Nicholas Fearn

Nicholas Fearn is a freelance journalist with experience reporting on technology, digital culture and business. His work has been featured on Engadget, Lifehacker, Gizmodo and TechRadar. In addition, he edits Tech Dragons, a publication covering STEM in Wales.

Stories by Nicholas Fearn

The Graph gets closer to helping developers extract Ethereum data
The Graph has launched the testnet version of its decentralized infrastructure that will make it easy for anyone to get data from a blockchain. More than 15 node operators have signed up to participate in the testnet, including Staking Facilities and Figment Networks. These are experienced teams who understand staking—the concept of holding large amounts of cryptocurrency tokens and participating on the network. Participants will be tasked with testing the security of the network and the perfor...
News
2 min read
China's BSN wants to integrate 100 public blockchains in 2020
China's Blockchain Service Network (BSN) has unveiled ambitious plans to connect more than 100 public blockchains this year, according to a report by Bloomberg. Red Date Technology, the Beijing-based crypto company behind the network, is ramping up plans to roll out BSN across the world. BSN recently announced support for Tezos, NEO, Nervos, EOS, IRISnet and Ethereum; speaking to Bloomberg, Red Date CEO He Yifan revea;ed that it's looking to raise that number to 100 public chains within a year....
NewsBusiness
3 min read
Nicholas FearnJul 27, 2020
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Copper and Signet team up to streamline institutional crypto trading
Digital asset infrastructure provider Copper has unveiled an integration with Signet, the blockchain-based digital payments platform of Signature Bank. By integrating with the Signet platform, London-based Copper said users such as institutional asset managers can now make payments and transactions in US dollars and other global currencies, via its own platform. Copper believes that the integration will make it faster and easier for asset managers to send different currencies between bank accou...
NewsBusiness
3 min read
Nicholas FearnJul 17, 2020
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China's blockchain love-in continues with pilot expansion
China is working on plans to expand the pilot for its blockchain cross-border financing platform, according to a report by Reuters. A senior figure working at China’s foreign exchange regulatory office claims that the country will explore different areas in which the platform could be used. Speaking at a forum in Beijing recently, Lu Lei, deputy head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said that China will, “gradually expand the scope of the pilot and the application scenarios of bl...
NewsBusiness
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 24, 2019
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Blockchain has a diversity problem. Here's how to fix it
A new report from non-profit Diversity in Blockchain has shone a light on the blockchain industry’s lack of diversity, and provided recommendations on how it can be made more inclusive. The study, produced in partnership with international law firms Linklaters and Crowell & Moring, compiles statistics from a range of sources and explores ways in which diversity can be improved. Mirroring trends in the wider technology sector, the report found that gender diversity is still a major challenge in t...
NewsBusiness
4 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 24, 2019
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Enigma's new testnet lets anyone build secret contracts
Enigma, a decentralized protocol designed to create secret smart contracts, has launched its networked testnet on Ethereum. So, anyone can now give the network a go, with pretend Enigma (ENG) tokens. Smart contracts are pieces of code running on a blockchain that, when their conditions are met, result in an action, such as a cryptocurrency transaction. But what if someone wants those conditions to be kept secret? In comes secret smart contracts, where the details are kept secret—but still result...
NewsBusiness
3 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 23, 2019
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Gitcoin announces $200,000 grant program for Ethereum projects
Open-source crypto bounties platform Gitcoin has announced plans to launch another round of grants, beginning on January 6. Gitcoin is allocating grants for two separate pools. It’ll invest $75,000 in media, community and marketing products, while pledging $125,000 for Ethereum infrastructure projects covering areas like ETH 2.0, decentralized finance (DeFi), crypto wallets and UX. When it comes to allocating grants, the company uses the Liberal Radicalism mechanism for quadratic funding. Gitcoi...
NewsBusiness
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 19, 2019
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HTC doubles down on VR headsets and blockchain phones
Taiwanese mobile giant HTC has announced that it intends to focus on developing blockchain smartphones, according to local news reports. As part of a major strategy change, the company will make further cuts to its team for the second year running but will continue to focus on developing new products. Currently, the firm employs 3,000 people, although it’s expected to layoff staff across a number of departments. At this point, the firm hasn’t revealed which areas of the business will be affecte...
NewsBusiness
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 19, 2019
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EY’s latest tool helps you check a cryptocurrency won’t break
Professional services giant Ernst & Young (EY) has released a public beta version of its smart contract and token testing service. Launched in April, EY’s Smart Contract Analyzer enables users to vet smart contracts and tokens for a range of known security risks. The service, developed at the EY Blockchain Security Lab in Israel, lets users test and monitor tokens and contracts before they’re released on public blockchains. EY claims that the product covers more than 250 standard tests, includin...
NewsBusiness
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 18, 2019
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This Brazilian couple decided to get a civil partnership on the blockchain
Brazil’s first civil partnership to be carried out through blockchain technology has taken place, according to a report by ZDNet. In Rio de Janeiro, local blockchain startup Growth Tech used its notary ledgers network and cloud services from IBM to record the civil partnership. Guilherme Mesquita, who works as a doctor in the Brazillian Airforce, married public defender Diego Vale on November 11th. During the ceremony, a digital identity for Mesquita and Vale was generated before they were ask...
NewsTechnology
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 18, 2019
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The IoT Age: Developer creates device for crypto micropayments
Software developer Christian Oosting has designed and built a prototype of a connected micropayment device that can be used specifically for cryptocurrencies. The device, called Espiota, is fully configurable, requires no knowledge in software development and allows any electricity-powered machine to receive IOTA. While it is only a prototype, this is the one of the first of many devices designed for making micropayments on an Internet of Things (IoT) network. IoT refers to the idea of connected...
NewsTechnology
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 17, 2019
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Accenture invests in blockchain platform to digitize global trade
Professional services giant Accenture has invested in a Dublin-based blockchain platform in a bid to digitize global trade. The firm has signed an undisclosed investment deal and strategic alliance with TradeIX to help accelerate the way in which goods, services, transactions and information are traded globally. According to Accenture, current trade relies on costly and time-consuming manual transaction processes. But using TradeIX’s open platform, it wants to create a secure environment for glo...
NewsBusiness
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 17, 2019
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ISIS co-opts blockchain to issue propaganda after Telegram ban
The Islamic State has begun testing a blockchain-powered messaging app in a bid to communicate and spread propaganda anonymously. According to a report by Vice, the terrorist organization is currently running trials of an app called BCM Messenger. While ISIS has also been testing apps like Hoop, TamTam, RocketChat and Riot, BCM is particularly advantageous for the group because it uses encryption and users are anonymous. The BCM Messenger app, which is available on both Android and iOS devices,...
NewsBusiness
3 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 16, 2019
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Crypto's growing storage problem
Reports exposing potential security weaknesses in one major cryptocurrency wallet and one hardware chip used for storing cryptographic keys are a constant reminder of the challenge of storing private keys—used to control access to cryptocurrencies—safely. According to researchers at Kraken Security Labs, an attack known as “voltage glitching” lets hackers extract encrypted seeds from the KeepKey hardware wallet—backed by crypto exchange ShapeShift—in just 15 minutes. While the researchers claim...
NewsTechnology
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 11, 2019
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Ripple adds key tools for developers building on XRP Ledger
Ripple is providing more support for developers to build technology focused on the XRP cryptocurrency. Its developer-focused arm, Xpring, has launched a website for developers that provides access to tools, services and documentation for integrating payments into their products and apps. The first major tool to be launched on Xpring.io is a wallet that helps developers manage critical tools, such as generating and managing account credentials, viewing balances and monitoring the transaction hist...
NewsTechnology
3 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 11, 2019
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Elon Musk’s SpaceX rocket sends cryptocurrency wallet to space
SpaceChain has sent its blockchain hardware wallet technology to the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The technology is being deployed to the station as part of the CRS-19 commercial resupply service mission and is the first time blockchain hardware has been demonstrated on the ISS. The blockchain wallet will be installed on Nanoracks’ commercial platform in the station and, once activated, will demonstrate the receipt, authorization and retransmission of blockchain t...
NewsTechnology
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 6, 2019
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China makes new bid to power finance with blockchain
China is launching a range of blockchain and financial programs in a bid to boost its relationship with countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, according to an announcement today. Speaking at Hainan Free Trade Port International Cooperation Forum on Digital Economy and Blockchain, representatives from Chinese crypto exchange Huobi, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other countries signed an agreement on blockchain technology. Through the agreement, countries taking part in...
NewsBusiness
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 5, 2019
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Komodo makes big upgrade to its Atomic Swap technology
Komodo has announced it is bringing its atomic swap technology to web browsers. Its decentralized exchange, known as Atomic DEX, uses smart contract technology that allows users to trade digital assets without the involvement of third parties, like banks. Komodo CTO Kadan Stadelmann said, “We’ve been working on atomic swaps since 2014 and have even collaborated with their inventor, Tier Nolan. “We’ve conducted over 100,000 swaps. And in the last four months, we’ve launched the first DEX for mobi...
NewsTechnology
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 4, 2019
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Starling Bank co-founder jumps on the Bitcoin bandwagon
Bitcoin exchange Gemini has appointed challenger bank Starling co-founder Julian Sawyer as managing director of its UK and Europe branch. According to Gemini, Sawyer will oversee its strategic vision across the region. In particular, he will be responsible for shaping this strategy, developing new products and leading business operations. Tyler Winklevoss, CEO of Gemini, said, “Europe is the birthplace of modern financial markets and the United Kingdom (UK) has been a global financial capital...
NewsBusiness
2 min read
Nicholas FearnDec 4, 2019
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Swiss lawmakers look to boost blockchain innovation
The Swiss government has unveiled plans to improve frameworks for distributed ledger and blockchain technologies. In an announcement, Switzerland’s Federal Council said the proposals would increase legal certainty, remove barriers for blockchain applications and reduce the risk of abuse. The revisions to the previous framework propose specific amendments to nine federal acts across civil and financial law and were based on industry feedback. In May 2019, the government proposed a series of amend...
NewsBusiness
1 min read
Nicholas FearnNov 28, 2019
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