Bitcoin channel

22 March 2018 08:42

Accenture Thinks the US Can Still Be a Blockchain Innovator

https://www.coindesk.com/accenture-thinks-us-can-still-blockchain-innovator/

Bitcoin channel

27 January 2018 15:39

A Haven for Blockchain: The Case for Wyoming

https://www.coindesk.com/haven-blockchain-case-wyoming/

Bitcoin channel

27 January 2018 01:21

Numbers or Not, Coincheck Isn't Another Mt. Gox

https://www.coindesk.com/numbers-not-coincheck-isnt-another-mt-gox/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 23:53

Energy Company Hydro-Quebec Looks to Attract Bitcoin Miners
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/energy-company-hydro-quebec-looks-attract-bitcoin-miners/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 21:27

Roubini Doubles Down on Crypto Criticism, Calls Blockchain 'Overhyped'

https://www.coindesk.com/roubini-doubles-crypto-criticism-calls-blockchain-overhyped/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 19:16

Vitalik: First Part of Ethereum's Sharding Roadmap Is Nearly Done

https://www.coindesk.com/vitalik-first-part-ethereums-sharding-roadmap-nearly-done/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 17:04

Back at $1,500: Bitcoin Cash Could See Further Dip

https://www.coindesk.com/back-1500-bitcoin-cash-see-dip/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 15:36

Bitcoin Price Seeks Direction as Trading Range Narrows

https://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-price-seeks-direction-as-trading-range-narrows/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 15:34

Crypto Exchange Coincheck Abruptly Halts Withdrawals

https://www.coindesk.com/cryptocurrency-exchange-coincheck-abruptly-suspends-withdrawals/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 13:20

Chinese Finance Association Cautions on Overseas ICOs and Crypto Trading

https://www.coindesk.com/chinese-finance-association-cautions-on-overseas-icos-and-crypto-trading/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 11:29

PBoC Official Pushes for Centralized State Digital Currency

https://www.coindesk.com/pboc-official-pushes-centralized-state-digital-currency/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 07:30

Bitcoin’s Lightning Network Has a Problem: People Are Already Using It

https://www.coindesk.com/bitcoins-lightning-network-problem-people-already-using/

Bitcoin channel

25 January 2018 23:17

referencing earlier actions, stating, “This is the explanation of the issue that happened with Zebpay and Koinex one month ago.”The news, fake or not, has had a negative impact on Indian trading volume for BTC. Conflating the issue even further were rumors and speculation that the banks that were freezing accounts did so to promote their associations with altcoins.Coinsecure, via Kalra, notes that they have “noticed a significant drop in daily volumes since the beginning of this year.” Kalra speculated that the lack of volume was endemic to all Indian Bitcoin exchanges, stating, “It looks like the users are scared for the safety of their funds after reading such news/reports, and are reluctant to invest before the regulations are out or at least till the time there is a clear message from the government.”Income Tax Department Sends Notices to Cryptocurrency Market ParticipantsAnother of the main thrusts of the 2016 demonetization efforts seems to have turned toward cryptocurrencies: taxation. While not strictly an Indian issue, the Income Tax Department (IDT) took active measures this week, reportedly sending notices to those who have traded in cryptocurrencies. First reported on Jan 19, 2018, this batch of notices occured after a nationwide survey showed that more than $3.5 billion worth of transactions were conducted during a 17-month period, according to the IDT.*To Kalra, it appears the IDT’s “only concern is to make sure that every individual who has generated some income though trading of cryptocurrencies [knows they are] liable for taxes.” Whether you agree with Kalra’s optimistic outlook, there is a negative fallout he also notes, namely that “users also get scared after such incidents and stop trading online.”* Please Note: The Income Tax Department also reportedly sent notices out in December. This does not seem to be the same event, and the Income Tax Department releases data on monthly tax collection results.
This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/).

Bitcoin channel

25 January 2018 23:17

Indian Government Turns Fiat Currency War on to Cryptocurrencies
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/indian-government-turns-fiat-currency-war-cryptocurrencies/

Bitcoin channel

25 January 2018 22:22

The UCL Centre for Blockchain Technologies (http://blockchain.cs.ucl.ac.uk/) at University College London (UCL CBT) is launching a new pilot project for blockchain-based verification of academic credentials. MSc Financial Risk Management graduates are now able to display a verified qualification on their CV through a QR code based on the Bitcoin blockchain, which instantly provides tamper-proof, verifiable information.
“The pilot will show that blockchain technology can be used outside of the financial sector,” said Professor Tomaso Aste, Scientific Director of the UCL CBT. “It will boost the CVs of students, providing proof of concept for the future potential to reduce universities’ burden processing verification requests and cut down the cost and time to verify qualifications for employers.”UCL’s pilot project has been developed in partnership with Gradbase, a London-based developer whose technology leverages the Bitcoin blockchain to reduce fraud and administrative costs for both prospective employers and academic institutions. Gradbase, founded in 2016 in London by two Imperial College London alumni, is funded by Global Advisors, a cryptocurrencies investment fund co-founded by Daniel Masters. “We are delighted that a top-tier academic institution such as UCL has recognized the potential for blockchain technology to change the world,” said Masters. “We look forward to receiving valuable feedback from this pilot.”“We are very excited to have collaborated with Gradbase on a pilot which is a U.K. first,” added Dr. Paolo Tasca, the Executive Director of the UCL CBT. “The UCL CBT is playing a leading role in enabling the use of blockchain technology in the education sector, and we believe that, in the future, such technology will become mainstream.” Gradbase is inspired by the "U.K. Digital Strategy for 2017,” which promotes new ways to work with personal data with more control and trust, and applications of blockchain and smart contracts. One of the main challenges for the UCL CBT pilot project was how to ensure compliance with the upcoming EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which will be enforced as of May 25, 2018, and in particular the “right to be forgotten.”“I am very excited that the pilot with UCL CBT was very successful,” Alberto De Capitani, co-founder of Gradbase, said in conversation with Bitcoin Magazine. “This pilot constitutes the first tangible proof that a frictionless, user-friendly and secure solution to the problem of CV fraud not only already exists but is also out there today. Now, every participating graduate of the MSc in Financial Risk Management can flaunt their QR code and with it be proud that they participated in the first pilot of its kind in the U.K.”Gradbase Technical and Business Partner Maria Grazia Vigliotti, responsible for security and GDPR compliance, told Bitcoin Magazine that Gradbase is planning to work with many more academic and professional institutions in the U.K., Europe and Africa.The UCL CBT is not the only educational institution to pilot blockchain-based verification of academic qualifications, nor is Bitcoin the only blockchain being used in this way. GRNET, the national research and education network of Greece, is working on a pilot project with blockchain research and development company IOHK to verify student diplomas on Enterprise Cardano, a private version of the Cardano blockchain which launched in September 2017.This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/).

Bitcoin channel

28 January 2018 01:50

Tether Confirms Its Relationship With Auditor Has 'Dissolved'

https://www.coindesk.com/tether-confirms-relationship-auditor-dissolved/

Bitcoin channel

27 January 2018 13:55

The Opportunity for Interoperable Chains of Chains

https://www.coindesk.com/opportunity-interoperable-chains-chains/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 23:53

Hydro-Quebéc (http://www.hydroquebec.com/residential/) (HQ) is a public utility that manages the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Quebec, Canada, but it finds itself in a position of generating more power than its customers need.
In an article from Le Journal de Québec, Éric Martel, president and CEO of HQ, relates how HQ is facing a death spiral for electricity consumption. Power consumption by customers in the province has been stagnating since 2007, as customers are adding more and more solar panels. At the same time, HQ has been building more dams and transformers and running more lines. As HQ builds more capacity and prices rise, its customers are turning to self-serving renewables, which reduce their dependence on HQ even further.HQ already provides electricity at extremely low rates compared to companies like Southern California Edison (SCE), for example, where prices have recently been announced as a fixed rate of $0.0319 ($0.0394 CAD) per kWh for crypto miners, compared to its general, tiered rates of $0.17 to $0.35.  As Quebecers consume less electricity, Martel is looking to find more creative ways to attract high-energy users, like Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft. HQ is currently selling 450 MWh to computer server companies. In four years the goal is to sell 6 TWh in general and another 5 TWh for crypto mining, the equivalent of nearly two million American homes.Francis Pouliot of the Satoshi Portal in Montreal tweeted that HQ is looking to attract enough Bitcoin miners to consume 5,000 MWh of electricity, the equivalent of four million Bitmain S9 mining servers. Between the cheap electricity and cool climate that would make temperature maintenance even less expensive, it is looking like an attractive option, but it does raise some questions.HQ cannot simply add mining to their own business model because there are specific legal mandates that prescribe what they are allowed to do as an entity. And what about taxes? Canada has a relatively high tax rate for individuals, from 15 to 35 percent. Its corporate tax rate was comparable to the U.S. before the recently enacted U.S. tax reforms, ranging from 28 to 33 percent, thus making it important to look at the entire financial picture if considering a move to Quebec for power.“Bitcoin mining is a crucial component of the objective of power usage in Quebec,” Pouliot told Bitcoin Magazine. “I see Quebec as the El Dorado of this new gold rush, and many people at top levels are excited about being at the forefront of this new usage of our resources. I envision a massive transfer of hash rate to Canada, and the campaigns already taking place to lure companies are seeing a lot of excitement.”He said that there are already initiatives in the works for strategic partnerships with farmers to make use of waste heat generated by mining to heat their greenhouses. These partnerships may see results as early as next winter. “Montreal is going to become a hub for experimentation in the recycling of waste heat,” he added.Canada has already become an attractive option for some companies, as seen by the recent announcement from Hut8 and Bitfury. This could also be a solution for many companies in China that the government seems to be pushing to shut down. HQ appears to be making some forward-looking steps to address this very unusual problem.This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/).

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 23:42

Starbucks Chairman Is Hot on Blockchain, Cold on Bitcoin

https://www.coindesk.com/starbucks-chairman-hot-blockchain-cold-bitcoin/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 21:26

Philippines Securities Regulator Orders Halt to ICO

https://www.coindesk.com/philippines-securities-regulator-orders-halt-ico/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 17:37

Coincheck Confirms Crypto Hack Loss Larger than Mt Gox

https://www.coindesk.com/coincheck-confirms-crypto-hack-loss-larger-than-mt-gox/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 17:02

Russian Finance Ministry Proposes Draft Law on ICO Regulation

https://www.coindesk.com/russian-finance-ministry-proposes-draft-law-on-ico-regulation/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 15:35

Wall Street Vets Raise $50 Million for Crypto Fund of Funds

https://www.coindesk.com/wall-street-veterans-raise-50-million-crypto-fund-funds/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 15:06

Brisbane Airport to Launch In-Terminal Cryptocurrency Payments

https://www.coindesk.com/brisbane-airport-to-launch-in-terminal-cryptocurrency-payments/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 11:30

ICE Exploiting Blockchain to Expose Crypto Use in Drug Trafficking

https://www.coindesk.com/ice-exploiting-blockchain-to-expose-crypto-use-in-drug-trafficking/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 09:10

Coinbase's GDAX Links Up With Trading Software Provider

https://www.coindesk.com/coinbases-gdax-links-trading-software-provider/

Bitcoin channel

26 January 2018 01:40

Bitcoin Startup BitGo to Buy Asset Custodian

https://www.coindesk.com/bitgo-acquires-kingdom-trust/

Bitcoin channel

25 January 2018 23:17

The cryptocurrency marketplace in India is facing a siege from multiple parts of the government as several incidents amount to a buildup of the Narendra Modi–led government’s actions on regulating cryptocurrencies. If the reports out of India are true, the IMF’s “fastest growing country among emerging economies” may have to meet its 7.4 percent GDP growth (http://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/india-gdp-grow-at-74-per-cent-in-2018-imf-world-bank/story/268609.html) target in 2018 without the boost that the digital currency industry has provided in the past.
The Prequel: PM Modi Demonetized Rs 500 and Rs 1000 Notes in 2016Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced in late 2016 a “demonetization policy” in which the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes would no longer be considered “legal tender” as of November 9, 2016. The reasoning given for the move: curbing the impact of fake currency, “black money,” corruption and terrorism on the nation’s economy. While the effectiveness of the campaign has been debated and politicized, the same reasoning the prime minister used on fiat currency bills is now being echoed about on the subject of cryptocurrency regulation.Finance Minister Jaitley to Parliament: Cryptos Not “Legal Tender”On January 2, 2018, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley answered questions before Indian parliament, in which he stated that “bitcoins or such cryptocurrencies are not legal tender and those indulging in such transactions are doing it at their own risk.” Aman Kalra, marketing head of New Delhi–based Bitcoin exchange Coinsecure, stated:If we listen to Mr. Jaitley’s comments carefully, we’ll notice that he never referred to bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as illegal, and always mentioned that they are waiting for the report from the group that was formed for this purpose …Kalra’s point is an oft-repeated one in the industry, that excluding cryptocurrencies as “legal tender” doesn’t necessarily make their trade and usage illegal. However, parliament member Muthuvel Kanimozhi asked the minister during Question Hour if the government would be seeking to regulate cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether given that India “accounts for more than 11 percent” of cryptocurrency trading globally. While actions to regulate major cryptocurrency coins by Indian heads of state may concern outside investors, given India’s voluminous participation in the markets, Kalra indicated that “not calling it a legal tender doesn’t worry us [Coinsecure] at all. If the [government] had to ban it, they would have done it a long time ago.” Kalra also took the stance that the industry understands it takes time for the government to understand technology like Bitcoin “before coming out with regulations around it.”Frozen Bank Accounts — Fake News?On January 21, 2018, news reports from the Times of India indicated that several Indian banks (the State Bank of India, the ICICI, the HDFC Bank and Axis Bank) had frozen bank accounts associated with cryptocurrency trading. Users on Reddit debated the news with one user by the name of ubiquitous_raven, who stated (on reports inclusive of the frozen bank accounts notices):This is why the nation can never ride the wave towards growth and be early adopters of world-changing tools/tech/ideas ... I believe in the blockchain and its successors and have no intention to scare people out of cryptocurrency. But it is extremely agitating/saddening to watch the largest democracy in the world with the second largest population take steps towards the dark ages. When asked about the topic, Kalra hinted at two words Americans have tired of hearing: “fake news.” According to Kalra, it appears there is “very little truth” to those news reports. Kalra went on to add, “I cannot comment upon other exchanges in India, but Coinsecure hasn’t been contacted for any such issues from its banking partners.” Some users on the /r/cryptocurrency subreddit agree with Kalra’s statement, noting the reports were either “clickbait” or

Bitcoin channel

25 January 2018 22:44

Bitcoin Takes the Stage at Davos in Currency Panel Debate
https://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-takes-the-stage-at-davos-in-currency-panel-debate/

Cryptocurrencies took the stage Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, during a panel discussion on bitcoin.

Bitcoin channel

25 January 2018 22:22

Pilot Project Verifies Academic Credentials on the Bitcoin Blockchain
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/pilot-project-verifies-academic-credentials-bitcoin-blockchain/