Mike Tyson, Bitcoin Direct announce digital walletLast year we saw significant interest in bitcoin and blockchain technology from banks, fintech and other financial institutions. Nevertheless, digital currencies have yet to break into the mainstream, at least without the associations of black market sites like Silk Road. This might change, as Bitcoin Direct, a subsidiary of Conexus Corporation, announced the Mike Tyson Digital Wallet today. According to Finextra Newswire, this is the first digital wallet to be associated with a celebrity and the first where users are able to buy and sell bitcoin. The wallet works with all United States and international bitcoin ATMs. Furthermore, there are no fees for using the wallet. Users will select from a variety of options for minimal fees needed to confirm the payment. For the app’s buying and selling feature, users can create an account with the bitcoin exchange Glidera. Users can then send funds from their Glidera account into their wallet. The app is currently available on iOS and is coming soon to Google Play to be used on Android devices. The wallet’s association with a celebrity might be what it takes to push bitcoin into the mainstream. Bitcoin Direct CEO Peter Klamka explained that Tyson is a “universally known star” and has the potential to significantly expand the bitcoin market. https://coinreport.net/mike-tyson-and-bitcoin-direct-announce-digital-wallet/
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An English-speaking child, and a British-sounding militant who brings to mind ISIS' previous propagandist, 'Jihadi John,' appear in the latest, chilling propaganda video from ISIS. In the video, which has not yet been independently verified, the child says that the group will kill "kuffar' -- nonbelievers -- "over there," referring to the West, while the adult threatens and insults British Prime Minister David Cameron. The speaker's accent and dress bring to mind the previous -- masked -- face of the terror group, Mohammed Emwazi, otherwise known as "Jihadi John." Emwazi was understood to have been killed in Raqqa late last year in an airstrike which specifically targeted the Briton. His absence lends credence to Western intelligence agencies' belief that he is indeed dead. Five men appear at the beginning of the video, confessing to spying on behalf of the British. Much of the video is taken up with the five speaking, looking directly into the camera. Most of the men say they are from Raqqa, the de facto capital of ISIS' territory in Iraq and Syria. The video was purportedly shot there. A spokesperson for the British Foreign Office says that it is "aware" of the video and is examining its content. http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/04/middleeast/isis-propaganda-video-briton/ |
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Why should fundraisers pay any attention to blockchains and what on earth are they anyway? Firstly, a blockchain is “a distributed database that maintains a continuously growing list of transactional data records hardened against tampering and revision”. It is a system of recording transactions like the spending of bitcoins, or agreements like contracts which are held in a series of data blocks each timestamped and linked together. Hence the name blockchain. See Wikipedia: http://bit.ly/1MCLzcM . This does away with a middleman or central authority authorising and validating the transactions, and leaves whole industries like banking, the law, accountancy and government susceptible to disruptive change. Even the Bank of England’s chief economist has said that blockchain related currencies could replace cash, though he perhaps underestimates its potential – who now really needs banks? http://www.fundraising.co.uk/2016/01/04/blockchains-bitcoins-fundraising/ |
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The Rokos Core OS Turns Your Raspberry Pi Into A Bitcoin Node The Rokos Core, now in its fourth version, is a disk image for Raspberry Pis that can turn your single-board computer into a full bitcoin node. The system will allow you to hold a bitcoin wallet and mine, send, and receive bitcoin over the network. Understand that without specialized hardware this thing is essentially the way to actively waste electricity and/or hold bitcoin. However, because it is a full BTC node, you’ll be doing the bitcoin world a favor while learning a bit about mining. The best thing, however, is that the Rokos has a full GUI and point-and-click interface. This means that folks who might not want to futz around with the command line can play with bitcoin. For example, earlier systems used CGMiner, a fully-featured if difficult mining system while 21’s mining rig is baffling to newcomers. If bitcoin mining can’t be profitable it should at least be fun and/or easy. http://techcrunch.com/2016/01/04/the-rokos-core-os-turns-your-raspberry-pi-into-a-bitcoin-node/
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Egyptian ambassador returns to Israel after three year hiatusEgypt has sent Hazem Khairat as the new ambassador to Israel after a three-year hiatus, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said Sunday. Khairat, arrived on Friday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed his return to Israel saying it "will allow us to improve even more our relationship with a state that is central and important in our region." http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/1.695205
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MUXER – Daniel Larimer’s BitShare Based Collective Trust Fund !
BitShares, the crypto-technology based enterprise level financial smart contract platform is diversifying from its overtly capitalistic focus to take a subtle philanthropic approach. The new blockchain based altruistic platform called Mutual Aid Society was proposed recently by Daniel Larimer. The Mutual Aid Society system referred to as MUXER is described by Daniel Larimer – the founder of BitShares as a social network to help those in need. His concept revolves around creating a group among the BitShares Community with a commitment to support the society. The structure of MUXER is thought out to be similar to that of an organization where members of the group are entitled to vote on each project or requirement on a case-by-case basis. Members of MUXER can contribute BitShares to a fund pool that are utilized for funding approved requests. The majority of the requests are raised by members of the group or from a third party through group members at times. The causes supported by MUXER are divided into four main societies viz., Samaritan Society, Human Rights Society, Sharing Society, and Cannabis Society. While the Samaritan Society has a broad focus on helping anyone in an unexpected situation and in dire need of support (causes can range from health issues to major crimes and natural disasters), other societies meet a more focused criteria. http://www.newsbtc.com/2016/01/02/28361/
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Saudi Arabia executes 47 prisoners, including opposition Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr
Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday it had executed 47 prisoners convicted of terrorism charges, including al-Qaeda detainees and a prominent Shia cleric who rallied protests against the government. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr is expected to deepen discontent among Saudi Arabia's Shia minority and heighten sectarian tensions across the region. Meanwhile, the execution of al-Qaeda militants convicted over deadly bombings and shootings in Saudi Arabia raised concerns over revenge attacks. The extremist group's branch in Yemen, known as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, threatened violence against Saudi security forces last month if they carried out executions of members of the global network. Saudi Arabia's top cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh said the executions were carried out in line with Islamic law and the need to safeguard the kingdom's security. He described the executions as a "mercy to the prisoners" because it would save them from committing more evil acts and prevent chaos. http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/saudi-arabia-executes-nimr-al-nimr-1.3387125
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Why virtual reality and Blockchain will emerge in 2016
Blockchain will emerge from Bitcoin’s shadow Many commentators and investors have speculated on the value and future of Bitcoin. Less attention has been focused on the technology that underpins it, the Blockchain. Somewhat ironically given some of the more negative associations linked with Bitcoin, the Blockchain may, in fact, provide a mechanism to verify transactions, ownership and to avoid fraud which is more reliable and less open to abuse than many of the systems widely used in business today. 2016 is likely to see the emergence of Blockchain-like public ledger technologies in multiple fields, providing a high degree of cutting out the middle man (disintermediation). The effect on the way asset ownership, and agreements between counterparties, is recorded and evidenced, could be significant. It might even reduce the need for lawyers, but let’s not be too rash in our predictions so early in this arena. http://www.itproportal.com/2016/01/02/why-virtual-reality-and-blockchain-will-emerge-2016/
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BTCC Suffers DDoS Attacks But Ignores Ransom Demands
BTCC, the Shanghai, China-based digital currency exchange, suffered a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, the company noted on Dec. 31, 2015, on Twitter. The attack hampered BTCC’s access to its APIs and other services for a period of time. It marks the most recent in a growing number of DDoS attacks demanding bitcoin ransoms, including one in November against CCN. “Our website is under DDoS attack, which is hampering access to our APIs and other services,” BTCC tweeted on Dec. 31. “We are working quickly to resolve the situation.” BTCC received an anonymous email demanding “something like 1 BTC,” according to a Reddit post by an individual claiming to have received information from a BTCC project manager. The Reddit post came one day following the BTCC tweet. As of Jan. 2, BTCC did not post anything about the attacks on its website. https://www.cryptocoinsnews.com/btcc-suffers-ddos-attacks-ignores-ransom-demands/
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Five suspected militants attacked an Indian air base near the border with Pakistan on Saturday, leaving two security force members and a civilian dead before they were killed, according to government officials. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Twitter that all five militants were dead. Two members of the Indian Security Forces and one civilian also died in the attack in India's northwestern state of Punjab, according to an Indian government official. The attack sparked what CNN's partner in India, CNN-IBN, described as a 15-hour gunfight at the base, which the network said houses fighter jets and attack helicopters. But officials said they had received intelligence about a possible attack and had beefed up security at the air field and repulsed the attackers before they reached any sensitive areas. http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/01/asia/india-air-base-gunmen/ |
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Why Bitcoin MattersThe most epochal financial transaction of this century, to date, occurred on May 22, 2010. It did not involve Wall Street, or the City of London; it took place in Jacksonville, Florida. It did not feature collateralized debt obligations, or credit default swaps. It was a purchase of two Papa John’s pizzas, in exchange for a payment whose present value currently exceeds US $4 million. But the most remarkable thing about that transaction was the decision by the provider of the pizza, 18-year-old Jeremy Sturdivant, that the compensation he received—10,000 units of a newly birthed currency, one called into being from the ether of the Internet, and backed by no bank or nation—was worth real bread and cheese. Those pepperoni pizzas were the first real-world bitcoin transaction. http://techcrunch.com/2016/01/02/why-bitcoin-matters/
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Why Bitcoin Price Changes?Both Bitcoin buyers and sellers attention on the market is always focused on the cryptocurrency price. This is a defining factor that empowers traders to makes decisions on whether to buy or sell Bitcoins. Every day, experts make forecasts about the price based on fundamental or technical analysis and market players are closely following any news that may affect the price and value of BitcoinCT r: 10. In this article we will try to understand what factors affect the growth or decline of Bitcoin price rates. But first, let us recall what represents the price of Bitcoin. Bitcoin has value for several reasons: Bitcoin is money and an alternative to fiat money. Bitcoin has all the features that are inherent in money - it is divisible, durable, recognizable and most importantly, it is accepted as a payment. Unlike fiat money or gold, Bitcoin has no physical embodiments and is not backed by physical items but rather it has a mathematical and technical basis. People trust in this currency and this trust is increasing. Bitcoin is already a common means of payment among its users, and its acceptance ia spreading fast too. The cost of Bitcoin is determined by its users, and only by them. http://cointelegraph.com/news/115990/why-bitcoin-price-changes
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McAfee: Bitcoin is “too Complex for the Average Individual”John McAfee, the founder of McAfee anti-virus program and this year’s presidential candidate running with the Libertarian Party has criticized Bitcoin for being “too complex for the Average Individual.” and advised people to be cautious when using bitcoin. “Here’s the problem with Bitcoin; it’s just like any emerging technology. The technology here isn’t Bitcoin, it’s digital currency. And with any emerging technology, the first few attempts are gonna have some problems. Now, you cannot deny that hundreds of millions of dollars have disappeared for various reasons with Bitcoin users,” stated Mcafee. http://www.newsbtc.com/2016/01/02/mcafee-bitcoin-is-too-complex-for-the-average-individual/
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Andreas Antonopoulos: Third-tier Bitcoin Startups Will Disrupt the IndustryCalifornia-based information security expert and author of Mastering Bitcoin Andreas Antonopoulos presented a cryptocurrency-focused session called “Beyond Bitcoin, Unleashing the Blockchain” at Wired Money 2015, an annual conference hosted by American magazine Wired and Spanish Banking Group BBVA. The purpose of Antonopoulos’ talk was to explicate the limitation of first-tier Bitcoin startups, and its misguided approach toward the decentralized technology. Since the beginning of 2015, the bitcoin industry has seen the emergence of various “blockchain startups” and “distributed ledger firms” that have partnered with established financial institutions, stock exchanges, trading firms and multinational banking groups to use Bitcoin’s distributed ledger technology in transforming and improving traditional financial and banking systems. http://www.newsbtc.com/2016/01/01/andreas-antonopoulos-third-tier-bitcoin-startups-will-disrupt-the-industry/
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Apple Is Betting On The Peer-to-Peer Payment DemographicApple must notice that Bitcoin and alternative methods of payments are quite popular. In fact, it’s said that people using non-banking methods are increasing exponentially and should double by the end of 2016. Digital currencies like Bitcoin and payment concepts coming from companies like Facebook, WeChat and others are steadily growing more popular as each day passes. All of these businesses are trying to consolidate its user base into a network of people using their payment processor. And why wouldn’t they as they encompass millions of people signed up already for their service? http://bitcoinist.net/apple-is-betting-on-the-peer-to-peer-payment-demographic/
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Egypt has now become the second country to shut down Facebook's controversial free internet service after India did the same last week, according to a report from the Associated Press today. The service, called Free Basics, is part of Facebook's Internet.org initiative that aims to bring internet access to developing nations. Because Free Basics provides access to Facebook and a number of non-Facebook websites at no cost, some regulators and internet activists believe it violates the principles of net neutrality by creating a "walled garden" that prioritizes some sites over others. Facebook's partner in Egypt, telecom carrier Etisalat Egypt, began providing Free Basics service two months ago, and Facebook says more than 3 million people in Egypt have signed up. Of those 3 million, Facebook says 1 million received access to the internet for the very first time. "We're disappointed that Free Basics will no longer be available in Egypt," Facebook said in a statement provided to the Associated Press. The company hopes to "resolve this situation soon." It's unclear if a telecom regulatory agency shut down the service, as was the case in India. Etisalat Egypt could not be reached for comment at this time. http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/30/10690714/faceboo-free-basics-internet-service-shut-down-egypt |
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5 Bitcoin and Blockchain Startups to Watch in 2016Nearing the end of 2015, many are questioning the future of bitcoin. 2016, it's safe to say, will be a crucial 12-month period. For one, the technology's open-source community will need to resolve some outstanding questions, most notably whether it will increase the size of blocks on the blockchain. Meanwhile it must combat the effects of "private blockchains" seeking to court market share. Ultimately, I am a firm believer in the future of bitcoin. While its progress throughout 2015 may not have captured the media’s attention as it did in 2013, the industry has created a solid foundation for the continued success and growth of the bitcoin network. With the variety of applications now being built, it is difficult to imagine it simply fading away anytime soon. I truly believe we are only a few years away from bitcoin crossing ‘the chasm’ and becoming a ubiquitously acknowledged technology. http://www.coindesk.com/5-bitcoin-blockchain-startups-watch-2016/
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Will 2016 be A Banner Year for Bitcoin?I have said it many times, but when it comes to financial markets, long term predictions are hard, and in many cases pointless. Markets are forward discounting mechanisms and as such they price in any foreseeable influences. It is therefore the unforeseen, the proverbial bolt out of the blue, that usually ends up being the biggest influence over any given time period. The fact remains though that the New Year is a time for reflection and contemplation of the possibilities ahead, and when it comes to bitcoin the possibilities for 2016 are so intriguing that they are worth pondering. From a price perspective it is hard not to be bullish on BTC/USD. At this time last year I stuck my neck out and predicted a period of relative stability for the bitcoin exchange rate, albeit in a lower range than the $300-400 levels at the time, followed by significant appreciation in the second half of the year. Though I say so myself, that wasn’t too far off the mark. http://www.nasdaq.com/article/will-2016-be-a-banner-year-for-bitcoin-cm560096
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Four Reasons Why You Should Invest Your Christmas Bonus in BitcoinThis is the time of year when many people receive year-end holiday bonuses from their employers. Your bonus can be used for many things: paying off loans, buying yourself something fun, giving to charity, fixing the house, or going on a trip. If you are feeling particularly responsible, you could invest that bonus. But what to invest in? The mainstream financial advisors will recommend the same as always: stocks and bonds. Advisors attracted to precious metals might recommend gold or silver in order to protect your investment from the central bank-controlled economy. Here’s another idea: invest your year-end bonus in Bitcoin. Why? Here are four reasons. https://news.bitcoin.com/four-reasons-invest-christmas-bonus-bitcoin/
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Coinbase Tests Bitcoin XT, Gets Removed From Bitcoin.orgAccording to CEO Brian Armstrong, Coinbase is now running the new version of Bitcoin software, Bitcoin-XT, a move which has divided the Bitcoin community in the past few days. The company is merely experimenting with the software, it stresses; however, this has inspired much contentiousness on online Bitcoin forums, including being removed from Bitcoin.org. http://bitcoinist.net/coinbase-tests-bitcoin-xt-removed-bitcoin-org/
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