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Saturday, 31 March 2018

IBM Evolution: Big Blue Is Finally Getting Serious About Cryptocurrency

IBM is breaking from enterprise blockchain norms by publicly working with cryptocurrencies in a wide range of projects.

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Everything You Were Afraid to Ask About Crypto Taxes

There's a lot of information to process, but ignoring it can be hazardous. The IRS is going to come after investors who are not reporting their gains.

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Friday, 30 March 2018

Report: Kazakhstan's Central Bank Wants to Ban Cryptocurrencies

The chairman of the National Bank of Kazakhstan told Sputnik News it is seeking an all-encompassing ban on cryptocurrency exchanges and mining.

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Chile's State-Owned Bank Cutting Ties with Crypto Exchanges

Chile's public bank will terminate the accounts of three cryptocurrency exchange clients within 10 days, according to a local news report.

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AirAsia Planning Cryptocurrency-Based Rewards Program

The Malaysian discount airline plans to use its proprietary BigCoin token to facilitate transactions and act as a frequent-flyer rewards program.

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Cisco Imagines Group Chats on a Blockchain in Patent Filing

A Cisco patent application describes how a blockchain could let people form groups on the fly to share files and other data while tracking membership.

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Riot Blockchain Acquires Futures Brokerage After Crypto Pivot

Riot Blockchain announced it would "investigate" creating a crypto exchange and futures product after acquiring a registered brokerage.

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Winner-Turned-Loser ICON Tanks 40 Percent as Crypto Markets Falter

It's been a bad week for the wider cryptocurrency market, and one token alone in the top 25 by market cap has registered moderate gains.

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Telegram Doubles Amount Raised in ICO to $1.7 Billion

Messaging app provider Telegram has raised a second $850 million in its ongoing token sale, according to a new filing with the SEC.

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Arizona Bitcoin Trader Convicted for Crypto Money Laundering

An Arizonan bitcoin trader has been convicted for using the cryptocurrency to launder the proceeds of drug deals. 

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Does the IRS Get a Cut of Your Bitcoin Cash?

The tax treatment of hard forks in the U.S. is uncertain and the IRS should issue guidance addressing such issues, says a legal expert.

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Bitcoin Eyes Bottom After 50-Day Low Below $7K

Bitcoin prices dropped to a 50-day low of $6,630 today, but a bottom may be in sight, chart analysis suggests.

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Singapore Launches Blockchain Challenge with Funding Prizes

The Singapore government is launching an innovation-boosting blockchain challenge that will reward successful projects with funding.

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Malta Watchdog Proposes New Blockchain Gaming Guidelines

The Malta Gaming Authority has published draft regulations for digital game companies that want to use distributed ledger or blockchain platforms.

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Taxing Every Bitcoin Purchase Will Backfire for the IRS

The IRS' 2014 tax guidance may encourage cryptocurrency users to use unregulated foreign exchanges and use privacy coins like monero or zcash.

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Crypto Exchange OKEx to Roll Back Trades After Futures Plunge

OKEx has halted token withdrawal and futures trading amid irregular activities that pulled down bitcoin futures price significantly.

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Thursday, 29 March 2018

Ether Drops Below $400 to Hit Lowest Price Since November

The price of ether, the cryptocurrency of the ethereum network, fell below $400 on Thursday for the first time since November.

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Intel Wants to Patent a Bitcoin Mining Hardware 'Accelerator'

Intel explains in a recently-released patent application how it would improve its products for bitcoin mining purposes.

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Email Service MailChimp to Block ICO, Crypto Marketing

Email distribution company MailChimp will bar marketing campaigns for cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings next month.

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Game Giant Unity to Work With Kik's ICO Token

The Kin Foundation, which governs the cryptocurrency developed by Kik, announced a partnership with Unity Technologies on Thursday.

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Scammers Are Posing As Crypto Exchange Support Staff, Says FBI

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center warned against criminals who pretend to be tech support for crypto exchanges.

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'Colored Coins' Startup Coinprism Is Shutting Down This Weekend

Coinprism was arguably ahead of its time. But much has changed on the tech and regulatory fronts since its debut in 2014, and the startup is closing.

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Major Cryptocurrencies Are Hitting 2018 Lows Today

Ripple's XRP, ether and bitcoin cash have all hit fresh lows for the year, amid broader crypto market weakness.

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Report: Korean Insurer Denies Claim from Bankrupt Crypto Exchange

A South Korean cryptocurrency exchange has reportedly had its insurance claim denied months after it closed following a debilitating hack.

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UK Financial Watchdog Warns Over Unregistered Crypto Brokerage

The U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority has warned investors over an unregistered brokerage that appears to be offering crypto-related derivatives.

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China's Central Bank Eyes Crypto as Possible Yuan Risk

The People's Bank of China says cryptocurrencies will be a top priority for the agency this year, in an effort to protect the national currency.

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Can the Lightning Network Avoid Going Corporate?

As startups developing bitcoin's Lightning Network start pushing the tech forward, some wonder whether it'll be taken over by corporate interests.

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$7K Next? Bitcoin Bears Pull Off Downside Break

Bitcoin bears have come out victorious in the two-day tug of war with the bulls and may push prices down to $7,000.

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West Virginia Piloting Blockchain Voting App in Senate Election

The U.S. state of West Virginia is trialing a voting system for absentee military personnel using a mobile app powered by blockchain technology. 

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State Digital Currency Still On Agenda, Says China Blockchain Research Lead

China is still in the process of developing a state digital currency, the chief of a government-funded blockchain research center has said.

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Wednesday, 28 March 2018

Report: 2 Japanese Crypto Exchanges to Shut Down

Two crypto exchanges in Japan are reportedly set to close amid growing regulatory scrutiny from regulators in the wake of a $500 million theft.

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Judge Backs FTC Asset Freeze in Crypto Fraud Case

U.S. Magistrate Lurana Snow has recommended that a preliminary injunction be enforced against four alleged scammers.

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B3i Shifts From Blockchain Consortium to Full-Fledged Company

B3i has become an independent company that will continue to explore and provide blockchain applications for the insurance industry.

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Survey: Younger Koreans More Likely to Invest in Crypto

Nearly a quarter of South Koreans in their 20s want to invest in cryptocurrencies, according to a new poll conducted by Bank of Korea.

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Ripple Joins Hyperledger Blockchain Consortium

Ripple has joined the Hyperledger project along with thirteen other companies and organizations.

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Crypto Job Interest Waned with Price Decline, Says Indeed

Data from Indeed.com suggests that jobseekers' interest in cryptocurrency-related jobs dropped alongside declines in prices.

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Uphold Adds Buy and Sell Options for Ripple's XRP

Digital payments startup Uphold announced Wednesday that it has added support for Ripple’s XRP cryptocurrency.

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Bitcoin Cash Bull Failures Could See Traders Move to Bitcoin

Bitcoin is likely to outperform its rival bitcoin cash in the short-run, the technical charts indicate.

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Danske Bank Rules Out Crypto Trading But Won't Block Credit Cards

The biggest bank in Denmark is banning cryptocurrencies from its trading platforms, but will still allow credit card purchases for general customers.

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Sharding Is Already Ushering in Radical New Ethereum Designs

One of ethereum's biggest upgrades isn't quite live, but that doesn't mean it's not inspiring critical thinking about how to boost the network.

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Luxury Car Dealer Teams with BitFlyer for Big Bitcoin Payments

A Japanese car dealership is adding bitcoin as a payment option with support from cryptocurrency exchange bitFlyer

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Why Bitcoin's 'Death Cross' May Turn Out a Bear Trap

Bitcoin risks entering a technical "death cross" soon, but the bearish signal will likely not be as severe as has been made out in reports.

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Blockchain Tops 2017 Fintech Enquiries, Says Swiss Finance Regulator

Enquiries around blockchain, cryptocurrency and ICOs in Switzerland have increased significantly, according the country's financial regulator, FINMA.

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Chinese Blockchain Funding Center Plan Scrapped Over Regulatory Issues

A Chinese investment association has scrapped a previously reported plan to launch a funding center to boost blockchain development in the country.

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Hyperledger Tech Heats Up Ahead of Blockchain Software Debuts

2018 is shaping up to be a watershed year for enterprise-grade blockchain, with the upcoming launch of four Hyperledger solutions into version 1.0.

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US Futures Self-Regulator Reminds Members to Report Crypto Activities

A U.S. futures self-regulator is reminding its members the obligation of reporting any involvement in bitcoin or bitcoin derivatives transactions.

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Tuesday, 27 March 2018

Bank of England to Test DLT Use in New Settlement System

The Bank of England has launched a proof of concept that will explore DLT-compatibility with its real time gross settlement service.

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AMD Bolsters Crypto Mining in Latest GPU Software Update

The latest version of AMD's Adrenalin Edition driver for its Radeon processors fixes an issue impacting blockchain processes.

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Massachusetts Halts 5 ICOs on 'Unregistered Securities' Grounds

The U.S. state of Massachusetts halted five token sales, alleging all involved the sale of unregistered securities.

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Reddit Drops Bitcoin Payment Option For 'Gold' Membership

Reddit no longer allows users to pay in bitcoin for subscriptions to its premium membership program, Reddit Gold.

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Ford Patent Envisions Car-to-Car Crypto Transactions

A patent awarded to Ford suggests the U.S. automaker is considering cryptocurrency as a way to help cars on the road communicate and reduce traffic.

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Russian Official: Venezuela Won't Be Paying Its Debt in State Crypto

A Russian Finance Ministry official has stated that Venezuela will not pay off its $3.5 billion debt using the petro.

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Central Banks Say Blockchain Could Shake Up Securities Settlement

The second report from the project 'Stella' initiative explores applications of distributed ledger technology to securities settlement mechanisms.

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Bitcoin: Safe Haven Asset or Lead Indicator for the S&P?

Bitcoin is yet to find acceptance as "digital gold," an S&P 500 and bitcoin price comparison suggests.

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Spring Labs Raises $15 Million to Build Credit Data Blockchain

Spring Labs, an identity- and credit-focused blockchain startup, has raised $14.75 million in a seed funding round.

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Vitalik Wants You to Pay to Slow Ethereum's Runaway Growth

Ethereum's creator has proposed a new fee to help keep the cryptocurrency decentralized.

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EU Markets Watchdog Toughens Rules on Crypto Derivatives

The EU markets watchdog has agreed a temporarily change in the leverage limts for cryptocurrency derivative contracts in the region.

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Bitcoin Slides Below $8K, But Rally May Be On the Way

The bears continued to be in the driver's seat on Monday, but bitcoin could see a minor corrective rally soon.

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Kakao Confirms Creation of Blockchain Platform, Denies ICO Rumor

South Korean internet giant Kakao has confirmed it is setting up a new blockchain subsidiary, but quashed rumors of a planned initial coin offering.

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If Facebook Can Be Worth Billions, Why Can't Cryptocurrencies?

CoinDesk Editor Pete Rizzo puts forth an alternate way to think about crypto valuations – one that might poke holes in critics' bubble talk.

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Australia Seeks Public Input on Crypto Tax Guidelines

The Australian government is looking for public feedbacks to make sure crypto investors will not have excuse for not meeting their tax liability.

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Monday, 26 March 2018

Litecoin Payments Startup That Won Trader Favor Abruptly Shuts Down

Litecoin merchant processor LitePay is closing up shop.

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Crypto Startup Circle Hires a Square Vet as CFO to Aid Expansion

Circle has hired Naeem Ishaq as its new chief financial officer, treasurer and executive vice president of risk as the startup expands globally.

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Twitter Will Ban ICO Ads Starting Tomorrow

Twitter has revealed that it will ban ads for token sales and some cryptocurrency services starting Tuesday.

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Steven Seagal and Bitcoiin Founders 'Exit' As ICO Ends

Steven Seagal will no longer serve as brand ambassador for the "Bitcoiin" cryptocurrency.

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Bitcoin Drops Below $8K During Wider Crypto Market Slide

Bitcoin's price is back below $8,000, a move that comes amid a broader decline in the global cryptocurrency market. 

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Nvidia CEO: GPU Production Boost Needed Because of Crypto Miners

Nvidia must produce more graphics processing units to offset demand from crypto miners, says its CEO.

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Cboe Prods SEC on Bitcoin ETF Approval in New Letter

In a new letter, Cboe Global Markets president Chris Concannon addresses some of the SEC's concerns about bitcoin derivatives markets.

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Crimean Government Employees Fined for Mining Bitcoins at Work

Two former Crimean government employees were fined 30,000 rubles each for using official resources to mine bitcoin.

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IEX Spinoff Tradewind Launches Blockchain Platform for Gold Trading

Precious metals trading startup Tradewind announced its first blockchain project, a system meant to help trade gold, on Monday.

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Waiting Game? Why Coinbase Won't Add New Cryptos Anytime Soon

Adding new cryptocurrencies is a "top priority" for Coinbase, and it's becoming more clear how the exchange makes decisions about which to support.

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Deutsche Börse Plans Blockchain Securities Platform with R3 Tech

Germany's Deutsche Börse Group is planning to develop a platform for securities lending using R3's Corda blockchain tech.

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Chinese Government Institute Launches Blockchain for Authentication

A Chinese government-led research body has rolled out a blockchain-as-a-service platform for identity and supply-chain tracking.

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Trapped Below $9K, Bitcoin Risks Downside Break

Bitcoin has been trading sideways in a narrow range over the last week, but a drop toward $8,000 may be on the way.

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Alibaba Payment Affiliate Rules Out ICO Fundraising

Ant Financial Services Group, Alibaba's payment affiliate and operator of AliPay, has taken a critical stance over initial coin offerings.

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UK Charity Taps Blockchain Platform to Boost Trust in Donations

British charity English Heritage has joined the Giftcoin platform, which tokenizes donations for the purpose of traceability.

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The Crypto 'Kill Switch': Monero Is Going to War Against Big Miners

Big miners are eying monero as a next money-maker. The only problem? Developers are taking steps to keep them out entirely.

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Crypto Exchange Huobi Registers With FinCEN Ahead of US Launch

Huobi's U.S. division is planning to roll out its crypto-to-crypto trading service for U.S. investors in May.

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Sunday, 25 March 2018

UK Government Minister Calls for 'Proportionate' Crypto Rules

John Glen, the U.K. minister who oversees the financial sector, says regulation could lead to "a stable, flourishing" crypto exchange in London.

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Sierra Leone: What We Got Wrong

Recent media coverage overstated a blockchain startup's involvement in the Sierra Leone election. CoinDesk inadvertently contributed to the problem.

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Crypto Investors Should Stay Away from Venezuela’s Petro

Crypto enthusiasts around the world should send a strong signal to President Maduro that blockchain technology will not be used to support corruption.

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Saturday, 24 March 2018

Goodbye Fungibility: OFAC's Bitcoin Blacklist Could Remake Crypto

With just one paragraph, an agency of the U.S. government may have just radically altered the dynamics of the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

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Bitcoin's Next Year in Tech Development Is Coming into Focus

At a recent annual meeting in New York, bitcoin's volunteer developer discussed their tech priorities for the year ahead.

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Friday, 23 March 2018

Quebec Pushes Hydropower Utility to Halt New Bitcoin Mines

Quebec is temporarily suspending new cryptomining operations from setting up facilities in its low-cost power region.

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Smart Contracts Now Recognized Under Tennessee Law

Tennessee has officially approved the use of a blockchain to store legally binding contracts and signatures.

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IRS Reminds US Taxpayers to Report Crypto Earnings

The IRS sent U.S. taxpayers a reminder Friday to pay taxes on any gains made from trading cryptocurrencies over the last year – including payments.

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US Government Watchdog: Regulations Are Hobbling DLT Innovation

The U.S. Government Accountability Office said cumbersome U.S. financial regulations are inhibiting innovation by distributed ledger tech startups.

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'Fake News': Russian Official Reportedly Denies Involvement with Petro

A Russian official has called reports that the country helped Venezuela launch its controversial petro cryptocurrency "fake news."

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Ireland's Finance Department Plans Blockchain Working Group

Ireland’s Department of Finance has proposed the creation of a blockchain working group to help form cohesive regulation across government agencies.

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Steve Seagal-Backed 'Bitcoiin' ICO Hit with Regulator Warning

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance is warning the states residents about the Steven Seagal-backed "Bitcoiin" project.

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9 Malaysian Banks Team Up for Trade Finance Blockchain Apps

Nine Malaysian banks have teamed up to develop blockchain applications for trade finance, according to the country's central bank.

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ICON to EOS: 3 Cryptos Are Leading the Market Recovery

The cryptocurrency markets regained some poise in the week ending March 23, with several individual tokens making more notable gains.

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Banks Building Blockchain Confront Tech Limitations

Executives working with two of the largest live blockchain implementations spoke on stage at the DTCC's annual fintech event.

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Yahoo Japan to Launch Cryptocurrency Exchange in 2018, Says Report

Yahoo Japan is planning to launch its own cryptocurrency exchange next year, Nikkei Asian Review reports.

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$8K? Bitcoin Under Pressure After Rejection at Key Hurdle

Bitcoin's retreat from the 200-day moving average hurdle may yield a retest of the psychological support of $8,000.

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Blockchain Standardization Tops Chinese IT Ministry's 2018 Agenda

China's Ministry of Information Technology and Industry is ramping up its focus on national blockchain standardization this year.

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Blockchain Remittances Face Efficiency Hurdle, Says Taiwan Central Bank

A trialed blockchain system for interbank clearance was not as efficient as the current centralized system, says a central bank report.

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Warning: The Blockchain Could Rot Your Brain

As we move toward trusting everything recorded in a blockchain, consider the societal impact, e.g. on our ability to think critically and skeptically.

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TSX Group Subsidiary to Launch Cryptocurrency Brokerage

The TMX Group announced Shorcan Digital Currency, a brokerage exclusively for cryptocurrencies on Thursday.

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Thursday, 22 March 2018

Bitfury-Backed Bitcoin Miner Secures Canadian Land Deal

Bitfury-backed Hut 8 Mining Corp has secured a new headquarters in Canada's Alberta province.

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A Non-Anonymous Stablecoin? Saga Launches With Big-Shot Advisor Team

The Saga Foundation is developing a stablecoin with the help of CME Chairman Emeritus Leo Melamed and Nobel Laureate Myron Scholes among others.

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US Marshals Office Auctions Off Another $18.7M in Bitcoin

The U.S. Marshals auctioned more than 2,100 bitcoins off on March 19.

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Blockchain Capital Raises $150 Million, Looks Beyond Financial Services

The raise, Blockchain Capital's fourth, includes $25 million worth of cryptocurrency and brings its total assets under management to $250 million.

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Immutable Google? Search Giant Eyes Blockchain for Audits

A patent application released Thursday indicates Google might be examining how blockchains can secure audit logs and other information.

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British Charity Aims to Improve Maritime Safety with New Blockchain Lab

British non-profit Lloyd’s Register Foundation is teaming up with BLOC on a blockchain initiative aimed to improve safety on the high seas.

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E-Commerce Giant JD to Launch Blockchain-as-a-Service Platform

JD.com has today unveiled a white paper detailing its plans for a new blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) platform.

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EOS Eyes Bull Reversal After 70 Percent Spike

EOS has jumped 70 percent in the last few days and now may be closing in on a major bullish breakout.

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Better Bitcoin Relay? Crypto VCs Back BloXroute Funding

BloXroute's founder worries relay networks that speeds data between crypto miners are not censorship resistant and too slow to foster scaling now.

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Binance CEO Refutes Financial Watchdog Warning Reports

Binance's CEO has hit back at reports that the exchange is to receive a warning from a financial regulator over its lack of registration in Japan.

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Edward Snowden: Public Ledger Is Bitcoin's Big Flaw

At a recent event in Berlin, Edward Snowden for the first time talked at length about the problems and benefits of blockchain technology.

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Korean Regulators to Probe Banks' AML Measures for Crypto Exchanges

Two South Korean regulators are reportedly launching an investigation of banks' implementation of anti-money laundering procedures for exchanges.

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Pullback Ahead? Bitcoin Hits Stiff Resistance at $9K

The bulls' failure to beat resistance around $9,000 in a convincing manner has increased the risk of another drop in bitcoin prices.

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Japanese Crypto Users Lost $6 Million in Hacks Last Year, Say Police

Around $6.2 million-worth of cryptocurrency was hacked from exchange accounts and wallet services in 2017, Japan's National Police Agency says.

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IT Giant Fujitsu Unveils European Blockchain Innovation Center

Japanese multinational Fujitsu has launched a Brussels-based Blockchain Innovation Center to facilitate research and projects around the tech.

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Zcash's Coming Hard Fork Could Pave the Way for Even More

Zcash's first hard fork is coming up, and devs expect it to activate without a hitch, preparing zcash for bigger, better upgrades in the future.

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Accenture Thinks the US Can Still Be a Blockchain Innovator

Accenture Global Blockchain lead David Treat says the company wants to "work across the entire digital identity landscape" - government included.

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Wednesday, 21 March 2018

US Government Could Put Crypto Wallets on OFAC Sanctions List

The Treasury Department may start publishing wallet addresses along with the names of people and organizations with whom it forbids doing business.

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Washington State County Moves to Limit New Bitcoin Mining Firms

In a unanimous vote, Chelan County's Public Utility District commissioners agreed to put a moratorium on new bitcoin mining applications.

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US Hits Crypto Buying Service Payza With Money Laundering Lawsuit

The founders of Payza, which allows customers to trade in cryptocurrencies, have been charged with running an unlicensed money transmitting business.

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Startup EverMarkets Aims to Shake Up Futures Trading With Blockchain

Blockchain company EverMarkets is developing a peer-to-peer futures trading platform based on blockchain technology.

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Bitcoin Will Be World's 'Single Currency' Says Twitter CEO

Jack Dorsey has said he believes bitcoin will take over the U.S. dollar as the world's primary currency in 10 years or less.

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CFTC Hits Wall Trying to Serve Bitcoin Fraud Summons

In new filings, the CFTC alleges that former bitcoin binary options trader accused of fraud is trying to avoid authorities.

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Social Media Giant Snap Confirms It's Banned ICO Ads

Snapchat just became the latest social media platform to ban advertising for initial coin offerings.

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Global Blockchain Patent Filings Spiked In 2017, Korea's IP Office Says

Last year saw a sharp rise in blockchain-related patent applications across the globe, according to the South Korean Intellectual Property Office.

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Ethereum and Stellar? Kik's Kin Token to Use Two Chains

While Kik said it would move its "kin" crypto tokens off ethereum and onto stellar, today it announced it was allowing the tokens to live on both.

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Looking Up? Litecoin Eyes Bullish Breakout at $175

Litecoin is looking at a bullish breakout, having clocked a one-week high earlier today.

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Waking Dragon? Asia's Token Economy Is Charging Full Speed Ahead

At the Token 2049 conference in Hong Kong, Asia's vibrant market for cryptocurrencies and ICOs took the spotlight.

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OECD to G20: Crypto Tax Policies Need Global Clarity

The global economic organization has called for agreement on new frameworks for the taxation of emerging technologies such as cryptocurrency.

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Bitcoin Returns Above $9K But 'Death Cross' Still a Risk

Bitcoin's three-day winning streak is encouraging for the bulls, but a quick move above $10,500 is needed to neutralize the so-called "death cross."

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Exchange to Investigate Another Chinese Stock Over Blockchain Claims

A second Chinese public firm in a week is being questioned by the Shenzhen Stock Exchange over the authenticity of its healthcare blockchain claims.

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South Korean Financial Watchdog Touts Blockchain in Fintech Plans

South Korea's Financial Services Commission plans to encoureage businesses to use blockchain tech in new payment systems and more.

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In Praise of the Cryptocurrency Bubble

This mania is incentivizing the formation of collaborative networks of developers and entrepreneurs. Their ideas will shape the economy of the future.

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Korea Telecom Announces Blockchain For Network Security

South Korean telecom provider KT unveiled a new system based on a blockchain security-focused network.

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Tuesday, 20 March 2018

American Bar to IRS: Create Safe Harbor for Hard-Forked Cryptos

The American Bar Association Section of Taxation issued some advice to the IRS regarding the taxation of cryptocurrency produced by hard forks.

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A16z, USV Lead $12 Million Funding for Ethereum App CryptoKitties

CryptoKitties will break away from its developer, Axiom Zen, after raising $12 million of venture capital.

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Maryland Bills Call for Study, Possible Regulation of Blockchain

Maryland's proposed Financial Consumer Protection Act would represent the U.S. state's first regulatory pronouncements on cryptocurrency since 2014.

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Wikipedia Rival Everipedia Plans Token Airdrop in June

Decentralized encyclopedia startup Everipedia announced it would airdrop its IQ tokens to members in June.

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G20 Calls for Crypto Regulation Recommendations By July

Argentina's Central Bank chairman, Frederico Sturzenegger, said the G20 members are looking for "specific recommendations" on cryptocurrencies.

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Report: Russians Helped Venezuela Launch the Petro

Time Magazine reported Tuesday that the Russian government helped Venezuela develop the petro cryptocurrency with the support of Vladimir Putin.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FOcZTc

Bermuda Drafting ICO-Friendly Legislation to Draw Crypto Businesses

Bermuda is drafting ICO regulation in the hopes of creating a friendly environment for crypto businesses, the island's premier has said.

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US Treasury Publishes 5 Tips For Blockchain Projects

The US Treasury Department has just published five tips for building blockchain projects based on lessons learned during work on a proof-of-concept.

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Below $500? Ether Price Seeks Floor After 40% Decline

Ether's long-term price floor looks to have dropped to $300, courtesy of a bearish head-and-shoulders breakdown.

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Ripple's XRP Just Might Be the Next Big Crypto Futures Market

A little-known British crypto company has already turned XRP futures into a budding business worth over $30 million a month.

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Hong Kong Stock Exchange Looks to ASX for Blockchain Equity Settlement

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is looking to follow its Australian counterpart in developing a blockchain settlement system.

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$9K Ahead? Bitcoin Looks North After Bull Breakout

Bitcoin is eyeing a move towards $9,000, courtesy of a bullish breakout on the 4-hour chart and a bullish hammer reversal on the daily chart.

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Venezuelan Politician Blasts US Sanctions as Petro ICO Goes Public

A politician from Venezuela's ruling party has denounced U.S. sanctions against the petro, as the sale of the token opens to the public.

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Russian Government Resolves Disagreement on Draft Crypto Law

The Bank of Russia and the country's Finance Ministry have reportedly resolved a disagreement over the specifics of a proposed cryptocurrency law.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2HOlc6k

Meet the New York Lawmaker Who Wants to Replace the BitLicense

There's a new New York lawmaker on the scene and he wants to end a years-long policy that has held back crypto startups in the state.

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Canada's VersaBank Lands 2 Prospects to Use Its Crypto Vault

Canada's VersaBank has signed memorandums of understanding with a crypto exchange and a crypto fund that may use its custodial service.

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Monday, 19 March 2018

14 Thai Banks Back Blockchain Platform to Digitize Contracts

Fourteen Thai banks will cooperate in the Thailand Blockchain Community Initiative, which will digitize letters of guarantee on a shared blockchain.

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Israeli Regulator: Utility Tokens Shouldn't Be Deemed Securities

The Israel Securities Authority also proposed an ICO sandbox in a recent report now in the hands of the agency's chair, who will decide how to proceed

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France's Central Bank: Keep Financial Institutions Out of Crypto

A report from the Bank of France advocates strict regulations for crypto-assets, including a ban on activity by banks, insurers and trust companies.

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UK Government Announces New Cryptocurrency Research Effort

The U.K. government will launch new research aimed to explore the potential risks posed by cryptocurrencies, a minister has said.

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Trump Orders New Sanctions Against Venezuela's National Cryptocurrency

A report Monday indicated that US President Trump might sanction Venezuela and its petro token.

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Stellar Goes In On Lightning with 2018 Launch Target

Stellar isn't so far behind bitcoin in absorbing a faster and cheaper layer touted as the future of cryptocurrency payments.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2u2cpM3

US Trade Regulator Launches Blockchain Working Group

The Federal Trade Commission has formed a working group to examine the ways in which blockchain and cryptocurrencies will affect its missions.

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Second Securities Regulator Halts 'Black Cell' Token Sale

An initial coin offering has been blocked by the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong soon after a similar action in the Philippines.

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Northern Trust and PwC Move to Accelerate Audits with Blockchain

Rather than waiting for periodic reports, auditors of private equity funds on Northern Trust's blockchain will get the data almost immediately.

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Ether Up from 100-Day Low, But Bounce Back Lacks Substance

Ether's technical recovery from the 100-day low hit yesterday looks to be a "dead cat bounce."

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2DF2wn1

Stablecoin to HODL? Pizza CEO Nets Millions for Crypto

"Stablecoins" continue to be a much sought-after tech for ICOs, and a new one, Fragments, now boasts investment from True, Pantera and FBG.

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Chinese Stock Exchange Probes Firm's Blockchain Claim Amid Stock Rally

A public company in China is being questioned over a blockchain claim that appeared to drive a rally in its stock price.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2DEDV1I

Bitcoin Returns Above $8K, But Sell-Off Risks Remain

Bitcoin's corrective rally may gather traction, however, the overall outlook remains bearish as long as prices stay below $11,700.

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Twitter Will Ban Cryptocurrency Ads in Two Weeks, Says Report

Following in the footsteps of Facebook and Google, Twitter is reportedly planning a ban on advertisements related to cryptocurrencies.

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Mt Gox Trustee Denies $400 Million Sale Caused Bitcoin Price Slump

The bankruptcy trustee for the defunct Mt. Gox exchange has denied that the sale of $400 million in BTC and BCH caused the recent drop in prices.

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Plattsburgh's Crypto Mining Ban Could End Earlier Than Expected

Plattsburgh imposed an 18-month halt on new commercial cryptomining operations, but indicated it could end sooner if protections are put in place.

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Sunday, 18 March 2018

Carney On Eve of G20: Cryptos Don't Pose Risks to Financial Stability

A group of central bank regulators and government ministers said Sunday that cryptocurrencies don't pose a risk to global financial stability.

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Arizona's Blockchain 'Node Rights' Law Is Nearing Passage

Arizona House Bill 2602, which would protect blockchain node operators from local regulations, was approved by two Senate committees.

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Intel Thinks Blockchain Could Power a Next-Gen Media Rights Manager

Tech giant Intel has moved to protect a custom system for digital rights management built on a blockchain.

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Why Banks Are Finally Talking Crypto In Filings

Before crowing, crypto fans should remember companies err on the side of caution when deciding what's material enough to include under "risk factors."

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'Programming Blockchain' Will Change How You See Bitcoin

Jimmy Song's Programming Blockchain workshop taught me about a lot more than bitcoin.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2G0rYsD

Saturday, 17 March 2018

The New Ways to Save Crypto from a Post-Quantum World

However distant it may seem, powerful quantum computers have the potential to ruin cryptocurrency, and developers are already devising solutions.

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Three Definitions of Tokenomics

The crypto revolution may be happening in real time, but that doesn't mean that definitions, while not final, can shape our understanding today.

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Friday, 16 March 2018

Peter Thiel: Bitcoin Will Be the 'One Online Equivalent to Gold'

The co-founder of PayPal says there will be only one online equivalent to gold, and bitcoin, as the 'biggest' cryptocurrency, will triumph.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FDsL38

SEC Official Says 'Dozens' of Crypto Investigations Underway

Stephanie Avakian, a co-director of the U.S. SEC's Enforcement Division, said the agency is investigating "dozens" of ICO campaigns.

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US Trade Regulator Shuts Down Crypto Investment Scheme Promoters

A U.S. district court has issued a restraining order against four individuals accused of operating a string of cryptocurrency investment schemes.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2G2NCME

Kodak Could Earn $5 Million for ICO Brand Licensing Deal

Kodak licensed its brand out to WENN Digital for the KODAKCoin token, which could net the onetime photography giant between $2 and $5 million.

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Security Settles on Ethereum in First-of-a-Kind Blockchain Transaction

A structured note is being issued on the ethereum blockchain, with an identical one settled on a traditional clearing house to test the cost savings.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2piP2cB

Lithuanian Central Bank Seeks Developers for Blockchain Sandbox

The Bank of Lithuania has called for developer proposals to kick off its service-based blockchain platform called LBChain.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2G29DLF

Crypto Featured for First Time in US Congress Economic Report

Congress' 2018 Joint Economic Report includes a chapter on cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, advocating for wider understanding of the tech.

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VEN, BNB, NEM: Lesser-Known Cryptos Outperform Amid Bitcoin Slump

Lesser-known cryptocurrencies like Binance Coin and VeChain managed to score gains this week, despite the broader market sell-off.

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New York Power Providers Cleared to Hike Rates for Crypto Miners

Cryptocurrency mining firms in New York State could face higher electricity bills after a ruling from the public utilities regulator.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FHf5o0

Airdrop Attack? Monero Fork Condemned as Privacy Threat

Giving away free money isn't as simple as it sounds in crypto. In fact, an upcoming plan to do just that is being labeled an attack by some.

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MIT-Founded Startup Raises $20 Million for Supply Chain Blockchain

Eximchain, a blockchain startup focused on the supply chain industry, has raised an investment of $20 million, ahead of a planned token airdrop.

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Israel Bars Crypto Firms from Tel Aviv Stock Exchange Indices

Israel's securities regulator has said that cryptocurrency-related firms may not be listed on the TASE indices due to high volatility.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2It23bq

Bitcoin May See Relief Rally, But Bottom Still Elusive

Bitcoin may see a corrective rally following losses this week, but it still looks too early to call a bottom.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2tRAULQ

Singapore Central Bank Touts Blockchain for Cross-Border Payments

The chief of the Monetary Authority of Singapore has spoken of how blockchain's "strongest" use case is in cross-border settlement.

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So Long ICOs, Hello Airdrops: The Free Token Giveaway Craze Is Here

Scrapping public tokens for free airdrops has become the new way crypto issuers are building communities and even keeping themselves out of trouble.

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Crypto Escapes Scrutiny at China’s Annual Consumer Protection Event

Cryptocurrencies were not brought under scrutiny at China's annual consumer protection event as rumored before.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2It5jUb

Thursday, 15 March 2018

The Crown Prince of Liechtenstein Wants to Invest in Crypto

The Crown Prince of Liechtenstein says his family might invest in cryptocurrencies and that he sees a future for the blockchain.

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G20 Reveals Names and Dates for Next Week's Crypto Talks

Cryptocurrencies are "an important item" on the agenda for next week's G20 summit, documents show.

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French Regulator Blacklists 15 Crypto Investment Websites

The Autorite des Marches Financiers has extended its blacklist of non-compliant investment companies to include crypto businesses.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2HCJ38W

Gibraltar Plans to Regulate ICO Tokens as Commercial Products

The government of Gibraltar has released a white paper detailing its plans for the regulation of tokens and token sales.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FD8Bq1

American Express Patent Filing Touts Blockchain for Faster Payments

American Express' travel and merchant arm has filed a patent application looking at using a blockchain to facilitate quick transactions.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2pgiaQJ

US Government to Submit 'Oversized' Argument in ICO Fraud Case

U.S. prosecutors are planning an "oversized" response to a motion to dismiss in an ongoing – and potentially precedent-setting – ICO fraud lawsuit.

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Puerto Rico Aims to Attract Blockchain Startups With New Council

Puerto Rico's government has created an advisory council aimed at spurring the development of blockchain businesses.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2pgVMaA

Ethereum's First Production Scaling Project Is Here – But With a Catch

Little-known startup Loom Network claims it's ready to take on ethereum's thorny scaling problems with a centralized version of sidechains.

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Abra Adds 18 New Cryptos for Mobile Investing

Mobile wallet startup Abra has today announced it is expanding the number of cryptocurrencies it supports to 20 from just two currently.

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Bitcoin Lightning Startup Goes Beta With Twitter CEO Backing

Big investors are lining up to back the startup behind the most advanced implementation of bitcoin's in-development Lightning Network.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2pjZO1s

South Korea Raids 3 Crypto Exchanges in Embezzlement Probe

South Korean prosecutors reportedly raided the offices of three cryptocurrency exchanges on suspicion of siphoning off funds from customers' accounts.

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US Bills Could Spell Disaster for Crypto Sex Industry

Upcoming legislation in the U.S. could have an impact on cryptocurrency use in the sex industry, and those affected are speaking out.

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Taiwan Central Bank Chief Cautious on Central Bank Crypto

The new governor of Taiwan's central bank has said cryptocurrencies are not fulfilling their original role as a payments tool.

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$6K in Sight? Bitcoin Price On Edge of Correction

Bitcoin looks set to revisit November lows after dropping below $8,000, but a minor corrective rally looks to be in the offing beforehand.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FDOCYr

Crypto Investment Firm Violates Securities Laws, Warns Philippines

The watchdog has warned the public over a crypto investment platform that is allegedly violating securities laws in the country.

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Chinese Investment Group to Launch Blockchain Funding Center

A government-led investment association in China is reportedly establishing a funding center to foster blockchain development in the country.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FCoL39

Moscow's Blockchain Voting Platform Adds Service for High-Rise Neighbors

Muscovites can now vote on things like whether to change the building entrance door or hire a new management company using an ethereum-based platform.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FK5j02

Wednesday, 14 March 2018

Australia Warns of Fake 'Tax Collectors' Demanding Bitcoin

The Australian Taxation Office issued a warning Monday alerting residents not to send cryptocurrencies to scammers claiming to be tax collectors.

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UK Crypto Exchange to Launch Bitcoin Futures Contracts

Cryptocurrency exchange CoinfloorEX announced it would offer bitcoin futures contracts as of April 2018.

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Crypto Is a 'Crock'? Twitter Reacts to House ICO Hearing

Despite the overall measured tone of Wednesday's House ICO hearing, a couple lawmakers' comments set Twitter aflame.

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Brazilian Officials Caught Using Bitcoin in $22 Million Scam

Corrupt Brazilian officials have been caught allegedly using bitcoin to divert millions in public funds that were intended for prison supplies.

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Bitcoin Price Sheds $800 In Drop to 1-Month Low

Bitcoin hit a one-month low on Wednesday as its price slipped below $8,300 during afternoon trading.

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Strong Words, Little Action: ICOs Draw Fire at US Congress Hearing

Members of the House of Representatives held a hearing to determine what, if any, regulations are needed in the ICO space.

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US Lawmaker Presses Treasury on Venezuela's Petro Sale

Florida senator Bill Nelson has denounced Venezuela's petro token and asked how the U.S. Treasury plans to enforce sanctions.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2Dqr9UF

Florida State Employee Arrested for Allegedly Mining Crypto at Work

A state employee at Florida's Department of Citrus has been arrested for allegedly using official computers to mine bitcoin and litecoin.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2Durnu0

Huawei Is Building Tech That Can Stress Test Blockchains

Chinese telecoms and electronics giant Huawei has been secretly working on a project designed to gauge the abilities of various blockchains.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2pd3HVL

Thailand's Cabinet Moves to Regulate and Tax Cryptocurrencies

The Thai Cabinet has provisionally passed two royal decree drafts aimed at regulating cryptocurrencies, a report states.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FG6qOh

Playboy TV to Accept Crypto Payments for Adult Content

Playboy TV is launching a new payment option that will allow customers to access its exclusive content using cryptocurrencies.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FFUZGl

Philippines Lawmaker Seeks Tougher Penalties for Crypto Crimes

A senator in the Philippines is hoping to usher in harsher penalties for crimes that involve cryptocurrencies.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2pcwn1O

Bitcoin Sinks Toward $8K and Faces Further Sell-Off

The bulls' failure to capitalize on bitcoin's recent price recovery has left the doors open for a sharp sell-off to February lows.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2p9qG4Q

CryptoBunnies: China's Xiaomi Launches CryptoKitties Knock-Off

Xiaomi, one of China's biggest smartphone makers, quietly launched its own CryptoKitties knock-off this morning.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2DtIf44

Ethereum Is Throwing Out the Crypto Governance Playbook

An ethereum event provided evidence that when it comes to a path forward on governance, the world's second-largest blockchain is going its own way.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FzwD5k

Google to Ban ICO, Cryptocurrency Ads in June

Google has said it will change its financial product policy in June to effectively ban advertisements related to cryptocurrency and ICOs.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FzIGQf

Circle Rolls Out Crypto Investment App in 46 US States

Circle made its Invest app widely available Tuesday. It offers commission-free trading of bitcoin, ethereum, and several other tokens.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2pd51If

Coinbase Receives E-Money License from UK Financial Regulator

Coinbase has announced it has been granted an e-money license from the U.K.'s Financial Conduct Authority.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FyVpm1

Tuesday, 13 March 2018

Square Seeks BitLicense to Bring Bitcoin Buying to New York

Square is in the process of applying for a BitLicense in a bid to expand its Cash App's bitcoin option to New York residents.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2Gpv3QK

ICOs Go to Washington: What to Expect When Congress Talks Crypto

The U.S. House's Capital Markets, Securities and Investment subcommittee will explore cryptocurrencies and ICO markets in a hearing on Wednesday.

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No-Fork Guarantee? New Cryptocurrency Touts Resistance to Code Splits

Hedera, a new public ledger developed by enterprise DLT software firm Swirlds, uses a patented codebase to prevent forking or cloning of the currency.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FIreVm

CFTC Official Backs Winklevoss Brothers' Crypto Self-Regulation Bid

CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz has expressed approval over a virtual commodities SRO proposed by Gemini founders Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss.

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Binance Unveils New Blockchain to Support Decentralized Crypto Exchange

Binance announced Binance Chain, a public blockchain for trading assets, on Tuesday.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FCJwHD

IMF's Lagarde: Track Cryptos with Blockchain to 'Fight Fire with Fire'

IMF head Christine Lagarde has argued that regulators could use blockchain technology itself to regulate cryptocurrencies

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FAi7KI

OpenBazaar Raises $5 Million from Bitmain, OMERS Ventures

OB1, the development company behind decentralized online marketplace OpenBazaar, has raised $5 million in a Series A funding round.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2DlO6Il

ZhongAn Wants to Identify Media Pirates with Blockchain Tool

ZhongAn Technology, a subsidiary of Chinese online insurer ZhongAn, hopes to patent a blockchain solution for protecting digital media against piracy.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FzVt4Y

Monero Eyes $200 Reversal Target After Hard Fork Delay

Menero will likely drop to $200 - a potential bullish reversal point ahead of the moneroV hard fork, now scheduled for April 30.

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Japan to Call for G20 Action on Crypto Money Laundering

Japan is reportedly planning to use the G20 meeting next week to call for combined efforts to combat cryptocurrency use in money laundering.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2IpHk8f

JP Morgan's Amber Baldet On What Enterprise Wants from Ethereum

In a keynote speech at an ethereum developer meetup last week, JP Morgan's blockchain lead opened up about her thinking on the tech and its future.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2GnfqsN

Thai Bank Extending Ripple Remittances to Euro and Pound

Thailand's Siam Commercial Bank is adding two new currencies to its Ripple-based blockchain remittance platform.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2GouPt4

Down But Not Out: Bitcoin Remains on Hunt for $10K

Bitcoin remains on track to re-test $10,000 and possibly break higher – as long as prices hold above $8,300.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2GnfYiF

Spooked By SEC, Video Streaming ICO Halts Airdrop

Stream had a plan to launch its product, sell its tokens to investors and give away 500 million more. That's all on hold now, as SEC action looms.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FCyp1D

China's IT Ministry Moves to Create National Blockchain Standards

China's information and technology ministry aims to establish a standards committee to boost the development of blockchain in the country.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2Fu9Zv0

Monday, 12 March 2018

What's Wrong With John Oliver's Bitcoin-Beanie Baby Comparison

Comedian John Oliver rightly warned his audience about the risks of cryptocurrency, but his comparisons to Beanie Babies and gambling missed the mark.

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Central Bank Digital Currencies Could Fuel Bank Runs, BIS Says

A central bank-issued digital currency could fuel faster bank runs during periods of financial stability, the BIS said Monday.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2GkF81f

Report: South Korea Could Ease Its ICO Ban

South Korea's ban on initial coin offerings (ICOs) could be relaxed in the months ahead, according to a new report.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2DnLhqb

Venezuela's Petro Will Harm 'Legitimate' Cryptocurrencies, Says Brookings

The Brookings Institute warns that the petro will undermine both international economic sanctions and truly decentralized cryptocurrencies.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2Gm3CqI

Crypto Miner Genesis Hit With Cease-And-Desist Order

Genesis Mining has been ordered to stop operating in the state of South Carolina, according to a cease-and-desist order released last week.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2Dli6UZ

Bitfinex'ed Strikes Back: Lawyer Warns Bitfinex on 'Threats' Against Blogger

Blogger Bitfinex'd hires lawyer Stephen Palley, who says that if he finds Bitfinex is behind threats against his client, "there will be consequences."

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2Dmm9QG

EU Can't Ban Bitcoin Mining Over Energy Concerns, Official Says

Cryptocurrency mining is perfectly legal in Europe and only subject to standard electricity rules, according to an EU commissioner.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2GiEscL

Bitcoin Cash Price Enters Recovery Mode After 4-Week Low

After mounting a high-volume recovery, the bitcoin cash cryptocurrency looks set to rebound, technical chart analysis suggests.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2DlJO3P

Ether Takes Step Toward Institutional US Trading

ConsenSys is partnering to develop an ether price index it hopes will make more crypto trading products available for institutional investors.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2HrLLye

Former Docker CEO to Lead Crypto-Powered Distributed Storage Startup

Decentralized data storage startup Storj is hoping to boost its growth with the hire of Ben Golub, former CEO at software firm Docker.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2p3DWYx

Malaysian Central Bank Slams ICO for Misleading Logo

A Malaysian initial coin offering organizer has been flagged by the central bank over its unauthorized use of national and institutional symbols.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2Ft65CA

Thomson Reuters Is Using Your Feelings About Bitcoin to Make Investors Rich

Thomson Reuters has launched a bitcoin analysis product that uses AI to analyze how industry insiders feel about the cryptocurrency.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2tEo4ke

Bitcoin Eyes $10K, But Charts Hint at Bull Trap Potential

Bitcoin's corrective rally from Friday's low of $8,371 seems to have legs, but gains above $10,000 may be transient.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2p6cQ28

Japan's SBI Group Scraps Huobi Crypto Exchange Partnership

SBI Virtual Currency, a subsidiary of SBI Holdings, will no longer partner with Huobi Group on setting up two Japan-based cryptocurrency exchanges.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2GfWnAF

Coincheck Starts Crypto Hack Refunds, Allows Limited Trading

Coincheck, the Japanese cryptocurrency exchange at the center of a recent hack, starts reimbursing victims today.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2HsnibN

Why the 'Worst' Crypto Networks Will Be The Biggest

From a network design perspective, bitcoin is ugly. As with as city, you have to experience it from a bottom-up perspective to understand its allure.

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Monero Mining Malware Attack Linked to Egyptian Telecom Giant

Thousands of devices allegedly affected by malware across Egypt, Turkey and Syria.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2pan0Pg

Sunday, 11 March 2018

Ponzis and Death: The Stranger Ways to Lose Your Crypto

Scams, death, network takeover attacks. There's no shortage of strange ways users can lose money in the cryptocurrency wild west.

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Former Thai Finance Minister Calls for Crypto Regulation

A former Thai official is calling for brining proper regulation on all cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings in the country.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2Ij77Px

Making Sense of Crypto Asset Valuation Insanity

A crypto hedge fund co-founder argues that while crypto investors are going wild today, the markets will eventually return to real valuations.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2p24Os0

ICOs: Fix the Problem Before the SEC Fixes It for You

If you sold tokens to unaccredited investors, or otherwise have not complied with the federal securities laws, make it right before the SEC finds you.

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How XRP's Tech Differs from Other Crypto Assets

What is XRP? How is it different from bitcoin? CoinDesk looks at the tech behind the crypto market's third-largest asset.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2HqlcZZ

Saturday, 10 March 2018

A Bitcoin Twitter War Is Raging And No Account Is Safe

A years-long intellectual debate on bitcoin's technological roadmap has spilled over into Twitter, resulting in a wave of suspicions and shadowbans.

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First Results of Sierra Leone's Blockchain Vote Are In

The early returns of the first ever presidential election tracked on a blockchain are in, but some problems not even distributed ledgers can solve.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2DdOMiV

Friday, 9 March 2018

Fake 'Telegram ICO' Websites Just Won't Go Away

CoinDesk has identified several websites claiming to sell Telegram's gram token, but the sale is known to be a private placement effort.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2FmtjdL

Dutch Finance Minister Calls for ICO Regulations

The finance minister of the Netherlands has called for new regulations around cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2DeMTm7

Vitalik Reveals New Idea for Plasma Scaling On Ethereum

Vitalik Buterin discussed a new idea Friday for a scaling solution that envisions how the capabilities of the ethereum blockchain might be expanded.

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PBoC Chief Won't Rule Out Distributed Ledger for New State Currency

PBoC chairman Zhou Xiaochuan said the central bank will one day have a digital currency, though several requirements must be met first.

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Tennessee Is Closer to Barring Retirement Funds from Crypto Investments

The Tennessee Senate Ways and Means Committee has voted to advance a bill banning public retirement trusts from investing in cryptocurrencies.

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Congress Must 'Push Back' Against Overregulation of Blockchain, Says US Rep

"Keeping the dogs at bay" is Rep. Tom Emmer's goal. The Congressional Blockchain Caucus member worries overzealous regulation could stifle innovation.

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Marc Andreessen, Craft Ventures Back Crypto Hedge Fund Multicoin

Crypto investment fund Multicoin Capital has announced that investors including Marc Andreessen are taking part in its $250 million flagship fund.

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Bitcoin Drops 20% But Wasn't Week's Big Crypto Price Loser

How bad were the crypto markets this week? Bitcoin lost nearly one-quarter of its value and it still wasn't the week's big loser.

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OKCoin CEO Hints at China Cooperation In Leaked Chat

Star Xu, the founder of Chinese crypto exchange OKCoin, is sparking controversy with remarks his firm may be open to working with the government.

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Cash for HODL? NY Wealth Manager to Issue Loans Against Bitcoin

New York family office Dominion Capital is launching a product for a new breed of consumer that's "crypto rich" but low on cash.

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Bitcoin Mining Giant Bitmain Sets Up Secret US Subsidiary

New reports indicate that crypto mining firm Bitmain is quietly preparing to open new facilities in Washington state.

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Cannabis Publication to Launch on Civil's Decentralized News Platform

Cannabis Wire, a trade publication dedicated marijuana industry coverage, is launching a newsroom on blockchain-based journalism platform Civil.

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Bears in Control, But Bitcoin Eyes $8K Defense

Bitcoin's 28 percent drop this week has turned the tide in favor of the bears, but a sustained break below $8,000 looks unlikely in the short-run.

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Progress On Ethereum Privacy Projects Is Slowing

The promise of private ethereum smart contracts remains undiminished, though a conference this week showcased that challenges that persisting today.

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Thursday, 8 March 2018

Time to Acknowledge – and Encourage – Women in Blockchain

Columnist Michael J. Casey on how men in the cryptocurrency and blockchain community can do more to advance the engagement of women in the space.

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KODAKCoin Backers Warn SEC Could Restrict Token Trading

A new "light paper" says the token could face "significant restrictions" should the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) deem it a security.

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US Congress to Discuss ICOs in Hearing Next Week

A subcommittee of the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee is set to hold a hearing next week on cryptocurrencies and ICOs.

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NSFW? Australian Police Probe Government Staffers Over Crypto Mining

Misused office equipment gets IT staff in trouble.

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Gemini Exchange Plans to Add More Crypto Tokens

Litecoin and bitcoin cash are logical candidates for inclusion this year, Tyler Winklevoss said.

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Regulators Could 'Take Away' Blockchain's Efficiencies, Congressman Warns

Rep. David Schweikert, co-chair of the Congressional Blockchain Caucus, talked about challenges facing mainstream adoption in a speech Thursday.

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$800 in 1 Hour: Bitcoin Price Drops Big to Near $9K

Bitcoin's price dropped sharply for the second day in a row, despite recovering to past $10,000 after Wednesday's fall.

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Coinbase Hires NYSE Finance Vet to Grow Enterprise Products

Coinbase has hired a former New York Stock Exchange executive, the startup announced Thursday.

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Arizona's Bitcoin Tax Bill Just Got a Big Vote of Confidence

A committee in the Arizona House of Representatives has recommended the passage of a bill allowing state residents to pay their tax bills in bitcoin.

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Crypto Industry Should Self Regulate, Says CFTC Commissioner

CFTC commissioner Brian Quintenz reiterated his position on Wednesday that the crypto industry should establish a self-regulatory organization.

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Sierra Leone Secretly Holds First Blockchain-Powered Presidential Vote

Sierra Leone has used blockchain voting in a presidential election for what appears to be the first time, marking a milestone in election technology.

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Stellar Investment Could Make Crypto as Easy as Chat

Stellar makes a bet that Keybase can port easy end-to-end encryption over to person-to-person payments in cryptocurrency.

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Overstock Venture Arm Invests $3 Million in Blockchain Payments Startup

Bitt, a Barbados-based blockchain payment startup, has received a $3 million investment from Overstock's Medici Ventures.

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Bull Reversal? NEM Price Jumps as Coincheck Moves to Refund Users

NEM's XEM token is solidly bid following the Japanese exchange's announcement that it will commence refunding hacked users next week.

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US Officials Praise Blockchain Amid ICO Concerns

Crypto regulation and government applications of blockchain were hot topics at day two of the D.C. Blockchain Summit.

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Bitcoin Revisits $10K After Yesterday's 10 Percent Drop

Bitcoin has moved back up to the $10,000 mark, but the technical recovery will likely be short-lived, according to the technical charts.

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Coincheck Exchange to Compensate Hack Victims From Next Week

Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck has said it plans to compensate victims of its January hack starting next week.

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Compliant ICOs? Bitcoin OGs Launch Regulated Token Sale Service

TokenSoft is today launching its white-label ICO solution with built-in regulatory frameworks that flexibly cater for different nations' rules.

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New Jersey Issues Cease-and-Desist to ICO Endorsed by Steven Seagal

The U.S. state of New Jersey has issued a cease-and-desist order to an initial coin offering (ICO) endorsed by film actor Steven Seagal.

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Wednesday, 7 March 2018

Ethereum Foundation Awards Millions In New Grant Funding

The non-profit dedicated to advancing ethereum has awarded $2.5 million in grant funding to various projects looking to improve the ecosystem.

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CFTC's Giancarlo: US and Foreign Regulators Teaming Up on Crypto

The CFTC's chairman said the U.S. is working with foreign regulators to tackle cryptocurrency fraud.

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Messari Raises Seed Funding for ICO Answer to EDGAR

Blockchain database startup Messari announced an undisclosed number of funds raised through a seed round would go towards building its product.

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Bitmain Wants to Invest in Blockchain-Powered 'Central Banks'

Bitmain CEO Jihan Wu said the bitcoin mining hardware giant intends to invest in as many as 30 startups working to create "private central banks."

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'All Funds Are Safe': Binance Denies Crypto Hack Rumors

Binance has reassured customers their money is still in their accounts after hours of speculation that the cryptocurrency exchange had been hacked.

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Ex-Trump Adviser Bannon Says Cryptocurrency Will Bring 'True Freedom'

Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist and right-wing firebrand, is now touting the liberating potential of cryptocurrency and blockchain.

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Bitcoin's Price Drops $1K in Sharp Break Below $10K

Bitcoin's price fell more than $1,000 on Wednesday, dropping below $9,500 before recovering back above that level.

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JP Morgan Blockchain Spin-Off Kadena Hires New Head of Growth

Kadena, the JP Morgan blockchain spinoff, has hired former Capco executive Ben Jessel to head its business growth efforts.

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Mt Gox Trustee Sells $400 Million in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash

Mt Gox's bankruptcy trustee has sold $400 million worth of cryptocurrencies in the past few months.

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Report: Japanese Regulator Could Suspend Some Crypto Exchanges

Nikkei reports that Japan's Financial Services Agency will hit some cryptocurrency exchanges with penalties and suspend others for poor practices.

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Ether Price Hits One-Month Low and Could Test $700

Ether, the native cryptocurrency of the ethereum network, has fallen to the lowest level for four weeks.

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Comcast Makes First Big Bet on a Multi-Blockchain Future

The venture capital arm of the $170 billion telecoms firm has made its first blockchain investment, one aimed at accelerating enterprise adoption.

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Litecoin Hits 12-Day Low in Fall Below $200

Litecoin is trading in the red today and could see further losses, according to the technical charts.

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Huawei Seeks Patent for Blockchain Rights Management

In a recently released patent application, tech giant Huawei touts a blockchain system for protecting digital property rights.

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Crypto's Biggest ICOs Stay Silent on SEC Subpoenas

ICO issuers that have raised $50 million or more in token sales are being tightlipped when it comes to inquiries about SEC subpoenas.

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Cryptos Are Commodities, Rules US Judge In CFTC Case

A U.S. district judge has backed the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission in defining cryptocurrencies as commodities.

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Bitcoin Eyes $10K After High Volume Drop

Bitcoin is looking increasingly heavy and could test the $10,000 mark in the next 24 hours, the price charts indicate.

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Fujitsu Touts New Tech to Detect Ethereum Smart Contract Bugs

Japanese IT giant Fujitsu has revealed a new technology that it says could help to mitigate problems with ethereum's smart contracts.

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Japanese Banks to Harness Ripple DLT for Consumer Payments App

A group of Japanese banks is planning to use Ripple's blockchain-based payments technology in a smartphone app aimed at general consumers.

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Tuesday, 6 March 2018

Venezuelan Lawmakers Declare Petro Crypto Illegal

A lawmaking body in Venezuela is moving to denounce the country's forthcoming petro cryptocurrency, spearheaded by President Nicholas Maduro.

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Twitter Pledges Action on Crypto Scams After Account Shadow Bans

It's unclear how Twitter identifies which accounts to penalize for propagating cryptocurrency scams.

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Wyoming 'Utility Token' Bill Heads to Governor for Approval

Wyoming's State Senate has cleared a bill that creates exemptions for certain types of blockchain tokens.

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Bitconnect Promoter Claims FBI Investigating Defunct Crypto Scheme

Bitconnect promoter Trevon James confirmed Monday that he is speaking with an FBI agent over his involvement with the defunct investment scheme.

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Jihan Wu to Talk Central Bank Crypto at DC Blockchain Summit

The Digital Chamber of Commerce's D.C. Blockchain Summit will also host notable speakers from the public and private sectors.

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North Carolina Orders Crypto Mining Firm to Halt Share Sale

North Carolina deems passive mining pool "shares" are unregistered securities.

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FinCEN: Money Transmitter Rules Apply to ICO Developers, Exchanges

According to a letter released today, FinCEN believes that companies launching token sales qualify as money transmitters, and must register as such.

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Illinois Has Been Quietly Considering Bitcoin for Tax Payments

Three U.S. states – Illinois, Arizona and Georgia – are now actively considering bills to allow tax payments made in cryptocurrency.

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XRP, BCH, LTC & ETH: DCG Fund Adds 4 New Crypto Trusts

Grayscale Investments, the creator of the Bitcoin Investment Trust, is launching four new trusts for ethereum, litecoin, XRP and bitcoin cash today.

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XRP Outlook Sours as Coinbase Quashes Listing Rumor

The rumor-driven rally in Ripple's XRP rapidly dissolved after Coinbase said it does not intend to list the cryptocurrency on its platfroms.

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Crypto Exchange Creating Wallet Blacklist to Fight Fentanyl Crisis

A crypto exchange startup is seeking to blacklist wallets associated with illicit drug use in an attempt to use the blockchain to save lives.

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Caixin: China Blocking Crypto Exchanges on Social Media

Chinese regulators are reportedly blocking social media accounts held by cryptocurrency exchanges that still offer services in the country.

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Wu-Tang Clan Rapper's Son to Launch Cryptocurrency

The son of Ol' Dirty Bastard, the late hip-hop artist and Wu-Tang Clan member who passed away in 2004, is launching a cryptocurrency.

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Korean Messaging Giant Kakao to Launch Blockchain Subsidiary

South Korean internet giant Kakao, which owns the popular messaging app Kakao Talk, is reportedly moving to integrate blockchain in its business.

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Bitcoin's Dip Below $11K Puts Bulls on Shaky Ground

Having failed to scale a major resistance level on Monday, bitcoin fell below the $11,000 mark soon before press time.

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Blockchain Needs Some Centralization, Says Chinese SEC Official

An official from China's Securities Regulatory Commission said complete decentralization is not the best way to reap blockchain's benefits.

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Bitcoin on Lightning Too Risky? Maybe Ice Cream Will Tempt You

An experimental San Francisco service is seeking to entice bitcoin users to explore the its in-development Lightning payments network.

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Monday, 5 March 2018

Canadian Regulator Warns Against 'Illegal' Crypto Investment Scheme

A provincial finance regulator in Canada has warned about a so-called "cryptocurrency bank" and its associated token.

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'No Decision' on New Assets, Coinbase Says Amid Ripple Rumors

Coinbase announced Monday that it was not adding any new assets to either its GDAX or Coinbase exchange platforms.

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Coinbase Taps Former LinkedIn Exec to Lead Acquisitions Efforts

Coinbase has hired former LinkedIn executive Emilie Choi to lead its global mergers and acquisitions.

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US Marshals to Sell $25 Million in Bitcoin at Auction

The U.S. Marshals will auction off 2,170 bitcoins worth roughly $25 million in two weeks.

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Webster's Dictionary Adds 'Cryptocurrency' and 'Initial Coin Offering'

The Merriam-Webster dictionary has added "cryptocurrency," "initial coin offering" and "blockchain" to its listings.

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GE's Transport Arm Joins Blockchain Consortium

GE's transportation arm has become the latest member of the Blockchain in Transport Alliance.

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SBI Bank's Venture Arm Invests In Crypto Wallet Creator

SBI Holdings, the financial services arm of the SBI Group, has bought a 40 percent stake in cryptocurrency hardware wallet maker CoolBitX.

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The Father of the JOBS Act Is Helping Build a Next-Generation ICO

The man credited for being the "Father of the Jobs Act" is exploring a number of blockchain projects that could help improve the legislation.

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Over $1: XRP Rises As Ripple-Coinbase Rumors Renew

The price of the XRP cryptocurrency, overseen by startup Ripple, has jumped 16 percent on speculation a major U.S. exchange could add support.

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Coinbase Hit by Lawsuit Over Alleged Insider Trading

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has been hit by a class action lawsuit over alleged insider trading during its launch of bitcoin cash trading.

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Make-or-Break Level? Bitcoin Pauses at Key Resistance

Bitcoin price is flirting with key resistance on the technical charts and a move in either direction could be on the cards.

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China's Biggest Political Event Sees Talk of Blockchain's Potential

At China's annual "Two Sessions" political event, policy advisors have made a wide range of comments on the future of blockchain in the country.

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Major Blockchains Are Pretty Much Still Centralized

Researchers wade into the centralization debate, setting out data analysis they think could help shed light on the issue.

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Sunday, 4 March 2018

Icelandic Police Are Hunting for Hundreds of Bitcoin Miners

Roughly 600 cryptomining computers were stolen from four Icelandic data centers, police report.

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Crypto All-Stars Turn Out for 'Truth Machine' Book Premiere

The New York City premiere for the forthcoming blockchain book "The Truth Machine," drew a set of high-profile stars this week.

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How XRP Fits Into Ripple's Payments Products Explained

While interest in XRP continues, confusion remains about how the cryptocurrency interacts with Ripple's products. CoinDesk explains.

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Saturday, 3 March 2018

8 Ways Telegram Thinks Its Own ICO Could Go Wrong

From tech flaws to regulatory interventions, a document sent to prospective investors in Telegram's $2.5 billion token sale spells out the risks.

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Bitcoin's 'Kimchi Premium' Has All But Evaporated

CoinDesk data shows that the gap between South Korea's bitcoin prices, and those shown by the global market, closed over the course of February.

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Friday, 2 March 2018

TechCrunch Founder's Crypto Fund Subpoenaed By SEC

Michael Arrington's crypto-fund has reportedly been subpoenaed by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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$50 Million Gone? South African Police Probe Suspected Bitcoin Ponzi

As much as $50 million may have been lost by an international group of investors after putting their money into a bitcoin investment group.

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Fundamentally Vulnerable? Ethereum's Casper Tech Takes Criticism In Curacao

A top computer science researcher took aim at one of ethereum's biggest expected future upgrades Friday calling it "fundamentally vulnerable."

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2F8CZIL

Tezos Foundation to Beef Up Dev Team After Board Reshuffle

Following a board shake-up, the Tezos Foundation announced it would hire up to 40 new developers to work on the Tezos protocol.

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ATM Giant Cardtronics Cites Crypto As Business Risk

ATM provider Cardtronics noted in its most recent 10-K filing that cryptocurrencies could have an impact on its business.

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Liechtenstein Bank Opens Up Cryptocurrency Investment for Clients

A Liechtenstein bank has become one of the first in the world that allows clients to directly invest in cryptocurrencies.

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The US Government Wants to Keep $5.5 Million in Seized Bitcoin

The U.S. Attorney's Office could soon confiscate another 500 bitcoins that have been seized from alleged ID forgers in Ohio.

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Overwinter Is Coming: Zcash Moves Closer to First-Ever Hard Fork

A new software release prepares zcash for its upcoming hard fork that is set to activate in June.

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Theft-Hit NEM Nosedived, But It Wasn't February's Big Crypto Loser

February is officially in the books for the crypto markets, though some coins may be left wishing they could turn back time.

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UK Central Bank to Clamp Down on Crypto Money Laundering

The head of the Bank of England has said that the institution will step up its efforts to combat cryptocurrency money laundering.

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Raiden Isn't Ethereum's Only Hope for Off-Chain Payments

Competition is heating up in the ethereum ecosystem, now that scaling project Liquidity.Network has launched in test mode.

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Mexican Lawmakers Pass Cryptocurrency Regulation Bill

Mexico is now just one step away from passing a law that will regulate fintech including cryptocurrencies in the country.

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JD.com to Track Beef Imports Using Blockchain Platform

Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com said it will roll out a blockchain system to track beef imports from a new meat supplier in Australia.

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Bitcoin Struggles to Stay Above $11,000 Amid Low Volumes

Bitcoin passed above the $11,000 mark this morning, but low volumes could be capping gains.

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Forking a Fork: 'Bitcoin Private' Copies Zcash But What's it Worth?

A fork of a fork of a fork? A new cryptocurrency just launched that's nearly identical to zcash, but commentators are questioning its value add.

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South Korean Bank Trials Ripple for Overseas Remittances

South Korea's Wooribank has reportedly completed an overseas remittance test using Ripple's DLT solution.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2oJnD2h

Thursday, 1 March 2018

Don't Ban Crypto, Says Former FDIC Chief Sheila Bair

Former FDIC head Sheila Bair believes cryptocurrency prices should be left to the market to establish, according to Barron's.

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Fake Website Scam Targets Aspiring Telegram ICO Investors

Scammers masquerading as "the Telegram Foundation" are trying to defraud users through a fake public ICO.

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Trump Sanctions on North Korea Won't Stop Crypto Hacks, Senator Says

One U.S. senator thinks the Trump administration isn't doing enough to deter North Korean attacks on cryptocurrency users and exchanges.

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Overstock Defends tZero ICO: SEC Subpoenaed 'Everyone Else'

Overstock is pushing back against the idea an inquiry into its tZero ICO is part of a broader SEC effort to crackdown on poor industry practices.

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Crypto Startup Blockchain Partners With UN on Sustainability Goals

Cryptocurrency wallet startup Blockchain is partnering with the United Nations to explore applications of blockchain in a range of areas.

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AMD: GPU Business Could Take Hit If Crypto Miners Stop Buying

AMD expressed concern in a new SEC filing about the potential impact of a drop in GPU demand from crypto miners.

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Nigeria's Central Bank Again Warns on Crypto Investments

The Central Bank of Nigeria has issued another warning to residents and financial institutions over the risk of cryptocurrency investments.

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US Regional Banks Begin to Cite Crypto as Business Risk

It's not just America's biggest banks that are worried about cryptocurrency adoption, public filings show.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2t93ng1

Litecoin Booms in February But 'Golden' Crypto Takes Price Podium

Lesser known DigixDao was February's top-performing large-cap cryptocurrency, data from CoinDesk reveals.

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Payment Provider Fleetcor to Pilot Ripple's XRP Cryptocurrency

Workforce payment services provider Fleetcor has announced a pilot using xRapid, a product powered by Ripple's XRP cryptocurrency.

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Overstock: $250 Million tZero ICO Under SEC Review

Overstock.com blockchain subsidiary tZero has made a sudden change to the way it is conducting a significant step in its ongoing ICO.

from CoinDesk http://ift.tt/2oDACm2

Banking Giants Send $30 Million in Securities over DLT Platform

Credit Suisse and ING say they have successful sent securities worth €25 million ($30 million) over a system built with R3's Corda.

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Russia Eyes Summer Deadline for New Cryptocurrency Laws

Russia is reportedly hoping to pass long-discussed new cryptocurrency legislation by July 1, a report suggests.

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In Consolidation Mode, Bitcoin Awaits Decisive Move

Bitcoin is stuck in $10,000 range and could witness a big move in either direction, technical charts indicate.

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Singapore Weighs Need for New Rules to Protect Crypto Investors

Singapore's de facto central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, is looking at whether new regulations are needed to protect crypto investors.

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