Digital currencies

Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz said "bitcoin is successful only because of its potential for circumvention, lack of oversight."

Judge says he will move quickly on who should head the agency; group allegedly overcharged hundreds of clients.

Brian Behlendorf, leader of the Linux Foundation's effort to establish standards for blockchain, likens the invention of cryptocurrencies to the moon launch and says banks, open-source developers and others are working to make the underlying technology commercially viable.

As more startups turn to ICOs to raise capital, financial institutions will seek reassurance that their blockchain and other fintech partners are aboveboard.

Metronome, the brainchild of Jeff Garzik, may appeal to banks as the world's first 'cross-chain' cryptocurrency.