US State Issues Emergency Cease and Desist Orders to Two Crypto Investment Firms

A U.S. state has issued emergency cease and desist orders to two companies and related persons purportedly engaged in cryptocurrency investment schemes. The first company posted videos of three mining farms composed of online stock images, according to the order. Both companies made numerous materially misleading claims and violated U.S. securities laws. Also read: Yahoo! Japan … Read more

Tel Aviv Court Forces Bank to Accept Funds From Sale of Bitcoin

The Israeli banking system keeps mounting challenges for bitcoin users, be they exchanges, miners or just traders, and keeps getting slapped for it by the courts. The latest example comes from Tel Aviv where a bank tried to deny incoming transfers from an exchange. Also Read: Israeli Bitcoin Mining Company Sues Bank for Closing Its … Read more

Cryptocurrency Recognized as Valuable Property by Russian Court

A Russian arbitration court of appeals has recognized cryptocurrency as a property with value in its ruling on Monday. This overturned a previous ruling by another court even though Russia currently has no legal framework for cryptocurrencies. Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space Crypto Recognized as Property The Ninth Arbitration Court of … Read more

Israeli Bitcoin Mining Company Sues Bank for Closing Its Account

Despite already setting a precedent in a previous case, the Israeli courts system is again called upon to stop a bank from shutting down a crypto business. This time, Union Bank tried to refuse operating an account to a mining firm – a service all companies need to legally operate in the country.  Also Read: … Read more

Indian Investors Flock to Trade Crypto Ahead of RBI Ban

Investors in India are flocking to trade cryptocurrencies before the ban order by the Reserve Bank of India takes effect. There is a positive sentiment in the local crypto community that the Indian government will not outright ban crypto trading. Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space Investors Rush to Get Into Crypto … Read more

After Telegram, Viber May Be Blocked, Russian Minister Says

Viber may be treated like Telegram if security services are not able to obtain its encryption keys, Russia’s telecom minister said. The app offers end-to-end encryption, and is the most popular messenger in several Eastern European countries. Recently, its CEO, Michael Shmilov, said the company would not be able to hand over the keys. Also … Read more

Young New Zealand Man Spared Jail for Dealing Drugs With Bitcoin

This week, Elias Valentin Smith, a 20-year-old man from New Zealand, successfully appealed his prison sentence for drug dealing with bitcoin as a teenager. This was despite the fact that the court system considered the use of bitcoin as a sign of criminal sophistication. Also Read: Bitcoin Is Not Used by Organized Crime Says Hong … Read more

Bitcoin in Brief Thursday: Crypto Traders in Troubled Waters

In today’s Bitcoin in Brief – crypto traders are in trouble due to issues with the trading platforms they have trusted. Hacked Italian Bitgrail exchange is closed again after a brief reopening. It suspended operations on request from the court of Florence, following a petition  filed on behalf of one of its creditors. Also, beleaguered … Read more

US Court Rules Alibaba Powerless to Stop Cryptocurrency Using Its Name

A U.S. District Court has ruled against Chinese conglomerate Alibaba Group in favor of a Dubai-based cryptocurrency foundation, Alibabacoin. The judge says Alibaba Group did not show any jurisdiction in the U.S. and China’s ban on initial coin offerings eliminates any potential confusion. Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space No Jurisdiction for … Read more