Blockchangers Blog

Weekly Wrap Up #61

Quote of the week:  “And we finalized!” Happy merge all. This [on September 15, 2022] is a big moment for the Ethereum ecosystem. Everyone who helped make the merge happen should feel very proud today.”- Vitalik Buterin, Co-Founder of Ethereum. Source:  https://www.thestreet.com/investing/cryptocurrency/crypto-evangelists-social-media-laud-merge-incredible-feat?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO

To learn more about the Ethereum Merge please see our latest installment on

What You Need To Know About ETH 2.0.

Alpha Sigma Capital Research:  ASC initiated research coverage on PERK Protocol.  PERK aims to unite human capital in the decentralized economy, allowing human capital to function at the highest capacity. PERK hosts transactions and payments for a variety of work-related issues, including recruitment, payroll, employee training, and more — all powered by the PERK token.

Ford Is Preparing to Enter the Metaverse: This week, licensed trademark attorney Mike Kondoudis revealed that Ford Motor Company filed a total of 19 trademark applications covering its car brands, clothing for its brand, and a proposed online marketplace for NFTs. It seems as though the motor company is preparing its entry into the NFT and Metaverse worlds. Source:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/ford-prepares-to-enter-the-metaverse-with-virtual-automobiles-and-nfts

First Insider Crypto Trading Case Confirmed:  The brother of a former Coinbase Global Inc. employee pleaded guilty during a virtual court hearing to a wire fraud conspiracy charge on Monday, September 12. Nikhil Wahi admitted that he made trades based on confidential Coinbase information. United States prosecutors have named this the first insider trading case involving cryptocurrency.

https://www.fxempire.com/news/article/brother-of-ex-coinbase-manager-pleads-guilty-to-insider-trading-charge-1124508

International Regulation Featuring Thailand:  This week, the Thailand Securities and Exchange Commission decided to ban cryptocurrency companies from offering digital asset lending and staking products or depository services. The decision was ultimately made to protect individuals from business risks associated with companies offering depository services. Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thailand-bans-crypto-lenders-staking-133430169.html

BNB Chain Partners with Google Cloud:  BNB Chain is a blockchain closely connected to the cryptocurrency exchange Binance. BNB Chain is partnering with Google Cloud in an effort to support the growth and development of early-stage Web3 and blockchain startups. The collaboration aims to offer foundational infrastructure, cloud-computing credits, and mentorship to Web3 and blockchain-based startups. Source: https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/09/14/bnb-chain-and-google-cloud-work-together-to-advance-the-growth-of-web3-and-blockchain-projects/

Starbucks Will Offer New NFT Experience for Customers:  Starbucks is officially introducing Starbucks Odyssey, which will launch later this year. Starbucks Odyssey is its first attempt at building with web3 technology. The company will offer its United States member customers the ability to earn and buy digital collectible stamps in the form of NFTs. As more stamps or NFTs are collected, members’ points will increase, which will unlock access to unique experiences. Source:

https://cointelegraph.com/news/starbucks-announces-new-nft-experience-for-coffee-members

And, that’s a wrap!

Jordana Cohen,

Associate

Alpha Sigma Capital

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Alpha Sigma Capital
Daniel Siciliano

F. Daniel Siciliano is an Independent Director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and Chair of the American Immigration Council. He is the former faculty director of the Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University and former Professor of the Practice and Associate Dean at Stanford Law School. His work has included expert testimony in front of both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives and for 2009, 2010, and 2011, alongside leading academics and business leaders such as Ben Bernanke, Paul Krugman, and Carl Icahn, Professor Siciliano was named to the “Directorship 100” – a list of the most influential people in corporate governance.

Siciliano was also co-founder, CEO and ultimately Executive Chairman of LawLogix Group, Inc. – a global software technology company named 9 consecutive times to the Inc. 500/5000, several times ranked as one of the Top 100 fastest-growing private software companies in the US and named to the US Hispanic Business 500 (largest) and Hispanic Business 100 (fastest growing) lists for 2010 and 2011. In 2012 he sold a majority stake of the company to PNC Riverarch Capital, continued as Executive Chairman, and led the sale of the company to Hyland Software/Thoma Bravo in 2015.

Siciliano is a co-founder and board member of the Silicon Valley Directors’ Exchange (SVDX), Chairman of the national non-partisan American Immigration Council, past-President of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council #1057, and an active member of the Latino Corporate Directors’ Association.


Siciliano’s related areas of expertise include executive compensation, corporate compliance, the legal and social impact of autonomous (AI/robotic) systems, and corporate technology strategy and security. He has served as a governance consultant and trainer to the Board of Directors of dozens of Fortune 1000 companies (including Google, Microsoft, Fedex, Disney, Entergy and Applied Materials), is an angel investor and consultant to several firms and companies in Silicon Valley, Hong Kong, India, and Latin America, and currently serves as an independent director on the board of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. He lives in Los Altos, California.