IRS Agents Propose Draconian Tactics to Investigate Bitcoin Users

A recently published U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) slide describes alarming recommendations on how tax agents should deal with digital currency users who are not paying taxes. The slide recommends that agents question crypto users’ friends and family, comb through social media posts and issue subpoenas to make sure U.S. residents are paying taxes on … Read more

In the Daily: Opera Browser, EY Tax Tool, Elliptic, Cryptopia Exchange

In this edition of The Daily we cover the next step in the crypto strategy of the Opera browser, a new tax reporting tool for major cryptocurrency investors from EY, a response from Coinbase’s former surveillance partner Elliptic, and an update on hacked New Zealand exchange Cryptopia. Also Read: Gibraltar Exchange to List Bitcoin Cash … Read more

Digital Currency Group Welcomes Bitcoin-Friendly Bank to the ‘DCG Family’

This week the ‘bitcoin-friendly’ financial institution Silvergate Bank sold 9.5 million shares that raised a sum of $114Mn USD during the common stock sale. Some of the capital injection was provided by the venture capital firm Digital Currency Group who welcomed Silvergate Bank into the company’s growing list of partners and subsidiaries. Also read: Indians Look … Read more

New Research: Laundering of Illicit Funds Less than 1% of Bitcoin Transactions

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies’ Center of Sanctions and Illicit Finance in conjunction with blockchain analytics company, Elliptic, has published a study seeking to track the circulations of illicit funds within the bitcoin economy from 2013 to 2016. The research concludes that the share of funds of illicit origin comprises less than one percent … Read more