Crypto Exchange Upbit Finishes Security Update in Response to 2019 Hack

Strengthening its walls after a hack in late 2019, South Korean crypto exchange Upbit has finished a security upgrade for the wallets on its exchange platform, restoring functionality once again. Upbit decided to update its defenses in response to an Ethereum (ETH) hack the exchange suffered in 2019, an Upbit representative confirmed to Cointelegraph in an email on Jan. 14, 2020, adding: “It is part of our effort to increase Upbit’s overall security since the Ethereum theft incident last November. Immediately following the incident, we suspended deposit/withdrawal services and transferred…

Kraken Hires Former CoinDesk Editor Pete Rizzo to Content Department

Pete Rizzo, former editor-in-chief at leading crypto news outlet CoinDesk, has started a new position at cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. Per a Jan. 15 announcement from Kraken, Rizzo’s new role as Editor-at-Large will entail responsibility for content production for the company’s new products and services. Departure from CoinDesk and the new role Regarding the shift in positions, Rizzo said “At this stage in my career, I wanted the opportunity to work with a larger team that was trying to acquire users and get people interested in bitcoin and cryptocurrency.” Rizzo, who…

Kraken Hires Former CoinDesk Editor Pete Rizzo for Content Department

Pete Rizzo, former editor-in-chief at leading crypto news outlet CoinDesk, has started a new position at cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. Per a Jan. 15 announcement from Kraken, Rizzo’s new role as Editor-at-Large will entail responsibility for content production for the company’s new products and services. Departure from CoinDesk and the new role Regarding the shift in positions, Rizzo said “At this stage in my career, I wanted the opportunity to work with a larger team that was trying to acquire users and get people interested in bitcoin and cryptocurrency.” Rizzo, who…

Crypto Analytics Firm Elliptic to Tell US Congress Privacy Coins Need Stricter AML Rules

A crypto analytics startup will recommend the U.S. Congress call for more stringent anti-money laundering (AML) enforcement around exchanges facilitating the trade of privacy coins during a hearing on how cryptocurrency is being used in human trafficking. At a Wednesday hearing revisiting landmark legislation passed 20 years ago, the House of Representatives’ Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission will look at the impact of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, as well as analyze new, technology-enabled threats that need to be addressed. Liat Shetret, head of policy and research at London-based crypto…

MARKETS DAILY: Crypto News Roundup for Jan. 15, 2020

More ways to listen or subscribe: Whether you’re a first-time listener or you’ve heard every episode, we’d like to know what you think about the show. What do you like? What don’t you like? What do you think we’ve totally missed but should be talking about every day or at least every week? Disclosure Read More The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency…

Price Analysis Jan 15: BTC, ETH, XRP, BCH, BSV, LTC, EOS, BNB, TRX, XMR

The recent Bitcoin and altcoin rally is leading traders to wonder whether consolidation or a minor correction is in store but the current market conditions suggest buying on the dips. The crypto space is making a comeback and the rally is being led by altcoins. While several altcoins might participate in the initial rally, we believe that the market will start differentiating between each cryptocurrency based on its fundamentals. Hence, traders should avoid buying the non-performers expecting a repeat of the previous bull market when every altcoin staged a parabolic…

Startup Crypto Exchange Blade to Launch Zero-Fee Trading in February

Crypto perpetuals exchange Blade will be introducing zero-fee trading next month in a bid to gain market share from rivals.  The Coinbase-backed exchange, which began operations in September, will also drop the $10 subscription fee it had planned to collect from traders on a monthly basis. Though based in San Francisco, Blade prohibits U.S. residents from opening accounts on its platform. Blade will be the first cryptocurrency exchange to offer fee-less trading in bitcoin perpetuals – no-expiry contracts which mimic a margin-based spot market and trade close to the underlying reference…

JPMorgan’s DLT Spin-off Completes Industry’s First Hybrid Blockchain

JPMorgan’s blockchain spin-off Kadena has fully launched its public blockchain, completing what it calls the “industry’s first hybrid blockchain platform.” Launched on Jan. 15, Kadena’s public blockchain includes full transactions and the ability to write smart contracts, the firm’s CEO co-founder and Will Martino said in a press release shared with Cointelegraph. The company claims the product is the first sharded Proof-of-Work Layer 1 network to make it to market. Kadena’s hybrid blockchain seamlessly integrates a public chain with a private network As the launch completes Kadena’s hybrid blockchain platform,…

U.S.: Bitwise Asset Management Withdraws Bitcoin ETF Application With SEC

According to January 14, 2020, form filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bitwise Asset Management has officially withdrawn its application for a Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund. Reasons for Withdrawal Unclear In what comes as a major jolt to the long-standing dream of the cryptocurrency community of a BTC ETF, major crypto-asset firm Bitwise has withdrawn its application filed with the U.S. SEC seeking to launch a Bitcoin ETF. The official SEC filing reads in part: “At this time, the Registrant has determined not to pursue the registration…

JPMorgan Veterans’ Kadena Launches Public Blockchain, Integrates Wallet to Cosmos Network

Crypto startup Kadena’s public blockchain launched Wednesday, adding interoperable smart contract support between the public chain and its private chain counterparts.  The Brooklyn-based offshoot of JPMorgan’s blockchain center announced the launch marks another step in its effort to develop scalable, secure proof-of-work alternatives to the current leading cryptocurrencies ethereum and bitcoin. As part of its efforts in interoperability, Kadena is also integrating its wallet Chainweaver with the Cosmos Network, allowing different blockchains to interact. The integration process is expected to be complete by March.  Using Kadena, individuals or businesses can…