Airport Gold Seizure in Amsterdam Points to Bitcoin Utility for Private, Borderless Travel

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A 27-year-old Brazilian man was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam Friday for failing to declare 15 kilograms of gold bars to customs, according to local reports. After failing to provide a convincing explanation as to how he acquired the gold, the traveler flying from Rio de Janeiro to Hong Kong was placed under arrest … Read more

How Popular Is the Dark Web in India? A Look at Increasing Tech Use and Free Market Potential

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Now that the Reserve Bank of India’s banking ban on cryptocurrencies has been lifted by a recent Supreme Court decision, there is reinvigorated interest in bitcoin within the South Asian nation. Exchanges can reconnect to banking institutions and offer the support they formerly did to their customers. But what about those who prefer to continue … Read more

Crypto, Encryption, and the Quest for a Secure Messaging App

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How confidential is our conversation? This question has come to the fore in recent months, driven by a flurry of news stories detailing the weakening of encrypted messenger apps at the behest of law enforcement. A concerted effort on the part of the state to backdoor messaging apps and spy on our most private conversations … Read more

Bitcoin is now Legal Tender in France

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Various countries are suddenly recognizing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as legal tender. This is a development many people have been looking forward to, albeit the short-term price impact will probably be minimal. France is the latest country to throw its hat in the ring. France Seems to Welcome Bitcoin More specifically, the Commercial Court of … Read more

Bitcoin History: When DDoS Attacks Made BTC’s Price Drop

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As anyone who has read the Bitcoin History series (or lived through the period in question) will know, the Bitcointalk forum was the crucible of debate in the early days. What’s less known is that – to quote one poster – “DDoSing this forum coincided with dumps on the then dominant Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox.” … Read more

Bitcoin Mining Rig Manufacturer Canaan Sued – Accused of Misleading IPO Investors

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Bitcoin mining rig manufacturer Canaan Inc. is being sued for allegedly breaking U.S. securities laws before its initial public offering (IPO). Phillippe Lemieux, a Canaan investor, filed a class-action lawsuit that claims the company violated the Securities Act of 1933. Lemieux believes Canaan misled investors and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in regards to … Read more