Why Mastercard is ripping a page from Bitcoin’s book
Mastercard wants to use the inherent security of blockchain to make money more intuitive and less hackable. Its new blockchain patents seeks to put an end to credit card skimmers. Regardless of what you think about cryptocurrency, the largest financial institutions are transforming real money to be more like it every day.
Was late 2017 cryptocurrency spike artificially inflated?
A new report stemming from the University of Texas at Austin claims that the big surge in cryptocurrency values during 2017 was artificially created using a digital currency called Tether. The report focuses on Bitfinex, one of the largest unregulated digital currency exchanges on the market.
Apple just banned apps from cryptocurrency mining on iOS devices
Apple has banned apps that mine cryptocurrency on iOS devices. The company updated its guidelines recently, highlighting that while apps related to cryptocurrency are still allowed, apps that mine it are not. Of course, iOS devices generally aren't powerful enough to mine much cryptocurrency anyway.
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange loses $40 million in hack
A South Korean cryptocurrency exchange has lost more than $40 million worth of digital currencies as the result of a recent hack
Why a 19-year-old Bitcoin millionaire built a working Dr. Octopus suit
What would you do if you were a 19-year-old kid with $3.3 million? There are few people more equipped to answer that than teenaged bitcoin millionaire Erik Finman. His answer? You use some of that cash to build a Doctor Octopus-style exosuit and try and shake up the education system.
Hackers prove how powerful computers can cheat Bitcoin and blockchain
A 51 percent attack on the ZenCash cryptocurrency shows that proof-of-work blockchains like Bitcoin are vulnerable to large-scale computing power. As just one of several recent attacks, it's possible that those behind it are growing bolder and more ambitious with their targets.
Ticketfly goes offline after refusing to pay hacker’s Bitcoin ransom
Ticketfly was hacked for not paying a ransom of one Bitcoin, but it's unclear if credit card details are part of the breach. Site owners have taken Ticketfly offline temporarily to investigate the cyberattack, though the hacker claims he may release more stolen information.
Nvidia could reboot its game bundle with ‘The Crew 2’ and GTX 1080s
Nvidia is set to start giving away free games with its graphics cards once again by offering the upcoming open-world racer, The Crew 2, to gamers looking to upgrade to its top-of-the-line 10-series graphics cards. New GTX 1080 and 1080 Ti purchases will come with a free copy of the upcoming game.
Scotland has a rehab clinic for people who are addicted to trading bitcoin
Can't help yourself when it comes to Bitcoin? Castle Craig Hospital is starting to treat cryptocurrency addicts like gambling addicts, and they think they can help you break the "hold on for deal life," or HODL trap. The treatment involves a rather expensive residential program, however.
This desktop ornament tracks the value of cryptocurrency using a … seesaw?
Want a more entertaining way to track currencies? The Market is a kinetic smart sculpture ornament of a bull and a bear on a seesaw, which tilts in real-time to reflect actual day-over-day changes in capital markets. It's totally steampunk, and you can pre-order it right now.
This website lets you earn cryptocurrency by picking World Cup winners
With the 2018 World Cup tournament looming, a new website called Cryptocup allows users to earn cryptocurrency by predicting the winners of the 64-team tournament, earning tokens for each game they select, with those tokens being thrown into a pot that will be awarded to the winner. Tokens can be sold on the crypto market as well.
The Justice Department is now cracking down on cryptocurrency scams
The Justice Department is now working with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission to launch a criminal investigation to determine if digital coin traders are manipulating prices using illegal practices such as spoofing and wash trading. Sources say the federal probe is in the early stages.
How much energy does Bitcoin mining require? Experts are unsure
How much energy is required to mine Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies? A recent study estimates that Bitcoin mining uses as much energy as Ireland, but some experts disagree with those findings.
Bitcoin’s profitability called into question as energy consumption rises
Growing interest in Bitcoin is wielding a double-edged sword against cryptocurrency operations. Bitcoin mining is estimated to consume 0.5 percent of the world's energy consumption this year, and rising cost needed to cool mining facilities may make cryptocurrency mining unprofitable.
Microsoft Bing joins Google, Facebook in banning cryptocurrency advertisements
Microsoft is now banning ads for cryptocurrency, related products, and unregulated binary options from its Bing Ads network. Given their unregulated nature, cryptocurrencies and related products pose an elevated risk due to bad actors that may participate in predatory behaviors to scam customers.
A German bank is using Bitcoin to handle international loans
A German bank, Bitbond, is using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to facilitate international loans. The bank's founder believes that Bitcoin can make for quicker and more affordable loans while lowering the risk of falling victim to cryptocurrency volatility.
World domination, phase two: Facebook ponders its own cryptocurrency
After forming an internal team dedicated to blockchain technologies, Facebook is reportedly jumping into cryptocurrency with both feet. Anonymous sources close to Facebook report the social media giant is considering the release of its own virtual token for electronic payments.
Nvidia saw a revenue spike from sales of graphics cards to crypto miners
Nvidia made hundreds of millions of dollars selling graphics cards to cryptocurrency miners in the last quarter alone. This would seem to counter previous claims made by the company that miners were one of its smallest sales segments and that it was putting gamers first when it came to stock and pricing.
Nvidia graphics cards may be back in stock, but they’re disappearing quick
Nvidia refreshed its batch of GeForce GTX 10 Series Founders Edition graphics cards, but they're quickly selling out as expected. As of this publication, customers already depleted Nvidia's supply of GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, GTX 1070 Ti, and GTX 1060 graphics cards. The other two will likely be gone soon.
Volition is a blockchain-powered collectible card game that you print at home
Developed by veterans of The Spoils, Volition is a collectible card game from Cryptogogue that uses blockchain technology. It lets players customize their play with upgrades, augments, and customized fan art. It will even have its own cryptocurrency, using miners to discover new cards and booster packs.
Cryptojacking hackers infected 400 major websites with stealth miners
Coinhive's javascript cryptocurrency miners have been found installed on more than 400 websites that contained a vulnerability in the Drupal content management system. The cryptojackers behind it have made off with heaps of cryptocurrency off of the backs of unwitting website owners and visitors.
Games from Space lets you loan your GPU to earn free games
Games from Space is a new PC gaming service that allows users to loan the power of their GPU to earn free digital games. The selection of titles includes newer releases like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and the time it takes you to earn a new game will vary depending on the power of your GPU.
AMD may have blocked ASRock graphics card sales in Europe
AMD may be responsible for a claimed ban on ASRock graphics cards from being sold in Europe. The cards are reportedly a good showing of the aging AMD design, though whether Europeans will ever get to experience them is in question, after a supposed block was put in place on sales to that region.
What is Sweatcoin and how does it work?
A lot of fitness buffs are curious about Sweatcoin but many people don't fully understand how to use the app. In fact, a lot of folks don't even know what it is at all. So what is Sweatcoin? Here, we've explained all about the exercise-based cryptocurrency and how to use it.
Miner One takes Bitcoin mining to new heights with space mission
Miner One launched a new initial coin offering (ICO) campaign that sent the Space Miner One cryptocurrency mining rig to space to mine for bitcoin. Miner One expects to raise $10 million as part of its ICO to build a cryptocurrency mining center in Sweden and share the benefits with investors.
Can cryptocurrency and Overstock save Elio Motors’ 84-mpg commuter?
Arizona-based startup Elio Motors hasn't said its last word. Online retailer Overstock.com just invested $2.5 million into the troubled automaker by purchasing common stock, and it plans to help distribute the car. Elio canceled its planned IPO to raise money by launching a cryptocurrency named ElioCoin.
Inside a Bitcoin mine, fans, silicon, and frigid temperatures keep crypto pumping
Ever wondered what it's like inside a bitcoin mine? Since it's a digital currency, you can't just dig it up with a pickaxe -- so to get an inside look at how it works, we packed up our cameras and drove up to Wenatchee, Washington to see a mine in person. Check out the video to get an inside look!
John McAfee-backed cryptocurrency platform leaks personal details
The Bezop cryptocurrency ecommerce platform might promise security for users, but early investors have become victims of a preventable leak in the form of an unsecured database which contained reams of personal information, including names, email addresses, and email driving license and passport scans.
Who’s to blame for the GPU pricing crisis? Everyone
Whether you're been looking for a reasonably priced GTX 1070 or hoped to find an AMD Vega card for sale, you've probably been stumped for much of the last year. You're not alone. Graphics cards have been outrageously expensive for a long time. As it turns out, there’s plenty of blame to go around.
Quantum mechanics could save the blockchain from quantum computers
A new type of 'quantum blockchain' that effectively acts like a time machine could make it possible to avoid the problem faced by developers when quantum computers can easily break traditional encryption systems. Such a system could, in theory, protect blockchain platforms like Bitcoin in the future.
Bitcoin put him on the street. Then it made him a fortune
Paxful co-founder Ray Youssef wants to give back to world with Bitcoin after the cryptocurrency helped him go from homeless to a major Bitcoin success. His high-minded ideas about what Bitcoin can accomplish have helped him help himself, and others, but hasn’t kept Youssef away from controversy.
Coinbase bans Wikileaks from its currency exchange platform
Coinbase, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has banned Wikileaks from the use of its platform. Wikileaks will still be able to accept payments via Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, but it will have to find a new way, including other exchanges, to convert those tokens into hard currencies.
SEC files fraud charges against co-founder of Centra Tech
The third co-found of Centra Tech has been arrested after the SEC filed charges against him alleging his company defrauded investors.
Amazon patent wants to unmask Bitcoin users, sell data to law enforcement, others
An Amazon patent filing from 2014 that has only just been given approval suggests that the retail giant is interested in identifying both parties behind Bitcoin transactions by teaming up with telecom companies. This suggests Amazon could sell access to that information to groups like law enforcement.