Day: November 1, 2019

Merchants and Users Might Accept Bitcoin Directly, Says ICE CEO

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Bitcoin may have different names and “digital gold” is surely one of them. However, if it’s to believe Intercontinental Exchange’s chief executive’s words, it first has to start being used more in everyday business. ICE head Jeffrey Sprecher said on Thursday that the constant use in transactions is the crucial step for Bitcoin if it wants to be regarded as a long-term store of value. ICE’s Bakkt subsidiary, which recently (finally) started with its Bitcoin futures market, announced earlier in the week that it is creating a new app for…

China’s Tech Capital Shenzhen Issues 10 Millionth Blockchain Invoice

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Over 10 million blockchain-based invoices have been issued in Chinese tech capital Shenzhen, according to the Shenzhen Tax Service, as reported by English-language local news outlet Xinhuanet on Nov. 1.  Tencent-developed blockchain platform The tax agency also noted that the city is also actively promoting blockchain-enabled electronic billing. Shenzhen’s blockchain invoice system is reportedly developed by Chinese internet giant Tencent — the developer of the social media platform WeChat — together with the tax bureau of Shenzhen. The news comes a week after Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the country…

Twitter CEO and Founder Jack Dorsey Funds ICO Platform CoinList

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Although Twitter’s boss and founder, Jack Dorsey, has strongly resisted the temptation to borrow a leaf from Mark Zuckerberg and run its own native digital coin, he has never relinquished his stand on virtual currencies. Putting his money where his mouth is, Dorsey joined hands with the initial coin offering (ICO) platform CoinList in its latest funding round, which saw funds pouring in in the sum of $10 million, the Wall Street Journal reports. Famously, CoinList recently facilitated the launch of the token Blockstack, which is completely registered and regulated…

US Should Cut Crypto Firms Some Slack to Compete With China

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Fintech and regulation experts have said the United States needs to wake up to China’s proactive pursuit of a central bank digital currency. A Fortune report published on Nov. 1 pointed to the fact that digital currency looks poised to play an increasingly important role in the standoff between the two superpowers.  China making “very large macros plays” As Mike Wasyl — managing partner at DeerCreek, a fintech-focused corporate strategy firm that works across Asia-Pacific and the U.S. — told Fortune: “China is making these very large macro plays. They…

Zilliqa and Oxford Women in Computer Science Society Join to Bring Diversity to Blockchain Sector

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Zilliqa, the high-throughput public blockchain platform is running a series of blockchain education workshops, with the University of Oxford, in the UK in order to champion greater diversity and inclusion across the sector. The workshops are being launched with the Oxford Women in Computer Science Society (OxWoCS) and will be open to all students currently enrolled at the University of Oxford. The workshops kicked off yesterday on October 31, 2019, and will culminate with a Demo Day on November 21, 2019.  advertisement Paula Fiddi, OxWoCS President said: “At OxWoCS, our…

Monero Futures Begin Trading on Dubai-Based Crypto Exchange

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Dubai-based multi-currency and spot/futures exchange, BTSE, unveiled its Monero (XMR) futures trading, Oct. 31. The move makes it one of the first and only exchanges offering futures contracts on the privacy-focussed cryptocurrency. Bucking the trend of exchanges delisting privacy-focused coins BTSE is a relatively unknown, low-volume exchange that is licensed by the Department of Economic Development, Government of Dubai and is under the regulations of the Central Bank of United Arab Emirates, according to its website.  The decision to list Monero comes at a time when the popular privacy coin…

BitMEX May Have Just Leaked All of Their Users’ Emails

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Crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX has accidentally leaked user emails by forgetting to use blind copy (bcc) on a mass email.  The incident was acknowledged by BitMEX in an official statement published today, Nov. 1. Cointelegraph’s editorial team in Japan have independently revealed that a staff member was the recipient of the BitMEx newsletter in question. “Outrageously incompetent” In a tweet posted on Nov. 1, crypto-focused lawyer Jake Chervinsky characterized BitMEX’s accidental public sharing of user email data as a simple error committed in the “outrageously incompetent way imaginable.” Concerned community…

‘Smart Money Came In’ After First Bitcoin ETF Rejection — Analyst

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Bitcoin (BTC) changed its volatility characteristics as Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss unveiled the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), new data claims. Uploaded to social media by well-known statistician Willy Woo on Nov. 1, a chart of Bitcoin volatility shows a new phase beginning around March 2017.  Woo: “Smart money came in” after Winklevoss rejection This, the time at which U.S. regulators rejected the Winklevoss’ ETF application, was nonetheless a watershed moment for Bitcoin. “My thesis has always been that the 2017 Winklevoss ETF attempt was the first time in Bitcoin’s…

‘Bitcoin of the Middle East’ Scam Lands Canadian Expat in Dubai Jail

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A Dubai-based Canadian expat has been arrested for peddling an allegedly fraudulent “Sharia-compliant” cryptocurrency and a host of other get-rich-quick schemes. As Gulf News reported on Oct. 30, Aziz “Com” Mirza had cultivated for himself a reputation as an entrepreneur, mentor and Instagram influencer.  He now sits in Al Awir jail after a complaint was filed with the Dubai Police by a UAE resident allegedly defrauded of $150,000 in one of Com’s schemes. The “Bitcoin of the Middle East” Com targeted a global audience, including retail investors from the United…

BitMEX Updates BTC Price Indices to Remove ‘Insufficient Trade Volume’

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Crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX is implementing major changes to the weights of its indices later this month, according to an announcement published today, Nov. 1. The exchange says the update is a bid to ensure that users trade against a reference price that “more closely reflects the market consensus price of underlying assets.” New weightings and new index-constituent exchanges With the new indices set go live on Nov. 22, published details indicate that the most significant changes will be the inclusion of data from three new index-constituent exchanges as well…