MOST INFLUENTIAL 2019: One of the great things about reporting on the blockchain/crypto industry is the infinite variety of interesting, smart people doing bold, crazy things. From daring entrepreneurs and builders, to inspired thinkers and communicators, this space has no shortage of colorful characters pushing the envelope. It’s in this spirit that we present this year’s Most Influential, a selection of people who did exceptional things in 2019. See who made the list this year
MAILING COINS: Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has been granted a U.S. patent to send bitcoin through email. Filed in 2015 and granted on Tuesday, the patent details a system for users to make cryptocurrency payments with email addresses linked to corresponding wallet addresses. Whether the exchange plans a new service based on the patent isn't clear, however. Full story
SNOWBALLING TECH? Inspired by Hong Kong protesters dodging internet surveillance by using a Bluetooth mesh network for organizing and messaging, developer Ben Woosley created Snowball, a network to conduct private bitcoin transactions. Full story
HARD FORK BLUES: A major code update for the cryptocurrency bitcoin SV will render some features of BitGo's wallets useless, the crypto custodian says. In a blog update on Wednesday, the firm said the Genesis hard fork scheduled for Feb. 4, 2020, would usher in a new consensus mechanism making BitGo's BSV wallets unable to receive payments. Customers are recommended to withdraw their BSVs for now or exchange them for bitcoin. Full story
EASING ACCESS: The U.S. SEC wants to allow more individuals and entities to invest in regulated financial instruments. According to a press release, the commission intends to add a list of new qualifications opening up more avenues to becoming an accredited investor. The proposed amendment would "more effectively identify institutional and individual investors that have the knowledge and expertise to participate" in private capital markets,” said the SEC. Full story
BULL REPRISE? Bitcoin logged its biggest single-day gain in seven weeks on Wednesday. The bulls, however, are not out of the woods yet, as the cryptocurrency has yet to invalidate the lower-highs setup with a move above $7,870. That level may come into play soon, though, as a key daily chart indicator is reporting a bullish divergence. Full story
ACCREDITED QUESTION: On the heels of the SEC announcing it may open new pathways to accredited investor status, Nathaniel Whittemore asks, should the government have a say in where you can invest, in today's Breakdown. Listen here
