Markets Outlook

With bitcoin fighting for $11k and the first CBDC in real life, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: All Eyes on Fed Reserve Rate Announcement, as Bitcoin Fights for $11K With the Fed's decision on rates due later Wednesday, bitcoin traders will be watching the U.S. dollar action. Bahamas to Roll Out 'Sand Dollar' Digital Currency Next Month The Bahamas' "Sand Dollar" will likely be the world's first live central bank digital currency when it launches in October. Bitcoin CEO: MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor Explains His $425M Bet on BTC How the business analytics chief became Wall Street's boldest bitcoin maximalist. US State Bank Regulators Agree to Single Set of Rules for Fintech, Crypto Firm Licensing Agencies from 48 states are expected to unveil a new framework today that will simplify and consolidate regulation for crypto companies.

With BTC crossing into bullish territory and a new smart contract-powered tokenized DeFi Index, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Analyst 'Cautiously Bullish' on Bitcoin but Says Equity Sell-Off Still a Threat Bitcoin (BTC) has crossed into the bullish territory, but may remain vulnerable to another sell-off in stocks. New Index From DeFi Pulse and Set Protocol Offers Easy Access to 10 DeFi Tokens in 1 Data company DeFi Pulse and investment-minded Set Protocol have created a permissionless index of the very best DeFi tokens, called the DeFiPulse Index. MicroStrategy Tells SEC It 'May Increase' $250M Bitcoin Reserves MicroStrategy told the SEC it "may increase" its bitcoin (BTC) holdings beyond the $250 million haul purchased in August. DeFi Lender bZx Reclaims $8M Stolen in Sunday's Attack DeFi lending project bZx has been able to recover about $8 million in cryptocurrency from an attacker who stole the funds after exploiting a code bug over the weekend. MicroStrategy Buys $175M More in Bitcoin, Upping BTC Holdings to $425M Michael Saylor, the founder of MicroStrategy, said Tuesday his company has acquired an additional $175 million in bitcoin (BTC) in a single purchase.

With bitcoin breaking above its recent $500 trading range, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today’s stories: Against the Odds, Some Bitcoin Traders Are Betting on a $36K Price by Year’s End The Deribit exchange has seen a spike in investors buying the $36,000 December call option despite the market placing low odds on a new record high this year. DeFi Lender bZx Loses $8M in Third Attack This Year An attacker found a way to mint unbacked iTokens that they could then redeem against other cryptos held in lending pools for DeFi lender bZx. Iran May Fund Car Imports with Cryptocurrency Mining An Iranian free trade zone is proposing locally mined cryptocurrency might be a way to fund car imports. SEC Charges Rapper TI With Securites Violations for ICO The SEC alleged film producer Ryan Felton misappropriated funds from two separate initial coin offerings, and charged rapper TI with boosting one of them.

With bitcoin trading in a narrow range and new comments from central bankers in Europe and Japan, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today’s stories: Bitcoin Holds Firm Above $10K but Strong Bounce Proves Elusive Bitcoin is trapped in the narrow range of $10,000 to $10,500, but on-chain metrics hint at a rally revival ahead. Uniswap September Volume Tops August’s $6.7B Record in 10 Days on Dizzying DeFi Demand September is the fifth consecutive monthly all-time high for Uniswap volume. Square Forms Group to Stop Patent Hoarding From Stifling Crypto Innovation Square said the Cryptocurrency Open Patent Alliance (COPA) will allow companies to access and share tech innovations with one another. Europe Has Fallen Behind on Digital Payments, Lagarde Says In new comments, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said a digital euro can place the region at the cutting edge of innovation but it may have fallen behind in the global competition for creating digital payment ecosystems. Japan Should Consider a Digital Yen, Former Official Says In an interview with CoinDesk Japan, a former Bank of Japan official had new comments on the country’s many reasons to seriously consider a digital yen.

With bitcoin lawsuits in the news and SushiSwap’s migration completed, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today’s stories: Ether Traders May Be Hedging Against DeFi Slowdown: Analyst Some are calling the white-hot Defi space a bubble that is unsustainable. Judge Dismisses $200M Damages Claim in AT&T Crypto Hack Lawsuit AT&T has won a motion to dismiss a $200 million punitive damages claim from Mike Terpin, who lost $24 million in crypto via SIM hack. Court Denies Bitmain $30M in Damages From Co-Founders of Rival Poolin A court in China has denied an appeal by bitcoin mining giant Bitmain seeking $30 million in damages from the three co-founders of mining pool rival Poolin. SushiSwap Migration Ushers in Era of ‘Protocol Politicians’ SushiSwap, the community-owned automated market maker, now has a new set of leaders – offering a preview of the future of crypto politics.

With bitcoin hovering just above $10k and a tokenized form of Ethereum transaction fees in the crosshairs, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Bitcoin's Correlation With Gold Hits Record High Bitcoin is now more closely tied to safe haven gold than ever. BitFlyer's Newest Customers Are In Their 20s More than 30% of new customers at bitFlyer, a major Japanese crypto exchange, are in their 20s, the exchange said. DeFi Meets Universal Basic Income With Just-Launched Project From eToro eToro's GoodDollar initiative will provide a universal basic income for some of the world's poorest by incentivizing people to yield farm on its platform. Ethereum Developers Weigh Gas Rule Change to Ease Fee Pressure As Ethereum fees soar, a proposal to nix “gas tokens,” which let users prepay fees when they’re cheap and spend them later, is getting renewed attention.

With investors buying the bitcoin dip and staying bullish on options, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Investors Buying Bitcoin Amid Price Slump to Near $10K, Data Shows Despite bitcoin shedding over $2,000 in the last few weeks, the "buy the dip" mentality in the market still appears strong. Bitcoin Options Suggest Investors Hedging but Still Long-Term Bullish Bitcoin's options market retains long-term bullish bias despite the recent price pullback, data shows. What Happened to DeFi Project SushiSwap Over the Weekend SushiSwap experienced a tumultuous weekend after its founder sold $13 million' worth of his stake in the project before turning the reigns over to investor and FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.

As the price of bitcoin reels from its biggest drop since Black Thursday, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: V-Shaped Recovery From Bitcoin's Biggest Drop Since March Unlikely, Say Analysts Despite a slight bounce Friday morning, some analysts don't expect bitcoin to chart a quick recovery from the double-digit price drop over the last two days. 3 Reasons Bitcoin Just Tanked Below $11K for First Time in a Month Cryptocurrency analysts attributed the drop to a combination of risk-off sentiment in traditional markets, DeFi exhaustion and miner selling. Blockchain Bites: Bitcoin's Steep Sell-Off, Pornhub's Crypto Payments, Twitter's Latest Hack Pornhub will accept BTC and LTC payments, a nonprofit wants Coinbase to be more transparent and credit default swaps are coming to the Ethereum blockchain. Bank of England Governor Wants Global Regulations as Stablecoins Pick Up Steam Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey wants coordinated global regulation around stablecoins as the payment method picks up steam.

With the price of bitcoin pulling back sharply and U.S. legislators again advocating for blockchain, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Risks Deeper Price Pullback as Exchange Inflows Spike Wednesday saw a flurry of deposits onto exchanges, indicating some investors are trying to offload their bitcoin. That could further propel prices downwards. Robinhood May Face $10M SEC Fine Over Disclosure Failures Robinhood is reportedly under investigation by the SEC for not fully disclosing that it was passing customer orders onto market makers. Lawmakers Ask Trump to Use Blockchain in COVID Relief Lawmakers are urging President Trump to consider blockchain solutions in the fight against COVID-19. Swiss Canton Zug to Accept Taxes in Bitcoin, Ether From Next Year Citizens and companies in Zug will be able to pay up to $109,000 of their tax bill in either bitcoin or ether from February next year.

With bitcoin dropping overnight as DeFi booms, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Price Drops 4% After Latest Rejection at $12K Resistance Bitcoin fell by $400 Wednesday morning, having failed once more to move above a long-held resistance level. Bitcoin Miners Saw 23% Revenue Increase in August Miners generated an estimated $368 million in August. DeFi Flippening Comes to Exchanges as Uniswap Topples Coinbase in Trading Volume Trading volumes are surging on Uniswap and other so-called decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges, challenging established venues like Coinbase. Police Reportedly Raid Headquarters of Bithumb, South Korea's Largest Exchange Crypto exchange Bithumb has reportedly been seized by police in Seoul on allegations that its chairman engaged in investment fraud.

With ether reaching a two-year high and a breakdown on weird DeFi, CoinDesk’s Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Ether Price Hits 2-Year High The two-year high was reached alongside a drop in the number of coins held in exchange addresses. US Regulator to Shake Up Banking With Federal Charters for Payment Firms Acting Comptroller of Currency (and former Coinbase exec) Brian Brooks is spearheading the move to let payment firms operate as banks across state lines. Yearn, YAM and the Rise of Crypto's 'Weird DeFi' Moment What do these various memecoins do? Here's the rough TL;DR of the latest tokens to top the DeFi charts.

With bitcoin still lagging behind U.S stocks and additional tax guidance in the U.S., CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: US Stocks Closing on Bigger August Gain Than Bitcoin While bitcoin is eyeing an August gain for the first time in three years, the cryptocurrency is still lagging U.S. stocks over the month. Chinese Bank Disables Digital Yuan Wallet After Soft Launch Draws Wide Attention China Construction Bank had quietly opened up the wallet service of China's digital yuan to public users – but has now disabled it shortly after the feature gained wide attention. What Changes at the Fed and the SEC Mean for Crypto Chairman Powell’s speech on Thursday highlighted how much the Fed’s role is changing, and that's an opportunity for the crypto industry. Cryptocurrency Earned From Carrying Out Microtasks Is Taxable, Says IRS Memo The U.S. tax department has provided guidance around crypto revenue earned from microtasks via crowdsourcing platforms and, yes, such income is taxable.

With bitcoin and gold reversing losses, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's Stories: Bitcoin, Gold Recover After Jerome Powell Speech Shakes Markets Bitcoin and gold are reversing losses seen on Thursday after the Federal Reserve's announcement of a more relaxed approach to tackling inflation. Binance's Bitcoin 'Bid-Ask Spreads' Tighten as Cryptocurrency Markets Mature The narrowing gap between bitcoin buy and sell orders on big exchanges like Binance shows an increasing depth to cryptocurrency markets. Chainalysis Report Shows Healthy Crypto Usage in Venezuela The Venezuelan government's push to create a cryptocurrency-centric economy appears to be working, but perhaps not in the way officials had hoped. Bitmain, Ebang Among 21 Bitcoin Mining Farms Stripped of Energy Perks in Inner Mongolia Affected mining centers in the area may see a notable increase in electricity costs.

With bitcoin slightly bearish and cyber bandits pillaging New Zealand’s NZX exchange, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin's Implied Volatility Falls Sharply Ahead of Jerome Powell Speech Bitcoin’s options market foresees little price turbulence in the short-term, even as markets await a key speech from the chairman of the Federal Reserve. NYSE Can Allow Firms to Raise Funding Through Direct Listings, Says SEC The New York Stock Exchange may now allow some companies to raise capital via direct listings rather than IPOs. New Zealand Stock Exchange Hit Repeatedly by Cybercriminals Demanding Bitcoin NZX has halted trading for the third day in a row as a result of cybercriminals attempting to extort cryptocurrency. Commentary: Fed Chair Jerome Powell Details Inflation Target Changes The Fed confirmed if inflation consistently falls below its 2% target - as it has for most of the last decade - it will target inflation above 2%. Here's our live commentary.

With bitcoin’s silver lining and Ribbit’s $350 million “Blank Check,” CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Drop Squeezes Out Weak Derivatives Positions – And That May Be a Good Thing Bitcoin’s latest price drop may have a silver lining. Crypto and Fintech VC Ribbit Capital Seeks $350M in 'Blank Check' IPO While it's unclear how much Ribbit Leap will focus on crypto or blockchain acquisitions, it comes at a time of renewed exuberance in the sector. FTX Exchange's $150M Deal for Mobile-First Blockfolio Is a Retail Trading Play The deal is a strategic play for FTX, whose clientele consists largely of quants and professional traders, to attract more retail customers. Brazilian Lawmaker Proposes Crypto Regulations for a Country Devoid of Any Brazil's crypto scene has been unbanked, unregulated and awash in legal uncertain for its entire history.

With bitcoin still under $12K and Aave pulling ahead of MakerDAO, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Powell's Coming Inflation Speech May Weigh Over Dollar and Boost Bitcoin: Analysts The Federal Reserve chief is expected to bolster expectations of inflation in a keynote Thursday. That may be bad for the dollar but good for bitcoin. Aave Becomes Second DeFi Project to Unseat MakerDAO for Most TVL DeFi credit market Aave has pulled ahead of stablecoin mint MakerDAO for the title of most collateral staked on Ethereum, according to DeFiPulse. Huawei Builds Blockchain Platform to Help Beijing Government Manage People's Data Huawei’s cloud services arm is helping the Beijing government set up a blockchain platform that would better track and manage people’s data. Bank for International Settlements: https://www.bis.org/publ/work880.htm?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=firstmover&utm_campaign=&clid=00Q1I00000N4DdAUAV A recent paper by the Bank for International Settlements looks at the economic reasoning behind central bank digital currencies and how they may be shaped for future implementation via mainstream adoption.

With Turkey getting bullish on bitcoin and BitMex blocking users in part of Canada, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Leveraged Funds Take Record Bearish Positions in Bitcoin Futures The funds likely boosted short positions to take advantage of attractive "cash and carry" yields. First Mover: Anything-Goes Token Market Repudiates Rich-Only Venture Capital Club Venture capital is no longer just for the rich, as crypto markets let traders bet on early-stage digital-asset startups, risks included. Istanbul or 'Coinstantinople'? Inside Turkey's Bitcoin Bull Market The relationship between economic crisis and crypto exchange activity in Turkey appears to have changed, with bitcoin coming out on the winning end. Crypto Derivatives Exchange BitMEX to Block Ontario Traders The veteran cryptocurrency derivatives exchange is to block users in Ontario, apparently at the behest of the local securities regulator.

With bitcoin still pulling back and LND learning to wumbo, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Options Open Interest Nears All Time High – But Rise in Puts Could Presage Drop While soaring open interest can be a sign of a continuing trend, the offloading of calls suggests bitcoin could correct further. Ready to Wumbo: LND Enables More, Larger Bitcoin Transactions on Lightning LND now supports Lightning Network wumbo channels. These channels have the capacity to hold more funds, and users can send larger bitcoin transactions. VC-Backed Crypto Exchange Mexo Launches in Latin America Mexo, a cryptocurrency exchange designed for the Latin American user, launched on Thursday. Thailand Is Prepping to Move Judicial System Records to a Blockchain The Office of the Court of Justice is developing its blockchain as part of Thailand's court digitization campaign.

With bitcoin taking a back seat to the DeFi boom and data platforms aiming for the moon, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Risks Deeper Drop if Dollar Rebounds The bitcoin price could pull back even further should the dollar stage a full-blown recovery on the back of the latest Fed meeting. OMG Price Doubles as DeFi and Record Ethereum Fees Create ‘Perfect Storm’ OMG has more than doubled in the past seven days as record Ethereum fees lead investors to look more closely at layer-2 solutions. Russia's New Blockchain Elections Remain Centralized There will be two blockchain voting pilots for Russia's off-year election next month. TechCrunch:Moon lander startup ispace raises $28 million and launches a new lunar data platform

With bitcoin pulling back from its bull run and the emergence of YAM-inspired “Spaghetti Money,” CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin's Bull Run is Slowing – Pullback Now Expected Some analysts are now predicting further price corrections after bitcoin fell back below the $12,000 milestone on Tuesday. Money Legos Turn 'Exuberant' as Chainlink Stripped of 'DeFi' This year's growth in the cryptocurrency subsector DeFi has been so remarkable that some analysts are now calling the phenomenon "exuberant." UK Regulator Grants License to Digital Security Exchange Archax The U.K. watchdog has granted several licenses to Archax that will allow it to become a "one-stop shop" for the digital security space. Binance-Owned WazirX Announces DeFi Project With Matic The exchange has opted for Matic instead of Ethereum’s network, which is currently dominating the DeFi space because of "high gas costs." $200m Staked in YAM-Inspired DeFi Protocol in Under 12 Hours The DeFi craze continues as investors stake $200 million in a new yield farming protocol that's not even 12 hours old yet.

With bitcoin's exchange reserves at a 20-month low and its hashrate getting soaked in Sichuan, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Holding Sentiment Strongest in Nearly Two Years The amount of bitcoin held on crypto exchanges is down to a 21-month low, a sign investors are feeling bullish. Bitcoin Passes $12K, Dollar Worries Grow, OMG Jumps, Portnoy's Orchid #Pump Bitcoin rises, Warren Buffett buys a gold miner, Wall Street dollars worry grow, OMG's price jumps, Orchid gets #pump tweet, Ethereum Classic's possible delisting. Heavy Rainstorms in China Are Hurting Bitcoin's Hashrate Major Chinese bitcoin mining pools are each seeing daily hashrate drops of between 10% and 20% following continuous rainstorms in Sichuan. Binance Charity Pledges $20K to Beirut Explosion Relief Efforts Binance's charity arm is donating $20,000 to the victims of an explosion that rocked Lebanon's capital earlier this month.

With bitcoin’s hashrate reaching record highs and litecoin hoping to Mimblewimble its way into new users' wallets, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Litecoin Gets Bullish Speculation, at Last, as Upgrade Approaches "The upcoming privacy upgrade would leave litecoin valuations around all time highs," one industry analyst said. Bitcoin Price Holds Below $12K Even as Hash Rate Hits All-Time High Bitcoin's hashrate has soared to record highs, some analysts say it might kick the price out of its rut. Crypto Long & Short: The Surprisingly Sunny Outlook for Crypto Hedge Funds Bitcoin returns are beating crypto hedge funds, but other recent developments point to more favorable tailwinds for those funds in the long term. Ex-Prudential Securities CEO Calls Bitcoin a 'Safe Haven' George Ball, who claimed himself as a Bitcoin and blockchain opponent, said bitcoin or another cryptocurrency is “very attractive” both in the long term and short term.

With traditional finance and crypto traders both enjoying market madness, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: CME Rises in Bitcoin Futures Rankings as Institutional Interest Grows Institutional exchange CME has become the third-largest bitcoin futures exchange by number of open contracts. As Wall Street Goes Topsy-Turvy, Crypto Traders Are Bullish as Ever Crypto traders are enjoying their own version of the market’s madness, from bitcoin’s bull run to the collapse of YAM to Dave Portnoy. Singapore's Central Bank Backs New Code of Practice for Crypto Companies The guidance is aimed at assisting regulatory compliance and enhance crypto industry conduct under the city-state's payment laws. Belarus Is Back Online, With Lessons About Censorship Resistance What do you do if your country unplugs the internet? Satellite and mesh networks are possible future solutions, but they have technical and political limitations. China to Launch Major Expansion of Digital Currency Trials China is said to be planning additional testing of its digital yuan across a number of developed regions including Hong Kong.

With the price of BTC bouncing and ETH miners on the rise, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Recovers From $11.3K Despite Losses in European Stocks Bitcoin has shrugged off a drop to $11,300 for the third day running, possibly buoyed by gold's recovery on Wednesday. Daily Profitability for Ethereum Miners Hits Over 2-Year High The surge in profitability comes after rises in transaction fees and prices of the ether cryptocurrency. Coinbase to Offer Bitcoin-Backed Loans to US Customers Coinbase will allow U.S. retail customers to borrow fiat loans against as much as 30% of their bitcoin holdings starting in the fall. YAM's Market Cap Falls From $60M to Zero in 35 Minutes YAM’s market cap fell to zero just minutes after the co-founder pronounced the yield farming project dead. A rescue plan is now in the cards.

With bitcoin prices sitting around $12K and Russia developing “Transparent Blockchain” AI, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: First Mover: How a DeFi Trader Made an 89% Profit in Minutes Slinging Stablecoins So-called stablecoins like tether and USDC are $1 tokens in theory, but a complex arbitrage transaction seems to have netted one trader an 89% profit in just minutes. Some Traders Now Taking Bets Ether Will Break $1K by December Some option traders are now betting ether will rise to $1,000 by year’s end. The Linux Foundation Wants Open-Source Tech to Address Future Pandemics The Linux Foundation hopes open-source apps will play a key role in tracing exposure to diseases like COVID-19 while being fully transparent. Russian Financial Crime Agency Plans AI Tool to Link Crypto Transfers to Users Russia's anti-money laundering agency Rosfinmonitoring has already built a prototype blockchain analytics tool, according to a report.

With bitcoin increasingly acting like gold and one company betting a quarter of a billion dollars on BTC, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Rally Stalls as Increasingly Correlated Gold Drops Below $2K Bitcoin is increasingly taking cues from gold, a tried-and-tested store of value asset. MicroStrategy Buys $250M in Bitcoin, Calling the Crypto 'Superior to Cash' Digital gold is now the "principal holding" of MicroStrategy's revamped treasury reserve strategy. After Tumultuous Election, Belarus Goes Offline Internet is down in Belarus as people are protesting the results of presidential election Blockchain to Play 'Essential Role' in Farming Supply Chains, Says US Government An agency attached to the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it expects blockchain will play an important role in the sector's supply chains.

With the price of bitcoin knocking on $12k, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another time saving news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: First Mover: Bitcoin Hits $12K as Trump Orders Checks for Unemployed (Voters) Bitcoin pushed above $12,000 as President Donald Trump ordered emergency economic aid measures that might just be a precursor to a new spending bill worth trillions of dollars. Ethereum Classic Attacker Double-Spends $1.68M: Report The attacker attempted to double-spend roughly $3.3 million during the second attack. Crypto Attacks and What They Mean for Open-Source Value Ethereum Classic's recent 51% attacks highlight the value of large open-source networks such as Bitcoin and Eth – it’s about more than hashrate.

With bitcoin prices surging and a quick look at crypto lawsuits, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: First Mover: Bitcoin Rises More in One Day Than Stocks Have Gained All Year Bitcoin prices surged 5% Wednesday, outpacing stocks and gold amid calls for more government stimulus to stem the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Judge Worries Plaintiffs' Lawyers Trying to Line Their Pockets in Block.one ICO Lawsuit The district judge criticized a class-action lawsuit brought against Block.one for appearing to be an attempt to earn high legal fees. Investors Suing Over Status ICO Can't Find Execs to Serve Papers Investors suing crypto firm Status are seeking “alternative means” to serve top executives after they were unable to deliver court papers via traditional means. Man Accused of Arranging Murder to Avoid Crypto Debt Can't Escape Jail, Brazilian Court Rules Crypto businessman Danilo Afonso Pechin remains jailed after Brazil's High Court refused to hear his request for habeas corpus.

With bitcoin pushing towards $12,000 and gold at record highs, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your crypto news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Price Rises 3% as Gold Trades Above $2K for First Time Bitcoin is again acting like a macro asset, drawing bids amid record rally in gold and broad-based U.S. dollar sell-off. Square Reports 600% Increase in Quarterly Bitcoin Revenue Jack Dorsey's Square has seen one of the largest quarterly increases yet for its bitcoin business. Square Crypto, Human Rights Foundation Ramp Up Bitcoin Development Grants Square Crypto and the Human Rights Foundation are continuing their support for an open source Bitcoin developer community with new contributor grants.

With investment opportunities in traditional markets drying up, bitcoin futures are drawing record interest. CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your bitcoin news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Futures Interest Soars as Bond Yields Fall to Record Lows: Industry Exec Surging open interest in crypto derivatives suggests investors are seeking alpha in other investments, like bitcoin, said the co-founder of an index fund provider. Blockchain Bites: Hedge Fund Down, Banana Bets and the Twitter Hack Fallout Another crypto hedge fund has called it quits, the teenage Twitter hacker reportedly had millions in bitcoin and Huobi sees DeFi as its next venture.

After a flash-crashy weekend, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with your quick daily update. This episode is sponsored by Crypto.com, Bitstamp and Nexo.io. Today's stories: Bitcoin Investors Unshaken By Sunday's Flash Crash, Data Suggests Bitcoin investors look to have shrugged off Sunday’s sudden $1,400 price crash. First Mover: July Was a Runaway Month for Crypto Returns Crypto traders didn't have to be choosy to make money in July, when every digital asset in the CoinDesk 20 rose (except, of course, for the stablecoins).

With the dollar dropping to its lowest level since May 2018 and a reshuffle in Japan's central bank, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: Bitcoin on Track for Highest July Price Gain in 8 Years Bitcoin appears on track to register its best July price performance for eight years and confirm a major bullish breakout in the process. Dollar Falls to Lowest Level in Over 2 Years While Gold, Silver, Bitcoin Continue to Shine The dollar index dropped to its lowest level since May 2018. Bank of Japan Puts Top Economist in Charge of Digital Yen Initiative The central bank's most senior economist now runs the department responsible for the digital currency task force and working group with other central banks. Bank of England Building Payments Network to Support a Potential Digital Pound CoinDesk has learned the Bank of England's new settlement system is being built so it can be forwards compatible with a digital currency.

With the price of bitcoin hovering near recent highs and some wondering whether we're poised for a pullback, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your latest news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: Bitcoin Looks Overbought but Analysts Play Down Drop Fears Bitcoin's rally looks overstretched, according to a technical indicator, but short-term price consolidation looks more likely than a drop, say analysts. A Crypto Derivatives Exchange Is Getting a Nasdaq Listing in Q3 Originally postponed due to the pandemic, EQUOS.io is still set to be the first crypto exchange on the Nasdaq. Police Arrest 27 Alleged Masterminds Behind $5.7B Plus Token Crypto Scam Chinese police have arrested 27 leaders and 82 others suspected of operating the Ponzi scheme. Malaysia's Stock Exchange Eyes Blockchain for Bond Market Digitization Known as Project Harbour, the initiative will use distributed ledger technology as a register for a bond marketplace.

With the battle for CBDC dominance in the East heating up and smart contract use skyrocketing as Ethereum turns five, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: Bitcoin's Latest Rally May Have Staying Power, Exchange Flows Suggest The flow of bitcoin and stablecoins in and out of cryptocurrency exchanges observed on Monday suggests the latest price breakout may persist. Soaring DeFi Usage Drives Ethereum Contract Calls to New Record Coin Metrics reported the daily number of smart contract calls on Ethereum jumped to 3.11 million – a new record. Digital Yen Now 'Top Priority' for Japan Central Bank, Says Senior Official The comments mark a shift in priority for Japan as it seeks to counter the economic threat from regional rival China. Crypto Wallet Maker Ledger Loses 1M Email Addresses in Data Theft An unknown hacker gained access to the wallet maker's marketing database, stealing a million email addresses as well as personal information for 9,000 customers.

With bitcoin pulling back a little after yesterdays frenzied rush above $11,000, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: Bitcoin Futures Volume Surges 186% as Price Hits $11K The market for bitcoin futures snapped back to life on Monday as the cryptocurrency's price surged to an 11-month high. Ethereum Miners' Income Soars by 60% in a Month – Outruns Ether's Price Jump Ethereum miners may have benefited the most from ether’s recent price rise and soaring transaction fees. Ethereum 2.0: How It Works and Why It Matters A new 22-page report from CoinDesk Research explains the technology behind Ethereum's upcoming overhaul and the potential market impact of Eth 2.0.

With BTC breaking out, ETH exploding and gold at all-time highs, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: First Mover: Bitcoin at Last Passes $10K, But Why Has It Struggled While Gold Shone? It's a tricky thing to explain why bitcoin has been underperforming as central bank money printing helps drive gold to a new record. Ether Leaves Bitcoin Behind With 2020 Gain of Over 100% Ethereum's popularity with DeFi projects has likely led to a triple-digit year-to-date price rise for ether. Bitcoin lags well behind with a 34% gain. Crypto Long & Short: Where Fintech Ends and Crypto Begins Parts of fintech may be embracing crypto, but Noelle Acheson argues that doesn’t mean crypto is fintech – it’s more than that. MakerDAO Passes $1 Billion Milestone in DeFi First The total value of ether locked in DeFi's oldest project has surpassed $1 billion for the first time.

With BTC up 3.5% on the week and ETH up a lot more, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: First Mover: Crypto's $35T Moment Could Come From Analog-World Stock Listings With Coinbase rumored to be considering a share listing, some say a move toward more public ownership could accelerate mainstream crypto adoption. Opera's Built-In Crypto Wallets Have 170K Monthly Active Users The Norwegian browser maker has disclosed its crypto wallet user numbers for the first time. Blockchain Bites: Digital Dollars, Crypto Custody and Visa's 'Future of Money' Involves Crypto Visa said crypto is part of "the future of money," members of the U.S. Senate think the dollar should go digital and OCC will allow banks to custody crypto. YouTube Seeks to Dismiss Ripple Lawsuit Over XRP Giveaway Scams The video sharing giant filed a motion to dismiss Ripple’s lawsuit that alleges that YouTube did not do enough to stop free XRP giveaway scams, copyright infringement.

With BTC finally breaking out and ETH up even more, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: 3 Reasons Bitcoin's Price Could Soon Rise to $10K After a rise over $9,500 Wednesday, bitcoin looks set to climb toward the psychological price hurdle of $10,000. Here's three reasons why. Banks in US Can Now Offer Crypto Custody Services, Regulator Says U.S. regulators have cleared the way for national banks to provide cryptocurrency custody services on behalf of customers. Senate Hearing Sees Digital Dollar as a Tool for Economic Supremacy The digital dollar again appeared during a Senate hearing. However, it wasn't the focus of the hearing, but rather just another tool that can be used to maintain U.S. hegemony. Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak Sues YouTube Over Bitcoin Giveaway Scams Wozniak is among 18 plaintiffs suing the video-sharing giant for allowing crypto giveaway scams using his likeness to flourish on the platform.

With the price of BTC taking a breather following yesterdays jump, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: First Mover: This DeFi-Ready Token Is Teaching Crypto Traders to Cherish Inflation An update on Bitcoin price action, courtesy of CoinDesk's Omkar Godbole. Bitcoin 'Active Entities' at Highest Since 2017 Bull Run The on-chain metric suggests Bitcoin is garnering users despite the cryptocurrency’s extended period of comatose price action. China's Blockchain Infrastructure to Extend Global Reach With Six Public Chains China’s blockchain infrastructure BSN will expand its global reach by integrating with six major public chains including Tezos, NEO, Cosmos’ Irisnet, Nervos, Ethereum and EOS. Developers using these blockchains will be able to run nodes and build dapps in the network. Blockchain Bites: China's BSN Integrations and Satoshi's Newfound Wealth Ethereum Classic supporters are ditching the project, top exchanges are developing "Travel Rule" solutions and, FYI, YFI might have a backdoor. China's Supreme Court Calls For Better Protection Over Digital Currencies CoinDesk A new guideline comes amid rising numbers of legal disputes in China over the ownership of digital currencies like bitcoin. Korean Government Proposes Tough New 22% Tax on Crypto Trading Crypto trading profits could be liable to a 22% tax should the Korean National Assembly approve the newly tabled proposal.

With the price of BTC catching a bid in early trading, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's Stories: First Mover: Bitcoin Shows Signs of Life But Ether (And Crew) Steal the Limelight In the race to become the dominant cryptocurrency platform, Ethereum is gaining on Bitcoin. Bitcoin Rises With Stocks as EU Agrees €750B in Coronavirus Stimulus Bitcoin edged higher on Tuesday as stock markets cheered the EU's decision to approve a landmark coronavirus recovery fund. Whale Alert Identifies 1.125 Million BTC as Satoshi's Stash New on-chain analysis from Whale Alert suggests Satoshi Nakamoto mined an estimated 1,125,150 in bitcoin, now worth an estimated $10.9 billion. Colorado Is Betting on ETHDenver and Web 3 for Its Next Lottery Games Eyeing a billion-dollar revenue goal by 2023, the state-run lottery is getting creative with its game offerings.

With bitcoin's trading range getting even tighter, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your bitcoin news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. First Mover: Bitcoin Miners Find Upgrade Financing Aplenty, Even as Prices Languish Big-money players are extending financing to bitcoin miners for equipment upgrades, even though prices are still torpid two months after the halving. PayPal Picks Paxos to Supply Crypto for New Service, Sources Say PayPal has chosen Paxos to handle the new service’s supply of digital assets, according to two people familiar with the matter. This New Coding Language Could Help Unlock Bitcoin's Smart Contract Potential With the introduction of Sapio, Jeremy Rubin hopes to expand Bitcoin's smart contract use cases and increase the "financial self-sovereignty" of its users.

With Binance expanding its miner ambitions and Thailand's CBDC seeing early use, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. First Mover: Why Bitcoin Traders Couldn't Give a Sat About the Twitter Hack Bitcoin barely moved on this week’s Twitter hack. Here's what analysts said about why the attack had so little effect on prices. Binance Pool Poised to Grab More Bitcoin Mining Hash Rate in Russia Binance is looking to consolidate more bitcoin mining hashrate to its pool in Russia and the Central Asia region. Thailand Already Using Central Bank's Digital Currency Thailand's digital currency is backed by the central bank’s foreign currency reserves, which have grown by $25 billion over the past 12 months.

With much of the social-media world reeling from yesterdays massive, unprecedented breach at Twitter HQ, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. CORRECTION: In the episode we reported numbers of transactions from data that turned out to be incorrect. Corrected totals are: MORE THAN $1000 17 Transactions MORE THAN $100 90 Transactions MORE THAN $1 156 Transactions LESS THAN $1 65 Transactions Today's Stories: Twitter Hack Used Bitcoin to Cash In: Here's Why You can send bitcoin from your phone or computer to anyone else, just about anywhere in the world. And once you’ve sent it, you can’t get it back. Twitter Breach Reactions: Security Professionals Offer an Early Assessment OpSec pros had a wide array of opinions on Wednesday's Twitter breach, but they all agreed the fault did not lie with each hacked account's owner. Attackers Take Over Apple, Uber, Prominent Crypto Twitter Accounts in Simultaneous Attack Hackers pumping a crypto giveaway scam appear to have compromised the Twitter accounts of leading exchanges, individuals and at least one news org. Everything We Know About the Bitcoin Scam Rocking Twitter's Most Prominent Accounts Twitter’s thin veil of security went into full meltdown at 19:00 UTC on Wednesday. Within hours, even Barack Obama’s account was compromised. Twitter Says 'Coordinated Social Engineering' Attack Caused Bitcoin Scam Twitter says "a coordinated social engineering attack" against an employee caused Wednesday's massive takeover.

As the race for Central Bank Digital Currencies heats up, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your bitcoin news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: With Bitcoin Stuck in the Doldrums, Altcoins Continue to Rally Altcoins like Chainlink's link token continue to outshine bitcoin, which is still consolidating above $9,000. Japan Is Seriously Considering a Digital Yen: Report As rivals and allies move forward with their own CBDC plans, Japan will seriously consider a digital yen as part of this year's policy agenda. China to Test Digital Yuan on Tencent-Backed Food Delivery Platform Now three Tencent-backed companies are setting themselves up to become early-stage testers for China’s digital yuan initiative. Crypto Luminaries Auction NFT 'Art' for Charity Vitalik Buterin's quadratic funding notes raised 40 ETH for an open-source grant program. He and others are auctioning off NFTs on Cryptograph for charity. UK Fintech Firm Revolut Brings Bitcoin, Ether Trading to US Customers Revolut customers in the U.S. can now buy, hold and sell BTC and ETH on the digital bank’s crypto platform, thanks to a partnership with Paxos. Disgraced Lobbyist Jack Abramoff Pleads Guilty to Alleged Crypto Fraud Previously convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff has pleaded guilty to knowingly promoting an alleged crypto fraud with false and misleading information.

With Tax-day approaching, CoinDesk's Markets Daily covers all things IRS and crypto taxes on todays show! This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's Stories: Bitcoin Volatility Metrics Are Like November 2018 All Over Again Bitcoin is locked in a low-volatility squeeze similar to one seen ahead of a 40% price crash in November 2018. This time may be different. Even the IRS Admits Some Crypto Tax Regulations Are 'Not Ideal' Have questions about filing your crypto taxes? CoinDesk dives into what we know (and what we don’t) about how the IRS is approaching the asset class. IRS Violated 'Taxpayer Bill of Rights' With 2019 Crypto Letters: Watchdog Nearly a year after the IRS sent intimidating letters to crypto holders, the agency’s watchdog says the campaign violated its Taxpayer Bill of Rights. Bank of England Considering a Central Bank Digital Currency, Governor Says The U.K.'s central bank is discussing the possibility of launching a digital currency, perhaps in several years.

With BTC mining difficulty reaching a new record high, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with your bitcoin news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: Drop in Bitcoin 'Whale' Addresses Suggests Market May Be Decentralizing The number of bitcoin addresses holding at least 10,000 coins has dropped to a 14-month low alongside an uptick in lower-value addresses. Bitcoin Mining Difficulty Sets New Record High 2 Months After Halving Two months after the network's halving event, it's harder than ever to mine bitcoin. Crypto Long & Short: Dogecoin, Market Manipulation and the Downside of a Coinbase IPO Noelle Acheson explains how the dogecoin rise exemplifies the creative destruction underway in markets, and what a potential Coinbase listing could mean for the development of crypto.

With the price of BTC headed down and the Fed's largest balance sheet decline in 11 years, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your bitcoin news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. The Federal Reserve's Declining Balance Sheet Is Bearish for Bitcoin. Or Is It? The Fed’s balance sheet just dropped the most in 11 years, but despite popular opinion that is not necessarily bad news for bitcoin. BitClub Programmer Admits Mining Scheme Stole $722M in Bitcoin The Romanian programmer pleaded guilty to wire fraud and the offering and sale of unregistered securities. A Rare Glimpse Into How Crypto Is Really Used in Venezuela After airdropping cryptocurrency to 60,000 users in Venezuela, AirTM survey results suggest how crypto is really used in the economically troubled nation.

With BTC headed back up and Brazil's real hitting new lows, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: Bitcoin Option Traders Bet on Bullish Move Following Volatility Squeeze While bitcoin's range play continues, options traders look to be betting on a big move to the higher side soon. Only 23% of Hodlers Have a Crypto Estate Plan: Survey The late Gerald Cotten wasn't the only investor who failed to make a plan for his crypto, according to a survey by the Cremation Institute. Brazil's Ailing Economy Is Helping Dollar-Pegged Stablecoins Find Traction Brazilian crypto users are increasingly turning to USD-pegged stablecoins as the country's real sinks to record lows against the dollar. Get Off the Cloud With Start9's Private Internet Kit Start9 Labs’ Embassy server sets up its own private internet network and comes with its own operating system. We tried it.

Very Crypto, Much Fun. With Dogecoin back in the news, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back with another bitcoin news roundup. This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's Stories: As Gold Hits 9-Year High, Bitcoin Eyes Price Breakout Bitcoin is looking to leap key resistance alongside a strong rally in gold, but its role as an inflation hedge is still weak. Dogecoin Volumes Spike 1,900% in 2 Days Amid Viral TikTok Videos The Shiba Inu meme-based cryptocurrency’s price climbed 35% as TikTok users encourage each other to invest. Nearly $60M in Bitcoin Moved to Ethereum in June Nearly $60 million worth of bitcoins moved to Ethereum during June, 75% of which came through Wrapped Bitcoin. With Chat Privacy Under Threat in US, Firm Develops '100% User-Controlled' Messaging Unstoppable Domains is working to give users full control over their chat data with a new decentralized protocol. Ride-Hailing Giant DiDi to Trial China's Central Bank Digital Currency Didi, the Chinese equivalent of Uber, is forming a task force to design and implement trial of China's central bank digital currency on its on-demand transportation platform.

With BTC beating precious metals, Ethereum rising and a new report out on a lightning network vulnerability, CoinDesk's Markets Daily is back for your Bitcoin news roundup! This episode is sponsored by Bitstamp and Crypto.com. Today's stories: Bitcoin Up 27% in First Half of 2020, Beating Gold, Silver and Platinum Bitcoin showed its luster during the first half of 2020 amid mediocre returns from precious metals. Ethereum Activity Metric Hits Highest Level for 2 Years The number of active ether addresses just clocked a recent high, possibly thanks to its growing role in decentralized finance. Bitcoin's Lightning Network Is Vulnerable to 'Looting': New Research Explains Computer scientists Jona Harris and Aviv Zohar have examined the Lightning Network's "flood and loot" attack that preys on Bitcoin network congestion. Mercedes Maker Daimler Tests Blockchain for Supply-Chain Data Sharing Ocean Protocol has completed a proof-of-concept with Daimler, showing how the Mercedes-Benz maker can begin monetizing data across its supply chains. Block.One Co-Founder Brock Pierce Files to Run for US President Brock Pierce has formally filed to run for President of the United States.