A Look at Venezuela’s Other Cryptocurrencies, While the Petro Takes Center Stage

Financially troubled Venezuela, which is introducing the new, denominated, crypto-anchored “sovereign bolivar” this week, is also the birthplace of a number of alternative coins beside the state-issued, oil-backed national cryptocurrency, El Petro. Crisis-hit Venezuelans are actually using some of them in real life, according to the local crypto community.      Also read: Coinhive Mints Quarter … Read more

Thai Central Bank Defends Cryptocurrencies

In the high-profile Thai crypto fraud case involving an actor, Thailand’s central bank has clarified that the fraud is not related to cryptocurrency trading, but a general misuse of money. Thailand has recently legalized seven cryptocurrencies, authorized seven crypto firms, and the Bank of Thailand has green-lighted commercial banks’ subsidiaries for crypto activities. Also read: Yahoo! … Read more

Trump vs Erdoğan: Bitcoin Is the Answer to Turkey’s Financial Chaos

Latest reporting out of Washington appear to signal no deal struck between the Trump administration and the government of Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, potentially deepening an already fragile financial situation. Turkey’s lira has crashed double digits in recent months, and further as tensions between the two countries, over an American pastor’s jailing, continue … Read more

China Updates Crypto Ranking – Bitcoin Makes Top 10

China has updated its crypto ranking, adding two projects to the previous month’s list. Bitcoin has significantly improved, making the top 10 list for the first time. Crypto projects are ranked in three categories: technology, application, and innovation. Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space 33 Crypto Projects Ranked China’s Center for Information … Read more

3D Printable Gun Advocate Sued by 21 States, Launches Fundraiser

Embattled 3D printable gun advocate Cody Wilson and his Texas-based company, Defense Distributed are being sued by nearly two dozen states in the US. Attorneys General are marshaling a coast-to-coast legal fight against Mr. Wilson after he had an agreement with the US Department of State that effectively allowed Defense Distributed to host downloadable firearm … Read more

Crypto Exchange Works With Regulators to Develop Legal Frameworks for Arab States

Following the statement by Saudi Arabia declaring cryptocurrency illegal, the largest crypto exchange in the Middle East and North Africa is working with regulators across the region to develop crypto regulations. Bitoasis confirmed its platform is unaffected by the Saudi Arabian crypto stance. Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space Bitoasis Working With … Read more

Japan Roundup: Public Companies Unveil New Mining Plan, Exchange, Token Fund

Three Japanese public companies have individually made announcements regarding their cryptocurrency operations. Forside has grown its mining operation with a plan to sell 7nm bitcoin mining rigs. Farsteps is planning a Singapore exchange launch. Meanwhile, Line Corp, the operator of Japan’s most popular chat app, has added crypto price quotes to its Clova AI assistant … Read more

India Bitconnect Head Arrested

Alleged India Bitconnect head, Divyesh Darji, was arrested this week at a airport in Delhi as he arrived from Dubai. He and conspirators are accused of bilking millions of dollars (Rs 88,000 crore) from Indian investors seeking to find financial refuge during the government’s demonetization campaign. Also read: Report: 15,000 Twitter Crypto Scam Giveaway Bots … Read more

South African Tax Authority Going After Crypto Traders

The South African Revenue Service is working to improve the tracking of cryptocurrency traders and their transactions in order to verify if they are paying taxes. According to its Commissioner, the agency is exploring ways to better identify those that are profiting from trading digital assets and check if they are evading taxation. Also read: … Read more

Prolific Bitcoin Dealer ‘Blew a Giant Hole’ Through US Legal Framework

A Mexico-based “prolific bitcoin dealer” has been indicted and held without bond in the US on a number of international money laundering charges. He used Bitfinex for his exchange needs after Coinbase closed his account. His “activities ‘blew a giant hole’ through the legal framework of U.S. anti-money laundering laws,” the Department of Justice wrote. … Read more