Crypto

Bakkt  a cryptocurrency exchange and liquidity provider created by the New York Stock Exchange�s parent company ICE has raised $182.5 million from a bunch of high profile investors and venture capital firms. On December 31, on New Year�s Eve, Bakkt chief executive officer Kelly Loeffler declared that Boston Consulting group, CMT Digital, Eagle Seven, Galaxy Digital, Goldfinch Partners, Alan Howard, Horizons Ventures, intercontinental Exchange, Microsoft�s venture capital arm, M12, Pantera Capital, PayU, the fintech arm of Naspers, and Protocol Ventures invested in the company, sharing the firm�s vision of driving institutional access for digital assets and providing support for merchants. Loeffler said:  Our work today is centered on driving institutional access for digital assets, along with merchant and consumer uses, and we�re already expanding on this vision, collaborating with great companies like Starbucks in these efforts. Not All regarding the Bitcoin value As of Decem...

The National Bank of Kuwait has launched a product they�re calling �NBK Direct Remit,� a blockchain-based product that uses RippleNet for cross-border payments from within the middle eastern nation. The initial launch of the product only supports payments to near  Jordan, however they will launch in a minimum of 15 more countries shortly. According to the bank�s website, this product will facilitate preserve NBK�s dominance as the country�s primary method of moving money: Focused on digital transformation, NBK has antecedently launched successful and innovative products that serve completely different segments, as well as the NBK tap & Pay, QuickPay, NBK SelfiePay, cardless cash withdrawal, Biometric Cards, in addition to the continuous enhancements to the NBK Mobile Banking App and different services that create our customer�s banking experience a pleasant one. Mainstream integration of blockchain technology may be returning at a vital time for Kuwait, who last year had their ...

In an exclusive interview with news.Bitcoin.com, Japan�s prime financial regulator has confirmed the number of companies presently eager to enter the japanese cryptocurrency market. Meanwhile, many existing crypto exchanges in the country are undergoing changes. Over 190 Firms Want In Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) confirmed to news.Bitcoin.com on Wednesday the number of companies so far that have expressed interest to register as cryptocurrency operators. The FSA said: This number is 30 additional companies than the previous count the agency disclosed in August. At that time, the FSA said that 160 operators had expressed intention to enter the japanese cryptocurrency market. While the FSA didn't discuss specific applications, some companies have created announcements themselves concerning their plans to begin crypto-related businesses. Among them are Line corp., Yahoo! Japan, money Forward inc., Drecom Co. Ltd., Yamane Medical corp., Adways Inc., Avex Inc., Daiwa Secu...

The Indian government may probably legalize cryptocurrencies, but with tough terms and conditions attached, a news report suggests. According to a new Indian express article published Wednesday, an interdisciplinary committee set up by the govt. to research cryptocurrencies, isn't in favor of an outright ban. An anonymous senior official who attended the committee�s meetings told the newspaper: �We have already had two meetings. There is a general consensus that cryptocurrency cannot be dismissed as completely illegal. It needs to be legalized with strong riders. Deliberations are on.� The government set up the committee in April 2017 with the remit of examining the present legal framework related to digital currencies and suggesting new measures to cater to the technology, including addressing problems around consumer protection and money laundering. Members include representatives from government departments for the economy and taxation, as well as the central bank and different ...

The Bison App developed by Sowa Labs, a wholly-owned fintech subsidiary of B�rse Stuttgart, the second largest stock exchange in Germany has announced plans to launch a cryptocurrency exchange platform with initial support for Bitcoin, XRP, Ethereum and Litecoin. creating the announcement in a post on its official Twitter account, bison App disclosed that the new service can get into its exclusive beta testing section sometime in January 2019 in what will be a significant move for a platform owned  by Europe�s ninth-largest stock exchange. Game Changer For Crypto trading in Europe? In April, CCN reported that Sowa Labs disclosed the bison app was developed to rival Robinhood by providing fee-free trading to users. At the time, it was represented by Sowa Labs managing director Ulli Spankowski as �the first crypto app in the world to be backed by a traditional stock exchange.� At that time, the release date for the app was set for sometime in September, however a number of delays mea...

After the high note with that crypto ended 2017, 2018 has been a dour reminder that crypto markets stay unpredictable at best. From its peak at nearly $20,000 in December, bitcoin spent most of 2018 in a steady decline. Today, bitcoin�s worth is nearer to $3,000, and therefore the tumble has caused a ripple impact that has affected each stakeholder in the market. Crypto miners, who depend on the worth of bitcoin and alternative cryptocurrencies to stay high enough to remain profitable, are currently left holding the bag in additional ways than one: pricy mining rigs and GPUs price thousands, and the bitcoin they�ve mined  with these tools. currently that costs have remained solidly below break-even rates for many months, miners must reflect on whether they will continue bankrolling increasingly expensive operations or they should simply cut their losses and run. However  the easy cost of building these rigs�from buying and replacing components to procuring good enough GPUs to ...

According to sources, Facebook is developing a cryptocurrency that might enable cash transfers to be done through its messaging app WhatsApp. As expressed in the publication by Bloomberg, the company is functioning on a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar to reduce volatility. Unfortunately for Facebook, the wave of exposed privacy breaches and violations that were initiated with the Cambridge Analytica scandal isn't yet over. A recent report from The NYT disclosed hidden arrangements between the company and select few massive companies, ranging from your friends� contact information all the way down to some of the most private data � your personal messages. Facebook Cryptocurrency could come sooner than we expect As recently reported by CCN, Facebook Blockchain has ramped up hiring of blockchain developers. As of now, over 40 individuals will be found in LinkedIn once you look for Facebook workers with the term �Blockchain.� Another report by The Block disclosed that, besides block...

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has reissued a warning to traders to confirm they declare their cryptocurrency profits when coverage their annual revenues. The ATO has warned aussie crypto traders various times in the past but the problem is currently reaching fever pitch. Cryptocurrency regulatory necessities across Western nations tend to be quite lax in comparison to their Asian counterparts, however times are changing, particularly in Australia. Aussie Tax office desires their Cut of Cryptocurrency Profits The ATO have warned aussie crypto traders and exchanges that they need to declare their cryptocurrency profits because the tax regulators are trying to enforce bigger transparency. Reading between the lines, it means that they require their cut and are hell-bent on getting it. Digital asset exchanges across Australia should currently verify the identity of their users and can must report any transactions over $10,000 that are deemed �suspicious�. though the ATO have cited th...

Bitcoin has lost 80th of its market capitalisation amidst a market-wide crash this year. But Spencer Bogart believes the digital currency will still correct up to 1328% from its current price. The Blockchain Capital partner told CNBC that he expects bitcoin to touch $50,000 within the future, almost like what he expected throughout the digital currency�s famous Bull Run in 2017. However, this time, Bogart shied away from giving any timeline for his projection. "At Blockchain Capital, we are long-run venture investors, thus we are never doing short-run value targets,� he explained. �Bitcoin does not make a kind of price-to-earnings or price-to-value revenue that normally puts an upper bound or a ceiling on a typical kind of early-stage technology company. Bitcoin can surely reach that high. But how long will it take � we are not sure yet.� Artificial Pump In 2017, the Bitcoin rally towards $20,000 high has aggravated several investors to set higher upside targets for the digital cu...

Bitpay chief executive officer Stephan Pair has gone on record to mention that he believes that mass crypto adoption is simply 3 to 5 years away. He talked regarding the possibility of wider adoption once recently chatting to the american news network CNBC. One year ago once Bitcoin costs scaled the heights of $20,000, crypto adoption appeared to be even nearer than ever before and only a matter of your time. However, calmer heads believed that 10 years was nearer to the real number. Is Crypto Adoption closer than we Think? The Bitpay head honcho believes mass crypto adoption is closer than we expect. In the interview with CNBC, Stephan Pair talked regarding the potential of the BTC ETF and the prospects of mass crypto adoption. When asked if the BTC ETF would speed up wider adoption, Pair said that the ETF isn't the be all or end all of the crypto industry. He observed that wider adoption will push costs higher if history could be a guide. When talking regarding the timeline of ma...

Payments platform PayPal has up to now avoided Bitcoin acceptance and, a minimum of visibly, not considered blockchain for its platform. Now, it's launched an inside blockchain-based worker incentive program. A production of PayPal�s innovation research lab, in San Jose, California, the platform took 25 robust team six-months to create and went live this November, according to reports by cheddar and the lab�s director of innovation Michael Todasco. He says the platform is a: �Venmo-like feed individuals will like and comment on and see all the activity happening within PayPal related to innovation.� PayPal�s new blockchain platform rewards workers in crypto-tokens, but they only have worth inside of PayPal and the platform. Staff can earn tokens by joining innovation programs and contributing concepts, they can also trade tokens. The token transactions will be recorded on the platform�s blockchain ledger and may be redeemed for over different one hundred rewards, or experiences. Th...

Gamers invest considerable sums in the GPU chips that power their computers. However, even the most hardcore �Fortnite� player can leave his or her gaming rig on idle for a major chunk of every day while they go to work, attend school, or � at the terribly least � sleep. Hardware manufacturer Razer says that it�s a shame that these costly devices aren�t being used to their full potential, that is why they require gamers to let them use their idle GPUs to mine cryptocurrency. Razer Releases Cryptocurrency Mining software To that finish, the Singaporean gaming giant, that has twin headquarters in Singapore and San Francisco, on Wednesday disclosed cryptocurrency mining software that allows customers to earn passive income from their gaming rigs when they aren�t being used. Once installed on a customer computer, the client � known as Razer SoftMiner � will stay dormant while the pc is in use and then activate once the GPU is idle. It's not clear what cryptocurrency or cryptocurrencies...

Morgan Creek puts up a $1 million wager, inviting investors who believe the crypto market won�t beat the S&P 500 to place their money where their mouth is, according to a CNBC report. Morgan Creek operates an index fund known as the Digital asset index fund, in partnership with Bitwise asset Management. The index funds provide high net-worth investors exposure to the top cryptocurrencies by market value. The cryptocurrency investment firm is asking the challenge the Buffett Bet 2.0, mimicking Warren Buffet�s 2007 decision to bet $1 million that the S&P 500 would do better than a group of hedge funds against asset manager protege Partners. Buffet concluded up winning the bet before donating his earnings to charity. Likewise, Morgan Creek is asking on any investor who believes the S&P 500 would produce a lot of returns than Morgan Creek�s crypto investments over a ten year period. Co-founder and partner at Morgan Creek, Anthony Pompliano, said whoever�s on the other aspect of...

As a hi-tech hub better-known for its client electronics, tech giants, esports, and global innovation, maybe it�s not stunning that a report by Cindicator disclosed that South Korea can play a serious role in cryptocurrency adoption. By reviewing existing data on exchange volumes, recent economic history, regulation, and trends, the tokenized fintech asset management company came to some fascinating conclusions. Based on existing proof, the country of 50 million inhabitants and one of the world�s top 15 economies is poised to play a serious role in embracing cryptocurrencies. This is because of a combination of things like exchange infrastructure, a high level of tech adoption, and also the country�s regulatory and tax framework. A Crypto-Friendly Population When listing the top crypto-friendly countries in the world, seldom will South Korea create the cut. Malta, Singapore, Switzerland, and Estonia are typically more top-of-mind. However, South Koreans with their insatiable appetite f...

After months of waiting, the hopes and dreams of ripple (XRP) investors might finally be realized � at some purpose within the near future, anyway. Yes, XRP fans, crypto exchange Coinbase has confirmed that it's exploring adding support for the second-largest cryptocurrency to its platform. The San Francisco-based Coinbase announced the progress Friday once it disclosed that its adding support for a �broad range of assets� � over 30 were explicitly named � as well as other market heavyweights including cardano (ADA), EOS, NEO, and tezos (XTZ). XRP investors had long complained that ripple wasn't listed on Coinbase, the most popular crypto exchange for first-time buyers in the US and many other jurisdictions, even as the company listed smaller cryptocurrencies like 0x and apparently a lot of controversial ones like zcash � which might be used to build anonymous transactions. The announcement follows Coinbase�s decision to revamp its listing process, that the firm said would perm...

Authorities in South Africa are seeking comments on projected policy changes that might, among different things, provide cryptocurrencies regulatory certainty. Per the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and therefore the National Treasury, an overhaul of the national payment system (NPS), a set of infrastructures and arrangements which permit the transfer of funds between people and entities, is required because the legislation backing the system, the National Payment System Act 78 of 1998, is out-of-date. A review is will, however, align the legislation with the worldwide trend as well ensure that the regulatory net covers sectors of the economy that were previously unregulated such as the cryptocurrency space: "[Seeks to] Allow/enable new or unregulated service providers, services, systems and instruments (e.g. virtual currencies, distributed ledger technologies and fintech companies)� one of the recommendations created reads. Efficiency and Safety According to the SARB and the N...

Binance Coin on Wednesday surged as high as 8.5 % against the us dollar once the company released a demo video of its decentralized exchange. The BNB/USD is currently trading at 6.33-fiat, down 1.89% from its intraday high at 6.45-fiat. The pair is moving inside a rising wedge channel, a value wave reversal pattern. As it heads to a completion � signified by depleting volume and value bouncing inside the wedge vary � BNB/USD is likely to break out of the said channel to the downside. Considering a short trade once the value breaks down the wedge support and try exiting long positions to minimize potential losses. At the same time, consider putting a stop loss order simply higher than the most recent high as you enter a short trade. Other indicators are also inform to a potential downside action. On the 1H chart, the 50-period moving average has a lead over the 200-period moving average. At the same time, the RSI momentum indicator is consolidating while staying inside a correction fro...

In nearly each area, Ethereum, the biggest sensible contract blockchain protocol in the world, looks to be growing at an exponential rate. According to Joseph Lubin, the co-creator of Ethereum and the founder of ConsenSys, a blockchain software studio based mostly in new york that houses 1,000 developers: "Blockchain is more than a market. It�s a movement. Market cap doesn�t refleft (sic) activity. Decentralized networks are growing. 10 billion daily API requests served by Infura. 1 million Truffle downloads. 1 million MetaMask downloads. 12,000 live Ethereum nodes. 48 million distinctive Ethereum addresses. 3 times LinkedIn blockchain job openings.� Truffle, Infura, MetaMask, Nodes, Jobs Ethereum's 3 major products Truffle, Infura, and MetaMask, usually known as �TIM� by the community, serve as the backbone of the infrastructure encompassing the asset. Truffle is an Ethereum blockchain development framework that permits developers to create blockchain products. Infura is a no...

The G20 Countries have signed a joint declaration in Buenos Aires, wherever it promises to control cryptocurrencies and combat its use for money laundering and the financing of terrorism in line with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, per a Saudi Gazette report. Section 25 of the declaration signed by the forum reads: "We will regulate crypto-assets for anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism in line with FATF standards, and we will consider other responses as needed.� FAFT was created by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development  (OECD), as a policy-making organization to fight money laundering and therefore the financing of terrorists. The FATF began discussing ways that to introduce binding rules that might govern cryptocurrency exchanges globally, earlier this year. The organization had additionally sought out the present rules during a bid to accommodate new market realities.  According to the G20 declaration, �other...