Telegram’s grand entry into the cryptocurrency world is in limbo. After months of rumors, hype and anticipation, Telegram Open Network’s (TON) titan $1.7 billion sales round was declared illegal by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Just days before the Oct. 16 public token distribution, the SEC dealt Telegram a crippling blow by issuing an emergency action and restraining order. Down, but not out, Telegram is now officially postponing the TON launch date. But after a “force majeure” clause in the purchase agreement was made public, investors are concerned that Telegram could shirk its obligations to return funds …

Almost three-quarters of German consumers would not use Facebook's planned digital currency Libra, according to a recent poll. Only 27 percent considers using Libra On Oct. 17, Cointelegraph auf Deutsch reported that out of 2,000 Germans aged 16 and over, only 27% would ever consider using the social network’s stablecoin as a means of payment at home or abroad. The poll was conducted on behalf of the Wirtschaftswoche business news magazine and Creditplus Bank AG. The results indicate that 73% completely reject the idea of Libra as a digital currency — 42% because they do not trust Facebook as a …

The Ford Motor Company is looking into blockchain technology and geofencing to accurately track the number of “green miles” driven by its energy-efficient vehicles. Analyzing real-world benefits of energy-efficient vehicles On Oct. 15, Ford announced that it is expanding its European plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) pilot project to Cologne in Germany. The United States car manufacturer aims to analyze the real-world benefits of these energy-efficient vehicles for the environment, commercial vehicle owners and operators. The pilot, which is also conducting tests on the streets of London and Valencia, will put nine Ford Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid vans and one …

The German-speaking world has experienced another week full of exciting developments in the crypto industry, with Germany investigating the feasibility of a blockchain-based regional power trading platform, Iota Foundation joining forces with Zühlke to solve engineering problems and the German Central Bank saying that there is no need for a digital euro coin. Here is the past week of crypto and blockchain news in review, as originally reported by Cointelegraph auf Deutsch. Germany promotes research on a regional blockchain power exchange Cointelegraph auf Deutsch reported on Oct. 9, that the Free State of Bavaria in Germany plans to investigate the …

Alfa-Bank and Novolipetsk Steel Company (NLMK), in cooperation with Commerzbank and Vesuvius GmbH, are piloting Russia-Germany cross-border payments on R3’s Marco Polo network. Powered by R3’s Marco Polo Blockchain Global Trade Network On Oct. 11, Alfa-Bank announced that it is launching a foreign trade finance pilot transaction, with the cooperation of NLMK, Commerzbank and Vesuvius GmbH using R3’s Corda-powered Marco Polo Network. In the announcement, Alfa-Bank described itself as Russia’s largest financial institution measured by total assets, total equity, deposit and loan portfolios. The cross-border payment pilot aims to build a digital end-to-end trade finance and supply chain finance solution …

German programmer Tobias Frömel (also known as “battleck”) has “hacked back” the perpetrators of the Muhstik ransomware who forced him to pay 0.09 Bitcoin (BTC) to recover access to his files. In a Bleeping Computer forum post on Oct. 7, Frömel revealed that he had hacked the attackers’ database, sharing almost 3,000 decryption keys and a free decryptor with fellow victims. Illegal but sweet revenge Bleeping Computer previously reported that publicly exposed QNAP NAS devices have been targeted by ransomware dubbed Muhstik. The attackers extorted a fixed “fee” of 0.09 Bitcoin — roughly $740 at publishing time — from victims …

Germany’s finance minister Olaf Scholz sees uses for an electronic version of the euro but believes Facebook should stay away from money issuance. Scholz: Germany wants E-euros, not Libra Speaking to local financial news outlet WirtschaftsWoche on Oct. 3, Scholz revealed that he would be keen on seeing a so-called E-euro, adding: “A payment system like that would be good for Europe as a financial center and its integration into the world financial system.” By contrast, Scholz has stated that he is “very, very skeptical” of Facebook’s digital currency, Libra, mimicking its hostile reception in France previously. He continued: “A …

The German-speaking world has experienced another week full of exciting developments in the crypto industry, with Liechtenstein approving the new Blockchain Act, Iota Foundation joining the European climate research community and Germany taking a firm stand against stablecoins. Here is the past week of crypto and blockchain news in review, as originally reported by Cointelegraph auf Deutsch. Liechtenstein approves new Blockchain Act On Oct. 3, the Parliament of Liechtenstein approved the Token and TT Service Provider Act, also known as the Blockchain Act, which aims to improve investor protection, combat money laundering and establish clarity. The new law will make …

Berlin-based blockchain company RCS Global is delivering mine-to-market technology solutions to help fight against conflict minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Not part of a blood-stained supply chain On Oct.1, Reuters reported that government officials in the Societe Miniere de Bisunzu (SMB) mine in Congo are using blockchain technology to assure its clients that the minerals they purchase are not part of a blood-stained supply chain. RCS Global started implementing its blockchain technology solutions at the beginning of 2019 — enabling SMB mine officials to digitally tag their minerals. RCS managing director Ferdinand Maubrey said: “It allows purchasers of …

The German bank BayernLB has published a report on Bitcoin (BTC) versus gold, in which it predicts a big leap for the cryptocurrency in 2020. Bitcoin outshining gold? On Oct. 1 the Munich-based, state-owned bank published its latest research report that seems to suggest that the forthcoming Bitcoin halving effect is yet to be factored into its current price of about $8,300. The financial institution explained that gold had to earn its high stock-to-flow ratio “the hard way over the course of millennia.” Bitcoin on the other hand will most likely succeed to obtain a similar stock-to-flow ratio to that …

The German-speaking world has experienced another week full of exciting developments in the crypto industry, with a Berlin-based fintech startup receiving $1.5 million to develop its own blockchain, German experts warning about Facebook’s crypto coin, and the Federation of German Industries asking the government to create suitable conditions for blockchain. Here is the past week of crypto and blockchain news in review, as originally reported by Cointelegraph auf Deutsch. German fintech startup receives $1.5M to develop its own blockchain On Sept. 23, Cointelegraph auf Deutsch reported that the Berlin-based fintech startup Centrifuge received funding from the public investment bank Berlin …

Chinese crypto mining hardware giant Bitmain will launch a platform connecting global crypto miners with farm owners in October. World’s first resource to connect farms and miners The platform, dubbed World Digital Mining Map (WDMM), will be officially launched during the World Digital Mining Summit (WDMS) taking place in Frankfurt between Oct. 8 and Oct. 10, Bitmain announced in a blog post on Sept. 27. According to the announcement, the WDMM will be the first global network to connect mining hardware owners with mining farms who will provide the available power resources to host them for a fee. In turn, …