Bitcoin has a new and potentially considerable threat to its reputation, if California cybersecurity firm Proofpoint is correct. Last week, the company warned that a previously undocumented ransomware sample that they found, CryptXXX, would not only be encrypting files locally and on all mounted drives, “it’s stealing Bitcoins and a large range of other data.”

Not only is CryptXXX a multi-purpose thief, but the company's analysis shows it spreads in new and powerful ways; through a common trojan called Bedep after infection via the extremely popular Angler exploit kit.

http://bravenewcoin.com/news/cryptxxx-set-to-become-the-worst-bitcoin-stealing-ransomware-yet/

Bitcoin core developer Pieter Wuille recently completed a long-awaited upgrade to the bitcoin protocol. Segregated Witness, or 'SegWit' for short has now been published, and miners can now upgrade their software.

Having become an overnight sensation during the Hong Kong Scaling Bitcoin conference, in December of last year, SegWit redesigns the core process of the bitcoin protocol itself, making it more efficient.

http://bravenewcoin.com/news/segregated-witness-has-been-released-tackling-bitcoins-transaction-limit/

Life.SREDA recently announced a new fund called Banking on Blockchain Fund, or BB Fund for short. The Fund offers start-up capital for early stage [Suspicious link removed]panies, giving financial institutions access to the “rapidly-growing blockchain ecosystem.”

The Fund starts with US$5m in capital, from Life.SREDA, with a near-term goal of expanding to $50 million by the end of the year. The long term goal is $100 million in backing from financial institutions by 2017.

http://bravenewcoin.com/news/vc-investment-company-banking-on-blockchain-fund-joins-the-blockchain-investment-landscape/

With headlines each week spotlighting millions of dollars in fintech funding, for the development and trialing of cutting-edge technology like the distributed ledger, digital currencies or their deploying platforms, it’s easy to lose sight of the core, perhaps altruistic, driving force of creating technology: advancement.

http://bravenewcoin.com/news/in-brief-the-worlds-unbanked-and-fintech-innovation/