Airbitz is one of the most popular mobile Bitcoin wallet solutions in the world today, simply because they are available on both major operating systems and do not suffer from issues slowing down the service. But Airbitz wants to become more than just a Bitcoin wallet, as the company is forging a new path between user experience and strong security. In fact, the mobile app uses a platform providing users with all kinds of information, and the team has revealed their SDK for developers.

http://themerkle.com/the-airbitz-developer-sdk-is-now-available/

Are you leaning towards ever using Google Wallet?

Google is one of the many players looking to venture into the world of peer-to-peer payments shortly, and their Wallet payment solution is evolving over time as well. However, it was rather shocking to hear Google is dropped support for the physical debit cards linked to Google Wallet, as the company is shifting its focus to the mobile ecosystem. Online peer-to-peer payments are the new hot trend, which is part of the reason Bitcoin is gaining so much popularity.

http://bitcoinist.net/google-wallet-becomes-centralized-bitcoin-competitor/

How do you see this investment play out for Payward and Bitcoin?

Major exchange platforms are always looking for new investors, as the ultimate goal is to offer a global platform rather than just targeting specific regions of the world. Kraken, one of the leading Bitcoin exchanges, has received an investment from Money Partners Group, a well-known Japanese forex brokerage. Exact details regarding the invested sum remain unknown for the time being.

http://themerkle.com/kraken-parent-company-payward-inks-deal-with-money-partners-group/

Will you be looking for arbitrage opportunities on the JPY trading market?

Bitcoin companies expanding their services across borders will help to get the digital currency into the hands of as many people as possible. Coincheck, Japan’s largest bitcoin exchange which recently added an Ethereum trading pair as well, is expanding their service on a global scale. Anyone living inside or outside of Japan can now trade Bitcoin and Ether for JPY with their credit card or international bank transfer.

http://bitcoinist.net/coincheck-offers-global-jpy-trading-market-for-bitcoin-and-ethereum/

The Mt. Gox bankruptcy process that is currently taking place has been receiving a lot of attention from both Bitcoin enthusiasts and mainstream media outlets. Now that more and more information has become available, there is a new question waiting to be answered: should the identified Mt. Gox Bitcoin addresses be made accessible to the public? Some Bitcoin members seem to be for this proposal, whereas others are wondering what the of doing so would be.

http://bitcoinist.net/mt-gox-bankruptcy-trustee-in-favor-of-publicizing-exchanges-bitcoin-addresses/

Do you still use Paypal? If so, are you worried abotu account security?

Online payments are becoming more and more important every day, but that doesn’t mean the platforms we use are stepping up their security game. PayPal, one of the largest online payment processors in the world, recently fell victim to a bug in their account system, allowing users to send malicious code through confirmation emails. Luckily, the person discovering this issue has reported the exploit to PayPal through their bug bounty program, rather than using it for malicious intent.

http://bitcoinist.net/recent-paypal-exploit-shows-benefits-of-decentralized-payment-solutions/

Are you excited about these mobile apps to maange your Bitcoin debit card?

Wirex, the company formerly known as E-Coin, have unveiled the mobile applications for both Android and iOS users. Existing E-Coin users can log into this application, and keep an eye on their card balance. Wirex App is accessible to users in over 130 countries around the world, and even supports both Bitcoin and fiat currency transactions from the comfort of one’s mobile device. Mobile banking meets Bitcoin within this application.

http://themerkle.com/wirex-app-unifies-mobile-banking-and-bitcoin-on-android-and-ios/

Are you looking forward to using a Bitcoin prediction market?

It is always positive to see new platforms supporting Bitcoin come to fruition. Given all of the recent focus on Ethereum people would almost forget Bitcoin is still the top digital currency, and will probably remain in that position for quite some time. Hivemind is a new platform taking a page out of Augur’s book, as this is a peer-to-peer Oracle protocol specializing in prediction markets.

http://themerkle.com/hivemind-is-a-prediction-market-for-bitcoin-users/

How do you feel about Coinkite as a company right now?

Some more details have been unveiled to us regarding the recent decision by Coinbase to halt support for their software solutions. By the look of things, the company will be ensuring their current batch of payment terminals will stop working as well. API access will be revoked in the next 30 days, rendering the Coinkite payment terminals to a brick. But a new terminal has been hinted at,  for which existing users will – most likely – have to pay the full price.


http://themerkle.com/coinkite-pos-terminals-will-become-useless-on-april-27th/

Are you worried about Bitcoin mining power consumption at all?

Over the years, there has been a lot of focus on the energy usage associated with Bitcoin mining. Given the growing demand for mining hashpower to keep the network going, more devices are being deployed by hardware manufacturers, all of which draw a significant amount of energy from the wall. A recent article shows how growing power consumption by Bitcoin miners could outpace the total electricity consumption of Denmark by 2020.

https://news.bitcoin.com/bitcoins-electricity-use-match-denmark-worth/

What will the future of Bitcoin hold now that these task forces are coming to fruition?

For quite some time now, there have been rumors circulating on the Internet about so-called Bitcoin “task forces” which are created to track down illegal or suspicious activities on the blockchain. A leaked screenshot of a recent arrest made in California shows how these task forces are very real. Although it is not difficult to track the origin and destination of just about any bitcoin transaction on the blockchain, law enforcement agencies are stepping up their game by the look of things.

http://themerkle.com/homeland-security-bitcoin-task-force-is-very-real/

How do you see Bitcoin ransomware evolve over the next few years?

Bitcoin ransomware has been a thorn in the eye of many digital currency enthusiasts, and security experts have had a hard time coming up with solutions. Throughout the years, there have been various ransomware strains, all of which brought something new to the table and making it harder to be removed from an infected computer. But the latest solution by Bitdefender may put an end to most of the misery.


http://bitcoinist.net/bitdefender-labs-unveils-bitcoin-ransomware-solution/

Although the Starbucks program is not a digital currency in the traditional sense, do you think it will be a success?

It is not the first time there is a connection between Starbucks and digital currency, as users of the Fold App have been able to pay their coffee with Bitcoin for quite some time now. But the major brand is trying to take things one step further, as there is a plan to issue Starbucks digital currency. The so-called Starbucks Rewards “stars’ could become the new official digital currency of this brand in the future, which would be linked to a prepaid debit card.

http://bitcoinist.net/upcoming-starbucks-digital-currency-is-no-threat-to-bitcoin-and-fold/

Do you think CopperheadOS will be a success in the future?

There is no denying the Android operating system could use a fair amount of tweaks to make things far more secure for its users. Whether or not CopperheadOS will be the answer, remains to be seen, but the ecosystem has a few things going for it. What is even more interesting is how this collaboration with Guardian Project and F-Droid is accepting Bitcoin donations to fund development as well.

http://themerkle.com/open-source-copperheados-project-accepts-bitcoin-donations/

Business accelerators all over the world are always looking for the next big thing in technology and finance. It only makes sense to see these accelerators keeping an eye out for companies exploring blockchain technology. Or in the case of BNP Paribas, they are looking at one startup in particular – called CommonAccord – which aims to bring automated legal documents to the table by wielding the power of smart contracts.

https://news.bitcoin.com/bnp-paribas-smart-contracts-legal-code/

What are your thoughts on the future of Money over IP?

In the world of communication, Voice over IP – or VoIP – has made a significant impact on the world. This cheaper form of global communication through an Internet connection, allows users to interact with each other through various applications and devices. But in the financial world, Money over IP could become the next big thing. Distributed ledgers and data analytics will play an integral role in the process of automating the financial “back office”.

http://bitcoinist.net/money-over-ip-follows-the-footsteps-of-voip/

Do you agree Riverdale school district handled the situation well by not paying the ransomware fee?

The threat of Bitcoin ransomware is never far away, and the Riverdale school district’s computer system learned that the hard way. Based on a report by North Jersey, the computer system fell victim to a ransomware attack, not that long ago. It is worth noting the district did not pay the ransom of two Bitcoin, as most of the data were recovered by reverting to previously made backups.


http://themerkle.com/riverdale-school-district-refused-to-pay-bitcoin-ransomware-fee/

Which of these blockchain projects has you most excited?

When mainstream media starts publishing positive articles about blockchain technology and Bitcoin, something could be bound to happen very soon. Most people active in the world of digital currency know all too well how versatile blockchain technology can be, and slowly but surely, the rest of the world is figuring this out as well. The possibilities are limitless, and the glass ceiling of blockchain technology is our own imagination.

http://bitcoinist.net/mainstream-media-takes-notice-of-versatile-blockchain-projects/

Are you using an Android device to store your Bitcoin, and if so, what operating system version are you on right now?

Mobile security for Android users seems to be tough to achieve these days, especially when considering how the source code of the Stagefright Metaphor exploit has been released into the wild. NorthBit, the Israeli security company responsible for the publication of this code, mentioned how only Nexus 5 devices are vulnerable to the software in its current form. That being said, it is relatively easy to target any device by any manufacturer, and Bitcoin users will need to be more vigilant than ever for the time being.

http://bitcoinist.net/android-bitcoin-users-beware-stagefright-metaphor-code-released-on-github/

Do you see any merit in employing such a solution, or will Bitcoin and blockchain companies take a different approach?

The blockchain ecosystem is always in need of more developers who want to push a fresh spin on the concept of distributed ledgers. Despite several conferences and development workshops around the world, it is rather difficult to attract coders on a larger scale. A new solution by Uber, which gamifies the aspect of hacking challenges, might be something to take note of by Bitcoin and blockchain companies.

http://bitcoinist.net/using-gamified-hacking-challenges-to-attract-new-blockchain-developers/