Until recently, Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) classified bitcoin as a financial instrument, but a subsequent court ruling disclaimed this categorization and decided that the cryptocurrency does not meet this definition under the terms of the German Banking Act (KWG). Bitcoin Unrecognizable to German Legal Framework The Berlin Court of Appeal in September dismissed a criminal […]

Investing in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) in Taiwan could soon be as easy as putting money in stocks. This is according to the chairman of Taiwan’s Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), Wellington Koo, who has said that regulations for governing ICOs are currently being drafted with a view of simplifying the process for investors as well as making tokens just […]

Crypto is dead. Last year we saw a frenzied market soar to insane new heights before crashing off a cliff. ICOs that once raised $20 million in the blink of an eye now struggle to raise $1 million. Projects started failing left and right, their Github’s turning to ghost towns. Regulators are cracking down. They’re […]

Japanese financial services giant SBI Group has partnered with a blockchain security startup to develop a digital wallet for its recently launched cryptorrency exchange. The Denmark-based startup, Sepior, announced in a press release Monday that SBI has licensed its proprietary “threshold signature” wallet technology for integration with its VCTRADE exchange to secure “on-line contents and transactions.” VCTRADE was launched in […]

A group that advises the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) –  the EU’s securities watchdog – has recommended regulating most cryptocurrencies and ICO tokens under existing financial rules, but said more clarification is needed. In a report dated Oct. 19, the Securities and Markets Stakeholders Group (SMSG) said that, since transferable crypto assets used in payments (such as […]

Masayoshi Amamiya, Bank of Japan’s Deputy Governor, stated on Saturday that it was unclear whether digital currencies could enhance the monetary policies of central banks.  He elaborated that the Bank of Japan had no plans whatsoever to issue a cryptocurrency. Ongoing Debate Mr. Amamiya said that there was “quite a hurdle” for cryptocurrencies to overcome […]

Millennial-focused money management startup Emma Technologies is expanding into crypto. The startup is behind the Emma app for iOS and Android, which is an artificial intelligence-fueled tool that until now has only supported financial institutions like HSBC, Bank of Scotland, Barclays and others, helping users to avoid overdraft fees, manage debt and save money. Now […]

Increasing tensions in China-US trade relations may portend tougher times ahead for Chinese bitcoin mining hardware maker Bitmain, with shipments to one of its major overseas markets facing new tariffs since August 23. The South China Morning Post reports that Bitmain is seen by analysts as the cryptocurrency mining hardware firm with the most potential exposure to […]

Be honest: shopping with cryptocurrency isn’t always the easiest experience. Even if price volatility is on your side, spending funds can be nightmarish. Crypto is gaining in popularity but many merchants still don’t accept it – meaning you are stuck with those age-old, boring options of paying by card or cash. A “technology enabler” startup […]

Binance, the biggest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is working with crypto compliance and investigation software provider Chainalysis to implement a new global compliance solution, the companies announced Wednesday. As part of the partnership, Chainalysis will provide access to its “Know Your Transaction” compliance software, enabling the exchange to monitor cryptocurrency transactions in real-time, according […]