Blockchain

Cambridge Blockchain, a startup that bills its technology as a solution for banks to the competing regulatory imperatives of transparency and privacy, has raised $2 million through a convertible note.

The bank's next big challenge is to find a place where the emerging technology best fits its needs.

American Express has signed on to the Hyperledger Project, a industry group of more than 100 members developing blockchain technology for corporate use.

In time, more large institutions will realize that closed, centralized blockchains aren’t any better than the databases now in use.

The initiative pushes open and collaborative development of uses cases for the distributed ledger technology in financial services and payments.

Alipay's deal to buy MoneyGram for $880 million may be the centerpiece of its strategy to expand beyond China's borders, but it's not its first move in recent months. The Alibaba payments affiliate has already extended its reach in several other ways.

Chinese's largest online payments company to get a footprint in the U.S.; Believers in blockchain bemoan the lack of global cooperation.

The fleet card provider WEX isn't sure how blockchain can help its business, but it's confident enough in the technology's promise to move forward.

Bank consortium R3 CEV, one of the most well-funded blockchain working groups, has endured criticism for its meticulous process. But if blockchains are most valuable with a network effect, maybe forgoing some agility is worth the long while.

The parent of Alipay is also investigating uses for biometrics and artificial intelligence.