Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 4:40 PM on Monday, July 22nd, 2019
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EKG: TSX-V ————————————-
mhealth Solutions Market to witness major growth in coming years
mhealth Solutions Market size is projected to experience significant growth from 2019 to 2025.
Growing prevalence of chronic diseases such as blood pressure and cardiac diseases will drive cardiac health related mobile devices growth in the coming years.
mHealth technology is viewed as the solution to improve healthcare cost-efficiency as healthcare providers seek to maximize their patient outreach while minimizing costs, thus leading to industry growth.
Increasing penetration of tablet and
smart phones users and growing need for remote patient monitoring
services will boost mHealth solutions market growth in the future.
Increasing demand for healthcare information systems and launch of new
applications of mHealth technologies are the factors driving the growth
of mHealth solutions market.
Favorable government initiatives will
boost mHealth solutions industry in the upcoming years. For instance, in
Europe, European commission had launched a public consultation project
to gain input from various participant of digital health industry to
promote digital health innovations and care for European citizens. Such
government initiatives should propel industry growth over the forecast
timeframe.
However, lack of lack of favorable
reimbursement policies may restrict growth of mHealth solutions market.
Highly fragmented mHealth solutions market can hamper revenue generation
and company growth in the future.
Glucose meter market will show
tremendous growth during the forecast period. Rising incidence of Type-1
and Type-2 diabetes across the globe, increasing usage of homecare
devices and growing significance of remote blood glucose monitoring will
boost business growth. Moreover, risk of diabetes among the obese
individuals and increasing popularity of less invasive glucose
monitoring devices has led to rise in demand for digital glucose meters.
Fitness apps market will witness
remarkable growth over the forecast period and similar trend is expected
in the future. Fitness apps permits consumers to keep a track and
monitor on their fitness levels and sports related activities by using
smartphones. These apps also help users to keep track on their heart
rate and the number of calories lost during workout thus having positive
impact on segmental growth.
U.S. will dominate North America mHealth
solutions market in the forecast period. U.S. is in forefront for
technology adoption. The country is working towards developing smart
manufacturing infrastructure that will help operators to make real time
use of big data. The implementation of HITECH Act and HIPAA Act are
promoting the use of mHealth solution in the country, thus propelling
business growth in U.S. during projected timeframe.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 4:18 PM on Monday, July 22nd, 2019
Estimates point to 2022 as equilibrium between Electric and Combustible Sales
Graphite anode demand is set to increase from 194,160 tonnes in 2017 to 1,080,360 tonnes by 2023 and 1,747,800 tonnes by 2028
Automakers are taking action to put millions of electric vehicles on the road
Quebec and B.C Governments dedicated to “Green Economy”
Lomiko Metals Inc. has
been keenly watching the lithium-ion battery market in anticipation of
identifying an opportunity to participate in the supply of materials for
electric vehicles with its La Loutre graphite project located in
Quebec, Canada. Lomiko is focused on advancing the La Loutre graphite
property and is looking to deliver an NI 43-101 graphite resource based
on the success of its recently completed drilling campaign at the
Refractory Zone. This will add to the previously announced 43-101
graphite resource at the adjacent Graphene-Battery zone announced March, 2016.
A. Paul Gill, CEO states, “Lomiko
believes that it is in an ideal position to participate in the
burgeoning Electric Vehicle market, with the potential to become a North
American supplier of graphite materials, a market currently dominated
by foreign supply from China. Graphite is a major and critical material
in the manufacture of lithium-ion and other batteries, specifically
battery anodesâ€.
According to Benchmark Minerals, graphite anode demand is set to increase from 194,160 tonnes in 2017 to 1,080,360 tonnes by 2023 and 1,747,800 tonnes by 2028. [Source: INN Graphite Investing News] On February 4, 2019, Simon Moores of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence raised supply and demand concerns in a submission to the US Senate which was echoed by Energy and Natural Resource Committee Chair Senator Lisa Murkowski in a February 5, 2019 News Release: “In contrast to the energy sector, our nation is headed in the wrong direction on mineral imports. This is our Achilles’ heel that serves to empower and enrich other nations, while costing us jobs and international competitiveness,†Murkowski said. Lomiko brought this crucial opportunity to the attention of shareholders in a February 8, 2019.
Recent announcements and cooperation agreements on electric vehicle and self-driving cars between Ford and Volkswagen indicates automakers are taking action to put millions of electric vehicles on the road. Raw material demand for graphite, lithium and nickel sourced from North American is likely to increase as a result. Ford said its battery electric vehicle rollout will start in 2020 with a performance utility, and it plans to launch 16 battery electric vehicles by 2022.
In other positive developments, Quebec Premier Francois Legault reiterated his commitment to make the Province the ‘Green Battery’ of North America through investments in electric buses and trams while British Columbia Premier John Horgan aims to eliminate all gas-powered cars by 2040.  For more information on Lomiko Metals, review the website at www.lomiko.com, contact A. Paul Gill at 604-729-5312 or email: [email protected].
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 3:42 PM on Monday, July 22nd, 2019
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projected at $23 BILLION by 2020. The company has launched VIE.gg
esports betting platform and has accelerated affiliate marketing
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———————–
Over 3.5 billion people are on social media; Facebook still biggest with teens; Esports on the rise
Within internet users aged 16 to 24, 32 percent saying they’ve recently watched an esports tournament
By: Simon Kemp
The new Global Digital Statshot report from Hootsuite and We Are Social
is packed with all the latest data you need to understand how people
are using the internet in July 2019. You’ll find the complete report in
the SlideShare embed below, but read on for my summary of this quarter’s
essential headlines.
Social media users pass 3.5 billion
The number of people around the world using social media has just passed the 3.5 billion mark, less than two years after we reported
that the number had reached 3 billion. The number of social media users
has grown by more than a quarter of a billion over the past twelve
months, with 46 percent of the world’s total population using social
media in July 2019.
What’s more, if we focus on ‘eligible audiences’ – people aged 13 and
above – the social media penetration figure increases to 59 percent,
with the latest trends indicating that it should pass 60 percent within
the next few months.
Half the world now watches online videos
The latest data from GlobalWebIndex
shows that more than 4 billion people around the world now watch online
video content each month, equating to more than half of the world’s
total population. Vlogs are particularly popular, with more than 2
billion people tuning in to watch their favorite influencers over the
past 30 days.
Snapchat’s audience jumps
Data published in Snapchat’s self-serve tools show that the
platform’s advertising audience jumped by a massive 19 percent in the
past three months, reaching a total of 369 million users by July 2019.
That translates to an increase of almost 60 million users since April,
with growth rates consistent across all age groups.
It’s not just Snapchat’s data that shows the platform is growing,
either. The latest data from App Annie shows a spike in downloads of the
Snapchat app over the past three months, with App Annie’s analysts
attributing the platform’s renewed success to the launch of new A.R.
filters, and improvements to its Android app.
Facebook still rules when it comes to teens
Despite Snapchat’s impressive growth, the platform still can’t claim
to be the kids’ favorite. That honour doesn’t belong to Instagram or
TikTok, either.
Perhaps surprisingly, it’s Facebook that boasts the largest number of
global users aged 13 to 17, and if we extend the age range to include
all teenagers, Facebook now has almost as many users as Snapchat and
Instagram combined.
Facebook’s youth audience actually increased over the past three
months, with the number of 13 to 17-year-olds using the platform up by
almost 5 million since April.
The key take-away here is that we need to be more wary of clickbait
and received wisdom. It’s easy to fall into the trap of believing that
‘the kids’ have given up on Facebook, but the cold, hard facts tell a
different story.
Esports win with younger audiences
There are more surprises for brands marketing to teens when it comes
to sports. The latest data from GlobalWebIndex suggest that esports may
have reached a tipping point amongst internet users aged 16 to 24, with
32 percent saying they’ve recently watched an esports tournament,
compared to 31 percent who say they’re interested in watching more
‘conventional’ sports like football, cricket, or motor racing.
Almost 1 billion people around the world have watched an esports
tournament in recent months, with interest particularly high in Asian
countries.
‘Game spectating’ is gaining broader momentum, too. Roughly 3 in 10
internet users say that they recently watched a live stream of someone
else playing video games, equating to a global audience of 1.25 billion
people.
The case for voice gets stronger
100 million people started using voice search and voice commands
since April, with more than 43 percent of internet users now using voice
tech every month. More than 1.88 billion people around the world now
use voice to control their devices, with half of all internet users
below the age of 35 already converted.
It’s also important to stress that most voice activity takes place on
smartphones, so you don’t need to wait for everyone to have a ‘smart
speaker’ before you take voice seriously. Now is the time to start
making sense of what voice means for your business – before you need to
play catch-up.
The value of truth
Despite the fact that more than half of the world’s internet users
say they’re worried about ‘fake news’ online, it turns out that we’re
four times more likely to use an ad-blocker than we are to pay for
digital news content.
However, the excellent new Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2019
finds that people are starting to realize the potential value of paying
for quality news content, although they’re much more likely to pay for a
video streaming service like Netflix than they are to pay for news.
These findings are supported by the latest data from GlobalWebIndex,
who report that roughly two-thirds of all internet users paid for some
form of digital content in the past 30 days. Once again, video streaming
platforms were the top choice.
Digging deeper
That’s all for this summary, but I’ll be digging deeper into all of
these stories – together with the rest of this quarter’s key findings –
in a series of additional articles over the next few days, so be sure to
check back for those.
Posted by AGORACOM
at 1:40 PM on Monday, July 22nd, 2019
SPONSOR: GGX’s Gold Drop property, situated in one of the most prolific gold-copper mining camps of North America, the Greenwood-Republic mining camp. The current 2019 drill program is following up on the 2018 drilling which intercepted high grade gold-silver results (129 g/t gold and 1,154 g/t silver over 7.28 meter) from the near surface COD vein which is projected to be 1.5 kms in length. Click here for more information
Central Banks Return to Gold
Central banks bought more gold in 2018 than at any time since the early 1970s
Bullion holdings rose by 651.5 tons last year, the most since 1971
In the 1990s, gold was an unloved asset among central banks. Reserve managers lent or sold their gold, particularly in Europe, and the gold price fell to a low of US$250/oz. Years of persistent selling triggered the Central Bank Gold Agreement of 1999, under which signatories agreed to limit collective sales to 400 tonnes per annum, put a cap on gold leasing and take a disciplined approach to gold futures and options.
The Agreement delivered two clear benefits: it helped to stabilise
the gold price and increased transparency around central bank gold
sales. Today, however, sentiment towards gold has been transformed and
gold has regained its status as a valuable and highly regarded reserve
asset.
In 2018 alone, central banks bought 651 tonnes of gold, up 74% compared to 2017 and the highest level since 1971.
Key Changes
A glance back over the past 20 years highlights some of the key changes in central bank behaviour.
First, central banks have rapidly and consistently added to their
foreign exchange reserves since the Asian crisis of 1998. Reserves are a
crucial element in a country’s armoury, providing protection against
both domestic and external shocks and acting as a show of confidence to
the outside world. Emerging market economies led the charge in this
respect, sending worldwide foreign exchange reserves from around US$3
trillion (tn) in 2000 to approximately US$13tn in 2014. Purchases have
plateaued over the past five years but still stand at some US$13tn
today.
The dollar is the most widely held reserve asset but, according to
International Monetary Fund statistics, gold comes third, accounting for
11% of global reserves. Having been net sellers until 2000, central
banks have been net buyers ever since. In 2018 alone, central banks
bought 651 tonnes of gold, up 74% compared to 2017 and the highest level
since 1971. Over the past decade, central banks have purchased more
than 4,300 tonnes of gold, taking their total holdings to around 34,000
tonnes today. The trend has continued in 2019, with net purchases
reaching 90 tonnes before the end of the first quarter.
Notably too, central bank buying has been geographically diverse. Russia
has been the most committed purchaser of gold – acquiring almost 275
tonnes in 2018, the largest amount ever purchased in a single year.
China has been consistently adding to its reserves as well, but many
other emerging market countries have been accumulating gold over the
past year and more, including Hungary, Poland, Egypt, Kazakhstan and
India.
The Drivers
What is the rationale behind this renewed interest in gold? First,
heightened uncertainty about the global economic and geo-political
outlook and second, gold’s intrinsic value as a reserve asset.
Ten years after the Global Financial Crisis, the macro-economic
outlook remains fragile and hard to read. In April, the IMF outlook
highlighted weakening GDP growth, with risks skewed to the downside. As
IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath explained, the global economy is at “a
delicate momentâ€. Advanced economies are predicted to grow by just 1.8%
in 2019 and 1.7% in 2020, while growth in the Euro area is expected to
be even lower, at 1.6% and 1.5% respectively. The emerging market growth
trajectory is more solid (4.4% in 2019 and 4.8% in 2020) but risks
remain tilted downwards.
Trade tensions are a major unknown. They have already had a negative
impact on growth and if the US and China do not reach a genuine truce,
the global outlook may worsen further. Fears of retaliation and
escalation may hit business investment, supply chains may be disrupted,
and productivity may slow across the world stage. The Euro area faces
specific challenges too. Business confidence is low, especially in
Germany due to the introduction of new fuel emission standards in the
auto industry. Fiscal policy is affecting Italian sovereign and
commercial bank spreads. And, of course, uncertainty about Brexit
persists, particularly as the exit date has now been postponed to
October 2019.
Furthermore, global geo-political risks have not abated and may have a
negative impact on economic activity. Idiosyncratic risks are
increasing too, such as the rise of populist governments in Latin
America and across Europe.
What is the rationale behind this renewed
interest in gold? First, heightened uncertainty about the global
economic and geo-political outlook and second, gold’s intrinsic value as
a reserve asset.
Gold Advantages
All these uncertainties accentuate negative market sentiment and
drive central bank investors to reallocate their portfolios away from
risky assets to safe haven assets.
This is where gold comes into its own, as it fulfils central banks’ three core objectives: safety, liquidity and return.
Gold is well known as a safe haven asset. It carries no credit risk,
has little or no correlation with other assets and the price generally
increases in times of stress. As such, it offers valuable protection in
times of crisis.
Gold is highly liquid too. It can easily be traded in global market
centres, such as London and New York. It can be used in swap
transactions to raise liquidity when needed and it can be actively
managed by reserve managers.
Gold can also enhance the risk/return profile of a central bank portfolio. Its lack of correlation to other major reserve assets makes it an effective portfolio diversifier and, over the long term, it delivers higher returns than many other assets.Â
Posted by AGORACOM
at 1:10 PM on Monday, July 22nd, 2019
AMK holds a 20% Carried Interest in Treaty Creek, including Goldstorm where Tudor is currently drilling
The Goldstorm zone at Treaty Creek has the potential to be a world class open pit gold deposit with lower costs and far better logistics than Seabridges’ adjacent KSM
Assay results for Goldstorm anticipated shortly
With
Eric Sprott’s latest $3,000,000 investment announced on Friday he has
now personally invested $4.5 million into the Treaty Creek Joint Venture
through its operator and 60% owner Tudor Gold. In a podcast (also on
Friday) Eric enthusiastically described the potential of the Treaty
Creek project when he made statements like:
“It’s
drilling a monster play just like the GT Gold play†“The last hole they
announced, which was last year, was 563 meters of 1.08 gold”
“It’s
in the perfect logistical place to develop it. The market cap of the
company (Tudor) is like under $50 million and yet what we’re shooting
for is to define a 10 or 20-million-ounce discovery, so you’re paying
nothing for this discovery.â€
“So
that’s the sort of play that I like where man, if the price of gold
goes to $1,700 or $2,000 these plays will look so economically viable
and the stock will go up so much, and the analogy I use is Seabridge
back in 2000. I remember buying it at a dollar…and Seabridge went from
$1 to $35 dollars! That is what we are looking for – a dollar to $35
dollars, set you up for life!â€
American
Creek Resources has a fully carried 20% interest (1/3 of Tudors 60%
interest) in the Treaty Creek Joint Venture and has a “free ride” with
no associated exploration/development costs until such time as a
production notice is given. This puts American Creek shareholders in an
extremely favorable leveraged position, especially considering the other
exceptional properties it owns including two more in BC’s Golden
Triangle. American Creek is presently valued at, and is trading at less
than 1/3 of Tudor’s present value (Treaty Creek being Tudor’s focus and
flagship property), offering an even more leveraged opportunity at the
moment.
The
Goldstorm zone at Treaty Creek has the potential to be a world class
open pit gold deposit with lower costs and far better logistics than
Seabridges’ adjacent KSM. According to Sprott, Seabridge set a lot of
people up for life and the opportunity for something similar by “paying
nothing for the discovery†is right here, right now.
Click the link below for the Sprott podcast. Tudor/Treaty Creek are discussed beginning at about the 10:07 mark….but we suggest you listen to the whole thing as Eric describes the present gold/silver market in general.
American
Creek is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company with a strong
portfolio of gold and silver properties in British Columbia. Three of
those properties are located in the prolific “Golden Triangle”; the
Treaty Creek and Electrum joint venture projects with Tudor Gold/Walter
Storm as well as the 100% owned past producing Dunwell Mine.
The
Corporation also holds the Gold Hill, Austruck-Bonanza, Ample Goldmax,
Silver Side, and Glitter King properties located in other prospective
areas of the province.
For further information please contact Kelvin Burton at: Phone: 403 752-4040 or Email: [email protected]. Information relating to the Corporation is available on its website at www.americancreek.com
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 11:41 AM on Monday, July 22nd, 2019
SPONSOR: North Bud Farms Inc. (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high
quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both
bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.
Welcome to the Cannabis Countdown.
In this week’s rendition, we’ll recap and countdown the top 10
marijuana industry news stories for the week of July 15th – 21st, 2019.
With Thailand’s legalization of medical cannabis in February, some
experts predict that other Southeast Asian countries may move to
decriminalize the plant. If that happens, it could prove a significant
opportunity for investors interested in the space.
At the end of 2018, Canada, the United States, and Mexico agreed on
new terms to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
The new treaty, the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA),
establishes updated legal language surrounding trade tariffs,
environmental and labour regulations, and intellectual property
protections.
It was only just last year that Canopy GrowthCGC 2.14% completed
the first legal export of medical cannabis to the United States. As the
world waits for the United States and Canada to follow Mexico in
ratifying the new trade agreement, this is what cannabis investors
should know about how the deal affects the marijuana industry.
Hip-hop star A$AP Rocky made global headlines in July because of an
altercation and is now locked up Sweden. Thousands of fans and even
politicians like President Trump are calling for his release.
Like many other rappers, A$AP Rocky’s fortunes are not tied up only
in lyrics. These famous artists aren’t just signing record deals
anymore. Top rappers are now signing lucrative weed contracts.
Now that cannabis is going mainstream, let’s take a look at the top ten hip hop artists who are capitalizing on the green rush.
U.S. health authorities are taking final comments from the public on
how to regulate over-the-counter cannabis extracts such as CBD. The
suggestions are due to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by
midnight ET Tuesday, July 16, on how the agency should regulate
cannabis-derived products.
The FDA has vowed to expedite its review of cannabis-derived
compounds because of a surge in CBD products hitting the market. The
agency now says it will have an update on the review by late summer or
early fall.
The Ohio House on Wednesday voted 88-3 in favor of legislation that
would move Ohio closer to decriminalizing hemp and hemp products,
including CBD oil. Under current state law, hemp is considered a
Schedule I drug because it — like marijuana — comes from the cannabis
plant. However, hemp contains a low concentration of THC, marijuana’s
psychoactive stimulant.
The bill would exclude hemp and its products from the definition of
marijuana that the state uses to enforce controlled substance laws, and
it would further prohibit the state’s Board of Pharmacy from listing
hemp as a controlled substance.
But the award may come at a cost for Aurora as the average price it
offered – 1.73 euros per gram ($1.94) – was less than half the tender
reference prices and only slightly above the company’s latest reported
average “cash cost of sales per gram of dried cannabis sold.â€
On June 15, Fenwick resident Nick Lalonde, who worked at the Balfour
Street site for almost two years, had emailed the Voice and several
Health Canada employees with various allegations of infractions—
including cannabis being grown in unlicensed areas.
If you weren’t already convinced that cannabis has gone mainstream — you will be now.
American rapper, business mogul, and all-around cultural giant, Shawn
“Jay-Z†Carter, just announced a multi-year partnership with this
leading California cannabis company. In addition to helping strengthen
the company’s bottom line, Jay-Z will also look to create opportunities
for those hurt by the prohibition of cannabis.
When it comes to bringing cannabis banking out of the informal cash
exchange world and into America’s banking sector with Senate’s support,
the train is finally leaving the station. The Senate has scheduled a
hearing next week to discuss cannabis companies and their access to
legitimate banking.
Open and fair banking access for cannabis companies in the United
States will play a crucial role in the industry’s expansion and will
eventually lead to the implementation of interstate and online cannabis
commerce.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 10:57 AM on Monday, July 22nd, 2019
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Understanding blockchain technology and its implications on the future of transactions
Blockchain technology will disrupt the way we write and enforce contracts, execute transactions and maintain records.
Since blockchain technology is at the heart of Bitcoin and other virtual currencies, it can at the very least be expected to power even more consequential mediums of exchange in the future.
Shaan Ray Jul 22, 2019 Blockchain technology is transformative, and several commentators expect that it will have a massive economic impact similar to the one the Internet has had in the past few decades.
Blockchain could be the future of the financial industry.
Since blockchain technology is at the heart of Bitcoin
and other virtual currencies, it can at the very least be expected to
power even more consequential mediums of exchange in the future.
However, virtual currencies are merely the first use case of blockchain
technology.
Blockchain fundamentals
The blockchain is an open and distributed ledger. It uses an
append-only data structure, meaning new transactions and data can be
added on to a blockchain, but past data cannot be erased.
This results in a verifiable and permanent record of data and
transactions between two or more parties. This has the potential to
increase transparency and accountability, and positively enhance our
social and economic systems. A blockchain is built by running software
and linking several nodes together.
The main chain (black) consists of the longest series of blocks from the genesis block (blue) to the current block. Orphan blocks (red) exist outside of the main chain.
A blockchain is not one global entity — there are several
blockchains. Imagine a network of connected computers inside a highly
secure office, which are connected to each other, but not to the
internet. A blockchain is similar to this: it can have numerous
connected nodes, but remain totally separate and unique from other
blockchains.
Institutions and banks can build internal blockchains with their own
features for various organizational purposes. A consensus mechanism and a
reward system are required to maintain the integrity and functionality
of a blockchain.
In the Bitcoin blockchain, consensus is achieved by ‘mining’, and the
reward system is a protocol awarding a miner some amount of Bitcoin
upon successfully mining a block. Mining is undertaken by powerful
computers solving complex mathematical puzzles. Once a transaction is
verified and accepted as true by the entire network, miners start
working on the next block. Thus, a blockchain keeps growing (linking
each new block to the one before it).
Implications for transactions
Blockchain technology will disrupt the way we write and enforce
contracts, execute transactions and maintain records. Keeping records of
transactions is a core function of all businesses. These records are
meant to track past performance and help with forecasting and planning
for the future.
Most organizations’ records take a lot of time and effort to create,
and often the creation and storage processes are prone to errors.
Currently, transactions can be executed immediately, but settlement can
take anywhere from several hours to several days. For example, someone
selling stock in a corporation on a stock exchange can sell immediately,
but settlement can take a few days.
Similarly, a deal to purchase a house or car can be negotiated and
signed quickly, but the registration process (verifying and registering
the change in property ownership) often takes days and may involve
lawyers and government employees. In each of these examples, each party
maintains its own ledger, and cannot access the ledgers of the other
parties involved. On the blockchain, the process of transaction
verification and recording is immediate and permanent.
The ledger is distributed across several nodes, meaning the data is
replicated and stored instantaneously on each node across the system.
When a transaction is recorded in the blockchain, details of the
transaction such as price, asset, and ownership, are recorded, verified
and settled within seconds across all nodes. A verified change
registered on any one ledger is also simultaneously registered on all
other copies of the ledger. Since each transaction is transparently and
permanently recorded across all ledgers, open for anyone to see, there
is no need for third-party verification.
From virtual currencies to enterprise
Use The blockchain underlying Bitcoin is currently the largest and best-known blockchain. Ethereum is a separate blockchain:
while it supports the Ether currency, it also acts as a distributed
computing platform that features smart contract functionality.
Therefore, despite having a virtual currency element, it has many more
uses than Bitcoin. For example, companies in various industries raising
funds through ICOs use Ethereum for their projects.
The Hyperledger Project, by the Linux Foundation, aims to bring
together a number of independent efforts to develop open protocols and
standards in blockchain technology for enterprise use.
Here for the long term
Blockchain technology will disrupt the way we write Blockchain
technology, but is still in an early, formative stage, and
cryptocurrencies are only its first major use case.
Beyond cryptocurrency, blockchain technology will change how we
transact, and how we record and verify transactions. This will
revolutionise contracts and reduce friction in the exchange of assets.
Over the next few decades, blockchain technology will percolate
through our organizations and institutions, and shape how we transact
with one another. Just as the Internet continues to power emergent
technologies, we can expect to see new use cases of blockchain
technology across all industries.
Shaan Ray (MBA) is the head of Denver Hill, a group that uses
emerging technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence, additive
manufacturing and the industrial internet to create new products and
processes.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 8:54 AM on Monday, July 22nd, 2019
Announced that it has received approval on their development permit for a flagship retail location in the heart of Calgary
Spyder has now been accepted by Alberta Health Services and will begin construction in the coming weeks.
Vaughan, Ontario–(July 22, 2019) – Spyder Cannabis Inc.TSXVÂ :Â SPDR) (“Spyder“), an established Canadian cannabis and vape retail operator, is pleased to announce that it has received approval on their development permit for a flagship retail location in the heart of Calgary.
In July 2018, Spyder acquired a lease for an approximately 8,000
square feet location in Calgary, Alberta, which Spyder intends to
operate both as its flagship retail location, and as a central
distribution hub for its product offerings. Spyder had received a
municipal development and building permit in late 2018, subject to
receiving a variance from the Province of Alberta. Spyder has now been
accepted by Alberta Health Services and will begin construction in the
coming weeks.
“We have built our Spyder retail brand to provide a superior customer
experience and have focused on locations with high foot traffic in
urban centres and destinations” said Dan Pelchovitz, Spyder President
and CEO. “This will give us plenty of room to present an engaging retail
experience, rooted in a customer centric retail concept with unique
design, warm features, complete with well trained and knowledgeable
staff”
This location brings Spyder’s total retail to 6 locations across
Ontario and Alberta. This number is expected to grow over the coming
months as the Spyder is currently negotiating additional leases with the
intention of submitting applications for retail licenses. Spyder is
executing an aggressive expansion plan to create a significant retail
brand in the Canadian and U.S. adult use market. It is committed to
acquiring and developing prime North American retail locations and
continuing to expand the reach of its brand.
About Spyder
Founded in 2014 Spyder is an established chain of three high-end vape
stores, and two cannabis accessory stores, in Ontario, with locations
in Woodbridge, Scarborough, Burlington, Pickering and Niagara Falls. The
Spyder brand is defined by its high-quality proprietary line of
e-juice, liquids and exclusive retail deals, dispensed in uniquely
designed stores creating the optimal customer experience. Spyder is
building off this leading retail, distribution and branding eCig and
vapes company and is pursuing expansion into the legal cannabis and hemp
derived market. Spyder has developed a scalable retail model with plans
to create a significant footprint with targeted and disciplined retail
distribution strategy focusing on Canadian retail and U.S. boutique
retail and kiosks in high traffic peripheral areas.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
For more information, please contact:
Spyder Cannabis Inc. Dan Pelchovitz President & Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (905) 265-8273 Email: [email protected]
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
This news release includes statements containing certain
“forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable
securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking
statements are frequently characterized by words such as “plan”,
“continue”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “believe”, “anticipate”,
“estimate”, “may”, “will”, “potential”, “proposed” and other similar
words, or statements that certain events or conditions “may” or “will”
occur..
These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were
used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in
the forward-looking statements throughout this news release.
Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of
management at the date the statements are made. Any number of risks and
uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or
results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 9:45 PM on Sunday, July 21st, 2019
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————-
As Facebook Struggles For Blockchain Support, A Truly Decentralized Challenger Emerges
So, what is Celo? In a similar fashion to Libra, Celo is at its core a stablecoin platform
This means that the key value proposition of the assets running on top of the platform is that they are immune to the wide swings in volatility that have plagued leading crypto assets in recent years
Creates an opportunity for companies and projects like Celo, which are building pure blockchain-based financial services aimed at linking the nearly 2 billion people in the world that do not have access to bank accounts or the ability to verify their identity
As Facebook Blockchain Lead David Marcus tries to simultaneously use his testimony in front of U.S. lawmakers to restore trust in the company, and convince them that Facebook will not always be the driving force of its Libra project, it is easy to see why some of its key blockchain competitors are enthusiastic about the company’s entrance in the space.
The prevailing belief is that at some point the inherent contractions
in Facebook’s blockchain strategy and the Libra project are going to
become too much to overcome. Of course, this assumes that the project
launches at all, which is not certain given the regulatory scrutiny it
faces around the world.
This creates an opportunity for companies and projects like Celo,
which are building pure blockchain-based financial services aimed at
linking the nearly 2 billion people in the world that do not have access to bank accounts or the ability to verify their identity.
To the point, it is interesting that some of Libra’s first members,
including venerated venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and
crypto-unicorn Coinbase, have invested in Celo. Some of Celo’s other high-profile investors include LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and Twitter/Square CEO Jack Dorsey.
Understanding Celo
So, what is Celo? In a similar fashion to Libra, Celo is at its core a
stablecoin platform. This means that the key value proposition of the
assets running on top of the platform is that they are immune to the
wide swings in volatility that have plagued leading crypto assets in
recent years. Many are designed to mirror the price movements of
traditional currency, and most have names that reflect their fiat
brethren, such as the Gemini Dollar. This is a critical need for the
industry, as no asset will be able to serve as a currency if it does not
maintain a consistent price.
A man walks past signs advertising money transfer services and loans
outside a business in Mexico City, Tuesday, April 5, 2016. (AP
Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
However, rather than being a centralized issuer that supports the
price pegs with fiat held in banks, Celo has built a full-stack platform
(meaning it developed the underlying blockchain and applications that
run on top), that can offer an unlimited number of stablecoins all
backed by cryptoassets held in reserve.
Furthermore, Celo is what is known as an algorithmic-based stablecoin
provider. This distinction means that rather than being a centralized
entity that controls issuances and redemptions, the company employs a
smart-contract based stability protocol that automatically expands or
contracts the supply of its collateral reserves in a fashion similar to
how the Federal Reserve adjusts the U.S. monetary supply. In this vein,
Celo co-founder Rene Reinsberg told me that the company actually
“Maintains overcollaterization via a multi-asset crypto reserve composed
of Celo’s native asset, Celo Gold, and a basket of other crypto assets,
such as bitcoin.†This overcollateralization is important, and common
in crypto lending and stablecoin platforms, because it serves as a
buffer against potential volatility.
Additionally, a key differentiator for Celo from similar projects is
that for the first time its blockchain platform allows users to
send/receive money to a person’s phone number, IP address, email, as
well as other identifiers. This feature will be critical to the
long-term success for the network because it eliminates the need for
counterparties in a transaction to share their public keys with each
other prior to a transaction.
And now today, Celo is open-sourcing its entire codebase and design
after two years of development. Additionally, the company is launching
the first prototype of its platform, named the Alfajores Testnet, and
Celo Wallet, an Android app that will allow users to manage their
accounts and send/receive payments on the testnet.
This announcement and product is intended to be just the first of
what will be a wide range of financial services applications designed to
connect the world.
A Bright Outlook But Significant Question Remain
With all of that said, the company’s near and long-term success will
depend on its ability to navigate and address some key hurdles. Three in
particular immediately come to mind:
Stability of the Network. There are currently no
algorithmic/smart-contract based stablecoins in circulation today that
have seen widespread adoption. There are multiple reasons for this.
First, it is simpler to issue stablecoins on a 1:1 basis for fiat kept
in reserves. Second, it is nearly-impossible to design a complex system
that can account for and overcome any threat or challenge. It is likely
that at some point the future the network’s governance structure will be
challenged or that a critical flaw will be discovered in the underlying
code. The platform’s ability to rebound from these challenges without
compromising its decentralized nature will be a key determinant of its
future.
Ability to Adapt to Highly Volatile Fiat. A key
differentiator between Celo and other stablecoin issuers is that anyone
that participates in its governance function can propose a new currency.
The intention is that the platform will support a wide range of global,
national, and local currencies. Given that it is first targeting users
in the developing world, where the currencies are notoriously volatile,
there is a chance that the system could be strained as it seeks to
maintain constant pegs across the network. It is worth noting that the
company has given great thought and care to ensure that it is anti-fragile, and part of this strategy involves using a diverse basket of collateral to support all assets on the network.
Regulation. If the Libra hearings in front of Congress
proved nothing else, lawmakers are very concerned about crypto being
misappropriated for illicit uses. All issuers will need to comply with
existing AML/KYC laws. I asked Rene about this challenge and whether or
not their ability to comply will be hindered by the firms ability to
onboard users with little more than a phone number or some other
numerical identifier. His response was, “Yes, we’ve had conversations
with regulators both in the US and around the world. We think regulation
is critical for this space, particularly when it comes to protecting
consumers. We will absolutely comply with US laws and laws around the
world. We’re looking forward to sharing more on this at a later stage,
closer to mainnet launchâ€
Conclusion
There is a saying “nothing worth having comes easyâ€, and that
certainly applies to Celo and its diligent approach to development.
Additionally, the irony of its launch’s juxtaposition with the Libra
hearings underscores the need for a decentralized approach to connecting
the world.
Posted by AGORACOM-JC
at 9:00 PM on Sunday, July 21st, 2019
SPONSOR: Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc.
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EGLX: TSX-V ———————————-
The boom in egaming/esports
Industry analytics house Newzoo forecasts esports (organised gaming at a professional level) to be worth $US1.1 billion in calendar 2019, rising to $US1.8 billion by 2022
The broader video games market is worth many billions more.
by Tim Boreham
For those who have never heard of Fortnite and are thus showing their
advanced age, video gaming (egaming) has become a multi-billion dollar
industry sector, which in its organised professional form is attracting
serious sponsorship and advertising from mainstream consumer brands.
Egaming isn’t the preserve of vitamin D-deprived joystick jockeys in
their dank bedrooms: it’s also a mass spectator sport with attendances
at live tournaments eclipsing attendances at AFL football matches (the
Adelaide and Essendon clubs have even acquired their own esports teams).
Professional esports teams tour the globe like rock stars, attracting
a similar cult following as they pursue serious prize money. The site
esportsearnings.com lists Germany’s Kuro Takhasomi as the sport’s
biggest earner, having pocketed $6.2m in prize money from 98
tournaments.
Australia’s own Anathan Pham clocks in at number 11 on the esports rich list, reaping $4.15 million from 22 tournaments.
By the way, Fortnite is a Hunger Games style survival game that
involves combatants dealing with adversaries such as zombies by, well,
shooting them. While older game titles such as League of Legends and
Dota2 remain popular, Fortnite’s popularity – especially among teenagers
and even younger kids – is proving to be a game changer in heightening
investor awareness.
Industry analytics house Newzoo forecasts esports (organised gaming
at a professional level) to be worth $US1.1 billion in calendar 2019,
rising to $US1.8 billion by 2022. The broader video games market is
worth many billions more.
According to Esports Mogul (ESH, 1.3 cents) 20-25% of the broader
population have played a mobile game. About half of 16-24s have watched
esports and even in the crustier 45-65 year old bracket, 5% have done
so.
“It’s evident the investment community is really only just coming to
the fore of how big this sector is,†says Esports Mogul CEO Gernot Abl.
There’s also a strong element of ‘co-opetition’, with the companies
executing a number of intertwined deals. “We all know each other and
support what we are doing,†Abl says.
Esports Mogul’s core focus is on a tournament platform called
mogul.gg, which enables amateur gamers to hook up and test their wits
out on each other.
The company this month hosted the Australian Apex Open Tournament on
its platform, with 3850 gamers slugging it out for $35,000 or prize
money.
Esports Mogul was also the exclusive platform provider for the
Australian Esports League’s Girl Gamer festival, a global jamboree held
in Sydney last month.
Meanwhile the South Africa based Emerge Gaming (EM1, 2.3 cents) has
announced a string of collaborations, including May’s memorandum of
understanding with US games developer Digital Circus media to launch its
products in North America.
These products include its GameCloud game streaming platform.
In June, Emerge teamed with Viacom International Media networks
Africa to develop a kids-focused esports tournament platform called
NickX, using Viacom’s Nickelodeon gaming content.
The company believes that as the professional market grows, so too will the market for amateur games based around a central hub.
“Monetisation will be through brand take-up, premium subscriptions,
in app subscriptions and advertising across the platform,†the company
says.
In March, Emerge Gaming also signed a mobile gaming deal with ASX
counterpart iCandy International (ICI, 3.8 cents), to broaden Emerge’s
ArcadeX tournament platform. ArcadeX has been dubbed the “Netflix of
gaming†in that it allows instant streaming of hundreds of 3D video
games.
iCandy will promote the offering to its 350 million global users.
Separately, iCandy also plans to set up its own esports division, with
first revenue by the end of 2019.
iCandy has also partnered with Animoca and Alibaba subsidiary 9Games
to expand iCandy’s mobile game Groove Planet into the $29 billion
mainland China market.
Perhaps not surprisingly, there’s a blockchain theme to the sectoral
wheeling and dealing as well. In late June, Animoca said it would buy
the US company Gamma Innovations, which enables gamers’ idle processing
power to be used to ‘mine’ the cryptocurrency ethereum. The users are
rewarded with loyalty-style points that that can be used to play their
favourite games.
Despite the hype, the three smaller the ASX proponents have a long
way to posting meaningful revenue. In the March quarter, Esports Hero
turned over $20,000, “mainly by experimenting with subscription and
sponsorship models.â€
iCandy generated $289,000, including from digital advertising and
merchandising as well as the games themselves. Emerge had no revenue for
the quarter but managed $129,600 of turnover in the December half,
mainly from sponsorships of its online tournaments.
Animoca posted revenue from ordinary activities of $13.46 million in
calendar 2018, up 107% and reduced its loss to $2.58 million from $8.26
million previously.
According to Esports chief commercial officer Jamie Skella, most of
the value of the sector resides in sponsorship, advertising and media
rights.
A professional Counter Strike and Cyberathlete League player, Skella
sees emerging opportunities are in hosting micro tournaments (including
merchandise) and holding ticketed live events.
Skella says egaming used to be the preserve of industry-focused
advertisers such as hardware providers Razer Incorporated and Gigabyte
Technology; now it’s attracting the interest of mainstream brands such
as McDonald’s, Burger King, Coca Cola and the telcos.
“The 18-34 demographic is increasingly hard to reach but it’s a market segment of super high interest to advertisers,†he says.
All in all, the industry has gone a long way since the 1980s, when
organised events for games such as Space Invaders, Pacman and Donkey
Kong emerged. Online connectedness means combatants can play another
competitor anywhere and at any time.
But for local investors, the reality is that the sector is in its infancy here.
At last glance, Esports Mogul, Emerge and iCandy had market
capitalisations of $21 million, $15 million and $13 million
respectively. Animoca is worth a less febrile $127 million and its
shares have gained 75% since the start of the calendar year.
So while investors might be warming to the macro egaming story, it
remains to be seen which stock will step up to the console with a
serious winning manoeuvre.
