Inshorts

U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan classified Bitcoin as money in a criminal case over hacking attacks against JPMorgan. The Judge rejected a bid by Anthony Murgio to dismiss two charges related to his alleged operation of Coin.mx. 

According to the report, the owner of Coin.mx, Gery Shalon, was previously charged with running a computer hacking and fraud scheme targeting companies like JPMorgan, and exposing personal data.

PeerNova, a Silicon Valley-based technology company, announced that it is developing a program using the Blockchain-based Cuneiform platform designed to enhance asset and transaction-based tracking for investments with State Street. Is should provide more transparent, timely and auditable reporting methods for clients.

Broadridge Financial Solutions announced it has acquired the technology assets of Inveshare, a provider of regulated shareholder communications. Broadridge has entered into a development agreement to use these technology assets to develop blockchain applications for Broadridge’s proxy business. The acquisition is expected to accelerate Broadridge’s ability to adapt distributed ledger technology capabilities to its proxy services. 

Synechron, a global financial services consulting and technology services provider, announced the launch of its Blockchain Accelerator Program that includes its first six blockchain applications available in the cloud. These applications enable financial services firms to be up-and-running on a blockchain network or in a ‘sandbox’ environment within weeks. This rapid time-to-market provides a first-mover advantage to firms that leverage blockchain as a revolutionary technology with the potential to change the fundamental economics of their businesses.

Enercity, an energy provider in Germany, announced it is accepting Bitcoin payments for electricity bills. The company said that direct Bitcoin payments can be made via the Enercity website or a Terminal at the enercity KundenCenter in Hanover city centre.

The securities services division of BNP Paribas, one of the largest banks in the world with global headquarters in Paris, is working on a blockchain platform for private company shares that would enable companies to issue mini-bonds. For the effort, BNP is partnering with French crowdfunding startups Enerflip, Lendosphere and Lumo.

Genesis Mining, a Bitcoin cloud mining provider, reported it has conducted the first ever Peer2Peer Transaction in space by sending a 3D model of a Bitcoin with a paper wallet fixed on the back all the way into space with the help of a weather balloon.

John Stumpf, a Chairman of Wells Fargo, one of the biggest banks in the US and a partner of R3 consortium, was caught in the fraud. He opened credit cards and checking accounts of $2 million for customers without informing them. The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau received a complaint about such actions and the bank had to pay a fine of $185 million. To date, Wells Fargo is no longer the biggest US bank.

Another malware, called HDDCryptor, was reported to be attacking Master Boot Records and preventing computers from booting up. Several people have already had to pay the ransom in Bitcoin.