Digital currencies

Slock.it says its current project will enable people to exchange the ownership of devices connected to the internet of things.

Accenture has agreed to acquire First Annapolis Consulting in an effort to add payments expertise in several international markets.

Brave, founded by JavaScript creator and former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich, intends to issue a cryptocurrency to fund the development of a new way to buy and view digital ads.

BloqLabs, created by the startup Bloq, wants to help developers get their projects in front of enterprise clients.

If the Federal Reserve and other central banks began issuing their own digital currencies, they could benefit consumers, boost the economy and fight financial crime. But not without risks to cybersecurity, individual privacy — and possibly bank profits.

U.S. regulators rejected an exchange-traded fund based on bitcoin, wiping out weeks of gains for the digital currency as investors speculated the Securities and Exchange Commission would approve the security.

The question is more than academic. At stake is the role blockchain technology can play in lowering the costs of raising money.

Banks have signaled bullishness for blockchain tech. But some say ignorance is leading to ill-informed choices.

Banks have traditonally lagged behind in embracing innovation, though blockchain provides the opportunity to quickly ramp up digital services.

Blockchain, the technology behind bitcoin, is increasingly seen as a way to cut costs for international payments.