R3 Blockchain Alliance opens second round of cooperation applications, SBI Holdings becomes the 43rd "crab"

On March 16, R3CEV, a well-known blockchain startup, is now accepting applications from new partners.

The R3 blockchain consortium, launched in 2015, has 43 large banks joining it so far. In its initial round of cooperation, 42 banks including Santander Bank and JPMorgan Chase participated. Recently, Japan's SBI Holdings has become the first financial institution to announce its joining the consortium in a new round of cooperation.

Previously, the startup said its “initial window” for partners closed in December, but when reporters spoke to R3 managing director Charley Cooper, he pointed out that the second round of partnerships officially opened last week.

He said SBI was the first institution to sign the contract and he hoped to announce more news in the future.

Cooper told reporters:

“The strategy has not changed and we are looking forward to launching the second round of cooperation. We are now in discussions with investment institutions (buy-sides), infrastructure providers and other potential partners.”

Cooper also noted that the company has not set a number for the new partners, but R3’s focus this time will be on non-bank members.

Original article: http://www.coindesk.com/r3-blockchain-new-partnerships/
By Pete Rizzo
Translator: Overnight porridge
Source (translation): Babbitt Information (http://www.8btc.com/r3-blockchain)