Snippings

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According to Ashish Chauhan in The Times of India, a group of farmers in the Gujarat region were able to put together fake matches for the very real Indian Premier Cricket League. The “players” were given scripts to follow and the whole thing was broadcast on YouTube with commentators who sounded exactly like the IPL’s familiar voices. It all looked real enough that bettors in Russian cities were wagering on the fake action through Telegram channel the scammers set up.

From Russian bettors fall for fake Indian Premier League cricket match scam:

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Blockchain (or “DLT”) adds no functionality to a SSI/Identity system that is not equally well, if not better, provided by a QR code on paper. None of the benefits Blockchain is supposed to bring hold up under mild scrutiny. Blockchain adds significant complexity and cost, as well as usability issues and serious privacy concerns. “Blockchain” in SSI exists for PR only, not for engineering reasons.

From SSI-on-Blockchain is Objectively a Bad Thing | Niko’s Blog:

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Thanks to the “Starbucks is a bank” vision of Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, millions of Starbucks customers who are members of the rewards programme are essential loaning the business around $1.6 billion at a 0% interest rate.

From Starbucks: Banking & Serving Coffee – Fintech Talents:

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The report was commissioned by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, and the work was done by the software security research company Trail of Bits.

Guido’s team calls these potential situations “unintended centralities” — situations in which someone gains leverage over the decentralized system, creating opportunities for tampering with the record of who owns what.

From Cryptocurrency tech’s security weaknesses could compromise how it runs: DARPA : NPR:

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Adhering to the sustained public interest in new technologies, and particularly in regard to the emerging use of cryptocurrencies and digital assets as a means of payments, section 22 of the Bill will subject certain types of stablecoins to regulation in an attempt to guide its transition into mainstream transactions.

The scope of this regulation will include ‘digital settlement assets,’ which includes any digital representation of value or rights, whether or not cryptographically secured, that ‘(a) can be used for the settlement of payment obligations; (b) can be transferred, stored or traded electronically, and (c) uses technology supporting the recording or storage of data (which may include distributed ledger technology).’

In fostering these new innovations, the Bill will also enable the creation of Financial Markets Infrastructure Sandboxes, allowing firms to test the use of new technologies and practices in financial markets, increasing the efficiency, transparency and resilience of new products.

From The UK Government Steps Closer to Mainstream Stablecoin Adoption With Latest Legislation | The Fintech Times:

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The concept of sustainability is linked to taking care of all life on Earth. Since 1948, how we take care of ourselves as the human race has been enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. So to me, digital sustainability means being equally able to protect fundamental human rights in the digital world as we are in the physical world. Therefore, digital sustainability is essential for the future of humankind, democracy and life in general.

From Stand up for your customers’ privacy and protect their data rather than harvesting it | INNOPAY:

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Since 1948, how we take care of ourselves as the human race has been enshrined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. So to me, digital sustainability means being equally able to protect fundamental human rights in the digital world as we are in the physical world. Therefore, digital sustainability is essential for the future of humankind, democracy and life in general.

From Stand up for your customers’ privacy and protect their data rather than harvesting it | INNOPAY:

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In South Florida, it’s pretty simple to draw a line from Russian cybercrime to US street gang killings and frauds. It’s become a real epidemic. “Fraud is the new dope,” said Armando Aguilar, criminal investigations chief at the Miami Police Department. “Fraud committed by gang members is a nationwide problem, but as with all things fraud, Miami is at the forefront.”

From Forget guns and drugs, identity theft is the latest go-to crime for Miami street gangs – SCREENSHOT:

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What’s changed since then, however, is what gangs are fighting over—guns and drugs are out, and rivals are now trying to outdo each other when it comes to performing identity theft.

From Forget guns and drugs, identity theft is the latest go-to crime for Miami street gangs – SCREENSHOT:

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Coinbase made a business decision to gain maximum market share by listing as many tokens as possible in the United States, according to Preston Byrne, partner at New York law firm Anderson Kill.

More than 150 cryptocurrencies are available to US traders, so when Coinbase says it doesn’t list any securities on its platform, it may simply be playing cute with its language, Byrne alluded.

“A token isn’t a security. It’s an investment contract, which is regulated by the Securities Act in exactly the same manner as securities,” Byrne explained.

From Coinbase Defends Listing Process, Despite SEC Pressure – Blockworks:

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