This Week in Bitcoin: Smooth Bitcoin Cash Upgrade, BCH and BTC Tax Payments in Florida

A notable week for Bitcoin Cash (BCH) – the network successfully upgraded the blockchain protocol by extending the block size to 32MB. The change will allow a greater number of transactions to be processed with inexpensive and consistent transaction fees. Also, Seminole County in Florida will accept tax payments in both Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and … Read more

Floyd Mayweather-Backed ICO Co-Founders Arrested for Fraud

In what is turning into a real cautionary tale for the cryptocurrency community about the need to be wary of celebrity’s power, along with skepticism about most initial coin offerings (ICOs), the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced an ICO endorsed by champion boxer Floyd Mayweather has officially been deemed a fraud. Also read: Trezor … Read more

Bitcoin Ransomware Attack Halts Major American City’s Government and Police

Many government services in Atlanta, Georgia, a major metropolitan US city, were brought to a halt this week. Ransomware appeared on municipal computers, urging a payment of $51,000 in equivalent bitcoin, otherwise vital city functions would be shut down. The hackers made good on their threat, and services all over the city were impacted, including … Read more

Florida State Citrus Employee Arrested for Mining Cryptocurrencies

This week a government employee working for Florida’s Department of Citrus (FDoC) was arrested for purported cryptocurrency mining using the department’s computers. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) agents, the IT manager mined BTC, LTC, and other digital currencies. Also Read: Nasdaq-Listed Marathon Begins Bitcoin Mining Operations, Stock Up 32% Mining Cryptocurrency … Read more

Craig “Satoshi” Wright Sued for Billions

Forget the debate about whether bitcoin is a store of value or a currency. What everyone can agree upon is that it is a store of drama. And where there is drama in bitcoin over the last couple of years, Australian computer guru Craig Wright is often in the thick of it. Filed on Valentine’s … Read more

US Sheriffs Welcome $1.7 Million Windfall After Students Plead Guilty to Stealing 5,400 BTC

Two Jacksonville students are facing up to two decades behind bars after pleading guilty to stealing $4 million worth of bitcoin. The pair hacked darknet site Sheep Marketplace in 2013 and made off with 5,400 BTC. Under forfeiture laws, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office will share in a $1.7 million windfall. Also read: US Marshals Plan to … Read more

Miami Bitcoin Conference Stops Accepting Bitcoin Due to Fees and Congestion

Next week the popular cryptocurrency event, The North American Bitcoin Conference (TNABC) will be hosted in downtown Miami at the James L Knight Center, January 18-19. However, bitcoin proponents got some unfortunate news this week as the event organizers have announced they have stopped accepting bitcoin payments for conference tickets due to network fees and … Read more

Bitcoin Cash Used to Pay for Music Records, Gift Cards, Plastic Surgery

With BTC transactions taking forever to complete and fees higher than ever, the adoption of bitcoin cash by small businesses and big miners is going strong. The latest examples of this include paying for everything from plastic surgery to music records.    Also Read: After Ripple’s Rise BTC Dominance Falls Below 40% Genesis Mining Cloud-based … Read more