Bitstop Installs One-Way Bitcoin ATMs Into Simon Malls

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Bitstop, a Bitcoin Automated Teller Machine (ATM) operator, has partnered with Simon Malls, one of the biggest shopping mall operators in the United States, to install Bitcoin ATMs across California, Florida and Georgia.



According to the November 26, 2019, <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2019/11/26/1952566/0/en/Bitstop-Installs-Bitcoin-ATMs-at-Simon-Malls-in-Time-for-Holiday-Shopping.html">announcement</a>, Bitstop’s ATMs are now live in five Simon Malls locations. The company’s chief executive and co-founder Andrew Barnard stated the firm is hoping to increase its network of machines from about 500 to over 2,000 by the end of 2020.&nbsp;



<h2>Answering Market Demand for Bitcoin ATMs</h2>



“Coming across a dedicated bitcoin ATM at a shopping mall or airport makes Bitcoin much more real in the consciousness of the mainstream,” Barnard told Bitcoin Magazine. “Millions of people will walk by these bitcoin ATMs within the next year. It will challenge their previous beliefs. These locations make Bitcoin much more real to the average person.”&nbsp;



Bitstop’s ATMs support bitcoin only and they are strictly one-way machines. According to Barnard, this is deliberate on their part. As he points out, they’ve noticed that the demand for purchasing bitcoin far outweighs that for selling the asset.



“We have two-way machines but the added cost and maintenance of the machines is not always worth it. Currently, the demand for cashing out bitcoin is significantly lower when compared to the demand for buying Bitcoin, at least in the United States. The reverse may be true outside of the United States depending on the jurisdiction.”



Bitstop installed its first ATM in Florida in 2015. About that time, there were less than 300 bitcoin ATMs globally. Fast forward to 2019 and there are over 6,000 of these machines around the world, with more than 60 percent domiciled in the U.S.&nbsp;



While Bitstop has all of its machines in the U.S., Barnard did reveal that there were plans to install their devices internationally as well.&nbsp;



“We’ve built a turn-key program for other operators who want to own and operate their own Bitcoin ATM fleet,” he said.&nbsp;



<h2>More Bitcoin ATMs, Further Bitcoin Adoption</h2>



The move will see a further increase in the number of bitcoin ATMs, a number which, according to analysis <a href="https://coinatmradar.com/charts/growth/">platform</a> Coin ATM Radar, surpassed the 6,000 mark earlier this month. The United States currently dwarfs other countries in terms of ATMs installed, with about 65 percent of the total haul around the world.&nbsp;



Recently, Canadian crypto exchange Coinsquare <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/coinsquare-takes-controlling-interest-crypto-atm-company-cash">acquired</a> a controlling interest in Just Cash, a fintech firm that connects traditional ATMs to the crypto space.&nbsp;“By using the millions of existing ATMs around the world, we can now bridge the gap and give new users the easiest and most familiar experience to purchase cryptocurrency,” Coinsquare’s CEO Cole Diamond said to Bitcoin Magazine.

Bitcoin Magazine provides news, analysis, information, commentary and price data about Bitcoin.

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Jimmy has been following the development of blockchain for several years, and he is optimistic about its potential to democratize the financial system.

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Bitstop hopes in further bitcoin adoption with future plans to increase its network of bitcoin ATMs from about 500 to over 2,000 by the end of 2020.

Bitstop Installs One-Way Bitcoin ATMs In Simon Malls

Bitstop, a Bitcoin Automated Teller Machine (ATM) operator, has partnered with Simon Malls, one of the biggest shopping mall operators in the United States, to install Bitcoin ATMs across California, Florida and Georgia. According to the November 26, 2019, announcement, Bitstop&rsquo;s ATMs are now live in five Simon Malls locations. The company&rsquo;s chief executive and co-founder Andrew Barnard stated the firm is hoping to increase its network of machines from about 500 to over 2,000 by the end of 2020.&nbsp; Answering Market Demand for Bitcoin ATMs. &ldquo;Coming across a dedicated bitcoin ATM at a shopping mall or airport makes Bitcoin much more real in the consciousness of the mainstream,&rdquo; Barnard told Bitcoin Magazine. &ldquo;Millions of people will walk by these bitcoin ATMs within the next year. It will challenge their previous beliefs. These locations make Bitcoin much more real to the average person.&rdquo;&nbsp; Bitstop&rsquo;s ATMs support bitcoin only and they are strictly one-way machines. According to Barnard, this is deliberate on their part. As he points out, they&rsquo;ve noticed that the demand for purchasing bitcoin far outweighs that for selling the asset. &ldquo;We have two-way machines but the added cost and maintenance of the machines is not always worth it. Currently, the demand for cashing out bitcoin is significantly lower when compared to the demand for buying Bitcoin, at least in the United States. The reverse may be true outside of the United States depending on the jurisdiction.&rdquo; Bitstop installed its first ATM in Florida in 2015. About that time, there were less than 300 bitcoin ATMs globally. Fast forward to 2019 and there are over 6,000 of these machines around the world, with more than 60 percent domiciled in the U.S.&nbsp; While Bitstop has all of its machines in the U.S., Barnard did reveal that there were plans to install their devices internationally as well.&nbsp; &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve built a turn-key program for other operators who want to own and operate their own Bitcoin ATM fleet,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; More Bitcoin ATMs, Further Bitcoin Adoption. The move will see a further increase in the number of bitcoin ATMs, a number which, according to analysis platform Coin ATM Radar, surpassed the 6,000 mark earlier this month. The United States currently dwarfs other countries in terms of ATMs installed, with about 65 percent of the total haul around the world.&nbsp; Recently, Canadian crypto exchange Coinsquare acquired a controlling interest in Just Cash, a fintech firm that connects traditional ATMs to the crypto space.&nbsp;&ldquo;By using the millions of existing ATMs around the world, we can now bridge the gap and give new users the easiest and most familiar experience to purchase cryptocurrency,&rdquo; Coinsquare&rsquo;s CEO Cole Diamond said to Bitcoin Magazine.

Bitcoin Magazine provides news, analysis, information, commentary and price data about Bitcoin, blockchain tech, and other cryptocurrencies.

{2328cfa67350b5bfec8389c601c062c62561b3c57774946e22f0f38e87250c2b}{2328cfa67350b5bfec8389c601c062c62561b3c57774946e22f0f38e87250c2b}title{2328cfa67350b5bfec8389c601c062c62561b3c57774946e22f0f38e87250c2b}{2328cfa67350b5bfec8389c601c062c62561b3c57774946e22f0f38e87250c2b} Bitstop Installs One-Way Bitcoin ATMs In Simon Malls

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Compute North’s latest and largest colocation center will provide 100 megawatts of power in Nebraska with bitcoin mining clients in mind.

Compute North Launches Nebraska Bitcoin Mining Center - Bitcoin Magazine

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/compute-north-announces-nebraska-colocation-center-for-bitcoin-mining/kjn

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Compute North, a data infrastructure and colocation company based in the U.S., has announced that its largest location is now live in Nebraska. The new facility offers 100 megawatts (MW) of power and is targeted at large capacity users, such as cryptocurrency miners.



“The facility is set up to accomodate large-capacity users with over 1MW of requirements by delivering accessible, affordable, reliable and secure collocation to people from all over the globe,” according to a press release shared with Bitcoin Magazine. “The combination of power and connectivity with the low energy costs of the site makes it capable of efficiently handling blockchain, machine learning, crypto mining, and more.”



Compute North’s new colocation center is located in the town of Kearney, Nebraska, and it will be the third facility owned and operated by the firm. Its others are located in Texas and South Dakota. News of this new campus first broke in June 2019, when the company <a href="https://data-economy.com/compute-north-to-build-7-65m-data-centre-hub-in-nebraska/">reportedly</a> agreed with the City of Kearney and the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County to commit about $7.65 million to the project.&nbsp;



<h2>Compute North and Bitcoin Mining Colocation Services</h2>



According to the release, Compute North will leverage Nebraska’s relatively low energy costs (which <a href="https://www.electricitylocal.com/states/nebraska/">currently</a> stand at $0.1004 per kilowatt-hour) to provide reliable colocation — equipment, space, bandwidth and/or power rental — for people around the world. Compute North hosts and distributes cryptocurrency mining equipment from the likes of Bitmain, Whatsminer, Canaan and more.



“Our new Nebraska hosting site is already more than two-thirds committed and is continuing to ramp up quickly,” Compute North CEO Dave Perrill explained in the release. “We are very excited to be a part of the Kearney community as we continue to deliver scalable, fast deployment data center solutions that help organizations drive maximum ROI.”



<h2>The Future of Bitcoin Mining in the U.S.</h2>



This colocation mining center is the latest boost for America as a growing market for bitcoin mining operators. Though the sector has long been dominated by China, due to its access to cheap electricity and affordable mining hardware, the U.S. is establishing its fair share of bitcoin mining centers as are <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/beyond-china-and-north-america-the-decentralization-of-bitcoin-mining">other locations around the world</a>.



In October 2019, Texas, for instance, welcomed an influx of investment from the mining industry. <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/bitmain-opens-50-mw-bitcoin-mining-center-in-texas">Bitmain</a> opened up a 50MW mining center in the state and cryptocurrency infrastructure platform Layer1 <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/layer1-secures-50m-in-funding-to-rebalance-the-global-bitcoin-hash-power">secured</a> $50 million in funding to build mining gear and run its mining operation in West Texas. 



In <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/northern-bitcoin-merges-leading-us-173000722.html">November 2019</a>, Whinstone US Inc. and Northern Bitcoin AG announced their intention to set up a 1 gigawatt bitcoin mining farm in Louisiana which they claim would be the “largest bitcoin mining facility worldwide.”

Flooded village in lowland of Great river

Compute North&rsquo;s latest and largest colocation center will provide 100 megawatts of power in Nebraska with bitcoin mining clients in mind.

Compute North Announces Nebraska Colocation Center for Bitcoin Mining

Compute North, a data infrastructure and colocation company based in the U.S., has announced that its largest location is now live in Nebraska. The new facility offers 100 megawatts (MW) of power and is targeted at large capacity users, such as cryptocurrency miners. &ldquo;The facility is set up to accomodate large-capacity users with over 1MW of requirements by delivering accessible, affordable, reliable and secure collocation to people from all over the globe,&rdquo; according to a press release shared with Bitcoin Magazine. &ldquo;The combination of power and connectivity with the low energy costs of the site makes it capable of efficiently handling blockchain, machine learning, crypto mining, and more.&rdquo; Compute North&rsquo;s new colocation center is located in the town of Kearney, Nebraska, and it will be the third facility owned and operated by the firm. Its others are located in Texas and South Dakota. News of this new campus first broke in June 2019, when the company reportedly agreed with the City of Kearney and the Economic Development Council of Buffalo County to commit about $7.65 million to the project.&nbsp; Compute North and Bitcoin Mining Colocation Services According to the release, Compute North will leverage Nebraska&rsquo;s relatively low energy costs (which currently stand at $0.1004 per kilowatt-hour) to provide reliable colocation &mdash; equipment, space, bandwidth and/or power rental &mdash; for people around the world. Compute North hosts and distributes cryptocurrency mining equipment from the likes of Bitmain, Whatsminer, Canaan and more. &ldquo;Our new Nebraska hosting site is already more than two-thirds committed and is continuing to ramp up quickly,&rdquo; Compute North CEO Dave Perrill explained in the release. &ldquo;We are very excited to be a part of the Kearney community as we continue to deliver scalable, fast deployment data center solutions that help organizations drive maximum ROI.&rdquo; The Future of Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. This colocation mining center is the latest boost for America as a growing market for bitcoin mining operators. Though the sector has long been dominated by China, due to its access to cheap electricity and affordable mining hardware, the U.S. is establishing its fair share of bitcoin mining centers as are other locations around the world. In October 2019, Texas, for instance, welcomed an influx of investment from the mining industry. Bitmain opened up a 50MW mining center in the state and cryptocurrency infrastructure platform Layer1 secured $50 million in funding to build mining gear and run its mining operation in West Texas. In November 2019, Whinstone US Inc. and Northern Bitcoin AG announced their intention to set up a 1 gigawatt bitcoin mining farm in Louisiana which they claim would be the &ldquo;largest bitcoin mining facility worldwide.&rdquo;

Compute North Announces Nebraska Colocation Center for Bitcoin Mining –

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/compute-north-announces-nebraska-colocation-center-for-bitcoin-mining

Compute North New Nebraska Bitcoin Mining Center

The partnership will give Tagomi’s institutional clients access to Binance.US trading pairs, including BTC, and furnish Binance.US with more liquidity.

Binance.US, Tagomi Partner on Institutional Access - Bitcoin Magazine

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/binance-us-and-tagomi-partner-to-offer-institutional-liquidity-and-access/gjhb

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Binance.US has partnered with institutional brokerage firm Tagomi to provide liquidity for its cross-exchange trading platform.



This partnership will enable Tagomi clients, including venture funds, IRAs and family offices, to access Binance.US’s fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto trading pairs, including BTC. It will also, in turn, furnish Binance.US with more liquidity.



Tagomi is designed for the institutional trading of digital assets at scale. The brokerage targets large-scale and sophisticated investors looking for access to the cryptocurrency market. Now, Tagomi's clients will be able to access the trading pairs through the brokerage's trade infrastructure.



<h2>Offering Cryptocurrency Investments to the Institutional Market</h2>



Speaking with Bitcoin Magazine about the partnership, Binance.US CEO Catherine Coley emphasized the transformative power of cryptocurrencies and how they can shape our world.



“I see a lot of value in what cryptocurrencies offer by way of disintermediation, and I think it is important that U.S. citizens have access to these currencies that will play a crucial role in the future of currency exchange, payments, etc.,” she said.



This alliance allows Binance.US to take a significant step forward in its mission to bridge the gap between the demand for a wider range of digital assets from investors and the ability of brokerage platforms to supply them.



Institutional demand for crypto assets like bitcoin is on the rise in America. For example, crypto asset manager Grayscale Investments, which offers crypto-related products to investors who don’t necessarily want to manage their own private keys, <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/grayscale-posts-record-quarter-despite-slump-in-bitcoin-prices">attracted</a> $254.9 million in net investments for its products in the third quarter of 2019, despite the slump in prices. The investment firm recently <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/grayscale-files-to-make-bitcoin-trust-first-to-be-regulated-by-sec">applied </a>to become a reporting company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in a bid to have its products regulated and attract more institutional investment.



Echoing Grayscale’s move, Coley believes institutions want a larger piece of the cryptocurrency pie but need more education about the right products.



“Institutional traders in the U.S. present an outsized demand that is currently not being met,” she explained. “Our partnership with Tagomi falls directly in line with our mission to make the U.S. a global leader in the growth of the digital asset market, while also helping educate new and sophisticated traders on the wealth of opportunities cryptocurrencies present, well beyond simple investment vehicles.”



<h2>Binance.US Making Bitcoin Accessible </h2>



Bnance.US has hit several milestones that should make bitcoin more accessible to more traditional investors since it <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/binance-welcomes-back-u-s-clients-with-dedicated-compliant-platform">launched</a> in September 2019, including the addition of an option for American clients to buy bitcoin with their <a href="https://www.binance.us/en/blog/397004529524600832/BinanceUS-Launches-Debit-Card-Payments-Gains-Momentum-in-First-Month-Exceeding-{ff8f5965cb071e38757f9d39ed4299533e3972006db663d44e0857aa4803add6}2415-Million-Daily-Trading-Volume">debit cards</a>. In October 2019, the exchange <a href="https://support.binance.us/hc/en-us/articles/360035339351">announced</a> that USD deposits stored on the exchange were eligible for Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) coverage.



For Coley, these milestones appear to be progress in a personal mission.



“I came to cryptocurrency with genuine curiosity rooted in frustration with traditional payment systems,” she said. “As an FX trader in Hong Kong, I broached the global currency topic with an understanding of how difficult it can be to live abroad and have bills in various denominations.”

The partnership will give Tagomi&rsquo;s institutional clients access to Binance.US trading pairs, including BTC, and furnish Binance.US with more liquidity.

Binance.US and Tagomi Partner to Offer Institutional Liquidity and Access

Binance.US has partnered with institutional brokerage firm Tagomi to provide liquidity for its cross-exchange trading platform. This partnership will enable Tagomi clients, including venture funds, IRAs and family offices, to access Binance.US&rsquo;s fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto trading pairs, including BTC. It will also, in turn, furnish Binance.US with more liquidity. Tagomi is designed for the institutional trading of digital assets at scale. The brokerage targets large-scale and sophisticated investors looking for access to the cryptocurrency market. Now, Tagomi&#039;s clients will be able to access the trading pairs through the brokerage&#039;s trade infrastructure. Offering Cryptocurrency Investments to the Institutional Market Speaking with Bitcoin Magazine about the partnership, Binance.US CEO Catherine Coley emphasized the transformative power of cryptocurrencies and how they can shape our world. &ldquo;I see a lot of value in what cryptocurrencies offer by way of disintermediation, and I think it is important that U.S. citizens have access to these currencies that will play a crucial role in the future of currency exchange, payments, etc.,&rdquo; she said. This alliance allows Binance.US to take a significant step forward in its mission to bridge the gap between the demand for a wider range of digital assets from investors and the ability of brokerage platforms to supply them. Institutional demand for crypto assets like bitcoin is on the rise in America. For example, crypto asset manager Grayscale Investments, which offers crypto-related products to investors who don&rsquo;t necessarily want to manage their own private keys, attracted $254.9 million in net investments for its products in the third quarter of 2019, despite the slump in prices. The investment firm recently applied to become a reporting company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in a bid to have its products regulated and attract more institutional investment. Echoing Grayscale&rsquo;s move, Coley believes institutions want a larger piece of the cryptocurrency pie but need more education about the right products. &ldquo;Institutional traders in the U.S. present an outsized demand that is currently not being met,&rdquo; she explained. &ldquo;Our partnership with Tagomi falls directly in line with our mission to make the U.S. a global leader in the growth of the digital asset market, while also helping educate new and sophisticated traders on the wealth of opportunities cryptocurrencies present, well beyond simple investment vehicles.&rdquo; Binance.US Making Bitcoin Accessible Bnance.US has hit several milestones that should make bitcoin more accessible to more traditional investors since it launched in September 2019, including the addition of an option for American clients to buy bitcoin with their debit cards. In October 2019, the exchange announced that USD deposits stored on the exchange were eligible for Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) coverage. For Coley, these milestones appear to be progress in a personal mission. &ldquo;I came to cryptocurrency with genuine curiosity rooted in frustration with traditional payment systems,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;As an FX trader in Hong Kong, I broached the global currency topic with an understanding of how difficult it can be to live abroad and have bills in various denominations.&rdquo;

Binance.US and Tagomi Partner to Offer Institutional Liquidity and Access –

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/binance-us-and-tagomi-partner-to-offer-institutional-liquidity-and-access

Binance.US, Tagomi Partner on Institutional Access

Grayscale Investments has voluntarily filed to have its Bitcoin Trust, the first digital currency investment product, regulated by the SEC.

Grayscale Wants Bitcoin Trust Regulated by SEC - Bitcoin Magazine

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Grayscale Investments has submitted a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that could change the status of its popular bitcoin investment product. 



On November 19, 2019, <a href="https://medium.com/grayscale-investments/gbtc-sec-filing-8b4cb229088">the company filed</a> a <a href="https://www.sec.gov/files/form10.pdf">securities registration form</a> with the SEC which, if approved, would see its popular Grayscale Bitcoin Trust product become the first-ever digital currency investment product to be regulated by the SEC. 



The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust was initially launched as a way to give more investors exposure to bitcoin with some barriers to entry eliminated, like the need to protect your own private keys. The pursuit of regulation by the SEC through this voluntary filing appears to be an effort in the same vein.



“This filing is the latest step on the road to regulatory maturity for digital currencies,” according to a Grayscale press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine. “After creating the first FINRA-regulated Bitcoin investment product, Grayscale once again is leading the industry in facilitating responsible regulatory oversight of the asset class.



If the SEC approves the filing, the structure of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust would not change, nor would its regulatory classification.



“This is a voluntary filing that, if deemed effective, would designate the Trust as an SEC reporting company and register its shares pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”),” the press release reads.



An SEC reporting company is also called a “reporting issuer.” By becoming a reporting company, Grayscale would likely be subject to periodic and ongoing disclosure requirements designed to keep investors informed on major updates concerning their investment.



<h2>Potential Changes for Bitcoin Trust Investors</h2>



Following approval from the SEC, accredited Grayscale Bitcoin Trust investors would see a reduction in the statutory holding period for their investment from 12 months to six months, giving them liquidity sooner. This means that investors who had previously purchased shares in the trust’s private placement could resell them on the secondary market within six months.



The trust would also be changing how it files quarterly and annual reports. With SEC approval, it would have to file its reports and audited financial statements as 10-Qs and 10-Ks — specific report templates as designated by the SEC. The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust became the first publicly-traded bitcoin fund in 2015 (as the Bitcoin Investment Trust), <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/bitcoin-investment-trust-bit-goes-live-ticker-gbtc-1427488173">having</a> received approval on the OTC Markets Group’s OTCQX exchange. 



The company, which is behind a significant “<a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/bye-gold-buy-bitcoin-grayscale-urges-investors-to-drop-gold-for-btc">Drop Gold</a>” advertising campaign, has seen its bitcoin product rise in popularity since its launch. Per a recent <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/grayscale-posts-record-quarter-despite-slump-in-bitcoin-prices">quarterly report,</a> Grayscale attracted $254.9 million in net investments for its products, with two-thirds of the inflows secured attracted by the Bitcoin Trust.

Grayscale Files to Make Bitcoin Trust First to Be Regulated by SEC

Grayscale Investments has submitted a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that could change the status of its popular bitcoin investment product. On November 19, 2019, the company filed a securities registration form with the SEC which, if approved, would see its popular Grayscale Bitcoin Trust product become the first-ever digital currency investment product to be regulated by the SEC. The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust was initially launched as a way to give more investors exposure to bitcoin with some barriers to entry eliminated, like the need to protect your own private keys. The pursuit of regulation by the SEC through this voluntary filing appears to be an effort in the same vein. &ldquo;This filing is the latest step on the road to regulatory maturity for digital currencies,&rdquo; according to a Grayscale press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine. &ldquo;After creating the first FINRA-regulated Bitcoin investment product, Grayscale once again is leading the industry in facilitating responsible regulatory oversight of the asset class. If the SEC approves the filing, the structure of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust would not change, nor would its regulatory classification. &ldquo;This is a voluntary filing that, if deemed effective, would designate the Trust as an SEC reporting company and register its shares pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &ldquo;Exchange Act&rdquo;),&rdquo; the press release reads. An SEC reporting company is also called a &ldquo;reporting issuer.&rdquo; By becoming a reporting company, Grayscale would likely be subject to periodic and ongoing disclosure requirements designed to keep investors informed on major updates concerning their investment. Potential Changes for Bitcoin Trust Investors. Following approval from the SEC, accredited Grayscale Bitcoin Trust investors would see a reduction in the statutory holding period for their investment from 12 months to six months, giving them liquidity sooner. This means that investors who had previously purchased shares in the trust&rsquo;s private placement could resell them on the secondary market within six months. The trust would also be changing how it files quarterly and annual reports. With SEC approval, it would have to file its reports and audited financial statements as 10-Qs and 10-Ks &mdash; specific report templates as designated by the SEC. The Grayscale Bitcoin Trust became the first publicly-traded bitcoin fund in 2015 (as the Bitcoin Investment Trust), having received approval on the OTC Markets Group&rsquo;s OTCQX exchange. The company, which is behind a significant &ldquo;Drop Gold&rdquo; advertising campaign, has seen its bitcoin product rise in popularity since its launch. Per a recent quarterly report, Grayscale attracted $254.9 million in net investments for its products, with two-thirds of the inflows secured attracted by the Bitcoin Trust.

Grayscale Files to Make Bitcoin Trust First to Be Regulated by SEC –

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/grayscale-files-to-make-bitcoin-trust-first-to-be-regulated-by-sec

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Cashaa has announced forthcoming dollar-based banking services for cryptocurrency companies based in the U.S., stepping in for traditional banks.

Cashaa Announces U.S. Dollar Bank Accounts - Bitcoin Magazine

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/cashaa-announces-u-s-dollar-bank-accounts-for-cryptocurrency-firms/vhbkj_copy

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Bitcoin banking platform Cashaa will soon offer U.S. dollar bank accounts for cryptocurrency-focused businesses, except those operating in sanctioned countries.&nbsp;



<a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/cashaa-hopes-bridge-crypto-and-traditional-finance">Cashaa</a> offers banking services like International Bank Account Number (IBAN) accounts, international SWIFT transfers for fiat and credit card processing for cryptocurrency-based businesses, which often <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/breaking-up-with-the-banks-stories-from-bitcoins-debanked-community">struggle to receive</a> these services from traditional banks. It also enables businesses to accept cryptocurrencies and withdraw funds in fiat, including British pounds, euros and Indian rupees. Beginning November 25, 2019, clients based in the U.S. will be able to apply for USD accounts.



These accounts will include automated clearing house and SWIFT access without limits and incur a one-time setup fee of 250,000 CAS, Cashaa’s native token (about $1,500 at press time).



Cashaa has integrated with New York-based Metropolitan Commercial Bank for provision of this service. As with Cashaa’s U.K. accounts, U.S. dollar account holders will have access to multisig wallet and exchange functionality for bitcoin purchases.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2>Banking the Unbanked&nbsp;</h2>



Cashaa’s new service is targeted at cryptocurrency businesses who encounter difficulty opening a corporate account in the U.S. As noted above, traditional banks have often shied away from the industry for reasons that range from regulatory uncertainty to the volatile nature of crypto assets.&nbsp;



In some cases, cryptocurrency-based businesses have had their accounts closed. In a press release on the service, Cashaa noted that it formed a “pre-compliance team” in September 2019 following Barclays decision to <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/barclays-ends-banking-relationship-with-coinbase">stop serving Coinbase</a>.



Speaking on their rationale, Janina Lowisz, the co-founder and vice president of marketing, believes her company could help serve the “underserved businesses building new technologies.”



“Our goal is to create a hassle-free experience for all businesses who are building new technologies and business models,” Lowisz said in the release. “The addition of U.S. Dollar accounts is an important milestone for the crypto community and us. We want to thank our community and all businesses so far who have trusted Cashaa to solve their banking problems.”



In April 2019, Cashaa <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/cashaa-now-accepts-debit-credit-cards-crypto-purchases">began supporting</a> cryptocurrency purchases with major debit and credit cards. In October 2019, the company <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cashaa-is-announcing-it-will-enable-its-users-to-buy-and-sell-btc-for-inr-from-23-october-2019-300942096.html">enabled</a> bitcoin purchasing options for customers in India using fiat currency.

Cashaa Announces U.S. Dollar Bank Accounts for Cryptocurrency Firms

Bitcoin banking platform Cashaa will soon offer U.S. dollar bank accounts for cryptocurrency-focused businesses, except those operating in sanctioned countries.&nbsp; Cashaa offers banking services like International Bank Account Number (IBAN) accounts, international SWIFT transfers for fiat and credit card processing for cryptocurrency-based businesses, which often struggle to receive these services from traditional banks. It also enables businesses to accept cryptocurrencies and withdraw funds in fiat, including British pounds, euros and Indian rupees. Beginning November 25, 2019, clients based in the U.S. will be able to apply for USD accounts. These accounts will include automated clearing house and SWIFT access without limits and incur a one-time setup fee of 250,000 CAS, Cashaa&rsquo;s native token (about $1,500 at press time). Cashaa has integrated with New York-based Metropolitan Commercial Bank for provision of this service. As with Cashaa&rsquo;s U.K. accounts, U.S. dollar account holders will have access to multisig wallet and exchange functionality for bitcoin purchases.&nbsp;&nbsp; Banking the Unbanked&nbsp; Cashaa&rsquo;s new service is targeted at cryptocurrency businesses who encounter difficulty opening a corporate account in the U.S. As noted above, traditional banks have often shied away from the industry for reasons that range from regulatory uncertainty to the volatile nature of crypto assets.&nbsp; In some cases, cryptocurrency-based businesses have had their accounts closed. In a press release on the service, Cashaa noted that it formed a &ldquo;pre-compliance team&rdquo; in September 2019 following Barclays decision to stop serving Coinbase. Speaking on their rationale, Janina Lowisz, the co-founder and vice president of marketing, believes her company could help serve the &ldquo;underserved businesses building new technologies.&rdquo; &ldquo;Our goal is to create a hassle-free experience for all businesses who are building new technologies and business models,&rdquo; Lowisz said in the release. &ldquo;The addition of U.S. Dollar accounts is an important milestone for the crypto community and us. We want to thank our community and all businesses so far who have trusted Cashaa to solve their banking problems.&rdquo; In April 2019, Cashaa began supporting cryptocurrency purchases with major debit and credit cards. In October 2019, the company enabled bitcoin purchasing options for customers in India using fiat currency.

Cashaa Announces U.S. Dollar Bank Accounts for Cryptocurrency Firms –

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/cashaa-announces-u-s-dollar-bank-accounts-for-cryptocurrency-firms

Cashaa Announces U.S. Dollar Bank Accounts {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}page{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f} {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}sep{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f} {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}sitename{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}

A proof-of-concept developed at a hackathon in Portugal could replace fiat change with Lightning-delivered sats.

LightningCashback: Replace Fiat Change With Sats - Bitcoin Magazine

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/lightningcashback-wants-to-replace-fiat-change-with-sats/bit-5

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lightningcashback

stacking sats

21isenough

change

fiat

gift cards

lightning

lightning network

lightning payments

As bitcoin grows as a medium of exchange and Bitcoiners become all the more interested in stacking sats as part of their daily activity, services are popping up that merge the worlds of everyday, brick-and-mortar retail and the original cryptocurrency.



LightningCashback is the latest iteration of this trend, created specifically to bring bitcoin into the retail experience and convert your loose change into sats.



<h2>Pay With Fiat, Get Change in Bitcoin</h2>



<a href="https://twitter.com/21isenough/status/1193631492603293698">LightningCashback</a> was developed as a proof-of-concept by a group of programmers (including Ruben Waterman, the founder of Dutch Bitcoin savings platform <a href="https://twitter.com/GetBittr">GetBittr</a>, and a Bitcoin enthusiast known as 21isenough on <a href="https://twitter.com/21isenough">Twitter</a>) at Berlin’s <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/scam-or-iteration-in-berlin-bitcoin-diehards-still-believe-in-lightning">Lightning Conference</a> in October 2019.



That’s where 21isenough was demo’ing his <a href="https://twitter.com/21isenough/status/1170808638153338880?s=19">LightningATM</a> prototype, which he had shared with the world via Twitter on September 8, 2019. The device merged brown cardboard with payment processor BTCPay Server and Lightning’s LND — and kicked off a conversation between the developers that led to yet another innovation.



“We were discussing that the LightningATM is awesome for getting rid of coin change, which is still quite popular in Europe as the coins have quite a bit of value,” Waterman told Bitcoin Magazine. “We both prefer to pay in cash (for privacy reasons) but hate the coins.”



But, what if we could twist the idea? Waterman wondered.



During <a href="https://blockchain-hackathon.com/">ChainHack4</a> — a small blockchain hackathon in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 8 to 10, 2019 — Waterman, 21isenough and three other developers devised a new way of turning fiat change into bitcoin. Why not have retail shoppers receive their pocket change as sats instead of coins?&nbsp;



<h2>Lightning Nodes on a POS System</h2>



Thus, LightningCashback was born: point-of-sale (POS) software that prints a QR code with receipts, allowing customers to scan and receive their change for a purchase in sats via Lightning after paying in fiat. 21isenough posted a video of the innovation in action on <a href="https://twitter.com/21isenough/status/1170808638153338880?s=19">Twitter</a>, along with a picture of a produced receipt.&nbsp;



It uses lntxtbot, a Telegram bot and custodial Lightning wallet, to generate Lightning URLs and change can be claimed as sats via Bitcoin Lightning Wallet, Bluewallet or Wallet of Satoshi. Thus, you have two Lightning Nodes—the POS system and the user’s phone wallet.&nbsp;



Although this product is a proof-of-concept, it has great potential. 21isenough said that the development team is working on expanding the solution’s compatibility with several POS systems, before potentially introducing it to retail businesses.



“We plan to investigate further potential POS (point of sales) system that could be retrofitted with our solution,” 21isenough said. “Potential merchants wouldn’t want to migrate to a new POS system; hence, we would need to find ways to integrate into existing ones.”



The Lightning Network is still young, but it’s growing gradually and this is not the only potential use case for greater retail adoption. Earlier this year, payment startup Fold <a href="https://medium.com/in-the-fold/introducing-lightning-payments-ffa808c22092">announced</a> an integration that allows users to buy gift cards that is redeemable at big-name retailers like Starbucks, Home Depot and Uber. Moon also <a href="https://twitter.com/paywithmoon/status/1120337084097732608">launched</a> a browser extension where it serves as an intermediary that allows shoppers to make Lightning payments on Amazon and similar sites. 



Beyond e-commerce, Lightning is also being used in gaming. As previously reported by Bitcoin Magazine, Satoshi Games <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/lightnite-like-fortnite-but-with-bitcoin-powered-by-lightning">released</a> Lightnite, a multiplayer, third-person shooter game that only accepts Lightning payments. Lightnite is a freemium game that generates income through the sale of customization feature. However, unlike other games that accept credit cards and gift cards, Lightnite only accepts sats sent via the Lightning Network, allowing users to enjoy both the gaming and customization experience without exposing data linked to their identity.

LightningCashback Wants to Replace Fiat Change With Sats

As bitcoin grows as a medium of exchange and Bitcoiners become all the more interested in stacking sats as part of their daily activity, services are popping up that merge the worlds of everyday, brick-and-mortar retail and the original cryptocurrency. LightningCashback is the latest iteration of this trend, created specifically to bring bitcoin into the retail experience and convert your loose change into sats. Pay With Fiat, Get Change in Bitcoin LightningCashback was developed as a proof-of-concept by a group of programmers (including Ruben Waterman, the founder of Dutch Bitcoin savings platform GetBittr, and a Bitcoin enthusiast known as 21isenough on Twitter) at Berlin&rsquo;s Lightning Conference in October 2019. That&rsquo;s where 21isenough was demo&rsquo;ing his LightningATM prototype, which he had shared with the world via Twitter on September 8, 2019. The device merged brown cardboard with payment processor BTCPay Server and Lightning&rsquo;s LND &mdash; and kicked off a conversation between the developers that led to yet another innovation. &ldquo;We were discussing that the LightningATM is awesome for getting rid of coin change, which is still quite popular in Europe as the coins have quite a bit of value,&rdquo; Waterman told Bitcoin Magazine. &ldquo;We both prefer to pay in cash (for privacy reasons) but hate the coins.&rdquo; But, what if we could twist the idea? Waterman wondered. During ChainHack4 &mdash; a small blockchain hackathon in Lisbon, Portugal, on November 8 to 10, 2019 &mdash; Waterman, 21isenough and three other developers devised a new way of turning fiat change into bitcoin. Why not have retail shoppers receive their pocket change as sats instead of coins?&nbsp; Lightning Nodes on a POS System Thus, LightningCashback was born: point-of-sale (POS) software that prints a QR code with receipts, allowing customers to scan and receive their change for a purchase in sats via Lightning after paying in fiat. 21isenough posted a video of the innovation in action on Twitter, along with a picture of a produced receipt.&nbsp; It uses lntxtbot, a Telegram bot and custodial Lightning wallet, to generate Lightning URLs and change can be claimed as sats via Bitcoin Lightning Wallet, Bluewallet or Wallet of Satoshi. Thus, you have two Lightning Nodes&mdash;the POS system and the user&rsquo;s phone wallet.&nbsp; Although this product is a proof-of-concept, it has great potential. 21isenough said that the development team is working on expanding the solution&rsquo;s compatibility with several POS systems, before potentially introducing it to retail businesses. &ldquo;We plan to investigate further potential POS (point of sales) system that could be retrofitted with our solution,&rdquo; 21isenough said. &ldquo;Potential merchants wouldn&rsquo;t want to migrate to a new POS system; hence, we would need to find ways to integrate into existing ones.&rdquo; The Lightning Network is still young, but it&rsquo;s growing gradually and this is not the only potential use case for greater retail adoption. Earlier this year, payment startup Fold announced an integration that allows users to buy gift cards that is redeemable at big-name retailers like Starbucks, Home Depot and Uber. Moon also launched a browser extension where it serves as an intermediary that allows shoppers to make Lightning payments on Amazon and similar sites. Beyond e-commerce, Lightning is also being used in gaming. As previously reported by Bitcoin Magazine, Satoshi Games released Lightnite, a multiplayer, third-person shooter game that only accepts Lightning payments. Lightnite is a freemium game that generates income through the sale of customization feature. However, unlike other games that accept credit cards and gift cards, Lightnite only accepts sats sent via the Lightning Network, allowing users to enjoy both the gaming and customization experience without exposing data linked to their identity.

A proof-of-concept developed at a hackathon in Portugal could replace fiat change with Lightning-delivered sats at retail locations around the world.

LightningCashback Wants to Replace Fiat Change With Sats –

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/lightningcashback-wants-to-replace-fiat-change-with-sats

LightningCashback: Replace Fiat Change With Bitcoin {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}page{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f} {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}sep{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f} {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}sitename{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}

Bitcoin Magazine's Week in Review - Bitcoin Magazine

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/bitcoin-magazines-week-in-review/week_in_review

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Bitcoin Magazine&#039;s Week in Review - Bitcoin Magazine

week in review

blockchain

china

china and north

china and north america

coldcard mk3

gold

Bitcoin Magazine’s Week in Review brings you the most critical, interesting and popular news stories affecting Bitcoin this week.



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/bitcoin-as-digital-gold">BTC Bullion: Three Interpretations of Bitcoin as “Digital Gold”</a></h2>



For much of its existence, bitcoin has been compared with gold. Several people have touted the two assets as the most effective investment vehicles for hedging against the global economy, though the two have many differences.



Rather than focus solely on the differences between bitcoin and gold, this article also takes a look at the similarities between the assets and how some blockchain implementations allow them to coexist.&nbsp;



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/was-a-lone-whale-really-behind-bitcoins-2017-bull-run-dont-bet-on-it">Was a Lone Whale Really Behind Bitcoin’s 2017 Bull Run? Don’t Bet on It</a></h2>



This week witnessed some controversy over a newly released research paper tracing bitcoin’s bullish price run of 2017 to a single “whale” investor who inflated the price through Tether tokens.



Bitcoin Magazine dissects this report, including its hypothesis, evidence and commentary.&nbsp;



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/op-ed-in-china-its-blockchain-and-tyranny-vs-bitcoin-and-freedom">Op Ed: In China, It’s Blockchain and Tyranny vs Bitcoin and Freedom</a></h2>



China has been in the cryptocurrency news cycle since President Xi Jinping gave a rousing speech in support of blockchain technology. And now the Chinese government has started to make plans toward launching a digital currency of its own.&nbsp;



In this piece, we examine how the Chinese digital yuan could end up becoming China’s most effective tool for government control and oversight.&nbsp;



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/beyond-china-and-north-america-the-decentralization-of-bitcoin-mining">Beyond China and North America: The Decentralization of Bitcoin Mining</a></h2>



When most people think about bitcoin mining, they think about China and North America. In this article, we take a wider look at the world of bitcoin mining and how more countries are becoming hubs for the practice.



With reports of developments from countries such as Venezuela, Norway and Paraguay, we take you beyond the mining frontier that many people have been limited to.



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/video-review-coldcard-mk3">Video Review: Coldcard Mk3</a></h2>



The Coldcard Mk3 bitcoin hardware wallet, the latest in the line of wallet devices from Coinkite, is entering a market that is mostly dominated by companies such as Trezor and Ledger.



Bitcoin Magazine conducts a full video review of the device, evaluating some of its features, such as appearance, security, feel and usage.



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/guides/what-is-quantum-computing">What Is Quantum Computing?</a></h2>



The advent of quantum computing has raised a lot of concerns about the future of cryptography (and, by extension, cryptocurrencies). Several notable individuals have sounded off on the prospect of quantum computers rendering cryptocurrencies essentially worthless as quantum computers could be capable of breaking Bitcoin’s security.



Of course, these concerns are unlikely to become realities, as research suggests that it will take a couple of lifetimes for quantum computers to reach the processing power and scalability levels required to disrupt Bitcoin. To help clarify things, we explain the concept of quantum computing, as well as how this technology could affect the cryptocurrency space.&nbsp;



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/guides/what-is-the-halvening">What Is ‘The Halvening’?</a></h2>



Avid fans of bitcoin are eagerly awaiting the 2020 halvening, expected to happen sometime in May, which will lead to the value of block rewards given to miners being cut in half.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Historically, halvenings have been followed by a drastic rise in the price of cryptocurrencies, particularly bitcoin. If you are interested in this monumental event and what it could mean for bitcoin, read our guide.

11/9/2019: Bitcoin Magazine&rsquo;s Week in Review brings you the most critical, interesting and popular news stories affecting Bitcoin this week.

Bitcoin Magazine&rsquo;s Week in Review &ndash; November 9th, 2019

Bitcoin Magazine&rsquo;s Week in Review brings you the most critical, interesting and popular news stories affecting Bitcoin this week. BTC Bullion: Three Interpretations of Bitcoin as &ldquo;Digital Gold&rdquo; For much of its existence, bitcoin has been compared with gold. Several people have touted the two assets as the most effective investment vehicles for hedging against the global economy, though the two have many differences. Rather than focus solely on the differences between bitcoin and gold, this article also takes a look at the similarities between the assets and how some blockchain implementations allow them to coexist.&nbsp; Was a Lone Whale Really Behind Bitcoin&rsquo;s 2017 Bull Run? Don&rsquo;t Bet on It This week witnessed some controversy over a newly released research paper tracing bitcoin&rsquo;s bullish price run of 2017 to a single &ldquo;whale&rdquo; investor who inflated the price through Tether tokens. Bitcoin Magazine dissects this report, including its hypothesis, evidence and commentary.&nbsp; Op Ed: In China, It&rsquo;s Blockchain and Tyranny vs Bitcoin and Freedom China has been in the cryptocurrency news cycle since President Xi Jinping gave a rousing speech in support of blockchain technology. And now the Chinese government has started to make plans toward launching a digital currency of its own.&nbsp; In this piece, we examine how the Chinese digital yuan could end up becoming China&rsquo;s most effective tool for government control and oversight.&nbsp; Beyond China and North America: The Decentralization of Bitcoin Mining When most people think about bitcoin mining, they think about China and North America. In this article, we take a wider look at the world of bitcoin mining and how more countries are becoming hubs for the practice. With reports of developments from countries such as Venezuela, Norway and Paraguay, we take you beyond the mining frontier that many people have been limited to. Video Review: Coldcard Mk3 The Coldcard Mk3 bitcoin hardware wallet, the latest in the line of wallet devices from Coinkite, is entering a market that is mostly dominated by companies such as Trezor and Ledger. Bitcoin Magazine conducts a full video review of the device, evaluating some of its features, such as appearance, security, feel and usage. What Is Quantum Computing? The advent of quantum computing has raised a lot of concerns about the future of cryptography (and, by extension, cryptocurrencies). Several notable individuals have sounded off on the prospect of quantum computers rendering cryptocurrencies essentially worthless as quantum computers could be capable of breaking Bitcoin&rsquo;s security. Of course, these concerns are unlikely to become realities, as research suggests that it will take a couple of lifetimes for quantum computers to reach the processing power and scalability levels required to disrupt Bitcoin. To help clarify things, we explain the concept of quantum computing, as well as how this technology could affect the cryptocurrency space.&nbsp; What Is &lsquo;The Halvening&rsquo;? Avid fans of bitcoin are eagerly awaiting the 2020 halvening, expected to happen sometime in May, which will lead to the value of block rewards given to miners being cut in half.&nbsp;&nbsp; Historically, halvenings have been followed by a drastic rise in the price of cryptocurrencies, particularly bitcoin. If you are interested in this monumental event and what it could mean for bitcoin, read our guide.

11/9/2019: Bitcoin Magazine’s Week in Review brings you the most critical, interesting and popular news stories affecting Bitcoin this week.

Bitcoin Magazine’s Week in Review - November 9th, 2019 - Bitcoin Magazine

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Federal agencies in Russia are reportedly developing proposals for confiscating cryptocurrencies by 2021. What could it mean for the country?

Russia Prepares Law to Confiscate Cryptocurrencies - Bitcoin Magazine

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Russia

confiscate

confiscate cryptocurrencies

cryptocurrencies

cryptocurrency regulation

enforcement agencies

government

According to local reports, Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and other law enforcement agencies are developing proposals to confiscate cryptocurrencies. These proposals could evolve into Russian laws as soon as 2021.&nbsp;



“Russia plans to develop a legal mechanism for the seizure of virtual assets for their confiscation,” according to a translated report from <a href="https://www.rbc.ru/finances/07/11/2019/5dc160019a7947c61a5119a3">RBC</a>. “The relevant proposals should be prepared by December 31, 2021 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs together with [federal financial monitoring branch] Rosfinmonitoring, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Investigative Committee, the Justice Ministry … the Federal Customs Service and the Federal Security Service with the participation of the Supreme Court.”



Decentralized, blockchain-based cryptocurrencies like bitcoin would be very difficult, if not impossible, to confiscate. The initial report did not elaborate on how, specifically, the government would seize cryptocurrency under a new regulation.



<h2>Russia and Cryptocurrency Regulation</h2>



Many Russians have a positive <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/russian-it-giant-mailru-enables-bitcoin-and-bitcoin-cash-payments">relationship</a> <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/moscows-blockchain-hackathon-reflects-booming-blockchain-industry-russia">with cryptocurrencies</a>. Ironically, even the government has had its hand in blockchain- and cryptocurrency-based initiatives.&nbsp;



President Vladimir Putin <a href="http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/54677">met with</a> Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in June 2017, leading many to believe it was a signal of support for digital currencies from the Kremlin. The president also <a href="http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/54667">attended</a> the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that same month, where he claimed that enhancing the Russian economy and increasing average income could be achieved through the adoption and acceptance of “innovative technologies.” One of Putin’s aides <a href="https://www.rbc.ru/technology_and_media/29/10/2019/5db6f3409a79476d139d803b">leased</a> an abandoned aluminum plant located in northern Russia to a Bitcoin mining company.



However, regulation around cryptocurrencies in Russia has been a tad murky.



In May 2019, local news medium Fontanka <a href="https://www.fontanka.ru/2019/05/15/073/">reported</a> that Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian prime minister, had dismissed the issue of regulating cryptocurrency. While speaking at a legal conference in St. Petersburg, the lawmaker had explained that cryptocurrency may have lost its appeal to the masses.



“Nowadays, the popularity of cryptocurrency has decreased, and regulatory issues may not be so relevant,” he argued.&nbsp;



So, those who advocated for regulations believed that Russia would get its day when crypto prices rose again. And prices did rise. Bitcoin surged to about $13,500 in June 2019, but this didn’t move the Russian government, as many had expected, to regulate the sector.&nbsp;



But some progress toward cryptocurrency regulation clarity in Russia was made this year.



Called Russia’s “<a href="https://thenextweb.com/hardfork/2019/10/02/russia-reportedly-enacts-laws-cryptocurrency-smart-contracts/">digital rights act</a>,” it defines smart contracts and digital tokens in a legal sense. Whether it was due to the involvement of his aides or just a fascination with the technology, President Putin seemed ready to open Russia’s doors to the innovative technologies that he touted in St. Petersburg.&nbsp;



<h2>Cryptocurrency Regulation as an Effort to Fight Crime in Russia</h2>



However, any cordial relationship between cryptocurrencies and the Russian government appears to be fraying. And this may be exacerbated by the fact that some high-profile crimes in the country have been connected to cryptocurrency.



On November 4, 2019, police in St. Petersburg <a href="https://beincrypto.com/terrorists-demand-bitcoin-from-russian-railways-after-bombing-threats/">reportedly</a> got an anonymous letter from a man who threatened to set off explosives at several train stations across the country if he wasn't paid 50 BTC (worth about $460,000 at press time).



In October 2019, Denis Baykov, a maintenance worker at a nuclear warhead facility in the western town of Sarov, was <a href="https://beincrypto.com/rogue-russian-bitcoin-miner-fined-7000-for-using-government-owned-supercomputer/">handed</a> a $7,000 fine after he and two of his co-workers were found trying to mine bitcoin with the facility’s supercomputer. The Sarov nuclear plant is registered as a state secret, and by connecting the supercomputer to the internet, the three men risked compromising the facility’s security to hackers and other external threats.&nbsp;



But instead of reversing the progress that Russia has made with regulations or banning cryptocurrencies (in the way countries like China and India have), the Kremlin is now looking to ensure complete oversight and control over their use.



<h2>Can Russia Really Confiscate Cryptocurrencies?</h2>



Konstantin Golikov, co-owner and CEO of digital rewards platform DailyRich, explained to RBC that success in a government-led initiative to confiscate cryptocurrencies would require clear regulations on how it classifies digital assets. This may allow cryptocurrency-based businesses to operate more easily in the country.&nbsp;



“If law enforcement agencies begin to discuss the forfeiture of cryptocurrency, then, in fact, they are launching a mechanism for legalizing cryptocurrency on the territory of Russia,” he said, adding that, while the Russian Central Bank might resist this, there are already many precedents for cryptocurrency seizure by a court decision.&nbsp;



As for the prospect of going through with confiscation, there are still plenty of questions. As RBC noted, cryptocurrencies are generally kept on exchanges or in private wallets. These assets can’t be taken by anyone without access to the wallets, and in most cases, only the owners (and perhaps the asset custodians) have access to them.



If the government wants to get its hands on these assets when it pleases, it may require the cooperation of asset holders. In any case, this effort would have to be preceded by more regulatory clarity.

Russia Prepares Law to Allow Cryptocurrency Confiscation

According to local reports, Russia&rsquo;s Ministry of Internal Affairs and other law enforcement agencies are developing proposals to confiscate cryptocurrencies. These proposals could evolve into Russian laws as soon as 2021.&nbsp; &ldquo;Russia plans to develop a legal mechanism for the seizure of virtual assets for their confiscation,&rdquo; according to a translated report from RBC. &ldquo;The relevant proposals should be prepared by December 31, 2021 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs together with [federal financial monitoring branch] Rosfinmonitoring, the Prosecutor General&rsquo;s Office, the Investigative Committee, the Justice Ministry &hellip; the Federal Customs Service and the Federal Security Service with the participation of the Supreme Court.&rdquo; Decentralized, blockchain-based cryptocurrencies like bitcoin would be very difficult, if not impossible, to confiscate. The initial report did not elaborate on how, specifically, the government would seize cryptocurrency under a new regulation. Russia and Cryptocurrency Regulation Many Russians have a positive relationship with cryptocurrencies. Ironically, even the government has had its hand in blockchain- and cryptocurrency-based initiatives.&nbsp; President Vladimir Putin met with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin in June 2017, leading many to believe it was a signal of support for digital currencies from the Kremlin. The president also attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that same month, where he claimed that enhancing the Russian economy and increasing average income could be achieved through the adoption and acceptance of &ldquo;innovative technologies.&rdquo; One of Putin&rsquo;s aides leased an abandoned aluminum plant located in northern Russia to a Bitcoin mining company. However, regulation around cryptocurrencies in Russia has been a tad murky. In May 2019, local news medium Fontanka reported that Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian prime minister, had dismissed the issue of regulating cryptocurrency. While speaking at a legal conference in St. Petersburg, the lawmaker had explained that cryptocurrency may have lost its appeal to the masses. &ldquo;Nowadays, the popularity of cryptocurrency has decreased, and regulatory issues may not be so relevant,&rdquo; he argued.&nbsp; So, those who advocated for regulations believed that Russia would get its day when crypto prices rose again. And prices did rise. Bitcoin surged to about $13,500 in June 2019, but this didn&rsquo;t move the Russian government, as many had expected, to regulate the sector.&nbsp; But some progress toward cryptocurrency regulation clarity in Russia was made this year. Called Russia&rsquo;s &ldquo;digital rights act,&rdquo; it defines smart contracts and digital tokens in a legal sense. Whether it was due to the involvement of his aides or just a fascination with the technology, President Putin seemed ready to open Russia&rsquo;s doors to the innovative technologies that he touted in St. Petersburg.&nbsp; Cryptocurrency Regulation as an Effort to Fight Crime in Russia However, any cordial relationship between cryptocurrencies and the Russian government appears to be fraying. And this may be exacerbated by the fact that some high-profile crimes in the country have been connected to cryptocurrency. On November 4, 2019, police in St. Petersburg reportedly got an anonymous letter from a man who threatened to set off explosives at several train stations across the country if he wasn&#039;t paid 50 BTC (worth about $460,000 at press time). In October 2019, Denis Baykov, a maintenance worker at a nuclear warhead facility in the western town of Sarov, was handed a $7,000 fine after he and two of his co-workers were found trying to mine bitcoin with the facility&rsquo;s supercomputer. The Sarov nuclear plant is registered as a state secret, and by connecting the supercomputer to the internet, the three men risked compromising the facility&rsquo;s security to hackers and other external threats.&nbsp; But instead of reversing the progress that Russia has made with regulations or banning cryptocurrencies (in the way countries like China and India have), the Kremlin is now looking to ensure complete oversight and control over their use. Can Russia Really Confiscate Cryptocurrencies? Konstantin Golikov, co-owner and CEO of digital rewards platform DailyRich, explained to RBC that success in a government-led initiative to confiscate cryptocurrencies would require clear regulations on how it classifies digital assets. This may allow cryptocurrency-based businesses to operate more easily in the country.&nbsp; &ldquo;If law enforcement agencies begin to discuss the forfeiture of cryptocurrency, then, in fact, they are launching a mechanism for legalizing cryptocurrency on the territory of Russia,&rdquo; he said, adding that, while the Russian Central Bank might resist this, there are already many precedents for cryptocurrency seizure by a court decision.&nbsp; As for the prospect of going through with confiscation, there are still plenty of questions. As RBC noted, cryptocurrencies are generally kept on exchanges or in private wallets. These assets can&rsquo;t be taken by anyone without access to the wallets, and in most cases, only the owners (and perhaps the asset custodians) have access to them. If the government wants to get its hands on these assets when it pleases, it may require the cooperation of asset holders. In any case, this effort would have to be preceded by more regulatory clarity.

Russia Prepares Law to Confiscate Cryptocurrencies {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}page{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f} {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}sep{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f} {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}sitename{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/russia-prepares-law-to-allow-cryptocurrency-confiscation

With new licensure in Singapore, digital asset manager Sygnum wants to offer cryptocurrency investment options that attract institutional investment.

In Singapore, Sygnum Works on Institutional Investors - Bitcoin Magazine

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/in-singapore-sygnum-targets-institutional-investors/njlkm

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Digital assets

Singapore

sygnum

asset

asset bank

asset economy

august 2019

code of practice

digital asset

Sygnum, a digital asset manager that offers custody, brokerage, lombard credit and tokenization services to institutional and qualified private investors, describes itself as the “<a href="https://www.sygnum.com/about-us/">world’s first digital asset bank</a>.”



On October 31, 2019, the group <a href="https://www.insights.sygnum.com/post/sygnum-granted-capital-markets-services-licence">announced</a> it had obtained a capital markets services license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). This came after it obtained a banking and securities dealer license from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) in August 2019.



With licensure from two of the world’s most innovative financial centers, Sygnum may be in a better position to onboard institutional investors into the bitcoin and cryptocurrency markets. Its approval process in Singapore in particular may also portend the growth of the cryptocurrency industry in a welcoming environment.



<h2>New Regulatory Approval, New Institutional Investors</h2>



Though the regulatory approvals are relatively recent, Sygnum already had roots in Singapore and Switzerland. It's <a href="http://innov8.singtel.com/portfolio.html">backed</a> by Singtel Innov8, the venture capital arm of Singaporean telecoms company Singtel Group. The digital asset bank also has a team of advisors made up of <a href="https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/sygnum-launch_blockchain-start-up-backed-by-swiss-banking-heavyweights/44532094">experienced</a> Swiss bankers, including ex-Swiss National Bank president Philipp Hildebrand and former UBS CEO Peter Wuffli.



Mathias Imbach, co-founder and CEO of Sygnum, told Bitcoin Magazine that he was impressed by the professionalism and openness of the Singaporean regulators throughout its license application process. He also highlighted Sygnum’s emphasis on adhering to AML requirements, something that undoubtedly made the process easier.



“Anti-money laundering safeguards are always a pressing concern for regulators, and a challenge that is faced by every financial institution today,” Imbach said. “This translates even more so to digital assets. We have developed proprietary frameworks and tools around this topic, which are specifically designed for the digital asset economy and are key in helping us stay ahead of the regulatory requirements.”



Following this approval, Sygnum will be launching a multi-manager fund, which will allocate investments across several managers that “tap into the global digital asset opportunity using different and uncorrelated investment strategies,” according to the company announcement.&nbsp;



The firm sees this as an opportunity to fill a need that’s still apparent in the space — investment options that give institutions the benefits of digital assets while mitigating the risks that still make many of them wary from participating.



“This approach provides exposure to the potential returns of the emerging digital asset economy while diversifying the investment risk,” Imbach said. “Together with a rigorous manager and operational due diligence process, this fund is a responsible and prudent way for accredited and institutional investors to get exposure to digital assets.”



<h2>Progressive Policies Pay Off for Singapore</h2>



Singapore has long been attractive for bitcoin and bitcoin-based businesses. Aside from being a general fintech hotspot on the Asian continent, the country has embraced emerging technologies of all kinds.



Particularly laudable are the government’s efforts to provide a structured, regulated environment where cryptocurrency and blockchain firms can work. On October 16, 2019, Loo Siew Yee, an assistant managing director at MAS, gave a speech at the International Compliance Association Annual APAC Conference.&nbsp;



The speech, which was <a href="https://www.mas.gov.sg/news/speeches/2019/combatting-financial-crime-through-new-technologies-built-on-strong-fundamentals">titled</a> “Combating Financial Crime through New Technologies Built on Strong Fundamentals,” highlighted Singapore’s potential as an environment that fuels the cryptocurrency sector and the authority’s commitment to fight crime as more cryptocurrency-based businesses set up shop there.



“Given Singapore’s position as a major financial and fintech centre, it is natural that DPT [digital payment token] firms would wish to set up here,” Yee said. “In preparation for new DPT licensees next year, MAS has started to enhance our supervisory and surveillance capabilities to facilitate the proactive detection of unlicensed DPT activities, and to use ‘real-time’ data gathering to enhance our assessment.”&nbsp;



Predecating this stance in August 2019, the Association of Cryptocurrency Enterprises and Startups, Singapore (ACCESS), a trade association, <a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/trade-association-proposes-code-of-practice-for-singapore-cryptocurrency-industry">released</a> a code of practice for cryptocurrency companies, noting best practices for AML and countering the financing of terrorism.



“In essence, the code of practice helps banks and industry players to sieve out the ‘bad,’ so that quality licensed blockchain and crypto-asset businesses can grow here in a bigger way and make a stronger imprint on the global stage,” Anson Zeall, the chairman of ACCESS, explained in a press release at the time.

With Expansion in Singapore, Sygnum Focuses on Institutional Investors

Sygnum, a digital asset manager that offers custody, brokerage, lombard credit and tokenization services to institutional and qualified private investors, describes itself as the &ldquo;world&rsquo;s first digital asset bank.&rdquo; On October 31, 2019, the group announced it had obtained a capital markets services license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). This came after it obtained a banking and securities dealer license from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) in August 2019. With licensure from two of the world&rsquo;s most innovative financial centers, Sygnum may be in a better position to onboard institutional investors into the bitcoin and cryptocurrency markets. Its approval process in Singapore in particular may also portend the growth of the cryptocurrency industry in a welcoming environment. New Regulatory Approval, New Institutional Investors Though the regulatory approvals are relatively recent, Sygnum already had roots in Singapore and Switzerland. It&#039;s backed by Singtel Innov8, the venture capital arm of Singaporean telecoms company Singtel Group. The digital asset bank also has a team of advisors made up of experienced Swiss bankers, including ex-Swiss National Bank president Philipp Hildebrand and former UBS CEO Peter Wuffli. Mathias Imbach, co-founder and CEO of Sygnum, told Bitcoin Magazine that he was impressed by the professionalism and openness of the Singaporean regulators throughout its license application process. He also highlighted Sygnum&rsquo;s emphasis on adhering to AML requirements, something that undoubtedly made the process easier. &ldquo;Anti-money laundering safeguards are always a pressing concern for regulators, and a challenge that is faced by every financial institution today,&rdquo; Imbach said. &ldquo;This translates even more so to digital assets. We have developed proprietary frameworks and tools around this topic, which are specifically designed for the digital asset economy and are key in helping us stay ahead of the regulatory requirements.&rdquo; Following this approval, Sygnum will be launching a multi-manager fund, which will allocate investments across several managers that &ldquo;tap into the global digital asset opportunity using different and uncorrelated investment strategies,&rdquo; according to the company announcement.&nbsp; The firm sees this as an opportunity to fill a need that&rsquo;s still apparent in the space &mdash; investment options that give institutions the benefits of digital assets while mitigating the risks that still make many of them wary from participating. &ldquo;This approach provides exposure to the potential returns of the emerging digital asset economy while diversifying the investment risk,&rdquo; Imbach said. &ldquo;Together with a rigorous manager and operational due diligence process, this fund is a responsible and prudent way for accredited and institutional investors to get exposure to digital assets.&rdquo; Progressive Policies Pay Off for Singapore Singapore has long been attractive for bitcoin and bitcoin-based businesses. Aside from being a general fintech hotspot on the Asian continent, the country has embraced emerging technologies of all kinds. Particularly laudable are the government&rsquo;s efforts to provide a structured, regulated environment where cryptocurrency and blockchain firms can work. On October 16, 2019, Loo Siew Yee, an assistant managing director at MAS, gave a speech at the International Compliance Association Annual APAC Conference.&nbsp; The speech, which was titled &ldquo;Combating Financial Crime through New Technologies Built on Strong Fundamentals,&rdquo; highlighted Singapore&rsquo;s potential as an environment that fuels the cryptocurrency sector and the authority&rsquo;s commitment to fight crime as more cryptocurrency-based businesses set up shop there. &ldquo;Given Singapore&rsquo;s position as a major financial and fintech centre, it is natural that DPT [digital payment token] firms would wish to set up here,&rdquo; Yee said. &ldquo;In preparation for new DPT licensees next year, MAS has started to enhance our supervisory and surveillance capabilities to facilitate the proactive detection of unlicensed DPT activities, and to use &lsquo;real-time&rsquo; data gathering to enhance our assessment.&rdquo;&nbsp; Predecating this stance in August 2019, the Association of Cryptocurrency Enterprises and Startups, Singapore (ACCESS), a trade association, released a code of practice for cryptocurrency companies, noting best practices for AML and countering the financing of terrorism. &ldquo;In essence, the code of practice helps banks and industry players to sieve out the &lsquo;bad,&rsquo; so that quality licensed blockchain and crypto-asset businesses can grow here in a bigger way and make a stronger imprint on the global stage,&rdquo; Anson Zeall, the chairman of ACCESS, explained in a press release at the time.

In Singapore, Sygnum Targets Institutional Investors {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}page{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f} {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}sep{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f} {f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}sitename{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}{f8895663495dd3623714d380fc3aecbb1de9ff60ce5ac2803a59168678bce05f}

https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/in-singapore-sygnum-targets-institutional-investors

adoption

argentines

bitcoin regulation

coldcard wallet

dark web

economic

economic development

Bitcoin Magazine’s Week in Review brings you the most critical, interesting and popular news stories affecting Bitcoin this week.



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/darknet-markets-cant-live-with-or-without-bitcoin">Darknet Markets Can’t Live With — or Without — Bitcoin</a></h2>



When many people think of Bitcoin, they think of the dark web platform Silk Road — one of the world's notorious digital marketplaces upon which vendors sold illegal products in exchange for BTC.&nbsp;



But bitcoin might not be the ideal medium of exchange when it comes to privacy, as the Bitcoin blockchain can provide critical transaction evidence to law enforcement officials. This recent article explains the intricate relationship that has formed between the world’s most significant crypto asset and the dark web.&nbsp;



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/why-african-countries-lead-in-bitcoin-searches-and-what-it-means-for-adoption">Why African Countries Lead in Bitcoin Searches and What It Means for Adoption</a></h2>



The African cryptocurrency space has been abuzz lately, with the rest of the world beginning to turn to the continent as the next frontier for cryptocurrency adoption. Binance Research recently revealed that there has been a surge in the number of Google searches for “Bitcoin” in Nigeria and South Africa, thus sparking the speculations.



Searching for context around this research, Bitcoin Magazine spoke with Marius Reitz from cryptocurrency exchange Luno and liquidity provider BitPesa, on the rise of cryptocurrency interest in Africa and what it might mean for adoption.



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/why-bitcoin-is-the-perfect-haven-for-argentines-in-this-economic-crunch">Why Bitcoin Is the Perfect Haven for Argentines in This Economic Crunch</a></h2>



For decades, Argentina has had issues with economic development — the Argentinian economy has either been declining or growing at an unsatisfactory pace.



This economic development or lack thereof has led to many losing trust in the country’s fiat currency. Instead, Argentines have focused their attention on the U.S. dollar. Hoping to curb this reliance, the government announced a restrictive forex policy that limits the amount of USD its citizens can purchase. This reduction has led to questions for those who seek alternative ways to preserve their wealth.&nbsp;



In this piece, we look at why and how Bitcoin can rescue Argentines in this difficult period.



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/coinkite-publishes-everything-you-need-to-build-your-own-coldcard-wallet">Coinkite Publishes Everything You Need to Build Your Own Coldcard Wallet</a></h2>



Coinkite, a hardware wallet manufacturer, has released a manual for people who would like to build their own versions of its latest Coldcard wallet.



Speaking with Bitcoin Magazine, Coinkite chief executive Rodolfo Novak said, “We encourage advanced users to make a unit themselves and publish their findings, it's one of the best methods to verify our code/hardware.”



The firm is hoping that, by helping people take charge of their own asset storage, it can provide a forum for improvement, as feedback and user actions will be leveraged to help make its platform better.&nbsp;



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/video-review-ledger-nano-x">Video Review: Ledger Nano X</a></h2>



Ledger's Nano X is a formidable hardware wallet, but what makes it stand out? With a neat package, a much slimmer body than most of its predecessors and an innovative Bluetooth connectivity feature, the Nano S has all the makings of a&nbsp; leader in the bitcoin storage space. With this comprehensive video review of the device, you'll learn what makes this cold wallet a must-have for bitcoin investors.



<h2><a href="https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/video-tone-vays-on-technical-analysis-and-bitcoin-regulation">Video: Tone Vays on Technical Analysis and Bitcoin Regulation</a></h2>



Bitcoin Magazine caught up with Tone Vays, one of the most popular analysts and derivatives traders in cryptocurrency, at the Transylvania Crypto Conference in Cluj, Romania. The man, who has drawn some ire from many for charging 0.3 BTC (about $3,075 at press time) per hour for consultancy fees, spoke with us at length (free of charge) about technical analysis, Bitcoin regulation and more.

11/2/19: Bitcoin Magazine&rsquo;s Week in Review brings you the most critical, interesting and popular news stories affecting Bitcoin this week.

Bitcoin Magazine Week in Review &ndash; November 2nd, 2019

Bitcoin Magazine&rsquo;s Week in Review brings you the most critical, interesting and popular news stories affecting Bitcoin this week. Darknet Markets Can&rsquo;t Live With &mdash; or Without &mdash; Bitcoin When many people think of Bitcoin, they think of the dark web platform Silk Road &mdash; one of the world&#039;s notorious digital marketplaces upon which vendors sold illegal products in exchange for BTC.&nbsp; But bitcoin might not be the ideal medium of exchange when it comes to privacy, as the Bitcoin blockchain can provide critical transaction evidence to law enforcement officials. This recent article explains the intricate relationship that has formed between the world&rsquo;s most significant crypto asset and the dark web.&nbsp; Why African Countries Lead in Bitcoin Searches and What It Means for Adoption The African cryptocurrency space has been abuzz lately, with the rest of the world beginning to turn to the continent as the next frontier for cryptocurrency adoption. Binance Research recently revealed that there has been a surge in the number of Google searches for &ldquo;Bitcoin&rdquo; in Nigeria and South Africa, thus sparking the speculations. Searching for context around this research, Bitcoin Magazine spoke with Marius Reitz from cryptocurrency exchange Luno and liquidity provider BitPesa, on the rise of cryptocurrency interest in Africa and what it might mean for adoption. Why Bitcoin Is the Perfect Haven for Argentines in This Economic Crunch For decades, Argentina has had issues with economic development &mdash; the Argentinian economy has either been declining or growing at an unsatisfactory pace. This economic development or lack thereof has led to many losing trust in the country&rsquo;s fiat currency. Instead, Argentines have focused their attention on the U.S. dollar. Hoping to curb this reliance, the government announced a restrictive forex policy that limits the amount of USD its citizens can purchase. This reduction has led to questions for those who seek alternative ways to preserve their wealth.&nbsp; In this piece, we look at why and how Bitcoin can rescue Argentines in this difficult period. Coinkite Publishes Everything You Need to Build Your Own Coldcard Wallet Coinkite, a hardware wallet manufacturer, has released a manual for people who would like to build their own versions of its latest Coldcard wallet. Speaking with Bitcoin Magazine, Coinkite chief executive Rodolfo Novak said, &ldquo;We encourage advanced users to make a unit themselves and publish their findings, it&#039;s one of the best methods to verify our code/hardware.&rdquo; The firm is hoping that, by helping people take charge of their own asset storage, it can provide a forum for improvement, as feedback and user actions will be leveraged to help make its platform better.&nbsp; Video Review: Ledger Nano X Ledger&#039;s Nano X is a formidable hardware wallet, but what makes it stand out? With a neat package, a much slimmer body than most of its predecessors and an innovative Bluetooth connectivity feature, the Nano S has all the makings of a&nbsp; leader in the bitcoin storage space. With this comprehensive video review of the device, you&#039;ll learn what makes this cold wallet a must-have for bitcoin investors. Video: Tone Vays on Technical Analysis and Bitcoin Regulation Bitcoin Magazine caught up with Tone Vays, one of the most popular analysts and derivatives traders in cryptocurrency, at the Transylvania Crypto Conference in Cluj, Romania. The man, who has drawn some ire from many for charging 0.3 BTC (about $3,075 at press time) per hour for consultancy fees, spoke with us at length (free of charge) about technical analysis, Bitcoin regulation and more.