Bitcoin and blockchain have the power to dramatically alter the way we deal with money. They function on principles that differ radically from what the traditional finance industry is used to. They work so differently, in fact, that many predict that Bitcoin and the blockchain technology it works on are to be the downfall of traditional banking.

But is there any truth to these claims?

Micro-insurance (i.e., small-premium insurance for low-income people) hasn't really caught on in the developing world. But two new initiatives will soon be offering micro-insurance (MI) with a twist: MI with blockchain and smart contracts Both involve crop insurance. When an extreme weather event strikes -- drought or a typhoon, say -- the small maize farmer in Kenya or the rice paddy farmer in Sri Lanka do not even need to submit a claim. Nor does the insurer send a claims adjuster. A claims payment is triggered automatically by a blockchain-enabled smart contract.

Novidea, the data-driven platform provider for the insurance industry, is pleased to announce that Ben Potts has joined the company as Managing Director UK, to spearhead the company's growth and expansion across the UK and EMEA region. Previously, Ben held various leadership and revenue-focused executive roles with Majesco, Xchanging and Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT).

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), the premier post-trade market infrastructure for the global financial services industry, today announced that it has received regulatory approval from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority to provide trade reporting services in Switzerland via DTCC’s Global Trade Repository service (GTR) in Europe. 

BOKIS, a Danish banking collective, and Nets, a market leader in the payments industry, have extended their existing agreement on handling payments with international cards. The agreement ensures that regional and nationwide banks in the BOKIS association, comprising 40% of the Danish payment card market, can continue to benefit from an efficient and stable card infrastructure. 

Braintri, a European leader in fintech innovations, today announced a new deal with Benefia part of Vienna Insurance Group. The insurance subscription platform developed by Braintri is being launched in several sales channels of Benefia, including mobile. The platform, named hiPRO Connector, has already been implemented for Allianz. The new implementation marks a busy year for Braintri with new mobile banking projects for PKO BP and mBank.

Irish businesses are being given a connectivity boost thanks to Claranet, the global technology services provider, who will be rolling out MPLS Superfast Broadband across the country. Expanding on its current MPLS Ethernet and Broadband offering, the new service will offer lightning fast speeds of up to 100Mbps, filling the gap between the existing broadband services which Claranet currently provides.  

DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) and Luxoft Holding, Inc (NYSE: LXFT) today announced a definitive agreement for DXC to acquire Luxoft, a global-scale digital innovator with differentiated offerings, deep vertical industry expertise and world-class digital talent.

AdTech Studio of CyberAgent, Inc. (listed in the first section of Tokyo Stock Exchange; Stock Code: 4751) has developed "PFX LIVE," which is specialized in monetizing live streaming services in "CA ProFit-X," a supply-side platform.