Russian Lawmaker: Bitcoin is a CIA Conspiracy

A lawmaker from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia is speaking out against bitcoin and other digital currencies on the grounds the technology is part of a US plot to undermine the country’s efforts internationally.The comments, made by MP Andrei Svintsov, came during remarks addressing the ongoing debate in Russia over whether bitcoin and digital currencies should be banned as part of a broader effort to stop capital flight.Nonetheless, Svintsov’s...

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Bitcoin Goes Hollywood: An Interview with Gem COO Ken Miller

A guest interview by Jeff Handler Silicon Valley has become a symbol of technological innovation and achievement in the digital age – a shining beacon of progress and “disruption.” It’s hard to find someone in the Bay Area who isn’t working on some app or technology that promises to change the world forever.As Bitcoin has grown from an obscure, niche technology embraced by a few small, highly technical circles into an actual (though still obscure)...

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Bitcoin-friendly Bills Unveiled in Utah, New Hampshire, New York City

Pay your taxes in bitcoin? Maybe, if you live in one of three states now considering bills in support of that option.In January, Utah Republican state representative Mark K. Roberts introduced a bill, H.C.R. 6, to create a Council on Payment Options for State Services that will study how Utah could accept Bitcoin as a valid form of payment. The bill includes the possibility for Utah residents to pay state taxes using Bitcoin.In February, eight New...

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Former Goldman Sachs Director Launches Bitcoin Derivatives Brokerage Crypto Facilities

Crypto Facilities Ltd., a London-based broker founded by former Goldman Sachs Executive Director Timo Schlaefer, has announced the launch of its bitcoin derivatives trading platform.In financial jargon, a derivative is a contract that derives its value from the performance of an underlying entity, in this case the exchange value of bitcoin. Crypto Facilities trades financial products such as bitcoin options and futures, allowing users to “go long”...

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Commonwealth Secretariat Commissions Bitcoin Report for Developing Nations

A two-day event that brought together representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat has ended with agreement that member states draft a formal report on virtual currencies.The main intergovernmental body behind the Commonwealth of Nations, the Commonwealth Secretariat represents 53 states, mainly in the developing world. The final report will be presented at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in Malta from 27th to 29th November.A...

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CNN’s Morgan Spurlock Spends Week “Living on Bitcoin”

Morgan Spurlock, Academy Award nominated director of “Super Size Me,” is CNN television’s “Inside Man.” In 2014, he spent a week living on bitcoin. The resulting “Inside Man” episode aired on February 19, 2015, affording a large television audience an in-depth Bitcoin experience that was no doubt a first for many viewers.The episode begins with a brief explanation of Bitcoin founder Satoshi’s goals, as defined by the white paper, “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer...

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Android-based Apple Pay Competitor Will Support Bitcoin

A new secure mobile payment solution for Android will be showcased at the Mobile World Congress, March 2 – 5 in Barcelona, Spain. The new payment app developed by Rivetz and other partners – an Android alternative to Apple Pay with Bitcoin support – will be available in the second quarter of 2015 and is compatible with over 350 million existing Android devices, including Samsung smartphones. Demonstrations on a Samsung Galaxy 4 smartphone will be...

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German Fidor Bank Brings Bitcoin to Mainstream Banking, Expands Overseas

German Bitcoin exchange bitcoin.de and Fidor Bank have announced a new “Bitcoin Express” option for Fidor Bank customers to buy and sell bitcoin instantly on the exchange.The new option addresses the delays involved in exchange transactions. Bitcoin exchanges like BitStamp, which are not licensed banks, must often wait hours or even days for a transaction to be cleared by an external bank. But because Fidor Bank is fully licensed, it is able to provide...

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Bitrated Unveils Reputation System and Multisig Escrow

Bitrated has announced an online reputation management system for its multi-signature (multisig) escrow service for bitcoin payments. The two innovations combined provide unprecedented consumer protection to Bitcoin users, buyers and sellers alike.Bitrated‘s bitcoin payment service uses multisig transactions where a trusted third party (trust agent) is nominated to resolve disputes and reverse payments in case of fraud. Two out of three signatures...

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This Week on Decentral Talk Live

Decentral Talk Live features a diverse collection of guests this week from all over the decentralized and disruptive technology community. Topics include security and regulatory compliance, publishing, branding, web-development, and building features on top of the Bitcoin blockchain.Balancing security and privacy with regulatory compliance is a tricky business when it comes to digital currencies. This week, DTL talks with Amber Scott, founder and...

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Canadian Exchange, QuadrigaCX, Takes Spotlight After CAVIRTEX Bows Out

On Tuesday, February 17, the Canadian Bitcoin community was surprised to learn that its biggest and longest-serving exchange, CAVIRTEX, was to wind down operations by March 25. Enter QuadrigaCX, heir apparent to the title of Canada’s largest Bitcoin exchange.An older version of the CAVIRTEX database, including 2FA secrets and hashed passwords, may have been compromised. Their website states, “We believe that damage to the company’s reputation, caused...

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