Crypto News From the German-Speaking World: Week in Review

The German-speaking world was highly active as far as crypto was concerned this past week.

Among other stories, the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority issued several items of interest to the crypto community, a new fund for blockchain startups launched in Hamburg and an Austrian crypto ATM service filed for bankruptcy following an armed robbery.

On Aug. 16, the BaFin published a leaflet for issuers of crypto tokens that summarized current German legal standards in the field.

The BaFin's effort at clarity contrasts sharply with United States regulatory policy, which experts have noted remains tricky territory for crypto firms to navigate.

As part of broader international expansion, Luxembourg-based Black Manta Capital Partners has received BaFin authorization to provide security token offerings on their blockchain-based platform.

A1 Telekom, Austria's largest mobile service provider, has begun a pilot program for crypto payment terminals in several of the company's brick-and-motor outlets.

Customers will reportedly only need to have access to a crypto wallet to be able to make purchases at the test stores using select digital currencies.

Blockrock Ventures is also reportedly looking for a BaFin license that will allow them to manage funds of over 100 million euros.

In some of the more salacious news of the week, a late-July armed robbery of Austrian company Bitiago Crypto Consulting left the firm in dire straits.

Bitiago had aimed to expand crypto ATM access in Austria, but instead filed for bankruptcy three weeks after the robbery.