Are you wondering what we have been reading this month? Have a look at our July staff picks and have fun!

From our Compliance team

Wirecard’s June insolvency filing left many crypto companies relying on Wirecard’s card payment services to hit the panic button. Crypto payment services seem to be hitting the mainstream but this news made us aware how intricate the process really is. Check out how original (cards) and new (crypto) fintech are working out their respective obstacles.

Bitcoin As A Payment System — Crypto Cards And The Rocky Road They Travel
Crypto is making a case to be a payment system, through the use of cards, but it is not an easy path for companies trying to intergrate the two systems.

Regulations regarding cryptocurrency are evolving. The US is the trendsetter in terms of adoption and regulation even though the system is difficult to navigate. In the EU, regulation still depends on the classification of cryptocurrencies. In 2020 the 5th AML Directive required all crypto exchanges to register with financial regulators.

How the US and Europe Are Regulating Crypto in 2020
Crypto regulation in 2020: The U.S. tightens regulation of crypto, while India has finally allowed banks to get involved with firms

From our Product team

Ecological sustainability is a topic not often associated with the crypto industry. In comparison with the traditional money rails the impact of crypto is likely still small but in this post, David Schwartz takes a look at how Proof-of-work mining and Consensus compare when it comes to environmental impact.

The Environmental Impact: Cryptocurrency Mining vs. Consensus | Ripple
Energy consumption is a critical side effect of blockchain. As we see greater adoption of this technology, it’s one topic that needs to be addressed.

Jimmy Song is a long-time Bitcoin developer and author of two books on Bitcoin, one of which he wrote in just four days. In this interview, he talks about how he stumbled upon Bitcoin, his opinions on altcoins, blockchain, decentralized finance (DeFi) and projects on and off the Bitcoin blockchain.

Bitcoin Developer Jimmy Song: Bitcoin Is Money, Not Technology - CoinMarketCap Blog
CoinMarketCap speaks with Bitcoin developer Jimmy Song about why blockchain can’t work without Bitcoin, and tips for newbie coders.

Mastercard has announced its Mastercard Accelerate programme, aimed specifically at startups in fintech. After Wirex secured its principal membership, others are bound to follow as Mastercard offers a single entry point into a huge financial market with accompanying access to the latest technology, insights and security services.

Mastercard accelerates its customers’ crypto capabilities
Financial services leader Mastercard has announced details of its Mastercard Accelerate programme aimed at supporting the burgeoning crypto trend

Our Blogs for July 2020

Notable dates

  • July 29 - GateHub redesign