Last Week's Crypto News - The Intrepid Report Issue #35The latest crypto news in this week’s Intrepid Report: the US launches a criminal probe into Bitcoin price manipulation, Verge succumbs to another attack, and Ethereum’s blockchain size exceeds 1TB and what the challenges this brings. We’ve also got insights from the Blockchain Review on how to get crypto funds to contribute to your ICO, and a post on Metabase and what makes it different from other blockchain platforms. Check it out below.
U.S. Launches Criminal Probe into Bitcoin Price Manipulation
The Justice Department has opened a criminal probe into whether traders are manipulating the price of Bitcoin and other digital currencies, dramatically ratcheting up U.S. scrutiny of red-hot markets that critics say are rife with misconduct, according to four people familiar with the matter. The investigation is focused on illegal practices that can influence prices — such as flooding the market with fake orders to trick other traders into buying or selling.
Inside the Marshall Islands’ Crypto Launch
The Marshall Islands is launching its own national cryptocurrency token dubbed the Sovereign, or SOV, which will be legal tender for citizens and businesses on the island. You would be forgiven for letting the Marshall Islands slip your mind. The tiny nation of around 53,000 people sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, cast away from Silicon Valley or Switzerland’s Zug Valley, but it’s quietly plotting a project that could have a major impact on how cryptocurrency is viewed and regulated.
Nobody Knows Exactly How Much Energy Bitcoin Is UsingBy the end of this year, Bitcoin may account for a whopping half of a percent of the world’s total energy demand. It doesn’t sound like much, but that is roughly equivalent to the energy needs of Austria, a country of nearly nine million people.
Privacy Coin Verge Succumbs to 51% Attack — AgainPrivacy-centric cryptocurrency Verge (XVG) appears to have succumbed to a 51 percent attack for the second time since the beginning of April. According to data published on BitcoinTalk by forum user ocminer — operator of altcoin mining pool Suprnova — an attacker appears to have successfully forked the Verge blockchain through a 51 percent attack and steal over $1.7 million.
20% of Financial Institutions to Offer Crypto by 2019Thomson Reuters has released the results of a survey concerning cryptocurrency trading and financial institutions. According to the press release, the survey covered more than 400 of its clients, meaning companies that use its services to offer foreign exchange trading. Approximately 20 percent of the respondents said that they are considering adding cryptocurrencies as a trading option for customers within the next 12 months.
Check out the rest of the report here:
https://blockchainreview.io/intrepid-report/intrepid-report-35-latest-crypto-news/
