The BioMedWire Podcast

In his weekly news update, Jonathan Keim, communications director of CryptoCurrencyWire (“CCW”), furnished another trio of blockchain bulletins, starting with “CoinField Joins Open Payments Coalition to Launch PayID and Comply with FATF’s Travel Rule” (http://ccw.fm/Bk62r). CoinField, a regulated, European-based, fiat-to-crypto exchange supervised by the Financial Intelligence Unit (“FIU”), has joined the Open Payments Coalition, a multinational alliance of industry leaders that developed a universal payment identification system. Known as PayID, the protocol simplifies the process of sending and receiving money globally across any payment network and any currency.

Second up was the news that “Binance Charity Pioneers COVID-19 Relief with First-Ever Fully Transparent Campaign” (http://ccw.fm/mZ64t). The Binance Charity Foundation, the philanthropic arm Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is providing a large quantity of personal protective equipment (“PPE”) to New York City. This initiative follows similar ones designed to support hospitals in a number of countries ravaged by COVID-19, including China, Italy and Spain.

The relief effort in New York City was marked by the creation of a social impact cryptocurrency, christened the PPE Token, which means donors can track how their funds are put to use, something they would be hard-pressed to do with a regular charity. In its first deployment, the PPE Token is killing two birds with one stone. Not only has it verified the successful, tamper-proof delivery of 200,000 N95 masks to 11 benefiting hospitals in New York City and the surrounding region, but it has served as a form of compensation for the couriers involved.

Last but certainly not least, the news that “Blockchain Heroes Collectible Digital Trading Card Set to Feature 50 Original Superheroes on WAX Blockchain” will give many adults the chance to act out some adolescent fantasies (http://ccw.fm/zLj9x). The new set of trading cards is based on the following question: What if there existed an alternate universe in which the inventors, investors, supporters and evangelists of blockchain were actually superheroes fighting for the virtues of decentralization, privacy, transparency and freedom?

According to the release: “Blockchain Heroes, an exciting collectible digital trading card set on the WAX blockchain, will make this alternative universe a reality in August 2020. Fifty unique superheroes in a variety of card rarities will be revealed in purchasable card packs. Similar to physical collectible trading cards, each pack of digital collectibles will be randomized and provide unknown surprises. With 50 total heroes, each pack of cards will have the chance to reveal common, uncommon, rare, epic, legendary or mythic versions of any hero in increasing rarity, each with its own special design.” One wonders, could Satoshi Nakamoto be one of those superheroes?

For the most recent episode of the Wild West Crypto Show, which includes CryptoCurrencyWire’s ongoing segment featuring the latest news from around the world, visit http://ccw.fm/2RZ5a