Chainalysis: Darknet Market Activity Nearly Doubled Throughout 2018

Darknet markets are going as strong as ever, if Chainalysis data is to be believed. In its latest Crypto Crime Report, published earlier this week, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reports that darknet market activity has nearly doubled throughout 2018. After a slump in late 2017 and early 2018 due to the closure of two major online marketplaces for illicit activity — AlphaBay and Hansa — volume has since almost completely recovered to early-2017’s all-time high levels, surpassing $600 million worth Read more …

Zebpay Continues European Expansion, Launches EU-Wide Trading Tournament

Cryptocurrency exchange Zebpay is opening new offices in five European countries, increasing its presence on the continent to 26 countries. Launched in 2011 in India, Zebpay grew into one of the country’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges before shuttering its operation in September 2018, due to the crypto ban in the country. Now, the exchange operates out of Singapore, and today’s expansion will make it available for users in Spain, Romania, Slovakia, Liechtenstein and Lithuania. The exchange is also running a European Read more …

Johnny Depp-Linked ‘Crypto-Netflix’ Signs New Indie Producers

TaTaTu, the $575 million dollar cryptocurrency entertainment platform, has signed content agreements with three independent film production companies. This will see the platform, which has a development deal with Johnny Depp, add 50+ new movie and television titles. Big Fish As announced by The Hollywood Reporter, TaTaTu has signed content licensing agreements with Lakeshore Entertainment, Kew Media Group, and FilmFour. This gives a significant boost to the platform’s offering, adding some of the most valuable libraries in the independent space. The deals cover Read more …

CEO of Telecoms Giant Swisscom’s Blockchain Unit Steps Down

The CEO of the blockchain advisory unit of Swiss state-owned telecommunications company Swisscom has unexpectedly left the firm, according to a press release on Swisscom’s website, Jan. 30. As major local news outlet Swissinfo reported the same day, news of Daniel Haudenschild’s reportedly sudden departure from Swisscom Blockchain came just a day before the executive accepted the position of president of the Crypto Valley Association. Speaking in comments to Swissinfo, Haudenschild said the two moves were unconnected. The CEO declined Read more …

Who is Actually Going to Buy Iran’s New Cryptocurrency?

Iran is creating a state-backed cryptocurrency. The options for the digital token are currently open. Reportedly, it’s initially only for crypto companies to do business with the Central Bank of Iran. Later, it will be used as a means to facilitate payments between Iran and other countries for goods and services. Iran was kicked off the SWIFT network last year, essentially disabling their ability to trade efficiently. In response, Russia and other partner nations announced they’re working on a SWIFT-alternative Read more …

Cryptocurrency Scam Alert: Mac Exchange Users Targeted

Reports by a cyber security firm claim to have identified a piece of malware designed to beat the two-factor authentication commonly used to help protect various online accounts. The software steals credentials, including browser cookies, to allow access to cryptocurrency exchange accounts. CookieMiner, as the malware is known, targets exclusively Mac users owing to the cross-device functionality of Apple’s products. In addition to stealing login details and creatively subverting security precautions, the CookieMiner malware also uses the victim’s machine to Read more …

CBOE Re-Applies With US SEC to List Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Fund

The Chicago Board Options Exchange’s (CBOE), along with investment firm VanEck and financial services company SolidX, has re-applied with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a rule change to list a Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund (ETF). VanEck digital asset strategy director Gabor Gurbacs announced the public filing on Jan. 31. CBOE had initially withdrawn its request for a rule change to list a Bitcoin ETF on Jan. 23. A CBOE spokesperson told Cointelegraph that the decision to Read more …

New York Financial Regulators Grant BitLicense to Bitcoin ATM Operator

The New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) has granted a virtual currency license, or BitLicense, to Cottonwood Vending LLC, according to an official tweet on Jan. 31. Cottonwood Vending is a Bitcoin (BTC) ATM operator with terminals in New York City and the surrounding area. According to the tweet, the granting of such licenses “continues to advance responsible innovation in New York’s fintech industry.” Bitcoin ATMs, or BTMs, are touchscreen kiosks that enable users to deposit cash and Read more …

Seoul City Gov’t Launches ‘Blockchain Governance Team’ for State Services

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has launched the Seoul Blockchain Governance Team to explore the benefits of blockchain in administrative services, Yonhap News reports Jan. 31. According to the report, the members of the team are researching the potential of blockchain applications in various government services, including online voting system. Specifically, the working group intends to address systems of integrated management, digital document verification and automatic sub-contract payment. The team consists of 100 employees between the ages of 21 and 77, Read more …

Hack and Crypto Winter Deal NEM a Major Blow

The current bear market, or Crypto Winter as it is often referred to, has forced many solid projects to lay off employees and take a good hard look at their operational expenses and cash flow in order to make necessary changes to survive. One particular cryptocurrency had an especially bad year, and due to the impact of an extremely high-profile exchange hack and the arduous bear market, the development team supporting the project is down to their final month of Read more …

Why Won’t Investors Take Their Heads out of the Sand?

Facebook users are either very naive or just not easily phased. They helped the social media giant set revenue records during the last quarter when it was plagued by data breaches and privacy concerns. Not only did the seemingly-embattled media behemoth report record earnings, but it also reported a significant increase in user growth. Facebook Stock Shrugs off Privacy Concerns Users were undeterred by the data breaches Facebook was forced to admit had occurred. Businesses who collectively spend billions of Read more …

MKR, TRX, and ZEC Among Top Ten by Volume

Markets and Prices The first month of 2019 has seen a slight decline in 30-day trading volume across many leading markets. Bucking the trend, however, were ETH, LTC, MKR, TRX, and ZEC, all of which saw a significant spike in trade activity. Stablecoins have continued to see an increase in trade activity, with ckusd and the Gemini dollar posting significant gains in month-over-month volume also. Also Read: European P2P Trade Posts Strongest Activity Since March 2018 ETH Sees 14% Gain in Read more …