Moscow Exchange Ready for “Fast and Easy” Crypto Derivatives Trading

With authorities in Moscow still trying to find their bearings on Bitcoin, the largest Russian exchange has announced its readiness to organize trading of cryptocurrency-based financial instruments. It would be faster and easier, MOEX said in comments to local media. Russia’s Central Bank, however, has rejected calls from the Finance Ministry to allow buying and … Read more

Moscow Exchange Ready for “Fast and Easy” Crypto Trading

With authorities in Moscow still trying to find their bearings on Bitcoin, the largest Russian exchange has announced its readiness to organize cryptocurrency trading. It would be faster and easier, MOEX said in comments to local media. Russia’s Central Bank, however, has rejected calls from the Finance Ministry to allow buying and selling crypto derivatives … Read more

Kraken Exchange Returns After Longest Downtime Since 2013

Earlier this week the San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange Kraken scheduled some downtime to upgrade the trading platform’s system. The upgrade for one of the world’s largest digital asset exchanges was supposed to last for only two hours, but the website remained down for well over 24 hours. Kraken is now back online and plans to … Read more

South Korea Announces Crypto Traders Could Face Fines Under New System

The South Korean government has announced that cryptocurrency traders will be fined if they do not convert from existing virtual accounts, which allows for anonymous trading, to real-name accounts. Regardless of their service levels to crypto exchanges, banks have been ordered to implement the new system this month as planned. Also read: South Korea Urges 23 … Read more

Exchange Problems Mount at Kraken and Coinbase but Bitfinex Reopens Registrations for 10k+ Deposits

Exchanges are regarded by many in the cryptocurrency world as a necessary evil. They provide liquidity and an on-ramp from fiat currency, but many other aspects of their service leaves a lot to desired. From onerous KYC requests to sudden withdrawal of service, nary a week goes by without major exchanges leaving customers seething. This … Read more

Russia Drafts Bill to Legalize Cryptocurrency Trading on Approved Exchanges

The Russian Ministry of Finance is drafting a bill to legalize cryptocurrency trading at approved exchanges. The ministry is already preparing a list of approved trading platforms. Also read: Russian Regulators Draft Law to Restrict Crypto Mining, Payments, and Token Sales Some Exchanges Will be Legalized The Russian Deputy Finance Minister Alexei Moiseev told reporters that … Read more

Bitstamp Is Asking Users Who Want to Withdraw a Lot of Questions

Customers of Slovenia’s Bitstamp exchange are being forced to jump through hoops to meet an unprecedented level of compliance. A widely circulated image, purporting to reveal Bitstamp’s enhanced KYC procedure, has been attracting a lot of attention. The document requests screenshots of other cryptocurrency exchange profiles, bank account statements showing fiat deposits to third party … Read more

No, Mainstream Media, That Country Did Not Ban Bitcoin. Again.

Headlines roared late last night in the western hemisphere, morning in the east, as mainstream media outlets breathlessly ran with an initial report from a legacy wire service: the Republic of South Korea is to ban cryptocurrency. The truth is more subtle, and it’s fast becoming an object lesson in fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD). … Read more

Venezuela Will Pre-Mine the Petro and Launch in 6 Weeks

One day after Venezuela’s oil-backed cryptocurrency was declared illegal, the government of president Nicolas Maduro announced plans to pre-mine the petro. The new currency is expected to launch in six weeks. Also read: South Korea Urges 23 Countries, EU, and IMF to Collaborate on Curbing Crypto Trading Petro Mining Restricted to Government The Venezuelan Superintendent of … Read more

GDAX on Its Botched Bitcoin Cash Launch; “Heavy Buy Demand Resulted in Insufficient Liquidity”

On January 9, Adam White, the general manager of the GDAX exchange, a subsidiary of Coinbase, gave his “retrospective” on the recent and controversial bitcoin cash (BCH) launch on the platform. White details that despite the company’s best efforts things didn’t go as planned, and the executive gives a transparent timeline of events. Also read: … Read more