Tag: BTC

WHY – February 4, 2019

Regulatory Analysis Tools

SEC is looking for a blockchain analysis tool to “monitor risk, improve compliance, and inform the policy.” The inevitable goal is to find sources that will acquire “data for the most widely used blockchain ledgers, including the universe of available information and transaction details.” Previously, the SEC has worked with firms like Chainalysis, Elliptic and CipherTrace.

Acquisitions

Kraken, a centralized cryptocurrency exchange, has acquired “regulated futures trading startup Crypto Facilities in an undisclosed deal valued at least $100 million.” This is the largest acquisition the cryptocurrency industry has seen thus far, and will allow customers to “trade spot, as well as open positions offering exposure to the future price movements of cryptocurrencies.”

Sur America

Venezuela issued to rules and regulations for miners and cryptocurrency exchanges to operate within. Businesses that work with cryptocurrency will have to register with Sunacrip, the country’s superintendency of crypto-related activities. Sunacrip will manage the “registration requirements and processes, and accordingly inform affected businesses, the gazette states.” Further, the company now has the power to audit and inspect cryptocurrency companies, and can revoke licenses “if they are found to be non-compliant or a danger to the public.”

Theft

A 20-year old Ohio man, Dawson Bakies, has been charged with “stealing identities and the cryptocurrency holdings of over 50 victims across the U.S. from October to December last year via SIM-swapping attacks.” SIM card attacks are increasing, and recently a 20-year old who stole $5 million was given a 10-year prison sentence.

NVIDIA underreports earnings

In 2018, GPU chip maker NVIDIA claimed the company had generated $602 million, but in reality, it appears as if the company generated $1.95 billion in revenue. RBC analyst Mitch Steve believes Nvidia captured around 75% of the total crypto market during the time between April 2017 and July 2018, and AMD captured the rest. However, according to Steves, “there is no way to actually confirm the numbers.”

WHY – February 1, 2019

Market

“Bitcoin registered losses for a record sixth straight month in January, reinforcing the bearish view put forward by the moving average studies on the monthly chart.” (Source: Coin Desk)

Bitcoin entered its longest bear market in its 10-year history. The second to last longest Bitcoin bear market took place from 2013 to 2015. (Source: Coin Desk)

Exchanges

Canadian crypto exchange QuadrigaCX owes its customers $190 million, but does not posses the ability to access most of the funds. When QuadrigaCX’s founder, Gerald Cotten, passed away, he took with him access to the private keys to the exchange’s coffers.

The exchange holds 26,500 BTC, 430,000 ETH, and 200,000 LTC among other crptpcurrencies, totaling $147 million in locked funds, according to the widow’s affidavit. (Source: Coin Desk)

Coinbase’s director of data science and risk, Soups Ranjan, has left to join another venture where he can “build things from scratch.” (Source: Soups Ranjan)

Financial Instruments

B2C2, an electronic OTC trading firm and crypto liquidity provider, was granted the ability to offer cryptocurrency derivatives in the United Kingdom. B2C2 will be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This will allows traders to make trades predicated on guesses of future prices. (Source: Coin Desk)

Workers return to work and slowly pick the pieces up after the US Federal shut down. Investors shouldn’t hold their breath for a Bitcoin ETF approval anytime soon. (Source: Coin Desk)

Ethereum

Ethereum developers have opted to delay ProgPow, which leaves miners in a state of limbo… should they invest in mining rigs, or not? (Source: Coin Desk)

Layoffs

Canadian centralized exchange, Coinsquare, has laid off 40 employees, which includes “higher ups.” The company’s COO Robert Mueller and CFO Ken Tsang, were both terminated after having their positions for just over a year. (Source: BetaKit)

Smart contract auditing firm, Hosho, lays off 80% of its staff. (Source: Coin Desk)

Mining Infrastructure Development

Bitcoin mining infrastructure group, Bitfury, and Commons Foundation, who build sustainable p2p models for local communities, have teamed up to build a transaction processing site in Paraguay. The sites will draw power from Itaipú the world’s largest operational hydroelectric energy producer, and Yacyretá. (Source: BitFury)

WHY – January 31, 2019

What Happened Yesterday (WHY) is an overview of yesterday’s broader macro trends in the cryptocurrency market and blockchain technology industry.

It is not financial advice. Any opinions are those solely of my own.

Exchanges

Number one exchange to offer fiat gateway

Binance will begin to accept credit and debit cards to purchase cryptocurrency. Binance will initially allow its users to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and XRP with a credit or debit card. The firm is partnering with Simplex to support the new service. (Source: Block Crypto)

US Regulations

Riders on the Storm

Wyoming legislation has been pushing forward on all cylinders in the new year. So far, the following have either been passed by or introduced to lawmakers:

  • Defining three categories of digital assets and treating them as property,
  • Granting assets designated as virtual currencies the same legal status as money, 
  • Authorizing banks to hold digital assets in custody,
  • Allowing corporations to issue certificate tokens that represent shares, and
  • Creating a regulatory fintech sandbox aimed at further diminishing any regulatory hurdles to industry startups

This isn’t the first time a scrappy American state is going after blossoming, potentially lucrative industries by offering amenable laws. South Dakota was able to land CitiBank in the 80’s and Delaware has long served as a tax haven, with no sales tax, corporate income tax, or capital gains tax at the State level. (Source: Coin Telegraph)

Financial Instruments

Get the ETF outta here

The SolidX Bitcoin Shares ETF, which is a collaborative effort by asset manager VanEck and SolidX, has filed to list on the CBOE following the US Federal government shutdown.

Additions were made to the application, one in which the firm compared the liquidity of bitcoin futures versus the freight futures, to argue for its approval. (Source: Block Crypto)

High Fidelity

Fidelity has stated their cryptocurrency trading and custody platform is in its “final testing” phase. The brokerage firm has on-boarded “a select set of eligible clients” already. (Source: Coin Desk)

Another BTC ATM

The New York Department of Financial Services granted Cottonwood Vending LLC a BitLicense, joining a group of less than 20 who have received State-level regulatory approval. 

Users can now purchase Bitcoin at any of the vendor’s ATM’s, and sell Bitcoin for fiat at select machines. (Source: Coin Desk)

Bitcoin

The Bitcoin lightning network now holds a capacity of 600 BTC on the second layer, which is worth around US $2 million. This is about 15% more BTC than the network was holding this time last month.

Bitcoin’s total node count has also increased to 5,768 nodes, a 16% increase from last month. (Source: Bitcoin Exchange Guide)

New Hires

Following the 51% attack on ETC that cost $1.1 million in the forked cryptocurrency, the Ethereum Cooperative is hiring Bob Summerwell as the new Executive Director. Summerwell will “help facilitate the growth of Ethereum Classic’s community and technology.” (Source: Sludgefeed)

Past performance doesn’t predict future results

Coin Desk printed a piece that began with “Bitcoin could end its four-year February winning streak unless prices see a strong bounce from key support.” (Source: Coin Desk)

The markets are irrational, and this statement will either be right or wrong. Don’t put any weight into it.

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