Bitcoin Daily: Ripple Expands In Europe; Morningstar Makes Blockchain Plans For Debt Securities

The co-founder of a cryptocurrency hash power broker has been arrested in Germany over charges in the United States that he is one of several hackers who stole millions of dollars.

Hard Fork reported that Matjaz Skorjanc, the co-founder of NiceHash, was reportedly taken into custody on Monday (Sept. 30). He is accused of setting up and operating Darkode, a black marketplace that operated between 2008 and 2013, as well as creating and deploying Mariposa, one of the largest botnets.

In other news, Morningstar Credit Ratings is moving further into the blockchain space by building the largest bridge to date between the blockchain and the global debt securities industry, which had $117 trillion outstanding as of March 2019.

“We’re working very closely with a number of blockchain-oriented firms who are looking to issue debt instruments on a blockchain,” Morningstar Credit Ratings Chief Operating Officer Michael Brawer said, according to Forbes. “We’re looking to see how we can also provide credit opinions, whether it’s a credit rating or different types of credit data and credit analytics that accompany those debt instruments, and we’re also looking to provide our services on a blockchain.”

Ripple also announced that it is expanding its presence in Europe by moving into Iceland.

The company explained that this new team will assist in the development of Ripple’s on-demand liquidity (ODL) product, as well as serve as one of the company’s engineering hubs.

“With built-in expertise in trading and exchanges, the addition of Algrim’s engineering talent to our team will be instrumental in continuing the momentum we’re already experiencing with On-Demand Liquidity,” Christopher Kanaan, senior vice president of engineering, said in a press release. “We’ve been committed to sourcing expert crypto and trading talent in key global markets since day one, and the acquisition of the Algrim engineering team is a successful example of doing just that.”

And Samsung-backed Blocko is now in the UAE after it secured funding in Asia Pacific and Europe.

The South Korean blockchain provider has entered a business and technology partnership with SEED Group, a conglomerate in royal family member Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum’s private office.

“It will enable the UAE to make its digital promise a reality for its government departments, citizens and businesses,” Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of SEED Group and the Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum said, according to CoinDesk.