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BITCOIN ONLY: Cryptocurrency exchange giant Binance is about to launch its new fiat-to-crypto platform in Singapore. While the launch was expected sometime this month, Binance CFO Wei Zhou told CoinDesk from a Paris blockchain event: “Next week we are going to launch the Singapore simple buy/sell on-ramp. It will actually be a new product we are launching, as a very easy buy/sell platform so users in Singapore can buy and sell bitcoin with Singapore dollars.” Full Story
TOKEN MIGRATION: In more Binance news, the exchange says it has launched its new custom blockchain, Binance Chain, which will support its $3 billion BNB cryptocurrency (currently running on ethereum). The firm said it will activate BNB on the new network on April 23, after which holders of the token are encouraged to migrate their balances to the new network. Old ethereum-based tokens will be destroyed as new BNB tokens are created on Binance Chain. As of April 23, Binance Chain Explorer and Web Wallet will be open to the public and Binance.com will be able to help users with the mainnet swap, it said. Full Story
LICENSE APPLICATION: The owner of the New York Stock Exchange, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), is reportedly eyeing a New York license for its long-delayed crypto exchange Bakkt. With a launch having been held up for months, over persuading the CFTC to approve it to custody bitcoin for its planned physically-delivered futures contracts, ICE apparently sees a license from the New York Department financial regulator as a possible solution, unnamed sources told Bloomberg. The exchange would still need the green light from the CFTC over the wider operations of the exchange. Full Story
CRYPTO EXCLUDED: The Reserve Bank of India – the nation's central bank – is setting up a regulatory sandbox for fintech startups, including projects which use blockchain and smart contract tools. RBI explained that it wanted to better understand new technologies without hindering innovation. However, the draft framework, published Thursday, explicitly excludes cryptocurrencies, digital assets and initial coin offerings. Full Story
53 COUNTRIES: Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is expanding its crypto-to-crypto conversions and trading services to 11 new countries: Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile, India, Hong Kong, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and New Zealand. The services are being offered via both Coinbase.com and Coinbase Pro, its professional trading platform. The expansion means the exchange now has a presence in a total of 53 countries across four continents. In other news, Reuters has estimated that Coinbase brought in almost $520 million in global revenue in 2018 – a figure extrapolated from its UK operations. Full Stories |
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| COIN TOSS: Bitcoin is again struggling to post a sustainable rally above a confluence of key resistance lines at $5,239, with hourly chart indicators having turned bearish. As a result, prices may drop to $5,000 if the support at $5,192 – the level that put a floor under bitcoin yesterday – is breached. However, a strong bounce from that support could embolden buyers and lead to a sustained move above $5,300. Full Story |
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BEST OF THE BEST
REBUIDLING EFFORT: After the fire that ravaged France’s Notre-Dame cathedral, the country’s Minister for Digital Affairs has said he’s open to the prospect of accepting donations in cryptocurrency for planned reconstruction. As reported by Bloomberg, France has hastily launched a website for those wishing to donate to the cause, though its payment options don’t yet include cryptos. The minister, Cedric O, said “the more people we bring in, the more money we can raise,” and that crypto donations should be accepted under the same conditions as fiat currencies. THE RESTHIGH-COST HOME: A bitcoin entrepreneur from the U.S. may face the death penalty in Thailand after he built a “seasteading” home on stilts off the country’s coast. After the Thai Navy claimed he had violated the country’s sovereignty, the man and his girlfriend went into hiding, according to The Guardian. The couple claims the house was 13 miles offshore and thus outside of Thailand’s national waters.
NO BITCOIN: American retirees are not interested in investing in bitcoin , according to a survey conducted by Gold IRA Guide. The results, aggregating 1,000 responses, found that roughly one third of American retirees do not know what bitcoin is, and while another roughly 57 percent of respondents did know what bitcoin is, they were unwilling to invest. Gold IRA Guide head editor Mark Turner said the results were unsurprising, and that "bitcoin must do a better job of educating and explaining the many benefits its underlying blockchain technology offers businesses and industries to this audience."
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WHO WON #CRYPTOTWITTER  |
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