“Our team is continuously looking for more ways to put more bitcoin in your wallet, and today we are furthering that goal by launching our newest partner, Kroger. Kroger serves over 11 million customers daily. These shoppers now have access to earning free bitcoin back on their everyday shopping when using Lolli.”

Partnership with Samsung

Samsung has renewed its partnership with Lolli which was announced back in February 2019, in order to allow users earn up to 1.5% back on purchasing Samsung products. The announcements from Lolli also stated the category of Samsung products users get to earn a cash back from. Users can get the bonus if they are looking at purchasing a new TV, a mobile device or a laundry machine for the house.

The announcement was made at the Biopharma cold chain logistics session in Seoul, South Korea.

  “Through the drug distribution history management service, it is possible to comply with regulations and innovate business by implementing product-specific history management, real-time distribution history tracking, and automatic reporting functions.”

The pilots are said to last between three and six months and that they would include an IOT-linked temperature history tracking service. This will be implemented alongside the automatic history management for both incoming and outgoing goods. 

“The value of blockchain in the healthcare industry is expected to grow from $176.80 million in 2018 to $5.61 billion in 2025, and by 2025, 55% of healthcare solutions are expected to adopt blockchain for commercial purposes.”

“Stellar’s integration into the Samsung Blockchain Keystore is a significant step for our network and the incredible ecosystem of applications built on this platform. Samsung provides a key management solution that is user-friendly and drives greater adoption of blockchain technology. With this integration, we’ve opened up to a new network of users that can benefit from the combined innovation of Stellar and Samsung,” said Denelle Dixon, CEO and Executive Director of SDF. “It’s just the beginning as we work together to empower more developers and users to leverage blockchain and the capabilities presented by this integration.”

Decrypt reported that Tron rose by 7% after it was announced that it would get integrated into the Samsung Blockchain keystore, let’s see if the case will be the same for Stellar. 

The research arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB), IRTI has come into partnership with Blocko, a Samsung backed Blockchain technology firm.

The Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI) and Blocko have collaborated with the aim of building an innovative blockchain based smart credit management system. 

The collaboration between IRTI and Blocko comes as part of the E24P initiative, a newly launched technology group focused on delivering cutting-edge blockchain technology across Africa and South-East Asia (Middle East). 

The need for the technology 

The Law (Sharia law) prohibits Islamic banks from charging borrowers interest or penalizing them when they fail to pay up on time. So in order to encourage debtors to meet up with the payment, they are charged with fees which are then donated to charity when paid. This means however, comes with its own challenges, for example debtors do not feel the urgency to pay back funds borrowed, some even see the late fee as an act of benevolence. The banks also face the difficulty of efficiently distributing this funds to charity, plus they don’t earn any incentives which makes it lack development. 

Solution: An Open, Secure and Transparent System

The smart credit management system will be developed on the Aergo hybrid blockchain, this system will enable not only Islamic banks but other financial institutions to perform credit assessments in an autonomous and integrated way while still maintaining transparency, security and privacy. 

Speaking on this new technology and partnership, Dr Sami AI Suwailem, Director General of IRTI said 

“The Islamic finance market is growing rapidly, with projections of a rise from around $2 trillion to an impressive $3.78 trillion by 2022, yet certain technical and economic challenges have prevented the industry from truly flourishing. Our new partnership with E24P aims to address this by providing the infrastructure needed for the Islamic financial industry to deliver critical financing to both the developed and developing world”

Once integrated, Creditors will be able to reduce their credit default rate in a transparent manner while keeping the data and methodology used appropriately secure and confidential and this too utilizing the Zero-Knowledge proofs. 

Zamani Phil, the CEO of E24P stated that the systems will help banks “deliver a truly unique solution that has the potential to have a significant impact on the world of Islamic finance.”

The Samsung blockchain wallet allows users to self custody their cryptocurrencies directly on their Samsung Galaxy devices.

“Crypto is not just technology it’s a movement” Tyler Winklevoss stated.

Through the integration of both apps Samsung Galaxy users who are in the US and Canada can now buy and sell crypto, view their Gemini exchange account and also transfer their cryptos into cold storage with the Gemini custody for the highest level of security

“It’s a full integration between the two apps that is very transparent and very easy to use” – Jeanine Hightower-Sellitto, managing director of operations at Gemini.

About Companies

Gemini Trust Co. is a cryptocurrency exchange founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss of Facebook inc. It is one of the exchanges that got partnered with JP Morgan Bank as reported by JRNYcrypto. The Exchange has had a stand-alone exchange mobile app since late 2018.

Samsung launched their blockchain wallet in 2019. It is a convenient and secure crypto wallet for handling your crypto transactions. It is designed to make it a bit easier for customers to use Decentralized Applications (Dapp) such as games that run and blockchain. The integration between the Gemini app and the Samsung blockchain wallet will be on phones such as Samsung Galaxy S20 series and Galaxy Z flip.

Gemini also confirmed that the integration will not work on Verizon communications inc.s network.

This is an innovative move to get Crypto on board Citizens of US and Canada and that with one of the most Used Mobile Phone Samsung.

Theta is a decentralized video delivery network that was first built on the Ethereum network, but then switched to their own blockchain once it was completed. Their current blockchain is designed with the incentive of sharing your bandwidth with other network users.

Theta is currently building a peer-to-peer mesh network that aims to solve the issues of poor reach, high-cost setup and a centralized structure, while also using blockchain to create an incentive layer to reward users for contributing to the network and keep the network performance fast.

How Does Theta Work?

There are two major parts to Theta. The first being the video delivery network that is comprised of users who join the network and contribute bandwidth. The second part is the Theta blockchain itself, which is used to reward users for contributing with THETA tokens.

Without the incentive to run a node and contribute to the network, the user wouldn’t be inclined to participate and give up their bandwidth. The potential by adding crypto rewards is huge and could lead to the best video delivery network in existence.

The Theta Network

I won’t bore you with the technical aspect of the Theta Network, as that could be an entire 1000 word blog post in itself.

The Theta Blockchain is designed to reduce delivery costs by up to 80% from the existing infrastructure. By removing the middle man that is the massive data cents that currently power CDNs, you not only can earn crypto, but also be part of a much faster and cheaper network.

Digital media is advancing very quickly and the current centralized infrastructure that is in place won’t be able to handle the amount of power that is required for high-quality games, virtual reality and 8k movies. Theta Network solves this issue.

The THETA Token

The purpose of the THETA token is to pay and reward users that contribute their bandwidth to the network. THETA tokens will also be used to purchase premium content, tip and pay content creators, trading virtual products and more.

At the time of this post, THETA is trading at 5x higher than it’s low in mid March on Black Thursday. Many believe the price is rising due to the launch of mainnet 2.0 which is currently 6 days away.

TFUEL Token

In addition to THETA token, the project also created a 2nd cryptocurrency called TFUEL, which stands for THETA FUEL. This new token was created for additional rewards on their streaming platforms ThETA.tv and partner sites GFUEL and SAMSUNG VR.

You can also use TFUEL to make donations to streamers, pay for premium content and get account upgrades.

As the THETA network and these streaming platforms grow, the price of the tokens should increase as well. The project is also working on addition utility for both these tokens.

The Theta Team

One thing to really take note of is how impressive the Theta team and advisors is. The team consists of over 14 members all having a multitude of blockchain, video network and media experience.

One advisor they take great pride in is Steve Chen, who is the co-founder of YouTube. Other notable mentions are Justin Kan the Co-founder of Twitch, and Clifford Morgan the CEO of GFUEL.

Buying and Storing THETA and TFUEL

The largest exchange to offer these Theta tokens is Binance. There are many other exchanges offering THETA but with much smaller volume, so the recommended exchange to purchase these tokens is Binance.

Click here register at Binance Exchange with discounted trading fees

To store your THETA and TFUEL tokens, it’s recommended to use their native wallet found at thetatoken.org. You can also store your tokens in the Ledger Hardware Wallet if you want to further secure your tokens.

Other wallets that support THETA and TFUEL are Trust Wallet and Atomic Wallet.

Theta Samsung Partnership

Something very impressive that Theta Network has coming up is the deal they secured with Samsung to pre-install THETA.tv to millions of Galaxy mobile devices. This will bring thousands of new investors to both tokens and grow the THETA network tremendously.

If users are happy with the THETA tv streaming network, this could be the catalyst that takes THETA to the big leagues.

THETA.tv on Android TVs

At the beginning of May 2020, Theta also launched their app on Android TV, bringing TFUEL token rewards to smart TVs all around the world.

Having easy access to THETA.tv will increase the amount of users and in time boost the price of TFUEL token. This can also introduce many people to the Theta Network.

Theta Network Mainnet 2.0

Theta is very close to launching their mainnet 2.0 which will introduce guardian nodes. This is a revolutionary, two layer consensus mechanism optimized for video delivery.

Theta also announced they have just passed 1,000 nodes on the Theta Network and expect many more after launch of mainnet 2.0.

The Future of Theta Network

With a strong team of experts and advisors, I believe the Theta Network will continue to grow to new levels and we will see the Theta Network become the best video delivery network in existence.

During this next bull run, I expect both THETA and TGUEL to have excellent performance and tremendous growth.

Samsung has decided to invest $2.9 million in the cryptocurrency hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger. The investment amounted €2.6 million and it gives a valuation of €260 million to the company. The multi-million dollar investment in Ledger comes from Samsung after injecting $ 4 million in ZenGo, an emerging company developing keyless crypto wallets.

Samsung’s commitment to the digital currency sector is likely to be a catalyst for investors’ confidence in the long-term prospects of the market

Why Samsung invests heavily in digital currency portfolio?

We may say that The investment news comes shortly after it was reported that Samsung is working on its own blockchain-based network and a cryptocurrency token named Samsung Coin. Samsung has also recently led a $4 million funding round in ZenGo, developers of keyless crypto wallets.

While Samsung’s investment represents just 1 percent of Ledger’s new valuation, this investment was potentially just the beginning, and  Samsung had bigger ambitions with Ledger for the future.

In any case, this move further solidifies Samsung’s real interest in blockchain technology.

Earlier this week, Coindesk Korea, the digital currency news site, reported that Samsung was testing the currency of Samsung Coin and the ERC20 protocol based on ethylene plaque.
An insider told the local media:

“The BLOC has presented several models and are being evaluated. There are many platforms that already work after some internal tests. “

Samsung has been in the news during the last months because it seems that the company is trying to have a larger influence on the virtual currency and blockchain space. The South Korean giant launched the Samsung Galaxy S10 that includes a crypto and blockchain wallet integrated into the phone.

At the same time, Samsung could eventually launch a cryptocurrency token after launching its own Ethereum-based blockchain network. According to a recent report released by CoinDesk Korea, an anonymous source that knows the projects that the company has informed that Samsung could be developing a public-private blockchain based on Ethereum.

Pascal Gauthier, the new CEO of Ledger Ledger, said in an email:

“While many digital owners of Ledger trust their digital currencies, companies that manage large amounts of digital currencies, such as institutional investors, family offices and exchange platforms, are also starting to trust us.”

What is the importance of ledger wallet for storing cryptocurrencies?

Because your Internet service providers can be easily hacked or have information stolen, this makes our small unit systems and mobile devices vulnerable as well. The most important thing about your wallet is your seed key/private key/recovery key. Therefore you don’t want it generated or stored on a device that could easily be hacked.

With the Ledger Nano Wallet, your private keys are seen by you alone through the OLED screen of the device. It is not accessible through your personal computer neither can it be copied. This leaves your private keys safe right on the device for your eyes alone to see.

Another level of security comes with you setting up a passcode for the device. If you lose it or it gets stolen, it’s of no use to whoever sees it unless the person can figure out your pin code in 3 trials. Failure to do so returns the device to factory setting, and your private keys would be required again.

Different type of ledgers:

Ledger is known for its hardware storage wallets, including the Ledger Nano S. Their latest product is the Bluetooth-enabled device the Ledger Nano X. The Nano S can hold a maximum of four cryptocurrencies but the Nano X holds up to 100. Ledger claims that both models have “their own advantages, complementing each other and catering to different types of users”.

Last year, Ledger raised $ 75 million by Tim Draper, Boost VC, Draper Esprit. At the time, Ledger said the financing round was “oversubscribed” and that it was the largest B round in 2018.
The Group B financing round was secured by the Company to improve its hardware manufacturing operations and support individual investors.
Eric Larchevêque, the co-founder of Ledger, said in 2018:
“For the governor, we integrate the operating system into a secure chip. For Vault, we integrate it into a physical security module. The idea behind this is to offer additional features and services, such as multi signatures or multisignatures.”

Samsung’s new financing round is likely to increase Ledger’s potential growth in a relatively new sector of digital currency preservation

Expect more deals

Samsung is already heavily involved in the digital currency market through its manufacturing of mining equipment, the Samsung Blockchain Wallet, as well as investing in many projects related to digital currencies.
With the development of the main network of Samsung’s digital currency from its final stage, the company may enter into more deals that can eliminate barriers between digital currencies and key users.

Based on Samsung’s investment in ZenGo and Ledger, it is clear that the company prefers startups that facilitate the use of digital currency in day-to-day operations.

Thus, the investment that Samsung has just done on Ledger is very important for the firm and is related to the projects in which is currently focusing on. At the same time, This new investment shows the will of Samsung to further strengthen the security of crypto assets.