“The fact that an OECD country is recognizing BTC as a ‘fungible’ asset is progress — a wake-up call to banks, institutional investors, regulators that Bitcoin is here to stay.” — Dan Schatt. The Commercial Court of Nanterre’s Feb. 26 ruling that Bitcoin (BTC) is a fungible, intangible asset sent some ripples through the French…
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The German financial watchdog BaFin has issued a summary instruction manual for businesses that wish to offer cryptocurrency services that require its custody. The German financial watchdog (BaFin) issued a new summary leaflet detailing how cryptocurrencies are treated under newly enacted laws for 2020. The instructions are presented as BaFin’s interpretation of the new German…
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Blockchain is becoming a hot topic, but is it being effectively implemented around the world? Blockchain usage is exploding around the world. But despite the technology’s many vocal advocates, the spread of technology is never even. Adoption is limited by a number of factors, including infrastructure development, local resources and regulation. As happens with the…
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Italy’s new crypto-powered debit card supplier Bitsa lets users spend privacy-focused altcoin Monero on its prepaid cards. Italy’s new crypto-powered debit card supplier Bitsa has just expanded its prepaid card with major privacy-focused altcoin Monero (XMR). By enabling Monero support on its Bitsa Card, the company unclocks “all types” of XMR-based card transactions in physical…
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Belgium’s Financial Services and Markets Authority has updated its blacklist of cryptocurrency-related websites associated with fraudulent activity. Belgium’s Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) has updated its blacklist of cryptocurrency-related websites associated with fraudulent activity. The FSMA made the update following a number of complaints from Belgium-based users who dealt with fraudulent offers of investment…
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The digital currency set to be released by Facebook in 2020 still has unanswered questions from the EU. Governments around the world are facing hard choices when it comes to cryptocurrency: overregulate it and risk losing the benefits to the economy, or do nothing and make themselves vulnerable to those who step up. Currently, the…
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The EU’s financial regulator released a lengthy 2020 report, which includes the dangers of big tech companies entering finance. The European Union’s securities regulator has put out a report warning of risks of Big Tech’s entrance into finance. “The high level of market concentration typically observed in BigTech may get carried into financial services, with…
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The oil industry is facing some big challenges, and experts think blockchain could be the solution. Oil is central to the growth of the global economy and maintenance of political stability. But for an industry that plays such an important role in both shaping and maintaining the world around us, its business model is quickly…
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Finnish P2P exchange LocalBitcoins is allegedly quietly suspending user accounts, citing an “enhanced due diligence process.” Popular Bitcoin (BTC) exchange platform LocalBitcoins is allegedly suspending user accounts with little fanfare, citing an “enhanced due diligence process.” Finland-based LocalBitcoins, one of major global peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto exchanges, has reportedly suspended user accounts in some countries in…
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The U.K.’s tax agency is stepping up its blockchain analytics operations. If other countries follow, will it spell the end for anonymity in crypto? The year 2019, for a short while, raised expectations that stablecoins would bring about mass adoption of cryptocurrencies. 2020, however, seems to be dousing those hopes with ever-tightening regulation that is…
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