Category: News

Upbit Exchange Resumes Ether Services Months After $49M Hack

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South Korea-based Upbit has restarted ether wallet services nearly two months after hackers made off with $49 million-worth of the cryptocurrency. The exchange recently announced that following an upgrade to its wallet security system, the platform is once more able to support ETH deposits and withdrawals. A tweet indicated that the services had become available soon after 09:00 UTC Monday. Traders will need to create a new wallet address, to which ETH held on the exchange will be automatically deposited, the firm said. On Nov. 26, Upbit confirmed that an…

Japanese Regulator Officially Proposes Cutting Crypto Margin Trading Leverage Cap

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The Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) — the country’s financial regulator — proposed lowering the leverage rate limit of cryptocurrency margin trading from 4x to 2x. The FSA announced the proposed measure on Jan. 14 in a cabinet office ordinance — an official order that is issued along with a new law. If enacted, the proposal would be a first for the Japanese government in regulating the rate of crypto margin trading. According to Nikkei, there were previously no rules set by the state. The FSA reportedly plans to put…

Mediterranean Olive Oil Producer Uses IBM Blockchain to Fight Food Fraud

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CHO, one of the largest olive oil producers in the southern Mediterranean, announced on Jan. 14 that it is using IBM’s blockchain technology to provide traceability for its Terra Delyssa extra virgin olive oil. The company is the latest major food provider to join IBM’S Food Trust Network. Utilizing blockchain allows CHO to track Terra Delyssa across eight quality assurance checkpoints, including the orchard where the olives were grown, the mill where olives were crushed, and the facilities where the oil was filtered, bottled and distributed. Vice president of IBM…

Securitize Opens IRAs to Digital Securities Investors With Partnership

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Digital asset issuer Securitize has facilitated what it says is the first direct IRA investment in security token offerings (STOs). Alternative investments gateway AltoIRA purchased an initial investment in security tokens representing CityBlock Capital’s $20 million venture fund, with tokens issued by Securitize. The arrangement is set to open up new opportunities for retirement investors seeking exposure to digital securities, an alternative investment, said Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo. “At the moment [digital securities] are not widely distributed,” Domingo said. “That makes it more complicated for investors to access them, creating…

CME’s Bitcoin Options See First-Day Volume of $2.3M

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Options on bitcoin futures from Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) got off to a good start on Monday, seeing trading volume reach 55 contracts in the opening session. That amounts to a notional volume of about $2.3 million or 275 bitcoin, with each contract worth 5 BTC. Also, only call options traded on the first day, as noted by Skew.com, provider of data analytics for Bitcoin and Ether derivatives. An option contract is a derivative based on the value of an underlying instrument that provides the right, but not the obligation,…

Regulated Derivatives Will ‘Legitimize’ Crypto, Says CFTC Chair

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The chairman of the Commodities and Futures Exchange Commission (CFTC) believes regulated derivatives will instill market confidence in cryptocurrencies. Chair Heath Tarbert told Cheddar Monday that his agency is helping create a regulated futures market that investors would be able to “rely on” for better “price discovery, hedging and risk management.” “By allowing [cryptocurrencies] to come into the world of the CFTC,” investors can better access trusted and regulated financial products, improving overall confidence in the asset class, according to Tarbert. “It’s helping to legitimize [digital assets], in my view,…

Resurgent Bitcoin Will Likely Shrug off Long-Term Bear Cross

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View Bitcoin’s short-term technical charts indicate scope for a test of the 200-day average at $9,100. A breakout on a longer duration chart has opened the doors for a rise to $10,000 and above. An impending long-term bearish crossover on the three-day chart is a lagging indicator and is of little concern. The short-term bullish case would weaken if prices print a UTC close below $9,200. Bitcoin is better bid at press time and could maintain its recent upward trajectory despite a long-term bearish indicator making its first appearance in…

Bitcoin Price Moves above $8,500 as Traders Anticipate Significant Growth

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At the hour of composing, Bitcoin is trending up 4.5 percent at its present price level of $8,520, which marks a notable increase from recent lows of just over $8,000, which were set last week when the bears attempted to wreck the recent upside. The price of Bitcoin is currently consolidating above the resistance level and the most significant volume node in the visible profile of the visible range, or VPVR. On the off-chance that Bitcoin can complete bullish consolidation above $8,000, then a balanced upward movement may lead to…

Blockchain-Based IBM Sterling Adds Advanced Supply Chain Tracking Features

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The IBM Sterling supply chain platform will now feature additional integrations developed by Salesforce, Publicis Sapient, IBM Services and others, a Jan. 13 press release reads. The additions will allow the blockchain and AI-based suite to quickly solve returns and cross-channel logistics challenges. IBM Services and Bluewolf are jointly developing a connector service to join IBM Sterling with Salesforce Commerce, Service and Marketing Clouds. The integration would help retailers to blend the offline and online shopping experience.  The platform’s aim is to reduce shopping frictions through a better organization for…

CME Bitcoin Futures Options Overtake Bakkt with over $2 Million in Debut

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Bitcoin (BTC) futures options trading is now live on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange – CME. The offering went live yesterday Jan. 13 and began trading after it successfully got approval from regulatory authorities.  The CME Group announced this on its website as trading went live. According to the page, Bitcoin futures options were created to satisfy customers’ yearnings. It says it was done “in response to growing interest in cryptocurrencies and customer demand for tools to manage Bitcoin exposure.” It also explains that the options available are based on the regulated CME…