What Happens if All Stablecoin Users Have to Be Identified?

If the U.S. reins in pseudonymity in stablecoin transactions (as seems possible) there could be big implications for the crypto industry, says our columnist.

BitPay to Pay $500K to Settle OFAC Sanction Violation Charges

BitPay is accused of facilitating over 2,100 transactions with individuals in sanctioned nations.

Nvidia Redesigns Graphics Cards to Limit Their Use in Ethereum Mining

Nvidia is also launching Cryptocurrency Mining Processors (CMP) specifically for Ethereum miners.

Bill Gates Says He’s ‘Neutral’ on Bitcoin

Gates has previously criticized cryptocurrencies and said he'd short bitcoin "if there was an easy way to do it."

Libra Co-Creator’s VC Firm Co-Leads $12M Round in ‘Decentralized GitHub’

“Web 3 developers should be building on open protocols,” NFX General Partner Morgan Beller said of Radicle, a platform for crypto-native code collaboration.

First Mover: Who ISN’T Dabbling as Bitcoin Passes $52K, Ether Tops $1,900

The $8.7 trillion-asset BlackRock is "dabbling" in cryptocurrencies – becoming the norm as bitcoin and ether rally to all-time high prices.

Bitcoin May Be a Better Investment Than Gold, Says DoubleLine CEO Jeffrey Gundlach

Gundlach has previously said, "I don't believe in bitcoin."

‘Evil VASP’ Simulation Preps Crypto Exchanges for FATF Travel Rule

Backed by CipherTrace, TRISA looks to get virtual asset service providers (VASPs) ready for new anti-money laundering rules.

Russia’s Digital Ruble Model to Get Bank-Friendly Redesign

Banks had feared being drained of liquidity under the original concept for the digital currency.

No, Bitcoin Is Nothing Like the South Sea Bubble

Those who compare Bitcoin to the great bubbles of the past need to check the historical books. This moment is very different.

Safello Partnership Enables Direct Crypto Purchases From Users’ Bank Accounts

A new tie-up with payments firm Klarna brings the exchange access to more than 5,000 banks across Europe.

How Crypto Transforms Prediction Markets

Betting can be used to predict the future. That's the crazy idea behind prediction markets. Here's how they work and where cryptocurrency fits into the picture.

Kia Motors America Victim of Ransomware Attack Demanding $20M in Bitcoin, Report Claims

BleepingComputer claims to have evidence that the ransomware gang DoppelPaymer is demanding 404 BTC from the car firm.

Switzerland’s ‘Crypto Valley’ Has Started Accepting Bitcoin, Ether for Tax Payments

Local firm Bitcoin Suisse has partnered with the canton of Zug, converting cryptocurrency tax payments into Swiss francs.

Ether Looks Overleveraged as Cryptocurrency Hits New High Over $1,900

Ether's derivative market looks overheating amid the cryptocurrency's rally to new record highs.

Top Auction House Christie’s to Accept Ether Cryptocurrency for Digital Art Sale

The sale gives Christie's a chance to "dip its toes" in crypto, said a New York representative.

Malaysian Bitcoin Mining Gang Stole Over $2M in Electricity, Say Police

Police seized 1,746 bitcoin mining machines across 21 premises in raids this week.

Chinese Retailer Goes From Bubble Tea to Crypto Mining in Unlikely Pivot

Urban Tea has hired two new executives ahead of its expansion into cryptocurrency mining.

How Staking and Eth 2.0 Makes the Ethereum Economy More “Sustainable”

In this episode, Christine Kim and Will Foxley discuss with David Hoffman, the co-founder of Bankless, the market implications of a dual Ethereum blockchain and what new realities staking presents to the long-term value proposition of ether.

Robinhood to Allow Deposits, Withdrawals for Cryptos Including Dogecoin

Currently, users of the popular trading app can only buy and sell cryptocurrencies within their Robinhood accounts.

Japan’s SBI Investing ‘Eight-Figure’ Sum in Swiss Crypto Bank Sygnum

SBI's digital assets subsidiary will lead a round that will have raised around $30 million for the Swiss firm over six months.

US Lawmakers Looking Into China’s Role in GameStop Pump: Report

Some Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee want to look into Reddit’s ties to Chinese tech conglomerate Tencent and Robinhood rival Moomoo.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 17, 2021

With BTC surpassing $51K and analysts remaining bullish on the price, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

Russia’s Crypto Tax Bill Passes First Reading at State Duma

The bill proposes to recognise cryptocurrency as property for purposes of taxation.

DJ 3LAU to Auction Full Album Tokenized on Ethereum Blockchain

3LAU is partnering with blockchain platform Origin to launch an auction for the Ultraviolet Vinyl NFT Collection.

Mastercard Launches Prepaid Card for World’s First CBDC in Bahamas

The Bahamian Sand Dollar can now be used for payments anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

Coinbase Hires Former Stripe Exec as Chief Compliance Officer

Melissa Strait will take charge of Coinbase's compliance initiatives ahead of its planned public listing.

Why the US Needs Bitcoin

Elon Musk and other VIPs have endorsed it. Here's why the Federal Reserve should seriously consider BTC for its balance sheet.

First Mover: What’s Next After Bitcoin Hits $50K? Another $1K Gain

Analysts are still mostly bullish on the cryptocurrency's price, even at lofty levels compared with those just a few months ago.

Bitcoin’s Price Volatility May Hamper Its Progress Above $50K, JPMorgan Says

The bank's analysts pointed to gold's much lower volatility.

Crypto Wallet Startup Blockchain.com Raises $120M From Investors Including Google Ventures

Blockchain.com said the institutional backing will power an increasingly institutional-minded business.

Coinbase, Readying for Public Listing, Gets $77B Valuation From Nasdaq Private Market

Last week’s settlement price of $303 per share would make Coinbase bigger than NYSE-owner ICE.

Bitwise Launches DeFi Crypto Index Fund

The fund bets on 10 Ethereum-based protocols angling to shape the future of finance.

Central Bank Digital Currencies May Drive Cash ‘Shadow Economy’ to Crypto: Reuters

"Shadow economy" participants, those who use deal mostly in hard cash for anonymity's sake, are unlikely to be drawn to using a CBDC, according to a Reuters column.

MicroStrategy Boosts Latest Debt-for-Bitcoin Offering to $900M

The firm has already bought 70,784 bitcoin, an amount now worth around $3.6 billion.

What Is a Flash Loan?

A guide to one of DeFi's most innovative and controversial features.

Valid Points: How CME Ether Futures Work and Why They Matter

A financially settled and U.S. regulated ether futures product makes all the difference.

Dubai Free Zone Becomes First UAE Government Entity to Accept Bitcoin

The free zone accepts payments in bitcoin, ether and the tether stablecoin.

India Plans Twin Taxes on Exchanges and Traders Before Passing Crypto Bill: Report

A senior Finance Ministry official told a newspaper that taxation does not necessarily imply legality.

World’s Oldest Central Bank Extends Digital Currency Test Till 2022

Sweden's Riksbank said it would continue work with Accenture on a potential e-krona digital currency until next year.

Diginex Connects Crypto Exchanges and Electronic Trading Firms With New Platform

The crypto services firm is connecting high-frequency traders who use electronic trading platforms to crypto exchanges.

Head of St Louis Fed Says Bitcoin Not a Challenge to US Dollar’s Global Dominance

James Bullard also likened bitcoin to gold as a safe-haven asset.

Bitcoin Hits New High Above $51K, Shrugging Off Rising Bond Yields

Rising bond yields are a threat to prices of hedge assets, but bitcoin is soaring as gold falls.

Kakao to Record Private Securities on Its Own Blockchain as NFTs

The move will aid South Korea's OTC securities market.

Japan’s SBI Investing ‘Eight-Figure’ Sum in Swiss Crypto Bank Sygnum

SBI's digital assets subsidiary will lead a round that will have raised around $30 million for the Swiss firm over six months.

Tesla’s Bitcoin Buy May Lead to Widespread Corporate Adoption – Eventually: Wedbush

The firm called the leading cryptocurrency "the start of a new age on the digital currency front."

Digital Asset Manager Grayscale Expands Leadership Team With Trio of C-Suite Hires

The digital currency asset manager's new executives bring with them experience at firms such as Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and Ripple Labs.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 16, 2021

With BTC briefly breaching $50K as the industry's market cap passes $1.5T, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

State of Crypto: Will 2021 Finally Be the Year of the Bitcoin ETF?

The market has matured since 2018, when bitcoin ETF applications last hit a peak. It's unclear whether that's enough to see one approved.

Cloudflare Teams With Unstoppable Domains to Bring .Crypto Addresses to Web Browsers

The new integration means web users can directly access decentralized websites form any browser.

Mining Machine Maker Canaan Rises 20% as Bitcoin Reaches a New All-Time High

Canaan shares have gained 230% so far in February.

NYDIG Files for Bitcoin ETF, Adding to Firms Hoping 2021 Is When SEC Finally Says ‘Yes’

The filing comes on the same day as bitcoin hit $50,000 for the first time ever.

Diem Stablecoin Prepares for Liftoff With Fireblocks Custody Partnership

The rebranded Libra network aims to come out with an initial product around the end of this quarter, with help from Fireblocks and First Digital Assets.

Osprey Fund’s Bitcoin Trust Is Now Available to Retail Investors via OTC

The fund is structured similarly to the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, but aims to compete with lower fees.

DeFi Insurer Nexus Mutual Raises $2.7M in NXM Token Sale

The firm aims to sell over $1 billion worth of cover in 2021 spread across at least 30 protocols.

First Mover: Bitcoin Tops $50K and Crypto’s Nouveau Riche Move In

Break of psychological threshold pushes largest cryptocurrency's year-to-date return to 70%, as a new breed of upstart tokens pushes industry market cap past $1.5T.

What Really Happened When Robinhood Suspended GameStop Trading

The byzantine world of the public U.S. securities market killed the GameStop pump (sort of).

Chinese Lottery Firm 500.com Acquires Crypto Mining Pool BTC.com

BTC.com is currently owned by Bitdeer Technologies and former Bitmain CEO Jihan Wu.

MicroStrategy Files to Offer $600M in Notes in Order to Buy Yet More Bitcoin

MicroStrategy said it intends to offer $600 million aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2027. This story is developing and will be updated.

ING Bank-Backed Crypto Trade Platform Pyctor Is Raising Money

The digital assets post-trade collaboration also involves Citi, State Street, UBS and others.

Bitcoin Sets Fresh Record Above $50K Pushing Yearly Gains to 69%

The cryptocurrency's latest pop pushes 2021 gains to 69%.

Russia’s Lower House to Consider Bill on Crypto Taxation This Week

If passed the bill would amend tax laws to recognize digital currencies as a form of property.

Celsius Network, Argo Blockchain Back Pre-Seed Round for Bitcoin Mining Startup

Luxor Technologies will use the funds to expand its hashrate and hire more engineers.

Russian Mobile Operators Eye Payments Services, Wallets for Digital Ruble

Some telcos are looking at developing a digital wallet that would link the digital currency to users' mobile phone numbers.

‘Long Tech’ Retakes Most-Crowded Trade Crown from Bitcoin: Bank of America Survey

Bitcoin had been most-crowded trade in January as prices rose to a $40,000 record.

Ripple, SEC Say Settlement Unlikely Before Trial Over Alleged Securities Fraud

The SEC's case over allegedly unlawful sales of XRP by Ripple to retail investors is entering the discovery phase.

Bitcoin Recovers From Dip to Set New Record High Close to $50K

Analysts say more spot buying is needed to bring bitcoin over the $50,000 mark.

Pornhub Payment Option Verge Suffers Massive Blockchain Reorganization

Verge has been hit by a massive 560,000-block reorganization.

Market Wrap: Crypto Market Cap Breaks $1.5T as Buyers Show Up for the Dip

Buyers showed up quickly to reverse the crypto market dip through Monday.

The Mainstream Media Narrative Shifts as Deutsche Bank and Morgan Stanley Come to Bitcoin

As another wave of major financial institutions announce bitcoin plans, it’s getting harder for the MSM to simply print the same old FUD.

Bitcoin Mining: Wasted Energy or a Better, Greener System?

Harry Sudock, VP of strategy at GRIID Infrastructure joins the show to discuss the modern energy landscape, how far we've come and where bitcoin mining can fit into a sustainable energy system.

Australia’s Blockchain Ecosystem Needs More Support From Regulators, Says Industry Body

Blockchain Australia CEO Steve Vallas believes the country is "well placed" when it comes to blockchain, but a bigger conversation is needed with financial regulators.

UK Crypto Exchange EXMO Offline Amid DDoS Attack

The exchange said it's working to bring services back online following the attack.

Institutions Not Worried About Bitcoin Dropping Below $40K, Options Data Shows

Lack of hedging demand for long-term put options shows institutions remain unconcerned by Monday's price drop.

New Emerging Markets Fund Targets Blockchain, DeFi Startups

The Arcanum Emerging Technologies Fund will start in India, but its founders plan to expand to other regions.

Bitcoin Miners Posted $354M in Revenue Last Week, Breaking Record From 2017

Last week's mining revenue eclipsed the previous record set in mid December 2017.

Thailand’s Securities Regulator Eyes Qualifications for New Crypto Investors

The regulator believes new cryptocurrency investors should have a certain level of trading experience and financial reserves.

Reddit, Robinhood, Citadel CEOs to Testify at GameStop Hearing

The U.S. House Committee on Financial Services hearing will investigate issues around the recent trading surge for shares of GameStop and other companies.

3 Reasons Why Bitcoin’s Price Just Fell by $3K

The sudden pullback just short of a new $50,000 high surprised many investors. Here's what probably happened.

Industry Group Says Hong Kong’s Proposed Crypto Rules Could Drive Traders Underground

Hong Kong’s plan to restrict cryptocurrency investment to professionals means retail investors could move to unlicensed venues, said Global Digital Finance.

Japan’s SBI in Talks Over Joint Venture to Make Crypto a Core Revenue Source

SBI's founder and CEO Yoshitaka Kitao said his firm would turn the planned crypto venture into a core source of profitability.

Happy Bull’s Year, North Korean Hackers!

In this episode, Anna Baydakova and Danny Nelson discuss North Korea reportedly stealing your crypto to create nuclear weapons, Tesla rattling markets at an opportune time and Nigeria trying to ban crypto.

Crypto Long & Short: What Does Dogecoin Have to Do With Government Bans?

The combined forces of passionate communities with potent tools, and the deepening involvement of institutions, make successful bans less likely.

Avalanche Brought Down by Bug Triggered by Unusually High Volume, Engineer Says

The blockchain, which had been touted for its ability to handle a high volume of transactions, was brought down by an unusually high number of transactions.

Coinbase Ventures, Paradigm Invest $12M in Synthetix DeFi Platform

Three prominent venture capitalist firms bought tokens directly from the DAO's treasury.

Why Comparing Bitcoin to Visa Doesn’t Make Any Sense

A reading of Nic Carter’s latest essay for CoinDesk on the inappropriateness of comparing the energy consumption of bitcoin and Visa transactions.

Bitcoin Sets New All-Time High of $49.7K, Putting $50K Within Striking Distance

The record comes as traders analysts have described institutional investors’ interest in bitcoin as growing “at a staggering pace.”

NBA Top Shot, CryptoKitties Firm Dapper Labs Raising $250M+ at $2B Valuation: Report

The firm has generated almost $100 million in NFT sales, according to the report.

Morgan Stanley Unit Considers Bitcoin Investment: Bloomberg

Morgan Stanley already has a nearly 11% stake in the bitcoin-laden business intelligence company MicroStrategy.

Morgan Stanley Unit Considers Bitcoin Investment: Bloomberg

Morgan Stanley already has a nearly 11% stake in the bitcoin-laden business intelligence company MicroStrategy.

Corporate Crypto Makes Government Bans Less Likely

A recap of a swath of news about corporate players coming into the crypto space, and why it could change the landscape of regulation.

DeFi Protocols Cream Finance, Alpha Exploited, $37.5M Lost: ‘Prime Suspect’ ID’d

Alpha Finance says the "loophole" has been patched.

ConsenSys Grants Help Iranian Women Learn Solidity

The Ethereum incubator's instructional program offers scholarships to help developers get started with coding in Solidity.

Deutsche Bank Quietly Plans to Offer Crypto Custody, Prime Brokerage

The bank’s game plan was hidden in plain sight in a widely overlooked report by the World Economic Forum.

Ethereum 2.0 Deposit Contract Tops $5.5B in Staked Ether

The amount deposited represents 2.67% of Ethereum’s total supply.

Money Reimagined: Musk Masters the Attention Economy

Bitcoin's recent surge shows the power of celebrity and how, like it or not, influencers create value in the modern economy.

Blockchain Bites: Canada Approves Bitcoin ETF, Options Markets Not Pricing for $100K BTC

Also: Did the CFTC "pop" the 2017 bitcoin bubble?

Crypto Payments Provider BitPay Adds Apple Pay Support

Apple Pay functionality will allow cardholders to make purchases in store and online using the crypto held in their BitPay wallet.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 12, 2021

With bitcoin slipping after hitting a new all-time high around $49K and Canadian regulators approving a bitcoin ETF, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

BlockFi Boosted Grayscale Bitcoin Trust Holdings by 11.9M Shares, Now Holds $1.7B GBTC

The disclosure comes as BlockFi prepares to launch a competitor bitcoin trust product.

Ex-CFTC Chair Christopher Giancarlo Stumps for Digital Dollar

"Crypto Dad" made his case for the next evolution of America's greenback.

In the Age of Ethereum, What Comes Next?

DeFi. NFTs. Stablecoins. Smart contracts. Ethereum is home to some of the biggest innovations in crypto. Community insider Danny Ryan joins us to discuss the network's big future.

Former Bitcoin Developer Mike Hearn Steps Down From Enterprise Blockchain Firm R3

Hearn will become CEO of a new firm while remaining a technical adviser to R3.

First Mover: A Bullish ($1 Million) Bitcoin Forecast as Year of Ox Begins

ByteTree's Charlie Morris shows how bitcoin's price gets to $1 million by 2032. PLUS: JPMorgan hounded by own traders over absence in bitcoin market.

Darknet’s JokerStash Retiring After Making Over $1B Through Illicit Transactions

Crypto sleuthing firm Elliptic says one of the world's most prolific cybercriminals is going out on their own terms.

Bitcoin Starting to Lead FX Markets, Analysis of Tesla Reaction Shows: Report

EUR/USD, the most liquid currency pair globally, tracked bitcoin higher following the Tesla news.

Wall Street Embrace of Crypto Grows Closer as Employees Argue on Its Behalf: CNBC

On a Zoom call with traders in January, co-President Daniel Pinto suggested he was open-minded about bitcoin.

Miami Commissioners Reject Mayor’s Push to OK Crypto Use, Vote to Study It First: Report

The city will seek a vendor to help City Hall pay all or part of its employees' salaries in bitcoin. Residents would also have the option of using cryptocurrency to pay for city services.

Nigeria’s SEC Puts Plans to Regulate Crypto on Hold in Light of Central Bank Ban

Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced Thursday it has put plans to regulate cryptocurrencies on hold.

T-Mobile Sued Over SIM Attack That Resulted in Loss of $450K in Bitcoin

The plaintiff lost 15 bitcoin after an interaction with a T-mobile customer who had been victim of a SIM-swapping attack.

Grayscale Files to Register Trust for DeFi Platform Yearn Finance

Grayscale Investments, the world’s largest digital asset manager, has filed to register a new cryptocurrency trust for Yearn Finance (YFI).

Bitcoin Miners Earn Record Hourly Revenue of $4 Million

Bitcoin miners earn windfall income amid the price rally.

Jack Dorsey, Jay-Z Put 500 Bitcoin Into Trust Supporting Africa and India

"It‘ll be set up as a blind irrevocable trust, taking zero direction from us," said Dorsey.

Fetch.ai to Develop Decentralized Marketplace for Global Manufacturer FESTO

Fetch.ai's technology stack will be leveraged to "transform" FESTO's existing legacy control systems.

India Grants Crypto Holders Reprieve Ahead of Likely Ban: Report

The window of opportunity for investors to cash out to fiat is expected to be between three-to-six months.

Blockchain Mortgage Platform Figure Launches SPAC to Raise $250M

Figure seeks to raise $250 million through the special purpose acquisition company, according to a regulatory filing on Thursday night.

First North American Bitcoin ETF Approved by Canadian Securities Regulator

The Ontario Securities Commission gave its blessing Thursday.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 11, 2021

With BTC setting a new record above $48K and Mastercard implementing crypto payments, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

Reflexer Labs Raises $4.4M to Build Out ETH-Backed Stable Asset, RAI

Pantera and Lemniscap co-lead a bet on stability in DeFi without the U.S. dollar.

Avalanche Developers Rush Client Patch as ‘Bug’ Slows Blockchain Transactions

A "cross-chain finality" bug has forced the network into "self-healing mode."

Alabama Man Charged Over SIM Swap Hacks That Stole $150K in Crypto

Joseph Chase Oaks allegedly used SIM-swap hacks to access victim's online accounts between August 2018 and October 2019.

SEC Commissioner Peirce Says Market Is Ready for a Bitcoin ETP

Peirce also pushed back against an emerging government narrative that cryptocurrency is a dangerous rail for terrorist financing.

Bitso Buys Gibraltar-Based Crypto Derivatives Platform Quedex

Mexico City-based Bitso plans to incorporate Quedex’s high-performance trading engine across the exchange.

CME Ethereum Futures, Explained

Ethereum futures are now live on the CME exchange. But what does that mean exactly and how do you trade them?

First Mover: Bitcoin at Center Stage (and Record High) as Mastercard, BNY Go Crypto

Bitcoin's price hits new all-time high over $48,000 despite U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's warning that cryptocurrencies are prone to illicit uses.

New Kraken Venture Fund to Target Early-Stage Crypto, Tech Startups

Kraken Ventures will operate autonomously, with financial backing from the exchange.

Uber CEO Says Company to Consider Crypto for Rides, Not Its Balance Sheet

The rideshare company will look into cryptocurrencies including bitcoin as a potential form of payment.

Former HSBC Exec and Blockchain Expert Diana Biggs Joins Valour as CEO

Biggs is an associate fellow at the University of Oxford's Saïd Business School, guest lecturing on blockchain technology and digital assets.

Bitcoin Hits New All-Time High as BNY Mellon Announces Crypto Custody

"Bitcoin is loving the BNY Mellon news. It's a very big deal," trader and analyst Alex Kruger tweeted.

Social Token App Fyooz Offers Chance to Play Beer Pong With Rap Artist Post Malone

The Celebrity World Pong League NFT will bring recipients the chance to play beer pong against Malone.

Bitcoin Options Market Sees Low Odds of Sky-High Rally in 2021

Bitcoin's options market sees only a 12% probability of prices rising above $100,000 by the end of December.

Enterprise Blockchain Firm R3 Launches Confidential Business Computing Platform

Conclave is compatible with R3’s blockchain platform Corda Enterprise and will be fully integrated going forward.

BNY Mellon Announces Crypto Custody and Spies Integrated Services

The world’s biggest custodian bank beats rivals JPMorgan and Citi to the punch.

Iowa Introduces Bill to Level Playing Field for Blockchain and Smart Contracts

The bill was introduced by Republican State Senator Mark Lofgren to bring blockchain tech on par with traditional contracts and recordkeeping.

Crypto Mining Farm Spotted Using Nvidia RTX 30 Gaming Laptops: Report

Images have surfaced on Twitter reportedly showing a crypto-mining operation using laptops fitted with high-end Nvidia RTX 30-series graphics cards.

Eth 2.0 Development: Next Steps to Upgrade and Diversify

Christine Kim and Will Foxley discuss with Ethereum Foundation researcher Danny Ryan the roll-out of the Ethereum 2.0 development roadmap, starting with the launch of phase 0 and the Beacon Chain.

Microsoft and Enjin Bring Cross-Platform Custom NFTs to Minecraft

To celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, players earn badges while learning from prominent female scientists.

SEC Should Monitor Tesla’s Elon Musk for Market Manipulation: Roubini

The NYU economist also warned bitcoin could "collapse" if Tether and Bitfinex are indicted this year.

Crypto Use in Terrorism ‘a Growing Problem,’ Yellen Says

"I see the promise of these new technologies, but I also see the reality: cryptocurrencies have been used to launder the profits of online drug traffickers; they’ve been a tool to finance terrorism," Yellen said.

Amazon Preparing to Launch a ‘Digital Currency’ Project in Mexico

Job postings describe a walled garden-type digital currency that could roll out in emerging economies.

‘Market Battleship’: Why It’s Rigged and How DeFi Can Help

Individual investors, even when operating in a swarm, are destined to lose. How do I know? I helped design the game.

More People HODLing Bitcoin Hurts Case for Buying, Selling With It, Says Morgan Stanley

Addresses holding amounts of bitcoin worth more than $1 million are on the rise.

Blockchain Bites: The US vs. Bitcoin?

A CNBC contributor said the U.S. government wouldn't stomach losing the dollar's supremacy to bitcoin. Others say "the ship has sailed" on an outright ban.

Bitcoin Developer Fund Brink Secures Tax-Exempt Status

U.S. bitcoiners can now make tax-exempt donations to fund Bitcoin development.

This Virginia-Based Bank Is Letting Customers Buy Bitcoin at the ATM

Charlottesville’s Blue Ridge Bank is letting cardholders purchase and redeem bitcoin at 19 ATMs.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 10, 2021

With the top two cryptos down on the day and a bitcoin supply squeeze seemingly in the cards, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

Winklevoss Twins, DJ Alesso Back Crypto Collectible Artworks up for Charity Auction

Ethernity will auction digital artworks represented by non-fungible tokens and created by artists from across the globe.

First Mover: As Wall Street Fixates on Inflation Hedges, Good Luck Finding Bitcoin

A wave of new bitcoin buyers is arriving just as easily-obtained supplies of the cryptocurrency fall to their lowest levels in more than three years. 

Twitter Considering Bitcoin Options, Including on Balance Sheet, Exec Says

Chief financial officer Ned Segal said the firm has been watching other companies to see what it can learn.

Rhode Island Lawmakers Hope to Boost State Economy With Blockchain-Friendly Legislation

A newly introduced blockchain bill aims to provide a "welcoming" environment for fintech companies in a bid to stimulate growth and jobs.

The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust: What It Is and How It Works

The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust is a traditional financial product that allows institutional investors to gain exposure to bitcoin.

How Traditional Exchanges Are Boosting Crypto Adoption

With ETPs, indices and derivatives, exchanges have started meeting demand for regulated crypto products, explains Kaiko's head of research.

Valid Points: Eth 2.0 Validators Earn Record $1.2M as ETH Price Rallies

Ethereum 2.0 validators earned their highest daily total income ever on Feb. 8, at $1.2 million.

Payments Startup Celo Raises $20M From a16z, Electric Capital

Celo offers a blockchain payments platform using customers' cellphone numbers to secure their public keys.

Litecoin Hits 3-Year High as Prices Surge Across Altcoin Markets

Alternative cryptocurrencies are surging as bitcoin consolidates after its recent record-breaking rally.

10 Arrested Over SIM-Swap Hacks That Stole $100M in Crypto From Celebrities: Europol

The alleged international criminal network targeted online influencers, sports stars, musicians and their families in the U.S.

Elon Musk Bites Back at Freewallet After Dogecoin Tweet

The Tesla CEO said crypto users should avoid wallets that do not give them access to their private keys

Mystery Entity Just Set up 20K Bitcoin Miners in Siberia: Report

A shipment of devices said to be worth up to $60 million was set up in the city of Bratsk and set to mining bitcoin.

Tesla’s Bitcoin Buy May Not Trigger Wave of Corporate Demand, Says JPMorgan

Bitcoin's price volatility may put corporates off from emulating Tesla's decision to invest in the cryptocurrency.

Chainlink Supporter Deutsche Telekom Has Quietly Started Staking on Blockchains

Never mind bitcoin on the balance sheet, a subsidiary of Europe’s biggest telco is taking a stake in DeFi.

Argo Blockchain Plans New Bitcoin Mining Facility in Texas

Argo said the new Texas facility will have access to up to 800 megawatts of cheap, renewable energy.

IBM, Top Australian Banks Execute Country’s First Blockchain Bank Guarantee

By digitizing the normally paper process, the Lygos joint venture says it's shown it can speed up bank guarantee issuances.

EY, Quadriga Law Firm Warn of ‘Imitation’ Site

The imitation site is not authorized by EY and affected users have been advised to avoid at all costs.

Bitcoin Miner Riot Blockchain Names Jason Les CEO

Les has served as the board's director since 2017.

Canaan CFO Resigns Citing ‘Personal Reasons’

The company's director of finance will serve as acting CFO.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 9, 2021

With the top two cryptocurrencies setting new all-time highs and analysts grappling with what Tesla's big buy really means, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

UN Says North Korea Funded Nuclear Weapons With Crypto Hacks in 2020: Report

U.N. experts estimate that over $316 million in crypto was stolen by North Korea-linked hackers last year.

State of Crypto: India and Nigeria’s Crypto Crackdowns Continue Old Trends

Both nations hope to prevent banks from providing services to crypto companies.

First Mover: Elon Musk’s #bitcoin Bet Pays Off With $270M Gain on First Day

Tesla has forged a path that other corporate treasurers might follow into bitcoin. PLUS: Ether hits new record price above $1,800 as CME futures debut.

Matic Network Now ‘Polygon’ as Platform Targets Ethereum’s L2 Woes

Polygon is building a Layer 2 aggregator for sidechains, rollups and even whole blockchains in a bid to fix Ethereum’s transaction limitations.

Crypto-Friendly Signature Bank Added to JPMorgan’s ‘Focus List’

Signature is "positioned to ride the crypto wave," a JPMorgan analyst wrote.

Binance-Backed DeFi Credit Union Platform Secures Partners, Funding Before Launch

Xend Finance will allow credit unions and cooperatives to earn interest on deposits by converting them to stablecoins.

Siam Bank Launches $50M Blockchain Fund

The fund will focus on global early and growth-stage companies that shape the next generation of financial services and digital systems, the venture capital arm of Thailand's oldest bank says.

Hashdex to Launch the Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF

The ETF will be available for trading by accredited non-U.S. investors.

Crypto Market Maker Apifiny Plans to Go Public

The San Francisco-based firm did not say if it would choose a direct listing.

What Is the ERC-20 Ethereum Token Standard?

The ERC-20 token standard was revolutionary for creating interoperability between tokens built on the Ethereum Network.

New $50m Venture Fund Aims to Bridge East-West DeFi Investment Divide

Spartan Group's new fund has raised over $30 million in its first round, with a further $20 million expected to be raised in March or April.

Ether Hits $1,800 for First Time as Market Cap Passes $200B

Ether has more than doubled in value this year, outperforming bitcoin.

Bitcoin Could Rally Further as Tesla Leads Corporates on Treasury Investments

"The market is now pricing in a high likelihood that many other corporates will copy Tesla," one trader said.

Mobile Firm Employee Charged for Aiding Crypto SIM Swap Attacks Targeting 19

Stephen Defiore was allegedly paid to transfer cellphone accounts to ones owned by a co-conspirator.

U.S. Woman Charged Over Attempted Dark Web Murder-for-Hire Paid With Bitcoin

The woman allegedly presented a sum of over $5,000 in bitcoin to a dark web admin as proof she could afford the hit.

Blockfolio Apologizes After Racist Terms Posted in Portfolio App

A "Signals" account has been blocked after making racist posts available to all users of the app.

KeepChange Foils Bitcoin Theft but Loses User Data in Sunday Breach

The bitcoin marketplace has halted withdrawal requests temporarily.

BitMEX Introduces Data Storage Framework for FATF’s Travel Rule

Compliance chief Malcolm Wright led the development of BitMEX’s data storage principles for crypto exchanges.

Investors Pump $250M Into Reddit Following Social Media Site’s Role in GameStop Mania

The company plans to double its headcount to 1,400 by the end of 2021.

Bitcoin Tops $46K for First Time as Market Bets Others Will Follow Tesla’s Lead

That Tesla has invested in bitcoin is an announcement the market had long sought to hear.

Nic Carter’s Castle Island Ventures Closes $50M Investment Fund

The early stage VC will continue to invest around its primary thesis: "that public blockchains are changing the world."

Apple Should Launch Own Crypto Exchange, RBC Analyst Says

Analysts at the largest bank in Canada noted that after PayPal and Square’s crypto offerings, the market for tech firms creating crypto wallets has already been validated.

Blockchain Bites: Tesla Drives $1.5B Into Bitcoin, Brian Brooks Comments on Monetary Debasement

Tesla plowed $1.5 billion into bitcoin, ETH futures went live on CME, Brian Brooks comments on dollar debasement.

Elon Musk Buys Bitcoin: Everything You Need to Know About Tesla’s $1.5B Purchase

The implications of Elon Musk’s purchase on bitcoin’s climate narrative, other Fortune 500 treasury management strategies and more.

China’s Blockchain Infrastructure Services Provider BSN Adds Casper to Network

Casper is an Ethereum competitor that aims to launch in the first quarter of 2021.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 8, 2021

With BTC setting new all-time high prices, ether futures launching and Elon Musk announcing Tesla's purchase of $1.5B worth of bitcoin, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

Binance Drops Defamation Lawsuit Against Forbes Over ‘Tai Chi’ Document

The exchange did not say in its latest filing why it withdrew the case, at least for now.

Top Crypto Exchanges Experience Difficulties as Tesla News Prompts Trading Frenzy

Binance, Coinbase, Gemini and Kraken are all having technical difficulties under heavy trading load.

Ex-OCC Chief Brooks Calls Tesla’s Bitcoin Buy a Bit ‘Scary News’ for Rest of World

Brooks noted that the U.S. money supply will have risen 40% over the last 12 months once the most recent round of stimulus is done.

Bank of Korea: CBDCs Are Fiat Currency Not Virtual Assets

Some legal changes would be needed before a potential central bank digital currency launch in South Korea, research indicates.

Which Crypto Projects Are Based on Ethereum?

Ethereum dapps are different from everyday apps because they aim to hand users more control over their online lives.

First Mover: Tesla Sends Bitcoin Mooning Past $44K as Snoop Wins #dogebowl

Electric-vehicle entrepreneur Elon Musk follows through with a $1.5 billion purchase after adding "#bitcoin" to his Twitter profile late last month.

Potential India Crypto Ban, Worldwide Darknet and Virgil Griffith’s Saga Continues

Crypto restrictions in India, fresh darknet market research from Chainalysis and the newest chapter in Virgil Griffith’s North Korea saga.

Hardware Wallet Maker Ledger Adds DeFi Support to Mobile App

Ledger's mobile app now allows users to connect to decentralized apps via an integration with open-source protocol WalletConnect.

Introducing CoinDesk TV: Industry-Leading Crypto News, Now in Living Color

Amid turbulence in markets, economy and society, there's no better time or purpose to launch CoinDesk TV, writes Executive Producer Joanne Po.

What Bloomberg Gets Wrong About Bitcoin’s Climate Footprint

The outlet compared Bitcoin and Visa's energy use, reaching several highly misleading conclusions, our columnist says.

Canadian Crypto Lender Ledn Raises $2.7M for Emerging Markets Expansion

After growing in Latin America, the firm wants to bring its micro-loans and stablecoin savings features to other emerging markets.

Bitcoin Hits New Record High Over $43K on Tesla News

The largest cryptocurrency surged at least 11% to surpass the previous peak price of $41,962 reached in early January.

Tesla Invests $1.5B in Bitcoin, Plans to Accept Crypto Payments

Tesla also expects to begin accepting bitcoin as a form of payment for its products "in the near future."

Bitcoin Miner Bitfarms to Raise $31M in Sale of Shares to Institutional Investors

The additional funding will go towards the acquisition of more miners, expanding infrastructure and boosting working capital.

India May Side-Step Parliament to Push Through Crypto Bill: Report

The bill would potentially kick off the development of a digital rupee while banning “private cryptocurrencies.”

Ethereum Futures Are Now Trading on CME

The Chicago exchange has now traded 77 ETH contracts after going live on Sunday.

Children’s Charity Creates Bitcoin Superhero to Attract Crypto Donations

The "Billy Bitcoin" hero is part of the charity's efforts to drum up more crypto donations.

Crypto Long & Short: Could Scalable Payments for Bitcoin Undermine Its Value?

A stream of crypto payments services coming to market give new life to the debate around whether bitcoin can be both a store of value and a payments token.

Nigerian Central Bank Says Its Ban on Crypto Accounts Is Nothing New

The Central Bank of Nigeria said its warning to banks on Friday was not a new position, but a reiteration of its 2017 stance on cryptocurrencies.

Dogecoin Rises More Than 36% After Snoop Dogg Becomes Snoop DOGE

The Twitter-based DOGE show culminated in a Lion King-inspired meme photo of Musk holding up Simmons who is shown holding up Snoop Dogg, who in turn is holding up a Shiba Ina.

Preston Byrne on GameStop, Online Mobs and Marmots

The attorney joins Ben Schiller to consider the continuing fallout from the WallStreetBets controversy.

Wall Street Is ‘The Hunger Games’ With Suits

A reading of Ben Hunt’s latest essay for Epsilon Theory.

Serbian Man Extradited to US After Being Indicted In $70 Million Crypto Fraud

The scheme allegedly included offering bitcoin at “half market price.”

Digital Gold: How Should Financial Advisors Be Thinking About Bitcoin?

Is Bitcoin digital gold? In this episode of ‘On Purpose, With Tyrone Ross,’ we dig into bitcoin narratives as financial advisors see them and explore the concept of bitcoin as a store of value.

Bill Miller-Run $2.25B Fund May Buy GBTC to Gain Bitcoin Exposure of Up to 15%

The fund noted that it would not expose more than 15% of its $2.25 billion in assets to bitcoin.

Bitcoin Back Above $40K as Institutions Lead the Way

BTC is back within striking distance of its all-time high set early last month.

A Bitcoiner Is Now on the Senate Banking Committee

Wyoming’s Cynthia Lummis – the first U.S. senator to publicly hold bitcoin – has been appointed to the key financial regulatory committee.

Unlike the Early Web, Crypto Does Not Need State Patronage

Blockchain doesn't need ARPANET-type government support. But co-ordination and collective action are vital to avoid duplication of effort.

Blockchain Bites: The Weird and Wonderful in Crypto This Week

Also: Ether is jumping off, taking DeFi tokens with it.

Money Reimagined: Enterprise Blockchain Isn’t Dead

Corporations find blockchain technology challenging to use. But it's much too early to write off enterprise applications wholesale.

What the GameStop Saga Says About US Capitalism

In the aftermath of WallStreetBets, Demetri Kofinas joins the hosts of "Money Reimagined" as they dissect the events that led to this moment and what it means for our future.

0x Labs Closes $15M Fundraising Round as ZRX Finds DeFi Market Fit

Sorry, Matcha fans: No plans for a new token to airdrop.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 5, 2021

With BTC looking for a breakout as ether notches another all-time high, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

Protego Becomes Second Crypto Firm to Win Bank Charter From OCC

The conditional approval from the U.S. banking regulator follows Anchorage's approval last month.

Arcane Crypto Lists on Nasdaq First North After Reverse Takeover

The Norway-based investment company is now known as Arcane Crypto AB and trades as "ARCANE."

China’s BSN Onboards EY for Ethereum Compliance Tools

The new compliance services could further boost China’s efforts in the blockchain race against the U.S.

Indian Exchanges Launch Campaign Seeking to Avert Potential Crypto Ban

The exchanges have set up websites helping supporters email members of parliament.

Nigeria’s Central Bank Orders Banks to Close Accounts of All Crypto Users

Any breaches of the order would face "severe regulatory sanctions," the central bank warned.

First Mover: It’s ‘Dorsey’s Node’ as Bitcoin Marches Higher, DOGE Chokes

Bitcoin breaks out, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey sets up a bitcoin node and Bank of England warns on negative rates. Meanwhile, it's DeFi that's mooning.

Ether Tops $1.7K, Setting New Record as CME Futures Launch Nears

The cryptocurrency has gained 30% so far this week.

PayPal Says Venmo Under Investigation in US by Consumer Regulator

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is probing the social payments app, according to Reuters.

U.S. Added Fewer Jobs Than Expected in January, Boosting Case for Stimulus

The report will likely influence negotiations over U.S. President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package over the coming weeks.

Gaming Company The9 Is Buying 5,000 More Bitcoin Miners

The firm announced its pivot to mining in January.

Hacker Refuses to Hand Police Password for Seized Wallet With $6.5M in Bitcoin

Throughout a two-year prison term, the man repeatedly refused to give wallet access to German authorities.

DeFi Season? LINK, AAVE, ZRX and COMP Hit Record Price Highs, Outperforming Bitcoin

An analyst expects DeFi tokens to mimic bitcoin's 2017 bull run this year.

DeFi Project ArmorFi Awards $1.5M Bounty for Bug Alert That Potentially Saved Its Reserves

ArmorFi's CTO has also offered to get a tattoo chosen by the ethical hacker who found the bug.

Australia’s Central Bank Says Bitcoin ‘Not Really Money,’ No Risk to Financial Stability

The Reserve Bank's assistant governor for financial systems, Michelle Bullock, said there is "a lot of fuss over bitcoin."

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Has Set up His Own Bitcoin Node

Dorsey will now have a hand in keeping the bitcoin network running.

Credit Card Companies Should Offer Stablecoin Payments or Be Left Behind: Gartner

Centralized payment firms like Visa, Mastercard and PayPal have an opportunity to offer innovative stablecoin payment networks, the research firm said.

Crypto Hedge Fund Founder Pleads Guilty to $90M Fraud

Virgil Capital founder Stefan Qin lied to investors and siphoned off millions to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Following GameStop, South Korea Financial Regulator Extends Ban on Short Sales

Caving to pressure from retail traders, South Korea's ban on short-selling has been extended through May 2021.

TokenSoft to Trade Digital Securities on tZERO’s Retail Market

On the Overstock-owned platform, TokenSoft customers will be able issue security tokens that retail and accredited investors can trade.

Market Wrap: Bitcoin Drops to $36.3K as DeFi Jumps to $32B on Ether FOMO

The amount of crypto in USD values locked in decentralized finance has reached $32.8 billion, a new high.

What We Learned About PayPal’s Crypto Strategy This Week

Insights from PayPal’s first quarterly earnings report since launching crypto services.

Crypto Startup Metal Pay Files for National Bank Charter

Metal Pay's "First Blockchain Bank and Trust" would be FDIC-insured, CEO told CoinDesk.

Blockchain Bites: The Rise of the Bitcoin Investment Fund

A flurry of crypto investment funds were announced, as NYDIG predicts it will see $25 billion in bitcoin under management by year's end.

Meet the Technician Who Unlocks Your Forgotten Crypto Wallets

It’s a bitcoin bull run and you've forgotten the password to your wallet. What’s next?

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 4, 2021

With ether breaching another all-time high and payments giant Visa expanding its digital currency roadmap, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

Croatia’s Tifon Gas Stations Hope to Tap Tourist Trade With Crypto Payment Support

Forty-six fuel stops will accept bitcoin, ether, stellar, XRP and EOS through a partnership with local platform PayCek.

Crypto Is the Libertarian Cheat Code in the Final Battle Over State Coercion

A normie Mario fights Bowser to save Princess Peach; a libertarian Mario builds her an escape hatch.

The Unexpected Challenges of CoinDesk’s First Staking Venture

How we decided to participate in staking on Ethereum 2.0, the challenges we had to overcome and the implications of the controversial move.

$72M Crypto Fund Backed by Paul Tudor Jones and LL Cool J Comes Out of Stealth

Led by Glenn Hutchins, the new fund has already invested in Dapper Labs and other crypto projects.

First Mover: Ethereum, DOGE on Own Journeys as Inflation Bets Fuel Bitcoin

Altcoins like Chainlink get big boost from DeFi growth on Ethereum, while inflation bets boost bitcoin and dogecoin gets (Elon Musk) moonshot.

$10M Fund From Cosmos-Based Terra Will Gladly Back DeFi Projects on Ethereum

The fund will pay for the one thing devs can't do internally: security audits.

Discord Scammers Lure Users to Fake Exchange With Promise of Free Bitcoin

The scammers may be trying to collect a database of crypto users for sale on the dark web, said Kaspersky.

Rare Hashmasks Digital Artwork Sells for $650K in Ether

"The piece itself is chaotic, yet ordered. It invokes a concept of biblical dualism with the demon and halo," said the buyer.

South Africa’s Tax Agency Is Clamping Down on Crypto Users: Report

The South African Revenue Service is likely "ensnaring" non-compliant taxpayers, a tax consultancy said in a news report.

Japan’s SBI Adds XRP to Cryptocurrency Lending Service

Users of SBI's cryptocurrency exchange can lend XRP for a return of 0.1% per annum.

US Library of Congress Says Most Countries Lack Clear Tax Guidance on Crypto Staking

Out of 31 nations, only 5 have tax guidance addressing cryptocurrency rewards via staking, a study found.

What Is Uniswap? A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Uniswap is an automated ethereum-based crypto exchange with its own governance token, UNI.

Elon Musk Is Back Tweeting About Dogecoin as Price Rises 50%

Musk was apparently welcoming dogecoin's latest price bounce.

Ethereum Transaction Fees Hit Record Highs As Ether, DeFi Coins Soar

The average Ethereum transaction fee has passed $20 for the first time.

Bitcoin an ‘Emerging Competitor’ to Gold, Says CME’s Chief Economist

Blu Putnam said gold's ongoing production, likely to increase this year, contrasts with bitcoin's fixed supply.

Myanmar Military Blocks Facebook as Global Internet Disruptions Intensify

Internet disruptions are costly, but that doesn’t stop governments from shutting down access.

How Bitcoin’s Taproot Upgrade Will Improve Technology Across Bitcoin’s Software Stack

Scaling, privacy and custody software will all benefit from Bitcoin’s biggest upgrade in years.

CrossTower Launches Bitcoin Fund to Compete With Grayscale’s GBTC

The fund is starting out with $20 million in AUM, largely from family offices, and touts lower fees than the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 3, 2021

With BTC trading in its recent range and a look at DeFi in a post-WallStreetBets world, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

Miami Mayor Previews ‘Favorable’ Crypto Policy

In an interview with CoinDesk, Francis X. Suarez explains how he plans to attract the crypto industry to Florida.

Jack Ma’s Ant Group Agrees to Restructure After Pressure From China’s Regulators: Report

Regulators have been clamping down on Ant Group, even cancelling its expected $35 billion twin IPO late last year.

Ruffer Turns Bitcoin Investment Into $750M Profit in Under 2 Months

"We did not expect immediate fireworks,” said a Ruffer executive.

The Block Founder Mike Dudas Takes Stablecoin Role at Paxos

The serial entrepreneur, payments veteran and pugnacious tweeter will focus on building Paxos' white-labeled stablecoin business.

Bitcoin Startup Casa Raises $4M Led by Fidelity-Linked Avon Ventures

Coinbase Ventures also joined the round.

First Mover: Bulls Are Back as Ether Hits All-Time High, Bitcoiners Hoard

GameStop comedown shows appeal of social media-fueled trading. Dogecoin chatter in Reddit reveals cryptocurrency analogue.

Bitcoin Miner Argo Blockchain Bought 172.5 BTC in January

With bitcoin trading near $36,500, the new holdings have a current value of over $6 million.

NFT Marketplace Rarible Closes $1.75M Seed Raise From 1kx, Coinbase Ventures

The startup will use the funds to build a DAO governance structure.

Uphold to Launch Crypto Card in Europe After Optimus Acquisition

The firm plans to start rolling out its multi-asset debit card on the Optimus platform in Europe "shortly."

Rare Sneaker App Switches From Ethereum to Hedera to Skip Blockchain Fees

At $80 for minting an NFT on Ethereum versus $1 on Hedera, it was a matter of cost, said SUKU.

Crypto Banking Company BCB Group Hires Former Coinbase UK CEO

Feroz will bring experience "built across the global payments and fintech industry," BCB Group said.

Valid Points: CoinDesk’s Ethereum 2.0 Validator Is Officially Staked

Ethereum developers met Tuesday to compare research on the eventual merge of Eth 1.x and Eth 2.0

Bitcoin Holders Have Now Stashed Away 15% of Circulating Supply

Continued accumulation of bitcoin by investors is causing market liquidity to drop and helping drive prices higher.

Visa Signals Further Crypto Ambitions With API Pilot for Bank Customers to Buy Bitcoin

Visa is working with Anchorage to allow customers at traditional banks to "buy and sell digital assets such as Bitcoin."

Binance Says It Wants to Get More People Using Crypto With Its New Payments Service

The beta Binance Pay product currently allows users to make and receive payments in five cryptocurrencies and the euro.

ErisX Exchange Asks CFTC to Approve Sports Bet Futures as ‘Risk Hedging’ Tools

If approved, three proposed futures contracts would be tied to the outcome of National Football League games.

Canadian Firm Files for Bitcoin ETF on Toronto Stock Exchange

The Accelerate Bitcoin ETF would list on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker “ABTC.”

Guggenheim CIO Says Bitcoin Could Eventually Climb to $600,000

While bitcoin has potential to support a huge valuation long-term, currently there isn't enough institutional involvement, Said Scott Minerd.

US Navy Couple Charged With Selling 9,000 Stolen Identities for Bitcoin

Prosecutors allege the pair used their positions in the U.S. Navy to steal and sell personal information of 9,000 people.

Why a GameStop-Inspired Mania Is Unlikely in China’s Stock Market

It would be logistically challenging for Chinese retail investors to organize a short-selling campaign, especially with the authorities watching.

Why Crypto Markets Aren’t ‘All-to-All’ Either (and How They Can Be)

GameStop-Robinhood revealed inequalities in the retail equity trading system. Can crypto markets do better? They must.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 2, 2021

With BTC rising and a look at what could happen in a post-COVID economy, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

One Big Pool: Balancer’s New Version Cuts Down Transactions and Gas Fees

Version 2 of the DeFi site also has an "asset manager" where idle funds earn yield.

Ethereum Miners Earned Record $830M in January

Miner revenue jumped over 120% from the previous month.

Debt Collection Firm CIS Now Accepts Bitcoin for B2B Repayments

Corporate Intelligence Services said it launched the new repayment option to provide a better service to its "clientele."

Bitwise Files for Approval to Publicly Trade Its Bitcoin Fund

The fund aims to compete with Grayscale's Bitcoin Trust and others by offering a 50 basis point lower expense ratio.

OKEx Exchange to Integrate Bitcoin’s Lightning Network for Faster, Cheaper Transactions

High on-chain fees and transaction times for bitcoin can be off-putting to users, the exchange said.

State of Crypto: How Will the Government React to GameStop?

Also: Ripple filed its response to the SEC and a FinCEN official discusses the controversial counterparty rule in public for the first time.

India Minister Suggests Modi Government Not Planning Outright Crypto Ban

A recent bulletin from India's lower house had once more raised fears of an total cryptocurrency ban.

DeFi Privacy Is Getting a Boost From Polkadot Parachain Manta Network

Manta Network will build MantaSwap now that it has closed a $1.1 million funding round.

Alameda Research Joins Up With Interoperability Project Ren

Sam Bankman-Fried's Alameda Research has established ties with RenVM to bring more DeFi assets to Solana.

MicroStrategy Adds to Bitcoin Trove With Another $10M Purchase

MicroStrategy now holds 71,079 BTC.

Russia and US Dominate Global Dark Market Traffic: Report

Darknet marketplaces received $1.7 billion during 2020, mostly from Russia, the U.S., Ukraine and China, Chainalysis says.

ConsenSys, Securosys Combine Tech for ‘Secure’ Way to Stake on Ethereum 2.0

The method employs Securosys' hardware security modules to keep participants' keys safe.

First Mover: Federal Reserve Soup Now Includes Bitcoin, DeFi, Silver, GameStop

Market news from crypto to Wall Street is all over the place.

These Two Firms Want to Upgrade Crypto Infrastructure for Banks and Exchanges

Custody tech provider METACO and forex trading platform Cobalt have teamed up in a bid to rewire the financial system to handle cryptocurrency.

Bullish Bitcoin Fundamentals Point to Renewed Price Rally Ahead

Analysts cautioned that a stronger dollar could play spoilsport to any new push higher.

Gemini Partners With Crypto Lender Genesis to Offer 7.4% Yield on Customer Deposits

The product is part of Gemini’s attempt to bring in new crypto investors with bank-like products.

China’s 500.com to Purchase Another $8.5M-Worth of Bitcoin Miners

The NYSE-listed lottery firm may also acquire another 10,000 miners this year.

Malaysia Pair Face Caning for Alleged $37K Bitcoin Fraud

If convicted, the two men face a maximum of 10 years in prison, caning and fines.

Ether Cryptocurrency Nears Record High Amid WSB Trading Buzz

Analysts say the trading movement started by WallStreetBets may boost adoption of ether and other cryptocurrencies.

Robinhood CEO May Testify Before US House Committee Over GameStop Allegations

Vlad Tenev will likely appear before a U.S. virtual hearing as lawmakers investigate the firm's recent trading restrictions, a Politico report says.

21Shares Launching First Polkadot ETP on SIX Exchange

The Polkadot ETP (PDOT) will list on the Swiss SIX Exchange on Thursday.

Coinbase Taps Nasdaq for Direct Listing: Report

The crypto exchange will reportedly join Nasdaq's tech-heavy lineup.

Have the Hedge Funds Infiltrated Reddit’s WallStreetBets?

The media keeps saying WallStreetBets is going after silver; WallStreetBets members say it’s a campaign to co-opt and divide them.

FinCEN’s Wallet Rule Aims to Close Crypto-Cash Reporting Gap, Official Says

FinCEN Deputy Director Michael Mosier encouraged commenters to provide practical, technical feedback on the rule.

Robinhood Can’t Democratize Finance Using Old Tools

Robinhood saw the ire of traders last week because it promised to be different. It turned out to be fancy app on top of an antiquated system.

Robinhood Raises $3.4B Amid Growth Surge

The round is the stock trading app's largest raise ever.

IBM Blockchain Is a Shell of Its Former Self After Revenue Misses, Job Cuts: Sources

“There is not really going to be a blockchain team any longer,” said a source.

Blockchain Bites: The ‘Silver Lining’ for Bitcoin

XRP and silver went viral – showing mind-meld market mechanics are still in play – though both hit limits.

Decentralized Exchange Volumes Hit Record Above $50B in January

Uniswap represented over 45% of total DEX volume.

Bitcoin News Roundup for Feb. 1, 2021

With BTC stalling and the price of silver soaring to eight-year highs, CoinDesk’s Market Daily is back with the latest news roundup.

Grayscale Reopens Its Ethereum Trust to Investors

Digital asset manager Grayscale Investments said Monday that its Ethereum Trust (OTCQX: ETHE) is again open to accredited investors. Read more: Digital Asset Manager Grayscale Eyes DeFi Space With New Trust Filings

Singapore’s SDAX Gets In-Principle Approval to Launch Digital Asset Exchange

SDAX now has in-principle approval from Singapore's central bank for its Recognized Market Operator license.

Switzerland’s Tokenized Securities Law Ushers In New Chapter for Digital Assets

Regulated crypto banks SEBA and Sygnum each issued tokenized securities to mark the occasion.

XRP Pump Fails to Materialize as Price Crashes 40% From Day’s High

The hefty drop comes despite a community buying effort scheduled for this morning.

First Mover: Silver Is the New GameStop as Musk’s #Bitcoin Stalls

As bitcoin trades in a range, traders are studying the "Grayscale premium" and watching traditional markets for clues to the next market move.

Mark Cuban Hails ‘Store of Value Generation’ Taking on Wall Street

Cuban said he believes WSB traders are applying the principles of the crypto world to the stock market.

Fine Wines Become First Tokenized Securities Under New Swiss Blockchain Law

In effect from today, Switzerland's new blockchain law allows Sygnum to freely issue tokenized assets, starting with investable wines.

Crypto Insurer Nexo Adds Exchange Service to Its Mobile App

Nexo's new service provides more than 75 cryptocurrency and fiat currency pairs for trading.

Kraken Exchange Brings Its Spot Price Data to DeFi Via New Chainlink Node

Kraken's connection to the Chainlink network allows the exchange to broadcast its price data for use in blockchain-based apps.

US Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Charges Involving $13M in Bitcoin

During a 28-month period, Hugo Mejia illegally exchanged millions of dollars-worth of bitcoin while attempting to hide his activity.

XRP Erases SEC-Led Drop as Supporters Pump Price Over $0.60

XRP has more than reversed the late December drop prompted by an SEC lawsuit against Ripple with a rally to two-month highs.

‘A Good Thing’: Elon Musk Says He’s a Supporter of Bitcoin

It would be the most "entertaining and ironic outcome" if dogecoin "becomes the currency of earth in the future," Musk also said.

MGM, Winklevoss Twins to Make Movie About Reddit’s GameStop Investors Taking on Wall Street

MGM has acquired the movie rights to a book proposal known as "The Antisocial Network" by New York Times best-selling author Ben Mezrich.

Switzerland’s Crypto Broker AG Wins Securities House License From FINMA

Banks can tick a box and start trading with us, said CEO Rupertus Rothenhaeuser.