Day: May 17, 2018

Having just raised $110M in venture funding Circle reveals plans for a tokenized US dollar coin and a partnership with Bitmain

The Swiss government has called for a study to examine the possible risks and opportunities of a government-issued cryptocurrency called the e-franc

This week has marked the duration of the fourth annual Consensus conference, the largest cryptocurrency conference in the world. As attendance more than quadrupled from 2017, to over 9,000 attendees, there was plenty of hype and heavy anticipation of the positive effect Consensus 2018 would have on cryptocurrency markets.

Unfortunately, the conclusion of Consesnsus 2018 has not had the positive impact expected. Since local highs from May 15, the global cryptocurrency market has net a loss of over 10%, and this trend has not yet shown signs of slowing. In contrast, the previous three conferences had spawned massive bull runs, led by the more than four times growth in the weeks following Consensus 2017.

After yesterday’s conclusion, many participants suggested the conference was a complete mess. Ran by controversial crypto news outlet, Coindesk, attendees suggested that the tickets, which cost an average of about US$2,000 a piece, were taken up by crypto celebrities, enthusiasts, and snake oil salesmen, rather than the inventors and innovators that truly drive the future of the cryptocurrency space. These complaints were accompanied by a consensus that the booking for the event was completely mishandled. Twitter erupted with pictures and videos of clear signs of over saturation of guests. Check in lines at a local Hilton, for example, wrapped for hours. At one point, elevators at the conference in one area were rendered unusable because maximum occupancy was reached on each floor.

TFW eating at a 2000$ conference next to the toilets #consensus2018 pic.twitter.com/8SWKDp8Yoq

— Ambroid (@anambroid) May 15, 2018

However, others suggest that the conference itself is a poor representation of the weight of Consensus. As is the case every year, alternative arguments suggest that the true impact of this massive convention are the negotiations and partnerships that form behind-the-scenes, at the after parties and private events situated around the conference. These individuals also go on to suggest that the recent dips are not alarming or indicative of any sort of failure. The Consensus event of past years have also seen momentary dips either during or immediately after conclusions, and the true impact will be seen in the coming days and weeks.

Regardless, the drops seen are certainly not insignificant. Leading up to the conference, Bitcoin appeared as if it was looking to challenge the US$9,000 benchmark once more. After a mid-conference high above $8,800, however, the price movement has redirected, and Bitcoin’s current price of $8,070 is inching ever closer to the $8,000 support level. Whether Bitcoin can maintain a price above that psychological level or not may very well determine the near future for Bitcoin and cryptocurrency markets as a whole.

Regardless of immediate price movements, the fundamentals and developments that enable the cryptocurrency space are growing each and every day. While the fluctuations each day may encapsulate a short term uncertainty, the long term inevitability can best be predicted as a radically prosperous future.

Another cryptocurrency project has been busted by law enforcement in China for allegedly soliciting money from investors with fraudulent claims.

The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in partnership with Intel, Accenture and The Floor, has developed a blockchain-based securities lending platform

Whether EOS is leading the market or not is just but speculations based on historical prices. We need directions from market participants. As it is, buyers seem to be making a turn around despite yesterday’s candlestick characteristic. EOS is up six percent in the last 24 hours with interesting technical developments panning out in the daily chart.

From the News

Just to clarify, Block One is a software company that is behind EOSIO-and not the other way! By now you might have read somewhere that EOSIO will be “migrating” from the Ethereum blockchain to their brand new blockchain. Yes, investors are super excited especially with the prospects of “free” transactions and the fact that more and more companies have plans on launching on the platform (software)-we are yet to know. That not only means demand but it’s a bit subtle statement of acceptance and confidence from third party companies. It’s really a go ahead for Dan and his crew.

In a video about the 'eos-bios' to launch the #EOS mainnet, @bourgetalexndre walks Block Producers through what they need to know to join the Seed Stages running now.
Come learn what is needed & how to run the discovery file https://t.co/3pIsfQeUEB#EOSIO $EOS @TBCox @go_eos

— EOS Canada (@EOS_Canada) May 11, 2018

And indeed it is a go ahead all happening at a time when Dan Larimer and Vitalik have all but agreed to work together for the sake of this nascent technology. Of course, Vitalik input in this sphere is all crucial. I mean, he’s just but a teenager but most see him as Einstein in these streets. A genius behind EVM and smart contracts, so, this to me is important.

Vitalik Helps Dan Larimer (EOS CTO) Rediscover Casper FFG
https://t.co/vZzjpcKU0b

— Layer2 TCF (@Layer2TCF) May 16, 2018

As we can see, prices are picking up not only from a top down approach but the fact that sentiment is beginning to change. Statistics shows that EOS is up six percent in the last 24 hours and the cool thing is that history labels EOS a market leader.

EOS Technical Analysis

Weekly Chart

EOS Weekly Chart by Trading View

In our analysis, week ending April 29 is of significance. Yes, it’s a strong bullish bar and behind it was a push for demand thrusting above the main resistance line at around $18.5. Remember, this was happening at a time when EOS mainnet launch news was just picking up attracting investors.

Considering the prevailing sentiment, I can confidently day that this is a long covering and sooner or later, we shall see recovery of prices as buyers recoup the current 26 percent devaluation. Besides the strong up thrust, do you notice that the past three weekly candlesticks have long lower wicks? These are pointers of strength happening coincidentally with lack of market participation. Volumes are declining as EOS buyers cover their position.

Daily Chart

EOS Daily Chart by Trading View

Note the difference between May 15 and 16 candlesticks. Both are bearish but there are relatively high volumes on May 16 and instead of collapsing below $13, prices remained put. That’s not all. It has this long lower wick meaning buy pressure is high. It’s the confirmation, the follow through that is important.

That did happen yesterday and what we now have is a 3-bar reversal candlestick turning from a region of support or December 17 highs resistance. Going forward, I recommend buys at every under valuation in lower time frames with stops at $11.50. Ideal buy targets should be at Week ending April 29 highs at $23.

The post Vitalik Helps Dan Larimer at GitHub: EOS Technical Analysis (May 18, 2018) appeared first on NewsBTC.

Besides EOS that have subtle hints of higher highs following May 16 bullish pin bar or spring, other coins including Tron are printing negative gains in the last 24 hours. Of note is how Stellar Lumens prices are behaving despite good news. Despite everything, it is engaging the sell gear and slowly aiming for 30 cents, a key and important support line in our analysis. Overly, we remain bullish on EOS and Tron and all we should be doing is waiting for timely entrants with minimum risks to ramp up longs with targets at $22 at EOS.

Let’s have a look at these charts:

EOS Price Analysis

EOS Daily Chart by Trading View

There is nothing much going on in the fundamental front of this coin. All we do know is that Dan and Vitalik would work together to make the blockchain community better for everyone. After all and unless Quantum computing becomes a reality, blockchain shall remain dominant in the coming years. Now, EOS blockchain launch is what investors are talking about and this is a good thing. Will the positive vibe seep through, prep buyers and help pump EOS prices? Well, that’s what I’m angling for now that EOS is up six percent in the last 24 hours.

Price wise, there are hints of price reversal especially if we pull May 16 candlestick. Then we saw EOS buyers rejecting lower prices because while the trend is negative, prices don’t follow suit. Instead it moved within a tight price range and yesterday’s candlestick was but a mere confirmation of those buyers. Yes, we have a long upper wick signaling sell pressure but if today’s close end up above $14, there is a valid reason to go long.

Litecoin (LTC) Analysis

Litecoin Daily Chart by Trading View

Now everybody, Doge/Litecoin atomic swap is now possible! Thanks to Komodo’s HyperDEX, traders would in the future transact seamlessly using the two coins without fear of extra fees or going through an exchange. HyperDEX runs on Barterdex core and promises to bring those cross chain atomic swaps experiences to common merchants or traders. On the retail adoption drive that’s in line with their social media campaign, there is conversion.

PetBay shall integrate and accept Litecoin as payment going forward.

Literally speaking, Litecoin prices are slow if not completely negligible. Zero movements in the last 24 hours and we remain bearish in line with our previous projection. Now, as long as Litecoin is trending within this May 11 high low, chances of a break below $130 is high. So, we remain neutral for now until after our sell triggers are hit.

Stellar Lumens (XLM) Price Analysis

Stellar Lumens Daily Chart by Trading View

Successful coins often chart up the liquidity list if it finds utility. In the case of Stellar, IBM is their main supporter and already, they are using their network for cheap and secure cross border payment. Even though we had that announcement between IBM and Veridium Labs aimed at fighting global warming as they save Indonesian rain forests, there is nothing much to talk about in the last 24 hours.

Like most coins, Stellar is down and inching closer towards 30 cents towing with our previous price trajectory. For now, all we have to do is wait. Should prices recover and close above 40 cents then we shall see the level of demand before drawing conclusions.

Tron (TRX) Price Analysis

Tron Daily Chart by Trading View

Following December 2017 successful campaign in collaboration with Binance, the Tron Foundation now plans on gifting new homes to Tron’s holders. When the campaign will begin remains sketchy but chances are it is designed to coincide with May 31 mainnet launch.

Last year it was a Maserati and a Mercedes-Benz. This year we’re taking our giveaway to a whole new level — your dream home! Stay tuned. #TRON $TRX #TRX

— Justin Sun (@justinsuntron) May 16, 2018

This means it shall take place in roughly two weeks and if last year’s market behavior is anything but guidance, expect Tron’s trading volumes to rise as demand increase.

So, Tron is down five percent in the last 24 hours and still prices are moving within an accumulation. Well, we cannot initiate inconclusive set ups and reiterating, we shall only go long and expect Tron prices to recover if and only if there is a break above 7.5 cents. For buyers to cement that then it must be accompanied by above average volumes and a wide daily range exceeding range bound candlesticks.

IOTA (IOT) Price Analysis

IOTA Daily Chart by Trading View

It’s without a doubt that IOTA remains one of the fastest growing and interesting Internet of Things solutions around. There are speculations that prices are in the process of bottoming up and while this may be true by all accounts, its market participants or supply-demand dynamics that shall give us a clearer market direction.

In line with our projections, IOTA prices are trickling and syncing with May 11 directions. Because that candlestick was bearish we expect nothing more than lower lows maybe until there is a retest of May 12 lows at around $1.6. Before then, conservatives should be patient while aggressive traders can short and target that support line at $1.5 or better still $1 assuming there is further depreciation.

The post Tron, EOS, Litecoin, IOTA and Stellar: Price Analysis May 18, 2018 appeared first on NewsBTC.

This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine.

Rivetz and Telefónica have begun collaboration to develop cutting edge mobile security protocols for blockchain transactions and messaging. Their solution leverages dual encryption using both the Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) built into billions of smartphones and the advanced encryption SIMs deployed by Telefónica. Dual encryption through the TEE and the SIM provides multiple layers of security to provide world-class hardware-based security for mobile users.

The collaboration will explore how to deliver a new, decentralized model for enhanced security and data controls, improving consumer applications that include secure messaging and cryptocurrency wallets. Rivetz and Telefónica will further explore new business models to simplify and automate backup and recovery and existing user identity information by enabling millions of endpoints to tap into already existing – but unused – mobile hardware security.

“Trusted computing technologies are not an end by themselves, but are an opportunity to improve mobile users’ security, providing a research and innovation framework in the context of cybersecurity,” said Sergio de los Santos, head of the Discovery and Innovation Lab at Telefónica – ElevenPaths.

The global rise of blockchain projects and IoT requires a decentralized cybersecurity model, and this collaboration will combine Telefónica’s advanced network security services through its cybersecurity unit, ElevenPaths, with Rivetz’s trusted computing and blockchain-based solutions to provide state-of-the-art cybersecurity protections.

The partners will leverage isolated roots of trust in the hardware and in the SIM to enable split-key encryption and offer state-of-the-art protection of consumer assets and data. The solution is expected to use both blockchain and trusted computing technology to provide cybersecurity controls and protection to hold multiple cryptocurrencies, assuring the digital assets and processes are protected within a device’s hardware. Rivetz and Telefónica aim to accelerate existing efforts in privacy, data compliance and security, facilitating the revolution in information integrity and assurance driven by enhancing the quality of transactions.

“Blockchain access and secure messaging are core building blocks to automating the user experience when it comes to digital services,” said Steven Sprague, CEO of Rivetz. “We’re honored to partner with Telefónica to explore how to fully leverage the embedded cybersecurity technologies of mobile to deliver next-generation data services and business models to enhance the quality of subscriber relationships.”

The Rivetz technology has been in an active beta test since January 2018, providing a strong foundation for the enhancement of security achieved by the integration of the SIM-protected key management. The enhanced solution will be integrated into Rivetz’s existing application developer solution, which will be available to select partners later this quarter. Application providers will be able to easily integrate this solution, thus increasing data security, transactional quality and value of services delivered to users through their devices. This system will provide provable cybersecurity controls on the blockchain for next-generation data compliance.

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.

Designed and built to successfully operate in spite of the new SESTA/FOSTA laws implemented in the USA to criminalize escort-related websites.

The Escorting Market is Huge

The annual escorting market is more than $157 billion worldwide.

Yet, despite this huge market, there are no national or international leaders in this marketspace.

PinkDate, with an ICO that pays dividends, is developing a secure encrypted platform to help escorts operate efficiently and confidentially, with the goal of cutting out the middleman.

PinkDate is the first anonymously-operated, worldwide escorting platform that combines verification, booking, scheduling and payment in a single platform.

President Sarah Stevens, a former escort says, “The PinkDate platform offers an enhanced companionship experience to trusted clients and verified escorts who value confidential, secure transactions.”

PinkDate provides a secure online meeting place for planning a date where escorts and clients are pre-verified. This results in increased safety, convenience, peace of mind, and reduced costs.

PinkDate gives escorts around the world, the power to cut out the middleman and manage their entire  business. Using PinkDate, escorts can easily manage all aspects of their business including prices, services, and schedules. PinkDate also offers access to a large database of pre-verified clients.

In the current market, for each new date with an escort, the client must again undergo a separate verification process requiring submission and review of a great deal of personal information including photo ID, job references, social media ids and contact information.

And the way things have been until now, the client must repeat this verification process with each new encounter. It’s frustrating for clients and time-consuming for escorts, too. Clients hate having to send their private info by text to unknown persons. 
 
 The verification process is very time-consuming for escorts, too. Escorts estimate that verifying customers and scheduling appointments takes up as much as 70% of billable time.

PinkDate gathered interview data from dozens of escorts and escort clients, to develop a complete all-in-one escorting service platform.

PinkDate clients can browse, swipe to select, click to make an appointment and then pay in cash or crypto.

PinkDate’s Machine Learning provides Optimal Matching

PinkDate will use Machine Learning to maximize escort discoverability and best matches based on a client’s preferences. PinkDate’s Machine Learning engine will learn what type of escort photos, and escorts, Clients prefer. A client’s preferences depend on characteristics that aren’t immediately apparent and PinkDate will automatically optimize this to present the best matches.

PinkDate is Organized as an Extra-Jurisdictional Organization

PinkDate was designed and built to be resistant to legislative interference.

PinkDate is organized as an extra-jurisdictional organization, which means it is not subject to any specific country’s rules and regulations. This non-jurisdictional nature assures that PinkDate will continue to operate successfully even in areas where the PinkDate Escorting Platform may not appreciated or allowed by local jurisdictions.

PinkDate is secure and has implemented a Tor-based infrastructure, encrypted connections and hidden databases and has no servers located in North America.

In the USA, the new heavy-handed SESTA and FOSTA laws are now causing escort-related services to shut down. This leaves escorts feeling very unsafe because the verification and advertising sites they relied upon are no longer in operation.

The PinkDate Crypto-Currency ICO

PinkDate had completed a Pre-ICO in February 2018, and is now launching an ICO to raise the funds required for development and marketing. ICO offerings have proven to be a very popular method of raising funds, with some ICOs raising more than $100 million. And 2017 has seen the rise of popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Monero, Litecoin, zCash, and many others already on the market in 2018.

PinkDate token shares represent an investment in a real and profitable business and pay dividends every three months out of profit. Investors in the PinkDate ICO benefit in two ways — from the dividends as paid, and potential rise in the value of the token shares.

About PinkDate.is

PinkDate is a privately-held company which shares profits with its ICO investors through payment of dividends every three months. It is an extra-jurisdictional organization operating virtually, not subject to any one country’s rules and regulations.

More information and a technical whitepaper (written in understandable language) on the PinkDate ICO and the PinkDate Escorting Platform can be found at https://PinkDate.is for more information. [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.

This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine.

A Singapore-based startup is working on combining blockchain with HTML5 technology to create the world’s first HTML5 blockchain games and apps development tool #SPONSORED