, Samsung SDS's Nexledger Universal blockchain platform will be integrated with Syniverse's industry-leading blockchain solution, Universal Commerce, and market-aware Mobile Engagement platform.

This will enable development of a mobile payment platform for cross-region transactions, and that comply with regulations. This will particularly help mobile operators and companies dealing in logistics, financial, travel and hospitality, media and entertainment, and retail.

The use of blockchain along with the scalability and flexibility of Nexledger Universal, and Syniverse's decades of payment and settlement experience, is expected to deliver a frictionless phone-to-phone or phone-to-merchant payment engine for secure, simple exchange of value. It will also addressing the ever-increasing regulatory requirements.

The common payment platform will work with any mobile operator and allow any mobile user to send money, loyalty points, or other digital currencies to other mobile users or merchants across the globe.

The Nexledger platform allows enterprises to take control of distributed transactions, securely and conveniently. It also offers a flexible application programming interface that can be applied to different blockchains like Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric and Samsung's own Nexledger Consensus Algorithm.

Meanwhile, Syniverse's mobile technology products and services provide a secure instant-access platform for seamless, customizable multi-channel messaging and connectivity. The platform connects more than 7 billion mobile devices in 158 countries and annually processes more than $35 billion in transactions for mobile operators and enterprises.

Syniverse's Universal Commerce blockchain service simplifies, accelerates, and secures multiparty agreements by replacing manual processes with smart contracts, unifying data records, and providing encryption.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Blockchain Startup Settles Charges With SEC For Running Unregistered ICO

By | |
Leave a comment

Blockchain Startup Settles Charges With SEC For Running Unregistered ICO

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 12/19/2019 9:29 AM ET

Blockchain startup Blockchain of Things Inc. or BCoT, reached a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for charges of conducting an unregistered initial coin offering (ICO) of digital tokens, according to a statement released by the SEC.

The settlement requires New York-based BCoT to pay a penalty of $250,000 and also to stop violating any federal securities laws.

The SEC order also requires BCoT to return the funds raised from the investors who purchased tokens in the ICO and have requested a return of the funds. BCoT raised nearly $13 million to develop and implement its business plans, including developing its blockchain-based technology and platform.

The SEC settlement order states that BCoT claimed that its platform was intended to allow third-party developers to build applications for message transmission and logging, digital asset generation, and digital asset transfer.

The SEC found in its investigations that BCoT did not register its ICO pursuant to the federal securities laws, nor did it qualify for an exemption from the registration requirements. It conducted the ICO starting in December 2017.

The regulator also said BCoT sold its digital tokens to U.S. investors and engaged four "resellers" to serve as the exclusive sellers of BCoT's digital tokens in certain foreign countries without restrictions on resale of those tokens to U.S. investors.

The company has now also agreed with the SEC to register its tokens as securities pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and file required periodic reports with the SEC. BCoT consented to the order without admitting or denying the findings.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

UN Agency To Use Blockchain To Prevent Illegal Fees Charging

By | |
Leave a comment

UN Agency To Use Blockchain To Prevent Illegal Fees Charging

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 12/17/2019 9:31 AM ET

International Organization for Migration or IOM, the United Nations Migration Agency, decided to use blockchain technology to prevent the exploitation of migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong SAR, China.

The agency developed and launched a blockchain-based tool called IRIS-SAFER in partnership with blockchain solutions company Diginex. IRIS-SAFER is an acronym for the International Recruitment Integrity System (IRIS)- Self-Assessment for Ethical Recruitment (SAFER).

The tool is being initially designed for use by representatives from the about 1,500 Hong Kong-based migrant domestic worker recruitment agencies, as well as select associated agencies in worker-sending countries.

IOM will initially invite recruitment agencies to use the tool to assess the current level of adherence to global ethical recruitment principles as set forth by the IRIS Standard.

"Ethical recruitment practices are essential to improve protection of workers, employers and recruitment intermediaries," said Giuseppe Crocetti, Chief of Mission, IOM China.

The use of blockchain technology will strengthen data management and enforce data integrity, which allows for a higher level of transparency and visibility.

According to the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, there are almost 390,000 migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong, nearly 1 in 10 of all workers in the city, with almost 98 percent of these being women.

More than half or 56 percent of domestic migrant workers were charged illegal fees by recruitment agencies, a recent survey by the International Labor Organization (ILO) shows.

Hong Kong-based Diginex said the tool can help to eradicate these unethical practices of charging illegal fees . In Hong Kong, foreign domestic workers are forced to pay about HK$700,000,000 each year in placement/recruitment fees as they are some of the most economically vulnerable people.

Diginex and IOM plan to launch IRIS-SAFER to recruitment agencies in other jurisdictions globally after the successful roll-out of the tool in Hong Kong SAR and select countries of origin for migrant domestic workers.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe