1. Zuckerberg Considers Decentralization Through Cryptography
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced his 2019 personal goals, highlighting key focus areas including:
"Should we decentralize power through encryption or other means to empower individuals?"
This marks a continued interest in blockchain’s societal impact from his 2018 emphasis on the technology.
2. Li Ka-shing’s Horizon Ventures Targets Bakkt Investment
Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing is reportedly planning an investment in institutional crypto platform Bakkt via his venture capital firm, Horizons Ventures. This move signals growing institutional interest in regulated crypto infrastructure.
3. Kaohsiung City Launches Pilot for Tourism-Focused Stablecoin
Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City government unveiled a blockchain-powered stablecoin pilot starting January 18 across three tourist hubs:
- Nanhua Market
- Guanghua Market
- Liuhe Night Market
The initiative, supported by local tourism bureaus and financial institutions, aims to streamline transactions for international visitors using a smartphone app.
4. Huobi Japan Officially Launches Licensed Exchange Services
Huobi Japan — acquired through BitTrade, one of Japan’s 16 licensed exchanges — began operations on January 8. Key advantages:
- Zero history of major security breaches
- FSA-approved acquisition under strict compliance standards
- Resource prioritization toward secure exchange infrastructure
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5. Venezuela Mandates Crypto Payments for Taxation
A new decree requires:
- Crypto businesses to pay taxes in cryptocurrency
- Foreign currency operators to settle taxes via crypto
Rationale: Strengthening fiscal systems amid economic reforms.
6. TRON’s Proposal 15: Smart Contracts to Integrate TRC10 Tokens
Justin Sun’s Proposal 15 (effective January 11 if passed) enables:
- TRC10 token transfers to smart contract accounts
- Balance queries via contract code
- Interoperability with TRC20/TRC721 tokens
Benefits for developers:
✔ Low-fee DAPP transactions
✔ Unified token ecosystem
7. Ethereum Constantinople Hard Fork: Key Details
Scheduled for ~January 16 (block 7,080,000):
- No new token creation
- No action required for ETH holders
- Core upgrades: EIP 145 (bitwise shifts), EIP 1052 (code optimization), EIP 1014 (state channels), and reduced mining reward to 2 ETH.
8. Vitalik Buterin: ETC 51% Attack Validates Ethereum’s PoS Shift
Vitalik commented:
"While ETH’s higher hash rate provides security, ETC’s attack underscores the necessity of Proof-of-Stake (PoS) for long-term resilience."
9. Canada Explores Crypto Donations for Political Parties
Elections Canada is drafting guidelines to treat crypto donations as "non-monetary contributions" after consultations with political entities. The framework aims to address:
- Transparency in crypto-funded campaigns
- Regulatory alignment with federal election laws
FAQ Section
Q: Why is Li Ka-shing investing in Bakkt?
A: Bakkt’s institutional-grade infrastructure aligns with growing demand for regulated crypto services among traditional investors.
Q: How does TRON’s TRC10 integration benefit developers?
A: It reduces technical barriers between token standards while maintaining low transaction costs for DAPP ecosystems.
Q: What’s unique about Kaohsiung’s stablecoin?
A: It’s the first government-tourism partnership leveraging blockchain for seamless cross-border payments in high-traffic areas.
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