Iran Considers Using Cryptocurrencies to Evade US Sanctions

Iran may employ cryptocurrencies as part of its efforts to circumvent the upcoming US sanctions, according to a high-ranking Iranian lawmaker who said the matter will be discussed in parliament soon. The Iranian MP also believes that digital money can help with overcoming the hegemony of the US dollar.    Also read: PBoC: Bitcoin Trading … Read more

SA Purple Group Confirms Adding Cryptos to Its Online Trading Platform

South African financial company Purple Group has confirmed the addition of two cryptocurrencies, bitcoin and ethereum, to its online trading platform. According to a representative, the decision came in response to strong demand from clients earlier this year. The move has expanded the trading options for South Africans, many of whom, according to a recent … Read more

Three Russian Universities Add Crypto Courses and Diplomas

More academic institutions in Russia are starting educational courses and even postgraduate programs in crypto and blockchain technologies. Three universities will be teaching related subjects like cryptography and digital economy during the new academic year beginning in September. Some of the courses will be conducted in English and with guest lecturers from Europe, India, and … Read more

The Daily: Russians Used Bitcoin to Hack US Elections, Trader Bets on the Price of BTC

Russian intelligence officers accused of meddling in the 2016 presidential elections in the US have used bitcoin to finance their campaign, cover the tracks and obscure their identities, a new federal indictment suggests. You can check the details in today’s edition of Bitcoin in Brief. Also in the daily, billionaire Steven Cohen invests in crypto … Read more

Binance, Crypto Investors to Launch a Bank in Malta

Crypto exchange Binance is working on a project to launch a decentralized bank bridging the crypto industry with conventional banking. The financial institution will be based in Malta and fundraising will be conducted under German law. Authorities in Valletta have welcomed the initiative that is expected to win support from other crypto investors as well. … Read more

Less Than Half of ICOs Survive Four Months After Sale, Study Finds

New academic research has concluded that more than 50 percent of crypto projects raising capital through ICOs do not make it through to the fifth month after the token sale. The study also suggests that investors get the best return on their money if they sell the coins within the first month of trading, while … Read more

The Daily: Decentralized Exchanges – New and Hacked, and Some Lost Coins

In today’s edition of Bitcoin in Brief, we cover two decentralized exchanges – an Irish team that’s launching its Local Token Exchange and the already operating Bancor that has reported a security breach and admitted the loss of $12.5 million worth of coins. Also, hackers in China have mined cryptos worth $2 million using malware … Read more

Bitcoin Trading in Chinese Currency Drops Below 1% of World Total

Bitcoin trading in renminbi (RMB) has dropped to less than 1 percent of the global total, the central bank of China announced. The People’s Republic banned yuan-crypto trade last year, prompting the exodus of hundreds of Chinese crypto businesses, including some of the world’s leading trading platforms.     Also read: Crypto Exchange Binance Expects up … Read more

Crypto Exchange Binance Expects up to $1 Billion Profit in 2018

Leading cryptocurrency exchange Binance expects a net profit of up to $1 billion USD this year. The trading platform has already registered about $300 million of revenue in the first half of 2018 and a five-fold increase in the number of users. The data demonstrates a serious growth for Binance which is taking steps to … Read more

Draft Regulating ‘Electronic Money’ Prepared in Romania

A draft ordinance aiming to regulate the issuance of “electronic money” has been presented in Romania. The document authored by the Finance Ministry specifies the entities that can act as issuers and clarifies the conditions under which e-money can be emitted. While it does not specifically mention cryptocurrencies, some of its definitions and provisions can … Read more