Israel Tax Authority: Bitcoin is Property, Not Currency

Israel Tax Authority issued a professional circular on February 19 (4 Adar 5768), clarifying the country’s tax policy on cryptocurrencies in general and bitcoin in particular. “Bitcoin and its like” are discussed in what’s referred to as a “final circular” on crypto and value-added tax (VAT) along with capital gains. Also read: Switzerland Enacts ICO Guidelines … Read more

Rural Russia Prepares to Attract Crypto Loans

A proposal was presented at the Russian Expert Council for Non-Bank Credit Organizations to allow rural businesses in the country to receive crypto loans to attract funds from abroad. The chairman of the council, a State Duma member, is asking rural credit cooperatives to study and educate rural residents on cryptocurrency. Also read: Indians Look to … Read more

Spain Mulls Tax Breaks for Blockchain and Crypto Firms

Proposals to introduce tax exemptions for companies using blockchain technologies and cryptocurrency have been put on the table in Spain. The ruling People’s Party is preparing new legislation that will also offer incentives to entrepreneurs raising funds through ICOs. If lawmakers adopt the amendments, investors will not be required to report crypto assets under certain … Read more

Nigerians Trade $4 Million in Bitcoin Weekly, despite Warnings

Nigerians are trading close to $4 million worth of bitcoin a week on 13 local exchanges, despite multiple warnings by authorities against investing in cryptocurrencies. Experts have called on the government to rethink its position and adopt smart regulations, “allowing innovation to move forward”. Regulators need to understand how it works before applying bans, analysts … Read more

Revenues of Cryptocurrency Exchanges in South Korea Up 88-Fold

According to recent data collected by the South Korean government, the accumulated commission income of the country’s 30 cryptocurrency exchanges last year was 87.5 times that of the previous year. The vast increase in income and crypto transactions was largely contributed by the newcomer exchange backed by Kakao Corp. Also read: Indians Look to Buy … Read more

A Beginner’s Guide to Counterparty

While many cryptocurrencies exist as competitors to or as evolutions of the Bitcoin protocol, there are other initiatives that instead seek to cooperate and bolster the pioneer blockchain. Perhaps the oldest and most profound of these projects is Counterparty, an asset layer created directly on the Bitcoin blockchain. What is Counterparty? Counterparty (XCP) is a … Read more