#newsteaser

Kraken Received 3 Times More Law Enforcement Requests in 2018 Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has revealed that it has received three times more law enforcement requests in 2018 compared to 2017. The overwhelming majority of requesting authorities is in the US. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ A Chokepoint for Law Enforcement⠀ San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has released an infographic displaying the increasing number of law enforcement requests received in 2018. As it turns out, the bear market is not the only thing to be concerned with.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Evidently, the exchange has received 475 law enforcement requests in 2018 – a number three times larger compared to 2017.⠀ ⠀ The overwhelming majority of requests are coming from authorities in the US, with the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) leading the march with 91. The FBI has issued a total of 67 subpoenas, followed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with 40.⠀ ⠀ “You can see why many businesses choose to block US Users. Cost of handling subpoenas (regardless of licenses) is quickly becoming a barrier to entry,” tweeted the exchange.⠀ ⠀ It’s noteworthy that back in April, Kraken’s CEO and co-founder Jesse Powell, expressed his thoughts on the matter of information requests on behalf of lawmakers:⠀ Having the kind of requested information “on hand” is not the same as having the resources to compile it neatly to fit to the framework of the request…⠀ ‘Cost Are Passed onto the Users’⠀ As seen on the infographic, there are 11 different departments in the US alone who are looking to enforce their regulatory framework upon the cryptocurrency market.⠀ ⠀ Commenting on the matter was the host of CNBC’s Cryptotrader Ran NeuNer, who commented:⠀ The cost of doing Crypto business in the USA as disclosed by Kraken. There are so many different and disjointed departments all looking to enforce their little piece of jurisdiction – ultimately these costs are passed onto the consumer.⠀ ⠀ The cost of doing Crypto busines ...⠀ https://www.bitfeed.online/kraken-received-3-times-more-law-enforcement-requests-in-2018/⠀ #bitcoin #technology #news #altcoins #newsteaser #cryptocurrency #companies #bitcoinregulation #regulations # https://www.instagram.com/p/BsTWV7KgX8z/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=axraiot6s6x7

Use Bitcoin! Customers Condemn PayPal After It ‘Bans’ The Hacker News ⠀ Cybersecurity news resource The Hacker News (THN) has become the latest PayPal user to have its accounts frozen without warning, the company has claimed.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ‘At Least One Valid Reason’⠀ In a series of tweets December 28, officials reported that funds from “all” its corporate accounts with the money transmitter were no longer accessible. ⠀ “(PayPal) has permanently banned all of our accounts without mentioning any reason and hold wallet funds wrongly for 180 days. Upon asking, (PayPal Support) also refused to share any details,” they wrote.⠀ Describing the situation as “frustrating,” THN also accused PayPal of failing to provide “at least one valid reason” for its actions.⠀ PayPal has often instigated funds blocking against corporate clients, including those involved in the cryptocurrency industry, without explanation.⠀ As Bitcoinist has reported, such blocks are part of the service’s terms of use, which include the caveat that users can be frozen out of their accounts without the company being required to explain why.⠀ ⠀ Instead of giving a valid reason, company says "specific reasons for such a decision is proprietary & it is not released since that could impair PayPal's ability to do business in a safe and secure manner"⠀ Seriously @PayPal????⠀ ⠀ You have to mention at least one valid reason.⠀ ⠀ — The Hacker News (@TheHackersNews) December 29, 2018⠀ Bitcoin Doesn’t Care⠀ Almost immediately after THN made the news public, Twitter commentators pointed it in the direction of Bitcoin as an alternative.⠀ The event comes amid a progressively changing mood to centralized payment providers among tech circles.⠀ The same day, TIME Magazine had published a pro-Bitcoin article focusing on its use as a circumventive method, specifically highlighting PayPal’s Venmo as an example of middlemen who “can potentially censor, surveil, and profit” from customers.⠀ The back ...⠀ https://www.bitfeed.online/use-bitcoin-customers-condemn-paypal-after-it-bans-the-hacker-news/⠀ #technology #bitcoin #news #newsteaser #companies #bitcoinbusinesses #paypal #paymentprocessors #centralization # https://www.instagram.com/p/Br-vtfRAo9m/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bb65jtexge3y

Vitalik Buterin is Not Stepping Away from Ethereum An article headline in MIT Technology Review heralds Vitalik Buterin saying Ethereum can’t succeed unless he takes a step back. Tone Vays almost wet his pants with glee at Vitalik’s imminent departure, before being put straight by the man himself. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Tone Deaf⠀ Vays jumped on the headline to rant about bitcoin not competing with nonsense platforms, and suggested Buterin was going to ‘pull a Dan Larimer.’ (He has previously criticized Larimer, the Block.one Founder and CTO, over the EOS platform.)⠀ ⠀ Buterin was quick to point out that he is not leaving the platform, and that critics will criticise, whatever he does. He suggested that the headline was misleading, and that the sub-headline gave the more correct emphasis: that Ethereum must stop depending on him if it is to be truly decentralised.⠀ ⠀ Actually, the subheadline is fine.⠀ > At Ethereum’s annual developer conference, its founder tells us why his technology can only be truly decentralized if it stops depending on him.⠀ ⠀ "Ethereum stops depending on me" is the correct emphasis. But very far away from me leaving.⠀ ⠀ — Vitalik Non-giver of Ether (@VitalikButerin) November 2, 2018⠀ Spontaneously Combusting⠀ Buterin has spoken about detaching himself from the Ethereum project before. As recently as last month, he suggested that it was “already in progress.”⠀ ⠀ Though the language is a bit ambiguous, he clarifies that his intention is for Ethereum to survive if he spontaneously combusts. (Why he pictures such a gruesome demise for himself is unclear.)⠀ ⠀ Vitalik is still actively involved in Ethereum development, although he is deliberately attempting to reduce his prominence. Clearly, it is not healthy for the fate of an entire platform to rest in the hands of one man.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Ethereum 2.0⠀ Buterin was talking to MIT Technology Review at Devcon in Prague, the annual get-together organised by the Ethereum Foundation. The hot topic of discussion was Ethereum 2.0, a future update dealing with issues ...⠀ https://buff.ly/2zn4RCZ⠀ #technology #bitcoin #news #newsteaser #ethereum #vitalikbuterin #bitfeed https://www.instagram.com/p/BpuNArFgvNY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=uxfzi6s5p7ft

Plattsburgh NY Officials Fed Up With Mining Noise Adopt Regulations Leaders in the town of Plattsburgh, New York, have adopted a law requiring crypto mining operations to hold a special permit. In the meantime, a moratorium on new endeavors is still in effect.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Debate over cryptocurrency mining operations and their impact has been a popular talking point among citizens in Plattsburgh New York.⠀ ⠀ In March, city officials slapped down an 18-month ban on new mining endeavors. Bitcoinist reported during the month how the decision came after residents said their electricity bills were rising in price.⠀ ⠀ Around the same time, New York’s Public Service Commission gave authority to upstate municipal electricity authorities to raise rates for mining companies.⠀ ⠀ Recently, Plattsburgh’s Common Council adopted a new local law that now mandates new mining operations, or the expansion of an existing one, must receive a Special Use Permit. The law officially comes into effect once it is filed at the New York Secretary of State’s office.⠀ ⠀ Despite the decision, the 18-month ban not struck down, but Mayor Colin Read believes Councillors will consider lifting the restriction in about a month’s time, according to WAMC.⠀ Mining Tensions in Upstate New York⠀ Enthusiastic cryptocurrency miners have been flocking to upstate New York to take advantage of wide open space and relatively cheap electricity thanks to the St. Lawrence River.⠀ ⠀ Some in the region were intrigued by the opportunities mining operations could provide, but a few opinions began to sour after setups consumed large amounts of power.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ A September Report by the New York Times said Mayor Read received a number of complaints about higher electricity prices after a sharp cold spell last winter. Read mentioned how the Municipal Lighting Department passed on the costs of purchasing extra (expensive) electricity to residents at the time because city consumption surpassed the allocation on certain days.⠀ ⠀ The CF ...⠀ https://buff.ly/2OPFNzf⠀ #technology #bitcoin #news #newsteaser #mining #newyork #smalltownamerica #plattsburgh #noice #bitfeed https://www.instagram.com/p/BpuKzj7APqY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tw9ksm3hrztq

‘Mastering Ethereum’ – Andreas Antonopoulos’ New Book Set to Ship In Early December Andreas Antonopoulos recently said on Reddit that his new book, ‘Mastering Ethereum,’ is in final production after completing the copy-edit stage. Pre-orders should begin to be mailed by the end of November, with new orders shipped by December 10th.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Andreas Antonopoulos’ new book, “Mastering Ethereum: Building Smart Contracts and Dapps,” is now in final production and should be making its way to buyers around early December, according to a Reddit post from Antonopoulos.⠀ ⠀ Described as a book for developers, ‘Mastering Ethereum offers a⠀ “Guide to the operation and use of the Ethereum, Ethereum Classic, RootStock (RSK) and other compatible EVM-based open blockchains.”⠀ ⠀ Antonopoulos said pre-orders of the book will start shipping from Amazon at the end of November. The Amazon page for the book says it will be released on December 10th. Gavin Wood is also listed as an author.⠀ ⠀ Those interested are also able to read the book for free on GitHub, though “it is not convenient to read that way.”⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ In the Reddit post, Antonopoulos noted that the book is now more than 400 pages long, which makes it twice as large as originally planned. He does admit the work “has some gaps, due to the constantly changing nature and sprawling breadth of Ethereum,” but said they can be covered in a second edition.⠀ ⠀ Antonopoulos took time in the post to thank everyone who helped contribute to the upcoming book.⠀ ⠀ He said he was happy with the final iteration of the book and hopes that “It serves to help thousands of developers get started and learn how to ‘Master’ Ethereum.”⠀ A Book Bound to Draw Attention⠀ Antonopoulos’ newest book is the latest work he has penned that discusses digital currencies. In June 2017, he published ‘Mastering Bitcoin: Programming the Open Blockchain.”⠀ ⠀ That book came a few years after he published ...⠀ https://buff.ly/2OF0spP⠀ #bitcoin #technology #news #newsteaser #ethereum #masteringethereum #book #masteringbitcoin #andreasantonopoulos #bitfeed https://www.instagram.com/p/BpMsDfFgUie/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1cmrqazn6v61a

White House Considers Ripple as a Foil to China’s Bitcoin Dominance Ripple is certainly divisive, seeming to catalyze an equal number of naysayers as it maintains influential fans. According to Chief Market Strategist, Cory Johnson, those fans may also include the highest office in US government.⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Media Professional⠀ Johnson, who joined Ripple Labs in March this year, has an extensive background in journalism. He founded basketball magazine, SLAM, before a stint working at CNBC and 8 years at Bloomberg. One of his main tasks at Ripple has been to improve public perception of the company.⠀ ⠀ In a recent interview, Johnson covered lots of ground, including a hook-up with former US President, Bill Clinton, earlier this year. But one of the more interesting things he discussed was regarding current president, Donald Trump.⠀ ⠀ Chinese Takeaway⠀ Chinese domination of bitcoin (BTC) 00 mining has caused concern in the industry, specifically regarding how much leverage this provides China over bitcoin. According to Johnson, this concern spreads as far as The White House.⠀ ⠀ When questioned over the Trump administration’s feelings about Ripple, he replied that his initial low expectations were unfounded. The open-mindedness and smart questions regulators and government have asked have amazed him.⠀ ⠀ Johnson said that The White House:⠀ […] seems to be thinking about what it means to have 80 percent of bitcoin mining taking place in China… When you look at XRP, there is no mining, so from a foreign-control aspect or from an environmental aspect, XRP is a very different beast. And… the administration… seem to get that and think that might matter.⠀ Those Who Say “Nay!”⠀ Obviously, critics were quick to jump on this comment, but in a somewhat cack-handed manner. Coinmetrics.io co-founder, Nic Carter, took umbrage at his own perception that Ripplers were being painted as benevolent environmentalists.⠀ ⠀ I think the XRP story is a solid reductio ad absurdum demonstrating that the ...⠀ https://buff.ly/2CPf9QJ⠀ #bitcoin #technology #news #newsteaser #altcoins #ripple #xrp #coinmetrics #trump #bitfeed https://www.instagram.com/p/BpA0LOtgZHE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1lm4deu3emi9s