Bitcoin Ends Q1 Down 10%, Outperforming Equities in Coronavirus Crisis

Bitcoin ended the first quarter of 2020 down from the start of the year, but not as badly as the record-setting losses suffered by global equities.

Bitcoin All-Time High in 2020? Chances Are Only 4%, Options Market Signals

The options market shows just a 4 percent chance of bitcoin crossing above $20K before year’s end, according to data from analytics firm Skew.

Bitcoin’s Lightning Becomes Latest Protocol to Court Publishers With Micropayments

With paywall systems for a whole bevy of assets, crypto payments could revolutionize the media industry – if demand actually matched supply.

Crypto-Powered Internet Helps Work From Home During Coronavirus

Althea brings the internet to under-served places, offering households crypto to be part of a mesh system.

Nic Carter: ‘If You’re Not Radicalized, You’re Not Paying Attention’

Castle Island Ventures and Coin Metrics co-founder joins to discuss cascading crises, crypto dollarization and the state of the bitcoin narrative.

Remote Working Proves Unexpected Hero as Half of US Economy Shifts to Home Offices

To those who believe in a digital future in which decentralization makes systems more resilient, the coronavirus crisis has expedited the inevitable.

IoT App Nodle Moves From Stellar Blockchain to Polkadot

IoT platform Nodle announced it is switching from the Stellar blockchain to a custom build on Parity Technologies’ Substrate network.

Ex-State Street Blockchain Team Drops DLT From New Data-Privacy Startup

Data privacy startup Manetu goes live early next month with $3.5 million in backing from Castle Island Ventures and others.

View From Manila: Life During Coronavirus

Leah Callon Butler works out where to stash her cash and tries to tell fact from fiction amid the shutdown in the Philippines.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 31, 2020

A popular Ethereum game is dropping crypto while France explores digital banks. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily.

Ex-Royal Mint Team’s Crypto Insurance Now Provides $1M Cover for All Civic Wallets

Coincover is now providing automatic insurance cover on all new signups for Civic's hot wallet.

Crypto Holders Still Face Issues Reporting Tax Liabilities, Survey of CPAs Finds

Certified Public Accountants familiar with crypto largely believe their clients might face audits or penalties for under-reporting holdings in past years, according to a survey.

Bitcoin’s Recent Recovery Won’t Salvage a Terrible Month for Prices

While bitcoin has recovered sharply from recent lows below $4,000, the cryptocurrency is still on track to end March with a double-digit price loss.

‘MLB Champions’ Downplays ETH, Aims for Mass Market in New Game Reboot

Blockchain game MLB Champions is rolling out a slew of new gameplay features while reducing its reliance on Ethereum.

Australian Crypto Exchange CoinSpot Wins ISO Security Accreditation

CoinSpot says it's jumped through the hoops to meet the internationally recognized ISO standard.

Crypto Markets Can Never Close, and That’s a Good Thing

Should markets temporarily close even temporarily to calm investor panic? Noelle Acheson says no while crypto markets can’t. Both are good things.

Mt. Gox Deadline Extended Again After Creditors Criticize Refund Proposal

Mt. Gox's bankruptcy trustee is holding off on filing a civil rehabilitation plan to the Tokyo District Court after creditors took issue with it.

Election App Voatz Just Got Kicked Out of a Major Bug Bounty Program

Bug bounty platform HackerOne severed ties with Medici Ventures-backed Voatz, the blockchain-based mobile voting app for breach of partnership standards.

Bitcoin Follows Stock Markets Higher; How Long Will They Move in Lockstep?

Crypto prices climbed with traditional market indexes Monday as traders wondered if bitcoin will remain a follower or break out and blaze its own path.

Bitcoin, Stablecoins, DeFi and Privacy: How COVID-19 Is Changing Key Crypto Narratives

How the once-in-a-generation COVID-19 pandemic is shifting the way with think and talk about different parts of the crypto industry - from bitcoin to DeFi to stablecoins.

How Bitcoin’s Price Slump Is Changing the Geography of Mining

Although China remains the leading region for bitcoin mining, the coronavirus downturn is changing the picture in other geographies.

How Central Banks Could Use Digital Cash to Deliver Universal Basic Income

Central banks are best placed to deliver regular, no-questions-asked monthly payments to everyone, and to manage any ensuing inflation.

French Central Bank Puts Out Call for Digital Currency Experiments

France's central bank is calling for digital currency proposals with an experiment that moves it to the front of Europe's CBDC debate.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 30, 2020

Bitcoin is back and Breitling puts watches on the blockchain. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily.

German Startup Pitches Decentralized ID for Prescription Pickup During COVID-19

Coronavirus drove blockchain startup Spherity to developed a decentralized ID prototype for interacting with healthcare providers and pharmacies.

Crypto Derivatives Platform Gets Nod From London Stock Exchange’s Software Tester

ZUBR, which only opened for trading in early March, said its trading software had been successfully stress-tested by Exactpro

Binance Cut Leveraged Tokens Because Users ‘Don’t Read Warning Notices’

Binance only listed FTX leveraged tokens two months ago, but users have struggled to get to grips with the complex products.

USD Stablecoins Are Surging, But Zero Interest Rates Complicate Business Model

With investors seeking safety in dollars, stablecoins have seen inflows of more than $2 billion since the crash. But, says our columnist Hasu, zero interest rates threaten business revenue.

Opera’s Android Web Browser Adds Access to .Crypto Domains for 80M Users

The “blockchain-ready” web browser has added support for Unstoppable Domains’ decentralized .crypto websites.

Telegram Hopes It Can Still Sell Tokens to Non-US Investors After Court Ruling

The firm has asked a court to clarify if it can still issue its tokens to non-U.S. investors after a preliminary injunction blocked the issuance in the U.S.

Bitcoin Diverges From Falling Equities With $500 Price Rise

Bitcoin rose by 7 percent early on Monday even as the risk-off mood returned to the traditional markets.

US Cash in Circulation Sees Biggest Increase Since the Y2K Bug Panic, Fed Reserve Data Indicates

U.S. currency in circulation has experienced its largest increase in over 20 years.

Crypo Lender Celsius Taps Chainlink’s Price Oracles for Interest Rate ‘Decentralization’

Celsius Network has teamed up with oracle provider Chainlink to make the price feeds it uses to calculate asset interest rates less centralized.

Investors in Polychain Capital’s Crypto Hedge Fund Saw 1,332% Gains – If They Stomached the Dips

An investor document obtained by CoinDesk charts the dramatic ups and downs of the first four years of Polychain Capital’s cryptocurrency hedge fund.

Microsoft Files Patent Application for Crypto Mining System Powered by Human Activity

A Microsoft patent application details a human-powered crypto mining project by collecting data as people exercise and watch ads.

Can Bitcoin Survive the Climate Change Revolution?

If ESG is becoming the new buzzword among impact-minded financial institutions, where does energy-intensive bitcoin fit in?

Riot Blockchain Says Coronavirus Outbreak Might Hurt Crypto Mining Farms

Riot Blockchain's 10-K filing captures the fear COVID-19 is sowing in American companies.

Singapore Crypto Exchange Eyes US Expansion After Registering With FinCEN

Singapore-based Bitget has registered with the U.S. Treasury Department as a money services business, the first step to launching operations in the country.

Bear Market Over? Charts on Bitcoin and ASX 200 Suggest Otherwise

U.S stocks are showing signs of life amid the recent $2 trillion stimulus package. Yet it may be a while before confidence is restored.

Luxury Watchmaker Breitling Adds Its First Timepieces to a Blockchain

In a rare example of real-world business deployment, Breitling is registering watches on a blockchain to track their provenance from owner to owner.

How MakerDAO’s Stablecoin Survived the Crash, Smart Contract Bugs and Full Decentralization

How do DeFi stablecoins actually work and what happened during the sudden, precipitous drop in crypto prices earlier this month? On today's show Andreas M. Antonopoulos leads us through a very interesting system and how it survived 'Black Thursday'.

Telegram Ruling Closes Another Door to Legally-Compliant Token Sales

A recent ruling stopping Telegram from distributing its cryptocurrency creates new legal peril for public blockchains, argues lawyer Josh Lawler.

Disruption, Money and a World of Change, Feat. Niall Ferguson

CoinDesk's Michael Casey speaks with author, historian and Hoover Institution senior fellow Niall Ferguson about our disrupted world, inevitable crisis and what it could mean for money.

While Some Hoard Dollar Bills, Others Envision Germy Cash’s Quick Demise

Is a cash-based society sustainable in a pandemic? Hoarders say yes. Health experts say maybe. Visionaries say no: It’s a moment for systemic change.

Splinter Cryptocurrency Hive Outperforms Justin Sun’s Steem After One Week Trading

It's been a week since the Hive blockchain broke off from Steem in protest. So far, the market action has been on the side of the dissidents.

World Health Organization Teams With IBM, Oracle on Blockchain-Based Coronavirus Data Hub

Big names like IBM, Oracle and the World Health Organization (WHO) will use blockchain technology to track data relating to the coronavirus pandemic.

Bitcoin and Ether Prices Stagnate as Traders Take Wait-and-See Approach

The March 12 crash is still fresh in crypto traders’ and fund managers’ minds, leaving some to think no trading decisions are the best decisions for now.

Corporate Socialism to Dying for the Dow: 7 Themes That Defined the Week

As another unprecedented week winds down, we’re breaking down unlimited QE, digital dollars, the last break of institutional trust and more.

Strange Days: S&P 500 Is More Volatile Than Bitcoin This Month

In a role reversal befitting these topsy-turvy times, Wall Street has recently seen more turbulence than the top cryptocurrency.

How a Flurry of ‘Digital Dollar’ Proposals Made It to Congress

Law professors who've long pushed for a digital dollar worked with Congress to bring the concept to a series of coronavirus relief bills earlier this week.

Aspiring CME Director Wants Exchange to Mine Bitcoin and Issue Tokens

A nominee for a CME director position argued for tokenizing certain shares and building renewable energy sources which could also mine crypto.

US County Extends Rule Making Bitcoin Mining Firms Invest in Renewable Energy

The newly extended rule that crypto mining farms must offset energy consumption with renewables might also be made permanent.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 27, 2020

A scam in the UK targets crypto while Venezuela's president is charged with money laundering. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Singapore Temporarily Exempts Crypto Firms, Including Coinbase, From New Licensing Regime

Cryptocurrency firms can continue operating but must apply for a license by summer under new rules

Bitwise Looks to Retail Market for Its Crypto Index Fund

Bitwise is hoping to draw a retail market for its Bitwise 10 Index Fund, which it intends to list on a regulated alternative trading system later this year.

Bitcoin Price Decline Prompts US Mining Firm to Shut Down ‘Indefinitely’

Digital Farms is halting operations due to low bitcoin prices, its owner says.

After Coronavirus ‘War,’ Bretton Woods-Style Shakeup Could Dethrone the Dollar

Seismic shifts might be in the offing for the global monetary system — a phenomenon that historically has occurred in the wake of world wars.

Don’t Apply 2008 Thinking to Today’s Crisis

Economists, analysts and big bank CEOs tell us that there is nothing to fear because this time is different from 2008. If only it were so simple.

Investors Regained Confidence in Bitcoin Amid Price Recovery, Data Suggests

Bitcoin may not be out of the woods yet, but prospects of another sudden price crash now look to have diminished.

UK Counties Warn of Bitcoin Scams Using Coronavirus as a Hook

U.K residents are being warned against scammers claiming to offer information on locals infected with coronavirus for payments in bitcoin.

Coinbase’s Retail Payments Wing Crosses $200M in Transactions

Coinbase Commerce's 8,000 retailers have processed more than $200 million since its launch two years ago.

HSBC Puts $10B of Private Placements on R3’s Corda Blockchain

HSBC is using blockchain as opposed to a traditional database because it plans to tokenize the $10B in private placements after it digitizes them.

Plastics Recycling Looks Promising to Enterprise Blockchain Startups

New recycling technologies and mandates have blockchains playing a role: measuring action and demonstrating it to the public.

Block.one Absorbs Team Behind Now-Defunct Block Producer EOS New York

EOS creator Block.one has acquired the team behind once-prominent block producer EOS New York, which has now entirely ceased operations.

Bankruptcy Trustee to Hand Quadriga Users’ Information to Canadian Taxman

The bankruptcy trustee overseeing the winding up of crypto exchange QuadrigaCX, will be turning all user information over to the Canada Revenue Agency.

US, European Stocks Up but Crypto Traders Remain Cautious

American and European equity markets extended their gains on Thursday while major cryptocurrencies made only slight moves on the day.

Geopolitical Crisis May Benefit Oil, Gold and CBDCs, Not Bitcoin

Demand for gold is skyrocketing and the clamor for scarce assets in a remote-first world was precisely where bitcoin was supposed to shine. But it's complicated.

How BlackRock Ended Up on Both Sides of the Bailout, Feat. Meltem Demirors

As BlackRock gets appointed to oversee bailouts to companies including BlackRock, how do we make an insane moment lead to good?

Miners Are Selling More Bitcoin Than They Are Mining

While bitcoin looks set to prolong its recent bullish moves, those responsible for making new bitcoin have increased their selling.

Gold-Backed Stablecoins Race to Keep Up With Crisis-Driven Demand

Gold-backed crypto tokens continue to rise in price as sourcing gold itself during the coronavirus-induced downturn is reportedly getting more difficult.

Bitcoin Is a Safe Haven for a Worse Storm Than This

It'll take a real financial crisis for bitcoin to prove its safe-haven value.

US Says Venezuelan President Maduro Hid Massive Drug Ring Proceeds in Crypto

Nicolas Maduro and his crypto supervisor were two of the Venezuelan officials indicted Thursday on claims they used crypto to conceal the profits from drug running.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 26, 2020

Bitcoin struggles at $6.5K while HODLers prepare for death. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Coinbase, Fidelity and More Back Coin Metrics in $6M Series A Funding Round

The cryptocurrency data provider will use the new funding to expand its team and improve product offerings.

Craig Wright Challenges Court Order Criticizing His Evidence in $4B Kleiman Case

Wright objected after a judge dismissed his attorney-client privilege over weak evidence.

Chris Giancarlo’s Digital Dollar Project Names Ex-Treasury, CFTC Officials to New Board

The Digital Dollar Foundation has tapped a number of former government officials and industry experts as advisors as it looks to design and promote a U.S. CBDC.

Hyperinflation and Zimbabwe’s Multi-Currency Reality: Bitcoin in Africa Podcast, Part 2

After three weeks of listening, recording and talking bitcoin (BTC) in Africa, podcaster Anita Posch is back in part 2 of her six-part documentary podcast series. Presented in audio and full written transcript formats.

Alleged Mastermind of Sex Abuse Chatrooms Hid Payments With Privacy Coin Monero

The 25-year-old used the cryptocurrency monero to obfuscate payments for abusive sexual material, according to a CoinDesk Korea investigation.

We Won’t Ever Think About the Financial System the Same Way

Central bank digital currencies open the way to tokenized and decentralized finance, says ConsenSys' fintech co-head.

Bitcoin in Rangebound Trading as Equity Markets Fail to See Stimulus Boost

The bitcoin market is looking pensive as global equities fail to respond positively to the U.S. Senate's approval of a massive coronavirus stimulus package.

European Commission Defense Program Offers Grants for Blockchain Solutions

The European Commission is calling for future-oriented defense solutions including innovative blockchain concepts.

Bitcoin Firms Report Uptick in Demand for Inheritance Services

Crypto startups report fresh demand for estate-planning services as the coronavirus outbreak spurs users to make sure their coins are passed onto heirs.

Brave Partners With Binance to Develop In-Browser Crypto Trading

Brave is in the early stages of building an in-browser trading tool with Binance and Binance America.

Malta Financial Regulator Warns Against Unauthorized Crypto Firms

Malta’s financial regulator has issued warnings against COINMALEX and Crypto Foxtrades, two websites that falsely claimed they were licensed by the Maltese authority.

Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Posts Second-Biggest Percentage Drop in Its History

Competition among Bitcoin miners has eased up, as the recent price drop thinned the herd, fresh data shows

Devs Plot Launch of Telegram’s Blockchain Without Company’s Involvement

Developers are discussing ways to launch Telegram's blockchain without the messaging app company's participation, following a court order tying its hands.

This Unstable Moment Is a Chance for Crypto to Go Mainstream

Crises create opportunities for renewal. This is a moment for cryptocurrencies to reinvent money and the financial system.

US Stimulus Plan Is Steadying Global Markets While Crypto Takes a Dip

The $2 trillion stimulus deal in the U.S. wasn’t enough to keep many cryptocurrencies from taking a dip Wednesday.

The Overton Window Opens for a Digital Dollar

As the federal government looks for ways to distribute coronavirus aid, support for a digital dollar is gaining steam in Washington D.C.

Why the U.S.’ $2 Trillion Stimulus, Unlimited QE Will Expose the Monetary System’s Flaws

As the crypto community digests a new wave of government intervention, Michael Casey and Noelle Acheson join for a discussion.

Telegram Appeals Court Ruling Barring Gram Token Distribution

Telegram has appealed a court ruling barring it from distributing its gram cryptocurrency.

Crypto-Friendly Bank Revolut Launches in the US

The challenger bank reportedly has plans to offer its crypto buying service to US customers in the near future.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 25, 2020

In this episode of CoinDesk's Markets Daily, crypto investment goes up while BTC price bumps up against $7K.

Fired Employees’ Harassment Suit Against TRON Will Move to Private Arbitration

A judge granted Justin Sun’s motion to compel arbitration in a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination and workplace harassment at the TRON Foundation.

Users See ‘Buying Opportunity’ in Coronavirus Market Downturn, Says Crypto.com

Retail interest in cryptocurrencies is growing as COVID-19 shakes markets and central banks take drastic steps to steady the global economy, the firm says.

Global Stablecoins May Be Subject to Securities Regulation, Says IOSCO

Global stablecoins may be subject to securities laws, says IOSCO, in a new report that could complicate such projects’ embrace of decentralization.

ASX’s Long-in-the-Works DLT Plan on Ice Amid Coronavirus Concerns

With COVID-19 fast spreading in Australia, the stock exchange is pausing the project until June to reassess the situation.

Bitcoin Rejected Near $7K Even as US Agrees $2T Stimulus Package

Bitcoin has dropped back from levels near $7,000 despite the rapidly increasing scope of fiscal stimulus efforts in the US and across the globe.

Mt. Gox Trustee May Sell Off Some Crypto Assets, Says Draft Repayment Plan

The trustee of the now-defunct bitcoin exchange intends to liquidate cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin and bitcoin cash as part of a draft rehabilitation plan.

CasperLabs Pivots Away From Ethereum to Fundraise With Its Own Blockchain

CasperLabs is partnering with the Singapore-registered exchange BitMax to conduct a token sale kicking off on March 30.

For DeFi’s Sake, Maker Should Take Blame for Black Thursday Losses

While the system did not technically malfunction, a confluence of factors enabled a few opportunists to win the collateral auctions despite placing extremely low bids.

Everledger Looks Beyond Blood Diamonds With ESG Supply Chain Collaboration

Everledger, known for tracking diamonds on the blockchain, says the supply chain for batteries is where it will focus next.

Judge Halts Telegram Token Issuance in Injunction Requested by SEC

A federal judge has granted the SEC’s preliminary injunction request, barring Telegram from issuing any gram tokens when it launches its blockchain network.

8 US States Follow DHS in Naming ‘Blockchain Managers’ as Essential Employees in Coronavirus Crisis

At least eight U.S. states have directed “blockchain managers” in food and agriculture to keep working through COVID-19 shutdowns following guidance from the Department of Homeland Security, though it remains unclear who this includes.

Stocks, Bitcoin Rally on Prospects for US Senate Stimulus Bill

Financial markets rebounded Tuesday after prospects for a stimulus package out of the U.S. Senate improved. Most cryptocurrencies are gaining, too.

Silvergate Bank Resolves Wire Transfer Issue That Kept Transactions in Limbo

Crypto-friendly Silvergate Bank resolved the last of its wire transfer issues Tuesday morning, said CEO Alan Lane.

The CFTC Just Defined What ‘Actual Delivery’ of Crypto Should Look Like

The CFTC created formal guidance for when one party has “delivered” crypto assets to another, settling a long-standing question around the issue.

BitMEX Open Interest Collapses After Controversial Long Squeeze

Open interest in XBT/USD on BitMEX has crashed by over 50 percent from 115,000 BTC to 55,000 BTC over the past 12 days.

Cronyism, Zombie Companies and the True Cost of the Coronavirus, Feat. Morgan Creek’s Mark Yusko

Why dependency culture, zombie corporations and debt jubilee could be the true cost of the coronavirus.

The Pandemic Gives Digital Currencies Another Chance to Shine

Which digital currencies, if any, are useful in a crisis? asks Marcelo Prates, a lawyer with the Brazilian central bank. CBDCs, bitcoin or maybe libra?

Bitcoin’s Approaching ‘Halving,’ Explained

In May 2020, Bitcoin’s third “halving” will take place. Here’s what you need to know about the most hotly anticipated cryptocurrency event of the year.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 24, 2020

Will the US launch a digital dollar? And what happens to racers when they can't race? Find out on CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

US Senate Floats ‘Digital Dollar’ Bill After House Scrubs Term From Coronavirus Relief Plan

A draft bill posted Tuesday to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs defines a "digital dollar" and details how it might be maintained.

Russian Prime Minister Introduces Bill to Allow Fintech Sandboxes, Blockchain Included

The new bill would allow the creation of “experimental regulatory regimes” for companies working on cutting-edge technologies like AI and distributed ledgers.

‘Digital Dollar’ Stripped From Latest US Coronavirus Relief Bill

The latest version of a U.S. House bill to stimulate the economy during the coronavirus pandemic no longer includes any language around a digital dollar, though a Financial Services Committee bill still does.

Polychain, Bain Capital Join $3M Series A Round for Indian Exchange CoinDCX

The funding round comes just weeks after the Supreme Court overturned the country's banking ban.

Alleged Architects of $720M BitClub Ponzi Request Jail Release Over Coronavirus Risk

The accused scammers argue they are unable to follow medical advice in an enclosed jail environment.

Bitcoin Marches on $7K as Traditional Markets Cheer Fed’s QE Bazooka

Bitcoin looks on track to test $7,000 soon, as the stock markets are rising with the Federal Reserve's open-ended easing plan.

Bybit Enables Two-Way Trading With Perpetual Contracts Quoted in Tether

The Singapore exchange has added tether (USDT) perpetual contracts to simplify account management and allow two-way trades.

Emin Gun Sirer’s AVA Labs Seeks Wall Street Business After Open-Sourcing ‘Avalanche’ Protocol

AVA Labs is looking to build financial infrastructure for Wall Street businesses after open sourcing its novel “Avalanche” protocol.

Paxful Becomes First P2P Exchange to Partner With Chainalysis

Paxful exchange is trying to give peer-to-peer platforms a better name by onboarding crypto intel tools from Chainalysis

Yale Researchers Turn to Hyperledger to Track Carbon Emissions

A team from Yale's OpenLab has been exploring how blockchain, IoT and other data-science tools can be used to measure and track carbon emissions.

Bitcoin and Gold: Evaluating Hard-Cap Currencies in Times of Financial Crisis

How would a bitcoin economy react to coronavirus? For now, we don’t know. However, we can turn to a proxy for insight: gold.

House Stimulus Bills Envision ‘Digital Dollar’ to Ease Coronavirus Recession

Proposed legislation meant to shore up the U.S. economy during the coronavirus pandemic includes a recommendation to create a digital dollar.

Investors Look to Gold, Crypto After Fed Goes on QE Buying Spree

Gold is up Monday and so are most cryptocurrencies, seemingly buoyed by the U.S. Federal Reserve's drastic action to thwart the coronavirus’ effects on markets and the economy.

Privacy Advocates Are Sounding Alarms Over Coronavirus Surveillance

Crises provide opportunities for surveillance architecture to move forward, say privacy advocates. This time is no different.

Long-Festering DeFi Dapp Bug Still Not Fixed by Industry

ZenGo is renewing a debate over personal responsibility and user protections, after discovering an exploit that can drain wallets of all user funds.

Unlimited QE and Why Markets Can’t Price In COVID-19

The Market reacts as the Fed announced effectively unlimited injections including a new array of direct asset purchase tools

Bitcoin: A Global Port in a Market Storm?

Turmoil in global markets and economies points to a widening interest in bitcoin, argues Noelle Acheson.

Ruble’s Drop Eases Pain of Lower Bitcoin Prices for Russia’s Miners

The global market meltdown has indirectly benefited Russia's bitcoin miners, even as the cryptocurrency's price tumbled along with other assets.

HODLpac Enlists Winklevoss Twins, Brian Armstrong in Bid to Influence Crypto Policy in Washington

A new crypto-focused political action committee will direct funds to Congressional candidates – but with a decentralized twist.

Into the Unknown: No Limit on Fed Money Injections

Drastic measures are being taken by the Federal Reserve as Wall Street reels from fresh predictions of a steep drop-off in economic output due to coronavirus-related lockdowns, business disruptions and job losses.

Kik Backs Away From Jury Trial Request in SEC Fight Over $100M Token Sale

Kik had previously asked for a jury trial to make its case against the SEC. Now it's seeking a summary judgment.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 23, 2020

TEZOS dumped BTC and a clever hack to survive Zoom meetings. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

Steem Fork Faces Legal Threat From Mining Firm Over ‘Hive’ Name

A new blockchain called Hive is being told it needs to change its name just days after it was created in a fork from Steem.

Bitcoin, Gold Spike as Fed Reserve Unveils Unlimited Coronavirus Stimulus Package

The Federal Reserve has announced a quantitative easing package with no upper limit to support the U.S. economy amid the coronavirus crisis.

SEC Charges Former State Senator Over Digital Asset ‘Scam’

The SEC alleges that the Meta 1 Coin sale violated antifraud and securities regulation. It also promised some crazy returns.

VC Tim Draper Eyes India Investments as Nation Enters Crypto ‘Renaissance’

Tim Draper plans to back local startups now the Indian supreme court has overturned a ban on financial services for crypto companies.

Bearish ‘Death Cross’ Price Patterns Loom for Both Bitcoin and US Stocks

Bitcoin, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones are staring at bearish chart patterns as coronavirus jitters across the markets fail to subside.

The US Needs a Wartime Effort to Win the Coronavirus Battle

The coronavirus crisis is three crises in one. They require a co-ordinated cross-boundary effort to avert, says the COO of Bitwise Asset Management.

Tezos Foundation Offloaded Millions of Dollars Worth of Bitcoin in 2019: Report

The Tezos Foundation liquidated some 8,000 bitcoin in the latter half of 2019, investing the funds into ethereum, XTZ and some more traditional securities. It still holds 31,000 BTC.

Why Polynomial Commitments Might Be a ‘Breakthrough’ for Ethereum 2.0

What are "polynomial commitments" and how do they fit into Vitalik Buterin's new Eth 2.0 roadmap?

Australian Share Market Reveals Potential Storm for US Equities While Bitcoin Falls

The ASX fell sharply during its opening session Monday after Australia's Prime Minister announced drastic measures to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Bailouts, Bitcoin, Disruption, Failures and Hope

From Boeing to Bitcoin in this week's discussion we're talking about our disrupted reality, the politically expedient path forward, why it almost certainly won't work, the alternatives to it, what this means for bitcoin and what you can do to help.

The US Should Use Stablecoins for Emergency Coronavirus Payments

Paying out the stimulus using stablecoins would be cleaner and cheaper than sending checks in the mail, says the CEO Of Binance.US.

As this Crisis Worsens, Bitcoin Will Become a Safe Haven Again

This liquidity crunch and ensuing government intervention is laying the foundation for bitcoin’s adoption as a safe haven asset.

4 Reasons Central Banks Should Launch Retail Digital Currencies

Central banks have four good reasons to adopt digital currency: financial stability, identity management, inclusion and consumer protection.

How Bitcoiners Can Protect Their Mental Health During the Coronavirus Crisis

CoinDesk reporter Leigh Cuen is joined by cognitive economist Leigh Caldwell, author of “The Psychology of Price,” to talk about mental health and cryptocurrency in a time of coronavirus crisis.

Fed Stands Ready to Replace Infected Greenbacks With Clean Bills

The Fed doesn’t plan to destroy banknotes as China did, but it has a stockpile of fresh greenbacks should it need to replace what’s in circulation.

Coinbase Broke Traffic Records and Saw Massive Volume During Market Collapse

Coinbase reported record site traffic and a massive surge in 24-hour trading volume during last week’s coronavirus-driven market swings.

Bitcoin Bumps Up, but for How Long?

Traditional markets continue to struggle during the coronavirus crisis while cryptocurrencies are seeing an upswing.

State Power After Coronavirus, Feat. Peter McCormack

An off-the-cuff conversation about state power, nuance in an age of tribalism and where bitcoin meets politics, with Peter McCormack.

ICE Pushes Back on Claim Ex-Bakkt CEO Dumped Stocks After Senate COVID Briefing

U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler and her husband sold up to $3.5 million in stock after a Jan. 24 briefing on COVID-19, but ICE says the transactions were conducted by financial advisors who had no input from the two.

The Puell Multiple Is Turning Bullish on Bitcoin

You might not have heard of the Puell Multiple but right now it appears to show bitcoin is undervalued.

‘Skyweaver’ Didn’t Plan for a Captive Audience of Millions but It Sure Helps

Skyweaver is among a crop of blockchain-based games looking to prove the value of digital scarcity in the gaming industry.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 20, 2020

CoinDesk goes to Africa in a new podcast and America's biggest Ether mine turns to COVID-19 research. It's the CoinDesk Markets Daily podcast.

Tether Stablecoin Launches on Its Seventh Blockchain

The world's largest stablecoin by market value is now live on the Bitcoin Cash network via the Simple Ledger Protocol.

Think a Privacy Law Will Stop Surveillance Capitalism? You Don’t Know Google

Big Tech's business model isn't threatened by the prospect of new data privacy laws, says one VC. FAANG firms are too nimble, powerful and ingenious.

Customized Crypto Options Seeing Record Demand From Funds, Miners, Says GSR

The Hong Kong-based firm is seeing soaring interest in its customizable options contracts amid high price volatility.

How to Escape Contracts That Are Killing Your Company During Coronavirus

Our “Not Legal Advice” columnist reviews options for changing or terminating business contracts during this crisis.

Crypto Lender Cred Is Offering Investors 10% Interest With Spencer Dinwiddie Partnership

Crypto investors can "pledge" five different cryptos, including two stablecoins, to Cred and earn up to 10 percent interest in a new partnership with NBA star Spencer Dinwiddie.

Steem Hard Forks Today Over Fears of Justin Sun Power Grab

The Hive hard fork is expected to go live at 14:00 UTC with the support of major exchanges Huobi and Binance.

Bitcoin Claws Back Over 40% of Recent Price Selloff With Surge Above $6.8K

Bitcoin shot past $6,800 on Friday, helping the cryptocurrency erase a significant portion of its recent losses.

80% of Australians Know About Crypto but Only 1% Use It: Central Bank Study

Fewert than 1 percent of surveyed Australians paid for consumer goods with cryptocurrency in 2019, according to a new study by the Reserve Bank of Australia.

What an Uptick in ‘Coinjoins’ Says About Bitcoin’s Value Proposition

A bitcoin privacy technology is seeing more usage as the global markets tank.

Traders Finding More Arbitrage Opportunities in Bitcoin

Prices in the crypto market are seeing such a steep upward trend that arbitrage traders are able to trade between exchanges to easily capture profit.

The Coronavirus API Delivers Vital Statistics Unmediated by Government Hands

Coronavirus API aggregates and presents real-time information related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Israeli Bitcoiners See Surveillance as Unavoidable During Coronavirus Crisis

Tracking mobile-phone data may save lives during the pandemic, but will it become a permanent feature of the surveillance state?

Thousands of These Computers Were Mining Cryptocurrency. Now They’re Working on Coronavirus Research

CoreWeave, the largest U.S. miner on the Ethereum blockchain, is redirecting the processing power of 6,000 specialized computer chips toward research to find a therapy for the coronavirus. These graphics processing units (GPUs) will be pointed toward Stanford University’s Folding@home, a long-standing research effort that unveiled a project on February 27 specifically to boost coronavirus […]

Huobi Adds Crypto ‘Circuit Breaker’ After Last Week’s Mass Liquidations

The new liquidation mechanism would pull the plug on futures trading should prices become too volatile.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 19, 2020

Chewie, we're home. The markets correct as dollars flash red. Plus, a COVID-19 song. This is CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Judge Calls Out Kleiman Attorneys Over ‘Excessive’ Fees in Craig Wright Case

The Florida judge has now approved fees and expenses amounting to about a quarter of the amount claimed.

Bitcoin in Zimbabwe – Part 1 of a New Documentary Podcast Series

After three weeks of listening, recording and talking bitcoin in Africa, podcaster Anita Posch shares her experiences in part one of this new six-part documentary podcast series.

Storj’s Decentralized Cloud Storage Service ‘Tardigrade’ Goes Live

The storage system splits files and stores them on multiple nodes to provide more security than centralized alternatives.

VC Deals in Crypto Remained Steady but Amount Invested Fell in 2019: Report

As younger companies are raising more, larger businesses didn’t come back for extra capital.

Thai Remittance Platform Starts Processing Ripple Payments

DeeMoney has become the first non-banking institution to use RippleNet in Thailand.

Bitcoin Sees 9% Gain as Turmoil Hits the Forex Markets

Bitcoin is gaining amid a selloff in most fiat currencies and could rise further if the U.S. stock markets track European equities higher.

CME Bitcoin Options Volume Hits Record Low, While Bakkt Goes Weeks With No Trades

Demand for bitcoin options on regulated U.S. derivatives exchanges has dried up even as price volatility reaches record highs.

Crypto Progressives Become Conservative With Their Own Chains

Those who style themselves as crypto progressives when rejecting the orthodoxy almost inevitably become crypto conservatives as they settle on a system they like, says Nic Carter.

Swiss Blockchain Exchange SDX Hires ConsenSys Startup Boss to Head Business

Tim Grant, formerly the CEO of ConsenSys-backed startup DrumG Technologies, is to become head of business at Swiss blockchain-based stock exchange SDX. SDX, the digital asset trading venue being built from the ground up by Swiss stock exchange operator SIX Group, had been searching for a new leader to take over from interim CEO Thomas […]

Payments Unicorn Square Gets Limited Bank Charter for Merchant Lending

Square Financial Services was given conditional approval by the FDIC Board for an Industrial Loan Company bank charter on Wednesday.

Dollar-Backed Stablecoins Are Holding Their Own Amid Coronavirus Chaos

As the global equities markets continue their free fall, stablecoins seem to be weathering the storm.

Hawaii Hints It May Relax Onerous Rule to Lure Crypto Firms

Hawaiian regulators have launched a digital currency sandbox that waives the state’s infamous double-reserve requirement for participating crypto firms.

Data Sets You Free: Self-Quarantine Diary, Day 3

Coronavirus underscores the value of mass trustworthy data to aid community decisions on our economic and social wellbeing, says CoinDesk's Michael Casey.

Gemini Continues European Expansion With New Institutional Sales Role

Gemini is hiring a new director for institutional sales in its European office.

Can Open Source Networks Address Medical Shortages? Feat. Bruce Fenton

In this episode of The Breakdown, NLW talks open source ventilators, overreactions in monetary policy and the slippery, sticky slope towards helicopter money with Bruce Fenton.

PayPal’s Financial Crimes Division Is Seeking a Blockchain Expert

The payments giant is seeking a blockchain expert to help identify use cases for the tech in the prevention of financial crimes.

Controversial Group Behind Coronavirus Tracking App Has Crypto Ties

The coronavirus crisis may highlight the overlap between the surveillance state and the cryptocurrency industry.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 18, 2020

How can you help during the COVID-19 crisis? Some techies have an idea. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

Canada’s Financial Crimes Watchdog Gets Ready for FATF Compliance

Canada’s financial crimes watchdog is preparing to implement its broad new virtual currency oversight powers ahead of the Financial Action Task Force’s June 2020 deadline.

Tezos Co-Founder Turns to Gaming With ‘Hearthstone’ Competitor

Coase, a startup launched by Tezos co-founder Kathleen Breitman, is pushing a new way to make digital card games more fun.

Regulated Exchange Launches in US With Crypto-Backed Visa Card Offering

The new CoinZoom exchange is registered with FinCEN in most U.S. states.

Argentina’s Gas Regulator Greenlights Industry Blockchain Built With RSK Tech

Gasnor, a natural gas distributor for two million Argentine residents, has won approval to pilot a smart contract-based platform aimed to speed up the country's chronically slow gas certification processes.

BitGo Allows Customers to Extend Crypto Insurance Cover Over $100M

BitGo customers can now boost their insurance limits beyond $100 million to cover the loss or destruction of crypto stored in special vaults.

Bitcoin Faces Another Down Day as Equities Reject Stimulus Efforts

Bitcoin remains at the mercy of the equity markets, which are struggling to gather upside traction despite the Federal Reserve's massive stimulus package.

Canadians Get US Jail Time for Stealing 23 Bitcoin in Twitter Scam

The two scammers used a Twitter account to pose as crypto exchange staff to persuade an Oregon resident to hand over their bitcoin.

Banks Have to Embrace Distributed Ledger Tech, Even if It Kills Them

To secure their futures, banks have to confront their fear of change and embrace innovation, says consultant Chuck Fried.

InterPlanetary File System Is Uncensorable During Coronavirus News Fog

Digital citizens are turning to decentralized protocols like IPFS to share news during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Wave Financial to Tokenize $20M Worth of Bourbon for New Whiskey Fund

Whiskey barrels usually increase in value as they go further down the ageing process.

Mark Karpeles Accuses Plaintiff in Mt Gox Lawsuit of Attempting to ‘Thwart’ Court

Karpeles accused Greene of trying to change claims ahead of a possible summary judgment.

Caitlin Long’s Wyoming Crypto Bank Announces C-Suite, Including Bitcoin Core Dev

On Tuesday, Avanti Financial Group announced five new executive hires, including bitcoin core developer Bryan Bishop and Figure Technology’s Zev Shimko.

Thieves Swindle $2M From Coronavirus Preppers With Hand Sanitizer, Face Mask Scams

Scammers purporting to sell face masks, hand sanitizer and medication have stolen at least $2 million in cryptocurrency from panicking consumers, claims blockchain security firm AnChain.AI.

Toyota Reveals Blockchain Lab Exploring Auto-Industry Applications

Toyota is exploring blockchain applications to the auto industry through a newly-revealed group composed of several subsidiaries.

Steem Community Plans Hostile Hard Fork to Flee Justin Sun’s Steemit

The blockchain for bloggers, Steem, is moving to Hive.io, CoinDesk has learned. The hostile hard fork is scheduled for Friday.

How I’m Coping With Spain’s Coronavirus Lockdown

Noelle Acheson shares details and perspective on the first few days in Spanish lockdown.

After a Wild Ride, Stocks Take a Breather and Crypto Bounces Back

Cryptocurrency markets stabilized somewhat as traditional financial markets found some footing Tuesday.

Why Bitcoin Is the Only Truly Free Market, Feat. Dan Tapiero

In the wake of Trump’s promise to “go big” on stimulus, where does bitcoin and its safe-haven narrative stand?

BlockFi Raises Deposit Rates as Bitcoin Crash Juices Loan Demand

Market makers and proprietary traders are taking out more crypto loans after the second-largest price drop in bitcoin created a new, more volatile market.

Experts Say the Fed’s QE Program Will Strengthen Bitcoin – One Way or Another

While QE may be anathema to crypto hardliners, some experts agree the net effect on bitcoin prices is positive.

Record Bitcoin Price Volatility Fails to Unnerve HODLers

Bitcoin’s price volatility has surged to record highs but long-term HODLers don't seem to be deterred.

MakerDAO Adds USDC as DeFi Collateral Following ‘Black Thursday’ Chaos

MakerDAO has added a third asset to its decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, USD Coin (USDC), in response to the system’s flagship stablecoin, dai, continuing to float above its dollar peg. Passed Tuesday at 2:58 UTC, the Coinbase- and Circle-backed USDC is now available for use as collateral on the premiere DeFi platform following an executive […]

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 17, 2020

NFTs for sale on Gemini, market muddles and a blockchain for toilet paper? It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily.

Coinbase Card Users Can Now Make Crypto-Backed Payments With Google Pay

Card holders will be able to make crypto-backed payments from any Google Pay-enabled device.

Overstock Hit By Two More SEC Subpoenas in December

The bitcoin-friendly retail company and the parent of security token marketplace tZERO says it was again subpoenaed by the Securities and Exchange Commission at the end of 2019.

Gemini’s Nifty Gateway Bets on Celebs to Drive Interest in Crypto Collectibles

The Gemini-owned Nifty Gateway just opened its marketplace for non-fungible tokens,

Bitcoin Is Now Undervalued, Suggests This Price Metric

Bitcoin's MVRV Z-score suggests the cryptocurrency is under-priced and could be trading near a major bottom.

Fintech Think Tank Takes Legal Action Against Cardano Foundation

London-based think tank Z/Yen has taken legal action against the foundation for allegedly terminating a 2017 agreement.

Swedish Central Bank Bids to Host BIS Hub for Digital Currency Research

Sweden’s Riksbank says its digital currency researchers are the best in central banking.

Opera Browser Adds New Cryptocurrency Purchase Options

The Opera browser app has partnered with e-payments startup Wyre to expand its built-in wallet’s crypto buying power.

MakerDAO’s Problems Are a Textbook Case of Governance Failure

MakerDAO could have planned for its "Black Swan" event last week.

Binance Launches $50M ‘Blockchain for India’ Fund

Binance and WazirX plan to donate up to $50 million to Indian blockchain startups after the Supreme Court lifted a central bank ban on financial services for these firms.

Retail Investors Are Buying the Bitcoin Institutions Are Selling, Traders Say

As institutions unload bitcoin, crypto’s traditional base – retail investors – is doing most of the buying, market participants said.

Ethereum Community Grapples With Coronavirus as EthCC Cases Tick Upward

A number of attendees who contracted COVID-19 at an Ethereum conference in Paris have gone public with their diagnoses in what some are calling an act of "radical transparency."

How Crypto Is Fighting Coronavirus: Hacks, Info, Perspectives

Hacks, perspectives and info on coronavirus from the crypto community at large. Have something to add? Tweet @CoinDesk #CoronaEfforts

The Fed’s $700B Bazooka Misfires, Feat. CoinDesk’s Michael Casey and Noelle Acheson

Far from reassuring the markets, the Fed’s dramatic action over the weekend seems to have spooked them instead.

Bitcoin Volume Gains Traction After 24-Hour Roller-Coaster Ride

Bitcoin prices have been on a roller-coaster ride since Sunday afternoon after the Federal Reserve slashed rates a full percentage point and promised to pump $700 billion into the U.S. economy. But now bitcoin volume is picking up.

Governments Face Trade-Offs on Privacy in Fight Against Coronavirus

Safeguarding privacy rights is tricky during a time of pandemic and panic.

Bakkt Touts New Payment Integration With Starbucks

Users of the Starbucks iPhone app are now being presented with “Bakkt Cash” as a payment option.

Why Bitcoin’s Safe-Haven Narrative Has Flown Out the Window

After the past week, bitcoin will never again be considered a safe haven investment, argues Noelle Acheson. And that’s not a bad thing…

Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Leaves to Take Senior Role at US Bank Regulator

Coinbase chief legal officer Brian Brooks will be the new COO and first deputy at Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which oversees banking regulation in the U.S.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 16, 2020

It's the first lockdown week in the United States and the markets are going wild. Here's what happened in crypto.

Baidu Employee Jailed for Mining Crypto on 200 Company Servers

The search engine developer downloaded monero mining scripts onto 200 of Baidu's servers.

Bank of Russia Says New Digital Assets Bill Will Outlaw Crypto Trading, Issuance

The central bank is in favor of digital securities, but maintains cryptocurrencies shouldn't be allowed in Russia.

Bakkt Raises $300M Series B From Microsoft, Pantera

Bakkt raised $300 million from its parent firm ICE, as well as Microsoft's M12, Pantera and a number of other funds.

Extreme Social Distancing: Self-Quarantine Diary, Day 1

How did we get in this mess? How do we get out of it? What will the post-coronavirus world look like? First in an occasional series.

Vertalo to Tokenize 22 Securities Worth $200M on Tezos Blockchain

Transfer agent Vertalo will tokenize 22 different private securities on Tezos after a new partnership with DealBox.

Bitcoin’s Ransomware Problem Won’t Go Away

By the end of 2019, at least $128 million in bitcoin had been paid to ransomware hackers. That's not good optics for a payment system.

Does Crypto Need Circuit Breakers? Last Week’s Price Crash Ignites a Debate

A longtime feature of stock exchanges, circuit breakers throw sand in the gears of a plummeting market like last week’s. Should crypto adopt them?

Bitcoin Sinks Below $5K Despite Fed Reserve’s Slashing of Interest Rates

The Fed's cutting of interest rates to zero has done little to calm the markets.

US Woman Gets 13 Years in Jail After Funding ISIS With Cryptocurrency

The woman fraudulently obtained credit card numbers in order to buy $62,000 in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies

SEC Proposal Could (Eventually) Unleash Security Token Sales

Companies looking to raise funds via security token offerings (STOs) might soon get some relief from regulatory burdens in the U.S.

Price Drop Casts Pall Over Bitcoin Miners’ Equipment Upgrades

Bitcoin miners spent $500M+ over the past six months preparing for May’s “halving”. Last week’s price crash means they may wait longer for the payoff.

QE4 Begins: Fed Cuts Rates, Buys $700B in Bonds; Bitcoin Rallies 7.7%

Effectively, this is “QE4,” the fourth major round of quantitative easing by the American central bank since the global financial crisis a little more than a decade ago.

‘Anything That Can Be Decentralized Will Be Decentralized’ 6 Years Later

After one of the most challenging weeks in recent memory we're talking about a new consensus driven approach to DeFi oracles and revisiting Johnston's Law (anything that can be decentralized will be decentralized) with the man who coined the phrase so many years ago.

Udi Wetheimer on Cyperpunk Myths and Bitcoin in Real Life

CoinDesk reporter Leigh Cuen is joined by VR meetup organizer Udi Wertheimer to talk about how bitcoin (BTC) fits into the broader cypherpunk movement.

$100M+ in Margin Calls: Crypto Lenders Demand Collateral as Market Buckles

“As of five minutes ago, everyone who needed to post collateral has,” Genesis CEO Michael Moro said Friday afternoon.

Thursday’s Market Madness Strained Ethereum’s Killer App: DeFi

So many people were trying to use the Ethereum blockchain during Thursday’s market meltdown that many applications simply stopped working as intended.

Bitcoin Ekes Out Gains but Remains in Red Amid Broader Market Rebound

Bitcoin has recovered slightly from Thursday’s brutal selloff as global financial markets creep back into the green.

Despite Bitcoin Price Dips, Crypto Is a Safe Haven in the Middle East

Bitcoin fell 40 percent this week from coronavirus shocks, but it's still seen as a safe haven in the Middle East.

Crypto Prepped Before Coronavirus Went Global

Attuned to meltdowns, crypto companies reacted quickly to the coronavirus threat.

What Happens When Currencies Fail? Feat. Preston Pysh

Massive and novel government intervention in markets is now a foregone conclusion, but what happens to bitcoin as the dust settles?

MakerDAO Debts Grow as DeFi Leader Moves to Stabilize Protocol

MakerDAO is not pursuing its emergency shutdown option although the amount of uncollateralized dai continues to grow.

Whale Watching: Exchange Data Contained Early Warning of Thursday’s Bitcoin Dump

Data on the flow of funds into exchanges suggests big investors were preparing to dump bitcoin on the market five days before Thursday’s price rout.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 13, 2020

What the heck just happened? We make sense of last night on CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

Bitcoin Shopping Gets a Boost From Social Distancing

State-imposed quarantines and policies set to work-from-home are boosting bitcoin-based shopping.

Crypto Payments Firm Halts Operations Citing Singapore’s New Regulatory Regime

Singapore-based Coinpip said it has "suspended operations" while it looks at becoming licensed under new AML rules.

CoinDesk Takes Consensus 2020 Virtual

Consensus 2020 will be a virtual experience, bringing together the entire community.

Defining Cryptocurrency Is the Best Way to Kill it

We should stop trying to classify cryptocurrency as a beast from another planet. Rather, we just need to accept it as the future of money.

Coinbase Moves to Cut Blockchain Load With Bitcoin Batching

The San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange has started grouping multiple bitcoin transactions together to benefit both users and the blockchain.

Bitcoin Recovers 40% From 12-Month Low Below $3.9K

A sharp bounce early on Friday comes alongside positive action in global equities.

Investors Can Hedge Long-Term Risk With New 2-Year Bitcoin Derivatives

Quedex's new bitcoin derivatives contracts, which expire in December 2021, saw more than $5 million in volume last weekend.

New York Regulator Tells Crypto Firms to Develop Coronavirus Contingency Plans

NYDFS is asking all crypto firms operating in New York to prepare detailed plans in case day-to-day operations are disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Bitcoin Falls Below $5K as Market Pain Deepens

Bitcoin fell below $5,000, but some investors maintain hopes for their long-term prospects.

Makeup Mogul Michelle Phan’s Coronavirus Strategy Is Educate and HODL Bitcoin

Although the coronavirus-induced economic slowdown is hitting every sector, beauty mogul Michelle Phan has a plan.

In Echo of 2008, Fed Pledges $1.5 Trillion Injection to Aid Reeling Markets

The pumping of trillions of dollars of fresh liquidity into the financial system recalled the central bank’s unprecedented efforts during the last crisis.

Cash Is the New Safe Haven as Crypto, Gold Continue to Tank

It turns out cold, hard cash with a helping of government bonds - not bitcoin or gold - is where people turn in the face of a pandemic and "apocalyptic" market turmoil.

6 Good Reasons for Bitcoin HODLers to Stay Calm

From today’s buy order activity to bitcoin’s historic ability to bounce back after being pronounced dead, a few calming notes in a day of chaos.

Mass Surveillance Threatens Personal Privacy Amid Coronavirus

The extreme surveillance measures taken to address COVID-19 are not normal or inevitable.

DeFi Leader MakerDAO Weighs Emergency Shutdown Following ETH Price Drop

A large drop in the price of ether (ETH) is testing the feasibility of Ethereum's entire system of lending and borrowing.

US Charges Dutch National With Running Crypto-Funded Child Porn Site

U.S. officials allege a Dutch national referred to as “Michael R.M.” made $1.6 million in bitcoin by operating a rape and child pornography website for the last eight years.

In Defense of Blockchain Voting

Recent election tech foul-ups have people scrambling for paper ballots. But they're not really the future of voting, says Intercoin's Greg Magarshak.

Down 26%: Bitcoin Sees Worst Sell-Off in 7 Years as Coronavirus Spurs Flight to Safety

Bitcoin suffered its biggest drop in seven years, as fears over the spreading coronavirus triggered a new wave of selling in everything from stocks and junk bonds to cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 12, 2020

Coronavirus is changing fintech as we know it while Magic Leap crashes. This is CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

UK Financial Regulator: Watch Out for Coronavirus Crypto Scams

The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority is asking investors to watch out for coronavirus-related crypto scams.

Chase Bank Settles Suit Over ‘Sky-High’ Credit Card Charges for Crypto Purchases

The bank had allegedly charged the plaintiff over $160 in fees and interest for regularly purchasing cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin’s Crash Triggers Over $700M in Liquidations on BitMEX

Bitcoin’s flash crash on Thursday triggered the most long-short liquidations on crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX in 16 months.

Ether Suffers Record-Setting 33% Drop Amid Global Market Turmoil

Ether fell from $197 to $132 in early morning trading Thursday.

IOTA Founder Personally Refunding Hack Losses to ‘Safeguard’ Project’s Remaining Reserves

Using his personal holdings will help protect the IOTA Foundation's 12-month runway, according to David Sonstebo.

Digital Pound Could Present ‘Challenges’ for UK, Says Mark Carney

The outgoing governor of the Bank of England highlighted the potential risks to monetary governance if a central bank digital currency were to be launched in the U.K.

Bitcoin Hits 10-Month Low Below $6K Alongside Stock Markets Plunge

Bitcoin is in turmoil on Thursday, having quickly plunged to below $6,000 for the first time since last May.

Australian Tax Office to Warn Investors Over Crypto Misreporting

The agency is set to issue warnings to hundreds of thousands of Asuralianin a clampdown on tax misreporting.

Coronavirus Is a Catalyst for Work-From-Home Tech

Coronavirus could coerce us into a new era of productivity, where we finally leverage digital collaboration tools to their full potential.

French Financial Regulator Suggests Europe-Wide Security Token Sandbox

France’s top securities watchdog has proposed that all of Europe adopt a “Digital Lab” sandbox to support the creation of security token offering regulation.

US Court Fines ICOBox $16M for Securities Violation in SEC Case

The SEC won a default judgement against ICO-as-a-service platform ICOBox and CEO Nikolay Evdokimov.

Bitcoiners Are Biohacking a DIY Coronavirus Vaccine

Anonymous bitcoiners are taking the search for a coronavirus vaccine into their own hands, bypassing academia, pharmaceutical firms and U.S. regulators.

As NY Fed Promises More Cash, What Will Christine Lagarde Do?

Bitcoin prices slid for a fifth straight day, but the bigger news is what the NY Fed and Christine Lagarde's ECB do next.

Why Energy Experts Are Watching Crypto as Oil Wars Emerge

Energy experts say incumbents are complacent about the dominance of the U.S. dollar in oil markets while China and Russia may try to force change.

US Homeland Security Charges LocalBitcoins Seller With Money Laundering

Homeland Security and Drug Enforcement Administration officials charged a LocalBitcoins user with laundering more than $140,000 in bitcoin.

Binance Stablecoin BUSD Tops $100M but Lags Behind Rivals

Binance USD, a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, has surpassed $100 million in market capitalization, chipping away at a market still dominated by Tether's TUSD.

Ben Hunt on Markets and Narratives in the Age of Coronavirus

Market theorist and founder of Epsilon Theory Ben Hunt joins for a conversation about the market and narratives in the age of coronavirus

Russia Seeks to Block ‘Darknet’ Technologies, Including Telegram’s Blockchain

A Russian government agency has requested contractor bids to find ways to block censorship-resistant internet tech, including one blockchain: Telegram's.

New York Crypto Companies Move to ‘Work From Home’ in Face of Rising COVID-19 Threat

The New York metropolitan area’s surging coronavirus count is forcing more of the region’s cryptocurrency and blockchain companies to act decisively.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 11, 2020

Bitcoin falls while the Escobar Fold 2 confuses the heck out of us. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

Crypto Scams Pose More Risk Than Payments Fraud, Report Suggests

Cryptocurrency scams in 2019 were more risky for U.S. residents than fraud involving romance or payments, says the Better Business Bureau.

The US Needs Hester Peirce’s Safe Harbor, or It Risks Falling Behind

A Beijing lawyer calls on the SEC to consider Hester Peirce's Safe Harbor proposal, which exempts startups from securities law while starting up. Without greater certainty around token sales, the US risks falling behind other jurisdictions in blockchain commerce.

Bitcoin Price Is Now Up Just 8% This Year

Bitcoin’s recent price drop in line with traditional markets has erased a major portion of its year-to-date gains.

2 Arrested in Japan for Obtaining Crypto Linked to Coincheck’s $530 Million Hack

The men are alleged to have been offloading NEM taken from Coincheck since February.

New Celo Alliance Has Same Aims as Libra – And Some of the Same Partners

Dozens of blockchain companies and investors are committing to promote Celo tokens in some fashion by joining the cLabs “Alliance for Prosperity.”

Paradigm Labs Shuts Down, Says It Was ‘Too Early’ for DeFi Boom

Paradigm said it found it difficult "carve a viable niche" the rapidly evolving DeFi space.

YouTube Temporarily Bans Two Popular Crypto Channels Claiming Policy Breach

The YouTube policy cited didn't mention digital assets.

Figure Technologies Securitizes $150M of Home Equity Loans on Blockchain

The deal may serve as a showcase for DLT’s benefits to Wall Street at a time when such use cases no longer generate the same buzz as five years ago.

That Noise You’re Hearing? Central Banks Struggling to Evolve

Noelle Acheson looks at the evolving role of central banks in the context of the current crisis, and what that could mean for crypto.

UK Trade Negotiators Eye Blockchain Provisions in Coming US Trade Talks

The U.K.'s trade negotiators want to set the pace for global blockchain regulation in its upcoming free trade talks with the United States.

How to Survive the Coronavirus and Keep Your Startup Alive

From protecting your staff to planning a succession, here's a six-point plan to staying out of legal trouble during the pandemic.

Blockforce Capital’s Crypto Fund Captures 86% of Bitcoin’s Upside in 2020

The fund has been able to keep more of bitcoin’s gains by reducing the complexity of its models.

Europe’s New AML Rules Made Crypto More Attractive to Institutions, Says Boerse Stuttgart Exec

Europe's fifth anti-money laundering directive seems to have increased institutional interest in crypto, says Ulli Spankowski, Boerse Stuttgart's chief digital officer.

Here’s Another Surprising Reason Why Crypto Prices Fell – Derivatives

The traditional markets' recent sell-off drove cryptocurrency prices down, but the way it did so was more complicated than even many of the most sophisticated players in crypto were able to grasp.

Bitcoiners in Europe Reflect on Economic Shocks as Coronavirus Spreads

With assets from oil barrels to bitcoin being pulverized by the coronavirus slowdown, people worldwide are reevaluating their plans for crypto gatherings, especially in geographies where anti-COVID-19 measures are increasingly serious.  In Milan, Italy, which was officially placed in lockdown by the Italian government on Sunday, bitcoin entrepreneur and meetup organizer Mir Liponi is facing […]

Crypto Fundraising and a Nothing-Is-Safe Haven

An update on the safe haven narrative as bitcoin continues to move with equities plus a crypto startup fundraising roundup

The Cryptocurrency Act of 2020 Is ‘Dead on Arrival,’ Washington DC Tells Sponsors

The 'Youngest Bitcoin Millionaire' and Metal Pay CEO worked on an omnibus crypto regulatory bill introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ). This is what the industry thinks.

Bithumb Taps Chainalysis for FATF-Grade Crypto Investigation Tool

The Bithumb exchange is tapping investigative tools offered by Chainalysis just a week after South Korea voted for tough new laws around the space.

This Is What a Productive Congressional Blockchain Hearing Looks Like

For once, U.S. lawmakers had an informative conversation about blockchain technology without posturing.

Libra Wanted a Currency, All We Need Are DeFi’s Open Payment Rails

Rather than build an alternative currency like Libra, Facebook should concentrate on building new infrastructure, like the open systems in the ethereum-DeFi space, says ConsenSys's Lex Sokolin.

When the Going Gets Weird, CoinDesk Readers Look for These Safe Havens

We asked CoinDesk readers where they're putting their money in this weird financial period. The answers were surprising.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 10, 2020

Bitcoin price goes up along with traditional markets while hackers hack hackers. Welcome to CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

This USV-Backed Startup Has a Solution for Buying Information With Confidence

Erasure is a smart contract on Ethereum for people to share information and to express confidence about that information by putting money behind it.

Bitcoin Options Saw Record Volume of $198M Amid Recent Price Drop

Trading volume records in bitcoin’s options market were smashed on Monday as investors scrambled to hedge their positions amid the selloff.

Circle Rolls Out Stablecoin Business Accounts, Preps SeedInvest for Sale

Circle is rolling out business accounts denominated in the stablecoin USDC and looking to sell crowdfunding platform SeedInvest as part of an ongoing pivot.

Previously Crypto-Only BlockFi Adds Cash On-Ramp Through Silvergate Partnership

Crypto lender BlockFi now supports cash deposits.

Securitize Launches Tokenized Platform to Revitalize Japan’s Rural Property Market

The platform has been set up to help reinvigorate smaller towns and villages in rural Japan.

Blockchain.com Wallet Users Can Now Borrow Against Their Crypto Holdings

Users can borrow U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoins against bitcoin in their wallets.

Bitcoin Back Over $8K as Traditional Markets Rebound

Bitcoin is witnessing recovery rally alongside stocks and oil, a day after hitting two-month lows.

Kraken Exchange Pledges India Expansion as Nation Reopens for Crypto Business

The announcement comes a week after the country's supreme court overturned a two-year banking ban for cryptocurrency firms.

Crypto Needs a Rational Value Investing Model

Until the value investing revolution led by Graham and Dodd, investors often gambled rather than invest rationally. Crypto has yet to go through a similar change, but it's started, says Arca CIO Jeff Dorman.

You Call That Volatility? Bitcoin Traders Scoff at Wall Street’s Gyrations

As traditional markets undergo a level of anxiety not seen since the 2008 recession, the cryptocurrency industry showed few existential signs of distress.

What the Oil Market Says About Bitcoin’s ‘Safe Haven’ Status

“I don’t think any asset is safe right now – except cash, US dollars.”

I Attended a Bitcoin Conference in VR and Still Got Sick

Motion sickness, but still.

Pitch Deck Says Solana Is Courting Dish Network, Kik for Its ‘Web-Scale’ Blockchain

Solana is looking to raise up to $12M at a $125M valuation, touting potential relationships with Dish and Kin in a pitch deck seen by CoinDesk.

Will Bitcoin Rebound in Market Crash? Look to Bonds and Credit Markets, Feat. Delphi Digital’s Kevin Kelly

What’s happening in stock markets, bond markets and beyond, and what it might mean in the short and long term for the crypto community.

Old Rivals Oracle and IBM Want Their Blockchains to Talk to Each Other

IBM and Oracle are working on an interoperability project that could unite the business consortia on the companies' respective blockchain platforms.

Bitcoin’s Plunge Was Foreshadowed by Miner Inventory Data

Bitcoin’s recent price drop has caught many investors off guard. However, a key metric showing worry among the miners gave a warning several weeks ago.

Market Liquidations Cause Cascade in Bitcoin Price

The price of bitcoin dropped sharply over the past 24 hours as a confluence of events has led to traders hitting the sell button.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 9, 2020

Markets crater as scams plague bitcoin. This is the Markets Daily Podcast from CoinDesk.

Legacy Trust’s Crypto Spin-Off Receives $3M to Roll Out Asian Settlement Platform

First Digital Trust has won backing from Taiwan-based Nogle for its upcoming Asia-focused crypto settlement solution for institutions.

Bitcoin, Bonds and Gold: Why Markets Are Upended in a Time of Fear

Noelle Acheson says bitcoin is not the only part of the financial markets going through upheaval.

China Injects $4.7M into Central Bank’s Blockchain Trade Finance Platform

Thirty-eight banks have started using the platform since it entered the test phase in September 2018.

Bitcoin’s Sharp Price Drop May Have Been Prompted by $120M Scam Selloff

Bitcoin has quickly plunged to two-month lows, with some analysts suggesting an over-$100 million liquidation by PlusToken scammers as the cause.

Asset Ratings Giant Morningstar Takes First Plunge Into Blockchain Securities

As part of a $39.7 million investment in FAT Brands, DBRS Morningstar has for the first time rated securities issued on a blockchain.

tZero-Affiliated Firm Hopes SEC Will Pass Updated Proposal for Security Token Platform

The Boston Options Exchange modified its plan to launch a security token exchange, increasing its required market makers and bringing its listing standards closer to the NYSE's.

The Gig Economy Is Unfair. Here’s How Token Models Can Help

The gig economy is unfair to many workers. We need tokenized co-operatives, says Gys Hough, a Dutch VC.

Bitcoin Falls to 1-Month Low Below $8K Amid Global Market Rout

The price of bitcoin has fallen to a one-month low below $7,900, amid a wider sell-off in the global financial markets.

Paradigm Leads $12M Round for DeFi-Friendly Wallet Startup

The DeFi-friendly Argent wallet just raised $12 million.

The Tokenization Delusion

The idea of everyone issuing their own tokens, and transacting freely without government involvement, is nothing but a lovely dream.

Exiled Bitmain Co-Founder Is Fighting Back With Second Lawsuit

Micree Zhan, the ousted co-founder of Bitmain, has filed another lawsuit in his fight to regain control of the bitcoin mining giant – this time in China.

How Blockchain Can Be Used to Promote Gender Equality

Stellar Foundation CEO: Blockchain offers financial on-ramps for women who previously have been excluded from systems of credit and wealth accumulation.

Leader to Watch: Elena Giralt Talks Zcash and Feminism

CoinDesk reporter Leigh Cuen is joined by Elena Giralt, the Electric Coin Company’s product marketing associate known for her research on cryptocurrency usage in Latin America, to talk about how digital assets can subvert power dynamics.

The Dangerous Truth About India’s Cryptocurrency Verdict

An only-partial court victory and the possibility of legislation banning crypto mean the industry’s legal status in India remains vulnerable.

That AlphaPoint $5.6M Funding Round? It’s a Loan

The recent $5.6 million injection of capital into New York-based AlphaPoint came from bridge financing, a short-term business loan, the company confirmed to CoinDesk. But AlphaPoint would not say who made the loan or its terms.

IRS Crypto Summit Was About the Exchange of Ideas, Not Tax Guidance

No new guidance is expected to come from Tuesday’s IRS Crypto Summit, but that the event happened at all is still a positive sign for the industry.

Bitcoin’s $9,000 Price Stays Steady as Sentiment Stays Positive

As global equity markets continue to get pummeled, bitcoin’s return to the $9,000 level may have been driven by some of the same forces causing a rally in bonds — a desire for respite from a coronavirus-plagued markets.  After sharp gains in price Thursday, bitcoin (BTC) has been trading steadily in a range between $9,000 […]

Ethereum’s ProgPoW Call Features Frustration but Little Progress

The controversial proposed change to Ethereum’s mining algorithm failed to change status after meeting resistance during Friday’s core developers call.

FluffyPony on Encryption, Clearview and How Coronavirus Could Impact Privacy

The former lead maintainer of Monero and co-founder of Tari speaks about the state of global privacy

Japan Doesn’t Need a Digital Yen, Asserts BOJ Official

A digital yen could have serious unintended consequences, the Bank of Japan's deputy governor warned.

Overstock’s VC Wing Leads $8.2M Funding Round in GrainChain

GrainChain, a blockchain platform for tracing commodities, raised $8.2 million from Medici and Eden Block.

Gender and Income: Binance US and Stellar CEOs Debunk Myths for International Women’s Day

There’s a common myth that women are less likely to be interested in bitcoin than men. The reality is people with higher income levels have a greater propensity for cryptocurrency and women still earn significantly less than men.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 6, 2020

In this episode of CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast we go to India, Denver, and Mars. Listen now.

Crypto Exchange OKCoin Appoints New CEO to Drive U.S. Expansion

The current CEO Tim Byun will lead OK Group's global government relations from the end of March.

India’s Central Bank Plans to Fight Supreme Court Crypto Ruling

The Reserve Bank of India reportedly plans to return to the supreme court to ask for a review of a ruling that overturned its ban on banking access for crypto firms.

Exchange Technology Developer AlphaPoint Raises $5.6M in Latest Funding Round

A member of FINRA's board of governors has also joined AlphaPoint's board.

Bitcoin Maintains Gains as Global Equities Slide, US Yield Hits Record Lows

Bitcoin is printing gains amid coronavirus-led risk-aversion in the traditional markets.

Information Overload Is Stopping Us From Seeing the Truth

The online environment is inundated with information, and it's impossible to tell the fake from the real, says Microsoft's blockchain chief.

INX’s $130M IPO to Launch Next Month as Exchange Seeks NY BitLicense

Crypto exchange INX is targeting an April launch date for its $130 million IPO, potentially the industry’s largest registered securities sale ever.

Nike, Macy’s Run Blockchain Trial With Auburn’s RFID Lab

Blockchain might help major apparel brands from Nike to Macy’s better share their product data across the retail supply chain, according to a new white paper from Auburn University’s RFID Lab.

Clearview AI Lawyer Tor Ekeland Says Your Face Is Public Property

Tor Ekeland made a career of defending hackers. Now he's defending a hacker's trove: a company with three billion images in its database.

Ethereum’s ProgPoW Debate Is About Much More Than Mining

The debate over ProgPoW has become a flashpoint for how Ethereum makes big decisions.

South Korean Lawmakers Greenlight Strict Crypto AML Bill

South Korean lawmakers voted to place tough new requirements on cryptocurrency exchanges, adding legitimacy to the country’s sprawling crypto economy – and potentially triggering a market consolidation.

Why Bitcoin Mining Might Be the New Business Model for US Power Plants

South Korea gets legal recognition for crypto, New York power plant mines BTC and the end of the intranet era for enterprise blockchain?

Bitcoin Back Above $9,000 Amid Bullish Sentiment 

The price of bitcoin broke above $9,000 on a bullish run at 9:00 UTC (4:00 a.m. EST).

Unstoppable Domains Chrome Extension Lets Users Browse Ethereum-Based Sites

Unstoppable Domains, the censorship-resistant web developer, has released a Google Chrome extension in its bid to open up web 3.0.

Yields of 25% to 42% Lure Lenders Back to DeFi Platform bZx

Lenders and depositors are coming back to bZx, as the decentralized protocol for margin trading offers significantly higher yields on ether deposits compared to its peers.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 5, 2020

HTC makes a miner, gas powers a new bitcoin effort in New York, and BTC goes back up. It's the Markets Daily podcast from CoinDesk.

How the Bitcoin Market Changed Since 2017’s Bull Run

Regulation-friendly infrastructure makes 2020's bitcoin market stand out from the Wild West of 2017.

Moonshots Capital, DCG, Tezos Back $2.5M Fundraise for Crypto Software Provider

Zabo, which claims to be able to link bank accounts to crypto wallets directly, raised $2.5 million from Moonshots Capital and other firms to build out its engineering team and customers.

With Freedom at Stake, More Hongkongers See Bitcoin’s Unique Value

Before the recent protests, explaining bitcoin's value proposition to Hongkongers was tricky, says local resident Leo Weese. Now more people appreciate censorship resistance.

The Team Behind CryptoKitties Is One Step Closer to Leaving Ethereum

For its own blockchain, Flow.

Crypto Investment Fund Suffers Hack Exposing Data of 266,000 Users: Report

The personal data of about 266,000 people registered with the fund may have been exposed.

A New York Power Plant Is Mining $50K Worth of Bitcoin a Day

The power plant believes it will remain profitable even after the halvening event.

Tron’s Takeover of Steemit Is Internet History Repeating Itself

Tron's takeover of Steemit is part of a trend: the takeover of decentralized networks by companies that put their own interests ahead of their users.

Web3 Foundation Funds Technical Bridge Connecting Polkadot to Bitcoin

Web3 has awarded grants to more than 60 projects building on Polkadot.

Bitcoin Prints Bullish Price Pattern With Move Above $9K

Bitcoin's bulls look to have established a secure foothold above $9,000, confirming a bullish inverse head-and-shoulders breakout.

New Cross-Chain Network Plans to Bring Bitcoin’s Liquidity to the DeFi Space

Kyber Network and Bancor Network have been integrated into a new platform that provides cross-chain liquidity for decentralized finance.

UK Finance Watchdog Warns Against ‘Unauthorized’ Crypto Exchange BitMEX

The Financial Conduct Authority said BitMEX had been targeting U.K. consumers without approval.

BitGo Reveals Bitcoin Lending Push; $150M Booked So Far

With big banks still mostly eschewing the 11-year-old digital-asset industry, a new breed of lenders is stepping into the void to meet the demand. Enter BitGo.

Crypto Lender Babel Hits $380M in Outstanding Loans

Beijing-based cryptocurrency lending startup Babel Finance said it has reached a record of $380 million in outstanding loans as of February.

Stop Treating Bitcoin as Risky. It’s a Safer Asset Than Most

Bitcoin is often lumped in risky assets like growth stocks, high yield debt, high beta ETFs, venture capital, and emerging markets. In fact, it has many hallmarks of a safe haven in a crisis.

Russian Oligarch, Ex-Cabinet Minister Invested in Telegram’s ICO, Court Filing Says

A Russian oligarch, a former cabinet minister and the COO of fintech Wirecard invested in Telegram’s $1.7 billion ICO a new court document says.

India’s Supreme Court Ruling Is a Win for the Whole Blockchain Industry

With India's Supreme Court overturning a ban on cryptocurrencies, the blockchain industry has a large new resource of customers and developers.

Libra Plus? A New Global Digital Currency Strategy for Facebook

India’s Supreme Court overturns a crypto banking ban while Facebook prepares fiat-pegged digital currencies alongside Libra.

Bitcoin Remains Steady Amid Weaker Volume

Bitcoin remains steady, with its 24-hour price in the $8,600-$8,800 range.

After Court Victory, Indian Exchanges Gear Up for Crypto Trading Surge 

Indian Supreme Court’s decision to lift the central bank’s ban on cryptocurrency trading could soon translate into notable growth in trading volumes, according to cryptocurrency exchanges in the country.

Indian Crypto Exchange Adds Bank Transfers Hours After RBI Ban Lifted

Mumbai-based CoinDCX became the first platform in India to fully integrate bank account transfers.

Coronavirus Rate Cuts: Australia’s Central Bank Did It First

The Reserve Bank of Australia announced it would be cutting the cash rate by 25 basis points to 0.50 percent, its lowest on record according to recent figures.

Markets Daily Gets Political: The Post-Trust Election

Today on Markets Daily we're taking a break from our quick-hit news roundup format for a brief discussion about the U.S. election in the age of bitcoin with CoinDesk features editor Ben Schiller and privacy-beat reporter Benjamin Powers.

CoinDesk’s Statement on Coronavirus and Blockchain Week NYC

CoinDesk has an important update about plans for the Consensus event in the wake of the coronavirus.

Bitmain Spin-Off Matrixport Seeks $300M Valuation in Latest Funding Round

Matrixport began pitching investors a few weeks ago with the aim of raising $40 million.

Microsoft, EY and ConsenSys Tout New Way for Big Biz to Use Public Ethereum

A trio of heavy-hitters has come up with a new way of using the ethereum mainnet to connect firms’ internal systems for resource planning.

Hyperledger Conference Shows Where Blockchain Can Fight Global Warming

Social impact took center stage at this year's Hyperledger Global Forum, with perhaps less of an emphasis on banking consortia and trade finance blockchains.

HTC’s New 5G Router Can Host a Full Bitcoin Node

The Taiwanese tech giant has launched a new router that can connect devices to 5G networks while supporting the bitcoin blockchain at the same time.

Sweden Calls for Action Over Ukraine Crypto ‘Fraud Factory’

Ukraine has been asked to act following a report of an alleged cryptocurrency fraud operation duping naive investors from the country's capital.

Samsung is Working on a Blockchain-Based Payments Solution for Banks and Merchants

The platform will use blockchain to automatically input payments data into bank records.

Bitcoin Keeps Recovery Hopes Alive With Defense of Major Average Support

Bitcoin may make a quick recovery above $9,000 if the bulls maintain their defense of the 200-day average at $8,720.

The Markets Were Already Vulnerable, Then Came Coronavirus

If central banks flood the global economy with cheap money in response to a coronavirus outbreak, that is likely to help assets like bitcoin, says Kevin Kelly.

Ukrainian Taxpayers Will Now Have to Report Crypto Holdings

Ukraine’s revenue agency has published guidance that says cryptocurrency holdings should be treated as intangible property on tax returns.

India’s Supreme Court Lifts Banking Ban on Crypto Exchanges

The Supreme Court of India has ruled against a decision imposed by the country’s central bank nearly two years ago that curbed crypto trading in Asia’s third-largest economy. According to a report from Bloomberg, a three-judge bench of the court ruled on Wednesday in favor of petitions by crypto exchanges and startups that opposed the […]

Bitcoin’s Computing Power Is Growing Again After Coronavirus-Related Disruption

The bitcoin network’s processing power is growing again as major Chinese miner manufacturers resume shipments following coronavirus-related delays.

Bitcoin Drops 2% Following Fed’s First Emergency Rate Cut Since 2008

Bitcoin prices slid Tuesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve announced an emergency cut in interest rates to counteract risks to the economy from the spreading coronavirus.

NBA Player Spencer Dinwiddie Taps Broker-Dealer in Push to Tokenize Sports Contracts

The move follows a three-month tussle with the NBA, which initially claimed it represented a league violation.

Stellar-Based IoT App Joins Tokenized Connectivity Race

An app that allows users to earn a Stellar-based token by providing last-mile access for internet-of-things (IoT) devices is now live on Apple’s App Store.

Algorand Blockchain Chosen as Underlying Tech for Marshall Islands’ Digital Currency

Algorand was selected following "extensive market research among the leading protocol options."

Uphold Teams Up With TaxBit to More Accurately Report Users’ Crypto Trades

Uphold is launching a real-time tax liability dashboard with the help of TaxBit, allowing users to more easily understand and file their taxes.

IBM’s Public Cloud Is Secure Enough for Crypto Custodians

Announced Tuesday, the latest offering from Onchain Custodian is hosted entirely on Big Blue’s banking-grade public cloud.

Yang 2020 and the Search for the Next Crypto Candidate

What’s next for the Yang Gang, and who – if anyone – will inherit their leader’s mantle?

Pete Buttigieg Was Silicon Valley’s Favorite

Before dropping out the presidential race, Pete Buttigieg plowed a centrist lane on tech issues, criticizing Silicon Valley without making the radical proposals of Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren.

Why Aren’t the Candidates Talking About Digital Currency?

Given the threat to US interests posed by a digital yuan and similar projects, you might think candidates would have positions on the future of money. Not so much.

Letter From New Hampshire: The Dangers of Disinformation

From the digital divide to social media misinformation, the internet is a major and multi-headed issue in 2020. Just don’t expect to hear much about it on the campaign trail.

How Democracy Breaks: Everything That Could Go Wrong With the Election

From supply chain attacks to disinformation campaigns, the risks to US election machinery are numerous. Here's a scary rundown, according to security experts.

The Post-Trust Election: CoinDesk Hits the 2020 Campaign Trail

CoinDesk's Post-Trust Election package explores a world in which voters have lost faith in democracy and how tech might fix the problems it's created.

Biden May Not Be Savvy About Big Tech, But He Understands Cybersecurity

Nobody is chanting “Hey, Ho, Uncle Joe for Crypto!” at a Biden election rally. But the venerable ex-vice president does have things to say about big tech, chiefly in the realm of cybersecurity.

Bernie Sanders: Our Campaign Is About People not Tech

Bernie Sanders has never been closer to delivering a “revolution” in American life. How will he address personal privacy, cryptocurrencies and big tech?

How Elizabeth Warren’s Beef With Facebook Could Benefit Bitcoin

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is crusading against big banks as one of her core platforms for the 2020 presidential election, but it’s her social media policies that may have the most direct impact on bitcoiners.

Klobuchar Wanted a Return to Normalcy, but Do Voters?

While Trump self-inflated and Bernie talked of revolution, Klobuchar took a middle lane on tech. From election security to privacy to transparency in online ads, Klobuchar was a practical legislator in a chaotic political environment.

India’s Appetite for Crypto Derivatives Is Growing, Exchanges Say

India is developing an appetite for crypto derivatives, even as the country's Supreme Court continues to deliberate over the future of the exchange industry.

Bottom In? Bitcoin Makes 4.5% Gain as Sellers Lose Steam

Bitcoin looks to have found a price bottom over the last two days and may soon witness a stronger recovery rally.

Even With CBDCs, the State Won’t Forfeit Its Power Over Money

Nothing is more centralizing than a state’s control over decentralized technologies like blockchain and cryptocurrency, says law professor and blockchain adviser James Cooper.

How to Stop the Next Quadriga: Make Exchanges Prove Their Reserves

Exchanges sometimes treat depositors' assets like fractional reserves, with disastrous results. Time for regular audits, writes Nic Carter.

Binance Lets Turkish Customers Directly Deposit Fiat With Bank Integration

Binance has launched a direct channel integration with Istanbul-based Akbank, allowing users to deposit Turkish lira to their exchange accounts.

FTX Owner Alameda Invests 7-Figure Sum Into Rival Quant Trading Firm

Alameda Research, a crypto quant trading firm which owns derivatives exchange FTX, has invested seven figures into new rival Folkvang.

How an Open Blockchain Project Scored a Rare Endorsement From China

Beijing-based Conflux has achieved a rare feat: winning official Chinese government support for a public, permissionless blockchain. Here's how.

Why Crypto Should Care About Justin Sun’s Steem Drama

The implications reach much further than just Steem or Tron, underlining the fundamental message of the "not your keys, not your crypto" mantra.

Bitcoin Rebounds as Coronavirus-Infected Stocks Get Jolt From Fed, BOJ

Bitcoin jumped the most in two weeks Monday, surging alongside U.S. stocks amid speculation that the Federal Reserve and other central banks will support markets as the coronavirus spreads.

The View From China: Crypto, Crisis and Digital Currencies Feat. Matthew Graham

Sino Global Capital’s Matthew Graham joins for a discussion of crypto, coronavirus and enterprise blockchain in China.

Bitcoin, Uncertainty and the Ultimate Narrative

Noelle Acheson looks at how the market turmoil could spill over into politics and what that could mean for bitcoin.

US Treasury Department Blacklists 20 Bitcoin Addresses Tied to Alleged North Korean Hackers

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control has added two individuals and 20 bitcoin addresses to its sanctions list, accusing them of being part of the North Korea-affiliated Lazarus Group.

Bitcoin News Roundup for March 2, 2020

With bitcoin taking a breather after last week's abrupt fall, Markets Daily is back with another time saving news roundup.

Bitcoin’s Option Market Sees Low Chance of Post-Halving Rally

Bitcoin is unlikely to get bid up after the May 2020 mining reward halving, based on the way the cryptocurrency’s options are valued.

Lloyd’s Backs New Crypto Hot Wallet Insurance Scheme From Coincover

The UK insurance giant is underwriting a new policy protecting against theft of cryptocurrency held in online hot wallets.

Crypto Exchange Huobi’s DeFi-Focused Blockchain Released in Public Beta

The exchange is eyeing use cases for its tech across areas such as tokenized asset issuance, payments, identity verification and lending.

Bitcoin Rallies After Biggest Weekly Drop Since November

Bitcoin is flashing green on Monday, having suffered a double-digit price drop last week.

West Virginia Ditches Blockchain Voting App Provider Voatz

West Virginia will not continue with its use of blockchain-based mobile voting software Voatz amid security concerns from experts.

Coinbase Joins Japan’s Self-Regulatory Organization for Crypto Firms

The exchange's membership of Japan's self-regulatory organization for cryptocurrency firms indicates Coinbase still plans to launch services in the nation.

LINE Targets US Residents With New Crypto Exchange

The messaging app firm launched a new U.S.-based crypto exchange, Bitfront, last week, offering traders dollar-to-crypto trading pairs.

Why Enterprise Blockchains Fail: No Economic Incentives

In developing blockchain projects, companies often lack an understanding of the economics of networks, and the path to creating long-term monetization.

The States Can’t Blockchain

If states want to promote the use of blockchain tech, they need advisors with solid technical understanding of what they're trying to legislate.

BIS Paper Reckons With P2P Payments, Tokenized Securities, Central Bank Digital Currencies

Researchers at the Bank for International Settlements say the future of payments may be peer-to-peer, but a number of considerations must be satisfied before distributed ledger-based systems can go mainstream.

Coronavirus Impacts on Bitcoin (And the IRS’s Dumb Singularity)

Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Stephanie Murphy and Adam B. Levine discuss coronavirus and its potential impacts or disruptions to the decentralized world of bitcoin. Plus a humorous look at the IRS's challenges as it lumps together bitcoin and... Ro-Bux?