BitMEX Chiefs Looted More Than $440M From Exchange After Finding Out About Probes, Suit Alleges

The suit seeks an order of attachment against the parent company of BitMEX.

US Banks Could Seek to Partner With or Buy Crypto Custodians, OCC’s Brooks Says

The OCC's July ruling that allowed banks to provide custody spurred the newfound interest, Brooks said.

Crypto Is Less Scary Than Halloween

The great Twitter hack of 2020 highlighted the scariest thing about crypto: being tricked by scams. Here is how to avoid being a victim.

China Should Take Part in Creating Regulatory Framework for Digital Currency, Xi Says

China's president said the nation should proactively participate in setting the international framework.

The World Is Never Getting Off Government Stimulus

The Breakdown weekly recap looks at bitcoin buying by Iran, JPM Coin and the latest round of lockdowns coming to Europe.

$14K: Bitcoin Hits Highest Level Since January 2018

Bitcoin has carved out a 33-month high, showing resilience amid growing instability in the traditional markets.

Crypto Lender Celsius Taps Horizen for ‘Proof-of-Reserves’ Proof of Concept

The proof-of-reserves pilot would take information that appears on Celsius’ website and have it fed from a public Horizen sidechain instead.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Tests $13.6K as DeFi Total Value Locked Dips Below $11B

Bitcoin’s price hit $13,600 before retrenching while some investors pulled crypto out of DeFi.

Desperation Among Filecoin Miners Creating a Big Market for FIL Borrowing

The Filecoin network is facing liquidity problems, forcing some miners to borrow the native token at outrageous rates.

MakerDAO Members Voting on a Safeguard Against BProtocol Flash Loan-Type Attack

The Maker DAO community is voting on a proposal to harden the protocol's governance structure against flash loan voting.

Bitcoin Developers Still Divided on Specifics of Taproot Activation

The code for Taproot is ready to go, but developers are still discussing how to deploy the update across Bitcoin’s distributed network.

Prime Broker Bequant Adds Risk-Monitoring Service in Push for Added Compliance

Bequant is adding New York-based Solidus Labs’ surveillance tools to its digital asset services business.

Why Satoshi Chose Halloween to Release the Bitcoin White Paper

Was Satoshi’s release of the Bitcoin White Paper an allusion to the Reformation or something to do with the ancient pagan tradition of Samhain?

Overstock Touts Voatz Blockchain Voting App as Solution to US Election Fracas

The comments come days before a ballot count marred in uncertainty.

INX to List on Canadian Securities Exchange Following IPO

INX will list on CES once it closes its $117 million IPO.

Money Reimagined: Who Are the Real Monsters?

Next to the frightening creatures of the legacy financial system, bitcoin is the normal, wholesome outlier, like the niece from TV’s “The Munsters.”

Ethereum Developers Pencil In January for Eth 1.x ‘Berlin’ Hard Fork

Ethereum developers are eyeing January for the Berlin hard fork. The backwards-incompatible upgrade of the existing Eth 1.x blockchain was first set for July.

Blockchain Bites: Ripple’s MoneyGram Pump, OKEx’s Bitcoin Cash Plan, Bitcoin’s Birthday

Tomorrow marks the 12th anniversary of the Bitcoin white paper.

Deribit Sees Record Bitcoin Options Volume as Activity in $36K Calls Surge

Daily volume for bitcoin options have hit lifetime highs on crypto derivatives exchange Deribit.

Library of Congress Reports Surge in Crypto Law Searches

The surge comes as America's largest library rolls out a crypto regulatory guide.

Swiss Arm of Russia’s Gazprombank Launches Institutional Bitcoin Offerings

Gazprombank (Switzerland) has been authorized by FINMA to launch institutional cryptocurrency services in Switzerland.

First Mover: Bitcoin Heads for 24% October Gain as U.S. Election Countdown Begins

Pantera's Dan Morehead looks at negative images of GDP charts and counts words in Satoshi Nakamoto's white paper to chronicle bitcoin's "movement."

ETH Gobbles Up Larger Share of Genesis Loan Book as Trading Firms Feast on DeFi Summer

Genesis Trading saw the share of bitcoin in its loan portfolio drop – mainly due to demand for liquidity mining on DeFi protocols.

FTX Raises ‘TRUMP’ Futures Margins as Price Suggests Lower Expectations of Election Win

FTX said the price of one TRUMP contract roughly equals the president's expected chances of reelection.

Huawei’s Mate 40 Phone to Ship With Digital Yuan Wallet

The upcoming Mate 40 line of devices will feature a built-in hardware wallet for China's central bank digital currency.

Bitcoin Traders Can Now Bet on $40K Price With New Deribit Options

Options at a $40,000 strike price expiring in March 2021 and June 2021 went live on Deribit early on Friday

UK Police Find no Crime in Alleged $3M Crypto ‘Staking’ Scam

Investors who say they lost hundreds of thousands of pounds in an alleged cryptocurrency fraud have had no luck persuading the police that there was in fact a crime committed.

Advising the Advisers: ‘On Purpose’ Podcast Live Taping Party

As a financial adviser, you might feel pressured to know every answer to your clients’ portfolio needs. But you’ve got some burning questions about digital assets like bitcoin. Now’s your chance to ask: On Purpose podcast host and Onramp Invest CEO Tyrone Ross invites the public to CoinDesk’s first podcast live taping party and AMA […]

Ripple Keeps Pumping Funds Into MoneyGram

All in, Ripple has funded the money sender to the tune of over $52 million for providing liquidity to one of its payments products.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Hits $13.6K; 500K ETH Options Pile Up for December

Bitcoin’s price is turning bullish as ether options traders accumulate half a million of ETH options for December expiration.

Leaked Docs Reveal How Binance Dealt With US Regulations: Report

Crypto trading colossus Binance created a corporate plan for profiting from the U.S. market while avoiding regulatory scrutiny, Forbes reported Thursday, citing a 2018 document it obtained.

Harvest Finance Boosts Bounty to $1M for Information Leading to Return of Exploited Funds

Harvest Finance is offering $1 million for information leading to the return of funds from Monday's $24 million exploit.

Mirage Recovery: What ‘Record’ GDP Growth Tells Us About the Economy

The Department of Commerce’s new report shows 33.1% annualized GDP growth in Q3, but does this really tell us much about the state of the economy?

‘Flash Loans’ Have Made Their Way to Manipulating Protocol Elections

BProtocol used a flash loan to speed up election results on MakerDAO. The DeFi platform is now weighing changes to its voting process.

Audius, the ‘Decentralized Spotify,’ Is Moving Part of Its Service to Solana Blockchain

Decentralized music app Audius announced Thursday that it will migrate its content management system over to Solana’s high-speed blockchain from an Ethereum sidechain operated by the POA Network that runs on a set of trusted validators. Audius occupies a similar space to popular music players like Pandora or Spotify, but it allows artists to set […]

US Charges Stanford Crypto Group Director With Defrauding His Former Employer – the Fed

Lawrence Rufrano allegedly hid his work at Stanford and blockchain startup Factom from disability benefits regulators.

Bitcoin Transaction Fees Rise to 28-Month High as Hashrate Drops Amid Price Rally

The cost of doing transactions on bitcoin is surging at a time the network is suffering its worst congestion in nearly three years.

Blockchain Bites: Coinbase’s Card, Avanti’s Approval, FTX’s Fractional Stocks

Meanwhile, The Graph's $12 million raise is one in a line of many public token sales this year.

Crypto and Fintech Share Goals: They Should Talk

The missions of programmable money and autonomous finance overlap, so it's surprising people from crypto and fintech don't collaborate more.

Casa Rolls Out ‘Bank-to-Wallet’ Bitcoin-Buying Services for US Customers

The cryptocurrency custody startup announced on Thursday that users will now be able to buy bitcoin (BTC) on the Casa app using their bank accounts.

All-In on DeFi: Why the Days of Centralized Exchanges Are Numbered

The CEO of Binance on why DeFi will come to dominate CeFi.

Huobi Beefs Up Venture Arm With Former DragonFly Partner Leading DeFi Investments

Alex Pack from DragonFly will Join Huobi to help invest "tens of millions of dollars" in decentralized finance.

Iran Amends Law to Allow Imports to Be Funded With Cryptocurrency

Strapped for international currencies, Iran is turning to cryptocurrency to allow imports to continue to flow.

New York’s Financial Regulator Wants Firms, Including Crypto Miners, to Look Closer at Climate Change Risks

The New York Department of Financial Services expects all firms, including virtual currency businesses, to start assessing climate change-associated financial risks.

Blockchain Firm Figment Raises $2.5M in Funding Round Led by Bonfire Ventures

Figment said the latest round will enable it to continue developing its blockchain staking, governance and developer tools.

First Mover: Bitcoin Falls as Covid Surges, ECB’s Lagarde Steps Up, US GDP Hits 33%

The enthusiasm jolt from bitcoin's ascent toward $14K ran into realism, and options traders see low probabilities of a new price record this year.

Fidelity Digital Assets Expands Crypto Custody Service to Asia

The cryptocurrency-focused arm of financial services giant Fidelity Investments is teaming up with Singapore-based Stack Funds to cater to the growing demand for cryptocurrencies in Asia. A new partnership will bring Stack’s regional clients access to the secure custody services provided by Fidelity Digital Assets, according to a Bloomberg report Thursday. All assets secured through […]

Voyager Digital Revenue Rises Over 1,000% on Increased Crypto Adoption

Publicly traded digital-asset brokerage Voyager Digital registered four-digit growth in revenue in the last fiscal year.

Bank of Canada Governor Says Digital Dollar Project Moving Past Trial Stage

Tiff Macklem said Canada's digital dollar initiative is progressing past the experimental phase and that the G7 needs to coordinate on digital currencies.

Bitcoin’s Options Market Sees Just 6% Chance of $20K Before Year’s End

At press time, bitcoin was seeing a 6% probability of bitcoin trading above the historical 2017 all-time high of $20,000 by the end of December.

FTX Launches Bitcoin Pairs for Top Stocks Like Amazon, Apple and Tesla

The crypto derivatives exchange has launched a novel way to trade the world's most popular stocks.

Ripple to Invest in Japan’s SBI Subsidiary MoneyTap

Ripple plans to invest in MoneyTap, the blockchain payments app birthed through a joint venture between the San Francisco-based firm and SBI Holdings.

BitLicense Holder SoFi’s Application to Create a National Bank Conditionally Approved by US

The approval, if made final, opens the door for the new bank to custody cryptocurrencies.

Avanti Financial Joins Kraken as a Wyoming-Approved Crypto Bank

Blockchain pioneer Caitlin Long is now the CEO of her own special purpose depository institution (SPDI) in Wyoming.

DefiDollar Raises $1.2M to Be the Risk-Insured Stablecoin Layer for DeFi

India-based DefiDollar has raised $1.2 million in a seed round led by Divergence Ventures, Standard Crypto and Accomplice.

The ‘Everything Crash’ Is Coming? Markets Go Risk-Off as European Stocks See Worst Day in 5 Months

Stocks, oil, even gold are down on fears of resumed COVID-19 lockdowns, but bitcoin hodlers are keeping the faith.

Cambodia Central Bank Launches Bakong Blockchain Payments System

Cambodia sees Bakong as a critical step in modernizing its payment system and de-dollarizing its economy.

Ethereum, Dark Forests and the Limits of Transparency

The crypto world eschewed trust in favor of transparency. But transparency doesn’t solve the problem of untrustworthiness in financial markets.

Putting Pressure on Bitcoin’s Lightning Network Vulnerabilities Will Strengthen It

These vulnerabilities are reminders that improvements come with trade-offs – and that security and usability are two sides of the same coin.

First Mover: Bitcoin’s Latest Rally Proving Irresistible as Bitwise Assets Top $100M

Latest rally extends bitcoin's lead over U.S. stocks in 2020 returns, potentially setting up a self-reinforcing trend as more investors take notice.

Blockchain Bites: Bitcoin Miners’ Slim Margins, ConsenSys’ Latest CBDC Pilot, a16z’ Power Hire

JPMorgan unveiled a revamped blockchain network that could challenge SWIFT while BlockFi has taken a 5% stake in Grayscale's GBTC.

Coinbase to Launch Crypto Debit Card in US for Retail Spending

Coinbase is launching its Visa debit card in the U.S. early next year.

Gemini Exchange Launches Crypto Trading Against the Euro

The Winklevoss-founded exchange said all listed cryptocurrencies can be purchased and traded with euros.

Bitwise Tops $100M in Assets Under Management

Cryptocurrency-focused money manager sees inflows from hedge funds, financial advisors and family wealth-management offices.

Bitcoin Price Slips Below $13K as Stocks Slide

Bitcoin's recent bull run is giving back some recent gains amid coronavirus-induced losses in the global stock markets.

Former BitLicense Chief to Manage Andreessen Horowitz’s Cryptocurrency Efforts

Anthony Albanese will become chief regulatory officer for the tech ventures giant in November.

Overstock’s Medici Ventures Invests $8M in Blockchain Firm Bitt

Medici Ventures has completed a third equity purchase in Barbados-based Bitt, bringing it a controlling interest in the blockchain firm.

Hxro, FTX Target Retail Crypto Traders With Simplified Options Product

Hxro and FTX have partnered to make options trading more accessible for retail traders.

Ethereum Developer ConsenSys to Assist French Bank With CBDC Pilot

The Ethereum developer will help the digital assets arm of Societe Generale carry out research on a central bank digital currency.

Is Bitcoin’s Rally Overstretched? This Key Indicator Says No

Bitcoin has plenty of room to rally, according to a fundamental analysis indicator that flagged the price bottom in March.

ASX Delays Launch of DLT System Over Coronavirus Trading Volatility

ASX said it was eyeing a new date of April 2023 due to higher levels of demand than expected.

Trump Campaign Website Compromised by Hackers for Crypto Scam

The president's campaign website was briefly compromised on Tuesday, as hackers looked to fleece cryptocurrency from unsuspecting supporters in the final days before the 2020 election.

JPMorgan Invites Banks and Fintechs to Build on Its Revamped Blockchain Network

Liink wants its 400-plus financial institutions (including 25 of the largest 50 banks) to start building on top of the platform.

Cred Says Fraudulent Activity Led to Loss of Funds; Law Enforcement Investigating

Decentralized lending platform Cred says it's cooperating with law enforcement over a "loss of funds."

Coinbase Goes Down as Bitcoin Approaches 2019 Highs

Coinbase has halted trading on its platform as bitcoin crawls to 2019 highs.

‘A Race Toward Zero’: With Hashrate in the Clouds, Bitcoin Mining Is Less Profitable Than Ever

ASIC financing has driven Bitcoin's hashrate to all time highs in 2020. By consequence, Bitcoin is less proftiable to mine than ever.

MicroStrategy’s $425M Bitcoin Bet ‘Elevating Firm’s Profile,’ Say Executives

Bitcoin is boosting MicroStrategy's market visibility, say executives. Revenues rose 6.4% year-over-year and the company notched a net loss of $14.2 million for the quarter.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Jumps to $13.7K, Nearing 2019’s High; Ether Volatility Reverses Course

Bitcoin’s price is closing in on record 2020 highs as ether’s volatility picks up.

‘Convincing’ Phishing Attack Targets Ledger Hardware Wallet Users

Ledger confirmed that for the last week some customers have been the target of a phishing attack.

BlockFi Takes 5% Stake in Grayscale’s $4.8B Bitcoin Trust

The crypto lender is only the second firm to disclose such a large GBTC stake, after Three Arrows Capital.

An Internet for Humans: Proof-of-Personhood Explained

Identity is one of our most fundamental human rights. In the age of surveillance, commodification and centralization, it is under threat.

JPMorgan Launches JPM Coin: Welcome to the Private Currency Era

The investment banking giant says the blockchain hype cycle has moved past inflated expectations and into the realm of being commercially viable.

First SEC Official to Say Ether Is Not a Security Is Leaving the Agency Later This Year

William Hinman, the director of the SEC’s division of corporation finance, is planning to leave the agency later this year.

This Paradigm-Backed Startup Is Offering DeFi’s First ‘T-Bill’

Newly launched DeFi lending project Yield Protocol is offering stable interest rates for investors.

Blockchain Bites: JPM Coin Goes Live, Bitcoin Rallies, Stocks Falter

PLUS: Southeast Asia's largest bank by assets, DBS, is eyeing a digital assets exchange.

How a Decentralized Internet Can Power Latin America’s Economy

Bitcoin, fintech and DeFi can help Latin America become an interconnected and inclusive regional economy.

India Will Soon Have Crypto ‘Banking’ at 22 Physical Locations

Cashaa is teaming with a credit cooperative society to provide cryptocurrency financial services at 22 branches in the north of India.

China’s Coronavirus Outbreak Prompts Blockchain Adoption for Charity

China’s banking and digital payment giants are using blockchain technology to add transparency to charity organizations' donation distribution networks.

4 Bitcoin Lightning Network Vulnerabilities That Haven’t Been Exploited (Yet)

Bitcoin’s Lightning Network has a few of vulnerabilities that have been discovered in its two-year lifespan, but none have been exploited.

Publicly Traded INX Crypto Exchange Acquires Broker-Dealer Openfinance

INX Limited, a cryptocurrency exchange that went public on Ethereum last month, agreed to purchase U.S. broker-dealer Openfinance Securities.

First Mover: Bitcoin Surges to New 2020 High as Harvest Debacle Provides Costly DeFi Lesson

This week's $24M exploit of DeFi platform Harvest shows risks as real as rewards in open-beta crypto markets, where investor protection is minimal.

More Than Half of US Investors Interested in Bitcoin, Grayscale Survey Finds

A survey from Grayscale Investments suggests interest in bitcoin is on the rise, with coronavirus being a driver of new investors.

JPMorgan’s ‘JPM Coin’ Is Live, Execs Say

A major tech firm is about to start using JPM Coin in global payments, as the investment bank doubles down on its blockchain business.

Bitcoin Hits 16-Month High Despite Sell-Off in Global Stocks

Bitcoin's (BTC) price has climbed to 15-month highs even as coronavirus-induced instability rocks the stock markets.

DBS Bank Looks to Be Launching a Digital Asset Exchange

DBS is planning to launch an exchange for trading bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, according to a cached website page.

Kraken CEO Jesse Powell Issues Tough Critique of ‘Reckless’ DeFi Launches

"Stop f**king up your bulls**t DeFi scams and expecting exchanges to bail you out," Powell said.

Crypto Exchange Huobi Adds Direct Visa, Mastercard Payments

The exchange is making it simpler to pay for cryptocurrency with Visa and Mastercard with a direct service through a regulated subsidiary.

Ocean V3 Brings Wave of Data Monetization Tools to Ethereum

A third version of Ocean Protocol has been released, fleshing out its vision for “datatokens” and decentralized data marketplaces.

Hedge Funds Failures, Bankruptcies and Pandemic Fatigue

As cases rise and the U.S. settles in for a fresh wave of COVID-19, the economic fallout from round one is still being felt, from hedge funds to bankruptcies and beyond.

From DeFi to DeOps: How Public Blockchains Could Replace ERP Systems

As DeFi does away with middlemen in finance, "DeOps" could reduce the need for intermediaries in large-scale supply systems.

PayPal’s Crypto Offering May Be ‘a Huge Headache’ for Taxpayers

PayPal opening its network to cryptocurrencies could create a serious tax headache for users.

US Bail Funds Are Seeing an Uptick in Cryptocurrency Donations

The Bail Project, Chicago Community Bond Fund and Nashville Community Bail Fund take cryptocurrency donations not just in BTC, but also ETH and even BAT.

Harvest Finance: $24M Attack Triggers $570M ‘Bank Run’ in Latest DeFi Exploit

Harvest Finance has seen its total value locked drop by more than $500 million in the 12 hours since being hit by a flash loan attack.

Blockchain Bites: DeFi’s Harvest Hit, IRS’ Crypto Clarification, JPMorgan’s Buoyant Bitcoin Note

PLUS: Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith's legal defense, PayPal's dropped client and more.

Notional Launches Out of Stealth to Bring Fixed-Rate Lending to DeFi

Lending rates on all the top DeFi platforms are dizzyingly variable. Enter Notional, a new protocol with backing from Coinbase and others.

The Big Choices When Designing Central Bank Digital Currencies

A retail CBDC or an indirect one? Synthetic? An API approach? How central banks implement digital currencies will have seismic implications.

Monero Reaches 2-Year High, Taking YTD Gain to 200%

Regulatory scrutiny is likely garnering more attention for monero amid an upward-trending broader market.

Uniswap, Curve Daily Trading Volumes Surges Past $2B, Likely Driven by Harvest Attack

Daily trading volume on Uniswap surged by over 1,200% to a record $2.04 billi on, surpassing the previous record high of $953.59 million registered on Sept. 1 by a big margin.

Benoit Coeure Reveals BIS Plan for CBDC Trial Starting in 2020

BIS is planning a proof-of-concept trial of a CBDC in collaboration with the Swiss central bank,

Silvergate Bank Sees 40% Increase in Deposits From Digital Currency Customers

Silvergate Bank added $586 million in new deposits from firms and individuals in the cryptocurrency industry in the third quarter of 2020.

Roll Raises Another $1M to Make Money Social

Personal token platform Roll is announcing the raise of $1 million from Fabric Ventures, IOSG, William Mougayar and others.

Marathon Purchases Additional 10,000 S-19 Pro Miners from Bitmain

This marks the second 10,000+ machine order from Marathon since August.

First Mover: Bitcoin Steady Over $13K as JPMorgan Has Eureka Moment

Bitcoin traders can be forgiven for gloating over JPMorgan's sudden pronouncement that the largest cryptocurrency has considerable long-term upside.

Number of Bitcoin ‘Whale’ Addresses at Highest Since Fall 2016

The number of investors with over 1,000 bitcoin has peaked to four-year highs amid the recent price rally.

PayPal-Backed Blockchain Analytics Firm Hires Former US Treasury Adviser

TRM Labs, a blockchain analytics firm with backing from PayPal, is adding Ari Redbord as its head of legal and government affairs.

Election 2020: What’s at Stake for the Crypto Industry

While neither major Presidential candidate is campaigning on a crypto platform, who they appoint to head up federal agencies will shape policy for years to come.

Tax Payers Needn’t Disclose Merely Holding Cryptos: IRS Draft 2020 Guidance

The U.S. tax agency has clarified who needs to answer "yes" to a question over cryptocurrency activity included in the draft 1040 income tax form.

PayPal Cuts Service to Crypto-Funded Domain Registrar Hosting Right-Wing Sites

A report suggests the action may be over the firm's digital currency, Masterbucks.

Tether Froze $300K of Stablecoin Hacked After Victims Left Wallet Keys in Evernote

The U.S. government is pursuing a civil forfeiture claim on the more than 300,000 units of the tether (USDT) cryptocurrency said to have been stolen earlier this year.

Harvest Finance Token Plummets 65% After Attack Saps DeFi Site of TVL

A possible exploit in DeFi protocol Harvest Finance has caused the site's TVL to drop sharply, along with the price of its FARM token.

Ethereum Dev Virgil Griffith’s Attorney Files Motion to Dismiss Charges of Aiding North Korea

The motion, filed by Brian Klein, claims the indictment of Griffith doesn't "specify any alleged overt facts," and contains no actual allegation of fact.

Crypto Long & Short: Why the PayPal Rally Isn’t What It Seems, and Why That’s OK

PayPal opening up its network to bitcoin and crypto is a game-changer, but the announcement hides a bigger and more important message.

DeFi Still Needs a Silk Road Moment

Adoption by criminal enterprises is evidence of the product/market fit for censorship-resistant tech and an indicator of whether innovation will see usage in the non-criminal world.

Should We Care if the US Is Falling Behind on CBDCs?

A reading of two recent op-eds on central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).

Bitcoin Price Closes Above $13K for First Time Since January 2018

Bitcoin has failed to close above $13,000 every day since Jan. 15, 2018.

Bitcoin’s Rivalry With Gold Plus Millennial Interest Gives It ‘Considerable’ Upside Potential: JPMorgan

A Friday note outlines institutional, corporate, and Millennial interest in the leading cryptocurrency.

Billionaire Hedge Fund Manager Paul Tudor Jones: A Bet on Bitcoin Is a Bet on Human Ingenuity

A recap of an exceptionally bullish week for bitcoin and crypto as a whole.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Pulls Back From $13K While Ether Falls on DeFi Cooling

Market observers were not surprised by an immediate but mild sell-off of bitcoin after it hit 2020’s new highs.

Ethereum 2.0 Deposit Contract Release Kicked Back Until November

Researchers are waiting on a final audit of a critical crypto library before releasing the deposit contract, Ethereum Foundation researcher Danny Ryan said.

FBI Investigated Extortion Attempt Against Ripple About Allegedly Negative Videos

Ripple, the XRP digital asset payment service provider, was threatened with the release of allegedly damaging videos unless it paid $1.5 million.

Why Fiats Are Failing in 2020

From Brazil to Argentina to Turkey, bitcoin priced in local currencies is reaching all time highs. But is this a story of bitcoin succeeding, fiat failing or both?

US Moves to Cast a Wider Net for Catching Money Launderers, Crypto or Otherwise

The Fed and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network want to lower the threshold for reporting financial transactions and make sure crypto is included.

Vortex Blockchain’s Registration Revoked for Failure to File Reports With SEC

The company had failed to file any reports with the commission since Dec. 31, 2019.

Ken Kurson, Trump Family Friend and Ripple Board Member, Arrested on Cyberstalking Charge: Report

Ken Kurson was arrested Friday and charged with cyberstalking in connection with his divorce, the New York Times reported.

What It Means if Companies Like Twitter Are ‘Systemically Important’ to Financial Regulators

NYDFS proposals following the Twitter hack are a warning to everyone using centrally controlled "designated" platforms.

Blockchain Bites: China’s Tether Crackdown, CME’s Bustling Bitcoin Markets, Kin’s ‘Active Development’

ALSO: PayPal is said to be in talks to purchase cryptocurrency firms including BitGo. What does that mean for crypto?

Money Reimagined: ‘They Starve’: The Ugly Side of the US’ KYC-AML Obsession

Laws like the Bank Secrecy Act, which turns 50 this week, have helped stop money laundering and terrorism. But KYC and AML requirements have served to harm the world's neediest through higher costs and reduced services.

A New Company Claims It’s Opening the Biggest Mining Farm in Russia

MineSpot, a company previously unknown in the crypto mining industry, is opening a 160-megawatt mining venue in Siberia.

Proposed Chinese Law Outlaws All Yuan-Pegged Tokens – Except for Its CBDC

The new version will essentially also clear the way for the digital yuan to be the one and only official yuan-pegged token in mainland China.

Active Bitcoin Addresses at Highest Since 2017’s $20K Price Record

Continued rise in network's usage could accelerate the price rally.

Digital Ruble ‘Promising,’ Pilot Likely in 2021, Says Bank of Russia Chief

The Bank of Russia might launch its own CBDC, a digital ruble, after piloting the project at the end of next year, its chairwoman said.

Kik’s Token Survives SEC Battle, No Barrier to Exchange Listings, Says Kin Foundation

The Kin Foundation says both itself and the Kin token have survived the recently resolved court battle with the U.S. SEC over a 2017 ICO.

First Mover: As Bitcoin Tops $13K, Analyst Explains How Blockchain Gives Clues on Next Move

Chainalysis Chief Economist Philip Gradwell tips his five favorite blockchain data points for analyzing cryptocurrency markets.

Ripple Eyeing Move to London Over XRP-Friendly Stance, CEO Says

It would be "advantageous for Ripple to operate in the U.K.,” said Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse.

CME’s Rise in Bitcoin Futures Rankings Signals Growing Institutional Interest

CME has risen to second place in terms of bitcoin futures open interest, passing Binance and BitMEX.

Five On-Chain Indicators Investors Should Follow: Chainalysis

We talk to Philip Gradwell, chief economist at the blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis, to discuss the five indicators every crypto trader should track.

BitMEX Delves Deeper Into DeFi With New Futures Listings

BitMEX is soon to offer futures contracts for DeFi project yearn.finance (YFI), Polkadot (DOT) and Binance coin (BNB).

Chinese Authorities Crack Down on Gambling Sites Using Tether Stablecoin

Chinese authorities have arrested 77 individuals and shuttered gambling sites using the dollar-pegged tether (USDT) cryptocurrency.

Grayscale Added $300M in Digital Assets to Its Portfolio During the Last Day

Digital asset manager Grayscale Investments has acquired an additional $300 million in cryptocurrencies over the last 24 hours. See also: Grayscale Tells SEC Its Bitcoin Trust Rose $1.6B Over Six Months

Filecoin Network Upgrade Goes Live, Miners Claim 25% Block Rewards

The mandatory upgrade is the first post-launch upgrade to the Filecoin network.

Spanish Police Arrest Head of Billion-Dollar Crypto Arbitrage Platform on Fraud Allegations

Arbistar 2.0 operator Santiago Fuentes was arrested Wednesday and faces criminal fraud and money laundering charges in Spain.

Philippines Central Bank Governor: No Digital Peso Before 2023

The central bank won’t pursue a CBDC for the duration of Governor Benjamin Diokno's term, which ends in 2023.

Three Trends Killing Web Privacy and Decentralization

The decentralized design of the web gives it the potential to be more privacy-preserving than any other system. Yet, there are long range threats at play.

Blockchain Bites: Hodl Hodl’s No-KYC Bitcoin Lending, Voyager’s Token Merging M&A Deal, Crypto’s Reaction to PayPal

Hodl Hodl announced a no-KYC, P2P lending service. Reactions to PayPal's crypto market entrance. And a token-merging M&A deal.

We Still Lack a Rational Way to Value Tokens

Tokens continue to show little correlation between usage and value, confounding efforts to build better valuation methods.

Lossless Lottery PoolTogether Opens Up to More Coins, More Prizes

PoolTogether v3 will enable more ERC-20 tokens, more yield sources and more prize distribution schemes for the DeFi savings game.

Bitstamp Names Gemini Alum Julian Sawyer as CEO

Sawyer replaces Bitstamp's founder Nejc Kodrič, now in a "non-executive role."

Justin Sun’s BitTorrent to Acquire Esports Platform for New Streaming Ecosystem

BitTorrent is evolving into an ecosystem of decentralized storage, data protocols and content distribution, the firm says.

DOJ’s Crypto Framework Is ‘a Complete Disaster’ for Digital Privacy Rights

The U.S. Department of Justice's enforcement framework may pose a serious threat to the digital privacy rights of crypto users.

Hedge Fund Billionaire Tudor Jones Says Bitcoin Rally Only in ‘First Inning’: Report

Jones said he has been surprised by the "intellectual capital" behind bitcoin.

Franklin Templeton Joins Series A Round for Crypto Custodian Curv

Franklin Templeton previously tapped Curv to help safeguard its fund by building a transaction signing and management system.

Bequant Adds New Services to Its Crypto Prime Brokerage Offering

Bequant added separately managed accounts, derivatives trading and instant fund transfers in a bid to compete with rival prime brokers.

Bitcoin Hodlers Get a Lending Option With No KYC

Hodl Hodl is launching a peer-to-peer lending marketplace for hardcore bitcoiners

First Mover: The FOMO Takes Over as PayPal Play Sparks Bitcoin Rally to $13K

Latest rally leaves bitcoin up 80% year-to-date, an enviable performance that's bound to inspire the fear of missing out among some investors.

Forget Ethereum, DeFi Is Being Built on Bitcoin

Edan Yago looks to reclaim "decentralized finance" as Bitcoin's, not Ethereum's, turf.

Back at $13K: Bitcoin Unfazed by Profit Takers After Rise to 2020 High

The bitcoin market looks to be shrugging off increased selling pressure from profit takers after prices surged this week.

Ant Unveils Blockchain Product as Group Approved for World’s Biggest IPO

As Jack Ma's Ant Group gets Hong Kong approval for its $30 billion IPO, it's rolled out a blockchain platform aimed to protect users' copyright.

Raiffeisen Bank Bringing Blockchain Interoperability to Its Stablecoin Project

Raiffeisen's stablecoin project is becoming blockchain-agnostic, adding interoperability tech from Bitpanda and the ​Technical University of Vienna.

Kraken Relaunches Crypto Trading in Japan After Two-Year Break

The exchange had shuttered its Japanese services after Coincheck's $530 million hack in 2018 spooked regulators and prompted a crackdown.

Eyeing EU Banks, Hex Trust Teams With SIA on Crypto Custody

A multinational payments firm is partnering with cryptocurrency custodian Hex Trust to help its European banking clients hold digital assets.

Collider Labs Raises $1M to Invest in Blockchain Startups

The venture builder is seeking to invest in early-stage startups with a focus on transparency, privacy and "fairness."

Voyager Agrees to Buy LGO Markets and Merge 2 Firms’ Tokens

Two cryptocurrency trading firms are merging, and in a rare twist, so are their tokens.

CFTC Issues Guidance on Digital Currencies for Futures Commission Merchants

The CFTC wants futures commission merchants to take care when dealing with customer's funds.

Crypto Options Exchange Deribit to Require ID Verification for All Users by Year End: Report

Popular cryptocurrency options exchange Deribit will require all of its users to be ID verified before the end of this year under its revamped know-your-customer (KYC) policy.

Harvest Finance Doubles Total Value Locked to $704M in One Week

Harvest Finance’s dramatic growth took place during a time when enthusiasm around the DeFi space has slowly hit a wall.

Blockchain Bites: PayPal’s Play, Mode’s Bitcoin Buy, CoinDesk’s Most Influential Needs Your Vote

PayPal has entered the cryptocurrency market, another publicly traded firm will buy bitcoin and Bahama unveiled its dollar-pegged CBDC.

Privacy Coin Zcash Makes Its Ethereum ‘Wrapped’ Debut With Tokensoft and Anchorage

WZEC is the first asset to be launched by “Wrapped,” a partnership between Ethereum tokenizers Tokensoft and qualified custodian Anchorage.

CasperLabs Raises $14M From Launch-Day Node Runners

Blockchain startup CasperLabs has banked $14 million from investors who pledged to secure its proof-of-stake Casper network at launch.

Litecoin Surges After PayPal Includes It Among the Cryptos Its Customers Can Buy, Sell, Hold

The ninth-largest cryptocurrency by market value initially jumped more than 10%.

PayPal Adds Bitcoin: Most Bullish News of the Year?

PayPal will offer its U.S. customers buying and selling of crypto, with support for payments to its merchant network next year.

USDC Is Coming to Solana Blockchain in Potential Boost for Non-Ethereum DeFi

USDC moves to Solana – its fourth blockchain – one week after also landing on Stellar.

Nigeria Protests Show Bitcoin Adoption Is Not Coming: It’s Here

Blockchain is gaining traction fast in Nigeria partly because its young and tech-savvy population is showing an eagerness to learn more about Web3.0, a decentralized internet powered by blockchain technology.

Ethereum Classic’s MESS Solution Won’t Provide ‘Robust’ Security Against 51% Attacks: Report

A solution being implemented to safeguard against so-called 51% attacks on the Ethereum Classic (ETC) network may not be as secure as suggested, according to a new analysis.

Bitcoin Hits Fresh 2020 High

Bitcoin's price clocked fresh 2020 highs on Wednesday after online payments company Paypal announced support for cryptocurrencies.

O(1) Labs Raises $10.9M More for Lightweight Mina Protocol

O(1) Labs’ lightweight blockchain project Mina, formerly known as Coda Protocol, has raised $10.9 million.

New York Lawyers Propose Toolkit for Keeping ‘Decentralized’ Blockchains Honest

Ketsal's "Open Standards" rubric is the latest push to demystify network decentralization in the blockchain space.

First Mover: PayPal Rushes in and Bitcoin Breaches $12K, While USDC Gains on Tether

PayPal gets conditional N.Y. state license for crypto. Bitcoin prices shoot past $12K. Dollar stablecoin USDC grabs market share from tether.

Bitcoin Price Hits Two-Month High Above $12,300

Bitcoin's price clocked two-month highs above $12,370 on Wednesday. The options market expects a continued rally.

PayPal Granted New York’s First ‘Conditional BitLicense’ to Offer Crypto Services

The New York Department of Financial Services license allows PayPal to offer cryptocurrency buying and selling through a partnership with Paxos.

Ban All Ransomware Payments, in Bitcoin or Otherwise

The U.S. Treasury Department has outlawed certain ransomware payments. If it was serious, it would go further, says our columnist.

Predictions Platform Polymarket Raises $4M From Polychain, Naval Ravikant and More

The decentralized information marketplace, currently in beta, said the investment will help it improve the user experience.

Tether Still Dominates Stablecoins, but USDC and Dai Are Winning DeFi

USDC and DAI seem to have found their niche as the preferred stablecoins in decentralized trades.

Central Bank of Bahamas Launches Landmark ‘Sand Dollar’ Digital Currency

The Bahamas has officially launched the world's first national digital currency, the sand dollar.

UK-Listed Firm Mode Putting up to 10% of Cash Reserves Into Bitcoin

Mode said it's the first U.K. listed firm to invest in bitcoin as part of its treasury management strategy.

Futures Traders Aren’t as Bullish This Time Around as Bitcoin Price Revisits $12,000, Data Indicates

Futures funding stayed flat or turned negative despite bitcoin's rally to $12,000.

BitMEX Accelerates Mandatory ID Verification After Charges of Lax Anti-Money Laundering Controls

The exchange moved deadline for identity verification from Feb. 2021 to Nov. 2020

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Tests $12K; Ethereum Fees Fall to 3-Month Low

Bitcoin’s price passed $12,000 while Ethereum fees dipped.

Who Was Crypto’s Most Influential in 2020? Vote Now

CoinDesk's Most Influential list highlights those who helped advance the crypto and blockchain industries, in spite of this year's tragedies.

US House Speaker ‘Optimistic’ About Reaching a Stimulus Pact: Reports

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she is “optimistic” after the Trump administration made concessions on coronavirus testing and tracing ahead of a Tuesday evening deadline.

How Strong Is Bitcoin’s Push Above $12,000?

Who has the most recent bitcoin move right, the bulls or the bears?

With COMP Below $100, a Look Back at the ‘DeFi Summer’ It Sparked

Compound's governance token, COMP, fell below $100 early Tuesday. The DeFi token kicked off the yield farming craze way back in June.

Bitcoin Price Breaches $12K for First Time Since August

Bitcoin prices had to overcome a large number of sell orders to break above $12,000.

Kik, SEC Propose $5M Settlement Over $100M ICO, Ending Yearlong Battle

Kik will pay $5 million in penalties as part of a proposed settlement with the SEC, which sued the messaging app last year.

‘Garbage’ Market Data Is Holding Bitcoin Back: MicroStrategy CEO

Saylor said the bitcoin market needs high quality data in an interview Tuesday.

Blockchain Bites: Bitcoin and the BSA, Signature Deposit Growth, Darknet Crypto Donors

Here's all the news people are talking about in crypto today.

The US Risks Getting Left Behind on CBDCs

The Federal Reserve's “wait and see” approach to digital currency could deprive the U.S. of important fiscal and monetary tools as its rivals move ahead.

CBDCs Mean Evolution, Not Revolution

Central bank digital currencies can help create a more inclusive financial system, says the innovation chief at the Bank for International Settlements.

Crypto-Friendly Signature Bank Raked In $4B in Deposits in Q3 2020

Deposits at crypto-friendly Signature Bank grew by $4.11 billion, an 8% increase, in the third quarter of 2020.

Validators Drop Off Ethereum 2.0 Testnets as Mainnet Release Looms

Participation on both the Zinken and Medalla testnets has fallen as developers prepare for the deposit contract’s release.

.Crypto Domain Owners Can Now Be Verified With Twitter Accounts for Safer Payments

The Twitter authentication service lets .crypto domain holders verify address ownership via the MyEtherWallet app.

First Mover: Monero Leads Privacy-Coin Rally as Bitcoin Trips on Path to $12K

Monero, zcash and other privacy coins, a type of digital tokens that provides users with enhanced anonymity, are surging in cryptocurrency markets.

Binance-Backed Privacy Mavens Release Tokenomic Lynchpin: ‘Proof-of-Relay’

Rewards gathered on the testnet will be made available when HOPR tokens launch on the live mainnet later this year.

Zcoin Employs Burn-and-Redeem Privacy Model, Offering Alternative to Coinjoins

The Lelantus protocol, launched on privacycoin Zcoin’s testnet, lets users redeem partial amounts of a total coin burn, rather than all of it at once.

Charity Turns Down Bitcoin Donation From Darkside Hackers

Hackers who handed out cryptocurrency donations to charities are having a hard time in their bid to "make the world a better place."

Bitcoin Closes on $12K But a Wall of Sell Orders Awaits: Analyst

Bitcoin is on the rise toward $12,000, but may face a stiff challenge to cross the price hurdle.

Uniswap’s First Governance Vote Ends in Ironic Failure

The vote had been intended to decide whether or not to reduce the token threshold required to make and pass proposals on the DeFi protocol.

Japan’s LINE Launches CBDC Development Platform: Report

LINE reportedly said it has several "major" Asian nations in discussions over using the CBDC platform.

Blockchain-Based Trading System Steps Closer to ASX Access

National Stock Exchange of Australia is now in talks with Australia's securities regulator to finalize access for its DLT system to ASX Clear, it said.

R3 Corda Network Set to Go DeFi With XDC Digital Currency

A group of former bankers building on R3’s public Corda Network is touting the first digital currency for that ecosystem, dubbed XDC.

Pelosi, Mnuchin Edge Closer to a Stimulus Deal; Agreement Won’t Guarantee Passage

"The Speaker continues to hope that, by the end of the day Tuesday, we will have clarity on whether we will be able to pass a bill before the election," her spokeswoman tweeted.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Bounces to $11.8K; Over 10K BTC Locked in Harvest Finance

Bitcoin’s price tested $11,800 Monday as investors continue to put BTC into new DeFi protocols.

Closing Time for Bitcoin’s Iconic Room 77 – ‘And That’s OK,’ Says Owner

Room 77 originally opened as a side project, until Bitcoin came and made it an icon. Now, the first bar to ever accept bitcoin is closing.

A New ‘Bretton Woods’ Moment?

The IMF has said it’s time to re-evaluate the global economic order, but what does that really mean?

FinCEN Fines Bitcoin-Mixing CEO $60M in Landmark Crackdown on Helix, Coin Ninja

Larry Dean Harmon ran the first bitcoin mixing services targeted with criminal allegations by U.S. authorities.

Cryptographers Are Always Going to Be ‘One Step Ahead’ of Regulators: Monero’s Spagni

Privacy protocols have become the focal point of regulators and law enforcement agencies when the race among central banks to launch sovereign digital currencies is heating up.

US Alleges Top Russian Cyber Hackers Tried to Cover Digital Tracks With Bitcoin

The cyberhackers used bitcoin to cover their ties to critical hacking campaign "infrastructure" such as servers and domain names, according to an indictment unsealed Monday by U.S. prosecutors.

Blockchain Bites: Filecoin Strike, Bitcoin Fees Fall, Coinbase Censorship

Five Filecoin miners have gone on strike. Bitcoin miners are seeing depressed earnings. And Binance is closing its Jersey branch.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Oct. 19, 2020

With BTC transaction activity slowing and Filecoin miners striking, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Fiat-to-Crypto Gateway BTC Direct Raises Almost $13M in Series A Funding

BTC Direct said it plans to use the funds to expand its workforce and develop new products, among other things.

Major Meeting of Central Banks Produces Same Old ‘Evaluating’ CBDCs Refrain

CBDCs continue to draw attention from central bankers, but panelists at an IMF event – including the Fed Reserve – do not expect to see their nations launch one soon.

Binance Jersey Is Shutting Down

Accounts will cease to be accessible sometime in late November, the exchange said.

Ex-Coinbase, BitFlyer Lawyer Joins Anderson Kill

Hailey Lennon joins a team of 10 other lawyers who practice in the space, including Stephen Palley, Preston Byrne, and Bob Cornish.

First Mover: ‘Blue Wave’ in US Senate Could Mean Flood of Stimulus for Bitcoin

As U.S. President Donald Trump fades in election polls, Wall Street analysts are sketching out the market implications of legislative races.

IMF Says CBDCs Have Potential, But Don’t Solve Every Issue

Countries might benefit from issuing central bank digital currencies, but they’re not a panacea for every ailment, a new IMF report says.

Digital Ruble Could Be Tool Against Sanctions, Bank of Russia Says

Russia's central bank says a digital ruble could make Russia less dependent on the U.S. dollar and more resistant to foreign sanctions.

‘Boring’ Bitcoin Market Sends Miners’ Fee Earnings to 3-Month Low

Bitcoin's transaction activity has cooled amid the recent lull in price action – and that's hurting miners' earnings.

First Users Not So Impressed by China’s Digital Yuan: Report

A recent giveaway of China's in-testing central bank digital currency has reportedly left recipients wondering why they should swap from existing solutions like Alipay.

Luno Exchange Launches Interest-Earning Bitcoin Wallet

Users of Luno's new bitcoin "savings wallet" can earn up to 4% interest per year, the exchange said.

Bitstamp Adds Crypto Crime Insurance for Assets Held Online

The new policy means user funds are protected both on- and offline.

Bitcoin Critic Peter Schiff’s Bank Under Spotlight in Global Tax Probe

A Puerto Rico-based bank founded by long-time bitcoin skeptic Peter Schiff is under investigation over suspicions it facilitated tax evasion.

Filecoin Miners Go On Strike One Day After Mainnet Launch, Prompting Early Reward Release

Some of the largest Filecoin miners stopped mining on Saturday, complaining the project’s mining incentive scheme has made it impossible for the miners to start operations.

Pelosi Says It’s Tuesday or Bust if White House Wants a Pre-Election Stimulus Package: Report

The Democratic House Speaker said if a deal isn't reached by Tuesday evening, a package won't be likely before Nov. 3.

Crypto Long & Short: The OKEx Drama Exposes a Weakness in Crypto Market Infrastructure

The OKEx drama shows just how immature crypto markets are compared to traditional ones, but it also highlights their overall resilience.

Wanted: Economist for Digital Currencies, Fintech as Bank of Canada Studies a Possible CBDC

The move comes as the central bank continues to research how a central bank digital currency would work as well as the possible risks.

Stellar CEO to Be Part of IMF Panel on Cross-Border Payments

The panel will discuss the private-sector's role in addressing shortcomings of cross-border payments.

How Stocks, Bitcoin and Other Investments Fare in a 0% Interest Rate World

On Long Reads Sunday, a reading of a John Street Capital piece on the realities of a market characterized by zero-bound interest rates.

A Day in the Life of the Splinternet

Cypherpunk historian Finn Brunton imagines a future where there are many internets, each making demands on your attention.

Where Does Bitcoin Fit in the Global Reserve Currency Game?

On this "Speaking of Bitcoin" episode, join hosts Adam B. Levine, Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Stephanie Murphy, and Jonathan Mohan for a look at the past, present and future of global reserve currencies

OKEx Token Price Tumbles Added 20% in Wake of Suspended Withdrawals

OKB is trading just above $4, down from nearly $6 before the news.

Cryptocurrency Is Just a Minor Threat to the State

States still have the armies, the police and – on a good day anyway – democratic legitimacy. All of that still matters, and will for a long time.

‘Only in Crypto’: What the OKEx Mess Says About New and Old Finance

On Friday morning as the OKEx withdrawal-freeze story twisted and turned, CoinDesk's editors had an off-the-cuff discussion about the fundamental realities and unique challenges of security for even the largest exchanges.

The NSC Labels Blockchain a National Security Issue

On the weekly recap, NLW looks at growth in institutional investment, big interest among the G20 in CBDCs and a new National Security Council report.

Institutions Take Record Bullish Bets in Bitcoin Futures, Shrugging Off Exchange Missteps

Institutions hold record bullish beets in CME Bitcoin futures as the cryptocurrency shows resilience to negative news.

RAC on the First Truly Free Markets for Music and Culture

Grammy-winning recording artist RAC explores the business of music and how crypto experiments could shift the balance of power.

This New Service Plays Matchmaker Between Solo Miners, Big Mining Farms

Compass by HASHR8 matches individual miners with mining farms to host their hardware.

Bank of Spain to Weigh Digital Currency Design Proposals, ‘Implications’ Through 2021

The "priority" research comes as Spain weighs a global pivot to digital economies.

Russian Metal Giant’s Tokenization Firm Expands to America

U.S. investors can invest in tokens representing rare metals as Russian mining giant Nornickel expands its tokenization firm.

How DeFi Can Avoid the Irrelevance of P2P Lending and Crowdfunding

To avoid the fate of other p2p projects, DeFi protocols need incentives and feedback loops so users choose open-source over closed systems.

Mt Gox Rehabilitation Plan Deadline Extended Yet Again, This Time to Dec. 15

Mt Gox's rehabilitation plan deadline of Oct. 15 has been extended yet again.

Digital Euro Within Decade ‘Very Likely,’ Says Finland’s Chief Central Banker

Olli Rehn believes a digital euro "in one form or another" is all but inevitable.

Blockchain Bites: OKEx Freezes Withdrawals, DeFi Audits Queue, Nigeria Urges Crypto Adoption

OKEx has frozen withdrawals, audit firms are experiencing a backlog of DeFi projects and the Trump administration is examining DLT for national defense.

Coinbase Received Over 1,800 Law Enforcement Information Requests in the First Half of 2020

Coinbase received more than 1,800 request for information from law enforcement in the first half of 2020, largely in the form of subpoenas, the company announced Friday.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Oct. 16, 2020

With BTC dropping, OKEx halting withdrawals and Filecoin launching, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Reginald Fowler May Reopen Plea Talks in Crypto Capital Case

The "shadow banker" previously balked at prosecutors' $371 million forfeiture demand.

Money Reimagined: How Ethereum 2.0’s ‘Lock Up’ Will Drive DeFi Innovation

As Ethereum's 2.0 upgrade locks up serious ether volume, we're likely to see financial ideas that unlock value without undermining mission.

Crypto Traders Bet on US Election as FTX Prediction Markets Hit Record Volumes

October sees record volume for TRUMP and BIDEN markets three weeks ahead of the U.S. election.

Nigerian Banks Shut Them Out, So These Activists Are Using Bitcoin to Battle Police Brutality

As End SARS protests against police brutality surge through Nigeria, the Feminist Coalistion has turned to bitcoin as a financial lifeline.

OKEx Denies Investigation of Founder Star Xu Is Related To Money Laundering

OKEx has denied that the ongoing investigation of its founder is related to an anti-money laundering investigation.

First Mover: OKEx Private Key Snafu Sends Bitcoin Lower as China DeFi Rises

OKEx withdrawal suspension sends bitcoin lower, China becomes hotbed of DeFi development, Filecoin first-day trading leaves market cap above $800M.

Five Machine Learning Methods Crypto Traders Should Know About

Quantitative crypto finance has a wide array of machine learning techniques to call on. Here are five, explained for their characteristics.

Bitcoin Price Dips 3% on OKEx News, Analysts Aren’t Too Worried

While market sentiment may remain temporarily weak after the OKEx news, a price crash looks unlikely.

OKEx Founder ‘Star’ Xu Named as Key Holder in Police Custody: Report

Caixin sources said Mingxing "Star" Xu, had been taken by police at least a week ago and hasn't been seen since.

US Charges 6 With Laundering Mexican Drug Cartel Cash Using Crypto and Casinos

The U.S. Department of Justice charged the six individuals for alleged involvement in laundering funds from Mexican drug cartels after an investigation spanning years.

Coinbase’s Global Marketing Head Latest to Join Mass Exit

Global Marketing Head John Russ is the latest in a string of departures from the crypto exchange over recent weeks.

OKEx Suspends Withdrawals as Exchange Key Holder Cooperates With Law Enforcement

Withdrawals are suspended as a key holder is "out of touch," preventing withdrawal authorizations.

Stellar to Add Support for USDC Stablecoin, Opening Up Dollar-Backed Remittances

The addition of the dollar-backed USDC stablecoin seeks to bolster Stellar’s standing as a cross-border payments network.

Blockchain Bites: Filecoin’s Mainnet, M&A’s Upswing, Tarbert’s Environmental Concerns

Crypto M&A deals are on pace to surpass last year, CFTC Chairman Tarbert is "impressed" with Ethereum and Filecoin flies.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Oct. 15, 2020

With bitcoin falling back towards $11K and news out of the Invest: Ethereum Economy conference, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Trump Says He Would Increase Stimulus Offer to Reach Deal With House Democrats: Report

There's still a chance a stimulus package can be passed before the presidential election, but those chances are fading, said the U.S. president.

Authorities Arrest 20 Suspected of Ties to Russian Rapper’s Alleged Money Laundering Syndicate

Authorities accuse QQAAZZ of mounting a laundering-as-a-service operation for the criminal underworld.

China’s Digital Yuan Blurs the Lines Between CBDCs and Crypto

An in-depth analysis of China's digital yuan project reveals more similarities to crypto than you might think. Upshot: seismic disruption to the financial system.

Immutable Calls: AP Election 2020 Results Will be Recorded on Everipedia’s Blockchain

The Associated Press’s (AP) 2020 election results will be recorded on Everipedia’s EOS-based blockchain network, a first for the nearly 200-year-old news agency.

Filecoin Launch Finally Brings $200M ICO to Fruition

Filecoin, designed as a decentralized alternative to Amazon Web Services, is now live as of block height 148,888, or 14:44 UTC.

Taproot Has Been Merged Into Bitcoin Core: Here’s What That Means

Bitcoin’s long-awaited Taproot update is one step closer to fruition.

Libra Hires HSBC Veteran Ian Jenkins as CFO, Risk Chief of Digital Payments Unit

Ian Jenkins joins fellow HSBC alum James Emmet, now the stablecoin group's CEO.

How the DeFi Craze Made Its Way to China

DeFi is booming in China, with startups adapting and building on popular western projects within the nation's active crypto economy.

New York’s Financial Regulator Targets Crypto Firms for Digital Reporting Initiative

The New York Department of Financial Services intends to digitize financial reporting in a tech initiative that will initially focus on cryptocurrency companies.

Block.one Debuts Big-Business Version of EOSIO Blockchain

Block.one has released “EOSIO for Business,” an enterprise-focused version of its software.

First Mover: As Ethereum Enthusiasm Builds, ‘Bear Case’ Could Still See Prices Double

There's a lot of money to be made in and around maturing Ethereum-centric markets, where a "bear market" means prices double.

Securitize Goes License Shopping With Acquisition of SEC-Registered Broker-Dealer

Security token firm Securitize announced Thursday its planned acquisition of Distributed Technology Markets (DTM).

The Inevitability of ‘Big Blockchain’

The blockchain industry already exhibits signs of the same forces that have driven over-consolidation in the broader economy.

World’s Growing Stockpile of Negative-Yielding Debt a Positive for Bitcoin, Say Analysts

The search for profit is likely to intensify with amount of global debt offering negative yields more than doubling in the past seven months

Isle of Man Regulator Says Bitcoin, Ether Not Considered Securities in New Guidance

The island's Financial Services Authority has set out how it will treat cryptocurrencies and crypto assets and which might be regulated as securities.

New Zealand Man Charged With Money Laundering Via Crypto and Luxury Cars

As well as making cryptocurrency transactions, the man is alleged to have bought luxury cars and property to launder funds.

Breitling Goes Live With Ethereum-Based System to Put All New Watches on the Blockchain

Breitling is the first luxury watchmaker to offer an Ethereum-based digital passport for all its new timepieces.

Algorand’s New Europe Accelerator to Boost Startups With up to $500K in Funding

Startups working with Algorand's blockchain may receive up to $500,000 in seed funding through the program.

PwC Report Points to Banner Year for Crypto M&A and Fundraising Deals

The value of acquisitions in the first half of 2020 has already surpassed that of full year 2019, according to a new report by PwC.

Ethereum-Enhancers Not Ethereum-Killers

The new competitive arena in the so-called scaling wars is between Ethereum-enhancers, not Ethereum-killers.

Coinbase Chief Compliance Officer Departs Amid Wider Exodus

Coinbase’s chief compliance officer (CCO), Jeff Horowitz, is leaving the firm after two years.

In Effort to Differentiate, Litecoin Makes a Move to Privacy

Litecoin (LTC) founder Charlie Lee told CoinDesk in an interview the project is now looking to adopt key privacy-enhancing features, which he sees as increasingly attractive to cryptocurrency users.

Australian Central Bank Sees ‘No Strong Public Policy Case’ for CBDC

The Australian central bank does not see a strong case for issuing a retail central bank digital currency, its head of payments policy said.

JPMorgan Calls Square’s $50M Bitcoin Investment ‘Strong Vote of Confidence’ for the Cryptocurrency

Other payment companies will also likely follow in Square's footsteps or risk getting shut out of a growing segment, JPMorgan wrote.

Bank of Russia Considers Issuing Digital Ruble, Starts Public Consultations

The Russian central bank said it's starting public consultations on the possibilities of issuing a CBDC.

Spain Working on Bill to Force Crypto Holders to Disclose Assets, Gains

The planned bill comes as part of broader legislation aimed at cracking down on tax fraud, a government spokesperson said.

Bitcoin Eyes $12K Price After 6-Day Streak of Gains

Bitcoin's six-day run of gains has shifted the focus to psychological hurdle of $12,000. Some analysts are looking even higher.

Your Wallet in 2030 Will Be Full of Free Money

Real freedom will come when monetary stimulus goes directly to the people, writes Yoni Assia, founder and CEO of eToro

The Securities Clarity Act Is Simple and Logical (and Bad News for Lawyers Like Me)

The Securities Clarity Act deserves the crypto community's support because it's technology-agnostic, limited in scope and respects precedent.

Coronavirus: IBM Launching Blockchain ‘Health Pass’ to Support Return to Public Spaces

IBM Watson Health says the digital pass would help individuals safely return to shared physical spaces like work, school, flights or stadiums.

Bitcoiners Have Trillions and Trillions of Reasons to Ignore US Election

Trump? Biden? Who Cares? The U.S. economy is in such a shambles that massive stimulus packages are likely either way, probably financed by the Fed.

Nearly 2 Million Sign Up for China’s Digital Yuan ‘Lottery’

Around 50,000 digital "red envelopes," reminiscent of the traditional gifts doled out in China for special occasions and each containing 200 digital yuan ($29.60), were handed out Monday.

Canadian Pacific Railway Seeks Logistics Boost From Blockchain Tech

Canadian Pacific has joined logistics platform TradeLens in a bid to improve its supply-chain efficiency using blockchain tech.

IMF, World Bank, G20 Countries to Create Central Bank Digital Currency Rules

Many of the world's largest economies will institute national digital currency banking standards with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

DeFi Project Aave Raises $25M From Blockchain.com and Other Investors

Blockchain Capital, Standard Crypto, and Blockchain.com Ventures all joined the investment for the third largest DeFi protocol.

BOJ’s Kuroda Says Central Bank Will Start CBDC Experiments in Spring: Report

Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said Monday that the central bank will begin experiments on a digital yen in the spring.

Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust Granted SEC Reporting Company Status

Institutional bitcoin investors are looking at "how else they can diversify within the asset class," said Michael Sonnenshein.

China Should Accelerate Rollout of Digital Yuan, Says Central Bank Official

Chen Yulu, deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, said over the weekend the digital yuan project should be accelerated as an important part of the nation's financial infrastructure.

BitMEX Exchange Hires Compliance Chief After US Charges

BitMEX, the cryptocurrency derivatives exchange recently charged by U.S. authorities for offering illegal trading services, has hired a compliance veteran.

Elon Musk Plays Down Sighting of Bitcoin ATM in Tesla Gigafactory

While Elon Musk doesn't seem sure, LibertyX claims it has installed three bitcoin ATMs at the Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada.

Revamped Crypto Derivatives Exchange Qume Set to Fly in Wake of BitMEX Woes

The timing couldn’t be better for regulation-focused trading platform Qume, which unveils a revamped set of services Monday.

UK Crypto Derivatives Ban Seen Having Limited Effect on Small Market

The FCA's ban could prompt some individuals to shift their crypto trading to offshore, unregulated exchanges.

Crypto Long & Short: A U.K. Ban on Crypto Derivatives Will Hurt, Not Protect Investors

The FCA’s retail investor crypto derivatives ban is a misuse of regulatory authority, argues Noelle Acheson. What’s more, its main justification is one of crypto assets’ strongest features.

Signal, Noise and the Coming Era of AI Curation

On this "Speaking of Bitcoin" episode, join hosts Adam B. Levine, Stephanie Murphy, Jonathan Mohan and special guest Martin Rerak, creator of AllYourFeeds.com, for a look at how "AI curation" is being used to figure out what's useful information and what's just fluff.

Pelosi Says Stimulus Talks at Impasse; Trump Blames Pelosi: Report

The House Speaker says the president's recently boosted proposal still doesn't go far enough.

Shenzhen Giving Away Millions in Digital Yuan in Lottery to Boost Consumption, Test Tech: Report

The promotion is part of China's efforts to try out out and stimulate usage of its new digital currency.

The Potential Ripple Effects of Ethereum 2.0, Explained

CoinDesk’s Christine Kim spoke to colleagues Michael J. Casey and Aaron Stanley about the most compelling and under-discussed topics about Ethereum 2.0 headlining next week’s conference.

SEC Will Be Forced to Give More Guidance About Crypto: Peirce

Increased interest in the crypto space will necessitate a more-accommodative stance, the commissioner predicted.

Pelosi Rejects White House’s $1.8T Stimulus Offer: Report

The speaker, though saying the boosted offer comes up short in several areas, didn't shut the door on a deal.

Dapper Labs Raises $18M in Token Sale for NFT-Centric Flow Blockchain

Dapper Labs has closed an $18 million token sale on the strength of its latest collectibles game, NBA Top Shot.

SBI Subsidiary to Hold Security Token Offering Later This Month

The Japanese financial group is also mulling other business lines around tokenized securities.

Bitcoin Must Now Beat $11.2K for Bull Revival, Say Analysts

Bitcoin has woken up from its recent slumber. But a bull revival might need a break above $11,200.

First Mover: Bitcoin Hits $11K as Square Exposes $2.3T Corporate Money Pot

Square's $50M bitcoin purchase has analysts doing back-of-the-envelope math on the possibility of rising allocations from corporate treasurers.

Binance UK Director Departing After Less Than 6 Months

Binance’s director of growth and institutional business will take on responsibility for the U.K. arm following the departure of Teana Baker-Taylor.

Bitcoin Tops $11K for First Time in Almost 3 Weeks

Bitcoin appears to have broken out of its tight trading range over the past two weeks, between roughly $10,500 and $10,800.

China’s Central Bank, Major City to Hand Out $1.5M in Digital Yuan

A local report suggests the pilot is an indication that the digital yuan is close to being launched.

BitMEX CTO Released in US After Payment of $5M Bond

The former chief technology officer of the troubled BitMEX exchange has been released after a bond for $5 million was paid in the U.S.

Fed Reserve and 6 Other Central Banks Set Out Core Digital Currency Principles

The seven central banks, along with BIS, have released a report setting out agreed core objectives that must be met by national digital currencies.

Dutch Central Bank Gives First Approval to Digital Asset Exchange

AMDAX has become the first to register with Holland's central bank under recently implemented EU anti-money laundering regulations.

Ripple Enters Lending With XRP Credit Lines to Fund Global Payments

Ripple, the payments startup with an IPO in the cards and a complex relationship with the XRP cryptocurrency, is branching out into lending.

Lightning Vulnerability Discovered; LND Node Operators Urged to Upgrade ASAP

An undisclosed vulnerability in LND versions 0.10.x and below was revealed Thursday. Developers are urging node operators to update to the newest version.

Digital Bank Revolut Taps Fireblocks to Support New Crypto-Based Services

Announced Thursday, Revolut will use Fireblocks’ platform to offer new cryptocurrency services for its retail customers

The DOJ’s ‘Crypto Enforcement Framework’ Argues Against Privacy Tools and for International Regulation

The Justice Department's new crypto enforcement framework lays out its case for prosecuting alleged crimes around the world while taking aim at privacy-enhancing tools.

5% of Coinbase Employees Take Severance Offer Over ‘Apolitical’ Stance

Sixty of Coinbase’s 1,200 employees have accepted the exit package offered by CEO Brian Armstrong, according to a memo obtained by CoinDesk.

Reading Between the Lines of Brian Armstrong’s Mission Memo

Brian Armstrong's apolitical stance speaks to an unhealthy Silicon Valley culture where debate is shut down and substantive conversations happen underground.

US Attorney General Releases Cryptocurrency Enforcement Framework

The Department of Justice has released a ‘first of its kind’ framework for policing the cryptocurrency space.

Blockchain Bites: Square’s $50M BTC Investment, MetaMask’s 1M Users, BitMEX’s New CEO

Square became the latest publicly traded firm to pile cash reserves into bitcoin while members of BitMEX's founding team resign.

The Market Reacts to Square’s $50M Bitcoin Buy

Reactions from Bitcoin Twitter and beyond as Square puts 1% of its treasury assets into bitcoin.

First Mover: Bitcoin ‘Comatose’ Under $16K For Rest of 2020, While Ether Traffic Eases

Bitcoin is stuck in an ever-tightening range between $10.5K and $10.8K and appears set for a breakout, though options trading suggests $16K might represent an upper bound in 2020.

Bitcoin Options Volume on CME Jumps 300% as Traders Take Bullish Bets

Trading volumes for CME bitcoin options surged as traders made bull call spreads anticipating a rally.

KPMG Airs Blockchain Solution to Help Corporates Offset Carbon Emissions

"Big Four" firm KPMG says its patent-pending blockchain solution will help organizations measure, report and offset their carbon emissions

Bungled Theft of Bitcoin ATM Puts Canadian Business Out of Action

The inept thieves reversed their pickup truck into the store window, after failing to nab the crypto ATM.

Winklevoss-Founded Crypto Exchange Gemini Hires Former Morgan Stanley Exec

The U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange has tapped a former Morgan Stanley executive to head its compliance operations in Asia.

BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes Leaves Role After US Charges

The parent group of BitMEX has announced an executive shakeup after U.S. authorities charged the firm over allegedly illegal conduct.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Regains $10.6K; High-Balance Ether Addresses Decline

Bitcoin’s price is rebounding from a sell-off Tuesday while large ether holders are making moves.

As DeFi Deflates, Ethereum Users Get Reprieve From Soaring Fees, Congestion

The popularity of decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges had backed up the Ethereum blockchain, raising questions about its ability to scale.

How Bitcoin Could Become the Reserve Asset for DeFi, Feat. Qiao Wang

Crypto trader, analyst and operator Qiao Wang looks at bitcoin’s macro resilience and why DeFi is here to stay.

Riot Buys 2,500 More Bitmain Miners In Latest Fleet Expansion

The publicly traded miner aims to quadruple its current hash rate by mid-2021.

The Best Blockchain University Programs Actually Pay Students to Learn

Leading student blockchain clubs do more than meet up to eat pizza: they work directly with crypto startups to solve problems.

On-Chain Real Estate Startup Propy Raised $1.2M in Draper-Backed Round

The real estate digitization platform aims to raise $1.7 million total.

Blockchain Bites: Crypto’s Top Universities, Bitcoin’s New Addresses, MetaMask’s Token Swaps

MetaMask unveiled token swaps, a rise in new bitcoin addresses invites speculation and Ripple threatened to leave the U.S. for a friendlier regulatory environment.

‘It’s Something We’re Studying’: Deputy Treasury Secretary Discusses US CBDC Plans

“It’s something we’re studying … [T]his is really a decision which sits as much with the Fed as it does with Treasury,” said Deputy Secretary Justin Muzinich.

Bill to Give Blockchain Records Legal Clout Reintroduced in US House

Rep. Soto and Rep. Schweikert call for recognizing blockchain signatures as legal instruments in their new bill.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Oct. 7, 2020

With BTC steady and central bank digital currencies getting closer, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

BitMEX Says It’s ‘Business as Usual’ Despite 30% Drop in Bitcoin Balance After CFTC, DOJ Action

More than 57,000 BTC have been withdrawn from BitMEX since Sept. 30.

Coinbase’s ‘Mission’ Violates the Spirit of Bitcoin

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong wants it both ways: to be apolitical about uncomfortable disruptions and political about Bitcoin's mission to disrupt the world.

Bitcoin Correlations Depend on What Phase It Is In

Bitcoin's correlations with gold and the stock market appears contradictory on the surface. There are deeper machinations at work.

Japanese Crypto Exchange TaoTao Agrees to SBI Purchase After Binance Talks End

The all-stock deal bolsters SBI's crypto exchange services in Japan.

New Non-Custodial Crypto Exchange ‘Brings Bitfinex Liquidity to EOS’

Eosfinex has launched a beta version of its mainnet, saying it brings liquidity from the Bitfinex cryptocurrency exchange to the EOS community.

First Mover: Bitcoin Steady as Trump Tweets, and Neo Takes on Ethereum

Trump's back-and-forth tweets over U.S. stimulus whipsaw bitcoin prices along with traditional markets, and Neo ratches up competition with Ethereum.

Analysts Can’t Agree What Prompted Big Spike in New Bitcoin Addresses

New bitcoin addresses have spiked this month, with one industry exec pointing to traders moving funds off the legally troubled BitMEX exchange. Others disagree.

Huobi, Dragonfly, Coinbase Invest $500K in New DEX With Alternative Oracle Solutions

CoFix claims to have better token price feeds based on a pricing mechanism derived from a decentralized price oracle and the DEX’s patented risk assessment model.

KuCoin Restarts Deposits, Withdrawals for Bitcoin, Ether Following $281M Hack

The South Korean exchange is bringing more services back online after suffering a major hack late last month.

South Korea’s Central Bank to Test Digital Currency With Banks in 2021

Following China's lead, the Bank of Korea is to run circulation trials of a central bank digital currency with assistance from banks.

Amid US-China Tech War, Can Neo’s DeFi Stack Rival Ethereum’s?

Neo revealed its ambition to beat the second largest blockchain by market cap during a time when Chinese firms such as TikTok and Huawei successfully established their dominance in an international market.

Inside the Estonian CBDC Experiment That Could Shape the Digital Euro

How the firm helping lead Estonia's central bank digital currency research is approaching a mass-market crypto coin.

Japan’s LINE Starts Crypto Lending Service

The makers of Japan's popular messaging app LINE is launching a crypto lending service through its BITMAX exchange.

This Self-Sovereign ‘DocuSign’ Uses Bitcoin for Digital Proofs

Woleet provides a digital ID software suite which allows its clients to authenticate documents and signatures using Bitcoin’s blockchain.

These 3 Trends Are Driving Crypto Market Growth Now

The latest CoinDesk Quarterly Review looks at some of the main drivers of crypto market evolution including DeF, derivatives and stablecoins.

The UK Bans Crypto Derivatives

The crypto industry reacts to a big move from the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority, which banned crypto derivatives.

Israeli Government Reportedly Investigating Unsuccessful Hack Targeting Crypto CEOs

Mossad and Shin Bet are reportedly investigating an early September hack that hit 20 cryptocurrency executives.

Blockchain Bites: FCA’s Crypto Crackdown, McAfee’s Charges, Ethereum’s Store of Value

John McAfee was charged with promoting ICOs without disclosing his payments while the U.K.'s FCA has banned certain crypto derivatives.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Oct. 6, 2020

As traders remain hopeful and mainstream investment funds increase their exposure to bitcoin miners, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

MetaMask Gets Into the Decentralized Exchange Aggregation Business With Token Swaps

MetaMask announced a new feature Tuesday: token swaps directly within the popular Ethereum browser extension and mobile application.

CoinDesk Live: Inside the Ethereum Economy

Why all the hype behind yield farming and food-inspired tokens? Should investors take them seriously or are they a fading trend?

Stablecoin Growth Knocks Silvergate Exchange Network Volume Over $100B

All-time transaction volume on the Silvergate Exchange Network (SEN), a fiat pathway into bitcoin markets, has reached $100 billion.

US-Regulated Bitcoin Derivatives Market Bitnomial Raises $11.6M

The disclosure comes shortly after U.S regulators' crackdown on retail competitor BitMEX.

CFTC Enforcement Director McDonald to Leave This Week

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) said on Tuesday Division of Enforcement Director James McDonald will depart the agency this Thursday, Oct. 8. McDonald has served as director of Enforcement since April 2017.

Downvoted: Security Researchers Slam Voatz Over Stance on White-Hat Hackers

A broad ruling on the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act could “chill” security research by white-hat hackers, making tech less secure.

CBDC Design Needs to Address Risk to Users, Says Bank of Canada

Building an anonymous central bank digital currency (CBDC) presents security risks – not only to the issuer but to the users themselves, says the Bank of Canada.

First Mover: Bitcoiners May Not Care if Dollar Keeps Its Reserve Status

What if the dollar keeps its reserve status? PLUS: FCA ban, McAfee arrest, commercial real-estate wipeout.

Bitcoin’s Options Market Retains Long-Term Bull Bias Despite Sluggish Price

Options market data suggests the longer term path of least resistance for bitcoin is to the higher side.

Bitcoin’s Options Market Retains Long-Term Bull Bias Despite Sluggish Price

Options market data suggests the longer term path of least resistance for bitcoin is to the higher side.

FCA Bans Sale of Crypto Derivatives to Retail Consumers in UK

The U.K. watchdog said it considers derivative products to be ill-suited for retail consumers due to the risks they pose.

Ripple Has Mixed Success in Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit Alleging Securities Fraud

The judge threw out some of the claims in the lawsuit but the case can continue based on others relating to allegedly misleading statements by CEO Brad Garlinghouse.

Bitcoin Unlikely to Replace US Dollar as Global Reserve: Marc Chandler

"Backing the dollar is the world's biggest, deepest and the most transparent government bond market," said Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex and author of the book "Making Sense of the Dollar."

Oman Central Bank Warns on Crypto ‘Risk,’ Singles Out Dagcoin

The central bank warned citizens and residents that they use cryptocurrencies at their own risk.

Guggenheim, MoMA-Collected Artist to Release Digital Artwork on the Blockchain

A prominent Taiwanese-American multimedia artist considered a pioneer of internet-based art is releasing her work on blockchain-based platform MakersPlace.

Binance Alliance With Japanese Crypto Platform Abandoned

A potential partnership between Binance and TaoTao fell through, 10 months after first being revealed.

BitMEX Ether Futures Trading Contracts Fall by Half in Wake of U.S. Charges

Open interest on the Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange is down nearly 50% from the $125 million observed Oct. 1.

Blockchain Bites: Ethereum’s Economy, Estonia’s CBDC Research, Coinbase’s Severances

Estonia will research the viability of blockchain-based digital currency, the SEC is open to the idea of a tokenized ETF and Coinbase employees have begun taking severance packages.

Europol Names Privacy Wallets, Coins, Open Marketplaces as ‘Top Threats’ in Internet Crime Report

Monero, Samurai, Wasabi, OpenBazaar cited as threats in Europol report.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Gains Steadily to $10.7K; Ethereum Fees at 2-Month Low

Bitcoin’s price has remained remarkably resilient despite recent dispiriting news; Ethereum fees dip.

Are Central Bank Coins the End of Financial Privacy?

As the European Union gets more serious about a digital euro, most central bank digital currencies intend to remove the anonymity of cash.

SEC Alleges John McAfee Pumped Tokens for Profit

John McAfee allegedly received $11.6 million in bitcoin and ether for pumping ICOs in 2017 and 2018.

Record $616M of Wrapped Bitcoin Minted in September

Monthly value of minted WBTC grew 160% from August.

Fidelity, Vanguard, Schwab Funds Have Been Loading Up on Crypto Mining Stocks

Stock of three major cryptocurrency mining firms are appearing in Fidelity, Vanguard and Charles Schwab mutual funds.

US Senator Toomey Highlights Digital Currency Regs as He Eyes Banking Panel Chairmanship

Senate Banking Committee member Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) said Monday that he intends to take up digital currency regulation and payments system reform if he becomes the committee’s next chairman.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Oct. 5, 2020

With interest in bitcoin futures falling to their lowest level since May, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Three Mega-Trends Shaping the Future of Money

How three forces driving digital forms of money will upend markets, geopolitics and society over the next decade.

First Mover: Day in the Life of a Yield Farmer Means Part-Time Gig, Full-Time Risk

Yield farming steals crypto traders' obsession as bitcoin's volatility falls to 180-day low; Coinbase employees take severance.

OFAC Warns That Firms Helping Victims With Ransomware Payouts Risk Violating Its Rules

If you assist a ransomware victim in paying out to cyber attackers, you could end up facing civil penalties, OFAC says.

Open Interest in CME Bitcoin Futures Slides as Market Sapped by Surging DeFi

Institutional interest in bitcoin futures has plummeted as the DeFi explosion made carry trades less attractive, said Bequant's Denis Vinokourov.

Estonia’s Central Bank to Research if Blockchain Can Support a Digital Euro

Eesti Pank said the initiative will gauge the suitability of the KSI Blockchain, already used within the country's e-government system, in supporting a central bank digital currency.

Pro-Crypto PAC Giving $50 in Bitcoin to the Campaign of Each Member of Congress

In a bid to raise awareness, the Chamber of Digital Commerce’s PAC is contributing $50 in bitcoin to the campaign of each congressperson.

Meet the Yield Farmers Plowing Cryptocurrency’s Riskiest Trend

Yield farming could result in promising developments in the DeFi ecosystem. Nonetheless, each yield farmer told CoinDesk the same thing: This stuff is really, really risky.

Italian Payments Giants Merging to Form New Entity That Will Dominate Local Market

The new group will reportedly have an estimated 70% share of the Italian market.

Crypto Long & Short: Coinbase’s ‘apolitical’ stance isn’t nearly as simple as it sounds

Coinbase raises important questions about employee activism, plus what the BitMEX indictments say about the future of the industry.

Confessions of a Sharding Skeptic

CoinDesk spoke with developers about the kinks in Ethereum 2.0's sharding-based scaling approach that still need to be worked out.

The Web Wasn’t Built For Privacy – But It Could Be

Because privacy means different things to different people, a privacy-focused internet is unlikely to please everyone. But it should offer greater control.

Bitcoin Volatility Hits 23-Month Low as the Cryptocurrency Shrugs Off BitMEX, Trump’s Illness

180-day volatility dropped to its lowest level since Nov. 2018

CEXs Vs. DEXs: The Future Battle Lines

The future will see DEXs challenge centralized exchanges by finally separating custody and exchange, says the co-founder of IDEX.

Inflation Is the Cruelest Tax

A reading of a new piece on inflation from the Wall Street Journal that NLW argues shows a shifting mainstream narrative.

KuCoin CEO Says Suspects in $281M Hack Identified; Authorities on the Case

The CEO of the hacked South Korean crypto exchange says suspects in the hack have been identified.

SEC Is Willing to ‘Try’ a Tokenized ETF, Chairman Says: Report

SEC Chairman Jay Clayton expressed an openness to a tokenized exchange-traded fund.

‘The Fed Meetings Are a Dead Spectator Sport’ – Best of The Breakdown September 2020

A monthly recap featuring conversations with Luke Gromen, Raoul Pal, Tavi Costa, Sven Henrich, Corey Hoffstein and Michael Saylor.

Every Credit Card a Tribe, Every Crypto Coin a Scaling Debate

Lana Swartz's "New Money" is a book that will force crypto users to ask: What does using ETH or BTC or XLM or ATOM say about me?

The Digital Archipelago: How to Build an Internet Where Communities Thrive

Technology exists to serve people. Today, the situation is nearly reversed. Each of us is just propping up an engagement graph somewhere.

Coinbase Employees Have Begun to Take Severance Packages

CEO Brian Armstrong and other managers at the San Francisco-based crypto exchange told employees in company- wide meetings that Armstrong had been planning this move for six months.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Rebounds to $10.5K; Stablecoin Market Cap ‘Goes Parabolic’

Bitcoin price has proved resilient in the face of bad news but traders expect crypto volatility ahead.

Binance, Gemini, Kraken So Far the Winners From BitMEX’s Legal Woes

Binance, Gemini, and Kraken have become the biggest winners since US regulators' charges against BitMEX on Thursday.

Bitcoin Miners Saw 11% Revenue Drop in September

Miners generated an estimated $328 million in September.

‘Good Reason to Worry’: What the BitMEX Indictment Means for DeFi and Bitcoin, Feat. Stephen Palley and Preston Byrne

Crypto legal experts join to discuss the U.S. government’s case against BitMEX and its implications for the broader ecosystem.

Belarus News Media Are Testing Decentralized Tech to Resist Censorship

Belarus media are testing NewNode, a decentralized tech helping resist the government censorship.

Bulls Exit BitMEX Bitcoin Futures Market

Since the announcement from U.S. regulators, BitMEX has witnessed an outflow of more than 40,000 bitcoins, currently worth more than $422 million.

What to Watch at ETHOnline, This Year’s Devcon

Ethereum’s annual developer conference, ETHOnline, kicks off Friday afternoon, standing in for the regular Devcon in-person event.

Money Reimagined: Trump, Crypto and Fairer Taxes

Trump's tax returns show the unfairness of the tax system and the need for reform. Blockchain governance offers some ideas.

Blockchain Bites: BitMEX Investigation, Trump’s Diagnosis, Babel’s Leaked Audio

Elsewhere, another European central banker has called for a "digital euro," Atari's cryptocurrency has a sale date and Venezuela built a national stock exchange on Ethereum.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Oct. 2, 2020

With Pres. Trump testing positive and a systemically important exchange in the crosshairs, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Bitcoin Escrow Chief Pleads Guilty to $3.25M Crypto Fraud

The head of the Volantis escrow company faces up to 10 years in prison for defrauding customers.

Coinbase Reportedly Warns Some UK Users It’s Handing Their Details to the Taxman

U.K. users of the exchange who have received £5,000 or more in the past tax year will have their information passed to the tax authority.

Trump Covid Test, BitMEX Charges Bring October Shocks for Bitcoin

Crypto analysts scramble to assess U.S. charges against BitMEX, home of 100x bitcoin perpetual swaps and a venue for getting "rekt."

Ripple Wins US Patent for New Oracle-Based Smart Contract Design

Ripple's patented design would allow derivatives to settle based on external information – such as temperature data.

BitMEX Moves $337M in Bitcoin Ahead of First User Withdrawals Since US Charges

Bitcoin outflows from prominent crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX are already up in the wake of charges from U.S. agencies announced Thursday.

Digital Euro Will ‘Protect’ Eurozone from Foreign Issuers, Says ECB Exec

An executive member at the European Central Bank says a digital euro could protect the Eurozone's monetary sovereignty from outside influence.

Venezuela Rolls Out Ethereum-Based Stock Exchange to Help Skirt US Sanctions

The blockchain-based exchange comes as part of new measures announced by President Nicolas Maduro in a big to sidestep tough U.S. sanctions.

Cosmos Gains Traction in India Amid Broader Crypto Resurgence

Cosmos and its ATOM token are finding success among university students in India during the 2020 bull market.

Bitcoin, Stocks Fall as Trump Tests Positive for COVID-19

The cryptocurrency and Asian stock markets dumped early Friday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he and his wife had tested positive to COVID-19.

Leaked Recordings Suggest Crypto Lender Babel Leveraged Users’ Funds in Longing Bitcoin

Leaked recordings suggest crypto lender Babel Finance leveraged some user funds to long bitcoin and faced potential default risks during this year’s Black Thursday market crash.

Malta Disputes Crypto Arbitrage Hub Arbitly’s Registry Claims

Arbitly's crypto licensure and registration claims are bogus, according to Malta's financial regulator.

Blockchain Bites: Dorsey Challenges Coinbase, Nasdaq Lists Diginex, Ethereum Miners Profit

Also: The Australian government is investing big in modern technology and prediction markets have turned sour against Trump.

Startup Backed by Uber Co-Founder Poaches CoinList President Andy Bromberg

CoinList co-founder Andy Bromberg is leaving the token sale platform to helm Eco, a cryptocurrency built to marry savings and spending in one.

Braintrust Raises $18M to Bring DeFi-Thinking to the Gig Economy

Braintrust, a tech talent marketplace that will essentially be owned by the IT freelancers and companies using it, has raised an $18 million strategic growth round.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Oct. 1, 2020

With BTC looking for a breakout and more casualties in the aftermath of 2017s ICO boom, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup!

Australia’s Central Bank Tells ASX to Push on With Delayed DLT Trading Platform

ASX, the primary stock in Australia, has been told to press on with the blockchain-based replacement to its aged trading system.

Crypto Trading Platform BitMEX ‘Attempted to Evade’ US Regulations, CFTC Charges

The CFTC has charged BitMEX, CEO Arthur Hayes and other affiliated entities with offering US customers crypto trading services in violation of federal law.

The Hard Forks That Didn’t Dilute Bitcoin

Why Bitcoin continues to trounce BCH, BSV and other wannabe challenger projects.

Ethereum 2.0 ‘Dress Rehearsal’ Gets a Second Shot With Zinken Testnet

Developers will take a second whack at a final Ethereum 2.0 testnet after the first, Spadina, failed due to “critical peering issues.”

Total Stablecoin Supply Nearly Doubled in Q3, Adding Record $8B

“2020 seems to be the year of stablecoins,” said Tether CTO.

European Central Bank Moves to Trademark ‘Digital Euro’

The EU's central bank laid a claim to the phrase "digital euro" before deciding whether to actually issue one.

First Mover: Nine (Bullish) Bitcoin Predictions for Final Months of (Awful) 2020

Bitcoin is outperforming pretty much every other asset class this year, with a 50% YTD gain. Analysts are bullish heading into 4Q.

Dapper’s NBA Top Shot Launches Out of Beta With Samsung Galaxy Store Deal

After selling more than $2 million in digital basketball cards during its private beta, NBA Top Shot is launching to the public.

CipherTrace Outlines Regulatory Gray Zones Plaguing Booming DeFi Sector

Here's how blockchain analytics firms like CipherTrace and Elliptic are viewing DeFi and DEXs after the KuCoin hack.

eToro to Offer Staking Rewards for Holders of TRON and Cardano

Free of charge for eToro clients, the new staking service will initially support Cardano and TRON but will add other tokens in due course.

Bitcoin Posts Biggest Monthly Price Loss Since March

Bitcoin faced selling pressure in September as the U.S. dollar rose against major currencies for the first time in six months.

Why Hardnosed Bitcoiners Should Learn to Love DeFi

Stacking sats and decentralized finance are more similar economic modes than most realize.

Diginex Stock Goes Live on Nasdaq Following $50M in SPAC and Private Funding

Diginex has become the first crypto exchange operator to be traded on Nasdaq, listing under the “EQOS” ticker symbol.

Institutional Crypto Platform Talos Emerges From Stealth Mode

Talos is emerging from stealth mode to serve crypto brokers, custodians, exchanges and over-the-counter (OTC) trading desks.

Record $166M Ethereum Fees Last Month Were Six Times Bigger than Bitcoin’s

Ethereum continues to outpace Bitcoin in transaction fees, with DeFi mania helping push total fees to $166 million last month.

DeFi Buzz Drove Record $12M Earnings This Summer, Says Ethereum Miner HIVE Blockchain

The ether miner has reported its best ever quarter, saying that surging interest in DeFi led to bumper transaction fee revenues.

Australia to Spend $575M on Tech Including Blockchain to Boost Pandemic Recovery

The investment comes as Australia attempts to make a recovery from the recession brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Twitter’s Dorsey Calls Out Coinbase CEO for Ignoring Users’ ‘Societal Issues’

Twitter’s CEO and founder Jack Dorsey tweeted his disapproval of Coinbase’s steering his company away from corporate activism. See also: Coinbase’s New Policy: Anti-Woke or Just a Joke? UPDATE: 11:59 UTC adds background of Armstrong offering severance packages.