In an attempt to showcase their supposed technological prowess, North Korea will be holding a blockchain and cryptocurrency conference later this year.

North Korea plans to host leading blockchain experts from around the globe during a two-day conference called, the “Korean International Blockchain Conference.”

The event will take place October and last two days, according to Singaporean outlet The Straits Times .

The conference itself will close with a meet and greet between North Korean industry leaders and the experts in attendance. There has been no mention if Kim Jong-Un will be in attendance.

It remains unclear who will be speaking at the conference – or how the event will work, logistically speaking. Factoring in the country’s notorious travel restrictions, there will no doubt be various challenges for international attendees.

An informant told The Straits Times that North Korea are keen to show off their capabilities in the area.

North Korea’s capabilities when it comes to blockchain and cryptocurrency are anyone’s guess. We’re keen to see how this one will play out, especially given the less than desirable state of North Korean tourism right now.

North Korea is gunning to show off its progress in the blockchain field, evidence suggests its citizens might be quite adept at spreading cryptocurrency malware .

Has Apple changed its tack towards cryptocurrency?

Early last month, Apple’s VP referred to cryptocurrency as “ interesting ” and said the company was keeping an eye on it . But it seems the company might be changing its tact when it comes to the digital assets.

Apple‘s CEO Tim Cook said in an interview with French outlet Les Echos : “No. I really think that a currency should stay in the hands of countries. I’m not comfortable with the idea of a private group setting up a competing currency.”

“A private company shouldn’t be looking to gain power this way,” he added.

Last month, VP Jennifer Bailey also said Apple thought cryptocurrency had “interesting long-term potential.”

Some outlets are reporting that Cook’s outburst means Apple won’t ever launch a cryptocurrency, but I don’t think it’s so clear cut yet. The wording and semantics are important here.

Tim Cook is saying that Apple won’t launch a currency or cryptocurrency that competes with conventional fiat or government-based currencies. This still leaves opportunity for tokens or other forms of cryptocurrency-based transactions. Perhaps cryptographically secured loyalty tokens.

This is just speculation, but think about Facebook‘s Libra.

Whilst it’s being dragged across the regulatory coals at the moment, Facebook has said it doesn’t pose a threat to fiat and that it’s not going to replace existing currencies.

I think the only thing we can deduce from such musings, is that big corporates are well aware of cryptocurrency. It doesn’t mean they will make one, it also doesn’t mean they won’t.

Want more Hard Fork? Join us in Amsterdam on October 15-17 to discuss blockchain and cryptocurrency with leading experts.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey backs cryptocurrency startup after turning down Facebook’s Libra

Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey , who recently said his company would never get involved with Facebook ‘s Libra , has backed a cryptocurrency startup.

Dorsey, a longtime Bitcoin advocate, participated in CoinList’s $10 million funding round, alongside several other investors .

CoinList, which helps startups raise money through token sales , will use the cash to build CoinList Trade, a new exchange platform, and a cryptocurrency wallet, the Wall Street Journal reports .

This is the first time Dorsey invests in CoinList, which closed a Series B in 2018 from backers including Digital Currency Group and Polychain Capital.

Several months ago, Dorsey said he would pay developers to work full-time on Bitcoin Core and other “ cryptocurrency ecosystem” projects.

Dorsey became Bitcoin’s unlikely hero after he was featured in Joe Rogan ‘s podcast , The Joe Rogan Experience, earlier this year.

Speaking to Rogan at the time, he said: “I believe the internet will have a native currency […] I don’t know if it’s Bitcoin , [but] I think it will be given all the tests it’s been through, the principles behind it, and how it was created.”

“[Bitcoin] is something that was born on the internet , that was developed on the internet , that was tested on the internet ,” he continued, “it is of the internet .”

And just like that, Dorsey became the talk of blockchain town — something unsurprising in itself given that staunch cryptocurrency supporters are desperate for the technology to gain recognition as it continues its quest to mainstream adoption.

Dorsey has long touted Bitcoin as the future of money and it seems he’s putting his money where his mouth is — at least for now.