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1,421,441,282 | 2015-01-16T20:48:02Z |
{"Bitcoin": [251, 685, 859, 979, 1264, 1844, 1921, 2000, 2176, 2412, 2838, 2989, 4089]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [49]}
|
Deep Web Drug Dealers Are Freaking Out About The Bitcoin Crash
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/deep-drug-dealers-freaking-bitcoin-204802883.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.com/
|
Men carry drugs cocaine REUTERS/Enrique Castro-Mendivil All manner of illegal drugs are available on the deep web. "Fantastic!" That's the sarcastic reaction of one deep web dealer after losing $1,000 in a single night due to this week's catastrophic Bitcoin price crash. The virtual currency has been declining in value for all of 2014, but it began 2015 particularly badly — losing 30% of its value in a matter of days . At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is sitting relatively stably around the $205-mark. But it's a level not seen since the end of October 2013, and well below its $350 valuation just a month ago. The price drop has had a damaging impact on the mainstream Bitcoin economy. One mining operation has already been forced to temporarily close its doors because it's no longer profitable. Other businesses are being forced to sell off Bitcoin reserves in order to stay afloat — risking driving prices down further . But that’s just legitimate businesses. Bitcoin’s growth has been built upon far more nefarious uses — chief among them: buying and selling drugs online. And it turns out drug dealers are freaking out about the price crash just as much as everyone else. bitcoin price decline december january 2015 CoinDesk A recent chart of Bitcoin's price decline over the past month. Drug dealers and their customers have spent days lamenting over the decline using forums accessible only through anonymising software Tor. “Out a couple of thousand over this,” writes one dealer. “Bad f---ing time to start up. I really hope it bounces back and stays there. I can’t believe how fast they’re dropping. $330 to 280 to 220 in just a few weeks. Bye bye profit.” “I am losing losing 10-20% on all orders in escrow now!” says another. “Make that 30%!!! There goes all profit! FML.” Deep web markets almost exclusively accept Bitcoin as payment, and typically adjust prices automatically to account for Bitcoin’s fluctuations. The customer will always pay the same dollars-worth of Bitcoin, the amount varying depending on the exact price of the virtual currency at the time of purchase. It means that if a vendor makes some big sales, and then the price of Bitcoin plummets before they cash out, they can find their profits slashed, or even losing significant amounts of money. Story continues deep web drug forum Deep web One user suggests that vendors should weather the storm and buy up in Bitcoin, in anticipation of a rise. “The people this is bad for is buyers who are getting less and less for the coins they bought,” they argue. Another says they’ve “bought a chunk to last me 6 months. Surely it won’t go lower.” But others disagree. “Some of the really big sellers might be able to do that,” a dealer writes, “but many of us have overhead costs that need to be paid to keep the business running! I believe in Bitcoin’s future and try to hold, but when you have been holding since around $800 and you need to cash out under 200, it hurts!” Deep web drug dealer Bitcoin forum post Evolution One deep web cocaine dealer spoke to Business Insider about the price crash. “It’s pretty damn sad,” they said. “We have worked so hard over the past 3 months, and for profits to get halved? It’s hard to swallow, simple as that, but what can you do. It’s a gamble, whether you hold or sell.” They'd cashed out and had a massive payday during the bubble in November 2013, so they weren't immediately hurt by the dropping prices. But it’s still “hard work down the toilet.” And other, newer dealers don't have that luxury: they’ll be forced to sell reserves at a loss just to keep going (and potentially forcing the price down even more in the process). There's been a "slight drop" in sales over the last few days, the dealer said, but it's too early to say what's the cause. As for the future, “it might drop a little or might go up a little… we will just have to ride it out :)” More From Business Insider Major Silk Road Drug Dealer Known As 'CALIGIRL' Sentenced To Nearly 6 Years In Prison Both Of The Men Accused Of Running The Silk Road Made The Exact Same Mistake 'Bitcoin Jesus' Renounced His American Citizenship — So Now The US Isn't Letting Him In
| 2015-01-16 |
1,421,429,336 | 2015-01-16T17:28:56Z |
{"Bitcoin": [667]}
|
{}
|
U.S. sharply reduces Silk Road's estimated sales volume
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-sharply-reduces-silk-roads-172856272.html
|
Reuters
|
http://www.reuters.com/
|
By Emily Flitter
NEW YORK, Jan 16 (Reuters) - When U.S. authorities announced the arrest of Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht in October 2013, they made a startling claim: the online black market had seen an estimated $1.2 billion in illicit sales since its inception.
This week, however, as Ulbricht's criminal trial began, prosecutors significantly scaled back that figure, saying Silk Road had actually seen an estimated $200 million in drug sales, which comprised 95 percent of all sales on the website.
The revision could be good news for Ulbricht, who has admitted creating the site, where users could buy drugs and other illegal goods using the digital currency Bitcoin, according to former federal prosecutor Jeffrey Alberts.
Since advisory federal sentencing guidelines for drug trafficking take into account the size of the scheme, the reduced sales figure would put Ulbricht's offenses into a different category under the guidelines, said Alberts, who is now a partner at law firm Pryor Cashman and is not involved in the case.
Ulbricht, 30, is facing a seven-count indictment for offenses including money laundering, computer hacking and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts.
But taken on its own, a conviction on the drug trafficking conspiracy count would elicit a recommendation of 30 years in prison for an operation larger than $400 million, as prosecutors originally estimated. That would fall to 28 years for a scheme netting between $400 million and $200 million, and 26 years for one just under $200 million.
Ulbricht's lawyer declined to comment.
The change in Silk Road's estimated sales volume is not, however, entirely due to fluctuations in the value of bitcoins, which have actually increased in price since prosecutors filed the criminal complaint against Ulbricht on Oct. 2, 2013. Back then, one bitcoin was worth $125 but they are trading at around $205 today.
While formulating the complaint against Ulbricht, prosecutors arrived at the $1.2 billion figure by looking at the total value of bitcoins obtained through sales on the site, according to the complaint.
But after combing through Silk Road's files, they recalculated the total by adding up the value of individual drug sales according to the price of bitcoins at the time of each transaction, arriving at $200 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Adjustments like this one are common, Alberts said. The more precisely prosecutors can calculate the size of an illegal operation, the less likely defense lawyers are to contest the estimate during a sentencing hearing.
Another advantage to the revision: it is a number that will not change even if bitcoin prices do.
The case is U.S. v. Ulbricht, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 13-06919.
(Reporting by Emily Flitter; editing by Noeleen Walder and G Crosse)
| 2015-01-16 |
1,421,452,269 | 2015-01-16T23:51:09Z |
{"BTC": [2561]}
|
{}
|
7 ways to play the Swiss franc fallout
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/7-ways-play-swiss-franc-235109198.html
|
CNBC
|
http://www.cnbc.com/
|
The Swiss National Bank's decision to remove its peg of the Swiss franc's value to the euro disrupted markets for a second day on Friday. Among the biggest losers was retail foreign exchange broker FXCM, which took huge losses before Leucadia National ( LUK ) gave it a $300 million bailout on Friday afternoon. Effects continue to pop up around the globe, and CNBC's " Fast Money " traders looked at how to play the ongoing uncertainty. Trader Brian Kelly set his sights on the next big currency move, which he believes could be the devaluation of the Chinese yuan (Exchange:CNY=) . Read More Leucadia to provide $300M in financing to FXCM The yuan has started to move lower against the dollar, and the falling currency could provide a short move, he argued. "To boost exports, they are going to need a weaker currency, and they're already starting to do it," Kelly said. For the second straight day, gold's reaction to global events caught trader Guy Adami's eye. Gold (CEC:Commodities Exchange Centre: @GC.1) , which ended at $1,276 on Friday, should continue to surge in the wake of the Swiss central bank's decision. "I think the gold market wants to go higher. I think there's definitely a blue sky there," Adami said. Read More Swiss shock no 'game changer' for gold? A rise in gold should prove a boon to gold miners, Adami said. He continues to tout the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE Arca: GDX) , which jumped more than 3 percent on Friday. The wider commodities market should also climb from its current point, trader Tim Seymour said. He pointed to the Commodity Research Bureau Index, which he believes has hit a key level that signals commodities have neared a bottom. "People are missing the fact that demand does increase, even though this has been a supply event. I think commodities are going higher," Seymour said. Read More Why commodities are taking a beating again With some potential promise in commodities and construction, Caterpillar ( CAT ) has room to rebound on the upside, the traders said. The stock has fallen about 8 percent in the last year. "No way would I be shorting Caterpillar here. Actually, it's a place you might be taking a look," Seymour said. Trader disclosure: On January 16, 2015, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC's "Fast Money" were owned by the "Fast Money" traders: Tim Seymour is long AAPL, BAC, C, DIS, F, GE, GM, GOOGL, INTC, BX, SUNE, Tim's firm is long BABA, BIDU, CCU, DSKY, KNDI, MCD, NKE, NOK, PBR, SINA, TSL, VIP. Brian Kelly is long BBRY calls, BTC=, CTRL calls, GCG5, HYG puts, Yen, TWTR call spreads, he is short EWA, EWG, EWQ, EWZ, EWH, EWW, US Dollar, Yuan, HGH5, today he bought GCG5, today he sold TLT, ZBH15, ZBH, today he covered his short in ESH5. Guy Adami is long CELG, EXAS, INTC, Guy Adami's wife, Linda Snow, works at Merck. Steve Grasso is long AAPL, BA, CLVS, EVGN, FB, GDX, GOOGL, IMMR, KBH, KDUS, MBLY, MHY, MJNA, NVIV, PFE, POT, SO, T, TMUS, TWTR, YHOO, his kids are long EFG, EFA, EWJ, IJR, SPY his firm is long APA, APC, DHI, DNR, OXY, MTH.
| 2015-01-16 |
1,421,441,282 | 2015-01-16T20:48:02Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [49]}
|
Deep Web Drug Dealers Are Freaking Out About The Bitcoin Crash
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/deep-drug-dealers-freaking-bitcoin-204802883.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.com/
|
REUTERS/Enrique Castro-Mendivil All manner of illegal drugs are available on the deep web.
"Fantastic!"
That's the sarcastic reaction of one deep web dealer after losing $1,000 in a single night due to this week's catastrophic Bitcoin price crash.
The virtual currency has been declining in value for all of 2014, but it began 2015 particularly badly —losing 30% of its value in a matter of days. At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is sitting relatively stably around the $205-mark. But it's a level not seen since the end of October 2013, and well below its $350 valuation just a month ago.
The price drop has had a damaging impact on the mainstream Bitcoin economy. One mining operation has already beenforced to temporarily close its doorsbecause it's no longer profitable. Other businesses are being forced to sell off Bitcoin reserves in order to stay afloat —risking driving prices down further.
But that’s just legitimate businesses. Bitcoin’s growth has been built upon far more nefarious uses — chief among them: buying and selling drugs online. And it turns out drug dealers are freaking out about the price crash just as much as everyone else.
CoinDesk A recent chart of Bitcoin's price decline over the past month.
Drug dealers and their customers have spent days lamenting over the decline using forums accessible only through anonymising software Tor. “Out a couple of thousand over this,” writes one dealer. “Bad f---ing time to start up. I really hope it bounces back and stays there. I can’t believe how fast they’re dropping. $330 to 280 to 220 in just a few weeks. Bye bye profit.”
“I am losing losing 10-20% on all orders in escrow now!” says another. “Make that 30%!!! There goes all profit! FML.”
Deep web markets almost exclusively accept Bitcoin as payment, and typically adjust prices automatically to account for Bitcoin’s fluctuations. The customer will always pay the same dollars-worth of Bitcoin, the amount varying depending on the exact price of the virtual currency at the time of purchase. It means that if a vendor makes some big sales, and then the price of Bitcoin plummets before they cash out, they can find their profits slashed, or even losing significant amounts of money.
Deep web
One user suggests that vendors should weather the storm and buy up in Bitcoin, in anticipation of a rise. “The people this is bad for is buyers who are getting less and less for the coins they bought,” they argue. Another says they’ve “bought a chunk to last me 6 months. Surely it won’t go lower.”
But others disagree. “Some of the really big sellers might be able to do that,” a dealer writes, “but many of us have overhead costs that need to be paid to keep the business running! I believe in Bitcoin’s future and try to hold, but when you have been holding since around $800 and you need to cash out under 200, it hurts!”
Evolution
One deep web cocaine dealer spoke to Business Insider about the price crash. “It’s pretty damn sad,” they said. “We have worked so hard over the past 3 months, and for profits to get halved? It’s hard to swallow, simple as that, but what can you do. It’s a gamble, whether you hold or sell.”
They'd cashed out and had a massive payday during the bubble in November 2013, so they weren't immediately hurt by the dropping prices. But it’s still “hard work down the toilet.” And other, newer dealers don't have that luxury: they’ll be forced to sell reserves at a loss just to keep going (and potentially forcing the price down even more in the process).
There's been a "slight drop" in sales over the last few days, the dealer said, but it's too early to say what's the cause. As for the future, “it might drop a little or might go up a little… we will just have to ride it out :)”
More From Business Insider
• Major Silk Road Drug Dealer Known As 'CALIGIRL' Sentenced To Nearly 6 Years In Prison
• Both Of The Men Accused Of Running The Silk Road Made The Exact Same Mistake
• 'Bitcoin Jesus' Renounced His American Citizenship — So Now The US Isn't Letting Him In
| 2015-01-16 |
1,421,429,336 | 2015-01-16T17:28:56Z |
{"Bitcoin": [667]}
|
{}
|
U.S. sharply reduces Silk Road's estimated sales volume
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-sharply-reduces-silk-roads-172856272.html
|
Reuters
|
http://www.reuters.com/
|
By Emily Flitter NEW YORK, Jan 16 (Reuters) - When U.S. authorities announced the arrest of Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht in October 2013, they made a startling claim: the online black market had seen an estimated $1.2 billion in illicit sales since its inception. This week, however, as Ulbricht's criminal trial began, prosecutors significantly scaled back that figure, saying Silk Road had actually seen an estimated $200 million in drug sales, which comprised 95 percent of all sales on the website. The revision could be good news for Ulbricht, who has admitted creating the site, where users could buy drugs and other illegal goods using the digital currency Bitcoin, according to former federal prosecutor Jeffrey Alberts. Since advisory federal sentencing guidelines for drug trafficking take into account the size of the scheme, the reduced sales figure would put Ulbricht's offenses into a different category under the guidelines, said Alberts, who is now a partner at law firm Pryor Cashman and is not involved in the case. Ulbricht, 30, is facing a seven-count indictment for offenses including money laundering, computer hacking and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. But taken on its own, a conviction on the drug trafficking conspiracy count would elicit a recommendation of 30 years in prison for an operation larger than $400 million, as prosecutors originally estimated. That would fall to 28 years for a scheme netting between $400 million and $200 million, and 26 years for one just under $200 million. Ulbricht's lawyer declined to comment. The change in Silk Road's estimated sales volume is not, however, entirely due to fluctuations in the value of bitcoins, which have actually increased in price since prosecutors filed the criminal complaint against Ulbricht on Oct. 2, 2013. Back then, one bitcoin was worth $125 but they are trading at around $205 today. While formulating the complaint against Ulbricht, prosecutors arrived at the $1.2 billion figure by looking at the total value of bitcoins obtained through sales on the site, according to the complaint. Story continues But after combing through Silk Road's files, they recalculated the total by adding up the value of individual drug sales according to the price of bitcoins at the time of each transaction, arriving at $200 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Adjustments like this one are common, Alberts said. The more precisely prosecutors can calculate the size of an illegal operation, the less likely defense lawyers are to contest the estimate during a sentencing hearing. Another advantage to the revision: it is a number that will not change even if bitcoin prices do. The case is U.S. v. Ulbricht, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 13-06919. (Reporting by Emily Flitter; editing by Noeleen Walder and G Crosse)
| 2015-01-16 |
1,421,530,059 | 2015-01-17T21:27:39Z |
{"Bitcoin": [567, 611, 682, 935, 1062, 1249, 1325, 1850, 2130, 2293, 2409, 3065, 3253, 3525]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [35]}
|
Without Drugs, What's the Point of Bitcoin?
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/without-drugs-whats-point-bitcoin-212739570.html
|
The Atlantic
|
http://www.theatlantic.com/
|
The trial of Ross Ulbricht , which began last week in Manhattan, doesn't lack for entertainment value. The 30-year-old is accused of founding and administering Silk Road, an online market that allowed users to buy and sell illegal drugs using bitcoins as currency. Founded in 2011, prosecutors allege that Silk Road generated $1.2 billion in revenue including an estimated $80 million paid in commissionsuntil the FBI shut it down in 2013. Ulbricht has pled not guilty. But whatever the verdict, the legacy of Ulbricht's high-profile case may strike a blow against Bitcoin's future viability. The idea behind Bitcoin is simple. Unlike modern fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, Bitcoin has no supervising authority, no regulation, and no central bank. Users can use bitcoins to buy and sell goods anonymously without any outside interference. The idea has caught on. Created in 2009 by an unknown entity called "Satoshi Nakamoto," Bitcoin has begun to enter the mainstream. Companies like Amazon, CVS, and Victoria's Secret now accept them as legal tender. "Bitcoin is insanely traceable," Nicholas Weaver, a researcher at University of California Berkeley's International Computer Science Institute told the Verge . As an unregulated currency, Bitcoin appeared to be a natural fit for the illicit drug market. But while Bitcoin is anonymous, it isn't untraceable. When users convert bitcoins to hard currency, their name becomes linked to a "public blockchain" that comprises the entire transactional history of the bitcoin. This would be equivalent to a $20 bill containing a comprehensive history of every person who has touched it since emerging from the printing press. These public blockchains make it very easy for law enforcement officials, once users' identities are compromised, to understand the full extent of their illicit activity. Bitcoins, of course, are used for more than just drugs. But even in legal markets, the currency's volatility makes it an unattractive bet for would-be investors. Everyone knows that the fall in oil prices gutted Russia's ruble, which lost more than half of its value in 2014. But Bitcoin fared even worse , falling 76 percent. And unlike the ruble, which Moscow can rescue through manipulating interest rates and instituting capital controls, Bitcoin's lack of a central bank means there's nothing to stop it from sliding even further. Story continues Why is Bitcoin so volatile? Although generally thought of (and used as) a currency, bitcoins are better thought of as an asset bubble, the Washington Post 's Matt O'Brien argues . The supply of bitcoins increases when investors "mine" new ones, a process that involves using supercomputers to solve difficult mathematical equations. Because this process is expensive, miners borrow (real) money to finance it. This routine worked well in 2013, when bitcoins were worth more than $1,000 each. But when bitcoins lose their value, investors cannot mine each bitcoin to pay off their loansa fate that struck Mark Karpeles, a Tokyo-based owner of the world's largest Bitcoin exchange who was forced to file for bankruptcy early last year. * Ross Ulbricht's trial will focus on far more than the currency he used for facilitating the drug trade. But while Bitcoin itself will remain legal and popular, its potential to rival traditional forms of currency appear unlikely to materialize. * An earlier version of this post misstated Mark Karpeles' first name as Jason. We regret the error. Read Without Drugs, What's the Point of Bitcoin? on theatlantic.com More From The Atlantic Why Can't Public Transit Be Free? Preschool Teachers Should Earn Like They Matter The Logic of Long Lines
| 2015-01-17 |
1,421,530,059 | 2015-01-17T21:27:39Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [35]}
|
Without Drugs, What's the Point of Bitcoin?
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/without-drugs-whats-point-bitcoin-212739570.html
|
The Atlantic
|
http://www.theatlantic.com/
|
Thetrial of Ross Ulbricht, which began last week in Manhattan, doesn't lack for entertainment value. The 30-year-old is accused of founding and administering Silk Road, an online market that allowed users to buy and sell illegal drugs using bitcoins as currency. Founded in 2011, prosecutors allege that Silk Roadgenerated $1.2 billion in revenue—including an estimated $80 million paid in commissions—until the FBI shut it down in 2013. Ulbricht has pled not guilty. But whatever the verdict, the legacy of Ulbricht's high-profile case may strike a blow against Bitcoin's future viability.
The idea behind Bitcoin is simple. Unlike modern fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, Bitcoin has no supervising authority, no regulation, and no central bank. Users can use bitcoins to buy and sell goods anonymously without any outside interference. The idea has caught on. Created in 2009 by an unknown entity called "Satoshi Nakamoto," Bitcoin has begun to enter the mainstream. Companieslike Amazon, CVS, and Victoria's Secretnow accept them as legal tender.
"Bitcoin is insanely traceable,"Nicholas Weaver, a researcher at University of California Berkeley's International Computer Science Institutetold theVerge.
As an unregulated currency, Bitcoin appeared to be a natural fit for the illicit drug market. But while Bitcoin is anonymous, it isn't untraceable. When users convert bitcoins to hard currency,their name becomes linkedto a "public blockchain" that comprises the entire transactional history of the bitcoin. This would be equivalent to a $20 bill containing a comprehensive history of every person who has touched it since emerging from the printing press. These public blockchains make it very easy for law enforcement officials, once users' identities are compromised, to understand the full extent of their illicit activity.
Bitcoins, of course, are used for more than just drugs. But even in legal markets, the currency's volatility makes it an unattractive bet for would-be investors. Everyone knows that the fall in oil prices gutted Russia's ruble, whichlost more than half of its valuein 2014. But Bitcoinfared even worse, falling 76 percent. And unlike the ruble, which Moscow can rescue through manipulating interest rates and instituting capital controls, Bitcoin's lack of a central bank means there's nothing to stop it from sliding even further.
Why is Bitcoin so volatile? Although generally thought of (and used as) a currency, bitcoins are better thought of as an asset bubble, theWashington Post's Matt O'Brienargues. The supply of bitcoins increases when investors "mine" new ones, a process that involves using supercomputers to solve difficult mathematical equations. Because this process is expensive, miners borrow (real) money to finance it. This routine worked well in 2013, when bitcoins were worth more than $1,000 each. But when bitcoins lose their value, investors cannot mine each bitcoin to pay off their loans—a fate that struck Mark Karpeles, a Tokyo-based owner of the world's largest Bitcoin exchange who wasforced to file for bankruptcyearly last year.*
Ross Ulbricht's trial will focus on far more than the currency he used for facilitating the drug trade. But while Bitcoin itself will remain legal and popular, its potential to rival traditional forms of currency appear unlikely to materialize.
*An earlier version of this post misstated Mark Karpeles' first name as Jason. We regret the error.
ReadWithout Drugs, What's the Point of Bitcoin?on theatlantic.com
More From The Atlantic
• Why Can't Public Transit Be Free?
• Preschool Teachers Should Earn Like They Matter
• The Logic of Long Lines
| 2015-01-17 |
1,421,530,059 | 2015-01-17T21:27:39Z |
{"Bitcoin": [563, 607, 678, 931, 1056, 1239, 1315, 1838, 2116, 2277, 2377, 3029, 3214, 3484]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [35]}
|
Without Drugs, What's the Point of Bitcoin?
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/without-drugs-whats-point-bitcoin-212739570.html
|
The Atlantic
|
http://www.theatlantic.com/
|
Thetrial of Ross Ulbricht, which began last week in Manhattan, doesn't lack for entertainment value. The 30-year-old is accused of founding and administering Silk Road, an online market that allowed users to buy and sell illegal drugs using bitcoins as currency. Founded in 2011, prosecutors allege that Silk Roadgenerated $1.2 billion in revenue—including an estimated $80 million paid in commissions—until the FBI shut it down in 2013. Ulbricht has pled not guilty. But whatever the verdict, the legacy of Ulbricht's high-profile case may strike a blow against Bitcoin's future viability.
The idea behind Bitcoin is simple. Unlike modern fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar, Bitcoin has no supervising authority, no regulation, and no central bank. Users can use bitcoins to buy and sell goods anonymously without any outside interference. The idea has caught on. Created in 2009 by an unknown entity called "Satoshi Nakamoto," Bitcoin has begun to enter the mainstream. Companieslike Amazon, CVS, and Victoria's Secretnow accept them as legal tender.
"Bitcoin is insanely traceable,"Nicholas Weaver, a researcher at University of California Berkeley's International Computer Science Institutetold theVerge.
As an unregulated currency, Bitcoin appeared to be a natural fit for the illicit drug market. But while Bitcoin is anonymous, it isn't untraceable. When users convert bitcoins to hard currency,their name becomes linkedto a "public blockchain" that comprises the entire transactional history of the bitcoin. This would be equivalent to a $20 bill containing a comprehensive history of every person who has touched it since emerging from the printing press. These public blockchains make it very easy for law enforcement officials, once users' identities are compromised, to understand the full extent of their illicit activity.
Bitcoins, of course, are used for more than just drugs. But even in legal markets, the currency's volatility makes it an unattractive bet for would-be investors. Everyone knows that the fall in oil prices gutted Russia's ruble, whichlost more than half of its valuein 2014. But Bitcoinfared even worse, falling 76 percent. And unlike the ruble, which Moscow can rescue through manipulating interest rates and instituting capital controls, Bitcoin's lack of a central bank means there's nothing to stop it from sliding even further.
Why is Bitcoin so volatile? Although generally thought of (and used as) a currency, bitcoins are better thought of as an asset bubble, theWashington Post's Matt O'Brienargues. The supply of bitcoins increases when investors "mine" new ones, a process that involves using supercomputers to solve difficult mathematical equations. Because this process is expensive, miners borrow (real) money to finance it. This routine worked well in 2013, when bitcoins were worth more than $1,000 each. But when bitcoins lose their value, investors cannot mine each bitcoin to pay off their loans—a fate that struck Mark Karpeles, a Tokyo-based owner of the world's largest Bitcoin exchange who wasforced to file for bankruptcyearly last year.*
Ross Ulbricht's trial will focus on far more than the currency he used for facilitating the drug trade. But while Bitcoin itself will remain legal and popular, its potential to rival traditional forms of currency appear unlikely to materialize.
*An earlier version of this post misstated Mark Karpeles' first name as Jason. We regret the error.
ReadWithout Drugs, What's the Point of Bitcoin?on theatlantic.com
More From The Atlantic
• Why Can't Public Transit Be Free?
• Preschool Teachers Should Earn Like They Matter
• The Logic of Long Lines
| 2015-01-17 |
1,421,615,880 | 2015-01-18T21:18:00Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Is Crashing And Deep Web Drug Dealers Are Losing Thousands
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-crashing-deep-drug-dealers-211800098.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.com/
|
Joel Sagat/Getty Images All manner of illegal drugs are available to purchase on the deep web.
"Fantastic!"
That's the sarcastic reaction of one deep web dealer after losing $1,000 in a single night due to this week's catastrophic Bitcoin price crash.
The virtual currency has been declining in value for all of 2014, but it began 2015 particularly badly —losing 30% of its value in a matter of days. At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is sitting relatively stably around the $205-mark. But it's a level not seen since the end of October 2013, and well below its $350 valuation just a month ago.
The price drop has had a damaging impact on the mainstream Bitcoin economy. One mining operation has already beenforced to temporarily close its doorsbecause it's no longer profitable. Other businesses are being forced to sell off Bitcoin reserves in order to stay afloat —risking driving prices down further.
But that’s just legitimate businesses. Bitcoin’s growth has been built upon far more nefarious uses — chief among them: buying and selling drugs online. And it turns out drug dealers are freaking out about the price crash just as much as everyone else.
CoinDesk A recent chart of Bitcoin's price decline over the past month.
Drug dealers and their customers have spent days lamenting over the decline using forums accessible only through anonymising software Tor. “Out a couple of thousand over this,” writes one dealer. “Bad f---ing time to start up. I really hope it bounces back and stays there. I can’t believe how fast they’re dropping. $330 to 280 to 220 in just a few weeks. Bye bye profit.”
“I am losing losing 10-20% on all orders in escrow now!” says another. “Make that 30%!!! There goes all profit! FML.”
Deep web markets almost exclusively accept Bitcoin as payment, and typically adjust prices automatically to account for Bitcoin’s fluctuations. The customer will always pay the same dollars-worth of Bitcoin, the amount varying depending on the exact price of the virtual currency at the time of purchase. It means that if a vendor makes some big sales, and then the price of Bitcoin plummets before they cash out, they can find their profits slashed, or even losing significant amounts of money.
Deep web
One user suggests that vendors should weather the storm and buy up in Bitcoin, in anticipation of a rise. “The people this is bad for is buyers who are getting less and less for the coins they bought,” they argue. Another says they’ve “bought a chunk to last me 6 months. Surely it won’t go lower.”
But others disagree. “Some of the really big sellers might be able to do that,” a dealer writes, “but many of us have overhead costs that need to be paid to keep the business running! I believe in Bitcoin’s future and try to hold, but when you have been holding since around $800 and you need to cash out under 200, it hurts!”
Evolution
One deep web cocaine dealer spoke to Business Insider about the price crash. “It’s pretty damn sad,” they said. “We have worked so hard over the past 3 months, and for profits to get halved? It’s hard to swallow, simple as that, but what can you do. It’s a gamble, whether you hold or sell.”
They'd cashed out and had a massive payday during the bubble in November 2013, so they weren't immediately hurt by the dropping prices. But it’s still “hard work down the toilet.” And other, newer dealers don't have that luxury: they’ll be forced to sell reserves at a loss just to keep going (and potentially forcing the price down even more in the process).
There's been a "slight drop" in sales over the last few days, the dealer said, but it's too early to say what's the cause. As for the future, “it might drop a little or might go up a little… we will just have to ride it out :)”
More From Business Insider
• Deep Web Drug Dealers Are Freaking Out About The Bitcoin Crash
• The Creator Of The Silk Road Claims He's Just A 'Fall Guy'
• Mining Bitcoin Has Become A Ruthlessly Competitive Business
| 2015-01-18 |
1,421,615,880 | 2015-01-18T21:18:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [256, 690, 864, 984, 1269, 1849, 1926, 2005, 2181, 2417, 2843, 2994, 3979, 4059]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Is Crashing And Deep Web Drug Dealers Are Losing Thousands
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-crashing-deep-drug-dealers-211800098.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.com/
|
Money and Cocaine seized Joel Sagat/Getty Images All manner of illegal drugs are available to purchase on the deep web. "Fantastic!" That's the sarcastic reaction of one deep web dealer after losing $1,000 in a single night due to this week's catastrophic Bitcoin price crash. The virtual currency has been declining in value for all of 2014, but it began 2015 particularly badly losing 30% of its value in a matter of days . At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is sitting relatively stably around the $205-mark. But it's a level not seen since the end of October 2013, and well below its $350 valuation just a month ago. The price drop has had a damaging impact on the mainstream Bitcoin economy. One mining operation has already been forced to temporarily close its doors because it's no longer profitable. Other businesses are being forced to sell off Bitcoin reserves in order to stay afloat risking driving prices down further . But thats just legitimate businesses. Bitcoins growth has been built upon far more nefarious uses chief among them: buying and selling drugs online. And it turns out drug dealers are freaking out about the price crash just as much as everyone else. bitcoin price decline december january 2015 CoinDesk A recent chart of Bitcoin's price decline over the past month. Drug dealers and their customers have spent days lamenting over the decline using forums accessible only through anonymising software Tor. Out a couple of thousand over this, writes one dealer. Bad f---ing time to start up. I really hope it bounces back and stays there. I cant believe how fast theyre dropping. $330 to 280 to 220 in just a few weeks. Bye bye profit. I am losing losing 10-20% on all orders in escrow now! says another. Make that 30%!!! There goes all profit! FML. Deep web markets almost exclusively accept Bitcoin as payment, and typically adjust prices automatically to account for Bitcoins fluctuations. The customer will always pay the same dollars-worth of Bitcoin, the amount varying depending on the exact price of the virtual currency at the time of purchase. It means that if a vendor makes some big sales, and then the price of Bitcoin plummets before they cash out, they can find their profits slashed, or even losing significant amounts of money. Story continues deep web drug forum Deep web One user suggests that vendors should weather the storm and buy up in Bitcoin, in anticipation of a rise. The people this is bad for is buyers who are getting less and less for the coins they bought, they argue. Another says theyve bought a chunk to last me 6 months. Surely it wont go lower. But others disagree. Some of the really big sellers might be able to do that, a dealer writes, but many of us have overhead costs that need to be paid to keep the business running! I believe in Bitcoins future and try to hold, but when you have been holding since around $800 and you need to cash out under 200, it hurts! Deep web drug dealer Bitcoin forum post Evolution One deep web cocaine dealer spoke to Business Insider about the price crash. Its pretty damn sad, they said. We have worked so hard over the past 3 months, and for profits to get halved? Its hard to swallow, simple as that, but what can you do. Its a gamble, whether you hold or sell. They'd cashed out and had a massive payday during the bubble in November 2013, so they weren't immediately hurt by the dropping prices. But its still hard work down the toilet. And other, newer dealers don't have that luxury: theyll be forced to sell reserves at a loss just to keep going (and potentially forcing the price down even more in the process). There's been a "slight drop" in sales over the last few days, the dealer said, but it's too early to say what's the cause. As for the future, it might drop a little or might go up a little
we will just have to ride it out :) More From Business Insider Deep Web Drug Dealers Are Freaking Out About The Bitcoin Crash The Creator Of The Silk Road Claims He's Just A 'Fall Guy' Mining Bitcoin Has Become A Ruthlessly Competitive Business
| 2015-01-18 |
1,421,615,880 | 2015-01-18T21:18:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [231, 663, 835, 953, 1194, 1774, 1851, 1930, 2106, 2306, 2732, 3830, 3914]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Is Crashing And Deep Web Drug Dealers Are Losing Thousands
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-crashing-deep-drug-dealers-211800098.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.com/
|
Joel Sagat/Getty Images All manner of illegal drugs are available to purchase on the deep web.
"Fantastic!"
That's the sarcastic reaction of one deep web dealer after losing $1,000 in a single night due to this week's catastrophic Bitcoin price crash.
The virtual currency has been declining in value for all of 2014, but it began 2015 particularly badly —losing 30% of its value in a matter of days. At the time of writing, the cryptocurrency is sitting relatively stably around the $205-mark. But it's a level not seen since the end of October 2013, and well below its $350 valuation just a month ago.
The price drop has had a damaging impact on the mainstream Bitcoin economy. One mining operation has already beenforced to temporarily close its doorsbecause it's no longer profitable. Other businesses are being forced to sell off Bitcoin reserves in order to stay afloat —risking driving prices down further.
But that’s just legitimate businesses. Bitcoin’s growth has been built upon far more nefarious uses — chief among them: buying and selling drugs online. And it turns out drug dealers are freaking out about the price crash just as much as everyone else.
CoinDesk A recent chart of Bitcoin's price decline over the past month.
Drug dealers and their customers have spent days lamenting over the decline using forums accessible only through anonymising software Tor. “Out a couple of thousand over this,” writes one dealer. “Bad f---ing time to start up. I really hope it bounces back and stays there. I can’t believe how fast they’re dropping. $330 to 280 to 220 in just a few weeks. Bye bye profit.”
“I am losing losing 10-20% on all orders in escrow now!” says another. “Make that 30%!!! There goes all profit! FML.”
Deep web markets almost exclusively accept Bitcoin as payment, and typically adjust prices automatically to account for Bitcoin’s fluctuations. The customer will always pay the same dollars-worth of Bitcoin, the amount varying depending on the exact price of the virtual currency at the time of purchase. It means that if a vendor makes some big sales, and then the price of Bitcoin plummets before they cash out, they can find their profits slashed, or even losing significant amounts of money.
Deep web
One user suggests that vendors should weather the storm and buy up in Bitcoin, in anticipation of a rise. “The people this is bad for is buyers who are getting less and less for the coins they bought,” they argue. Another says they’ve “bought a chunk to last me 6 months. Surely it won’t go lower.”
But others disagree. “Some of the really big sellers might be able to do that,” a dealer writes, “but many of us have overhead costs that need to be paid to keep the business running! I believe in Bitcoin’s future and try to hold, but when you have been holding since around $800 and you need to cash out under 200, it hurts!”
Evolution
One deep web cocaine dealer spoke to Business Insider about the price crash. “It’s pretty damn sad,” they said. “We have worked so hard over the past 3 months, and for profits to get halved? It’s hard to swallow, simple as that, but what can you do. It’s a gamble, whether you hold or sell.”
They'd cashed out and had a massive payday during the bubble in November 2013, so they weren't immediately hurt by the dropping prices. But it’s still “hard work down the toilet.” And other, newer dealers don't have that luxury: they’ll be forced to sell reserves at a loss just to keep going (and potentially forcing the price down even more in the process).
There's been a "slight drop" in sales over the last few days, the dealer said, but it's too early to say what's the cause. As for the future, “it might drop a little or might go up a little… we will just have to ride it out :)”
More From Business Insider
• Deep Web Drug Dealers Are Freaking Out About The Bitcoin Crash
• The Creator Of The Silk Road Claims He's Just A 'Fall Guy'
• Mining Bitcoin Has Become A Ruthlessly Competitive Business
| 2015-01-18 |
1,421,661,600 | 2015-01-19T10:00:00Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Alternative DNotes Celebrates As One Of The First Long Term Alternative Cryptocurrencies
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-alternative-dnotes-celebrates-one-100000522.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
With savings plans and several innovative initiatives long term cryptocurrency DNotes continues to celebrate progress made in 2014 with scheduled roll-outs of many more Cryptocurrency Investment Savings Plans (CR.I.S.P) using newly launched DNotesVault.
ILLINOIS, USA / ACCESSWIRE / January 19, 2015 /Established US based cryptocurrency DNotes has had a productive year in thecryptocurrency space with a number of unique forward thinking projects. Led by co-founder, and early tech entrepreneur Alan Yong – with over 3 decades of experience in IT and the personal computer industry.
DNotes released several large scale projects in 2014, including the DNotes cryptocurrency itself, DNotes web wallet and long term coin storage platform DNotesVault with a 100% deposit guarantee, and cryptocurrency neutral platform CryptoMoms – dedicated to aiding women's participation in cryptocurrencies. CR.I.S.P for kids – the world's first Cryptocurrency Investment Savings Plans for Children was also released. DNotes is the first cryptocurrency to offer long term self-directed and unstructured digital currency savings plans. Additional digital currency savings plans, scheduled for roll-out over the next six months will be available for students, company employees, charities and anyone interested to supplement their retirement savings with DNotes.
DNotes is an open source decentralized peer-to-peer cryptocurrency that was launched in early 2014. Since launch DNotes has been credited as one of the industry's most stable digital currencies among over 500 coins listed on CoinMarketcap. There are currently seven mining pools for those who wish to mine DNotes and several reputable cryptocurrency exchanges for trading including PoloniEx, AllCoin, C-Cex and Comkort. The DNotes' homepage offers plenty of language options and downloads are available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
DNotes launched web wallet DNotesVault.com with an unprecedented 100% deposit guarantee free of charge for all DNotes stakeholders.DNotesVault is a strategic instrument to stimulate the long term holding of DNotes. It offers a secure saving alternative that enables anyone worldwide to participate in saving cryptocurrency safely. It is easier to set up than a bank account and guarantees 100% of your deposit through a separate fully transparent cold storage account, secured in a different location, with an amount always in excess of the total deposit. The guaranteed funds can be verified at any time via the blockchain. Registering on DNotesVault is an effortless process. The user just enters an email address and password, agrees to the clearly stated terms and conditions and clicks submit. DNotesVault is also the first step in setting up DNotes long term saving plans which are a true rarity in the cryptocurrency space.
CryptoMoms is cryptocurrency neutral and a truly helpful platform dedicated to support, encourage and further the adoption of cryptocurrencies amongst women; as the cryptocurrency space is for the most part dominated by men. The website gives an excellent introduction to cryptocurrencies; how to store them, how to obtain cryptocurrencies, and everything needed to get started in the exciting emerging technology of crypto and digital currencies.
CryptoMoms is community driven and has a forum enabling women and men from all over the world to connect, and seek or offer cryptocurrency advice in a welcoming environment.
As a part of DNotes' plan for stable and long term adoption, the currency launched the first in a series no fees Cryptocurrency Investment Savings Plans (CR.I.S.P) during 2014. CR.I.S.P for children is a high reward program that can be initiated with a small investment. The DNotes team will award prizes in DNotes for the top wallets on the list, as well as some randomly chosen participants. DNotes' savings plans share the same 100% deposit guarantee as any other DNotesVault account. Setting up a saving plan for one or more children is an effortless process. The first step is to register using the DNotesVault account dashboard, make a DNotes deposit address for each child, choose nicknames and go to CryptoMoms.com to create an account. For a more detailed instructions please visithttp://DNotesVault.com/crisp-for-kids.php.
Future Plans include expanding the CR.I.S.P. Family program to similar forward thinking and long term plans for students, retirees, charities and employees, providing a savings alternative with high potential long term returns. Spectators, DNotes adopters and cryptocurrency enthusiasts can expect another year with uniquely long term and progressive contributions to the digital currency ecosystem from DNotes.
For more information about DNotes cryptocurrency please visit:DNotescoin.com.
This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.For more information about us, please visithttp://dnotesvault.com/.
Contact Info:Name: Alan YongEmail:[email protected]: DNotes
SOURCE: DNotesVault
| 2015-01-19 |
1,421,637,600 | 2015-01-19T03:20:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1066], "BTC": [3627]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Alternative HYPER Announces Anonymous Mobile Accessible Web Wallet With Staking And Many More Cryptocurrency Gaming Competitions
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-alternative-hyper-announces-anonymous-032000769.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
Untitled Document Gaming Cryptocurrency HYPER Is Pleased To Announce The Mobile Accessible Staking Web Wallet With Fully Anonymous And Obfuscated Transactions To Be Released In Alpha Shortly. Free HYPER Is Offered To Web Wallet Testers And Gamers Who Compete In Many Competitions LOS ANGLES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2015 / Essentially, HYPER is a low energy cryptocurrency designed for use in online games, MMOs, virtual worlds and more . The currency is currently used in CS:GO, TF2, Rust, StarMade, Assetto Corsa Racing, Paperboy, Tilt, Snowball, and more. Players worldwide can earn, spend and win HYPER on a decentralized network of HYPER game servers run by the community. HYPER was recently added to Coinpayments.net so online merchants can easily accept HYPER as a payment method. Artists, authors, game developers and more can also easily accept HYPER tips and donations via Whitepuma. Currently, the most active market for trading HYPER is on Bittrex. HYPER is also going to be integrated in the Casheer iPhone and Android App recently announced at Bitcoin Miami for in-store and online purchases at merchants worldwide. The HYPERGG team is pleased to announce that the anonymous, mobile, staking HYPER web wallet at the HYPERGG will be released shortly. The team is offering free HYPER to alpha testers . The HYPERGG web wallet will be very secure. The web wallet uses multiple servers with the wallet server being "cold" from any outside connections, and thus cannot be hacked remotely. The wallet server is not only separate from the web server, but the web connections and RPC are all protected with SSL. Data in the database is also encrypted, so even if someone gains access to it, the attacker will not be able to do anything with the encrypted information. In addition, the HYPERGG web wallet has the added benefit of protecting users identity by masking the transactions they make, keeping their spending history anonymous. HYPER rewards users who stake their wallets by issuing compound interest at 5% monthly. The currency's multi-stage economic model incentivizes users to keep their wallet clients running on regular desktops and laptops, which is what enables this currency to be so decentralized. Transactions are processed and verified by true peers, not by wealthy mining interests. This 5% monthly interest will continue for another 4.5 years before HYPER switches to 10% per annum proof of stake interest. Story continues No energy and resources are used by users computers when running the HYPER web wallet or earning stakes. Users earn their guaranteed 5% monthly HYPER stakes daily. The HYPER anonymous wallet will also be fully accessible on all mobile devices. Eventually, the HYPERGG will contain not only the HYPER web wallet, but also a social network for cryptocurrency gamers, as well as listing all current HYPER gaming competitions. HYPER development has been speeding up rapidly, with a hack n slash MMO that integrates HYPER due to be launched at http://vslayers.me shortly, as well as over 10 different monthly gaming competitions for CS:GO, TF2, Rust, StarMade, Assetto Corsa Racing, Paperboy, Tilt, Snowball, and more. Through giving HYPER bounties to server admins and online game developers, HYPER aims to eventually have hundreds of online games and servers that utilize HYPER as the in-game currency. The key focus of all future development plans is to ensure HYPER has a diverse and unprecedented ecosystem that provides many unique opportunities for gaming, trading and profit. To trade HYPER with bitcoin please go to: https://bittrex.com/Market/Index?MarketName=BTC-HYPER * This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. For more information about us, please visit http://hypercrypto.com/ Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMTt3zAJgpg Contact: David Seaman HYPER U.S. Media Enquiries 310-668-1836 [email protected] Source: HYPER Media
| 2015-01-19 |
1,421,661,600 | 2015-01-19T10:00:00Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Alternative DNotes Celebrates As One Of The First Long Term Alternative Cryptocurrencies
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-alternative-dnotes-celebrates-one-100000522.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
With savings plans and several innovative initiatives long term cryptocurrency DNotes continues to celebrate progress made in 2014 with scheduled roll-outs of many more Cryptocurrency Investment Savings Plans (CR.I.S.P) using newly launched DNotesVault.
ILLINOIS, USA / ACCESSWIRE / January 19, 2015 /Established US based cryptocurrency DNotes has had a productive year in thecryptocurrency space with a number of unique forward thinking projects. Led by co-founder, and early tech entrepreneur Alan Yong – with over 3 decades of experience in IT and the personal computer industry.
DNotes released several large scale projects in 2014, including the DNotes cryptocurrency itself, DNotes web wallet and long term coin storage platform DNotesVault with a 100% deposit guarantee, and cryptocurrency neutral platform CryptoMoms – dedicated to aiding women's participation in cryptocurrencies. CR.I.S.P for kids – the world's first Cryptocurrency Investment Savings Plans for Children was also released. DNotes is the first cryptocurrency to offer long term self-directed and unstructured digital currency savings plans. Additional digital currency savings plans, scheduled for roll-out over the next six months will be available for students, company employees, charities and anyone interested to supplement their retirement savings with DNotes.
DNotes is an open source decentralized peer-to-peer cryptocurrency that was launched in early 2014. Since launch DNotes has been credited as one of the industry's most stable digital currencies among over 500 coins listed on CoinMarketcap. There are currently seven mining pools for those who wish to mine DNotes and several reputable cryptocurrency exchanges for trading including PoloniEx, AllCoin, C-Cex and Comkort. The DNotes' homepage offers plenty of language options and downloads are available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
DNotes launched web wallet DNotesVault.com with an unprecedented 100% deposit guarantee free of charge for all DNotes stakeholders.DNotesVault is a strategic instrument to stimulate the long term holding of DNotes. It offers a secure saving alternative that enables anyone worldwide to participate in saving cryptocurrency safely. It is easier to set up than a bank account and guarantees 100% of your deposit through a separate fully transparent cold storage account, secured in a different location, with an amount always in excess of the total deposit. The guaranteed funds can be verified at any time via the blockchain. Registering on DNotesVault is an effortless process. The user just enters an email address and password, agrees to the clearly stated terms and conditions and clicks submit. DNotesVault is also the first step in setting up DNotes long term saving plans which are a true rarity in the cryptocurrency space.
CryptoMoms is cryptocurrency neutral and a truly helpful platform dedicated to support, encourage and further the adoption of cryptocurrencies amongst women; as the cryptocurrency space is for the most part dominated by men. The website gives an excellent introduction to cryptocurrencies; how to store them, how to obtain cryptocurrencies, and everything needed to get started in the exciting emerging technology of crypto and digital currencies.
CryptoMoms is community driven and has a forum enabling women and men from all over the world to connect, and seek or offer cryptocurrency advice in a welcoming environment.
As a part of DNotes' plan for stable and long term adoption, the currency launched the first in a series no fees Cryptocurrency Investment Savings Plans (CR.I.S.P) during 2014. CR.I.S.P for children is a high reward program that can be initiated with a small investment. The DNotes team will award prizes in DNotes for the top wallets on the list, as well as some randomly chosen participants. DNotes' savings plans share the same 100% deposit guarantee as any other DNotesVault account. Setting up a saving plan for one or more children is an effortless process. The first step is to register using the DNotesVault account dashboard, make a DNotes deposit address for each child, choose nicknames and go to CryptoMoms.com to create an account. For a more detailed instructions please visithttp://DNotesVault.com/crisp-for-kids.php.
Future Plans include expanding the CR.I.S.P. Family program to similar forward thinking and long term plans for students, retirees, charities and employees, providing a savings alternative with high potential long term returns. Spectators, DNotes adopters and cryptocurrency enthusiasts can expect another year with uniquely long term and progressive contributions to the digital currency ecosystem from DNotes.
For more information about DNotes cryptocurrency please visit:DNotescoin.com.
This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.For more information about us, please visithttp://dnotesvault.com/.
Contact Info:Name: Alan YongEmail:[email protected]: DNotes
SOURCE: DNotesVault
| 2015-01-19 |
1,421,637,600 | 2015-01-19T03:20:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1063], "BTC": [3605]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Alternative HYPER Announces Anonymous Mobile Accessible Web Wallet With Staking And Many More Cryptocurrency Gaming Competitions
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-alternative-hyper-announces-anonymous-032000769.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
Untitled Document
Gaming Cryptocurrency HYPER Is Pleased To Announce The Mobile Accessible Staking Web Wallet With Fully Anonymous And Obfuscated Transactions To Be Released In Alpha Shortly. Free HYPER Is Offered To Web Wallet Testers And Gamers Who Compete In Many Competitions
LOS ANGLES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2015 /Essentially,HYPER is a low energy cryptocurrency designed for use in online games, MMOs, virtual worlds and more. The currency is currently used in CS:GO, TF2, Rust, StarMade, Assetto Corsa Racing, Paperboy, Tilt, Snowball, and more. Players worldwide can earn, spend and win HYPER on a decentralized network of HYPER game servers run by the community.
HYPER was recently added to Coinpayments.net so online merchants can easily accept HYPER as a payment method. Artists, authors, game developers and more can also easily accept HYPER tips and donations via Whitepuma. Currently, the most active market for trading HYPER is on Bittrex. HYPER is also going to be integrated in the Casheer iPhone and Android App – recently announced at Bitcoin Miami – for in-store and online purchases at merchants worldwide.
The HYPERGG team is pleased to announce thatthe anonymous, mobile, staking HYPER web wallet at the HYPERGG will be released shortly. The team is offering free HYPER to alpha testers.
The HYPERGG web wallet will be very secure. The web wallet uses multiple servers with the wallet server being "cold" from any outside connections, and thus cannot be hacked remotely. The wallet server is not only separate from the web server, but the web connections and RPC are all protected with SSL. Data in the database is also encrypted, so even if someone gains access to it, the attacker will not be able to do anything with the encrypted information.
In addition, the HYPERGG web wallet has the added benefit of protecting users identity by masking the transactions they make, keeping their spending history anonymous.
HYPER rewards users who “stake” their wallets by issuing compound interest at 5% monthly. The currency's multi-stage economic model incentivizes users to keep their wallet clients running on regular desktops and laptops, which is what enables this currency to be so decentralized. Transactions are processed and verified by true peers, not by wealthy mining interests. This 5% monthly interest will continue for another 4.5 years before HYPER switches to 10% per annum proof of stake interest.
No energy and resources are used by users computers when running the HYPER web wallet or earning stakes. Users earn their guaranteed 5% monthly HYPER stakes daily. The HYPER anonymous wallet will also be fully accessible on all mobile devices.
Eventually, the HYPERGG will contain not only the HYPER web wallet, but also a social network for cryptocurrency gamers, as well as listing all current HYPER gaming competitions.
HYPER development has been speeding up rapidly, with a hack n slash MMO that integrates HYPER due to be launched at http://vslayers.me shortly, as well as over 10 different monthly gaming competitions for CS:GO, TF2, Rust, StarMade, Assetto Corsa Racing, Paperboy, Tilt, Snowball, and more.
Through giving HYPER bounties to server admins and online game developers, HYPER aims to eventually have hundreds of online games and servers that utilize HYPER as the in-game currency. The key focus of all future development plans is to ensure HYPER has a diverse and unprecedented ecosystem that provides many unique opportunities for gaming, trading and profit.
To trade HYPER with bitcoin please go to:https://bittrex.com/Market/Index?MarketName=BTC-HYPER
* This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.For more information about us, please visithttp://hypercrypto.com/
Video URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMTt3zAJgpg
Contact:David SeamanHYPER U.S. Media [email protected]
Source:HYPER Media
| 2015-01-19 |
1,421,637,600 | 2015-01-19T03:20:00Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Alternative HYPER Announces Anonymous Mobile Accessible Web Wallet With Staking And Many More Cryptocurrency Gaming Competitions
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-alternative-hyper-announces-anonymous-032000769.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
Untitled Document
Gaming Cryptocurrency HYPER Is Pleased To Announce The Mobile Accessible Staking Web Wallet With Fully Anonymous And Obfuscated Transactions To Be Released In Alpha Shortly. Free HYPER Is Offered To Web Wallet Testers And Gamers Who Compete In Many Competitions
LOS ANGLES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 18, 2015 /Essentially,HYPER is a low energy cryptocurrency designed for use in online games, MMOs, virtual worlds and more. The currency is currently used in CS:GO, TF2, Rust, StarMade, Assetto Corsa Racing, Paperboy, Tilt, Snowball, and more. Players worldwide can earn, spend and win HYPER on a decentralized network of HYPER game servers run by the community.
HYPER was recently added to Coinpayments.net so online merchants can easily accept HYPER as a payment method. Artists, authors, game developers and more can also easily accept HYPER tips and donations via Whitepuma. Currently, the most active market for trading HYPER is on Bittrex. HYPER is also going to be integrated in the Casheer iPhone and Android App – recently announced at Bitcoin Miami – for in-store and online purchases at merchants worldwide.
The HYPERGG team is pleased to announce thatthe anonymous, mobile, staking HYPER web wallet at the HYPERGG will be released shortly. The team is offering free HYPER to alpha testers.
The HYPERGG web wallet will be very secure. The web wallet uses multiple servers with the wallet server being "cold" from any outside connections, and thus cannot be hacked remotely. The wallet server is not only separate from the web server, but the web connections and RPC are all protected with SSL. Data in the database is also encrypted, so even if someone gains access to it, the attacker will not be able to do anything with the encrypted information.
In addition, the HYPERGG web wallet has the added benefit of protecting users identity by masking the transactions they make, keeping their spending history anonymous.
HYPER rewards users who “stake” their wallets by issuing compound interest at 5% monthly. The currency's multi-stage economic model incentivizes users to keep their wallet clients running on regular desktops and laptops, which is what enables this currency to be so decentralized. Transactions are processed and verified by true peers, not by wealthy mining interests. This 5% monthly interest will continue for another 4.5 years before HYPER switches to 10% per annum proof of stake interest.
No energy and resources are used by users computers when running the HYPER web wallet or earning stakes. Users earn their guaranteed 5% monthly HYPER stakes daily. The HYPER anonymous wallet will also be fully accessible on all mobile devices.
Eventually, the HYPERGG will contain not only the HYPER web wallet, but also a social network for cryptocurrency gamers, as well as listing all current HYPER gaming competitions.
HYPER development has been speeding up rapidly, with a hack n slash MMO that integrates HYPER due to be launched at http://vslayers.me shortly, as well as over 10 different monthly gaming competitions for CS:GO, TF2, Rust, StarMade, Assetto Corsa Racing, Paperboy, Tilt, Snowball, and more.
Through giving HYPER bounties to server admins and online game developers, HYPER aims to eventually have hundreds of online games and servers that utilize HYPER as the in-game currency. The key focus of all future development plans is to ensure HYPER has a diverse and unprecedented ecosystem that provides many unique opportunities for gaming, trading and profit.
To trade HYPER with bitcoin please go to:https://bittrex.com/Market/Index?MarketName=BTC-HYPER
* This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.For more information about us, please visithttp://hypercrypto.com/
Video URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMTt3zAJgpg
Contact:David SeamanHYPER U.S. Media [email protected]
Source:HYPER Media
| 2015-01-19 |
1,421,661,600 | 2015-01-19T10:00:00Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Alternative DNotes Celebrates As One Of The First Long Term Alternative Cryptocurrencies
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-alternative-dnotes-celebrates-one-100000522.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
With savings plans and several innovative initiatives long term cryptocurrency DNotes continues to celebrate progress made in 2014 with scheduled roll-outs of many more Cryptocurrency Investment Savings Plans (CR.I.S.P) using newly launched DNotesVault. ILLINOIS, USA / ACCESSWIRE / January 19, 2015 / Established US based cryptocurrency DNotes has had a productive year in the cryptocurrency space with a number of unique forward thinking projects . Led by co-founder, and early tech entrepreneur Alan Yong with over 3 decades of experience in IT and the personal computer industry. DNotes released several large scale projects in 2014, including the DNotes cryptocurrency itself, DNotes web wallet and long term coin storage platform DNotesVault with a 100% deposit guarantee, and cryptocurrency neutral platform CryptoMoms dedicated to aiding women's participation in cryptocurrencies. CR.I.S.P for kids the world's first Cryptocurrency Investment Savings Plans for Children was also released. DNotes is the first cryptocurrency to offer long term self-directed and unstructured digital currency savings plans. Additional digital currency savings plans, scheduled for roll-out over the next six months will be available for students, company employees, charities and anyone interested to supplement their retirement savings with DNotes. DNotes is an open source decentralized peer-to-peer cryptocurrency that was launched in early 2014. Since launch DNotes has been credited as one of the industry's most stable digital currencies among over 500 coins listed on CoinMarketcap. There are currently seven mining pools for those who wish to mine DNotes and several reputable cryptocurrency exchanges for trading including PoloniEx, AllCoin, C-Cex and Comkort. The DNotes' homepage offers plenty of language options and downloads are available for Windows, Linux, and Mac. DNotes launched web wallet DNotesVault.com with an unprecedented 100% deposit guarantee free of charge for all DNotes stakeholders. DNotesVault is a strategic instrument to stimulate the long term holding of DNotes. It offers a secure saving alternative that enables anyone worldwide to participate in saving cryptocurrency safely . It is easier to set up than a bank account and guarantees 100% of your deposit through a separate fully transparent cold storage account, secured in a different location, with an amount always in excess of the total deposit. The guaranteed funds can be verified at any time via the blockchain. Registering on DNotesVault is an effortless process. The user just enters an email address and password, agrees to the clearly stated terms and conditions and clicks submit. DNotesVault is also the first step in setting up DNotes long term saving plans which are a true rarity in the cryptocurrency space. Story continues CryptoMoms is cryptocurrency neutral and a truly helpful platform dedicated to support, encourage and further the adoption of cryptocurrencies amongst women; as the cryptocurrency space is for the most part dominated by men. The website gives an excellent introduction to cryptocurrencies; how to store them, how to obtain cryptocurrencies, and everything needed to get started in the exciting emerging technology of crypto and digital currencies. CryptoMoms is community driven and has a forum enabling women and men from all over the world to connect, and seek or offer cryptocurrency advice in a welcoming environment. As a part of DNotes' plan for stable and long term adoption, the currency launched the first in a series no fees Cryptocurrency Investment Savings Plans (CR.I.S.P) during 2014. CR.I.S.P for children is a high reward program that can be initiated with a small investment. The DNotes team will award prizes in DNotes for the top wallets on the list, as well as some randomly chosen participants. DNotes' savings plans share the same 100% deposit guarantee as any other DNotesVault account. Setting up a saving plan for one or more children is an effortless process. The first step is to register using the DNotesVault account dashboard, make a DNotes deposit address for each child, choose nicknames and go to CryptoMoms.com to create an account. For a more detailed instructions please visit http://DNotesVault.com/crisp-for-kids.php . Future Plans include expanding the CR.I.S.P. Family program to similar forward thinking and long term plans for students, retirees, charities and employees, providing a savings alternative with high potential long term returns. Spectators, DNotes adopters and cryptocurrency enthusiasts can expect another year with uniquely long term and progressive contributions to the digital currency ecosystem from DNotes. For more information about DNotes cryptocurrency please visit: DNotescoin.com . This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. For more information about us, please visit http://dnotesvault.com/ . Contact Info: Name: Alan Yong Email: [email protected] Organization: DNotes SOURCE : DNotesVault
| 2015-01-19 |
1,421,764,576 | 2015-01-20T14:36:16Z |
{"Bitcoin": [154, 411, 499, 1038, 1339, 1497, 1642, 1978, 2311]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Startup Coinbase Is Raising $75 Million In New Funding
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-startup-coinbase-raising-75-143616523.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.my/
|
Brian Armstrong Coinbase Anthony Harvey/Getty Images Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong talks at the 2014 TechCrunch Disrupt conference in London. The price of Bitcoin has plummeted in recent weeks, dropping to low levels not seen since the end of 2013. But this hasnt put off investors. Virtual currency startup Coinbase has just closed a $75 million round of funding, Fortune is reporting the largest ever for a Bitcoin company. Coinbase offers customers digital wallets allowing them to store their Bitcoin, as well as providing an exchange platform. Launched in 2012, the company has now raised $105 million in venture capital funding. Investors in this most recent round include the New York Stock Exchange, banks USAA and BBVA, and former Citibank CEO Vikram Pandit, as well as Andreesson Horowitz, Reddit Capital and Union Square Ventures (who had all previously invested). The $75 million funding round is believed to value the company at $400 million, though this couldnt be confirmed. Coinbases platform is used by several major Bitcoin-accepting mainstream companies, Re/code reports , including Overstock and Expedia. The service also has almost 2 million customers. Co-founder Fred Ehrsam told Fortune that Coinbase has grown extensively over 2014 , despite the slump in price. Price volatility isnt good for certain uses of Bitcoin, he said. But, in that same time period, we went from 600,000 users to 2.1 million users. The company also aims to help develop apps on top of the Bitcoin platform, and make the virtual currency more straightforward to ordinary people. Speaking in London in 2014, CEO Brian Armstrong likened Bitcoins current state to the early days of the Internet prior to mass adoption. Heres a tweet confirming the news: Pleased to share weve raised $75M led by @dfjgrowth @USAA @nyse @bbva @docomo and others. Focused on helping #bitcoin grow in 2015 & beyond Coinbase (@coinbase) January 20, 2015 Its much-needed good news for the Bitcoin community, which has been through a tumultuous few weeks. The virtual currencys value is currently hovering around the $210 mark down $100 from just a month ago. The price drop has forced cloud mining service CEX.io to halt operations because theyre no longer profitable. And hackers recently made off with $5 million in Bitcoin from exchange Bitstamp . Interestingly, though the drop in price hasnt been accompanied by a decrease in trading. Its actually quite the opposite: amid mass speculation, the volume of trades surged to record levels last week . Read more stories on Business Insider , Malaysian edition of the worlds fastest-growing business and technology news website.
| 2015-01-20 |
1,421,783,017 | 2015-01-20T19:43:37Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1060]}
|
{}
|
U.S. sharply reduces Silk Road's estimated sales volume
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-sharply-reduces-silk-roads-194337915.html
|
Reuters
|
http://www.reuters.com/
|
(Corrects identification of federal sentencing guidelines to money laundering from drug trafficking in paragraph 4. Corrects paragraph 6 to correct characterization of the criminal sentencing guidelines as relevant to the money laundering charge, not the drug trafficking charge. Corrects information about recommended terms to indicate they can vary in length according to criminal history.)
By Emily Flitter
NEW YORK, Jan 16 (Reuters) - When U.S. authorities announced the arrest of Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht in October 2013, they made a startling claim: the online black market had seen an estimated $1.2 billion in illicit sales since its inception.
This week, however, as Ulbricht's criminal trial began, prosecutors significantly scaled back that figure, saying Silk Road had actually seen an estimated $200 million in drug sales, which comprised 95 percent of all sales on the website.
The revision could be good news for Ulbricht, who has admitted creating the site, where users could buy drugs and other illegal goods using the digital currency Bitcoin, according to former federal prosecutor Jeffrey Alberts.
Since advisory federal sentencing guidelines for money laundering take into account the size of the scheme, the reduced sales figure would put Ulbricht's offenses into a different category under the guidelines, said Alberts, who is now a partner at law firm Pryor Cashman and is not involved in the case.
Ulbricht, 30, is facing a seven-count indictment for offenses including money laundering, computer hacking and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts.
But taken on its own, a conviction on the money laundering count would elicit a recommendation for prison time for an operation larger than $400 million, as prosecutors originally estimated, that would be longer than the recommendation for a scheme netting between $400 million and $200 million, or one just under $200 million. The specific number of months or years recommended would also depend on other factors such as criminal history.
Ulbricht's lawyer declined to comment.
The change in Silk Road's estimated sales volume is not, however, entirely due to fluctuations in the value of bitcoins, which have actually increased in price since prosecutors filed the criminal complaint against Ulbricht on Oct. 2, 2013. Back then, one bitcoin was worth $125 but they are trading at around $205 today.
While formulating the complaint against Ulbricht, prosecutors arrived at the $1.2 billion figure by looking at the total value of bitcoins obtained through sales on the site, according to the complaint.
But after combing through Silk Road's files, they recalculated the total by adding up the value of individual drug sales according to the price of bitcoins at the time of each transaction, arriving at $200 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Adjustments like this one are common, Alberts said. The more precisely prosecutors can calculate the size of an illegal operation, the less likely defense lawyers are to contest the estimate during a sentencing hearing.
Another advantage to the revision: it is a number that will not change even if bitcoin prices do.
The case is U.S. v. Ulbricht, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 13-06919.
(Reporting by Emily Flitter; editing by Noeleen Walder and G Crosse)
| 2015-01-20 |
1,421,782,576 | 2015-01-20T19:36:16Z |
{"Bitcoin": [129, 384, 472, 1010, 1309, 1467, 1611, 1765, 2095, 2509, 3099, 3408, 3516, 3729]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [2]}
|
A Bitcoin Startup Just Set A Massive New Record For VC Funding in The Industry
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-startup-just-set-massive-193616487.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.com/
|
Anthony Harvey/Getty Images Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong talks at the 2014 TechCrunch Disrupt conference in London. The price of Bitcoin has plummeted in recent weeks, dropping to low levels not seen since the end of 2013. But this hasn't put off investors.Virtual currency startup Coinbase has just closed a $75 million round of funding, Fortune is reporting— the largest ever for a Bitcoin company.
Coinbase offers customers digital wallets allowing them to store their Bitcoin, as well as providing an exchange platform.
Launched in 2012, the company has now raised $105 million in venture capital funding. Investors in this most recent round include the New York Stock Exchange, banks USAA and BBVA, and former Citibank CEO Vikram Pandit, as well as Andreesson Horowitz, Reddit Capital and Union Square Ventures (who had all previously invested).
The $75 million funding round is believed to value the company at $400 million, though this couldn't be confirmed.
Coinbase's platform isused by several major Bitcoin-accepting mainstream companies, Re/code reports, including Overstock and Expedia. The service also has almost 2 million customers.
Co-founder Fred Ehrsam told Fortune that Coinbase has grown extensively over 2014, despite the slump in price. “Price volatility isn’t good for certain uses of Bitcoin," he said. "But, in that same time period, we went from 600,000 users to 2.1 million users."
The company also aims to help develop apps on top of the Bitcoin platform, and make the virtual currency more straightforward to ordinary people.Speaking in London in 2014, CEO Brian Armstrong likened Bitcoin's current stateto "the early days of the Internet" prior to mass adoption.
Here's a tweet confirming the news:
It's much-needed good news for the Bitcoin community, which has been through a tumultuous few weeks. The virtual currency's value is currently hovering around the $210 mark — down $100 from just a month ago. The price drop hasforced cloud mining service CEX.io to halt operationsbecause they're no longer profitable. And hackers recentlymade off with $5 million in Bitcoin from exchange Bitstamp.
Interestingly, though the drop in price hasn't been accompanied by a decrease in trading. It's actually quite the opposite: amid mass speculation,the volume of trades surged to record levels last week.
Here's thefull statement from Coinbase's blog:
Today we are pleased to announce that Coinbase has raised $75 million in Series C financing, the largest funding round to date for a Bitcoin company. This brings our total capital raised to $106 million.
The round was led by DFJ Growth, with participation from our existing investors, including Andreessen Horowitz, Union Square Ventures, and Ribbit Capital.
Three of the world’s most respected financial institutions – The New York Stock Exchange, USAA, and BBVA (a largemultinational bank) – also invested in the round alongside personal investments from former Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit and former Thomson Reuters CEO Tom Glocer. This marks the first time that financial institutions have made a major investment in a Bitcoin company.
The round saw participation from a number of other strategic partners who will accelerate our international expansion, including NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s largest mobile telecommunications operator.
Today’s fundraise gives us solid growth capital to continue driving mainstream, global adoption of Bitcoin. We are honored to be joined by such a prestigious group of investors and remain focused on helping Bitcoin continue to grow in 2015 and beyond.
More From Business Insider
• Mt. Gox CEO Denies Involvement In The Silk Road Drugs Marketplace
• China Just Announced A Massive New $6.5 Billion Venture Capital Fund
• Bitcoin Is Getting Annihilated
| 2015-01-20 |
1,421,770,313 | 2015-01-20T16:11:53Z |
{"Bitcoin": [29]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin payment processor Coinbase says raises $75 million
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-payment-processor-coinbase-says-161153510.html
|
Reuters
|
http://www.reuters.com/
|
NEW YORK, Jan 20 (Reuters) - Bitcoin payment processor Coinbase said on Tuesday it has raised $75 million from several major financial institutions, including the New York Stock Exchange, USAA Bank, and Spanish banking group BBVA.
In a statement, Coinbase said funding for this round was led by DFJ Growth, with participation from existing investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Union Square Ventures, and Ribbit Capital.
Vikram Pandit, former Citigroup Inc chief executive officer, and Tom Glocer, former Thomson Reuters CEO also participated in the latest capital-raising.
The $75 million total was the largest funding round to date for a bitcoin company, according to Coinbase, which added that the total capital raised so far amounted to $106 million.
The latest round, which also included an investment from NTT DoCoMo Inc, Japan's largest mobile telecommunications operator, will help accelerate international expansion.
Aside from processing bitcoin payments, Coinbase also provides wallet services for holders of the digital currency.
(Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)
| 2015-01-20 |
1,421,764,576 | 2015-01-20T14:36:16Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Startup Coinbase Is Raising $75 Million In New Funding
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-startup-coinbase-raising-75-143616523.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.my/
|
Brian Armstrong Coinbase Anthony Harvey/Getty Images Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong talks at the 2014 TechCrunch Disrupt conference in London. The price of Bitcoin has plummeted in recent weeks, dropping to low levels not seen since the end of 2013. But this hasnt put off investors. Virtual currency startup Coinbase has just closed a $75 million round of funding, Fortune is reporting the largest ever for a Bitcoin company. Coinbase offers customers digital wallets allowing them to store their Bitcoin, as well as providing an exchange platform. Launched in 2012, the company has now raised $105 million in venture capital funding. Investors in this most recent round include the New York Stock Exchange, banks USAA and BBVA, and former Citibank CEO Vikram Pandit, as well as Andreesson Horowitz, Reddit Capital and Union Square Ventures (who had all previously invested). The $75 million funding round is believed to value the company at $400 million, though this couldnt be confirmed. Coinbases platform is used by several major Bitcoin-accepting mainstream companies, Re/code reports , including Overstock and Expedia. The service also has almost 2 million customers. Co-founder Fred Ehrsam told Fortune that Coinbase has grown extensively over 2014 , despite the slump in price. Price volatility isnt good for certain uses of Bitcoin, he said. But, in that same time period, we went from 600,000 users to 2.1 million users. The company also aims to help develop apps on top of the Bitcoin platform, and make the virtual currency more straightforward to ordinary people. Speaking in London in 2014, CEO Brian Armstrong likened Bitcoins current state to the early days of the Internet prior to mass adoption. Heres a tweet confirming the news: Pleased to share weve raised $75M led by @dfjgrowth @USAA @nyse @bbva @docomo and others. Focused on helping #bitcoin grow in 2015 & beyond Coinbase (@coinbase) January 20, 2015 Its much-needed good news for the Bitcoin community, which has been through a tumultuous few weeks. The virtual currencys value is currently hovering around the $210 mark down $100 from just a month ago. The price drop has forced cloud mining service CEX.io to halt operations because theyre no longer profitable. And hackers recently made off with $5 million in Bitcoin from exchange Bitstamp . Interestingly, though the drop in price hasnt been accompanied by a decrease in trading. Its actually quite the opposite: amid mass speculation, the volume of trades surged to record levels last week . Read more stories on Business Insider , Malaysian edition of the worlds fastest-growing business and technology news website.
| 2015-01-20 |
1,421,747,700 | 2015-01-20T09:55:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1113]}
|
{}
|
10 Things In Tech You Need To Know Today
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-things-tech-know-today-095500032.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.com/
|
Tesla Motors Inc CEO Elon Musk unveils a new all-wheel-drive version of the Model S car in Hawthorne, California October 9, 2014. Reuters/Lucy Nicholson Good morning! Here's the tech news you need to know today. 1. Google is interested in investing in Elon Musk's SpaceX. The tech giant is keen on the idea of using satellites to bring the internet to people around the world. 2. Twitter has acquired Indian mobile marketing startup ZipDial. The company gives clients phone numbers for use in marketing campaigns. 3. Samsung is considering a stock split. But the company hasn't made a final decision yet. 4. Online furniture company made.com is aiming for a London listing. That would value it at around £100 million. 5. Apple has stopped developers in Crimea from creating apps for the App Store. It follows new US sanctions. 6. Leaked documents reveal that British spy agency GCHQ intercepted emails from journalists. The emails were collected as part of a "test exercise." 7. Amazon is going to start creating movies for release in movie theatres. It aims to make 12 movies a year. 8. British banks think that Bitcoin is risky and could help terrorists. Banks are worried about the threat to sterling posed by the virtual currency. 9. Plaxo cofounder Minh Nguyen has been charged with murder. He's accused of shooting dead his ex-wife's husband. 10. Apple could be about to produce a stylus for the iPad. The device could arrive in the second quarter of 2015. More From Business Insider 10 Things In Tech You Need To Know Today 10 Things In Tech You Need To Know Today 10 Things In Tech You Need To Know Today View comments
| 2015-01-20 |
1,421,774,196 | 2015-01-20T17:16:36Z |
{"Bitcoin": [8, 335, 497, 553, 657, 696, 860, 1304, 1392, 1801, 1949, 2006, 2636]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [57]}
|
Coinbase Closes $75 Million VC Round, Largest-Ever for a Bitcoin Company
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coinbase-closes-75-million-vc-171636614.html
|
Entrepreneur
|
http://www.entrepreneur.com/
|
Despite Bitcoin’s recent price crash , Coinbase ’s future looks bright. The popular San Francisco bitcoin wallet startup has just announced that it raised $75 million in Series C funding from a bevy of heavy-hitter investors -- even the New York Stock Exchange. The investment is believed to be the largest funding round to date for a Bitcoin company, bringing Coinbase’s total capital raised to $106 million -- and giving the controversial cryptocurrency a much needed confidence boost. Who says Bitcoin is dead , headed for the “ ash heap ?” Related: Bitcoin Continues Downward Spiral, Plunges Below $200 “Investors still have a pretty high conviction on Bitcoin despite what the spot price of Bitcoin is doing,” Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam told the New York Times . “This really is people putting their money where their mouth is in terms of betting on Bitcoin as a technology trend.” The massive financing round was led by DFJ Growth, with participation from earlier investors Ribbit Capital, Union Square Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz. NTT DoCoMo, a Japanese telecom firm, also took part in the round. Pleased to share we've raised $75M led by @dfjgrowth @USAA @nyse @bbva @docomo and others. Focused on helping #bitcoin grow in 2015 & beyond — Coinbase (@coinbase) January 20, 2015 Related: Bitcoin Named Worst-Performing Currency of 2014 “If we thought there was a huge risk of Bitcoin going away, we obviously wouldn’t have made this investment,” Barry Schuler, a managing director at DFJ Growth said, also in the New York Times . Story continues The NYSE wasn’t the only major financial institution to throw in. USAA and BBVA, a large global bank, also invested, along with former Thomson Reuters CEO Tom Glocer and Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit. Related: Coinbase Goes Global, Launches Bitcoin Services in 13 European Countries Coinbase says this is the first time traditional financial institutions have made a major investment in a Bitcoin company. “This participation further legitimizes Bitcoin within the established financial sector,” a Coinbase representative told Entrepreneur . She also said Coinbase is “looking forward to a big year ahead,” one in which the company will use this latest investment to continue to steamroll ahead with its ambitious global expansion . The startup’s services are now available in 18 countries in Europe. Coinbase, which was reportedly valued at around $400 million last November, says it currently serves 1.9 million consumers and provides bitcoin payment tools for 38,000 merchants worldwide. Related: NYC Wants Drivers to Pay for Parking Tickets Via Apple Pay, Mobile Apps and Bitcoin
| 2015-01-20 |
1,421,783,017 | 2015-01-20T19:43:37Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1060]}
|
{}
|
U.S. sharply reduces Silk Road's estimated sales volume
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-sharply-reduces-silk-roads-194337915.html
|
Reuters
|
http://www.reuters.com/
|
(Corrects identification of federal sentencing guidelines to money laundering from drug trafficking in paragraph 4. Corrects paragraph 6 to correct characterization of the criminal sentencing guidelines as relevant to the money laundering charge, not the drug trafficking charge. Corrects information about recommended terms to indicate they can vary in length according to criminal history.) By Emily Flitter NEW YORK, Jan 16 (Reuters) - When U.S. authorities announced the arrest of Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht in October 2013, they made a startling claim: the online black market had seen an estimated $1.2 billion in illicit sales since its inception. This week, however, as Ulbricht's criminal trial began, prosecutors significantly scaled back that figure, saying Silk Road had actually seen an estimated $200 million in drug sales, which comprised 95 percent of all sales on the website. The revision could be good news for Ulbricht, who has admitted creating the site, where users could buy drugs and other illegal goods using the digital currency Bitcoin, according to former federal prosecutor Jeffrey Alberts. Since advisory federal sentencing guidelines for money laundering take into account the size of the scheme, the reduced sales figure would put Ulbricht's offenses into a different category under the guidelines, said Alberts, who is now a partner at law firm Pryor Cashman and is not involved in the case. Ulbricht, 30, is facing a seven-count indictment for offenses including money laundering, computer hacking and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. He could face life in prison if convicted on all counts. But taken on its own, a conviction on the money laundering count would elicit a recommendation for prison time for an operation larger than $400 million, as prosecutors originally estimated, that would be longer than the recommendation for a scheme netting between $400 million and $200 million, or one just under $200 million. The specific number of months or years recommended would also depend on other factors such as criminal history. Story continues Ulbricht's lawyer declined to comment. The change in Silk Road's estimated sales volume is not, however, entirely due to fluctuations in the value of bitcoins, which have actually increased in price since prosecutors filed the criminal complaint against Ulbricht on Oct. 2, 2013. Back then, one bitcoin was worth $125 but they are trading at around $205 today. While formulating the complaint against Ulbricht, prosecutors arrived at the $1.2 billion figure by looking at the total value of bitcoins obtained through sales on the site, according to the complaint. But after combing through Silk Road's files, they recalculated the total by adding up the value of individual drug sales according to the price of bitcoins at the time of each transaction, arriving at $200 million, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Adjustments like this one are common, Alberts said. The more precisely prosecutors can calculate the size of an illegal operation, the less likely defense lawyers are to contest the estimate during a sentencing hearing. Another advantage to the revision: it is a number that will not change even if bitcoin prices do. The case is U.S. v. Ulbricht, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 13-06919. (Reporting by Emily Flitter; editing by Noeleen Walder and G Crosse)
| 2015-01-20 |
1,421,762,460 | 2015-01-20T14:01:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [223, 2199]}
|
{}
|
Avra, Inc. Appoints VP of ATM Kiosk Operations
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/avra-inc-appoints-vp-atm-140100128.html
|
Marketwired
|
http://www.marketwired.com/
|
GREENVILLE, SC--(Marketwired - Jan 20, 2015) - Avra, Inc. ( OTCQB : AVRN ) ("Avra" or the "Company"), a development stage company pioneering product innovation and activation of merchant and consumer commerce in the global Bitcoin-related digital currencies market, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Vasiliy Smetanin to the role of Vice President, ATM and Kiosk Development. Mr. Smetanin's appointment strengthens the Company's strategic marketing and operations ability as he brings extensive experience in the execution of proven corporate strategies that have successfully propelled growth in various segments of the kiosk industry. "Vasiliy is an important appointment for Avra and our global ATM and Kiosk operational aims. He brings experience and leadership abilities that will help drive our operations to fruition on a global scale," said Steve Shepherd, CEO of Avra Inc. "I have had the pleasure of working alongside Vasiliy in the past, and have immense respect for his experience and prior accomplishments. Our relationship is already one of trust, and this is a great thing to have in place as we move ahead with our ambitious kiosk market strategy for 2015." "I am extremely pleased to be joining the team at Avra in order to help bring forward the Company's ATM operations. It is a prime opportunity to increase the adoption of new digital currencies which can help make the global consumer experience more accessible and convenient," stated Vasiliy Smetanin. "Our vision is of changing the world for the better by providing practical and easy to use payment solutions." Before joining Avra, Smetanin served as CEO of Mango Pay SRL, a global payment kiosk solution provider, where he spearheaded expansion throughout Central America and the Caribbean, as well as working as a Business Consulting Trainer and Coach for close to a decade. About Avra, Inc. ( OTCQB : AVRN ) Avra, Inc. is focused on solutions in the digital currency markets, particularly in the provisioning of payment solutions to businesses worldwide. The Company's business model is divided into four distinct categories: AvraPay: to develop a complete, turn-key and painless way for merchants to process Bitcoin payment transactions; AvraATM: to promote usage and acceptance of digital currencies through the Company's proposed network of ATMs; AvraTourism: to provide cryptocurrency payment processing solutions for high volume merchants such as hotels and casinos; AvraNews: to provide a news portal focusing on digital currency news. For more information about the Company please visit: www.avraglobal.com . Additional information regarding Avra, Inc. and its filings can be found at www.sec.gov . Forward Looking Statements Some information in this document constitutes forward-looking statements or statements which may be deemed or construed to be forward-looking statements, such as the closing of the share exchange agreement. The words "plan", "forecast", "anticipates", "estimate", "project", "intend", "expect", "should", "believe", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements to differ from the future results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and other factors are more fully discussed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to Avra Inc., herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by the above-mentioned cautionary statement. Avra Inc., disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this estimate, except as may be required by law.
| 2015-01-20 |
1,421,764,576 | 2015-01-20T14:36:16Z |
{"Bitcoin": [154, 411, 499, 1038, 1339, 1497, 1642, 1978, 2311]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Startup Coinbase Is Raising $75 Million In New Funding
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-startup-coinbase-raising-75-143616523.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.my/
|
Brian Armstrong Coinbase Anthony Harvey/Getty Images Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong talks at the 2014 TechCrunch Disrupt conference in London. The price of Bitcoin has plummeted in recent weeks, dropping to low levels not seen since the end of 2013. But this hasnt put off investors. Virtual currency startup Coinbase has just closed a $75 million round of funding, Fortune is reporting the largest ever for a Bitcoin company. Coinbase offers customers digital wallets allowing them to store their Bitcoin, as well as providing an exchange platform. Launched in 2012, the company has now raised $105 million in venture capital funding. Investors in this most recent round include the New York Stock Exchange, banks USAA and BBVA, and former Citibank CEO Vikram Pandit, as well as Andreesson Horowitz, Reddit Capital and Union Square Ventures (who had all previously invested). The $75 million funding round is believed to value the company at $400 million, though this couldnt be confirmed. Coinbases platform is used by several major Bitcoin-accepting mainstream companies, Re/code reports , including Overstock and Expedia. The service also has almost 2 million customers. Co-founder Fred Ehrsam told Fortune that Coinbase has grown extensively over 2014 , despite the slump in price. Price volatility isnt good for certain uses of Bitcoin, he said. But, in that same time period, we went from 600,000 users to 2.1 million users. The company also aims to help develop apps on top of the Bitcoin platform, and make the virtual currency more straightforward to ordinary people. Speaking in London in 2014, CEO Brian Armstrong likened Bitcoins current state to the early days of the Internet prior to mass adoption. Heres a tweet confirming the news: Pleased to share weve raised $75M led by @dfjgrowth @USAA @nyse @bbva @docomo and others. Focused on helping #bitcoin grow in 2015 & beyond Coinbase (@coinbase) January 20, 2015 Its much-needed good news for the Bitcoin community, which has been through a tumultuous few weeks. The virtual currencys value is currently hovering around the $210 mark down $100 from just a month ago. The price drop has forced cloud mining service CEX.io to halt operations because theyre no longer profitable. And hackers recently made off with $5 million in Bitcoin from exchange Bitstamp . Interestingly, though the drop in price hasnt been accompanied by a decrease in trading. Its actually quite the opposite: amid mass speculation, the volume of trades surged to record levels last week . Read more stories on Business Insider , Malaysian edition of the worlds fastest-growing business and technology news website.
| 2015-01-20 |
1,421,852,400 | 2015-01-21T15:00:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [38, 683, 8337, 10155, 10182, 10212], "BTC": [693, 2122, 3002, 4522, 6071, 7711, 8852, 9019, 9319]}
|
{}
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A brief attempt at explaining the madness of cryptocurrency
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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/2015-01-21-cryptocurrency-explainer.html
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Engadget
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https://www.engadget.com/
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Utah Software Engineer Mints Physical Bitcoins Cryptocurrency may as well be called "cryptic currency," because it's nowhere near as easy to figure out as typical money. For one, while most of them (and yes, there's more than one) have names that end with "-coin," they don't usually come in physical form. Yes, they do represent money in digital form, but using them is a bit more complicated than digital payment services like, say, PayPal or Google Wallet. Also, unlike banks and online services, they're decentralized, with no single governing body overseeing and verifying transactions -- there's a reason why bitcoin was (is?) the currency of choice for black market regulars. Bitcoin ("BTC") isn't only recognized as the first cryptocurrency; it's also the basis for every other crypto-coin that's popped up since it was formally introduced in 2009. "Satoshi Nakamoto" (the pseudonym used by the person or the group of people who created bitcoin) designed it as a peer-to-peer system that relies on users to keep working. Also, all transactions are recorded on a public ledger (called "block chain"), so even though no name or email address is associated with an account, the system's not entirely anonymous. Similar alternative currencies follow that structure even now, though they add features of their own, as well. Litecoin, for instance, was designed for faster transactions (the average confirmation time for each bitcoin transfer is 11 minutes as of January 2015, because it has to be verified by a miner -- more on this later), while Quarkcoin promises a more secure system. Others rely on their novelty more than anything, such as Dogecoin, which likely appeals most to fans of the (in)famous doge meme and Coinye West that was seriously a thing until Kanye West went onstage to court and didn't let it finish had it shut down. Now, if you're wondering if you should invest in any kind of cryptocurrency, the answer isn't simple: It depends, as their values fluctuate quickly and widely. Take for example, bitcoin, which reached its current all-time high of $1,242 per coin in November 2013, whereas each BTC was worth only around $200 a few months before that. As of this writing, bitcoin's value is back to $210, and who knows if it'll ever be worth more than $1K apiece ever again. Point is, if you plan on investing your life savings on bitcoin or any other alternative, you'll have to study it closely and prepare for the consequences. Instead of getting your kids' college tuition or your retirement fund when you're ready to liquidate, you might end up with but a fraction of what you originally invested. Story continues Still want some first-hand experience with these crypto-coins anyway? We put together some basic info you should know before getting started, using bitcoin as the reference currency. HOW TO GET CRYPTOCURRENCY These are some of the most common ways to get bitcoins or any of its alternatives: You can use one of the many exchange services that buy and sell BTC for US dollars/whatever your local currency is. This is obviously the easiest way to get started, as all you need to do is choose among one of the many options available. Some money changers are pretty strict and will ask for a copy of your ID and proof of address, but that's still easier than the other two ways below. You can sell goods and services through bitcoin marketplaces. A quick Google search will point you to online buy-and-sell websites that accept or specifically ask for bitcoins for transactions. Finally, you can "mine" for bitcoins. This one isn't something we'd recommend if you're new to cryptocurrency, as you'd need specialized hardware ( ASIC miners , in particular, which are USB-powered devices that don't do anything else) to do it for you. "Mining" is the process of verifying transactions and adding them to the public ledger or the block chain, in bitcoin's case. In addition, it's the only way to introduce new bitcoins into the circulation, as miners are rewarded for every block of transactions they process. As we mentioned earlier, cryptocurrencies aren't regulated by any institution, so there's no bank that would print more money when the need arises. Take note, though, that the system makes it harder to mine the more blocks of transactions are processed. The rewards were also designed to be cut in half every four years to prevent inflation and to keep the total number of bitcoins in circulation to 21 million at most. At the moment, the reward for each block mined is 25 BTC, and the process has become difficult to the point that you'll now have to join a mining pool if you actually want to earn anything. A mining pool combines the resources of a group of people to mine bitcoins and divides the loot amongst the members. Sound complicated? Well, mining isn't exactly a simple concept. Watch the video above first, then let's try to visualize the idea: Imagine that you're an actual miner with a pickaxe in your hand, and there's a big boulder in front of you with golden coins hidden in its very center. To get to the gold coins, you'll have to chip away at the boulder: The better your equipment is, the faster you can go. Unfortunately, you're not the only one trying to get to the center of the boulder, and it's a race between you and other miners with better, more high-tech pickaxes. That's why the best way is to pal up with other people to get to the very center of the boulder and divide the loot. As time goes by, though, you'll notice that boulders become harder to break and the gold coins in the center become fewer in number. That's but an oversimplification of the process, of course, but it should give you an idea of how it works. The boulder in this case represents a block or a big bunch of transactions miners have to verify and solve. Each piece of rock a miner chips away represents a verified transaction, and the gold coins represent the bitcoins a miner can earn and introduce into the circulation. WHERE TO STORE CRYPTOCURRENCY Before you exchange your hard-earned dollars or mine for some BTC, though, you'll first need a wallet to keep your virtual money in. Within these wallets, you'll find your secret codes or keys needed to be able to spend your coins, as well as an address (which functions similar to a PayPal email, except it's a long code of letters and numbers) that you need to give people sending you money. Some wallets can even generate several addresses so you can give a different one to every person you're transacting with as an extra precaution. There are many types of bitcoin wallets, including desktop programs and mobile apps, which are ideal if you want to pay for purchases in brick-and-mortar stores. Some of them can be accessed online, but in case you end up with an inordinately large amount of bitcoins, you're likely better off keeping most of it offline in what's known as "cold storage." While bitcoins stored online are more easily accessible, everything stored offline is much safer. When exchange service Bitstamp was hacked in early January, the thieves got away with "only" $5 million, because most of the company's reserves were stored offline. We kept saying earlier that bitcoins don't have a physical form -- well that's still true, but in addition to apps, programs and online services, another way to store the cryptocurrency is through "paper wallets." There are businesses that will print your address and private key as QR codes on a card. Want something fancier than a paper card? A website called Casascius sells actual physical bitcoins (which you can see in the top image) with your address and private key hidden underneath a hologram. They used to come loaded with spendable BTC, but after being questioned by the feds, the owner has decided to sell them empty -- you'll have to find a way to load the coin on your own. For those who think paper and flashy coin wallets are too risky, there are special hardware wallets that promise to keep your money secure while also being easier to access, such as that prototype bracelet by MEVU. Some physical wallets even take on an unusual form, like a CD or a vinyl encoded with private keys as audio files. JAPAN-IT-FINANCE-MTGOX-BITCOIN-INVESTIGATION SECURITY BREACHES AND CONTROVERSIES Since cryptocurrencies aren't governed by an institution -- there's a Bitcoin Foundation, but it merely promotes the currency's use and doesn't function like a bank -- they've become ideal for transactions that, well, aren't exactly legal. As we've mentioned earlier, bitcoin is the online black market's preferred method of payment, including drug and gun transactions, among other items. Prominent black market website and marketplace "The Silk Road" had $25 million worth of bitcoins seized by the US government during a raid back in 2013. The government ended up auctioning 50,000 BTC from what was confiscated. A bitcoin exchange executive and foundation member was even sentenced to two years behind bars for helping run an underground dollar-to-BTC operation for Silk Road regulars. Also, because exchange services keep part of their reserve in online wallets, quite a few companies were hacked in the past year. One of the most high-profile bitcoin-related security breaches happened to Japan-based exchange company Mt. Gox, which lost 850,000 BTC and ultimately had to shut down. According to the latest info from authorities in Tokyo, it could have been an inside job. Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpeles has recently been accused of being Silk Road's mastermind who hid behind the name Dread Pirate Roberts, something that he categorically denied . Speaking of naming people as the face behind pseudonyms, Newsweek published a piece in 2014, pinpointing Japanese-American and California-native Dorian Nakamoto as the Satoshi Nakamoto. Nakamoto also denied being bitcoin's creator and even raised a legal defense fund to sue the publication as the publicity has apparently caused a major inconvenience and hurt his family. Want to know more? We have a more in-depth piece about bitcoin, if you'd like to dig deeper into currency and the technology behind it. [Image credit: Getty Images, Bitcoinmining.com (What is Bitcoin mining), Bcoinmarket (Bitcoin Walllet Intro), AFP/Getty Images] View comments
| 2015-01-21 |
1,421,852,280 | 2015-01-21T14:58:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1813]}
|
{}
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Shazam Is Now A Billion-Dollar Company
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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/shazam-now-billion-dollar-company-145800139.html
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Business Insider
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http://www.businessinsider.com/
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Ryoichi Tanaka/Flickr (CC)
Shazam just joined the billion-dollar club.
The music discovery startup has closed a new round of funding for $30 million, the Wall Street Journal is reporting, with a valuation of around $1 billion. It's double what the company was valued at a year ago.
The investors now own 3% of the company — but their identities haven't been disclosed. We do know they haven't invested before, however.
Shazam is an app that identifies music for its users through their smartphone's microphone. Since the company's 2002 launch it's grown to have more than 100 million monthly users across the globe. But despite this, it hasn't turned a profit since 2006.
Shazam is "intentionally not profitable," investing whatever it makes,CEO Rich Riley told the Wall Street Journal. And the company is highly ambitious, looking to move beyond just music identification. "Our vision is to connect people to the world around them," Riley said. "It is still early days. People aren't yet used to 'Shazaming' print ads and soda cans and that kind of stuff, but we think that is where the world's going."
It's a strategy that could take it on a collision course with other tech companies. It's similar to Google's less-used Google Goggles optical recognition software, discovery apps are likely to grow in the coming years. But it's also necessary, as other products begin to encroach on Shazam's turf. Google now offers its own rival,Sound Search, which has been downloaded more than 10 million times.
Less than a year ago,a funding round for $20 million pegged the company's total valuation at $500 million, half what it is today. Previous investors haveincluded billionaire Carlos Slim, as well as Institutional Venture Partners, DN Capital, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.
More From Business Insider
• A Bitcoin Startup Just Set A Massive New Record For VC Funding in The Industry
• Palantir, Already Valued At $15 Billion, Is Looking For More
• China Just Announced A Massive New $6.5 Billion Venture Capital Fund
| 2015-01-21 |
1,421,848,800 | 2015-01-21T14:00:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [46, 2194]}
|
{}
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BTCS Announces Management-Lead Financings Totaling $498K and Follow-On Investment in Coin Outlet
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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/btcs-announces-management-lead-financings-140000711.html
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Marketwired
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http://www.marketwired.com/
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ARLINGTON, VA--(Marketwired - Jan 21, 2015) - Bitcoin Shop, Inc. ( OTCQB : BTCS ) ("BTCS" or the "Company"), the operator of the digital currency ecommerce marketplace www.btcs.com , which is undertaking the build-out of a universal digital currency ecosystem, announced today that the Company closed on financings for aggregate proceeds of $498,000. The Company sold $433,000 of units consisting of common stock and warrants at a per unit price of $0.10. The units, inclusive of the warrants, convert into 15.155 million shares of common stock. The Company also sold non-convertible promissory notes (the "Notes") to BTCS' co-founders, Michal Handerhan and Tim Sidie, for aggregate proceeds of $65,000, which mature on December 31, 2015 and bear interest at an annual rate of 2%. Management and family of management accounted for 66% of the total funding. Additionally, the Company made a follow-on investment of $100,000 in its strategic partner Coin Outlet. Charles Allen, CEO of BTCS, commented, "As we previously announced, on October 22, 2014 certain members of management voluntary agreed to have 12.75 million shares redeemed from them for an aggregate payment of $2,491. For investors that owned our stock prior to the redemption, the unit financing should result in minimal additional dilution, when net against the redemption. Management remains committed to building our business and taking the necessary actions to limit dilution to our public shareholders." Through the strategic investment and partnership with Coin Outlet, BTCS plans to leverage Coin Outlet's ATM network as an on-ramp to its planned universal digital currency ecosystem, which includes ATM/financial services. Overstock recently placed a Coin Outlet ATM in its headquarters to encourage digital currency use. "As the lead investor in Coin Outlet, we are pleased to see the installation of Coin Outlet's ATM at Overstock's headquarters. This is a great step to encourage the use of digital currencies among consumers who have yet to experience the easy exchange of US dollars to bitcoins," said Charles Allen. Story continues Charles Allen additionally commented, "We believe the recent decline in the price of Bitcoin has created tremendous opportunities for us to further expand our business and seize opportunities created from the market downturn." About BTCS: BTCS plans to build a universal digital currency platform with the goal of enabling users to engage in the digital currency ecosystem through one point of access. We currently operate our legacy ecommerce website ( www.bitcoinshop.us ) and are operating our public beta site ( www.btcs.com ) where consumers can purchase products using digital currency such as bitcoin, litecoin and dogecoin, by searching through a selection of over 250,000 items. We provide our customers competitive pricing options from 256 retailers through our "Intelligent Shopping Engine". All ecommerce customer orders are fulfilled by third party vendors. We plan to use our ecommerce platform as a customer on-ramp for a broader digital currency platform. We have been actively partnering with strategic digital currency companies who have technologies, services or products that are complementary to our business strategy by making investments in them and integrating with them. Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, not limited to Risk Factors relating to its digital currency business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
| 2015-01-21 |
1,421,855,437 | 2015-01-21T15:50:37Z |
{}
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{"Bitcoin": [31]}
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Why Investors Should Beware of Bitcoin
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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-investors-beware-bitcoin-155037460.html
|
U.S.News & World Report
|
http://money.usnews.com/
|
If you timed it right -- and that's a big if -- you bought a single bitcoin for $13.30 on New Year's Day 2013 and sold that slice of digital currency for about $1,150, less than a year later, on Dec. 4. That's more than 86 times the original investment. Wow. If you timed it wrong, you invested that same day and saw the value plummet more than half by Dec. 22, only 18 days later. Ouch. Assuming you held that bitcoin longer, from October 2013 ($100) to mid-January 2015, you'd have doubled your money. But you'd also be biting your nails, as the currency has dropped more than 30 percent between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15, when the price hit $207. So is now a good time to buy bitcoins ? Or is it ever a good time to invest in them? Financial experts from all corners of the traditional investment field answer with a resounding "no," while digital entrepreneurs and their ilk say "yes," often to the point of bullishness. Throughout 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission kept a close watch on bitcoin activity. In May, it issued a warning that "the rise of bitcoin and other virtual and digital currencies creates new concerns for investors. A new product, technology, or innovation -- such as bitcoin -- has the potential to give rise both to frauds and high-risk investment opportunities." "I'd never recommend anyone 'invest' in bitcoins," says Jeff Reeves, editor of InvestorPlace.com and author of "The Frugal Investor's Guide to Finding Great Stocks." "It's barely even a functional currency, let alone an investment vehicle, and the risks of volatility are enormous. It's a quirky little tech phenomenon, not an investment or asset class." "A bitcoin has no intrinsic value," adds Greg McBride, senior vice president and chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com. "There's no underlying asset from which a bitcoin's value is derived. Rather, the price is based on the 'greater fool' theory. In other words, that someone else in the future will pay more than you did today." Story continues Bitcoins are a decentralized digital currency that launched in 2009. No government or central bank backs it, nor is its creator known (his alias is Satoshi Nakamoto). Bitcoins have also made headlines not simply for their wild fluctuations , but also because they are nearly impossible to trace, making them a favorite of thieves and drug dealers. If they're stolen via computer hack, good luck, says Kim Caughey Forrest, vice president and senior analyst of portfolio management at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. "There are rules about what happens if someone breaks into the bank and steals and how the account owners are compensated. That is missing from the bitcoin world." She also notes, "We would never tell a client to buy bitcoins as an investment. How can I ever tell if a bitcoin is over, under or fairly valued? I can't. Neither can anyone else. This is what makes an investment. Otherwise, it's a lottery ticket." That said, you may be able to buy lottery tickets with bitcoins in the future. Online retailers such as TigerDirect and Overstock.com, along with the Sacramento Kings, accept the currency. You can even make donations with them at nonprofits, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and higher-education institutions, including the University of Puget Sound. Meanwhile, the Digerati have embraced bitcoins as a sophisticated method of making financial transactions and currency investments . "I think the price is getting close to being extremely attractive," says Vadim Telyatnikov, CEO of AlphaPoint, a New York-based digital currency exchange platform that supports bitcoin. "But I wouldn't invest quite yet, as I believe the price may continue to decline in the short term." He adds, "It's possible to intelligently predict how bitcoin will perform long term" using a "simple moving average" calculated by adding closing prices of the previous 200 days, and then dividing by 200. "That result is plotted on a chart and updated every day, so that a trend upward or downward can be identified," Telyatnikov says. But what of the recent steep price drops ? It may sound hard to believe, but some see a silver (or bitcoin) lining. "With such extreme instability, we knew the results would be surprising, and we weren't disappointed," says Mike Kane, CEO and co-founder of Hedgeable, a digital wealth manager that can invest retail clients directly in bitcoin. "Most bitcoin insiders are still bullish despite the massive amount of negativity." Based on Hedgeable's survey of five groups, from media members to venture capitalists and angel investors, he forecasts bitcoins hitting all-time highs in three years, which would put it over the $1,150 mark. Although bitcoins are possibly in a "buy low" mode now, or headed there, daring investors may want to take the same approach as smart gamblers in Vegas : Don't bet more than you can afford to lose. Mark Williams, who teaches finance at the Boston University School of Management and is a former bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank, advises bitcoin buyers to beware. "If investors, after understanding the extreme price risk, still want to invest in bitcoin, they should only commit amounts that, if lost, won't impact their livelihood," Williams says. Even if you're in such a position, "don't invest in something you don't understand," says Sidney Bostian, an instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Business and a senior advisor at Cornerstone Valuation in Richmond. "If you aren't interested in the technology, or the general topic of cryptocurrencies, my recommendation is to stay away." More From US News & World Report Debunking 8 Common Investing Myths 15 Sectors to Watch in 2015 Beware of These 10 Scary Investments
| 2015-01-21 |
1,421,855,437 | 2015-01-21T15:50:37Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1998, 2165]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [31]}
|
Why Investors Should Beware of Bitcoin
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-investors-beware-bitcoin-155037460.html
|
U.S.News & World Report
|
http://money.usnews.com/
|
If you timed it right -- and that's a big if -- you bought a single bitcoin for $13.30 on New Year's Day 2013 and sold that slice of digital currency for about $1,150, less than a year later, on Dec. 4. That's more than 86 times the original investment. Wow. If you timed it wrong, you invested that same day and saw the value plummet more than half by Dec. 22, only 18 days later. Ouch. Assuming you held that bitcoin longer, from October 2013 ($100) to mid-January 2015, you'd have doubled your money. But you'd also be biting your nails, as the currency has dropped more than 30 percent between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15, when the price hit $207. So is now a good time to buy bitcoins ? Or is it ever a good time to invest in them? Financial experts from all corners of the traditional investment field answer with a resounding "no," while digital entrepreneurs and their ilk say "yes," often to the point of bullishness. Throughout 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission kept a close watch on bitcoin activity. In May, it issued a warning that "the rise of bitcoin and other virtual and digital currencies creates new concerns for investors. A new product, technology, or innovation -- such as bitcoin -- has the potential to give rise both to frauds and high-risk investment opportunities." "I'd never recommend anyone 'invest' in bitcoins," says Jeff Reeves, editor of InvestorPlace.com and author of "The Frugal Investor's Guide to Finding Great Stocks." "It's barely even a functional currency, let alone an investment vehicle, and the risks of volatility are enormous. It's a quirky little tech phenomenon, not an investment or asset class." "A bitcoin has no intrinsic value," adds Greg McBride, senior vice president and chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com. "There's no underlying asset from which a bitcoin's value is derived. Rather, the price is based on the 'greater fool' theory. In other words, that someone else in the future will pay more than you did today." Story continues Bitcoins are a decentralized digital currency that launched in 2009. No government or central bank backs it, nor is its creator known (his alias is Satoshi Nakamoto). Bitcoins have also made headlines not simply for their wild fluctuations , but also because they are nearly impossible to trace, making them a favorite of thieves and drug dealers. If they're stolen via computer hack, good luck, says Kim Caughey Forrest, vice president and senior analyst of portfolio management at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. "There are rules about what happens if someone breaks into the bank and steals and how the account owners are compensated. That is missing from the bitcoin world." She also notes, "We would never tell a client to buy bitcoins as an investment. How can I ever tell if a bitcoin is over, under or fairly valued? I can't. Neither can anyone else. This is what makes an investment. Otherwise, it's a lottery ticket." That said, you may be able to buy lottery tickets with bitcoins in the future. Online retailers such as TigerDirect and Overstock.com, along with the Sacramento Kings, accept the currency. You can even make donations with them at nonprofits, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and higher-education institutions, including the University of Puget Sound. Meanwhile, the Digerati have embraced bitcoins as a sophisticated method of making financial transactions and currency investments . "I think the price is getting close to being extremely attractive," says Vadim Telyatnikov, CEO of AlphaPoint, a New York-based digital currency exchange platform that supports bitcoin. "But I wouldn't invest quite yet, as I believe the price may continue to decline in the short term." He adds, "It's possible to intelligently predict how bitcoin will perform long term" using a "simple moving average" calculated by adding closing prices of the previous 200 days, and then dividing by 200. "That result is plotted on a chart and updated every day, so that a trend upward or downward can be identified," Telyatnikov says. But what of the recent steep price drops ? It may sound hard to believe, but some see a silver (or bitcoin) lining. "With such extreme instability, we knew the results would be surprising, and we weren't disappointed," says Mike Kane, CEO and co-founder of Hedgeable, a digital wealth manager that can invest retail clients directly in bitcoin. "Most bitcoin insiders are still bullish despite the massive amount of negativity." Based on Hedgeable's survey of five groups, from media members to venture capitalists and angel investors, he forecasts bitcoins hitting all-time highs in three years, which would put it over the $1,150 mark. Although bitcoins are possibly in a "buy low" mode now, or headed there, daring investors may want to take the same approach as smart gamblers in Vegas : Don't bet more than you can afford to lose. Mark Williams, who teaches finance at the Boston University School of Management and is a former bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank, advises bitcoin buyers to beware. "If investors, after understanding the extreme price risk, still want to invest in bitcoin, they should only commit amounts that, if lost, won't impact their livelihood," Williams says. Even if you're in such a position, "don't invest in something you don't understand," says Sidney Bostian, an instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Business and a senior advisor at Cornerstone Valuation in Richmond. "If you aren't interested in the technology, or the general topic of cryptocurrencies, my recommendation is to stay away." More From US News & World Report Debunking 8 Common Investing Myths 15 Sectors to Watch in 2015 Beware of These 10 Scary Investments
| 2015-01-21 |
1,421,855,437 | 2015-01-21T15:50:37Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1998, 2165]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [31]}
|
Why Investors Should Beware of Bitcoin
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-investors-beware-bitcoin-155037460.html
|
U.S.News & World Report
|
http://money.usnews.com/
|
If you timed it right -- and that's a big if -- you bought a single bitcoin for $13.30 on New Year's Day 2013 and sold that slice of digital currency for about $1,150, less than a year later, on Dec. 4. That's more than 86 times the original investment. Wow. If you timed it wrong, you invested that same day and saw the value plummet more than half by Dec. 22, only 18 days later. Ouch. Assuming you held that bitcoin longer, from October 2013 ($100) to mid-January 2015, you'd have doubled your money. But you'd also be biting your nails, as the currency has dropped more than 30 percent between Jan. 1 and Jan. 15, when the price hit $207. So is now a good time to buy bitcoins ? Or is it ever a good time to invest in them? Financial experts from all corners of the traditional investment field answer with a resounding "no," while digital entrepreneurs and their ilk say "yes," often to the point of bullishness. Throughout 2014, the Securities and Exchange Commission kept a close watch on bitcoin activity. In May, it issued a warning that "the rise of bitcoin and other virtual and digital currencies creates new concerns for investors. A new product, technology, or innovation -- such as bitcoin -- has the potential to give rise both to frauds and high-risk investment opportunities." "I'd never recommend anyone 'invest' in bitcoins," says Jeff Reeves, editor of InvestorPlace.com and author of "The Frugal Investor's Guide to Finding Great Stocks." "It's barely even a functional currency, let alone an investment vehicle, and the risks of volatility are enormous. It's a quirky little tech phenomenon, not an investment or asset class." "A bitcoin has no intrinsic value," adds Greg McBride, senior vice president and chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com. "There's no underlying asset from which a bitcoin's value is derived. Rather, the price is based on the 'greater fool' theory. In other words, that someone else in the future will pay more than you did today." Story continues Bitcoins are a decentralized digital currency that launched in 2009. No government or central bank backs it, nor is its creator known (his alias is Satoshi Nakamoto). Bitcoins have also made headlines not simply for their wild fluctuations , but also because they are nearly impossible to trace, making them a favorite of thieves and drug dealers. If they're stolen via computer hack, good luck, says Kim Caughey Forrest, vice president and senior analyst of portfolio management at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. "There are rules about what happens if someone breaks into the bank and steals and how the account owners are compensated. That is missing from the bitcoin world." She also notes, "We would never tell a client to buy bitcoins as an investment. How can I ever tell if a bitcoin is over, under or fairly valued? I can't. Neither can anyone else. This is what makes an investment. Otherwise, it's a lottery ticket." That said, you may be able to buy lottery tickets with bitcoins in the future. Online retailers such as TigerDirect and Overstock.com, along with the Sacramento Kings, accept the currency. You can even make donations with them at nonprofits, such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation and higher-education institutions, including the University of Puget Sound. Meanwhile, the Digerati have embraced bitcoins as a sophisticated method of making financial transactions and currency investments . "I think the price is getting close to being extremely attractive," says Vadim Telyatnikov, CEO of AlphaPoint, a New York-based digital currency exchange platform that supports bitcoin. "But I wouldn't invest quite yet, as I believe the price may continue to decline in the short term." He adds, "It's possible to intelligently predict how bitcoin will perform long term" using a "simple moving average" calculated by adding closing prices of the previous 200 days, and then dividing by 200. "That result is plotted on a chart and updated every day, so that a trend upward or downward can be identified," Telyatnikov says. But what of the recent steep price drops ? It may sound hard to believe, but some see a silver (or bitcoin) lining. "With such extreme instability, we knew the results would be surprising, and we weren't disappointed," says Mike Kane, CEO and co-founder of Hedgeable, a digital wealth manager that can invest retail clients directly in bitcoin. "Most bitcoin insiders are still bullish despite the massive amount of negativity." Based on Hedgeable's survey of five groups, from media members to venture capitalists and angel investors, he forecasts bitcoins hitting all-time highs in three years, which would put it over the $1,150 mark. Although bitcoins are possibly in a "buy low" mode now, or headed there, daring investors may want to take the same approach as smart gamblers in Vegas : Don't bet more than you can afford to lose. Mark Williams, who teaches finance at the Boston University School of Management and is a former bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank, advises bitcoin buyers to beware. "If investors, after understanding the extreme price risk, still want to invest in bitcoin, they should only commit amounts that, if lost, won't impact their livelihood," Williams says. Even if you're in such a position, "don't invest in something you don't understand," says Sidney Bostian, an instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Business and a senior advisor at Cornerstone Valuation in Richmond. "If you aren't interested in the technology, or the general topic of cryptocurrencies, my recommendation is to stay away." More From US News & World Report Debunking 8 Common Investing Myths 15 Sectors to Watch in 2015 Beware of These 10 Scary Investments
| 2015-01-21 |
1,421,798,667 | 2015-01-21T00:04:27Z |
{"Bitcoin": [785]}
|
{}
|
U.S. bitcoin exchanger who sold on Silk Road gets four years in prison
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-bitcoin-exchanger-sold-silk-000427410.html
|
Reuters
|
https://www.reuters.com/
|
By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Florida plumber who operated an underground bitcoin exchange selling the digital currency to users of the black market website Silk Road was sentenced to four years in prison on Tuesday. Robert Faiella, 55, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan after pleading guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. His sentence came a year after prosecutors unveiled charges against Faiella and his co-defendant, prominent bitcoin evangelist Charlie Shrem. His sentencing came as trial continued for Ross Ulbricht, the alleged operator of Silk Road, a website where drugs and other illicit goods could be bought secretly with bitcoin. Rakoff in December sentenced Shrem, the former vice chairman at the trade group Bitcoin Foundation, to two years in prison for aiding and abetting an unlicensed money transmitting business. But Rakoff said Faiella, who must with Shrem also forfeit $950,000, deserved a harsher sentence, citing in part a prior conviction for a tax offense. "He knew from his own criminal history the nature of the risk he was taking, and he knowingly assumed that risk," Rakoff said. Prosecutors say from December 2011 to October 2013, Faiella sold bitcoin for cash to users of Silk Road, a website that by the time authorities closed it had $200 million in drug sales. Operating under the name BTCKing, Faiella would fill user orders for bitcoins through Shrem's exchange, BitInstant, ultimately trading in over $1 million in cash, prosecutors said. Lawyers for Faiella, a licensed plumber, said his crimes were motivated by a desperate financial situation amid job and medical problems. "At the time of the offense, I saw no other way," Faiella said in court Tuesday. "That still doesn't change that I broke the law." Ulbricht, 30, faces seven counts including narcotics trafficking conspiracy. Joshua Dratel, his lawyer, has acknowledged he created the website but says his client became the "fall guy" for its true operators. Story continues He has also pointed to other people authorities investigated as being behind Silk Road, including Mark Karpeles, the former chief of the defunct bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox. Karpeles denies involvement with Silk Road. A federal judge on Tuesday struck some but not all of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security agent's testimony from Thursday about the Karpeles investigation. The agent, Jared Der-Yeghiayan, testified again Tuesday and will resume Wednesday. The case is U.S. v. Faiella, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 14-cr-00243. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
| 2015-01-21 |
1,421,848,800 | 2015-01-21T14:00:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [46, 2172]}
|
{}
|
BTCS Announces Management-Lead Financings Totaling $498K and Follow-On Investment in Coin Outlet
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/btcs-announces-management-lead-financings-140000711.html
|
Marketwired
|
http://www.marketwired.com/
|
ARLINGTON, VA--(Marketwired - Jan 21, 2015) - Bitcoin Shop, Inc. (OTCQB:BTCS) ("BTCS" or the "Company"), the operator of the digital currency ecommerce marketplacewww.btcs.com, which is undertaking the build-out of a universal digital currency ecosystem, announced today that the Company closed on financings for aggregate proceeds of $498,000. The Company sold $433,000 of units consisting of common stock and warrants at a per unit price of $0.10. The units, inclusive of the warrants, convert into 15.155 million shares of common stock. The Company also sold non-convertible promissory notes (the "Notes") to BTCS' co-founders, Michal Handerhan and Tim Sidie, for aggregate proceeds of $65,000, which mature on December 31, 2015 and bear interest at an annual rate of 2%. Management and family of management accounted for 66% of the total funding. Additionally, the Company made a follow-on investment of $100,000 in its strategic partner Coin Outlet.
Charles Allen, CEO of BTCS, commented, "As we previously announced, on October 22, 2014 certain members of management voluntary agreed to have 12.75 million shares redeemed from them for an aggregate payment of $2,491. For investors that owned our stock prior to the redemption, the unit financing should result in minimal additional dilution, when net against the redemption. Management remains committed to building our business and taking the necessary actions to limit dilution to our public shareholders."
Through the strategic investment and partnership with Coin Outlet, BTCS plans to leverage Coin Outlet's ATM network as an on-ramp to its planned universal digital currency ecosystem, which includes ATM/financial services. Overstock recently placed a Coin Outlet ATM in its headquarters to encourage digital currency use.
"As the lead investor in Coin Outlet, we are pleased to see the installation of Coin Outlet's ATM at Overstock's headquarters. This is a great step to encourage the use of digital currencies among consumers who have yet to experience the easy exchange of US dollars to bitcoins," said Charles Allen.
Charles Allen additionally commented, "We believe the recent decline in the price of Bitcoin has created tremendous opportunities for us to further expand our business and seize opportunities created from the market downturn."
About BTCS:BTCS plans to build a universal digital currency platform with the goal of enabling users to engage in the digital currency ecosystem through one point of access. We currently operate our legacy ecommerce website (www.bitcoinshop.us) and are operating our public beta site (www.btcs.com) where consumers can purchase products using digital currency such as bitcoin, litecoin and dogecoin, by searching through a selection of over 250,000 items. We provide our customers competitive pricing options from 256 retailers through our "Intelligent Shopping Engine". All ecommerce customer orders are fulfilled by third party vendors. We plan to use our ecommerce platform as a customer on-ramp for a broader digital currency platform. We have been actively partnering with strategic digital currency companies who have technologies, services or products that are complementary to our business strategy by making investments in them and integrating with them.
Forward Looking Statements:Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, not limited to Risk Factors relating to its digital currency business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
| 2015-01-21 |
1,421,817,303 | 2015-01-21T05:15:03Z |
{"Bitcoin": [4653]}
|
{}
|
PRESS DIGEST- New York Times business news - Jan 21
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/press-digest-york-times-business-051503620.html
|
Reuters
|
http://www.reuters.com/
|
Jan 21 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. * President Obama claimed credit on Tuesday for an improving economy and defiantly told his Republican adversaries in Congress to "turn the page" by supporting an expensive domestic agenda aimed at improving the fortunes of the middle class. ( http://nyti.ms/157n5qP ) * Google Inc, along with Fidelity, has invested $1 billion in Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), the private rocketry company founded by Elon Musk. The move could help Google achieve its aim of bringing satellite Internet to remote corners of the world while giving SpaceX more money for its founder to pursue dreams of going to Mars. ( http://nyti.ms/1xUEaLo ) * Netflix Inc is hoping that it will define Internet TV in Swahili, Spanish, Vietnamese, Filipino and dozens more languages within just two years. ( http://nyti.ms/1BCPgfJ ) * A week after the nation's top auto regulator warned automakers that he would be more vigilant on safety, his agency has taken the unusual move of revisiting the 2013 recall of Ford Motor Corp's biggest pickup trucks. ( http://nyti.ms/1EpdN6i ) * In Wal-Mart Stores Inc's latest move to offer financial services, it will make customers' tax refunds available in cash at about 3,000 stores. Walmart, the world's largest retailer, will not charge a fee for the cash pickup, but does charge for cashing checks. It acknowledged that it could get a boost by helping to put cash in customers' wallets at a time of sluggish sales and customer traffic declines. ( http://nyti.ms/1xw7Mjp ) * Work crews burrowed through thick ice and set up containment booms Tuesday in a struggle to vacuum up 50,000 gallons of oil that spilled into the Yellowstone River from a ruptured pipeline, contaminating drinking water. The 12-inch steel pipeline, which burst Saturday morning near Glendive, Montana, about 400 miles east of here, sent light crude oil flowing downstream as far as the confluence with the Missouri River, 60 miles away in North Dakota. ( http://nyti.ms/1xUEZ77 ) Story continues * Moving a potential market debut further along the line, the premium burger chain Shake Shack on Tuesday priced the range of its initial public offering at $14 to $16 a share. ( http://nyti.ms/1zvyChc ) * The Verge, a technology website owned by the online media company Vox, said on Tuesday that it would be airing a Super Bowl advertisement, before revealing that it would in fact be spending just $700 on a regional spot in Helena, Montana. ( http://nyti.ms/1ultDJ5 ) * Standard & Poor's, the giant credit ratings agency, is closing in on a series of settlements with the government that will erode its profit and may damage its credibility as a major player on Wall Street. ( http://nyti.ms/1J6hfVX ) * On Thursday, Family Dollar Stores Inc shareholders will finally vote on a proposed $8.5 billion acquisition by Dollar Tree Inc, which is offering about $76 a share. If they vote yes, as it appears they are leaning, it will be the death knell for a competing bid by Dollar General Corp that is about $4 a share higher. ( http://nyti.ms/1CfDExO ) * BGC Partners Inc has increased its offer for the GFI Group Inc, the New York brokerage firm and clearinghouse, in an effort to wrest the company from the arms of its chosen suitor, the operator of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade. ( http://nyti.ms/1xUFPkf ) * The prominent activist investment firm Starboard Value is still trying to push Staples into buying one of its best-known rivals in the office supplies world. The hedge fund plans to release a public letter urging the company to pursue a takeover of Office Depot Inc, people briefed on the matter said on Tuesday. If Staples does not make a move to do so, Starboard will threaten to seek a fight for representation on the board. ( http://nyti.ms/1yHgtvx ) * Li Ka-shing, Asia's richest man, has added a major passenger train provider in Britain to his vast empire of corporate holdings, which includes ports, utilities and retail stores. ( http://nyti.ms/1JbAjjK ) * The private equity firm Sycamore Partners has given up a monthslong effort to acquire Express Inc, the clothing retailer focused on young adults, after failing to secure financing. ( http://nyti.ms/1J6jFE1 ) * Twitter Inc said on Tuesday that it had acquired ZipDial, a nearly five-year-old Indian start-up that aims to help businesses connect with customers in emerging markets who may not have access to the Internet. ( http://nyti.ms/1CNymbn ) * Coinbase, one of the most popular Bitcoin wallet providers, announced on Tuesday that it had closed a $75 million financing round, the biggest yet for a virtual currency start-up. ( http://nyti.ms/1woqzM1 ) (Compiled by Rama Venkat Raman in Bengaluru)
| 2015-01-21 |
1,421,852,280 | 2015-01-21T14:58:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1831]}
|
{}
|
Shazam Is Now A Billion-Dollar Company
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/shazam-now-billion-dollar-company-145800139.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.com/
|
Shazam app Ryoichi Tanaka/Flickr (CC) Shazam just joined the billion-dollar club. The music discovery startup has closed a new round of funding for $30 million, the Wall Street Journal is reporting , with a valuation of around $1 billion. It's double what the company was valued at a year ago. The investors now own 3% of the company but their identities haven't been disclosed. We do know they haven't invested before, however. Shazam is an app that identifies music for its users through their smartphone's microphone. Since the company's 2002 launch it's grown to have more than 100 million monthly users across the globe. But despite this, it hasn't turned a profit since 2006. Shazam is "intentionally not profitable," investing whatever it makes, CEO Rich Riley told the Wall Street Journal . And the company is highly ambitious, looking to move beyond just music identification. "Our vision is to connect people to the world around them," Riley said. "It is still early days. People aren't yet used to 'Shazaming' print ads and soda cans and that kind of stuff, but we think that is where the world's going." It's a strategy that could take it on a collision course with other tech companies. It's similar to Google's less-used Google Goggles optical recognition software, discovery apps are likely to grow in the coming years. But it's also necessary, as other products begin to encroach on Shazam's turf. Google now offers its own rival, Sound Search, which has been downloaded more than 10 million times . Less than a year ago, a funding round for $20 million pegged the company's total valuation at $500 million, half what it is today . Previous investors have included billionaire Carlos Slim , as well as Institutional Venture Partners, DN Capital, and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. More From Business Insider A Bitcoin Startup Just Set A Massive New Record For VC Funding in The Industry Palantir, Already Valued At $15 Billion, Is Looking For More China Just Announced A Massive New $6.5 Billion Venture Capital Fund
| 2015-01-21 |
1,421,955,032 | 2015-01-22T19:30:32Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1718]}
|
{}
|
Microsoft Proves It's Still An Innovator
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-proves-still-innovator-193032574.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
Microsoft Corporation(NASDAQ:MSFT) fired back at naysayers who claim the company has fallen behind peers likeApple Inc.(NASDAQ:AAPL) andGoogle Inc(NASDAQ:GOOG)(NASDAQ:GOOGL) in the tech race by unveiling a new operating system and some very impressive hardware Wednesday.
Related Link:Windows 10 Offers Chance To Reload On Microsoft If You Didn't Get In Before
Windows 10
The company’s latest operating system, Windows 10, is expected to shift Microsoft’s business plan to make room for new devices and embrace the growing popularity of app purchases. The new system will be a free upgrade for many existing users, something that could cost the company as much as$500 million. However, Microsoft is looking to make up for the lost revenue as customers spend on apps and new hardware.
The Future Is Here
Speaking of hardware, the talk of the town on Wednesday was Microsoft’s latest gadget, a holographic visor. The visor is able to project lifelike 3D images of everything from the surface of Mars to a Skype call. Microsoft said the technology will be ready for mass markets in autumn when Windows 10 is released, but critics believe the company will need more time to prepare the device for the general public.
As with all wearables, it remains to be seen whether or not people will be willing to wear the visor, but it is expected to be a popular addition to video games like Minecraft. Virtual reality technology is expected to become a major part of computing in the coming years and it looks like Microsoft will be the first to step into the new arena.
See more from Benzinga
• For Investors, There Are Several Ways To Play The Personal Surveillance Trend
• 5 Companies To Watch As Music Streaming Explodes
• Is Bitcoin Poised For Success In 2015?
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-22 |
1,421,929,860 | 2015-01-22T12:31:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [44, 345, 673, 3530, 3557, 3700, 4146, 4829]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [17]}
|
Canada's Largest Bitcoin Exchange CAVIRTEX Integrates with Vogogo
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/canadas-largest-bitcoin-exchange-cavirtex-123100188.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
Vogogo also integrates two further exchangesBitcoin Brains & Taurus Exchange.
CALGARY, ALBERTA & PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA /ACCESSWIRE /JANUARY 22nd, 2015- Payment processing compliance & fraud mitigation specialistVogogo Inc.(TSX VENTURE:VGO) today announced signed contracts with Canada's largest bitcoin exchange,CAVIRTEXand two further exchangesBitcoin Brains&Taurus Exchange.
CAVIRTEX is Canada's first and largest bitcoin exchange. In its three years of operation, it has facilitated over $100 Million in trading between individuals, merchants, and market makers. In addition to being an exchange, CAVIRTEX offers merchant solutions, debit cards and prepaid Mastercards.
Bitcoin Brains is an innovative Calgary-based exchange and the first of its kind with a bricks and mortar store.
Vancouver-based Taurus exchange is a sophisticated trading platform utilizing multi-signature wallet technology to secure customer funds. The exchange operates on the USD and CAD markets.
It is expected that each of the exchanges will be fully integrated with Vogogo's payment processing and risk management platform enabling them to offer users of their respective exchanges seamless transactions between bitcoin and fiat currencies in the US and Canada, with EU processing expected to come online during Q1 of 2015.
Through the latter half of 2014 Vogogo prepared its payment processing and risk management platform to effectively service the crypto industry. Vogogo is now actively boarding new crypto based clients onto the Vogogo platform with anticipation of reaching commercial processing volumes during Q1, 2015.
Vogogo CEO Geoff Gordon said of the announcement, "Being the chosen provider of payment processing and risk management services by well established crypto-exchanges as well as the new and emerging players in the industry, I believe, speaks to our capabilities and reputation. We look forward to working with these teams and helping them to unlock new and lucrative markets during 2015."
"Our focus is making it easy for Canadians to seamlessly transition between bitcoin and the Canadian Dollar." said Joseph Onorati, CEO of CAVIRTEX. "As Canada's largest and most trusted digital currency exchange, we are always looking for services that enhance our offering. By integrating Vogogo with our platform we are making bitcoin more accessible to Canadians."
--ENDS--
AboutVogogo
Vogogo is a TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") publicly traded payment services company with integrated risk management and compliance. Founded in 2008, Vogogo designed, built andlaunched its web-based payment processing technology while growing its expertise in software development, payments, risk management, compliance and related financial services. Vogogo is now executing on its plan to serve global markets. The plan focuses on market opportunities where Vogogo believes it has a competitive advantage due to its positioning and technology.
For further company information please view theVogogo Media Kit
For information or interview please contact:
Geoff Gordon
Chief Executive Officer
403-648-9292
Rodney Thompson
Chief Relationship Officer
403-648-9292
AboutCAVIRTEX
CAVIRTEX is Canada's first and largest bitcoin exchange. In its three years of operation, CAVIRTEX has facilitated over $100 Million in trading between individuals, merchants, and market makers. In addition to being an exchange, CAVIRTEX offers merchant solutions, debit cards and prepaid Mastercards. For more information about CAVIRTEX, please go towww.cavirtex.com.
AboutBitcoin Brains
Since 2013, Bitcoin Brains has been pioneering what can be done with bitcoin in a brick and mortar establishment. As the first store of its kind anywhere, Bitcoin Brains offers brokerage services, bitcoin mining equipment sales, rentals, setup and consulting as well as point of sale solutions for merchants and charities.
AboutTaurus Exchange
Taurus is an upcoming Canadian bitcoin exchange that will operate on the CAD market. It is based in Vancouver, Canada and is run by Founder and CEO Yuri Yerofeyev who has experience in bitcoin trading, business and customer service and is a director of The Bitcoin Co-op. The client-focused exchange runs on a sophisticated trading platform and utilizes the multi-signature wallet technology to secure customer funds.
READER ADVISORY
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
None of the information contained on, or connected to, Vogogo's website is incorporated by reference herein.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release contain forward-looking information including, without limitation, timing for integration of the Vogogo platform with CAVIRTEX, Bitcoin Brains and Taurus Exchange, expansion plans of Vogogo and anticipated dates for commercial trading volumes. The words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "should," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by Vogogo. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Vogogo. Vogogo does not have any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE:Vogogo Inc.
| 2015-01-22 |
1,421,928,818 | 2015-01-22T12:13:38Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1768]}
|
{}
|
Is Legal Marijuana Here To Stay?
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/legal-marijuana-stay-121338452.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
With several states opening medical marijuana dispensaries and both Colorado and Washington paving the way for the legal sale of recreational pot, many investors see the U.S. prohibition on marijuana being completely abandoned within the next 10 years.
Legal Pot Spreading
Oregon looks set to become the next state with recreational sales outlets; voters there approved the use of recreational marijuana in 2014 and growers are already starting to expand their operations by snapping up land and warehouse space in anticipation of a flood of new business.
In Ohio, licensed stores could pop up in a little over a year if a bill to legalize the drug is passed.
Related Link: 15 Marijuana Stocks To Watch In 2015
Some States Hold Off
The push to expand the marijuana market to all 50 states isn’t without opposition. Several states, like Michigan, are still pushing back against allowing medical dispensaries. Those opposed to widespread marijuana sales say they are worried about increased crime rates and stores selling to minors.
Colorado Leads The Pack
Colorado, however, stands as a shining example that legalizing marijuana could do more good than harm. One year after legalizing the sale of recreational marijuana, Colorado police officials have reported no uptick in criminal behavior and the growing industry has flooded the state with new job opportunities.
Colorado’s success is a good indication that legalizing marijuana is a trend that is likely to eventually spread and give rise to an entirely new industry. While current laws prohibit the transport of marijuana across state lines, many see those regulations also loosening to allow growers and retailers to expand into larger brands that reach across the entire United States.
See more from Benzinga
• Bitcoin Startups Prove The Currency Isn't Dead Yet
• ECB Easing Could Strengthen Headwinds For U.S. Firms
• Bigfoot To Enter The Market
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-22 |
1,421,931,900 | 2015-01-22T13:05:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [2634]}
|
{}
|
Here Are The Top 5 Priorities For Apple, According To Top Apple Analyst Gene Munster
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-5-priorities-apple-according-130555611.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.com/
|
According to Apple analyst Gene Munster, these are the company's top-5 priorities in order of importance:
1. iPhone
2. iOS
3. Apple Watch
4. Mac
5. Emerging
What's missing? The iPad.
"We believe that at this point, the iPad is largely just an offshoot of iPhone in that the iPad does not have any significantly unique features that iPhone does not other than a larger screen," said Munster in a note for clients. "While this may seem a negative view on iPad, it is not meant as such and more of a commentary on the power of the iPhone and iOS that it extends to create a sub-segment that is ~13% of Apple’s core business."
So, why does he think those other categories are important?
• The iPhone, because, duh, Apple is the iPhone company. Apple's stock swings higher or lower depending on iPhone sales.
• iOS, because according to Munster, it is "the future of the company." iOS is the operating system that powers the iPhone, the iPad, the Apple TV, and the Apple Watch. It is at the core of Apple's biggest new products. It also is the base for future expansion into home automation and health. Moreso than hardware design, iOS is what's separates the iPhone from an Android phone.
• The Apple Watch is Apple's first new product category since the iPad, and it's Apple's first stab at wearable computing. Munster also thinks it could be massive down the road: " Today the Watch is an accessory for the iPhone, but we believe core features like calls, voice control, messaging, etc. could be controlled via a Watch, implant, light field technology or other evolving technology, leaving the smartphone as we know it irrelevant. Therefore we believe that Apple’s foray into wearables via the Apple Watch may be more important in them figuring out how wearables will change the smartphone market than it is as an individual business line in the next couple of years."
• The Mac is a bigger part of Apple's business than the iPad, and it's growing. Munster thinks Apple can be a little more creative with the Mac as opposed to the iPad. The iPad is just a bigger iPhone, whereas the Mac is its own product.
• Emerging products are things that haven't even been rumored yet.Munster, because he's Munster, thinks Apple will eventually do something in television. " Fundamentally, we believe that Apple looks for areas in which they can deliver great experiences by marrying hardware and software. We believe television is the most obvious and most significant remaining market opportunity." But, if not television, then it has to be something else. Apple is always looking for the next major opportunity.
More From Business Insider
• Why Bitcoin's Astonishing Price Collapse Doesn't Matter
• Why Apple Will Do A $200 Billion Cash-Return Program, According To Credit Suisse
• The CEO Of Sling TV Defends His Company's Radical Plan To Change TV Forever
| 2015-01-22 |
1,421,897,220 | 2015-01-22T03:27:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [658, 1081]}
|
{}
|
Real Scientific Breakthroughs Made By Prime Number Based Cryptocurrency Gapcoin Runner-Up To Popular Primecoin
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/real-scientific-breakthroughs-made-prime-032700029.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
Record breaking prime number based peer-to-peer cryptocurrency Gapcoin similar to popular Primecoin has already broken 544 Prime Gap records ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2015 / Primecoin alternative and competitor Gapcoin (GAP) is a new prime number based peer-to-peer cryptocurrency. Gapcoin has already in it's first 4 month of existence broken 544 records of first known occurrences in prime gaps. If the Gapcoin mining difficulty reaches 35.4245, every block will be a new prime gap world record. Prime gap records found by Gapcoin can be seen at http://gapcoin.org/primegaps-length.php . Gapcoin strives to deliver a decentralized payment system similar to Bitcoin that is independent of banks and governments; while terminating the flaws in other science oriented alt coins. Gapcoin promotes anonymity and allows user to send money worldwide in no-time with minimal transaction fees while contributing to mathematical research. Gapcoin has had a steady growth since launch in October 2014 and was released without a premine. It can be argued that one of the main advantages over Bitcoin is that Gapcoins PoW system does not use energy while solving algorithms solely for the sake of controlling the difficulty, but also searching for large prime gaps; giving Gapcoin real-life scientific and mathematical value. A proof-of-work algorithms needs to be difficult to calculate, consistent and easy to verify. Gapcoin meets these requirements; while finding prime gaps that has the potential to help researchers solve the millennium problem, lead to breakthroughs in the bounded gap and verify the Twin Prime Conjecture and the Riemann hypothesis. Small prime gaps are more common than larger ones thus Gapcoins difficulty is set by the merit of the prime gap which is the ratio of the gap's size to the average gap size. Gapcoins PoW algorithm is the largest, decentralized prime gap search in the cyrptocurrency space. If the Gapcoin mining difficulty reaches 35.4245, every block will be a new prime gap world record. Prime gap records found by Gapcoin can be seen at http://gapcoin.org/primegaps-length.php . Story continues The main difference between Primecoin and Gapcoin is that Primecoins PoW algorithm searches for prime number chains called bi-twin chains and Cunningham chains while Gapcoins PoW network is based on the merit of the prime gap. Except the fact that Gapcoin was launched without any premine it was designed to avoid instamine and give a fair distribution meaning that, contrary to many other cryptocurrencies, the more people that adopt and mine Gapcoin the more coins per block will be produced. This system is in place so early adopters and the coin creators will not have an unfair advantage. Gapcoin wallets are compatible with Linux and Windows; GAP is already availible on cryptocurrency exchanges LazyCoins and Coin-Swap as well as the popular exchange Poloniex. Having already broken 544 Prime Gap records, Gapcoin is a valuable asset in an exciting series of technically advanced, science oriented cryptocurrencies that has the potential to solve famous mathematical problems while offering a fast and secure payment system; a truly valuable part of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Technical specifications: PoW: custom, prime gaps Block target time 2.5 minutes Block reward proportional to the current difficulty Block reward halving every 420000 proximately every 2 years. Cap: about 10 - 30 million GAP Difficulty adjusts every block and increases logarithmically *This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest For more information about us, please visit http://gapcoin.org/ Contact Info: Name: GAPcoin Media Email: [email protected] Organization: GAPcoin SOURCE: GAPcoin
| 2015-01-22 |
1,421,928,818 | 2015-01-22T12:13:38Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1767]}
|
{}
|
Is Legal Marijuana Here To Stay?
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/legal-marijuana-stay-121338452.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
With several states opening medical marijuana dispensaries and both Colorado and Washington paving the way for the legal sale of recreational pot, many investors see the U.S. prohibition on marijuana being completely abandoned within the next 10 years. Legal Pot Spreading Oregon looks set to become the next state with recreational sales outlets; voters there approved the use of recreational marijuana in 2014 and growers are already starting to expand their operations by snapping up land and warehouse space in anticipation of a flood of new business. In Ohio , licensed stores could pop up in a little over a year if a bill to legalize the drug is passed. Related Link: 15 Marijuana Stocks To Watch In 2015 Some States Hold Off The push to expand the marijuana market to all 50 states isn’t without opposition. Several states, like Michigan, are still pushing back against allowing medical dispensaries. Those opposed to widespread marijuana sales say they are worried about increased crime rates and stores selling to minors. Colorado Leads The Pack Colorado, however, stands as a shining example that legalizing marijuana could do more good than harm. One year after legalizing the sale of recreational marijuana, Colorado police officials have reported no uptick in criminal behavior and the growing industry has flooded the state with new job opportunities. Colorado’s success is a good indication that legalizing marijuana is a trend that is likely to eventually spread and give rise to an entirely new industry. While current laws prohibit the transport of marijuana across state lines, many see those regulations also loosening to allow growers and retailers to expand into larger brands that reach across the entire United States. See more from Benzinga Bitcoin Startups Prove The Currency Isn't Dead Yet ECB Easing Could Strengthen Headwinds For U.S. Firms Bigfoot To Enter The Market © 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-22 |
1,421,933,852 | 2015-01-22T13:37:32Z |
{"Bitcoin": [437, 650]}
|
{}
|
He bets on bitcoin, but also warns about it
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/linkedin-exec-dont-buy-bitcoin-124200989.html
|
CNBC
|
http://www.cnbc.com/
|
LinkedIn ( LNKD ) founder and chairman Reid Hoffman told CNBC he remains a believer in bitcoin, but he says the digital currency is only in the first inning and it is not for everybody. "The advice I give my friends is don't buy any bitcoin that you wouldn't be comfortable losing, rather like a seed investment in a technology company," he said Thursday during a "Squawk Box" interview from the World Economic Forum in Davos. Read More Bitcoin finds a place among the world's elite Hoffman, who owns bitcoin and invests in two bitcoin companies, said the least interesting part of the digital currency is its trading price, which has been volatile. Bitcoin as a platform for machine-to-machine transactions is where the real value lies, he said. "As you think of your car becoming a software vehicle, it could automatically handle parking, bridge tolls, all the rest of it if it had a machine-to-machine currency," he said. Read More Russians move into bitcoin as ruble tanks The currency also holds the potential to bank the un-banked in markets where it is too expensive for the banking system to support digital transactions, he said.
| 2015-01-22 |
1,421,931,900 | 2015-01-22T13:05:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [2638]}
|
{}
|
Here Are The Top 5 Priorities For Apple, According To Top Apple Analyst Gene Munster
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-5-priorities-apple-according-130555611.html
|
Business Insider
|
http://www.businessinsider.com/
|
Tim Cook iPhone 6 Apple Watch According to Apple analyst Gene Munster, these are the company's top-5 priorities in order of importance: iPhone iOS Apple Watch Mac Emerging What's missing? The iPad. "We believe that at this point, the iPad is largely just an offshoot of iPhone in that the iPad does not have any significantly unique features that iPhone does not other than a larger screen," said Munster in a note for clients. "While this may seem a negative view on iPad, it is not meant as such and more of a commentary on the power of the iPhone and iOS that it extends to create a sub-segment that is ~13% of Apple’s core business." So, why does he think those other categories are important? The iPhone, because, duh, Apple is the iPhone company. Apple's stock swings higher or lower depending on iPhone sales. iOS, because according to Munster, it is "the future of the company." iOS is the operating system that powers the iPhone, the iPad, the Apple TV, and the Apple Watch. It is at the core of Apple's biggest new products. It also is the base for future expansion into home automation and health. Moreso than hardware design, iOS is what's separates the iPhone from an Android phone. The Apple Watch is Apple's first new product category since the iPad, and it's Apple's first stab at wearable computing. Munster also thinks it could be massive down the road: " Today the Watch is an accessory for the iPhone, but we believe core features like calls, voice control, messaging, etc. could be controlled via a Watch, implant, light field technology or other evolving technology, leaving the smartphone as we know it irrelevant. Therefore we believe that Apple’s foray into wearables via the Apple Watch may be more important in them figuring out how wearables will change the smartphone market than it is as an individual business line in the next couple of years." The Mac is a bigger part of Apple's business than the iPad, and it's growing. Munster thinks Apple can be a little more creative with the Mac as opposed to the iPad. The iPad is just a bigger iPhone, whereas the Mac is its own product. Emerging products are things that haven't even been rumored yet. Munster, because he's Munster, thinks Apple will eventually do something in television. " Fundamentally, we believe that Apple looks for areas in which they can deliver great experiences by marrying hardware and software. We believe television is the most obvious and most significant remaining market opportunity." But, if not television, then it has to be something else. Apple is always looking for the next major opportunity. More From Business Insider Why Bitcoin's Astonishing Price Collapse Doesn't Matter Why Apple Will Do A $200 Billion Cash-Return Program, According To Credit Suisse The CEO Of Sling TV Defends His Company's Radical Plan To Change TV Forever
| 2015-01-22 |
1,421,929,860 | 2015-01-22T12:31:00Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [17]}
|
Canada's Largest Bitcoin Exchange CAVIRTEX Integrates with Vogogo
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/canadas-largest-bitcoin-exchange-cavirtex-123100188.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
Vogogo also integrates two further exchangesBitcoin Brains & Taurus Exchange.
CALGARY, ALBERTA & PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA /ACCESSWIRE /JANUARY 22nd, 2015- Payment processing compliance & fraud mitigation specialistVogogo Inc.(TSX VENTURE:VGO) today announced signed contracts with Canada's largest bitcoin exchange,CAVIRTEXand two further exchangesBitcoin Brains&Taurus Exchange.
CAVIRTEX is Canada's first and largest bitcoin exchange. In its three years of operation, it has facilitated over $100 Million in trading between individuals, merchants, and market makers. In addition to being an exchange, CAVIRTEX offers merchant solutions, debit cards and prepaid Mastercards.
Bitcoin Brains is an innovative Calgary-based exchange and the first of its kind with a bricks and mortar store.
Vancouver-based Taurus exchange is a sophisticated trading platform utilizing multi-signature wallet technology to secure customer funds. The exchange operates on the USD and CAD markets.
It is expected that each of the exchanges will be fully integrated with Vogogo's payment processing and risk management platform enabling them to offer users of their respective exchanges seamless transactions between bitcoin and fiat currencies in the US and Canada, with EU processing expected to come online during Q1 of 2015.
Through the latter half of 2014 Vogogo prepared its payment processing and risk management platform to effectively service the crypto industry. Vogogo is now actively boarding new crypto based clients onto the Vogogo platform with anticipation of reaching commercial processing volumes during Q1, 2015.
Vogogo CEO Geoff Gordon said of the announcement, "Being the chosen provider of payment processing and risk management services by well established crypto-exchanges as well as the new and emerging players in the industry, I believe, speaks to our capabilities and reputation. We look forward to working with these teams and helping them to unlock new and lucrative markets during 2015."
"Our focus is making it easy for Canadians to seamlessly transition between bitcoin and the Canadian Dollar." said Joseph Onorati, CEO of CAVIRTEX. "As Canada's largest and most trusted digital currency exchange, we are always looking for services that enhance our offering. By integrating Vogogo with our platform we are making bitcoin more accessible to Canadians."
--ENDS--
AboutVogogo
Vogogo is a TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") publicly traded payment services company with integrated risk management and compliance. Founded in 2008, Vogogo designed, built andlaunched its web-based payment processing technology while growing its expertise in software development, payments, risk management, compliance and related financial services. Vogogo is now executing on its plan to serve global markets. The plan focuses on market opportunities where Vogogo believes it has a competitive advantage due to its positioning and technology.
For further company information please view theVogogo Media Kit
For information or interview please contact:
Geoff Gordon
Chief Executive Officer
403-648-9292
Rodney Thompson
Chief Relationship Officer
403-648-9292
AboutCAVIRTEX
CAVIRTEX is Canada's first and largest bitcoin exchange. In its three years of operation, CAVIRTEX has facilitated over $100 Million in trading between individuals, merchants, and market makers. In addition to being an exchange, CAVIRTEX offers merchant solutions, debit cards and prepaid Mastercards. For more information about CAVIRTEX, please go towww.cavirtex.com.
AboutBitcoin Brains
Since 2013, Bitcoin Brains has been pioneering what can be done with bitcoin in a brick and mortar establishment. As the first store of its kind anywhere, Bitcoin Brains offers brokerage services, bitcoin mining equipment sales, rentals, setup and consulting as well as point of sale solutions for merchants and charities.
AboutTaurus Exchange
Taurus is an upcoming Canadian bitcoin exchange that will operate on the CAD market. It is based in Vancouver, Canada and is run by Founder and CEO Yuri Yerofeyev who has experience in bitcoin trading, business and customer service and is a director of The Bitcoin Co-op. The client-focused exchange runs on a sophisticated trading platform and utilizes the multi-signature wallet technology to secure customer funds.
READER ADVISORY
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
None of the information contained on, or connected to, Vogogo's website is incorporated by reference herein.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release contain forward-looking information including, without limitation, timing for integration of the Vogogo platform with CAVIRTEX, Bitcoin Brains and Taurus Exchange, expansion plans of Vogogo and anticipated dates for commercial trading volumes. The words "will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intent," "may," "project," "should," and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by Vogogo. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Vogogo. Vogogo does not have any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE:Vogogo Inc.
| 2015-01-22 |
1,421,955,032 | 2015-01-22T19:30:32Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1728]}
|
{}
|
Microsoft Proves It's Still An Innovator
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-proves-still-innovator-193032574.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT ) fired back at naysayers who claim the company has fallen behind peers like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL ) and Google Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG )(NASDAQ: GOOGL ) in the tech race by unveiling a new operating system and some very impressive hardware Wednesday. Related Link: Windows 10 Offers Chance To Reload On Microsoft If You Didn't Get In Before Windows 10 The company’s latest operating system, Windows 10, is expected to shift Microsoft’s business plan to make room for new devices and embrace the growing popularity of app purchases. The new system will be a free upgrade for many existing users, something that could cost the company as much as $500 million . However, Microsoft is looking to make up for the lost revenue as customers spend on apps and new hardware. The Future Is Here Speaking of hardware, the talk of the town on Wednesday was Microsoft’s latest gadget, a holographic visor. The visor is able to project lifelike 3D images of everything from the surface of Mars to a Skype call. Microsoft said the technology will be ready for mass markets in autumn when Windows 10 is released, but critics believe the company will need more time to prepare the device for the general public. As with all wearables, it remains to be seen whether or not people will be willing to wear the visor, but it is expected to be a popular addition to video games like Minecraft. Virtual reality technology is expected to become a major part of computing in the coming years and it looks like Microsoft will be the first to step into the new arena. See more from Benzinga For Investors, There Are Several Ways To Play The Personal Surveillance Trend 5 Companies To Watch As Music Streaming Explodes Is Bitcoin Poised For Success In 2015? © 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-22 |
1,421,989,835 | 2015-01-23T05:10:35Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [29]}
|
Winklevoss twins aim to take Bitcoin mainstream with a regulated exchange - NYT
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/winklevoss-twins-aim-bitcoin-mainstream-051035493.html
|
Reuters
|
https://www.reuters.com/
|
(Reuters) - Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are trying to firm up support by creating the first regulated Bitcoin exchange in the United States, dubbing it the "Nasdaq of Bitcoin", the New York Times reported. The investor twins have hired engineers from top hedge funds, enlisted a bank and engaged regulators with the aim of opening their exchange named Gemini in the coming months, the newspaper reported. Representatives at Winklevoss Capital could not be reached for comments outside regular business hours. The Winklevoss twins, who famously accused Facebook Inc founder Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea, have been seeking regulatory approval for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund. Bitcoin is a digital currency that, unlike conventional money, is bought and sold on a peer-to-peer network independent of central control. Bitcoin is not backed by a government or central bank and its value fluctuates according to demand by users. Users can transfer bitcoins to each other over the Internet and store the currency in digital "wallets." Last March, New York's financial services regulator Benjamin Lawsky said he wanted companies that want to operate virtual currency exchanges in the state to submit formal applications, in a step toward eventual state regulation of bitcoin exchanges. The New York regulator held two days of hearings with industry participants last January, including the Winklevoss brothers, and said he planned to issue "BitLicenses" to virtual currency firms. (Reporting by Supriya Kurane in Bengaluru) View comments
| 2015-01-23 |
1,422,040,468 | 2015-01-23T19:14:28Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Makes An Appearance At Davos
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-makes-appearance-davos-191428918.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
Although talk of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin was previously reserved for tech enthusiasts and speculators, the currency has made its way on to perhaps its largest stage yet— the World Economic Forum in Davos.
In 2014, the currency was only briefly mentioned at the forum by policy makers and central bankers, often in a negative light. But this year the currency’s growing popularity made it impossible to ignore as a talking point at the conference.
Blockchain Puts Bitcoin On The Map
Despite the currency’s dip to near $200 in recent weeks, excitement around the technology it is based on, blockchain, has exploded. Startups have begun to emerge touting the ability in incorporate blockchain’s ledger into a variety of industries and promoting the use of bitcoin for the average person.
Bitcoin At Davos
Economists and central bankers have begun to take notice and made bitcoin and cryptocurrencies the topic of a Friday seminar titled “From Bucks To Bitcoins."
Related Link:Blockchain Spreads Its Wings
The talk is expected to review how far the currency has come and how it might affect financial services and consumer behavior. Enthusiasts of the currency say the talk at Davos is a big step towards integrating the digital currency into mainstream use.
Davos attendees also have the opportunity to understand how bitcoin is used first hand. The digital currency is being accepted as a valid form of payment at many retailers in the area while the conference takes place.
See more from Benzinga
• Comcast Sees A Rocky Road Ahead
• Blockchain Spreads Its Wings
• The Marijuana Market Is Expanding: Here Are A Couple Ways To Get Involved
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-23 |
1,421,992,293 | 2015-01-23T05:51:33Z |
{"Bitcoin": [101, 166, 717, 857]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [29]}
|
Winklevoss twins aim to take Bitcoin mainstream with a regulated exchange - NYT
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/winklevoss-twins-aim-bitcoin-mainstream-055133011.html
|
Reuters
|
https://www.reuters.com/
|
REUTERS - Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are trying to firm up support by creating the first regulated Bitcoin exchange in the United States, dubbing it the "Nasdaq of Bitcoin", the New York Times reported. The investor twins have hired engineers from top hedge funds, enlisted a bank and engaged regulators with the aim of opening their exchange named Gemini in the coming months, the newspaper reported. ( http://nyti.ms/1Jq2745 ) Representatives at Winklevoss Capital could not be reached for comments outside regular business hours. The Winklevoss twins, who famously accused Facebook Inc founder Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea, have been seeking regulatory approval for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund. Bitcoin is a digital currency that, unlike conventional money, is bought and sold on a peer-to-peer network independent of central control. Bitcoin is not backed by a government or central bank and its value fluctuates according to demand by users. Users can transfer bitcoins to each other over the Internet and store the currency in digital "wallets." Last March, New York's financial services regulator Benjamin Lawsky said he wanted companies that want to operate virtual currency exchanges in the state to submit formal applications, in a step toward eventual state regulation of bitcoin exchanges. The New York regulator held two days of hearings with industry participants last January, including the Winklevoss brothers, and said he planned to issue "BitLicenses" to virtual currency firms. (Reporting by Supriya Kurane in Bengaluru)
| 2015-01-23 |
1,422,038,413 | 2015-01-23T18:40:13Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1634]}
|
{}
|
Apple And Instagram Are Stomping Out Marijuana...But Should They?
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-instagram-stomping-marijuana-184013548.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
Apple Inc.(NASDAQ:AAPL) andFacebook Inc(NASDAQ:FB)'s Instagram are making life difficult for entrepreneurs with marijuana-related businesses.
BuzzFeedrecently detailed how Instagram deleted "dozens of cannabis-related accounts" over the past few months.
Meanwhile, Apple has been cracking down on apps that portray recreational use of the drug. These actions have frustrated men and women who use Instagram and the App Store to promote their marijuana-related products.
"Facebook is doing it because they don't know where the moral and legislative compass is," Kaiser Wahab, an attorney and partner atWahab & Medenica LLC, told Benzinga.
"They don't know if they're going to get into trouble. For example, if there's a bunch of kids smoking up, or a bunch of adults smoking up -- or a bunch of kids and adults smoking up -- and taking photos and something bad happens, Apple and Instagram are necessarily going to be part of the evidentiary chain."
Tech industry expert and analystJeff Kagan, meanwhile, thinks that Apple, Facebook and other tech giants and social media sites are "too big and too powerful to take a hands-off approach."
"It is their responsibility," Kagan told Benzinga.
"These are companies that provide these technologies that allow this kind of thing to happen. Whether they like it or not they play a role," he said.
"Whether it's a legal responsibility or whether it's a moral responsibility or just a PR responsibility, they're part of the mix and they have to be careful about their image. In certain markets it's not legal. And in certain markets it is."
Related Link: Which Is Worth Less: Marijuana Stocks, Bitcoin Or A Pile Of Dirt?
Problem Avoidance
Wahab gave a hypothetical scenario that explains why Apple, Instagram and other companies might ban those who promote marijuana use.
"There's a scenario: someone is smoking a lot of marijuana," said Wahab.
"They take photos of it. It turns out he's a dealer. Police are now regularly trolling and harvesting social accounts for all sorts of evidence: whereabouts, intent. [Suppose] the perpetrator said on Twitter that he wanted to hurt his girlfriend."
Police are also looking at the actual action. In Wahab's hypothetical example, the perpetrator had 15 bushels of pot in his apartment.
"He took a big picture with his cell phone and said, 'Hey, reach me here if you wanna get some,'" Wahab added. "Apple doesn't want to be in the middle of this and neither does Instagram. And they don't want to be in the middle of the [legal] debate either."
Disclosure:At the time of this writing, Louis Bedigian had no position in the equities mentioned in this report.
Image credit: Public Domain
See more from Benzinga
• Will Apple Rise On Record iPhone Sales Or Fall On Weak Apple Watch Guidance?
• The Secret To Apple's Ongoing Success
• Weekly Tech Highlights: Elon Musk's Risky Decision, Google's Snow Problem & Apple Watch Expectations
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-23 |
1,421,992,293 | 2015-01-23T05:51:33Z |
{"Bitcoin": [101, 166, 717, 857]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [29]}
|
Winklevoss twins aim to take Bitcoin mainstream with a regulated exchange - NYT
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/winklevoss-twins-aim-bitcoin-mainstream-055133011.html
|
Reuters
|
https://www.reuters.com/
|
REUTERS - Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are trying to firm up support by creating the first regulated Bitcoin exchange in the United States, dubbing it the "Nasdaq of Bitcoin", the New York Times reported. The investor twins have hired engineers from top hedge funds, enlisted a bank and engaged regulators with the aim of opening their exchange named Gemini in the coming months, the newspaper reported. ( http://nyti.ms/1Jq2745 ) Representatives at Winklevoss Capital could not be reached for comments outside regular business hours. The Winklevoss twins, who famously accused Facebook Inc founder Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea, have been seeking regulatory approval for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund. Bitcoin is a digital currency that, unlike conventional money, is bought and sold on a peer-to-peer network independent of central control. Bitcoin is not backed by a government or central bank and its value fluctuates according to demand by users. Users can transfer bitcoins to each other over the Internet and store the currency in digital "wallets." Last March, New York's financial services regulator Benjamin Lawsky said he wanted companies that want to operate virtual currency exchanges in the state to submit formal applications, in a step toward eventual state regulation of bitcoin exchanges. The New York regulator held two days of hearings with industry participants last January, including the Winklevoss brothers, and said he planned to issue "BitLicenses" to virtual currency firms. (Reporting by Supriya Kurane in Bengaluru)
| 2015-01-23 |
1,421,992,964 | 2015-01-23T06:02:44Z |
{"Bitcoin": [335, 640, 718]}
|
{}
|
PRESS DIGEST- New York Times business news - Jan 23
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/press-digest-york-times-business-060244102.html
|
Reuters
|
http://www.reuters.com/
|
Jan 23 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. * Federal officials vowed to make more of an experimental drug that showed promise in treating Ebola, but that project has moved slowly. ( http://nyti.ms/1CX1XPw ) * Bitcoin, the virtual currency that was once the talk of the financial world, has been taking a beating over the last year with the price tumbling downward. Now two of the biggest boosters of the virtual currency, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, are trying to firm up support by creating the first regulated Bitcoin exchange for American customers - what they are calling the Nasdaq of Bitcoin. ( http://nyti.ms/1Ckuctg ) * President Barack Obama is proposing a radical change to the 529 college savings plans held by millions of families, which would require those who use them to rethink their approach to college savings. As part of his plan to simplify the tax code and help the middle class, one of the 529 plan's most attractive benefits would be eliminated: Money could no longer be withdrawn tax-free. ( http://nyti.ms/1GEZRKa ) * BMW and Volkswagen AG announced a plan on Thursday to install 100 high-speed charging stations on busy corridors this year on the East and West Coasts, like Interstate 95 between here and Boston. The stations will be part of a fast-growing network run by ChargePoint, the nation's largest, and will be compatible with nearly all electric vehicles on the road. ( http://nyti.ms/1xHlIah ) * DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc said on Thursday that it would reduce its movie output and lay off 500 employees, or roughly 19 percent of its staff, a retrenchment that follows a string of box-office misfires and two failed merger attempts. ( http://nyti.ms/1AWEk7c ) * The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said that more than 100 former Wells Fargo & Co loan officers and half a dozen from JPMorgan Chase & Co accepted kickbacks, as part of a scheme to steer business to a now defunct title insurance company. The banks agreed to pay about $36 million. ( http://nyti.ms/15DcVzo ) * Online Storage Provider Box Inc will be valued at $1.7 billion when it begins trading on Friday, but concerns have been raised within Silicon Valley about the high-flying valuations that some technology darlings have fetched recently. ( http://nyti.ms/1yPZO7I ) * Hutchison Whampoa Ltd, one of the flagship companies of the Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, said on Friday it has agreed to enter exclusive talks to buy O2, the British cellphone carrier owned by the Spanish telecom giant Telefonica SA, in a deal worth roughly $15 billion. ( http://nyti.ms/1GF2njF ) Story continues * Amazon.com Inc has agreed to buy Annapurna Labs, an Israeli chip developer, for about $350 million, a spokeswoman for Amazon said on Thursday. ( http://nyti.ms/1t4sf23 ) * Shareholders in Family Dollar Stores Inc voted on Thursday to approve the retailer's $8.5 billion merger with Dollar Tree Inc, leaving the company's unwanted suitor, Dollar General Corp, on the losing side. ( http://nyti.ms/1JfHvNI ) (Compiled by Rama Venkat Raman in Bengaluru) View comments
| 2015-01-23 |
1,421,992,293 | 2015-01-23T05:51:33Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [29]}
|
Winklevoss twins aim to take Bitcoin mainstream with a regulated exchange - NYT
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/winklevoss-twins-aim-bitcoin-mainstream-055133011.html
|
Reuters
|
https://www.reuters.com/
|
REUTERS - Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are trying to firm up support by creating the first regulated Bitcoin exchange in the United States, dubbing it the "Nasdaq of Bitcoin", the New York Times reported. The investor twins have hired engineers from top hedge funds, enlisted a bank and engaged regulators with the aim of opening their exchange named Gemini in the coming months, the newspaper reported. ( http://nyti.ms/1Jq2745 ) Representatives at Winklevoss Capital could not be reached for comments outside regular business hours. The Winklevoss twins, who famously accused Facebook Inc founder Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea, have been seeking regulatory approval for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund. Bitcoin is a digital currency that, unlike conventional money, is bought and sold on a peer-to-peer network independent of central control. Bitcoin is not backed by a government or central bank and its value fluctuates according to demand by users. Users can transfer bitcoins to each other over the Internet and store the currency in digital "wallets." Last March, New York's financial services regulator Benjamin Lawsky said he wanted companies that want to operate virtual currency exchanges in the state to submit formal applications, in a step toward eventual state regulation of bitcoin exchanges. The New York regulator held two days of hearings with industry participants last January, including the Winklevoss brothers, and said he planned to issue "BitLicenses" to virtual currency firms. (Reporting by Supriya Kurane in Bengaluru)
| 2015-01-23 |
1,421,989,835 | 2015-01-23T05:10:35Z |
{"Bitcoin": [103, 168, 692, 832]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [29]}
|
Winklevoss twins aim to take Bitcoin mainstream with a regulated exchange - NYT
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/winklevoss-twins-aim-bitcoin-mainstream-051035493.html
|
Reuters
|
https://www.reuters.com/
|
(Reuters) - Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are trying to firm up support by creating the first regulated Bitcoin exchange in the United States, dubbing it the "Nasdaq of Bitcoin", the New York Times reported. The investor twins have hired engineers from top hedge funds, enlisted a bank and engaged regulators with the aim of opening their exchange named Gemini in the coming months, the newspaper reported. Representatives at Winklevoss Capital could not be reached for comments outside regular business hours. The Winklevoss twins, who famously accused Facebook Inc founder Mark Zuckerberg of stealing their idea, have been seeking regulatory approval for a bitcoin exchange-traded fund. Bitcoin is a digital currency that, unlike conventional money, is bought and sold on a peer-to-peer network independent of central control. Bitcoin is not backed by a government or central bank and its value fluctuates according to demand by users. Users can transfer bitcoins to each other over the Internet and store the currency in digital "wallets." Last March, New York's financial services regulator Benjamin Lawsky said he wanted companies that want to operate virtual currency exchanges in the state to submit formal applications, in a step toward eventual state regulation of bitcoin exchanges. The New York regulator held two days of hearings with industry participants last January, including the Winklevoss brothers, and said he planned to issue "BitLicenses" to virtual currency firms. (Reporting by Supriya Kurane in Bengaluru) View comments
| 2015-01-23 |
1,422,057,271 | 2015-01-23T23:54:31Z |
{"BTC": [2007]}
|
{}
|
4 ways to play the currency wars
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/4-ways-play-currency-wars-235431144.html
|
CNBC
|
http://www.cnbc.com/
|
The euro continues to tumble against the dollar (Exchange:EUR=) after the European Central Bank's decision to expand its stimulus program in the euro zone. The euro's slide deepens in a year when the dollar has floated higher against numerous currencies. "The best case you can hope for is a much, much lower euro, but in the short term, you're not going to get that because we've gotten so oversold," said CNBC "Fast Money" trader Brian Kelly. Read More Currency war: Who will be the casualties? With sharp currency movements mounting, uncertainty weighs on markets. "Fast Money" traders looked at plays in exchange-traded funds that would yield gains with choppy currencies. The iShares MSCI Germany ETF (NYSE Arca: EWG) caught Kelly's eye. He sees a short play in the index, which is linked to German equities and ended slightly lower on Friday."I think that Europe still continues to go down the recessionary path," Kelly said. Trader Tim Seymour also chose to play negative sentiment in Europe. Last week, he said to short the euro-linked Guggenheim CurrencyShares Euro Trust (NYSE Arca: FXE), and he said now may be the time to cover the euro short. Read More Currency expert: Euro going 'well below parity' Traders Steve Grasso and Guy Adami saw opportunity in commodities-linked ETFs. Grasso looked at the ProShares UltraShort Oil and Gas (NYSE Arca: DUG)."I think the dollar goes higher, the euro goes lower. I think oil goes lower as well," Grasso said. Adami touted the Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE Arca: GDX), as he believes miners will benefit as more investors turn to gold. Disclosures: Tim Seymour Tim Seymour is long AAPL, BAC, C, DIS, F, GE, GM, GOOGL, INTC, BX and SUNE. Tim's firm is long BABA, BIDU, CCU, DSKY, KNDI, MCD, NKE, NOK, SINA, SBUX, TSL and VIP.Steve Grasso Steve Grasso is long AAPL, BA, CLVS, EVGN, FB, GDX, GOOGL, IMMR, KBH, KDUS, MHY, MJNA, NVIV, PFE, POT, SO, T, TMUS, TWTR and YHOO. His kids are long EFG, EFA, EWJ, IJR and SPY. Brian Kelly Brian Kelly is long BTC=, Gold, US Dollar, HYG puts and TWTR call spreads. He is short EWA, EWG, EWQ, EWZ, EWH, EWW, HGH5, Yen, Australian Dollar, British Pound and Canadian Dollar.Guy AdamiGuy Adami is long CELG, EXAS and INTC. Guy Adami's wife, Linda Snow, works at Merck.
| 2015-01-23 |
1,422,053,347 | 2015-01-23T22:49:07Z |
{"BTC": [737]}
|
{}
|
Your first trade for Monday
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/first-trade-monday-january-26-224907425.html
|
CNBC
|
http://www.cnbc.com/
|
The " Fast Money " traders gave their final trades of the day. Tim Seymour was a buyer of UPS (UPS).Steve Grasso was a buyer ofLMT (LMT).Brian Kelly was a buyer of ATK. (ATK)Guy Adami was a buyer of COL. (COL) Trader disclosure: On January 23, 2015, the following stocks and commodities mentioned or intended to be mentioned on CNBC's "Fast Money" were owned by the "Fast Money" traders: Tim Seymour is long AAPL, BAC, C, DIS, F, GE, GM, GOOGL, INTC, BX, SUNE, Tim's firm is long BABA, BIDU, CCU, DSKY, KNDI, MCD, NKE, NOK, SINA, SBUX, TSL, VIP. Steve Grasso is long AAPL, BA, CLVS, EVGN, FB, GDX, GOOGL, IMMR, KBH, KDUS, MHY, MJNA, NVIV, PFE, POT, SO, T, TMUS, TWTR, YHOO, his kids are long EFG, EFA, EWJ, IJR, SPY. Brian Kelly is long BTC=, Gold, US Dollar, HYG puts, TWTR call spreads, he is short EWA, EWG, EWQ, EWZ, EWH, EWW, HGH5, Yen, Australian Dollar, British Pound, Canadian Dollar. Guy Adami is long CELG, EXAS, INTC, Guy Adami's wife, Linda Snow, works at Merck.
Raymond James' Analyst Aaron Kessler: His firm co-managed an initial public offering of the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. shares within the past 12 months. It also makes a market in shares of the Alibaba Group Holding Ltd.
| 2015-01-23 |
1,422,199,603 | 2015-01-25T15:26:43Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1549]}
|
{}
|
Obama Says Marijuana Legalization Will Be Left Up To State Governments
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/obama-says-marijuana-legalization-left-152643718.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
In an unprecedented interview conducted and broadcast via YouTube, U.S. President Barack Obama was pressed to give the public some insight into how his administration plans to move forward with the legalization of marijuana. His remarks were music to anyone involved in the industrys ears as the President seemed positive on the direction the market has taken. Federal Government Steps Back Obama said he expects to see more states follow suit on legalizing recreational marijuana sales as both Colorado and Washington state have done. He also remarked that the federal government plans to keep its distance from decisions made at the state level. State governments who decide to legalize the recreational or medicinal sale or use of the drug will not face scrutiny from the federal government, which still has laws classifying marijuana as an illegal substance. Shifting Point Of View The President went on to say that he thinks the governments view of marijuana needs to shift from a criminal problem to one of public health. Related Link: Will RadioShack Be The First Retailer To Go Bust In 2015? Obama compared marijuana use to that of tobacco or drunk driving, saying that the government should use its resources to treat the problem rather than criminalize it. In an effort to do so, Obama said his administration was reviewing how non-violent drug offenders are treated and addressing concerns that drug laws have been detrimental to minority groups. See more from Benzinga Long Awaited Eurozone QE Is Here, But Not Everyone Is Celebrating Bitcoin Makes An Appearance At Davos Comcast Sees A Rocky Road Ahead © 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-25 |
1,422,199,603 | 2015-01-25T15:26:43Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1552]}
|
{}
|
Obama Says Marijuana Legalization Will Be Left Up To State Governments
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/obama-says-marijuana-legalization-left-152643718.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
In an unprecedented interview conducted and broadcast via YouTube, U.S. President Barack Obama was pressed to give the public some insight into how his administration plans to move forward with the legalization of marijuana.
His remarks were music to anyone involved in the industry’s ears as the President seemed positive on the direction the market has taken.
Federal Government Steps Back
Obama said he expects to see more states follow suit on legalizing recreational marijuana sales as both Colorado and Washington state have done. He also remarked that the federal government plans to keep its distance from decisions made at the state level.
State governments who decide to legalize the recreational or medicinal sale or use of the drug will not face scrutiny from the federal government, which still has laws classifying marijuana as an illegal substance.
Shifting Point Of View
The President went on to say that he thinks the government’s view of marijuana needs to shift from a criminal problem to one of public health.
Related Link:Will RadioShack Be The First Retailer To Go Bust In 2015?
Obama compared marijuana use to that of tobacco or drunk driving, saying that the government should use its resources to treat the problem rather than criminalize it.
In an effort to do so, Obama said his administration was reviewing how non-violent drug offenders are treated and addressing concerns that drug laws have been detrimental to minority groups.
See more from Benzinga
• Long Awaited Eurozone QE Is Here, But Not Everyone Is Celebrating
• Bitcoin Makes An Appearance At Davos
• Comcast Sees A Rocky Road Ahead
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-25 |
1,422,290,244 | 2015-01-26T16:37:24Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1610]}
|
{}
|
Citigroup Downgrades Trinseo On Stronger Dollar, Chain Destocking
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/citigroup-downgrades-trinseo-stronger-dollar-163724739.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
P.J. Juvekar of Citigroup on Monday downgraded shares of Trinseo S.A. (NYSE: TSE ) to Neutral from Buy with a price target lowered to $17 from a previous $19 following commentary from Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE ) that it expects lower earnings due to a strong dollar and destocking in the chain. While Celanese doesn't compete with Trinseo, Celanese's comments are intrusive in our view, Juvekar wrote. Trinseo may benefit from lower raw materials in the near-term, but its product pricing is likely to follow with a one to two quarter lag as customers reduce inventory levels. According to Juvekar, Trinseo derives 60 percent of its sales from Europe, which is the highest exposure to the continent within the analyst's universe, followed by Axalta Coating Systems (NYSE: AXTA ) and Celanese. Juvekar also notes that Celanese's management noted destocking activity was prevalent in Europe and Asia. The analyst sees Trinseo's pricing activity will likely be pressured due to the pass-through of lower raw material costs. Juvekar notes that management provided guidance that its EBITDA is impacted by $1 million per year for every 1c change in the year. As such, the analyst is lowering his 2015 earnings per share estimate by 14 percent to $0.22 and EBITDA estimate by four percent to $13 million. Latest Ratings for TSE Jan 2015 Citigroup Maintains Neutral Jan 2015 Citigroup Downgrades Buy Neutral Jan 2015 Jefferies Maintains Buy View More Analyst Ratings for TSE View the Latest Analyst Ratings See more from Benzinga CNBC's Jon Fortt Doubts IBM Is Laying Off 100,000 Employees It's A Big Day For Bitcoin Pacific Crest Doesn't Expect EMC's Profit Recovery To Materialize Until 2016 © 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-26 |
1,422,303,368 | 2015-01-26T20:16:08Z |
{"Bitcoin": [21]}
|
{}
|
U.S. bitcoin exchange makes debut
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-bitcoin-exchange-makes-debut-201608906.html
|
Reuters
|
https://www.reuters.com/
|
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bitcoin payments processor Coinbase on Monday opened a regulated exchange in the United States for trading the virtual currency, the company said. Launched just days after Coinbase raised $75 million from blue-chip financial institutions such as the New York Stock Exchange, the Coinbase Exchange was meant to help stabilize the bitcoin network, which has no central regulator or overseer, the company said. Coinbase users in 24 states and U.S. territories can immediately trade on the exchange, which will charge no fees through March 30, according to a blog post by the San Francisco-based company. Details of the new exchange's volumes were not immediately available. The value of highly volatile bitcoin was up 5.2 percent on Monday afternoon at $265.49, according to Thomson Reuters data. (Reporting By Michael Connor; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
| 2015-01-26 |
1,422,285,120 | 2015-01-26T15:12:00Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [49]}
|
Coinbase Just Launched America's First Regulated Bitcoin Exchange
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coinbase-just-launched-americas-first-151208109.html
|
Entrepreneur
|
http://www.entrepreneur.com/
|
In a massive mainstream stride for bitcoin, Coinbase, a thriving San Francisco-based bitcoin services startup, today launched the first-ever regulatedbitcoin exchangein the U.S.
The popular bitcoin wallet provider and payments processor -- fresh off arecord-breaking Series C roundwith investments from the New York Stock Exchange, VC firms and large banks -- broke the historic news in theTheWall Street Journallate yesterday. The firm then formally announced its eponymous exchange, simply called Coinbase Exchange, this morning ina blog post.
The price of bitcoin neared $300 on the news overnight. It has since mellowed and is now trading around $279, according to the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index.
Related:New York Regulators Lay Out Tweaks to Bitcoin Rules
Following an aggressive five-month campaign, Coinbase’s founders said that they successfully acquired “regulatory approval” from financial regulators in 24 U.S. states, including New York and California. Coinbase is working on winning approval in additional states as well.
“Our goal is to become the world’s largest exchange,” Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong told theJournal. In its blog post announcement, the company said it also aims to “bring stability and trust to the exchange space,” both of which aren’t in ample supply in the public following the fall of Mt. Gox and a rash of recent hacking incidents at several exchanges.
Coinbase’s global reach is already considerably expansive, having recently extending its bitcoin exchange services throughout 19 European countries. On the heels of its massive global expansion, the nearly three-year-old company hired former Senate adviser John G. Collins todrive public policyaround the controversial cryptocurrency.
Related:Bitcoin Named Worst-Performing Currency of 2014
“Coinbase will bring more stability to the bitcoin ecosystem and secure bitcoin trading for U.S.-based customers,” a Coinbase representative toldEntrepreneur. She also said SecondMarket, an online platform where private company stock can be traded, is already trading on the exchange and that Coinbase users in the 24 states that supportUSD walletscan begin trading immediately.
To stoke early adoption, Coinbase is offering customers two months of free trades. After March 30, exchanges will include a 0.25 percent commission fee.
Armstrong and Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam beat Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in the race to create the first-ever regulated Bitcoin exchange for American customers. The twin brothers, famous for their falling out with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, only last weekrevealed their plansto build a Bitcoin exchange fittingly called Gemini.
Related:Operator of Bitcoin Stock Exchange Penalized By the SEC
| 2015-01-26 |
1,422,303,127 | 2015-01-26T20:12:07Z |
{"Bitcoin": [29]}
|
{}
|
U.S. bitcoin exchange makes debut
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-bitcoin-exchange-makes-debut-201207681.html
|
Reuters
|
http://www.reuters.com/
|
NEW YORK, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Bitcoin payments processor Coinbase on Monday opened a regulated exchange in the United States for trading the virtual currency, the company said.
Launched just days after Coinbase raised $75 million from blue-chip financial institutions such as the New York Stock Exchange, the Coinbase Exchange was meant to help stabilize the bitcoin network, which has no central regulator or overseer, the company said.
Coinbase users in 24 states and U.S. territories can immediately trade on the exchange, which will charge no fees through March 30, according to a blog post by the San Francisco-based company.
Details of the new exchange's volumes were not immediately available. The value of highly volatile bitcoin was up 5.2 percent on Monday afternoon at $265.49, according to Thomson Reuters data.
(Reporting By Michael Connor; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
| 2015-01-26 |
1,422,303,368 | 2015-01-26T20:16:08Z |
{"Bitcoin": [21]}
|
{}
|
U.S. bitcoin exchange makes debut
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/u-bitcoin-exchange-makes-debut-201608906.html
|
Reuters
|
https://www.reuters.com/
|
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bitcoin payments processor Coinbase on Monday opened a regulated exchange in the United States for trading the virtual currency, the company said. Launched just days after Coinbase raised $75 million from blue-chip financial institutions such as the New York Stock Exchange, the Coinbase Exchange was meant to help stabilize the bitcoin network, which has no central regulator or overseer, the company said. Coinbase users in 24 states and U.S. territories can immediately trade on the exchange, which will charge no fees through March 30, according to a blog post by the San Francisco-based company. Details of the new exchange's volumes were not immediately available. The value of highly volatile bitcoin was up 5.2 percent on Monday afternoon at $265.49, according to Thomson Reuters data. (Reporting By Michael Connor; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
| 2015-01-26 |
1,422,285,120 | 2015-01-26T15:12:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [682, 749, 1752, 2459, 2632, 2694]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [49]}
|
Coinbase Just Launched America's First Regulated Bitcoin Exchange
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coinbase-just-launched-americas-first-151208109.html
|
Entrepreneur
|
http://www.entrepreneur.com/
|
In a massive mainstream stride for bitcoin, Coinbase, a thriving San Francisco-based bitcoin services startup, today launched the first-ever regulatedbitcoin exchangein the U.S.
The popular bitcoin wallet provider and payments processor -- fresh off arecord-breaking Series C roundwith investments from the New York Stock Exchange, VC firms and large banks -- broke the historic news in theTheWall Street Journallate yesterday. The firm then formally announced its eponymous exchange, simply called Coinbase Exchange, this morning ina blog post.
The price of bitcoin neared $300 on the news overnight. It has since mellowed and is now trading around $279, according to the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index.
Related:New York Regulators Lay Out Tweaks to Bitcoin Rules
Following an aggressive five-month campaign, Coinbase’s founders said that they successfully acquired “regulatory approval” from financial regulators in 24 U.S. states, including New York and California. Coinbase is working on winning approval in additional states as well.
“Our goal is to become the world’s largest exchange,” Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong told theJournal. In its blog post announcement, the company said it also aims to “bring stability and trust to the exchange space,” both of which aren’t in ample supply in the public following the fall of Mt. Gox and a rash of recent hacking incidents at several exchanges.
Coinbase’s global reach is already considerably expansive, having recently extending its bitcoin exchange services throughout 19 European countries. On the heels of its massive global expansion, the nearly three-year-old company hired former Senate adviser John G. Collins todrive public policyaround the controversial cryptocurrency.
Related:Bitcoin Named Worst-Performing Currency of 2014
“Coinbase will bring more stability to the bitcoin ecosystem and secure bitcoin trading for U.S.-based customers,” a Coinbase representative toldEntrepreneur. She also said SecondMarket, an online platform where private company stock can be traded, is already trading on the exchange and that Coinbase users in the 24 states that supportUSD walletscan begin trading immediately.
To stoke early adoption, Coinbase is offering customers two months of free trades. After March 30, exchanges will include a 0.25 percent commission fee.
Armstrong and Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam beat Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in the race to create the first-ever regulated Bitcoin exchange for American customers. The twin brothers, famous for their falling out with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, only last weekrevealed their plansto build a Bitcoin exchange fittingly called Gemini.
Related:Operator of Bitcoin Stock Exchange Penalized By the SEC
| 2015-01-26 |
1,422,285,120 | 2015-01-26T15:12:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [825, 893, 1917, 2628, 2803, 2866]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [49]}
|
Coinbase Just Launched America's First Regulated Bitcoin Exchange
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/coinbase-just-launched-americas-first-151208109.html
|
Entrepreneur
|
http://www.entrepreneur.com/
|
In a massive mainstream stride for bitcoin, Coinbase, a thriving San Francisco-based bitcoin services startup, today launched the first-ever regulated bitcoin exchange in the U.S. The popular bitcoin wallet provider and payments processor -- fresh off a record-breaking Series C round with investments from the New York Stock Exchange, VC firms and large banks -- broke the historic news in the The Wall Street Journal late yesterday. The firm then formally announced its eponymous exchange, simply called Coinbase Exchange, this morning in a blog post . Coinbase Exchange open for trading http://t.co/nG1zriOBjz #bitcoin pic.twitter.com/r2qLQTxoyc — Coinbase (@coinbase) January 26, 2015 The price of bitcoin neared $300 on the news overnight. It has since mellowed and is now trading around $279, according to the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index. Related: New York Regulators Lay Out Tweaks to Bitcoin Rules Following an aggressive five-month campaign, Coinbase’s founders said that they successfully acquired “regulatory approval” from financial regulators in 24 U.S. states, including New York and California. Coinbase is working on winning approval in additional states as well. “Our goal is to become the world’s largest exchange,” Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong told the Journal . In its blog post announcement, the company said it also aims to “bring stability and trust to the exchange space,” both of which aren’t in ample supply in the public following the fall of Mt. Gox and a rash of recent hacking incidents at several exchanges. Coinbase’s global reach is already considerably expansive, having recently extending its bitcoin exchange services throughout 19 European countries. On the heels of its massive global expansion, the nearly three-year-old company hired former Senate adviser John G. Collins to drive public policy around the controversial cryptocurrency. Story continues Related: Bitcoin Named Worst-Performing Currency of 2014 “Coinbase will bring more stability to the bitcoin ecosystem and secure bitcoin trading for U.S.-based customers,” a Coinbase representative told Entrepreneur . She also said SecondMarket, an online platform where private company stock can be traded, is already trading on the exchange and that Coinbase users in the 24 states that support USD wallets can begin trading immediately. To stoke early adoption, Coinbase is offering customers two months of free trades. After March 30, exchanges will include a 0.25 percent commission fee. Armstrong and Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam beat Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss in the race to create the first-ever regulated Bitcoin exchange for American customers. The twin brothers, famous for their falling out with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, only last week revealed their plans to build a Bitcoin exchange fittingly called Gemini. Related: Operator of Bitcoin Stock Exchange Penalized By the SEC
| 2015-01-26 |
1,422,290,244 | 2015-01-26T16:37:24Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1706]}
|
{}
|
Citigroup Downgrades Trinseo On Stronger Dollar, Chain Destocking
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/citigroup-downgrades-trinseo-stronger-dollar-163724739.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
P.J. Juvekar of Citigroup on Monday downgraded shares ofTrinseo S.A.(NYSE:TSE) to Neutral from Buy with a price target lowered to $17 from a previous $19 following commentary fromCelanese Corporation(NYSE:CE) that it expects lower earnings due to a strong dollar and destocking in the chain.
“While Celanese doesn't compete with Trinseo, Celanese's comments are intrusive in our view,” Juvekar wrote. “Trinseo may benefit from lower raw materials in the near-term, but its product pricing is likely to follow with a one to two quarter lag as customers reduce inventory levels.”
According to Juvekar, Trinseo derives 60 percent of its sales from Europe, which is the highest exposure to the continent within the analyst's universe, followed byAxalta Coating Systems(NYSE:AXTA) and Celanese.
Juvekar also notes that Celanese's management noted destocking activity was prevalent in Europe and Asia. The analyst sees Trinseo's pricing activity will likely be pressured due to the pass-through of lower raw material costs.
Juvekar notes that management provided guidance that its EBITDA is impacted by $1 million per year for every 1c change in the year. As such, the analyst is lowering his 2015 earnings per share estimate by 14 percent to $0.22 and EBITDA estimate by four percent to $13 million.
Latest Ratings for TSE
[{"Jan 2015": "Jan 2015", "Citigroup": "Citigroup", "Maintains": "Downgrades", "": "Buy", "Neutral": "Neutral"}, {"Jan 2015": "Jan 2015", "Citigroup": "Jefferies", "Maintains": "Maintains", "": "", "Neutral": "Buy"}]
View More Analyst Ratings for TSEView the Latest Analyst Ratings
See more from Benzinga
• CNBC's Jon Fortt Doubts IBM Is Laying Off 100,000 Employees
• It's A Big Day For Bitcoin
• Pacific Crest Doesn't Expect EMC's Profit Recovery To Materialize Until 2016
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-26 |
1,422,286,883 | 2015-01-26T15:41:23Z |
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [19]}
|
It's A Big Day For Bitcoin
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-day-bitcoin-154123015.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
Bitcoin history was made on Monday after the digital currency opened for trading on the first licensed U.S. exchange.
The bitcoin service provider Coinbase previously acted as a brokerage service for bitcoin users. On Monday, it began providing an exchange where individuals and institutions can trade bitcoin in real-time in a more secure environment.
Coinbase is backed by a $106 million investment from the New York Stock Exchange and various other financial service institutions – creating a more trustworthy exchange environment. This contrasts Mt. Gox, a popular bitcoin exchange in which many individuals saw their money disappear.
The exchange has already gained approval in 24 jurisdictions, including California and New York but plans to expand across the U.S. and internationally.
The price of one bitcoin was seen trading higher by nearly 10 percent at $278.69 Monday morning.
Image credit:Public Domain
See more from Benzinga
• Pacific Crest Doesn't Expect EMC's Profit Recovery To Materialize Until 2016
• Why Shares Of Rockwell Medical Are Up Huge
• Wedbush Sees Amazon Reporting Share Gains In Q4 That Were Likely Offset By Record Spending
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-26 |
1,422,286,883 | 2015-01-26T15:41:23Z |
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [19]}
|
It's A Big Day For Bitcoin
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/big-day-bitcoin-154123015.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
Bitcoin history was made on Monday after the digital currency opened for trading on the first licensed U.S. exchange. The bitcoin service provider Coinbase previously acted as a brokerage service for bitcoin users. On Monday, it began providing an exchange where individuals and institutions can trade bitcoin in real-time in a more secure environment. Coinbase is backed by a $106 million investment from the New York Stock Exchange and various other financial service institutions creating a more trustworthy exchange environment. This contrasts Mt. Gox, a popular bitcoin exchange in which many individuals saw their money disappear. The exchange has already gained approval in 24 jurisdictions, including California and New York but plans to expand across the U.S. and internationally. The price of one bitcoin was seen trading higher by nearly 10 percent at $278.69 Monday morning. Image credit: Public Domain See more from Benzinga Pacific Crest Doesn't Expect EMC's Profit Recovery To Materialize Until 2016 Why Shares Of Rockwell Medical Are Up Huge Wedbush Sees Amazon Reporting Share Gains In Q4 That Were Likely Offset By Record Spending © 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-26 |
1,422,378,027 | 2015-01-27T17:00:27Z |
{"Bitcoin": [3215]}
|
{}
|
Investors back startup that sells offgrid battery & solar panels
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/investors-back-startup-sells-offgrid-170027523.html
|
Gigaom
|
http://gigaom.com/
|
Batteries paired with solar panels aren’t justintriguing customers in the U.S., Europe and Japan looking to ditch their utilities. People are slowly adopting batteries and solar panels in offgrid markets, too, using their cell phones to make reoccurring micropayments and using solar energy to replace kerosene lanterns.
This week startupFenix International— which is based in San Francisco and Kampala, Uganda, and was founded in 2009 — announced that it has raised a Series B round of $12.6 million to get its battery and solar panel product into the hands of more customers. Fenixemerged from stealthin late 2010 with a plan to sell its lead acid battery product, which comes with a solar panel and other energy adapters, to customers in rural Africa.
Vodafone branded ReadySet charging cell phones.
The company struck deals with African telcoslike MTN in UgandaandVodafone in Tanzania for distribution. And alsoput its ReadySetbattery device on Kickstarter. If you’re interested in how it works you can read Gigaom writer Kevin Tofel’sreview of the ReadySet(I bought one, too).
One of the main hurdles to selling the battery product was that it cost between $150 to $199, which might not sound like a lot on Kickstarter, but for a customer in Uganda, it sure is. So more recently, in 2014, Fenix launched a mobile payment system in partnership with MTN that enables customers to pay for the battery and solar panels using cell phone payments over time.
Kevin Tofel uses a ReadySet to charge his iPad mini.
Fenix International’s CEO Mike Lin tells me that the company has now sold more than 25,000 solar systems to date, with more than 15,000 of those connected to their ReadyPay platform. Lin says they’ve recently started adding over 100 new households on ReadyPay solar each day.
This newer pay-as-you-go-solar service puts Fenix more in competition with companies like M-KOPA,a startup created by the early developersof Vodafone’s mobile payment system M-PESA. M-KOPA has sold pay-as-you-go solar products to100,000 customersand they’ve partnered with mobile carrier Safaricom. There’s alsoBritish startup Azuri Technologies, which has developed a cell phone solar payment system, and is also focused on rural Africa, andSimpa NetworksandMera Gao Powerthat are working in rural India.
Another startup called D.Lightsells offgrid solarproducts (like solar lanterns) and as of last year the company had sold six million devices, affecting the lives of about 29 million people. D.Light works with M-KOPA to sell pay-as-you-go solar panel systems for homes.
Fenix International’s ReadyPay solar system.
While the market for offgrid solar panels and battery systems is still small, it has a lot of promise and could grow dramatically in the future. The key to many of these markets is using mobile payments, partnering with local providers like telcos, and figuring out distribution.
Fenix has beenworking on this funding round since 2012, and investors include GDF Suez, Schneider Electric, Orange France Telecom, investors Tom Dinwoodie and Warner Philips, as well as others.
Image copyright Fenix International.
Related research and analysis from Gigaom Research:Subscriber content.Sign up for a free trial.
• Bitcoin: why digital currency is the future financial system
• What You Need to Know About the SoftBank-Sprint Merger
• New trends defining the new business intelligence landscape
More From paidContent.org
• Investors back startup that sells offgrid battery & solar panels
| 2015-01-27 |
1,422,383,348 | 2015-01-27T18:29:08Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1310]}
|
{}
|
Someone Just Hijacked Taylor Swift's Twitter and Instagram Accounts [UPDATE: Swift Has Responded]
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https://finance.yahoo.com/news/someone-just-hijacked-taylor-swifts-twitter-and-109314442684.html
|
Yahoo Tech
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https://www.yahoo.com/tech/
|
UPDATE : Taylor Swift has responded to the hacks in a post on her Tumblr page : "Well, now Im awake. My Twitter got hacked but dont worry, Twitter is deleting the hacker tweets and locking my account until they can figure out how this happened and get me new passwords." After regaining access to her Twitter account, Swift sent out this fireball : ORIGINAL STORY: Never a dull moment. Taylor Swifts Twitter account was broken into this afternoon, with her profile tweeting out to over 51 million fans that they should follow someone who claims to be the leader of Lizard Squad, the hacking group thats ostensibly behind this attack. Swift has the fourth largest account on Twitter, making this one of the higher-profile breaches that have occurred on the network. Tweets sent by the hacker were deleted within about 15 minutes, as Swift or Twitter itself seemingly recovered the account. Swifts Instagram account was broken into shortly thereafter, with the account posting a photo imploring her fans to follow someone else associated with the Twitter hack. She has over 20 million followers on Instagram. That account also appeared to be recovered after a few minutes, deleting the offending photo. The hackers also claimed to have stolen nude photos of Swift, which they would release for payment in Bitcoin. Chances are good these intrusions are high-tech hacks. A number of major Twitter users have fallen victim to phishing attacks over the past few years, eventually leading Twitter after much outcry to implement two-factor security. And while Swift has more followers than those who were hacked in the past, the intrusion on her social media accounts seemingly did far less damage: the Associated Press ' Twitter account was broken into back in 2013 , leading to a tweet about explosions in the White House that moved markets, despite being quickly proven false. (Twitter) (Twitter) (Twitter) More from theverge.com: I saw a rocket launch, and now Im in love with NASA The 9 biggest announcements from Microsofts Windows 10 event last week Exclusive: politicians are supporting Comcasts TWC merger with letters ghostwritten by Comcast WhatsApp launches a web client for Chrome and Android
| 2015-01-27 |
1,422,383,348 | 2015-01-27T18:29:08Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1310]}
|
{}
|
Someone Just Hijacked Taylor Swift's Twitter and Instagram Accounts [UPDATE: Swift Has Responded]
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/someone-just-hijacked-taylor-swifts-twitter-and-109314442684.html
|
Yahoo Tech
|
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/
|
UPDATE : Taylor Swift has responded to the hacks in a post on her Tumblr page : "Well, now Im awake. My Twitter got hacked but dont worry, Twitter is deleting the hacker tweets and locking my account until they can figure out how this happened and get me new passwords." After regaining access to her Twitter account, Swift sent out this fireball : ORIGINAL STORY: Never a dull moment. Taylor Swifts Twitter account was broken into this afternoon, with her profile tweeting out to over 51 million fans that they should follow someone who claims to be the leader of Lizard Squad, the hacking group thats ostensibly behind this attack. Swift has the fourth largest account on Twitter, making this one of the higher-profile breaches that have occurred on the network. Tweets sent by the hacker were deleted within about 15 minutes, as Swift or Twitter itself seemingly recovered the account. Swifts Instagram account was broken into shortly thereafter, with the account posting a photo imploring her fans to follow someone else associated with the Twitter hack. She has over 20 million followers on Instagram. That account also appeared to be recovered after a few minutes, deleting the offending photo. The hackers also claimed to have stolen nude photos of Swift, which they would release for payment in Bitcoin. Chances are good these intrusions are high-tech hacks. A number of major Twitter users have fallen victim to phishing attacks over the past few years, eventually leading Twitter after much outcry to implement two-factor security. And while Swift has more followers than those who were hacked in the past, the intrusion on her social media accounts seemingly did far less damage: the Associated Press ' Twitter account was broken into back in 2013 , leading to a tweet about explosions in the White House that moved markets, despite being quickly proven false. (Twitter) (Twitter) (Twitter) More from theverge.com: I saw a rocket launch, and now Im in love with NASA The 9 biggest announcements from Microsofts Windows 10 event last week Exclusive: politicians are supporting Comcasts TWC merger with letters ghostwritten by Comcast WhatsApp launches a web client for Chrome and Android
| 2015-01-27 |
1,422,359,743 | 2015-01-27T11:55:43Z |
{"BTC": [2119, 2329]}
|
{}
|
Oil Prices Changing the Face of Global Geopolitics
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/oil-prices-changing-face-global-115543385.html
|
24/7 Wall St.
|
http://247wallst.com
|
By Andrew Topf for Oilprice.com In a documentary that aired recently on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's popular The Fifth Estate program, an allegory of Vladimir Putin was presented. The wily Russian president was described growing up in a shabby St. Petersburg apartment, where he would often corner rats. Now, punished by low oil prices and Western sanctions against Russian incursions in Ukraine/ Crimea, Putin is himself the cornered rat. Many wonder, and fear, what he will do if conditions in Russia become increasingly desperate. In the last six months oil prices have plunged over 50 percent and the Russian economy is hurting. The country now faces slowing economic growth, a depressed ruble, and runaway inflation estimated to be up to 150 percent on basic foodstuffs. ALSO READ: States Where the Middle Class Is Dying The Kremlin is counting on austerity cuts to help balance its budget, which has revenues coming in at $45 billion lower than earlier projections. The exception, significantly, is defense. With the military exempted from the austerity plan, it begs the question of whether Putin will "play the nationalist card," such as he did in Crimea, in an effort to strengthen greater Russia during a period of economic weakness. Georgia on His Mind We are already seeing this to be the case. As Oilprice.com reported on Tuesday, Putin is set to absorb South Ossetia – Georgia's breakaway republic that declared itself independent in 1990. Under an agreement "intended to legalize South Ossetia's integration with Russia," Russia would invest 2.8 million rubles (US$50 million) to "fund the socio-economic development of South Ossetia," according to Agenda.GE, a Tbilisi-based news site. The situation is analogous to Crimea because, like Crimea, South Ossetia contains a significant Russian-speaking population with ties to the Motherland. If Putin succeeds in annexing the tiny province, it will be a real poke in the eye to the United States, which provoked Russia in the early 1990s by promoting construction of a pipeline between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Georgia. The BTC pipeline moves oil from Baku in Azerbaijan to Tbilisi in Georgia and then onward to Ceyhan on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Story continues ALSO READ: Merrill Lynch Has 5 Large Cap Energy Stocks to Buy Now BTC started operating in 2006. Then, two years later, Putin built his own pipeline to cut out Georgia. The South Ossetia pipeline run by Gazprom stretches 75 kilometers from South Ossetia to Russia. The current move on South Ossetia is a way for Russia to assert its energy independence in the face of Western sanctions and low oil prices. It comes as Russia announced plans to divert all of its natural gas crossing Ukraine to a route via Turkey. As Bloomberg reported last week, Gazprom will send 63 billion cubic meters through a proposed link under the Black Sea to Turkey – after the earlier South Stream pipeline, a $45-billion project that would have crossed Bulgaria, was scrapped by Russia amid opposition from the European Union. By sending the gas to Turkey and on to Europe via Greece, Gazprom is in effect sending Europe an ultimatum: build pipelines to European markets, or we will sell the gas to other customers. According to one observer, the proposed land grab in South Ossetia combined with the snub to Europe by shifting its gas to Turkey and bypassing Ukraine, is a classic Putin power play: "Russia is preparing to absorb a province of neighboring Georgia, and delivering an ultimatum to Europe that it could lose much of the Russian gas on which it relies," Steve LeVine writes in Quartz. "Putin has argued that the west is simply intent on ousting him and weakening Russia... Faced with these perceived attempts to undercut him and his country, Putin suggests that he has no choice but to pull around the wagons and stick it out. This could go on a long time." ALSO READ: Shake Shack Leads the Parade of IPOs Scheduled for Next Week Iran: Falling Oil Prices Spur Peace Dividend Some have speculated that the oil price crash was orchestrated by the Saudis, possibly in collusion with the United States and other Gulf states, to punish Iran, its main political and religious rival in the Middle East. Whether or not that is true, there is no denying the effects of a low oil price on Iran's economy. "Iran is already missing tens of billions of dollars in oil revenue due to Western sanctions and years of economic mismanagement under former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad," Bloomberg reported on Jan. 7. Like Russia, Iran is looking at spending cuts in next year's budget, which is based on an overly-optimistic $72 a barrel crude oil price. However, unlike Russia, which is "circling the wagons" and pulling further away from the West currently, the oil price drop could actually lead to more of a détente between Iran and Western countries. In a speech on Jan. 4, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran's economy "cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world," while at the same time, Iran's foreign minister was negotiating a nuclear deal that could see the lifting of UN sanctions, the Washington Post observed. ALSO READ: States With the Highest (and Lowest) Gas Taxes Then there is the cooperation between the West and Iran over the terrorist group ISIS. The National Post's J.L. Granatsein wrote in a column on Tuesday that Iran has deployed substantial numbers of its Revolutionary Guard elite Al Qods brigade into Iraq and Syria to fight ISIS, along with Western allies including the US, Britain, France and Canada. This is despite Iran's support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria's president Assad. "Politics makes strange bedfellows indeed, but not much can be stranger than this. Led by the Americans, hitherto the Great Satan to the Iranian leaders, the ties between the West and Iran are becoming tighter, each side reacting to the horrors of Islamist fundamentalism throughout the region," Granatsein writes. "The Iranians have been hurt by sanctions, and they are being wracked even more by the falling price of oil. Easing curbs on trade and Iranian banks may mitigate the effects of the oil price collapse." Venezuela Bracing for the Worst The other major loser in the oil price collapse, Venezuela, may not see such a positive outcome. Wracked by decades of economic mismanagement by Hugo Chávez, the South American oil producer was already struggling to pay its debts when new president Nicolás Maduro came to power. ALSO READ: Analyst Shows Why GE Likely to Keep Raising Its Dividend Now, with inflation running at 60 percent and lines forming outside state grocery stores for food and other basic supplies, Maduro faces the specter of serious social unrest if conditions do not improve. The country has some of the world's cheapest gasoline prices, but Maduro has refused to end fuel subsidies, fearing, no doubt, a repeat of widespread riots in 1989 that left hundreds dead after gasoline prices were allowed to rise. Venezuela is even more dependent than Russia on the price of oil, earning some 96 percent of its foreign currency from oil sales, putting Maduro in the untenable position of either borrowing more, despite crushing debts, or slashing spending: "With only $20 billion left in its reserves, and $50 billion in debt to China alone, Venezuela appears headed toward a choice between abandoning its oil giveaways and defaulting on its debts, or starving its own population to the point of revolt," according to the Washington Post. Related Articles The Worst States to Grow Old In The Best States to Grow Old In 5 Stocks Under $5 With Gigantic Potential Upside
| 2015-01-27 |
1,422,359,743 | 2015-01-27T11:55:43Z |
{"BTC": [2119, 2329]}
|
{}
|
Oil Prices Changing the Face of Global Geopolitics
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/oil-prices-changing-face-global-115543385.html
|
24/7 Wall St.
|
http://247wallst.com
|
By Andrew Topf for Oilprice.com In a documentary that aired recently on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's popular The Fifth Estate program, an allegory of Vladimir Putin was presented. The wily Russian president was described growing up in a shabby St. Petersburg apartment, where he would often corner rats. Now, punished by low oil prices and Western sanctions against Russian incursions in Ukraine/ Crimea, Putin is himself the cornered rat. Many wonder, and fear, what he will do if conditions in Russia become increasingly desperate. In the last six months oil prices have plunged over 50 percent and the Russian economy is hurting. The country now faces slowing economic growth, a depressed ruble, and runaway inflation estimated to be up to 150 percent on basic foodstuffs. ALSO READ: States Where the Middle Class Is Dying The Kremlin is counting on austerity cuts to help balance its budget, which has revenues coming in at $45 billion lower than earlier projections. The exception, significantly, is defense. With the military exempted from the austerity plan, it begs the question of whether Putin will "play the nationalist card," such as he did in Crimea, in an effort to strengthen greater Russia during a period of economic weakness. Georgia on His Mind We are already seeing this to be the case. As Oilprice.com reported on Tuesday, Putin is set to absorb South Ossetia – Georgia's breakaway republic that declared itself independent in 1990. Under an agreement "intended to legalize South Ossetia's integration with Russia," Russia would invest 2.8 million rubles (US$50 million) to "fund the socio-economic development of South Ossetia," according to Agenda.GE, a Tbilisi-based news site. The situation is analogous to Crimea because, like Crimea, South Ossetia contains a significant Russian-speaking population with ties to the Motherland. If Putin succeeds in annexing the tiny province, it will be a real poke in the eye to the United States, which provoked Russia in the early 1990s by promoting construction of a pipeline between the former Soviet republics of Azerbaijan and Georgia. The BTC pipeline moves oil from Baku in Azerbaijan to Tbilisi in Georgia and then onward to Ceyhan on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Story continues ALSO READ: Merrill Lynch Has 5 Large Cap Energy Stocks to Buy Now BTC started operating in 2006. Then, two years later, Putin built his own pipeline to cut out Georgia. The South Ossetia pipeline run by Gazprom stretches 75 kilometers from South Ossetia to Russia. The current move on South Ossetia is a way for Russia to assert its energy independence in the face of Western sanctions and low oil prices. It comes as Russia announced plans to divert all of its natural gas crossing Ukraine to a route via Turkey. As Bloomberg reported last week, Gazprom will send 63 billion cubic meters through a proposed link under the Black Sea to Turkey – after the earlier South Stream pipeline, a $45-billion project that would have crossed Bulgaria, was scrapped by Russia amid opposition from the European Union. By sending the gas to Turkey and on to Europe via Greece, Gazprom is in effect sending Europe an ultimatum: build pipelines to European markets, or we will sell the gas to other customers. According to one observer, the proposed land grab in South Ossetia combined with the snub to Europe by shifting its gas to Turkey and bypassing Ukraine, is a classic Putin power play: "Russia is preparing to absorb a province of neighboring Georgia, and delivering an ultimatum to Europe that it could lose much of the Russian gas on which it relies," Steve LeVine writes in Quartz. "Putin has argued that the west is simply intent on ousting him and weakening Russia... Faced with these perceived attempts to undercut him and his country, Putin suggests that he has no choice but to pull around the wagons and stick it out. This could go on a long time." ALSO READ: Shake Shack Leads the Parade of IPOs Scheduled for Next Week Iran: Falling Oil Prices Spur Peace Dividend Some have speculated that the oil price crash was orchestrated by the Saudis, possibly in collusion with the United States and other Gulf states, to punish Iran, its main political and religious rival in the Middle East. Whether or not that is true, there is no denying the effects of a low oil price on Iran's economy. "Iran is already missing tens of billions of dollars in oil revenue due to Western sanctions and years of economic mismanagement under former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad," Bloomberg reported on Jan. 7. Like Russia, Iran is looking at spending cuts in next year's budget, which is based on an overly-optimistic $72 a barrel crude oil price. However, unlike Russia, which is "circling the wagons" and pulling further away from the West currently, the oil price drop could actually lead to more of a détente between Iran and Western countries. In a speech on Jan. 4, President Hassan Rouhani said Iran's economy "cannot develop in isolation from the rest of the world," while at the same time, Iran's foreign minister was negotiating a nuclear deal that could see the lifting of UN sanctions, the Washington Post observed. ALSO READ: States With the Highest (and Lowest) Gas Taxes Then there is the cooperation between the West and Iran over the terrorist group ISIS. The National Post's J.L. Granatsein wrote in a column on Tuesday that Iran has deployed substantial numbers of its Revolutionary Guard elite Al Qods brigade into Iraq and Syria to fight ISIS, along with Western allies including the US, Britain, France and Canada. This is despite Iran's support for Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria's president Assad. "Politics makes strange bedfellows indeed, but not much can be stranger than this. Led by the Americans, hitherto the Great Satan to the Iranian leaders, the ties between the West and Iran are becoming tighter, each side reacting to the horrors of Islamist fundamentalism throughout the region," Granatsein writes. "The Iranians have been hurt by sanctions, and they are being wracked even more by the falling price of oil. Easing curbs on trade and Iranian banks may mitigate the effects of the oil price collapse." Venezuela Bracing for the Worst The other major loser in the oil price collapse, Venezuela, may not see such a positive outcome. Wracked by decades of economic mismanagement by Hugo Chávez, the South American oil producer was already struggling to pay its debts when new president Nicolás Maduro came to power. ALSO READ: Analyst Shows Why GE Likely to Keep Raising Its Dividend Now, with inflation running at 60 percent and lines forming outside state grocery stores for food and other basic supplies, Maduro faces the specter of serious social unrest if conditions do not improve. The country has some of the world's cheapest gasoline prices, but Maduro has refused to end fuel subsidies, fearing, no doubt, a repeat of widespread riots in 1989 that left hundreds dead after gasoline prices were allowed to rise. Venezuela is even more dependent than Russia on the price of oil, earning some 96 percent of its foreign currency from oil sales, putting Maduro in the untenable position of either borrowing more, despite crushing debts, or slashing spending: "With only $20 billion left in its reserves, and $50 billion in debt to China alone, Venezuela appears headed toward a choice between abandoning its oil giveaways and defaulting on its debts, or starving its own population to the point of revolt," according to the Washington Post. Related Articles The Worst States to Grow Old In The Best States to Grow Old In 5 Stocks Under $5 With Gigantic Potential Upside
| 2015-01-27 |
1,422,378,027 | 2015-01-27T17:00:27Z |
{"Bitcoin": [3260]}
|
{}
|
Investors back startup that sells offgrid battery & solar panels
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/investors-back-startup-sells-offgrid-170027523.html
|
Gigaom
|
http://gigaom.com/
|
Batteries paired with solar panels aren’t just intriguing customers in the U.S., Europe and Japan looking to ditch their utilities . People are slowly adopting batteries and solar panels in offgrid markets, too, using their cell phones to make reoccurring micropayments and using solar energy to replace kerosene lanterns. This week startup Fenix International — which is based in San Francisco and Kampala, Uganda, and was founded in 2009 — announced that it has raised a Series B round of $12.6 million to get its battery and solar panel product into the hands of more customers. Fenix emerged from stealth in late 2010 with a plan to sell its lead acid battery product, which comes with a solar panel and other energy adapters, to customers in rural Africa. Vodafone branded ReadySet charging cell phones. The company struck deals with African telcos like MTN in Uganda and Vodafone in Tanzania for distribution . And also put its ReadySet battery device on Kickstarter. If you’re interested in how it works you can read Gigaom writer Kevin Tofel’s review of the ReadySet (I bought one, too). One of the main hurdles to selling the battery product was that it cost between $150 to $199, which might not sound like a lot on Kickstarter, but for a customer in Uganda, it sure is. So more recently, in 2014, Fenix launched a mobile payment system in partnership with MTN that enables customers to pay for the battery and solar panels using cell phone payments over time. Kevin Tofel uses a ReadySet to charge his iPad mini. Fenix International’s CEO Mike Lin tells me that the company has now sold more than 25,000 solar systems to date, with more than 15,000 of those connected to their ReadyPay platform. Lin says they’ve recently started adding over 100 new households on ReadyPay solar each day. This newer pay-as-you-go-solar service puts Fenix more in competition with companies like M-KOPA, a startup created by the early developers of Vodafone’s mobile payment system M-PESA. M-KOPA has sold pay-as-you-go solar products to 100,000 customers and they’ve partnered with mobile carrier Safaricom. There’s also British startup Azuri Technologies , which has developed a cell phone solar payment system, and is also focused on rural Africa, and Simpa Networks and Mera Gao Power that are working in rural India. Story continues Another startup called D.Light sells offgrid solar products (like solar lanterns) and as of last year the company had sold six million devices, affecting the lives of about 29 million people. D.Light works with M-KOPA to sell pay-as-you-go solar panel systems for homes. Fenix International’s ReadyPay solar system. While the market for offgrid solar panels and battery systems is still small, it has a lot of promise and could grow dramatically in the future. The key to many of these markets is using mobile payments, partnering with local providers like telcos, and figuring out distribution. Fenix has been working on this funding round since 2012 , and investors include GDF Suez, Schneider Electric, Orange France Telecom, investors Tom Dinwoodie and Warner Philips, as well as others. Image copyright Fenix International. Related research and analysis from Gigaom Research: Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial . Bitcoin: why digital currency is the future financial system What You Need to Know About the SoftBank-Sprint Merger New trends defining the new business intelligence landscape More From paidContent.org Investors back startup that sells offgrid battery & solar panels
| 2015-01-27 |
1,422,471,550 | 2015-01-28T18:59:10Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Shop, Inc. Expands Mining Operations With New Facility and Launches Multi-Signature Security Solution to New Website
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-shop-inc-expands-mining-185910775.html
|
Marketwired
|
http://www.marketwired.com/
|
ARLINGTON, VA--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2015) - Bitcoin Shop, Inc. (OTCQB:BTCS) ("BTCS" or the "Company"), which is undertaking the build-out of a universal digital currency ecosystem, announced today that the Company secured a 83,000 square foot facility, about 1.4 times the size of a regulations NFL football field, to expand its mining operations. The Company also purchased from Spondoolies Tech Ltd. ("Spondoolies"), 100 S35 miners totaling 550 TH/s of hashing power, a 161% increase in its mining capacity, and anticipates having the newly purchased equipment online in two to four weeks, which would bring BTCS's total mining hash rate to 891 TH/s. Additionally, the operating costs (inclusive of power) at the new facility should be approximately 30% lower than our current facility. With minimal improvements, the new facility is anticipated to handle over 10 megawatts (mw) of power and can potentially house up to 40,000 TH/s of mining hardware. The Company launched a new website to demonstrate its planned services, which includes a new multi-signature secure bitcoin storage solution as a next step in the build-out of its universal ecosystem.
"We're seizing market opportunities created by the recent downturn in bitcoin price and expanding accordingly. At the current price of bitcoin, cost structure matters, and we believe we'll have one of the lowest cost mining operations in the industry," says BTCS CEO Charles Allen. Without any further expansion, the Company believes their mining efforts should yield at least 350 bitcoins in the first quarter of 2015. Additionally, the Company agreed to issue 250,000 shares of its common stock to Spondoolies as partial compensation for the equipment. Charles Kiser, the Company's Executive Vice President, voluntarily agreed to the redemption of 250,000 shares of his common stock for $2,500 such that the share issuance to Spondoolies will result in no additional dilution to the Company's public shareholders.
"We're thrilled to be working with Spondoolies as we seek to increase our capacity beyond 10,000 TH/s and 10 mw," said Allen. Spondoolies- CEO Guy Corem commented, "Mining hardware companies should be prepared for market changes as part of their strategy. At Spondoolies, we've anticipated a full range of market scenarios such as the current bitcoin price decline and volatility, and are pleased to partner with an innovative company like BTCS."
Along with the expansion of its mining operations, BTCS released a new website, which includes a beta version of a multi-signature secure bitcoin storage solution built on Gem.co's multi-signature security platform. The beta version of the storage solution is currently only accessible by invitation. Additionally, BTCS is the only strategic investor in Gem.
"It was clear to us that BTCS was focused on offering a bitcoin storage solution that was both innovative and secure, and we were thrilled they chose Gem's multi-sig platform to deliver this unique solution to their customers," said Gem CEO and Founder Micah Winkelspecht.
The Company has also released an updated corporate presentation which can be found here:http://investors.btcs.com/BTCS_Corporate_Presentation_January_2015.pdf.
About BTCS:BTCS plans to build a universal digital currency platform with the goal of enabling users to engage in the digital currency ecosystem through one point of access. We currently operate our public beta site (www.btcs.com) where consumers can purchase products using digital currency such as bitcoin, litecoin and dogecoin, by searching through a selection of over 250,000 items. We provide our customers competitive pricing options from 256 retailers through our "Intelligent Shopping Engine." All ecommerce customer orders are fulfilled by third party vendors. We plan to use our ecommerce platform as a customer on-ramp for a broader digital currency platform. We have been actively partnering with strategic digital currency companies who have technologies, services or products that are complementary to our business strategy by making investments in them and integrating with them.
Forward Looking Statements:Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, not limited to Risk Factors relating to its digital currency business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
| 2015-01-28 |
1,422,473,077 | 2015-01-28T19:24:37Z |
{"Bitcoin": [85, 149, 216, 989, 1199, 1735, 2094, 2334, 2614, 2691, 2791, 2878, 3584, 5152, 5287, 5783, 6220]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [20]}
|
Gem Announces Major Bitcoin Security Platform Expansion With Integration of Hardware Security Modules and Global Partnerships
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gem-announces-major-bitcoin-security-192437113.html
|
Marketwired
|
http://www.marketwired.com/
|
VENICE, CA--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2015) - Gem ( https://gem.co ), the Venice-based Bitcoin startup offering a multi-signature security platform to Bitcoin developers, today announced a major shift in the future of Bitcoin security with the deployment of custom Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) from payment security giant Thales e-Security, now offered as part of Gem's standard multi-sig wallet offering. These HSM devices, used to protect military encryption keys and other mission critical secrets, secure more than 80% of global payment transactions. They include FIPS-140-2 Level 3 hardware-certified security, a tamper-resistant physical security mechanism that prevents intruders from gaining access to, using, or modifying sensitive private keys held within the cryptographic module, and are designed to operate within high-volume enterprise deployments. "Our engineers worked closely with the hardware team at Thales for months to develop a custom solution specifically for the Bitcoin industry," said Gem CEO and Founder Micah Winkelspecht. "The payments industry has been using this hardware technology for years. But we looked at every HSM on the market to find one that could support Bitcoin wallets, and none of them could do it, so we built it ourselves. Thales really came through for us, and the level of enthusiasm they have for our growing industry is incredible." With over 40 years of experience securing sensitive information, Thales e-Security -- a division of the $11B aerospace and defense giant, the Thales Group (EPA: HO) -- protects data for 19 of the 20 largest banks in the world and over 3,000 financial institutions worldwide, making it the largest provider of key security to the payments industry. "Bitcoin represents a compelling opportunity for both new entrants and traditional members of the payments ecosystem. As providers of the most trusted and widely deployed HSMs in the world, we are excited to work closely with Gem in this rapidly evolving market," said Richard Moulds, VP of Product Strategy at Thales e-Security. "Gem's focus on comprehensive Bitcoin security, deep technical expertise, and collaborative attitude has enabled them to rapidly incorporate the use of our HSMs at the core of their solution. By taking advantage of unique capabilities of these machines, Gem is securing Bitcoin transactions in a way that matches and exceeds security best practices that are a pre-requisite in the payments industry." Story continues Just as Thales has become the most recognized and widely used security provider for global payment transactions, Gem seeks to be the Bitcoin security provider of choice for the next wave of developers building Bitcoin apps and products. Their API optimizes the developer experience by providing an easy to use Bitcoin security platform that doesn't sacrifice security for convenience. "We empower Bitcoin companies to build incredibly secure products and services with our multi-signature platform. By abstracting away the hard parts of blockchain development, we offer our developers the simplest way to get up and running, giving them expert security by default," said Gem COO and former PayPal executive, Ken Miller. "The additional steps we've taken to generate and secure all Gem keys within FIPS certified HSMs is a first of its kind, and signals to the industry how serious we are about securing blockchain technologies." Gem's customers are equally pleased about the new HSM offering. Bitmo, a US based mobile payments company focused on incentivizing consumers and merchants through a seamless Bitcoin payment experience, will now be integrating Gem wallets into their platform. And last week, South East Asia's first multi-currency bitcoin wallet provider CryptoSigma announced they would be using the Gem development platform to secure their wallets. Gem's progression into hardware security fortified each company's decision. "Addressing our customers' need for security and giving them full control and manageability of their coins is our number one priority," said CryptoSigma CEO Aaron Siwoku. "Gem's platform offers our customers the security and flexibility they desire and allows us to focus on providing a superior product and user experience. Their addition of HSMs to store and protect all Gem keys just further reinforced to us how seriously they take protecting cryptocurrency." Bitmo Founder Michael Smallwood added, "The decision to use Gem's multisig solution was a no-brainer for us. Not only was their API easy to integrate, but we felt great knowing that our funds would be secured by the strongest solution on the market. The news that Gem will now be securing keys inside of HSMs custom built for our industry was yet another reminder of why we made the right decision partnering with Gem." Key features of the HSM integration and partnership with Thales include: Physical security that includes the use of strong enclosures and tamper detection/response circuitry Support for BIP32 Hierarchical Deterministic (HD) key derivation Use of strong random number generated keys with the SECP256k1 elliptic curve to support interactions with the Bitcoin protocol "The year 2014 was all about multi-sig; now we're finally starting to see major adoption of that security standard by Bitcoin companies, and it's growing at an exponential pace," said Winkelspecht. "2015 is the year of hardware security. The great news is they work perfectly together... like peanut butter and jelly." For more information about Gem, please visit: https://gem.co Twitter: @GemHQ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gemhq LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gem-hq Github: https://github.com/gemhq Instagram: @GemHQ About Gem Gem, founded in 2014 by Micah Winkelspecht, is a simple and secure Bitcoin platform that allows developers to build feature-rich blockchain applications in minutes using less than ten lines of code. Gem's mission is to empower individuals to be sovereign over their own assets, starting with bitcoin. The Gem API leverages a host of security features such as multi-signature wallets, hardware security modules and multifactor authentication to provide an easy to use, comprehensive security solution for Bitcoin and blockchain apps, without ever taking possession of funds. Gem is located in Venice, CA.
| 2015-01-28 |
1,422,471,550 | 2015-01-28T18:59:10Z |
{"Bitcoin": [46]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Shop, Inc. Expands Mining Operations With New Facility and Launches Multi-Signature Security Solution to New Website
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-shop-inc-expands-mining-185910775.html
|
Marketwired
|
http://www.marketwired.com/
|
ARLINGTON, VA--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2015) - Bitcoin Shop, Inc. ( OTCQB : BTCS ) ("BTCS" or the "Company"), which is undertaking the build-out of a universal digital currency ecosystem, announced today that the Company secured a 83,000 square foot facility, about 1.4 times the size of a regulations NFL football field, to expand its mining operations. The Company also purchased from Spondoolies Tech Ltd. ("Spondoolies"), 100 S35 miners totaling 550 TH/s of hashing power, a 161% increase in its mining capacity, and anticipates having the newly purchased equipment online in two to four weeks, which would bring BTCS's total mining hash rate to 891 TH/s. Additionally, the operating costs (inclusive of power) at the new facility should be approximately 30% lower than our current facility. With minimal improvements, the new facility is anticipated to handle over 10 megawatts (mw) of power and can potentially house up to 40,000 TH/s of mining hardware. The Company launched a new website to demonstrate its planned services, which includes a new multi-signature secure bitcoin storage solution as a next step in the build-out of its universal ecosystem. "We're seizing market opportunities created by the recent downturn in bitcoin price and expanding accordingly. At the current price of bitcoin, cost structure matters, and we believe we'll have one of the lowest cost mining operations in the industry," says BTCS CEO Charles Allen. Without any further expansion, the Company believes their mining efforts should yield at least 350 bitcoins in the first quarter of 2015. Additionally, the Company agreed to issue 250,000 shares of its common stock to Spondoolies as partial compensation for the equipment. Charles Kiser, the Company's Executive Vice President, voluntarily agreed to the redemption of 250,000 shares of his common stock for $2,500 such that the share issuance to Spondoolies will result in no additional dilution to the Company's public shareholders. Story continues "We're thrilled to be working with Spondoolies as we seek to increase our capacity beyond 10,000 TH/s and 10 mw," said Allen. Spondoolies- CEO Guy Corem commented, "Mining hardware companies should be prepared for market changes as part of their strategy. At Spondoolies, we've anticipated a full range of market scenarios such as the current bitcoin price decline and volatility, and are pleased to partner with an innovative company like BTCS." Along with the expansion of its mining operations, BTCS released a new website, which includes a beta version of a multi-signature secure bitcoin storage solution built on Gem.co's multi-signature security platform. The beta version of the storage solution is currently only accessible by invitation. Additionally, BTCS is the only strategic investor in Gem. "It was clear to us that BTCS was focused on offering a bitcoin storage solution that was both innovative and secure, and we were thrilled they chose Gem's multi-sig platform to deliver this unique solution to their customers," said Gem CEO and Founder Micah Winkelspecht. The Company has also released an updated corporate presentation which can be found here: http://investors.btcs.com/BTCS_Corporate_Presentation_January_2015.pdf . About BTCS: BTCS plans to build a universal digital currency platform with the goal of enabling users to engage in the digital currency ecosystem through one point of access. We currently operate our public beta site ( www.btcs.com ) where consumers can purchase products using digital currency such as bitcoin, litecoin and dogecoin, by searching through a selection of over 250,000 items. We provide our customers competitive pricing options from 256 retailers through our "Intelligent Shopping Engine." All ecommerce customer orders are fulfilled by third party vendors. We plan to use our ecommerce platform as a customer on-ramp for a broader digital currency platform. We have been actively partnering with strategic digital currency companies who have technologies, services or products that are complementary to our business strategy by making investments in them and integrating with them. Forward Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, not limited to Risk Factors relating to its digital currency business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
| 2015-01-28 |
1,422,471,550 | 2015-01-28T18:59:10Z |
{"Bitcoin": [46]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin Shop, Inc. Expands Mining Operations With New Facility and Launches Multi-Signature Security Solution to New Website
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-shop-inc-expands-mining-185910775.html
|
Marketwired
|
http://www.marketwired.com/
|
ARLINGTON, VA--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2015) - Bitcoin Shop, Inc. (OTCQB:BTCS) ("BTCS" or the "Company"), which is undertaking the build-out of a universal digital currency ecosystem, announced today that the Company secured a 83,000 square foot facility, about 1.4 times the size of a regulations NFL football field, to expand its mining operations. The Company also purchased from Spondoolies Tech Ltd. ("Spondoolies"), 100 S35 miners totaling 550 TH/s of hashing power, a 161% increase in its mining capacity, and anticipates having the newly purchased equipment online in two to four weeks, which would bring BTCS's total mining hash rate to 891 TH/s. Additionally, the operating costs (inclusive of power) at the new facility should be approximately 30% lower than our current facility. With minimal improvements, the new facility is anticipated to handle over 10 megawatts (mw) of power and can potentially house up to 40,000 TH/s of mining hardware. The Company launched a new website to demonstrate its planned services, which includes a new multi-signature secure bitcoin storage solution as a next step in the build-out of its universal ecosystem.
"We're seizing market opportunities created by the recent downturn in bitcoin price and expanding accordingly. At the current price of bitcoin, cost structure matters, and we believe we'll have one of the lowest cost mining operations in the industry," says BTCS CEO Charles Allen. Without any further expansion, the Company believes their mining efforts should yield at least 350 bitcoins in the first quarter of 2015. Additionally, the Company agreed to issue 250,000 shares of its common stock to Spondoolies as partial compensation for the equipment. Charles Kiser, the Company's Executive Vice President, voluntarily agreed to the redemption of 250,000 shares of his common stock for $2,500 such that the share issuance to Spondoolies will result in no additional dilution to the Company's public shareholders.
"We're thrilled to be working with Spondoolies as we seek to increase our capacity beyond 10,000 TH/s and 10 mw," said Allen. Spondoolies- CEO Guy Corem commented, "Mining hardware companies should be prepared for market changes as part of their strategy. At Spondoolies, we've anticipated a full range of market scenarios such as the current bitcoin price decline and volatility, and are pleased to partner with an innovative company like BTCS."
Along with the expansion of its mining operations, BTCS released a new website, which includes a beta version of a multi-signature secure bitcoin storage solution built on Gem.co's multi-signature security platform. The beta version of the storage solution is currently only accessible by invitation. Additionally, BTCS is the only strategic investor in Gem.
"It was clear to us that BTCS was focused on offering a bitcoin storage solution that was both innovative and secure, and we were thrilled they chose Gem's multi-sig platform to deliver this unique solution to their customers," said Gem CEO and Founder Micah Winkelspecht.
The Company has also released an updated corporate presentation which can be found here:http://investors.btcs.com/BTCS_Corporate_Presentation_January_2015.pdf.
About BTCS:BTCS plans to build a universal digital currency platform with the goal of enabling users to engage in the digital currency ecosystem through one point of access. We currently operate our public beta site (www.btcs.com) where consumers can purchase products using digital currency such as bitcoin, litecoin and dogecoin, by searching through a selection of over 250,000 items. We provide our customers competitive pricing options from 256 retailers through our "Intelligent Shopping Engine." All ecommerce customer orders are fulfilled by third party vendors. We plan to use our ecommerce platform as a customer on-ramp for a broader digital currency platform. We have been actively partnering with strategic digital currency companies who have technologies, services or products that are complementary to our business strategy by making investments in them and integrating with them.
Forward Looking Statements:Certain statements in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Words such as "may," "might," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," "predict," "forecast," "project," "plan," "intend" or similar expressions, or statements regarding intent, belief, or current expectations, are forward-looking statements. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on any such forward-looking statements, which are based on information available to us on the date of this release. These forward looking statements are based upon current estimates and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, not limited to Risk Factors relating to its digital currency business contained therein. Thus, actual results could be materially different. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
| 2015-01-28 |
1,422,473,077 | 2015-01-28T19:24:37Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [20]}
|
Gem Announces Major Bitcoin Security Platform Expansion With Integration of Hardware Security Modules and Global Partnerships
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gem-announces-major-bitcoin-security-192437113.html
|
Marketwired
|
http://www.marketwired.com/
|
VENICE, CA--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2015) - Gem (https://gem.co), the Venice-based Bitcoin startup offering a multi-signature security platform to Bitcoin developers, today announced a major shift in the future of Bitcoin security with the deployment of custom Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) from payment security giant Thales e-Security, now offered as part of Gem's standard multi-sig wallet offering.
These HSM devices, used to protect military encryption keys and other mission critical secrets, secure more than 80% of global payment transactions. They include FIPS-140-2 Level 3 hardware-certified security, a tamper-resistant physical security mechanism that prevents intruders from gaining access to, using, or modifying sensitive private keys held within the cryptographic module, and are designed to operate within high-volume enterprise deployments.
"Our engineers worked closely with the hardware team at Thales for months to develop a custom solution specifically for the Bitcoin industry," said Gem CEO and Founder Micah Winkelspecht. "The payments industry has been using this hardware technology for years. But we looked at every HSM on the market to find one that could support Bitcoin wallets, and none of them could do it, so we built it ourselves. Thales really came through for us, and the level of enthusiasm they have for our growing industry is incredible."
With over 40 years of experience securing sensitive information, Thales e-Security -- a division of the $11B aerospace and defense giant, the Thales Group (EPA: HO) -- protects data for 19 of the 20 largest banks in the world and over 3,000 financial institutions worldwide, making it the largest provider of key security to the payments industry.
"Bitcoin represents a compelling opportunity for both new entrants and traditional members of the payments ecosystem. As providers of the most trusted and widely deployed HSMs in the world, we are excited to work closely with Gem in this rapidly evolving market," said Richard Moulds, VP of Product Strategy at Thales e-Security. "Gem's focus on comprehensive Bitcoin security, deep technical expertise, and collaborative attitude has enabled them to rapidly incorporate the use of our HSMs at the core of their solution. By taking advantage of unique capabilities of these machines, Gem is securing Bitcoin transactions in a way that matches and exceeds security best practices that are a pre-requisite in the payments industry."
Just as Thales has become the most recognized and widely used security provider for global payment transactions, Gem seeks to be the Bitcoin security provider of choice for the next wave of developers building Bitcoin apps and products. Their API optimizes the developer experience by providing an easy to use Bitcoin security platform that doesn't sacrifice security for convenience.
"We empower Bitcoin companies to build incredibly secure products and services with our multi-signature platform. By abstracting away the hard parts of blockchain development, we offer our developers the simplest way to get up and running, giving them expert security by default," said Gem COO and former PayPal executive, Ken Miller. "The additional steps we've taken to generate and secure all Gem keys within FIPS certified HSMs is a first of its kind, and signals to the industry how serious we are about securing blockchain technologies."
Gem's customers are equally pleased about the new HSM offering. Bitmo, a US based mobile payments company focused on incentivizing consumers and merchants through a seamless Bitcoin payment experience, will now be integrating Gem wallets into their platform. And last week, South East Asia's first multi-currency bitcoin wallet provider CryptoSigma announced they would be using the Gem development platform to secure their wallets. Gem's progression into hardware security fortified each company's decision.
"Addressing our customers' need for security and giving them full control and manageability of their coins is our number one priority," said CryptoSigma CEO Aaron Siwoku. "Gem's platform offers our customers the security and flexibility they desire and allows us to focus on providing a superior product and user experience. Their addition of HSMs to store and protect all Gem keys just further reinforced to us how seriously they take protecting cryptocurrency."
Bitmo Founder Michael Smallwood added, "The decision to use Gem's multisig solution was a no-brainer for us. Not only was their API easy to integrate, but we felt great knowing that our funds would be secured by the strongest solution on the market. The news that Gem will now be securing keys inside of HSMs custom built for our industry was yet another reminder of why we made the right decision partnering with Gem."
Key features of the HSM integration and partnership with Thales include:
• Physical security that includes the use of strong enclosures and tamper detection/response circuitry
• Support for BIP32 Hierarchical Deterministic (HD) key derivation
• Use of strong random number generated keys with the SECP256k1 elliptic curve to support interactions with the Bitcoin protocol
"The year 2014 was all about multi-sig; now we're finally starting to see major adoption of that security standard by Bitcoin companies, and it's growing at an exponential pace," said Winkelspecht. "2015 is the year of hardware security. The great news is they work perfectly together... like peanut butter and jelly."
For more information about Gem, please visit:https://gem.coTwitter: @GemHQFacebook:http://www.facebook.com/gemhqLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/gem-hqGithub:https://github.com/gemhqInstagram: @GemHQ
About GemGem, founded in 2014 by Micah Winkelspecht, is a simple and secure Bitcoin platform that allows developers to build feature-rich blockchain applications in minutes using less than ten lines of code. Gem's mission is to empower individuals to be sovereign over their own assets, starting with bitcoin. The Gem API leverages a host of security features such as multi-signature wallets, hardware security modules and multifactor authentication to provide an easy to use, comprehensive security solution for Bitcoin and blockchain apps, without ever taking possession of funds. Gem is located in Venice, CA.
| 2015-01-28 |
1,422,473,077 | 2015-01-28T19:24:37Z |
{"Bitcoin": [83, 147, 214, 987, 1197, 1733, 2092, 2332, 2596, 2673, 2773, 2860, 3566, 5140, 5275, 5761, 6198]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [20]}
|
Gem Announces Major Bitcoin Security Platform Expansion With Integration of Hardware Security Modules and Global Partnerships
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gem-announces-major-bitcoin-security-192437113.html
|
Marketwired
|
http://www.marketwired.com/
|
VENICE, CA--(Marketwired - Jan 28, 2015) - Gem (https://gem.co), the Venice-based Bitcoin startup offering a multi-signature security platform to Bitcoin developers, today announced a major shift in the future of Bitcoin security with the deployment of custom Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) from payment security giant Thales e-Security, now offered as part of Gem's standard multi-sig wallet offering.
These HSM devices, used to protect military encryption keys and other mission critical secrets, secure more than 80% of global payment transactions. They include FIPS-140-2 Level 3 hardware-certified security, a tamper-resistant physical security mechanism that prevents intruders from gaining access to, using, or modifying sensitive private keys held within the cryptographic module, and are designed to operate within high-volume enterprise deployments.
"Our engineers worked closely with the hardware team at Thales for months to develop a custom solution specifically for the Bitcoin industry," said Gem CEO and Founder Micah Winkelspecht. "The payments industry has been using this hardware technology for years. But we looked at every HSM on the market to find one that could support Bitcoin wallets, and none of them could do it, so we built it ourselves. Thales really came through for us, and the level of enthusiasm they have for our growing industry is incredible."
With over 40 years of experience securing sensitive information, Thales e-Security -- a division of the $11B aerospace and defense giant, the Thales Group (EPA: HO) -- protects data for 19 of the 20 largest banks in the world and over 3,000 financial institutions worldwide, making it the largest provider of key security to the payments industry.
"Bitcoin represents a compelling opportunity for both new entrants and traditional members of the payments ecosystem. As providers of the most trusted and widely deployed HSMs in the world, we are excited to work closely with Gem in this rapidly evolving market," said Richard Moulds, VP of Product Strategy at Thales e-Security. "Gem's focus on comprehensive Bitcoin security, deep technical expertise, and collaborative attitude has enabled them to rapidly incorporate the use of our HSMs at the core of their solution. By taking advantage of unique capabilities of these machines, Gem is securing Bitcoin transactions in a way that matches and exceeds security best practices that are a pre-requisite in the payments industry."
Just as Thales has become the most recognized and widely used security provider for global payment transactions, Gem seeks to be the Bitcoin security provider of choice for the next wave of developers building Bitcoin apps and products. Their API optimizes the developer experience by providing an easy to use Bitcoin security platform that doesn't sacrifice security for convenience.
"We empower Bitcoin companies to build incredibly secure products and services with our multi-signature platform. By abstracting away the hard parts of blockchain development, we offer our developers the simplest way to get up and running, giving them expert security by default," said Gem COO and former PayPal executive, Ken Miller. "The additional steps we've taken to generate and secure all Gem keys within FIPS certified HSMs is a first of its kind, and signals to the industry how serious we are about securing blockchain technologies."
Gem's customers are equally pleased about the new HSM offering. Bitmo, a US based mobile payments company focused on incentivizing consumers and merchants through a seamless Bitcoin payment experience, will now be integrating Gem wallets into their platform. And last week, South East Asia's first multi-currency bitcoin wallet provider CryptoSigma announced they would be using the Gem development platform to secure their wallets. Gem's progression into hardware security fortified each company's decision.
"Addressing our customers' need for security and giving them full control and manageability of their coins is our number one priority," said CryptoSigma CEO Aaron Siwoku. "Gem's platform offers our customers the security and flexibility they desire and allows us to focus on providing a superior product and user experience. Their addition of HSMs to store and protect all Gem keys just further reinforced to us how seriously they take protecting cryptocurrency."
Bitmo Founder Michael Smallwood added, "The decision to use Gem's multisig solution was a no-brainer for us. Not only was their API easy to integrate, but we felt great knowing that our funds would be secured by the strongest solution on the market. The news that Gem will now be securing keys inside of HSMs custom built for our industry was yet another reminder of why we made the right decision partnering with Gem."
Key features of the HSM integration and partnership with Thales include:
• Physical security that includes the use of strong enclosures and tamper detection/response circuitry
• Support for BIP32 Hierarchical Deterministic (HD) key derivation
• Use of strong random number generated keys with the SECP256k1 elliptic curve to support interactions with the Bitcoin protocol
"The year 2014 was all about multi-sig; now we're finally starting to see major adoption of that security standard by Bitcoin companies, and it's growing at an exponential pace," said Winkelspecht. "2015 is the year of hardware security. The great news is they work perfectly together... like peanut butter and jelly."
For more information about Gem, please visit:https://gem.coTwitter: @GemHQFacebook:http://www.facebook.com/gemhqLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/gem-hqGithub:https://github.com/gemhqInstagram: @GemHQ
About GemGem, founded in 2014 by Micah Winkelspecht, is a simple and secure Bitcoin platform that allows developers to build feature-rich blockchain applications in minutes using less than ten lines of code. Gem's mission is to empower individuals to be sovereign over their own assets, starting with bitcoin. The Gem API leverages a host of security features such as multi-signature wallets, hardware security modules and multifactor authentication to provide an easy to use, comprehensive security solution for Bitcoin and blockchain apps, without ever taking possession of funds. Gem is located in Venice, CA.
| 2015-01-28 |
1,422,549,866 | 2015-01-29T16:44:26Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1836]}
|
{}
|
Loretta Lynch Speaks Out Against Obama's Proposed Decriminalization Of Marijuana
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/loretta-lynch-speaks-against-obamas-164426758.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
President Barack Obama’s State of the Union and corresponding press tour painted a promising picture for the future of the marijuana industry.
The President said he could see several states following in the footsteps of Washington state and Colorado by legalizing the drug and also commented that his administration would consider decriminalizing marijuana usage and taking it off of the Schedule 1 list of banned substances.
His remarks fell in-line with rising opinion polls that favor the legalization and decriminalization of recreational marijuana and spurred on speculation that the industry will continue to grow in the coming decade.
However, it seems that not everyone in Washington is on the same page.
In herconfirmation hearingon Wednesday, Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch voiced her disagreement with Obama’s view on marijuana legalization, saying that if she is confirmed she will push to maintain the drug’s illegal status.
Her comments were a blow to those hoping to see cannabis reclassified in the coming year as more and more states opt to legalize it.
The US military is also maintaining its stance against drug use; and military law still prohibits the use of marijuana among military personnel even in states where the drug has been made legal.
Related Link:15 Marijuana Stocks To Watch In 2015
On Wednesday, a military base in Seattle sent letters to surrounding retailers warning that allowing military personnel to enter the store or buy cannabis products was against the law.
The warning has received mixed results from retailers who say that they have no way of identifying those who are part of the military if they are wearing civilian clothes.
See more from Benzinga
• Facebook Has New Competition From Amazon In The Workplace
• Greece PM Alexis Tsipras Comes Out Swinging On Second Day In Office
• Bitcoin's Bumpy Ride This Week Isn't Deterring Optimism
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-29 |
1,422,553,177 | 2015-01-29T17:39:37Z |
{"Bitcoin": [0, 677, 1716, 2119, 2365]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin just getting started and its potential is "almost unimaginably broad"
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-just-getting-started-and-its-potential-is--almost-unimaginably-broad---vigna-173938646.html
|
Yahoo Finance
|
http://finance.yahoo.com/
|
Bitcoin is an "exciting new technology" but Bill Gates doesn't think it's a proper tool for the world's roughly 2.5 billion 'unbanked' poor. "We don't use bitcoin specifically for two reasons," Gates said Wednesday during a Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' session. "One is that the poor shouldn't have a currency whose value goes up and down a lot compared to their local currency. Second is that if a mistake is made in who you pay then you need to be able to reverse it so anonymity wouldn't work." Those are "valid criticisms," according to Wall Street Journal reporter Paul Vigna, but should not detract from bitcoin's huge potential to fundamentally change the world of finance. Bitcoin is "one of the most powerful innovations in finance in the past 500 years," Vigna and co-author Michael Casey argue in their new book: The Age of Cryptocurrency . (Coincidentaily, the authors did their own Redditt AMA today which can be found here. ) In the accompanying video, Vigna compares bitcoin to the "horseless carriage" in the late 19th century. "This thing was just invented," he says of the digital currency. "We are just figuring out what can be done with this. They are just starting to build it." Indeed, bitcoin has come a long way since its launch in late 2008: More than 82,000 merchants currently accept bitcoin, including Microsoft, and global usage of the currency averaged $50 million a day in 2014, The WSJ reports . Coinbase, the first U.S.-based bitcoin exchange, just launched this month after receiving $75 million in backing from investors including the NYSE and Spain's Banco Bilbao. And the Winkelvoss twins have committed to launch their own exchange, Gemini, which they claim will be 'the Nasdaq of Bitcoin'. "What most excites these" -- and other investors like tech legends Marc Andreesen and Reid Hoffman -- "is bitcoin's promise as a platform whose future applications are almost unimaginably broad," Casey and Vigna write. "Already, hundreds of specialized apps are being built on top of the digital-currency blockchain software, which is seen in this context as a kind of base operating system." Bitcoin's benefits -- including transaction speed and anonymity -- and its potential to disrupt the current system where banks serve as financial intermediaries, aka middle men -- have been widely discussed and debated. But what about the price? Bitcoin fell over 60% vs. the dollar in 2014, which also saw the bankruptcy of one of its biggest exchanges, Mt. Gox. This year didn't start much better in terms of price; an early drop to start the year left bitcoin, at its recent nadir, more than 80% below its 2013 high. "The market is volatile because it is very thin and it is still being built," Vigna explains. "If [bitcoin] keeps growing, if it keeps building the price will smooth itself out. It will become a more stable currency as more people use it. And youll see that [volatility] go away and then they will build the rest of the products around it. The biggest thing is these are very early days for this. This is a very, in my mind, its a very exciting technology." On that, at least, Vigna and Gates are in agreement. What do you think? Is bitcoin a scam? A flash in the pan? A profound advance in currency? Something in between? Let us know in the comments section below or reach out to me on Twitter: @aarontask
| 2015-01-29 |
1,422,551,100 | 2015-01-29T17:05:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1419]}
|
{}
|
Entrepreneurs Are Working to Uber-fy the Trucking Industry.
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/entrepreneurs-working-uber-fy-trucking-170500821.html
|
Entrepreneur
|
http://www.entrepreneur.com/
|
Theres the Uber of self-storage , the Uber of dining , the Uber of grocery shopping and the Uber of just about everything these days. And now theres (more than one) Uber of trucking. While not as sexy as say, the Uber of hot man-dudes , trucking is a big business. The industry does hundreds of billions of dollars worth of business each year . Related: 'We're the Uber of X!' Today, Venice, Calif.-based Cargomatic, a mobile app that connects local shippers with local truckers, announced that it has raised $8 million in venture capital. The Series A round was led by Canaan Partners and included funding from Morado Venture Partners , SV Angel , Sherpa Ventures , Structure Capital , and Volvo Group Venture , among others. Entrepreneurs Are Working to Uber-fy the Trucking Industry. The Cargomatic platform allows local shippers and truckers to coordinate schedules and routes. Image credit: Cargomatic Cargomatic is focused on maximizing utilization and efficiency in the local shipping industry. The platform is designed to ensure that no truck drives anywhere empty and that a business that needs a load delivered can piggyback on a load already in transit, thereby getting its goods delivered more cheaply than hiring a truck to make a separate run. (Check out the handy little animated video embedded at the bottom of this post for a visual.) Related: The Future of the Sharing Economy Is a World Built Like Bitcoin Trucking has long been an essential part of how business gets done, and the Cargomatic platform provides a win-win scenario for businesses who need to ship goods locally, and for truckers who have available capacity, says Hrach Simonian of the lead investing house Canaan Partners , according to a statement announcing the funding raise released today. Simonian will join the Cargomatic board. Cargomatic is not the first startup to have the idea to Uber-fy the trucking industry. Another tech company, New York-based Transfix , is helping shippers and truckers automatically locate each other, minimizing waste and ideally, preventing truckers from driving with half-empty cargos. Related: Zappos Is Bringing Uber-Like Surge Pay to the Workplace
| 2015-01-29 |
1,422,545,147 | 2015-01-29T15:25:47Z |
{"Bitcoin": [3266]}
|
{}
|
QUALCOMM Analyst Roundup Following Q1 Results
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/qualcomm-analyst-roundup-following-q1-152547284.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
QUALCOMM, Inc.(NASDAQ:QCOM) shares fell following itsQ1 earningsrelease on Wednesday.
The company cut its 2H15 guidance in the earnings report and as of Thursday morning the stock was down 10.11 percent to $63.81.
Analysts commented on the results following the announcement and were still bullish on the stock. Below are highlights along with current ratings and price targets.
Brean Capital - Buy, $80 price target
“Qualcomm announced a beat-and-raise last night with solid December quarter results and increased March guidance, driven primarily by demand in Emerging Markets and a strong replacement cycle in the US driven by the iPhone. However, the main story was the Company’s lowered 2H15 QCT guidance due to Samsung opting for its in-house (Samsung LSI) applications processor, ‘Exynos’, (and potentially basebands as well) over QCOM’s Snapdragon 810 for its upcoming flagship launch (the Galaxy S6).”
Citi - Buy, $88 price target
“We calculate the $800M revenue shortfall represents roughly 20-25M Snapdragon 810 chips at a price point of approx. $30-40 and that the ~$500M in lost net income (represented by the $0.30 EPS guide-down) represents an appropriate 60-65 percent incremental gross margin on what are QCOM’s highest-end and highest margin chips – note QCOM pays very little if any taxes on its chip business.”
Morgan Stanley - Equal-weight, $72 price target
“As part of its earnings release, the company announced that it had reached resolution with one of its Chinese licensees, from which it had been unable to collect royalties for the past few quarters. As part of the resolution, management indicated that it would collect back royalties (to be recognized in the March quarter). While Qualcomm declined to comment on relative royalty rate levels or other details, we find it encouraging that the Chinese licensee decided that it was in its best interest to go ahead and pay the back royalties ahead of the finalization of the NDRC’s work.”
Credit Suisse - Outperform, $80 price target
“Valuation compelling, but may take time to repair...Using reverse SOTP analysis, given QCT is worth $28 and fully taxed net cash/sh of $13, the current price of approximately $65 implies QTL is valued at $24. Using a reverse DCF, this implies that Chinese vendors secure more than 60 percent of the QTL's TAM long term and 70 percent of smartphone market share, and pay 0 percent royalties, which we believe is overly conservative. “
Nomura - Buy, $75 price target
“While the outlook is worse than our expectations, the company made progress in China by announcing resolution with a key licensee. We believe that settling the NDRC investigation is an important catalyst for shares. We believe shares remain attractively valued, trading at less than 10x enterprise value to free cash flow, based on an after-market price of $65 per share.”
Latest Ratings for QCOM
[{"Jan 2015": "Jan 2015", "Stifel Nicolaus": "Nomura", "Maintains": "Maintains", "": "", "Buy": "Buy"}, {"Jan 2015": "Jan 2015", "Stifel Nicolaus": "Macquarie", "Maintains": "Downgrades", "": "", "Buy": "Neutral"}]
View More Analyst Ratings for QCOMView the Latest Analyst Ratings
See more from Benzinga
• Analyst Reactions To Cavium's Q4 Earnings
• What The World's Richest Person Thinks Of Bitcoin
• General Growth Properties Beats On Q4 Revenue
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-29 |
1,422,553,177 | 2015-01-29T17:39:37Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [0]}
|
Bitcoin just getting started and its potential is "almost unimaginably broad"
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bitcoin-just-getting-started-and-its-potential-is--almost-unimaginably-broad---vigna-173938646.html
|
Yahoo Finance
|
http://finance.yahoo.com/
|
Bitcoin is an "exciting new technology" but Bill Gates doesn't think it's a proper tool for the world's roughly 2.5 billion 'unbanked' poor."We don't use bitcoin specifically for two reasons,"Gates said Wednesdayduring a Reddit 'Ask Me Anything' session. "One is that the poor shouldn't have a currency whose value goes up and down a lot compared to their local currency. Second is that if a mistake is made in who you pay then you need to be able to reverse it so anonymity wouldn't work."Those are "valid criticisms," according to Wall Street Journal reporter Paul Vigna, but should not detract from bitcoin's huge potential to fundamentally change the world of finance.Bitcoin is "one of the most powerful innovations in finance in the past 500 years," Vigna and co-author Michael Casey argue in their new book:The Age of Cryptocurrency. (Coincidentaily, the authors did their own Redditt AMA today which can be foundhere.)In the accompanying video, Vigna compares bitcoin to the "horseless carriage" in the late 19th century. "This thing was just invented," he says of the digital currency. "We are just figuring out what can be done with this. They are just starting to build it."Indeed, bitcoin has come a long way since its launch in late 2008: More than 82,000 merchants currently accept bitcoin, including Microsoft, and global usage of the currency averaged $50 million a day in 2014,The WSJ reports. Coinbase, the first U.S.-based bitcoin exchange, just launched this month after receiving $75 million in backing from investors including the NYSE and Spain's Banco Bilbao. And the Winkelvoss twins have committed to launch their own exchange, Gemini, which they claim will be'the Nasdaq of Bitcoin'."What most excites these" -- and other investors like tech legends Marc Andreesen and Reid Hoffman -- "is bitcoin's promise as a platform whose future applications are almost unimaginably broad," Casey and Vigna write. "Already, hundreds of specialized apps are being built on top of the digital-currency blockchain software, which is seen in this context as a kind of base operating system."Bitcoin's benefits -- including transaction speed and anonymity -- and its potential to disrupt the current system where banks serve as financial intermediaries, aka middle men -- have been widely discussed and debated.But what aboutthe price?Bitcoin fell over 60% vs. the dollar in 2014, which also saw the bankruptcy of one of its biggest exchanges, Mt. Gox. This year didn't start much better in terms of price; an early drop to start the year left bitcoin, at its recent nadir, more than 80% below its 2013 high."The market is volatile because it is very thin and it is still being built," Vigna explains. "If [bitcoin] keeps growing, if it keeps building the price will smooth itself out. It will become a more stable currency as more people use it. And you’ll see that [volatility] go away and then they will build the rest of the products around it. The biggest thing is these are very early days for this. This is a very, in my mind, it’s a very exciting technology."On that, at least, Vigna and Gates are in agreement.
What do you think? Is bitcoin a scam? A flash in the pan? A profound advance in currency? Something in between? Let us know in the comments section below or reach out to me on Twitter:@aarontask
| 2015-01-29 |
1,422,551,100 | 2015-01-29T17:05:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1419]}
|
{}
|
Entrepreneurs Are Working to Uber-fy the Trucking Industry.
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/entrepreneurs-working-uber-fy-trucking-170500821.html
|
Entrepreneur
|
http://www.entrepreneur.com/
|
Theres the Uber of self-storage , the Uber of dining , the Uber of grocery shopping and the Uber of just about everything these days. And now theres (more than one) Uber of trucking. While not as sexy as say, the Uber of hot man-dudes , trucking is a big business. The industry does hundreds of billions of dollars worth of business each year . Related: 'We're the Uber of X!' Today, Venice, Calif.-based Cargomatic, a mobile app that connects local shippers with local truckers, announced that it has raised $8 million in venture capital. The Series A round was led by Canaan Partners and included funding from Morado Venture Partners , SV Angel , Sherpa Ventures , Structure Capital , and Volvo Group Venture , among others. Entrepreneurs Are Working to Uber-fy the Trucking Industry. The Cargomatic platform allows local shippers and truckers to coordinate schedules and routes. Image credit: Cargomatic Cargomatic is focused on maximizing utilization and efficiency in the local shipping industry. The platform is designed to ensure that no truck drives anywhere empty and that a business that needs a load delivered can piggyback on a load already in transit, thereby getting its goods delivered more cheaply than hiring a truck to make a separate run. (Check out the handy little animated video embedded at the bottom of this post for a visual.) Related: The Future of the Sharing Economy Is a World Built Like Bitcoin Trucking has long been an essential part of how business gets done, and the Cargomatic platform provides a win-win scenario for businesses who need to ship goods locally, and for truckers who have available capacity, says Hrach Simonian of the lead investing house Canaan Partners , according to a statement announcing the funding raise released today. Simonian will join the Cargomatic board. Cargomatic is not the first startup to have the idea to Uber-fy the trucking industry. Another tech company, New York-based Transfix , is helping shippers and truckers automatically locate each other, minimizing waste and ideally, preventing truckers from driving with half-empty cargos. Related: Zappos Is Bringing Uber-Like Surge Pay to the Workplace
| 2015-01-29 |
1,422,531,714 | 2015-01-29T11:41:54Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [42]}
|
What The World's Richest Person Thinks Of Bitcoin
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/worlds-richest-person-thinks-bitcoin-114154190.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
Bill Gates on Wednesday gave his thoughts onbitcoinand digital currencies in aRedditAsk Me Anything (AMA) session
Gates commented that “Bitcoin is an exciting new technology” and that digital currencies are a part of his Foundation’s work in connecting banking services to the poor.
Bill Gates’ Foundation, however, does not utilize bitcoin for two reasons. “One is that the poor shouldn't have a currency whose value goes up and down a lot compared to their local currency. Second is that if a mistake is made in who you pay then you need to be able to reverse it so anonymity wouldn't work.”
Related Link: Bill Gates On Microsoft: 'More Progress Than Ever In Next 30 Years'
The billionaire philanthropist did note that financial transactions will become cheaper using digital currencies and “Bitcoin related approaches” although ensuring “that it doesn't help terrorists is a challenge for all new technology.”
Progress is being made in getting digital currencies adopted in poor countries, according to Gates, and he is “hoping to have India and Nigeria going in the next 2 years if things go well."
Kenya, Tanzania and Bangladesh still need improvements but “have grown a lot,” said Gates.
See more from Benzinga
• General Growth Properties Beats On Q4 Revenue
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals Beats Q4 Revenue Expectations
• How 3 Technical Experts Are Preparing For Facebook Earnings
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-29 |
1,422,549,866 | 2015-01-29T16:44:26Z |
{"Bitcoin": [1833]}
|
{}
|
Loretta Lynch Speaks Out Against Obama's Proposed Decriminalization Of Marijuana
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/loretta-lynch-speaks-against-obamas-164426758.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
President Barack Obama’s State of the Union and corresponding press tour painted a promising picture for the future of the marijuana industry. The President said he could see several states following in the footsteps of Washington state and Colorado by legalizing the drug and also commented that his administration would consider decriminalizing marijuana usage and taking it off of the Schedule 1 list of banned substances. His remarks fell in-line with rising opinion polls that favor the legalization and decriminalization of recreational marijuana and spurred on speculation that the industry will continue to grow in the coming decade. However, it seems that not everyone in Washington is on the same page. In her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch voiced her disagreement with Obama’s view on marijuana legalization, saying that if she is confirmed she will push to maintain the drug’s illegal status. Her comments were a blow to those hoping to see cannabis reclassified in the coming year as more and more states opt to legalize it. The US military is also maintaining its stance against drug use; and military law still prohibits the use of marijuana among military personnel even in states where the drug has been made legal. Related Link: 15 Marijuana Stocks To Watch In 2015 On Wednesday, a military base in Seattle sent letters to surrounding retailers warning that allowing military personnel to enter the store or buy cannabis products was against the law. The warning has received mixed results from retailers who say that they have no way of identifying those who are part of the military if they are wearing civilian clothes. See more from Benzinga Facebook Has New Competition From Amazon In The Workplace Greece PM Alexis Tsipras Comes Out Swinging On Second Day In Office Bitcoin's Bumpy Ride This Week Isn't Deterring Optimism © 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-29 |
1,422,545,147 | 2015-01-29T15:25:47Z |
{"Bitcoin": [3176]}
|
{}
|
QUALCOMM Analyst Roundup Following Q1 Results
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/qualcomm-analyst-roundup-following-q1-152547284.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
QUALCOMM, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM ) shares fell following its Q1 earnings release on Wednesday. The company cut its 2H15 guidance in the earnings report and as of Thursday morning the stock was down 10.11 percent to $63.81. Analysts commented on the results following the announcement and were still bullish on the stock. Below are highlights along with current ratings and price targets. Brean Capital - Buy, $80 price target “Qualcomm announced a beat-and-raise last night with solid December quarter results and increased March guidance, driven primarily by demand in Emerging Markets and a strong replacement cycle in the US driven by the iPhone. However, the main story was the Company’s lowered 2H15 QCT guidance due to Samsung opting for its in-house (Samsung LSI) applications processor, ‘Exynos’, (and potentially basebands as well) over QCOM’s Snapdragon 810 for its upcoming flagship launch (the Galaxy S6).” Citi - Buy, $88 price target “We calculate the $800M revenue shortfall represents roughly 20-25M Snapdragon 810 chips at a price point of approx. $30-40 and that the ~$500M in lost net income (represented by the $0.30 EPS guide-down) represents an appropriate 60-65 percent incremental gross margin on what are QCOM’s highest-end and highest margin chips – note QCOM pays very little if any taxes on its chip business.” Morgan Stanley - Equal-weight, $72 price target “As part of its earnings release, the company announced that it had reached resolution with one of its Chinese licensees, from which it had been unable to collect royalties for the past few quarters. As part of the resolution, management indicated that it would collect back royalties (to be recognized in the March quarter). While Qualcomm declined to comment on relative royalty rate levels or other details, we find it encouraging that the Chinese licensee decided that it was in its best interest to go ahead and pay the back royalties ahead of the finalization of the NDRC’s work.” Credit Suisse - Outperform, $80 price target “Valuation compelling, but may take time to repair...Using reverse SOTP analysis, given QCT is worth $28 and fully taxed net cash/sh of $13, the current price of approximately $65 implies QTL is valued at $24. Using a reverse DCF, this implies that Chinese vendors secure more than 60 percent of the QTL's TAM long term and 70 percent of smartphone market share, and pay 0 percent royalties, which we believe is overly conservative. “ Nomura - Buy, $75 price target “While the outlook is worse than our expectations, the company made progress in China by announcing resolution with a key licensee. We believe that settling the NDRC investigation is an important catalyst for shares. We believe shares remain attractively valued, trading at less than 10x enterprise value to free cash flow, based on an after-market price of $65 per share.” Story continues Latest Ratings for QCOM Jan 2015 Stifel Nicolaus Maintains Buy Jan 2015 Nomura Maintains Buy Jan 2015 Macquarie Downgrades Neutral View More Analyst Ratings for QCOM View the Latest Analyst Ratings See more from Benzinga Analyst Reactions To Cavium's Q4 Earnings What The World's Richest Person Thinks Of Bitcoin General Growth Properties Beats On Q4 Revenue © 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. View comments
| 2015-01-29 |
1,422,531,714 | 2015-01-29T11:41:54Z |
{"Bitcoin": [136, 794]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [42]}
|
What The World's Richest Person Thinks Of Bitcoin
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/worlds-richest-person-thinks-bitcoin-114154190.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
Bill Gates on Wednesday gave his thoughts onbitcoinand digital currencies in aRedditAsk Me Anything (AMA) session
Gates commented that “Bitcoin is an exciting new technology” and that digital currencies are a part of his Foundation’s work in connecting banking services to the poor.
Bill Gates’ Foundation, however, does not utilize bitcoin for two reasons. “One is that the poor shouldn't have a currency whose value goes up and down a lot compared to their local currency. Second is that if a mistake is made in who you pay then you need to be able to reverse it so anonymity wouldn't work.”
Related Link: Bill Gates On Microsoft: 'More Progress Than Ever In Next 30 Years'
The billionaire philanthropist did note that financial transactions will become cheaper using digital currencies and “Bitcoin related approaches” although ensuring “that it doesn't help terrorists is a challenge for all new technology.”
Progress is being made in getting digital currencies adopted in poor countries, according to Gates, and he is “hoping to have India and Nigeria going in the next 2 years if things go well."
Kenya, Tanzania and Bangladesh still need improvements but “have grown a lot,” said Gates.
See more from Benzinga
• General Growth Properties Beats On Q4 Revenue
• Vertex Pharmaceuticals Beats Q4 Revenue Expectations
• How 3 Technical Experts Are Preparing For Facebook Earnings
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-29 |
1,422,635,342 | 2015-01-30T16:29:02Z |
{"Bitcoin": [3012]}
|
{}
|
Privacy is dead: How Twitter and Facebook are exposing you
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/privacy-is-dead--how-twitter-and-facebook-are-exposing-you-162903641.html
|
Yahoo Finance
|
http://finance.yahoo.com/
|
They know who you are, what you like, and how you buy things. Researchers at MIT have matched up your Facebook (FB) likes, tweets, and social media activity with the products you buy. The results are a highly detailed and accurate profile of how much money you have, where you go to spend it and exactly who you are. The study spanned three months and used the anonymous credit card data of 1.1 million people. After gathering the data, analysts would marry the findings to a person’s public online profile. By checking things like tweets and Facebook activity, researchers found out the anonymous person’s actual name 90% of the time. The MIT findings raise the question of just how private our personal information is. Yahoo Finance’s Henry Blodget thinks the majority of people are okay with their information being gathered. “Most people [are fine with it], as long as it is regulated. In other words, it’s within our legal system. I think we should all be fine with it. It can be very helpful in certain ways.” While the information may be helpful, some also see it as intrusive, especially when it’s the government collecting the data. Just this week, we learned that the government is scanning millions of license plates across the US and storing that information in a large database. Privacy experts say the government can also match your cell phone data with credit card information. Where all this data goes, who has access to it and what it is used for are all big questions that the government for the most part keeps under wraps. Blodget says the scope and authority the government has is undeniable. “There’s no question the government has tremendous power if they come after you. Everything is stacked against you.” Blodget thinks for the most part this information is not abused adding, “A lot of people say it has prevented terrorist attacks.” Get the Latest Market Data and News with the Yahoo Finance App Yahoo Finance’s Jeff Macke is on the opposite side of the privacy debate.”We’re giving away our personal liberties all over the place and we really have no check and balance system. When the government is allowed to do these types of tracking systems in secret, all of a sudden you have to figure out what secrets you’re not figuring out because there’s never one cockroach.” Story continues As for Blodget, he says he’ll sacrifice privacy if it helps make the country safer. “I am willing to make the tradeoff of the government having the ability to look at the metadata of my phone calls or what have you, if I think it is going to make my family safer. I think a lot of Americans will say when push comes to shove it’s okay you can look at my data.” If you’re really troubled about your privacy being invaded, Blodget has some tongue-in-cheek advice. “If you are in fact worried about it. There are cabins in the woods with no Internet access. You can grow your own food. They’ll leave you alone.” More from Yahoo Finance Government license plate scanners are tracking your every move Bitcoin just getting started and its potential is "almost unimaginably broad" Why the Seahawks have an edge in the Super Bowl: Nate Silver
| 2015-01-30 |
1,422,660,835 | 2015-01-30T23:33:55Z |
{"BTC": [1595]}
|
{}
|
3 reasons to be bearish on Shake Shack
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-reasons-bearish-shake-shack-233355229.html
|
CNBC
|
http://www.cnbc.com/
|
Shake Shack ( SHAK ) rocketed nearly 120 percent higher in its first day of trading on Friday, valuing the company at about $1.6 billion. "I think people see Shack as a changing of the guard," CNBC "Fast Money" trader Tim Seymour said. Although investors jumped into the stock with enthusiasm on Friday, "Fast Money" traders were more skeptical of the stock, especially after its huge IPO gains. Shake Shack shares closed just below $46 per share after pricing at $21. The company offered 5 million shares, and the volume brought "extreme squeezing to the upside," said trader Steve Grasso. "I would be very careful in the next couple days and weeks," Grasso said. Read More What's next for Shake Shack after monster IPO? Investors should be wary of chasing the stock after it more than doubled in one day of trading, said trader Guy Adami. The stock could move to $60 per share or higher in the long term but looks less appealing now, he added. "It's 'greater fools' theory and you don't want to be the last fool," Adami said. Trader Brian Kelly would also stay away from Shake Shack in the short term, but added that "it's not a bad stock." Read More Burger stock bull market beats market by double Disclosures: Steve Grasso Steve Grasso is long AAPL, BA, CLVS, EVGN, FB, GDX, GOOGL, IMMR, KBH, KDUS, MHY, MJNA, NVIV, PFE, POT, SO, T, TMUS, TWTR and YHOO. His firm is long USO, FCX, NE, NEM, OXY, RIG, VALE, MCD and KO. His kids are long EFG, EFA, EWJ, IJR and SPY. Guy Adami Guy Adami is long CELG, EXAS and INTC. Guy Adami's wife, Linda Snow, works at Merck. Brian Kelly Brian Kelly is long BTC=, US Dollar, ZBH5, HYG puts, TWTR call spreads and BBRY call spreads. He is short EWA, EWG, EWQ, EWZ, EWH, EWW, HGH5, yen, Australian dollar, British pound, Canadian dollar, yuan and copper. Tim Seymour Tim Seymour is long AAPL, BAC, C, DIS, F, GE, GM, GOOGL, INTC, JCP, BX and SUNE. Tim's firm is long BABA, BIDU, CCU, DSKY, KNDI, MCD, NKE, NOK, SINA, SBUX, TSL and VIP.
| 2015-01-30 |
1,422,640,800 | 2015-01-30T18:00:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [108, 836, 1445, 2890, 3320, 3435, 3607]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [30]}
|
ZeusHash Offers Up To 30% Off Bitcoin Cloud Mining Batch II And Launches Extensive Cryptocurrency E-Commerce Platforms
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/zeushash-offers-30-off-bitcoin-180000096.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
With over 90 000 customers worldwide, cloud hashing platform ZeusHash is pleased to announce a new batch of Bitcoin cloud mining with up to 30% price drop and 15% cut in maintenance fees. Up to 20% discounts are offered for existing customers. Cryptocurrency e-commerce platforms are also under development.
CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / January 30, 2015 /"ZeusHash's efforts to deliver the best cloud hashing services has never stopped and we hold a strong belief in the future of the crypto industry." Stated ZeusHash management earlier today.
ZeusHash was launched on October 3rd 2014. In only 3 months, ZeusHash has successfully signed up over 90,000 users from 190 countries and regions around the world.The innovative cloud mining platform has just announced new batch II GHS cloud mining available for purchase. In the current climate of Bitcoin price instability, ZeusHash's commitment to their regular clients is highlighted by rewarding all customers who registered before January 27th 2015 with 10% off all GHS purchases. Recognized VIP users also receive a 20% off any cloud mining purchased.
Brand new users will also receive one week of zero maintenance fees if they are one of the first 10 orders of the day. This special offer lasts from January 27th to January 31st 2015. Cloud mining prices start as low as $359 for 1 THS and $0.002 per GHS in maintenance fees per day.
As well as extensive cloud mining infrastructureZeus also retails Bitcoin ASIC Antminer S5's. Customers that wish to purchase a $399 Antminer S5 for $20 off can use coupon code "ZEUS-1501-399-20", $50 off a $799 purchase with coupon code "ZEUS-1501-799-50", and a $200 discount on Antminer S5 orders in the $1,999 price range can be claimed by using coupon code "ZEUS-1501-1999-200".
ZeusHash Ecosystem
1. Cloud Mining2. E-commerce3. ZPAY.io
Besides cloud mining services,ZeusHash is also working on its unique and interconnected ecosystem supported by two pillars: a cross border e-commerce platform that offers discounted goods with adoption of coin payment, and ZPAY.io, a wallet/payment service that will integrate international crypto businesses offering diversified and secured consumer services.
Crazy Wednesday (zeusminer.com/forums/forum/4-zeushash_crazywednesday) is now the early stage of the e-commerce platform. With special products offered with major discounts every Wednesday it has gathered a lot fans worldwide. More will come for Crazy Wednesday in the near future and it will gradually grow into a mature e-commerce platform.
Upcoming Zeus project ZPAY.io will feature cryptocurrency web wallets, online shops, merchant services, cryptocurrency crowdfunding, charity projects, and much more in one integrated platform. ZPAY.io is under intensive development and its diversified features will be released to the public in the near future.
ZeusHash is also seeking partnerships with different Bitcoin and cryptocurrency businesses, anyone interested in future cooperation may send a request [email protected].
Pillared by cloud mining services, e-commerce and ZPAY, the new ZeusHash ecosystem will serve as an integrated network that provides the best services for all cryptocurrency enthusiasts.
About ZeusMiner and ZeusHash:
Hong Kong based ZeusMiner is one of the largest distributors and retail sellers of Litecoin and Bitcoin ASIC mining hardware worldwide. With data centres spanning the globe clients worldwide can also cloud mine Bitcoin and Litecoin with ZeusMiner's in-house cloud mining platform ZeusHash.
Pooling the best resources in the industry ZeusHash offers reliable, scalable and affordable Bitcoin and Litecoin industry grade cloud mining infrastructure. Moving forward ZeusHash aims for more industry partnerships, continued scaling of mining infrastructure, and to continue building out their infrastructure with a unique ecosystem in development.
*This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.
For more information about us, please visithttps://zeushash.com.
Contact Info:
Name: Fei HongEmail:[email protected]: ZeusHash
SOURCE:ZeusHash
| 2015-01-30 |
1,422,660,835 | 2015-01-30T23:33:55Z |
{"BTC": [1589]}
|
{}
|
3 reasons to be bearish on Shake Shack
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/3-reasons-bearish-shake-shack-233355229.html
|
CNBC
|
http://www.cnbc.com/
|
Shake Shack(SHAK)rocketed nearly 120 percent higher in its first day of trading on Friday, valuing the company at about $1.6 billion.
"I think people see Shack as a changing of the guard," CNBC "Fast Money" trader Tim Seymour said.
Although investors jumped into the stock with enthusiasm on Friday, "Fast Money" traders were more skeptical of the stock, especially after its huge IPO gains.
Shake Shack shares closed just below $46 per share after pricing at $21. The company offered 5 million shares, and the volume brought "extreme squeezing to the upside," said trader Steve Grasso.
"I would be very careful in the next couple days and weeks," Grasso said.
Read MoreWhat's next for Shake Shack after monster IPO?
Investors should be wary of chasing the stock after it more than doubled in one day of trading, said trader Guy Adami. The stock could move to $60 per share or higher in the long term but looks less appealing now, he added.
"It's 'greater fools' theory and you don't want to be the last fool," Adami said.
Trader Brian Kelly would also stay away from Shake Shack in the short term, but added that "it's not a bad stock."
Read MoreBurger stock bull market beats market by double
Disclosures:
Steve Grasso
Steve Grasso is long AAPL, BA, CLVS, EVGN, FB, GDX, GOOGL, IMMR, KBH, KDUS, MHY, MJNA, NVIV, PFE, POT, SO, T, TMUS, TWTR and YHOO. His firm is long USO, FCX, NE, NEM, OXY, RIG, VALE, MCD and KO. His kids are long EFG, EFA, EWJ, IJR and SPY.
Guy Adami
Guy Adami is long CELG, EXAS and INTC. Guy Adami's wife, Linda Snow, works at Merck.
Brian Kelly
Brian Kelly is long BTC=, US Dollar, ZBH5, HYG puts, TWTR call spreads and BBRY call spreads. He is short EWA, EWG, EWQ, EWZ, EWH, EWW, HGH5, yen, Australian dollar, British pound, Canadian dollar, yuan and copper.
Tim Seymour
Tim Seymour is long AAPL, BAC, C, DIS, F, GE, GM, GOOGL, INTC, JCP, BX and SUNE. Tim's firm is long BABA, BIDU, CCU, DSKY, KNDI, MCD, NKE, NOK, SINA, SBUX, TSL and VIP.
| 2015-01-30 |
1,422,635,342 | 2015-01-30T16:29:02Z |
{"Bitcoin": [2988]}
|
{}
|
Privacy is dead: How Twitter and Facebook are exposing you
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/privacy-is-dead--how-twitter-and-facebook-are-exposing-you-162903641.html
|
Yahoo Finance
|
http://finance.yahoo.com/
|
They know who you are, what you like, and how you buy things. Researchers atMIThave matched up your Facebook(FB)likes, tweets, and social media activity with the products you buy. The results are a highly detailed and accurate profile of how much money you have, where you go to spend it and exactly who you are.
The study spanned three months and used the anonymous credit card data of 1.1 million people. After gathering the data, analysts would marry the findings to a person’s public online profile. By checking things like tweets and Facebook activity, researchers found out the anonymous person’s actual name 90% of the time.
The MIT findings raise the question of just how private our personal information is. Yahoo Finance’s Henry Blodget thinks the majority of people are okay with their information being gathered. “Most people [are fine with it], as long as it is regulated. In other words, it’s within our legal system. I think we should all be fine with it. It can be very helpful in certain ways.”
While the information may be helpful, some also see it as intrusive, especially when it’s the government collecting the data. Just this week,we learnedthat the government is scanning millions of license plates across the US and storing that information in a large database.Privacy expertssay the government can also match your cell phone data with credit card information. Where all this data goes, who has access to it and what it is used for are all big questions that the government for the most part keeps under wraps.
Blodget says the scope and authority the government has is undeniable. “There’s no question the government has tremendous power if they come after you. Everything is stacked against you.” Blodget thinks for the most part this information is not abused adding, “A lot of people say it has prevented terrorist attacks.”
Get the Latest Market Data and News with the Yahoo Finance App
Yahoo Finance’s Jeff Macke is on the opposite side of the privacy debate.”We’re giving away our personal liberties all over the place and we really have no check and balance system. When the government is allowed to do these types of tracking systems in secret, all of a sudden you have to figure out what secrets you’re not figuring out because there’s never one cockroach.”
As for Blodget, he says he’ll sacrifice privacy if it helps make the country safer. “I am willing to make the tradeoff of the government having the ability to look at the metadata of my phone calls or what have you, if I think it is going to make my family safer. I think a lot of Americans will say when push comes to shove it’s okay you can look at my data.”
If you’re really troubled about your privacy being invaded, Blodget has some tongue-in-cheek advice. “If you are in fact worried about it. There are cabins in the woods with no Internet access. You can grow your own food. They’ll leave you alone.”
More from Yahoo Finance
Government license plate scanners are tracking your every move
Bitcoin just getting started and its potential is "almost unimaginably broad"
Why the Seahawks have an edge in the Super Bowl: Nate Silver
| 2015-01-30 |
1,422,640,800 | 2015-01-30T18:00:00Z |
{}
|
{"Bitcoin": [30]}
|
ZeusHash Offers Up To 30% Off Bitcoin Cloud Mining Batch II And Launches Extensive Cryptocurrency E-Commerce Platforms
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/zeushash-offers-30-off-bitcoin-180000096.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
With over 90 000 customers worldwide, cloud hashing platform ZeusHash is pleased to announce a new batch of Bitcoin cloud mining with up to 30% price drop and 15% cut in maintenance fees. Up to 20% discounts are offered for existing customers. Cryptocurrency e-commerce platforms are also under development.
CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / January 30, 2015 /"ZeusHash's efforts to deliver the best cloud hashing services has never stopped and we hold a strong belief in the future of the crypto industry." Stated ZeusHash management earlier today.
ZeusHash was launched on October 3rd 2014. In only 3 months, ZeusHash has successfully signed up over 90,000 users from 190 countries and regions around the world.The innovative cloud mining platform has just announced new batch II GHS cloud mining available for purchase. In the current climate of Bitcoin price instability, ZeusHash's commitment to their regular clients is highlighted by rewarding all customers who registered before January 27th 2015 with 10% off all GHS purchases. Recognized VIP users also receive a 20% off any cloud mining purchased.
Brand new users will also receive one week of zero maintenance fees if they are one of the first 10 orders of the day. This special offer lasts from January 27th to January 31st 2015. Cloud mining prices start as low as $359 for 1 THS and $0.002 per GHS in maintenance fees per day.
As well as extensive cloud mining infrastructureZeus also retails Bitcoin ASIC Antminer S5's. Customers that wish to purchase a $399 Antminer S5 for $20 off can use coupon code "ZEUS-1501-399-20", $50 off a $799 purchase with coupon code "ZEUS-1501-799-50", and a $200 discount on Antminer S5 orders in the $1,999 price range can be claimed by using coupon code "ZEUS-1501-1999-200".
ZeusHash Ecosystem
1. Cloud Mining2. E-commerce3. ZPAY.io
Besides cloud mining services,ZeusHash is also working on its unique and interconnected ecosystem supported by two pillars: a cross border e-commerce platform that offers discounted goods with adoption of coin payment, and ZPAY.io, a wallet/payment service that will integrate international crypto businesses offering diversified and secured consumer services.
Crazy Wednesday (zeusminer.com/forums/forum/4-zeushash_crazywednesday) is now the early stage of the e-commerce platform. With special products offered with major discounts every Wednesday it has gathered a lot fans worldwide. More will come for Crazy Wednesday in the near future and it will gradually grow into a mature e-commerce platform.
Upcoming Zeus project ZPAY.io will feature cryptocurrency web wallets, online shops, merchant services, cryptocurrency crowdfunding, charity projects, and much more in one integrated platform. ZPAY.io is under intensive development and its diversified features will be released to the public in the near future.
ZeusHash is also seeking partnerships with different Bitcoin and cryptocurrency businesses, anyone interested in future cooperation may send a request [email protected].
Pillared by cloud mining services, e-commerce and ZPAY, the new ZeusHash ecosystem will serve as an integrated network that provides the best services for all cryptocurrency enthusiasts.
About ZeusMiner and ZeusHash:
Hong Kong based ZeusMiner is one of the largest distributors and retail sellers of Litecoin and Bitcoin ASIC mining hardware worldwide. With data centres spanning the globe clients worldwide can also cloud mine Bitcoin and Litecoin with ZeusMiner's in-house cloud mining platform ZeusHash.
Pooling the best resources in the industry ZeusHash offers reliable, scalable and affordable Bitcoin and Litecoin industry grade cloud mining infrastructure. Moving forward ZeusHash aims for more industry partnerships, continued scaling of mining infrastructure, and to continue building out their infrastructure with a unique ecosystem in development.
*This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.
For more information about us, please visithttps://zeushash.com.
Contact Info:
Name: Fei HongEmail:[email protected]: ZeusHash
SOURCE:ZeusHash
| 2015-01-30 |
1,422,640,800 | 2015-01-30T18:00:00Z |
{"Bitcoin": [108, 839, 1449, 2917, 3349, 3464, 3636]}
|
{"Bitcoin": [30]}
|
ZeusHash Offers Up To 30% Off Bitcoin Cloud Mining Batch II And Launches Extensive Cryptocurrency E-Commerce Platforms
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/zeushash-offers-30-off-bitcoin-180000096.html
|
ACCESSWIRE
|
https://www.accesswire.com/
|
With over 90 000 customers worldwide, cloud hashing platform ZeusHash is pleased to announce a new batch of Bitcoin cloud mining with up to 30% price drop and 15% cut in maintenance fees. Up to 20% discounts are offered for existing customers. Cryptocurrency e-commerce platforms are also under development. CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / January 30, 2015 / "ZeusHash's efforts to deliver the best cloud hashing services has never stopped and we hold a strong belief in the future of the crypto industry." Stated ZeusHash management earlier today. ZeusHash was launched on October 3rd 2014. In only 3 months, ZeusHash has successfully signed up over 90,000 users from 190 countries and regions around the world. The innovative cloud mining platform has just announced new batch II GHS cloud mining available for purchase . In the current climate of Bitcoin price instability, ZeusHash's commitment to their regular clients is highlighted by rewarding all customers who registered before January 27th 2015 with 10% off all GHS purchases. Recognized VIP users also receive a 20% off any cloud mining purchased. Brand new users will also receive one week of zero maintenance fees if they are one of the first 10 orders of the day. This special offer lasts from January 27th to January 31st 2015. Cloud mining prices start as low as $359 for 1 THS and $0.002 per GHS in maintenance fees per day. As well as extensive cloud mining infrastructure Zeus also retails Bitcoin ASIC Antminer S5's . Customers that wish to purchase a $399 Antminer S5 for $20 off can use coupon code "ZEUS-1501-399-20", $50 off a $799 purchase with coupon code "ZEUS-1501-799-50", and a $200 discount on Antminer S5 orders in the $1,999 price range can be claimed by using coupon code "ZEUS-1501-1999-200". ZeusHash Ecosystem 1. Cloud Mining 2. E-commerce 3. ZPAY.io Besides cloud mining services, ZeusHash is also working on its unique and interconnected ecosystem supported by two pillars: a cross border e-commerce platform that offers discounted goods with adoption of coin payment , and ZPAY.io, a wallet/payment service that will integrate international crypto businesses offering diversified and secured consumer services. Crazy Wednesday ( zeusminer.com/forums/forum/4-zeushash_crazywednesday ) is now the early stage of the e-commerce platform. With special products offered with major discounts every Wednesday it has gathered a lot fans worldwide. More will come for Crazy Wednesday in the near future and it will gradually grow into a mature e-commerce platform. Upcoming Zeus project ZPAY.io will feature cryptocurrency web wallets, online shops, merchant services, cryptocurrency crowdfunding, charity projects, and much more in one integrated platform. ZPAY.io is under intensive development and its diversified features will be released to the public in the near future. Story continues ZeusHash is also seeking partnerships with different Bitcoin and cryptocurrency businesses, anyone interested in future cooperation may send a request to [email protected] . Pillared by cloud mining services, e-commerce and ZPAY, the new ZeusHash ecosystem will serve as an integrated network that provides the best services for all cryptocurrency enthusiasts. About ZeusMiner and ZeusHash: Hong Kong based ZeusMiner is one of the largest distributors and retail sellers of Litecoin and Bitcoin ASIC mining hardware worldwide. With data centres spanning the globe clients worldwide can also cloud mine Bitcoin and Litecoin with ZeusMiner's in-house cloud mining platform ZeusHash. Pooling the best resources in the industry ZeusHash offers reliable, scalable and affordable Bitcoin and Litecoin industry grade cloud mining infrastructure. Moving forward ZeusHash aims for more industry partnerships, continued scaling of mining infrastructure, and to continue building out their infrastructure with a unique ecosystem in development. *This press release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. For more information about us, please visit https://zeushash.com . Contact Info: Name: Fei Hong Email: [email protected] Organization: ZeusHash SOURCE: ZeusHash View comments
| 2015-01-30 |
1,422,731,011 | 2015-01-31T19:03:31Z |
{"Bitcoin": [2239]}
|
{}
|
Despite Senate Win, Keystone Pipeline Still Clogged By Politics
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/despite-senate-win-keystone-pipeline-190331632.html
|
Benzinga
|
http://www.benzinga.com/
|
After weeks of debate over climate change and renewable energy issues, the U.S. Senateapproved legislationthat will allowTransCanada Corporation(NYSE:TRP) to move forward with its Keystone XL oil pipeline. The project will permit the company to move roughly 800,000 barrels of Canadian crude through Nebraska to Gulf Coast refineries.
However, although the legislation has made it through both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it still faces the approval of President Obama, who previously threatened to veto.
Veto Could Be On Its Way
The bill is expected to hit Obama’s desk within the next few days, where the president will have to determine whether or not he will use his executive power to veto. If the president does veto the bill, a two-thirds vote in the House and the Senate can reverse the decision.
Related Link:The Most Volatile Oil Stocks Are Involved In Shale
Who Does Keystone Benefit?
With the bill on its way to the Oval Office, investors are already beginning to place their bets on the direction the pipeline will take. TransCanada stands to benefit from the project’s approval, but exploration companies likeCanadian Natural Resources Ltd(NYSE:CNQ) and refiners likeValero Energy Corporation(NYSE:VLO) will likely gain, as well. Construction companies likeDeere & Company(NYSE:DE) andQuanta Services Inc(NYSE:PWR) are also expected to see a benefit from an uninterrupted stream of crude into the U.S. economy.
Who’s Hoping For A Veto?
A veto will directly benefitEnbridge Inc(NYSE:ENB), which has already gained approval to build an alternative pipeline that will move crude from Alberta to British Columbia in 2016.
Shipping companies are also hoping for a veto; railroad businesses likeCanadian Pacific Railway Limited(NYSE:CP) andUnion Pacific Corporation(NYSE:UNP) generate a significant amount of revenue moving the same oil that would be rerouted, so the pipeline’s construction would have a detrimental effect on their earnings. Small shipping companies that primarily operate on the coast of North America and within the States would also cheer a veto;Kirby Corporation(NYSE:KEX) is one such firm that may lose a substantial amount of its business if the pipeline is built.
See more from Benzinga
• Bitcoin Was Used To Fund ISIS, Report Says
• Why Didn't The Fed's 'Patience' Translate Into Market Gains?
• A Different Kind Of Bowl Lights Up Super Bowl XLIX Sales
© 2015 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
| 2015-01-31 |
1,422,726,958 | 2015-01-31T17:55:58Z |
{"Bitcoin": [4580, 4595, 4743, 4851, 4892]}
|
{}
|
Why QR codes are the blinking VCR clock of the 21st century
|
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-qr-codes-blinking-vcr-175558994.html
|
Gigaom
|
http://gigaom.com/
|
There has always been a polarization among the users of the internet of things: those that understand and can manage the internet of things, and those who cannot. This phenomenon can in part be defined by those among us that can scan a QR Code and those of us who have tried and failed.
The modern-day equivalent of a blinking clock on a VCR, QR codes elude the majority of us. Just as we all recognized what the clock was for on a VCR, we all have the notion that a QR code contains information, a link perhaps, that can be used on the internet to gain access to even more information. But knowing what it is used for does not mean you know how to use it. How to scan it.
QR Codes are Dead, long Live QR Codes
But wait, aren’tQR codes dead? There are still those that feel that if used right, QR codes can be an effective means of communication. Back in 2011 comScore’s MobiLens service published a report showing that1 in 3 individuals that scanned QR codes had a household income greater than $100,000. Looking to attract such a demographic,Taco Bell ran a successful campaign on ESPN where more than 225,000 QR codes were scanned.SnapChat has recently invested close to $51 million in QR code technology,according to Business Insider, in an effort to help increase those that use their service. Even music identification service Shazam is looking a using QR codes toincrease the universe of what is Shazamable.
The problem with QR codes is not that they don’t work. They are very identifiable and just about everyone knows that you need to scan them. More and more we will see how QR codes can be used to do more than just provide a link to a web site as part of an advertising campaign. The problem that remains is that not everyone knows how to get them to work: how to scan or even create them. And that is just where the following apps can help:
Traditional Uses of QR Codes
RedLaser– Focused more on being a shopping assistant,RedLaser(Free,iPhone) is an app that will take a scanned QR code and search an online database to see what the QR code could possibly mean. Utilizing a collection of millions of products, RedLaser specializes in helping you compare prices of the products you are looking for, search for coupons leading you to the best deals online, and often times providing access to comments are reviews related to the product. It will even help you create shopping lists from your scan history that you can easily share with others.
QR Reader– With the ability to actually create a wide variety of different QR Codes directly on the device,QR Reader(Free,iPhone) is a full featured QR code app. More of a utility knife when it comes to creating and scanning QR codes, QR Reader also has the ability to scan words you see in the camera in addition to QR codes. Simply point the scanner at the word you are interested, swipe your finger across the word and it will convert the image of the word to text. It can also scan QR codes from images you have stored in your camera roll. The free version of the app is ad-based, but you can remove the ads through a $0.99 in-app purpose.
Scan– With more of an online business focused presence,Scan($1.99,Universal) helps you track the usage of all of the QR codes you create. One of the best new features that it has to offer is its ability to create a QR code for your local Wi-Fi network. Simply go to thescan.meweb site, review the list of QR codes that are best for you, and choose theWi-Fi option. You can then create a QR code that makes it easier to share your public WiFi settings with family and friends that come over to visit. It also does a decent job of scanning and keeping a history of the QR codes you do scan. In fact, it’s simplified interface makes scanning and using QR codes about as easy as it can possibly be.
Unique Uses of QR Codes
Coke Freestyle Flavors– You may have noticed that yourchoice in beverage flavorsat your favorite fast food restaurant has increased dramatically. The Coca-Cola company has been rolling out a new era in soda fountains. If you look a little closer, you will see that many ofCoca-Cola’s new FreeStylesoda machines alsohave a little QR code on them(bottom right corner of the machine if it is there). Using theirCoca-Cola Freestyle(Free,iPhone) app, you can customize your drink options even further by creating your own mix of flavors. You can add up to three different flavors and choose the proportions to create your own unique flavor; for example, ten percent Sprite, twenty percent Fanta zero raspberry, and seventy percent Hi-C orange (don’t judge me).
Hive Bitcoin Wallet–Bitcoinis a person to person way to exchange money at a very low cost. If you use bitcoin to exchange money, you will have what is referred to as a Bitcoin wallet. QR codes have been one of the primary means of identifying and sharing the identity of your Bitcoin wallet.Hive(Free,Universal) is a Bitcoin wallet app that uses QR codes to share your wallet identity with others. You display your wallet’s QR code on one screen, and the camera on your friend’s phone can bet used to scan it. No need to write an IOU anymore.
Snapchat Snaptags– While it has the spirit of the original QR codes, Snapchat’s (Free,iPhone) new Snaptags feature allows you to quickly add family, friends and colleagues to your contact list with ease. It has a unique style to the way that the code is created looking more like a generic avatar than something you wouldsee on the assembly like in an automobile factory. You can even post your Snaptag online and share your contact information. Print it out on your business card or flyer when you are going to a trade show or event to quickly grow your contact list.
Related research and analysis from Gigaom Research:Subscriber content.Sign up for a free trial.
• What the mobile commerce market looks like in 2014
• Are apps safe? Digital security and the B2C app
• How the tablet will create better productivity in the enterprise
More From paidContent.org
• BMW pushes security patch to hackable connected cars
| 2015-01-31 |
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