ALMOST HERE: The people behind Telegram’s blockchain project, TON, released the code for running a blockchain node on the test network portal late Friday, indicating launch may be imminent. Now developers and community members interested in the messaging app provider’s blockchain can start kicking the tires of a full node, a validator node and the blockchain explorer. According to Mitja Goroshevsky, CTO of TON Labs, which is working on tools for devs, there are currently 100 nodes maintained by Telegram on the testnet. Several more are maintained by his firm. Full story
FATF EFFECT: Netki has upgraded its digital identity service to help cryptocurrency firms meet tough new international standards for combating money laundering. The upgrade to TransactID adds two new features: the ability to break down certificates of a user’s identity into smaller pieces of personally identifiable information (PII); and the ability for senders and receivers of money to request PII from each other. “Now the protocol allows for more of a conversation where each side can request and share individual pieces of identity information with each other,” Justin Newton, CEO of Netki, told CoinDesk. Full story
MIT SCANDAL: Joichi Ito, head of the Media Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has resigned after it was revealed that he and other Media Lab staff had attempted to conceal financial contributions from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Ito resigned after The New Yorker reported on Friday that he and MIT Media lab – which hosts a number of innovation programs including a Digital Currency Initiative – had accepted donations from Epstein even though the financier was on the university’s “disqualified” donors list and attempted to keep the source of the funds a secret. Ito had disclosed last Wednesday that he had accepted $525,000 from Epstein for the lab, as well as $1.2 million for his investment funds. Full story
FAVELA EDUCATION: Nearly 120 youths now gather weekly in Rio de Janeiro for free courses about financial literacy, computer programming and blockchain technology. World Bank research field coordinator Erick Baumgartner told CoinDesk he went to three high schools in the crime-riddled Pavuna district to recruit students for the nine-month program, which started in May. “We’ve already had two days when they couldn’t come to class because of police operations,” Baumgartner said. The World Bank partnered with several organizations including MakerDAO and the Brazilian education startup Blockchain Academy. Full story
DROP AVERTED? Bitcoin's quick recovery from one-week lows below $10,100 to $10,400 at the time of writing is encouraging, for holders of the cryptocurrency. However, the outlook remains neutral, with prices hovering well below key level of $10,956. A break above that level is needed to invalidate lower-highs setup and put the bulls in a commanding position. Full story
BITCOIN RAID: A Norwegian bitcoin millionaire jumped from a second-floor balcony to escape a thief brandishing a shotgun, according to TV 2 News. After the alleged robber burt into his apartment and told him to "Lie down, or I'll shoot," the anonymous victim decided it was safer to risk the fall to the street. It’s not clear if he was injured in the fall. The event happened in May, and is now moving to court, according to the report.
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