This week, Forbes published its second annual Blockchain 50 list, recognizing the 50 largest companies with significant blockchain technology initiatives. To qualify, Blockchain 50 members must be generating no less than $1 billion in revenue annually or be valued at $1 billion or more. The world's major financial and tech firms are well represented, and a number of blockchain startup companies appear as well. Along with the company's name, description and key executives, the list provides the type of blockchain the company uses. Twenty-six use a Hyperledger solution in some capacity, with 22 using an Ethereum (ETH) offering. More than half of the listed companies use more than one type of blockchain.

Last week, Binance, a major cryptocurrency exchange, announced it was adding 15 new fiat currencies it would support, including the Swiss franc, the Korea won and the Australian dollar, as well as the Polish zloty and the South African rand. Binance also announced it would begin offering business services and lend out its technology and liquidity to help business clients and partners set up exchanges with the Binance infrastructure. This enterprise-oriented side of the Binance business runs through its cloud division, a part of the company that began running late last year and now operates with about 20 people.

This week, a major U.S. exchange announced that it is now a principal member of a major U.S. credit card provider. This will enable the exchange to issue debit cards without relying on third parties. Users of the debit card can reportedly spend their own bitcoin (BTC), ether and XRP anywhere the provider's credit card is accepted. This is the first time a cryptocurrency-based entity has been granted this type of status.

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