Bitcoin Buzz in NFL Playoffs



Betting has long been a favorite pastime for sports fanatics and that fervor has spilled over into the world of cryptocurrencies.

Whether you like to bet on results or enjoy the thrill of spot betting on chance occurrences, there is plenty on offer for the avid gambler.

The NFL playoffs are already underway, but it’s not too late to stand a chance to win some Bitcoin during the business-end of the American football season.

There is no denying the hype surrounding NFL, especially when we near the Super Bowl which in recent years has garnered no less than 100 mln viewers.

So it really is a no-brainer that marrying NFL with the likes of Bitcoin, which was the second most searched news term on Google in 2017, will grab headlines.

Online fantasy sports gaming company FanDuel is running a league which offers winners various rewards in Bitcoin over the next few weeks. According to Business Wire, this is a first for the online sports gaming community.

Fantasy sports have become massively popular around the world and FanDuel CFO Andy Giancamilli says the incentive to offer Bitcoin as a reward is a step towards the future, as cryptocurrencies move into mainstream acceptance.

“FanDuel has always sought to deliver the most unique and rewarding experiences or prizes to our users,” said FanDuel CFO Andy Giancamilli.

“In awarding Bitcoin, we’re recognizing that most of our users are early adopters of technology and have a significant interest in cryptocurrency. Our fans love the prizing aspect of playing on our site and we think this will be a reward that they truly appreciate.”


Two contests - four Bitcoin ($65,000) at stake

Fantasy league players can enter a free-to-play contest which rewards one Bitcoin to the winner of the ‘Bitcoin Bowl Free Play.’

The ‘Bitcoin Bowl Tournament,’ a multi-entry competition costing $3 per entry, offers the winner two Bitcoin in reward. Finishing in second place offers 0.5 Bitcoin while third and fourth place will get 0.25 Bitcoin each.

A player must select a full fantasy starting team comprising of one quarterback, one kicker, one tight end, one defense as well as three wide receivers and two running backs. The different players have different scoring opportunities that are recorded during a game, as per this guide from Rotogrinders.


Results

The wildcard round of the NFL playoffs got underway on Jan. 6.

First up, the Tennessee Titans beat the Kansas City Chiefs 22-21 while the Atlanta Falcons beat the Los Angeles Rams 26-13.

The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Buffalo Bills 10-3 while the New Orleans Saints beat the Carolina Panthers 31-26 on Jan. 7.


Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-buzz-in-nfl-playoffs

South Korean Banks Get Flash Probe Into Cryptocurrency Exchange Ties



Authorities in South Korea will inspect six of the country’s major banks for money laundering as part of an unprecedented probe into cryptocurrency links.

As local news media report Sunday, the combined move by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) aims to decide whether the institutions “carried out their obligations to prevent money laundering in managing virtual accounts.”

Woori Bank, Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, NongHyup Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea and Korea Development Bank are due to receive an “extensive probe” which will be complete by Thursday this week.

As speculative investments into Bitcoin and altcoins continue to trouble regulators worldwide, Korea has taken a hardline stance in recent months.

New legislation will seek to place heavy restrictions on how cryptocurrency exchanges can operate in the country, as well as who can use them and to what extent.

South Koreans will likely only be able to hold one exchange account linked to their real name, while tax obligations are also being overhauled regarding profits.

Reporting on the inspection, Yonhap News Agency appeared to forecast a predatory climate for exchanges.

“They (the FIU and FSS) are seeking to cut off fund inflows into cryptocurrency exchanges and shutter cryptocurrency exchanges that have loopholes in their system,” it claims.

What these “loopholes” might entail remains vague, yet the security setup of principal exchanges has come into the spotlight following an organized hacking attempt by a Korean news agency.

Using private white-hat hackers, the agency successfully gained entry into exchange accounts it set up maliciously, bypassing even two-factor authentication, it reported last month.


Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/south-korean-banks-get-flash-probe-into-cryptocurrency-exchange-ties

An African Revolution Being Borne of the Back of Bitcoin and Blockchain



The stereotypical thought of an African revolution, one that breaks the chains of oppression and domination, sparks images of bloody battles of liberation. But now, with a new tool that does not discriminate or exclude, Bitcoin is helping African millennials free himself from financial repression.

Armed with only a smartphone everyday African citizens are able to tap into a growing ecosystem and profit from it. But it is more than that; businesses are looking to use Blockchain technology as a cheaper alternative in order to build a better business.


Everyday freedom

In order for an individual to enter the stock market or to invest in a company or idea, it requires more than just know how. The traditional money market has been for so long an elitist environment that subtle excludes those who are not of its ilk.

A thirty-something woman from the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, does not exactly fit the bill of a savvy investor. However, Bitcoin is opening up that world to everyone and all.

Peace Akware, that every 30-something from Kampala, told the BBC:

    "I check my Bitcoin every day and any chance I can get. Any minute, any hour, anytime, as often as I can."


An active alternative

Merely making a living in a place like Uganda is a much harder task than on the streets of New York. Employment is a lottery even for graduates, like Peace, which leads people into looking for alternatives to make ends meet.

So-called ‘side hustles’ are daily bread for many in impoverished nations, but they are often unsuccessful, time-consuming, and difficult. However, Bitcoin offers an alternative which is not time-consuming, and while it comes with risks, it is accessible and manageable.


Blockchain power

There are also businesses that are challenging the difficult and cutthroat workplace by using the power of Blockchain to cut costs and time.

A company called BitPesa operates like a remittance company, transferring money across borders, but instead of using a medium like the US Dollar, they have opted for Bitcoin and its simple cross-border transfers.

Elizabeth Rossiello, CEO of BitPesa, explains why this break with traditional banking is so effective in Africa.

    "I've been in Nairobi for the past month and I had three big banking things to do. All three of these operations with three different Kenyan banks were canceled for different reasons or had delays or needed additional information, so it took almost two and a half weeks per transaction to get them finalized and I'm an expert."

Clearly, with the banking system, even at its best, very outdated and causing many frustrations, in Africa, where it is already flawed and alternative needs to be sought.


Schools in

One issue that has been brought up before with an African revolution in Blockchain and Bitcoin is educating the masses on the disruptive technology.

This has prompted some to get into the business of Bitcoin education.

Martin Serugga, a trader in Kampala, has started weekly classes on Bitcoin which caters to about 50 people currently.

His take on it harps back to the unemployment stating that the interest comes from those who are desperately seeking and failing, at getting jobs.

   "If you don't have factory jobs and you don't have corporate jobs to serve the thousands of young people coming out of the universities this is an alternative.”


Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/an-african-revolution-being-borne-of-the-back-of-bitcoin-and-blockchain

What Does the Futures Hold for Bitcoin in 2018?



Predicting is a big part in cryptocurrencies, especially when it comes to prices, but in this volatile market it is not only the price that can see-saw, all kinds of occurrences are affecting this burgeoning market.

This has led to people to speculate already what 2018 will hold for the cryptocurrency world. 2017 was definitely a massive platform on which a sturdy foundation was built for this market, but what does 2018 hold?


1. Bitcoin will still be king

As Bitcoin peaked to $20,000 just before Christmas last year, it was unstoppable in both its growth and dominance, but since then it has dropped away in both respects as altcoin seasoned opened up the new year.

The original cryptocurrency saw its dominance fall to below 33 percent as others such as Ripple, Stellar and Tron have snatched some of the overall market cap.

However, already on the comeback trail, the belief is that Bitcoin will still be the market leader through 2018.

Erik Voorhees, CEO of digital asset exchange ShapeShift, has said that there has been a decline in Bitcoin’s dominance in transactions since a year ago on their platform, but that Bitcoin is actually benefiting from growth in Altcoins.

"Bitcoin has such magnificent network effects that I don't see another altcoin that's a little better at payments" or some other function right now, Autonomous' Global Director of fintech strategy, Lex Sokolin said.


2. More institutions will join the fray

Already, after mostly laughing, then shunning, then finally taking note, the Wall Street-types have been forced to pay attention to Bitcoin. It has led to more institutions either accepting Bitcoin or even joining the fray.

The likes of CME and CBOE taking up Bitcoin futures are indicators of this.

"Our institutional investor base is very interested in learning more and getting exposure," said Michael Graham, a Canaccord Genuity analyst, said.

"With the regulated futures markets going live in 2017, the stage is set for ETFs to gain approval in 2018," Nolan Bauerle said. "In fact, the CBOE filed for six cryptocurrency ETFs at the end of 2017 which could go live in 2018. This would dramatically increase how institutional investors can get exposure."


3. Regulators also ready to jump in

Up until now, regulation has been a symptom treatment rather than an established procedure on the cryptocurrency market as they are still playing catch up.

However, 2018 will be a year for them to consolidate and make up ground as cryptocurrencies steady and slow somewhat in their pioneering ways.

“One of the things we'll see is enforcement here from the regulators," Canaccord’s Graham added. He expects that greater regulation will cause a "major price dislocation event for the whole sector."

Regulators will no doubt cause some issues in the growth as they spook the burgeoning but fragile market.

Spencer Bogart, managing director and head of research at venture capital firm Blockchain Capital is predicting big losses in regulation.

"I think we could easily purge 60-75 percent of crypto hedge funds in this type of market," Bogart said. "In this environment, funds that can call capital and deploy it counter-cyclically stand to benefit significantly."


4. Volatility will still be synonymous

You cannot talk about Bitcoin without making mention of its volatile market nature, and although it is a year older and wiser, it will still be a wild ride.

“We think we're going to have more forks in 2018 than 2017," Canaccord's Graham continued. "Ultimately we think those forks are going to be a short-term tailwind to Bitcoin's value and a long-term headwind."


Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/what-does-the-futures-hold-for-bitcoin-in-2018

Well, it appears there is a little market correction today that swiped nearly over 90% of the market. The market is looking all red no where to see green but red everywhere. I hope this kind of correction will not last longer because it ruins people day. The last time checked about bitcoin it was selling at about $14,700 and i don't whether the price go up or down by now.

I kinda believe so because the bitcoin price went down today. Even though i'm a big fan of waiting until the price fall before I buy. I think now is good chance for bitcoiners that only buys bitcoin when the price fall. Well, here is your chance buy now before the bitcoin price full recover by tomorrow, perhaps!

You are actually talking like the guy who classified bitcoin as a bubble. Bitcoin is not bubble that is why it will never ever burst for that mater. Bitcoin will survive 2018 like the rest of the years or even better by adding more value in this year. Who knows where bitcoin will stop this year? Perhaps, 2018 might be the best year of bitcoin ever.   

Well, I think bitcoin price will grow to reach $60,000 in this year 2018 because there is still huge demand of bitcoin. The only problem with bitcoin is the transaction issues. And once the lightning network is implemented, it will speed up the transaction speed with zero fee and the bitcoin transactions will be faster and smoother than ever.

Yeah, we're expecting bitcoin price to recover from the recent correction and get to the $20,000 benchmark by the end of the month of January.

No, it is never too late to invest in bitcoin. It is not the end for bitcoin, the bitcoin price will continue growing in the future. You can invest in bitcoin now and plan for the future.

Well, I think bitcoin will survive so many years in the future beyond 2025 because bitcoin still have unmine coins which miners will be mining the future till 2140.

Bitcoin - It’s Big in Japan



While the Asian market accounts for a large portion of the cryptocurrency market, not all of the countries in the East have been as receptive to the burgeoning market. However, the situation is totally different in Japan thanks to a soft approach from government and much higher adoption.

Japan continues to lead the way in the East with its approach and as such, there is a higher interest from the citizens, including from the self-proclaimed ‘Miss Bitcoin.’


Miss Bitcoin

Mai Fujimoto, aka Miss Bitcoin on her social media platforms, figure-heads an attitude that seems to be crowing in the Land of the Rising Sun. She boasts how all of her disposable income is deposited straight into Bitcoin.

“I convert all my disposable income into cryptocurrency,” the 32-year-old told AFP. “I’ve been doing this for nearly a year now. I convert all my savings into cryptocurrency instead of putting them in a bank.”


Why the hype in Japan?

The attitude in places like China and even Korea is one of the people battling against the regulators. There is huge interest in these two nations from the citizens, but regulators have put their foot down.

China’s ban on ICOs, and then exchanges, set a huge precedent in terms of the hard-nosed approach to digital currencies.

Korea also recently started taking steps towards its own style of the ban on digital currencies, however, despite that, there is still massive interest.

Japan also set its own precedent in the understanding of Bitcoin as back in April it was announced that Bitcoin was accepted as legal tender, instantly showing a positive approach from the government.

Japan also benefited greatly from China’s ban as many companies and investors crossed the Sea of Japan to set up shop on the Island.


Adoption

Japan was also the pioneer in terms of Bitcoin adoption as about six months ago there was a boom in businesses trying to integrate Bitcoin payment systems. Even salaries are starting to be paid partly in Bitcoin. A well-known commentator on the crypto-business in Japan Koji Higashi said:

    “The involvement of big companies, the sense of security derived from government approval and media exposure really brought in a whole new group of people to the market.”


A good alternative

Bitcoin also comes at a great time for the investment-savvy Japanese as ultra-low interest rates from the deflation-battling central bank that has left investors scratching their heads for places to find returns on their cash.

However, some are suggesting that it is more hype and mania than savvy investing.

Higashi adds:

   “Everyone else is doing it now and I heard they are making a lot of money. I have to get on it now. That’s a very Japanese way of thinking. To be honest, I am not sure if people are buying into Bitcoin based on rational decision-making. It feels more of a short-term irrational mania to me.”


Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-its-big-in-japan

Telegram $500 Mln Pre-ICO Aims To Be Largest Ever



Private messaging app Telegram is considering the biggest Pre-ICO in history to fund its new Blockchain platform and cryptocurrency.

As TechCrunch reports today citing ‘multiple sources,’ Telegram is aiming to raise up to $500 mln in private sales.

Its forthcoming Telegram Open Network (TON) would use the tokens for internal user payments.

Cointelegraph originally reported on TON in December, the scale of the endeavor only now becoming apparent.

According to sources, a series of private presales alone would raise “as much as $500 mln,” while the subsequent public distribution phase is planned to drive the value of the token to between $3 to $5 bln. This would make Telegram’s ICO easily the largest ever to have launched, dwarfing Block.One’s $700 mln offering last month.

Investors “beyond the inner circle” of CEO Pavel Durov may face a minimum $20 mln buy-in, TechCrunch continues, while others may be restricted to purchasing TON tokens with fiat, rather than Bitcoin or Ethereum as with previous ICOs.

“Top-tier institutional investment firms have expressed interest, but Durov is said to be wary of accepting their cash,” the publication reports as Russia continues its uncertain regulatory treatment of public digital token sales.

Telegram has faced controversy in recent months specifically in Russia after it refused to hand over user data to authorities in line with privacy laws.

A potential launch for the Telegram wallet has been set at Q4 this year, with the full package of services following in 2019.


Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/telegram-500-mln-pre-ico-aims-to-be-largest-ever

Life Savings Stolen from Second-hand Ledger Hardware Wallet



A man’s life savings disappeared from a Ledger brand Nano hardware wallet after Reddit user moodyrocket purchased the wallet second-hand on eBay. The stolen coins amount to over $34,000.

According to posts on Reddit, the seller of the wallet utilized a ‘man in the middle’ attack, inserting his own recovery seed rather than the random seed assigned by the manufacturer. According to the post:

   “I have not used my Ledger in a week, today I decide to check the value of my XRP, Litecoin and Dash only to discover that all of them showed up as zero and had been transferred somewhere else yesterday all around the same time at 7:30pm. I am not sure how this is possible as I have not access my Ledger in a week. I do not know what do to as the total value is over £25000, has by currency been stolen or is it something else? I am at a lost here and right now feel so physical sick. Some please help.”

The post shows the extent to which thieves will go to access coin wallets. Ledger’s CEO (user murzika) has offered to help ‘bring the seller to justice’ through legal means.


Need for security

As values of cryptocurrencies continue to increase, the reality of security needs continues to increase. Stories of theft and hacking continue to proliferate. For individual users some additional technology may eventually be required. Vadim Onishchenko, CEO of Blockchain photo sharing system Selfllery told Cointelegraph:

    "We used to ask ourselves: Where is it better to keep your money, at home in a safe or in the bank? None of these options is ever completely safe. Cryptocurrency is no different: the safety issue is very complex, because there are lots of ways to break into accounts, or to force people to give over their holdings. There needs to be a mechanism ensuring complete safety, because the current options are all lacking. A new technology is needed to protect cryptocurrency."


Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/life-savings-stolen-from-second-hand-ledger-hardware-wallet

Well, Ethereum is looking sharp today, it appears over 90% of the market is going down. Only ethereum survived the market crash today. I think the market is going through general market correction and hopefully, it will recover very soon.

Bitcoin is changing the world every day by providing job and investment opportunity to the people where they can invest their money and make profit by just their bitcoins because it has limited supply of only 16.7 million bitcoins in circulation worldwide at the moment. The demand of bitcoin is higher that the supply, that is why the price will to continue to grow in the future.

In time, bitcoin will definitely replace gold. Bitcoins is a commodity and as a store of value as well, because of that bitcoin will serve the same purpose as gold. In fact, who need that heavy metal, anyway?

I first came across bitcoin in the early 2013 on YouTube watching some training videos from my mentors channel EliTheComputerGuy. As i was watching through his videos I saw he uploaded a new video talking about a latest digital currency called bitcoin and i said to myself what is that? let me look in to it to see how it really work.

Bitcoin has many advantages starting from; bitcoin is fast, secure, decentralized, and acceptable worldwide. Bitcoin gives people freedom to take control over their money/asset unlike traditional banks that tend to control everything. Bitcoin market is open 247, 365 days a year while banks are open only 9-5, 5 days a week. Bitcoin has limited supply does your fiat currency has a limited supply? That is why bitcoin is better and price will continue to grow.

Well, If you have a lot money to invest in bitcoin you should consider starting bitcoin mining because it is very profitable these days. And if your capital is small and you want to a bitcoin experience I suggest you should go ahead and buy bitcoin on sites like Coinbase or Luno.com