Day: December 2, 2017

Among currencies in circulation, Bitcoin ranks as the sixth highest, above the Pound, Ruble, and Won.

The blockchain you’re considering will almost certainly change from the white paper. What you really want to think about is how that will happen.

Video games are a $100 billion industry around the world. There are so many platforms that these games are based on. They include PC, consoles and mobile platforms with each one of them boasting a different experience for the users. The issue with the current industry model is that there is too much centralization and saturation of assets among the global community of game developers while the hundreds of millions users only get to watch from the sidelines.

This approach is flawed for the future development of video games which rely heavily on user feedback. There is also a feeling of disconnectivity between the users and the developers that needs to be removed. Nitro is an online cryptocurrency and gaming platform that aims to solve many of the problems associated with the gaming industry right now.

How Does Nitro Aim to Succeed?

First of all, Nitro realizes that gamers need to have a sizeable stake in the future development of games and by using blockchain technology and decentralization as their tool of choice, this is possible. Secondly, instead of making promises they can’t keep in terms of scalability and outreach, Nitro has got the backing of an established gaming platform called iCandy Interactive;  an award-winning game development business with many prominent developers sitting on its’ board. It has been in the video gaming industry for over 6 years and its’ existing users total more than 346 million smartphone gamers around the world.

Nitro token will be released especially for these games and it will populate their gameplay. This early adoption will ensure that the scalability of the new coin is not an issue and the investment backers do in their Initial Coin Offering is not likely to go to waste as compared to other video game ICOs which are likely to face issues here.

Gamers and speculators can have the ownership of the NItro Token and participate in the booming game economy directly. They can fund new game concepts and get a share from their revenues through smart contracts. They can also make passive income indirectly as future platforms will be populated by this new token and all the earnings will be split among the coin holders and the video game companies themselves. This bottom-up approach will help in expanding the already vast boundaries of the gaming world and allow a new financial model to prosper.

Nitro is also backed by three venture capital firms that are behind the success of the iCandy Interactive. All of these stakeholders had a considerable say in the development of the new platform and will ensure its future success too.

The Nitro coin is called Nitro Token or NOX. It is based on the Ethereum blockchain’s smart contracts feature. The Nitro token is the first gaming token to be supported by successful gaming industry leaders and professionals.

Nitro ICO

The Nitro Token will undergo an ICO from December 1, 2017. A pre-sale has already passed and all sales will be conducted live on the Nitro token’s website. It is currently offering 60 million NOX token and the total target is set at 75,000 ETH.

60% of the proceeds from the ICO will be redirected to funding gaming pools while 40% will be allocated for marketing and operating costs.

For more Information visit the Website: www.nitro.live

This is a sponsored press release and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or views held by any employees of The Merkle. This is not investment, trading, or gambling advice. Always conduct your own independent research.

The concept of cryptocurrency trading bots has always been somewhat controversial. Most of these programs require a fair amount of knowledge from the user in order to be successful. However, there is an interesting shift occurring in the world of trading bots. The Cryptotrader platform, for example, offers a rather helpful service. It is still advised to do your own research, but there are some aspects of this tool that can make the whole trading process a lot more manageable.

CryptoTrader Isn’t a Traditional Trading Bot

Although we’ve covered some of the more interesting and appealing cryptocurrency trading bots in the past, there is always room for more innovative services in this industry. There is a genuine interest in trading bots as a whole, yet people are wary when it comes to downloading and installing new software. That’s not entirely surprising, as software clients are prone to infection from malware and other information-stealing tricks these days.

This is why trading bots will always be somewhat of a niche market. This is especially true in the world of cryptocurrency, despite more and more consumers demanding exposure to new trading tools which may help them strike it big in the years to come. Futures contracts are always worth exploring in this regard, although one still needs a certain degree of knowledge in technical analysis to make any educated decisions.

This is why Cryptotrader may be the platform so many people have been waiting for these past few years. It is not a traditional trading bot by any means, yet it provides very similar functionality. More specifically, it is an algorithmic trading platform which supports both Bitcoin and a handful of other cryptocurrencies. After all, cryptocurrency has become about so much more than Bitcoin these past few years.

Users of Cryptotrader will not have to download or install any software whatsoever. As long as they can connect to the platform, users will be able to access all the features they need. We are not officially endorsing this platform whatsoever, but one has to admit the features provided are pretty compelling for people not looking to install software. Cryptotrader does rely on a centralized infrastructure, though, which poses a new set of problems.

With a few different pre-coded strategies to choose from, it is still advised that people do their homework on price trends, charting, and the various techniques being employed. It is unclear whether or not there is any profit to be made with Cryptotrader, but since most of its processes will be automated, there is always the option to switch to a different strategy, by the look of things. The platform takes care of all the legwork, which is something that will appeal to a lot of people.

Moreover, the platform works with many different exchanges. Those platforms include Poloniex, Bitfinex, Bitstamp, Bittrex, Kraken, and Coinbase. Do keep in mind this service is not free of charge, though, as plans range from 0.0011 to 0.0208 BTC per month. The more expensive plans allow for the use of multiple trading bots at the same time, which is exciting. It will be interesting to see if similar platforms come to market in the coming months and years.

Bergmann Team has developed a new Linux-based OS for mining BergmannOS, that enables full control over the rigs and automatization of the cryptocurrency mining. Since December 11, 2017 during the entire period of ICO BergmannOS the participants will have access to a shippable beta version of the software complex for miners.

Already in the beta version of BergmannOS miners will be able to estimate the benefits of the main functions of the system. Users are guaranteed 24/7 real time control of the devices, auto and manual tuning of the units, autotuning of video cards (after first update), warning messages in the event of failures, reports on unites’ work, marketing quotation of crypto currencies and news from crypto world. User-friendly interface makes the usage of the system easier.

BergmannOS is a part of developing Bergmann ecosystem that unites separate instruments for the efficient work in cryptosphere. In the nearest future users will have access to a range of different programs for miners inclusive of the trade bot. Within BergmannOS a global update under the code-name Zypher is going to bring great benefits to the users of the system — an access to the Smart Mining option. The auto-mining of the most profitable currencies will be produced according to the results of the inner analyses of the data of each currency, its exchange and trade interaction, the state of the markets as a whole and other data.

Purchasing BERG tokens during the ICO users will be able to try benefits of BergmannOS even before the release of software complex for miners.

Bergmann Project

Bergmann Team has formulated the mission according to which developes its control system and other projects. The mission of Bergmann is developing the ecosystem that unites all elements of blockchain industry. Bergmann Team is committed to its goal of creating software and hardware complexes for users and businesses in the cryptosphere.  

You can find out more information from our ICO website: https://ico.bergmannos.com

This is a sponsored press release and does not necessarily reflect the opinions or views held by any employees of The Merkle. This is not investment, trading, or gambling advice. Always conduct your own independent research.

The latest ramblings from a banking head came at a conference this week in China.

It is always interesting when the worlds of technology and cryptocurrency come together. The Tesla brand has received a lot of praise and attention as of late. In a way, it is not entirely surprising that people would find other use cases for a Tesla-related technology outside of self-driving cars. One Tesla owner is using free power from a local SuperCharger to mine Bitcoin. It is an interesting and quite lucrative venture, to say the least.

Tesla Supercharger and Bitcoin Mining

On paper, it may sound impossible to use one of Tesla’s Supercharger stations to mine Bitcoin. After all, they can’t exactly be hooked up to regular Bitcoin mining hardware or even a power plug. That hasn’t kept one particular Tesla owner from experimenting with this technology, though. This person built a Bitcoin mining rig right into the trunk of the car, which is charged through the Supercharger. All of that energy is used to mine Bitcoin continuously.

While this may sound like a lot of work, it could prove pretty lucrative as well. With the Bitcoin price shooting up this year, it is evident there is widespread interest in mining the world’s leading cryptocurrency. Doing so is often much easier said than done, though, since electricity is not cheap to come by. The Tesla Supercharger effectively changes that equation. All Bitcoins generated through this process are 10% profit, minus the original investment cost of the mining rig itself.

While this is an option worth exploring for all Tesla owners, it is doubtful we will see more people take this approach. It is commendable to see people take advantage of this “electricity loophole” right now, but it is something Tesla will pay attention to in the near future. Whether or not it can come up with a way to prevent such activity remains to be seen, though. Right now, that doesn’t seem plausible whatsoever.

Additionally, there are some concerns over how the electricity itself is generated. In the case of Tesla Superchargers, fossil fuels are the main source of this “unlimited” electricity. There is nothing preventing people from taking full advantage of this grid, though, considering these vehicles are still a niche market first and foremost. Electric cars are far from popular, but they are becoming more common every quarter.

Creative approaches to mining Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are always worth exploring. Whether or not one should buy a Tesla and the necessary hardware to mine cryptocurrency and take advantage of a Supercharger is something else entirely. There is an interesting opportunity waiting to be explored in this regard, but it also raises a lot of questions, to say the least. Additionally, there is no real advantage in sacrificing one’s trunk to mine cryptocurrency.

Rest assured we will see additional creative approaches to mining cryptocurrency with free electricity in the future. Renewable energy is definitely the right way to go in this regard, although it usually requires a hefty upfront investment. Mining cryptocurrencies may not always be viable, and there is no reason to make any long-term plans in this regard whatsoever. Setups generate a ton of heat which may damage cars’ internals over time. 

Safer, faster, attack-proof database on Blockchain? See to find out more.

Border patrol don’t like bitcoin. In fact they dislike anything they don’t understand or have been programmed to distrust. Encryption, cryptocurrency, graphics cards, all of the tech we take for granted is anathema to suspicious customs agents. Whether you’re traveling into the U.S. or any other surveillance state, here’s what you should do to avoid raising red flags.

See also: Stay Safe By Keeping Your ‘Bitcoin Business’ to Yourself

Red Flags and Black Marks

With lengthy layovers, endless queues, and heightened security, traveling abroad is stressful at the best of times. When you’re carrying cryptocurrency, however, passing through borders isn’t just stressful – it’s also dangerous. Moving from country to country with a little bitcoin – or even a lot of bitcoin – stored on a hardware wallet, laptop, or cell phone should be a lot safer than carrying a corresponding amount of cash. Crypto is much easier to conceal. But it is the very concealment of cryptocurrency – or even the possibility of such concealment – that compels nosey TSA agents to order travelers to unlock their phones, decrypt their laptops, and bare their digital life for inspection.

Regardless of whether customs have the right to intimately scrutinize passengers in such a manner, the reality is that such practices are rampant, primarily at U.S. airports. To enter the land of the free, first you must surrender your freedoms.  

Welcome to Bitcoin Club

The first rule of Bitcoin Club is that when passing through customs – that’s right – you don’t talk about Bitcoin Club. The risks that international travelers arriving in the U.S. face was highlighted this week in a lengthy and understandably emotional tweetstorm by Amal El-Mohtar. The writer, who is no stranger to “enhanced” security checks at airports, largely on account of her name it appears, was subjected to a particularly grueling ordeal. She explained: “Last time… no one took my phone, everyone was embarrassed while they asked horribly violating questions about my parents & background…This time was different”. The Canadian citizen continues:

While anyone can have a bad experience at customs and then vent on social media, such experiences are not isolated. Having a suspicious surname seems grounds alone for enduring extensive interrogation. By the time her journal had been pored over along with her cell, which she’d been forced to unlock, Amal El-Mohtar had missed her flight and had to return to the check-in desk to rebook and repeat the process all over again.

Hide Yo Bitcoin, Hide Yo Encryption

Cases such as this emphasize the need to keep your digital identity locked down when passing through hostile customs. Simply encrypting your hard drive may not be enough, as the very act of doing so can raise further suspicion. If you are going to encrypt sensitive data, consider partitioning your hard drive and concealing the encrypted sector, making it invisible to cursory searches. Hide cryptocurrency apps on your cell phone – yes, banish your Blockfolio. Better still, take a clean laptop and a burner phone and leave the real ones at home.

Admittedly, this isn’t always practical, and the TSA – or whatever border agency happens to be frisking you – is unlikely to detain you for having a thumb drive containing $100 of shitcoins. Nevertheless, given the ease which which an individual’s identity can be laid bare once their laptop or smartphone is unlocked, the simplest solution is to travel clean and with complete peace of mind. Either hide it well or don’t take it with you.

For so long as such innocuous markers as a person’s birth name or interest in bitcoin can be used to profile them under the all-encompassing umbrella of “muh terrorism”, it’s best to play it safe. You can’t easily change your name, but you can certainly conceal your affinity for the world’s favorite digital currency.

Have you ever experienced problems when traveling into the U.S? Let us know in the comments section below.

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