Contrary to initial inspection, recent allegations against Maduro and other Venezuelan brass do not directly involve cryptocurrency. Several Venezuelan leaders recently came under fire for alleged criminal acts, although, contrary to initial impressions, the situation did not directly involve cryptocurrency usage. “Maduro and his co-defendants are not alleged to have been involved with crypto, directly,”…
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Cryptocurrency is an alternative to sovereign currencies that are issued by state governments, but national digital currencies are not so far away from being launched. Over 30 years ago, in a January 1988 cover story emblazoned with a phoenix hovering over a paper-money inferno, The Economist offered this semi-prophetic vision of currency: “Thirty years from…
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The indefinite suspension of Venezuela’s national banking system is driving further adoption of cryptocurrencies. Peer-to-peer Bitcoin (BTC) trading has surged in Venezuela after shutting banks amid a nationwide quarantine to fight the spread of coronavirus. On March 17, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro brought a country-wide quarantine to slow the spread of COVID-19. With only 33…
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Around 6 to 8 million Venezuelans were airdropped half a Petro each by the government, with many trying to sell it for half the official price. Venezuelans are reportedly selling the state-launched Petro (PTR) cryptocurrency that was airdropped to them recently. Though the government claims to have fixed the value of one PTR at $60,…
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Venezuelan project Locha Mesh is developing devices to ensure crisis-struck regions are able to use crypto amid internet and electricity shortages. A Venezuelan team is developing Locha, a decentralized mesh network that doesn’t rely on the internet to transact with Bitcoin (BTC). The system, based on radio waves, was born in response to frequent electricity…
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Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, announced on Friday the opening of a new crypto-run casino in a battered country where betting halls have all but gone extinct. Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, announced on Friday the opening of a new crypto-run casino in a battered country where betting halls have all but gone extinct. A…
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The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, has announced that the state-owned PDVSA oil firm will sell 4.5 million barrels of oil for Petros. Venezuela will soon sell oil from reserves of a state-run oil and gas company for its national oil-pegged cryptocurrency, the Petro (PTR). Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has signed a decree to sell…
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A different view of cryptocurrencies post-crisis? ‘‘It was quite profound to see Bitcoin acting as a clear safe haven.” For one week, the Iran–United States military crisis gripped the crypto community. It began on Jan. 3 with a U.S. drone strike on a convoy traveling near Baghdad International Airport, killing Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani…
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A partnership with merchant gateway Cryptobuyer sees the first Burger King restaurant begin taking six cryptocurrencies, with others to follow this year. Bitcoin (BTC) has come to Burger King in Venezuela as a new partnership opens up cryptocurrency payments at the fast-food chain. Confirmed in a tweet on Dec. 30, a single Burger King branch…
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Bitcoin trading volumes on peer-to-peer trading platform LocalBitcoins in Venezuela and Argentina have touched on new all-time highs. Bitcoin (BTC) weekly trading volumes on peer-to-peer (P2P) trading platform LocalBitcoins in Venezuela and Argentina have hit new all-time highs in their respective national currencies. Cryptocurrency data website CoinDance shows that LocalBitcoins trading volume in local fiat…
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