COSTLY DATA: Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has said law enforcement requests for user data in 2019 rose 49 percent compared with the previous year. The firm’s co-founder and CEO Jesse Powell tweeted that the internal costs of compliance came to more than $1 million. Full story
NO THREAT: The chief economist at the IMF said digital currencies will not challenge the US dollar's role in global trade. In an op-ed for the Financial Times, Gita Gopinath said that although cryptocurrencies represented "intriguing possibilities," they lack the infrastructure and global acceptance needed to supplant the dollar. Full story
JAPANESE GIANTS: The company behind a massive new bitcoin mine in Rockland, Texas has announced its first customers, SBI Holdings and GMO. The two Japanese companies will rent capacity at the site, which is under construction, is expected to have a capacity of 300 megawatts when it becomes operational later this quarter. ThFull story
EASY DOES IT: Chinese internet giant Baidu has launched a blockchain-based service allowing developers and SMEs to build decentralized applications, or dapps. The new service, translated from the Chinese as Open Network, will enable users to develop and deploy applications without building their own blockchain platforms, according to local media reports. Full story
STEPPING BACK: Telegram will not integrate a crypto wallet into its messaging app, at least until it gets the green light from U.S. regulators, the company said Monday. The post – which stresses that Telegram’s token “won't help you get rich” – comes as the company fights the SEC in court over its ICO. Full story
BOTTOM IN? After a 15% rally in recent days, bitcoin saw rejection above the historically strong 100-day average resistance at $7,945 on Tuesday. The key hurdle could be scaled this week, though, as the daily chart is reporting an inverse head-and-shoulders breakout and short-term indicators are flashing bullish. Full story
ON TAP: CoinDesk is on the floor at CES, the biggest tech show in the world! Join us on Jan. 8 from 6 - 8 p.m. at G.O.A.T. Sports Bar in Las Vegas for an evening of brews, bitcoin and blockchain. We're looking for cool crypto companies to interview. Full story
