Category: Commentary

My friend D.C. sent this message to a group of us Bitcoiners through a messaging app while visiting N.Y. recently, “I’m in New York and just tried to log onto ShapeShift. This is what I got (on my computer screen).” “CENSORED IN NEW YORK This service is censored in New York State due to regulations which mandate the extraction of…

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In a recent interview, associate professor at the Finance Academy of Social Sciences Institute of China, Zhou Ziheng, discussed China’s tough regulatory attitude, the digitization of the economy, and the two great forces of any economy; the public and the private. Cryptocurrency in Limbo Ziheng spoke with associates of Chinese press 8btc.com in regards to the recent market closure on…

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“Hey Michael, I’m waist deep in building a blockchain/AI startup. Our corporation was filed yesterday! This will be the umbrella for multiple verticals (healthcare and wellness, food safety, citizen safety/criminal justice, and more). All of this started with that five bucks of BTC you sent me in that coffee shop in Denver 🙂 Thanks for that. Let me know if…

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While 15, Erik Finman made a bold bet with his parents that if he turned 18 and was a millionaire, they wouldn’t push him to attend college. Shockingly, his parents, who met while pursuing their Ph.D.s at Stanford, said OK. Enter bitcoin where Finman made his first investment of $1,000 when the price was $12 thanks to a $1,000 gift…

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The cryptocurrency market is in a period of exponential growth and intense volatility. Since the paper describing Bitcoin was penned in 2008, the Internet has been abuzz with debate over the viability of cryptocurrency in the long term. As speculative investors, digital currency enthusiasts, and software developers argued the merits of the emerging system of money, thousands of cryptocurrencies attempting…

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The explosive growth of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) have been one of the hottest news stories of 2017. These asset instruments allow organizations to raise investment capital through the sale of homegrown cryptocurrencies, that can be traded for cash or other forms of digital currency. The September 4 announcement, however, of an ICO ban in China caused a momentary global…

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One of the realities I face as a full-time crypto/blockchain journalist is that my email inbox is continually overflowing with media press releases. To this point, I’ve noticed a growing trend over the past twelve months that has captured my attention: These releases typically contain at least one bold claim involving the word “FIRST.” Here are a few examples of…

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Vertcoin (VTC) managed to push to its highest level since March 2014, flirting with the $1.00 handle recently. A boost in the number of active addresses on the network correlates with Litecoin’s Segwit activation during May 2017. VTC-BTC was a strong performer in August, with the largest monthly gain in over three years. Bitcoin’s SegWit activation and the rising tide…

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The scaling upgrade for Bitcoin’s blockchain, Segregated Witness (SegWit) went live in the early hours of August 24. Market commentators have mixed feelings about where the price of bitcoin will head next. Further progress in development is expected with the activation of SegWit and the event has spilled over into altcoin markets, with SegWit-ready altcoins showing large gains. SegWit Paves…

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Hacking is a pervasive issue in the cryptosphere. With financial freedom comes the weight of responsibility, and despite their merits, cryptocurrencies are particularly unforgiving when it comes to scams and hacks. The most recent crypto venture to come under fire is Catalyst, from the Silicon Valley company Enigma.co. Catalyst is a machine-based investment platform for cryptoassets. Catalyst’s long-term goal is…

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