Bitcoin News, Crypto Currency News, Coins News, Blockchain News, Price and Analysis

More than 56 percent of Russians have already heard of Bitcoin, according to a survey conducted by “All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion, or VCIOM,” translated by Bitcoin.com The popularity of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency as an emerging asset class amongst the youths in Russia has increased exponentially over the past few months. The […] The post Over Half of Russians Know About Bitcoin Now, Government Ready to Regulate? appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DyukKV

Brian Kelly, cryptocurrency hedge fund BKCM manager and CNBC Fast Trader contributor, believes now is the best time to invest in bitcoin, even after the major correction that hit the global cryptocurrency market. Nearly 50% from All-Time High Since reaching an all-time high at around $19,000 in December 2017, the price of bitcoin has decreased […] The post Analyst: Now is the Best Time to Invest in Bitcoin, Even After Recent Correction appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2rBJ7CX

In a recent interview with the Russian news outlet Gazeta, the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Financial Markets, Anatoly Aksakov stated that the current draft of Russiancryptocurrency bill requires government officials to declare their cryptocurrency investments. The draft is currently under review by the Russian Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank with […] The post Russian Bill Draft Requires Gov’t Officials To Declare Crypto Assets appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2GeQq6z

Having rallied 25 percent in the last 24 hours, Stellar’s XLM token is now eyeing a bullish breakout on the price charts. As of writing, XLM is changing hands at $0.57, according to data from OnChainFX. The cryptocurrency is up close to 100 percent compared to last week’s low below $0.30. Twenty-four-hour trading volume stands […] The post Stellar Run Ahead? XLM Flirts With Price Breakout appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2BptMFa

Persistent demand around the $10,000 mark appears to have not only neutralized the immediate bearish outlook on bitcoin, but also hints the cryptocurrency could be building a base for an eventual move higher. Prices on CoinDesk’s Bitcoin Price Index (BPI) fell to $9,972.29 yesterday, before witnessing a quick recovery to $11,000 levels. This is the […] The post Building a Base? Bitcoin Demand at $10K Hints at Move Higher appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2Gb4NsJ

The South Korea government has today issued fines totaling 141 million won ($130,000) to domestic cryptocurrency exchanges for providing insufficient user data protection. In a public announcement, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) said the penalty is a result of an investigation that the agency conducted from Oct. 10 to Dec. 28 in 2017 across 10 […] The post South Korean Regulator Fines Crypto Exchanges over Privacy Failures appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2BpAfQp

Expanded legalized sports betting is “inevitable,” believes NBA commissioner Adam Silver. In June 2018 Americans would find out whether his prediction was correct: the US Supreme Court is expected to decide on a case that seeks to overturn a ban on gambling. New Jersey making money moves The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), […] The post “The House Always Wins”: Can Blockchain Make Sports Betting More Predictable? appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DwvKWh

Nasdaq President and CEO Adena Friedman said on Tuesday that the exchange operator is investigating whether and how to launch bitcoin futures contracts but that those plans are still in the “exploratory phase.” Nasdaq’s Bitcoin Futures Plans Still in ‘Exploratory Phase’ Friedman, who was in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum, confirmed reports that […] The post Nasdaq’s Bitcoin Futures Plans Still in ‘Exploratory Phase’ appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2E2QUMp

Benebit, one of this year’s most hyped ICOs, has pulled an exit scam, making off with a reported $2.7 million of investor funds. Other estimates put the figure as high as $4 million. The fraud only came to light after someone noticed that the team photos had been stolen from a school website. Once the […] The post Benebit ICO Does a Runner with $2.7 Million of Investor Funds appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2BoumD4

A U.K. resident tried to purchase a bitcoin miner off of Amazon last year – but received a DVD copy of an animated film instead. As reported by local media including The Herald, Plymouth resident Ichim Bogdan Cezar was trying to buy a Bitmain AntMiner S9 at a cost of about $5,000. Yet rather than […] The post Amazon User Orders Bitcoin Miner, Gets ‘Boss Baby’ DVD Instead appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2n52EXC

Expert Blog is Cointelegraph’s new series of articles by crypto industry leaders. It covers everything from Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies to ICO regulation and investment analysis. If you want to become our guest author and get published on Cointelegraph, please send us an email at mike@cointelegraph.com. Cryptocurrencies and the Blockchain will be front and center […] The post US Government Implements Blockchain Programs to Improve Transparency and Efficiency: Expert Blog appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2BouVgh

There may a storm brewing for shady companies intent on jumping on the blockchain bandwagon. Startups with no working product seeking to raise millions, or traditional companies rebranding themselves as blockchain connoisseurs are liable to attract the ire of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In a speech delivered in Washington on Monday, SEC chairman […] The post SEC Chairman Signals a Storm Coming for Fly-by-Night Blockchain ICOs appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2n5R6mf

Bitcoin.org has removed the phrase ‘low transaction fees’ from its homepage. They’ve also made a slight change to how they refer to the speed of transactions, no longer calling them fast: While the website has evolved over the last couple of years, there really haven’t been any major changes to the content in quite some […] The post Bitcoin.org Removes Mention of ‘Fast Transactions’ and ‘Low Fees’ appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2E5iZTC

A European Union commissioner plans to hold a meeting of public and private sector stakeholders to discuss the impact of cryptocurrencies on central banks. In remarks at a press conference for the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) on Tuesday, Valdis Dombrovskis, the Vice President for the Euro and Social Dialogue, said he plans to […] The post EU Commissioner to Host ‘High Level Roundtable’ on Cryptocurrencies appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2n6NGjX

A young PhD student has won 1 bitcoin by cracking a code in a tube of DNA – a challenge created at the 2015 World Economic Forum in Davos. University of Antwerp doctoral student Sander Wuyts successfully solved the DNA Storage Bitcoin Challenge before the deadline set by its creator, European Bioinformatics Institute professor Nick […] The post PhD Student Wins 1 Bitcoin For Cracking DNA Code Challenge appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2BmGQLD

Since the creation of Bitcoin by Satoshi Nakamoto, there have been several modifications of the underlying protocol and entirely new projects have been forked out of this original protocol. Litecoin, Dash, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin Gold among others have all found existence with each of them claiming peculiar improvements from Bitcoin. In its present state, the […] The post Bitcoin is set to Undergo [Another] Hardfork to Create ‘Bitcoin Atom’ appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2G9Tj8L

Running a major cryptocurrency exchange can be a logistical nightmare, but the rewards make it all worthwhile. In information released to shareholders this week, Coinbase revealed that it recorded turnover of $1 billion last year, which works out at an astonishing $2.74 million a day or $2,000 a minute. Also read:South Korean Card Companies Block […] The post Coinbase Is Making $2.7 Million a Day appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DyaZ0q

A state senator in the U.S. state of Virginia has filed new legislation that would mandate an impact study on cryptocurrencies. A new bill introduced by Glen Sturtevant would launch a study, which, if approved, would seek to assess how the growth of cryptocurrencies and their use impacts everyday Virginians. The bill has been sent […] The post Virginia Lawmaker Calls for New Cryptocurrency Impact Study appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2n4xiiU

While some mainstream media sources will have you believe that bitcoin is only used for buying illicit drugs, contracting hitmen and laundering money, the truth is that it is being used for so much more than that – just like fiat currency. The latest example is a religious body that now allows members to donate […] The post Church in Zürich Accepts Donations in Bitcoin, BCH, Ether, Ripple and Stellar appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DxSEk1

Alexis Ohanian Sr. may have just indirectly pledged his support for Stellar Lumens. Yesterday, the CEO and co-founder of Reddit tweeted that r/Stellar, the cryptocurrency’s subreddit, is “[definitely] worth subscribing to in 2018.” Definitely worth subscribing to in 2018… https://t.co/Omgof6dyN0 — Alexis Ohanian Sr. (@alexisohanian) January 22, 2018 Ohanian Sr. hasn’t been shy about his […] The post Reddit Co-Founder has Stellar Lumens on His Radar for 2018 appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DBf82B

Expert Blog is Cointelegraph’s new series of articles by crypto industry leaders. It covers everything from Blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies to ICO regulation and investment analysis. If you want to become our guest author and get published on Cointelegraph, please send us an email at mike@cointelegraph.com. There has long been speculation that a special IRS […] The post Tax&Crypto: Expert Blog appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2F7DsWV

Malta’s Financial Services Authority (MFSA) published the feedback it received on its proposed rules for collective investment schemes involving cryptocurrencies on Monday. The MFSA first sought feedback on its proposed rulebook last October as part of a bid to regulate professional investor funds (PIFs) that focus on cryptocurrencies. The proposal notably changed the structure from […] The post Malta Finance Watchdog Pushes Ahead With Crypto Investment Fund Rules appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DBf3fj

Despite its growth in the level of awareness, how to enter the crypto ecosystem still remains a mystery to a lot of interested participants. Most people do not understand how to or where to find entry into a market that is filled with so many opportunities. To this end, OnPlace, Russian-US-based company, is creating a […] The post A New Decentralized Platform Helps Investors Enter the Over-the-Counter Ecosystem appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2F5WxJn

Propy, Inc., a Palo Alto-based global Blockchainreal estate marketplace, announced the launch of a pilot program in South Burlington, Vermont to use Blockchain technology to record real estate documentation, the latest related development in the so-called “Blockchain-friendly” state. The startup, headed by founder Natalia Karayaneva, uses Blockchain protocols to record real estate transactions on a […] The post Vermont Proves ‘Blockchain-Friendly’, Hosts Real Estate Pilot Program appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DqCk0b

We live in an era in which everything is on the blockchain and there’s a blockchain for everything. From bananas to sex, there’s a token for that and a blockchain to match. There are now over 600 blockchains in existence, with dozens more dreamed up every month via ICOs. Given the current craze for all […] The post Everyone’s Talking About Blockchains But Hardly Anyone’s Using Them appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2E1Phyx

The Chairman of UBS Bank, the world’s largest manager of wealth, Axel Weber stated on Jan. 23 that he does not advise the bank’s clients to invest in cryptocurrencies, although he makes a distinction between institutional and retail clients when discussing the subject. Speaking to CNBC at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Weber […] The post UBS Chairman Warns Against Bitcoin For Main Street, Wants No Blame If Market Crashes appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2Dtvozq

TD Ameritrade said on Monday that the first quarter of the fiscal year 2018 was a strong one, buoyed in part by interested in stocks related to blockchain. In announcing the results, the investment services firm said that it added $26.5 billion in new client assets, with net revenues of $1.3 billion during the period […] The post TD Ameritrade Cites Blockchain Stock Interest in Q1 Results appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2E2HoJs

The chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said that he has instructed staff at the regulatory agency to be on “high alert” for initial coin offerings (ICOs) that violate federal securities laws. SEC on ‘High Alert’ for Non-Compliant ICOs Speaking by video conference to the Securities Regulation Institute on Monday, SEC head […] The post SEC on ‘High Alert’ for ICOs that Violate Federal Securities Laws appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DCIqOo

Today, Jan. 23, markets are reacting a second time to news that South Korea will ban anonymous exchanges starting January 30, despite the fact that the information on the planned regulation has been available since late December and reported on since early January. After the South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) today announced the date […] The post Markets Stir After Media Re-Reports S. Korea’s Anonymous Trading Ban, Known Since December appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2n1noj5

Close to $400 million USD raised from initial coin offerings have been lost or stolen, a new research has found. The embezzled funds constitute more than 10% of what had been collected for the projects covered by the study. Meeting fundraising goals is getting harder for companies conducting new ICOs. Also read: Hackers Steal $400k […] The post New Research: 10% of Funds Raised in ICOs Lost or Stolen appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2BmHo41

Goldman Sachs has claimed that bitcoin is a bubble bigger than the dot-com era and the famous Dutch tulip mania. In a research letter to investors, the banking firm’s analysts warned about the increase in cryptocurrency values, highlighting the price moves in bitcoin and ether, as well as the stock price increases for companies which […] The post Goldman Sachs Warns Investors of Bitcoin ‘Bubble’ in New Report appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2n78esz

The price of ether, ethereum’s native token, is likely to head south unless the bulls can quickly pull the price back over $1,160 levels, price chart analysis indicates. On Coinbase’s GDAX exchange, ether hit a one-week low of $905 at 11:50 UTC today. A sharp recovery from the last week’s low of $757 ran out […] The post Ether Price Outlook Gloomy After Again Falling Below $1K appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2F5BgPK

“I have no doubt that Bitcoin is going to reach well beyond a $100,000.” This is what Eran Eyal, CEO of distributed marketplace Shopin, said when was asked if the price of Bitcoin was going to rise over $20,000. Although he did not give a specific time-frame of when Bitcoin will surpass $100,000, he pointed […] The post Bitcoin Price Will Rise ‘Well Beyond $100,000’, Says Blockchain Marketplace Executive appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DsroPS

The United Nations is increasing its efforts to promote applications of blockchain technology to further action on climate change. In a Jan. 22 blog post, the U.N. announced that it has helped launch a new group called the Climate Chain Coalition, which will aim to research the use cases for distributed ledger technology (DLT) in […] The post UN Forms Blockchain Coalition to Help Tackle Climate Change appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2E0pMxC

US companies who change their name to include the word ‘Blockchain’ could soon face increased scrutiny from regulators, new comments released Monday, Jan. 22. from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suggest. Speaking at the Securities Regulation Institute Monday, SEC Chairman Jay Clayton devoted a small but pointed portion of his remarks to Blockchain […] The post Firms Continue To ‘Capitalize’ On Blockchain Name Hype, SEC Promises Increased Scrutiny appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DC0XKJ

The bitcoin price plunged below the $10,000 support level in a correction that analysts are attributing to increased pressure from regulators throughout the world. Bitcoin Price Plunges Below $10,000 The bitcoin price dipped below $10,000 on Tuesday, deepening an early-week correction that began on Monday on the heels of a fleeting $13,000 weekend rally. BTC […] The post Bitcoin Price Plunges Below $10,000 as Markets Continue to Feel Regulatory Heat appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2F5a83D

People keep buying stuff, but there’s a crisis or, as some experts say, an apocalypse in retail that has started in the US and rapidly spread to the other parts of the world. In 2017, nearly 9,000 stores closed in America. More retailers, including Toys ‘R’ Us, filed for bankruptcy than during the Great Recession. […] The post Power to People: A Decentralized Platform Connects Consumers With Retail appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DxsQnV

Having closed below key long-term moving average yesterday, bitcoin (BTC) prices looks set to explore sub-$10,000 levels. Prices on CoinDesk’s Bitcoin Price Index fell to a low of $10,050.79 yesterday and dipped below $10,000 soon before publishing. At press time, BTC had bounced back to $10,150 levels. The cryptocurrency has depreciated by 11.70 percent in […] The post Bear Grip Strengthens as Bitcoin Price Nears $10K appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2n4IdsW

America’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase reportedly made $1 billion in revenue in 2017, overshooting its 2017 revenue forecast of $600 mln by 66 percent, Recode reports, citing “industry sources.” According to Recode, despite the peaked interest of outside investors, the company remains private and does not allow stock to be traded on secondary markets. The […] The post Coinbase Overshoots 2017 Revenue Goal By 66% Making $1 Bln, Rejects Further VC Funding appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DACci2

Tech giant Microsoft and blockchain alliance Hyperledger have joined blockchain-based digital identity initiative, the ID2020 Alliance. Announced during the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland yesterday, the alliance – which aid agency Mercy Corps and the U.N. International Computing Center have also just joined – aims to improve people’s lives through provision of digital […] The post Microsoft, Hyperledger, UN Join Blockchain Identity Initiative appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2F6Q94t

As News.Bitcoin.com learned two weeks ago, one of Europe’s largest banks, Nordea, will enact a company-wide policy to effectively ban its employees from owning or trading in cryptocurrency. Citing risks and perhaps looming regulation, the bank decided to act preemptively. Also read:Whistleblower Details Big Bank’s Plans to Prohibit Employees Owning Bitcoin Nordea Bank Bans Bitcoin […] The post Northern European Bank Nordea Confirms Bitcoin Ban for Employees appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DA8xpg

Tokyo-based crypto exchange bitFlyer was issued a Payment Institution license to operate in the European Union, the exchange reported Monday, Jan. 22. The license was granted to the exchange by the Luxembourg regulator, Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). BitFlyer, which entered the US market compliantly as of fall 2017, already operates in Japan […] The post BitFlyer Granted EU Operational License, Now ‘Most Compliant’ Crypto Exchange appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2G6YfLE

Huobi, one of China’s former ‘big three’ exchanges, has launched the issuance of its own token while insisting that it isn’t an ICO. Beijing-based cryptocurrency giant Huobi has announced the launch of its own token, dubbed ‘Huobi Token (HT)’ today. The utility token is based on the Ethereum blockchain’s ERC-20 standard and will be capped […] The post Huobi Launches Ethereum-Standard Token, But It ‘Is Not an ICO’ appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2ruqSzb

Blockchain technology should be adopted as part of a plan to boost development of China’s secondary loan market, according to a paper by the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC). Published on Jan. 19, the paper, drafted by a special committee, covers a variety of topics around developing and regulating financial technologies. In a section on […] The post China’s Banking Regulator Pushes Blockchain Adoption for Credit Market appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2G9DcIe

Japan-based bitcoin exchange operator bitFlyer has set up shop in Europe, having already expanded to the U.S last year. The exchange announced yesterday that it had received a payment institution (PI) license to operate its services in the European Union and is initially seeking to attract professional, high-volume traders – a sector it sees as […] The post Cryptocurrency Exchange BitFlyer Launches New EU Branch appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2rspNI0

South Korea’s financial watchdog has set a deadline for the ban on anonymous cryptocurrency trading accounts within the country. According to a new announcement from the Financial Services Commission (FSC), starting from Jan. 30, cryptocurrency investors in South Korea will have to use real-name bank accounts in order to continue trading. Once the rule comes […] The post South Korea Announces Deadline for Halt of Anonymous Crypto Trading appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2DsBiQO

Inflation runs high in Africa and bitcoin could be a potential alternative to regional currencies. African central banks have consistently followed policies that have eroded the purchasing power of their citizen’s money. As a result, bitcoin will offer Africans a choice and another option for money as a store of value. Bitcoin has been portrayed […] The post Bitcoin Can Bring Respite to Africa’s Inflation Problem appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2E0gQIJ

South Korea’s financial watchdog has set a deadline for the ban on anonymous cryptocurrency trading accounts within the country. According to a new announcement from the Financial Services Commission (FSC), starting from Jan. 30, cryptocurrency investors in South Korea will have to use real-name bank accounts in order to continue trading. Once the rule comes […] The post South Korea Announces Date for Ban on Anonymous Crypto Trading appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2rv4Got

The city of South Burlington, Vermont, is trialing a land registration system which uses blockchain as part of a system for recording ownership. The City Clerk’s Office announced Monday that it was partnering with blockchain startup Propy to store land record management data, according to a press release. The pilot’s aim is to develop a […] The post Vermont City Pilots Land Registry Record With Blockchain Startup appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2ru7iTH

Huobi, the cryptocurrency exchange, has announced that they will issue a token (the ‘Huobi Token’ or HT) starting January 23. The offering will be capped at 500 million tokens, of which 300 million will be offered to investors and the remainder kept as user incentives or team rewards. The offering, though, is not to be […] The post Huobi Offers Platform Utility Token, ‘Not An ICO’ appeared first on COINEWS.ORG . http://ift.tt/2rxodoj