Fireblocks Partners Chainalysis To Improve Regulatory Compliance

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 6/16/2020 10:26 AM ET

Enterprise-grade crypto-platform Fireblocks has teamed up with New York-based blockchain analysis company Chainalysis for improving regulatory compliance and security standards for financial institutions and cryptocurrency businesses.

Fireblocks is an institutional platform for securely storing, transferring, and issuing blockchain-based digital assets. It moves more than $2.5 billion in crypto per month since launching out of stealth mode in June.

Some of the largest financial institutions in the crypto market that utilize Fireblocks to store and transfer digital assets across their entire ecosystem include Celsius, Amber AI, Genesis Global Trading, Galaxy Digital, Woorton, Dunamis, GSR, Blockfills and more.

The partnership will enable Fireblocks to ensure that these institutions transfer digital assets securely and compliantly by adhering to security and regulatory anti-money laundering (AML) best practices.

Fireblocks provides financial institutions with a secure and scalable MPC-based wallet infrastructure and a digital asset transfer network for instant settlement, and asset rebalancing across more than 25 exchanges.

For this, the Fireblocks platform will integrate Chainalysis KYT (Know Your Transaction) compliance software to monitor cryptocurrency transactions in real-time to aid in detecting illicit transactions and to set a new security and compliance standard for its institutional customers.

The compliance software raises live alerts on transactions involved in suspicious activity by using a combination of pattern recognition, proprietary algorithms, and open source references.

Fireblocks' customers will now be able to leverage both platforms through the Fireblocks interface and API. The integrated software solution will send and receive AML approved funds, customize transaction policies based on assigned risk scores, and automatically log AML transaction reports to share with regulatory authorities.

Chainalysis offers cryptocurrency investigation and compliance solutions to law enforcement agencies, regulators, and businesses to fight illicit cryptocurrency activity.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

$5M in Ethereum Transaction Fees to be Distributed to ETH Miners

StarkPool and Ethermine have opted to distribute the $5M in ETH Fees to Ethereum miners.

John P. Njui   •   ETHEREUM (ETH) NEWS   •   JUNE 16, 2020

Quick take:

• Three Ethereum transactions with high ETH fees were mined last week.
• StarkPool and Ethermine mined two of the transactions and had requested the sender to contact them for possible discussions.
• Almost a week later, the sender has not reached out and both mining pools have opted to distribute the fees to miners.
• Ethermine has decided not to interfere with future payouts of large transaction fees.

Last week on June 10th and 11th, three transactions on the Ethereum blockchain broke records for the amount of ETH fees the sender opted to spend. The first transaction involved 10,668.73 ETH in fees to send 0.55 Ethereum. The second transaction had a similar value for fees but for sending 350 ETH. The sender of the third transaction was from a different address and paid 2,310 ETH to send 3,221 Ethereum.

StarkPool & Ethermine Opt to Distribute $5M in ETH Fess to Miners

The first two transactions were from the same Ethereum address and mined by the mining pools of StarkPool and Ethermine respectively. Both StarkPool and Ethermine had reached out on social media requesting the owner of the address to contact them to rectify what many in the crypto-verse, thought was a mistake.

Ethermine Will Not Interfere with Future Payouts of Large Transaction Fees

Additionally, the Ethermine mining pool has announced that they will not interfere with any future large payouts of ETH transaction fees.

Also we would like to make clarify that in the future we will no longer interfere in the payout of large tx fees. Our advertised payout policy is to always distribute the full block reward and we will be sticking to that independent on the amount involved.

All Evidence Points to a Crypto Exchange Hack

As earlier mentioned, many individuals in the crypto-verse were inclined to believe that the transactions with high ETH fees were cases of very expensive mistakes. However, evidence emerging points to a situation where a crypto exchange’s wallet was compromised by Hackers.

The theory is that the said hackers cannot withdraw the funds to just any address but to specific ones on a whitelist. They in turn decided to send ETH with high transaction fees to whitelisted addresses as a means of demanding ransom or continue depleting the said Ethereum accounts.

Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin had summarized this theory via the following tweet.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to give financial advice. Any additional opinion herein is purely the author’s and does not represent the opinion of EWN or any of its other writers. Please carry out your own research before investing in any of the numerous cryptocurrencies available. Thank you.

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Original article posted on the EthereumWorldNews.com site, by John P. Njui.

Article re-posted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

BitPay Partners Mastercard To Launch BitPay Card

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 6/15/2020 10:23 AM ET

Bitcoin Payment Processor BitPay has teamed up with Mastercard to launch the first ever US prepaid Mastercard called 'BitPay Card' for crypto users in the U.S. that can be loaded with dollars that are converted instantly by liquidating cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

The card can be used at millions of locations around the world wherever Mastercard debit card is accepted. Customers can also use their cards online for purchases and to withdraw cash from ATMs.

The BitPay Card offers a safe, smart, and fast way to convert crypto to fiat currency without conversion fees. The card features an EMV chip that provides added security and is contactless-enabled for payments. It can also act as a virtual card in the BitPay app. The BitPay Card supports BTC, BCH, ETH, XRP and stable coins USDC, GUSD, PAX and BUSD.

The BitPay Card requires the BitPay mobile app and can empower cardholders to top-up their card instantly, view your balance, request a new PIN, view transaction history and manage card settings on the go. The BitPay App not only tracks and manages card spend, but also allows you to purchase crypto and gift cards from popular brands.

This card is issued by Metropolitan Commercial Bank (Member FDIC) pursuant to a license from Mastercard International Inc.

This partnership is expected to expand crypto's use, while also making it easy for businesses to attract new customers who want to spend Bitcoin and shop.

Previously, BitPay had partnered Visa in May 2016 to launch the BitPay Prepaid Visa Card, which is a similar card and is still in use. BitPay has reportedly announced that all Bitpay prepaid Visa cards will expire and stop working on December 31, 2020, regardless of the expiration date printed on your card.

BitPay supports settlement in 8 currencies in 240 countries and direct bank deposit in 38 countries. It was granted BitLicense, the license of virtual currency activities, by the NYDFS in July 2018 to facilitate payment in Bitcoin between merchants and consumers in the State of New York.

BitPay is the first blockchain payment processor and the first non-exchange to secure a virtual currency license from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).

In February, US-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase partnered Visa to issue Visa debit cards known as "Coinbase Card" directly, without depending on third-party issuers. The card enables customers to spend their crypto balances direct from their Coinbase account. Coinbase then enabled the usage of Coinbase Card through Google Pay on android devices to be operated as a contactless card.

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Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

‘All My Savings Are Gone,’ Man Says After Losing Over $110k Bitcoin Stash In A Hardware Wallet Phishing Scam

By Nick James – June 13, 2020

A man has taken to Twitter to air his story after he apparently fell victim to a phishing attack. In a video that has since attracted the attention of many crypto enthusiasts, one Eric Savics says he lost 12 Bitcoins in the attack that has now threatened his dream of buying his own apartment.

Appeal To Humanity

Eric posted the video on twitter in an effort to seek help recovering his lost BTC stash. According to him, his 7-year hard work is now up in smoke. Eric goes on to appeal to whoever stole his Bitcoin to consider return a small portion so he can at least start from somewhere in rebuilding his portfolio.

Like many people who might share his sentiment, Eric isn’t much of a technical person, as he admits. Apparently, the phishing attack was orchestrated via a malicious version of his hardware wallet.

On the brighter side, the victim is getting lots of support from the community – including the Binance CEO, Changpeng Zhao. The CEO even promised to direct his team to blacklist the address to which the BTC was sent. Details of the fraudulent transaction can be found here, along with the receiving address.

The Ugly Side Of Crypto

It’s not the first time that reports have emanated of people losing their crypto holdings to scammers and other technical attackers that mostly prey on the technical ignorance of their victims. However, it’s notable that attackers aren’t just targeting individuals. A few exchanges, including Binance itself, have suffered attacks over the last few years. These kinds of attacks reveal the dark side of cryptocurrencies.

Granted, exchanges as well as makers of hardware wallets have stepped up their game in protecting digital assets. One crypto fan offered to buy Eric a new hardware wallet.

Crypto Vs Censorship

While the reaction to Eric’s story is one of empathy, especially considering Binance CEO’s offer to blacklist the receiving address, it does raise the question of censorship.

For one, cryptos have managed to win hearts by offering a free financial system with zero government interference, and now the exchanges’ ability to block specific address will fuel fears that, in the future, governments might start ordering them to blacklist target-specific address – and that will trample privacy and financial freedom that crypto fans have enjoyed for years.

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DISCLAIMER

The views expressed in the article are wholly those of the author and do not represent those of, nor should they be attributed to, ZyCrypto. This article is not meant to give financial advice. Please carry out your own research before investing in any of the various cryptocurrencies available.

The original article written by Nick James and posted on ZyCrypto.com.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

India Mulls Blanket Ban On Cryptocurrencies With New Law

By RTTNews Staff Writer | Published: 6/12/2020 10:50 AM ET

The Indian government is mulling a blanket ban on dealing in virtual currencies such as Bitcoin in the country, according to The Economic Times report. The Indian Ministry of Finance is already said to have drafted a proposal to pursue the ban. The government has been concerned about the use of cryptocurrencies in money laundering and criminal activities as the trail cannot be established.

India is now looking to introduce a law to ban trading in cryptocurrencies in the country after the effort of the Reserve Bank of India to put a plug on it failed with a circular. The government now sees a legal framework to be more effective and punitive.

The proposed law would make it illegal to mine, generate, hold, sell, deal in, issue, transfer, dispose off or use cryptocurrency in India. According to the report, a note has been moved by the finance ministry for inter-ministerial consultations. It will then be sent to the Union Council of Ministers and then be forwarded to the parliament for final review.

In July 2019, a high-level committee of the Government of India, entrusted to draft a policy on cryptocurrencies, had recommended that private cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin should be banned. The ban should cover cryptocurrency exchanges, investors, traders and other financial intermediaries, the recommendation said.

The committee also went to the extent of recommending up to 10 years jail term, and a fine of up to 250 million Indian Rupees or $3.3 million for a repeat offense. The committee observed that no country treats virtual currencies as legal tender.

At the same, the panel urged the government to consider issuing official digital currency with a status of a legal tender and regulated by the central bank. It also recommended the promotion of blockchain technology in selected areas.

The four-member inter-ministerial committee was constituted in 2017 to study the impact of cryptocurrencies and to make recommendations to regulate them.

The proposed new law is expected to deal a telling blow to investors, exchanges and other entities that began dealing in the digital asset after India's Supreme Court in early March struck down the RBI's curbs on financial institutions under its preview to deal with cryptocurrencies.

This bought an end to the ban on the country's commercial banks and other financial institutions providing services to businesses and individuals dealing in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. The RBI had imposed the ban in April, 2018, but it was effective from July 2018.

The top court had ruled that the curbs were unreasonable and illegal. The ruling followed a plea by a group of petitioners and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IMAI) challenging the RBI ban.

Earlier in 2019, the RBI itself had said cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and other crypto-assets currently did not pose risks to global financial stability. This was revealed in a document published by the RBI then titled "Report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India 2017-18."

In April 2018, the RBI had initially considered launching its own central bank digital currency called "Laxmi" as a stablecoin tied to the rupee. However, it shelved the idea later saying it's too early to even think about it.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

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Article written by an RTT News Staff Writer, and posted on the RTT News.com website.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Binance’s Bitcoin (BTC) Quarterly Futures Kick-Off on a High Note

John P. Njui   •   BITCOIN (BTC) NEWS   •   JUNE 12, 2020

Quick take:

• Yesterday, Binance launched the BTCUSD Quarterly Futures Contract with a leverage of up to 125x.
• To promote the derivatives product, the exchange will offer users 30 days of maker fee rebates and taker fees as low as 0.020%.
• Within 24 hours of the launch, the product has traded over $100 million in trade volume.

Early yesterday, the crypto exchange of Binance launched the Bitcoin Quarterly Futures contract with a maximum leverage of 125x. The new BTC quarterly futures contract has a very attractive fee structure with a maker rebate and taker fees as low as 0.020%. The fees of the quarterly futures contract are lower than the usual Bitcoin perpetual contract on the platform. A full breakdown of the fee structure comparing the two derivatives products can be found in the following table by the team at Binance.

(Click on image for larger view)

New Bitcoin Quarterly Contracts Kick-Off on a High Note

The launch of the derivatives product was overshadowed by Bitcoin dipping below $9,300. However, 24 hours after the Bitcoin Quarterly futures contract was launched, the VP of Binance Futures, Aaron Gong, notified the crypto trading community that the new derivative had had more than $100 Million in trade volume since. According to Mr. Gong, the trade volume was 3 times the volume of the usual Bitcoin perpetual contract. His full statement highlighting the achievement can be found in the following tweet.

More on the Bitcoin Quarterly Futures Contracts by Binance

As with all quarterly futures contracts, the Binance version has a set expiration and settlement date. Traders can find a ‘Time to delivery’ tab on the Binance trading interface right above the depth chart as can be seen in the screenshot below.

(Click on image for larger view)

Additionally, the team at Binance has aptly named the current derivative, BTCUSD Quarterly 0925. The four digits at the end of the name conveniently indicate the expiry date. In this case, the contract will expire on the 25th of September, 2020, at 8 am UTC. The derivative product uses BTC as collateral and is a cash-settled futures contract.

Risk Warning By Binance

Due to the maximum high leverage of 125x, the team at Binance has cautioned traders about the dangers of trading futures contracts.

Futures trading is a highly risky endeavor, with the potential for both great profits and significant losses. Please be aware that in the event of extreme price movement, there is a chance that all margin balance in your futures wallet may be liquidated.

(Feature image courtesy of Unsplash.com.)

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to give financial advice. Any additional opinion herein is purely the author’s and does not represent the opinion of EWN or any of its other writers. Please carry out your own research before investing in any of the numerous cryptocurrencies available. Thank you.

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Original article posted on the EthereumWorldNews.com site, by John P. Njui.

Article re-posted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Over 2,000 vending machines in Australia and New Zealand now accept Bitcoin

By Ponvang Bulus – June 9, 2020

Over 2,000 vending machines in Australia and New Zealand now accept Bitcoin for Coca-Cola products, according to reports. This is made possible through a partnership between Coca-Cola’s largest bottling and distribution company in the region, Coca-Cola Amatil, and crypto payments startup Centrapay.

Those who intend to pay with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies only have to use their mobile phone-installed sylo smart wallet, a next-generation app that combines a private messenger with a digital wallet, to scan QR codes at supported vending machines across the two countries.

This doesn’t only make payments easier but also reduces the need for unnecessary contact during payment as users only have to touch the machine once.

Centrapay CEO Jerome Faury says this is in a bid to simplify the use of cryptocurrency for buying and selling of products. The firm according to Faury has worked hard to improve user experience for cryptocurrency users as well as simplified the integration process for mainstream businesses trying to integrate crypto payments. 

“Integration complexity and poor user experiences are barriers to adoption of Web 3 technology, such as digital identity and assets. We have solved both these issues. Centrapay is pioneering the way to enable this new internet of value and bring its benefits to both consumers and merchants,” he said.

In addition, Centrapay wants to give its users control over their finances and digital identity in the growing digital world where privacy is an issue.

“…we’re working to create a future where individuals are in control of their own data and digital identity. Brands can connect directly and ethically with people, empowering them to make the right purchasing decision, whilst also supporting their retail and other distribution partners.”

Going forward, the company plans to launch its services globally, first with a launch of “some world-first innovations,” in the United States. This could contribute significantly to driving cryptocurrency adoption and reducing the spread of the coronavirus which is currently a global public health emergency.

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DISCLAIMER

The views expressed in the article are wholly those of the author and do not represent those of, nor should they be attributed to, ZyCrypto. This article is not meant to give financial advice. Please carry out your own research before investing in any of the various cryptocurrencies available.

The original article written by Ponvang Bulus and posted on ZyCrypto.com.

Article reposted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe

Bitcoin Derivatives Exchanges to Have a Separate Page on Coinmarketcap

John P. Njui   •   BITCOIN (BTC) NEWS   CRYPTOCURRENCY   •   JUNE 9, 2020   •   2 Min read

In brief:

• Early this month, Coinmarketcap changed the algorithm used to rank crypto exchanges.
• The changes saw Bitmex, ByBit, and Deribit ranked 175th, 177th, and 179th respectively.
• The team at Coinmarketcap has explained that a separate page for derivative platforms will be added soon.

There is no doubt that the rate at which changes occur in the crypto-verse is exciting. Sometimes it becomes difficult to keep up with all the transformations with respect to crypto projects as can be seen in the recent changes in the ranking system of crypto exchanges on Coinmarketcap.com. At the time of writing this, the popular Bitcoin derivatives platforms of BitMex, ByBit, and Deribit are ranked 175th, 177th, and 179th respectively.

Screenshot courtesy of Coinmarketcap.com (Click on image for larger view)

Crypto Twitter and Crypto Exchanges React to the New Coinmarketcap Rankings

The current rankings of BitMex, ByBit and Deribit have caused a stir in the crypto community with many traders wondering what is going on. Evidence of this can be seen in the following tweet by @CosmonautC.

A Separate Page for Derivatives Platforms is in the Pipeline on Coinmarketcap

As shocking as the rankings of BitMex, ByBit and Deribit might be, the team at Coinmarketcap has explained that it is the first phase of changes being implemented in the exchange ranking algorithm on the platform.

In a June 8th update to the crypto community, the team at Coinmarketcap explained that the current exchange rankings apply to spot market pairs and a separate page will be added for derivative exchanges.

Please be reminded that the exchange ranking algorithm change below applies for spot market pairs and exchanges only. A separate page for derivative exchanges will be available in the near future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the team at Coinmarketcap has clarified that the current exchange rankings are as a result of an initial phase of changes in the algorithm used to grade crypto exchange platforms. At the time of writing this, the algorithm is set for spot market pairs thus the discrepancies when it comes to ranking BitMex, ByBit, and Deribit. Although initially confusing to the crypto community, the changes will eventually include a separate page for derivatives exchanges and providing more accurate data with respect to BitMex, ByBit, and Deribit.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to give financial advice. Any additional opinion herein is purely the author’s and does not represent the opinion of EWN or any of its other writers. Please carry out your own research before investing in any of the numerous cryptocurrencies available. Thank you.

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Original article posted on the EthereumWorldNews.com site, by John P. Njui.

Article re-posted on Markethive by Jeffrey Sloe