Disgraced UK data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica wanted to raise $30 million by issuing its own altcoin, according to reports which surfaced April 17. We Wanted Users To ‘Reclaim Data’ Using Blockchain Citing anonymous sources “familiar with the matter,” Reuters reveals the company, which continues to face mass scrutiny after allegedly compromising personal data of millions of Facebook users, wanted to issue its token via an ICO. “Prior to the Facebook controversy, we were developing a suite of technologies to help individuals reclaim their personal data from corporate entities and…
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Blast From The Past: CloakCoin Jumps 35% After Binance Confirms Trading
Privacy-focused altcoin CloakCoin (CLOAK) hit $16 April 18 after the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance confirmed it had listed the asset. The Long Road From Rags To Riches In a move also confirmed by CloakCoin developers, Binance appeared to reverse the fortune of the stagnant altcoin, which had seen little activity for most of its four years on the market. Issued in June 2014 at $0.18 per token, CLOAK then traded below that rate from September 2014 until February 2017. When altcoin markets began to boom, however, fresh investment saw…
Read MoreBitcoin Cash Gains Advance 4% Above BTC
On Wednesday, April 18, cryptocurrency markets have been bouncing all around over the past twelve hours as a few coins have seen some higher gains than most. Three-day charts show bitcoin core markets took a slight dip after touching a high of $8,425 USD on April 15, as spot prices are up 2 percent today and the fiat value per BTC currently rests between $7,900-8,100. Bitcoin cash markets are on a tear and have seen a significant upswing in market action during the day’s trading sessions. The value of bitcoin…
Read MoreTelegram Could See Its Token Benefit from Russian Ban
Telegram, one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, has been shut down by the Russian government. “Privacy Is Not for Sale” A recent Forbes article has reported that the Russian government has moved on shutting down Telegram, the major messaging platform, in Russia. The FSB, Russia’s main intelligence agency, requested the encryption keys for the app multiple times, but the messaging platform refused to hand them over. The founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, is now living in self-imposed exile. About this volatile situation, he said: Privacy is not…
Read MoreSpyCO? Facebook-Linked Cambridge Analytica Planned Its Own Coin Offering
Cambridge Analytica, the London-headquartered data mining firm responsible for the latest Facebook privacy scandal, has reportedly been working on launching its own initial coin offering (ICO) in recent months. The company has also been linked to helping other shady players market their tokens. Also Read: SPI Solar to Host 5,000 Bitcoin Miners for Chinese VC Fund 500 IPO Privacy Dystopia Cambridge Analytica was planning an ICO in order to fund a system for storing and selling personal data to advertisers. Ironically, the system was presented as an online privacy…
Read MoreKorean Exchange Bithumb Has Reserves Worth $6 Billion in 12 Cryptocurrencies
One of South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, Bithumb, has published its first audit report, detailing its financial performance as well as crypto reserves worth approximately $6 billion kept in 12 cryptocurrencies. Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space $6 Billion Worth of Coins South Korea’s second largest cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb recently released its first public audit report. The exchange has 220 employees and 15 shareholders, the report details. It generated 333.42 billion won (~US$312 million) in operating revenue in 2017, a significant increase compared to the previous year…
Read MoreYes, You Can Buy Your World Cup Ticket with Bitcoin
Russian crypto-media have asked a meaningful question – why World Cup tickets can’t be bought with cryptocurrency. Credit card payments and bank transfers are currently accepted, but are they an option for every fan who wants to go to the stadium? And, is it really impossible to get a ticket with your bitcoin? Also read: Russian Hotels to Surprise World Cup Fans with Bitcoin Payments “Dear FIFA, Why?” Despite the growing popularity of both cryptocurrencies and football, in Russia and around the world, it’s been said that it’s currently impossible…
Read MoreCrypto Reluctance Leads Nowhere Says Lithuanian Central Bank
The central bank of Lithuania has begun talks with commercial banks and virtual currency traders on their attitudes towards cryptocurrencies. Though she acknowledges the risks, Jekaterina Govina, fintech strategy coordinator at the Bank of Lithuania, says: Blind denial, reluctance to understand and to work with the cryptocurrency world leads nowhere. Usually conservative on the matter of cryptocurrencies, the central bank of Lithuania has gathered representatives from the banking sector, virtual currency traders, those involved with ICOs, and officials from the Lithuanian Finance Ministry and the Financial Crime Investigation Services (FNTT).…
Read MorePhilippines Senator Wants Harsher Penalties for Cryptocurrency Crimes
On Monday April 16, the Philippines opposition senator Leila M. de Lima asked her fellow bureaucrats to push the passage of the cryptocurrency bills she helped frame. The proposed bills aim to introduce a harsher penalty towards criminals who use cryptocurrencies during illegal activities. Also read: ‘Cryptomatoes’ Using Excess Mining Heat to Grow Produce Philippines Lawmaker Wants to Speed Up Cryptocurrency Regulations There’s been a lot going on in the Philippines as far as cryptocurrencies are concerned and lawmakers are yearning to form some laws around the industry that provides this…
Read MoreTop 10 Gems From Saifedean Ammous’ ‘The Bitcoin Standard’
Bitcoin economist Saifedean Ammous has confirmed publication of his cryptocurrency reference guide, ‘The Bitcoin Standard.’ Pundits Line Up To Praise New Guide To Bitcoin A worthy counterpart to Andreas Antonopoulos’ ‘Mastering Bitcoin’ series, the book focuses on providing an accessible yet fully-rounded understanding of the revolution Bitcoin represents. Despite only being available for purchase from April 24, The Bitcoin Standard has already garnered such praise that lists have appeared summarizing various readers’ favorite quotations. Chief among these is a list by Yorick de Mombynes, public auditor with the French Court…
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