According to US Department of Justice’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), drug traffickers increasingly relied on crypto ATMs to aid illicit bulk money transfers, last year.  DEA also noted a surge in BTC withdrawal of many dark web vendors, last year, who feared “loss of funds.” DEA stated that Covid-imposed lockdowns in 2020 delayed drug shipments,Continue reading “Drug traffickers ‘increasingly’ used Bitcoin ATMs to aid illicit transfers in 2020”

In October last year, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen said that the firm may consider relocating to other countries citing the lack of regulatory clarity in the United States. Since then, many have speculated where the firm’s new headquarters will be located. However, amid a lawsuit with SEC regarding an alleged illegal securities offering, and XRP’sContinue reading “Ripple is committed to San Francisco, says co-founder Chris Larsen”

Payment protocol firm Ripple announced a pilot project that seeks to provide a “private version” of its XRP ledger for central banks that can use the technology to issue and manage digital currencies. The post stated that: The CBDC Private Ledger is based on the same blockchain technology that powers the XRP Ledger , whichContinue reading “Ripple launches pilot private ledger for central banks’ CBDC”

Crypto exchange Bitfinex launched a payment widget dubbed Bitfinex Pay that will aim to provide online merchants with a means of receiving “seamless” digital token payments. Merchants can integrate the payment technology onto a website facilitating e-payments. Users will have the option to pay with various cryptocurrencies which include Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin (BTC), Lightning NetworkContinue reading “Bitfinex launches Bitfinex Pay for merchants to accept payments in ETH, BTC”

Crypto Twitter was abuzz over the fact that someone spent about $,480 for an XRP transaction. A tweet from the Flare Community drew attention to a transaction that took place a few days ago. An unidentified user paid over 10,000 XRP worth more than $4K for a transaction on XRP Ledger. The community published theContinue reading “Someone paid $4,480 for an XRP transaction”

Regulatory action against cryptocurrencies has always had an impact on markets, and that will be the case for the foreseeable future too.  Or, as MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor puts it, over the next decade, “regulatory FUD,” would be the most “logical challenge” for investors in the crypto-community.  With Bitcoin becoming more popular, officials have begun callingContinue reading “Here’s the one thing CEOs of Ripple, Coinbase, and Square all agree on”

Thanks to Elon Musk’s numerous tweets, the meme-coin seems to be on everybody’s minds these days. To prove that, an analytics firm found that in February, Dogecoin, which began as a joke back in 2013, has even surpassed Bitcoin, in terms of being “the most discussed digital asset” on Twitter.   Stating that “it was inevitable”Continue reading “DOGE flips Bitcoin, Ethereum as ‘most discussed’ crypto on Twitter”

Bitcoin is gradually going mainstream, rising in popularity among retailers and a growing number of corporates. However, when it comes to regulators, the crypto-asset has often fallen out of favor. From ECB President Christine Lagarde who called for regulating Bitcoin because of its association with illegitimate activities to Treasury secretary Janet Yellen who believes cryptocurrenciesContinue reading “Will U.S Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s Bitcoin comments lead to FUD?”

When it comes to Bitcoin, market opinions are often divided, with those who support the asset and those who don’t. Similar camps may now appear to take hold of US regulators and policymakers. Recently, President Biden’s nominee for chairman of United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Gary Gensler appeared to share his perspective onContinue reading “Bitcoin has brought new thinking to payments and financial inclusion: SEC chair nominee”

As Bitcoin grows in mainstream popularity, it comes as no surprise that some critics of the asset have had a change of heart. The most recent addition to this list being Canadian TV personality Kevin O’Leary who is “going with a 3% portfolio allocation.” In his latest tweet, O’Leary who co-hosts Shark Tank thinks theContinue reading “Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful warms up to Bitcoin; Here’s how much he plans to invest in BTC”

Canadian miner Bitfarms is set to acquire 48,000 new miners from MicroBT in order to increase hashing capacity by approximately 5.0 EH. At present, the company has 1.0 EH/per second.  Over the past eight months, Bitfarms purchased 12,000 rigs from MicroBT; the initial shipment of miners from the current purchase will take place close toContinue reading “Bitfarms to acquire 48,000 miners to increase hashing capacity”

Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand rolled back a regulatory draft that set certain requirements for investors to participate in the crypto economy. As previously intended, Thailand’s SEC draft required crypto investors to have a 1-million-baht (about $33,000) minimum annual income, among other requirements. This draft was only proposed to “test” people’s sentiments as Thailand’sContinue reading “Thailand SEC clarifies draft proposing strict requirements for crypto investors”