Day: March 17, 2018

Key Points

• Bitcoin price is under heavy selling pressure as it tumbled below the $8,000 support against the US Dollar.
• There is a crucial contracting triangle forming with support at $7,400 on the 4-hours chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
• The pair may extend the current decline and it could even break the $7,400 and $7,000 support levels.

Bitcoin price is poised to extend declines below $7,000 against the US Dollar. BTC/USD’s correction towards the $8,000 and $8,500 levels are likely to be capped.

Bitcoin Price Bearish Trend

There was hardly any relief for bitcoin price as it failed to hold a major support at $8,400 against the US Dollar. The price declined and broke the $8,000 and $7,800 support levels. Earlier, there was a correction initiated from the $8,397 swing low. BTC price corrected and moved towards the $9,800 level where it faced sellers and started a fresh decline.

It fell and broke the last swing low of $8,397, opening the doors for more losses. It even traded below the 1.236 Fib extension of the last upside wave from the $8,397 low to $9,888 high. These all are bearish signs, which suggest further downsides in the near term. It seems like the price may test or it could even break the 1.618 Fib extension of the last upside wave from the $8,397 low to $9,888 high. There is also a crucial contracting triangle forming with support at $7,400 on the 4-hours chart of the BTC/USD pair.

Sellers could gain further control if there is a break below $7,400. The next major support is at $7,000. However, in the mentioned case, the price may extend declines and bitcoin could test $6,000. On the upside, the $8,000 level is a key resistance, followed by $8,400.

Looking at the technical indicators:              

4-hours MACD – The MACD for BTC/USD is moving in the bearish zone.

4-hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI is currently reaching the 30 level.

Major Support Level – $7,400

Major Resistance Level – $8,400

 

Charts courtesy –Trading View

The post Bitcoin Price Weekly Analysis – BTC/USD to Retest $6,000 appeared first on NewsBTC.

Key Highlights

• ETH price was under immense bearish pressure and it declined below the $560 support against the US Dollar.
• There is a major bearish trend line forming with resistance at $575 on the 4-hours chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken).
• The pair may continue to slide and it could even break the $500 level in the near term.

Ethereum price declined sharply during the past few days against the US Dollar and Bitcoin. ETH/USD could continue to move down below the $500 level.

Ethereum Price Decline

This past week, a major downside move was initiated from the $750 swing high in ETH price against the US Dollar. The price declined and moved below the $700 and $600 support levels. The decline accelerated recently and sellers succeeded in pushing the price below the $560 support. ETH price is now trading well below the $600 level and the 100 simple moving average (2-hours).

The recent low was formed at $508 and it seems like the price may even not correct in the short term. An initial resistance is around the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the last decline from the $738 high to $508 low. Moreover, there is a major bearish trend line forming with resistance at $575 on the 4-hours chart of ETH/USD. The pair remains at a risk, and if there is a correction from the current levels, the $575 level could act as a major resistance.

On the downside, the recent low of $508 is a tiny support. It seems like the price may test the $500 level in the near term. A break below the $500 level could really put buyers under a lot of pressure. In the mentioned case, below $500, the price could move into a medium term downtrend with chances of more losses.

4-hours MACD – The MACD is placed well in the bearish zone.

4-hours RSI – The RSI is currently near the oversold levels.

Major Support Level – $500

Major Resistance Level – $575

 

Charts courtesy – Trading View

The post Ethereum Price Weekly Analysis – ETH/USD Tumbles Below $560 appeared first on NewsBTC.

Key Points

• Bitcoin cash price struggled to recover and moved below the $950 level against the US Dollar.
• There is a crucial bearish trend line forming with resistance at $975 on the 4-hours chart of the BCH/USD pair (data feed from SimpleFX).
• The pair remains at a risk of more declines and it could even break the last low of $867 in the near term.

Bitcoin cash price is under pressure below $975 against the US Dollar. BCH/USD may continue to decline towards $850 and $800 support levels.

Bitcoin Cash Price Downtrend

This past week pushed bitcoin cash price in a bearish zone below $1,000 the US Dollar. There was a sharp downside move and the price settled below the $1,000 level and the 100 simple moving average (4-hours). There was a decline towards the $850 level and a low formed at $867. A recovery was initiated and the price moved above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the last decline from the $1,160 high to $867 low.

However, the upside wave was protected by the $1,050 level. Moreover, the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the last decline from the $1,160 high to $867 low acted as a hurdle. At the moment, the price is trading lower and is well below the $950 level. On the upside, there is a crucial bearish trend line forming with resistance at $975 on the 4-hours chart of the BCH/USD pair. It seems like the pair may continue to decline and it could even break the $900 level in the near term.

Further below $900, the last low of $867 could be tested. Moreover, there is a risk of a test of $850, which is a major support zone.

Looking at the technical indicators:

4-hours MACD – The MACD for BCH/USD is once again moving in the bearish zone.

4-hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now well below the 50 level.

Major Support Level – $850

Major Resistance Level – $975

 

Charts courtesy – SimpleFX

The post Bitcoin Cash Price Weekly Analysis – BCH/USD Remains at Risk appeared first on NewsBTC.

Breaking court decision but ban from listing on indices: what is it like for crypto in Israel? #IN_DEPTH

Roanoke Times

Explained: Bitcoin, blockchain and EOS Roanoke Times I bought a blanket on Amazon recently for $16.99. The transaction was pretty quick on my end, but it set off a series of events that all ended with my purchase being forever chronicled in a ledger somewhere. My bank, Wells Fargo, was notified when I ... and more »

ICOs raised approximately $4 billion in 2017 alone, outpacing all venture capital raised in the United States. Because anyone with an idea for a project can gain financial backing without going through the formalities of an IPO, however, there are obvious chances for the public to be scammed, and we likely have only begun to see the beginning of class action lawsuits filed relating to blockchain-related companies or companies that participated in ICOs. Any company planning to conduct a token offering using an ICO should proceed with caution, and anyone looking to invest in a token offering should make sure it is conducted in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

Singapore—March 17, 2018—Singapore based Blockchain Technology XinFin recently announced its association with KoinOK. KoinOK is proudly building the most customer-focused cryptocurrency platform in India and XinFin aims to solve a critical problem of bridging infrastructure deficit using blockchain technology. Xinfin rated as most enterprise friendly blockchain protocol by fortune 500 companies. As a part of this collaboration, KoinOK and XinFin are planning to airdrop over 5 million XCDE utility tokens for free as a part of their referral program with an aim to bring more Indians to participate in the blockchain revolution.

KoinOK allows its users to trade and invest in many cryptocurrencies. KoinOK has created a general and flexible blockchain infrastructure which makes it quick and easy to add new cryptocurrencies. KoinOK is always looking out for innovative currencies exhibiting great potential and follow a strict process of carefully selecting the tokens to be traded on their exchange. After Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and Neo, XDCE will be the 5th token to be listed on KoinOK.  Other equivalent exchanges like Zebpay, Koinex and UnoCoin in India provides similar services.

XinFin had launched its utility token XDCE on Feb 5, 2018, and has recently finished its XDCE Crowd Token Contribution. XDCE token will primarily help traders to contest against other ERC20 tokens across several exchanges. XDCE is an ERC20 utility token based on a decentralized Ethereum Ecosystem which will enable global enterprises to work with XDC Protocol. It will increase the liquidity of XDC tokens to enable many business use cases. The association with KoinOK will allow Indian users to effortlessly buy, sell and trade XDCE using Indian currency INR.

KoinOK Co-founder Vivek Agarwal said, “We are proud to associate with XinFin as this will bring the first airdrop event of such magnitude in India where functional tokens are distributed for free. Till now, all airdrops by other players took place with non-functional tokens which provided no utility.”

XinFin’s Co-Founder, Peter Yeo also mentioned the recent tie-up with KoinOK as revolutionary and said, “Run by a young and dynamic team, KoinOK is one of the fastest growing digital exchanges in India.  We are really excited to collaborate with KoinOK and we believe that our offerings will positively serve our users. With this partnership, our growing community that has an ever-growing demand for XinFin tokens will be able to trade without addressing drastic price changes because of volatility.”

XinFin launched its utility token XDCE on Feb 5, 2018. XDCE is an ERC20 token which will have multifold benefits for traders, private investors and institutional level partners. All the details regarding ongoing XDCE Crowd Token Contribution (ICO) can be found on their Utility Token Contribution Page: www.xinfin.io

XinFin launched the TradeFinex platform at the Digital Asset summit organized by Asia’s largest trade and commerce bodies—Assocham (www.assocham.org) and extended the platform to over 450,000 participating enterprise members. Ramco systems (www.ramco.com), Asia’s biggest company and part of global $1 Billion conglomerates has chosen XinFin Hybrid Blockchain to deploy blockchain solutions for 500+ of its clients in Aviation, Supply Chain and HR. XinFin is already working with leading global fortune 500 clients across USA, Europe, Asia and India. It has successfully demonstrated over 10+ pilot projects in Travel, Banking, Supply Chain, Finance, Trade and Aviation. The upcoming major global expansion includes Canada, USA, Middle East and Sri Lanka, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.

Recently, ‘Bitcoin Jesus’ and CEO of Bitcoin.com, Roger Ver joined XinFin team as advisors alongwith Mate Tokay(COO of Bitcoin.com),  Jason Butcher(Co-Founder-COO – Coinpayments), David Freuden(Blockchain Advisor & Consultant) & Sydney Ifergan(CMO, Blockchain Expert from europe).

About XinFin

XinFin (www.xinfin.org) is a Singapore based Blockchain Technology Company that is focused on Business Process Efficiency improvement and has deployed Blockchain solutions for international trade and finance. XinFin had recently launched XDCE utility tokens which were available through its public ICO and these tokens can help people to get access to the XDC protocol and its sub-networks by hosting XDC master nodes. XinFin’s XDCE tokens allow users to trade at stable prices on regulated exchanges avoiding unstable market where price changes drastically due to lower liquidity.

XinFin has developed a highly ca​pable, secure, permissioned and commercial grade Hybrid Blockchain architecture by forking JP Morgan’s Quorum. With an aim to bridge the global infrastructural deficit with the marketplace platform – TradeFinex (www.tradefinex.org), XinFin offers tools to undertake Blockchain powered peer-to-peer trade and finance contracts between governments, institutions, buyers and suppliers. This helps in an efficient deployment of capital and undertaking infrastructure projects without burdening the government treasury.

XinFin has four lines of solutions namely TradeFinex, Business Efficiency solutions, E-Wallets & Remittance and Private Sub-networks. You can follow XinFin on Twitter (@XinFinF), on Telegram (https://t.me/xinfintalk) and on Slack (https://xinfin-public.slack.com/) Also, check out our latest video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-tHZkV6zAs) and know ‘What is XinFin’.

About KoinOK

KoinOK is Indian’s most customer-focused cryptocurrency exchange which enables users to trade and invest in popular digital assets in an open order book system. KoinOK exchange is a one-stop solution for quick, easy and securetrading in cryptocurrencies in India.

While offering a deeper understanding of the significance of the exchange downtimes particularly in the case of cryptocurrencies where the prices are highly unpredictable KoinOK has also solved problems related to security and support which are few of the chief challenges in the cryptocurrency exchanges existing in India and overseas. For more information, please visit the website. You can get KoinOK updates through social media—Twitter (@Koinoktrade) and Telegram ( https://t.me/koinokforum).

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.

Coinpriceprediction Development

The world of cryptocurrencies just continues broadening. There are modern and updated opportunities for our choice to invest. So there are real chances if the trend continues to develop, the possibility of blockchain becoming the world top of finance is rather obvious. Bitcoin has been dominating the financial industry and continues to grow. Did you know that there are 1000 different cryptocurrency suggesting various possibilities? There is a chance that these virtual currencies become the reality of online use. And there is no doubt that will happen very soon.

Coinpriceprediction is a kind of cryptocurrency exchange and price predictions website that the financial world is waiting for with great eagerness. It gives the investors an opportunity to own part of the company with the help of their own currency. The company offers quite an attractive services on the financial market. Notwithstanding the fact that what they are offering on the white paper is already being implemented by other companies, the core of the technology they are going to use makes the whole difference.

We also can’t underestimate user-friendliness and practicality, the things being applied in the world of digital currencies. The point is, cryptocurrencies are created to be used on online software only. So that you can only pay for a service or goods that are available online. Thus, there’s a great choice of online shops. Coinpriceprediction, yet, promises to provide cryptocurrencies with the ability to enlarge their usage. What does that mean? They can be used for offline services as well. The strategy they introduced to issue credit cards that will allow payment with cryptocurrencies at regional stores will make an introduction to cryptocurrency value. It is a well-known fact already that the ATMs allow a customer to buy cryptocurrencies with cash instantly.

ICO

The people behind coinpriceprediction cryptocurrency price predictor site are devoted and dependable, real professionals in the cryptocurrency world sphere. The company has already been published in the world’s major newspapers and media like Forbes and CBS. The team is located in Switzerland. We can hardly find a better place for innovation development and digital up to date ideas.

Highlights of the company

Don’t even try to think that the team behind coinpriceprediction is unreasonably ambitious. Moreover, some of the things exposed on the white paper may even seem to be impractical. However, some have already been realized by other exchanges. The company is willing to provide the world’s first all-in-one trade formula for cryptocurrencies. It is planned to be a marketplace where financiers will be able to conduct any activity in one place.

One more important issue is to realize cryptocurrency credit cards and ATMs. There’s a real possibility that the bitcoin and other altcoins will be at our disposal as cash enlarging usability. Besides, if the company makes to pay owners as a way of sharing financial benefit, it will be the most rewarding investment.

Financial evolution summary

There is no doubt, that coinpriceprediction is going to accomplish all their plans. The first cryptocurrency exchange agreement has just been negotiated. It gives the company titles to be trusted. There are no reasons to think that the ICO that began in January this year will not be finally realized and implemented.

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 rise of cryptocurrency trading has absolutely everything to do with exchange platforms. Today, the global trade volume is booming, and cryptocurrency exchanges are adding more than 100k new users a day. They represent the focal point for deal-making in the sector, by allowing everyone to execute trades without having to read through numerous forums in order to find someone willing to take the other side of the transaction with no guarantees of success and security. By design, exchanges provide the entire crypto market with an essential service: liquidity. Here, we discuss it, see how HFT algorithms can assess it and assist in finding the best deals.

The liquidity problem

From just 50 units in circulation in 2009, bitcoin alone has experienced growth to an average 200k units traded on a daily basis. However, the daily trading volume of all coins is still very much in its infancy. Today, it is sitting at around $16b, which is about 300 times smaller than daily Forex market, so before cryptocurrencies capture a significant share of global transactions, the issue of liquidity needs to be addressed.

Liquidity is one of the largest challenges in the sector. It is heavily influenced not only by regulations but also by the speculative nature of today’s crypto market.

Many people make decisions to buy or sell cryptocurrency at about the same time or place relatively large orders, which cause volatility; and the market is not just able to absorb it or handle a transaction of 10k bitcoins without the value of the cryptocurrency changing. This happens due to the lack of liquidity, compared to traditional financial market and the equivalent in cash, the most liquid asset.

Apart from the trading activity, for a single exchange, its own unique liquidity is determined by its ability to keep reserves to draw on when running out of coins to sell. Smaller exchanges, with daily trading volume of around 1k BTC, often face supply-and-demand issues or local price slippage and require the buyer to cover it, together with the gas — transaction cost of around 1-10% above the original price.

Liquidity is one of the main things to consider when choosing a cryptocurrency exchange. Here are the two factors that explain it:

• • Security and reputation. Cryptocurrency exchanges have become an appealing target for cybercriminals, with the most notorious hacks of Mt. Gox, Bitfinex, Coincheck and other major trading platforms, leading to billions of dollars in losses. In addition to information security, exchanges now are responsible for detecting and preventing the so-called pump-and-dump schemes and other fraudulent activities. Both tasks require sophisticated security protocols and high end infrastructure that can cost up to millions of dollars to setup and operate. However, the effects of these investments on reputation build up over the long term and result in more money flowing in.
  • Trading volume and trading pairs. Top exchanges have 24-hour trading volumes of more than $1b and offer multiple trading pairs with major cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ether listed as base ones. By design, crypto-only exchanges have many coins available and tend to accumulate higher trading volumes. Fiat-accepting exchanges, on the other hand, have lower liquidity due to overregulation, stringent verification process, and limited trading pairs, so their trading volume can be smaller as well.

How HFT algorithms can solve the problem

With the “Flash Boys” book out on the streets, high-frequency trading has been scrutinized by media and associated with market abuse. HFT traders, thought to be constantly seeking ways to profit from the system, have become scapegoats for the liquidity problem. In turn, high-frequency trading, originally developed to work on stock exchanges, has proven its efficiency in a decentralized cryptocurrency market.

STeX.Exchange is a pioneer in the automated liquidity aggregation space. This project solves the liquidity problem by aggregating offers from cryptocurrency exchanges in one place without any market-altering effects. Here, HFT algorithms allow for real-time analysis of information across thousands of exchanges and provide customers with the best deals available on the market. STeX is designed as a decentralized system, with a custom-built A2A (Any-to-Any) technology that supports up to 10k cross rates and handles the exchange of any crypto assets in a single direct trade.

In this way, STeX will become an ultimate exchange platform and solve one of the largest challenges that limits faster growth for the cryptocurrency market. In fact, STeX aims to become one of the largest providers of crypto asset liquidity by adopting a wide range of traditional financial instruments such as futures and options, together with trading tools: from trailing stop loss orders to take profit orders; and deploying sophisticated HTF market-making algorithms to power the system. To date, this project has raised 15k ETH during the August-September crowdfunding campaign and released its MVP. To raise additional funds for the venture, STeX will conduct an ICO. The STeX A2A fundraiser will commence on April, 5 2018.

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.

DALLAS, TX – As “smart money” investors are coming to realize, the blockchain revolution is starting to become much bigger than just blockchain tech. This is because blockchain tech is set to converge with quantum computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other emerging tech fields. This is a long-term trend that is driving what economics now refer to as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”.

What does mean?

Richard Jacobs, organizer of the Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Blockchain Super Conference (which was held in Dallas back in February – not to be confused with new Blockchain and Future Tech Expo) explains:

“A few weeks ago, I was talking with an institutional investor, who I cannot name. His firm has several large positions in blockchain-based technologies. I was blown away – because these guys are lightyears ahead of the typical crypto enthusiast, in terms of how much they understand about how the lines between blockchain tech, quantum computing, and cybersecurity are rapidly blurring.”

“Because of the kind of money that’s involved, these guys wouldn’t be caught dead investing in something they don’t understand. And they’re seeing that the blockchain space is going to change rapidly over the next few years – thanks to the threats and opportunities from other technologies.”

More than a dozen similar conversations inspired Mr. Jacobs to organize the Blockchain and Future Tech Expo – which will be held at the Dallas Convention Center in September this year.

This time around, as well as bringing together some of the most respected developers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and industry insiders in the cryptocurrency and blockchain space, this three-day event will also feature keynotes from several “smart money” investors and other movers and shakers from the fields of quantum computing, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, cybersecurity, 3D printing, and other emerging technologies that are set to radically disrupt the global economy. They will show attendees how they are preparing for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Tickets to the Blockchain and Future Tech Expo are now on sale.

The regular ticket price is $897 – however, attendees who reserve their spot before Sunday, March 18th will benefit from a “Hyper Early Bird” price of $597 and get complimentary CD/DVD recordings of the Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Blockchain Super Conference that was held in February.

Want to find out more about this conference? Join the free notification list over here:

https://www.bftexpo.com/notification-list/

Alternatively, you can purchase your tickets directly from the conference website:

https://www.bftexpo.com/register/

Press contact:

Richard Jacobs

[email protected]

(888) 448-4590

About the Blockchain and FutureTech Expo:

The “blockchain revolution” is no longer just about blockchain anymore. In 2018-19 and beyond, blockchain tech is converging with quantum computing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies – and driving what economists call the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”.

The Blockchain and Future Tech Expo is the only conference that gives attendees the full picture on how “smart money” is betting on the fourth industrial revolution. That’s because it is bringing together more than 100 of the most respected developers, entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and “smart money” investors from all the most important emerging technology fields – not just blockchain tech.

This three-day conference will be held at the Dallas Convention Center, close to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, in September. We are expecting more than 5,000 attendees, 100 headline speakers, and 150 exhibitors – with talks from founders, developers, and early-stage investors in blockchain, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies that are set to disrupt almost every sector of the global economy.

The deadline for “Hyper Early Bird” tickets ends on Sunday, March 18, 2018.

More information is available at: https://www.bftexpo.com/register/

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.

An AI ecosystem based on blockchain is now being developed by a start-up named AI Crypto. The AI Crypto team is trying to use the blockchain technology in the field of AI research to solve never-ending problems in AI development, such as pointless use of GPU resources and oligopoly of data needed in machine learning development by big corporations.

Blockchain technology used in cryptocurrency mining wastes too much electricity, conducting useless calculations on Graphics Processing Units (GPU). To prevent meaningless calculations, the AI Crypto team developed a new technology called “Distributed GPU Network”. With this, requests can be distributed equally to all GPU pools. Thus one individual won’t be able to assign specific GPU calculations, preventing the misuse of GPU resources. AI Crypto team is also developing a new consensus mechanism called Proof of Value (PoV), so that they can verify transactions through AI machine learning calculations.

Conducting machine learning research requires tremendous amount of data, yet for small start-ups, getting large quantity of data is a hard work. Till now, only large corporations such as Google and Apple could obtain large data sets needed in advanced machine learning trials. The AI Crypto team intends to solve this oligopoly by compensating data providers with AI Crypto Tokens. In AI Crypto platform, data providers receive tokens every time when their data is used. This incentivized mechanism will help create and distribute more AI data for researchers.

AI model is notorious for its difficulty to develop, since an AI must go through immense amount of data to identify pictures or recognize voices. But with AI Crypto platform, developers can  easily get data and build models, and then they can provide them to companies in various sizes. Developers can easily develop models and smaller companies gets better access to AI models. The main goal of AI Crypto is to reduce the cost of developing models.

SJ Lee, the CEO of AI Crypto, who graduated Hongik University and performed as a SK Communications Innocean Digital Marketing Director, sees great potential in AI and blockchain technology. “AI Crypto aims to revolutionize both the blockchain and AI space. I envision a future where all AI calculations are run in the AI Crypto platform”, he spoke.

The AI Crypto team is comprised of machine learning engineers and blockchain developers with over 10 years of experience. The team is preparing for an ICO in May 2018, a beta API in December 2018, and a full launch in June 2019. Learn more at (http://aicrypto.ai/en)

ABOUT AI CRYPTO

AI Crypto is developing an AI ecosystem based on blockchain. The company’s main focus is to develop a tokenized platform that distributes GPU resources, collects data through tokenized incentives, and provides models that are essential in developing AI.

SJ Lee

CEO

AI Crypto

[email protected]

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.

In Feb. 2018, the official website and white paper of the BIT.GAME project as the first blockchain game exchange project in the world were published, which provided one whole solution to the blockchain game with BaaS(Blockchain as a Service) as the core in order to help the existing game ecology transform from the off-blockchain to on-blockchain perfectly.

What’s the blockchain game?

First, the blockchain game is a decentralized and autonomous community based on players, developers and investors. The community behaviors such as transactions and autonomy depend on the tokens issued in the blockchain game. The game developers and investors will have some initial tokens. Other tokens will be stored in the mine pool for the game players to mine.

Secondly, the mining based on PoC contribution proving and consensus mechanism will become the standard in the blockchain game. All players can participate in token mining and get the autonomy right of the blockchain games via the voting decision based on Token share. All incomes of the blockchain games will be distributed to each holder according to the number of the held tokens.

Token is the unique currency in circulation in the game. All virtual props are transacted, and the game income are distributed via the Token.

Fig. 1 Architecture of the blockchain game

Evolution of blockchain games

The game assets, data and contents cannot be simultaneously transferred to the blockchain in a direct manner due to technology restrictions of blockchain, so the blockchain game will gradually evolve via the following three phases:

Phase I Data mapping

The game economy system depends on tokens, namely the game assets are mapped to the Tokens. Most behaviors of the game players, including interaction and change of the game data, are conducted on the centralized game servers. Only when the players withdraw, store and transact the game assets, they can withdraw, store and transact the mapped Token of these game assets.

Now the blockchain game on this phase is also the easiest manner to implement.

Phase II: Data decentralization

The game data are transferred from the off-blockchain to the on-blockchain, but the data interaction in game playing method and game system is centralized, so it can ensure that the game data cannot be tampered in storage.

The CryptoKitties game, which the blockchain users are familiar with, only implements partial functions of the blockchain game on this phase, but it has a huge development space in the game field.

Phase III: Content decentralization

The game contents are fully decentralized, which not only include the game assets and game data, but also implement the game playing methods and game system via the senior intelligent contracts. The players and developers can jointly create new contents.

Pain points of the blockchain game——technology transformation

The game industry is one of the most profitable industries in the past 10-15 years and is favored by capitals. Although the game industry is difficult to survive in the last two years, it is one of the industries with the enough capitals. For partial game developers (CP) without the survival pressure, the trend tracking is more welcome compared to innovation.

The technical talents are lack in the blockchain industry. The salary standard has surpassed it of the AI industry and is ranked as the first position. Without talent and technical support, the medium-size and small-size game developers (CP) are difficult to transform to the blockchain games.

The research-operation integrated games are few. Without the support from the operation platform, the medium-size and small-size developers (CP) are isolated and helpless in transformation.

If traditional games CPs expect to quickly transform to the blockchain game CP, they shall be completely supported by the mature blockchain game solutions.

Pain points of blockchain game——value cashing

The game tokens are valuable in the game. Growth of the game users will quickly improve the value of Token. The Token of the blockchain game cannot be transacted at the exchanges due to smaller community scale and single audience according to the existing digital coin exchange standard. The high entrance fee of the exchanges is not affordable for the blockchain communities.

Investors, developers, operators and players will face to a difficulty that the token as the economy foundation of the whole game shall be cashed and transacted.

Even a small number of the blockchain games are accepted by some comprehensive digital coin exchanges after long-term waiting and payment of high entrance fee, they will also face to difficulties such as insufficient traffic and bargain difficulty at the exchange. The existing exchanges also face to traffic seizing. Except individual large exchanges, most of exchanges can only compete in prices and service quality and cannot effectively aggregate transaction users, so it is difficult to close a deal of some transactions.

BaaS solution to blockchain game

The BaaS(Blockchain as a Service) solution to the blockchain game aims to solve the pain point of technology transformation of game companies and provide the backend technology integration support based on the blockchain game and front-end exchange exits.

The backend technology integration support for the blockchain game is divided into three phases. The first phase aims to integrate the foundational public chain, Token issuing, wallet and transaction interfaces as a standard solution and configure them for different game development environment, so the game developers can directly integrate and quickly pack them.

Fig. 2  BaaS Phase I

The phase II and III aims to create the Blockchain Game Development Lab (BGDL) together with Achain, Forgame, TrustNote, Matrix AI Network, build the blockchain game development platform based on the next-generation blockchain, and implement the quick transplantation of the blockchain games.

Fig. 3 Blockchain Game Development Lab Partners

World first digital token exchange in the vertical field—— BIT.GAME will serve the blockchain games for token circulation.

Professional service and highlight values
Proper requirements	If a game satisfies the basic rules of the blockchain games and is operating or will operate, it can be transacted at the exchange.
No entrance fee	No risk security payment or low risk security payment is paid according to the game operation conditions.
Efficient matching	The transaction efficiency is improved by using the collective bidding and market making.
User aggregation	The players, developers and investors in the blockchain game field shall be aggregated to form the 1+1+1>3 effect.

More information:

Official website: https://bit.game

Telegram：BitGameEN

Twitter：BitGameEN

Beechat：BitGameEN

Facebook : Bit.Game

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.

Stablecoins are very popular right now. These digital currencies are usually pegged to fiat currencies or natural resources, which makes them less prone to volatility. USDX is one of the newer projects in this regard, and it may actually replace central banks in the future. We will have to wait and see how this new venture plays out, but it has a lot of merit on paper.

Does USDX have a purpose?

Ever since stablecoins started gaining traction in the world of finance and cryptocurrency, things have been trucking along nicely. As of right now, most people know about Tether’s USDT, which is pegged to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio. This currency has been rather controversial, but it is still around and in high demand as of right now.

It was only a matter of time until we saw more of these stablecoins. Not long ago, we saw TrueUSD make its way onto the Bittrex exchange. TrueUSD is another stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, although it remains to be seen if and how it can compete with Tether in this regard. Rest assured there will be some interesting competition between these two assets.

Things will only get more interesting from here on out, as we now have another project trying to achieve a similar goal. Known as USDX, this new protocol uses an algorithm to apply monetary policy combined with established crypto frameworks to maintain a stable price. As such, it is an effective stablecoin to compete with USDT and TrueUSD, although it remains to be seen if this new currency will make a big impact on the cryptocurrency industry.

USDX was created to combine the Quantitative Theory of Money with proof-of-stake “mining”. All of this algorithm’s data is gathered from a Delegated Decentralized Data Source – also known as an oracle – and the Schelling Point Mechanism, which has been referenced by Vitalik Buterin in the past. It is an interesting mix of information sources which will certainly have an effect on the perceived stability of USDX moving forward.

Assuming all goes according to plan, the USDX protocol should be able to introduce variable block rewards, variable transaction fees, and lock-in mining. This should help to create a negative feedback loop on the USDX blockchain and increase or decrease the supply of tokens automatically. It could certainly be a viable competitor to central banks.

For now, the USDX team is working on their first token, which is known as USDY. It will be pegged to the US dollar, and the supply of these tokens will be controlled by the underlying algorithm automatically. For now, it is unclear when this token will be issued exactly or how users can obtain it directly. This is an interesting development in the world of stablecoins to keep an eye on, though, as more competition in this area can only be considered a good thing.

The link between the adult content industry and cryptocurrency has become more apparent over the past few years. A lot of interesting ventures have been launched in this regard, yet very few of them have been even somewhat successful. With the introduction of Vice Industry Token, things will undoubtedly change pretty quickly. Even Playboy Enterprises, Inc. is interested in this new crypto token.

The Potential of Vice Industry Token

It has become apparent that there is an interesting connection between porn and cryptocurrency. Whereas the internet is for porn, it’s also for cryptocurrency as a new form of money. If both of these concepts can come together in a meaningful way, fireworks are bound to happen sooner or later. Right now, the Vice Industry Token appears to be all the rage.

More specifically, it seems Playboy Enterprises has taken a keen interest in what this crypto token can bring to the table. The goal is to allow this token – as well as a few other cryptocurrencies – to act as a payment method for the Playboy.tv service. To do so, the company is building an online payment wallet capable of supporting VIT and the other supported cryptocurrencies.

In doing so, Playboy.tv becomes the first of the parent company’s media platforms to feature this new digital wallet. Supporting the Vice Industry Token appears to be of great interest to Playboy Enterprises as of right now, which comes as a surprise to most people. Alas, even established brands like Playboy need to keep tabs on innovative developments, especially when they have to do with payments and cryptocurrencies.

With this new token – along with the other supported currencies – users can access the brand’s exclusive content, pay for Playboy TV’s original content, comment on the site, and vote for content. The integration of VIT will also allow users to earn money for watching Playboy.tv content, which is something a lot of people will undoubtedly show a keen interest in. Getting paid to watch adult content will revolutionize the industry as a whole.

Reena Patel, Chief Commercial Officer at Playboy Enterprises, commented:

As the popularity of alternative payment methods continues to grow around the world, along with the reach Playboy’s digital platforms, we felt it was important to give our 100 million monthly consumers increased payment flexibility. This innovation gives the millions of people who enjoy our content, as well as those in the future who participate in our casual gaming, AR and VR platforms, more choices with regard to payment and in the case of VIT, an opportunity to be rewarded for engaging with Playboy offerings.

With a major partner on board at such an early stage, it will be quite interesting to see what the future holds for Vice Industry Token. Playboy Enterprises is one of the biggest names in the world of adult content today. This also paints an interesting future for blockchain technology and digital assets as a whole. For now, we will have to wait and see when Playboy’s new digital wallet comes to market. That should happen before the end of 2018, though no official date has been announced just yet.

At press time, bitcoin is trading for just over $8,000 – a solid dip from yesterday’s high of about $8,500, though it is a step above today’s previous low of $7,700. Bitcoin is struggling to stay afloat, but many outside factors are looking to prevent this.

One involves ongoing regulation in South Korea. The country accounts for over one quarter of the world’s bitcoin and cryptocurrency trades, making it a very important candle-holder in the digital asset arena.

However, as activities in South Korea grow and bitcoin continues to garner popularity, regulators are seeing a stronger need to interfere. The coin’s price fell earlier this year following South Korea’s announcement that it would ban all further anonymous trading, and now it appears three separate cryptocurrency exchanges are under scrutiny from the nation’s FSA for alleged money laundering and other illegal behavior.

Current evidence suggests individual customer accounts may have been sold to other platforms as a means of avoiding tax reparations. In addition, it appears funds were also sent to accounts held by proxy representatives. These transactions have been stopped, but it has caused the FSA to step in and enter a discovery phase.

The good news is that the three platforms in question are relatively small, and lack the size of other South Korean exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb. This likely accounts for why bitcoin was prevented from hovering at $7,700 all morning, and ultimately experienced a $300 rise. While the current price is nothing to celebrate, it is substantial proof that bitcoin is sustaining all bends to its reputation and remaining stable, despite ongoing threats and jabs from regulators.

Previously, The Merkle introduced its readers to the upcoming Mt. Gox sell-off of its remaining bitcoin stash. While sentiment remains that the announcement of the sale (currently scheduled for late September) affected the bitcoin price, Mt. Gox trustee Nobuaki Kobayashi is denying any such idea.

However, Mt. Gox’s previously staged sell-off took place last January. Kobayashi sold over $400 million in BTC from the company’s collection. Ironically, it appears the sale occurred on or around the time when bitcoin dropped from its near $20,000 high (first recorded last December) to roughly $6,000. While Kobayashi insists the sale occurred through private means that would leave the market largely unaffected, many experts say the evidence says otherwise.

Granted Mt. Gox remains a strong influencer on the bitcoin and cryptocurrency arenas, another massive drop could occur in September when the fallen exchange’s final sale is scheduled.

Despite what seem like continued negative vibes, not everyone has lost hope in bitcoin. Jack Dorsey – often classified as a “Twitter billionaire” – recently announced that he poured an investment nearing $3 million into the blockchain startup Lightning Labs, a company seeking to hasten bitcoin transactions. Moving money from one bitcoin account to another can often take anywhere from several hours to several days, and the fact that companies continue to garner such investments is substantial proof that the crypto-craze is not quite dead yet.

Perhaps bitcoin has a fighting chance in the coming months after all.