Chicago Options Exchange to Halt Bitcoin Futures Trading on June 19; Tether Mints 150 Million USDT on Ethereum

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Headlines

Cboe to Cease Bitcoin Futures Trading
The Chicago Board Options Exchange (Cboe), the world's largest options market, will settle its final bitcoin futures contract on June 19. Post this expiration, the exchange will discontinue all bitcoin derivatives trading, marking the end of its bitcoin期货 products. (Coinspeaker)

Cryptocurrency Updates

Visa Launches B2B Connect with Partial DLT Integration

Visa introduced its B2B Connect network on June 11, serving 30 enterprises. This system facilitates near-instant international payments by leveraging distributed ledger technology (DLT), bypassing traditional代理银行 networks. (CoinDesk)

Tether Expands USDT Supply by 150 Million

Tether minted 150 million USDT on Ethereum (block #7936931), raising its total ERC-20 USDT issuance to 800,010,000. (PeckShield)

👉 Discover how stablecoins like USDT are transforming digital payments

Liquid to Host Exclusive Gram Token Sale

Cryptocurrency exchange Liquid announced an exclusive public sale of Telegram’s Gram tokens starting July 10. Purchases can be made via USD or USDC. Notably, Liquid’s agreement is with Gram Asia—a major token holder—not directly with Telegram.

Lightning Labs to Release "Watchtowers" Update

Lightning Labs’ upcoming Watchtowers update aims to prevent fraud, fulfilling a concept outlined in the 2015 Lightning Network whitepaper. (CoinDesk)

Silvergate Bank Reports Declining Crypto Deposits

Silvergate Bank’s revised S1 filing for its IPO revealed:

Blockchain Applications

Shenzhen Launches Blockchain-Based P2P Exit Voting System

深圳’s new voting system for P2P platform exits integrates人脸识别 and blockchain to ensure transparent decision-making. (羊城晚报)

Xiong’an Requires Blockchain for Fund Management

雄安新区’s Yuerong Park project mandates全程资金管理 via a blockchain platform, aligning with its smart city goals. (雄安发布)

Forbes China’s Top Innovators Include Two Blockchain Firms

布比区块链 and 趣链科技 were listed among 50 innovative companies in the 2019 Forbes China rankings. (四川新闻网)

Investments

Most Caffeine Ltd Secures $50 Million for Middle East Expansion

Saudi investors funded this blockchain firm to scale its ABS Chain in Arab markets, focusing on data security. (Business Wire)

👉 Explore blockchain’s role in global finance

Fireblocks Raises $16 Million in Series A

Backed by Fidelity’s Eight Roads, Fireblocks’ asset-transfer platform now serves Galaxy Digital and Genesis Global Trading. (CoinDesk)

Voices

Justin Sun on Buffett Lunch:
"Converting巴菲特 to crypto in three hours is unrealistic. Our goal is bridging crypto and traditional finance." (Yahoo Finance)

Zilliqa Denies Facebook Partnership Rumors:
The team clarified no collaboration exists, dismissing claims about Facebook’s stablecoin launching on Zilliqa. (链闻)


FAQ

Q: Why is Cboe ending Bitcoin futures trading?
A: Declining demand and market shifts prompted Cboe to discontinue its bitcoin期货 products after June 19.

Q: How does Visa’s B2B Connect improve payments?
A: By utilizing DLT, it enables faster cross-border transactions without relying on代理银行 networks.

Q: What is Gram Asia’s role in Liquid’s token sale?
A: Gram Asia, a major Gram token holder, partnered with Liquid for the sale, independent of Telegram.

Q: How does Shenzhen’s voting system ensure fairness?
A: Blockchain and biometric verification prevent fraud, ensuring transparent P2P platform resolutions.