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Monday, 30 April 2018

Bitcoin Cash Is Bitcoin? Lawsuits Won't Stop the Fight Over Bitcoin's Name

Roger Ver's decision to call bitcoin cash "bitcoin" has dredged up a byzantine debate on how exactly the software should be defined and by whom.

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Circle Adds Zcash to Crypto Investment App

Circle added zcash to its cryptocurrency storage and investment app, the company announced Monday.

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Bring Home the Bacoin? Oscar Mayer Debuts Crypto Campaign

Meat manufacturer Oscar Mayer has launched a bacon-backed cryptocurrency, which fans can cash out for real bacon.

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SEC Official: ICO Market Shows Need for Securities Regulation

An SEC commissioner warned that initial coin offerings could be fraudulent, but consumers cannot necessarily identify fraud.

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FTC to Host Consumer Protection Workshop on Cryptocurrency Scams

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is planning to host a workshop on cryptocurrency scams and fraud in June.

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Buffett: Bitcoin Is More Gamble Than Investment

The world's third-richest person, Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffet, has again made comments critical of bitcoin as an investment.

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Arrington-Backed Startup Launches Crypto-for-Cash Credit Platform

A crypto lending startup backed by TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington launched a U.S. dollar credit platform on Monday.

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CFO Boost? EY Predicts Blockchain Could Change C-Suite Role

"Big four" professional services firm EY says that blockchain could transform its finance operations and redefine the role of chief financial officer.

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Author William Mougayar to Launch Blockchain Investment Fund

Blockchain author William Mougayar is teaming up with Jabre Capital Partners to launch a blockchain investment fund for startups.

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UNICEF Is Mining Crypto to Raise Funds for Children

UNICEF Australia has launched a website that harness supporters' computers to raise donations via cryptocurrency mining.

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ANZ and IBM Build Blockchain Solution for Insurance

ANZ bank has partnered with IBM to build a blockchain solution for transparent, secure transfer of data and premiums in the insurance sector.

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Enquiries About Cryptocurrencies Tripled in 2017, Japan Regulator Says

Last year, Japanese consumers were asking more questions than ever about cryptocurrency trading and ICOs, new data reveals.

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Blockchain Trade Finance Is Breaking Proof-of-Concept Gridlock

After years of tests and concepts, enterprise blockchain may be having a breakthrough moment, with several notable trials in trade finance advancing.

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ICBC's First Blockchain Patent Is Now Public

Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, a major state-owned bank, is exploring how to verify and share users' certificates on a blockchain.

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Mastercard Seeks 'Fast Track' Way to Sync Blockchain Data

A Mastercard patent application outlines how nodes could be quickly added to a blockchain.

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Sunday, 29 April 2018

The Public-Private Blockchain Singularity May Be Close At Hand

A year ago, enterprise blockchain and cryptocurrency were essentially separate industries. Now come signs that these camps might be slowly converging.

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ICO Promoters Can Expect Canada to Be as Tough as the US

Provincial securities regulators in Canada won't take a radically different approach to the U.S. SEC in analyzing whether tokens are securities.

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Saturday, 28 April 2018

The Crypto Community Must Use the Blockchain to Self-Police

The everyday crypto user in the future is likely to spend time identifying illicit wallets and transactions to avoid, thanks to the U.S. Treasury.

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Bank of America Is Closing My Three-Year-Old's Account Over Crypto

My daughter is 3 years old. Bank of America is closing her account because of her “risk profile” and a highly indirect “connection” to cryptocurrency.

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Friday, 27 April 2018

Binance, Bermuda Ink $15 Million Crypto Investment Agreement

Bermuda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Binance to develop a global compliance center in the British Overseas Territory.

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5 More Payments Firms to Adopt Ripple's xVia Tech

Five firms across Europe and Asia plan to adopt Ripple's xVia protocol to bring their payments services to emerging markets.

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Prosecutors Charge 'Discount Bitcoin Bandits' With Robbery

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has charged the "Discount Bitcoin Bandits" with robbery, child abuse and grand theft counts.

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SEC Official Defends 'Balanced' ICO Oversight in Congress

A hearing at the House financial services committee saw hostility from some reps, sympathy from others, and a "balanced approach" from the SEC.

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Court Forces Chile's Banks to Reopen Crypto Exchange Accounts

A Chilean court has ordered banks to reopen the accounts of crypto exchanges after the institutions announced their plans to close them in March.

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Australia's Securities Watchdog Airs Concerns About Overseas ICOs

ASIC is to extend its guidelines on initial coin offerings over concerns about overseas projects targeting local investors.

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France Is Cutting the Tax Rate for Retail Crypto Traders

France is about to offer relief to amateur cryptocurrency investors, after a ruling by the country's Council of State.

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Bigger Blocks and Smarter Contracts: What's In Bitcoin Cash's Next Fork?

Bitcoin cash's most ambitious hard fork upgrade is coming in May, backed by the promise of taking its "on-chain scaling" philosophy to new heights.

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Alibaba Advances Blockchain Food Fraud Platform to Pilot Phase

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is trialling a blockchain-based tracking system developed to make its supply chain more transparent.

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PBoC Researcher Touts More Centralized Approach to Blockchain

Giving up full decentralization could solve many of blockchain's existing problems, says Yao Qian, research director at China's central bank.

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Pullback Over? Bitcoin Retakes $9K, Eyes Further Gains

Having recovered from a five-day low hit yesterday, bitcoin has potential for a move higher towards key resistance at $9,880.

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The SAFT Is Alive But Who Knows How Well

A framework that strives to enable compliant U.S. token sales may have come under fire in the press, but it's still widely used by entrepreneurs.

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Singapore to Speed Up Process of Awarding Blockchain Payment Patents

Singapore's IP Office is shortening the grant process for fintech related patent applications, including those focusing on blockchain payment.

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Thursday, 26 April 2018

Sony Eyes Blockchain Use for Digital Rights Data

Sony believes a blockchain can be used as a digital rights management solution by storing ownership information.

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CBOE Saw Its Highest-Ever Bitcoin Futures Volumes Yesterday

Bitcoin futures contracts saw a spike in trading volume Wednesday, according to data from both CBOE and CME.

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Ripple Says Sales of XRP Cryptocurrency Rose 83% In Q1

While XRP's price has fallen since the end of the year, Ripple's sales of the cryptocurrency are stronger than ever.

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Romania's Oldest Bitcoin Exchange Is Shutting Down Next Week

BTCxChange announced it was closing its platform on May 1, and advised customers to withdraw all funds before then.

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Crypto Mining Made Up 10% of AMD's Revenue in Q1

While AMD sees demand for GPUs to process blockchains falling this quarter, CEO Lisa Su believes the technology will have a long-term impact.

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More Than $140 Million in Bitcoin Moved from Mt Gox Wallets

Approximately $141 million worth of bitcoin was moved from several remaining wallets of former bitcoin exchange Mt Gox on Wednesday.

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OmiseGo Hits Two-Month High Amid Airdrop and Exchange Listings

OmiseGo's OMG token is reporting double-digit gains today, possibly due to new listings on Asian exchanges and news of an airdrop.

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BBVA Issues $91 Million Loan Using Two Blockchains

Spanish banking giant BBVA has completed a pilot that issued a $91 million corporate loan using two different blockchain technologies.

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Samsung Sets Q1 Profit Record with Crypto Mining Boost

Samsung has seen record growth in quarterly operating profits – an increase driven in part by strong demand for cryptocurrency mining chips.

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Bitcoin Risks Deeper Pullback After Drop Below $9K

After hitting a one-week low today, bitcoin risks a deeper pullback if support at $8,459 is breached, the technical charts indicate.

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IBM Partners with Jewelry Industry on Hyperledger Supply Chain Project

IBM has teamed up with major jewelry businesses to bring transparency to the industry's supply chain with blockchain technology.

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Parity Says 'No Intention' To Split Ethereum Over Fund Recovery

Parity Technologies has said it has no plans to move forward with a code change that would result in an ethereum blockchain split.

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Coincheck Owner Monex Plans Proprietary Blockchain, ICO

The new owner of Japan's Coincheck exchange, Monex Group, says creating its own blockchain with an ICO to follow is on its radar.

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Barclays, Goldman Champion ISDA Standard for Blockchain Derivatives

U.K.-based bank Barclays is pushing hard for a data standard for derivatives, as a foundation for that market to adopt distributed ledger technology.

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Binance Exchange Denies Sequoia's Allegation of Exclusivity Breach

Crypto exchange Binance has denied an allegation that its founder breached an exclusivity agreement with VC firm Sequoia Capital.

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Wednesday, 25 April 2018

Cisco Claims New Patent Could Apply to Bitcoin Mining

A Cisco patent suggests that internet customers would be able to create a distributed mining pool through a proprietary cloud application.

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US Congressman: 'Race to Regulate' Won't Solve Crypto Fraud

While fraud and 'bad actors' are a concern in the crypto industry, US Rep. Patrick McHenry says Congress should not rush to regulate.

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Nasdaq 'Would Consider' Creating a Crypto Exchange, Says CEO

The CEO of Nasdaq suggested Wednesday that the company could open a cryptocurrency exchange in the future.

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Crypto Exchanges Pause Services Over Contract Bugs

A pair recently-published bugs allow an attacker to create an inordinate number of ERC-20 tokens

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EOS Is Nearing An All-Time Price High

EOS is largely bucking the downtrend in the wider crypto market and may hit fresh all-time highs soon, according to technical analysis.

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Two Big Crypto Startups Are Out to Build One Universal Wallet

The two startups are offering developers $50,000 to build a wallet that would support almost any token, even those that haven’t been created yet.

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Compliant Airdrops: CoinList to Offer Investors Free Crypto Giveaways

The company has worked on token distribution and fundraising so far, but its latest product focuses on giving away tokens to spur user adoption.

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$10K on Hold As Bitcoin Sees Price Pullback

Having rallied more than 50 percent this month, bitcoin is today witnessing pullback.

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Bitcoin Miners Arrested for Alleged Power Theft

Allegations of electricity theft have reportedly led to the arrest of bitcoin miners and equipment seizures in two Chinese cities.

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Chinese #Metoo Movement Turns to Ethereum to Evade Censorship

Inspired by the #metoo movement, students in China are coding messages into the ethereum blockchain to escape Chinese internet censorship.

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Sequoia Sues Crypto Exchange Binance After Investment Deal Collapses

The founder of the Binance exchange is facing a lawsuit in Hong Kong over allegations he breached an exclusivity agreement with a big-name investor.

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Salesforce Among 12 New Members to Join Blockchain Research Institute

Canadian government-backed Blockchain Research Institute announced the addition of 12 new members today, including cloud computing company Salesforce.

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Tuesday, 24 April 2018

TD Ameritrade Put An Actual Ad on the Bitcoin Blockchain

TD Ameritrade used bitcoin's "memo" area to plant a digital flag on the cryptocurrency's ledger.

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Arizona's Crypto Tax Payments Bill Clears Hurdle

Arizona's revamped cryptocurrency tax bill was approved by a key committee on Monday.

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Snoop Dogg to Perform at Ripple's Blockchain Week NYC Party

Snoop Dogg will perform at Ripple's Community Night during this year's Blockchain Week in May.

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Mutual Fund Giant Bars Employees from Investing in ICOs

One of the world's largest asset managers has updated its code of ethics to account for the blockchain-based fundraising method.

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$150K Stolen From MyEtherWallet Users in DNS Server Hijacking

According to MyEtherWallet's CEO, the issue has been resolved.

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Iceland's 'Big Bitcoin Heist' Suspect Has Been Arrested

Iceland's alleged bitcoin mining computer thief Sindri Thor Stefansson, who escaped from prison last week, was arrested in Amsterdam Monday.

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Blockchain Insurance Policy Developed for Hurricane-Prone Puerto Rico

A decentralized insurance policy built with blockchain and smart contract technology will provide cover for natural disasters in Puerto Rico.

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Everything Ex-CFTC Chair Gary Gensler Said About Cryptos Being Securities

Here are former CFTC chairman Gary Gensler's full remarks from Monday at the Business of Blockchain event.

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Crypto Winter or Spring Revival? Take CoinDesk's State of Blockchain Survey

A return to normal, rules on the rise, and did you pay the tax, man? Let us know in our latest industry survey.

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War On Miners? Maybe Not On This $2 Billion Blockchain

A proposal up for consideration on the ethereum classic blockchain could open the $2 billion network to a controversial type of mining hardware.

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Bitcoin Is Facing Stiff Resistance On Road to $10K

Bitcoin is looking bullish today, but must leap several resistance hurdles on the way to $10,000, chart analysis suggests.

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Korea's SK Telecom to Build Blockchain for Identity and Asset Exchange

SK Telecom has announced plans to launch a blockchain-based platform aimed to simplify payment and subscription processes.

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'Enough Is Enough': Finance Guru Sues Facebook Over Crypto Scams

Martin Lewis, a British personal finance writer, is suing Facebook for allowing his likeness to be used in scammers' advertisements on the platform.

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1 in 5 Financial Institutions Exploring Crypto Trading, Survey Finds

A survey conducted by Thomson Reuters found that around 20 percent of its financial services clients are mulling trading cryptocurrencies in 2018.

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16 Japan Exchanges Pledge to 'Restore Confidence' at Regulatory Group Launch

A just-launched group of licensed cryptocurrency exchanges in Japan is looking to restore market confidence by adopting self-imposed rules.

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Monday, 23 April 2018

Coinbase-Cryptsy Lawsuit Will Head to Jury Trial

Coinbase has lost another appeal in a case brought by former customers of the defunct exchange Cryptsy, and the case will now proceed to a jury trial.

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$125 Million: Orchid Is Raising One of 2018's Biggest Token Sales

A startup with the aim of building a private, peer-to-peer browser using cryptocurrency has told the SEC it plans to hold a $125 million SAFT.

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Amber Baldet: Blockchain Should 'Almost Never' Be Used for Privacy

Amber Baldet argued that the blockchain is not a solution for privacy protection in a Monday speech.

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California Bill Would Legally Recognize Blockchain Stocks

California Senate Bill 838 would allow businesses to store, issue and transfer shares information on a blockchain.

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Overbought? Bitcoin Cash Looks Extended After 80% Gain

Bitcoin cash has rallied hugely in the approach to a technical upgrade, but a healthy pullback may be in the offing.

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Indian High Court to Hear Case Against Central Bank Crypto Ban

The High Court of Delhi has recognized a petition over the Reserve Bank of India's ban on banks engaging with cryptocurrency services.

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Iran Said to Bar Banks from Bitcoin Market

The Central Bank of Iran is the latest national bank to sound the alarm on the cryptocurrencies, fearing of its misuse in money laundering and fraud.

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Messaging Giant Line to Support Dapps on Own Blockchain

Line, the Japan-based messaging app provider, is planning to build its own blockchain to boost development of decentralized apps.

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Locked Out of Coinbase: Why Are Wyoming's Bitcoin Users Still Waiting?

A month after Wyoming changed a law to let Coinbase restore service in the state, users there are still waiting to regain access to their funds.

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Another Chinese City Is Backing a Big Blockchain Investment Fund

The city government of Shenzhen, China, is backing an $80 million blockchain investment fund, soon after Hangzhou city supported a similar effort.

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Bitcoin Struggles Above $9K as Bull Breakout Stalls

Having witnessed a major breakout on Friday, bitcoin is showing signs of bull exhaustion near the key resistance zone.

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Softbank Eyes Carbon Emissions Cuts with Green Energy Blockchain Pilot

A group of Japanese firms is planning a blockchain pilot that would allow rural consumers to trade renewable energy.

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Down Not Out: Revived Tezos Team Predicts Mega-ICO Will Launch In 2018

In his first interview since taking over the Tezos Foundation, chair Ryan Jesperson is looking toward the launch of its much-hyped new blockchain.

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Travel Booking Site CheapAir Is Switching Bitcoin Payment Processors

CheapAir.com is to switch bitcoin payment processors following a service change by Coinbase, but the new integration poses problems for users.

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Sunday, 22 April 2018

The Code for Ethereum's Consensus Change Is Now Ready for Review

The ethereum network's transition to proof-of-stake is getting closer to reality, beginning with a hybrid system that could soon begin testing.

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'WordPress of Blockchain' Startup Seeks to Solve Enterprise Pain Points

Elemential, which is based in Mumbai, India, seeks to remove the pain of “blockchain administration."

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Saturday, 21 April 2018

Testing $10K? Bitcoin Price Hits 4-Week High As Altcoins Shine

Despite the pullback from $9,060, the outlook for bitcoin, the world's largest cryptocurrency, remains bullish.

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Why ICOs Could Eat Delaware's Lunch

Delaware's status as a go-to jurisdiction for business can't be taken for granted as tokens take off and issuers flock to blockchain-friendly states.

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Rappers, Ravens and Lord of the Rings: In Crypto Coin Game, 'Dope' Names Pay

A 'Lord of the Rings' reference in several crypto projects illustrates a coming land grab on the finite amount of "cool" names.

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Friday, 20 April 2018

Don't Believe What You Read About Quebec's Chief Scientist and Crypto

Reports this week erroneously suggested that Quebec's Chief Scientist dismissed concerns about the illicit usage of bitcoin, his office said.

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Russia's Supreme Court Orders Review of Crypto Website Ban

Russia's supreme court has ordered a municipal court in St. Petersburg to consider an appeal from a blocked cryptocurrency information site.

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DOJ Charges ICO Co-Founder With Securities Fraud

The Department of Justice has unveiled fraud charges against a co-founder of cryptocurrency startup Centra.

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LedgerX's Bitcoin Derivatives Trading Is Up 7X Since Launch

Bitcoin trading platform LedgerX now sees $7.5 million traded weekly in options products, up from $1 million during its first week.

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Stellar Run: XLM, IOTA, ADA Spike in Good Week for Altcoins

Bitcoin may be inching up of late but the market for alternative cryptocurrencies remains a choppy sea of big winners and losers.

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AWS Is Making It Easier to Use Hyperledger Fabric and Ethereum

The cloud computing giant's offering comes just as Digital Asset, another enterprise blockchain firm, announces a developer kit for smart contracts.

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JPMorgan Trial Puts Debt Issuance on a Blockchain

JPMorgan Chase has partnered with National Bank of Canada and others to trial a blockchain platform aimed to improve the debt issuance process.

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Bitcoin Bull Trap? Not So, Says Lesser-Known Price Indicator

A lesser-known bitcoin indicator appears to be undergoing a notable change, one that could signal where the crypto asset's price is heading.

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Taiwan Eyes November Deadline for Bitcoin AML Regulation

Taiwan will formally regulate bitcoin under anti-money laundering rules by the end of the year, says its minister of justice.

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EU Parliament Votes for Closer Regulation of Cryptocurrencies

The European Parliament has voted for regulations to prevent the use of cryptocurrencies in money laundering and terrorism financing.

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Bitcoin Resistance Rises to $8,460 After Unconvincing Breakout

Bitcoin saw small gains last night, but the weak move did little to further the bull case.

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Xunlei Launches Blockchain Platform Amid Ongoing 'ICO' Lawsuits

China-based cloud network provider Xunlei has launched a blockchain platform, undeterred by ongoing allegations it held an unlawful ICO.

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Tezos Co-Founder Sanctioned By US Financial Watchdog

Arthur Breitman, co-founder of cryptocurrency project Tezos, has been barred by FINRA from any association with broker-dealers for two years.

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Blockchain Slump? Banks May Be Fatigued But Insurers Are Pumped

Giving progress reports on their blockchain projects, bankers come across browbeaten and anxious, while their cousins in insurance sound spritely.

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Thursday, 19 April 2018

Ether Investment Firm Begins Trading on Canadian Stock Exchange

Ether Capital is seeking to become a major player in the ethereum ecosystem by investing in startups and holding large amounts of the token.

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Smart Contract Pioneer Nick Szabo: Don't Ditch Decentralization

One of the few cypherpunks in a room full dominated by financial services, Szabo urged blockchain developers not to forget about decentralization.

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Walmart Wants to Store Payment Data On a Blockchain

A pair of Walmart patent applications discuss encrypting payment information using a blockchain.

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Blythe Masters: Business Blockchain Won't Be 'Winner-Takes-All'

At the Synchronize 2018 conference in New York City, enterprise blockchains heavyweights made it clear they want to build ethereum-like platforms.

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Insurance Giant Allianz Is Testing a Token to Move Money Internally

Allianz is testing a blockchain token to move money between its global affiliates.

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Gem Unveils All-In-One Crypto Investment App

Blockchain startup Gem has created a one-stop shop crypto services platform comprised of a portfolio tracker, a wallet and a 'discovery tool.'

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Major Investors Met with SEC to Discuss Crypto Exemption

VC firms Andreessen Horowitz and Union Square Ventures reportedly met with the SEC in March to request that tokens be exempted from SEC oversight.

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Enterprise Ethereum Alliance Pledges 2018 Blockchain Standards Release

The 450-plus member Enterprise Ethereum Alliance is set to release its common blockchain standards for business users before the end of 2018.

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$6.3 Billion: 2018 ICO Funding Has Already Outpaced 2017's Total

Even without Telegram, ICOs are on pace to raise much more in 2018 than last year.

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The Craigslist of Crypto Is Making Millions Where Bitcoin Is Needed Most

LocalBitcoins, a low-fi exchange launched in 2011, is gaining traction in overlooked markets where people have less access to VC-backed alternatives.

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$8,300: Bitcoin Seeks Direction at Key Price Hurdle

Bitcoin has been struggling to break through the long-term descending trendline, but that could change today.

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UBS-Backed Blockchain Platform Completes Live Trade Transactions

The Batavia blockchain trade finance platform has completed a pilot that conducted live cross-border transactions involving corporate clients.

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Crypto Mining Boost Helps Taiwanese Chip Maker Break Sales Record

Cryptocurrency mining orders have helped set a new monthly sales record for Taiwanese semiconductor maker TSMC.

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Ideas Abound for Business Blockchains, But Who's Going to Pay?

With fatigue for trials setting in, business blockchain builders are talking creatively about how to handle the costs of distributed ledger networks.

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South Korea to Toughen Inspections of Crypto Mining Chip Imports

Cryptocurrency miners in South Korea may soon find it more difficult to get foreign-made mining chips imported to the country.

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Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Scam Twitter Profile Impersonates 6 Different Crypto Accounts

Filmmaker Seif Elsbei's Twitter account has been hacked, and took on the personas of at least six different cryptocurrency developers and exchanges.

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Sharing Economy Startup Origin Raises $28 Million in SAFT Sale

Peer-to-peer economy platform Origin raised more than $28 million through a Simple Agreement for Future Tokens sale this year, filings reveal.

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Kraken CEO: Crypto Exchange Won't Answer New York AG's Inquiry

An exchange that left New York in 2015 has been contacted by the state's Attorney General. They're not happy about it.

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A 'Yelp for Weed' Startup Is Launching Its Own Ethereum Token

Cannabis social networking company MassRoots is developing a crypto rewards token and other blockchain applications.

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Bitcoin Mining Hardware Thief Escapes from Prison

Sindri Thor Stefansson, the alleged culprit behind the theft of 600 cryptomining computers, escaped from prison earlier this week.

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Energy Giant BP Says It's Tested 'Internal' Tokens

British Petroleum would consider partnering with startups that conduct initial coin offerings, and it's tested "internal" tokens, an executive said.

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Craig Wright Moves to Dismiss 'Shakedown' Bitcoin Lawsuit

The man who claimed to be bitcoin's founder won't stand for this "attempted shakedown" in U.S. federal court.

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Crypto Privacy Tokens See Price Lift on Pornhub Deal

Has Pornhub's decision to accept payments in verge's XVG token boosted the prospects of other privacy-focused cryptocurrencies?

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IBM-Backed Blockchain Trial Takes Aim at Advertising's Middlemen

Working with IBM and Salon, AdLedger is launching a proof-of-concept to show how ad spend can be managed more transparently on a private blockchain.

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Crypto Fraudsters Face Jail Time, Warns Philippines Securities Regulator

The Philippines SEC has issued a warning to the public to be cautious on 14 cryptocurrency investment schemes in the country.

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250 Corporates Join ICICI Bank Blockchain Test

Indian private bank ICICI Bank has on-boarded more than 250 corporate firms to undertake trade finance transactions on blockchain network.

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Bain, Lightspeed Back First ICO With $133 Million Basis Funding

There are many stablecoins, but only one that has one investor who busted a central bank and another who used to help run one. Also, Google and Bain.

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Cambridge Analytica Planned ICO Before Facebook Controversy: Reports

Cambridge Analytica reportedly planned to launch its own cryptocurrency before the controversy over its misuse of facebook data.

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Bitcoin Price Defends $8K But Pullback Still in Play

Bitcoin remains on the hunt for a bullish move over $8,400 after recovering from a sharp overnight dip.

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Huawei Unveils Hyperledger-Based Blockchain Service Platform

Huawei has become the latest Chinese tech giant to launch its own blockchain-as-a-service platform, following on the heels of Tencent and Baidu.

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Chinese Police Bust Alleged $13 Million Blockchain Pyramid Scheme

Police in China have arrested the founders of a claimed cryptocurrency pyramid scheme that amassed $13 million from over 13,000 people.

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Riot Blockchain Has Been Subpoenaed By the SEC

Riot Blockchain has received a subpoena from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Tuesday, 17 April 2018

Amazon Sees Bitcoin Use Case in Data Marketplaces

The e-commerce giant describes how merchants and law enforcement could make a bitcoin transaction stream more valuable by splicing it with other data.

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Telegram's CEO Is Using Bitcoin to Bypass Russia's App Ban

Pavel Durov is paying network administrators in bitcoin to bypass a Russian ban on Telegram.

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Binance, Bitfinex and More: New York Launches 'Inquiry' Into 13 Crypto Exchanges

New York's attorney general is taking a closer look at some of the most well-known cryptocurrency exchanges.

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Prosecutors: Options Seller Duped Investors With 'Worthless' Crypto

A New York resident has been indicted on fraud charges for tricking residents into investing in worthless binary options and a proprietary token.

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Sell the News? Verge Token Drops After Porn Partner Reveal

Verge's XVG token is fast losing altitude post-Porhub partnership announcement.

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Blockchain Taps Former Goldman Exec for Institutional Investor Push

Blockchain's new hire oversaw Goldman Sachs' relationships with institutional clients managing $1.49 trillion in assets.

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Pornhub Adds Crypto Payment Option With Verge Token

Adult entertainment website Pornhub has announced that it will begin accepting the cryptocurrency verge as payment.

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Card Operator Discover Joins Blockchain Trade Group

Discover Financial Services has joined the Chamber of Digital Commerce to assist the group's mission of blockchain education and advocacy.

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Cognizant Teams with 14 Insurers on Blockchain Data-Sharing Platform

Cognizant has partnered with a group of Indian insurance firms to develop a blockchain solution for cross-company data sharing.

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The Seven Pillars of ICO Investing

How to make sense of a fast-changing crypto market? Crypto Asset Management's Tim Enneking provides his seven core tenants for investing.

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Crypto Hedge Funds Face Tough Choices on Tax Day

Like elsewhere in crypto taxation, the rules for funds are far from straightforward, and discrepancies may lead to non-intuitive outcomes.

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Cryptocurrency Exchange Kraken to Shutter Services in Japan

U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has announced it is shutting its doors for investors in Japan, citing operational costs.

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A16z, Founders Fund Back $28 Million Raise for Tokenized Securities Startup

Tokenized securities startup Harbor has secured $28 million in funding from major Silicon Valley venture capital firms.

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$8,500? Bitcoin Eyes Gains with Key Support at $7,900

The technical charts remain bullish for bitcoin and point to $7,900 as the key support zone.

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Philippines Lawmaker Urges Senate to Expedite Crypto Crime Bills

A Philippines senator is seeking to speed up the passage of legislation that would increase the penalties for crimes involving cryptocurrencies.

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Self-Regulatory Group Hopes to Bring 'Order' to Korea's Crypto Exchanges

A South Korean blockchain industry organization has proposed a self-regulatory framework to set standards for the cryptocurrency exchange industry.

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Bitcoin Merchant Adoption Might Just Be Accelerating In Asia

Luxury brand Bellatorra Skin Care reports hot demand for crypto payments from both wholesale and retail customers as it expands into China and India.

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Economists Explore Bitcoin's 'Equilibrium Price' in New Paper

Two economists have developed a model for pricing bitcoin and other assets in decentralized financial networks.

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Monday, 16 April 2018

What ICO Issuers and Investors Need to Know About Taxes

There is little guidance from the IRS on how to treat a token offering or SAFT for tax purposes. Determining how to do so is a fact-intensive process.

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Barclays Talking to Clients About Opening a Crypto Trading Desk

A person with knowledge of the situation said all major banks are likely to be weighing the same decision.

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Insurance Broker Marsh Working With IBM on Blockchain Platform

Global insurance company Marsh is piloting a proof of insurance platform on a blockchain with IBM's help.

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Coinsecure May Refund in Rupees, Not Bitcoin After $3.4 Million Heist

Victims of the $3 million theft at bitcoin exchange Coinsecure will receive a refund on their stolen funds, but it may not be in BTC.

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Decentralized Exchange Startup 0x Raises $775K in SAFT Sale

Decentralized protocol 0x has raised $775,000 through a SAFT sale last week.

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CFTC Chairman: I Am Not a Cryptocurrency Evangelist

A flood of misplaced Twitter love has pushed the #FUDBuster to set the record straight.

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Coinbase Just Bought One of Bitcoin's Best-Funded Startups

U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has confirmed the acquisition of Earn.com, one of bitcoin's best-funded startups.

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What If You Can't Pay Your Crypto Taxes on April 17?

Crypto holders willing to take a risk can file an extension, pay their taxes in installments with penalties and interest, and possibly come out ahead.

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Why Ripple's XRP Outperformed the Other Top Cryptos This Week

Ripple's XRP is now outperforming its peers and could continue scaling key levels against bitcoin, the technical charts suggest.

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Samsung Explores Blockchain for Tracking Global Shipments

Electronics giant Samsung is developing a blockchain platform to manage its global supply chains, according to a report.

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Vitalik's Serious Joke: The Case for Ending Ethereum Inflation

CoinDesk examines the arguments for and against a proposal that would limit the total number of ether that could ever be issued.

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Malta Proposes Test to Define When ICOs Are Securities

Malta is moving closer to introducing a test that would clearly define when assets derived from initial coin offerings are securities.

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Resistance Ahead: Bitcoin Bulls Must Break $8,500

Bitcoin needs to take out resistance at $8,500 to confirm a long-term bearish-to-bullish trend change, the price charts indicate.

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Many ICOs May Be Frauds, Says Hong Kong Securities Watchdog

The deputy head of Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission has taken a skeptical tone in statements on initial coin offerings.

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Shot Taiwanese Bitcoin Miner Blames Trading Crackdown in China

Toughened bitcoin trading rules in mainland China may have led to a Taiwanese bitcoin miner being shot by gangland investors, a report suggests.

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Crypto Tax Dodgers Are Tempting Fate

The ways governments tax cryptocurrency users may be unjust and due for reform, but simply ignoring the law for this reason is a dicey proposition. 

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Sunday, 15 April 2018

A Bitcoin Rally After Tax Day? Don't Bet the Farm

There are several reasons to discount the contribution of tax-related selling to the Q1 bear market – and thus the chances of a post-April 17 rebound.

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Hobbyist in Hell: Tracking My Crypto Assets for the Taxman

The spreadsheet got more and more complicated, until one day it took two minutes to load.

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Why Leading Crypto Devs Don't Work In Silicon Valley

A recent back-and-forth between Coinbase and a bitcoin developer shows there's still a big gap between the industry and the open-source community.

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Saturday, 14 April 2018

A Tangled Web: Will Coinbase Ventures Lead to Conflicts of Interest?

Coinbase's new VC arm raises thorny questions about the influence the startup wields across the crypto market and potential conflicts of interest.

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IOTA: The $2.7 Billion Cryptocurrency Developers Love to Hate

One of the largest crypto assets has been under fire for its technical decisions, with some developers even branding IOTA the coin they love to hate.

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Friday, 13 April 2018

Bitmain Gets Go-Ahead for US Bitcoin Mining Operation

A Washington state county has agreed to allow Bitmain subsidiary Ant Creek LLC to lease 10 acres of land with an option to buy.

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BitGo Co-Founder Ben Davenport Is Stepping Down

BitGo co-founder and CTO Ben Davenport will step down from his position next week, he announced Friday.

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Credit Karma: Almost No One Is Reporting Crypto Tax Gains

Tax firm Credit Karma reported that less than 1 in 250 users reported cryptocurrency gains or losses on their tax forms.

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Yahoo Japan Buys Stake in Cryptocurrency Exchange

Yahoo Japan confirmed that it has invested in Japanese crypto exchange BitArg through a subsidiary.

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Coinbase Acquires Ethereum Wallet Startup Cipher Browser

Decentralized app browser and ethereum wallet Cipher Browser is joining Coinbase and Toshi.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2EKl0D8

Morocco Extradites Alleged 'Bitcoin Store' Fraudster to U.S.

Moroccan authorities have extradited a British national to the U.S. on fraud charges for running the "Bitcoin Store" exchange under false pretenses.

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Germany's No. 2 Stock Exchange Unveils Crypto Trading App

Boerse Stuttgart's fintech subsidiary is rolling out a no-fee app to trade bitcoin, ether, litecoin and ripple.

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Mayor of Cash-Strapped Louisiana City Pitches ICO

The mayor-president of Lafayette thinks the local government needs a cryptocurrency, but is vague about what purpose it would serve.

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Zcash Completes 'Powers of Tau' Privacy Ceremony

The zcash community has finished its Power of Tau ceremony in anticipation of the Sapling hard fork, which will occur later this year.

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XVG, EOS, ONT: These 3 Cryptos Are Leading the Market Recovery

Lesser-known cryptocurrencies such as XVG, EOS, and ONT continue to outperform the majors.

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Bitcoin Thief Could Be Caned for $300K Robbery in Singapore

Two bitcoin brokers in Singapore were assaulted and robbed by nearly $300,000 in cash while meeting with a prospect bitcoin seller offline.

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Kenya's Central Bank Chief Warns Again On Crypto Risks

Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is now in line with other banks in blacklisting digital currencies and warns customers and banks dealing with it.

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Bermuda Wants Crypto Regulation to Fuel 'Phenomenal' Business Growth

The Bermuda Monetary Authority has published a consultation paper that is seeking public feedback on a proposed regulation on cryptocurrencies.

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Bitcoin Exchange Names Security Officer Suspect In $3.3 Million Theft

Indian cryptocurrency exchange Coinsecure has announced the theft of nearly $3.3 million in bitcoin.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2EIJg8P

Blockchain Motor Insurance Trial Moves Ahead in Hong Kong

A financial industry self-regulator in Hong Kong is developing a blockchain powered platform for the city's motor insurance sector.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2HwwJZg

Above $8K: Bitcoin Aims Higher After Price Breakout

Bitcoin looks north following a bullish technical breakout.

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Banking Giant SBI Subsidiary Joins R3 Blockchain Consortium

SBI Bank LLC, a commercial bank owned by Japanese financial giant SBI Holdings, is joining blockchain banking consortium R3.

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Beyond Banking: R3 Is Expanding Its Vision for Global Blockchain

R3 is now proposing that its DLT platform, known as Corda, could link together a wide range of businesses, not just financial ones, across the globe.

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Another Washington County Puts Freeze on Bitcoin Mining

Public utility officials in yet another county in the U.S. state of Washington have placed a moratorium on new crypto mining operations Wednesday.

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Mastercard Is Hiring More Blockchain Developers

The credit card giant announced that it would hire 175 people at its Leopardstown office, including blockchain and AI experts.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2EI2nQn

Thursday, 12 April 2018

Digital Asset Taps Former JP Morgan Exec for ASX Project

Digital Asset has hired Stewart Cowan to work on its clearing and settlement blockchain system for the Australian Securities Exchange.

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Miner Reopens Coal-Fired Power Plant in Cheap Energy Quest

An Australian tech company recommissioned an old coal power plant to provide cheap energy for cryptocurrency mining.

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Bank of America Sees Blockchain As Way to Replace Internal Ledgers

A newly released Bank of America patent application proposes securing health records on a permissioned blockchain.

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CabbageTech CEO Concedes in CFTC Crypto Fraud Suit

CabbageTech CEO Patrick McDonnell has ceased his fight with the CFTC, potentially affirming the regulator's power to oversee cryptos as commodities.

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NY Regulator Argues BitLicense Regulation Boosted Businesses

Maria Vullo highlighted the state's early involvement in cryptocurrency. But many think New York's BitLicense desperately needs an overhaul.

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Russian Police Arrest Two for Illegal Crypto Mining

Russian police have reportedly apprehended two suspects in connection with an illegal crypto mining farm.

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IT Giant Tech Mahindra Joins India's Early Blockchain 'Bulls'

Blockchain startup ChromaWay and India-based Tech Mahindra have partnered to bring new solutions to the Indian market.

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Bitcoin Breakout: Price Jumps $1K in 60 Minutes

Bitcoin rallied over $1,000 in an hour this morning, having spent a better part of the last two weeks trading sideways.

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Carbon 'Stablecoin' Project Raises $2 Million in Seed Round

Cryptocurrency startup Carbon has raised $2 million in seed funding, the company revealed to CoinDesk, Thursday.

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Moody's: Blockchain Could Save US Mortgage Industry $1 Billion

Blockchain could boost efficiency and cut costs in a housing sector that's due for a digital overhaul, says Moody's.

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Santander Launching Blockchain Payment App This Week

Banking giant Santander Group is reportedly launching a blockchain-based application for cross-border foreign exchange on Friday. 

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2EFkUgm

$7.5K Ahead? Bitcoin Price Charts Hint at Bull Move

Although still stuck in a narrow range, bitcoin could rise back toward $7,500 in the next 24 hours, the technical charts indicate

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Blockchain Startup Kadena Raises $12 Million in SAFT Sale

Blockchain startup Kadena has raised $12 million for its upcoming Chainweb protocol.

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Police Abruptly Halt Chinese Blockchain Conference

A blockchain-themed conference in Shanghai was suspended by police on Thursday for so-far unclear reasons.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2JE57C5

The Anti-ASIC Revolt: Just How Far Will Crypto's Hardware War Go?

The arrival of more powerful mining hardware is splitting sentiment in major cryptocurrencies, with users taking sides over how best to respond.

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BitFlyer Exchange Toughens User Verification Amid Watchdog Scrutiny

Japanese cryptocurrency exchange BitFlyer says it will revise its know-your-customer procedures after criticism from a financial regulator.

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Search Giant Baidu Unveils Blockchain Stock Photo Platform

Chinaese search giant Baidu has launched a blockchain-based stock photo service in bid to protect image intellectual property in China.

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Wednesday, 11 April 2018

The Winklevoss Brothers Just Won a Crypto Patent

A company owned by investors Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss has won a crypto-related patent.

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Nasdaq to Delist Long Blockchain After Appeal Fails

Shares of the beverage manufacturer that pivoted to cryptocurrency will no longer trade on the Nasdaq, beginning Thursday.

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Lawsuit Alleges JPMorgan Chase Overcharged Crypto Buyers

An Idaho resident has sued the bank on behalf of "hundreds or thousands" of affected cryptocurrency investors.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2v1MXH4

Ripple Invests $25 Million of XRP in Blockchain Capital Fund

Ripple has invested $25 million of its XRP token into a fund created by notable industry venture capital firm Blockchain Capital.

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EU Agencies to Offer €100K Prize at Blockchain Hackathon

The EU Commission and the EU Intellectual Property Office will host a hackathon to explore blockchain use cases for intellectual property protection.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GP5GuR

Vietnam Investigates ICO Fraud After $660 Million in Losses Reported

A team that conducted two token sales involving thousands of investors has gone dark.

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EOS Leads Pack As Top 10 Cryptos See Price Upticks

Prices for the largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization have risen during Wednesday's trading session.

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A Q2 Price Boost? History Is On Bitcoin's Side

A study of historical bitcoin data makes a strong case in favor of the bulls for Q2 2018.

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22 European Nations Form New Blockchain Partnership

Over 20 European countries have jointly established a new blockchain group to share technical and regulatory expertise.

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The Wait for Grams: Why Telegram Might Just Cancel Its Public ICO

The first leaks about Telegram Open Network's "grams" token indicated a $600M public sale. Today, insiders say the public will get no sale at all.

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Taiwan Moves to Capture Bitcoin Under Money Laundering Laws

The government of Taiwan has moved a step closer to regulating bitcoin under existing anti-money laundering (AML) rules.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2v4YYf4

Cloud Mining Contracts Are Securities, Says Philippines SEC

The Philippines securities watchdog has warned that it will regulate cryptocurrency cloud mining contracts under existing securities rules.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2JAnSGq

Trapped Below $7K: Is Bitcoin Prepping for a Big Breakout?

Bitcoin continues to trade sideways in an increasingly tight range, but could be setting up for a major move in either direction.

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Bank of England Eyes Regulatory Oversight of Private Blockchain Data

The Bank of England is examining how to maintain data privacy over a DLT network while still allowing a regulatory window into transactions.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GSP8yp

Blockchain Startup Protocol Labs Launches $5M Research Grant Program

Protocol Labs, the company behind Filecoin and other projects, has announced a research grant program worth $5 million initially.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GNy6kX

Alibaba's Taobao Bars Crypto, ICO Services In Policy Update

Alibaba's Taobao e-commerce site has updated its list of prohibited goods and services on the platform, which now includes those related to cryptos.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2v3xBlr

Tuesday, 10 April 2018

Crypto Exchange Bitfinex Denounces Fund Freeze Claims

Bitfinex is pushing back against reports that Polish authorities froze $400 million of its funds.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GQd5Gy

Bear Market 'Largely Over,' Crypto Hedge Fund Manager Claims

Cryptocurrency fund manager Timothy Enneking believes all factors impacting the market have been priced in, and it should soon rebound.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2qhnk0f

Ledger Wallet Users Can't Access Their Bitcoin Cash

Ledger hardware wallet users are still unable to access their bitcoin cash.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2qi0qG8

UK Cyber Security Division Issues Warning on PC 'Cryptojacking'

The UK National Cyber Security Centre highlighted the rising number of browser apps which force computers to mine cryptocurrencies in a new report.

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Crypto Exchange Bittrex Is Taking New Customers Again

Cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex began accepting new users today after temporarily halting registrations last December.

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Europol Nabs 11 in Crypto Drug Money Laundering Case

Europol has shut down an alleged drug trafficking operation that used cryptocurrencies to launder money from Spain to Colombia.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GOy9RM

Blockchain Is 'Going Mainstream' Says European Commission Official

European Commission vice president Andrus Ansip stressed the need for governments and private firms to invest in blockchain technology.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2qjFduk

Indian Government Think Tank Trials Blockchain to Combat Fake Meds

An Indian government think tank is working on a blockchain solution aimed to combat the country's roaring counterfeit drugs trade.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GNx9x9

Below $400: 'Death Cross' Hits Ether But Damage May Be Done

Ether will likely shrug off today's lagging "death cross" indicator and could even rise toward $475.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2Hn9AIx

'Big Four' Firm Deloitte Appoints New Head of Blockchain Services

Deloitte has announced Linda Pawczuk as its new blockchain lead, following the departure of Eric Piscini from the role.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2qk41n4

Crypto Portfolio Tracker Raises $1.5 Million in Funding

Cryptocurrency investment management startup CoinTracker has raised $1.5 million in seed funding from some heavyweight investors.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2EAbOkO

Golem Arrives: One of Ethereum's Most Ambitious Apps Is Finally Live

A long-awaited ICO project for allowing people to get paid for their extra CPU power launched on ethereum's mainnet today.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2qky4uO

What You Don't Know About Crypto Taxes Can Hurt You

There has been no new cryptocurrency tax guidance from the IRS since 2014. Consequently, few investors fully understand how to treat 2017 gains.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2qlYyfe

China Needs Better Regulation for Blockchain Growth, Experts Say

Industry experts spoke of the need for regulations and standards to boost blockchain growth at a Chinese event on Tuesday.

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Rangebound: Bitcoin Bulls Need Break Above $7.5K

Bitcoin lacks clear bias today, but a decisive session in either direction would likely define the trend going forward.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GMkjiL

China's State Electricity Firm Eyes Blockchain to Decentralize Data Sharing

China State Grid Corporation, the country's state-owned power utility, is looking to blockchain to advance its plans for an "Internet of Energy."

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Bank-Backed Hyperledger Is Slowly Opening to ICOs

Amidst a broad uptick in interest in crypto tokens, a technology platform built by some of the world's biggest enterprises is adapting to the trend.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2IFKtQB

3.5 Million Traders: Japan Releases Domestic Cryptocurrency Statistics

Japan's Financial Services Agency has published domestic cryptocurrency trading statistics for the first time.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2qjkqId

Monday, 9 April 2018

Coinbase Hires Facebook, Twitter Vet As Communications VP

The cryptocurrency exchange's hiring spree continues with the naming of a new vice president of communications.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GN7BMJ

500 Startups Backs $500k Seed Round for Stablecoin Project

Blockchain startup Stably has garnered $500,000 in seed funding to launch its stablecoin.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2Ho9NLN

$125 Million Raised in Basecoin SAFT Sale, SEC Filing Shows

Basecoin developer Intangible Labs raised $125 million in a SAFT sale, SEC filings show.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2v0umuV

Police Officers Charged in $1.3 Million Bitcoin Extortion Scheme

Ten Indian police officials have been charged with kidnapping and attempted extortion after allegedly forcing a victim to transfer 200 bitcoins.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2HmXFut

Chile Is Using Ethereum's Blockchain to Track Energy Data

The new energy minister has announced a project to commit a number of data sets to the public ledger, where they will be much harder to hack.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2qjQrzS

Samoa's Central Bank Investigates OneCoin Investment Scheme

The Central Bank of Samoa is investigating the OneCoin crypto investment scheme and has issued a warning about the business to investors.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2JvZkyn

Overstock's tZero Unveils Token Trading Platform Prototype

Overstock announced its prototype trading platform on Monday, saying the full product would launch in May.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2Ew4xCL

Salesforce Working on Blockchain Product, Says CEO Benioff

Salesforce is working on a product based on blockchain and cryptocurrency, the cloud computing company's CEO has revealed.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2Ev98oE

Relief Rally Ahead? Oversold Ether Eyes Gains Against Bitcoin

With a relief rally in the offing, ether could outperform bitcoin in the short-run, according to ETH/BTC technical charts.

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Blockchain Startup Symbiont Teams with Wall Street Legend Ranieri

The firm founded by the "father" of mortgage-backed securities has partnered with blockchain startup Symbiont to shake up the mortgage industry.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GMwkRk

Dear Students, Everything In Bitcoin's Way Is Your $1 Billion Opportunity

Blockchain luminaries descended on the University of Pennsylvania's business school in what seemed like a recruiting session for the crypto-ecosystem.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2HpKs44

$1 Billion Blockchain Fund Launches with Chinese Government Backing

China now has a new blockchain fund with $1.6 billion available – 30 percent of that backed by the Hangzhou city government.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2H7SvVa

Normal Tax Rules Apply to Crypto Income, Says South Africa

The South African Revenue Service has clarified its stance on the treatment of cryptocurrency tax, saying current rules suffice.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GLZsYV

Singapore Plans Blockchain Push to Boost ASEAN Financial Inclusion

The Singapore government is looking to boost blockchain development in an effort to improve financial inclusion across Southeast Asian countries. 

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2GOjQbB

Bitcoin Teases Bullish Reversal with Rise Above $7K

Bitcoin is on the rise, but only a move above $7,510 would confirm a bullish trend reversal

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2IGF77Y

Making the Most of Crypto Mining Tax Breaks

From depreciation of rig equipment to a second reporting and tax requirement after mined coins are sold, tax rules for miners can get complicated.

from CoinDesk https://ift.tt/2Jt3zL4

Korea to Inspect 3 Banks Over Crypto Exchange AML Compliance

Three South Korean banks are to be inspected over their compliance with new anti-money laundering rules for cryptocurrency exchange accounts.

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Japanese Regulator Suspends Two Crypto Exchanges Over KYC Failings

Japan's financial regulator has ordered two cryptocurrency exchanges to halt operations for two months due to insufficient KYC procedures.

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Sunday, 8 April 2018

Ontario Regulator 'Gathering Information' on Crypto Trading Platforms

The province's securities regulator is gathering information after receiving numerous complaints.

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Bitcoin Forks and Livestock Law? Tax Day 2018 Is a Different Animal

U.S. income tax treatment of forks is unclear. A conservative approach would be to treat the receipt of new cryptocurrency as taxable ordinary income.

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Is XRP a Security? That And Other Ripple Debates Explained

Ripple has been on a tear this year, but it's popularity is bringing back old debates around what its distributed ledger tech is all about.

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Five Steps to Stress-Free Crypto Tax Accounting

The prudent individual or business must keep up with regulation and develop a process to organize data related to trading cryptocurrency. Here's how.

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Saturday, 7 April 2018

How to Defend Yourself Against Pump-and-Dump Crypto Scams

Until regulators come up with rules to curb pump-and-dump schemes, investors need to be extra cautious so they don’t get taken for a ride.

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Hating On Craig Wright Has Become Crypto's Feel-Good Uniting Force

A developer who's never been shy about claiming he created bitcoin is facing overwhelming backlash from notable crypto industry leaders.

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Friday, 6 April 2018

Pakistan Bars Banks from Crypto and ICO Trading

A long-running cryptocurrency exchange in Pakistan is closing its door following a new advisory from the country's central bank.

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Arizona's Crypto Tax Payments Bill Is Being Revamped

Arizona's crypto tax bill is still moving forward, despite seeming to have stalled in the Senate last month.

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Crypto and Cannabis Investment Promoter Hit With Cease-and-Desist

The Texas State Securities Board filed an emergency cease and desist against a cryptocurrency and weed investment platform on alleged fraud charges.

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India's Exchanges Want to Challenge Central Bank's Crypto Crackdown

India's cryptocurrency exchanges plan to fight back against the Reserve Bank's decision to cut them off from financial services.

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Vitalik Opposes Fork to Disable Ethereum ASICs

The creator of ethereum is coming out against a proposal that would find the network altering its software to defend against powerful new miners.

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SEC Sues Public Company That Saw Crypto Stock Price Boost

A publicly traded company that saw its stock price soar after announcing a crypto startup acquisition has been sued by the SEC.

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Verge Stole the Limelight in a Lackluster Week for the Crypto Markets

This week, Verge was the best performing cryptocurrency among top 25 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

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UK Finance Watchdog Issues Warning on Crypto Derivatives

The Financial Conduct Authority has warned that firms offering services around crypto derivatives and ICOs "likely" need to be authorized.

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How to Mount a Tax Defense for Unreported Crypto Income

Most individuals with unreported cryptocurrency income have options available to mitigate and defend against civil penalties and criminal prosecution.

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Monex Confirms Coincheck Exchange Acquisition, Plans Future IPO

Japanese online brokerage Monex Group has confirmed a deal to acquire cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck, which suffered a major breach in January.

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Bitcoin Eyes $6K After Key Resistance Fails to Hold

Bitcoin's retreat from the weekly highs may have set the tone for a drop to $6,000 over the next 24 hours.

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Monero Fork Underway In Bid to Block Big Miners

A planned hard fork of privacy-centric cryptocurrency monero has just executed and the community is keenly observing the results.

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Most Cryptos Aren't Commodities, Defendants Claim in CFTC Case

Defendants from My Big Coin Pay, which is being sued by the CFTC for fraud, argue that the agency lacks jurisdiction over the case.

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Imperfect Pictures: Bitcoin Lightning Images Aren't What They Seem

People love lightning network visualizers as a way to track the technology's growth, but the images produced might not be as trustworthy as they seem.

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Spain's Tax Authorities Seek Crypto User Names and Bank Accounts

The move comes after the Spanish finance ministry called the use of cryptocurrencies in organized crime a "pressing challenge."

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Thursday, 5 April 2018

BitFlyer Adds Computer Language Co-Creator as Advisor

Blockchain company bitFlyer has tapped Tom Love to assist with its global expansion and enterprise blockchain initiatives.

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Coinbase to Let Users Withdraw Funds from Bitcoin Forks

Coinbase announced Thursday it would enable customers to withdraw bitcoin forks, though it is not adding any specific assets yet.

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Is Every ICO a Fraud? 'Absolutely Not' Says SEC Chief

U.S. SEC chairman Jay Clayton addressed ICOs and enforcement actions taken against them during a talk at Princeton University.

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Swiss Central Banker: State-Backed Crypto Would Pose 'Incalculable Risks'

Swiss National Bank Governing Board member Andrea Maechler sees value in blockchain, but argues central banks should stay out of consumer payments.

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Japanese Research Group Calls for 'Appropriate' ICO Rules

A research group led by members of Japan's private and public sectors called for ICO regulation and published its recommendations in a report today.

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Malta Finance Regulator Warns Against Crypto Margin Trading Site

The MFSA issued a warning against Stocksbtc, denying claims that the startup is registered with the regulator and based in Malta.

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RBI Bars Banks From Doing Business With Crypto Firms

The Reserve Bank of India announced today that the entities it regulates will be banned from dealing with cryptocurrency.

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Korean Police Detain 4 Crypto Exchange Execs Over Alleged Embezzlement

South Korean police on Thursday detained four executives from two cryptocurrency exchanges over alleged embezzlement.

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Hacked Verge Token Takes Price Hit But Bull Outlook Remains

Privacy-focused cryptocurrency verge has suffered a hack in the last 24 hours, but the charts indicate better times may lie ahead.

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Chainalysis Raises $16 Million for Real-Time Crypto Compliance

Blockchain startup Chainalysis has today announced a $16 million funding round and a new real-time transaction analysis tool.

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An XRP ICO? It's Happening Whether Ripple Likes It or Not

Turns out you can launch an ICO on Ripple's distributed ledger, and one small Brazilian company is ready to test it out.

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IBM Envisions App Testing Powered By Blockchain

A recently released patent filing shows that IBM has dreamed up a blockchain-based system for distributed software application testing.

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US Crypto Tax Policy Isn't Just Crazy, It's Cruel

There is something extraordinarily cruel, crazy even, in the IRS’s approach of treating virtual currencies as property for tax purposes.

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Electronics Giant Foxconn to Build Sirin Labs' Blockchain Phone

Taiwan-based electronics giant Foxconn is to help develop and build a blockchain phone from Sirin Labs, a news report indicates.

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Make or Break? Bitcoin Risks Bear Revival Below $6.5K

A decline in bitcoin prices to $6,400 would turn the market in favor of the bears, technical analysis suggests.

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Hacked Coincheck Exchange to Accept Takeover Bid, Report Says

Hacked Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck is to accept a takeover offer from online brokerage Monex Group, a news report indicates.

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Arizona's Governor Signs Latest Blockchain Bill Into Law

Arizona's governor has signed a new bill into law, enabling corporations to legally store information on a blockchain-based platform.

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AngelList ICO Spin-Off CoinList Raises $9.2 Million in Funding

A platform for connecting accredited investors to highly vetted ICOs has raised new funding from a notable cast of crypto industry backers.

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Wednesday, 4 April 2018

Bank of Montreal Expands Crypto Purchase Ban

Canada's Bank of Montreal will prohibit customers from purchasing cryptocurrencies using Interac debit cards, on top of an existing Mastercard ban.

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ICOs Can Pose 'Fundamental Issues' Says Ontario Securities Regulator

Canada's most populous province wants to retain its image as an "innovation hub," but worries that investors don't "understand what they're buying."

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Korean Regulator Tells Crypto Exchanges to Revise User Agreements

South Korean regulators, whose decisions have shaken cryptocurrency markets in the past, are reportedly cracking down on exchanges' contract terms.

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'Lack of Understanding' Derails Georgia's Bitcoin Tax Bill, Says State Senator

A Georgia bill to enable tax payments through cryptocurrencies failed to get out of committee, one of the measure's sponsors said.

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Washington State County Shuts Down 'Unauthorized' Crypto Miners

Washington State's Chelan County shut down three rogue cryptocurrency mining operations due to the power draw and safety risk.

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Ether's Start to 2018 Has Broken Records (In a Bad Way)

Ethereum's ether token fell 47.5 percent in the first three months of 2018 – its worst quarterly drop on record.

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Fed Governor Calls Out Crypto Market Over 'Extreme Volatility'

Lael Brainard, a governor at the U.S. Federal Reserve, has said bitcoin and its peers raise investor protection and money laundering concerns.

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Why the Time Is Right for the First Blockchain Governor

The value propositions of blockchain tech are central to the business of public institutions, argues Alec Ross, a candidate for governor of Maryland.

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Mt Gox CEO: I Don't Want Bankrupt Bitcoin Exchange's Billions

Mark Karpeles has again apologized for his role in the firm's 2014 collapse and said he doesn't want any of the remaining Mt. Gox funds.

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Vitalik: Ethereum App Builders Are Being 'Screwed' By Scaling Limits

At a conference in South Korea Wednesday, ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin sought to raise awareness of the platform's technical limitations.

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Iran's Government is Debating a Ban on Telegram Over Its ICO

Iran's president has spoken out against aired plans to ban Telegram's messaging app over fears its new token may undermine the national currency.

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Bitcoin Bulls Need to Defend $7K as Corrective Rally Stalls

Bitcoin's corrective rally has run out of steam in the last 12 hours, but only a clear break below $7,000 would kill the odds of a move higher.

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Russia's Central Bank Mulls Ethereum System for Pan-Eurasian Payments

The Central Bank of Russia may use its ethereum-based Masterchain software to communicate financial messaging across the Eurasian Economic Union.

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What the Taxman Can Learn from Crypto

Cryptocurrency reminds us that tax and other rules need to be fluid, as inaction or inappropriate responses can halt or slow technological advances.

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Motherboard Maker ASRock Confirms Plan to Sell Crypto Miners

Taiwan-based motherboard producer ASRock confirmed that some of its new GPUs are meant for cryptocurrency mining.

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Tuesday, 3 April 2018

Ethereum ASICs Are Here: What It Means and What's Next

After weeks of speculation, Bitmain has announced an ASIC for ethereum mining, spurring the developer community into action to try and block its use.

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US Insurance Giants UnitedHealth and Humana Launch Blockchain Pilot

Two of the nation's largest health insurers are looking to blockchain technology to reconcile data in the health care system.

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OKEx Denies Manipulation Claims After Bitcoin Futures Rollback

Hong Kong-based crypto exchange OKEx is saying it had no role in its exchange's irregularity from last week.

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E-Commerce Giant Alibaba Blasts 'Alibabacoin' in Trademark Lawsuit

Chinese multinational Alibaba is suing a Dubai-based firm who allegedly used the company's branding to promote and profit from an ICO.

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Justice Department Charges Founders of Mayweather-Backed ICO

Federal authorities have charged the founders of Centra Tech with securities and wire fraud, shortly after their ICO was shut down by the SEC.

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Korea's Crypto Exchanges Pledge Market Cleanup

While the crypto market has seen a major correction recently, Korean exchanges show future optimism and double down on self-regulation efforts.

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Bitmain Confirms Release of First Ethereum ASIC Miners

Bitcoin mining hardware firm Bitmain unveiled its long-rumored ethereum mining tech on Monday.

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Down 50%: Q1 Was Bitcoin's Second Worst Quarter Ever

Bitcoin fell by 50 percent in the first three months of 2018 – a drop that marks the cryptocurrency's worst Q1 performance on record.

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Liechtenstein to Avoid 'Excessive' Blockchain Regulation: Prime Minister

Liechtenstein's government is drafting blockchain legislation, but will not be heavy-handed, Prime Minister Adrian Hasler has told CoinDesk.

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Don't Forget the 'Other' Cryptocurrency Tax

If cryptocurrency gains acceptance as a means of exchange, it’s sure to raise the ire of governments hungry for revenue from sales taxes.

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Japanese Brokerage Firm May Acquire Hacked Coincheck Exchange

Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck, which suffered a major hack early this year, may soon be under new management, reports say.

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Acid Test: Bitcoin Must Break $7,800 for Bull Reversal

Bitcoin's recovery is gathering pace, but only an upside break of the falling channel would confirm a bullish trend reversal

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New AML Rules for Australia's Bitcoin Exchanges Kick In Today

Australia’s cryptocurrency exchanges must now follow new rules aimed to counter money laundering and terrorism financing.

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Bitcoin's Lightning Network Is Being Attacked for Its Own Good

The lightning network is under attack. But it's not money attackers are after, they say, but a robust, secure lightning network for the future.

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Messaging Giant Line to Launch South Korean Blockchain Subsidiary

Japan-based social messaging platform Line is launching a blockchain-focused subsidiary in South Korea.

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Monday, 2 April 2018

SEC Halts Mayweather-Backed ICO Over Alleged Fraud

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has halted the Floyd Mayweather-supported Centra Tech initial coin offering.

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Amber Baldet Leaving JPMorgan Blockchain Team to Start New Venture

Amber Baldet, who led development of JPMorgan's permissioned blockchain platform Quorum, is leaving to start her own project.

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Google Bans Crypto Mining Browser Extensions from Chrome

Google said Monday it is banning cryptocurrency mining extensions from the Chrome Web Store after a flood of submissions that violated its policies.

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Report: Russia's Gazprombank to Test Cryptocurrency Service

Russia's state-owned Gazprombank is reportedly looking into facilitating cryptocurrency transactions through a Swiss subsidiary.

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Bitpay Raises $40 Million in Series B Round

Bitpay has raised $40 million in a traditional funding round led by Aquiline Technology Growth.

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South Korea's Capital Is Planning to Launch Its Own Cryptocurrency

The South Korean city of Seoul is developing the 'S-Coin,' a cryptocurrency that could be used in social benefits programs.

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Vitalik: Ether Cap Is a 'Joke' Worth Taking Seriously

Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin said he wrote a proposal to cap ether at 120 million tokens as an "April Fool's meta-joke" to stimulate debate.

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China's Sinochem Completes Gasoline Export Over Blockchain System

Chinese petrochemical giant Sinochem has successfully used blockchain technology to conduct a gasoline shipment to Singapore.

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How Bad Was Q1's Crypto Market? Just Two Top-Tier Tokens Saw Green

The crypto markets had a rough ride in the first quarter of 2018, with just two tokens bucking the downtrend.

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BankChain Project Launches Blockchain Exchange for Stressed Assets

The India-based consortium has launched a blockchain-based exchange for trading non-performing assets.

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Taiwan Central Bank Proposes Money Laundering Rules for Bitcoin

The Central Bank of Taiwan is eyeing new rules that would bring bitcoin under the island's existing anti-money laundering regulations.

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Above $7K: Bitcoin Eyes Gains After Death Cross Fails

Despite having witnessed a so-called "death cross" over the weekend, bitcoin is now eyeing gains above the $7,000 mark.

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Bitcoin Is Close to Cutting Fees with Better Coin Selection

Years of work has culminated in Bitcoin Core software getting a "coin selection" upgrade that will lower transaction fees and scale the blockchain.

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Korean Police Bust Bitcoin Miners Illegally Using Cheap Factory Power

Companies using cheap electricity to mine cryptocurrencies at industrial complexes in South Korea have reportedly been arrested by police.

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Thailand Inches Closer to Cryptocurrency Taxation

Thailand is expected to enact a law soon that will mandate cryptocurrency traders for both value added tax as well as capital gain tax.

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Sunday, 1 April 2018

TD Bank Considers Public Blockchain for Asset Tracking

A newly published patent application indicates that TD Bank may be considering the use of a public blockchain for certain kinds of transactions.

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I Survived the Eternal Boy Playground, But Will Puerto Rico?

Brock Pierce is leading a herd of crypto entrepreneurs and investors to Puerto Rico and the island seems mostly welcoming. Is that the right move?

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120 Million? Vitalik Proposes Cap on Ether Cryptocurrency

The creator of the world's second-largest cryptocurrency has floated a possible change to the network's long-opaque ether issuance policy.

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The Maddening Task of Calculating Taxes on Crypto

Calculating tax exposure is always a data-heavy business process. With regular assets, this process is simple. In cryptocurrency, it's anything but.

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