From Corrupt to Broken: An Insider’s Analysis of the Fed, Feat. Danielle Dimartino Booth

An advisor to the Fed through the Great Financial Crisis to 2015 examines the latest in the largest monetary policy experiment in human history.

Andreessen Horowitz Doubles Down on Crypto Investments With New $515M Fund

Andressen Horowitz pointed to next-generation payments, decentralized finance, new monetization models and Web3 as use cases it would look into for its new $515 million fund.

CBDCs Come in Many Forms – Here’s a Quick Guide

Dozens of central banks are piloting digital currencies. George Calle, of R3, takes us through the various project types.

Bitcoin Whale Addresses Hit Highest Number Since August 2019

Large crypto investors, popularly known as “whales,” seem to be accumulating bitcoin amid the ongoing price rally.

Blockchain Bites: Bitcoin’s Boom Roils Markets and a16z Makes a Long-term Play

While FOMO drives up bitcoin's price and derivatives market, Telegram announces another delay and Andreessen Horowitz raises a $515 million fund.

The ‘Great Lockdown’ Is Boosting Demand for Bitcoin Custody Solutions

Bitcoin wallet startups have seen a sudden uptick in activity. In short, more people want to hold their own bitcoin than ever before.

ICE Spent ‘Nearly $300M’ Helping Bakkt Acquire Loyalty Firm Bridge2

ICE spent close to $300 million acquiring Bridge2 Solutions for Bakkt, CEO Jeffrey Sprecher said in an earnings call Thursday.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 30, 2020

Here comes the BTC price bump while Telegram pulls back on its token sale. This is CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

BTSE Exchange Taps Into Crypto Demand by Increasing Request-for-Quote Limits

BTSE, a Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange, has upped the limit for its over-the-counter request for quote (RFQ) due to April's surge in bitcoin demand.

Banking the Unbanked: How the Crypto Community Can Make a Big Impact

For tech-savvy young adults in communities often overlooked by traditional big business, the crypto and blockchain industry offers opportunities that others don't.

Fidelity-Backed Fireblocks Opens Asia Offices to Pitch Crypto ‘Hot Vault’

Fireblocks, a platform that secures digital assets in transit, is expanding in Asia with two new offices, one in Hong Kong, the other in Singapore.

YouNow’s Regulated Crypto Project Props Will Migrate to Algorand Blockchain

Props is hoping the move onto public blockchain Algorand will help it expand.

Tezos Becomes Latest Blockchain to Tap Chainlink for Oracle Services

Chainlink has integrated with yet another blockchain, this time Ethereum rival Tezos.

Genesis CEO Details ‘Black Thursday’ Chaos in Q1 Lending Report

Crypto lender Genesis Capital increased its loan book to $649 million during a tumultuous Q1 marked by wild fluctuations in the price of bitcoin.

Shares in Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust Up By 14% After Crypto’s Price Rallies

Shares in the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust climbed 14% on Wednesday as bitcoin's price rallied toward $9,000.

Binance, Brock Pierce Donate $1M to Puerto Rico’s Covid-19 Fight

Brock Pierce’s nonprofit and Binance say they are buying $1 million in personal protective equipment to help fight coronavirus in Puerto Rico.

First Mover: Bitcoin Now Crushing Gold After Biggest Price Jump in Six Weeks

"Digital gold" has surged past the yellow metal to become one of the year's best performing assets, up more than 20% in 2020.

Older Mining Machines Turn Profitable Again as Bitcoin Rises Ahead of Halving

Older mining models can now earn 10-20% gross margins after bitcoin’s price jumps to two-month highs.

Bitcoin Price Rockets to Two-Month High Above $9,400

Call options on bitcoin are drawing higher prices following the cryptocurrency's quick move to two-month highs.

Alibaba Patents Blockchain System That Spots Music Copycats

The e-commerce giant has patented a blockchain-based means of vetting the originality of songs.

Blockstack Ran on Token Sales in 2019, Says Latest SEC Filing

Blockstack disclosed that its $23 million revenue in 2019 came almost entirely from Stacks token sales.

Telegram Caves to US Regulators: Delays Blockchain Launch, Offers to Return $1.2B to Investors

Telegram is delaying the launch of its TON blockchain for a second time, and offered to repay investors up to 72 percent of their funds back after losing an initial court fight with the

Ousted Bitmain Co-Founder Wins Partial Victory in Latest Legal Battle

Micree Zhan persuaded a Beijing municipal agency to stop Bitmain from changing its local legal representative – but not to give him back the title.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin’s Price Tear Suggests It’s FOMO Time Again

Fear of missing out, or FOMO, ahead of the halving, along with strength in stocks despite bad economic data, appear to be driving bitcoin’s ascent.

Bitcoin Jumps 12% as Fed Keeps Money Flowing and US Economy Shrinks

"It's clear that the effects on the economy are severe," said Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. "We won't run out of money. It's an unlimited pot."

Coinbase, Kraken Suffer Temporary Outages as Bitcoin Soars as High as $8,900

Coinbase experienced a temporary outage as daily volume spiked to over $320 million amid bitcoin’s rally to $8,900.

When Currencies Fail: A Primer on the Dollar Crisis in Lebanon

A massive shortage of dollars is instigating economic chaos, including a more than 50% loss of value in the Lebanese pound. Presented in podcast and full-transcript formats.

Arweave 2.0 Gets File Storage Project One Step Closer to Its ‘Library of Alexandria’ Dreams

Arweave operates on the same idea as other blockchain-based file storage services such as Filecoin or Storj, but with far larger ambitions backed by new technical developments unveiled Wednesday as Arweave 2.0.

Blockchain Bites: What the Bitcoin Halving Means for Miners and Prices

Predictions and price models abound ahead of Bitcoin's halving, expected in less than two weeks.

How Blockchains Become Great Big Garbage Patches for Data

Far from making blockchains more convenient, unlimited block size and zero fees render them less reliable, says Nic Carter.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 29, 2020

BTC prices rise as experts agree that the halving isn't that big a deal. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

66% of Europeans Believe Crypto Will Still Be Around in 10 Years: Survey

A poll from bitFlyer Europe suggests confidence in crypto is growing, despite the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Bitcoin Wallets Are Adopting This Tech to Simplify Lightning Payments

Bitcoin’s Lightning network has a long way to go in terms of user experience. To tackle this problem, a standard known as lnurl is quietly gaining ground.

Silvergate Adds 46 More Crypto Clients in Q1 While Existing Customers Increase Deposit Levels

Silvergate Bank added 46 crypto customers in the first quarter and saw fee income and deposits increase from those customers because of “Black Thursday,” according to its earnings report released before market open on Wednesday.

Digital Asset Firm Taurus Group Raises €10M From Investors Including Banks, Tezos

Taurus Group is looking to expand its operations after securing Series A funding led by Arab Bank Switzerland.

Bitcoin Rises Above $8.1K as Bulls Eye April Gain for Fifth Year Running

Prices jumped above $8,100 on Wednesday, making an April gain for the fifth consecutive year all but certain.

First Mover: For Bitcoin Prices, Inflation Headlines May Matter More Than the Reality

Money printer goes brrr, but does it necessarily mean big inflation?

YouTube Suspends Ripple’s Tech Chief Days After XRP Scam Lawsuit Filing

Schwartz's channel was suspended for impersonation, but he's no idea why.

Crypto Data Provider Skew Raises $5M, Launches Trade Execution Platform

The $5 million round, led by Octopus Ventures, adds to a $2 million seed round raised in September of last year.

Boerse Stuttgart’s Bitcoin Exchange Adds Stop Orders as Volatility Hedge

The firm says it's implemented "volatility interruptions" to protect traders from having all their stops triggered in a flash crash.

Nasdaq Is Using R3’s Corda for Managing Digital Assets

The Nasdaq stock exchange has partnered with R3 to offer a platform for digital asset marketplaces on the Corda blockchain.

US Transportation Dept. Says Blockchain Could Bring More Trust to Commercial Drones

A U.S. Department of Transportation report says using blockchain to track drones can make them safer.

Stacking Sats? Small Bitcoin Holders on the Rise, Data Suggests

New data support the idea that small bitcoin investors are multiplying rapidly. Anecdotal evidence suggests much of that growth is happening in the U.S.

Dragonfly Capital Managing Partner Alexander Pack Steps Down

Alexander Pack, managing partner of Dragonfly Capital, has stepped down from the crypto investment firm, according to a letter obtained by CoinDesk.

Kyber Network Activity Surges as DEX Plans Switch to Staking Model in Q2

A planned upgrade that would allow token holders to earn staking income is bringing out users in droves to Kyber Network, a decentralized exchange.

Network Bringing Bitcoin to DeFi Taps Libra Member Bison Trails for Staking Services

DeFi protocol Keep Network has tapped Bison Trails to provide non-custodial staking services for tBTC, an ERC-20 representation of bitcoin (BTC) deposits.

COVID-19 and the Mass Surveillance Machine, Feat. Maya Zehavi

An exploration of how the COVID-19 crisis is shifting power dynamics between governments, people, and business.

Crypto Advocate Brian Quintenz Will Step Down From CFTC Role by October

CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz, who sponsored the Technology Advisory Committee and advocated for self regulation in the crypto industry, will leave his post by late October.

With Kik and Telegram Cases, the SEC Tries to Kill the SAFT

The SEC is gunning for startups funded through Simple Agreement for Future Tokens, a legal maneuver that was supposed to keep them safe.

Blockchain Bites: WEF, IBM and a Chinese City Show Support for Blockchain

IBM and the WEF both have plans for solving disruption to supply chains disrupted by the coronavirus crisis.

New York Regulator Hires Former IRS Silk Road Investigator as General Counsel

The New York Department of Financial Services has appointed former IRS Criminal Investigations head Richard Weber as its new general counsel.

Blockstack Pledges to Enforce Patents for ‘Defensive Purposes’ Only

Blockstack, the startup building a decentralized backbone for Web 3.0, is open-sourcing its two patents – kinda.

OpenLaw Launches First ‘Legal DAO’ for Distributed VC Investments

OpenLaw’s LAO, or “Limited Liability Autonomous Organization,” opened Tuesday for investors looking to compliantly earn returns on the next wave of Ethereum-based projects.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 28, 2020

Bitcoin could hit $8K soon while Indonesia has created a thornless durian. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

Bitcoin’s Halving Is Irrelevant for Some Large Traders

Bitcoin’s third halving is less than two weeks away. Some traders are less than bullish ahead of the event.

SEC Opposes Blockchain Association’s Brief Supporting Kik, Says Group Isn’t ‘Neutral’

The SEC says 7 members of the Blockchain Association have financial interests in Kik in its opposition to the group's brief around the case.

Cross-Border Payment Portal Checkout.com Is Latest to Join Libra Association

Checkout.com, a digital payment processor that focuses on cross-border transactions, has become the 24th member of the Libra Association.

CipherTrace’s New Crypto Tracing Tool Is Meant for Banks

CipherTrace is rolling out a toolkit to help banks flag accounts and crypto-related transactions that may be suspicious.

First Mover: Two Weeks From Halving, Bitcoin Rally Brings $10K Into View

With the Bitcoin blockchain's once-every-four-years rewards halving now just two weeks away, some analysts are starting to fix their sights on the next upside target: $10,000.

Bitcoin Rally Pauses Near $7.8K After Longest Winning Run in 8 Months

Bitcoin's bulls are taking a breather in the approach to $7,800, having engineered the longest daily winning run in eight months.

World Economic Forum Shares Roadmap for Deploying Blockchains in Real World

As COVID-19 disrupts global supply chains, the WEF has published a roadmap for businesses to deploy blockchains as a solution.

DeFi Project dForce Refunds All Affected Users After $25M Hack

The Lendf.me smart contract was hacked on April 29, but then, curiously, the funds were returned two days later.

Why a Startup You’ve Never Heard of Is Now Sponsoring a Bitcoin Core Developer

CardCoins becomes one of the elite few to sponsor a Bitcoin Core developer – in this instance, Hennadii Stepanov, aka Hebasto.

Libra Has a Flawed Crisis Model, Says Ex-IMF Economist

Libra's revised whitepaper resembles clearinghouse certificates that the U.S. used to prevent bank runs before the Federal Reserve was created, a former IMF economist says.

Chinese City Known for Bitcoin Mining Seeks Blockchain Firms to Burn Excess Hydropower

A Chinese city in the world's bitcoin mining hub is publicly encouraging the blockchain industry to help consume excessive hydroelectricity.

Market Wrap: Ether Up 50% in 2020, Hits $200 on Sunday

Year to date, the native token of the Ethereum network’s 50 percent rally trounced bitcoin’s 7 percent gains.

CryptoWars Leaves Loom Sidechain in Pivot to ‘Play-to-Earn,’ Aka Betting

CryptoWars founder Matias Nisenson is changing things up: "No decent game can run nowadays fully on-chain, even though that was our gaming utopia."

Bitcoin vs. QE Infinity: The 4 Archetypes of the Halving Debate

When it comes to discussion around the bitcoin halving, are you a speculator, fundamental, miner or symbologist?

Blockchain Bites: Capital Constraining Compliance and Tether’s ‘Interoperability Bridge’

The researchers developing the "digital yuan" have tapped an AI firm to look for financial use cases while Dole unveiled a 5-year blockchain plan.

Samsung Adds Tron Dapps to Galaxy Store

Samsung smartphone and tablet users in the U.S. and Europe can now download Tron-based dapps.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 27, 2020

The halving is driving up BTC price whole regulators around the world are looking more closely at crypto. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

CoinDesk Live: 2019’s Most Catastrophic Crypto Caper

QuadrigaCX, you know the story: Dead CEO, $190 million of customer's funds missing, mismanagement, conspiracy. But where are we now in terms of making crypto clients whole?

No Visits, No Parole: Ross Ulbricht Is More Alone Than Ever During COVID-19

Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht is in his seventh year behind bars. His mom Lyn continues to campaign for his release, despite rough odds and no visitation rights during coronavirus.

Bitcoin Hits Highest Level Since Black Thursday Amid Halving Buzz

Bitcoin's upward momentum is gathering pace just two weeks ahead of halving, with prices hitting the highest level since last month's crash.

First Mover: Ether Trounces Bitcoin as Network See Surge in Stablecoins

Ether is up more than 50 percent this year, outpacing bitcoin. Is this year's surge in stablecoin issuance playing a role?

Crypto Exchange Offers Credit Lines so Institutions Can Trade Now, Pay Later

LGO Markets is taking an unusual step for a cryptocurrency exchange by letting clients trade without pre-funding accounts.

The Netherlands’ AMLD5 Interpretation Appears to Be Killing Crypto Firms

The announced closure of one-man bitcoin startup Bittr may be the first of many in the Netherlands as contentious new AMLD5 regulations come into effect.

US Regulator Clears Security Token Trading System to Launch

North Capital received regulatory approval to launch an alternate trading system for security tokens.

Crypto Long & Short: How Oil Going Negative Could Open the Door for Bitcoin ETFs

The economic repercussions of oil going negative are staggering. Also compelling is what it says about biases in the bitcoin market.

Ether Futures Activity Grows Ahead of July Protocol Upgrade

A new BitMEX contract and soaring Bitfinex long positions suggest increased interest ahead of ETH 2.0.

Lightning Network Messaging, Political Expediency and What Crisis Has Revealed

In a time of increasing censorship aimed towards protecting us, is truly private messaging possible? Why are we using "data driven" approaches when we know the data is wrong? Juggernaut's John Cantrell and HRF's Alex Gladstein help us see what the crisis has revealed.

The Rise of ASICs: A Step-by-Step History of Bitcoin Mining

The machines that maintain the Bitcoin network have undergone rapid technological development. Here's a detailed look at that evolution and at what might lie ahead.

Bitcoin Miner Maker Ebang Files for a $100M US IPO

Ebang International Holdings, one of the leading makers of bitcoin mining equipment, is taking another stab at going public, this time in the U.S.

New Crypto Bridge Will Make Tether Transactions Cheaper, CTO Says

Bitfinex and Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino says he hopes pToken – a project he has assisted – will make it easier for retail USDT holders to swap their tokens from one chain to another.

Bitcoin Halving 2020: The ‘Arms Race’ for Miner Efficiency Intensifies

In the lead-up to the next bitcoin halving event in May, some bitcoin miners are looking at leveraging what some describe as “surplus energy” to make operations even more cost-effective.

SEC, Kik Continue Court Clash Over $100M Kin Token Sale

The SEC and Kik doubled down on their respective views of whether the 2017 KIN token sale was a securities transaction in new legal filings published late Friday.

US Authorities Freeze COVID-19 Website Alleged Scammer Tried to Sell for Bitcoin

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Homeland Security seized coronaprevention.org after its owner allegedly tried to sell it for $500 in bitcoin.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Steady at $7.5K as Short Sellers Back Off

Bitcoin traded sideways Friday, staying around $7,500. However, it regained its March losses and is showing upward momentum.

Public Opinion Shifts on Big Tech and Privacy During Pandemic

In good news for contact tracing, attitudes to big tech companies are softening. But the shift may not be good for "privacy tech."

Starting a Bitcoin Startup During the COVID-19 Crisis, Feat. Yan Pritzker

With companies closing, unemployment rising and investors spooked in the age of the pandemic, NLW speaks with Swan BTC co-founder Yan Pritzker about the experience of launching a startup in the hyper-competitive world of Bitcoin.

Why Global Deflation May Not Be Bad News for Bitcoin

Contrary to expectations, bitcoin could see a positive performance during a possible bout of global deflation.

China’s National Blockchain Will Change the World

As China rolls out its Blockchain-based Services Network (BSN), an insider describes the "breathtaking" scope of the initiative.

Dole Plans to Use Blockchain Food Tracing in All Divisions by 2025

Pineapple and produce purveyor Dole wants to expand its use of blockchain to track goods from all three business divisions in just five years.

For Contact Tracing That Preserves Privacy, Focus on Incentives

Even the best technologies are useless if no one uses them, says our columnist. And that's especially true for contact tracing.

Blockchain Bites: Coinbase Oracle, Gun Sirer’s Grants and Lightning-Powered Private Messages

Coinbase's new service may outcompete Chainlink while AVA Labs is looking to fund DeFi development on its public testnet.

COVID-19 Tracing Apps Have to Go Viral to Work. That’s a Big Ask

How do you make it so people actually want to download a contact tracing app?

Money Reimagined: A World Where Privacy and Saving Lives Can Coexist

We don't need to trade our privacy for a better response to the COVID-19 crisis. We need to embrace the full power of cryptography.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 24, 2020

BTC could hit $9K this year and Purse might have a second life. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

SEC Sues Dropil Founders for Fraud After $1.8M Token Sale

The SEC has charged three California residents with defrauding investors of $1.8 million through an unregistered token sale.

Oil’s Been More Volatile Than Bitcoin for Nearly 2 Months, Data Shows

The surge in volatility for oil goes back a lot further than Monday's crash, CryptoCompare data indicates.

Crypto Firm Deposits Jump 24% in Q1 at Metropolitan Commercial Bank

Crypto-friendly Metropolitan Commercial Bank reported $25 million more in deposits from crypto customers in the first quarter of 2020.

First Mover: Bitcoin Jumps as Fed Assets Top $6.5T and Traders Focus on Halving

Bitcoin has already recovered from its 'Black Thursday' crash and is beating the S&P 500 year to date. Now all eyes turn to the halving.

Bidooh Founders Admit to Cloning Business for Rival Advertising Venture

The founders had used the tech to establish a rival advertising firm, but claimed they'd been "screwed out of" their company.

AVA Labs Will Splash Millions to ‘Brain Merge’ DeFi and Traditional Finance

AVA is already in dialogue with five DeFi projects interested in receiving some of the "many millions" it's making available in grants.

Coinbase Launches Price Oracle Aimed to Reduce Systemic Risk in the DeFi Space

With around a billions dollars locked in decentralized finance projects, the new data feed for cryptocurrency prices is aimed to help keep those funds secure.

Meet Red Date, the Little-Known Tech Firm Behind China’s Big Blockchain Vision

The de facto architect of China's ambitious national blockchain project reveals his game plan for making the technology cheap and easy for businesses.

Bitcoin Messenger Explores Censorship Resistance During Coronavirus Crisis

A new bitcoin privacy technology was born this week, using the Lightning Network and inspired by the politics of the COVID-19 crisis.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Gains as Futures Dance the Contango

Bitcoin futures premiums have jumped into "contango" levels, a bullish signal.

We Don’t Need Big Brother to Beat This Virus

Is there a way to reopen the economy that doesn’t involve draconian surveillance measures?

Bitcoin Rallies 10% Ahead of CME April Futures Expiration

There’s a “general expectation for a pick up in volatility” around CME expiry.

Road to Consensus: Harry Halpin Talks Holistic Privacy, Mixnets and COVID-19 (of Course)

Harry Halpin, a speaker at Consensus: Distributed, talks about his lockdown, and how Crypto Twitter was right, for once.

Immunity Passes Explained: Should We Worry About Privacy?

Immunity passes could allow people who have had the virus to return to normal life. Here's how they work, and why we might worry.

Blockchain Bites: China’s Miners, Africa’s Venmo and Cuba’s New Exchange

Binance launches the Venmo of Africa, Cuba gets a new exchange and Starbucks will trial the "digital yuan."

Bakkt CEO Mike Blandina Steps Down 4 Months After Taking Role

Mike Blandina, Bakkt’s CEO since December 2019, will be stepping down from the role, CoinDesk has learned.

Blockstack Opens Testnet for New Bitcoin-Linked Consensus Mechanism

Announced today, the Blockstack testnet is open. Developers can now simulate the Stacks blockchain's new, hybrid consensus mechanism, which Blockstack calls Proof-of-Transfer (PoX).

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 23, 2020

Bitcoin is going around and around while Italy uses the blockchain to prevent fake news. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

CoinDesk Live: How This ‘Legal Wrapper’ for DAOs Could Democratize Venture Capital

A limited liability autonomous organization is the next chapter of capital formation, Aaron Wright and Priyanka Desai of OpenLaw explain.

Binance-Backed Crypto Payments App Launches as Race for Africa Heats Up

The payments app launched initially in Nigeria, but there are plans to expand to 30 African nations his year.

Fighting Scams and Preaching Bitcoin in Botswana, Feat. Alakani Itireleng

On this final episode of the Bitcoin in Africa series, we join Anita Posch as she travels to Botswana and speaks with Alakanani Itireleng on bitcoin's present and potential future in the "original home of the honey badger"

How a Crypto Guru Shaped Harvard’s Roadmap for Reopening the US Economy

Glen Weyl, an intellectual firebrand of the Ethereum community, played a key role in crafting a pandemic-fighting blueprint just published by Harvard.

Nomics Machine-Learning Tool Offers 7-Day Price Forecast on Top 100 Cryptos

Bitcoin and other crypto assets are getting a seven-day price forecast, thanks to machine-learning technology and data provider Nomics.

Securitize Users Can Now Directly Trade Security Tokens With Just a Web Link

The peer-to-peer trading service allows investors to directly trade security tokens directly and simply.

First Mover: Bitcoin Catches Almighty Dollar Even During 2020’s Dash for Cash

Bitcoin is looking like a store of value again, as major currencies fall behind.

Digital Dollars Can Reduce Unemployment, Here’s How

A blueprint for a central bank digital currency designed with a specific purpose: stopping layoffs.

New App Lets Coronavirus-Hit Businesses Take Crypto Payments for Zoom Calls

The app is aimed to make it easier for entrepreneurs plying their trade from home to maintain their income.

dYdX’s Crypto Loans Hit $1B as Traders Scramble to Capitalize on Coronavirus-led Volatility

Volatility amid the COVID-19 pandemic has proven attractive to traders.

Arctos Inks $1M Sale and Leaseback Deal With Bitcoin Miner Blockware

The mining company will use the funding to expand its operations in the U.S.

Starbucks, McDonald’s Among 19 Firms to Test China’s Digital Yuan: Report

The food and beverage giants are among the restaurants and retail shops reportedly on a local government list for testing of China's central bank digital currency.

China’s Rainy Season Is Coming. This Time Bitcoin Miners Aren’t Investing

With bitcoin’s price drop and imminent halving, mining farms in China are struggling to fill slots despite the coming rainy season, when power is cheap.

Openfinance Warns It Will Delist All Security Tokens Without New Funds

Openfinance says it will delist all security tokens next month if it cannot secure enough fees from issuers to cover operating costs.

Market Wrap: Oil Rebounds As Crypto Makes Gains, Especially Ether

Oil’s bounceback performance seems to be taking the driver’s seat in market activity. Bitcoin is also up, and ether’s price performance is even better.

Libra’s Long Road From a Facebook Lab to the Global Stage: A Timeline

A detailed chronology of Libra's journey from a skunkworks inside Facebook to a potential global monetary game-changer to a shadow of its former self.

Why the Fed Is the Only Sugar Daddy Left, Feat, Luke Gromen

A look at how we went from the Bretton Woods system of gold-backed USD to the QE Infinity of today.

As Museums Go Dark, Crypto Art Finds Its Frame

With the physical world closed, artists are presenting their works in the glow of online showrooms, like the new Nifty Gateway.

Blockchain Bites: Ripple Sues YouTube, Monero Hits the Box Office and Draper Wants Crypto Everywhere

Is Renaissance bullish on bitcoin? What's the "crypto/lobbyist" revolving door? Will YouTube take down XRP giveaway scams?

Italy’s Leading Wire Service Is Using Ethereum to Thwart Copycats

Italy's ANSA newswire is trialing an ethereum-based system to track every article it publishes in an effort to prevent impersonators from publishing fake news under its banner.

Stablecoins Aren’t Inflating Crypto Market, Study Concludes

New research on issuances and flows of Tether and other stablecoins finds no systematic evidence that these assets drive cryptocurrency market movements.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 22, 2020

Bitcoin reacts to stimulus packages and the UK bails out big tech. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Power Ledger to Bring Blockchain Energy Trading to West Australian Housing Developments

The blockchain firm will provide the technology to enable energy trading at 10 new housing developments.

Tim Draper Firm Launches ‘Crypto Exchange’ Anyone Can Plug Into WordPress

The plugin is available from today

Crypto’s Zoom Moment Is Coming

Zoom is now a household name. Can crypto be next?

Bitcoin Approaches $7K as U.S. Passes New $480B Stimulus Package

Bitcoin has risen back close to $7,000 as the U.S. Senate's approval of new coronavirus stimulus package buoys stocks.

First Mover: What the Oil Price Collapse Means for Bitcoin’s Halving Valuation

What does the crash in black gold mean for digital gold in the important weeks ahead?

Miners Trick Stablecoin Protocol PegNet, Turning $11 Into Almost $7M Hoard

The millions in tokens were later destroyed, painting a confusing picture of the attacker's motives.

Everledger Offers Diamond Industry Blockchain-Based Carbon Offsetting

Track-and-trace blockchain pioneer Everledger is using its technology to help the diamond industry offset its carbon footprint.

Gemini Clears New Deloitte Audit in Bid to Appeal to Wall Street

Gemini’s exchange and custody services have cleared yet another systems design check.

UK’s Tech Bailout Could Help Blockchain Devs Weather COVID-19 Shutdown

Britain’s new “Future Fund” relief package will help tech firms, including blockchain companies like Chainvine.

Bittrex Exec Joins Mortgage Giant Fannie Mae After Crypto Exchange’s Brush With NYDFS

Reversing the pattern of government veterans jumping to crypto startups, Bittrex US’s former chief compliance and ethics officer has moved to Fannie Mae.

Market Wrap: Oil in Turmoil, Bitcoin Gains Slightly to $6.9K

While oil futures continue to collapse, bitcoin holds steady, even making gains as the U.S. market closes lower.

Bitcoin Can’t Be a Safe Haven and 100x Leverage Is the Reason Why

Excessive leverage increases bitcoin's volatility and puts off mainstream capital from entering the market, says Vishal Shah.

Ripple Sues YouTube for Allowing ‘Scams’ That Promise Free XRP

Ripple Labs and CEO Brad Garlinghouse are suing YouTube over allegations that the video streaming giant has failed to police its platform against fake XRP giveaway scams, resulting in monetary damage to users and reputational harm to Ripple.

‘Long Bitcoin’ It Ain’t: Crypto Traders Make Sense of Renaissance Filing

How might Renaissance approach bitcoin as an underlying asset, given the hedge fund’s reputation for using mind-bending math to find profits?

CoinDesk Live: Understanding Our Digital Personas feat. Alex McDougall

“If we don’t fix the data paradigm...we don’t really have free will,” says Alex McDougall of Bicameral Ventures.

Dutch Central Bank Wants to Be European Union’s CBDC Proving Ground

The Dutch Central Bank is making a bid to become the European Union’s proving ground for a central bank digital currency.

From Proof of Health to UBI: How Everything Changes Post COVID-19, Feat. Joe McCann

From domestic manufacturing to economic nationalization by proxy to proof of health on a blockchain, a preview of the decade to come

Multi-Chain DeFi Protocol Raises $750K in Token Sale With Framework Ventures

DeFi fund Framework Ventures has purchased roughly 5 percent of Kava Labs' outstanding token supply ahead of the CDP platform's launch next month.

Blockchain Bites: DeFi Hacker Is Back, Oil Craters and Big Tech Won’t Sue You

Big Tech vows not to sue developers using their patents to build solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic while a hacker returns funds stolen this weekend.

Crypto Payments for Child Porn Grew 32% in 2019: Report

Nearly $1 million in bitcoin and ethereum flowed into child sexual abuse material-linked wallet addresses in 2019.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 21, 2020

Bitcoin drops thanks to the oil crisis while a hacker returns $25 million in stolen crypto. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Money Printer

Money printer go brrrrrrr. In a world inherently short of dollars, refusing to increase supply is anything but responsible and rational, says columnist Jill Carlson.

First Mover: 10 Takeaways for Bitcoin From Negative Oil Prices

Oil futures crashed into negative territory, making bitcoin look like a beacon of stability. But what does the news really mean for the top cryptocurrency?

Bitcoin Under Pressure After Oil Prices Crash to Record Lows

The top cryptocurrency is looking weak after Monday's big crash in the oil markets.

Argentina’s Central Bank Trials Blockchain for New Interbank Settlement Layer

The trial for a faster, more transparent clearing system involves some of the country's largest banks.

Blockchain Association Tries to Draw Legal Line Between Kik’s Token and Its 2017 Pre-Sale

The Blockchain Association is claiming that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is wrongfully conflating Kik's exempt offering of securities during a 2017 ICO with the issuance of kin tokens

Researchers Surface Privacy Vulnerabilities in Bitcoin Lightning Network Payments

Privacy holes in the Lightning Network, a bitcoin transaction settlement layer, are leaking payment information.

dForce Hacker Returns Almost All of Stolen $25M in Crypto

The hacker had drained $25 million in cryptocurrency from decentralized finance protocol dForce over the weekend.

Facebook’s ‘Scaled Back’ Libra Proposal Is More Dangerous Than You Think

With stablecoin announcements from China and Libra in the same week, the war over the future of money is reaching a new height, says our columnist.

MARKET WRAP: Oil Futures Plunge, Bitcoin Dips and Tether Has a $7B Day

Oil futures went negative today, bitcoin dipped below $7,000 and tether issuances went to $7 billion in today’s market wrap.

Negative Oil Prices Could Hurt Bitcoin Miners Who Use Flared Gas

North American bitcoin miners who've bet on fossil-fuel extraction to power their rigs are watching the oil markets closely as prices sink to historic lows.

Just a Test: China Central Bank Confirms Digital Yuan Mobile App Trials

China’s central bank confirmed it will be testing a mobile app for the digital yuan in four cities, with a fifth in the works, and emphasized it’s a test.

CFTC Approves Bitnomial to Offer Futures Contracts Settled in Real Bitcoin

The CFTC has approved Bitnomial Exchange to offer margined bitcoin futures and options contracts.

How Crypto Professionals Are Staying Sane During Quarantine (Video)

Days of lockdown have turned into weeks. Here's how crypto is handling the COVID-19 crisis from home.

European Contact Tracing Consortium Faces Wave of Defections Over Centralization Concerns

Contact tracing researchers fear Europe could choose a centralized system that puts personal privacy at risk.

Dai Lending Rates Rise to One-Month High on DeFi Platform Compound

Interest rates on dai deposits have spiked on DeFi platform Compound, another ripple effect of the global financial crisis.

Bearish or Bullish? What Oil, Defi Hacks and Cash Hoarding Tell Us About Markets

As economic confusion gains ground, NLW breaks down what in the recent news is bullish and what is bearish for bitcoin and the crypto community.

Blockchain Bites: ConsenSys Cuts, dForce Doomsday and Bitcoin ATMs Boom

ConsenSys cut staff for the second time in 2020. DForce faces doomsday. And Bitcoin ATMs are booming.

Heifer International Joins Libra Association to ‘Support Financial Inclusion’

Heifer International has joined the Libra Association, just days after the group modified its stablecoin vision to focus on a series of single-currency tokens rather than one basket-backed version.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 20, 2020

Bitcoin volatility points to big things to come while hackers drain $25 million overnight. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

New Layoffs Hit Ethereum Incubator ConsenSys

ConsenSys is laying off dozens more staffers, two people familiar with the matter tell CoinDesk.

Facebook Affirms Libra Commitment With 50 New Job Openings in Ireland

Libra may have been scaled back, but Facebook is significantly expanding the team working to support the stablecoin project.

Blockchain Now Officially Part of China’s Technology Strategy

An influential government authority responsible for planning China's economy has said blockchain will form an integral part of the country's data and technology infrastructure.

First Mover: Bitcoin Attracting More Buyers, Even With Market Stuck in ‘Extreme Fear’

Analysts say the growing number of small bitcoin accounts might suggest bitcoin is becoming more popular – even as a sentiment index is registering "extreme fear" for the longest period on record.

Why MakerDAO Should Consider Negative Interest Rates for Dai

To keep dai near its $1 peg, the Maker community should consider negative interest rates. The cost to users may be worth it, says columnist J. P. Koning.

Coinbase Taps Ex-Barclays Markets Exec to Head Institutional Coverage

Coinbase has hired former Barclays markets veteran, Brett Tejpaul, to head up institutional coverage at the San Francisco-based crypto exchange.

Bitcoin Volatility at 3-Month Low as Market Awaits Big Price Move

Price volatility has hit three-month lows – marking a squeeze that could soon pave the way for a big move on either side.

Russians Withdrew a Year’s Worth of Cash in a Month Over Coronavirus Fears

Russians have been withdrawing vast amounts of cash after President Putin announces new coronavirus measures.

Some U.S. Citizens Look to Be Splashing Their Stimulus Cash on Cryptocurrency

Exchanges like Coinbase are reporting a spike in deposits matching the $1,200 value of U.S. government stimulus checks.

Hong Kong’s First Regulator-Approved Bitcoin Fund Targets $100M Raise

Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission has approved a bitcoin index fund from Arrano Capital, one aimed solely at institutional investors.

Singapore Won’t Tax Airdrops or Hard Forks Under New Crypto Guidance

Singapore’s taxation authority has clarified how it taxes the transaction of payment, utility and security tokens.

Crypto Long & Short: The Battle of the Yields

What does the current crisis mean for the value of actual cash, and how does it stack up to assets like bitcoin and gold?

Bram Cohen: ‘Getting Rich Is a Terrible Metric of Success’

CoinDesk reporter Leigh Cuen sits down with Bram Cohen, author of the BitTorrent protocol and CEO of Chia.

Bitcoin ATMs Expand Despite Shelter-in-Place Rules

Bitcoin ATM networks are simultaneously growing and retracting due to coronavirus precautions.

Weekend Attack Drains Decentralized Protocol dForce of $25M in Crypto

dForce appears to have lost control of $25 million in bitcoin and ether held in its decentralized lending protocol.

$166B Asset Manager Renaissance Eyes Bitcoin Futures for Flagship Fund

Renaissance Technologies’ market-crushing Medallion fund is considering jumping into bitcoin futures, recent regulatory filings show.

Bitcoin Halving 2020: How Miners Expect the Crypto Markets to React

“If price performance following the November 2012 and July 2016 halvings is any indicator, bitcoin’s price should increase significantly over the 10- to 12-month period following the [third] halving,” said Huobi’s Ciara Sun.

Why This Global Crisis Is a Defining Moment for Stablecoins

The programmability of stablecoins will "change how we think about money itself," says cLabs' Marek Olszewski.

Market Wrap: Crypto Mining Stock Hut 8 Jumps on Unusually High Trading Volume

Hut 8 Mining Corporation saw a bump in price and trading volume Friday ahead of next month’s bitcoin halving.

Custody Startup Curv Follows Crypto Demand Into Asia With New Hong Kong Office

Custody startup Curv has expanded into Asia with an office in Hong Kong and a partnership with Japan-based Crypto Garage, the companies announced Friday.

Vertalo, tZERO Are Bringing $300M in Real Estate to the Tezos Blockchain

Digital transfer agent Vertalo is teaming up with tZERO and a Pennsylvania investment firm to tokenize $300 million in real estate on the Tezos blockchain.

Why Money Is Losing Its Meaning, Feat. Jared Dillian

As government work to stimulate economies on lockdown, even "normies" are starting question limitless money printing.

Bitcoin Halving Searches on Google Hits All-Time Highs

Searches for “bitcoin halving” on Google Trends recently reached record highs, suggesting peak interest in the retail crowd about the upcoming supply altering event.

Money Reimagined: Demand for USD Stablecoins Foreshadows Financial Disruption

The pandemic has increased demand for USD-backed stablecoins, raising the prospect of "crypto-dollarization." The implications are enormous.

Blockchain Bites: Binance vs. Ethereum, MicroBT vs. Bitmain, Libra vs. the World

Binance unveiled plans for a new smart contract blockchain, which could compete with Ethereum, while MicroBT looks to beat rival Bitmain to market.

In Canada They’re ‘Essential,’ In Argentina They’re Shut Down: Bitcoin Miners Reckon With COVID-19

Here's how the "Great Lockdown" is redrawing the bitcoin mining landscape. The halving and economic crisis may be priced-in – but local politics aren't.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 17, 2020

Bitcoin could rise to $8,000 while the EU dumps a decentralized solution. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Spanish Researchers Working to Curb Coronavirus Spread With Blockchain App

As well as helping predict the spread of COVID-19, the app could act as a digital version of government certificates permitting citizens to go to work or the store.

Five Ways Blockchain Tech Can Help Us During This Pandemic

From identity to rewards for socially-positive behavior, blockchain tech has useful features in a pandemic emergency.

Binance Unveils Smart Contract Blockchain But Claims It’s No Ethereum Rival

The new Binance Smart Chain will be compatible with Ethereum, however.

First Mover: Stablecoin Surge Might Herald Bitcoin Binge

Investors might be waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce.

Bitcoin Options Trading Hits One-Month High as Price Turns Bullish

Activity in the bitcoin options market picked up pace on Thursday, as spot prices jumped above key resistance over $7,000.

Russians Troll Government COVID-19 App With 1-Star Ratings, Harsh Reviews

The Russian government released an app to track citizens during the coronavirus pandemic. Privacy advocates are leaving bad reviews in the app stores.

US Lawmaker Calls Libra’s Revamp Insufficient

Rep. Sylvia Garcia's comments suggest Libra's roots as a Facebook initiative remain a political liability despite the consortium's steps to sate critics.

MicroBT Rolls Out 3 New Bitcoin Miners to Compete With Bitmain Ahead of the Halving

The Shenzhen-based firm is rolling out three new top-of-the-line bitcoin miners hoping to eat further into Bitmain's market dominance.

South Africa Proposes Strict Crypto Regulatory Framework

South Africa’s financial regulators recommended that cryptocurrency be used for domestic payment purposes, but that it not be treated as legal tender or allowed as a settlement tool.

Circle CEO Claims ‘Explosive’ Stablecoin Demand From Everyday Businesses

Dollar-backed stablecoins are surging in popularity, and much of the demand is from normal businesses, not just crypto traders, Circle’s CEO said.

Bitcoin Startup Purse to Shut Down After 6-Year Run

Bitcoin shopping startup Purse will shut down after six years in the space, according to an email sent to customers Thursday and confirmed by CoinDesk.

Digital Dollar Project: Don’t Rush Digital Dollar During COVID-19 Crisis

The ex-chairman of the CFTC says a digital dollar should be a priority for the U.S. But he cautions against expediting the initiative during the pandemic.

BitGo Cements Hold on Institutional Market With Lumina Acquisition

BitGo is expanding aggressively out of its core custodial business, announcing Thursday it acquired Lumina to build a tax services.

Libra vs. DCEP? The Battle for the Future of Money Heats Up

NLW breaks down libra’s new fiat-pegged model, DCEP’s trial app and China’s Blockchain Service Network

Why Tech-Minded Climate Groups See COVID-19 as a Trial Run for Massive Change

Reaching the Paris Agreement's lofty climate goals will require the decentralization of decision-making at all levels, say INATBA and others.

Open Interest in CME Bitcoin Futures Rises 70% as Institutions Return to Market

Open interest in bitcoin futures listed on the CME has recovered significantly from March’s lows, signaling a resurgence of institutional participation.

BTCPay Looks to Anonymize Bitcoin Transactions With PayJoin Integration

PayJoin is a relatively new way to send private transactions in bitcoin and may offer better privacy than current popular alternatives.

Blockchain Bites: Ethereum’s Inroads and Libra’s Concessions

The Facebook-led cryptocurrency project has been scaled back while investors try to take advantage of market turbulence. Here's the story.

Vinay Gupta’s Big Idea: An Identity Layer for Your Things

Vinay Gupta wrote about responding to pandemics in 2008, then helped launch Ethereum in 2015. Now he has another far-out idea.

‘Digital Dollar’ Reintroduced by US Lawmakers in Latest Stimulus Bill

The idea of a digital dollar was again floated by U.S. lawmakers as a means of issuing stimulus payments to residents.

Coinbase Custody Doubles Down on DeFi Governance Options

Coinbase is making it easier for its Custody clients to vote their tokens on more DeFi protocols. New tools for Compound were announced Thursday.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 16, 2020

Bitcoin did something weird last night and Facebook pulls back on stablecoin plans. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

EPAM Joins Effort to Help Cryptocurrency Exchanges Comply With FATF ‘Travel Rule’

EPAM Systems has joined forces with OpenVASP, pledging to use its programming expertise to help crypto businesses comply with FATF guidance.

Libra Scales Back Global Currency Ambitions in Concession to Regulators

The Facebook-spawned Libra Association has scaled back its original vision of a global digital currency backed by a basket of fiat currencies.

Bitcoin Maximalism, Entrepreneurs and COVID-19 in Zimbabwe (Part 5 of a Six-Part Documentary Podcast Series)

On this episode, we'll join Anita Posch in Zimbabwe as she speaks with Tongayi Choto, a software developer, entrepreneur and a bitcoin maximalist.

Grayscale Says It Raised a Record $500M in First Quarter

The crypto investment firm says it raised almost as much in Q1 2020 as it did over the whole of 2019.

Judge ‘Puzzled’ by Craig Wright’s Objections to Producing Evidence of Over 1.1M Bitcoin

The judge pointed to the fact that Wright has previously been accused of abusing attorney-client privilege in the Kleiman case.

This App Tracks the Impact of Your Donation to Combat Coronavirus

"Let's start a positive epidemic," says the team behind the #SpreadLoveNotCorona app. "The more people get infected, the more money goes to charity."

First Mover: Coronavirus Trillions Get Bitcoiners Wondering if Halving Still Matters

The much talked about halving looks to have been replaced by the coronavirus easing measures as crypto investors' top concern.

Bitcoin Price Spikes Above $7.1K, Liquidating $23 Million on BitMEX

Bitcoin's price jumped by nearly $500 during the early European trading hours on Thursday, triggering mass liquidations on the crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX.

Ethereum Now Matches Bitcoin on One Key Metric

The use of the Ethereum network to move value around has shot to record levels, thanks to the growth of stablecoins.

Mystery Hacker Tries to Steal Crypto Through Fake Google Chrome Wallet Extensions

Google has removed 49 Chrome extensions masquerading as legitimate crypto wallets, including Ledger, MyEtherWallet, MetaMask and Jaxx, according to MyCrypto's Harry Denley.

Swiss Crypto Firm Closes $14.5M Series B to Help Secure Brokerage License

Crypto Finance AG's $14.5 million funding round will go toward international expansion and courting institutional investors.

Solana Blockchain Adds Korean Stablecoin Terra for Better Payments

Solana is adding the Terra stablecoin in an effort to bring "novel applications that require price-stable payments" to its high-throughput blockchain.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Price Volatility Declines in Contrast to S&P 500

As coronavirus upends economic patterns, the S&P 500 continues a rocky run while bitcoin’s volatility has declined.

HODLpac Shows Crypto Is Becoming a Mainstream Industry

It's good the cryptocurrency industry is getting its a political action committee, even if it's ironic, says our columnist.

Ask Consensus Speakers Anything at CoinDesk Live

Twice a week, the Lockdown Edition will feature discussions and public AMAs via Zoom with key speakers from the Consensus: Distributed agenda.

What the Economy Will Look Like 6 Months From Now, Feat. Ryan Selkis

From contact tracing to in-state alliances and the shift of cities to regional economic hubs, here's a preview of how our world will look six months from now.

Chainlink’s Link Token Outperforms Bitcoin as Business Wins Fuel Hype Cycle

Chainlink’s link token is outperforming bitcoin by leaps and bounds, as the oracle network’s various use cases have garnered attention and hype.

Andrew Yang Says Current Stimulus Payments to Americans Aren’t Enough

Andrew Yang, ex-presidential contender and friend of crypto, says today's stimulus won't get Americans through the crisis. (Also, he might run for NYC mayor.)

US Agencies Publish List of North Korea’s Alleged Crypto Crimes

The US government urged countermeasures to stymie North Korea's billion-dollar cybercrime campaigns.

Blockchain Bites: DLT’s Great Leap Forward, Bitcoin Horders and a16z’s New Fund

China is taking charge in the digitization of the world economy, while Maker faces a $28M class action lawsuit. Get the latest bite-sized news.

3D Printing Could Help Now, Except for the IP Issues

Next time there's a crisis, let's make sure we have the ability to manufacture basic plastic goods, like PPE, says consultant Cathy Barrera.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 15, 2020

BTC bumps against $7K while cowboys put land records on the blockchain. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Morgan Creek Invests in Startup Bringing Bitcoin to DeFI

Anthony Pompliano's investment firm has joined a seed round for Atomic Loans, a startup looking to create bitcoin-backed lending instruments.

Bailouts Don’t Save the Economy. They Prop Up Companies That Should Be Allowed to Fail

If we keep bailing out corporations during every crisis, we'll end up with implicitly state-owned enterprises, and a lack of economic dynamism.

TradeStation Builds out Crypto Trading Arm With ErisX Tie-Up

TradeStation only ventured into crypto trading back in May 2019.

IDG-Backed Crypto Exchange KuCoin Launches OTC Desk for Enterprises

KuCoin has teamed up with DigitalBits to provide companies simpler access to larger quantities of digital assets.

First Mover: Gold Is Crushing Bitcoin, But Inflation May Bring the Cryptocurrency a Boost

Coin Metrics says bitcoin's correlation with gold has increased in recent weeks.

More Investors Are Holding Bitcoin Ahead of the Halving, Data Suggests

The number of bitcoins held on exchanges has dropped to 10-month lows as investors decide to HODL.

Blockchain Gaming Platform Enjin Updates Wallet Ahead of China Expansion

Enjin is opening up the wallet for its ENJ token to Chinese users ahead of a planned expansion into the Asian nation.

Overstock Subsidiary to Put Wyoming County Land Registry on the Blockchain

Medici Land Governance has inked a deal to build a blockchain-based land registry for Carbon County, Wyoming – its second such deal in the state.

Another Bitcoin Mining Firm Warns COVID-19 Pandemic May Harm Its Business

Hut 8, one of the few publicly traded crypto mining firms, is concerned about coronavirus-related delays of new machine deliveries, its CEO said.

Riot Blockchain Moves Part of Bitcoin Mining Operation to Upstate New York

Bitcoin miner Riot Blockchain has sent a portion of its newly acquired S17 Pro Antminers from an Oklahoma facility to upstate New York, tapping excess power in a colocation deal with Coinmint.

Chinese DeFi Platform dForce Raises $1.5M From Multicoin, Huobi Capital

One of China’s largest DeFi platforms has raised $1.5 million from Multicoin Capital, Huobi Capital and CMB International to expand its product lineup.

Bitcoin Tests $7K as Spot Trading Volumes Subside to Normal Levels

After weeks of elevated activity, trading volumes on spot bitcoin exchanges have subsided, boding well for some traders if not the venues themselves.

For Contact Tracing to Work, Americans Will Have to Trust Google and Apple

Critics have doubts that Google and Apple can make their contact tracing system work. Key issue: trust.

VC Firm Andreessen Horowitz Targets $450M for Second Crypto Fund: Report

Sources told the Financial Times that Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) is raising another crypto fund, reportedly targeted at $450 million.

Inside China’s Plan to Power Global Blockchain Adoption

China is about to launch its national blockchain platform, part of Beijing’s grand strategy to lead the digital transformation of the world economy.

Algorand Foundation Sets Aside $50M in Tokens to Spur Development

The Algorand Foundation has earmarked 250 million ALGO for a grant program that aims to spur development of the Algorand ecosystem.

The $20,000 Human IPO and 5 Other Crypto Stories That Have Nothing to Do With COVID-19

From regulation-related shutdowns to a human IPO and G20 warnings about stablecoins, NLW breaks down a set of crypto trend stories that really aren’t about COVID-19.

Chinese State-Owned Bank Offers Test Interface for PBoC Central Bank Digital Currency

The Agricultural Bank of China has rolled out an internal test interface for the nation's central bank digital currency, allowing whitelisted users to register and trialing certain functions.

Blockchain Bites: The Global Lockdown, Privacy Preserving Cryptography and Bitmain’s Cash Rebates

Crypto may protect privacy as governments turn to contact tracing apps, while hackers are selling your Zoom account information for pennies on the dollar.

MakerDAO Users Sue Stablecoin Issuer Following ‘Black Thursday’ Losses

A lawsuit against the Maker Foundation claims the DeFi platform “intentionally misrepresented the risks associated with CDP ownership.”

Filipino Pawnshops Bank on Crypto Remittances During Crisis

Pawn shops in the Philippines are well placed to popularize cryptocurrencies as alternatives to cash.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 14, 2020

Gold beats BTC while Europe explores contact tracing. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Options Market Signals Doubt Bitcoin Price Will Rise After Halving

To the moon or to the cellar? Options traders are buying bitcoin puts, or bearish bets on the cryptocurrency, heading into next month's halving.

Huawei, Tencent, JD.com Among Big Names on China’s New Blockchain Committee

The new national blockchain committee was formed to discuss and set industry standards for distributed ledger technology.

‘The Great Lockdown’: IMF Confirms Global Recession

IMF: “The Great Lockdown is the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and far worse than the Global Financial Crisis [of 2008].”

Coinbase Custody to Support Polkadot Staking With up to 20% Returns

Coinbase Custody is partnering with Bison Trails to add staking support for Polkadot’s native DOT tokens in anticipation of the network’s mainnet launch.

G20 Watchdog Warns Nations to Mitigate Risks Posed by Libra-Like Stablecoins

National regulators need to be prepared for the unique risks posed by global stablecoins, the Financial Stability Board says.

First Mover: Bitcoin Market Goes Into ‘Backwardation’ Despite Fed’s Trillions

Bitcoin futures are trading below the spot price, suggesting expectations of a drop. But there are signs of buying potential, too. Where will the market go next?

Bitcoin Stuck Below $7K Even as Gold Surges to 7-Year High

Gold has left bitcoin behind on a month-to-date basis following a rise to seven-year highs early on Tuesday.

Bitmain Partially Refunds Bitcoin Miner Buyers After Price Cuts

The Beijing-based firm is sending out cash coupons to customers who pre-ordered its latest bitcoin miners ahead of recent price markdowns.

Baidu-Owned Video Streaming Giant iQiyi Taps Public Blockchain for Performance Boost

iQiyi hopes the new deal will bring improved video buffering speeds through NKN's distributed blockchain infrastructure.

FBI Warns COVID-19 Scammers Are Targeting Crypto Holders

The FBI is warning that fraudsters are about to unleash a surge of coronavirus cryptocurrency scams.

Bitcoin Drops as Traders See Bearish Signals in Futures Markets

Bitcoin slid Monday to its lowest point in the past seven days, with traders saying bearish signals are appearing.

Europe Debates COVID-19 Contact Tracing That Respects Privacy

European researchers are looking for ways to track the spread of coronavirus while respecting privacy rights.

Open Source PPE: Inside the Project Decentralizing Face Mask Production

Engineers in the Midwest are creating an open source method for manufacturing face masks. They hope to decentralize production to the local level.

Huobi’s New Crypto Transaction Monitor Will Automatically Freeze Suspicious Accounts

Huobi Group has launched a new in-house transaction intelligence tool to snuff out illicit activity across its crypto exchanges.

US Treasury Approves Square as Coronavirus Stimulus Lender

Square, the bitcoin-friendly company behind Cash App, announced Monday it is participating in the U.S. government’s emergency Paycheck Protection Program.

Blockchain Bites: ‘Immunity Passports,’ a Darknet Pharmacist and How Bitcoin Miners Prepare for the Halving

Cryptography can solve privacy concerns stirred up by COVID-19; Bitfinex moves more than one billion dollars worth of bitcoin for less than a dollar.

Exchange Banking on TON’s Gram Tokens to Shut Down After Telegram Court Order

Blackmoon Crypto, a small exchange hoping to grow its clientele by becoming the first to list Telegram's tokens, is shutting down just weeks after a judge barred any token issuance.

Crypto Long & Short: DeFi and Traditional Finance Are Forming an Unlikely Friendship

Many believe DeFi is the future of finance, unleashing efficiencies and creating a more transparent framework. Others find the idea terrifying.

Bitcoin Vaults: Developer Bryan Bishop Releases Prototype for Secure On-Chain Storage

The basic idea involves storing bitcoin on-chain in a particularly secure manner that allows for recovery from security mistakes.

Post COVID-19, Companies Must Be Resilient, Not Just Efficient

Companies need better emergency planning. They can't always rely on government in a crisis, says our columnist.

COVID-19 ‘Immunity Passport’ Unites 60 Firms on Self-Sovereign ID Project

The COVID-19 Credentials Initiative (CCI) is working on a digital certificate to help stop the spread of the virus without compromising user privacy.

The Litecoin Foundation Helped Produce a Horror Movie – Here’s the Trailer

In surprising twist to its normal day-to-day duties advancing the litecoin cryptocurrency, the Litecoin Foundation has acted as executive producer for a new horror flick.

Bitcoin Ends Four-Week Winning Run With Drop Into Bear Territory

Bitcoin's short-term trend has turned bearish following a drop to $6,600. Further losses could be in the offing, say chart analysts.

First Mover: Bitcoin’s Market Cap Eclipses Citigroup’s as Yellen Calls for Big-Bank Dividend Cuts

Bitcoin's price drop since Friday has pushed it back into the red for 2020, but it's still outperforming big bank stocks.

OneCoin Lawsuit Could Be Thrown Out Over Plaintiff Failings, Warns Judge

A class action against the accused cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme may be dismissed with prejudice unless the plaintiffs up their game.

HTC Is Bringing Cryptocurrency Mining to Its Exodus Blockchain Phone

The Taiwan-based tech giant is to allow users of its Exodus 1S to mine monero, but it isn't going to make them rich.

Making Sense of the SEC’s Case Against Telegram

Telegram lost another round in court against the SE and now can’t launch its $1.7 billion token sale. What does it mean for the crypto industry and other startups that sold tokens?

Bitcoin Halving: How Miners are Preparing for Lower Block Rewards

As the latest Bitcoin halving approaches, miners are upgrading equipment, optimizing arrangements, conserving power and more in the race to dominate.

Reddit May Use Ethereum for a New Token-Based Points System

Reddit is trialing an Ethereum-based rewards system in one of its subreddits.

Quantitative Tightening and 5 Key Questions for Our Changing World

As we wrap up another crazy week – 6.6 million more jobless claims, $2.3 trillion more in stimulus – NLW lays out the key themes and questions to think about over the long Easter weekend.

Brazil’s New Blockchain Data Tool Cost $250K, Runs on Quorum

Brazil's central bank spent 1.3 million Brazilian reals (USD $250K) over two years building its new database for financial regulators on Quorum, replacing a slow and expensive paper-based system with a fully digitized version.

How Edge Computing Can Make Us More Resilient in a Crisis

By moving computer processing away from centralized locations to local devices, edge computing is more dependable in a crisis, says VC Jalak Jobanputra.

More Profit-Taking? Bitcoin Price Sags 7% Ahead of Easter Weekend

Major cryptocurrency markets fell 7 percent over the past 24 hours, with bitcoin (BTC) retreating below $7,000 to $6,807 as of press time.

Money Reimagined: As Tech, Politics and COVID-19 Collide, a Global Reset Looms

How technology, geopolitics and the coronavirus crisis are transforming how we share and store value.

Factom’s Two Employees Press On Despite Lead Investor’s Call to Liquidate

Factom, Inc. cut 80 percent of its 10-person staff. “The protocol is going to run whether Factom, Inc. continues or not,” said COO Jay Smith.

Coronavirus Has Erased 33% of Crypto Scammers’ Revenue: Chainalysis

Research firm Chainalysis found that even though crypto scammers were seeing high numbers of transactions, this year's dramatic market tumble means their actual profit was a fraction of what it used to be.

First Mover: As Fed Assets Top $6T, BitMEX Has Some Inflation-Busting Advice

The Federal Reserve has opened its lender-of-last-resort spigot and, with unemployment spiking, inflation is on the way. What are your options?

New York Power Plant Sold Up to 30% of Its Bitcoin Mining Hash Rate to Institutional Buyers

Greenidge Generation, an upstate New York power plant that's using proprietary facility to mine bitcoin, has sold up to 30 percent of its computing power to institutional buyers.

Bitcoin SV’s First Halving Crimps Profits for BSV Miners

Bitcoin SV, the network that split off from the Bitcoin Cash blockchain in late 2018, has cut its miners’ block reward in half for the first time.

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Profit-Taking Keeps Bitcoin in Tight Range as Fed Reopens Spigot

Bitcoin and ether fell slightly Thursday as traditional markets climbed on additional stimulus measures by the U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of England.

Block.one Plans to Start Voting on EOS, the Blockchain It Birthed

Block.one says the time is right for it to take an active role in the EOS community voting for block producers.

Bitcoin Garners New Users as Governments Flood World With Fiat

Thousands of new users are turning to bitcoin, according to Kraken and other exchanges, over fears that government stimulus will lead to inflation.

Rebuilding the Resilience Economy, Feat. Anthony Pompliano

On a day that say $2.3T in new Fed stimulus, Pomp argues that the real answer is investing in entrepreneurs and being willing to let businesses fail

Blockchain Bites: Canaan and Galaxy Digital Report Losses, Fold Joins Visa and Indian Exchange Volume Skyrockets

Today, Canaan and Galaxy Digital reported quarterly losses, Huobi announced a legally compliant way to reenter the U.S. market, and Binance denies stealing $1 million from one of its users.

Telegram’s Fight Against SEC Will Help Push Cryptocurrency Legislation, Says Trade Group

Telegram’s ongoing court battle with the SEC over its $1.7 billion token offering could put pressure on Congress to move cryptocurrency regulation forward, according to the Blockchain Association.

What’s Next for Bitcoin After March’s Crash – CoinDesk Quarterly Review

Will bitcoin move beyond "digital gold"? Is ether viable as money? In 24 charts, CoinDesk Research looks at what happened to crypto assets in the first quarter and what may emerge in the future.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 9, 2020

Bitcoin is back above $7,100 and we ask what will happen when the halving comes.It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

If Bitcoin Works in Zimbabwe, It Works Everywhere (Part 4 of a Six-Part Documentary Podcast Series)

On this episode, we join Anita Posch as she discusses bitcoin's potential with a self-described "digipreneur" and teacher in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Internet Voting Is ‘Not Secure’ and Blockchain Won’t Help, Warns Scientific Body

Internet voting tools – including blockchain apps – have fundamental issues, and are not safe for real elections, a multidisciplinary science group told U.S. policy makers.

$14M Bitcoin Fund Gets Listed on Toronto Stock Exchange

The listing comes after 3iQ spent several years in dialogue with the Ontario securities regulator.

CEO Says BlockFi Is Lending to Crypto Miners as Other Providers Pull Back

Crypto lending platform BlockFi has begun extending credit to miners as competition for their business has eased during the coronavirus crisis.

Fidelity Taps ErisX Exchange to Boost Crypto Trading Liquidity

Fidelity Digital Asset has signed onto ErisX's clearinghouse, giving its customers access to the exchange's order book in a bid to boost liquidity.

This Visa Credit Card Gives Bitcoin Rewards on Dollars Spent

Bitcoin rewards for dollars spent. That's the allure of a new Visa credit card from e-commerce startup Fold.

Bitcoin Miner Maker Canaan Lost $148 Million in 2019

The Chinese bitcoin miner manufacturer has disclosed it made a net loss of $148.6 million for 2019 on a revenue of $204.3 million.

Galaxy Digital Warns Losses Could Continue as Coronavirus Hits Bottom Line

The crypto merchant bank just managed to keep its head above water in 2019, but says profits will likely suffer amid the effects of Covid-19.

First Mover: Bitcoin Cash’s Halving Was Dull – Bitcoin’s May Be Much the Same

Maybe don't get too excited about the bitcoin halving after what we saw yesterday.

Bitcoin’s Bull Case Strengthens After Breaching Price Hurdle at $7.1K

After multiple failed attempts, bitcoin has finally established a strong foothold above a key resistance, strengthening the short-term bullish case.

Dutch Brokerage Launches Crypto Trading for the Euro Market

Amsterdam-based brokerage BUX has started offering crypto services following the acquisition of defunct exchange Blockport.

Researchers Are Tapping Blockchain Tools in Fight Against Coronavirus

A variety of projects are tapping blockchain tools to securely store and carefully share personal information in the ongoing fight against COVID-19.

Crypto Trading Volumes Rise in India After Banking Crisis, COVID-19 Lockdown

A nationwide coronavirus lockdown, a local banking crisis and a favorable court ruling have created a trifecta for crypto trading volumes in India.

CoinShares Hires WisdomTree Exec as Company Plans Expansion Outside UK

The new hire brings the London-based digital asset manager connections to major financial institutions in Europe.

Top Cryptos Edge Up as Derivatives Data Suggests Newfound Risk Aversion Among Traders

Bitcoin and ether climbed modestly late Wednesday as lighter crypto derivatives volumes signaled uncharacteristic caution among the market’s traders.

How Imposters Scam Entrepreneurs Out of Their Crypto

It's a new twist on an old scam: Someone pretending to represent a major media company will approach a small business offering to write about them… for a price, this time in crypto.

US Prosecutors Ask to Pause SEC Action Against Alleged Crypto Scammer

U.S. prosecutors are seeking to pause the SEC's civil action against Blockchain Terminal founder and alleged $30 million ICO fraudster Boaz Manor to complete their own criminal prosecution.

The Questions We’re Not Allowed to Ask, Feat. Hidden Forces’ Demetri Kofinas

A candid conversation with Hidden Forces host Demetri Kofinas about Covid-19 response, media incentives, and the getting the economy back in action.

Huobi Exchange Plots Return to US Crypto Market as Soon as This Month, Exec Says

Global crypto exchange Huobi could resume business in the U.S. as early as this month, five months after ceasing operations there, an executive said.

Bitcoin Cash ‘Halved,’ DeFi Gets a Boost, and Bisq Halts Trading

Miners are exiting the Bitcoin Cash blockchain while Tezos looks to add a bridge to bitcoin's liquidity. Here's the story.

How DeFi Dinner Bonds Can Help Restaurants During Crisis – DeFi Dad

Travis Blane (aka DeFi Dad) explains how digital gift certificates ("Dinner Bonds") can help get money to restaurants.

US State Regulators Order ‘Fraudulent’ Crypto Mining Scheme to Shut Down

The Texas State Securities Board and Alabama Securities Commission filed an emergency action against Ultra Mining, alleging it offered unregistered securities by promising to double investments in a cloud mining scheme.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 8, 2020

Tesla uses blockchain for supply chains and hackers can whisper to your phone. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Wuhan Days: What I Learned About Blockchain From Two Months Under Lockdown

A DeFi professional describes life under quarantine in COVID-19's epicenter. When the next crisis comes, he says, blockchain tech will be ready to help.

Hacker Exploits Flaw in Decentralized Bitcoin Exchange Bisq to Steal $250K

The DEX revealed the hack 18 hours after it suspended trading.

Bitcoin Cash Undergoes ‘Halving’ Event, Casting Shadow on Miner Profitability

Bitcoin Cash, the blockchain network that forked off Bitcoin in 2017, has just reduced its mining rewards by half, causing lots of miners to have nearly zero gross margin.

First Mover: A Sneak Preview of Bitcoin’s Halving — in Real Time

As central banks around the world inject trillions into the global economy, investors are looking at bitcoin and its "halving" as a hedge against inflation.

Today’s ‘Halving’ May Be Non-Event for Bitcoin Cash Prices

While some expect today's reward cut for BCH miners to belong-term bullish for prices, analysts suggest otherwise.

Banking API Platform Sila Raises $7.7M on Promise of Programmable Money

The $7.7 million round from Madrona Venture Group and others will help Sila bring bespoke stablecoins to fintech entrepreneurs.

Chicago’s Trading Firms Look to DeFi With New ‘Alliance’

DeFi may actually grow during the coronavirus crisis. TD Ameritrade, Cumberland, CMT Digital, DV Trading and Jump Trading are hoping to facilitate.

Wrapped Bitcoin Aims to Kickstart DeFi on Tezos Blockchain

Bitcoin Association Switzerland is partnering with the Tezos Foundation and others to create tzBTC, a bitcoin-pegged token meant to power DeFi applications on Tezos.

Overstock Is Set to Finally Pay Out Its Digital Security Shareholder Dividend

The blockchain-friendly online retailer is planning to distribute its long-delayed digital asset shareholder dividend on May 19.

Cryptopia Users Win Victory in Court Case Over Crypto Assets Worth Over $100M

In the fallout from a massive hack of the New Zealand cryptocurrency exchange, users at last have a little good news.

Power Ledger Inks Deal to Allow French Consumers to Customize Green Energy Mix

The Australian firm is breaking into the European market with a new partnership that enhances the tracking and certification of green energy.

Bitcoin Cash Approaches Milestone With First Halving Expected Wednesday

The event is a foreshadowing of the same process happening on a larger scale on the BTC blockchain next month.

Bitcoin Tracks Stocks Up to $7.4K Before Sliding Back to $7.1K

Bitcoin trended higher along with many traditional markets Tuesday before changing direction and falling as U.S. stock trading closed.

A New Ultrasonic Hack Can Exploit Your Siri

A new hack called a SurfingAttack uses ultrasonic guided waves to communicate with a device through the voice assistant.

Exit Plans, Premature Rallies and Frontline Heroes, Feat. Ben Hunt

Epsilon Theory's Ben Hunt and NLW discuss why markets are rallying as we enter what promises to be the deadliest week of the virus in the US yet.

Microsoft, Celo Back Virtual Earth Day Event From Blockchain for Social Impact Coalition

Microsoft is throwing its weight behind the Blockchain for Social Impact Coalition (BSIC) incubator, a six-week hackathon focused on green energy.

Price Gap Between Sellers and Buyers Yawned During Bitcoin’s March Sell-Off, Study Finds

As cryptocurrency markets crashed hard in March, bid-ask spreads on major exchanges widened dramatically, according to a report by market maker B2C2.

Ready Layer One: Base Layer Protocols Team Up for Virtual Developer Event

A virtual conference is being organized by a bevy of base-layer protocols – the Web3 Foundation, Near, Cosmos, Tezos, Protocol Labs and Polkadot.

Your Crypto Startup Needs a Recession Strategy

A shakeout is coming in crypto venture capital and entrepreneurs should react with a new plan, says our columnist.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 7, 2020

Crypto beats traditional markets while a COVID-19 vaccine enters human trials. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Blockchain Bites: China’s Commitment, Sanctions Evasion and a Look at Bitcoin’s Core

Dial-up daydreams, Zoom alternatives and how blockchain is lending a helping hand during the coronavirus crisis.

How To Get Money to People In An Emergency, Fast

How to do get emergency dollars to Americans fast? You use smartphones, not checks and bank accounts.

Private Companies Could Play Role in CBDC Issuance, Bank of England Says

Analysts from the U.K.'s central bank said private currencies could work alongside any future CBDC initiative if they offered real utility.

First Mover: Bitcoin’s Back in the Black for 2020

Volatility is returning in a positive way, prices are going up, and enthusiasm is returning to digital-asset markets.

Tesla Completes Blockchain Pilot to Speed China Imports Process

The electric car manufacturer participated in the trial back in December.

Peer-to-Peer Crypto Exchange Paxful Now Lets You Trade Bitcoin for Gold

Paxful's users can now directly trade bitcoin for gold through a new service offered by the peer-to-peer exchange.

Blockchain Association Says Court ‘Erred’ With Decision to Block Telegram’s Token Issuance

The advocacy group has supported Telegram's appeal over a U.S. district court's decision to block the firm's token issuance – even outside the country.

Up 3%: Bitcoin Leaves S&P 500 Behind in Year-To-Date Recovery

With HODLers now dominating the market, bitcoin appears on track to extend its recent upward move toward $8,000.

‘Ship-to-Ship’ Trade and Other Secrets of North Korea’s Illicit $1.5B Crypto Stash

Experts on North Korea say the country’s $1.5 billion cryptocurrency war chest is used to fund an illicit web of trade networks and supply chains.

Bitcoin Community Funds Italian Red Cross Medical Facility to Combat Coronavirus

Bitcoin donations have funded a mobile medical center used to assess Italians potentially hit by the novel coronavirus.

Bitcoin’s Future: Exactly How a Coming Upgrade Could Improve Privacy and Scaling

If the privacy and scaling upgrade Schnorr/Taproot makes it into bitcoin (BTC), it could pave the way for advanced and heretofore impossible projects.

Ether Rises to 28-Day High Amid Positive Sentiment for Coming ‘Eth 2.0’ Upgrade

Experts say ether's recent rise in value can in part be attributed to growing confidence in the network's future.

World Economic Forum Looks to Blockchain for Supply Chain Woes

The World Economic Forum said Monday that blockchain and digitization can help supply chains survive crises like COVID-19.

Germany’s Crypto Custody Law Hits a Snag: Startups Can’t Get Bank Accounts

Even though the crypto custody law falls under the German banking act, German banks are hesitant to give crypto firms bank accounts.

Coinhouse Wins First Crypto License From French Regulator

Coinhouse's new status with the Financial Markets Authority should help the firm get banking services in France and bigger institutional clients.

Nestlé Partners With Rainforest Alliance to Trace Coffee Beans

Nestlé has added its Zoégas coffee brand to the IBM Food Trust blockchain and partnered with the Rainforest Alliance to bolster the coffee’s data traceability.

China Is Winning the Coronavirus Information War

During coronavirus, China can export its model of development to the world.

How Disruption Makes Humanity Stronger, Feat. Emerson Spartz

Could creativity and digital work flourish as people are forced to improve how they use the internet and technology?

China Will ‘Undoubtedly’ Pursue Digital Yuan, Central Bank Says

The People’s Bank of China has sent one of its strongest signals yet of a commitment to creating a digital national currency.

Blockchain Bites: Major Crypto Players Sued, Steem Froze Accounts and More

A boutique law firm is leading a bevy of charges against the biggest names in crypto while MakerDAO plans its obsolescence.

Zoom Has Privacy Issues, Here Are Some Alternatives

Worried about getting Zoombombed? Here are some privacy-facing services to check out while you're WFH.

Kraken Hires Lawyer Marco Santori to Ramp Up Acquisitions

Marco Santori, who helped write the SAFT framework, is leaving Blockchain.com to helm Kraken's expanding legal team.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 6, 2020

Ether and BTC are running neck and neck while three major lawsuits deal with the ICO aftermath. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Digital Assets Are More Recession-Proof Than You Might Think

Like gift cards, digital tokens represent claims on future services. In a downturn, those tokens may not lose value as readily as equities and debt.

Introducing CoinDesk’s All-New Newsletters

CoinDesk’s newsletters are getting a big upgrade. There’s no better way to stay up to date on bitcoin, crypto and the transformation of the global financial system.

South Korean Central Bank Accelerates Digital Currency Pilot to Keep Up With Other Nations

The Bank of Korea has historically been skeptical about CBDCs, but now it's having to keep up.

Bitcoin, Equities Markets Rally on Signs of Hope

"Looks like we're piggy-backing on equities with some data possibly indicating virus peaking," says a trader of bitcoin's 5 percent jump Monday.

Poloniex’s New Tron-Powered IEO Platform Moves Exchange Closer to Justin Sun’s Orbit

The new platform uses Tron's TRX token for purchases and its first project is within the Tron fold.

Shyft Network to Build FATF-Compliant ‘Identity Layer’ for Polkadot

Shyft Network is adding yet another blockchain to its decentralized digital identification network.

First Mover: Trillions in Coronavirus Stimulus Brings Out the Bitcoin Bulls

It's a common refrain: The U.S. dollar will be debased by the trillions in coronavirus aid. That should strengthen the case for bitcoin... theoretically.

Major Crypto Firms Including Binance, Civic, Tron Targeted in Flood of Lawsuits

A flood of class-action lawsuits were filed in New York Friday, taking aim at a number of major cryptocurrency projects over their token sales.

Is Bitcoin More Like Gold or Equities?

Bitcoin markets have behaved a lot more like equities than gold during recent market swings. But widen the time frame, and things start to look shinier.

Victims Accuse Wells Fargo Subsidiary of Turning Blind Eye to $35M Crypto Ponzi

Plaintiffs claim Wells Fargo Advisors did not check on the activities of a financial advisor accused of defrauding 150 investors.

Revolut Expands Crypto Offering – But Not in the US

Fintech challenger bank Revolut accelerated its plans to offer crypto buy and sell services due to recent actions by central banks, said head of crypto Edward Cooper.

New Software Fix Offers Bitcoin Miners Increased Security

Startup Braiins has released the first functioning code for a new protocol designed to fix longstanding security problems with bitcoin mining pools.

Crypto M&A and Fundraising Dropped Sharply in 2019: PwC Report

The value of crypto M&A deals last year dropped by a whopping 76 percent, according to a new report by PwC – down from $1.9 billion in 2018 to $451 million in 2019.

Coronavirus Second Order Effects and Improving on Bitcoin With BitTorrent Creator Bram Cohen

BitTorrent creator and Chia CEO Bram Cohen joins the hosts of Let's Talk Bitcoin! To discuss the limitations of Satoshi's approach to Nakamoto consensus, how he believes it can be improved and the lasting impacts of coronavirus lockdowns.

Steem Witnesses Freeze $3.2M in Latest Tit-for-Tat With Hard Fork Insurgents

Witnesses on Steem have frozen eight accounts, putting a total of 17.6 million steem in limbo. It's the latest drama since March 20's Hive hard fork.

Miner Perspectives on Bitcoin Halving 2020, Part 1 of a New Podcast Series

Hosted by CoinDesk Research Analyst Christine Kim, the first episode of the Bitcoin Halving 2020 podcast series is about the impact of bitcoin’s third halving on the concentration of miners in China.

How to Protect Your Online Privacy While Working From Home

Tips from a privacy professional about staying safe online during coronavirus.

MakerDAO Foundation Plots Its Own Demise

The MakerDAO Foundation is getting serious about its planned obsolescence. A governance call Thursday laid out founder Rune Christensen's three pillars of full decentralization.

BIS Researchers Say Coronavirus Could Spur Central Banks to Adopt Digital Payments

BIS researchers think COVID-19 may accelerate the adoption of digital payments and sharpen the debate over central bank digital currencies.

How Blockchain Tech Can Make Coronavirus Relief More Effective

Smart contracts and distributed ledgers can bring accountability and certainty to coronavirus relief efforts, says economist Stephanie Hurder.

SEC Charges 2 With Fraudulent Water-Backed Token Sale

The SEC charged a former Texas pastor and his wife for allegedly defrauding hundreds of investors through an alkaline water-backed cryptocurrency TeshuaCoin.

R3 Teams With Custodian Hex Trust to Help Asian Banks Sell Security Tokens

Hong Kong-based Hex Trust is partnering with the enterprise blockchain company to offer banking clients another option for issuing security tokens.

Will DeFi Matter in a Post-Coronavirus World? Feat. Matt Luongo

Keep Project founder Matt Luongo discusses launching a bridge between bitcoin and ethereum as well as what the world looks like for BTC and DeFi after COVID-19.

Binance Donated $2.4M in Coronavirus Medical Supplies; CZ Pledges More

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said his exchange had donated $2.4 million in crypto to buying medical supplies to fight the novel coronavirus outbreak, and plans to donate up to $5 million total.

Ether-Bitcoin Price Volatility Spread Hits 4-Month Low

Some cryptocurrencies are hairier rides than others. But there may not be much difference in price volatility between the top two in the months ahead.

Blockchain Gaming, Messaging Apps See User Growth Amid Coronavirus Lockdowns

Coronavirus lockdowns have led to a relative surge in a small corner of the cryptocurrency space: its more casual and entertaining end.

Looking for a Safe Haven Digital Asset? Try Gold

Gold has traditionally been a safe place to invest during market turmoil. Now there's a new option: tokenized gold, says the CEO of Smart Valor, a European exchange.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 3, 2020

Bitcoin bumps up and mining machines are dropping in price. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

Non-Custodial Exchange Hodl Hodl Bringing Private Bitcoin Trading to BlueWallet Users

The BlueWallet app will soon offer KYC-free bitcoin trades via an integration with the peer-to-peer Hodl Hodl exchange.

Cambrial Capital to Shut Down After Coronavirus Tanks Markets: Sources

Cambrial Capital, a crypto-focused fund of funds, is quietly winding down its operations, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

FBI Used Bitcoin Trail to Catch Russian Rapper Accused of Money Laundering

Rapper Maksim Boiko had claimed bundles of money he posed with in photos came from rental revenue and investments in bitcoin.

CME Bitcoin Futures Volume Hits 3-Week High as Bitcoin Extends Rally

Bitcoin futures volumes on CME picked up the pace on Thursday as bitcoin extended the recent rally to levels above $7,200.

Why Are Crypto Companies Going to Abu Dhabi?

The Abu Dhabi Global Market has become an attractive jurisdiction for crypto companies since it introduced digital asset regulation in June 2018.

Corporate America Knows the Bailout Is Baked In

Corporate America has embraced fragility, says Nic Carter. Its business model depends on a bailout.

SoftBank-Backed Fintech Firm Joins Chinese Conglomerate to Build Blockchain Platform

OneConnect, the fintech wing of Ping An Insurance Group, is building a logistics-tracking blockchain platform with the China Merchants Port Group.

Manufacturers Mark Down Bitcoin Miners as Price Drop, Halving Change Calculus

Last month’s bitcoin price crash has prompted manufacturers to sell their mining devices at discounts as steep as 20 percent ahead of the May halving.

Chinese Financial Watchdog Warns of Manipulative Crypto Exchanges

A Chinese financial watchdog warned investors of rising risks in crypto investments as the global stock market continues to fluctuate.

As Governments Rush to Track Coronavirus, Honduras May Offer a Privacy-First Model

A blockchain startup working in Honduras may show world governments how to limit surveillance overreach while still fighting the deadly coronavirus.

Brazilian Financial Regulators Will Vet Companies and Political Appointees on a Blockchain

Brazil’s major financial regulators have unified their intelligence troves under a blockchain-backed sharing system called PIER.

5 Reasons for Cautious Optimism in Crypto

While traditional markets continue to flail, bitcoin and crypto are showing surprising resilience and attracting new audiences.

Bitcoin Blows Past $7K in Sudden 14% Jump

Bitcoin (BTC) suddenly rallied Thursday after weeks in the doldrums, trading above $7,000 for the first time since March 11.

Makers of Keep Protocol Raise $7.7M to Bring Trustless BTC to DeFi

Thesis has closed a $7.7 million deal by selling its KEEP tokens to some of crypto’s top investors. Its TBTC project could get more bitcoin into DeFi.

Ripple Engineers Publish Design for Private Transactions on XRP Ledger

Ripple engineer Nik Bougalis has proposed a method of shielding transactions on the XRP ledger.

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 2, 2020

Crypto is up and a weird lawsuit may be coming to an end. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily podcast.

CoinTracker Adds 6 Industry Partnerships for Its Crypto Tax Reporting Tool

The firm has partnered with a number of prominent blockchain industry names including ErisX, Lolli and Casa.

Using Bitcoin in Zimbabwe, Part 3 of a Six-Part Documentary Podcast Series

In the third episode of the six-part series about Bitcoin in Africa you will hear from two early bitcoin adopters based in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe.

Digital Custodian Anchorage Adds XRP Storage for Institutional Customers

Anchorage, a digital asset custodian targeting institutional clients, has added support for XRP, offering services for all of the top-3 cryptocurrencies.

Binance’s CoinMarketCap Acquisition Is a Bet That Crypto Really Is for the Masses

By acquiring high-traffic data site CoinMarketCap, crypto exchange Binance has bought itself the top of the proverbial customer-acquisition funnel.

Factom Faces Liquidation After Investors Refuse Request for More Funding

The blockchain firm's biggest investor, FastForward, is now its receiver.

Bitcoin Enters Historically Strong Quarter With 3% Price Gain

Bitcoin has kicked off the historically strong second quarter on a positive note – scoring gains overnight despite losses on Wall Street.

Crypto Wants Stronger Public Response to Coronavirus, CoinDesk Survey Shows

People in blockchain tend not to love government. But they don't want it to be idle in a crisis, a CoinDesk survey suggests.

SEC Seeks More Feedback on tZERO’s Proposed Security Token Exchange

The commission has extended a comment period on a proposed rule change to clear a regulatory path for the Boston Security Token Exchange, a tZERO-backed platform.

Looking for a Halving Payday? Quick Wins in Investing Are Rare

Miracle returns in investing seldom materialize. Beware excessive expectations for the bitcoin halving.

FATF Says US ‘Largely Compliant’ With Virtual Currency Recommendations

A new Financial Action Task Force report says the U.S. is largely in compliance with its recommendations around digital assets, but still has some "minor deficiencies" in its state and federal framework.

Bitcoin Takes Tumble, Traders Fret Correlation and Next Month’s Halving

Bitcoin had another down day. How long the cryptocurrency follows stocks, and whether next month’s halving juices its price, remain open questions.

Blockstack Wins Patent for Its Dapp Single Sign-on Product

The U.S. patent office has granted Blockstack intellectual property rights around its single sign-on service for dapps.

How Coronavirus Is Accelerating the End of Globalism, Feat. Peter Zeihan

The American-led global order has been unraveling for 30 years, and COVID-19 may be the blow that changes it once and for all.

Online Black Markets’ Bitcoin Revenues Take a Hit Amid Pandemic

Customers spent fewer bitcoins at darknet markets over the last two months despite the slide in the cryptocurrency's price, according to data from blockchain surveillance firm Chainalysis.

Judge Denies Telegram’s Request to Issue Gram Tokens to Non-US Investors

A federal judge denied Telegram's request to issue Gram tokens to non-U.S. investors.

Bitfury Latest to Donate Crypto Mining Power to Coronavirus Research

Bitfury has dedicated its GPU miners to the Folding@home project, which is studying the novel coronavirus in hopes of developing a vaccine.

As Crypto Prices Reeled in Q1, These Coins Stood Out

While bitcoin and the broader crypto market fell during Q1 amid a global crisis, a few coins outperformed. Here are a few notable winners and losers.

Coinbase Pumps $1.1M USDC Into DeFi Sites Uniswap and PoolTogether

Coinbase is putting its digital dollars where the traction is.  Announced Wednesday, Coinbase has deposited $1.1 million in USDC stablecoins into the pools powering two of the most popular decentralized finance (DeFi) applications on Ethereum: Uniswap and PoolTogether. The investment comes via the USDC Bootstrap Fund, which the company launched in September 2019. “With USDC, […]

Bitcoin News Roundup for April 1, 2020

A new mesh network runs on crypto and the Bitcoin markets might not hit $20K. It's CoinDesk's Markets Daily Podcast.

Binance Crypto Exchange Is Launching Its First Bitcoin Mining Pool

Binance has been offering "generous" referral bonuses for its new crypto mining pool.

AT&T Files for Dismissal in $24M Phone Hack Case, Claims Crypto Exec Didn’t Read T&Cs

Terpin claims he lost $24 million in crypto due to AT&T's negligence. The firm says he didn't read the company's policy documents.

Thousands of Microsoft Servers Infected By Crypto-Mining Botnet Since 2018, Says Report

The attackers have apparently been targeting Microsoft SQL database servers to mine cryptocurrency for two years.

How Financial Models Could Move Bitcoin’s Price After the Halving

If history is a guide, financial models forecasting the post-halving bitcoin price are just as likely to shape the future as predict it.

Cannabis Shops Are Using Zap’s Lightning App During Coronavirus Cash Crunch

The Lightning Network startup now offers fiat-friendly bitcoin payment tools. Cannabis dispensaries in Colorado are an early proving ground.

Zero Interest Rates Could Hamper the Stablecoin Business

Negative interest rates will force stablecoins to look at their fee structures and cut costs. Only the fittest will survive, says our columnist.

HIVE Blockchain to Double Bitcoin Mining Capacity Through $2.8M Share Deal

HIVE shares have increased 10 percent since the deal to acquire a bitcoin mining farm in Canada became public.

BitMEX Operator Ups Grant for Bitcoin Development to $100K

HDR Global Trading has supported bitcoin maintainer Michael Ford since he was appointed last summer.

Amended Lawsuit Against Ripple Now Offers Theory That XRP May Not Be a Security

While the lawsuit against Ripple Labs still alleges the firm broke securities laws, the plaintiffs now seem to be hedging their bets.

GitHub Is Burying Bitcoin Code Inside an Arctic Mountain to Ride Out the Next 1,000 Years

Deep inside a forsaken coal mine on the Norwegian island of Svalbard, the Bitcoin Core code repository will be kept on film reels and stored for centuries.

Tether CTO Claims USDT Stablecoin Can Boost DeFi Liquidity

Tether CTO Paolo Ardoino believes the USDT stablecoin can boost the decentralized finance ecosystem.