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Moonday Mornings: Bitcoin hash rate pumps while Iran says trading is illegal
Hello and welcome to another Monday and with that, another Moonday Morning – where we take a look at the weekend’s top cryptocurrency and blockchain news. Here’s Hard Fork’s selection of last weekend’s top stories: 1. äàëüøå »
2019-7-8 12:27
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Maduro orders Venezuelan bank to sell Petro cryptocurrency in latest pump attempt
Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has ordered that every branch of the Banco de Venezuela should allow citizens to buy and trade El Petro, the state-issued cryptocurrency he’s so intent on pursuing. äàëüøå »
2019-7-5 13:54
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You can now buy shares in this brewery using cryptocurrency
Paying for coffee with Bitcoin is a common trope in the cryptocurrency industry, but what about beer? More specifically, what about buying shares of a beer company with Bitcoin? The edgy Scotland-based brewery BrewDog announced yesterday that it’s extending its current round of crowdfunding – what it calls, “Equity for Punks” – until April 2020, and is accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in exchange for shares of its business. äàëüøå »
2019-7-5 10:45
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Tether Stablecoin: Can the Crypto Market Live Without It?
What will it take for the markets to escape Tether’s influence and can it do it at all?
äàëüøå »2019-7-4 21:15
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Monero security flaw could’ve seen XMR stolen from cryptocurrency exchanges
Privacy-focused altcoin Monero has suddenly disclosed nine security vulnerabilities — including one that could have allowed hackers to steal XMR from cryptocurrency exchanges. Until March, rogue Monero miners were hypothetically able to create “specifically-crafted” blocks to force Monero wallets into accepting fake deposits for an XMR amount chosen by the attacker. äàëüøå »
2019-7-4 18:18
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This Bitcoin money-laundering cartel was operating from inside a Florida prison
Authorities in Florida have busted an elaborate operation which saw prison inmates use Bitcoin to launder thousands of dollars via their commissary accounts. An investigation by Pasco County Sherriff’s Deputies revealed how inmates at the county jail were having money deposited into their commissary accounts using stolen credit cards. äàëüøå »
2019-7-4 15:46
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Meet the blockchain developer building 12 Lightning apps in 12 months
Devs love a challenge, and there’s a mountain of opportunity in Bitcoin and blockchain. One of the fastest growing areas of blockchain development is Bitcoin sidechain, the Lightning Network. To learn more about the possibilities that the Lightning Network offers, Hard Fork spoke to someone deep in the trenches: a developer who’s set himself the challenge to make 12 Lightning apps in 12 months. äàëüøå »
2019-7-4 14:56
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Ethereum still loved by dapp developers, but trails behind in active users
Ethereum might feature more decentralized apps (dapps) than any other blockchain, but its rivals are enjoying significantly higher usage. In fact, TRON dapps attracted more active users than any other network over the past three months, reports Dapp. äàëüøå »
2019-7-3 18:23
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UK regulator wants crypto-derivatives ban to protect ‘ill-suited’ retail investors
The UK‘s Financial Conduct Authority has proposed a ban on cryptocurrency-related investment products to protect retail investors. In an announcement released earlier today, the FCA said that cryptocurrency-based derivatives and exchange traded notes (ETNs) are “ill-suited to retail consumers who cannot reliably assess the value and risks. äàëüøå »
2019-7-3 15:43
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7 months after Hash Wars, Bitmain’s BTC.com appears to mine Bitcoin SV
BTC. com, the flagship mining pool of cryptocurrency firm Bitmain Technologies, appears to have started mining the Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV) blockchain once again – a likely controversial move. äàëüøå »
2019-7-3 14:17
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Third person accused in Bitcoin-powered fake ID ring case pleads guilty
A woman accused of running a Bitcoin-powered fake ID ring pleaded guilty on Tuesday after authorities busted the operation last year. Among other charges, Sarah Alberts, 35, who is due to be sentenced on October 8, admitted to money laundering, reports say. äàëüøå »
2019-7-3 13:24
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India bank manager arrested in cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme crackdown
The allure of fast profits from cryptocurrency appears to have been too great for one bank manager in India. The manager of a Standard Chartered branch, a private bank in India, has been arrested for running a cryptocurrency scam in which he promised unrealistic returns on a digital coin, Business Standard reports. äàëüøå »
2019-7-3 12:52
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Cuba’s government is considering using cryptocurrency to bypass US sanctions
Cuba‘s government is eyeing the potential use of cryptocurrency to boost its economy. The proposal forms part of a series of measures seeking to improve the country’s deepening criss exacerbated by US sanctions. äàëüøå »
2019-7-3 12:03
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Cryptocurrency exchanges including Coinbase suffer downtime as Cloudflare goes dark
Major web host Cloudflare has suffered a technical mishap that sent multiple cryptocurrency services – including Coinbase – into unexpected downtime. Cryptocurrency services known to have been affected include Bitfinex, Coinbase, Coinbase Pro, CoinMarketCap, and MyEtherWallet. äàëüøå »
2019-7-2 18:17
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Cryptocurrency exchanges including Coinbase suffer downtime as CloudFlare goes dark
Major web host CloudFlare has suffered a technical mishap that sent multiple cryptocurrency services – including Coinbase – into unexpected downtime. Cryptocurrency services known to have been affected include Bitfinex, Coinbase, Coinbase Pro, CoinMarketCap, and MyEtherWallet. äàëüøå »
2019-7-2 18:17
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Ohio real-estate developers ditch ‘blockchain hub’ plans over lack of interest
Real-estate developers attempting to reinvigorate a failing shopping mall with the blockchain are stepping away from the idea after realizing it’s not what the public want. The shopping mall, located in Cleveland, Ohio’s Tower City was originally planned to become a “blockchain-focused technology hub,” Cleveland. äàëüøå »
2019-7-2 15:56
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eToro adds 5 Ethereum tokens to its cryptocurrency wallet – plans to add 115 more
eToroX, the specialized blockchain division of social trading platform eToro, has announced the launch of the first five of 120 ERC-20 tokens that will be added to its on-chain wallet. ERC-20 tokens are designed and used solely on the Ethereum platform and can be shared, exchanged for other tokens, or transferred to a cryptocurrency wallet. äàëüøå »
2019-7-2 14:27
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Florida city that paid $500,000 Bitcoin ransom, fires IT director
Lake City, the Florida city that paid a $500,000 Bitcoin ransom last week, has fired an employee following the debacle. In an interview with local television, the city manager of Lake City, Joe Helfenberg, said the city’s director of information technology has been fired. äàëüøå »
2019-7-2 11:52
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60% of Bitcoin hasn’t moved in a year — despite a 220% price bump in 2019
The price of Bitcoin has risen over 220 percent since January — but long-term holders are keeping their cool. Instead, Bitcoin‘s stellar second quarter actually attracted a steady stream of new sellers to the market, reports independent research firm Delphi Digital. äàëüøå »
2019-7-2 15:39
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Dutch ministers push for cryptocurrency regulation to fight money laundering
Dutch ministers want to regulate cryptocurrencies as part of a wider effort to tackle money laundering in the country. According to a note sent to parliament on Monday, Minister of Finance Wopke Hoekstra and Ferdinand Grapperhaus, Minister of Justice and Security, want to limit the risks associated with cryptocurrencies and make the Netherlands a leader in the fight against money laundering. äàëüøå »
2019-7-2 13:03
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Silk Road weed dealer fights Vancouver police over $2.6M in seized Bitcoin
Vancouver police have been accused of misleading a justice of the peace in a plot to seize $2. 6 million (CAD$3. 5 million) in Bitcoin owned by a dark web marijuana trafficker, CBC reports. Authorities believe the Bitcoin, found on hard drives seized in 2013, to be the proceeds of illegal activity — specifically the selling of large amounts of cannabis via seminal dark web marketplace Silk Road. äàëüøå »
2019-6-29 17:07
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German police raid another Bitcoin-powered dark web marketplace
German police have busted Chemical Revolution, a dark web marketplace, which allowed consumers to buy narcotics with Bitcoin. According to a press release issued by Germany‘s Federal Criminal Police Office, officers have made 11 arrests in connection with the operation. äàëüøå »
2019-6-29 16:32
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Goldman Sachs might launch its own ‘cryptocurrency’ – just like JP Morgan
American banking giant Goldman Sachs might be following in the footsteps of its competitor JP Morgan. The bank is considering launching its own cryptocurrency. In an interview with French financial newspaper Les Echos today, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said that they are doing extensive research on the concept of “tokenization. äàëüøå »
2019-6-29 16:09
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CNBC-shilled cryptocurrency exchange Bitsane pulls exit scam on 246K users
Irish cryptocurrency exchange Bitsane has reportedly pulled an exit scam and disappeared with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency belonging to its users, reports Forbes. Bitsane’s website, which reportedly boasted 246,000 registered users, has been offline since (at least) June 17, when its Facebook and Twitter accounts were noted to be offline. äàëüøå »
2019-6-28 13:16
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Bitcoin dark web drug ring busted after dealer doxes himself buying stamps
US law enforcers have busted a Bitcon-fuelled dark web drug ring after one of the alleged dealers messed up and bought pre-printed postage online using his real identity. The dealers, which sold almost $9 million worth of counterfeit Adderall, leveraged the anonymity afforded by the dark web and received payments in Bitcoin. äàëüøå »
2019-6-28 11:44
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Iran seizes 1,000 Bitcoin miners, says mining with state electricity is a no-no
Authorities in Iran have seized around 1,000 Bitcoin mining machines from two abandoned factories, according to Reuters. The report hasn’t stated what cryptocurrency was being mined, or for how long the farm had been operating. äàëüøå »
2019-6-28 11:41
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Two-thirds of failed stablecoin projects were backed by gold
Stablecoins were once touted by some as a fix for cryptocurrency’s volatility. Thing is, it seems they’re not as stable as their name would suggest. Most of the stablecoin projects announced since 2017 are still yet to launch, and two-thirds of stablecoin projects that have failed were backed by gold. äàëüøå »
2019-6-27 17:33
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Dublin crime ring recruited 14-year-olds to hide drugs bought with Bitcoin
A drug-smuggling kingpin has been using west Dublin teenagers as young as 14 to store large amounts of narcotics bought with cryptocurrency via the dark web, reports Irish local media The Journal citing sources familiar with the matter. äàëüøå »
2019-6-27 14:33
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Edward Snowden used Bitcoin to buy servers for 2013 mass surveillance leak
Edward Snowden, the notorious American whistleblower, has confirmed he relied on the censorship resistance of Bitcoin to help leak data to journalists in 2013. Snowden made headlines across the globe after leaking highly classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) when he was a CIA employee and subcontractor. äàëüøå »
2019-6-27 14:16
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Bitcoin ransomers claim second victory as Florida town pays $500,000
A second town in Florida has paid over $500,000 in Bitcoin to hackers following a ransomware attack. Officials in Lake City paid the hackers after their computer systems were down for two weeks. äàëüøå »
2019-6-27 17:13
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Meth-smoking football coach who blew $2.1M on Bitcoin: ‘I’m still a believer’
Disgraced football coach Mark “Bomber” Thompson has admitted to abusing crystal meth and obsessively trading cryptocurrency for 12 hours a day in the lead-up to his arrest, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. äàëüøå »
2019-6-26 15:04
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Mt. Gox founder facing lawsuit for losing 80,000 BTC
Serial entrepreneur Jed McCaleb, and creator of the now-defunct Mt. Gox, is facing a lawsuit over his handling of the failed cryptocurrency exchange. Former Mt. Gox traders Joseph Jones and Peter Steinmetz allege McCaleb was “fraudulent” and “negligent” in his representation of the exchange, partly leading to the loss of their Bitcoin when it was hacked in the notorious hacking incident from 2014, CoinDesk reports. äàëüøå »
2019-6-26 14:47
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There are now over 5,000 cryptocurrency ATMs around the world
The number of cryptocurrency ATMs worldwide continues to grow. The 5,000 milestone appears to have been reached in the past few weeks. As of June 1, there were 4,858 cryptocurrency ATMs. According to data from CoinATMradar. äàëüøå »
2019-6-26 14:07
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Facebook’s Libra partners remain cautious amid growing scrutiny from regulators
Facebook‘s Libra partners have reportedly signed non-binding agreements, meaning they’re not obliged to promote or use the digital token and can abandon the project if they decide to do so. According to the New York Times, which cites anonymous executives from seven of Facebook‘s partners, some of the companies are being cautious about associating themselves too closely with Libra due to the company’s ongoing issues with regulators. äàëüøå »
2019-6-26 11:25
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Cyber criminals steal $27M in Bitcoin by impersonating popular cryptocurrency exchange
Police agencies from the UK and the Netherlands have arrested six people in connection with the theft of ˆ24 million ($27 million) worth of cryptocurrency. According to a statement, the gang stole Bitcoin from at least 4,000 victims across 12 countries. äàëüøå »
2019-6-26 11:21
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Opera officially launches its blockchain-ready browser for the iPhone
Earlier this year, Opera launched its cryptocurrency and blockchain-ready browser for Android and PC users. Today, it’s finally launching its equivalent for iPhone, Opera Touch. With the launch, Opera Touch for iOS provides the same Web 3. äàëüøå »
2019-6-26 09:55
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Hackers target major UK supermarket’s Twitter with phoney Bill Gates Bitcoin scam
Hackers took control of British multinational retailer Tesco’s Twitter account yesterday, urging followers to send Bitcoin to a wallet address and promising to return twice the value received. Luckily, though, Tesco’s followers did not fall for the Bitcoin scheme as no funds were deposited in the wallet address shared by the hackers. äàëüøå »
2019-6-25 19:32
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JP Morgan claims big institutions are hot for its (non-)cryptocurrency
Despite dividing opinions earlier this year with its “cryptocurrency” JPM Coin, American bank JP Morgan is rolling out its blockchain-based tech to more clients. JP Morgan says potential clients from the US, Europe, and Japan are interested in using its digital coin to speed up securities trading, Bloomberg reports. äàëüøå »
2019-6-25 15:41
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There’s $70,000 worth of Bitcoin hidden inside this image
Satoshi’s Treasure, the alternate reality scavenger hunt for $1 million worth of Bitcoin, has just released its 14th clue. Best part is: it’s loaded with $70,000 in Bitcoin. “[Three] keys and additional $70,000 will be rewarded to hunters who solve the puzzle,” reads a notice on the game‘s website. äàëüøå »
2019-6-25 14:21
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Alleged moderator of dark web drug market AlphaBay facing 20 years in prison
An alleged moderator of AlphaBay, a dark web marketplace, has been indicted for facilitating sales on the site before law enforcement shut it down as a result of Operation Bayonet. According to court documents, the moderator received numerous payments in Bitcoin. äàëüøå »
2019-6-25 11:24
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98% of Bitcoin Satoshi Vision’s activity comes from a dumb weather app
The majority of Bitcoin Satoshi Vision (BSV) network activity hasn’t anything to do with cryptocurrency. In fact, pretty much all of its current on-chain activity comes from weathersv. com, an automated weather service that simply copies data from another (centralized) weather site and writes it to the BSV blockchain. äàëüøå »
2019-6-24 19:02
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Watch out: Cal
Headlines have been saturated with news of Facebook’s new “cryptocurrency,” called Libra, over the past week. Well, some opportunistic scammers are taking advantage of the interest and trying to con people with a fake Libra token pre-sale. äàëüøå »
2019-6-24 15:56
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Moonday Mornings: Elon Musk and John McAfee cryptocurrency scams are back
It’s a new week, which means only one thing: it’s time for Hard Fork’s roundup of cryptocurrency and blockchain headlines from over the weekend. Let’s get to it. 1. Security researchers from Trend Micro have uncovered a new type of cryptocurrency mining botnet. äàëüøå »
2019-6-24 10:55
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France to create a joint G7 cryptocurrency task force amid Facebook’s Libra woes
France is putting together a Group of Seven Nations (G7) task force to explore how central banks can make sure cryptocurrencies adhere to money-laundering and consumer protection rules. That’s according to the country’s central bank governor who announced the news today. äàëüøå »
2019-6-21 18:28
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Mozilla fixes second Firefox zero-day bug used in Coinbase hack attempts
Mozilla has patched its Firefox browser for a second time in response to a spearphishing campaign targeting employees of cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, ZDNet reports. According to ZDNet, hackers have been attempting to phish Coinbase staff with emails containing links to malicious websites. äàëüøå »
2019-6-21 15:08
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Bitcoin healthy AF following Zuckbuck reveal, hash rate hits all-time high
Bitcoin‘s hash rate is skyrocketing, setting a new all-time-high and flying in the face of Facebook’s ambitious Libra cryptocurrency — a remarkably healthy sign for the world’s most popular blockchain. äàëüøå »
2019-6-20 17:15
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Unique multi-platform Monero mining malware targets audio engineer pirates
We’ve seen cryptocurrency hungry hackers hiding mining malware in Adobe Flash updates, and even in legitimate Windows updates, but now hackers are hiding it in cracked audio production software. äàëüøå »
2019-6-20 16:42
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PwC has a new cryptocurrency auditing tool… and actually, it sounds alright
One of the Big Four financial auditing and business services firms, PwC, wants to lend a hand to cryptocurrency businesses and help them keep track of their blockchain transactions. In an announcement released yesterday, PwC says the addition will be made to its suite of auditing tools called Halo. äàëüøå »
2019-6-20 14:55
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Messaging app Line is reportedly launching a cryptocurrency exchange in Japan soon
Japanese messaging company Line Corp is reportedly gearing up to launch a cryptocurrency exchange, The report comes just days after fellow tech giant Facebook announced the launch of Libra. According to Bloomberg, which cites people close to the matter, Line could receive its license this month, with exchange operations expected to begin a few weeks after it gets the green light. äàëüøå »
2019-6-20 14:34
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