This week, major U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Gemini announced that it has officially launched operations in Australia. According to a press release, Gemini is now available in "49 U.S. states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Australia." Also this week, Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume, announced plans to launch "Venus, an initiative to develop localized stablecoins and digital assets pegged to fiat currencies across the globe." Binance is reportedly seeking to launch the initiative in partnership with national governments. Some reports have described the initiative as a potential competitor or alternative to the recently proposed Libra project. According to a report published early this week, the Libra project is on the agenda of a delegation of U.S. lawmakers that will visit Switzerland, where the foundation governing Libra is based, to meet with the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

This week Lolli, a bitcoin rewards platform, announced a new partnership with a U.S. online food delivery service that will allow users to earn bitcoin when making online purchases. According to another report this week, a luxury condominium complex in Florida has partnered with bitcoin payment processor BitPay to allow purchases of real estate with bitcoin. And new data cited this week indicates that the philanthropic arm of a major U.S.-based multinational financial services firm has received more than $100 million in cryptocurrency donations since 2015.

Blockchain initiatives at two other major financial institutions were reported this week. One involves a major Spanish bank that has expanded its use of a blockchain-based remittance platform. Another relates to a recently published patent application by a U.S. bank that describes a "Multi-Tiered Digital Wallet Security" system that appears aimed at providing increased security and control over cryptocurrency funds.

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