Bitcoin loses over a fifth of its value in less than 24 hours

Bitcoin slid to as low as about Sh900,000 ($9,000) in volatile trade on Thursday, having lost more than a fifth of its value since hitting an all-time high of $11,395 on Wednesday. The cryptocurrency fell as much as eight per cent on Thursday on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange to hit about Sh900,000 ($9,000) exactly, marking a fall of well over $2,000 in under 24 hours. It then edged back up to trade at around Sh940,000 ($9,400) in the hour that followed, still down roughly 4 percent on the day. One…

Eco-friendly bitcoin competitor Chia, Invented

A bitcoin transaction wastes as much electricity as it takes to power an American home for a week, and legendary coder Bram Cohen wants to fix that. Considering he invented the ubiquitous peer-to-peer file transfer protocol BitTorrent, you should take him seriously. Cohen has just started a new company called Chia Network that will launch a cryptocurrency based on proofs of time and storage rather than bitcoin’s electricity-burning proofs of work. Essentially, Chia will harness cheap and abundant unused storage space on hard drives to verify its blockchain. “The idea…

Big Tech and Banking Firms Abandon Bitcoin For Their Own Blockchain

The short history of Bitcoin and the blockchain proves that a second glance can definitely change one’s perception. From being a victim of skepticism and criticism since its debut in 2009, Bitcoin has come a long way. And it hasn’t been alone; it has brought with it the ‘blockchain’ – one of the hot topics of debate among prominent banking institutions. Several major companies from across both the technology and financial industries—including IBM, Intel, and Cisco as well as the London Stock Exchange Group and big-name banks JP Morgan, Wells…

Most U.S consumers ‘unlikely’ to purchase or use bitcoin

A study conducted by the Massachusetts Division of Banks on the bitcoin use found that close to two – thirds of those who responded said they were unlikely to buy or use the virtual currency. The article by Andrew Moran also highlights a study from the U.K. where 71 percent of British consumers don’t want to use bitcoin for their shopping needs. Of course we are very early in the game and the age of the respondent’s matters, those in their late teens and twenties may be more willing to…

European Court of Justice to Rule If Bitcoin is VATable

The European Court of Justice will rule if bitcoin transactions are subject to its value-added tax rules (VAT). If that top court decides to impose VAT regulations on member nations with bitcoin businesses, they could suffer an economic setback. Others could miss out on the opportunity to establish business initiatives associated with bitcoin. VAT is one way the EU raises tax revenues. It’s essentially a consumption tax, paid by buyers as part of the purchase price. That case before the Court is C-264/14 Skatteverket v David Hedqvist and it raises the issue:…

Bitcoin Will Collapse In 2014 says BYRON WIEN

Blackstone Group vice chairman Byron Wien does not have a lot of faith in Bitcoin. Included on his list of annual “surprise” predictions is the possibility that acceptance of the digital currency collapses this year. “In 2½ years the price of a Bitcoin has increased from $25 to $975,” says Wien. “The supply of bitcoins is fixed at 21 million with 11.5 million in circulation. Bitcoins lack gold’s position as a store of value over time. During the year Bitcoin’s acceptance collapses as investors realize that it cannot be used…

There Is A ‘Very Surprising’ Connection Between Bitcoin’s Creator And The Alleged Founder Of The Silk Road

The two most important moments in the history of Bitcoin are its creation, and the founding of illicit goods and services site Silk Road, which created the first ever market for the digital currency. Now, two Israeli mathematicians, Dorit Ron and Adi Shamir of the Weizzman Institute south of Tel Aviv, write in a new paper (first reported on by John Markoff at Bits) that they’ve found a “very surprising connection” between the individual or individuals behind the first and the individual allegedly behind the second. In October, the FBI arrested San…

Bitcoin Comes Under Senate Spotlight

Bitcoin is about to get some time in the Capitol Hill spotlight. A pair of Senate committees will hold hearings on the policy issues raised by virtual currencies in the coming weeks, according to Senate aides, a development that comes amid growing attention from government regulators to digital forms of money. Bitcoin, a currency that is essentially a computer code and is not backed by any government, has seen its value surge this year because of  interest from retailers and investors. But government agencies have also stepped up their oversight of…

Technology in Business

Technology in Business

Technology has changed the way businesses operate and interact with customers. The fast-paced development of technology has impacted various aspects of business, from operations and marketing to customer service. Businesses are now relying more and more on technology to enhance their competitiveness, increase efficiency, and reach out to new customers. In the past, businesses relied on traditional methods such as print advertisements, billboards, and door-to-door sales. Today, businesses can reach a vast audience through the Internet and social media. Companies can target specific demographics, launch innovative marketing campaigns, and reach…

Paxful and Binance partner to provide financial inclusion

Paxful

Binance has announced a partnership deal with Paxful, to provide financial inclusion around the globe. Starting immediately, Paxful- a peer-to-peer bitcoin (BTC) marketplace and web-based Virtual Bitcoin Kiosk – will be integrated and directly available on the Binance platform for new and existing Binance users. Binance is a leading global cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and users. “Paxful is proud to be partnering with Binance in our joint efforts to bring bitcoin to the masses,” said Ray Youssef, CEO and co-founder of Paxful. “They share our passion and vision for the…