Fireblocks, the crypto company backed by Sequoia Capital and Coatue Management, has acquired BlockFold, a Melbourne-based start-up that helps financial institutions build blockchain-based systems.

As per Bloomberg , Fireblocks paid about $US10 million ($15.6 million) for BlockFold. While Fireblocks already works with large financial institutions, including Bank of New York Mellon, BNP Paribas and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, it has predominantly offered them services around custody technology.

New York-based Fireblocks is one of crypto’s most well-funded start-ups, having raised some $US1.2 billion so far. The company, which employs around 650 people in the US and Israel, was valued at $US8 billion in its latest financing round in January 2022.

The deal comes as large Wall Street firms ramp up efforts to issue and trade traditional financial assets like bonds and private-equity investments over blockchain networks, seeking to simplify processes and cut costs.

Founded in 2021, BlockFold specialises in tokenisation and smart-contract development for clients such as large financial institutions. Fireblocks and BlockFold have already worked together on projects including National Australia Bank’s recent cross-border stablecoin transfer.

In a significant stride toward modernization, Brazil is rolling out a novel national identity card system, fortified by the integration of a blockchain network. This innovative approach is set to bolster the security of data sharing between the Federal Revenue Service and civil identification authorities.

The cornerstone of this system is the shared registry known as b-Cadastros, designed to underpin the operations of the revenue service. This comprehensive platform facilitates searches, issuance, and modifications of the new ID cards and tax registration numbers. Notably, the platform’s development was orchestrated by Serpro, Brazil’s state-owned IT services corporation.

Serpro’s President, Alexandre Amorim, emphasized the pivotal role of the b-Cadastros blockchain platform in fortifying the National Identity Card project. “The use of the b-Cadastros blockchain platform is a major differentiator for the security and reliability of the National Identity Card project,” he stated.

The National Civil Identity Card (ICN) represents an upgraded iteration of Brazil’s traditional paper-based ID cards, and the nationwide issuance commenced in July 2022. The overarching goal of this project is to centralize the nation’s civil identification system and harness the ICN database to authenticate individuals accessing online public services.

The modern plastic card boasts an innovative feature: it empowers users to generate a single digital version of their identity document. This advancement enhances security, as it allows for validation through a printed QR code. In adopting blockchain technology for the ID cards, the Brazilian government anticipates streamlining processes and curbing fraud and illegal activities. Presently, individuals can request identification cards in all of Brazil’s 27 states, which presents challenges in terms of data integrity and security.

Serpro’s Amorim elaborated on the significance of blockchain technology in safeguarding personal data and thwarting fraudulent activities, thus delivering a more secure digital experience for Brazilian citizens.

The states of Rio de Janeiro, Goiás, and Paraná are set to pioneer the blockchain-based version of the national revenue service’s shared registry for the issuance of the new ID cards this week. The remaining states are poised to follow suit over the next six weeks, marking a significant step forward in enhancing the security and efficiency of Brazil’s identity verification and taxation systems.
Source: Forbes

Eyeball Games, a Singapore-based gaming company, has successfully completed a funding round led by White Star Capital. Notable participants in this round include Polygon Ventures, Immutable, Ocular, Great South Gate Ventures, and prominent angel investors. White Star Capital invested from its Ubisoft-backed Digital Asset Fund, emphasizing the growing interest in blockchain gaming.

The funding will support the development of “Eyeball Pool,” a modernized pool game that leverages Web3 elements to provide an enhanced user experience, including full ownership of in-game assets. The team behind Eyeball Pool is also responsible for creating 8 Ball Pool, a massively popular mobile game with over one billion downloads worldwide.

Eyeball Games plans to launch Eyeball Pool in multiple phases, commencing with a closed beta test on the web, exclusively accessible to holders of the game’s non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These NFTs will grant players exclusive ownership of in-game assets. The full release of Eyeball Pool on mobile platforms is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, at which point the NFTs will automatically convert into game starter packs, containing unique and exclusive items for players.

As a significant step towards enhancing gameplay and player ownership, Eyeball Pool will be launched on the Polygon x Immutable zkEVM chain. This platform is specifically designed for gaming projects, and Eyeball Pool will be prominently featured among the early projects on the chain. Previously, Eyeball Pool minted 4,001 genesis NFTs called “Balldroids,” which sold out within just 30 minutes in January 2023. Due to popular demand, the game is gearing up to open a whitelist for an expanded NFT series soon.

Jonathan Ivarsson, the CEO of Eyeball Games, expressed enthusiasm for securing funding from prestigious investors. He stated that the team looks forward to leveraging their expertise to create a world-class game that grants true ownership of assets to players, pioneering a novel approach to asset valuation.

Eddie Lee, General Partner at White Star Capital, also commented on the potential of Web3 to revolutionize gameplay experiences. The partnership with Eyeball Games aims to create a game that will captivate millions of players by leveraging the full potential of Web3 technology.

Eyeball Pool is the brainchild of Karsten Niemer and Thomas Elgaard, the original creators of 8 Ball Pool. Collaborating with Jonathan Ivarsson, the founder of Eyeball Games, the team conceived a vision for a blockchain-based challenger to 8 Ball Pool, offering gamers unparalleled ownership of their in-game assets.

With aspirations to replicate the success of their past venture, Eyeball Games built Eyeball Pool from scratch, incorporating a proprietary physics engine and cutting-edge graphics. The game features a player-vs-player mode and various tournament modes, bolstered by an AI skill-matching engine.

Established in July 2022, Eyeball Games currently boasts a team of 13 dedicated employees. The funding received from this round will further accelerate the development and innovation behind Eyeball Pool, positioning it as a groundbreaking blockchain gaming experience set to redefine the world of pool gaming for years to come.