Election 2020 Prediction Markets: Bettors Say Trump Lost Tuesday’s Debate

With the first presidential debate now smoldering behind us, the betting markets have picked their winner: Joe Biden.

Blockstack’s Clarity Smart Contracts Will Source Data From Chainlink Oracles

Blockstack and Algorand's Clarity smart contracts will source their data from Chainlink's oracle network.

SEC Alleges Big-Talking Florida Crypto Investor Defrauded Clients of $6.8M

Thomas J. Gity allegedly told his 18 investor's he'd never ended a trading day in the red.

What Happens if Big Tech Only Gets Bigger?

Amy Webb, a quantitative futurist, thinks Big Tech is only going to get bigger and more powerful.

BitFlyer Opens Japanese Bitcoin Market to European Traders

The cross-border initiative opens Japan's high-volume bitcoin markets to European traders courting the bitcoin/yen trading pair.

Data Management Startup Fluree Unlocks $1.5M Air Force Contract With Latest VC Raise

The Air Force demanded that Fluree raise at least $1.5 million before beginning its blockchain project's second phase.

Blockchain Bites: Coinbase’s Severance Offer, DeFi’s Latest Fund, Overstock’s Legal Win

Coinbase will offer non-aligned employees a severance package while Bitcoin backers gain a way to crowdsource development.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 30, 2020

With bitcoin trading in an unusually tight range and DeFi darling SushiSwap suffering shrinkage, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

3iQ’s Bitcoin Fund Gets Second Listing of 2020 – This Time on Gibraltar’s Stock Exchange

The Toronto Stock Exchange also listed The Bitcoin Fund in April of this year.

‘Great Artists Steal’ – What Enterprise Blockchain Can Learn From the Past

Enterprise blockchain doesn't need to reinvent the wheel: Communications standards in use for decades are built for machine-to-machine commerce.

CBDCs Could Challenge US Dollar’s Dominance: Deutsche Bank

Central bank digital currencies have the potential to challenge the primacy of the U.S. dollar, according to a new report from Germany's Deutsche Bank.

SEC Orders Salt Lending to Refund Investors in Its $47M ICO

The SEC has confirmed it is taking action against SALT Lending after ruling the company's $47 million ICO was an illegal securities issuance.

First Mover: Chainlink’s Sorry September Returns Shows DeFi Hysteria Deflating

Chainlink's LINK has been the worst-performing digital asset in September in the CoinDesk 20, during an ugly month across cryptocurrency markets.

Reef Finance Raises $3.9M for Cross-Chain DeFi on Polkadot

DeFi on Ethereum is costly and congested. Can other base layers step up? Polkadot's Reef Finance has raised $3.9 million to try.

Energy Web Is Starting With Ripple in Its Bid to Make Crypto Provably Green

The non-profit is teaming up with Ripple and the XRP Foundation to show how blockchain ecosystems can be carbon-neutral.

DeFi ‘Vampire’ SushiSwap Still Hemorrhaging Liquidity

Uniswap challenger SushiSwap is continue to lose vital liquidity, with total value locked falling by 8% in the past 24 hours.

Compound, Gauntlet Founders Raise $4M for New DeFi Scout Fund

Robert Leshner's Robot Ventures has secured $4 million in funding from Galaxy Digital and Paradigm to find early opportunities in DeFi.

French Authorities Arrest 29 Suspected of Using Crypto to Fund Extremists in Syria

Hundreds of thousands of euros may have been supplied through a secret network benefiting al-Qaida-linked extremists in northwestern Syria.

Is Reddit’s MOON Token Really 2000x Bigger Than the Global Economy?

A unique anomaly means the market cap for a token for incentivizing content on a particular Reddit forum has ballooned to $2.88 septillion.

SEC Seeks Trial of Swedish National Over Alleged Fraud That Took $3.5M in Crypto

The man is alleged to have fleeced 2,200 victims in the U.S. and 45 other countries, netting $3.5 million via payments in bitcoin and other digital assets.

Bilibili Copycat Tried to Save Itself With a $2M Crypto IEO – It Didn’t Work

A Chinese video streaming copycat service raised $2.1 million via an initial exchange offering in August 2019 – but it appears this last resort wasn’t enough to save the company.

BitcoinACKs Lets You Track Bitcoin Development and Pay Coders for Their Work

BitcoinACKs aggregates pull requests for upgrades to Bitcoin Core and lets users pay for the Bitcoin development they want to see.

Coinbase Offers Severance Package to Employees Unsatisfied With ‘Apolitical’ Mission

Coinbase's CEO has issued a company-wide letter informing employees to get in line with a new cultural shift or take a severance package.

Better Broadband Will Pave the Way for a ‘Brand New World’

Self-help guru James Altucher sees a world where we can jump between virtual realities. Will it be a better world? Time will tell.

Crypto Co-ops and Game Theory: Why the Internet Must Learn to Collaborate to Survive

As the internet shifts to the open, decentralized standards of Web 3.0, can we find a balance between competition and cooperation?

How the Crypto Industry Seesaws Between Assets and Infrastructure

Bitcoin invented a new asset as well as new infrastructure. Often, we confuse the two roles it plays.

Blockchain Bites: CZ’s Exclusive Interview, California’s Souped-Up Regulator, Alt Season’s End?

California beefed up its financial regulator, Bitpanda closed a notable raise and some investors say "alt-season" is over.

Permission.io Has Quietly Raised $50M to Make Advertising Personal and Data Private

Permission.io has raised over $50 million to reward users for engaging with ads. Will advertisers buy in?

Bitcoin May Return to Center Stage After Ethereum’s White-Hot Summer

With the U.S. elections just five weeks away, the crypto market's focus looks to be shifting back to bitcoin from ether.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 29, 2020

With bitcoin back in the driver's seat and the Filecoin launch fast approaching, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

KuCoin Maintains Wallet Freeze as Hackers Begin Laundering Stolen Crypto

The exchange's weekend thieves appear to be searching for buyers of their $281 million in stolen crypto.

Regulated US Exchange Gemini Now Offers Confidential Zcash Withdrawals

Gemini said that adding shielded zcash withdrawals showed regulators could be made to be comfortable with privacy coins.

Investors Flock to India’s DeFi Scene Months After Central Bank Ban Overturned

DeFi protocols UniLend Finance and PlotX announced Tuesday they had both successfully completed their seed rounds.

First Mover: Binance CEO Sees Future in DeFi While Bitcoin Volatility Turns Minuscule

Binance CEO isn't ashamed to discuss DeFi's future — and how the fast-moving arena might represent the future of his industry-leading crypto exchange.

Coda Protocol Changes Name After Trademark Dispute With R3

O(1) Labs-led lightweight blockchain Coda Protocol said that it is relaunching as “Mina,” following a settlement in a trademark dispute with software maker R3.

SEC Won’t Take Action Against Compliance-Focused Digital Security Exchanges

Digital security exchanges that ensure listed assets are legitimate will not face sanctions, the SEC said in an open letter.

Traders Rotate to Bitcoin Expecting a Quiet Q4 for Altcoins

Some traders anticipate the leading cryptocurrency to significantly outperforming the entire crypto market for at least the next several months.

Ethereum 2.0 Developers Launch Spadina, a Three-Day Practice Testnet

Ethereum testnet Spadina gives developers one more crack at practicing with Eth 2.0’s deposit contract before the real deal arrives.

$28M MakerDAO ‘Black Thursday’ Lawsuit Moves to Arbitration

The class-action alleged the Maker Foundation and others knowingly misrepresented the risks of investment in MakerDAO.

Silvergate Bank: How Deep Is the Moat?

Silvergate Bank has pioneered financial services for crypto startups. But now it faces new rivals. Can it deepen its competitive moat?

Relief and Regret: Crypto Twitter Reacts as Coinbase Says No to Corporate Activism

Brian Armstrong has split crypto down the middle after taking the stance that Coinbase will remain "laser focused" on its mission and keep activism out of the workplace.

CoinDesk Live: Can Old Schools Teach New Tech?

On Oct. 6, we'll reveal the results of our first CoinDesk U ranking of the top-20 universities for blockchain education. Here's how you can watch it live.

Binance CEO Says He Fully Expects DeFi to Cannibalize His Crypto Exchange

Binance CEO “CZ” acknowledges the irony of trying to tap into DeFi while defending his company’s reign among crypto exchanges.

California Governor Signs Law Bringing State ‘New Tools’ to Regulate Crypto

The now-renamed California department responsible for the regulation of financial services will soon have more powers to supervise the cryptocurrency industry.

Coinbase Has Drawn a Line in the Sand for Its Activist Employees

Is Brian Armstrong right to eschew corporate activism for a focus on the "mission"?

Bitpanda Raises $52M Series A Led by Peter Thiel’s Valar Ventures

With $100 million raised to date, crypto brokerage Bitpanda will be "Europe's next fintech unicorn," says lead investor Valar Ventures.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Hits $10.9K; Ether Options Signal Short-Term Volatility

Bitcoin prices approached $11,000 in early trading Monday as the ether options signal short-term gyrations.

The Standard About to Revolutionize Payments

Changing the standard way financial institutions communicate changes everything.

Why Bitcoin’s Longest Run Above $10,000 Matters

Bitcoin has been above $10,000 for even longer than the record 2017-18 run, giving confidence to long term HODLers in the process.

Crypto Is Too Dependent on Dollars

With most stablecoins pegged to dollars, the crypto industry is wedded to a single currency with uncertain prospects. Time to diversify.

Ocean Protocol Forks to Retrieve Tokens Stolen From KuCoin Exchange

On Sunday, Ocean Protocol conducted a hard fork from its old token address to prevent the KuCoin exchange hacker from continued unloading of stolen OCEAN tokens on decentralized exchange Uniswap.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 28, 2020

With bitcoin's record-breaking run above $10,000 and Twitter talking blockchain strategy, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Blockchain Bites: DeFi Meets NFTs, TSLA Beats Bitcoin in Volatility, Uniswap Breaks $2B

Bitcoin is moving off exchanges, has been less volatile than TLSA and broke its record for longest streak trading above five figures.

Filecoin Confirms Long-Awaited Mainnet Launch for Next Month

Three years after its $257 million ICO, decentralized data storage provider Filecoin has said mainnet will go live in mid-October.

CFTC Charges Firm With Illegally Providing Leveraged Trading of Crypto, Gold

A Caribbean-based firm is in hot water with the CFTC for allegedly allowing U.S. retail investors to partake in leveraged trading of cryptocurrencies and precious metals.

Bitcoin Miner Producer Ebang Blames Coronavirus for 50% Slump in Revenue

Nasdaq-listed bitcoin miner manufacturer Ebang said the pandemic had disrupted its supply chain and led to a significant drop in revenue.

The Inevitable Marriage of Yield Farming and NFTs, Explained

NFTs had managed to be expensive but they had not managed to be liquid – not until DeFi-thinking intervened.

First Mover: Bitcoin Low Exchange Balance Looks Bullish, But Chart Looks Bearish as $11K Nears

Bitcoin balances on exchanges hit 2-year low, seen as a bullish sign that traders are holding for the long term, or tokenizing for use in DeFi.

Bitcoin Has Been Less Volatile Than Tesla Stock for Months

Bitcoin is often criticized for being over volatile, but it's been a sea of calm compared with Tesla stock in recent months.

Bitwise Bitcoin Fund Doubles to $9M as Investor Fears Grow Over Runaway Inflation

Record fiscal stimulus has pushed wealthy investors to invest in Bitwise's bitcoin fund as a means to hedge against inflation.

EY Releases Enterprise Procurement Solution on Ethereum Blockchain

The consultancy giant has released a new solution aimed to streamline enterprise resource planning on the public Ethereum blockchain.

$2B Locked: Uniswap Now Bigger Than Entire DeFi Industry Just Two Months Ago

After passing $2 billion in locked assets, there's now more value in Uniswap than there was in the entire DeFi space on July 9.

Bitfinex Launches Tether-Settled Perpetual Contracts Based on European Equities

The perpetual contracts will be open for trading 24/7, unlike equity exchanges which are open for business for a limited number of hours, five days a week.

Bitcoin Balances on Exchanges at 2-Year Low and That May Be a Bullish Sign

Bitcoin balances on major exchanges have hit their lowest point since November 2018. Yet unlike that time, it may be a positive signal.

Crypto Long & Short: The OCC’s Stablecoin Statement Is a Seed of Financial Innovation

Noelle Acheson talks about how the latest OCC statement that says banks can support stablecoin reserves is an innovation trigger in disguise.

Bitcoin Sets Record 63 Straight Days Above $10,000

Bitcoin has closed above $10,000 since July 27.

The 51% Attack Nightmare Scenario (Isn’t That Bad)

An accessible, in-depth look at what's really at risk when Proof-of-Work or Proof-of-Stake blockchains suffer the dreaded 51% attack.

The Biggest Story in Crypto: The Stablecoin Surge and Power Politics

Nic Carter appears on our new Opinionated podcast to discuss the $20 billion stablecoin phenomenon and its implications for the global financial system.

Understanding the Coming Currency Cold War

Will the future of currency be led by the U.S., China, Bitcoin, or some combination we can barely imagine today?

The One-Way ETH ‘Burn’ That Will Kick-Start Ethereum 2.0

With final preparations for the launch of Ethereum 2.0 soon to be underway, CoinDesk's Christine Kim spoke with Developers Raul Jordan and Eduardo Antuña Díez about what's left to do and what comes next.

Why the Stock Market is Poised for Its Worst September Since 2011

Last week saw the third-biggest outflow from stock funds in history, and the dollar is the strongest it’s been since April. Here’s what’s going on.

Hackers Drain KuCoin Crypto Exchange’s Funds

Kucoin, a Singaporean cryptocurrency exchange, disclosed that it was hacked and plans on reimbursing customers whose funds were stolen.

The Bahamas Reveal Details, October Date of Landmark Central Bank Digital Currency Debut

The Bahamas has unveiled key details powering its historic launch of a central bank digital currency, now slated to debut on October 20.

This Entrepreneur Was SIM Swapped So Often, He Started a Company to Fight It

Efani’s solution to SIM swapping? Make it so difficult to make changes to a cell phone account that an attack is virtually impossible.

New Blockchain Program Aims to Counter Fake Viewer Data, Scam Ads

he platform targeted at combating scams advertised in video ads deploys a combination of Theta’s blockchain, Google’s BigQuery solution and Chainlink’s oracles.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 25, 2020

With bitcoin's best day in two months and a surprisingly positive report out of Chinese state media, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

SoluTech to Burn its Tokens Under Terms of SEC Settlement; Co-Founder Fined

SoluTech, which violated securities laws and misrepresented its revenue during the token sale, now must destroy all its tokens.

On-Chain Data Suggests Ether Investors Bought September Dip

Ether's recent price drop has failed to deter investors from accumulating the cryptocurrency, on-chain data indicates.

Money Reimagined: Memes Mean Money

Sushi. Yams. Hot dogs. DeFi memes may be a joke, but they point to how money is always created: community storytelling. Plus: a new podcast.

Jack Dorsey Details Twitter’s Blockchain Strategy at Oslo Freedom Forum

Jack Dorsey said the nonprofit Blue Sky will use blockchain to create an open Twitter protocol and give people more control over their data.

Pantera Capital Crypto Funds Report 100% Returns Amid DeFi Craze

Investments in decentralized finance (DeFi) drove returns exceeding 100% this year to Pantera Capital’s bitcoin index and altcoin hedge funds.

Hong Kong Reportedly Picks ConsenSys for Digital Currency Pilot Project

The Ethereum venture studio said it will work on implementing Hong Kong and Thailand's cross-border CBDC.

Bitcoin’s Bearish September Has Kneecapped Crypto ETP Activity: Report

Bitcoin's price woes this month likely put investors off from purchasing crypto ETPs, pushing volumes into a nosedive.

MicroBT Sets Up First Offshore Bitcoin Miner Factory to Expand US Market Share

The new Southeast Asian facility will mean U.S. buyers won't have to pay an additional 25% tax on miner orders.

First Mover: Tron’s Play for WBTC Shows Competition to Relieve Ethereum Congestion

Competition builds in market for tokenized bitcoin, used to get extra profit off holdings of the cryptocurrency recently denigrated as a "pet rock."

Up 5%: Bitcoin Sees Biggest Single-Day Price Gain for 2 Months

Bitcoin is eyeing a bull revival above the psychological resistance of $11,000, but a strengthening dollar could put a spanner in the works.

OneCoin Investors Allege BNY Mellon Aided $4B Fraud

Following the publication of the FinCEN Files on Monday, investors suing OneCoin have now added allegations against BNY Mellon to their lawsuit.

OCC’s First Issued Guidance for Stablecoins Brings More Questions

For some, the OCC's recent stablecoin guidance, while helpful, raises as many issues as it clarifies.

Russian Web Censor Tells Binance It’s Been Blacklisted – Three Months Late

Roskomnadzor blacklisted Binance in June, but apparently only made the cryptocurrency exchange aware of its decision today.

How We Short Capitalism – And Finance the Revolution

In the post-capitalist future, human beings will collaborate, communicate and create using the radically decentralized tools.

China State Media Make Rare Reports Calling Crypto 2020’s Best Performing Asset

Several Chinese state-owned media have made unusual coordinated reports describing cryptocurrencies as the year's top performing investment.

IRS Will Make It Harder to Avoid Declaring Crypto on Tax Returns

The Internal Revenue Service plans to make all income tax payers check a box indicating whether they have transacted in crypto over 2020.

Ant Launches Business Trade Blockchain in Run-Up to $35B IPO

The launch of the cross-border trade blockchain comes as Ant stokes up enthusiasm for its public offering – set to be the largest on record.

Visa-Owned Plaid Has a Hidden Passion for DeFi

Fintech enabler Plaid is quietly working with at least two decentralized finance (DeFi) startups.

Fed Reserve Governor Brainard Said to Be Biden’s Choice for Treasury Secretary

Lael Brainard, who has been involved with the Fed's efforts to research a digital dollar, is seen as an ideal choice, Bloomberg sources said.

Stablecoins Hit $20B Milestone, a Nearly 300% Year-to-Date Surge

The total value of stablecoins has now surpassed $20 billion, reflecting the growing demand of investors looking to hedge their risks in both crypto and traditional markets amid the coronavirus pandemic.

A New Era of Media Begins With Tokenization

Substack alone won't save publishing: The future of online content is where "money legos," communities and media meet.

A New Bill Proposes to Put US Crypto Exchanges Under a National Framework

The Digital Commodity Exchange Act would bring crypto exchanges into a single federal framework, overseen by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 24, 2020

With bitcoin markets looking weak alongside a strengthening dollar, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Bitcoin Options Open Interest Hits Record High in Expiry Week

Bitcoin's options market is more popular than ever with record open interest of more than $2.10 billion.

Blockchain Bites: MakerDAO’s Do or Dai Moment, Bitcoin in Africa, Dollar Trends Up

MakerDAO has voted not to compensate victims of the "Black Thursday" flash crash, a former Pantera partner is launching a new crypto-focused fund and bitcoin may be headed to the doldrums as the U.S. dollar rises.

How Small Business Can Achieve ‘Economies of Scale’ by 2030

Blockchain tech will allow small businesses to collaborate as never before, reducing the power of big business to dictate terms.

BitGo Is Bringing DeFi-Friendly Wrapped Bitcoin to the Tron Blockchain

The partnership will bring wrapped bitcoin (WBTC) and BitGo’s newly-minted wrapped ether (WETH) into the Tron ecosystem as TRC-20 tokens.

CoinDesk Reporters Discuss FinCEN Files, Venezuela’s Stablecoin Flop and More

From the CoinDesk Global Macro news desk, this is Borderless - A twice-monthly roundup of the most important stories impacting bitcoin and the crypto sector from around the world.

Uniswap Users Have Claimed $560M-Worth of UNI Tokens in a Week

Dune Analytics data shows nearly 80% of the current UNI token supply has so far been snapped up by eligible Uniswap wallet addresses.

Climate Startup Nori Raises $4M to Solve Carbon Market Double-Spending

Nori has been funded to build a blockchain-based market for carbon credits that will start by paying farmers to remove CO2 from the atmosphere.

Read CoinDesk’s New, Expanded Ethics Policy

As part of our ongoing efforts to be maximally transparent and accountable to readers, CoinDesk has substantially updated and expanded its ethics policy.

EU Proposes Full Regulatory Framework for Cryptocurrencies

The European Commission has formally proposed legislation that will provide a full regulatory regime for cryptocurrencies.

Russian Ministry Wants Citizens to Report Their Crypto Wallet Details: Report

The Ministry of Finance is seeking amendments to the law that would force cryptocurrency users to report wallet balances and large transactions to the tax authorities.

First Mover: Federal Reserve, Congress Play Game of Chicken Over Stimulus as Market Lurches

Markets from stocks to bitcoin have groaned amid dimming prospects for more U.S. stimulus, and neither Congress nor the Fed are taking the lead.

Ex-Pantera Partner’s New Crypto Fund Is ‘Not for the Faint of Heart’

Paul Brodsky is helming a new crypto investment firm called PostModern Partners that bets on volatile digital assets, not bitcoin.

Different Cars, Same Radio Presets: Daimler Blockchain Venture Lets Settings Follow Users

Focused around digital identity and data, Ontology announced on Thursday it has partnered with automaker Daimler AG to build blockchain-enabled mobility solutions.

Strengthening US Dollar Could Bring Further Downside for Bitcoin

With the U.S. dollar eyeing a pre-election recovery, the path of least resistance for bitcoin may be to the downside.

Bitcoin in Africa: FastBitcoins Partners With Flexepin to Expand Global Footprint

FastBitcoins has partnered with ASX-listed Flexepin to bring the U.K.-based crypto company's services to 20,000 more locations.

Crypto Companies Are Lining Up to Work With Us, Says Visa Exec

A growing force in the crypto space, Visa says it's getting more and more industry firms interested in payments partnerships.

World’s Biggest Meat Processor to Tackle Amazon Deforestation Using Blockchain Tech

JBS S.A. aims to track all of its cattle suppliers on a blockchain system by 2025.

Iran Is Ripe for Bitcoin Adoption, Even as Government Clamps Down on Mining

Iran is regulating bitcoin mining with an iron fist. But as U.S. sanctions and the pandemic put pressure on the economy, Iranians are seriously considering bitcoin as an alternative to the falling rial.

Ocean Protocol and Balancer Want to Do for Data What Uniswap Did for Coins

Ocean Protocol is teaming up with Balancer Labs to create the first automated market maker (AMM) for data.

Gemini Adds British Pound to Accepted Fiats in UK After Registration With Watchdog

Cryptocurrency exchange and custodian Gemini announced on Thursday that its UK users, individual and institutional, will now be able to trade and store crypto using the Pound sterling (GBP).

MakerDAO Users Hosed by March Flash Crash Won’t Get MKR Payouts, Say MKR Whales

After initially voting to do so, the Maker community will not compensate investors who lost big on the lending platform during "Black Thursday's" price rout.

Valentus Capital Plans $50M Token Raise for Credit Fund: Report

The yet-to-be-registered asset manager hopes to launch its VAL1 token later this year.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Drops to $10.2K; Scaling Solution xDai Doubles in Value Locked

Bitcoin price dipped Wednesday while investors park crypto in Ethereum sidechain stablecoin xDai.

Coinbase Hires Executives From Venmo, Adobe and Google

Cryptocurrency exchange and wallet platform Coinbase announced on Wednesday it has hired three new executives to serve as VPs for Product, Engineering, and Design & Research.

Violent Reflexivity: Why Market Movements Are More Aggressive Than Ever, Feat. Corey Hoffstein

How the Fed and the rise of passive investing and volatility strategies have combined to make market movements faster and more severe.

Blockchain Commons Internship Introduces New Developers to Open Source

The Blockchain Commons took on 7 interns this year to build out the organization’s many open-source projects.

Blockchain Bites: BTC on Ethereum, DeFi’s Latest Stablecoin, the Currency Cold Wars

Mick Mulvaney joined the Chamber of Digital Commerce, Origin launched a stablecoin and DeFi Pulse fixed a bug.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 23, 2020

With the bitcoin market weakening and an ECB update, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Parity Upgrades Polkadot’s Underlying Tech to Make Custom Blockchain Building Easier

Polkadot developer Parity Technologies has released the second version of its blockchain building kit Substrate 2.0, including 70 composable modules.

UNI Market Cap Rebounds $120M as Rest of Crypto Market Falters

Uniswap's week-old governance token is outperforming more established cryptocurrencies Wednesday.

Me, Myself and My Multiple Avatars

In 2030, there are 20-odd versions of "you" floating around the internet. Can you manage all the personas you created?

Venezuela Legalizes Crypto Mining but Will Force Industry Into National Pool

The Venezuelan agency responsible for regulating cryptos has legalized the mining industry, but in the process mandated it be centralized under government control.

This Ethereum Startup Is Building a ‘DeFi Firewall’ for Institutional Investors

How risky do you like it? Wallet shop Trustology is launching a "DeFi Firewall" to help institutional investors dabble in decentralized finance.

First Mover: Bitcoins Hit Exchanges as Bloomberg Touts Crypto and DeFi Hedge Fund Seeks $50M

Bloomberg hails crypto as top 2020 asset, bitcoin hits exchanges, options traders see calm around U.S. elections, hedge fund seeks $50M for DeFi.

Christie’s to Auction Bitcoin-Inspired Artwork, Associated Non-Fungible Token

The artwork titled, ‘Portraits of a Mind’ created by the Robert Alice project is a set of 40 paintings made up of a transcription of the code associated with the Bitcoin blockchain.

Robinhood Raises Cool $660M in Extended Funding Round

Following a retail bonanza this summer, trading app Robinhood says it has raised $660 million in an extended Series G round.

Bitcoin Market Weakening After Macro-Based Sell-Off, On-Chain Data Suggests

Bitcoin inventory is building on exchanges but there's a lack of buyers, according to a Chainalysis economist.

Digital Chamber Adds Mulvaney to Board of Advisors; Visa, Goldman Join Executive Committee

The Chamber of Digital Commerce announced Wednesday that former acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has joined the group’s board of advisors.

Data Site DeFi Pulse Fixes Bug, Says Value Locked Actually Hit $13B Last Week

Popular data analytics site DeFi Pulse has claimed a "previously undetected issue" saw TVL under-reported by more than $4 billion on Sept. 18.

DeFi Angels, VC Firms Back $2M Round for Data Provider Dune Analytics

Ethereum data firm Dune Analytics, which has stood out from the pack for its focus on DeFi projects, has raised a $2 million seed round.

Crypto Hedge Fund Looks for $50M to Buy DeFi Tokens Amid Market Pullback

Panxora, a cryptocurrency hedge fund manager, seeks $50 million to buy digital tokens associated with decentralized finance, known as DeFi.

Messaging Giant LINE Launches Token Reward Program

Messaging app company LINK has started a rewards program where people can get LINK tokens by using its remittance and investment mobile apps.

Origin Debuts OUSD, a Stablecoin That Works Like a Savings Account

Origin is announcing Origin Dollars, or OUSD, a stablecoin whose reserves leverage decentralized finance (DeFi) so that balances grow wherever it resides.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Clings to $10.4K; Ether in Smart Contracts Highest Since 2016

Bitcoin price holds steady while ether in smart contracts reach a level not seen in four years.

0x, Kraken and Stellar Awarded Board Seats at Top Crypto Lobbying Association

The new board members represent decentralized finance and institutional crypto alike.

Marty Bent on Why Bitcoin and Big Energy Are Unlikely Allies

Bitcoin mining can help big energy companies produce more efficiently, increasing American energy independence in the process.

Supply of Tokenized Bitcoin on Ethereum Now Tops $1.1B: Here’s Why

The supply of BitGo’s wrapped bitcoins (WBTC) topped 76,000 after setting an all-time record of nearly 21,000 WBTC minted within one week. Here’s why.

The Currency Cold War: Four Scenarios

Stablecoins. Bitcoin. Libra. China's DCEP. Digital $. By 2030, there could be dozens of competing currencies. How will the money wars play out?

Bitcoin Traders Say Options Market Understates Likelihood of Chaotic US Election

Analysts warn against reading too much into the complacency suggested by the volatility metrics.

Blockchain Bites: OCC’s Stablecoin Guidance, EU’s Digital Euro Plans, Chamath’s Bitcoin

The OCC published guidance allowing U.S. banks to work with stablecoin issuers. Meanwhile, the ECB thinks the term stablecoin can be "misleading."

Startup Behind Siacoin Storage Platform Raises $3M, Rebrands as Skynet Labs

Skynet Labs has raised a $3 million funding round led by Paradigm, aiming to offer developers decentralized storage solutions for all types of applications.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 22, 2020

With bitcoin at risk of falling to four figures and new guidance from the OCC, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Bitcoin-on-Ethereum Token tBTC Relaunches Following Buggy Debut in May

TBTC, a decentralized way to copy bitcoin (BTC) over to Ethereum, is relaunching today after a smart-contract bug sunk the project in May.

Nasdaq and SEC-Registered Fund Manager to Launch First-Ever Crypto ETF

The new ETF product will track an index currently being designed by Nasdaq that will provide broad exposure to the digital asset market.

Facebook’s Libra Co-Founder Morgan Beller Departs to Return to VC

Beller, 27, will become a general partner at NFX. She'd worked at a16z before joining Facebook.

IoT Startup Helium Floats New Hardware Device for Mining Its HNT Crypto Tokens

Helium is hoping a new manufacturing deal with RAK Wireless will help the crypto-powered IoT network expand its reach.

US Government Darknet Drug Raids Seize $6.5M in Cash and Crypto

The U.S. government has today announced the results of one of the biggest ever seizures of drugs sold on the dark web.

First Mover: Bitcoin’s Latest Sell-Off Gets Crypto Traders Mulling Election Chaos

Monday's sell-off shows bitcoin is likely to trade off with risky assets like stocks if U.S. election chaos sends markets into a fresh downdraft.

BRD Is Breaking Into the Crypto Compliance Game

The new tech stack will provide AML and compliance tools for financial institutions, government agencies, and cryptocurrency service providers.

‘Misleading’ Term Stablecoin Should Be Ditched, Says ECB

The EU central bank said the term stablecoin is potentially "confusing" and "misleading" to consumers.

Equity Markets Turmoil Could Push Bitcoin Below $10K, Say Analysts

Bitcoin risks falling into four figures on a continued sell-off in equities and rebounding U.S. dollar.

A New Social Contract for the Digital Age

Veteran futurist Don Tapscott imagines the world in 2030 and finds reasons for optimism in the face of persistent social crisis.

US Space Force Enlists Blockchain Firm to Deploy Hack-Proof Data Defenses

The United States Space Force has engaged blockchain firm Xage Security to develop a new security layer for its communications systems.

Digital Euro Would Provide Alternative to Cryptos, ECB President Lagarde Says

A digital euro for retail payments would "ensure that sovereign money remains at the core of European payment systems," according to Legarde.

JD.com to Build Apps for China’s Digital Yuan Project: Report

The Chinese e-commerce giant has reportedly agreed to help the nation's central bank develop infrastructure including a wallet for its cash-equivalent digital currency.

Uniswap Users Say Uniting Can Strengthen UNI

A group of anonymous Uniswap users is trying to unite the many small holders of the UNI governance token to deal with potential problems in the automated market maker’s (AMM) governance.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Dips to $10.1K, Ether Drops to $330 on Sell-Off Session

Bitcoin and ether price fell precipitously Monday as markets globally roil in uncertainty.

The Fast-Growing NFT Market Is Problematic Yet Promising

There is authentic demand for crypto collectibles, called NFTs, but the introduction of yield farming has introduced new issues.

OCC: Banks Can Hold Some Stablecoin Reserves

The U.S. OCC has published fresh guidance, officially clarifying national banks can provide services to stablecoin issuers in the U.S.

The FinCEN Files Show Banks Don’t Actually Care About Stopping Money Laundering

The massive leak of suspicious activity reports shows how banks let the government know about likely money laundering, then go right on providing services.

Here in Venezuela, Doctors Struggle to Access Aid From Crypto Platform

For a moment, it looked as if crypto would make a huge stride in Venezuela. But accessing funds from abroad has been difficult.

Craig Wright Must Face Trial Over Alleged $11B Bitcoin Fortune as Request for Summary Judgment Denied

In a case involving the ownership of about 1.1 million bitcoin (worth over $11 billion), the federal court denied Wright’s request for a summary judgment on Monday.

CIA’s New Research Lab to Study Blockchain

CIA Labs will give officers an outlet to patent and profit from their tech inventions.

‘We Blew It.’ Douglas Rushkoff’s Take on the Future of the Web

Douglas Rushkoff is a futurist and early cypherpunk. His early writings on the internet paved the way for thinking about the web in revolutionary terms. What's changed?

Bitcoin and Ether in Biggest Slump Since Sept. 3 as Stock Markets Sink

Prices for both Bitcoin and Ether fell sharply in the past 24 hours, after a drop in global equities.

Chamath Palihapitiya’s Social Capital Holds Bitcoin From 2013 Amid Talk of Public Listing

Social Capital, the Silicon Valley venture capital and private equity investment office started by an early Facebook vice president, has held bitcoin since 2013.

How Activist Investors Can Help the Digital Assets Industry Mature

Often demonized for acting self-interestedly, activist investors can bring much needed focus to struggling organizations. In crypto, too.

The MicroStrategy Effect? This Firm Is Helping Businesses Save in Bitcoin

Bitcoin financial services firm Unchained Capital has released an “advanced business account” specifically targeting firms that want to hold BTC.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 21, 2020

With bitcoin down amid broader market turmoil, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Stripe to Pay $120,000 in PlexCoin ICO Settlement With Massachusetts Attorney General

The payments processor facilitated millions of dollars of PlexCoin investments before shuttering accounts in September 2017.

Blockchain Bites: DeFi’s Dividend, China’s ‘New Battlefield,’ the Big Banks’ ‘Suspicious Activity’

China sees its digital yuan as a "new battlefield," DeFi's Curve has a new dividend program and a yet-to-launch platform is pursuing an "Initial DEX Offering."

Former HSBC, Citigroup, Merrill Lynch Execs Start $50M Crypto Fund

Liquibit Capital is also said to be managed by a former Barclays Capital vice president and two current JPMorgan and Wells Fargo technicians.

DAOs Will Never Govern the World (at This Pace)

DAOs were meant to fix the broken democratic processes in today's society. They've come up against their own governance roadblocks.

First Mover: Digital Gold Narrative Could Be Bitcoin’s Lone Ace as Ethereum Gains

Bitcoin's "digital gold" narrative looks promising as ever, but the cryptocurrency's dominance is waning as Ethereum rides DeFi fever.

DeFi Yield Farming Aggregator APY.Finance Raises $3.6M in Seed Funding

The aggregation platform raised the seed funding from a roster of investors that includes Alameda Research, Arrington XRP Capital and Coingecko.

Three Iranian Power Plants Plan to Sell Electricity to Crypto Miners

Three Iranian power plants with enough output to supply half of New York City will begin selling some surplus power to crypto miners.

Bitcoin Down as Stocks Fall Over European Coronavirus Fears

Bitcoin is dropping alongside stocks as soaring cases of COVID-19 threaten economic activity in Europe.

FinCEN Files: BNY Mellon Processed $137M for Entities Linked to OneCoin

The leaked "FinCEN files" show that BNY Mellon flagged a $30 million purported loan that it helped wire as one suspected case of OneCoin laundering funds.

China Sees Advantages in Being First on New Digital Currency ‘Battlefield’

The nation would wield stronger influence in the world as a result of the digital yuan issuance, according to a magazine from the People’s Bank of China (PBoC)

Meet in the Middle: Crypto Companies and Banks Are Evolving Together

Kraken’s move to become a bank in Wyoming is more about getting traditional finance to adapt to the crypto industry than the other way around.

Lyn Alden’s Latest: Why Currency Devaluation Is Inevitable

This week’s “Long Reads Sunday” reading is from macro analyst Lyn Alden and focuses on the inflation vs. deflation debate in historical context.

Did Ethereum Learn Anything From the $55M DAO Attack?

Matthew Leising's new book, "Out of the Ether," tells the story of the attack that almost brought down Ethereum. Here he talks with Dan Kuhn.

How Does Kraken’s New Crypto Bank Work?

This week Kraken Financial became the first crypto company to receive a banking charter. Join CEO David Kinitsky for a look at what it all means and how it'll work with hosts Adam B. Levine, Andreas M. Antonopoulos and Stephanie Murphy.

The ‘Hot Swap’ Plan to Switch Ethereum to Proof-of-Stake Explained

With Ethereum 2.0's much-anticipated move to Proof-of-Stake getting closer, CoinDesk Research Analyst Christine Kim spoke with Ethereum developer Danny Ryan and Liz Steininger, CEO of blockchain security company Least Authority on what users and investors should expect.

Stablecoin DEX Curve Will Kick Off a Dividend on Its CRV Token Today

After hitting a new all time high in volume, Curve will begin splitting fees between liquidity providers and CRV token holders on Saturday.

Why the First US Crypto Bank Is a Big Deal

Kraken became the first crypto exchange to win a U.S. banking license this week. Here’s why that matters.

Checking In With Terra, the Korean Stablecoin Firm Bringing Online Shoppers to Crypto

Terra's stablecoin savings account is a month delayed but the project is gaining momentum with over 2 million users on the firm's Chai payments app.

‘I Didn’t Buy It to Sell It. Ever.’ MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor on Shifting $425M From Cash to Bitcoin

The CEO of publicly traded MicroStrategy (MSTR) shares why he started to feel like he was “sitting on a 500-lb block of ice” and how he came to bitcoin as a solution.

Privacy-Focused Enigma Files With SEC for ENG Token

Once the registration statement becomes effective, Enigma would be required to file annual and quarterly reports with the regulatory body for its token.

INX Crypto Exchange Has Started Distributing Tokens From Its Blockchain-Based IPO

The INX IPO is the first of its kind and gives observers and issuers a ground-level view of what’s going on through the Etherscan block explorer.

German Lawmakers Vote ‘Nein’ on Blockchain for Transparency on Megaprojects

The bill sought to renew Germans' trust in their government's ability to keep megaproject spending under control.

How Web 3.0 Creates Value for Users, Not Platforms

There has been a Cambrian explosion of Web 3.0 apps. Let's make sure this evolution continues for decades to come.

Money Reimagined: Climate-Friendlier Crypto

How Bitcoin can improve its energy efficiency, reduce its climate impact and help manage the electricity grid.

New on Bitcoin’s Lightning Network: LND Adds Accounting Feature, c-lightning Gets an Upgrade

Lightning Labs made bookkeeping easier for node operators. Blockstream’s c-lightning 0.9.1 release improves channel opening and routing mechanisms.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 18, 2020

As bitcoin battles to establish a foothold above $11K and with DeFi surging on Ethereum, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Blockchain Bites: Airdrops, Record Volumes, $1B BTC on Ethereum

Ethereum miners are reaping revenue from increased transaction volume from DeFi, as more than $1 billion worth of BTC migrates over.

Uniswap’s Newly Launched UNI Token Has Already Doubled in Price

Uniswap's new UNI token has surged from just under $2.80 to over $5.50 in the past 24 hours.

First Mover: Uniswap’s Sudden $5B Token Valuation Cements Comeback from `Vampire Mining’ Attack

Uniswap's surprise token delivery has given the decentralized exchange a market value of more than $5 billion, instantly making it No. 1 in DeFi.

Cryptopia Users Can Claim Assets from End of 2020, Says Hacked Exchange’s Liquidator

Grant Thornton said the process of repatriating $100 million-worth of crypto assets from the now-defunct Cryptopia exchange will begin later this year.

This DeFi Group Wants to Bring Maturity to the Yield Farming Craze

The Chicago DeFi Alliance, launched in April 2020, is now poised to help members profit from yield farming and the liquidity mining craze.

Investment Firm Blockchain Capital Joins Libra Association

One of the oldest venture firms in crypto has joined the Libra Association and will provide expertise and guidance on the launch of its payment system.

Stop F***ing Around With Public Token Airdrops in the United States

The SEC’s slowness in ruling on DeFI's legality "is not a waiver of its enforcement power," says our columnist.

Bitcoin Rises Back to $11K Despite Signs of Indecision in the Market

Bitcoin is again looking to establish a foothold above $11,000 on Friday, although the technical charts are anything but stridently bullish.

Twitter Tightens Security Ahead of US Presidential Election

Twitter is making a host of new security measures compulsory for accounts belonging to users considered influential in the upcoming election.

Ethereum Smashes Records as DeFi Hype Sends Transactions and Miner Revenue Soaring

Miners may be the real winners from DeFi as a surge in Ethereum activity sees them earn a record $16 million in a day.

How US States Are, and Aren’t, Easing Crypto Firms’ Compliance Burden

CSBS will make it easier for crypto companies to prove they’re in compliance with state regulations, but they’ll still have to apply for each state’s license first.

VeChain to Supply Blockchain Tech for Chinese Food Safety Group That Includes McDonald’s

The VeChain Foundation has become the first blockchain-based entity to join the China Animal Health and Food Safety Alliance (CAFA) and will work with members to trace supply chains in the country.

Ex-Employee at Australian Science Agency Avoids Prison After Mining Crypto on Supercomputers

A former contractor for Australian science agency CSIRO was found to have mined around $7,000 in cryptocurrency.

On bitFlyer Japan, Bitcoin Rewards Program Hits New Record

A report shared with CoinDesk Japan revealed that bitFlyer users exchanging loyalty points for bitcoin hit a record high in August.

Bitcoin Supply on Ethereum Tops $1B

More than 92,000 bitcoins have been tokenized on Ethereum.

US Homeland Security Challenges Freelancers to Design It a Digital Wallet

DHS officials are putting up $25,000 in cash prizes to designers who win the month-long competition.

Prosecutors Detail Russians’ Crypto Phishing Scheme in Forfeiture Suit

The alleged hackers also manipulated NEO's Gas market with a $5 million crypto infusion.

Ethereum Gas Fees Drive Gnosis-Powered Prediction Market to xDai’s Layer 2

"Ethereum is on the way to becoming a whale chain," said Gnosis co-founder Stefan George. That's why his team's tech is moving to xDai.

Blockchain Bites: Uniswap’s Token, Kraken’s Bank, Bitcoin’s Newbies

Uniswap issued a governance token, Kraken is the world's first crypto bank and there are more "newbie" bitcoin investors than in recent years.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 17, 2020

With bitcoin slipping with European stocks and a leaked memo about China's blockchain plans, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Societe Generale to Use as Many as Five Blockchains in Capital Markets Trials

A tech-focused subsidiary of Societe Generale said it will trial up to five different blockchains to understand their usefulness in capital markets.

Say Hello to the Singularity

Blockchain will be the operating system of the "technological singularity" – for better or worse.

First Mover: Federal Reserve Does What It Wants to Do as Bitcoin Hits $11K

This week's Fed meeting ushered in a new regime for U.S. monetary policy, offering a reminder of just how frequently top officials change the rules.

Alibaba on Track to Be the Largest Blockchain Patent Holder by End of 2020: Study

Chinese conglomerate Alibaba is on track to become the largest blockchain patent holder, having filed ten times more than closest rival IBM.

Delta Exchange Claims First With Crypto Options Settled in Tether Stablecoin

The cryptocurrency derivatives platform now offers put and call options contracts settled in the stablecoin tether (USDT).

Wyoming Bank Regulator Taps Chainalysis to Boost Crypto Tracing Efforts

The Wyoming Division of Banking will receive training and two software licenses from blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis.

The $55M Hack That Almost Brought Ethereum Down

Matthew Leising's new book "Out of the Ether" tells the history of Ethereum and the story behind the hack that almost brought the network to its knees.

How Normies Are Getting Crypto-Rich With DeFi

DeFi may be a whale's game, but plenty of small players are making life-changing amounts of money with these risky crypto experiments.

Bitcoin Falls Back Below $11K as Markets Doubt Fed’s Ability to Boost Inflation

Prevailing doubts over whether the Fed has what it takes to hit its 2% inflation target hit traditional markets and may have contributed to a bitcoin price drop on Thursday.

DEX Aggregator ParaSwap Raises $2.7M Seed Round From Deep Roster of Crypto Investors

ParaSwap has raised $2.7 million in seed funding from 32 investors including Blockchain Capital, Alameda Research, CoinGecko and more.

Libra Association Hires Former HSBC CEO

The Libra Association, the organisation developing the Facebook-led cryptocurrency payments project, has hired a banking heavyweight with 25 years at HSBC.

New Bitcoin Options App Raises $4.7M in Round Led by Pantera Capital

PowerTrade is a new mobile-based cryptocurrency options trading platform set to launch this year.

Coinbase Pro Lists Uniswap’s New Token Just Hours After Launch

Uniswap's new UNI tokens can be deposited on Coinbase Pro immediately, with trading to follow when there's sufficient liquidity.

Gibraltar Updates Distributed Ledger Guidance to Match FATF Crypto Rules

The Gibraltar Financial Services Commission has updated its guidance for virtual asset service providers to include clarity on risk management, token issuance, and more.

Ethereum’s Pending Transactions Jump 30% After Uniswap’s Token Claim Begins

The number of pending transactions has reached over 210,000 after the claim for Uniswap's UNI token starts.

China’s BSN to ‘Localize’ 24 Public Blockchains by Making Them Permissioned

China’s state-sanctioned Blockchain-Based Service Network is finally bringing public chains to its homeland -- but they will look very different.

Uniswap Launches Governance Token in Bid to Keep Up With Rival AMM SushiSwap

Decentralized trading platform Uniswap has launched a governance token, UNI, minting 1 billion coins to be released to the public over the next four years.

Governments vs. Networks: The Battle for the Soul of Finance

Governments have significant discretion over economics and finance today, but decentralized network-driven alternatives threaten that control.

Federal Reserve Now Targets Inflation Above 2%, Bitcoin Breaks $11K

Federal Reserve officials said Wednesday they would hold U.S. interest rates at close to zero and work to push inflation above 2% "for some time."

US Sanctions Two Russians Accused of Using Fraud to Steal Millions in Crypto

The pair stole $16.8 million from customers of three different crypto exchanges, including two in the US.

Proposed Bermuda Bank Taps Anchorage as Digital Asset Custody Partner

Under the partnership, Anchorage will provide crypto custody services to Jewel, which is applying for its full bank license in Bermuda.

US Charges 3 With Vast ‘Crypto Jacking,’ Computer Fraud Scheme

The officers of Chinese "white hat" firm Chengdu 404 allegedly hit computer networks around the world.

Blockchain Bites: The SEC’s Chilling Effect on Crypto Development

A slew of regulatory happenings are in the works: a Bahamian CBDC, a potential ban on crypto trading in India and a plan to unify state banking compliance standards across the U.S.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 16, 2020

With bitcoin fighting for $11K and the first CBDC in real life, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Ecological Sanity Is Compatible With Human Freedom

We have to build a more free society while being more data-driven and efficient than ever.

HOPR Launches Token Incentive Program for Running Its Mixnet Testnet

HOPR sells its own hardware node version (at $440) but HOPR nodes can also be run on devices that run Windows, macOS and Linux.

Kraken Becomes First Crypto Exchange to Become a US Bank

On Wednesday, the Wyoming Banking Board voted to approve Kraken’s bank charter application. Kraken is the first SPDI bank in Wyoming.

Ava Labs Sets Avalanche Mainnet Launch for Sept. 21

With $60 million in funding at its back, Ava Labs' Avalanche is the latest next-gen blockchain network to enter the DeFi landscape.

Polkadot Projects Will Be Able to Mint Their Own Tokens in 2021

A token minting system is coming to the Polkadot blockchain ecosystem, promising to be a leaner, meaner version of Ethereum’s ERC-20 standard.

Bakkt Bitcoin Futures Daily Trading Volume Hits Record High

Trading volume in physically delivered bitcoin futures listed on Intercontinental Exchange's Bakkt platform surged to record highs on Tuesday.

First Mover: Binance’s CZ Doesn’t Even Dispute That DeFi Might Be Inevitable

Big crypto exchanges like Binance, Huobi and OKEx are rushing out DeFi platforms to cash in on the fast-growing industry and stanch user defections.

This Crypto Startup Takes Bitcoin Advocacy to a Whole New Level

Patrick Stanley is launching a crypto advocacy company called Freehold, starting with bitcoin (BTC) and Blockstack's STX.

BIS Seeking Blockchain Expert to Lead Digital Currency Research

BIS is looking for a blockchain engineer to take a lead on its digital currency initiatives, which includes CBDC and digital security research.

How Data Centralization Ends by 2030

The key to ending surveillance capitalism? Data economics and the ability of individuals to control personal information.

All Eyes on Fed Reserve Rate Announcement, as Bitcoin Fights for $11K

With the Fed's decision on rates due later Wednesday, bitcoin traders will be watching the U.S. dollar action.

Bahamas to Roll Out ‘Sand Dollar’ Digital Currency Next Month

The Bahamas' "Sand Dollar" will likely be the world's first live central bank digital currency when it launches in October.

Diginex Moves Closer to Backdoor Nasdaq Listing With Merger Approval

The blockchain services firm is officially merging with publicly traded 8i Enterprises Acquisition Corp., a key part of its plan for a "backdoor" listing.

CB Insights Buys Blockdata to Build Out Blockchain Data Offering

New York City’s CB Insights is getting into the blockchain data game with the acquisition of Netherlands-based Blockdata.

Leaked EU Draft Proposes All-Encompassing Laws for Crypto Assets

The European Commission may be proposing an all-encompassing set of regulations covering the trading of digital assets across the 27-nation bloc.

‘Sharing Economy’ Startup ShareRing Tapped for China’s Blockchain Service Network

A provider of an ecosystem for the "sharing and rental economy," ShareRing will join China’s government-backed blockchain initiative.

Discrete Log Contracts Are Bringing Private, ‘Scriptless’ Smart Contracts to Bitcoin

A smart contract has logged bets for the U.S. election on Bitcoin’s blockchain. When the votes are tallied, we won’t know who won, but that’s the whole point.

Binance, Huobi, OKEx Have FOMO for DeFi

DeFi FOMO is driving centralized exchanges including Binance, Huobi and OKEx to prepare for a potential new crypto trading landscape where decentralized exchanges dominate.

Crypto Esports Startup Unikrn to Pay $6.1M in SEC Settlement Over 2017 ICO

Unikrn has agreed to settle the charges, without admitting or denying them, by paying a $6.1 million penalty to be distributed among investors.

The Decade of the Living Dead: How Zombie Companies Are Robbing Tomorrow’s Economy

The percentage of companies that can’t afford to pay the interest on their debt has reached a new all-time high in the wake of central bank intervention.

Bitcoin CEO: MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor Explains His $425M Bet on BTC

How the business analytics chief became Wall Street's boldest bitcoin maximalist.

How Crypto Can Win Over Washington, DC

The crypto industry can't ignore the government if it hopes to go mainstream. There's too much at stake.

Blockchain Bites: MicroStrategy’s BTC Buy, Bitmain’s Power Struggle, Paxful’s Goodbye

MicroStrategy has bought even more bitcoin, Paxful is pulling out of Venezuela and the Bitmain power struggle appears to have found a short-term solution.

Dapper Labs–USDC Integration Helps NBA Collectibles Game Clear $2M in Revenue Since June

Gamemaker Dapper Labs is using Circle's dollar-backed stablecoin USDC as a global settlement solution for its non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 15, 2020

With BTC crossing into bullish territory and a new smart contract-powered tokenized DeFi Index, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Eastern Europe Actively Using Crypto for Illicit Purposes: Chainalysis

A significant amount of cryptocurrency activities in the Eastern Europe is related to the dark market and ransomware, according to a Chainalysis report.

Galaxy Digital Leads $1.2M Raise for Startup Creating Automated Ethereum Services

Gelato said the seed round will fund further development of its bot network that will provide automated smart contract execution.

MicroStrategy Buys $175M More in Bitcoin, Upping BTC Holdings to $425M

Michael Saylor, the founder of MicroStrategy, said Tuesday his company has acquired an additional $175 million in bitcoin (BTC) in a single purchase.

US State Bank Regulators Agree to Single Set of Rules for Fintech, Crypto Firm Licensing

Agencies from 48 states are expected to unveil a new framework today that will simplify and consolidate regulation for crypto companies.

India Said to Be Preparing to Ban Cryptocurrency Trading: Bloomberg

The federal cabinet is expected to shortly discuss a new bill before passing it to parliament, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg.

First Mover: Bitcoin Investors the Sane Ones as Federal Reserve Cheers Inflation, Price Nears $11K

Cryptocurrencies' 2020 gains are the truth gauge as markets react to the Federal Reserve's inflation goal, where Zimbabwe is the model of success.

Investment Platform BnkToTheFuture to Integrate KYC Identity Solution from Blockpass

The investment deal will also see Blockpass' anti-money-laundering product integrated into BnkToTheFuture's ecosystem.

Analyst ‘Cautiously Bullish’ on Bitcoin but Says Equity Sell-Off Still a Threat

Bitcoin (BTC) has crossed into the bullish territory, but may remain vulnerable to another sell-off in stocks.

Nigeria’s SEC Says All Crypto Assets Are Securities by Default

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Africa's most populous country said all crypto assets will fall under the regulation that covers securities exchanges and transactions.

Brock Pierce Served Court Papers for Fraud Lawsuit at His Own Presidential Campaign Rally

U.S. presidential candidate and crypto entrepreneur Brock Pierce was legally served during his campaign rally in New York on Monday.

Filecoin: Understanding the Complex Crypto System Meant to Rival AWS

Filecoin and its FIL token might be the most complex thing the blockchain industry has ever brought to market. Here's what you need to know.

Japanese Crypto Exchange Accuses Binance of Helping Launder $9M From 2018 Hack

Fisco, formerly Zaif, is suing Binance for "aiding and abetting" the laundering of some of the $60 million stolen in 2018.

Jihan Wu Regains Upper Hand in Bitmain Co-Founder Fight

A new twist in the power struggle at Bitmain: Co-founder Jihan Wu has regained the legal representative status of the bitcoin mining giant.

New York Attorney General to Bitfinex and Tether: ‘Delays Must Stop’

Bitfinex and Tether shouldn’t need more than two months to produce documents about USDT issuances and past operations in New York first ordered 17 months ago, an NYAG lawyer argued in a letter Monday.

Thai Central Bank’s New Blockchain-Enabled Bond Infrastructure Passes Test With $1.6B Bond Sale

The central bank of Thailand announced on Friday it has launched the “DLT Scripless Bond Project” aimed at building a secure and efficient government bond infrastructure.

Two Charged With Duping Investors Out of $5M With Bogus Bitcoin-Buying Brokerage

The pair allegedly left victim's funds in an escrow service that was actually their money-laundering front.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Passes $10.7K; Ethereum Gas Usage Hits Record September Highs

Bitcoin's price hit its highest level in over 10 days while gas on Ethereum is in record use.

RGB Continues Its Work to Bring Better Smart Contracts to Bitcoin

The RGB protocol, now in beta, is working to outfit Bitcoin with the capabilities that have made Ethereum the go-to blockchain for issuing tokenized assets.

New Index From DeFi Pulse and Set Protocol Offers Easy Access to 10 DeFi Tokens in 1

Data company DeFi Pulse and investment-minded Set Protocol have created a permissionless index of the very best DeFi tokens, called the DeFiPulse Index.

The Business of Geopolitical Competition

As Oracle wins a bid for TikTok US, a look at how tech competition, culture competition and currency competition shape the business of geopolitics.

MicroStrategy Tells SEC It ‘May Increase’ $250M Bitcoin Reserves

MicroStrategy told the SEC it "may increase" its bitcoin (BTC) holdings beyond the $250 million haul purchased in August.

CFTC Alleges 4 Individuals Defrauded Customers in $1M Bitcoin Trading Scheme

The CFTC alleged four individuals stole close to $1 million from customers by promising returns from a bitcoin trading scheme.

SKALE Completes $5M Token Sale on ConsenSys’ Anti-Speculation Platform

ConsenSys’ anti-speculation platform, Activate, has completed its first token sale with roughly 4,000 investors from 90 countries.

Blockchain Bites: Big Bitcoin Bets, SushiSwap Drops, bZx Attacked

Derivatives traders have placed bets bitcoin will hit $36,000 by year's end while bZx fell victim to yet another hack.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 14, 2020

As some bitcoin options traders bet on new all-time highs and another DeFi protocol is attacked, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Most Attacks on Cybersecurity Firm’s Decoy Servers Aimed at Mining Crypto: Report

An analysis of 16,371 cyberattacks on Aqua Security "honeypot" cloud servers found the majority of hackers involved mining crypto.

DeFi Lender bZx Reclaims $8M Stolen in Sunday’s Attack

Decentralized finance (DeFi) lending project bZx has been able to recover about $8 million in cryptocurrency from an attacker who stole the funds after exploiting a code bug over the weekend. See also: Hacker Drains $500K From DeFi Liquidity Provider Balancer

Bitcoin’s Jump to $10.7K Ends 10-Day Sideways Trend

Bitcoin advanced on Monday, ending a 10-day-long price consolidation, as the U.S. dollar weakened against gold and fiat currencies.

The Crypto Firms Collaborating on a Swiss Franc Stablecoin

“Coopetition” is an ungainly term at the best of times. But it appears that’s what’s happening among Swiss stablecoin issuers.

Enterprises Need Third Parties for Oracles to Work

Decentralized, oracle-based systems, like Chainlink's are unworkable for financial services without third-party verification.

Chainlink to Start Supplying Data for Crypto.com’s DeFi Wallet

The new integration will provide users of Crypto.com's DeFi wallet with access to accurate and untampered price data, ChainLink said.

First Mover: As Central Banks Print $1.4B an Hour, Bitcoiners Bet on Federal Reserve ‘Capture’

Though no fresh stimulus is expected this week from the Fed, bitcoiners betting on money printing could just wait for the next sell-off in U.S stocks.

User Profiling Can Help Regulators Identify Illegal Crypto Activity, Says FATF

The international watchdog has recommended comparing users' age and wealth with their crypto transactions to identify possible criminal activity.

Against the Odds, Some Bitcoin Traders Are Betting on a $36K Price by Year’s End

The Deribit exchange has seen a spike in investors buying the $36,000 December call option despite the market placing low odds on a new record high this year.

DeFi Lender bZx Loses $8M in Third Attack This Year

An attacker found a way to mint unbacked iTokens that they could then redeem against other cryptos held in lending pools for DeFi lender bZx.

Iran May Fund Car Imports with Cryptocurrency Mining

An Iranian free trade zone is proposing locally mined cryptocurrency might be a way to fund car imports.

US Man Charged Over $25M Diamond Ponzi Scheme That Touted a Crypto Token

A man from Washington, D.C., has been charged with running a diamond investment scam with its own cryptocurrency, Argyle Coin.

Uniswap Takes Lead Over SushiSwap Less Than 24 Hours After SUSHI Rewards Drop

Shortly after SushiSwap's block rewards fell from 1,000 SUSHI tokens to 100, total value locked has fallen behind rival Uniswap.

Crypto Long & Short: How Bitcoin Correlations Drive the Narrative

Noelle Acheson dives into the role of correlation in bitcoin’s narrative and what investor activism coming to crypto could mean for the industry.

Is Being the ‘Saudi Arabia of Money’ Good for America?

A reading of “How to Diagnose Your Own Dutch Disease,” a look at the problems of America’s dollar trade.

What to Watch for as SushiSwap Cuts Block Rewards From 1,000 to 100 SUSHI

SushiSwap will distribute 90% less $SUSHI to its liquidity providers as it did before – and it's anyone's guess whether the piles of crypto locked in will stay.

The Raw, Savage Capitalism of Open-Source Protocols

Recapping the biggest stories of the week, including Joe Biden’s China plan, a market holding pattern and, of course, the strange competitive saga of SUSHI.

A Day in the Life of an Ethereum 2.0 Validator

With Ethereum 2.0's much anticipated move to Proof-of-Stake getting closer, CoinDesk Research Analyst Christine Kim spoke with Ben Edgington and Vijay Michalik on what would-be validators need to know.

SEC Charges Rapper TI With Securities Violations for Promoting 2017 ICO

The SEC alleged film producer Ryan Felton misappropriated funds from two separate initial coin offerings, and charged rapper TI with boosting one of them.

SushiSwap’s Users Ordered Changes, but the Protocol Can’t Deliver Without an Overhaul

Another SushiSwap smart contract migration may be on the menu if newly voted-for policy proposals are going to be implemented.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Stuck at $10.3K; Uniswap Value Locked Gyrates

The bitcoin market lacks momentum Friday but Uniswap's value locked is on a roller-coaster ride.

‘As Toppy as It Gets’: Metals, Bitcoin and Fiat’s Race to the Bottom, Feat. Tavi Costa

The Crescat Capital portfolio manager gives his take on the flashing macro warning signals and why it is an explosive moment for gold, silver and (potentially) bitcoin.

‘No Other Option but More Collateral’: The Short- (and Long-) Term Fixes for Dai’s Broken Peg

Stablecoin demand in yield farming is breaking dai's peg. Solutions revolve around USDC and Maker's version of QE, but will these measures last?

Money Reimagined: Ending Money’s Distance Trap

The internet made location irrelevant for information. Can it do the same for money?

Wave Financial Wins First Round of Investment for Whiskey Fund Ahead of Tokenization

Investment management firm Wave Financial has purchased 1,000 barrels of Kentucky whiskey it plans to tokenize for prospective investors.

‘I F*cked Up’: SushiSwap Creator Chef Nomi Returns $14M Dev Fund

SushiSwap creator "Chef Nomi" has returned all $14 million in ether, apologizing to the DeFi project's community for suddenly liquidating his holdings.

Blockchain Bites: Square’s Patent Posse, Binance’s DeFi Bridge, SushiSwap’s Co-Founder Speaks

Square is pushing back against crypto patent hogs, Binance is doubling down on DeFi and the ECB's Lagarde says Europe is losing the CBDC race.

European Ministers Call on EU Commission to Regulate Stablecoins

Finance ministers from five European countries have called on the EU Commission to introduce tough regulation for stablecoins.

Crypto.com Follows Binance With Launch of Liquid Swap DeFi Product

Crypto.com's new Defi Swap product will provide yet another platform on which users can token swap and yield farm .

Help Us Find the Best University for Blockchain

Which U.S. university has the best overall offering on cryptocurrency and decentralized tech? We need your help to find out.

First Mover: Ethereum Gets Unplanned Stress Test as DeFi Fever Grows

The Ethereum blockchain's soaring gas prices don't seem to have deterred customers as DeFi usage grows and tests what the market can bear.

Diginex Going Public Is About More Than a Nasdaq Ticker Symbol

Diginex CEO Richard Byworth said the firm’s public listing will give it more transparency than other crypto exchange operators.

French Central Bank Chief Eyes Public-Private Partnership for Possible Digital Euro

The governor of the Banque de France said private sector involvement could benefit a future digital euro initiative.

Internet 2030: The Future and How We Get There

We explore Filecoin’s Space Race and Web 3.0’s future on CoinDesk Live, Sept. 15-16.

Bitcoin Holds Firm Above $10K But Strong Bounce Proves Elusive

Bitcoin is trapped in the narrow range of $10,000 to $10,500, but on-chain metrics hint at a rally revival ahead.

Coinbase Effect Hits DeFi as yEarn’s YFI Token Surges 10% On Pro Listing News

The already highly priced YFI governance token for yEarn.Finance has jumped an additional $6,000 on the news it'll be listed on Coinbase Pro.

Singapore Man Caned for Stealing $267K From Bitcoin Investor

The man was sentenced to three years in prison and 12 strokes of the cane for his part in the robbery and beating of a bitcoin buyer.

Bitstamp Integrates Nasdaq’s Matching Engine for Faster Order Executions

According to research by Bitstamp and crypto market data provider Kaiko, the new engine enables order matching up to 1,250 times faster than with the previous system.

ECB President: Europe Has Fallen Behind in the Digital Payments Game

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said a digital euro can place the region at the cutting edge of innovation but it may have fallen behind in the global competition for creating digital payment ecosystems.

Former Central Bank Official: Japan Should Take a Digital Yen Seriously

In an interview with CoinDesk Japan, a former Bank of Japan official said the country has many reasons to seriously consider a digital yen.

SushiSwap Co-Founder Sees Future Users in China and on Other Blockchains

SushiSwap cofounder Maki believes the project can expand to include other chains, he told CoinDesk China in an exclusive interview.

Privacy Startup Nym Will Pay You in Bitcoin to Run Its Mixnet

The start-up is maturing and enabling plugins that allow users to plug in wallets and applications to run their traffic through its mixnet.

DeFi Mania Proves We Learned Nothing From the ICO Run-Up

DeFi is making money out of nothing but other people's misery. Five thousand years of history tell us how this tale will end.

How Monetary Policy Undermined American Resilience

A legacy of artificially low interest rates is not just the death of savings, but a forced buying into the perpetual growth machine of financial asset prices.

Binance’s New Platform Will Connect CeFi and DeFi With $100M Fund

The global cryptocurrency exchange giant is putting up $100 million to support DeFi projects on Binance Smart Chain (BSC).

US Treasury Sanctions Russians Using Crypto for Election Interference

The U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Asset Control has added three Russian nationals and a host of cryptocurrency addresses to its sanctions list.

US Congressman Darren Soto to Accept Cryptocurrency Donations for 2020 Election

Supporters can now send the congressman crypto donations via BitPay for his 2020 reelection campaign.

Kraken Taps Casa Co-Founder, Former CEO Jeremy Welch as VP of Product

Crypto exchange Kraken announced Thursday that former Casa CEO Jeremy Welch has joined its team as VP of product.

Blockchain Bites: Ripple’s Case, SushiSwap’s Migration, Ether’s Bears

A DBS Bank economist thinks the coronavirus pandemic will accelerate digital asset adoption while Mastercard announced a CBDC testing ground.

Square Forms Group to Stop Patent Hoarding From Stifling Crypto Innovation

Square said the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA) will allow companies to access and share tech innovations with one another.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 10, 2020

With bitcoin lawsuits in the news and SushiSwap's migration completed, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

The Revolution You’ve Been Awaiting: Fintech + DeFi

Fintech and DeFi are showing new ways forward for finance. When they combine, outdated intermediaries will really be in trouble.

Uniswap September Volume Tops August’s $6.7B Record in 10 Days on Dizzying DeFi Demand

September is the fifth consecutive monthly all-time high for Uniswap volume.

Blockchain Proposals Move to US House in Consumer Tech Bill

The Consumer Safety Technology Act will now be debated in the House of Representatives.

First Mover: DeFi ‘Vampire’ SushiSwap Sucks $800M from Uniswap; BitMEX Basis Lags

SushiSwap, the "vampire mining" protocol, sucked more than $800 million from rival Uniswap in the latest DeFi mind-bender. PLUS: BitMEX futures distortions.

Overstock’s tZERO Wins FINRA Approval to Launch Retail Broker-Dealer Subsidiary

The firm announced Thursday that FINRA approved its application to launch tZERO Markets, a retail broker-dealer subsidiary.

Why Crypto Investments Are Less Vulnerable to US-China Tensions

U.S.-China tensions are taking a toll on venture funds that invest in non-crypto startups. Investment in the blockchain industry may be less affected.

Swisscom Blockchain Wins Grant From Web3 to Help Toughen Polkadot’s Proof-of-Stake Network

Swisscom Blockchain was awarded the grant to build a cloud-based protection layer for stakers on the Ethereum-based Polkadot network.

Ether Traders May Be Hedging Against DeFi Slowdown: Analyst

Some are calling the white-hot Defi space a bubble that is unsustainable.

YouTube Ignored Warnings About XRP ‘Giveaway’ Scams, Ripple Says

Ripple has disputed Youtube's claims it knew nothing about XRP scams on its site, saying it alerted the video platform hundreds of times.

Structural Issues May Be Causing BitMEX’s Low Bitcoin ‘Cash and Carry’ Returns

BitMEX may be one of the largest crypto derivatives platforms, but it offers the lowest return on bitcoin "cash and carry" trades.

Australian University Finds Privacy Issues With Blockchain Technology

A research paper from the University of South Australia suggests blockchain technology needs to be refined so it can better protect privacy and the EU's right to be forgotten.

How to Watch INX’s IPO in Real Time on the Ethereum Blockchain

Doing its IPO on the Ethereum blockchain gives the public, and INX itself, a novel vista on the process, which traditionally has been a back-room affair.

Pandemic Will Speed Bitcoin Adoption, Says DBS Bank Economist

When it comes to bitcoin, Singapore's DBS Bank sees a "pandemic-led acceleration of adoption."

Belarus Non-Profit Helps Protestors With Bitcoin Grants

A non-profit by tech entrepreneurs in Belarus is using Bitcoin to help dissidents get around repression and financial monitoring.

Argo’s H1 Revenue Soars but Profits Drop as Bitcoin’s Halving Boosts Mining Costs

Argo Blockchain has reported a near quadrupling in revenue even as capital depreciation led pre-tax profits to slide by 45%.

Blockchain Bites: Bitmain Denied, Coinbase Blocked and a Potential EOS Exit Scam

Arca is acting like an activist investor in its dealings with Gnosis while Venezuelan officials appear to have blocked access to Coinbase.

Crypto Exchange Kraken Returns to Japan After Two-Year Hiatus

Kraken's Japanese subsidiary, Payward Asia Ltd., is expected to launch operations in mid-September.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 9, 2020

With bitcoin hovering just above $10,000 and a tokenized form of Ethereum transaction fees in the crosshairs, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

SushiSwap Will Withdraw Up to $830M From Uniswap Today: Why It Matters for DeFi

It's perhaps the largest test to date of a growing mood in DeFi: that all major projects should be community-owned.

Judge Dismisses $200M Damages Claim in AT&T Crypto Hack Lawsuit

AT&T has won a motion to dismiss a $200 million punitive damages claim from Mike Terpin, who lost $24 million in crypto via SIM hack

Huobi Launches Crypto Saving Products to Compete With DeFi Yield Farming

Huobi's new crypto saving product is a less risky version of DeFi for crypto newbies.

Mastercard Releases Platform Enabling Central Banks to Test Digital Currencies

Payments giant Mastercard said its new testing platform will simulate the issuance, distribution and utility of digital currencies for central banks.

‘High’ Severity Bug in Bitcoin Software Revealed 2 Years After Fix

A previously undisclosed bug in Bitcoin Core could have let attackers steal funds, delay transfers or split the network had it not been patched in 2018.

NFT Marketplace Blockparty Partners With DJ 3LAU on Digital Music Collectibles

Digital collectibles maker Blockparty on Wednesday said it will release audio-visual non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in collaboration with DJ 3LAU.

First Mover: Bitcoin Acts Like a Tech Stock and Ethereum Classic Traders Shrug Off 51% Attacks

Market onlookers are scrabbling for a new narrative as some argue last week's tech rout might explain bitcoin's latest price drop.

Binance Launches Fiat-Crypto Exchange for Turkish Market

The new exchange, offering Turkish lira trading pairs, will be owned by Binance but operated by a locally registered company.

Bitcoin, Mescaline and Parallel Worlds

From conspiracy theories to magical internet money, humans have bought into shared belief systems to make sense of reality.

Bitcoin’s Correlation With Gold Hits Record High

Bitcoin is now more closely tied to safe-haven gold than ever.

DCG Enters Retail Crypto Market With Acquisition of Luno Wallet

Blockchain-focused investment firm Digital Currency Group has acquired Luno, a retail-focused cryptocurrency exchange with over five million customers.

Security Firms Warn of Potential DeFi Exit Scam After $2.5M in ‘Locked’ Cryptos Moved

Two blockchain security firms have warned that the creators of a DeFi contract on the EOS network may have fled with users' funds.

Security Firms Warn of Potential DeFi Exit Scam After $2.5M in ‘Locked’ Cryptos Moved

Two blockchain security firms have warned that the creators of a DeFi contract on the EOS network may have fled with users' funds.

Alameda Research Co-Leads $1.8M Seed Round for DeFi Protocol Linear Finance

NGC Ventures, Hashed, CMS Holdings, Genesis Block and Kenetic Capital also led the round.

Court Denies Bitmain $30M in Damages From Co-Founders of Rival Poolin

A court in China has denied an appeal by bitcoin mining giant Bitmain seeking $30 million in damages from the three co-founders of mining pool rival Poolin.

Venezuela Blocks Access to Coinbase and Remittance Service MercaDolar

Venezuela has blocked access to Coinbase and MercaDolar, cryptocurrency and fiat remittance platforms respectively, alongside two VPN providers.

NYAG Asks Court for New Order to Make Bitfinex Turn Over Tether Loan Documents

The New York Attorney General's office wants Tether and Bitfinex to immediately turn over documents detailing a $900 million line of credit.

Most New Customers at Japanese Exchange BitFlyer Are in Their 20s

More than 30% of new customers at bitFlyer, a major Japanese crypto exchange, are in their 20s, the exchange said.

Crypto Investors Have Ignored Three Straight 51% Attacks on ETC

Three 51% attacks on the Ethereum Classic network have not yet made a significant impact on the price of its cryptocurrency.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Hangs Around $10K; Locked DeFi Value Drops

Bitcoin price saw little action on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the value of crypto locked in DeFi has gone down for the first time.

What Is Yearn Finance? The DeFi Gateway Everyone Is Talking About

Some $650 million has poured into Yearn.Finance since mid-August. Can Yearn and its YFI token be the mass-market gateway to DeFi?

CoinDesk 20 Update: OXT Is In, BAT Is Out

The CoinDesk 20 has made its first change since launching in July: Orchid (OXT) has replaced the Basic Attention Token (BAT).

Why Bitcoin Investors Aren’t Worried About This Price Pullback

Critiques of correlation between bitcoin and equities miss the fact that bitcoin adoption within traditional markets has been driven by a fiat collapse concern.

Banks Are Toast but Crypto Has Lost Its Soul

In becoming a high-risk, high-yield playground for dollar investors, the cryptocurrency world sold its soul, says our columnist.

DeFi’s Good, Bad and Ugly

Have we forgotten the ICO craze and how long it took to revitalize the crypto industry's image?

Bitcoin Mining Equipment Maker Canaan Sets $10M Buyback Program

The board of directors of bitcoin mining manufacturer Canaan approved a buyback program Monday for its lagging shares.

Blockchain Bites: Is DeFi an Inside Deal?

SushiSwap's creator cashed out, BTC options traders remain bullish and data indicates people are "buying the dip."

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 8, 2020

With investors buying the bitcoin dip and staying bullish on options, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Visa Adds Crypto Lender Cred to Fast Track Payments Program

Decentralized lending platform Cred is the latest crypto firm to join Visa’s Fintech Fast Track Program with the goal of scaling faster.

Diginex Raises $20M Ahead of SPAC Listing on Nasdaq

Diginex, the firm behind the newly launched EQUOS.io crypto exchange, has raised $20 million ahead of an anticipated Nasdaq listing later this month.

DeFi Meets Universal Basic Income With Just-Launched Project From eToro

eToro's GoodDollar initiative will provide a universal basic income for some of the world's poorest by incentivizing people to yield farm on its platform.

European Crypto Exchange Falls Victim to $1.6M Hack

Slovakia's Eterbase said early on Tuesday that hackers had managed to steal a total of $1.6 million in various cryptocurrencies.

Ukraine Leads Global Crypto Adoption, Chainalysis Says in New Report

Ukraine, Russia and Venezuela are the top three countries by crypto adoption in the world, according to Chainalysis.

Fireblocks, X-Margin Partner to Offer Institutions Cross Margin Trading in Crypto Derivatives

The firms will leverage privacy enhancing zero-knowledge proof technology to enable institutional trading firms to cross margin and bilaterally trade derivatives from a single pool of collateral.

First Mover: SushiSwap’s Billion-Dollar ‘Rug Pull’ Is Thriller to Crypto Geeks

The "Sushi rug pull" is a gripping drama in the fast-moving arena of decentralized finance, which apparently is still limited to crypto geeks.

European Crypto Tax Companies Announce Merger to Power US Expansion

The merger means Blockpit and Crypto Tax can look at taking their newly combined regtech offering to the lucrative U.S. market

Bithumb Exchange’s Offices Raided Again by Korean Authorities: Report

Local officials are said to have raided Bithumb's offices for the second time in a week as part of a fraud investigation.

Bitcoin Options Suggest Investors Hedging but Still Long-Term Bullish

Bitcoin's options market retains long-term bullish bias despite the recent price pullback, data shows.

DeFi Is Hot but Retail Interest Nowhere Close to ICO Frenzy

It may be too early to draw parallels between the DeFi explosion and the ICO bubble of two years ago.

Bitfinex Invests in Derivatives Exchange Built With Bitcoin’s Lightning Network

The raise came after the new trading platform reached nearly $10 million in aggregate trading volume.

QuadrigaCX Users’ Law Firm Launches Blockchain Analytics Investigation

Miller Thomson, the law firm representing QuadrigaCX's former users, has hired Kroll and Coinfirm to conduct blockchain sleuthing services.

Crypto Firm Bitsonar had Signs of a ‘Deliberate Fraud’, Ex Employee Claims in FBI Report

Former Bitsonar employee Yaroslav Shtadchenko has filed an FBI complaint accusing the crypto investment firm of operating like a pyramid scheme.

Tech Mahindra to Offer Blockchain Solutions on AWS

The Indian tech giant will offer blockchain solutions built on Amazon-managed blockchain.

August’s Bitcoin Rally Led to Record Crypto Derivatives Volumes: Report

CryptoCompare's latest report shows crypto derivative volumes were up 54% in August – likely a result of the rally in bitcoin's price.

Bitcoin Should Be Regulated Like Stocks in India, Says Think Tank Founder

Since it's similar to other financial assets, India should legitimize bitcoin by regulating it like a corporate stock, according Deepak Kapoor.

Ethereum Developers Weigh Gas Rule Change to Ease Fee Pressure

As Ethereum fees soar, a proposal to nix “gas tokens,” which let users prepay fees when they’re cheap and spend them later, is getting renewed attention.

Sorry, Governments, We’re Entering the Era of Private Money

Whether the U.S. government likes it or not, the world is demanding crypto-dollars and the private market is ready to supply them.

Bitcoin Banking App Mode Eyes £40M UK Listing

Mode is expected to announce plans for a £40 million stock market listing sometime in the next month.

Investors Buying Bitcoin Amid Price Slump to Near $10K, Data Shows

Despite bitcoin shedding over $2,000 in the last few weeks, the "buy the dip" mentality in the market still appears strong.

Starling Bank Co-Founder’s New UK-Licensed App Adds P2P Crypto Payments

Peer-to-peer cryptocurrency payments are now live on Ziglu, a week after the app-based platform got its EMI license from a U.K. watchdog.

Binance Unveils New Product for ‘Yield Farming’ Crypto Assets

Users of the new Launchpool will be able to stake Binance's tokens, as well as the ARPA token, for rewards in Bella (BEL).

Australian Financial Watchdog Bans Local BitConnect Promoter for 7 Years

The Australian man was banned from working in financial services by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.

Fishy Business: What Happened to $1.2B DeFi Protocol SushiSwap Over the Weekend

SushiSwap experienced a tumultuous weekend after its founder sold $13 million' worth of his stake in the project before turning the reigns over to investor and FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.

Crypto Long & Short: What Investors Get Wrong About Volatility (and Not Just for Crypto)

Many investors conflate volatility with risk, a fundamental error that says more about our collective psychology than it does about portfolio management.

A Practical Utopian’s Guide to the Coming Collapse

A reading on revolutions from the late great David Graeber.

Is Tesla a Stock for Suckers?

The markets kicked off the week with a 5-1 Tesla stock split rally and ended with major questions about tech company valuations.

3 Things You Should Know Before Staking on Ethereum 2.0

It wasn’t long ago that the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade went live on an official test network. Developers have been catching mission-critical bugs in the code ever since.

SushiSwap Moved Up Its Massive Liquidity Withdrawal From Uniswap to This Weekend

Uniswap competitor Sushiswap has aggressively moved up its massive withdrawal from its rival's liquidity pools, and may go live this weekend.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Tumbles to $9.8K; Investors Continue Plowing Crypto Into DeFi

Bitcoin price took another dive while DeFi is still looking mighty attractive to investors.

Alameda Research Claimed Nearly 70% of Wrapped Bitcoin Minted In August

Alameda claimed 14,654 WBTC in August following approval of its Compound collateral proposal.

Blockchain Capital Isn’t Flattered by Imitation, Sues Similarly Named Firm

Blockchain Capital alleges the similarly named Blockchain Capital Management is infringing on its trademark.

8 Historical Analogies That Help Explain the Madness of 2020

From the U.S. presidential elections of 1896 to the dot-com bubble to housing markets in 2006, these historical moments help us make sense of a truly WTF year.

Blockchain Bites: Tether’s Dispute, Buterin’s Fix and 3 Reasons for Bitcoin’s Sell-Off

Tether disputes allegations of market manipulation, Vitalik Buterin proposes a fix for Ethereum's high gas fees and Voatz weighs in during a federal trial.

Money Reimagined: Defanging FAANG

With the internet more monopolized than ever, can Web 3.0 help produce an economy that's fairer to innovation and startups?

US Antitrust Chief Says Protecting Blockchain From Competitive Abuses Is Top Priority

Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim said the antitrust division needs to understand how blockchain could improve market competition.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 4, 2020

As the price of bitcoin reels from its biggest drop since Black Thursday, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

First Mover: Buying Bitcoin’s Dip, Betting Against Tether and Weighing the Jobs Report

Crypto traders appeared to be buying the dip after Thursday's 11% plunge. ALSO: There's a contract for that: How to hedge Tether's credit risk.

Binance Eyes Uniswap’s Lunch With Launch of Centralized ‘Swaps’ Platform

The exchange giant is hoping to capitalize further on the DeFi boom with a new centralized trading platform that makes it a rival of the likes of Uniswap.

Craig Wright Trial Over a Fortune in Bitcoin Moved to 2021

Wright and the Kleiman estate will now put their arguments before a jury in January.

V-Shaped Recovery From Bitcoin’s Biggest Drop Since March Unlikely, Say Analysts

Despite a slight bounce Friday morning, some analysts don't expect bitcoin to chart a quick recovery from the double-digit price drop over the last two days.

Tether, Bitfinex File Motion to Dismiss Market Manipulation Lawsuit

Lawyers for Tether and Bitfinex parent iFinex have said a class action accusing them of market manipulation relies on unfounded allegations.

Voatz Calls for Restrictions on Independent Cybersecurity Research in Supreme Court Brief

Blockchain voting platform Voatz wrote that bug bounty programs are beneficial – provided researchers only operate under the supervision of the companies they’re looking into.

BitMEX to List Futures for New Crypto Coins for First Time in Over 2 Years

BitMEX is adding chainlink and tezos futures, the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange said.

US Air Force and Raytheon Are Studying How Distributed Ledgers Could Help Command the Skies

The $500,000 contract continues USAF's recent history of blockchain investments.

DeFi Degens Are Crypto’s Suicide Squad

A look at the subculture and ethos driving the white-hot DeFi space, which has grown from $2 billion to $9 billion in total value locked in just two months.

Stacks Foundation to Spend ‘Majority’ of STX Token Fortune on Ecosystem Development

Grant ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 will be paid out in dollars. Once Stacks 2.0 goes live, the funding switches over to STX.

Wasabi Wallet Patches Flaw That Could Have Thwarted Bitcoin Privacy Feature

The flaw’s discovery is an example of cooperation in the open-source community, where devs are constantly tinkering to improve their peers’ software.

3 Reasons Bitcoin Just Tanked Below $11K for First Time in a Month

Cryptocurrency analysts attributed the drop to a combination of risk-off sentiment in traditional markets, DeFi exhaustion and miner selling.

Russia’s Latest Draft Bill Would Still Largely Ban Crypto, Stifle Miners

Russia's Ministry of Finance wants to ban any cryptocurrency payments, which could be bad news for the country's mining farms.

Saudi Arabia Pitches Blockchain-Based Business Passport to Boost Trade Finance

The passport would help businesses cut through redundant red tape and flourish across borders, Saudis said.

Blockchain Bites: Bitcoin’s Steep Sell-Off, Pornhub’s Crypto Payments, Twitter’s Latest Hack

Pornhub will accept BTC and LTC payments, a nonprofit wants Coinbase to be more transparent and credit default swaps are coming to the Ethereum blockchain.

DeFi Risk Management Startup Cozy Finance Debuts With $2M Funding Round

Announced Thursday, Cozy Finance has raised a $2 million seed round, led by Electric Capital and including Variant Fund, Dragonfly Capital, Robot Ventures, Slow Ventures, Volt Capital, Spencer Noon, Moncada and others.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 3, 2020

With the price of bitcoin pulling back sharply and U.S. legislators again advocating for blockchain, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

The Crypto-Dollar Surge and the American Opportunity

The U.S. has much to gain from being the steward of a politically neutral payments technology, even if it means giving up power over the financial system.

Bank of England Governor Wants Global Regulations as Stablecoins Pick Up Steam

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey wants coordinated global regulation around stablecoins as the payment method picks up steam.

Buterin, Ethereum Developers Focus on Congestion as Fees Spike Over 600% in One Month

Median fees have spiked nearly 900% in the since Aug. 2

First Mover: As Bitcoin Falls for Second Day, Long-Term Holders Probably Won’t Care

The growing number of long-term bitcoin investors might be the cryptocurrency's most simple bullish indicator – more so than "600,000 asteroids."

Jump Trading Invests in Decentralized Exchange Serum, Signs On as Market Maker

Secretive market maker Jump Trading has made an undisclosed investment into decentralized exchange Serum, which only launched last week.

Bitcoin Plunges $403 in 1 Hour to Lowest in Month

Price plunge came after reports that traders were selling an elevated level of bitcoin to exchanges for potential liquidation.

New Crypto Derivatives Let You Bet on (or Against) Tether’s Solvency

Credit default swaps (of “The Big Short” infamy) have come to the Ethereum blockchain. Opium Exchange says they can help crypto investors manage risk.

Bitcoin Risks Deeper Price Pullback as Exchange Inflows Spike

Wednesday saw a flurry of deposits onto exchanges, indicating some investors are trying to offload their bitcoin. That could further propel prices downwards.

Swiss Canton Zug to Accept Taxes in Bitcoin, Ether From Next Year

Citizens and companies in Zug will be able to pay up to $109,000 of their tax bill in either bitcoin or ether from February next year.

Robinhood May Face $10M SEC Fine Over Disclosure Failures

Robinhood is reportedly under investigation by the SEC for not fully disclosing that it was passing customer orders onto market makers.

Digital Bank Revolut Expands Crypto Buying and Selling Service to Australia

The U.K.-based fintech firm has opened up its cryptocurrency services to Australian residents for the first time.

Digital Rights Advocacy Group Calls on Coinbase for Greater Transparency

The EFF wants Coinbase to be more transparent in how it handles authorities' requests for users' private financial data.

Hacker Hijacks Twitter Account of Indian Prime Minister’s Relief Fund, Asks Followers for Crypto

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the latest victim of a Twitter hack undertaken to trick social media users into sending crypto to the attackers.

CFTC Greenlights LedgerX Request to Move Beyond Digital Currency Products

The federal regulator has approved LedgerX’s amended registration to offer fully collateralized futures and options products.

Retail Trading Platforms Pile Into $5M Funding Round for Zero Hash Crypto Settlements Firm

Three trading platforms focused on the retail market have participated in the $4.75 million Series C for a crypto settlement service.

Self-Help Firm That Mostly Took Bitcoin as Payment Mostly Just Helped Itself, SEC Charges

Ninety-two percent of Mindset 24 investors allegedly lost some of their funds. They'd paid in over a million dollars - mostly in bitcoin.

Blockchain Bites: How SushiSwap Drove Uniswap to DeFi’s Top Spot

A South Korean crypto exchange has been raided by police, Bitcoin's Lightning Network hit a new high and mining revenues are climbing.

Open Positions in Deribit’s Ether Options Hit Record High Above $500M

Ether option contracts listed on Deribit, the largest crypto options exchange, are more popular than ever.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 2, 2020

With bitcoin's price dropping overnight as DeFi booms, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Newly Discovered Malware Has Arsenal of Tricks to Help It Steal Crypto

Cybersecurity researchers said "KyberCibule" covertly mines for privacy coin monero and could also steal victims' passwords and divert crypto funds.

Twitter Hack May Have Involved Another Teenager: Report

According to a recent report, a 16-year-old was served with a search warrant by federal agents at his home on Tuesday.

Coinberry Crypto Exchange Gets OSC Nod, Lloyd’s Cover as Canada’s Post-Quadriga Rules Tighten

Following last year’s QuadrigaCX collapse and loss of client funds, Canada’s crypto exchanges are going the extra mile to rebuild the trust of consumers.

Senate Banking Chairman Asks OCC About Its Planned Crypto Rulemaking

U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo asked to know more about the OCC's potential crypto guidance, but encouraged clear regulation.

FATF Compliance Effort Adds Huobi, Bitfinex and Tether to Governance Task Force

Shyft Network is adding Huobi, Bitfinex and Tether to its crypto-focused anti-money laundering platform as the sector ramps up FATF compliance efforts.

First Mover: Bitcoin Tumbles, Bithumb Reportedly Raided, Uniswap Challenges Coinbase

Bitcoin is down amid negative news from South Korea, but Uniswap has shot to the top of the DeFi rankings.

Pornhub Adds Bitcoin and Litecoin Payments for Premium Content

Pornhub, the popular adult entertainment site, has (at last) added bitcoin as a payment option.

Prediction Markets’ Time Has Come, but They Aren’t Ready for It

After the pundits so badly misjudged the 2016 U.S. presidential election, prediction markets should be booming ahead of Nov. 3. Why aren’t they?

The Tapscotts Take Their Blockchain Research Institute Into Europe

Blockchain Research Institute (BRI), the consultancy founded by father-and-son tech evangelists Don and Alex Tapscott, has opened a European arm.

Bitcoin Price Drops 4% After Latest Rejection at $12K Resistance

Bitcoin fell by $400 Wednesday morning, having failed once more to move above a long-held resistance level.

Police Reportedly Raid Headquarters of Bithumb, South Korea’s Largest Exchange

Crypto exchange Bithumb has reportedly been seized by police in Seoul on allegations that its chairman engaged in investment fraud.

Crypto Banking Firm Cashaa Eyes India Expansion After $5M Raise

The crypto-friendly banking firm raised $5 million from Dubai-based blockchain investment and advisory firm 01ex.

DeFi Flippening Comes to Exchanges as Uniswap Topples Coinbase in Trading Volume

Trading volumes are surging on Uniswap and other so-called decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges, challenging established venues like Coinbase.

US Moves to Seize $400M From Convicted OneCoin Money Launderer

The U.S. Department of Justice wants an attorney to handover the massive sum he helped launder for the OneCoin scheme.

Ethereum Classic Labs Airs New Plan to Stop Future 51% Attacks

The leading organization supporting the Ethereum Classic network hopes to better safeguard against future 51% attacks by going after platforms that rent out hashing power.

Moderator of Darknet Marketplace AlphaBay Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

The Colorado man mediated disputes on the now-defunct darknet marketplace Alphabay.

Total Value on Bitcoin’s Lightning Network Sets Another Record High Amid Market Rally

The Layer 2 protocol holds $12.4 million worth of bitcoins.

Financial Postmodernism and the Great Inflation Debate

This Best of The Breakdown August 2020 edition features commentary from Hugh Hendry, Preston Pysh and Adam Tooze.

SPiCE, Unable to Get Liquidity in the US, Takes Tokenized Blockchain VC Fund to Asia

Tal Elyashiv thinks Malaysia's Fusang Exchange will bring SPiCE VC the liquidity surge he seeks.

China’s Digital Currency May Come With Hardware Wallets as Well

China Construction Bank’s brief digital yuan debut suggests that hardware wallets for the central bank digital currency may be in the works.

Binance Launches Smart Contract-Enabled Blockchain, Adds Staking for Its Coin

Crypto exchange Binance has launched the mainnet for its smart contract-enabled blockchain and is also introducing staking for BNB tokens.

Russia’s New Blockchain Voting System Isn’t Ready, but It’ll Be Used This Month Anyway

The solution will be used for remote voting during by-elections for seats in the national parliament on Sept. 13 in two regions.

New Malware Spotted in the Wild That Puts Cryptocurrency Wallets at Risk

Using forked code from Loki malware, Anubis can steal cryptocurrency wallet IDs, system info, credit card details and other information.

Blockchain Bites: Patoshi’s Patterns, Canaan’s Losses, DeFi’s ‘Weird’ Moment

Decentralized exchange volumes climb for a third straight month, Tezos settled a class action and Coinbase added a16z and DoorDash executives to its board.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Sept. 1, 2020

With ether reaching a two-year high and a breakdown on weird DeFi, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Ethereum Transaction Fees Set a Record Once Again as DeFi Becomes Even Pricier

Average Ethereum transaction fees reached $10.33 on Tuesday.

Bitcoin Miners Saw 23% Revenue Increase in August

Miners generated an estimated $368 million in August.

Decentralized Exchange Volume Rose 160% in August to $11.6B, Setting Third Straight Record

Only two decentralized exchange protocols reported a drop in volume during August.

You Think Crypto Isn’t Ready to Be Money? Consider the Coin Shortage

If the United States had a digital dollar, we wouldn't need to worry about a lack of coins at retailers like Target and Kroger.

First Mover: Rookie YFI Token Jumped 8-Fold in August as DeFi Dominated

Yearn.finance's YFI token, which looked like another inside DeFi joke when it launched in July, dominated the August return rankings.

Bitcoin Nears $12K as Dollar Declines to 29-Month Low

Sell-off in the U.S. dollar and ether's price rally power gains in bitcoin.