The Mechanics of Market Manipulation

The crypto market's fragmented and decentralized structure can make it more vulnerable to manipulation, writes CoinDesk Research’s Galen Moore.

Bakkt CEO Will Be Asked to Fill Georgia Senate Seat in 2020: Report

Crypto exchange Bakkt’s chief executive Kelly Loeffler has reportedly been picked by Governor Brian Kemp until the special election in November 2020.  Loeffler will likely be asked next week to serve as the replacement of U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, who has announced plans to vacate his senate seat on December 31, according to a report […]

US Arrests Ethereum Developer for Training North Koreans to Evade Sanctions

After attending a blockchain conference in North Korea in April, a developer at the Ethereum Foundation has been arrested in Los Angeles on Thanksgiving Day.

Cisco Patent Would Secure 5G Networks With a Blockchain

Cisco sees a way for blockchain to help secure messages transmitted through telecommunications networks, according to a patent.

WATCH: Thiel Capital’s Eric Weinstein Talks About the Nature of Money

Eric Weinstein of Thiel Capital talks with Leigh Cuen about the philosophy behind the crypto markets.

Huobi Russia Announces Ruble Gateway and Initial Exchange Offering Service

Huobi Russia now accepts ruble deposits and will soon have its own exchange token launchpad.

Coinbase Acquires Prime Broker Tagomi for $150M: Source

San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has acquired prime broker Tagomi for $150 million, a source told CoinDesk.

Russian Central Bank Says It Would Support Crypto Ban

The Bank of Russia has backed a potential ban on cryptocurrency payments, according to a state news agency.

Bitcoin Faces Biggest Monthly Price Drop of 2019 Despite Late Upturn

Bitcoin looks poised to post the biggest monthly loss of 2019, despite the recent recovery from six-month lows.

Little-Known Crypto Exchange With Ties to a Shanghai Firm Halts Services, Says CEO ‘Missing’

IDAX, an obscure crypto exchange linked to a Shanghai firm, says its "global CEO has gone missing" and has halted services.

German Banks Allowed to Sell and Custody Crypto Assets From 2020: Report

From next year, banks in Germany will be allowed to offer the sale and storage of cryptocurrencies under new legislation.

IBM Patents Blockchain to Stop Drones From Stealing Packages

IBM has won a patent for a blockchain system which tracks packages in case they're stolen by drones.

Canadian Fund Manager 3iQ Files Propectus for Bitcoin Fund IPO

Canadian investment fund manager 3iQ has listed the preliminary prospectus for its planned bitcoin fund as the next step toward an initial public offering (IPO), the company said Thursday.

WATCH: Chainalysis Chief Economist Wants Crypto to Move Past ‘Buying Drugs on the Silk Road’

Chainalysis’ chief economist sits down with Daniel Kuhn to talk about how to bring crypto out of the cybercrime ghetto.

What the Fed Reserve’s Balance Sheet Expansion Means for Bitcoin

The U.S. Federal Reserve is again expanding its balance sheet – prominent experts believe that could bode well for bitcoin in the long run.

Coinbase Patents Automated KYC Enforcement Tool

Coinbase has patented a system which would automatically identify accounts violating AML rules.

Bitcoin Eyes $7,800 After Biggest Daily Price Gain in a Month

Bitcoin's price recovery is gathering steam and $7,800 could be the next stop for the bulls.

A Third of Crypto Exchanges Have Little or No KYC, Says CipherTrace

Around one third of the top 120 exchanges are "weak" when it comes to know-your-customer (KYC) verification, while two-thirds "lack strong KYC policies," the firm said.

ECB Official Says Digital Currency Could Be an Alternative to Cash

A digital currency could ensure that citizens remain able to use central bank money even if cash is eventually no longer used, according to Benoît Cœuré.

What the Crypto Markets Are Saying About the Future of Bitcoin

Bitcoin has been sliding amid a lack of capital inflows, raising questions about the future for bitcoin in the long-term.

Upbit Is the Seventh Major Crypto Exchange Hack of 2019

These seven major hacks remind us: not your keys, not your crypto.

Lebanese Bitcoiners Show How to Talk About Crypto At Thanksgiving

Amid civil unrest, bitcoin is helping some Lebanese get by. Emphasis on the word “helping.” Traditional social ties are as important as technology.

India Plans to Issue a National Blockchain Framework

The Indian government is drafting a paper outlining a new national blockchain framework, a minister wrote Wednesday.

Ethereum Scaling Fix Cuts Time to Create a Block in Half, Test Finds

BloXroute Labs' "Blockchain Distribution Network" cut ethereum block propagation time in half, according to a test by Akomba Labs.

MARKETS DAILY: UpBit Hack Reactions & Crypto Liquidity Insights

On today’s episode, we’re talking markets reaction to UpBit exchange hack, crypto liquidity, and VeChain’s November rally.

HSBC to Track $20 Billion in Assets on a Blockchain Next Year

HSBC plans to track $20 billion in private-placement assets on its Digital Vault, allowing investors real-time access to their records.

Swiss Government Moves to Remove Legal Barriers for Blockchain Development

The Swiss Federal Council has adopted a revised plan to remove legal hurdles still holding up blockchain innovation.

Former UBS Banker Launches Digital Securities Platform Tokenyz

A veteran of megabank UBS is launching a startup to enter the increasingly crowded field of platforms for issuing digital securities on a blockchain.

Ghana May Issue Digital Currency in ‘Near Future,’ Says Central Bank Chief

Ghana is joining the ranks of nations eyeing the launch of a central bank digital currency, and is already in talks over a pilot project.

Bitcoin Is Looking at a Short-Term Bull Reversal if Prices Pass $7,400

Bitcoin needs to break above resistance at $7,380 to confirm a short-term bull reversal and invite stronger buying pressure.

Charities Put a Bitcoin Twist on Giving Tuesday

HODLers can play Santa this year by gifting their crypto bags to others on Bitcoin Tuesday, a play on the holiday drive known as Giving Tuesday.

Crypto Exchange Upbit Confirms Theft of $49M in Ether

South Korean crypto exchange Upbit has lost $49 million worth in cryptocurrency, the exchange has confirmed.

Keep Calm and HODL On? 3 Reasons to Look Past Bitcoin’s Price Rout

Zooming out the lens a bit, there are at least three plausible reasons to think this sell-off may be just a hiccup for bitcoin.

Simon Malls Has 5 New Bitcoin ATMs With Bitstop Partnership

Simon Malls has partnered with Bitstop, installing 5 new bitcoin ATMs in 3 states.

Elliptic Brings AML Compliance to the Zilliqa Blockchain

Elliptic will provide transaction monitoring services on the Zilliqa blockchain.

Japanese Conglomerate SBI Injects 7-Figure Sum Into Securitize

Securitize intends to build out its new Japan office after a cash injection from SBI Holdings.

US Judge Refuses to Quash IRS Summons for Bitstamp Exchange Records

A federal judge denied a bitcoin user's petition to stop the IRS from gathering data about his cryptocurrency holdings from the Bitstamp exchange.

China’s Digital Yuan Will Target Retail Payments First, Ex-Central Banker Says

Former PBoC head Xiaochuan Zhou says the digital yuan will enable retail payments first, but might need a different technical design for cross-border payments.

How to Earn and Spend Bitcoin on Black Friday 2019

The 2019 holiday shopping season is a prime time for using and earning cryptocurrency.

MARKETS DAILY: Tokenization Challenges and Another Tether Lawsuit

On today’s episode, we’re talking bitcoin's bearish juncture, tokenization troubles, and new allegations filed against stablecoin Tether

Ripple-Backed Rental Firm Omni Shutting Down With Coinbase Snapping Up Dev Team: Report

Digital rentals marketplace Omni is shutting up shop, with Coinbase agreeing a deal to take on its engineers.

Telegram Founder Durov Should Testify in SEC Case Over Gram Token: Judge

Telegram's founder and CEO Pavel Durov, plus two other employees, should be deposed to give testimony in the SEC case over whether the gram token is a security, a judge has ordered.

Another Crypto Exchange is Dropping Privacy Coin Monero Over Compliance Risk

BitBay exchange is the latest to delist the privacy-focused monero cryptocurrency over AML concerns.

Ripple Finalizes $50 Million MoneyGram Investment

Ripple now owns nearly 10 percent of MoneyGram's outstanding common stock after completing its $50 million equity investment.

As Bitcoin Bounces Back Above $7K, Popular Analysts Say Monthly Close Is Pivotal

Bitcoin needs to rise by more than $1,000 in the next three days to invalidate bearish pressures, according to Mike Novogratz and Willy Woo.

Ex-DOJ, Capital One Exec to Lead Compliance at Crypto Payments Startup Celo Labs

C Labs, the company working on Celo, is bringing on former DOJ official Jai Ramaswamy to head compliance.

Tokenized Real Estate Falters as Another Hyped Deal Falls Apart

A high-profile venture between startups Fluidity and Propellr was quietly shelved this summer, underscoring the hurdles real estate tokenization faces.

BNY Mellon Aims to Go Live ‘ASAP’ on Trade Finance Blockchain Marco Polo

Bank of New York Mellon has joined the Marco Polo trade finance consortium running on R3’s Corda, becoming the 28th bank to do so.

Unregistered ICO Issuer Gladius Shuts Down 9 Months After SEC Settlement

Gladius Network plans to shut down nine months after settling charges with the SEC, saying it no longer has the funding to continue operating.

Markets Daily: ETF Arguments and China Token Troubles

Welcome to CoinDesk Markets Daily, a new podcast that gives you all the trading news you need in 10 minutes.

Crypto Market’s Overreaction to Xi’s Blockchain Remark Prompts Tougher Crackdown

The market’s overreaction to President Xi’s praise of blockchain technology has prompted another crackdown, dashing hopes for a crypto-friendly China.

CryptoStake - The new Altcoin investment platform

Hello!

As you might know, Bitcoin is taking the lead on the cryptocurrency market and what has triggered the Bitcoin price boom has drawn a lot of attention. So, what pushed the price up in such a short time? In addition to the new potential technology, security and the decentralization of Bitcoin, FOMO and the participation of major countries and companies in cryptocurrency world, there is a rule behind Bitcoin’s skyrocketing, called halving. Whenever 210,000 Bitcoin blocks are solved, the reward for digging from 1 new Bitcoin Block is halved. Halving, which happens every four years, is the occasion when Bitcoin mining reward halves. Thanks to it, the total amount of Bitcoin generated is limited at 21 million BTC.

After the first halving in late 2012, Bitcoin price increased to $ 1,000 at the end of 2013. The 2nd halving in July 2016 brought the price of Bitcoin to $ 19,000 at the end of 2017. With the 3rd halving in April 2016, the possibility that Bitcoin price would rise sharply is widely predicted. Based on the history, many people expect that the price will rise to $80,000, even $100,000. Let me tell you, the price will certainly grow, however, it will appear not so significant. It would be more reasonable to expect Bitcoin price to rise to around $14,000 - $15,000. So the question now is - should we invest in Bitcoin now? 

Bitcoin mining is getting harder and harder; the increasing cost would definitely reduce the final interest. After each halving, the increase of Bitcoin price has led to the strong growth of Altcoins. Let’s leave aside those new altcoins, which have just recently been launched, not yet built up a brand name, suffering from low liquidity; and talk about the top altcoins. They stand at the top on exchanges, have well-known brand names, high liquidity and guarantee profit with a low risk rate. With the advanced technology, low mining costs, investing in Altcoins will be much more beneficial than Bitcoin. These coins are worthy investments we should choose. 

Take a look at the top 20 coins on Coinmarketcap. If you’re interested in Altcoins investment now, I would love to introduce to you a project name CryptoStake. In this platform, cryptocurrency holders stake their coins to the platform. The company will start the mining / minting process to duplicate the coins and eventually pay for investors their profit. The total Return on Investment could be up to 150% of initial capital. Sounds interesting, right? No hard work, just stake your coin and enjoy profit paid everyday.

CryptoStake also provide their investors with Giga Wallet - a digital wallet where you can store various types of cryptocurrency. Users could track balances, easily swap between coins and do other functions to manage their cryptos. It is a multi-chain wallet that helps you to take full control of your assets. 

Millions of people have joined and already benefited from CryptoStake. What are you still waiting for? Register right now under the link and join our community!

Another Class Lawsuit Claims Bitfinex, Tether Manipulated Bitcoin Market

Crypto exchange Bitfinex and its sister firm, stablecoin issuer Tether, have again been accused of working to manipulate the bitcoin markets. Bitfinex has called the suit "mercenary and baseless,."

Exec Embezzles $22M From ‘Influencer’ Marketing Firm, Spends Nearly Half on Crypto Gambling

A U.S. man has pleaded guilty to having embezzled millions from his former employer and splashing the funds on personal expenses and crypto-funded online poker.

What’s Really Private in Crypto? Research on Grin Raises Questions

Following a report last week on the anonymity features of grin, one big question emerged: What is privacy in crypto, anyways?

French Central Banker Advocates For Blockchain-Based Settlements in Europe

The central bank of France wants the eurozone to build a DLT-based settlement system that moves euros faster and more cheaply than existing tech.

Bear Breather? Bitcoin Looks Oversold After 50% Price Drop Since June

BTC may have found a temporary bottom near $6,500 and could witness a bounce, with the short-term charts reporting seller exhaustion.

25,000 Blockchain Firms in China Tried to Issue Cryptos, Senior Official Claims

Some 25,000 Chinese companies have tried to issue their own tokens over the past few years, a new report authored by five government agencies claims.

Waves and the Tricky Task of Being a Russian Crypto Brand

What if your biggest client is your biggest reputation risk?

Bitcoin Drops Below $7K as Traditional Markets Flatline

Bitcoin has fallen beneath the $7,000 psychological price range as global markets took a breather Saturday amid the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S and China.

Statechains, and Trading the Panopticon for Magical Internet Money

CoinDesk's Nolan Bauerle and Thiel Capital's Eric Weinstein talk Magical Internet Money; the Let’s Talk Bitcoin! host and Somsen Ruben discuss statechains.

The Case for a Bitcoin ETF

Dave Weisberger of CoinRoutes lays out why he believes that the SEC is wrong to deny a bitcoin ETF.

Introducing the CoinDesk Markets Daily Podcast

Welcome to CoinDesk Markets Daily, a new podcast that gives you all the trading news you need in 10 minutes.

JPMorgan Tests Private Blockchain to Track Auto Dealer Inventory

JPMorgan Chase has filed a patent and is testing a blockchain system for tracking the automobile inventory it finances for car dealers. 

Chinese Central Bank Plans to Nip Young Crypto Businesses ‘In the Bud’

China's central bank has formally issued a new plan to crack down on crypto businesses.

Jury Convicts Crypto Ponzi Scheme OneCoin’s Lawyer on Fraud Charges

A Manhattan court convicted Mark Scott, OneCoin's lawyer, for fraud after he laundered $400 million for the crypto Ponzi scheme.

HODLers Are ‘In the Money’ Despite Bitcoin’s Drop to Six-Month Lows

Fifty-four percent of bitcoin addresses are making money on their investments despite the cryptocurrency's drop to six-month lows, according to data from IntoTheBlock.

EU Launches Estimated €400M Blockchain, AI Fund to Avoid Lagging US, China

A new fund has been set up with the aim of preventing the EU falling behind nations like the U.S. and China on blockchain and AI innovation.

Mnuchin’s Number Two Says Private Cryptos Pose Threat to Government Power and Will Be Watched

The deputy secretary of the U.S. Treasury has raised the specter of a not-so-distant future when private digital currencies have stripped some of the power from governments. Policymakers will take a "hard look" at that, he said.

What a Schwab-TD Ameritrade Merger Would Mean for Crypto

A takeover of TD Ameritrade by Charles Schwab would marry one of the few mainstream financial firms to embrace crypto with one whose stance is less clear.

Bitcoin Price Dips to Six-Month Low of $7,000

Bitcoin’s price dropped to a six-month low on Friday, with a widely tracked technical indicator reporting the strongest bearish bias in eight months.

Bakkt’s Bitcoin Futures Launch in Singapore in Just Two Weeks

Bakkt, the bitcoin subsidiary of NYSE owner ICE, has announced the launch date and specs for its Singapore-listed, cash-delivered bitcoin futures.

Fidelity Digital Assets to Sign Up Its First Crypto Exchange by End of the Year

Fidelity Digital Assets expects to sign its first crypto exchange partner by year-end, giving clients access to a broader pool of liquidity.

Algorand 2.0’s New Non-Turing-Complete Smart Contracts Are a Feature, Not a Bug

Thursday's Algorand 2.0 upgrade adds decentralized finance (DeFi) features and smart contracts to the $108 million blockchain.

Blockchain Sleuthing Firm Chainalysis Slashes 20% of Workforce

Chainalysis laid off 39 employees Thursday citing the need for a "path to profitability."

Global Protests Reveal Bitcoin’s Limitations

Protesters across the globe are testing out bitcoin and other decentralized technologies – then promptly discovering their limitations.

Orchid’s Decentralized VPN Network Set for Early-December Launch

Decentralized VPN provider Orchid will debut its app, network and token (OXT) during the first week of December.

Maker of Wasabi Bitcoin Wallet Valued at $7.5M in First Equity Round

The privacy-centric Wasabi Wallet, launched by zkSNACKs in 2018, just raised its first equity investment from Cypherpunk Holdings, a publicly-traded Canadian fund.

South Korea Takes Legal Step to Stamp Out Unregistered Crypto Exchanges

A legal amendment to an act addressing the South Korean crypto industry would criminalize unregistered exchanges, but has loosened other requirements.

Franklin Templeton Taps Wallet Service Provider to Support Tokenized Shares

Franklin Templeton Investments, the global investment firm looking to track shares of a money market fund on the Stellar blockchain, has tapped wallet service provider Curv to help safeguard its shares.

Bitcoin Slips to One-Month Price Lows Below $8,000

Having dropped to one-month lows below $8,000, bitcoin is now eyeing the first test of a key average support, now at $7,714, since April.

Binance Enters Indian Market With Acquisition of Crypto Exchange WazirX

Binance has made a move into India's potentially huge, but troubled, cryptocurrency market with the acquisition of the WazirX exchange platform.

Silvergate Bank CEO Bets on Higher Crypto Price Volatility After $40M IPO

“Now that we're public, we have more efficient access to capital to support our growth,” Silvergate Bank CEO Alan Lane said in an interview.

The Surprising Reason Why Blockstack Could Be America’s First Crypto IPO

Blockstack is currently evaluating how it will conduct its next token offering for general miners. An IPO is one of four options.

China Central Bank to Set Standards for 17 Fintech Categories, Including Blockchain

The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has an agenda to set industry standards across the financial sector, including blockchain, a senior official from the bank said on Wednesday.  Speaking at a meeting of the National Technical Committee, PBoC vice president Yifei Fan said the bank aims to better regulate new technologies applied across the financial […]

Vermont Utility Customers to Trade Renewable Energy Credits on LO3 Blockchain

With an ambitious 100% renewables goal by 2025, the new marketplace by Green Mountain Power and LO3 Energy is an eco blockchain play.

1 Gigawatt Bitcoin Mine Under Construction in Texas Would Dwarf Bitmain’s

The $150 million bitcoin mine could become the world's largest – surpassing Bitmain's, whose own mega mining operation is in the same Texas town.

In Wargaming Exercise, a Digital Yuan Neuters US Sanctions and North Korea Buys Nukes

What if China’s digital currency undermined U.S. dominance of global finance? Former top Washington officials gamed out the scenarios Tuesday night.

Polymath Moves Security Token Platform Off Ethereum and Onto Parity’s Substrate

As part of the transition, Parity has agreed to build certain business-logic features on Polymesh’s base layer.

Crypto OTC Traders Could Have an AI Chatbot Working for Them Come December

Trading startup Artificial Intelligence Exchange claims its AI chatbot can replace human brokers in trading.

Too Early to Tell if Libra Is a Security, CFTC Chairman Says

Despite some headlines, CFTC chief Heath Tarbert didn't actually say Libra is a security, even if it is different from commodity bitcoin.

Promoting a New Token? Satoshi’s Treasure Wants You to Gamify It

Satoshi’s Treasure, a global hunt for keys to a $1 million bitcoin prize, may offer a model for gamifying token issuance.

ShapeShift Launches Exchange Token, FOX, for Commission-Free Trading

"Basically, we're trying to get people away from custodial exchanges," said ShapeShift CEO Erik Voorhees.

XRP Is Used in Crime, But Far Less Often Than Bitcoin, Elliptic Says

Criminals have used XRP to carry out their illicit activities, though hardly to the same degree as bitcoin, according to a new report from blockchain sleuthing firm Elliptic.

Fed Reserve Evaluating Digital Dollar But Benefits Still Unclear, Says Chairman

Jerome Powell has said his institution is looking into the possibility of developing a digital currency, but the option throws up many policy questions and unclear benefits.

Bitcoin Erases 75% of October Price Rally as S&P 500 Hits Record Highs

Bitcoin is looking south after erasing three-quarters of the price rally seen in October. The bearish mood comes as the U.S. equities market is soaring in the opposite direction.

Singapore Proposes Allowing Bitcoin, Ether Derivatives Trading on Approved Exchanges

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the city-state's de facto central bank, may soon allow cryptocurrency-based derivatives to be traded on regulated platforms.

Ukraine Plans to Tax Crypto Gains at Low 5% Rate (for a While, Anyway)

A draft bill setting out how crypto-related income should be taxed in Ukraine would tax gains at 5 percent for the first five years if passed.

Security Token Platform iSTOX Lands Another Big Asian Backer

Japanese financial services group Tokai Tokyo is the latest large Asian financial institution to back tokenized securities platform iSTOX.

Fidelity Digital Assets Gets NY Trust Charter to Custody Bitcoin for Institutions

The New York Department of Financial Services has granted Fidelity Digital Assets Services (FDAS) a charter to operate as a limited liability trust company to custody digital currencies and execute crypto trading.

FinCEN: Stablecoin Issuers Are Money Transmitters, No Matter What

“Just because you say you are a banana doesn’t make you a banana,” said Director Blanco.

Bakkt, Fidelity Will Store Galaxy Digital’s New Bitcoin Fund Holdings

Galaxy Digital is tapping Bakkt and Fidelity Digital Assets to store the bitcoin for its two new funds.

Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust Seeks SEC Reporting Company Status

Grayscale Investments has filed to register its bitcoin trust as an SEC reporting company, potentially the first crypto vehicle to attain such status.

Blockchain Capital Leads $25M Funding Round for Libra Member Bison Trails

Bison Trails has secured a $25.5 million Series A round led by Blockchain Capital to develop the firm’s infrastructure services.

When Lambo? Crypto’s Favorite Automaker to Track Cars on Salesforce Blockchain

Automobili Lamborghini, the manufacturer of the most craved sports cars in crypto, will trial blockchain tech in its supply chain operations.

PayPal Joins $4.2M Round for Crypto Banking Compliance Startup

Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian’s Initialized Capital, Blockchain Capital and PayPal Ventures are backing TRM Labs in its effort to help financial firms manage crypto risk.

Canada’s Einstein Exchange No Longer Has Bulk of Users’ Claimed CA$16M: Receiver

The exchange, taken over by a Canadian securities regulator two weeks ago, has just CA$45,000 in crypto and cash left.

IRS Focusing on Potential Illicit Activities Facilitated by Bitcoin ATMs: Official

The Internal Revenue Service is looking at bitcoin ATMs and their potential to facilitate illicit activities, its criminal investigation chief said.

Bitcoin Price Faces Deeper Dive as Bear Cross Confirmed

Bitcoin looks set to test support at $7,520 after a bearish cross was confirmed Monday and recent gloomy China news.

DAI Is Moving Beyond Ether, But DeFi Isn’t Decentralized Just Yet

MakerDAO may be diversifying the assets it works with, but it has a long way to go to decentralize the power to make key decisions.

Brooklyn ICO Promoter Sentenced to 18 Months in Federal Prison

The fraudster used diamonds and real estate to whisk away $300,000 in other people's money in 2017.

The SEC Is Reviewing the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF Rejection

The agency’s five commissioners will review a staff decision to reject the rule-change proposal for a bitcoin ETF made last month.

Andrew Yang Campaign Releases Technology Plan Focused on Rebuilding Public Relationship With Big Tech

The crypto-friendly presidential candidate outlined his tech visions in a blog post to his campaign site.

FEMA Advisory Board Proposes Blockchain to Speed ‘Disaster Dividend’ Payouts

The NAC argued that blockchain could improve the speed of payouts communities rely on in the wake of natural disasters.

Bitcoin Tumbles 4.7%, Most in Two Months, as China-Fueled Enthusiasm Wanes

Bitcoin prices tumbled on Monday by the most in two months, falling below a key threshold of $8,200 not seen since late October.

No, Royal Bank of Canada Isn’t Opening a Crypto Exchange

Contrary to recent media reports, Canada’s largest bank is not opening a crypto exchange.

UK Law Panel Defines Crypto Assets as Property

A panel of senior British judges and lawyers has moved to clarify the legal status of cryptocurrencies and smart contracts.

US Crypto Firms Will Soon Have Another Banking Option

U.K.-based Cashaa, which describes itself as a banking service platform, is about to launch bank accounts for stateside crypto firms denominated in U.S. dollars.

Chinese Army’s Blockchain Provider Approved for New Hyperledger Certification Program

Hyperledger green-lit a Beijing-based firm that serves the Chinese army to join its new certification program, as military blockchain use expands.

Visa R&D Arm Develops a Blockchain System That Could Replace Financial Data Aggregators

Visa has been quietly developing a blockchain system that could upend how banks transfer data to consumer financial apps like Mint and Credit Karma.

This Tiny Crypto Startup Has Lessons for Libra’s ‘Unbanked’ Dreams

If Facebook’s Libra project truly aims to serve the globe’s 1.7 billion unbanked, Hong Kong-based Bitspark might offer some insights.

PODCAST: ‘Let’s Talk Bitcoin!’ Hosts Discuss Libra, China and Cargo Cults

Every Sunday, CoinDesk plays host to deep, nuanced discussions about the complex issues we cover, with the cast of the Let’s Talk Bitcoin! podcast.

Introducing the New CoinDesk.com

We’ve done a complete rebuild of our website. Our goal is to better integrate the journalism, data streams and events into one cohesive story.

An Army of Bitcoin Devs Is Battle-Testing Upgrades to Privacy and Scaling

Almost 200 developers are reviewing bitcoin improvement proposals that could usher in enhanced privacy and scalability for the premier cryptocurrency.

Crypto Derivatives: A Corner of the Market or the Market Itself?

Emmanuel Goh, CEO of skew.com, looks at the evolution of the crypto derivatives market, and what that says about the market overall.

How to Spot Bitcoin’s Golden or Death Cross Using Simple Moving Averages

The golden cross and death cross have long helped traders predict and confirm long-term price trends. Here’s a primer for crypto investors.

Alibaba Denies ‘Partnership’ With Lolli, Highlighting Crypto Industry Pitfalls

What really constitutes a "partnership" at the intersection of e-commerce and crypto?

ConsenSys Strategy Chief Steps Down to Launch Venture Fund

ConsenSys CSO Sam Cassatt is stepping down to open a new venture fund focused on "evolutionary changes in human behavior."

German Regulator Orders ‘KaratGold Coin’ Issuer to Cease Operations

Two more governments have taken action against entities in the Karatbars ecosystem over sales of a purportedly gold-backed cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin Falls Through Key Average As Traditional Markets Hit Record Highs

Bitcoin is at risk of another sell-off after its price fell beneath a key moving average on Nov. 15, while traditional markets hit record highs.

Criminal Case Against Failed WEX Crypto Exchange Points at Russian Law Enforcement

The administrator of failed crypto exchange WEX has reportedly told Russian police that he was forced to hand over users' holdings to the FSB.

Stablecoin Crisis Could Wreck Global Finance, Fed Warns in New Report

The Fed warned that a stablecoin crisis could wreak havoc on the global economy and outlined the steps issuers must take to protect the status quo. 

Tether to File Motion With NYAG to Dismiss Class Action Lawsuit

The company claims that plaintiffs cannot prove Tether transactions caused bitcoin’s surge or that damages were incurred.

As Bitcoin Cash Hard Forks, Unknown Mining Pool Continues Old Chain

A rogue chain has developed following bitcoin cash's planned hard fork and has yet to cease production.

Chainalysis Says BitForex Trading Volumes Could Be Fake

The BitForex exchange could be faking its bitcoin trading volume, according to a report by Philip Gradwell, chief economist at Chainalysis.

China Is Poised for Another Crypto Trading Crackdown as Speculation Returns

China appears set to crack down on crypto trading again after President Xi Jinping's praise for blockchain tech revived speculation in the sector.

Nestle, Carrefour Extend Blockchain Tracking Effort to Baby Milk

Nestle and Carrefour are using IBM's Food Trust blockchain platform to track organic baby milk products "from dairy to shelf."

Ukrainian Railways Branch Caught Mining Crypto With State Power

The Lviv branch of Ukrainian Railways has been caught red-handed diverting company electricity to mine bitcoin.

BRICS Nations Ponder Digital Currency to Ease Trade, Reduce USD Reliance

The BRICS association of major emerging economies has discussed developing a digital currency to facilitate trade between member nations.

What the CFTC Chairman Actually Said About Ether Futures and Ethereum 2.0

Speaking at CoinDesk's Invest: NYC, Heath Tarbert addressed ethereum futures markets and the move to a proof-of-stake model with Ethereum 2.0.

Wyoming’s New Crypto Banking Law Could Defang New York’s BitLicense

There may be a way for cryptocurrency businesses to get around New York's notoriously hard-to-get BitLicense, and it runs through Wyoming.

US Authorities Arrest Alleged SIM Swappers After Crypto Thefts

The FBI has arrested two individuals on charges of stealing and attempting to steal $550,000 in cryptocurrency by SIM swapping 10 victims.

Northern Trust Testing Fractionlized Bonds on Blockchain

The U.S.-based custody bank is working with BondEvalue, a Singapore-based debt markets tech company, to offer fractions of tokenized bonds to retail and small professional investors.

DeFi Startup Compound Finance Raises $25 Million Series A Led by A16z

It's one of the largest venture capital investments in a decentralized finance (DeFi) startup to date.

Fake Website Prompts China’s Central Bank to Deny Digital Yuan Launch

Despite online impostors claiming otherwise, the People’s Bank of China said the country’s stablecoin project is still in the testing stage with no date set for launch.

OneCoin Founder’s Brother Faces 90-Year Jail Term After Plea Deal

The brother of OneCoin's infamous "Cryptoqueen," Konstantin Ignatov has reached a plea deal with U.S. authorities.

WATCH: Coinmine Adds Interest Payments to Its At-Home Crypto Miners

The company now offers 6.5 percent interest on earnings held in Coinmine wallets.

Ledger’s Vault Scores $150 Million in Crypto Insurance From Lloyd’s Syndicate

Insurance broker Marsh has arranged a $150 million policy from Lloyd’s of London syndicate Arch for users of the Ledger Vault crypto custody platform.

Coinbase Expands Reach of Visa Card in Europe, Adds 5 New Cryptos

Coinbase has added support for five new cryptocurrency options to its visa debit card, and also expanded availability to 10 more European nations.

Bitcoin Hovers Near Price Support as Long-Term Bear Cross Looms

Bitcoin may soon face selling pressure, courtesy of an impending bear cross. Longer term, though, the picture may be less gloomy for the bulls.

PayPal’s Axing of PornHub Model Payments May Boost Verge Crypto

PayPal has abruptly cut its payments service to thousands of live performers on Pornhub. Can the verge crypto pick up the slack?

Samsung SDS Beefs Up Privacy on Its Business-Grade Blockchain

Samsung SDS, the enterprise tech arm of the South Korean behemoth, is enhancing privacy on its Nexledger blockchain with zero-knowledge proofs.

Crypto.com Grows Offerings With New Exchange and Fundraising Platform

The exchange, along with its existing wallet and debit card service, readies Crypto.com for rainy days and bull runs alike, CEO Kris Marszalek said.

Swiss SIX Exchange Lists Tezos ETP With Staking Rewards

Amun AG has listed a Tezos (XTZ)-based exchange-traded product on the Swiss SIX exchange.

Fintech Arm of Chinese Insurance Giant Files for US IPO After Blockchain Push

OneConnect Financial Technology, the banking and blockchain arm of China's largest insurance company, filed a prospectus with the SEC on Wednesday.

Bitcoin Miner Maker Canaan Sets $100 Million Target for US IPO

Canaan, the world’s second largest bitcoin miner maker, intends to raise about $100 million in its initial public offering (IPO) in the U.S. The Hangzhou, China-based manufacturer of the Avalon bitcoin miners updates its IPO application with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Nov. 13. It’s aiming to offer 10 million American depositary shares (ADS) with […]

Data Provider Messari Closes $4 Million Funding Round

Messari's funding round was led by Uncork Capital and joined by Coinbase Ventures and Balaji Srinivasan, among others.

Kik Suffers Setbacks With ‘Void for Vagueness’ Defense in SEC Case

Kik has hit a brick wall with its ambitious "void for vagueness" defense in a case brought by the SEC over its $100 million initial coin offering.

Winklevoss Capital, Coinbase Back $1.8 Million Round for Bitski Crypto Wallet

Aiming to boost mainstream crypto adoption, Bitski has raised seed funding from the likes of Galaxy Digital, Winklevoss Capital and Coinbase Ventures.

ASX-Listed DigitalX Seeds New Fund With Half Its Bitcoin Holdings

The first ever cryptocurrency firm to be listed on a major stock exchange has launched a new bitcoin fund.

Telegram Refutes All SEC Allegations, Asks Court to Dismiss in New Filing

Messaging app firm Telegram has made a new plea to a U.S. court to drop an action brought by the SEC alleging its token is a security.

HSBC, SGX to Investigate if DLT Offers Efficiency Boost for Bond Markets

A new trial will examine if digitalizing fixed income securities with DLT can bring new efficiencies to the Asian markets.

Three Fronts in the Global Digital Currency Wars

There are now several competing approaches to building a new financial system, writes Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire. Which will governments embrace?

Bakkt Seeks Approval to Offer Cash-Settled Bitcoin Futures in Singapore

Bakkt aims to offer cash-settled bitcoin futures before 2020 to complement its physically settled contracts.

Despite Denials, Tron Founder Confirms Investment in Poloniex Crypto Exchange

Despite an earlier denial, Justin Sun is part of an investment group buying troubled crypto exchange Poloniex.

BitGo Says Now Processing 20% of Bitcoin Transactions

The crypto custodian facilitates a sizable share of on-chain transactions, a sign of consolidation, and power, in the crypto space.

China Central Bank Official: Digital Yuan Should Have ‘Controllable Anonymity’

China’s proposed digital yuan should strike a balance between protecting privacy and regulatory enforcement, a central bank official said.

Tunisia’s Central Bank Denies Reports Claiming It Issued an E-Dinar

In a sweeping rejection, the central bank quashed “unfounded” rumors that it had become the first monetary authority to issue a CBDC.

CME Says It Will Launch Bitcoin Options in January

Chicago exchange CME Group has announced it will launch options on its bitcoin futures contracts in mid-January.

Binance Exchange Is First Client for Paxos’ New Dollar Gateway

The regulated firm is opening up its stablecoin-to-USD swaps facility to third parties, starting with Binance.

Chainalysis’ ‘Kryptos’ Tool Is an Inside Look for Outside Investors

It’s the analysis firm’s first product for institutional players, joining KYT, an anti money laundering tool, and Reactor, which traces criminal money flow.

With Code of Conduct, Trade Group ADAM Seeks Legitimacy for Crypto

One year after its formation, the Association of Digital Asset Markets (ADAM) has drafted a code of conduct for its now 15 members.

Web3 Plans to Integrate Kadena’s Smart Contract Language on Polkadot

The Web3 Foundation plans to adopt blockchain startup Kadena’s smart contract programming language for the Polkadot ecosystem.

Huobi’s ‘Regulator-Friendly’ Blockchain Goes Open Source

Huobi Chain, the regulator-facing public blockchain of exchange Huobi Group, is now open source and available to all developers on GitHub.

AlphaPoint’s White Label Tech Now Lets Crypto Exchanges Offer Margin Trading

The software provider is adding support for margin trading, with a raft of trading options and controls for crypto brokerages and exchanges.

Investment App Abra Expands US Offerings With 60 New Cryptos

Mobile crypto wallet and investment app Abra is adding a host of new coins and doubling its U.S. bank deposit limits for U.S. customers.

Alibaba’s Ant Financial Starts Pre-Launch Testing of Consortium Blockchain

The fintech arm of Chinese tech giant Alibaba Group said it expects the blockchain to go live in around three months.

HTC Will Support Binance Chain With Special Edition Smartphone

HTC's special edition EXODUS blockchain smartphone will allow users to directly access Binance's decentralized exchange and token.

Former Cumberland and Circle Traders Pool Money for Crypto Prop Trading

Bobby Cho, former trading head at Cumberland, has formed a crypto prop-trading firm with former two Circle execs.

UPS Ships Beef to Japan, Tracked and Monitored Using Blockchain Tech

The shipping giant says it has tracked and delivered a full shipment of beef from Kansas to a Tokyo steakhouse with help from blockchain firm HerdX.

Bithumb Global Launches Native Token for Exchange Ecosystem

Bithumb plans to launch a native token on top of its namesake blockchain next year.

French Central Bank Job Posting Reveals Digital Currency Program

Banque de France is seeking a blockchain analyst who will help the bank define a program for implementing digital currency.

A Mysterious Airdrop Called EIDOS Is Clogging EOS to Make a Point

Maximum transactions: How a project called EIDOS is congesting the EOS blockchain.

BnkToTheFuture CEO: 50 Percent of Funding Will Be Through Security Tokens in 2020

BnkToTheFuture invested in a SEC-registered broker dealer to enable U.S. investors participate in security token offerings.

Alibaba Offers Bitcoin Rewards Through Lolli Shopping App for ‘Singles Day’

Lolli will offer Alibaba customers bitcoin back on their purchases with a new partnership.

Bakkt Expands Bitcoin Custody Service Beyond Futures Trading Clients

The ICE subsidiary plans to open up its bitcoin "warehouse" following approval from New York's financial watchdog.

ECB’s Benoit Coeure to Lead Central Banking Digital Currency Initiative

Coeure is to lead the new BIS Innovation Hub in researching and perhaps developing beneficial fintech such as digital currencies.

Bittrex Will Release Frozen Crypto to Former Users in Sanctioned Regimes

Crypto exchange Bittrex is looking to return crypto holdings to customers in sanctioned nations, but there are conditions.

Bitcoin Price Faces Drop to $8.5K After Consecutive Weekly Losses

Bitcoin is on slippery ground after two weekly losses in a row and multiple rejections at key price resistance. 

How to Turn a $17 Million ICO Into $104 Million: The Cosmos Story

The startups building Cosmos don't own it or rely solely on it for income. And that's the point.

US Homeland Security Taps Canadian Blockchain Firm to Track Oil Imports

DHS has hired Mavennet to track oil imports into the U.S. by retrofitting existing tracking technology with blockchain.

MAS, JPMorgan Build Payments System With Inter-Blockchain Connectivity

Working with JPMorgan and Temasek, Singapore's central bank has developed a prototype blockchain-based cross border payments system.

Ex-Cinnober Blockchain Lead Joins Nordic Crypto Fund to Bet Big On Bitcoin

Since NASDAQ acquired Sweden's Cinnober last year, blockchain lead Eric Wall has left the exchange business for bitcoin investment fund Arcane Crypto.

Governments are planning to take over Bitcoin

Governments are planning to take over Bitcoin – Bitcoin News

The governments all over the world are trying everything in their power to curb down the use of cryptocurrencies. Many developed countries are considering to issue Central Bank-backed digital currency in order to compete with decentralized cryptocurrencies. However, governments are encouraging the adoption of blockchain technology.

It seems like governments of several developed countries failed to anticipate the power of bitcoin and decentralized cryptocurrencies. But they are now slowly realizing how big of a beast bitcoin is. Several developed countries have already started taking major steps in order to curb down the use of decentralized cryptocurrency.

Authorities are working hard to make electronic payments more accessible for people to compete with the currency of the internet. However, governments have repeatedly acknowledged the power of blockchain technology and are constantly adopting it. Later last month, the Chinese President endorsed blockchain technology, after which the price of bitcoin rose to more than 30%.

But endorsing the blockchain technology does not mean that they are a fan of bitcoin and decentralized cryptocurrencies. As Bloomberg reported, politicians are looking to destroy competitive advantage for non-state digital currencies by making them less secure.

Several developed countries are also heavily investing in technology that could potentially crack the public-key cryptography and make bitcoin useless, which is Quantum Computing.

It is only logical to assume that governments will do everything in their power to keep people away from the monetary system that does not involve banks and where people have financial privacy. Bitcoin has come a long way in its first decade, but it still has a long way to go in order to challenge current financial establishments.