Business 10 hours ago

Crypto in Africa: New South Africa trading platform, Veritaseum pushes on

The African crypto space is still strong despite the bear market. Entrepreneurs see the continent as great investment grounds for their investments. VALR Partners up with Bittrex to Form New Platform VALR has partnered up ...

Business 2 days ago

Good Money raises $30 million in Series A funding round

Good Money, a digital banking platform, raised $30 million in a Series A funding led by Galaxy Digital via its Galaxy EOS VC Fund. The Good Money raised the funds to help continue developing its ...

Business 2 days ago

British MP wants local tax paid in crypto

Citizens might soon be paying for their local taxes and utility bills using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. A member of the British Parliament, Eddie Hughes, a conservative MP for the Walsall North constituency, wants residents ...

Business 3 days ago

South Korea: Blockchain startup threatens to appeal ICO ban

The cryptocurrency community in South Korea is not happy with the country's decision to ban initial coin offerings. According to local news, Presto, a blockchain start-up in the country, has reportedly claimed that it will ...

Tech 4 days ago

Binance launches sub-accounts to service institutional investors

Binance has announced the launch of a sub-account feature that brings improved managerial control and asset audit tools for institutional account holders. The new feature will allow these account holders to create up to 200 ...

Business 7 days ago

Crypto in Africa: Paxful builds schools in Rwanda, crypto trader kidnapped in South Africa

Africa has greatly embraced cryptocurrencies. More people across the continent desire to own, trade and even learn more about blockchain and cryptocurrencies. With this new technology spreading to the core of Africa, some are using it ...

Tech 1 week ago

MikroTik cryptojacking still in play with over 400K affected routers

The number of MikroTik routers that have been affected by a malicious malware that mines privacy-centric cryptocurrency Monero (XMR) has risen to 415,000, according to security researchers. The cryptojacking malware was first discovered in August. ...

Business 1 week ago

US regulator calls for global cooperation to stop fraudulent ICOs

Initial coin offerings (ICOs) are outright frauds that need to be stopped, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This is why it has become hard for regulators to monitor ICOs activities in ...

Business 1 week ago

CoinZoom secures license to start Australian operations

CoinZoom, a U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange, will soon start its operations in Australia after its subsidiary, CoinZoom Australia, received approval from the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC). According to the announcement, CoinZoom Australia will ...

Business 1 week ago

To protect investors, Japan plans to regulate ICOs

Japan’s chief financial regulator, the Financial Services Agency (FSA), will reportedly roll out a new set of regulations targeting initial coin offerings (ICOs) in the country. According to Japanese news outlet Jiji Press, the financial ...

Business 2 weeks ago

Illegally plugging fraud ICO leads to $750K penalty for Mayweather, DJ Khaled

Securities regulators in the United States have fined two celebrities who were found to have failed to disclose that they were paid to promote initial coin offerings (ICOs). Professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and music ...

Business 2 weeks ago

Crypto in Africa: Nigerian politician vows support as Uganda seeks crypto regulatory framework

It’s an interesting week for the cryptocurrency space in Africa this week. The continent has seen more governments profess their support for cryptocurrencies publicly, while others are planning to create a regulatory framework for the ...

Business 2 weeks ago

Unauthorized ICO lands crypto mining firm in hot water with Swiss court

Cryptocurrency mining firm Envion AG was reportedly shut down in Switzerland over allegations that it conducted an unauthorized initial coin offering (ICO). On Wednesday, German news outlet Handelsblatt Global reported that the Cantonal court of Zug ...

Business 2 weeks ago

Israeli crypto businessman charged with embezzling ICO funds

Moshe Hogeg, a known cryptocurrency entrepreneur in Israel, is reportedly facing embezzlement charges in connection with the missing funds from two initial coin offerings (ICOs). According to local media outlets, the petition against Hogeg was ...

Business 2 weeks ago

Police arrest 3 Bulgarians in $5M crypto theft case

Authorities in Bulgaria arrested three suspects who were believed to have stolen cryptocurrencies worth $5 million, Reuters reported. According to the interior ministry and prosecutors’ office, the three appeared to have good knowledge of cryptocurrency ...

Tech 2 weeks ago

Cryptojacking malware hits Make-A-Wish Foundation site

Cybercriminals are at it again, this time setting their sights on a charity foundation. Last week, researchers at security firm Trustwave reported that they have found a CoinImp crypto mining script has been injected into ...

Business 3 weeks ago

Crypto exchange Wex loses NZ domain over fake registration details

Following the closure of the BTC-e cryptocurrency exchange in 2017, Wex, a digital assets trading platform, took over its operations. Since then, it has been providing cryptocurrency exchange services and was reported to have paid ...

Business 3 weeks ago

Silvergate Bank serves close to 500 crypto ventures, IPO filing reveals

Silvergate Capital Corporation, the parent company of SilverGate Bank, has revealed its connections with the cryptocurrency industry. The information was disclosed as part of the California-based company’s initial public offering (IPO) filing with the U.S. ...

Business 3 weeks ago

3 crypto companies operating sans license shut down in Italy

Italy’s financial regulatory body, the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB), has ordered three cryptocurrency startups to shut down after it found that they have been providing unauthorized cryptocurrency investment services in ...

Business 3 weeks ago

Lawyer accuses Greek top court of ‘violating’ Alexander Vinnik’s rights

The Supreme Court in Greece has been accused of violating the rights of Russian national Alexander Vinnik, the alleged owner of the disgraced crypto trading platform BTC-e. According to local reports, the court has failed ...

Business 3 weeks ago

Crypto exchange KuCoin raises $20M in IDG Capital-led funding round

Singapore-based cryptocurrency platform KuCoin has secured $20 million in a Series funding round from IDG Capital, Matrix Partners, and Neo Global Capital. In a statement, KuCoin CEO Michael Gan said the combined investment from the ...

Tech 4 weeks ago

Crypto mining firms skip Swedish town, leaving behind unpaid power bills

It’s been an eventful week for the cryptocurrency community in Norrbotten, Sweden, after two crypto mining operators decided to disappear, leaving a trail of unpaid bills. Norrbotten has been a good environment for crypto startups ...

Business 4 weeks ago

NYDIG Execution picks up New York’s BitLicense

The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) has approved New York Digital Investment Group (NYDIG) Execution LLC, a subsidiary of NYDIG LLC, for a virtual currency license and a money transmission license. The ...

Business 4 weeks ago

Crypto in Africa: Crypto market in Africa expands amid regulatory pressure

Africa is poised to become the next hub for blockchain and cryptocurrencies. The continent has experienced significant growth of cryptocurrency-related activities, and more countries are opening up their doors to crypto innovations and investments; however, ...

Business 4 weeks ago

Canadian court takes custody of crypto exchange’s disputed funds

Several weeks ago, Vancouver-based cryptocurrency exchange QuadrigaCX claimed that the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) froze a number of accounts connected to the firm, worth C$25.7 million (US$19 million) and US$69,000. The CIBC claimed ...

Business 1 month ago

Tokyo-based insurer Sompo teams up with Africa’s BitPesa to digitize remittance

Sompo, a Japanese insurance company, has partnered with BitPesa, a pan-African digital payment platform, as part of its bid to increase the company’s global presence. In a statement posted last November 9, Sompo said its ...

Business 1 month ago

Upbit makes its move into Thai, Indonesian markets

Upbit, one of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges in South Korea, has reportedly set up a website for crypto exchanges in Thai and Indonesian languages, as part of its attempt to market its trading services to ...

Tech 1 month ago

85MW crypto mining facility in Canada now online

DMG Blockchain Solution Inc., a Canadian blockchain and cryptocurrency company, has energized its new cryptocurrency mining facility in Western Canada, an area known for its abundant hydroelectric power. In a statement, DMG announced that its ...

Business 1 month ago

Crypto in Africa: Bithub uses solar energy for crypto mining

The Africa blockchain ecosystem continues to grow in the last days, with some areas finding new ways to apply blockchain technologies, while others are looking for ways to regulate the ecosystem. Solar energy to power ...

Business 1 month ago

Thai siblings linked to $24M crypto scam plead not guilty

The three siblings arrested in Thailand on allegations of fraudulently tricking a Finnish investor into shelling out over $24 million in cryptocurrency have pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges. On Wednesday, the Bangkok Post ...

Tech 1 month ago

Canadian university shuts down network after cryptojacking attack

The St. Francis Xavier University, located in Nova Scotia, Canada, has found itself targeted by a cryptocurrency mining malware—also known as cryptojacking—forcing the institution to shut down its entire network. On Monday, GlobalNews.ca reported that the ...

Business 1 month ago

Japanese cybersecurity experts track down Zaif exchange hackers

Cybersecurity experts in Japan claimed that they have found incriminating evidence against suspected hackers of Japanese cryptocurrency exchange, Zaif. In an official statement released on Monday, Japan Digital Design Co. (JDD), a subsidiary of Mitsubishi ...

Business 1 month ago

Winklevoss twins take Charlie Shrem to court over alleged $32M crypto theft

The Winklevoss brothers are suing Charlie Shrem, claiming the crypto investor and entrepreneur owes them some 5,000 cryptocurrency worth $32 million from a previous business deal. Last week, The New York Times reported that Cameron ...

Business 1 month ago

Court slams South Korean bank accused of treating crypto exchange unfairly

As a country, South Korea has been largely progressive in its acceptance of innovations in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector. The infrastructure of the cryptocurrency exchange market of South Korea is strengthening rapidly, with the ...

Business 1 month ago

Crypto in Africa: South Africa wants to hike taxes on blockchain-related activities

Blockchain and cryptocurrency adoption in Africa is steadily increasing with new countries in the continent getting onboard. Countries like Uganda and Tanzania are slowly catching up with others, such as Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya. Tanzanian ...

Business 1 month ago

Binance freezes accounts linked to crypto exchange over money laundering claims

Binance has frozen accounts belonging to another cryptocurrency exchange, Wex, after users claimed the latter was involved in money laundering activities. Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao made the announcement on Twitter, stating that they had frozen ...

Business 1 month ago

Brazil banks reopen crypto exchange’s accounts to avoid fine

Two banks in Brazil, Banco de Brasil and Santander, were forced to reopen the accounts belonging to local cryptocurrency exchange Bitcoin Max, following a decision made by the Federal District and Territorial Court (TJDFT). On ...

Business 1 month ago

Mastercard patent merges traditional banking with cryptocurrencies

Financial services giant Mastercard has snapped up yet another patent, this time for fractional cryptocurrency banking. According to the document published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Mastercard wants to apply principles of ...

Business 2 months ago

Alleged hack forces Canadian crypto exchange to go offline

The cryptocurrency community in Canada is lost for words after MapleChange, a small crypto exchange based in Alberta, went offline. The crypto exchange took to Twitter over the weekend to announce that unknown hackers had ...

Tech 2 months ago

Bitfury eyes possible initial public offering by 2019: report

Cryptocurrency miner manufacturer Bitfury is reportedly looking at various strategic options to raise funds, including holding an initial public offering (IPO). Other possible fundraising options include raising debt financing as well as selling a minority ...

Business 2 months ago

Japan’s SBI lays out plans for proprietary crypto wallet

Japanese financial services giant SBI Group has teamed up with blockchain security startup Sepior to create a “secure online wallet” for its recently launched cryptocurrency exchange. SBI Group announced the agreement to license Sepior’s Threshold-Sig ...

Business 2 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Quidax launches crypto literacy program in Nigeria

Quidax, a European-based cryptocurrency exchange, recently launched its operations in Nigeria. Among its new objectives is a plan to educate and increase the level of understanding on blockchains and its technologies in the country. While ...

Business 2 months ago

Coinbase granted license to offer crypto custody services in New York

Coinbase has been awarded a license to operate as an independent qualified custodian for cryptocurrencies under New York State Banking Law. On Tuesday, the cryptocurrency exchange announced that the New York Department of Financial Services ...

Business 2 months ago

Crypto trading firm draws SEC’s ire over false claims

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has suspended trading of the securities of American Retail Group Inc. The firm, which is also known as Simex Inc, had made false claims that its cryptocurrency trading ...

Business 2 months ago

After cryptocurrency, Russia’s digital assets bill loses ‘mining’ references

Lawmakers in Russia are making progress on creating regulations to govern blockchain and digital assets-related activities in the country. According to local reports released on October 21, the Russian parliament is almost done with a ...

Business 2 months ago

Trade Bitcoin BCH instantly with fiat wallet provider Neteller

Neteller has made its move into cryptocurrency. The digital fiat wallet provider announced that its customers can now buy, hold and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin Cash (BCH) via a recognized crypto exchange. Users of the ...

Business 2 months ago

Venezuela green lights 6 crypto exchanges to sell state-backed Petro

In early October, Coingeek reported that the Venezuelan government planned to roll out its national cryptocurrency, the Petro, on November 5. And as the date draws near, the Venezuelan government has been ramping up its ...

Business 2 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Binance Uganda launches fiat-to-crypto exchange

International crypto exchange Binance announced on October 15 the launch of its fiat-to-crypto service in Uganda. The launch will be rolled out starting with support for ETH and BTC, with more digital currencies to follow. ...

Business 2 months ago

BitConnect faces fresh class action lawsuit: report

A newly consolidated lawsuit has been filed against BitConnect, several months after several cases have been brought forth against the company's alleged fraudulent pyramid scheme at the beginning of 2018. BitConnect has been considered as ...

Business 2 months ago

India’s Zebpay sets up overseas operations

After suspending its trading operations in India, cryptocurrency exchange Zebpay is reportedly setting its sights on “global domination.” Zebpay has yet to make an official announcement about its overseas operations plans. However, Indiabits tweeted last ...

Business 2 months ago

Maldives central warns against bogus permits for crypto trade

The Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), which acts as the central bank of the South Asian country, has issued a warning against cryptocurrency trading. Specifically, the financial authority wanted the public to be wary of social ...

Business 2 months ago

Zambia’s central bank confirms stance on cryptos—they’re not legal tender

The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) is finally making a stand on the increasingly popular activity of cryptocurrency trading—cryptocurrencies are not legal tender in the country. In a statement, the central bank of Zambia said it ...

Business 2 months ago

19 crypto exchanges secure provisional license in Philippines’ economic zone

The number of companies that have been granted provisional licenses by the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA), which operates the Philippine government-owned Cagayan Special Economic Zone (CSEZ), has jumped to 19. Last week, CEZA published ...

Business 2 months ago

Gibraltar licenses first crypto exchange—Coinfloor

UK’s first cryptocurrency exchange, Coinfloor, adds another feather to its cap—it’s become the first crypto exchange to be licensed by Gibraltar’s groundbreaking blockchain legislation. According to a report in the Financial Times, Coinfloor will be ...

Tech 2 months ago

Crypto-mining church in Russia fined for excessive energy use

A Protestant church from the city of Irkutsk in Russia has been court-ordered to pay a fine of 1.1 million rubles ($16,600) after it was discovered to have been consuming large amounts of electricity for ...

Business 2 months ago

Bithumb launches crypto indices as new partner gets onboard

Bithumb, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trade volume, is on a roll lately. This week, the exchange opened Bithumb Crypto Index (BTCI), which contains two separate indices—Bithumb Market Index (BTMI) and Bithumb Altcoin Market ...

Business 2 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Paxful looking at cryptocurrency’s potential in East Africa

Paxful, a peer-to-peer marketplace, is reportedly looking at the cryptocurrency market's growth potential in East Africa. The startup has already set up shop in Rwanda, ventured into Kenya, and has grown over the last three ...

Business 2 months ago

1Broker reopens platform to allow withdrawals

1Broker, a BTC futures trading firm, announced that it would be reopening withdrawals as of Thursday. The announcement comes several weeks after the firm was accused of acting as an unregistered security-based swap dealer, as ...

Business 2 months ago

Thai authorities revoke passport of suspect in $24M crypto scam

A suspect involved in a Thailand cryptocurrency scam is unable to return home after the Foreign Ministry of Thailand revoked his passport, Bangkok Post reported. This has prevented him to return home to face charges. Prinya ...

Business 2 months ago

Crypto exchange Binance delists 4 altcoins

In an effort to protect its users, cryptocurrency exchange Binance announced that it would delisting four cryptocurrency tokens from its platform, effective Oct. 12. On its website, Binance said it has decided to delist Bytecoin ...

Business 2 months ago

South Korea’s Cashierest hit with lawsuit over price pumping schemes

A cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea has been sued over its alleged price-pumping schemes that involves token issuance. According to ZDnet Korea, Aone, a South Korean law firm, filed a complaint against Cashierest operator Newlink ...

Business 2 months ago

Use Bitcoin BCH to buy automotive parts at Newparts

Newparts, an online automotive parts store, has extended its payment platform to accept cryptocurrency payments. On October 8, the company announced that it has started supporting Bitcoin Cash (BCH) payments as part of its bid ...

Business 2 months ago

UAE may soon allow companies to raise funds via ICOs

A new set of rules will soon allow domestic companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to raise funds via initial coin offerings (ICOs). On Monday, Reuters quoted Obaid Saif al-Zaabi, head of the Emirates ...

Business 2 months ago

New AML rules target crypto businesses in Norway

Effective Oct. 15, cryptocurrency-related companies in Norway—including branches of multinational companies—will have to adhere to a new set of anti-money laundering regulations (AML) set by the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway, also known as the ...

Business 2 months ago

Passport fees in Venezuela must be paid in Petro, gov’t says

Starting this week, residents in Venezuela can only use Petro—the state-backed cryptocurrency—to pay for their passport fees. This was the announcement made by Venezuela’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, last Oct. 5. New passport applications will ...

Business 2 months ago

No, really: Cryptocurrencies are commodities in US

For years, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has been clear on its stance—cryptocurrencies are commodities, just like oil and corn. And if that message isn’t clear enough, there are now a couple of ...

Tech 2 months ago

BlackBerry develops blockchain platform for healthcare

Former smartphone manufacturer BlackBerry has launched a blockchain-based solution for the healthcare sector that will enable data to be shared in an “ultra-secure” manner. The platform, called BlackBerry Spark, aims “to create an ultra-secure global ...

Business 2 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Pesamill opens 2-in-1 crypto exchange as ONEm launches hybrid crypto

Pesamill Africa has begun trading in one of Africa’s most active crypto markets. The startup’s exchange service will compete with the likes of Bitpesa and will market itself to more than 48 million Kenyans. It ...

Business 2 months ago

Poloniex ends margin trading, lending services for US customers

Cryptocurrency exchange Poloniex is removing margin trading and lending products for its customers in the United States, effective “by the end of the year.” In a blog post last Oct. 3, the company announced it ...

Tech 2 months ago

Malware disguised as cheat tools steals crypto from Fortnite players

When the sixth season of popular video game Fortnite dropped, fans rejoiced. And opportunists tried to cash in too—by developing a cryptocurrency- and data-stealing malware posing as game cheat tools. Malwarebytes Labs discovered the malware ...

Business 2 months ago

McAfee-linked MGT Capital Investments faces lawsuit over pump-and-dump scheme

Shareholders of crypto mining and investing firm MGT Capital Investments, which has previous ties to John McAfee, have filed a class-action lawsuit against the company over allegations of a pump-and-dump scheme that manipulated the price ...

Business 2 months ago

Venezuela to start selling state-backed Petro in November

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that the country will officially launch the state-backed Petro in November, after the Parliament passed a decree on the nation’s official oil-backed crypto coin. Maduro made the announcement during an ...

Business 2 months ago

ICOs sold off most ETH holdings for profit, research claims

Contrary to popular belief, many initial coin offerings (ICOs) had the foresight to sell their Ethereum (ETH) and profit off their holdings before the price of the coin fell, according to a new report by ...

Business 2 months ago

French agent accused of peddling state secrets on dark web for crypto

A security officer in France is accused of selling confidential state information on the dark net, according to local media reports. On Friday, French news outlet Le Parisien described the officer as a member of ...

Business 2 months ago

Zebpay trading shuts down amid regulatory pressure in India

One of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in India, Zebpay, has called it quits. Last week, Zebpay announced that it is ceasing all digital currency-related trading on its platform, effective Sept. 28. The exchange cited the ...

Business 2 months ago

CFTC goes after crypto fraudsters accused of impersonating regulators

Two people are facing a slew of charges, including fraudulent solicitation, impersonation and forging official documents in the United States—all in an effort to steal cryptocurrency. Last Friday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed ...

Business 3 months ago

Bitnovo expands boundaries with Bitcoin BCH support

Spanish cryptocurrency trading platform Bitnovo has added support for Bitcoin Cash (BCH), effective September 27. Users of Bitnovo’s Bitcard and N26 bank-free products can now top up their accounts with Bitcoin BCH, alongside LTC or ...

Business 3 months ago

Coinbase ‘Bundle’ aims to simplify crypto trading

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has released a new update, the Coinbase Bundle, which aims to simplify crypto trading. In a blog post, the San Francisco-based company said the Bundle is a market-weighted selection of five cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin ...

Business 3 months ago

Crypto in Africa: New intercontinental payment methods poised to overtake US dollar

The U.S. dollar is reported to be losing its place as the top intercontinental currency in Africa. This is according to SWIFT, the global provider of financial messaging services. African usage of the U.S. dollar ...

Business 3 months ago

France blacklists 21 more websites promoting crypto scams

The French financial market authority, Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), has updated its official blacklist of fraudulent businesses operating in the country. According to the publication, the list has 21 new names of businesses in ...

Tech 3 months ago

25 apps hosting cryptojacking scripts found on Google Play Store

SophosLabs claims to have identified at least 25 Android apps published on the official Google Play Store containing scripts that facilitate cryptojacking activities on users’ computers. In its report, the company noted that the apps ...

Tech 3 months ago

Malaysia wants to put major industries on blockchain

The Malaysian government is seeking to utilize blockchain to increase transparency, sustainability and logistical efficiency of its three largest industries—renewable energy, palm oil, and Islamic finance. According to reports, the government has appointed a task ...

Business 3 months ago

North Korea using cryptocurrencies to evade US sanctions, experts say

To avoid the economic sanctions imposed by the United States, North Korea has reportedly been using cryptocurrencies “increasingly,” according to two Washington-based financial analysts. On Monday, news outlet Asia Times published a report quoting Lourdes ...

Business 3 months ago

Coinnest execs face bribery charges over unfair crypto listing

Two executives of South Korean crypto exchange Coinnest have reportedly been indicted over bribery charges. According to news outlet Korea IT Times, Coinnest CEO Kim Ik-hwan and COO Cho have received a total of KRW1 ...

Tech 3 months ago

Walmart’s leafy greens will be tracked on blockchain by September 2019

Walmart, the world’s largest retailer both by revenue and employee count, has turned to blockchain technology for help in its battle with E.coli contamination scares. On Monday, the retailer announced that it is requiring its ...

Business 3 months ago

Africa’s BitPesa, Japan’s SBI Remit team up for cross-border payments

Venture-backed firm BitPesa has partnered with Japan’s remittance service provider SBI Remit to bring cross-border blockchain payments to Africa. On Monday, CCN reported that the partnership will see the two companies utilizing blockchain technology to ...

Tech 3 months ago

Iceland moving away from crypto mining to ‘pure blockchain’ operations

Iceland is steadily shifting away from crypto mining and focusing its facilities on “pure blockchain” operations, according to industry insiders. Aside from naturally cold climate that is favorable to ASIC generators, Iceland offers cost-efficient renewable ...

Tech 3 months ago

IBM files patent for blockchain-based drone fleet security

Tech giant IBM is seeking to patent a system that will utilize distributed ledger technology (DLT) to address security and privacy concerns following the increasing popularity and usage of drones—both commercially and recreationally. IBM first ...

Business 3 months ago

US lawmakers want IRS to clarify guidelines on crypto tax

Five legislators in the United States have sent an open letter to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), urging the tax agency to update its cryptocurrency tax guidelines. The letter, sent last Wednesday, was the second ...

Business 3 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Namibia conservationist uses Bitcoin BCH, Zimbabwe seeks to adopt crypto

Cryptocurrencies continue to spread their wings in Africa. Recently, a wildlife conservationist decided to use cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin BCH in particular, to help save the wildlife in Namibia. Nadja Leroux is of the opinion that cryptocurrencies ...

Business 3 months ago

Brazil watchdog cracks down on banks restricting crypto exchanges

The Administrative Council for Economic Defense, an official antitrust watchdog of the Brazilian government, has launched an investigation into the country's banks, which were allegedly abusing their power to undermine domestic cryptocurrency exchanges. On Wednesday, ...

Business 3 months ago

Japan’s Zaif crypto exchange loses $60M in hack

Zaif, a cryptocurrency exchange based in Japan, has fallen victim to a hack, resulting in the loss of JPY6.7 billion ($60 million) worth of cryptocurrencies. The exchange, which is owned and operated by Tech Bureau, ...

Tech 3 months ago

Morocco to see 36MW wind-powered crypto mining farm in 2019

Starting in January 2019, 37,000 acres of land in Morocco will be full of bulldozers and construction workers busy building a 36-megawatt (MW) wind farm for cryptocurrency mining. The Soluna.io project, which is being developed ...

Business 3 months ago

China’s central bank warns public (again) against cryptos, ICOs

Residents in China have received a new warning against getting involved in cryptocurrency-related activities. This week, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) has issued yet another notice to remind everyone in the country against investing ...

Business 3 months ago

South Korea’s Shuttle Delivery accepts Bitcoin BCH for food deliveries

Yet another merchant, this time in tech-savvy South Korea, has added support for Bitcoin Cash (BCH). Shuttle Delivery, a food delivery service based in Seoul, now accepts Bitcoin BCH as a payment method for door-to-door ...

Tech 3 months ago

Indian gov’t websites ‘cryptojacked’ to mine cryptos

Hackers have reportedly been harnessing the processing power of several government websites in India to mine cryptocurrencies. On Monday, the Economic Times reported that security researchers have identified “hundreds of Indian sites,” including that of the ...

Tech 3 months ago

South Korea turns to Samsung’s blockchain tech for decentralized customs clearance

The Korea Customs Service (KCS) is tapping tech giant Samsung’s blockchain technology for its customs clearance system. Last week, Samsung’s IT subsidiary, Samsung SDS, announced that it has signed an agreement with KCS, allowing the ...

Business 3 months ago

GAW Miners CEO gets 21 months’ jail time over fraud charges

The Hartford federal court in the U.S. state of Connecticut has sentenced the chief executive officer of crypto firm GAW Miners to 21 months imprisonment on charges of defrauding investors. On Thursday, the Hartford Business ...

Business 3 months ago

Crypto in Africa: South Africa tops Google Trends data, gets new Sharia-based crypto

When it comes to cryptocurrency, Africa is quickly catching up. One particular cryptocurrency market gaining so much interest is that of South Africa. Recently, Google Trends data revealed that since the beginning of this year, ...

Business 3 months ago

Mt. Gox allows corporate users to file claims on its website

Corporate users can now start filing their claims with now-defunct Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox. On Wednesday, the exchange announced on its website that it has opened up its online rehabilitation claim filing system, to ...

Tech 3 months ago

Nevada firm in talks to transform US data center into crypto mining farm

Wuhan General Group (China), Inc. is in talks to transform a data center of the U.S. Department of Defense into a cryptocurrency mining facility. According to the press release published on Tuesday, Wuhan General Group ...

Tech 3 months ago

7 charged in Iceland’s ‘big’ Bitcoin mining rig heist

Police in Iceland have charged seven individuals suspected to be involved in the so-called "big Bitcoin heist" that took place early this year. According to reports, Iceland prosecutors charged the seven with possession of stolen ...

Business 3 months ago

Japan’s internet giant GMO rolls out live crypto trading platform

GMO, via its subsidiary GMO Coin, has launched a live cryptocurrency trading platform, its third crypto exchange and trading service to date. The Japanese internet giant currently has two trading platforms: one for a brokerage ...

Business 3 months ago

Robinhood trading app eyes IPO: report

Robinhood, a cryptocurrency exchange and a stock trading app, is planning to go public, Tech Crunch reported. In an interview with the tech news outlet, Robinhood CEO and co-founder Baiju Bhatt said the startup has ...

Business 3 months ago

Uzbekistan president signs decree legalizing crypto trading

The cryptocurrency community in Uzbekistan has received a new presidential decree that legalizes cryptocurrency trading, paving the way for the licensing of crypto exchanges. According to local reports, the move is aimed at increasing regulated ...

Business 3 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Binance eyes African market despite East African central bank’s crypto warnings

Africa has seen bigwigs entering the region to invest in its domestic cryptocurrency market over the last couple of months. Both local and international crypto institutions have been eyeing Africa’s cryptocurrency market and a recent ...

Tech 3 months ago

Winklevoss brothers file patent for system to securely store digital assets

Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss are seeking another patent, this time for a blockchain-based system designed for “securely storing digital assets” like cryptocurrency. The Winklevoss IP, LLC patent application, titled “Systems and methods for storing digital ...

Tech 3 months ago

Iran accepts cryptocurrency mining as industry

The government of Iran has accepted cryptocurrency mining as an industry in the country. In an announcement to local news outlet IBENA, Abolhassan Firouzabadi, secretary of Iran's Supreme Cyberspace Council, said various ministries in the ...

Business 3 months ago

Laos central bank warns against use of ‘unregulated’ crypto

The central bank of Laos has cautioned the public against using cryptocurrency in the country. According to the notice (in pdf), the Bank of Laos (BOL) stated that the public should exercise caution when dealing ...

Tech 3 months ago

Future Firefox browsers to block cryptojacking malware

Mozilla, the company behind popular web browser Firefox, is gearing up to automatically block malware scripts, including those that "silently mine cryptocurrencies" in future versions of Firefox. Last week, Mozilla announced that it will soon ...

Tech 3 months ago

Wal-Mart files patent for blockchain-powered army of autonomous robots

First it was a crypto-powered electrical grid. Then came a system for health records stored on the blockchain. Now, Wal-Mart has turned to blockchain again, this time to create an army of autonomous robots that will ...

Business 3 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Akon launches digital coin for Senegal’s Crypto City

Africa has come a long way in making sure it does not miss on opportunities. The continent, rich with numerous possibilities, has openly accepted blockchain to help it move to the next level. Despite the ...

Tech 4 months ago

What ban? Crypto mining apps still available on Google Play Store

Cryptocurrency mining applications are still live on the Google Play Store, despite the ban imposed in July. On July 27, Google updated its developer policy, stating, "We don't allow apps that mine cryptocurrency on devices." ...

Business 4 months ago

Indiegogo cancels first ICO amid regulatory concerns

Indiegogo, a crowdfunding giant, quietly canceled its first initial coin offering (ICO), which raised $5.2 million in December 2017. Indiegogo initiated the ICO for the Fan-Controlled Football League (FCFL), with a goal of raising funds ...

Business 4 months ago

NiceHash continues to reimburse clients post 2017 hack

NiceHash, a Slovenian-based crypto mining pool, has so far managed to return 60% of their stolen BTC, according to reports. The company suffered an attack in December 2017, after an unidentified suspect hacked its system ...

Tech 4 months ago

Bank of America seeks to patent crypto vault for large-scale enterprises

The Bank of America (BofA), considered the second largest bank in the United States, has filed a patent application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for the development of a cryptocurrency storage system. ...

Business 4 months ago

Crowdfunder Indiegogo allows companies to sell security tokens

Crowdfunding giant Indiegogo has expanded its cryptocurrency operations to make room for security tokens. This comes less than a year after the company started offering tokens on its platform last December. According to Crowdfund Insider, ...

Tech 4 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Kenya’s electoral body seeks to adopt blockchain

Blockchain is still in play as countries use its technology to solve major issues in Africa. In 2017, Ghana used the technology to create a land registration system that allows registration and allocation of lands. ...

Tech 4 months ago

After bomb threat, Norwegian crypto mining firm faces closure over noise complaints

The worst is far from over for cryptocurrency mining company Kryptovault. Barely a week after receiving a bomb threat, the Norwegian crypto mining firm is reportedly facing closure from local authorities. The Norwegian edition of ...

Business 4 months ago

China’s WeChat blocks crypto, blockchain-related accounts

WeChat has reportedly blocked blockchain and cryptocurrency-related accounts from its platform. According to local news outlets, the Chinese social media platform suspended these accounts because they had violated terms set out in the “Interim Provisions ...

Business 4 months ago

South Korean businessman falls victim to crypto-fiat scam

A cryptocurrency transaction went sour for a South Korean businessman, who reportedly lost $2.3 million in BTC after the offline peer-to-peer exchange he was dealing with allegedly gave him fake fiat currency. According to reports, ...

Business 4 months ago

MobileGo threatens to sue people criticizing its operations

Stop spreading misleading information about eSports cryptocurrency token MobileGo, or risk facing legal action. That was the warning made last week by one Twitter user, who posted a message from MobileGo CEO Sergey Sholom. According ...

Tech 4 months ago

UPS turns to blockchain to streamline logistics

United Parcel Service (UPS), an American multinational package delivery and supply management company, is looking into blockchain to create a streamlined service selection system for its global supply chain. USP applied for a patent in ...

Tech 4 months ago

Genesis Mining forces clients to upgrade BTC mining contracts

Genesis Mining, a hashpower hosting service, announced that some clients would soon have to upgrade to a five-year subscription in order to continue using their services to mine BTC. In a blog post, the Iceland-based ...

Business 4 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Gov’ts hold back on crypto regulation, South Africa drafts tax law

The blooming cryptocurrency industry in Africa continues to operate in legal gray areas as it progresses upwards. This leaves traders, developers, investors and enthusiasts, among others, to their own devices. While other countries worldwide give ...

Business 4 months ago

US SEC digs deeper into crypto company Riot Blockchain

Crypto company Riot Blockchain’s regulatory woes are far from over. On Tuesday, Riot said it has received a letter from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) last July 30, noting that the securities regulator ...

Business 4 months ago

7 crypto firms secure SEC nod to operate in Thailand

Seven cryptocurrency firms in Thailand have been granted approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to operate in the country. The Thai SEC started regulating cryptocurrencies and ICO activities last May 14, requiring all ...

Business 4 months ago

Jamaican bourse teams up with Canadian fintech firm for crypto, token trading

The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) will soon offer cryptocurrencies to its customers. The bourse has partnered up with Blockstation, a Canadian fintech company, to facilitate the new change. In a press release on August 14, ...

Business 4 months ago

Venezuela announces 2 currency units—Petro and Sovereign Bolivar

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Tuesday that the state-backed Petro cryptocurrency will be used as a unit of account in the country. In addition, the government will also introduce a new salary system and ...

Business 4 months ago

ICO exit scams made off with $60M in investors’ money in August: report

The cryptocurrency industry remains a ripe playground for scam artists, according to a new Diar report. In the first two weeks of August alone, an estimated $68 million of investors’ money were lost in initial ...

Business 4 months ago

Venezuela assembly wants a central bank for cryptocurrency

Not content with just developing its own cryptocurrency, Venezuela is now taking it a notch higher with a proposal to create a central bank for cryptocurrency as part of its efforts to link the Petro ...

Tech 4 months ago

Americans are most susceptible to crypto hacks, study finds

Group-IB, a Russian-based cyber intelligence firm, has released a new report that looks into user account leaks within the cryptocurrency exchanges. The study, titled “2018 Crypto Currency Exchanges-User Accounts Leaks Analysis,” revealed that Americans are ...

Tech 4 months ago

Beer pong out? College students ride cryptocurrency mining wave

A new wave of cryptocurrency miners has come, and this group is putting U.S. colleges on alert with their rather unorthodox ways to collect and earn crypto coins. In an interview with CNBC, Penn State ...

Business 4 months ago

UK’s FCA warns investors against yet another crypto ‘clone firm’

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) raised the alarm on yet another cryptocurrency-related clone company called Good Crypto, which was reportedly impersonating an FCA-authorized firm to lure investors. According to the announcement, Good Crypto was ...

Business 4 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Nigeria launches blockchain hub as it welcomes new crypto exchange

The cryptocurrency sector in Nigeria has been busy growing in the last couple of weeks with new game changers joining in the fray. More Nigerians are trading in cryptocurrencies both locally and internationally. New blockchain ...

Business 4 months ago

Crypto tax software startup Libra raises $15M in Series B funding

Blockchain startup Libra has raised an extra $15 million in its latest funding round. According to the company, which provides middle and back office technology as well as data services for the crypto asset ecosystem, ...

Business 4 months ago

FCA warns UK investors against ‘clone’ crypto companies

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has issued a warning against a clone company called Fair Oaks Crypto. According to the financial regulator, the “clone firm” has been impersonating FCA-authorized firm Fair Oaks Capital Limited ...

Tech 4 months ago

15,000 crypto scam bots spamming Twitter with ‘giveaways’: research

Cybersecurity firm Duo Security, published a new research showing how cryptocurrency-related scam bots have affected the Twitter platform. The research, which analyzed 88 million Twitter accounts, aimed at creating a methodology for identifying Twitter account ...

Tech 4 months ago

Over 200,000 routers in Brazil, Moldova succumb to Monero cryptomining attack

It’s barely a week, and Monero (XMR) is on the spotlight again. According to recent reports, a malicious malware has been attacking over 200,000 routers in Brazil to mine the privacy-centric cryptocurrency. The hackers have ...

Business 4 months ago

Crypto exchange OKCoin draws investor’s ire over unclaimed Bitcoin BCH

China-based cryptocurrency exchange OKCoin is facing legal problems after an investor filed a lawsuit, claiming the exchange failed to provide him with Bitcoin Cash (BCH) that he was entitled to after the August 2017 hard ...

Business 4 months ago

Arizona BTC trader gets jail time over money laundering charges

Thomas Mario Costanzo, a cryptocurrency trader in the U.S. state of Arizona, has been sentenced to serve more than three years in prison after he was found guilty of money laundering charges, the U.S. Department ...

Tech 4 months ago

Bug bounty hunter exposes Monero bug enabling theft from exchanges

Privacy-centric altcoin Monero was discovered to have been carrying a bug that allows hackers to steal coins directly from cryptocurrency exchanges. According to reports, the hackers managed to make use of old-fashioned social engineering to ...

Tech 4 months ago

Yenom developers roll out Bitcoin Cash Kit, a BCH library for iOS

Japanese development company Mikan Co. Ltd., creator of the Bitcoin Cash-centric Yenom mobile wallet, has released a new iOS library for Bitcoin BCH called Bitcoin Cash Kit (BCK). The BCK is a Swift implementation of ...

Business 4 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Nigeria taps blockchain to stop corruption, South Africa mulls pro-crypto tax guidelines

African countries are not just taking blockchain technology by the horn, they’re also tightly holding on to it. In the last few months, some countries in the region are finally realizing the great potential of ...

Business 4 months ago

BitPay processed $1.2B worth of Bitcoin payments in 2017, executive says

BitPay, considered the largest processor of Bitcoin Cash and BTC payments in the world, celebrated seven years of operation last July 31. In an interview with 8btc, Chief Operating Officer Sonny Singh reported that BitPay ...

Tech 4 months ago

Cryptocurrency mining companies in Russia increase by 15% in 2018

The Russian Association of Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain (RACIB) released a report which showed that cryptocurrency activities in Russia have spiked in recent months. According to the report, the number of cryptocurrency mining operators in the ...

Business 4 months ago

88% of crypto exchanges want industry to be regulated, survey finds

Contrary to public opinion, cryptocurrency exchanges do want regulation. A new study conducted by European electronic payment company Mistertango found that 88% of cryptocurrency exchanges around the world want the industry to be regulated, which ...

Tech 5 months ago

New cryptojacking malware PowerGhost targets corporate networks

Security company Kaspersky Lab has discovered a new malware that uses business computers and servers to mine cryptocurrencies. The malware, dubbed PowerGhost, has the ability to embed itself undetected in a system and spread across ...

Tech 5 months ago

Vietnam crypto mining CEO flees with $35M in investors’ money

At least 20 investors of a Vietnamese cryptocurrency mining company have fallen victim to yet another scam and are now seeking justice after the company’s CEO went missing. According to reports, the individuals had invested ...

Business 5 months ago

OpenBazaar enables zero-fee trading of over 1,500 cryptocurrencies

Decentralized marketplace OpenBazaar rolled out its Version 2.2.2, which offers additional features and bug fixes. In a blog post, the OpenBazaar development team outlined the two main improvements in the new version, aimed at helping ...

Business 5 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Kenya hot on heels of South Africa in crypto expansion

Africa frequently makes the headlines for its rapid adoption of cryptocurrencies and its underlying technology, the blockchain. In recent months, South Africa has appeared to be on the lead when it comes to adopting the ...

Business 5 months ago

Venezuela creates a new national currency affixed on the Petro

The Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro is planning to introduce a new currency barely two months after his re-election. According to local reports, Maduro is planning to replace the current national currency, Bolivar Fuerte (VEF) with ...

Business 5 months ago

KT Corp: South Korea mobile carrier creates first blockchain-based commercial network

South Korean second largest mobile carrier, KT Corp, announced on Tuesday the world’s first blockchain-based commercial network. According to local reports, KT Corp plans to launch its new technology before the end of this year. ...

Business 5 months ago

India’s Unocoin disables fiat withdrawals ‘per orders of RBI’

Unocoin, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in India, has suspended its Indian rupee (INR) withdrawal and deposit services in the wake of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ban. On Monday, the crypto exchange ...

Business 5 months ago

G20 eyes crypto AML regulatory standard by October

The cryptocurrency industry has caught the eye of many policy-making bodies across the globe. While some remain against the innovative currency, others have started developing binding policies that will regulate the cryptocurrency sector. The Group ...

Business 5 months ago

Workers in Costa Rica can legally accept wages in cryptocurrency

Costa Rican workers can receive part of their salaries in cryptocurrencies. Costa Rican laws allow employers to pay their staff not just with fiat currency, but also goods, which experts interpret to mean that cryptocurrency, ...

Business 5 months ago

Tutanota creates room for payments in Bitcoin Cash, other cryptos

Germany-based encrypted email service provider Tutanota has started accepting donations in cryptocurrencies on its platform. On its website, Tutanota said allowing their supporters to donate using their preferred cryptocurrency offers the company a chance to ...

Tech 5 months ago

Quebec wants crypto miners to pay more for electricity

To ensure the consistency of power supply amid the growing number of blockchain-related activities in Quebec, energy regulators have given the green light to temporarily hike electricity prices for cryptocurrency mining operators and firms in ...

Business 5 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Companies make room as more Africans eye crypto investments

South Africa has been a frontrunner in the cryptocurrency industry in Africa. Since the beginning of 2018, the country's cryptocurrency market has seen a notable growth with more people joining each day.  There has been ...

Business 5 months ago

Alleged GainBitcoin scam kingpin offers to repay investors in Indian rupees

Amit Bhardwaj, the alleged mastermind behind the GainBitcoin scheme, has offered to pay back investors their initial investments—in Indian rupees, Factor Daily reported. Authorities in India said Bhardwaj duped thousands of Indian investors from 2015 to 2017 ...

Tech 5 months ago

MasterCard’s new patent links crypto assets to fiat currency accounts

Payment processing giant MasterCard has been granted a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a system and method for managing "fractional reserves of blockchain currency," also known as cryptocurrency. According to ...

Business 5 months ago

Iran may turn to cryptocurrency to avoid US sanctions: report​

Like Venezuela, Iran is also considering adopting cryptocurrencies to combat the upcoming U.S. sanctions, according to reports. This new development comes a few months after the UnitedStates backed out of the nuclear deal with Iran. ...

Business 5 months ago

Coinrail ignites hope with relaunch, offer to recover 11 cryptocurrencies

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Coinrail has resumed its operations on July 15, and it's first order of business was to refund customers the crypto coins they lost during the June 10 attack. Coinrail, the seventh ...

Business 5 months ago

Crypto trader ‘Bitcoin Maven’ faces jail time over money laundering charge

Last week, a 50-year-old woman pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering and running a money transmitting business without a license in California. Theresa Lynn Tetley, a cryptocurrency trader who went by the name "Bitcoin ...

Tech 5 months ago

New power rates approved for crypto miners in New York

Cryptocurrency miners in New York have a reason to smile after state authorities approved a new electricity rate scheme for the burgeoning industry. According to a Bloomberg report on July 12, New York authorities approved ...

Business 5 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe embraces blockchain, Kenya moves closer to regulation

Accepting blockchain and its technologies has not been an easy task in Africa. However, the technology is slowly making headway in the continent. In particular, the cocoa farming industry has seen significant growth in the ...

Business 5 months ago

Crypto exchange Coinsquare’s global expansion starts in Japan

Coinsquare, a Canadian cryptocurrency exchange, announced on Tuesday its plans to expand into the Japanese market. According to reports,this is just the beginning in Coinsquare’s plans to venture into Asian markets. Coinsquare will open the ...

Business 5 months ago

Hackers attack MyEtherWallet using fake Hola VPN extension

Hackers reportedly compromised a Google Play Store account for Hola VPN, leading to the exposure of private client data on July 9. According to reports, the hacker uploaded a fake version of Hola VPN to ...

Tech 5 months ago

Police in China arrest 20 linked to major cryptojacking case

The fight against illegal cryptocurrency mining continues in China, this time with the arrest of at least 20 individuals who police suspect have been part of a mega cryptojacking case. According to Chinese news outlet ...

Tech 5 months ago

Bitmain value hits $12B after Series B funding: report

Cryptocurrency mining hardware manufacturer Bitmain is now valued at $12 billion, following the recently concluded Series B funding which raised $400 million for one of the biggest crypto mining companies in the world. As reported ...

Business 5 months ago

India’s ruling party hit with $763M crypto scam claims

The governing political party in India, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has been accused of involvement in a “mega bitcoin scam” in the state of Gujarat. According to local news, members of opposition party Indian ...

Business 5 months ago

Crypto in Africa: KuBitX hybrid exchange targets emerging markets, Binance takes on Uganda

In this week’s roundup of crypto and blockchain news in Africa, KuBitX reveals its plans for the African market, which includes setting up a hybrid crypto exchange to serve emerging markets in the region. Meanwhile, ...

Business 5 months ago

New lawsuit accuses XRP of being a security

Ripple Labs has been served with yet another lawsuit seeking to have its cryptocurrency, XRP, classified as asecurity. The class-action suit was filed a few days ago claiming Ripple was in violation of existing securities ...

Business 5 months ago

Bermuda wants new class of banks for blockchain, fintech companies

Government officials in Bermuda are making amendments to its Banking Act, which will pave the way for a new class of banks that will cater fintech and blockchain companies in the British overseas territory. The ...

Tech 5 months ago

Upgraded GMO crypto miner features 33TH/s max hash power

Japan-based internet giant GMO has launched the upgraded version of its crypto mining computer, which comes with a 7nm ASIC chip along with a boatload of new features. The B3 miner, available for order from ...

Tech 5 months ago

Japanese man faces jail time over illegal remote mining charge

For the first time, a court in Japan has sentenced a man to prison over charges of illegally using a remote mining tool to mine cryptocurrencies through other people's computers without their consent, Japanese media ...

Business 5 months ago

Abu Dhabi issues new regulatory framework for crypto activities

The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), has come up with a new framework regulating crypto asset activities in the region—with some input from the public. Last week, ADGM announced the finalization of its crypto assets ...

Business 5 months ago

South Korea’s Kakao seeks partners for Steemit-like crypto platform

Mobile app operator Kakao is making arrangements to raise funds for its new cryptocurrency platform. The South Korean company plans to use its subsidiary, Ground X Corp, to create the new platform. Launched in March, ...

Business 6 months ago

Philippines remains fertile ground for crypto adoption

Despite warnings about the risks of acquisition and possession of cryptocurrencies, crypto-to-fiat trading in the Philippines remains high, according to the Philippine Star report. In 2017, the cryptocurrency market in the Philippines experienced significant growth ...

Business 6 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Startup meshes with free mobile data, KryptoPal helps African kids

Blockchain technology has brought a great deal of solutions to various African countries. Different innovations continually come up to help curb the problems afflicting African countries—the latest of which is courtesy of a South African ...

Business 6 months ago

Bitcoin BCH, other cryptos fuel Coinbase’s GiveCrypto charity

For the longest time, cryptocurrencies have been seen as a rich people's affair, something that people in marginalized sectors cannot afford to engage in. This notion, however, has started to change as different groups and ...

Business 6 months ago

India’s Belfrics exchange restarts trading amid RBI crypto ban

A cryptocurrency exchange in India has resumed trading services some five months after its operations came to a standstill early this year. On Tuesday, Belfrics announced that it has also added four more cryptocurrencies—Bitcoin Cash, ...

Tech 6 months ago

California firm forks out $13M for abandoned Intel plant to mine crypto

California-based firm 3G Venture II has reportedly bought an abandoned Intel manufacturing complex in Colorado, where it plans to open a new cryptocurrency mining operation. The owner of the company, John Chen, bought the 30-acre ...

Tech 6 months ago

Mining for cryptocurrency allowed in Ukraine sans license

Cryptocurrencies can be mined in Ukraine without a license. Last week, the country’s State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection said cryptocurrency mining companies will not need to obtain a license in order to ...

Business 6 months ago

Cambodia requires license for crypto-related activities, authorities say

Three government agencies in Cambodia have issued a stern warning against cryptocurrency-related activities in the country. In a joint statement, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), the Commission of Cambodia, and the General-Commissariat of National ...

Business 6 months ago

French regulator blacklists 4 unauthorized crypto websites

French financial markets regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) has added four websites to its list of blacklisted domains. According to the AMF, the blacklisted domains offered crypto investments in France without licenses. The AMF, ...

Business 6 months ago

Grammy-winning singer Akon wants to build crypto city in Senegal

To help improve the conditions in Africa, singer and businessman Akon announced plans to build a crypto city in the West African country of Senegal, Page Six reported. The city, dubbed "Akon Crypto City," will ...

Business 6 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Golix eyes expansion, South Africa sees new blockchain hub

The cryptocurrency bug is quickly spreading across Africa, as the popularity and adoption of virtual currencies and blockchain-based startups and hubs continue to rise in the continent. Blockstarters officially in South Africa Blockchain hub and ...

Business 6 months ago

Turcoin founders flee Turkey with millions in investors’ money

Turkish investors are reeling from reports that the founders of Turcoin, described as Turkey’s “national” crypto, fled the country with their money. Turcoin was launched in 2017 by Istanbul-based company Hipper A.S., which is founded ...

Tech 6 months ago

Pedal-powered mining: Specialized e-Bike rewards users with crypto

UK-based electric bike specialist 50cycles has entered the cryptocurrency mining race with a new e-bike that lets its user earn cryptocurrency per miles ridden. The company’s new series of e-bike, called Toba, is able to ...

Business 6 months ago

Ukraine police shut down 6 fake crypto exchanges

Authorities in Ukraine arrested four people believed to be running fake online cryptocurrency exchanges in the country. Cybercrime police said they have busted at least six sham platforms in Ukraine. The four suspects allegedly used ...

Business 6 months ago

Tech-driven Africa shows great potential for greater crypto adoption

Contrary to what experts expected, cryptocurrency adoption in Africa is on the rise. Unlike in other parts of the world, African countries have been skeptic of the blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies in particular due to reports ...

Business 6 months ago

Bahrain central bank grants regulatory sandbox license to Palmex

Palmex becomes the first cryptocurrency exchange in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to receive a regulatory sandbox license. The license, issued by the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB), is expected to take ...

Business 6 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Continent experiences rapid cryptocurrency uptake

A week into June and cryptocurrency adoption in Africa is booming than ever. The continent is catching the crypto wave; the domestic market growing every day with Uganda being pitched as the next cryptocurrency hotbed. ...

Tech 6 months ago

Coinhive at center of cryptojacking probe in Japan

Criminals in cryptocurrency mining pools struck again, this time preying on unsuspecting computer owners in Japan. According to reports, police in Japan are investigating a cryptojacking case that involves Coinhive. So far, three suspects have ...

Business 6 months ago

Malta-based Binance plans to add euro trading on platform

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance is gearing up to add fiat currency to its trading platform. In an interview with Bloomberg, Zhao Changpeng, CEO of Binance, confirmed the exchange will be adding fiat currencies before the end ...

Tech 6 months ago

Crypto miners get on wrong side of Russia’s law

Some cryptocurrency miners have been resorting to ingenious ways to mine digital coins, a fact that Russia has discovered in recent days. In the Russian county of Khabarovsk, officials reported that the government's website was ...

Business 6 months ago

Coin Metro secures wallet, exchange licenses in Estonia

Estonian authorities recently granted cryptocurrency trading platform Coin Metro licenses to offer wallets and exchange services in the country. Estonia is one of the European countries on a steady adoption of cryptocurrencies. The newly issued ...

Business 6 months ago

Asset manager Fidelity plans to open crypto exchange: report

Fidelity investment, a multi-trillion dollar asset management company, is making plans to build a cryptocurrency exchange. According to a Business Insider report, the organization has already posted internal cryptocurrency-related job positions. The Boston-basedfirm has advertised ...

Business 6 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Domestic crypto market shows great prospects

Despite the myriad of challenges, cryptocurrencies are doing quite well in Africa as crypto-related activities start to become a norm in most countries in the region. Binance opens new office in Africa Binance, one of ...

Business 6 months ago

Police in India shut down cryptocurrency scam

Law enforcement officials in the Indian city of Thane busted an alleged cryptocurrency scam on Monday. According to Hindustan Times, the raid happened after a businessman and five of his colleagues inquired about the wherebouts ...

Business 6 months ago

Estonia will not be creating its own cryptocurrency

Estonia, a country in Northern Europe, has discarded its original plan for a state-backed cryptocurrency. According to reports, Estonia has, for a long time, been working to create a digital coin for its citizens. However, ...

Business 6 months ago

HitBTC stops operations in Japan

HitBTC, a Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange, will no longer be offering its services to Japan-based customers. HitBTC announced that they would suspend offering their services to residents in Japan to avoid violating the Japan Payment ...

Business 7 months ago

India turns down Venezuela’s cryptocurrency deal

Sorry Venezuela, it’s a resounding no for India. According to reports, the government of India has rejected the state-backed Petro cryptocurrency despite Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s offer of a 30% discount if India uses Petro ...

Tech 7 months ago

Quebec to lift ban on energy sale to cryptocurrency miners: report

The Quebec government is planning to lift its ban on electricity sales to cryptocurrency miners according to local reports. The moratorium was imposed in March on grounds that the industry “could absorb a large amount” ...

Business 7 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Continent opens doors to cryptocurrency adoption

Cryptocurrencies will soon be the order of the day in Africa as locals slowly warm up to the idea of a digital world. There has been an increase in cryptocurrency transactions in the continent in ...

Business 7 months ago

Golix’s operations still paralyzed despite Zimbabwe court orders

Golix, a major cryptocurrency exchange in Zimbabwe, has yet to resume cryptocurrency operations despite theHigh court order issued last week. According to the exchange, reopening the exchange might take longer than anticipated. Golix operations came ...

Business 7 months ago

‘BCH is Bitcoin’: Rory MacDonald hooks up with Bitcoin Cash

MMA champion and outspoken fan of cryptocurrency Rory MacDonald has made his Bitcoin Cash connection public. Over the weekend, the legendary fighter shared a 30-second video on Twitter, which showed MacDonald punching a water bag ...

Business 7 months ago

Sygnia announces plans for crypto exchange in South Africa

Johannesburg-based asset management company Sygnia Ltd. is planning to launch its first cryptocurrency exchange, called Sygniacoin, in the third quarter of 2018, local news outlets reported. Last week, Sygnia Ltd. CEO Magda Wierzycka said at ...

Business 7 months ago

Zimbabwe court sides with Golix exchange, lifts cryptocurrency ban

Cryptocurrency investors in Zimbabwe are a happy lot after the second highest court in the country reversed the recently placed Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe ban on cryptocurrency-related activities. On Thursday, Zimbabwe High Court Judge Alphas ...

Tech 7 months ago

BTC Gold suffers double spend attack

Yet another altcoin succumbed to a malicious mining attack. BTC Gold (BTG) reportedly fell victim to a double spend attack when a miner gained 51 percent control of the network, making it the third altcoin ...

Business 7 months ago

Crypto in Africa: Blockchain takes root in the heart of African countries

Blockchain technology received  mixed reactions in the 54 African countries at its inception. While most African countries are slowly warming up to blockchain technology, South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana are taking the bull by ...

Tech 7 months ago

Verge succumbs to second attack in months

Cryptocurrency Verge has suffered yet another hack on Monday, leading to 35 million XVGs worth $1.7 million stolen within a few hours. In a statement on Twitter, Verge confirmed that its system was under a ...

Business 7 months ago

Spanish laws allow for direct crypto investments, regulators confirm

The National Securities Market Commission in Spain (CNMV) has clarified its position on registered funds investing directly in cryptocurrencies. The clarification was made in response to a question addressed to fintech companies. The question regarded ...

Business 7 months ago

Pink Taxi ICO settles intellectual property dispute

A group called Pink Taxi has apologized to A2B Taxi Company a week after things got heated between the two parties. The apology made last Friday, addressed the public, A2B Taxi Company and members of ...

Tech 7 months ago

Tel Aviv Stock Exchange develops blockchain-based lending platform

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) announced a new securities lending platform based on blockchain. The platform was developed in partnership with Accenture, Intel, and Israeli fintech firm The Floor. In a statement, TASE said ...

Tech 7 months ago

Russia’s Sberbank conducts first-ever bond transfer on blockchain

Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, carried out its first commercial transaction using blockchain. Sberbank, through its commercial and investment subsidiary, Sberbank CIB, announced the accomplishment on their website. Sberbank worked together with MTS, a leading Russian ...

Business 7 months ago

Microsoft’s Bing joins Internet giants in banning cryptocurrency ads

Bing, a Microsoft powered search engine, announced its intention to ban cryptocurrency-related advertisements on its platform by July. In an announcement on Bing's website, cryptocurrency adverts and any other related programs will be banned from ...

Tech 7 months ago

Cathay Pacific initiates blockchain-based reward program

Hong Kong airline giant Cathay Pacific is turning to blockchain for its rewards program. The airline and its rewards program, Asia Miles, have created a new platform with a mobile app developed by Accenture. According ...

Business 7 months ago

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe bans all cryptocurrency trading

Cryptocurrency businesses in Zimbabwe are worried after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) ordered a ban on all cryptocurrency activities, giving operators 60 days to shut down all operations, according to local reports. On Friday, ...

Business 7 months ago

Kodak-backed company eyes $50M ‘sweet spot’ in token offering

Wenn Digital announced its plans to raise $50 million in an initial coin offering (ICO) in the coming days. Wenn Digital developed KODAKOne, a blockchain-based system that protects the copyright of images or photographs registered ...

Tech 7 months ago

WeChat third-party blockchain app in hot water over ‘violation of service’

Chinese social media app WeChat has suspended a blockchain-based program, less than a day after its launch. According to local news, Xiao Xieyi was suspended for offering services that were not open to WeChat. WeChat ...

Tech 7 months ago

‘Ultra-secure’ Finney smartphone packs 6GB RAM, 128GB storage

Touted to be the “world’s first blockchain smartphone,” the Finney is due to arrive before 2018 ends, and when it does, expect a spec list that will rival any other flagship smartphone. Sirin Labs has ...

Business 7 months ago

Gov’t seizes domain name of Vietnam’s oldest crypto exchange

Vietnamese cryptocurrency exchange Bitcoin Vietnam has found itself in trouble with the law after local authorities claimed the company has been "operating a blog without a proper license." According to local news, Vietnam's Ministry of ...

Tech 7 months ago

Iceland tracks down 600 missing crypto mining machines to China

A ray of hope shined down in Iceland over the weekend, following reports that the 600 cryptocurrency mining computers stolen in four separate burglaries in the country could have made its way to China. According ...

Tech 7 months ago

Social network Blockpress launches on Bitcoin Cash blockchain

A new on-chain social network based on Bitcoin Cash blockchain was launched this week. Blockpress allows people to create, share and, connect with each other without the involvement of intermediaries. The application, according to its ...

Tech 7 months ago

Facebook messenger malware FacexWorm targets crypto platforms

FacexWorm, a malicious Google Chrome extension, has been targeting cryptocurrency trading platforms via Facebook Messenger, according to a Trend Micro report. This was not the first time FacexWorm has targeted unsuspecting users. The malware was ...

Business 8 months ago

Couple faces robbery charges in ‘Discount Bitcoin Bandit’ case

Two people in Los Angeles have been charged with stealing more than $87,000 from people who sought to buy cryptocurrencies at a discounted price, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced. The couple, dubbed ...

Tech 8 months ago

Bitgrail clients want Italian court to declare exchange bankrupt

Victims of the BitGrail hack in February has filed a petition asking an Italian court to declare the cryptocurrency exchange bankrupt. BitGrail reportedly fell victim to a hack early this year, resulting in the loss ...

Business 8 months ago

3 cryptocurrency exchanges fall in Venezuela’s ‘Operation Paper Hands’

The government of Venezuela has shut down three cryptocurrency exchanges as part of its “Operation Paper Hands,” local media reported. Last week, the government’s Operation Paper Hands started its clampdown on the so-called illegal activities ...

Business 8 months ago

No surprises there: Infographic explores Bitcoin Cash triumphs

Contrary to what BTC trolls would have you believe, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is thriving and continues to rise to even greater heights. In the more than eight months since Bitcoin BCH was created, the community ...

Tech 8 months ago

Cisco targets cryptocurrency mining with new patent

California-based IT and networking company Cisco has been granted a patent for a crowd-sourced cloud computing application, which the company claimed could be used for cryptocurrency mining. On Tuesday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office awarded ...

Business 8 months ago

Gaming giant Nexon in talks to acquire Bitstamp for $350M

South Korean gaming behemoth Nexon is reportedly negotiating to take over Bitstamp, one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. Sources familiar with the deal told Business Insider that Nexon is planning to buy ...

Business 8 months ago

Razer bets on virtual currency with $61M MOL Global takeover

Gaming hardware company Razer has announced its intention to take over Malaysian e-payments firm MOL Global in a bid to create one of world's largest virtual credits platform for gamers. Hong Kong-listed Razer said it's ...

Business 8 months ago

BitPay accepts Bitcoin Cash on Checkout point-of-sale app

Cryptocurrency payment service provider BitPay has expanded its Bitcoin Cash (BCH) support, allowing merchants to accept the cryptocurrency on its Checkout point-of-sale (PoS) app. With this recent development, customers will no longer have to convert ...

Tech 8 months ago

Walmart punts on blockchain tech to secure payment data

The U.S Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published two patent filings by Walmart describing blockchain-based applications that will help secure payments and protect private information from third parties. The first patent filing is for a ...

Tech 8 months ago

Blockchain-guided autonomous spacecraft gets NASA green light

An Ohio professor has been awarded a three-year $330,000 NASA grant to begin the development of a blockchain-based technology that will enable autonomous spacecraft to make decisions on its own. Dr. Jin Wei Kocsis, an ...

Tech 8 months ago

Amazon wins patent for cryptocurrency data marketplace

Amazon Technology Inc., a subsidiary of e-commerce and cloud computing giant Amazon, has been granted a patent for a streaming data service that could allow its subscribers to receive real-time cryptocurrency transactions data. The patent ...

Business 8 months ago

Coinsecure promises to refund customers—but in Indian rupees

Indian cryptocurrency exchange Coinsecure will pay back its customers affected by the $3.4 million heist involving SegWit-Coin BTC (also referred to as Bitcoin legacy or Core). The catch, however, is that the refunds will be ...

Tech 8 months ago

Bitmain’s crypto mining facility secures land deal in US state

China’s cryptocurrency mining giant Bitmain has cleared a hurdle in its bid to establish a mining facility in the state of Washington. According to a Union Bulletin report, the three commissioners of the Port of ...

Business 8 months ago

BitFlyer makes changes to strengthen identity verification

BitFlyer, the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in Japan, has denied reports concerning the identity verification process in its platform. BitFlyer is among the four exchanges granted Bitlicense by New York State Department of Financial Services (NYPFS), ...

Tech 8 months ago

First EU blockchain hackathon offers €100K prize

In a bid to explore how blockchain technology can be used for intellectual property (IP) rights enforcement, European Union (EU) agencies are organizing a “Blockathon” event in Brussels, Belgium, in June. The first-ever blockchain hackathon ...

Business 8 months ago

Couple behind $17M BTC investment scam in the Philippines arrested

Philippine authorities arrested a couple accused of using the popularity of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to scam dozens of would-be investors in the country, local media outlets reported. The couple, Arnel and Leonay Ordonio, allegedly scammed ...

Business 8 months ago

Vietnamese startup swindles $660M with 2 ICO projects: report

Modern Tech, a startup based in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City, has gone dark after allegedly defrauding 32,000 people out of VND15 trillion (US$660 million) in connection with two initial coin offerings, according to local ...

Business 8 months ago

India police nab rogue officers in $1.8M Bitcoin ransom case

The criminal investigation department (CID) of the Gujarat police has filed a criminal complaint against eight police officers who allegedly kidnapped a businessman and forced him to pay the ransom in cryptocurrency. According to reports, ...

Business 8 months ago

Philippines sees surge in cryptocurrency exchange applications

The number of businesses applying to operate cryptocurrency exchanges in the Philippines has been growing as the sector gains popularity, a senior official of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) confirmed. BSP Deputy Governor Chuchi ...

Business 8 months ago

Denmark’s Danske Bank bans cryptocurrency investments

The largest bank in Denmark, Danske Bank, published a document stating that it will not support investments in cryptocurrencies. The Danish bank is the latest financial giant to join the growing list of institutions and ...

Business 8 months ago

Coinnest co-founder arrested in South Korea on embezzlement charges

Kim Il-hwan, co-founder of South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Coinnest, was arrested in Seoul on Monday on allegations of embezzling customer funds, local news outlets reported. This is the first time any representative of a Korean ...

Business 8 months ago

Underground cryptocurrency trade thrives in China

Cryptocurrency investors in China have resorted to underground activities after the Beijing government banned Bitcoin trade in the country last year. But when it outlawed cryptocurrency-related activities like initial coin offerings (ICOs), the government unknowingly ...

Business 8 months ago

Australia rolls out AML regulations for cryptocurrency exchanges

Australia has finally implemented new legislative guidelines aimed at regulating digital currency exchange businesses in the land down under. Enacted on Tuesday, the new regulations will require cryptocurrency exchanges in the country to comply with ...

Business 8 months ago

SEC shuts down Mayweather-backed ICO over fraud charges

Startup Centra Tech is on its death bed after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged its two founders with orchestrating a fraudulent initial coin offering (ICO). Sohrab Sharma and Robert Farkas, the co-founders ...

Business 9 months ago

Bitfinex in talks to move business to Switzerland: report

Bitfinex, the fifth largest cryptocurrency trading exchange platform, is reportedly planning to cut its relations with Asia and move its offices to Switzerland. News of Bitfinex moving to Switzerland was first reported by Handelszeitung. In ...

Business 9 months ago

Belarus targets cryptocurrency companies with crypto-friendly regime

Belarus has finally legalized cryptocurrency activities in the country. On March 28, the presidential decree “on the development of digital economy” came into force. According to reports, the country aims to become a global IT ...

Business 9 months ago

Bitfinex passes up on listing Venezuela’s Petro token

One of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, Bitfinex, has refused to list the first cryptocurrency backed by Venezuela's crude oil reserves, Petro (PTR), in its platform. On Tuesday, Bitfinex issued a statement in which it ...

Business 9 months ago

New bill may pave the way for cryptocurrency payments in Russia

A draft bill aiming to protect the rights of cryptocurrency owners was introduced by the minister of finance in Russia, in hopes of boosting cryptocurrency trade in the country. Apart from protection, the bill is ...

Business 9 months ago

Digital currency is taxable, IRS reminds taxpayers

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has warned taxpayers about incurring penalties should they fail to report their cryptocurrency-related incomes. According to the tax agency, digital currencies are treated as property, which means they are ...

Business 9 months ago

US Marshals nets $18.7M in new round of Bitcoin sale

The U.S Marshals Office successfully auctioned 2,170.7 legacy Bitcoin (BTC) to two buyers, according to a Coindesk report. On Thursday, a spokesman from the U.S. Marshals Office announced that the cryptocurrency had been distributed to ...

Business 9 months ago

Snapchat joins social media networks banning ICO ads

Social media platforms have been going after cryptocurrency advertisements, particularly those that promote initial coin offerings (ICOs). The latest move comes from Snap Inc., which this week announced that it has banned all ICO-related ads ...

Business 9 months ago

Venezuela got help from Russia in launching petro: report

The government of Venezuela got help from the Russian government officials and businessmen in launching the petro token, Time reported on Tuesday. According to the report, Russian billionaires Dennis Druzhkov and Fyodor Bogorodsky advised Venezuelan ...

Business 9 months ago

Securities regulator stops Hong Kong company from offering ICO

Most recent regulatory actions by Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has led to the shutdown of an initial coin offering (ICO) of a company called Black Cell Technology Limited. Black Cell has been selling “krop” ...

Tech 9 months ago

Venezuela’s Maduro encourages residents to mine cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency has faced different reactions all around the world. States are either banning cryptocurrency and ICOs or embracing these digital currencies. In Venezuela, people are being called upon to build cryptocurrency mining farms throughout the ...

Business 9 months ago

Thailand backs first draft of landmark ‘digital assets’ legislation

Many countries are imposing regulations on cryptocurrency and initial coin offerings (ICOs). Thailand government has also stepped up to craft legislation targeting digital money. On Tuesday, the Thailand cabinet approved in principle the draft of ...

Business 9 months ago

Brazilian officials busted changing part of scam money to BTC

Scammers continue to use cryptocurrency independence to drain off millions of money from the unsuspecting crowd all around the world. Police in Rio de Janeiro recently uncovered a major money-laundering scheme involving state officials who ...