Day: April 10, 2018

It’s time to get rid of your bitcoin “dust,” some developers argue. CoinDesk explains why.

The Economics departments of several Brazilian universities are progressively delving into cryptocurrency. The topic has gained its place in research projects and postgraduate studies. A Master’s degree focused on cryptocurrencies is opening at the Brazilian higher education institution Fundação Getúlio Vargas, in São Paulo, a city with a population of 12 million.

Brazil Has First Master’s Degree on Cryptocurrencies

The Brazilian educational system is taking steps to prepare its students for upcoming cryptocurrency era. Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV), a higher education institution in São Paulo, has announced the first Master’s degree in Cryptofinance. The pioneer course in Brazil follows the lead of top universities in the U.S. including Duke, Cornell and Massachuttes Institute of Technology (MIT), who have started offering classes on the subject. New York University began teaching one of the first classes in 2014.

As blockchain is in very high demand worldwide, the offering comes as a natural response in the education market. FGV aims to develop new professionals capable of leading the startup ecosystem in Brazil. The course will teach their students how to create their own digital currency.

“It is a market with a profound lack of people with expertise. Cryptofinance has economic and financial fundamentals that are worth discussing, researched, and taught”, said Ricardo Rochman, program coordinator at FGV, who has already started offering an optional class to its students of Economics.

“There is a conceptual gain of knowing both the practical applications of the technology and cryptocurrency as an alternative investment”, said Michele Araújo, a 26-year old student of Economics at FGV.

In the meantime, a group of 23 students has created Blockchain Insper, an entity that aims at developing new technologies and business models within the crypto space. The group has partnered with five blockchain-based companies to obtain mentoring from professionals who will help them improve their research. “We had the humility of recognizing that we can’t do it on our own”, said João Perpetuo, a 23-year old student of Economics and co-founder of Blockchain Insper.

Inspired by a similar Berkeley University initiative, the group is also giving classes and workshops on cryptocurrencies. Soon, they will be offering consultancy services to clients.

The Faculty of Economics and Administration of the University of São Paulo (FEA-USP) has included cryptocurrencies as an additional subject in the Derivatives class, where students learn about bitcoin, the comparison between cryptocurrencies and fiat money, and how markets react to these assets. Alan de Genaro, a professor at FEA-USP, made the decision because future professionals “need to learn which factors are beneficial and which are not”.

Image Courtesy of Shutterstock

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April 10, 2018 – Berlin, Germany – TokenMarket, an industry leading ICO advisory service recently awarded ‘The Best ICO Advisor’ at Cryptocurrency World Expo Berlin Summit 2018. The firm stood out in the category which featured notable nominees including; Argon Group, Element Group and Bitcoin Suisse AG. The Berlin Summit was attended by the full gamut of the global cryptocurrency community from the biggest exchanges, payments providers, ICO participants, blockchain developers and entrepreneurs with over 1,600 delegates and 60 companies attending.

TokenMarket has throughout its inception demonstrated itself by the quality of its ICO advisory, launching some of the biggest ICOs last year such as Monaco, Civic, Populus and Storj. Since advising its first ICO in January 2017, TokenMarket has gone on to advise over twenty token sales. Collectively these have raised over $250M in ETH, which has led to its official recognition as ‘Best ICO Advisor’ by the Cryptocurrency World Expo community.

‘We are very pleased that TokenMarket has been recognised as the industry leader for ICO advisory and we will continue to provide that same high-quality services for all our existing and future clients’ Ransu Salovaara, CEO – TokenMarket.

As of November 2017, TokenMarket had successfully advised and launched 10% of the Top 100 tokens by market cap. TokenMarket’s veteran experience and impressive track record has allowed itself to establish a unique position in the market, of advising and launching the most reputable and highest quality ICO’s in the market.

About TokenMarket

TokenMarket provide a platform for organising blockchain token or virtual currency sales. Its seasoned professionals combine market experience, resources and data assets to create a winning solution to execute ICO’s safely and securely. TokenMarket provide a fully end-to-end 360 service for token creation, presale and public sale. TokenMarket’s ICO advisory service has worked alongside some of the brightest startups in the blockchain industry pioneering brands such as Storj, Civic and Dent. Alongside its ICO advisory, TokenMarket has established itself as the leading platform for listing tokens on its ICO calendar.

About Cryptocurrency World Expo

Cryptocurrency World Expo runs a variety of conferences around the globe discussing industry leading topics around; Cryptocurrency trading, regulation, developments and the ICO marketplace. With over 45 recognised blockchain specialist speakers, 60 fintech companies and 1,600 delegates attending in Berlin, Cryptocurrency World Expo events have now set an industry benchmark for blockchain conferences worldwide. Further conferences scheduled this year include; Zurich, Lisbon and Warsaw.

To find out more about TokenMarket’s services visit https://tokenmarket.net .

To find out more about Cryptocurrency World Expo events visit https://cryptocurrencyworldexpo.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.

Bitcoin Press Release: Investa give details of their innovative financial platform, and announce their upcoming token pre-sale, beginning May 1st 2018.

10th April 2018, London UK – Investa, the blockchain-based integrated platform for crypto banking have released the details of their Token Sale, which will begin on the 1st of May, 2018. Investa blends fintech, banking and crypto tech into a consumer enabling platform, for mobile financial freedom. The platform is set to roll out throughout 2018, with main releases slated between September and December.

The State of Play

Blighted by the lack of credible financial services platforms, the crypto community has been lacking in a strong investment suite to easily manage their crypto investments, aside from simple exchanging. There is a gap in the market for a platform which takes it’s users’ security seriously, whilst providing innovative services that can be accessed on the go. This is where Investa comes in. Leveraging Blockchain technology and smart-contracts, Investa will provide a host of features designed to optimise user experience across a multitude of services, designed with the user in mind.

Investa will offer Crypto Debit Cards, an ICO ETF Basket, the Investa Launchpad, the Investa Enterprise Funding Platform, a Crypto ATM Network, an e-Wallet, as well as the INV Exchange Platform. Investa additionally follow SEC Rule 506 Investor Accreditation, including KYC and AML due diligence, providing a fast turnaround of manual verification and offer dashboard access to check applicant status.

The INV Exchange Platform

The INV Platform will be the multi-currency payment gateway inside the INVESTA ecosystem, allowing its users to exchange FIAT money, cryptocurrencies, or tokens as well as quick access to the entire suite of products and services. The platform will launch 60 days after the end of the token sale and offers:

• Multi-asset compatibility (any blockchain asset compatible with and accepted by the INV Platform).
• ETF – crypto fund asset managed portfolio, for active investment into leading preICO’s
• Best available foreign exchange rate and transaction fees.
• Decentralised and secure storage.
• Direct access to services such as ETF Basket, Enterprise Loans, Launchpad, Asset Management, INV Cards, Remittance services and much much more.

The INV Token

INV token is an ERC-223 compliant Ethereum-based smart contract token.The token will be issued by Investa following the completion of the public token sale. Token holders will be able to use INV within the Investa platform as a means of payment for all of the services on Investa apps, and subscribe to Investa’s crypto basket, which will take allocations of tokens from other ICO pre-sales, under supervision of verified INV managers. INV holders can also place their tokens into programs such as Enterprise and Launchpad, for lending to small businesses and other approved borrowers.

INV tokens can also be used as a means of payment for Investa’s forthcoming events, such as the annual crypto summit, INV roadshow, or the mindshare forum. Lastly, INV can be used for loading the planned Investa prepaid debit card with funds that can be spent as FIAT currency at any merchant in the Union Pay network.

INV Token Sale

To support the development of the platform and ensure a seamless rollout throughout 2018, Investa will hold a public Token Sale of their native, ERC223-based INV tokens. During the Token Sale, 30,000,000 INV will be made available for purchase, from a total supply of 50,000,000. The token sale seeks to distribute at least 1,000,000, to meet the soft cap.

The Pre-Sale round will begin on May 1st 2018, wherein participants can pick up INV at a rate of 1USD = 2.5 INV, with discounts ranging from 60% to 30%. 10,000,000 INV will be available at this stage. Access to the presale will be limited to whitelist members, with limited allocations of tokens available per subscriber to avoid concentration. After the Pre-Sale, the discounts available will range from 20% to 5%, and the remaining 20,000,000 will be made available for acquisition during the main ICO sale

To find out more, visit the Investa Website: http://investaco.in/

Visit the Twitter: https://twitter.com/investaco_uk

Chat on Telegram: https://t.me/investacoin

Check out the Medium: https://medium.com/@investauk

Like Investa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InvestaUK/

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.

Bitcoin Press Release: Introducing Datareum, the decentralized data market, where users take ownership of and monetize their data. The Datareum token pre-sale begins April 28th, 2018.

April 10th, 2018, London, UK – In the information age, data is one of the most valuable resources on the planet; personal user data is being sold in enormous volumes for enormous profits and often, without the consumer’s consent or knowledge. It’s an invasive and archaic and invasive practice – the data brokering industry leverages consumer data as an economic asset. Our behaviors, interests, preferences, age, location and gender are being monetized with absolutely no return for the consumer.

Big Money

At present, large international organizations and companies are benefiting from the $200 Billion worth of sophisticated data sets available; the industry is dominated by huge companies like Equifax who own the data sets of 800 Million individuals worldwide, those data sets brought in $3.16 Billion for Equifax in 2016 alone.

Other larger companies such as Facebook and Google make billions more from the complex data sets gathered from our online habits; most of this data is walled off and sealed away, out of the reach of individuals and researchers who could benefit significantly from the data beyond that of just monetary value. Datareum is positioning itself to be a disruptive force in this once sided market and are bringing power to consumers through a decentralized data marketplace.

Datareum is creating an opportunity for society to take control of their data and sell it or give it way; through a fair and transparent data marketplace, data providers are incentivised to produce and provide high-quality data. Data purchasers on the other hand now have access to data, for lower costs thanks to complete elimination of intermediaries.

Key Components of Datareum

The Datareum platform is made up of a few key components: for starters, Requesters are those who request of purchase data, and they may commission a survey directly or purchase survey results that have already been resold on the data marketplace. Providers are those who give away data for free or sell it, though they may previously be requesters who are providing data through resale.

The Data Marketplace is where smart contracts determine the legitimacy of data entered on to the platform, and it also confirms whether or not the data is delivered of rejected and if so it completes the exchange or payment between the two parties. The DataVault is a secure location in which data providers can enter all their basic information and therefore can be monetized according to the user’s preference.

DTN Token Whitelist

Only people who have successfully passed KYC will be able to contribute to the token sale on April 28th, 2018. If you are not KYC approved please do not attempt to participate or send funds anywhere related to the Datareum token sale.
Where to access — https://tokensale.datareum.net/register

DTN Token Pre-Sale

The final key component is the native token of the Datareum platform, DTN, which is used for all transactions on the platform. The pre-sale for DTN will begin April 28th, 2018, participants will be able to make minimum contributions of 1 ETH which lands them a 10% bonus, and if they make contributions of 5 ETH or higher, they will receive a 20% Bonus.

Visit the Datareum Official Site –  https://www.datareum.net/

Check out the Whitepaper – https://datareum.net/whitepaper.pdf

BitcoinTalk (Ann) – https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3189049

Chat on Telegram (25k members and growing) – https://t.me/datareum

Follow on Twitter – https://twitter.com/datareum

Follow on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/datareumdtn

Read the Medium – https://medium.com/datareum

Media Contact

Contact Name: Jorge Perez

Contact Email: [email protected]

Datareum is the source owner of this content. Virtual currency is not legal tender, is not backed by the government, and accounts and value balances are not subject to consumer protections. This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.

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.

Lavenir is one of the latest projects to hit the cryptocurrency world that launched its ICO on April 4. With the ICO price set at 1 Ethereum (ETH) being equal to 1000 Lavenir (LVR) tokens. Early investors are also able to receive a variety of bonuses through the ICO. It is a lending platform which aims to connect cryptocurrency investors with financial experts and experienced traders in order to grow their cryptocurrency holdings.

Lavenir has announced on social media that it has partnered with wealth management giant Merrill Lynch in order to provide its investment products on a mainstream level, as well as work with Merrill Lynch to provide other investment products beyond just those dealing with cryptocurrency. It was also noted that Lavenir is currently seeking other partnerships with major companies dealing with investments and wealth management in order to provide more mainstream exposure to Lavenir’s services as well as provide the best possible products to users.

The Lavenir Business Model

This platform will allow users to lend their digital currency to the exchange against interest payments. However, it is worth noting that this is not intended to be a get rich quick scheme. Users will lend crypto to the platform and then expect to get some of the profits based on a set interest rate. Unlike other sites which only accept Bitcoin or Ethereum, Lavenir will accept a variety of cryptocurrencies allowing users to earn interest on a larger share of their holdings. There is also the possibility that the platform will add other crypto coins in future to match the needs of investors.  

The platform will be backed by a team of financial experts who have years of experience in the crypto markets. They have also worked with other financial instruments such as bonds and stocks with much success. Proven trading methods will be used to ensure maximum profitability with the lowest possible risk to investor funds. Their aim is to make cryptocurrency investments profitable; despite the level of engagement that the user has with crypto markets.

It Offers a Stable investment Opportunity

Lavenir is a revolutionary platform created with the aim of creating long-term value for investors. There are various investment rates and terms that will be offered, including the option to lend with no minimum loan period. These terms and trades are in line with the platform’s long-term vision of creating a reliable, stable, and secure way of delivering returns from crypto investments. The ultimate goal is to offer a dependable source of income for those who chose to invest in the platform.

Besides that, the interest rates offered on this platform are stable and locked in at the time the loan is made. This is unlike on other platforms where the rate promised may fluctuate due to complicated forumlas. The main reason for these fluctuations is that these sites rely on trading bots. However, the Lavenir platform is run entirely by experts.

To learn more about Lavenir and the ICO, visit www.lavenir.io

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.

Ledger Wallet users have reported difficulties using BCH in transactions, while others cannot see their balances at all. #NEWS

WestLand Storage Company has been operating on the real estate market for more than 17 years and we recently introduced an innovative technology based on Blockchain, which will change the real estate market forever. DiceLand technology is the collection of all modern technologies in the world of Blockchain and will allow tokenize any real estate object.

Now, the company is preparing for the ICO, after which the release of DiceLand technology will take place. In the meantime, the company launched a new generation Bounty program. Instead of tokens, they pay their customers WLS bonuses, which generate daily profits and allow you to receive a reward immediately, and not after the end of the ICO.

Especially for the development of this technology, the company established a subsidiary company and all of the resources are directed to the development and implementation of the project. There are rumors among the Blockchain community that eminent specialists and developers of Blockchain industry have joined the development team, and even Mark Zuckerberg, who promised to dedicate this year to studying Blockchain, put his hand to it.

From the sources of the company, it became known that several Asian venture funds are already planning large investments in the upcoming ICO, so there is no doubt in the implementation of this project.

DiceLand technology is a real breakthrough in the world of Blockchain. With its help, the real estate market will be transformed beyond recognition. The bureaucracy will disappear, financial risks and costs will decrease. The market will become transparent, safe and simple.

Just imagine what is the world of real estate without borders. You can buy as many square feet of real estate as you like. Tokyo, Hong Kong, London or New York, you can do this anywhere, and all this without intermediaries, absolutely safe and with a guaranteed right of possession.

The business model of the project is already working and every investor who has become a real estate owner through Westland Storage LTD receives 1% daily,  for lifetime.

WestLand Storage Company aims to introduce modern technology in the real estate market, and apparently, they are on the right path. DiceLand Technology – a tool with which will be made a great breakthrough and development in the real estate market and Blockchain technology. You can see the greatness of this idea and try it yourself. Go to the website and check it by yourself – https://westlandstorage.com/

James Griffin
“Today Real Estate Analyst Company”

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.

CoinDesk

Bank of America: Bitcoin Bubble Is Already Popping CoinDesk A team of Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BAML) researchers is arguing that bitcoin is one of the "greatest asset price bubbles in history." In a note released Sunday, the team led by chief investment strategist Michael Hartnett went so far as to ...

In an analytical note, Bank of America researchers called bitcoin one of the greatest bubbles in history.

The Chinese government’s positive viewpoint towards Blockchain could potentially lead to friendlier cryptocurrency regulations. #FOLLOW_UP

A leading provider of cryptocurrency IRAs (individual retirement accounts) believes they might have found a solution to one of the barriers stopping institutional investors taking up positions in digital currency. Noble Bitcoin announced earlier today that they are going to provide insured cold storage solutions for clients.

Is Better Storage the Key to Cryptocurrency’s Success?

For many non-technical people, making an investment in cryptocurrency is a bit of a minefield. One of the largest challenges faced is the storage of the digital assets themselves. The typical advice is to use a properly created paper wallet or a purpose built hardware wallet. However, there are problems with both of these solutions. Paper wallets are notoriously difficult to set up perfectly and hardware wallets although easier to use, are not immune from security issues themselves. These problems are only amplified when it comes to making investments of tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.

Noble Bitcoin, a subsidiary of Noble Alternative Investments, believes that these difficulties are stopping high net worth individuals from taking up positions in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The solution they propose is insured cold storage.

According to news source PR Web, the company are planning on taking care of everything for their clients – from the initial purchase of coins and tokens, right through to their eventual storage. Noble Alternative Investment’s CEO Charles Thorngren told the publication:

“The current cryptocurrency exchanges and companies that make up the landscape provide no insurance, no location and often no support, this is the piece of ‘service’ that is missing in the financial services aspect of cryptocurrencies.”

The digital assets that Noble Bitcoin are offering to store are all those that they accept for individual retirement accounts. These include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple. They’ll be stored in cold storage in the IDS-Texas depository and benefit from insurance should a security compromise occur. The depository is a high tech, ultra-secure facility, with various measures in place to help protect the assets stored there. At present, precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum are already kept safe at the location.

Thorngren went on to state his perception of the future of cryptocurrencies and how Noble Bitcoin can be a part of realising it:

“We believe cryptocurrencies will revolutionise financial services, but in order to reach broader acceptance among the masses it is crucial that we emphasise transparency and trust… We saw an opportunity to change the tide of uncertainty amongst investors by offering them a service that was absent from the market.”

Whilst there is yet to be any word of when Noble Bitcoin will launch their full custodian service, such initiatives are certainly lacking from the cryptocurrency space. High net worth individuals are unlikely or unable to take up the positions they perhaps would like to thanks to the current digital currency infrastructure. Many will be reluctant about using existing exchanges since these are prone to hacks. The only real option for them is OTC purchases and this leaves them with the burden finding a seller and securing the assets themselves. If the Noble Bitcoin service proves successful, perhaps more will be encouraged to enter the market.

Image Courtesy of Shutterstock

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