Monday, May 18, 2015
Decentralization Is A Market Force: Inside The Corona Dapp Network With Daniel Greene
Danish Exchange Unveils Next-Gen Bitcoin Debit ‘NanoCard’
BItcoin Price Analysis: A Big Move Looks Imminent (Week of May 17)
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Honduran Gov't to Build Land Registry Initiative on Bitcoin Blockchain
German Economist: ‘Stand Up for the Abolition of Cash,’ Stand Up for Central Banks
Weekend Roundup: Price of BIT Surges, BitFinance Integrates Accelerator Program, Blocknet to Add Ethereum
8 New Bit Pics: Voorhees' Reminder, QR Keychains, and Front Page Finance
Becoming a Blockchain Citizen (Op-Ed)
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Russian Court Overturns Ban on Access to Bitcoin Websites
Interest in bitcoin and blockchain technology by business and governments around the world increased in the past months. However, many governments have yet to take an official stance on digital currencies while some have placed restrictions or regulations on the use of Bitcoin. Russia was one of these countries, as it blocked access to websites with information about Bitcoin.
The ban was implemented by the City Court Nevyansk on the basis that these sites contained information which was prohibited in the Russian Federation. The ban began on January 13th 2015 and included access to the following sites:
- Bitcoin.org
- Indacoin.com
- Coinspot.ru
- Hasbitcoin.ru
- Bitcoinconf.ru
- Bitcoin.it
- BTCsec.com
However, on May 15th, 2015, a Sverdlovsk Regional Court overturned a ruling from City Court Nevyansk about blocking sites with information about digital currencies.
Bitcoin Magazine spoke with Ivan Tikhonov, the owner of BTCsec.com to gather more information about this court decision. Ivan learned about Bitcoin in 2011, and at that time, there was virtually no information on Bitcoin sites in Russian. Seeing an opportunity, Ivan launched BTCsec.com.
“The decision of the court Nevyansk about the blocks was canceled because it clearly violates the laws of Russia,” said Tikhonov.
In August of 2014, the Russian Minister of Finance Alexei Moiseev announced proposals to ban the issuance of bitcoin and any operations related to cryptocurrency in the spring of 2015. The announcement prompted several bitcoin and digital currency companies operating in Russia to exclude the Russian market from their business operations. With the overturn of this ban, entrepreneurs are like Tikhonov are optimistic. “This is good. Now there is a chance that people will be able to obtain objective information. We will be able to legally work these technologies,” said Tikhonov.
Speaking about public perception of bitcoin in Russia, he added, “There are those who are well aware of what is Bitcoin and refer to it well. Those who do not know, consider it a pyramid or a Ponzi scheme.” The recent court decision will help inform people about the true value of digital currencies without fear of violating any laws. “I believe that Bitcoin and other decentralized modern technology can improve our lives. At least, cheaper remittances replace outdated accounting systems and provide new business opportunities,” he said.
As bitcoin gains international recognition, more governments will be forced to take an official stance on bitcoin. Will governments see digital currency as a threat or as an opportunity for their country to create value in a new, burgeoning industry? Only time will tell.
Three Blockchain Startups Join Startupbootcamp Fintech Singapore’s Inaugural Accelerator Batch
Blockchain-based marketplace DeBuNe, bitcoin wallet Cryptosigma and blockchain equity issuer Otonomos, have been accepted to the first batch of Startupbootcamp (SBC) Fintech Singapore’s accelerator program. The startups will be given funding, free office space, access to business support services and a large network of industry experts and venture capitalists.
The three digital currency startups join seven other startups in the program, which are made up of peer-to-peer wallets, money management apps, a social network for financial trading and more. All of the startups will receive three months of acceleration, 24,000 Singapore dollars (about $18,000 USD) and access to pilot customers, industry data, APIs and capital from SBC partners, such as DBS Bank, MasterCard and Route 66 Ventures.
“Since the beginning of the year, we have scoured the Asia Pacific and the globe for the most fascinating, innovative and promising fintech startups,” said Startupbootcamp FinTech Global COO, Markus Gnirck. “With 300 applications it shows that fintech in Asia is on the rise to tackle local problems with the potential for global scale. We have met close to 200 startups, visited 12 financial hubs across APAC and beyond. So we feel confident that the 10 teams selected showcase the very best that financial services and technology has to offer.”
Blockchain Apps For Asia
By digital currency standards, Bitcoin has seen a lot of adoption in China, the Philippines and other parts of Asia, but blockchain apps have not been as prevalent in the region as they have been in places such as Silicon Valley. These startups hope to use the different uses of the blockchain to solve problems unique to the region.
Created by former IT professional Roberto Capodieci, DeBuNe dreams big and aims to give Asian companies a more transparent way to conduct business by using the blockchain of alternative cryptocurrency, NXT. The startup, which is focusing on small- to medium-sized businesses, will use the transaction data stored on the blockchain to give businesses a reputation that can boost trade.
Cryptosigma, on the other hand, is a more conventional Bitcoin product, as it allows people to send and receive bitcoin and exchange between the digital currency and fiat money. The app does have several extra features that come with the app, such as a debit card, the ability to withdraw money at ATMs and send money to friends and family. The app hopes to give users the benefits of cryptocurrency without having to touch or hold the actual digital currency.
Calling themselves the world’s first blockchain-chartered company, Otonomos, aims to simplify the process of issuing equity for businesses in Asia. The startup will allow anyone to create company shares on the Bitcoin blockchain. Benefits include sending equity peer-to-peer, being able to crowdfund equity or add new private investors easily. Though in legally uncertain waters, their blockchain “incorporation” service is live.
All of these startups remain extremely early-stage and experimental, but Head of Emerging Payments at MasterCard Asia Pacific Raj Dhamodharan remains optimistic about the future of the blockchain startups, as well as the others in the acceleration program.
“I have been very impressed by the overall quality of the ideas coming out of the Asia Pacific region and am really looking forward to working with these 10 startups to see how they develop over the coming months,” Dhamodharan said. “Staying at the forefront of developments in tech will be crucial for financial services over the coming decade. Startupbootcamp is a great way to ensure that innovation is tackling real concerns.”
Image via Startupbootcamp FinTech
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CSI Cyber’s Season Finale ‘Bit by Bit’ Goes Full Bitcoin (Op-Ed)
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