International

Celebrating The History And Spirit Of Bitcoin Independence Day

This article originally appeared in our Weekly Bits newsletter. If you want our news and analysis before anyone else, make sure you subscribe now! In my view, Bitcoin Independence Day is a holiday that says a lot about the BTC community. Its origins are highly technical and difficult to understand, the “independence” it celebrates refers to the developer community overcoming interests from industrialized miners and, ultimately, it’s a chance for Bitcoiners to reflect on the young history of the technology and engage in debate. To celebrate, Bitcoin Magazine hosted a day

Bitcoin is not Completely Banned in China: Beijing Arbitration Commission

China has no reservation against ‘Bitcoin activities as virtual commodities,’ the Beijing Arbitration Commission (BAC) said in a report today. The report also added that the country’s laws and regulations ‘do not prohibit’ private possession and legal circulation of BTC.Bitcoin Is Not A Currency, But A ‘Virtual Commodity’Today local non-profit arbitration organization, the Beijing Arbitration Commission, pointed out in a report that Bitcoin cannot be used as a currency. It is not a legal tender and is not issued by China’s apex monetary authority.Overall, BTC doesn’t share the same legal

International Group of Finance Leaders Says Ripple’s XRP Remittance Network Leapfrogs Traditional Banking System

ADVERTISEMENT An independent body of global finance leaders says Ripple’s XRP-powered cross-border payment platform “leapfrogs” the efficiency of traditional remittance methods. The Group of 30 published the report, calling on central banks and financial authorities around the world to be proactive in terms of regulating digital assets. G30 experts discuss the theoretical possibility of a “systemic hegemonic currency,” which some academics have posited could possibly reduce “spillover shocks” that come with the US dollar acting as a reserve currency. The systemic currency could come in the form of a stablecoin

Forbes Billionaires List of 2020 Shows Four Crypto Proponents

Forbes has recently published its list of 2,095 billionaires.  Within this list, only four of these entries were in regards to entrepreneurs who made their fortune through crypto. As it stands now, the richest man in the crypto industry is Micree Zhan, the co-founder of Bitmain. Zhan appears at Number 690, clocking in at a net worth of $3.3 billion.The 1% Goes GlobalWhile it may not be to everyone’s taste, some good news has come amid these trying times of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s already established that amid trying times,

Fear, Greed and the Evolution of Money in the Age of the Coronavirus Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic is not going to end soon. Fear and anxiety have skyrocketed, and nearly half of the people in the United States feel the coronavirus has harmed their mental health. People are scared, anxious, depressed, on edge and struggling to sleep through the night.We watched as China took extreme measures to improve the coronavirus crisis there. We watched as Italy locked down the country and people scurried to other parts of Europe. We then watched as California Governor Gavin Newsom took early measures for the U.S. and locked

OneCoin Co-Founder’s Sentence Postponed

The United States government’s request for a delay on the judgment of OneCoin co-founder Konstantin Ignatov has been granted New York Southern District Court.Reports confirmed earlier today that the District Court approved the request yesterday after the government had filed a motion to adjourn Ignatov’s sentencing a bit longer. The sentencing, which was initially to happen on April 8, 2020, will now be shifted to July 8, 2020. A Useful Part of the Government’s Campaign Against OneCoin Ignatov founded OneCoin in Bulgaria with his sister, Ruja Ignatova. Both oversaw the scam that

Bitfarms Streamlines Workforce As Coronavirus Threat Continues

Birfarms, a cryptocurrency mining outfit based out of Canada, would be trimming its staff. This is due to the coronavirus pandemic’s effects on its operations.The company made the decision known in an update published earlier this week, explaining that it will be making some adjustments to the coronavirus amid both its economic and social effects.Focusing on Sustainability and ProfitsVia the update, the company explained to stakeholders and community members that it had optimized its operations to maximize mining power over the past few weeks. As a result, it’s been able

SoFi Acquires Payment Processor Galileo in $1.2 Billion Deal

California-based and crypto-friendly financial firm Social Finance — SoFi — is acquiring the digital payment platform Galileo.In an April 7 press release, SoFi announced that it has signed an agreement to pay $1.2 billion for Galileo Financial Technologies. According to a CNBC report, the payment will consist of $75 million in cash, $875 million in stock, and $250 million in seller financing debt.SoFi CEO Anthony Noto addressed how the partnership will help in the current financial market:“Together with Galileo, we will partner to build on our companies’ strengths to drive