[2015-01-25] WSJ: First U.S. Bitcoin Exchange Set to Open

First U.S. Bitcoin Exchange Set to Open

http://www.wsj.com/articles/first-u-s-bitcoin-exchange-set-to-open-1422221641

The virtual currency bitcoin is getting a very real boost on Monday with the opening of the first licensed U.S. exchange.

Coinbase Inc., a startup backed by $106 million from the New York Stock Exchange, banks and venture-capital firms, said its exchange will offer greater security for individuals and institutions to trade bitcoin and monitor real-time pricing of the cryptocurrency.

The exchange could bring needed legitimacy to the currency, which isn’t backed by a central government and is traded over virtual exchanges, primarily overseas. Coinbase said it has insurance, offering traders some assurance that their money won’t disappear.