The central bank of Jamaica is actively building cryptocurrency awareness
The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) recently reported that the government is actively “building cryptocurrency awareness.” The statement was provided on Wednesday, by the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) Deputy Governor Livingstone Morrison, at the central bank’s quarterly media briefing. Morrison says the central bank must create opportunities for the exploitation of certain technologies, including cryptocurrency, while pointing out that such technologies should not pose undue risk to the local financial system. The Bank has also established an internal group of persons who are working to build awareness of these kinds of technological happenings across the world. The group are also guiding regional efforts.
Blockstream Satellite broadcasting the Bitcoin blockchain across the globe
Blockstream has just announced that the Bitcoin blockchain is now being broadcast from space. The new service, Blockstream Satellite, streams data down to much of the planet’s surface for free, in order to boost the connectivity, decentralization, redundancy, affordability, security, privacy, and ultimately adoption of Bitcoin. “Blockstream Satellite enables further participation in Bitcoin,” states the company, “including the billions of people in the world without internet access and people in places where bandwidth prices make participating cost-prohibitive.”
OB1 secures further funding for Bitcoin’s premiere peer-to-peer marketplace, OpenBazaar
OB1 CEO Brian Hoffman reveals several new details about upcoming developments, including a smartphone app and their planned launch date for their long-awaited version 2.0 launch.
Japan’s largest Forex market opens Bitcoin exchanges to overwhelming demand
The much-anticipated Z.com Coin bitcoin exchange, a new division of Japan’s leading provider of both Internet services and Forex exchange, GMO, recently opened to staggering traffic volumes.
Netki launches Digital ID solution, which Bitt is using with Central Banks in the Caribbean
California blockchain startup Netki announced the launch of their highly-anticipated Digital ID smartphone app at Consensus 2017 on Tuesday. The ID platform was designed to help people control their identities better, while at the same time giving anyone who needs a government-approved identification a feature-rich, blockchain-based, free solution that can be used anywhere.
Bitcoin income from WannaCry ransomware attacks expected to increase
A massive round of ransomware attacks was observed on Friday across the globe. The attackers successfully infected large institutions and companies in about 150 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Russia, Taiwan, France, and Japan.
21 launches Lists, for bitcoin powered ‘microconsulting’
21.co CEO Balaji Srinivasan recently announced Lists, a new service designed to allow individuals to make money online. "Lists are curated groups of 21.co members who share a common profession, skill, or social network,” Srinivasan explains. Users who join a list receive a stream of list-specific tasks to earn money or fund charities.
Bitcoin — ban, regulate or ignore?
Ever since its birth in 2009, Bitcoin — the world’s first and most popular crypto-currency, has regularly been in the news for all the wrong reasons — drugs, tax evasion, organized crime, money laundering and terrorism financing.
The Semantic bank
I’m delighted to be speaking at TNW on May 19 in Amsterdam. I wanted to talk about Digital Human, the theme of my next book, but the guys want me to talk about banking and finance and money, as that’s why they asked me. So I’m going to unveil my first meander around The Semantic Bank.
Local government using bitcoin to promote tourism in Japan
With the help of Bitcoin exchange and payment processor Coincheck, the festival and City of Hirosaki are officially accepting bitcoin donations as part of their Cherry Blossom Festival this week. "This will be the first attempt for both a Bitcoin company and a local government in Japan," Coincheck states.
Tor May Use Bitcoin to Enable User-Friendly Onion Addresses
The Tor Project recently suggested that Blockstack may provide a solution to problems associated with onion addresses.
Covert attack on Bitcoin drives block size debate stagnation
On Wednesday afternoon, Bitcoin Core developer Greg Maxwell submitted a Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP), inhibiting a “covert attack on the Bitcoin POW function.” Maxwell discovered patent pending technology being used in an ASIC Bitcoin mining chip, which gives certain Bitcoin miners 20 to 30 percent more mining power.
Bitcoin regulation overhaul in Japan
Japan’s Government has long been working on a bill to amend its Banking Act, accounting for changes to the economy stemming from the growth of telecommunications technologies. Last week, the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA) announced that this bill will come into full force on Saturday, April 1. The amendments include an ordinance concerning digital currencies as well as digital currency exchanges.
BitBond and Bitpesa target P2P loans for African Businesses
Bitbond and Bitpesa recently announced a new initiative offering small business loans to Kenyans, Nigerians, Tanzanians, and Ugandans. In a bid “to improve access to financing for SMEs in Africa,” the move allows Bitbond borrowers in the four countries to “withdraw loans into their mobile money or bank account in as little as 20 mins,” according to Bitbond’s announcement.
US Cannabis industry ripe for bitcoin
It’s hard to imagine a more unique industry than the US cannabis industry, or one that is growing and changing faster. Arcview Market Research reports a blistering 34% compound annual growth rate from 2014 to 2016, driven primarily by Colorado and Washington initiating adult-use sales. This rate of growth will subside somewhat in 2017 to 22%, as the eight states that voted to open or expand their cannabis markets on Election Day in November 2016 work to implement the new programs.
New AML compliant bitcoin processing service available to 56,000 merchants
ACI Worldwide recently announced a partnership with Payment21. ACI Vice President Andy McDonald said that the partnership will enable their clients to offer bitcoin payments, “without exposing their merchants to price volatility.”
