Cryptocurrencies expected to continue rise in 2018 despite “volatile” market April 9, 2018 The rise of cryptocurrencies is expected to continue in 2018, with Internet meme-inspired Dogecoin set to rocket 5,838 per cent in value by the end of the year. In its April Cryptocurrency Predictions Survey, price comparison site finder.com also found that Ethereum was set to grow by 234 per cent by 31 December 2018. Cardano [...]
Central banks have “considered issuing cryptocurrencies”, Italian economy minister says January 31, 2018 Italy’s economy minister has revealed that some central banks have considered issuing cryptocurrencies in order to avoid bubbles. “Some central banks are looking into, and have even considered issuing, cryptocurrencies, to avoid bubbles that explode and do damage sooner or later,” Reuters reported Pier Carlo Padoan said today at an event in Milan. Interest in [...]
Bitcoin’s value is set to soar – here are three predictions for the future of the cryptocurrency March 24, 2017 Bitcoin, and digital currency more broadly, is one of the most divisive concepts of our time. The idea of a currency which is not controlled by a state or a corporation and which maintains such a high level of privacy for its users is a much needed relief for some and a threat to the [...]
Coincheck theft: Customers will be refunded after a massive hack of NEM (XEM) January 28, 2018 A bitcoin exchange which suffered a massive hack, thought to be the biggest in the world, has promised to refund customers. Coincheck, a Japan-based exchange for buying and selling bitcoin and other cryptocurrency, has said it will reimburse anyone who lost digital cash as the result of the $534m (£380m) theft. Read more: The FCA’s [...]
Microsoft follows Twitter, Facebook and Google in banning cryptocurrency advertising May 17, 2018 Microsoft has become the latest silicon valley firm to ban cryptocurrency advertising on its search engine Bing. It follows a number of other silicon valley giants, including Facebook, Twitter and Google also taking the same measures earlier this year. Read more: Bitcoin is down after Twitter announced a clampdown on crypto advertising The company’s advertiser [...]
International Monetary Fund’s Christine Lagarde warns of blockchain disruption to clearing and settlement industries April 16, 2018 The influential head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today warned that the blockchain technology underpinning cryptocurrencies threatens to cut a swathe through the financial infrastructure industries. In a blog posted today on the IMF’s website, Christine Lagarde highlighted smart contracts, which carry out transactions automatically without intervention from an external party, as one of [...]
Playing your cardano right: It’s made some bold claims, but will the cryptocurrency succeed? February 14, 2018 Described by Forbes as the cryptocurrency to watch, cardano lifted the roof off expectations when in December 2017, its value appreciated to a $30bn market capitalisation no shorter than four months after launching. Impressive, even by the extremities of cryptocurrency volatility. So, what is cardano and – putting to one side the incredible investment returns [...]
Initial coin offerings are a good lens through which we can view the issues challenging regulators and market participants April 25, 2018 The question of whether the blockchain will end up as nothing or everything continues to be asked with no definitive answer. With the price of bitcoin bouncing around, and the mass media moving on from breathlessly covering the issue, it may look like the revolution has stalled. Initial coin offerings (ICOs) are a good lens [...]
Bitcoin prices are rising to 2017 highs on the potential for mass-adoption in India and Japan while hope for a bitcoin ETF is revived April 26, 2017 Bitcoin is trading around its highest price of the year today on the prospect of mass-adoption in India and Japan. Bitcoin was more than one and a half per cent higher this morning at around $1,284 according to Coin Desk. The currency peaked just above that in early March before plummeting to a low of [...]
Africa needs fintech – but fintech needs Africa more August 30, 2018 What a difference a couple of decades make. At the turn of the century, Tony Blair remarked that “the state of Africa is a scar on the conscience of the world”. This week, on her first official visit to the continent, Theresa May embraced a new vision of optimism and hope. Read more: Theresa May [...]