Listen to the audio:
Write-up:
What Moved Global Markets
– Walt Disney Co launched its much-anticipated streaming service, Disney+, but demand was well above expectations – the launch was marred by complaints from users about glitches and connection problems.
– Trying to sneak from the backyard… Facebook said on Tuesday it was launching Facebook Pay, a service that will help consolidate payments tools across its social media platforms including Whatsapp and Instagram. The company said the service allows users to send money or making a payment, while giving them an option to add a PIN or use biometrics on their smartphones including touch or face ID for security.
– President Donald Trump renewed his trade attack on China, calling the nation “cheaters” though he blamed the situation on past U.S. leaders. Trump spoke Tuesday at the Economic Club of New York. “Since China’s entrance into the World Trade Organization in 2001, no one has manipulated better or taken advantage of the United States more,” Trump said. “I will not say the word ‘cheated,’ but nobody’s cheated better than China, I will say that.” He also renewed his criticism of the European Union’s trade policies, saying it has “terrible” barriers that are unfair to U.S. producers.
– S&P 500, Nasdaq hold at record levels after Trump remarks.
Crypto Prices (from CoinMarketCap)
Bitcoin: Up 0.20% to $8,793.72
Total trading volume (24h): $19.9+ billion USD
Ethereum: Up 0.05% to $186.43
Total trading volume (24h): $7.44+ billion USD
3 biggest movers 24 hours
Biggest Mover 1: Fusion is up 61.27% to $0.552472
Biggest Mover 2: PAYCENT is up 36.78% to $0.006787
Biggest Loser: ODEM is down 39.16% to $0.102406
What moved Crypto Markets (i.e. digital assets)
– China’s proposed digitized domestic currency is not a bid to gain full control of information belonging to the general public, Mu Changchun, head of the People’s Bank of China’s digital currency research institute, said on Tuesday, adding that the goal was to balance privacy concerns and the authorities’ need for information. He said that in addition to giving users anonymity, they “will keep the balance between the ‘controllable anonymity’ and anti-money laundering, CTF (counter-terrorist financing), and also tax issues, online gambling and any electronic criminal activities.”
– The Association for Digital Asset Markets (ADAM) has released a code of conduct, which all of its members, including Hudson River Trading, Galaxy Digital, and Genesis Global Trading, will sign in early 2020. ADAM also recruited five additional members: BitGo, Anchorage, CMT Digital, BlockFi, and Tagomi.
– Derivatives exchange giant CME Group has revealed the planned launch date of its options on bitcoin futures. Pending regulatory approval, CME Group plans to launch the product on Jan. 13, 2020.
– Binance and Taiwanese electronics giant HTC announced on Tuesday a crypto smartphone that is “optimized for operating with Binance,” according to HTC decentralized chief officer Phil Chen.
– Cryptocurrency data provider CoinMarketCap has launched a new metric dubbed “Liquidity”, aiming to combat fake trading volumes.
Other Specialties
Fintech: British-based digital banking app Revolut is in talks with investors to raise at least $500 million next year to fund a global hiring spree as it expands in markets including the United States and Japan.
– The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), the country’s largest bank with over $965 billion in total assets, could launch a cryptocurrency trading platform. The Logic reported the news on Monday, saying that the bank has applied for four patents in Canada and the U.S.
Healthtech: A recent cloud deal between Google and hospital chain Ascension is first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which raises privacy fears over how the information will be used. CNBC has learned that the companies signed a standard type of agreement that usually limits the scope of how companies partnering with hospitals can use this data. However, some Ascension employees remain concerned about some tools Google is using.
Al: Stradigi AI, a Montréal-based AI solutions provider and research lab founded in 2014, announced that it has raised $53 million CAD ($40.3 million) in a Series A round led by Canadian institutional funds Investissement Québec and Fonds de solidarité FTQ, with participation from Holdun Family Office, Segovia Capital, Cossette, and company cofounders Basil Bouraropoulos and Curtis Gavura.
Smart cities: Ho Chi Minh City will develop a blockchain-oriented regulatory framework for the development of smart cities. According to Viet Nam News, the country’s Ministry of Science and Technology also announced plans to prioritize blockchain-focused startups within the national program “Supporting the National Innovation Initiative to 2025”.
NexChangeNOW Pick of the Day
One of China’s largest bitcoin mining hardware makers, Canaan Creative, publicly filed for a U.S. IPO on Monday.
www.nexchangenow.com/news/71552/chinese-bitcoin-mining-giant-canaan-files-for-400m-us-ipo