In 2009, a seismic shiver ran through the financial sector. The global financial crisis was more than just a practical disaster. On a psychological, philosophical, and ethical level, it exposed crippling uncertainties within the financial arena. Like a weed in the heart of the garden, the roots of this failure ran frighteningly deep.
Virtual currencies, also known by the name crypto currencies, are an entirely digital form of money. They are unregulated by any financial authority, instead being entirely under the control of their developers. National and international banks do not oversee the use of virtual currencies, as there is no physical aspect to them, and they are therefore, not considered to be legal tender.
In recent months, Malta has attracted ample digital currency companies, so much, that its becoming renowned as, ‘blockchain island.’ Several large cryptocurrency companies decided to move or extend their operations to Malta, such companies like, Binance, Bet365 and OKEx.
Changpeng Zhao, the billionaire that is behind one of the largest cryptocurrency companies in the world, Binance is behind the planning of the new decentralised bank in Malta. The bank will be called Founders Bank, and there is a reason to it. One of the main features that makes the bank unique and special, is the fact that it will not belong to any single entity or individual.
Bitbay is a cryptocurrency exchange based in Poland which trades Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ether against currencies such as the euro and the dollar. Founded in March 2014, the company has found its growth hampered by the attitude of Polish banks which have proved unwilling to cooperate with the exchange.
Dr. Stornetta is one of the two founding fathers of the blockchain concept. With his working partner, Dr. Stuart Haber, he developed the idea in 1991, describing it in peer-reviewed journals, and taking out a number of patents. When Satoshi Nakomoto wrote his famous Bitcoin white paper, he referenced Drs Haber and Stornetta.