Category: Crypto

Categories
Crypto Finance News

WikiLeaks’ Bitcoin Account Suspended by Coinbase

In a surprising recent turn of events it looks like Coinbase, a cryptocurrency firm has just made the elective decision to suspend WikiLeaks’ account on their platform. The reasons for their decision are not completely clear but we are going to be looking at the statements that both Coinbase and WikiLeaks have made and present them to you so that you can have all the information you need in order to form your own opinion on this matter.

How did this happen?

Well, first of all we would like to mention what Coinbase does. The cryptocurrency company specializes in providing a feature that allows online shops to accept different cryptocurrencies as payment. Now how does WikiLeaks fit into this equation? Well, it does not only specialize in uncovering and posting documents that are confidential, they also sell T-shirts and posters and they allow their customers to pay for them in Bitcoin.

This weekend WikiLeaks reported that their account got suspended and that they received a message from Coinbase telling them that they were violating the terms of service, however they did not decide to mention the exact terms that were violated, leaving the context to feel very vague.

Sadly, Coinbase was not available to comment on this issue or to provide their side of things. WikiLeaks took things to the next level by tweeting that they are ready to “call for a global blockade of Coinbase”. We will have to wait and see if things will really take this turn or of the situation is going to be solved in a more amicable manner.

For now, we want to end the discussion by reminding people that WikiLeaks has been in favor of Bitcoin, going so far as to actually invest in it and it does seem natural that they would want to keep their option to receive payments in Bitcoin working in the future.

Categories
Crypto Finance News

Goldman Sachs Plans On Opening A Cryptocurrency Trading Desk

On this Monday, April 23rd, it was reported that Goldman Sachs, a major US investment bank, hired an expert in cryptocurrency trading and was evaluating the possibility of opening a cryptocurrency trading desk.

According to the sources, this trader is Justin Schmidt and joined the ranks of Goldman Sachs the previous week with the position of vice president and leader of the area of cryptocurrencies markets of this firm. Also, spokespersons of the company explained that this is the first time they hired an expert in cryptocurrencies and that they have made this decision due to the growing interest that their clients have in the cryptocurrency trading.

On the other hand, according to sources related to Business Insider, Schmidt would join Goldman Sachs to explore the options the company can have in the cryptocurrencies market, including the launch of a desk of cryptocurrencies investments.

Goldman Sachs would be the first bank in the US to implement a cryptocurrency trading desk

If the possible launch of a trading desk focused on cryptocurrencies materializes, Goldman Sachs would be the first US bank to offer this service to its clients.

Rumors of a possible opening of a cryptocurrency trading desk by Goldman Sachs have been heard since last December since Bloomberg published an article claiming that this bank was planning to launch this trading desk but, back then, officials from Goldman Sachs denied these rumors.

Goldman Sachs already offers its clients some services related to cryptocurrencies since it offers exposure to its clients of the future Bitcoin (BTC) contracts launched by CBOE and CME Group, that is, so far the role of Goldman Sachs in the cryptocurrency market.

Just last week, it became known that Barclays, an investment services company based in London, was studying the launch of its own cryptocurrency trading desk, which would be the first of its kind in Europe. So, more than one important financial institution is evaluating offering this type of services to its clients. We shall see if Goldman Sachs will implement such a crypto-related service soon.

Categories
Crypto

Ripple (XRP) To Reach $1 – XRP Is Sustained By The Community And Cryptocurrencies Traders

Since Friday, the cryptocurrencies market has gained a lot, with all the big crypto coins registering major gains. Bitcoin (BTC), for example, has raised over $8,800 and is trading now at $8,882, with a 0.41% loss. In general, all the other cryptos followed the BTC uptrend and traded higher than last week. The same is applicable to Ripple (XRP) which has a positive sentiment surrounding it. Can XRP reach $1?

Well, as almost all the crypto coins are trading higher, this might be seen as a gain as a market, more than a gain of a particular asset. However, some assets behave better, while others registered losses.

Just as a short reminder, today, Ethereum (ETH) is trading at around $639 and gained 0.14$, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) $1,368.49 and gained 10.60%, while Litecoin (LTC) has gained 0.52% and is trading at $150.

Ripple (XRP) Price

The positive cryptocurrencies market’s momentum helped Ripple (XRP) to rise above $0.90, a price above which XRP hasn’t been since March.

Currently, Ripple (XRP) is trading at $0.86, registering, at this moment, a 2.21% loss. Despite this slight downtrend, XRP is expected to go towards $1.

Some more optimistic analysts have even stated that XRP can double its price in the near future, so, it is clear that the Ripple (XRP) is recovering faster.

Ripple (XRP) is surrounded by a bullish sentiment

Many traders consider that XRP will consolidate above $0.90, in short-term, but, on the other hand, without maintaining the level above $0.83, Ripple (XRP) will fall towards $0.77.

Also, it seems that the cryptocurrencies traders consider that Ripple (XRP) will uptrend. More specifically, around 78% of them think that XRP is going to hit $1 level soon. Thus, the Ripple (XRP) is surrounded by a bullish sentiment which might indeed keep the coin in its uptrend.

In conclusion, Ripple (XRP) is sustained by the community and the cryptocurrencies traders and this is a very important piece of the puzzle for the coin to gain even more. Therefore, it is possible that XRP to trade around $1 soon.

Categories
Crypto Finance

Blockchain Technology, Implemented By The Main Banking Entity In The United Arab Emirates, Emirates NDB

One of the main banking entities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Emirates NBD bank, has recently published a full-scale application, for the first time on its platform, that uses the Blockchain Technology to authenticate checks – the Check Chain service.

According to the official statement, the Check Chain service processed approximately 1 million checks using the blockchain technology to verify the authenticity, in the first month of operation. A commitment to the Blockchain that seeks to significantly strengthen the administrative processes of risks and security, focusing on the reduction of checks fraud, a problem that has affected the Emirates NBD for years.

The financial institution believes that this adoption will improve the security standards within its corporation, Emirates NBD Group, and throughout the banking sector of the United Arab Emirates. Since its trial stage, this application has worked in different banking institutions in the region, such as Emirates Islamic.

Check Chain platform is part of the UAE’s wider plan of the blockchain technology adoption

Check Chain works by including a QR code to each printed check, accompanied by random 20 characters. These characters, along with the QR code, will be registered in the blockchain to authenticate and track the origin of the check at the time of use, in order the use of false checks.

This innovation is part of the United Arab Emirates strategy to become a nation that uses blockchain technology to carry out most of its transactions. This nation has already implemented this technology in various social sectors.

The Check Chain platform, implemented by Emirates NBD, is, at the moment, a blockchain technology that has not been replicated elsewhere. This platform invites technological developers to adapt to the principle of the blockchain to satisfy the needs that different sectors, financial or not, require. Innovation is the key to a more secure future.

Categories
Crypto

Blockchain Technology To Be Applied By Walmart For Its Online Stores

Walmart has registered a patent for an online purchase and payment service that uses blockchain technology. The document, filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office defines the various methods by which a buyer can acquire Walmart products, either in person or through the Internet.

Particularly, when buying from the Internet, some possibilities are reduced to select products according to more specific demands or with certain conditions.

The new system is designed to tackle some issues

The present concept provides a system for buyers who should order products online while still being able to select products provided by the physical purchase in the store using a guide system.

As part of this system, these concepts include a shared system of payments to the seller. This system and method, coordinated with some other features, allows a user to make the payment, which is encrypted and shared with the other vendors who worked together to complete the buyer’s order.

In this way, it is explained that the integrated payment system helps the buyer to choose their products and once the payment is made, it is automatically distributed among Walmart employees or sellers who worked in that work. This would be possible through blockchain.

Walmart has been involved in blockchain technology for a long time, now

It is likely that Walmart will create a purchase history for each client until a more accurate profile is developed about their interests, although the blockchain technology proposed in this patent includes reciprocity and communication with the customer.

The system would record the information in the blockchain, giving it the known benefits of distributed blockchain technology, such as security, immutability, and transparency, among others.

Regarding automation in the payment distribution, it is not specified if Walmart would use a mechanism such as smart contracts or it will create their own blockchain.

Walmart has been involved in blockchain technology for some years, although this time the patent aims to integrate the system in its physical and online stores, which if materialized would represent a milestone in the industry.

Exit mobile version