Japanese internet giant, GMO, entering bitcoin exchange and wallet markets
The largest internet conglomerate in Japan, the GMO Internet Group, recently announced that they will be diving into the cryptocurrency industry, adding another own wallet and exchange to the already-competitive Japanese Bitcoin landscape. A new company founded specifically for this venture, GMO Wallet Co., Ltd., was founded in October.
Federal judge orders Coinbase to turn over bitcoin user data
A federal court in the Northern District of California has authorized the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to obtain information about U.S. taxpayers who conducted transactions through Coinbase from 2013 to 2015.
Korean stock exchange launches Blockchain-based startup market
The only securities exchange in Korea, Korea Exchange (KRX), recently launched a blockchain-based marketplace where equity in startup companies can be traded, called the Korean Startup Market (KSM).
The oldest bitcoin exchange, BTCC, moves into the US market
The longest-running bitcoin exchange still in service, Bitcoin China, recently opened a new US Dollar denominated platform for spot and margin trading. The new real-time exchange, currently in beta, offers Market, Limit, Stop, and One Cancels the Other (OCO) orders for spot trading. The Pro trading platform, also in beta, adds 25x margin trading.
Myanmar’s new Stock Exchange using Blockchain to solve unique problems
Myanmar’s nascent Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) will be using blockchain technology in its settlement platform, and putting it into practical use within two years. Having only opened for trading this spring, two stocks are currently trading on the exchange with four more on the way.
Bitfinex hacked, halts trading, deposits and withdrawals
Earlier today, Bitfinex announced a security breach requiring them to halt all trading, deposits, and withdrawals on the Hong Kong-based bitcoin exchange.
Asset holders to earn interest from fees on decentralized exchange OmniDex
The Omni Layer Foundation recently released the latest version of its Decentralized Exchange, OmniDex 2.0. Omni holders will soon start receiving 0.05% of the exchange volume as interest, after an introductory month of fee free trading.
Bitstamp tackles the foreign exchange market, launches EUR/USD trading pair
As of today, Bitstamp clients are now able to trade Euros for Dollars on the Luxembourg-based bitcoin exchange. “We are excited to announce that our clients can now use our new EUR/USD trading pair,” the company said in a statement on Monday. “The new trading pair allows for better mobility of funds and new arbitrage opportunities.”
Kraken’s business booms, as Money Partners Group joins SBI Investment in ‘multi-million dollar’ investment
Launched in September 2013, Kraken is the world's largest global bitcoin exchange in euro volume and liquidity. The San Francisco-based company has seen extraordinary growth lately, expanding its business in Europe, North America, and Asia. The company acquired prominent bitcoin exchanges Cavirtex and Coinsetter in January, enabling the expansion into Canada, 37 American states, and Washington DC.
ShapeShift volumes surge as demand for Ethereum explodes
Erik Voorhees launched [ShapeShift](https://shapeshift.io/) in March of 2015, and secured over [US$2 million in venture capital funding](https://shapeshift.io/site/blog/2015/12/31/shapeshift-year-review-looking-back-2015) from prominent digital currency firms and investors including Roger Ver, Digital Currency Group and leading bitcoin exchange BitFinex.
Korbit launches Hyphen to provide cross-border payouts powered by blockchain tech
South Korea’s first bitcoin exchange and blockchain remittance provider is expanding into a more robust role offering APIs to other companies at very low fees.
Anthony Di Iorio starts new role as Chief Digital Officer of the Toronto Stock Exchange
Ethereum co-founder Anthony Di Iorio brings visibility to bitcoin and the blockchain within Canadian finance markets as he starts his new position on the Toronto Stock Exchange as Chief Digital Officer.
CFTC appoints LedgerX CEO to their Technology Advisory Committee
The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has recently been expanding its role into digital commodities. The latest member of the CFTC Technology Advisory Committee is Paul L. Chou.
Coin.mx owner charged with orchestrating ‘cybercriminal enterprise’
The owner of Coin.mx, Gery Shalon, has been charged with a stack full of cyber crimes, including hacking into major financial corporations such as JP Morgan, E*Trade, Scottrade and Fidelity. The JP Morgan hack was the largest single theft of customer data from a US financial institution in history.
Patrick Byrnes Battle With Stock Market Manipulation Continues
[TØ](https://www.t0.com/) is a new blockchain platform built to enable cryptographically secure markets, that can be used for real-time [short sales](http://www.investopedia.com/university/shortselling/shortselling1.asp), in full compliance with SEC regulations. The subsidiary of [Overstock](http://www.overstock.com/) recently completed a [production beta short sale](http://investors.overstock.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=131091&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2097753), secured by the Bitcoin blockchain.
New York Bitcoin Industry Recovering After BitLicence Fallout
itBit received it’s Trust Charter in May this year, which made the company the first Bitcoin Exchange to operate as a Trust Company in New York State. On Thursday, the Winklevoss twins launched their exchange, having also received regulatory approval.
