Dissidents' dissatisfaction

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November 22, 2019 NO PANACEA: In face of censorial corporations and governments, dissident protesters are testing bitcoin and other decentralized technologies – and learning of their limitations. While cryptos can be useful as a store of value, sources in Lebanon and Iran said being cut off from global exchange platforms means digital assets are rarely useful as currency. Full story LIQUIDITY BOOST: Fidelity Digital Assets (FDAS), the young cryptocurrency trading business of a financial-services powerhouse, expects to sign its first exchange by the end of the year, according to its president, Tom Jessop. The move is expected to give FDAS access to a broader market and liquidity for smaller trades. Full story MEANINGFUL MERGER? An acquisition of TD Ameritrade by Charles Schwab would change the landscape of the traditional brokerage industry – and it may have implications for the ongoing mainstreaming of cryptocurrency trading. The firms are reportedly in talks for a merger that would marry one of the few mainstream financial companies to embrace the crypto market with one whose stance is less clear. Full story SLEUTHING CUTBACKS: Chainalysis laid off 39 employees Thursday, about 20 percent of its workforce in nearly every corner of the blockchain analysis firm. The downsizing will help put the five-year-old blockchain company on the “path to profitability,” Maddie Kennedy, director of communications, said. Full story BAKKT TO THE FUTURES II: Bakkt is launching its Singapore-listed bitcoin futures contracts on Dec. 9, according to parent firm Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). The Bakkt Bitcoin Cash Settled Monthly Futures contracts will be listed on ICE Futures Singapore and cleared by ICE Clear Singapore, which are both regulated in the island-state. Full story 6-MONTH LOW: Bitcoin dropped to six-month lows below $7,000. The downtrend is looking strong, too, with a key technical indicator showing the strongest bearish bias since March. Minor corrective rallies cannot be ruled out as intraday indicators are reporting oversold conditions. That said, the bearish case will remain valid as long as prices are below $8,200. Full story ROBOTICS UNBLOCKED: The Robotics Business Review thinks that the next stage of AI will incorporate blockchain. Columnist Juned Ghanchi said blockchain increases efficiency, security and profitability for AI systems that rely on multiple robotics systems. For instance, swarm robotics – where several physical robots “swarm” to perform a collective task – could use cryptographic techniques to secure data shared across the AI channels that synchronize the machine behaviors.  WHO WON #CRYPTOTWITTER   Copyright © 2019 CoinDesk, All rights reserved.  Our mailing address is:  250 Park Avenue South New York, NY, 10003, US  Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

PBoC warns against crypto trading / CFTC chair doesn't want to "snuff out" innovation / OneCoin lawyer found guilty

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Presented by Subscribe | View in browser Market Watch: The downtrend continues during Friday trading with Bitcoin creeping closer to the $7,000. Bitcoin: $7,189 (⬇️ 6.60%) // $129.8 billion market cap. Ethereum: $149 (⬇️ 8.40%) // $16.2 billion market cap. XRP: $0.232 (⬇️ 4.52%) // $10 billion market cap. Tether: $0.99 (⬇️ 0.56%) // $4.1 billion market cap. Top 100 Winner: MMOCoin: $1.18 (⬆️ 86.72%) // $70 million market cap. Top 100 Loser: EDUCare: $0.061 (⬇️ 24.53%) // $61 million market cap. Prices are as of 2:10 p.m. ET.       1. China's central bank has warned that it will take action against crypto exchanges found to be operating illegally in the country. According to the People's Bank of China (PBoC), the move comes after the nation's president, Xi Jinping, publicly endorsed the adoption of the blockchain last month. As a result, crypto trading speculation has shown signs of rising, a translation of the statement reads. Pledging to upload its current ban on crypto trading, the PBoC said that it would "dispose of" any platform found to be operating and that it would prevent trading from happening. –COINTELEGRAPH       2. Heath Tarbert, chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has said that when it comes to crypto regulation, it doesn't want to "snuff out innovation." In an op-ed piece, Tarbert stated that regulators need to first understand the outcomes and potential drawbacks before applying their rules to the market. In his opinion, taking a "principles-based approach to regulating digital assets and other fintech products would permit a period of development and observation." After regulators better understand the types of outcomes they may encounter, they can adopt tailored and targeted rules to the market. –CFTC       A MESSAGE FROM LEDGER Ledger Nano X Limited Edition - only a few units left For our 5 years anniversary, we released a limited edition of our star product, the Ledger Nano X. It's only been a few weeks and we are already almost out of stock! Don't miss your opportunity to get one. Buy now 3. Follow Friday: Julio Alejandro Alejandro is the CEO and founder of three blockchain enterprises in London: Jada Consulting - "Taming Disruptive Technologies"; Humanitarian Blockchain; and "Digital Anarchy" - Innovation Lab. During his day-to-day activities, he delivers consultancy services in artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and mixed reality. In 2016, he lectured, competed, and lobbied at the United Nations, the European Union, the University of Cambridge, Google Campus London, and several institutions and think tanks on disruptive technologies and entrepreneurship. With just over 2,600 followers on Twitter, Alejandro recently argued on Twitter that governments are "inefficient money wasters." He also discusses politics, recently commenting on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, the U.K.'s Labour Party, and more on his Twitter page.       4. Mark Scott, a U.S. lawyer, has been found guilty for his role in the OneCoin crypto scam, which raised around $5 billion from investors. A New York jury found Scott guilty of aiding the scheme, moving $400 million out of the U.S. and attempting to conceal the true source of the funds and ownership. He's reported to have made as much as $50 million from it. As a result, he faces a 50-year jail sentence. The scheme's mastermind, Dr. Ruja Ignatova, known as the "Cryptoqueen," is still missing. Her brother, Konstantin Ignatov, recently pled guilty for his role and faces up to 90 years in prison. Scott is due to be sentenced in February. –BBC       5. Crypto exchange Bitfinex, which is associated with stablecoin Tether, has revealed that it's planning to develop "educational programs," to boost understanding of the market. In partnership with ODEM, a blockchain-based education marketplace, the two will launch a series of programs and courses aimed at boosting the level of education for Bitfinex users about the token economy. –DECRYPT       6. Two thieves who stole $4,000 from a Bitcoin ATM from a Canadian grocery store mistakenly left $50,000 behind in a second robbery. The incident is reported to have taken place at the Simply Delicious Food Market in Vernon, British Columbia. After the alarm was triggered, police were on the scene within 15 minutes; however, they just missed the escaping thieves. According to local reports, the thieves missed an opportunity to bag $50,000 that was in a separate canister inside the machine. –CASTANET       7. Morocco is planning to expand access to its financial services through the introduction of the blockchain within the country's financial sector. Speaking at the Africa Blockchain Summit in Morocco's capital Rabat, central bank governor Abdellatif Jouahri said that he hopes they can use fintech to improve Morocco's goals of giving "individuals and businesses" access to financial products and services "to promote economic and social inclusion." –MOROCCO WORLD NEWS       8. The European Commission and European Investment Fund (EIF) has unveiled a new scheme for artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain development in Europe totaling $441 million. According to a blog post, around $110 million will be available to venture capital funds or other investors that support AI and blockchain-based products and services. A further $330 million is projected to be generated for AI and blockchain from private investors. –EUROPEAN INVESTMENT FUND/MEDIUM       9. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis has, reportedly, cut 39 jobs in a bid to boost its profits. As a result, the company has removed 20 percent of its workforce as it focuses on bringing products to market. Only 155 people remain at Chainalysis, and it's hoped that this smaller size will put the company on the "path to profitability," according to Maddie Kennedy, Chainalysis' director of communications. –COIN DESK       10. Crypto exchange Kraken has announced that it is introducing a mobile version of its Kraken Future trading app. According to a blog post, the company's app is now available to download on iOS and Android platforms, which will enable users to sign in with a QR code, see the live order book and price chart, initiate advanced order types, manage open positions and open orders, and view their account history. –KRAKEN BLOG       This newsletter was written and curated by Rebecca Campbell. She has been writing and reporting on various industries for the past 10 years, more specifically tech in the last three. Connect with her on Twitter.

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