SEC pushes long-awaited decision on Bitcoin ETF to February 2019

If you had any hopes that a Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) would be coming in early 2019, to bring Bitcoin to Wall Street, it’s time to put them aside – again .

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) yesterday released an update stating it is pushing its decision on the VanEck Bitcoin ETF back to February 27, 2019.

According to the update, the SEC has received over 1,600 comments on the proposed rule change which would enable the launch of the Bitcoin ETF.

Clearly, the SEC is taking its time to ensure all feedback has been considered, and that the market is suitably stable for the release of such a trading option.

Some might see the delay as further signs that the SEC is likely to approve the ETF, however, it should be noted that the SEC has to give it full consideration. Just because it’s taking its time doesn’t mean it’s any more likely.

There’s also the possibility that the SEC decides to delay its decision again in February. The only thing we can be certain of is that there isn’t yet a decision.

It wouldn’t be entirely surprising if the SEC delayed again in February.

Just yesterday, Coinbase Pro played host to an Ethereum “flash crash” which saw the coin’s price drop from $100 to $13 for less than a few minutes.

If the SEC is to approve a Bitcoin ETF it has to be confident that the market is robust enough to ensure legal and fair trading.

We just have to wait for February to roll around now for the answer.

Kodak is the latest company to jump on blockchain. And one of the few that make sense

Okay, this one actually makes a lot of sense. Kodak today announced a blockchain platform called KodakOne that will feature a token named KodakCoin. This of course sent its stock skyrocketing, like Hooters before it .

Unlike a rewards program for an oddly-themed chain of restaurants (or defunct video store), Kodak on the blockchain should provide actual solutions. And if you’re a freelance photographer this may be the answer to your prayers.

According to a report from Business Wire , Kodak CEO Jeff Clarke said:

Kodak has partnered with WENN Digital on the project and will hold its ICO on 31 January. The coin, dubbed KodakCoin, will work on the KodakOne blockchain platform to provide a completely secure method of digital rights management for photographers.

Token-holders will be able to upload new images, archive older work, and manage rights for their images on the platform. Users will be able to license work directly from the platform and, presumably, there will be other products offered in the KodakOne ecosystem.

The company will also integrate AI in the form of image recognition software. Using AI, Kodak will continuously scour the web for instances of images registered within its platform providing built-in protection for images registered on KodakOne.

Digital rights management is a perfect example of applying blockchain technology to a problem that’s remained relatively unaddressed for decades. The combination of image recognition and blockchain technology might make KodakCoin the most logical and useful token we’ve seen recently.

Steven Overman, Kodak’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, gave TNW this statement:

Information, at this point, is still scarce. At the time of this writing, the company’s new KodakCoin website says it’ll launch within the next 24 hours.

Europe toughens cryptocurrency regulations in a bid to fight money laundering

via Coindesk