Month: May 2018

Nowadays intermediaries are one of the economy problems. So, according to the most conservative estimates, their services costs 30-40% of the goods price. At the same time, in some manufacturing sectors their remuneration reaches from 100% to 300%. This percent is put down on the final buyer’s shoulders, who just doesn’t have the other choice if he really needs to buy new goods. The most interesting fact about intermediaries is that they won’t even improve the products, but just use the modern instruments of marketing and the product promotion through the various platforms, and sometimes just only transfer goods further along the chain. Why does it happen?

It is possible to explain due to statistics. In 2016 about 60,3% of buyers used the Internet for obtaining information about goods while only 44,1% of manufacturers have used the Internet resource for products, works and services information placement. An interesting fact is that in the same 2016 41,6% of buyers have used the Internet to place orders for products and services while only 19,3% of manufacturers used the Internet for obtaining orders for supplied goods and services. This fact demonstrates the low level of manufacturers progressive development, which ultimately leads to such a large-scale distribution of intermediaries, who are more qualified in these cases.

The Yodse project team has rather thoroughly went over this question, and its experts have decided to eradicate this problem with the blockchain technology. In their opinion, the blockchain will allow to get rid of the large-scale distribution of intermediaries in the retail sphere of industrial equipment. The Yodse platform is created to provide a direct connection between the final consumer and the manufacturer of industrial goods.

Introducing to Yodse

Yodse (Your Open Direct Sales Ecosystem) represents a global, decentralized and open ecosystem which is based on the blockchain technology. Similar technologies haven’t been realized in the real sector of economy yet, so considering this the Yodse platform will become a unique Internet ecosystem which will provide the most comfortable, fast and favorable interaction between manufacturers of industrial goods and their consumers. The Yodse creators plan to introduce this ecosystem on the territory of the CIS countries, Asia, Africa, Europe and the USA, that will bring effectiveness and success to the participants of these B2B-trade markets.

Yodse founders are going to unite interests of manufacturers and consumers of the real sector of economy erasing the borders and distances between them and increasing efficiency and transparency of all business processes at the same time. This will become possible due to blockchain technologies implementation. Thus, the potential of the similar platform is huge – beginning with increase speed of the received goods by the customer up to profit increase of the goods manufacturer due to bigger loyalty and customer focus.

What does the Yodse platform provide for its customers?

Yodse ecosystem will provide a favorable and fast interaction for its users, represented by customers, manufacturers and service companies, when purchasing and selling the industrial goods. This opportunity will be realized by the personal account of each user, where the customer will be able to find, order and pay for the necessary products. A manufacturer will be able to place the product and to carry out its sale with the help of personal account. The service companies will be able to provide the services and to receive payment for them through the personal account. In doing all of this, participants of the Yodse platform would be assisted by the existence of transit account where the customer’s money will be held until the completion of the transaction. Then manufacturers and service companies receive the payment excluding the commission of the Yodse platform which varies depending on the used type of currency (1% of the commission via Yodse tokens, 1,5% with any other cryptocurrency and 3% with traditional currencies). The payment for goods realized with cryptocurrencies allows to attract those companies which prefer digital means of payment on the market of industrial goods. The quantity of such companies grows every day because of the global promotion of this payment method. In turn, implementation of payments by customers in cryptocurrency allows manufacturers to receive highly liquid digital assets and to diversify the risks.

To speak about the benefit which will be created by the Yodse platform for each of its participants then it should be considered separately for the each of three parties of users. So, the consumer will be given an opportunity to buy high quality products directly from the manufacturer and to spend less assets and time. Communication with the seller within a chat will allow the buyer to describe all required characteristics of a product and to receive the certain product which is necessary.

Besides an obvious opportunity to get more profit, to the manufacturers the Yodse platform will allow to considerably cut down expenses on promotion of goods and to simplify the enter to the market with new goods and to speed up their realization. Besides, by means of Yodse producers will considerably expand the client base. Service companies will be able to receive orders and to learn about requirements directly from buyers, providing such services which will satisfy in the best way with everything to their wishes. All this will also allow them to increase profit, client base and loyalty of users.

The Yodse token’s economy

The Yodse token, unlike many other companies coming to ICO, is not just a token which allows the project team to collect necessary investments for its realization in the future. Within Yodse the token is such coin which allows the platform to fully function. Concerning its role in Yodse ecosystem, the token will allow to pay services and remunerations of the platform, due to which the stable work of the platform will be supported. The customers will be able to pay for goods and for contractors’ services who, in turn, will pay with tokens for the platform services. Besides that, the acquired Yodse tokens allow to become the participant of the referral program and to gain income from sales, moreover, to participate in the platform improvement and the expansion process of its functionality.

Yodse platform carries out a preliminary sale of tokens within which the most favorable terms are provided to the buyers. So, during the pre-ICO (from April 23 to May 6, 2018) it is possible to buy Yodse token with a bonus of 30% of its initial price which is $1. This price is valid not only on the pre-ICO period, but also within the main stage of sale (from May 20 to July 30, 2018) which will also differ by the existence of bonuses for buyers, however the amount of the bonuses will be much lower.  The Yodse token will be added to listing of the largest exchanges in July-August 2018, where it can be bought or sold after the ICO ends. Besides, the opportunity of granting tokens in a loan under percent will be available to other participants of the Yodse ecosystem.

More detailed information about the project is provided on the official Yodse website where anyone can get acquainted with the Whitepaper and also take part in the pre-ICO.

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.

Marketplace serving majority of world’s pharma giants releases blockchain data security tool #NEWS

Bitcoin Press Release:  Last year Bonpay launched a simple and secure crypto wallet that quickly found its niche on the market. At that time Bonpay was a start-up, run by a small team of enthusiasts who wanted to make using cryptocurrency easy and simple. But we believed that we could become something more and needed funding to prove it. Since Bonpay Wallet will always be free, we decided to crowdsource the money.

April 25, 2018, London –  In late October 2017 BonPay launched their token sale and gathered more than 10 000 000 USD to create a full-fledged cryptocurrency payment system. Now Bonpay are ready to report on how they are putting the money to good use.

New features and updates

• Mobile version. While IOS and Android apps are in the pipeline, at Bonpay they understand that not everyone wants to install a lot of apps. Now users can access a mobile version of Bonpay Wallet on a phone, tablet or any other device.
• Major platform upgrade – Bonpay have refactored the back-end to make further updates and improvements easier.

Coming soon

• Altcoins – Finishing the preparations to add Litecoin and Ethereum to the Bonpay ecosystem. The ETA is late May 2018.
• iOS, Android apps –  Started development of the Android and iOS versions of Bonpay Wallet. The ETA is July 2018.

Bonpay Cards

Bonpay Wallet is great for storing cryptocurrency, but what about spending it? While Microsoft or Virgin Group do accept Bitcoin, people do not buy software all that often. At least, not as often as they grab a cup of coffee at a corner cafe. Which, coincidentally, is impossible to do with Bitcoin.

That’s where the Bonpay Card comes in. It’s the easiest way to convert cryptocurrency into the fiat money—just transfer the coins from the wallet to the card and spend it at any terminal. Just like any other MasterCard or VISA cards, Bonpay Card will be accepted everywhere.

At the moment, Bonpay are more than a halfway in the Bonpay Card creation process. After finding a reliable card provider, and setting up partnership. Bonpay are currently handling the myriad of legalities necessary to design and issue the card.

The first 20 000 cards will be ready on Summer 2018. Pre-orders are available at Bonpay.com.

To learn more visit the Website : https://bonpay.com
Read the Whitepaper- https://tokensale.bonpay.com/whitepaper
Chat with us on Telegram: https://t.me/bonpay_eng
Connect on Twitter – https://twitter.com/Bonpay_com

Media Contact
Contact Name: Jegor Nagel
Contact Email: [email protected]

Bonpay is the source 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. Cryptocurrencies and tokens are extremely volatile. There is no guarantee of a stable value, or of any value at all. Token sales are only suitable for individuals with a high risk tolerance. Only participate in a token event with what you can afford to lose.This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.

The post PR: Bonpay Moves Beyond Bitcoin Wallet to Become a Cryptocurrency Payment Platform appeared first on BitcoinNews.com.

Iran, which was heavily affected by the sanctions imposed by the US on the country and its businesses in January, has banned the only alternative payment method that local businesses and individuals could use to bring money in and out of the nation.

Why Did Iran Ban Cryptocurrency?

On April 23, the central bank of Iran effectively banned local banks and financial institutions from dealing with cryptocurrency businesses.

“Banks and credit institutions and currency exchanges should avoid any sale or purchase of these currencies or taking any action to promote them,” Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported.

According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (REFRL), the official circular of the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran further emphasized that cryptocurrencies have the potential to be used by criminals and terrorists. The circular read:

“All cryptocurrencies have the capacity to be turned into a means for money-laundering and financing terrorism[,] and in general can be turned into a means [of] transferring criminals’ money.”

Several local media outlets reported that Iran’s decision was likely triggered by the continuing decline of the rial, the country’s national currency. The central bank may fear that the value of the country’s currency could decline even further if citizens and residents began using alternative payment methods instead of the rial.

In an interview with The New York Times, university professor Mohsen Yekta stated that Iranian merchants, business owners, and professionals can no longer send money to family members and suppliers outside of the country due to the government’s intensifying crackdown on money changers and black markets.

According to the Times, Iran’s government sent riot police to bazaars and black markets on April 6 and arrested several operators of money changers. Controversially, the government announced its decision to execute some of those money changers in order to set an example across the country. The government subsequently announced its controversial decision to execute some of those money changers in order to set an example across the country.

The ban on cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum is part of the government’s ongoing crackdown on alternative currencies and payment methods, and the government is trying to minimize the usage of the US dollar within the country as well, as it remains the country’s most widely utilized currency as of now.

Professor Yekta said that the decline of money changers and black markets has made it virtually impossible for him to send money to his daughter in France, a university student.

“Every month I send some money to my daughter in Paris. I need foreign exchange to help her out. I don’t know what to do,” he said.

Apart from the US dollar, the only alternative that is available to the people of Iran is cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Without money changers, it is extremely difficult to send US dollars from Iran to other countries, due to the presence of strict border controls at airports. The only form of digital money with high liquidity, fungibility, and transportability that is accessible by the Iranian people is cryptocurrency.

The motivation behind Iran’s decision to ban cryptocurrency is quite obvious; it is a desperate attempt to stop the devaluation of the rial. The national currency has already hit an all-time low, and at the present rate, it is liable to lose most of its value and suffer a similar fate as the Venezuelan bolivar.

Hope For Cryptocurrency and Blockchain

At this juncture, based on the negative stance of the Iranian government towards cryptocurrency in general, it is unlikely that the government will provide practical policies for cryptocurrency investors and businesses in the short term. However, it is possible that the Iranian government will reverse its ban, as the government of Pakistan did this month.

On April 8, the central bank and government of Pakistan issued a ban on local banks and financial institutions dealing with cryptocurrency businesses, and released a circular that was nearly identical to that of the Iranian government.

The Pakistani government emphasized:

1. The fact that virtual currencies are highly volatile and unstable, and that their prices are primarily based on speculation
2. The failure and closure of virtual currency exchanges and businesses for any reason, such as action by law enforcement agencies
3. The number of security compromises of virtual currency exchanges and wallets worldwide in which large amount of funds have been lost

Less than two weeks after the circular was released, the Pakistani government stated that it had never banned cryptocurrencies, but rather prohibited banks from dealing with cryptocurrency businesses. It said that while the general public is advised that cryptocurrencies are not recognized as legal tender, they are not banned. The central bank stated:

[The] General Public is advised that Virtual Currencies/Coins/Tokens (like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Pakcoin, OneCoin, DasCoin, Pay Diamond etc.) are neither recognized as a Legal Tender nor has SBP authorized or licensed any individual or entity for the issuance, sale, purchase, exchange or investment in any such Virtual Currencies/Coins/Tokens[.]

The current state of cryptocurrencies in Iran is almost identical to that in Pakistan in that the government has not explicitly banned the use of cryptocurrencies as a method of payment and investment.

Iran’s decision to ban cryptocurrencies was shortsighted, given that several countries which had previously been struggling with economic development, including Malta, saw large increases in their GDPs after embracing cryptocurrencies and businesses operating in the global cryptocurrency market.

Considering the financial turmoil that is ongoing in Iran and the country’s struggling economy, it is likely that the government will open its economy to cryptocurrency and blockchain businesses, especially if even more new sanctions are imposed.

The company, Miner One, is promising to “Take Bitcoin to 35,000+” – in meters, that is

As a show of confidence that bitcoin will rebound and come back as strong as ever in 2018, Miner One – a crowdfunded cryptocurrency mining company currently in the middle of its ICO – has outfitted a carbon fibre capsule and high-altitude balloon with equipment that will mine bitcoin in the Earth’s upper stratosphere.

The mission, playfully titled “Space Miner One,” is meant to remind the world that cryptocurrency and the revolutionary blockchain technology behind it represent the next major step in the evolution of the Internet.

“We are bullish on bitcoin because it remains the world’s most popular and proven application of blockchain technology. And we see growing interest and adoption, despite recent market doldrums,” said Miner One’s CEO Pranas Slusnys.

After bitcoin’s dramatic fall from 2017’s end-of-the-year highs near US $20,000, the world’s most popular cryptocurrency is finally showing signs of growth again, up more than 30% from the beginning of April.

Miner One’s CEO is not the only one optimistic about the prospects of a bitcoin bounce. According to Wall Street analyst Thomas Lee, head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, bitcoin will rebound and surpass US$20,000 by mid-year and Dan Morehead of Pantera Capital projects US$20,000 by year’s end.

Similarly, a Miner One survey of more than 1,500 community members shows investors are optimistic: more than 31% are convinced bitcoin will go higher than $15,000 this year, 26% believe it will go higher than $25,000, and 10% say it will reach $35,000 and beyond. Almost 9% believe it will go above $45,000.

Slusnys, a 20-year data center industry veteran, is just as optimistic about the future of mining, albeit when done with professional efficiency.

“Mining bitcoin is about supporting the decentralized global network that makes cryptocurrency possible. It’s really another word for providing data processing for the global blockchain infrastructure, which will have many applications in the future not limited to cryptocurrency,” explains Slusnys. “Short-term ups and downs notwithstanding, these networks will need efficient, professionally-managed data centers like the kind Miner One is building.”

According to industry experts, blockchain technology will fundamentally change the way data is processed and stored around the world. Transactions will be simpler, more affordable, and harder to disrupt. Blockchain has the potential to impact everything from real estate and automobiles to gemstones, produce…even space travel.

Mining centers like Miner One’s will take the technology to maximum efficiency. During its ICO, the company expects to raise at least US $10 million to build a cutting-edge mining center in Northern Sweden, where electricity prices are Europe’s lowest, energy is 100% green, and Arctic air keeps cooling costs to a minimum. Miner One plans to locate its mining center in the town of Luleå, which is best known as the home of Facebook’s largest European data centre.

ABOUT MINER ONE

Miner One is a cutting-edge, crowdfunded cryptocurrency mining operation being built and managed by a team of data center industry experts and professionals on behalf of the Miner One Community. Miner One MIO Tokens secure Community members a share in the output. Find out more: www.minerone.io.

The Space Miner One Factsheet 

The Miner: The beating heart of Space Miner One (SMO) is a specially-adapted ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) that will perform the data processing known as “mining bitcoin” at the edge of space

The Capsule: The ASIC, a Raspberry Pi 3 microcomputer, a battery, and a satellite phone are all placed inside the carbon fibre SMO Capsule … along with a souvenir metal “bitcoin” for one lucky winner of the Miner One Sweepstakes

The Equipment Module: The SMO Equipment Module carries navigation and tracking equipment with an independent power supply; thermoinsulation and a thermoregulator protect it from temperature extremes

The Parachute: A Parachute is attached to return Space Miner One safely back to Earth after its mission is completed

The Balloon: A large latex Balloon is filled with helium to carry Space Miner One into the upper stratosphere to complete its bitcoin mining mission

Lift-Off!: Space Miner One is on its way to 35,000 m … and beyond

Ascent: Space Miner One passes through the troposphere; the ASIC is activated and linked via satellite transmitter to the Internet

Stratosphere: As Space Miner One enters the stratosphere, falling air pressure causes the Balloon to expand from 2.2 m to 10+ m in diameter – large enough to be seen from the ground

Edge of Space: Space Miner One reaches the height of its journey and performs bitcoin mining operations at an altitude of more than 35,000

The Return: The Balloon is detonated, Parachute deployed, and Space Miner One begins its journey back to Earth

Landing: Three independent telemetry systems transmit data on Space Miner One’s position to the ground crew so it can retrieve the Capsule after landing

Anticipated Duration of Trip: ~2 hrs 30 min

Find out more: www.spaceminerone.com

The post Bitcoin Mining Company Launches Miner into Stratosphere, Signaling Confidence in the Future of Bitcoin and Mining appeared first on NewsBTC.

Since early on in the history of cryptocurrency, gaming has been a focus of many innovators and enthusiasts. However, many of the initial projects and approaches to crypto-integration have fallen flat, as the hurdles associated with crypto-gaming have yet to be overcome. However, a new, ambitious initiative, Tap Project, is poised to overcome these issues and pave the future of this emerging niche.

Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Article

As it stands now, games are largely independent from one another. That is, in game currencies, loot, or awards do not translate to any worth in other games. There are rare exceptions where there is some level of liquidity between games within a franchise, but even this is a special exception. Realistically, the value of one’s gameplay is confined to only that game. World of Warcraft gold cannot be used to purchase weapons or vehicles in Grand Theft Auto.

Of course, there are a number of shortcomings associated with such an environment. When gamers grow tired of a game or simply wish to play elsewhere, none of their previous labors can aid them in their new adventure. The time, effort, and monetary costs associated with success in one game are simply sunken when gamers transition elsewhere.

Gaming as an Ecosystem

Tap Project plans to connect gamers and games worldwide in an immersive, universal ecosystem of gaming empowerment. Using its Ethereum-based token, Tap Coin (TTT), as the fuel for the ecosystem, players will be able to earn TTT while they game. Beyond this, they will have the capability to trade in-game currencies and items for Tap Coin, which can then be used to purchase premium entities or other currencies and items in other games.

By connecting virtual assets to Tap Coin, gaming is connected through a real world valuation. Tap Coin as a cryptocurrency maintains a real world value, and this system of value allows players to attach real earnings to their virtual successes and struggles.

While this system represents a sort of global, virtual marketplace, the implications are far greater. The ecosystem manifested through Tap Project is truly a utopia for gamers. Tap Project replaces legacy of plutocratic Pay-to-Win gaming with a meritocratic future. Success is no longer dictated by the largest payrolls. Instead, all participants have an equality opportunity to prove victorious among competition and accumulate virtual wealth. This is a system that honors skill- and rewards it with real profit.

On a societal scale, such a gaming ecosystem has massive implications. Tap Project could potentially connect billions of citizens in third world and developing countries to a global, virtual economy that empowers them to earn significant incomes. Not only does Tap Project create equality among gamers, it could potentially work to bridge economic inequality throughout the world.

What’s to come?

Tap Project has been working to constantly develop the platform. There are a number of key developments being published very soon. The first functions of the platform are due at the end of the month, which are encapsulated by the Tap Relay Contract.

More importantly, the Tap Project MVP will be published at the end of June. This MVP will include the first game in which players can earn Tap Coin and trade their virtual items for TTT. The MVP also includes Unity and Unreal Engine Plugins, so that game developers worldwide will be able to integrate Tap Coin into their games.

Why Tap Stands Out

The currency conversion metric offered by Tap Project is unique to just Tap. The ability for in-game currencies to be converted and traded directly with Tap Coin is a patent-pending mechanism unique to just Tap Project. Once the patent is filled, the complete workings behind the ecosystem can be made public, allowing everyone to understand the metrics in which TTT and virtual assets are transferred and traded between one another and games.

Additionally, the patent will ensure that Tap Project maintains ownership of their cutting-edge platform, enabling the project to solidify its role as the pioneer of this up and coming niche of crypto-gaming.

Join TapCoin on Telegram: http://t.me/tapcoin

Follow TapCoin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tap_Coin

Historically, mankind has always relied on centralized institutions to safeguard their valuable assets and to conduct their transactions. This has always been a logical step as a centralized, specialized institution is far more efficient at keeping your assets safe than you are as an individual. This system has always been profitable to these central institutions, but there were rarely any available alternatives. The individual could not make large-scale decisions or keep their valuables safe as efficiently. These institutions have been met with critique for as long as they have existed, but this rarely changed the facts; they were in control. With the advent of distributed ledger technologies and their accompanying cryptographic currencies or tokens, we see this narrative changing. People no longer need to rely on central institutions to hold and control their wealth, access, and decision power.

However, the cryptocurrency space also knows its fair share of centralization. We all know the famous exchanges like Bittrex, Binance, and Coinbase. They are amongst the most popular places to exchange cryptocurrencies and bring together large amounts of buyers and sellers. They provide a much-needed service and hold a lot of value. For many people, an exchange like this is their entry into the cryptocurrency space, as well as their exit point. Not only does this give them a lot of control, it also creates a direct conflict between their business incentives and the decentralized values envisioned by the blockchain community.

Additionally, centralized exchanges are also a prime target for hackers. Centralized exchanges are profit-oriented companies that not only get revenues from their platform’s fee structures but can also generate all kinds of additional income streams through the aggregation of their customers’ data. The latter aspect makes a centralized exchange an enticing target for malicious actors. Cryptocurrency’s most famous hacks have provoked losses of billions in value (Bitgrail, CoinCheck). And in the worst cases, some can plague the cryptocurrency scene for years (MtGox). These hacks often occur because centralized exchanges do not give you the private keys to access your funds.

Additionally, centralized exchanges face a lot of pressure to be KYC compliant, which means you need to submit your identity documents and go through various other steps to use these services. This opens you up to another vulnerability: identity theft. Or all too often your information being leaked through a (human) error on an exchange’s behalf.

Of course, not all centralized exchanges will fail or err as described in some of the slightly exaggerated scenarios mentioned above. However, the risk of such events is catalyzing the emergence of decentralized exchanges. There are many decentralized exchanges in use or being built as we speak. Decentralized Exchanges, or DEX, introduce a novel method of exchanging value without relying on a central party. There is no requirement for e-mails, passwords, and you manage your own private keys. Additionally, their code is public and available for anyone to verify.

Because you simply interface with a DEX through your own private key you can withdraw and deposit at any time, and your valuables are not held in a central exchange encumbered with any of the weaknesses mentioned above. However, the reality is also that there are a few inherent limitations to DEX and that they are not a definitive alternative yet for most users. A DEX often has a poor user interface, poor to non-existent customer support, and sporadic volume. An upside is that due to their decentralized nature they often skirt regulations and legislation, meaning that a user will not have to go through lengthy KYC and approval procedures.

As mentioned before, there are numerous DEX and DEX protocols being built or already in existence. One of the more interesting players in the space is OmiseGo. OmiseGo is building their own blockchain, and it is designed to be an open and permissionless network belonging to all those using it. People using any of their products will transact with the OmiseGo blockchain, as well as the Ethereum blockchain. One of these products is their DEX. Their DEX will allow real-time value trading of any currency or asset on their network, making use of validator nodes that monitor network activity. This interoperability feature will be key for consumer DEX adoption.

OPEN is working with the OmiseGo Software Development Kit and will build the next generation of payment processing technology, using OmiseGo’s DEX technology. The OPEN Platform offers an API-oriented decentralized payment infrastructure that allows for easy cryptocurrencies integration into existing applications. It does so by linking the OPEN API to regular software, in a manner familiar to most developers, creating a “scaffold” or smart contract template that acts as a payment gateway and can easily be adapted to specific use cases.

The OPEN platform can support any payment scenario in enterprise environments, Software-as-a-Service scenario, video games and more, by providing the missing components applications need to accept cryptocurrency and the associated payment data. Any application payment scheme can be easily deployed, on any blockchain. The end result is a payment gateway integrated with existing and new applications, accepting any cryptocurrency with OmiseGo’s DEX technology.

The blockchain revolution will unlock trillions of dollars’ worth of potential, and decentralized exchanges will play a huge role on the consumer side. OPEN Platform drastically reduces the complexity for cryptocurrency payments integration and can thus give blockchain technology a significant adoption boost. Using OmiseGo’s SDK, OPEN will bring the best of the DEX world together with the best in payments. If you are interested to learn more about how you can contribute to and benefit from the ongoing revolution, join us at https://www.openfuture.io/

The post Decentralized Exchanges: Really the Best of Both Worlds? appeared first on NewsBTC.

Muscat-based financial management firm BankDhofar has become the first Oman bank to join RippleNet, a global enterprise blockchain network by Ripple.

Top performing cryptocurrencies in April were Tron, EOS and Cardano. While Litecoin, Binance Coin and Monero have shown the slowest recovery.

Another month has passed in the world of crypto and it is time to take a look at the winners and losers over the past 30 days. April has generally been a pretty good month for cryptocurrencies with the majority of them recovering from a yearly low on the first of the month. Since the big spike in the first week of January crypto markets have plummeted losing 70% of their value over the following two months. April has been the first month where a possible rebound can be measured though markets are still nowhere near their previous highs.

Total crypto market capitalization has grown steadily throughout April from a low of $244 billion on the first to $430 billion at the end of the month. This marks an increase of 76% overall though they are still 48% lower than the $830 billion peak just after New Year. Bitcoin has led the charge with gains of 40% from $6,600 to $9,300 throughout April. Market cap has climbed from $110 billion to $158 billion but BTC’s market dominance has fallen from 45% to 37% indicating that it has been a much better month for altcoins.

April Crypto Winners

After falling over 50% in March, Ethereum has made a recovery of 85% in April from $365 on the first to $675 at the end of the month. ETH is back to mid-March levels however it was bearish then but bullish at the end of April. Being one of the biggest losers in March provided an opportunity for traders to snap up ETH at low prices.

Ripple has also recovered from lows in early April as XRP traded below $0.50 then and ended the month at $0.85. Over 80% has been gained by XRP and the company has made more significant partnerships so it is only a matter of time before its cryptocurrency is back over a dollar.

Bitcoin Cash hit a 2018 low of $635 on April first but had made monumental gains of over 120% by the end of the month. Opponents of BCH had purported the demise of this coin however it has outperformed big brother BTC in April making a significant recovery.

EOS has had a blast in April climbing over 215% from around $6 at the beginning of the month to over $19 at the end of it. EOS has surpassed Litecoin to take fifth place in the market cap charts and has made almost 130% gains on Bitcoin ending the month at 200000 satoshis.

Cardano, one of the worst performing altcoins in the past two months, finally made some gains in April. ADA gained over 135% over the month from a low of $0.14 on the first to $0.34 at the end of it. The gains have also pushed LTC down the list as Cardano took sixth place by market capacity; against BTC it has made 68%. ADA is still a long way away from its all-time high of $1.30 in early January though.

Stellar Lumens has had a very good month climbing 115% from $0.20 at the beginning to $0.43 at the end of April. With a market cap of almost $8 billion XLM remains in the top ten at 8^th spot. Gains against BTC have also been strong with 55% up from 3000 to 4660 satoshis. As with Cardano, Stellar is still a long way from its ATH of $0.90, but seems to be showing a strong recovery.

Tron was the best performing altcoin in March and it has extended that into April. Starting the month at $0.028 TRX has gained 280% to end it at $0.096, against BTC it is up around 130% from 450 to 1040 satoshis. Love it or hate it, Tron continues to outperform most of the other altcoins and has secured its position in the top ten at 9^th spot with a market cap of just over $6 billion.

Neo took a beating in March but has managed to claw back some of those losses to end April 87% higher at $86. It is still a long way down from its levels in early 2018 and hit a yearly low of $45 on April 7 marking a loss of 76% from its mid-January ATH of $188. It remains just in the top ten with a market cap of $5.6 billion.

Most of the altcoins have recovered somewhat in April; Iota is up 88%, Dash 65%,  Nem 100%, VeChain 106%, ETC 65%, Qtum 75%, OmiseGO 125%, Icon 124%, Lisk 68%, Bitcoin Gold 82%, Nano 64%, and rounding out the top 25 Zcash with a 61% gain on the month.

Outside the top 25 big gains have been had in April for Aeternity with 225%, Steem with 170%, Siacoin with 200%, and Ontology with 350%.

April Crypto Losers

Since all altcoins have gained in April those with the smallest increases can be considered losers in this instance.

Litecoin has always been a slow mover, it has made gains in April but nothing like its brethren. With an April 1 low of $111 LTC ended the month at $150 marking an increase of just 35% which isn’t a lot when other coins are in three figures. There has been no news or momentum to boost Litecoin in April so it has plodded along trying to catch up wit the other altcoins and lost two spots in the market cap charts dropping down to 7th.

Monero has also not made the gains expected or in line with other cryptocurrencies. With an increase of around 47% from $166 on the first to $244 at the end of the month it remains slower to recover that other altcoins. Gains against Bitcoin have been very slim, just 3% or so to end the month at 2650000 satoshis.

Binance Coin, one of the more resilient altcoins in March, has only managed a gain of 39% in April from $10.4 to $14.5. Maybe because this exchange based asset did not crash as much as the others a slower recovery can be expected.

When coins that gain less than 50% can be considered ‘losers’, it has been a very good month for cryptocurrencies all round. With all cryptos taking such a battering in February and March the recovery in April has seen them all make gains, some more than others as we have seen. The next milestone to keep the uptrend and bullish momentum going is the $500 billion total market capitalization level which markets have not seen since mid-February when they were on the way down. To summarize the biggest winners in the top 25 cryptocurrencies in April have been Tron, EOS, and Cardano with Litecoin, BNB and Monero the slowest to recover.

Image from Shutterstock

The post End of Month Roundup: Cryptocurrency Winners and Losers in April appeared first on NewsBTC.

eLearning is big business. As technology permits us to run our lives from within our houses, it’s only logical that we should educate ourselves in our own little silos as well. After all, why go to class if you can bring the classroom to your home? Why have burned-out teachers stood in front of disengaged students staring at their smartphones, when they can be replaced by stimulating learning through technology?

As of 2016, 93 percent of universities have made some kind of eLearning a requirement for their students. And when it comes to workplaces, by the end of last year, nearly a third of corporations had already started implementing online classrooms for their employees. And get this: the value of the global eLearning industry is expected to reach a staggering $275.10 billion by 2022.

It’s not hard to see why this method of learning is gaining in popularity. Convenience, efficiency, cost reduction, the ability for students and employees to work at their own pace. These are all major factors – and so is gamification.

Gamification in eLearning

Remember when studying was all about hitting the books? No? Perhaps I’m showing my age. But most of us have at some point been subjected to reading boring passages aloud, memorizing a dictation, listening to a fastidious lecture, or trying to remember dates and statistics for exams. But what if learning were made more fun?

Gamification in learning is gaining in popularity. Most kids play video games already, so implementing the same structure into learning is a logical step. And when it comes to worn-out employees taking courses after work, turning learning into a game is an excellent way to encourage progress and expedite learning.

Companies with sales teams can use public leadership boards to spark healthy competition among employees. This is good for learners, productivity, and, eventually, profits.

And remember when you got a gold star for doing something well, and it made you feel all important? Well, gamification is about giving incentives as well. Tokens, points, and yes, even digital stars, have been proven to make eLearning more engaging.

So, imagine what happens when these digital stars are turned into digital cash!

Enter Blockchain

Blockchain startups are springing up to improve education in several ways. Incentive-based learning not only encourages kids to learn faster and learn without even realizing it, but to collect cryptocurrency as well.

The education model in the US is decidedly unfair. In fact, some 83 percent of Americans say they can’t afford to go to college. Those who do attend are often left with enormous debts they struggle to pay off when they should be focusing on their careers.

BitLearn Network is using a combination of cryptocurrency and gamification to help kids learn the skills they need while saving for their college educations. They’ll not only get the thrill of collecting tokens, but receive monetary compensation as well.

Adding a Layer of Trust

With eLearning, as with traditional learning, there is an element of trust (and mistrust) involved. After all, credentials are only useful if the organization that requires them believes them to be credible. And people lie about their qualifications all the time.

In eLearning, a digital badge or “e-certificate” may be easily forged. And in traditional academia, paper degrees may also be tampered with, making credential verification a pressing concern.

With blockchain technology, it becomes way easier to verify credibility. Each credential is recorded on a blockchain, where it cannot be altered, tampered with, or faked. And because of blockchain technology’s decentralized nature, were an institution or organization to be hacked, those credentials would remain secure.

Another company, Accredible, is helping educational facilities move over to blockchain-based credentials. This means no more fake or fraudulent degrees. Organizations can issue credentials to individuals securely and then store them in a public ledger. They can then be easily verified when needed, such as by a human resources agency or government entity. They are safe and viewable by all. 

So while the uptick in eLearning shows no signs of slowing down, blockchain tech can only serve to improve it further. It will do so by adding monetary incentives to help kids learn faster and save for their college educations, while making their qualifications more transparent and credible.

Milan – May 1: ORS GROUP, the international Artificial Intelligence leader in software solutions, has today announced its Memorandum of Understanding with Sejong Telecom, a South Korean enterprise that provides telecommunications services.

Disclosure: This is a Sponsored Article

The companies will work together to develop innovative solutions in Big Data, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain for various industries in South Korea, especially the telecommunications sector.

ORS is a leading global supplier of cross-industry A.I. software solutions for optimizing and automating business processes. Their large international client base includes Fortune 2000 enterprises and spans industries like retail, energy, finance, telecom and manufacturing. For over 20 years the company has delivered sophisticated software using proprietary Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Big Data Analytics algorithms, saving their clients over US$1 billion yearly.

Sejong Telecom’s services include domestic and international calling, wireless internet, internet data services, voice over internet protocol (VoIP), among others.

A “Steering Group” will manage the partnership between the two companies, which will consist of high level executives from each company and a handful of representatives to cover emerging areas of interest.  

Fabio Zoffi, Executive Chairman and President of ORS GROUP said he is very pleased with the collaboration as “Korea is a great market for tech innovation and both ORS GROUP and myself have a consolidated experience in the telecommunications sector.” He added, “Our Korean partner is an innovator and thus timely understood that A.I. and Blockchain can deliver terrific value to their business.”

Hyungjin Kim, Chairman of Sejong Telecom said, “We have a plan to make an advanced ‘Digital Asset Exchange Platform’ that aims to secure and increase the value of customer asset based on decentralised and transparent Blockchain solution. We expect ORS GROUP to help us to take a step forward and open a new era of digital innovation in this industry with their innovative technology and resources.”

About ORS GROUP

Founded in Italy, now with global operations, the ORS GROUP is a software company with over 20 years of experience in delivering sophisticated A.I.-based optimization software solutions to a large international client base (www.ors.ai).

Their new product, the Hypersmart Contracts (“HSC”), aims to provide access to more than 1,000 proprietary algorithms and hundreds of software solutions to the Crypto Community and to established businesses (www.orsgroup.io). At ORS, we envision a planetary network of entrepreneurs and independent companies empowered by the new digital alphabet: ABC – Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency.

About Sejong Telecom

Sejong Telecom, Inc. provides telecommunications services in South Korea. It offers leased line, Internet leased line, and Internet data center services based on the optical networks. The company was formerly known as Enterprise Networks and changed its name to Sejong Telecom, Inc. in 2007. Sejong Telecom, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. (https://www.sejongtelecom.net)

The economic region of Russian Eastern Siberia is appealing to cryptocurrency miners, offering cheap electricity to enhance the already attractive features of a cool climate and close proximity to China that the area offers.

Cryptocurrency mining is a cost-intensive process, with electricity bills consuming a large chunk of profits, alongside equipment updates and space cooling systems. In Irkutsk, one of the largest cities in Eastern Siberia, consumers pay just one Russian ruble per KWh, the equivalent of USD 0.016. It currently requires approximately 20,000 KWh to mine one Bitcoin, totaling an energy expenditure of around USD 350 in Irkutsk.

Bitcoin is valued at USD 9,013 at the time of press, meaning that the costs lost on electricity is considerably lower than in places such as London, where a unit of Bitcoin consumes USD 3,650 of electricity to be mined. While commercial prices in Irkutsk can be relatively higher, it is still a far cheaper alternative than most other locations.

The cold climate of Eastern Siberia also provides a free alternative to cooling systems for ASIC units.

While the Chinese border lies just 1,500 km away, the close proximity economically benefits mining businesses that require new equipment on an annual basis. The location enables faster and cheaper delivery services, crucial for widescale mining projects that require the most up-to-date equipment to stay competitive.

These prime conditions are drawing in both local and international investors who are looking to enter the mining business.

Estonian Minery Global and Russian Minery.ru

As reported by local news outlet Interfax, Estonian Minery Global and Russian Minery.ru already have plans to institute five industrial complexes to the region in October to be utilized for cryptocurrency mining.

The two companies plan to locate the mining farms close to the IrkutskEnergo hydropower station, with a total project capacity of 55 MWH. All of the electricity will be provided by IrkutskEnergo via contracts with Bratsk Grid Co, with project plans indicating that the electricity costs will average at a price of USD 0.07 per KWh. Comparatively, the average cost of electricity in the US is USD 0.12 per KWh.

Final licenses and permits are still being pursued by project managers, with construction planned to begin in May once everything is approved. The companies are offering hosting services to any potential miners upon completion of the project.

It was recently reported that Georgia held the position as the second most active country for cryptocurrency mining, holding several similar attributes of Eastern Siberia including a cold winter climate and relatively cheap electricity costs.

The post Conditions of Eastern Siberia Appeal to Crypto Miners appeared first on BitcoinNews.com.

Bitcoin press Release: Hada DBank has announced its token sale structure as it prepares for its main sale on May 1st, 2018.

April 24th, 2018, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – The World’s first digital Islamic bank Hada DBank has just announced it’s token sale structure as it prepares for its main funding event. The main token sale will be commencing on Tuesday, May the 1st, 2018, and will offer up a total of 50 million HADACoins for participants to purchase.

Contributions can be made through the F1Cryptos exchange. This move was decided to allow the team to focus more on the development of the system, as well as building better relationships and connections with investors. The token sale will give avid followers of Hada DBank and crypto enthusiasts a chance to support the up and coming project.

The Hada DBank Token Sale

The FIRST 1,000,000 HADACoins will be priced at 3,000 HADA per 1 ETH. There will be a minimum contribution of 0.15 ETH per transaction.Following the success of its Pre-ICO, Hada DBanks aims to reach its soft cap at 5,000 ETH and hard cap 30,000 ETH respectively to further progress at a desirable pace.

Hada DBank is also currently developing its MVP and plans to announce its availability before the start of this upcoming ICO. The most recent announcement on the latest partnership with Eclii Ventures also indicates positive progress for the project and team.

Learn more on the Hada DBank website – https://www.hada-dbank.com/
Read the Hada DBank Whitepaper –https://drive.google.com/file/d/16nbPwXqjXRRmVKstu1dn4NobywANASkH/view
Chat with the Hada DBank team on Telegram – https://t.me/HADADBank
Follow Hada DBank on Twitter – https://twitter.com/HadaDBank
Follow Hada DBank on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hadadbank.official/
Check out Hada DBank on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/hadadbank/
Learn more about Hada DBank on Medium – https://medium.com/@hadadbank
Visit the DE Asset Management Limited Website here – https://deasset.ca/

Media Contact

Contact Name: Linda A
Email: [email protected]
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Company: Hada DBank

Hada DBank is the source 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. Cryptocurrencies and tokens are extremely volatile. There is no guarantee of a stable value, or of any value at all.

Token sales are only suitable for individuals with a high risk tolerance. Only participate in a token event with what you can afford to lose.This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.

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The post PR: Blockchain Startup Hada DBank Releases Price Structure For Impending Token Sale, Starting May 1st, 2018 appeared first on BitcoinNews.com.