Disputed Grant Leads Aragon Association to a Swiss Court

Willmen Blanco
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Disputed Grant Leads Aragon Association to a Swiss Court

Aragon says that it stopped funding Autark for breach of agreements. Autark calls for compliance with the contract that guaranteed funds until August 2020.

Aragon, the startup for creating and managing Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAO), and the American company Autark, recently revealed that they have a legal dispute. They will solve it in a conventional Swiss court and not at Aragon Court, the decentralized court active on the Ethereum blockchain.

The origin of the conflict between Aragon and Autark is related to Aragon Governance Proposals (AGP) grant number 73, awarded to the American company through Flock. This is a funding program aimed at injecting capital to develop ideas and tools that contribute to the growth of the Aragon ecosystem.

A series of conflicts subsequently led lock to close, but the program has sponsored various projects. As one of its beneficiaries, in January 2019, Autark’s project received the community’s approval (with 54% of the votes) of funds, which amounted to 390 thousand DAI and 350 thousand ANT tokens, through AGP-19 grant. According to Aragon, the funding that Autark received was around USD 750,000.

Subsequently, Autark received a second grant from Aragon, AGP-73 (with votes from 99% of the community) and everything was developing normally. Then, Aragon decided to suspend payments, as detailed in the statement from the American company.

Autark said that they have been discussing with Aragon’s lawyers since January of this year, which should have led to an agreement. However, Aragon recently filed a lawsuit to terminate the agreement, which reportedly impelled Autark to make their version of events public.

Aragon alleges that it decided not to continue funding Autark due to non-compliance with the agreement. They add that they allowed three additional months after announcing their decision so that the company would obtain other sources of funding. They also say that they offered to help them raise funds and compete for other grant programs, but the company chose not to accept the suggestion.

In its document, Aragon states that Autark only reached one of the thirteen goals established. The Open Enterprise project is the only one that would represent less than 0.015% of the assets managed in Aragonese organizations, one of the main reasons why the Association decided to stop the funding. However, they also mentioned other reasons, such as personal problems (including threats) and breach of confidentiality (including defamation).

Autark accuses the founders of Aragon Luis Cuende and Jorge Izquierdo, rather than the Aragonese community, of trying to terminate the AGP-73 grant. They suspect that the intention behind the Association’s legal action is not to pay the outstanding debt.

An article by DeFi Rate author Cooper Turley notes that the Aragon community wants the conflict with Autark to be solved directly at Aragon court, with the participation of native ANJ tokens and community members in general. Cooper also says that there is no observable explanation for the fact that the Association resorted to the jurisdiction of Switzerland to solve a conflict similar to those solved at Aragon Court.

By Willmen Blanco

Spanish Startup Uses the Alastria Blockchain ​​Network to Validate Documents

Maria Rodríguez
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Spanish Startup Uses the Alastria Blockchain ​​Network to Validate Documents

The CEO of the Spanish company Vestigia assures that the registration of these documents will remain free during the crisis that the Covid-19 pandemic generated.

Vestigia, the renowned Spanish company located in the city of Seville, recently announced that citizens can validate their legal documents using its blockchain-based digital platform. Now, customers can validate personal documents for free, using the FidesBlock platform, which was in-house developed.

In addition to being a free public service, the company indicates that it may even register property titles. The idea is to offer the most important services to customers.

In a recent interview, José Manuel Avelino, CEO of Vestigia, commented that the network would serve as a channel to send the registered information to the entities in charge of public registration. Avelino added that the company uses the Alastria network to make the transmissions with the authorities. This particularity indicates that the company works as a node linked to other companies and government agencies.

The CEO did not offer further details on how FidesBlock works. However, he mentioned that the system has certain similarities to the Ethereum blockchain. Besides, he recognized that they use other technologies to make the system work as expected. Some of the tools they use include wireless functions and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Avelino mentions that they seek to give a different treatment when registering and certifying legal documentation. They hope to go beyond what users know. “We apply a different approach by not only remaining in the digitalization and electronic signature of documents but in their certification and real validation, through the integration of IoT and NFC (Near Field Communication) equipment that guarantees the authentication of its owner’s data”.

The CEO also mentioned that they designed this system originally for the exclusive use of companies that needed new certification methods in the supply chain.

However, they made some modifications so that this same system can allow the certification of legal documents. Avelino says that, during the Covid-19 pandemic, many people expected practical solutions to legalize their private documents. From that premise, they left to modify.

To use this system, users must have their DNI (National Identity Document) and a wireless device. The system recognizes the DNI and, automatically, registers the property in the name of the user. In this way, users can register legal documents and conduct different actions such as buying or selling a property, certifying powers, and even registering intellectual property.

Despite this request, the company ensures that it will only work to streamline the registration process since the user must attend the public registry to endorse the document. Avelino comments that, until now, the system would work this way during the quarantine period.

According to data that Vestigia shared, this system has executed almost 200 records until now. Besides, the company assures that the service will remain free as long as the alert status for the Covid-19 pandemic continues.

Avelino recalled that, once the document is registered, it will be within the Alastria network forever. This is not the case with FidesBlock, which will only keep the information for about 5 years.

By María Rodríguez

Argentine city Creates Education Program Based on Blockchain ​​Technology

Maria Rodríguez
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Argentine city Creates Education Program Based on Blockchain ​​Technology

The Ministry of Science and Technology of that Latin American country takes control of the project.

In the city of Córdoba, Argentina, the Ministry of Science and Technology recently approved the allocation of financial resources that will allow developing an education project that involves blockchain technology.

According to local media reviews, the name of the initiative is “Blockchain Node”. The higher education institutions in the Argentine province support this project. According to the media press report of La Voz, one of the objectives for the creation of this project is to promote a meeting space for those who are interested in using resources related to blockchain technology.

In addition to the Ministry of Science and Technology, prestigious institutions in the city such as the National University of Córdoba, the National Technological University, the Aeronautical University Institute, the Catholic University of Córdoba, and the Córdoba Technology Cluster support this project.

Although there are still many points to define, the local media explains that representatives of all these institutions have already held meetings to establish the objectives and points necessary to carry out the project.

Many of the central points of the initiative are still being evaluated. However, the main objective is aimed at stimulating the creation of blockchain tools or solutions in the province. To conduct this main objective, they decided to establish the development of a training program that helps provide the necessary tools for the task.

The route that mutual agreement establishes is that the central plan is “to work in the coordination, articulation, and complementing of capacities to optimize efforts and deepen the specialization of local talent, as a competitive differential for the province”.

Regarding what was established for the educational project, the review of La Voz comments that “currently, the node works on dissemination strategies with webinars (adapted to the context) by renowned local and international professionals”.

In another point raised in the working tables, the Blockchain Node group has been studying the possible tools they can create locally. This action could boost the industry in the future. About this possibility, the well-known blockchain entrepreneur, Javier Salomón, commented, through his official Twitter account, his enthusiasm for “being part of a roundtable with professionals and specialists, representatives of Argentine institutions and companies within the framework of the creation of the Blockchain Node for the Government of the province of Córdoba”.

This is not the first approach of the Córdoba authorities with blockchain technology. The official website of the municipality details that, since 2017, blockchain tools have been used for certain private and highly important records. In this way, they certify some valuable documents through networks such as Ethereum, Bitcoin blockchain, and Signature.

The adoption of these technologies has had a substantial increase in the Latin American country in recent years, especially the growth of the number of people who have reserved their savings in cryptocurrencies, due to the economic instability that Argentina is facing. The use of blockchain can also gain strength if a large part of citizens gains confidence in these new technologies.

By María Rodríguez

Study Reveals That the Use of Bitcoin Mixers Has Increased in Darknet

Maria Rodríguez
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Study Reveals That the Use of Bitcoin Mixers Has Increased in Darknet

The rise in numbers is a product of Bitcoin’s increasing popularity surge, the study notes.

The use of Bitcoin mixers for transactions on the Darknet has grown considerably, according to a recent study that the cryptocurrency unit of the Bitfury firm, Crystal Blockchain, conducted.

According to the report, Crystal Blockchain revealed that, during the last quarter of the year, the increase in this type of transaction has reached 20% more than in previous months. This represents a significant increase when compared with figures from the first quarter of 2019, which only reached 1%.

In the opposite case, the Bitcoins sent to the known exchange houses to be verified decreased almost at the same rate. This category registered a fall of 13% in this first quarter of 2020. However, when compared with figures from 2019, it does not represent higher numbers. In 2019, 24% of Bitcoins were not verified at exchange houses.

The document highlights that these numbers are only a common response to recent actions by regulators and exchange houses in many of the countries with the highest volume of exchange. “This is likely in response to increased regulation and verification processes for exchanges, leading darknet bitcoin owners toward other services to obfuscate the source of their coins”.

According to the report, the so-called “Bitcoin mixers” are payments that different users executed and registered in a single operation. This makes it difficult to track users’ personal information, increasing security, and privacy.

The network recorded a volume of approximately 7,946 BTC in shipments for Bitcoin Mixers on the Darknet in the first quarter of 2020. This data represents a big difference from last year. During the same period of the year, but in 2019, the network registered only 790 BTC. If calculated in United States dollars, in 2019, the 790 BTC represented around USD 3 million; thus, in current figures, taking into account the value of the asset in the market, the amount of 7,946 BTC represents about USD 67 million.

On the other hand, the amount of BTC that the entities of the Darknet received for the services of Bitcoin Mixers, almost tripled in a year. In this first quarter of 2020, the network registered 288 BTC, while the figure reached 106 BTC in 2019. These amounts represent a total of USD 2 million, and USD 400,000, respectively.

The report noted that as more and more money exchange houses are complying with the recommendations of the International Financial Action Task Force (FATF), users are looking for alternatives to keep their operations as private as possible.

“While more exchange houses implement the requirements of the FATF (International Financial Action Task Force), users of the darknet are trying to avoid the risks of disclosing their activity in these exchange houses. To hide the activities within the darknet, they began to prefer the services of mixers instead of exchange houses for the withdrawal of cryptocurrencies”.

The report concluded ensuring that, compared with the year 2019, the levels of Bitcoin adoption in 2020 have increased dramatically, as well as its capitalization, use, and popularity.

By María Rodríguez

Visa Introduces Patent Request for Digital Currency Based on Ethereum

Maria Rodríguez
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Visa Introduces Patent Request for Digital Currency Based on Ethereum

The request mentions a method that would help digitize physical money. This system could contribute to the fight against the Covid-19 outbreak.

In a recent publication, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) revealed that the multinational financial company Visa had filed the request to register a new digital currency. This action suggests that Visa would be developing its cryptocurrency.

According to the description in the request, the project will be aimed at creating a new method to digitize the fiat money that central banks around the world issue and put into circulation. Besides, the company will use large computers capable of processing the information. Visa will use blockchain technology to support the system.

The publication of the Patent and Trademark Office admitted that representatives of Visa filed the request on November 8th, 2018. Despite this, the news was public last May 14th.

Regarding the initiative, the main idea is to use a supercomputer installed within a Central Bank. This computer will create a digital currency that an established blockchain platform will register. It is worth mentioning that the document even detailed data on a banknote of a fiat currency that will be in digital format.

The request states that this project aims to replace fiat money by creating a digital currency that will then take the other currency out of circulation. In this way, central banks around the world could use this digitization method to send funds among them without major inconveniences. This system represents half of the expenses for the transfer of funds and keeps a record of transactions among institutions.

The patent request mentions that the Ethereum blockchain technology could back the fiat money that would turn into digital money through the system. In this way, Ethereum addresses would support the network of transactions that users and banks would use.

The system will proceed automatically and the computer will conduct the complex process in a short time. “Techniques are disclosed, which include receiving, by a central entity computer, a request for digital currency. The request includes a serial number and a denomination of physical currency. The central entity computer generates the digital currency for the denomination, and linked to the serial number”.

In this way, the system could propose a method that would help eliminate physical money from circulation and avoid large costs, since this system can run in an orderly manner and without major economic imbalances.

“The generating includes recording the digital currency on a blockchain. The central entity computer transmits a notification of the generation of the digital currency. The central entity computer causes removal of the physical currency from circulation in a fiat currency system”.

Although Visa has not presented the project, the possibility of conducting it could gain strength during this period of global crisis due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The elimination of physical money from circulation could contribute to the fight against the spread of the disease since people will be able to avoid contact when exchanging physical money.

By María Rodríguez

World Economic Forum’s “Blockchain Bill of Rights” Was Also Signed by Colombia

Alexander Salazar
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World Economic Forum’s “Blockchain Bill of Rights” Was Also Signed by Colombia

The Global Blockchain Council established a total of 16 principles to safeguard user data and promote decentralization. They divided the points of the bill into eight aspects that include transparency, privacy, and security.

The Global Blockchain Council, an entity dependent on the World Economic Forum, revealed last May 22nd the so-called “Blockchain Bill of Rights”. Colombia, among many other representatives of the blockchain ecosystem, signed this document, which includes 16 principles for the defense of users.

The bill is composed of eight aspects grouped into four areas: transparency and accessibility, privacy and security, power and interoperability, and responsibility and government.

Among these, the most prominent is that users must know how a service operates and what its risks are. Besides, they must grant or deny permission to access their data, know if their data are at risk, create, manage, and store their private keys.

According to the council, applications created on blockchain-based systems must contribute to preserving all the rights of users as a way to promote “the core values ​​for a decentralized future.”

The text of the “Blockchain Bill of Rights” establishes a global line to create applications that respect the rights of participants, safeguard data, and protect users. It says that the first to adopt it will be public and private sector companies, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society.

Support from Colombia

Among the signatories was Colombia, a country represented by Víctor Muñoz, High Councilor for Innovation and Digital Transformation of the State. This official noted that the South American nation sees the fourth industrial revolution, which has included the use of distributed ledger technology (DLT) or blockchain, as a significant opportunity that encourages an environment that promotes the transition to industry 4.0.

Concerning the “Prison Principles”, as the bill is also called, Muñoz highlighted that the aspects discussed will serve as a framework to guarantee that the rights of users are respected.

Muñoz said that the Colombian government supports the creation of the “Prison Principles”, as well as the design guidelines and principles for public institutions. He expressed that they want to guarantee that progress can continue quickly and responsibly, ensuring that basic characteristics such as the security and privacy of data be available to their citizens.

The signatories of the “Blockchain Bill of Rights” also included Deloitte, ConsenSys, CoinShares, Ethereum Foundation, Hyperledger, Accenture, Electric Coin Company, and OmiseGO, among others.

Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution is a global trend that seeks to transform companies into smart organizations to achieve better results in their business models. Among the technologies grouped for this purpose are virtual reality, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, among others.

Distributed ledger technology is original from Bitcoin as a digital system, which allows two or more people to conduct any type of transaction ‒ data or value ‒ without the intervention of trusted third parties or intermediaries.

By Alexander Salazar

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