Day: August 16, 2017

A look at Google search trends shows that the more people search the digital currency, the more its price rises, which in turn, raises the price further.

Three Ukrainian lawmakers have admitted that they own large amounts of the Bitcoin. Meanwhile, the government is divided on virtual currency and Blockchain technology.

The post Crypto Exchange Shapeshift Acquires KeepKey Hardware Wallets appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

Ethereum congestion – Is it time to start using other platforms as well for ICOs?

The Lightning Network will be “highly centralized,” developer Gavin Andresen has said.

Cryptocurrency exchange ShapeShift has acquired the bitcoin hardware wallet startup KeepKey.

The Donald Trump Administration has ruffled a lot of feathers since taking office. From endless gaffes, allegations of Russian collusion, to threats of preemptive strikes on nuclear adversaries, Trump’s first year in office has left many worried about ethics and the state of the Union. Recently it surfaced that the Trump Administration has been demanding IP addresses of citizens visiting an anti-Trump website. Whether one voted for him or thoroughly dislikes him, this should alarm everyone.  

Trump’s DOJ is Requesting Identifying Information

Disruptj20.org is a website activists can access to organize and gather information about upcoming protests against the Trump administration. The website is hosted by DreamHost, whose team recently acknowledged that they have been working with the Department of Justice for the past several months. However, they feel that what the DOJ is now asking for is not constitutional and have expressed their deep reservations in a blog post.

While some of the information the DOJ has requested is fairly run of the mill, the department is also asking for all possible information on visitors to the website in question. This includes IPs as well as all other data one might leave on the site including cookies, profiles, and the like. In the opinion of DreamHost, asking for this type of information in the context of a political resistance site is chilling and an affront to first amendment rights.

Does It Really Matter?

Put simply, yes. The requested information goes beyond IPs, which can themselves be incredibly revealing. The DOJ requested contact information, email content, and even photos. This was all done in an effort to identify those who had even just briefly visited the site. Happily, DreamHost has since begun fighting the DOJ on having to provide this information, and it faces a fierce legal battle ahead. It is a fight worth the effort, and DreamHost has my moral support.

We must defend the rights guaranteed to U.S. citizens in the Constitution. The first amendment protects the rights to freedom of speech, political thought, and peaceful assembly. Airing disagreement through peaceful protest is one of the most American things one can do. Even if you disagree with particular protests and protesters, you should be vehemently defending their right to do so without fear of government reprisal. Collecting identifying information of protesters and handing it over to this administration is suspicious and downright sinister.

Moreover, doing so would set a precedent that could be exploited by any administration going forward. Legal language and infringements on citizens’ rights from the Patriot Act did not end after George W. Bush left office. This precedent — if not nipped in the bud — is not likely to go away with Trump leaving office.

The internet and governments have had a hard time getting along, but citizens should be able to exercise the same rights online that we are guaranteed in the physical world. Our rights are extended to wherever we extend ourselves. Never let anyone take away your rights, and make as much peaceful noise as possible if someone tries.

The developer team behind the Segwit2x scaling proposal is set to announce a formal date for a planned bitcoin hard fork today.

Graphics card (GPU) maker AMD is rolling out a new software driver geared specifically toward cryptocurrency mining.

Local sources in Australia including the Sydney Morning Herald report that Labor and Coalition senators have officially requested that the Reserve Bank of Australia legalize and adopt bitcoin as an official form of currency.

Bitcoin Down Under

Labor senator Sam Dastyari and Liberal senator Jane Hume announced that their bipartisan push had crossed the political divide and awaits final approval from the country’s central bank. The two senators also told the Reserve Bank of Australia that the failure to acknowledge bitcoin as an official form of currency could severely damage the competitiveness of the Australian financial services industry.

Senator Dastyari stated:

“The question for Australia is are we going to follow or are we going to lead. We need to find a bipartisan way of doing this. We can’t compete with our Asian neighbours when it comes to producing cheap goods and services anymore. We can compete when it comes to financial services but that is going to mean big, bold decisions. This will be a revolutionary leap for the Reserve Bank and for Australian financial institutions, what we want to do here in Parliament is to create the political environment to allow that leap [for an Australian bitcoin blockchain] to occur.”

For the most part, Senator Dastyari’s statement is accurate. In 2015, when major banks abruptly closed the bank accounts of local bitcoin and cryptocurrency startups and service providers, most companies within the Australian bitcoin and blockchain sector left the country for more regulatory-friendly countries like Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

At the time, Australian Digital Currency Commerce Association chairman Ron Tucker explained, “Our members have said the banks have been remarkably unwilling to provide explanations for ceasing to provide services for ADCCA members. Our members, some of whom may end up being partners with or competitors to the banks in the future, are currently at the mercy of established financial institutions.”

Since then, Australia’s bitcoin, blockchain and fintech industries have struggled to grow at a consistent rate while Singapore, Hong Kong and other Asian countries have continued demonstrating exponential growth. Indeed, many Asian countries have developed leading cryptocurrency exchange markets and industries with practical and efficient regulations.

Earlier this year, in an attempt to recover its fintech and bitcoin industries, the Australian government announced the elimination of double taxation on bitcoin. It also noted that bitcoin will be considered to be a legal commodity and settlement network. In its official 2017-2018 budget report, the Australian government vowed to create an improved ecosystem for bitcoin businesses and to treat bitcoin just like other forms of money.

“The Government will make it easier for new innovative digital currency businesses to operate in Australia. From 1 July 2017, purchases of digital currency will no longer be subject to the GST, allowing digital currencies to be treated just like money for GST purposes,” read the report.

In the upcoming months, once the bipartisan proposal is approved by the government, bitcoin will likely be recognized as an official currency in Australia.

The post Bank of Canada Report: Imagining a “Bitcoin Standard” Financial System appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

Switzerland’s Falcon Private Bank will add Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum and Litecoin exposure for clients in addition to its existing Bitcoin support.