Telegram initial coin offering (ICO): WhatsApp rival raises $850m in token pre-sale February 18, 2018 A controversial messaging app that rivals WhatsApp has raised millions of dollars by issuing its own version of bitcoin. Telegram is one of several tech companies that has been singled out by the UK government – along with Facebook’s WhatsApp and Apple’s iMessage – after terrorist attacks in London and Manchester last year. Messages sent [...]
Plus500 bumps up expectations for the year after cryptocurrency boom June 7, 2018 Online trading platform Plus500 said this morning that its board had lifted its expectations for the year, as trading remains ahead of what was previously predicted, thanks to a cryptocurrency boom at the start of the year. Plus500 had previously announced that a strong start to 2018 had come thanks to a period of "relative [...]
A Futurist’s Glimpse into AI, Blockchain and Investment October 16, 2018 I’m Benjamin Boyle, COO of Drive Markets, an institutional cryptocurrency exchange that offers a trading and issuer experience more in line with the capital and forex markets. I also own a controlling stake in Caipiteal, a company that uses data analysis to develop advanced investing strategies. When I was asked to write this piece, I [...]
Bank of England chief Mark Carney says cryptocurrencies are failing as money March 2, 2018 Bank of England governor Mark Carney said cryptocurrencies are failing as a system of money. In a speech to the inaugural Scottish Economics Conference, Carney posed the question: “How well do cryptocurrencies fulfil the roles of money?” In response, the Bank chief said: “The long, charitable answer is that cryptocurrencies act as money, at best, [...]
Yahoo Japan picks up a minority stake in cryptocurrency exchange BitARG April 13, 2018 Yahoo Japan has snapped up a stake in a cryptocurrency exchange, signalling further support of the controversial digital assets from the country’s financial services sector. The firm bought a 40 per cent stake in BitARG Exchange Tokyo for an undisclosed sum. Reuters has reported the deal was likely worth ¥2bn to ¥3bn (£13m to £20m). [...]
Bitcoin’s back over $1,200 despite the Winklevoss twins’ ETF disappointment March 13, 2017 Bitcoin surged upwards overnight after it took a dive at the end of last week when the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) denied approval for Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss to list a bitcoin only exchange-traded fund (ETF). The twins' hopes were dashed on Friday after the US regulator said it wasn't happy with the fact the [...]
Plus500 (PLUS) share price rises as company bumps up expectations for the year after cryptocurrency boom June 7, 2018 Online trading platform Plus500 said this morning that its board had lifted its expectations for the year, as trading remains ahead of what was previously predicted, thanks to a cryptocurrency boom at the start of the year. Plus500 had previously announced that a strong start to 2018 had come thanks to a period of “relative [...]
Joke cryptocurrency Dogecoin’s market cap just shot past $2bn January 8, 2018 The market cap of a joke cryptocurrency has doubled in less than a week, shooting past the $2bn mark in the latest sign of the craziness of the crypto world. Dogecoin, based on a Shiba Inus dog internet meme which first emerged in 2013, had already hit the headlines last week when it passed the [...]
Here’s how you can avoid getting badly burnt in the cryptocurrency revolution February 20, 2018 Investing in cryptocurrency is not for the faint-hearted – a fact that has become increasingly apparent over recent weeks. After making some impressive gains at the end of last year, nearly all the major digital currencies have since come crashing down, only to gather momentum once again. These violent swings have triggered a fresh surge [...]
Making waves: Why Ripple is the cryptocurrency to watch January 31, 2018 Ripple is the latest in a retinue of challengers to bitcoin’s dominance, being by far the most commercially successful of any blockchain company. This is largely thanks to its transformative offering to financial service institutions. Despite this, many people inside and outside the cryptocurrency community have been left asking what the company Ripple actually is. [...]