Coin News

The Lightning Network is the probably most highly anticipated technological innovation to be deployed on top of Bitcoin. The payment layer,...

The post Understanding the Lightning Network, Part 2: Creating the Network appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

New York-based blockchain advocacy group the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance (WSBA) recently announced the unveiling of the WSBA...

The post Wall Street Blockchain Alliance Launches Educational Platform for Financial Markets appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

Capgemini has partnered with Ascribe to create a blockchain database solution built on BigchainDB. The consulting, technology and...

The post Capgemini and Ascribe Build Blockchain Project for Banking Loyalty Rewards appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

MtGox victims are not having an easy time reclaiming their money back after the 2014 collapse. According to cybersecurity firm Cyren, customers are receiving spam messages claiming to help them recover their money. Kraken, the altcoin exchange is distributing $91 million in Bitcoins to people left out of pocket from the MtGox crumbling; however, the company […]

The post MtGox Victims Targeted by Bitcoin Theiving Scammers appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

MtGox victims are not having an easy time reclaiming their money back after the 2014 collapse. According to cybersecurity firm Cyren, customers are receiving spam messages claiming to help them recover their money. Kraken, the altcoin exchange is distributing $91 million in Bitcoins to people left out of pocket from the MtGox crumbling; however, the company […]

The post MtGox Victims Targeted by Bitcoin Theiving Scammers appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

As blockchain fever is taking hold of prominent financial industry firms around the globe, two men from Kentucky believe to have found the...

The post How Fluent Wants to Streamline Financial Supply Chains With a Blockchain appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

In a televised interview, the Winklevoss Twins state that bitcoin is more stable than gold as a store of value, opining that investors are starting to look at storing their wealth in the cryptocurrency. The Winklevoss Twins are understandably going through a press-tour, plugging their Gemini exchange which began operations in Canada yesterday. Speaking to […]

The post Winklevoss Twins: Bitcoin is Better at Being Gold Than Gold appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

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Blockchain technology is becoming increasingly important, but that doesn't make it easy to use or understand. And now one company is trying to change that.

Ripple, a blockchain cross-border transfer and currency exchange firm, has partnered with fintech firm Expertus to begin a blockchain pilot program, according to Finextra.

Blockchain technology, which powers Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, depends on a distributed ledger that allows stakeholders to verify transactions without an intermediary.

This pilot program will give banks a simple and intuitive way to test blockchain technology. Banks can integrate the platform, which uses Expertus' Payment Platform and Ripple's technology, into their existing infrastructure. The banks would then benefit from "real-time payment execution, complete transparency into fees, and lower costs," according to Finance Magnates.

This could attract banks because it directly addresses major pain points tied to blockchain tech. This technology has enormous potential, as it could drastically increase efficiency and security in the payments ecosystem. A recent Coin Desk report indicated that banks that use Ripple's services could save up to 42% compared to other choices.

But banks' dependence on traditional systems makes them hesitant to change. These institutions will often look into blockchain tech but hesitate to implement it. This new pilot program should help banks overcome that hesitation.

Blockchain technology could cut costs by up to $20 billion annually by 2022, according to Santander.

That's because blockchain, which operates as a distributed ledger, has the ability to allow multiple parties to transfer and store sensitive information in a space that’s secure, permanent, anonymous, and easily accessible. That could simplify paper-heavy, expensive, or logistically complicated financial systems, like remittances and cross-border transfer, shareholder management and ownership exchange, and securities trading, to name a few. And outside of finance, governments and the music industry are investigating the technology’s potential to simplify record-keeping.

As a result, venture capital firms and financial institutions alike are pouring investment into finding, developing, and testing blockchain use cases. Over 50 major financial institutions are involved with collaborative blockchain startups, have begun researching the technology in-house, or have helped fund startups with products rooted in blockchain. 

Jaime Toplin, research associate for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on blockchain technology that explains how blockchain works, why it has the potential to provide a watershed moment for the financial industry, and the different ways it could be put into practice in the coming years.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• Spending on capital markets applications of blockchain is expected to grow at a 52% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2019, according to Aite Group, to reach $400 million that year.
• Banks and major financial institutions are working both collaboratively and independently to develop blockchain tech. Over 50 major financial institutions are involved with collaborative blockchain startups, like R3 CEV or Chain. And many are investing in the technology on their own as well.
• Putting blockchain to use for real-world transactions is likely not that far off. If working groups' tests are successful, firms could be using it to transact real value as early as the end of this year and we could see widespread industry application within the next few years. 

In full, the report:

• Examines the funding increases that are pouring into blockchain
• Assesses why blockchain is becoming so popular and what factors are driving up increased research and development
• Explains in full how blockchain technology work and what assets make it valuable and vulnerable
• Identifies pain points in the financial industry and profiles how various firms are using blockchain to solve them
• Demonstrates the challenges to mainstream adoption and their potential solutions

To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:

1. Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of blockchain technology.

Join the conversation about this story »

This story was delivered to BI Intelligence "Payments Briefing" subscribers. To learn more and subscribe, please click here.

Blockchain technology is becoming increasingly important, but that doesn't make it easy to use or understand. And now one company is trying to change that.

Ripple, a blockchain cross-border transfer and currency exchange firm, has partnered with fintech firm Expertus to begin a blockchain pilot program, according to Finextra.

Blockchain technology, which powers Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, depends on a distributed ledger that allows stakeholders to verify transactions without an intermediary.

This pilot program will give banks a simple and intuitive way to test blockchain technology. Banks can integrate the platform, which uses Expertus' Payment Platform and Ripple's technology, into their existing infrastructure. The banks would then benefit from "real-time payment execution, complete transparency into fees, and lower costs," according to Finance Magnates.

This could attract banks because it directly addresses major pain points tied to blockchain tech. This technology has enormous potential, as it could drastically increase efficiency and security in the payments ecosystem. A recent Coin Desk report indicated that banks that use Ripple's services could save up to 42% compared to other choices.

But banks' dependence on traditional systems makes them hesitant to change. These institutions will often look into blockchain tech but hesitate to implement it. This new pilot program should help banks overcome that hesitation.

Blockchain technology could cut costs by up to $20 billion annually by 2022, according to Santander.

That's because blockchain, which operates as a distributed ledger, has the ability to allow multiple parties to transfer and store sensitive information in a space that’s secure, permanent, anonymous, and easily accessible. That could simplify paper-heavy, expensive, or logistically complicated financial systems, like remittances and cross-border transfer, shareholder management and ownership exchange, and securities trading, to name a few. And outside of finance, governments and the music industry are investigating the technology’s potential to simplify record-keeping.

As a result, venture capital firms and financial institutions alike are pouring investment into finding, developing, and testing blockchain use cases. Over 50 major financial institutions are involved with collaborative blockchain startups, have begun researching the technology in-house, or have helped fund startups with products rooted in blockchain. 

Jaime Toplin, research associate for BI Intelligence, Business Insider's premium research service, has compiled a detailed report on blockchain technology that explains how blockchain works, why it has the potential to provide a watershed moment for the financial industry, and the different ways it could be put into practice in the coming years.

Here are some key takeaways from the report:

• Spending on capital markets applications of blockchain is expected to grow at a 52% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2019, according to Aite Group, to reach $400 million that year.
• Banks and major financial institutions are working both collaboratively and independently to develop blockchain tech. Over 50 major financial institutions are involved with collaborative blockchain startups, like R3 CEV or Chain. And many are investing in the technology on their own as well.
• Putting blockchain to use for real-world transactions is likely not that far off. If working groups' tests are successful, firms could be using it to transact real value as early as the end of this year and we could see widespread industry application within the next few years. 

In full, the report:

• Examines the funding increases that are pouring into blockchain
• Assesses why blockchain is becoming so popular and what factors are driving up increased research and development
• Explains in full how blockchain technology work and what assets make it valuable and vulnerable
• Identifies pain points in the financial industry and profiles how various firms are using blockchain to solve them
• Demonstrates the challenges to mainstream adoption and their potential solutions

To get your copy of this invaluable guide, choose one of these options:

1. Subscribe to an ALL-ACCESS Membership with BI Intelligence and gain immediate access to this report AND over 100 other expertly researched deep-dive reports, subscriptions to all of our daily newsletters, and much more. >> START A MEMBERSHIP
2. Purchase the report and download it immediately from our research store. >> BUY THE REPORT

The choice is yours. But however you decide to acquire this report, you’ve given yourself a powerful advantage in your understanding of blockchain technology.

Join the conversation about this story »

Bitcoin price has made little progress during the past week and the market is falling away from $600 (Bitstamp). The depth of the downward correction is uncertain and we look for potential support levels. This analysis is provided by xbt.social with a 3-hour delay. Read the full analysis here. Not a member? Join now and […]

The post Bitcoin Price $600 Pullback appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

The head of a major political party in France has effectively called for a ban on bitcoin in the European country.

Bitcoin Press Release: If you’re wondering where to invest your bitcoin, look no further than BTCPOP! The Bitcoin Bank and P2P lending platform have an amazing offer on at the moment – it’s so good that you’ll definitely want to register straight away… …BTCPOP is offering all new AND returning users up to 10% extra […]

The post Get up to 10% When You Deposit at BTCPOP! appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

 28-year-old Brian Farrell aka “DoctorClu”, a senior admin and second-in-command on Silk Road 2.0, the copycat clone of the original underground darknet website Silk Road was sentenced to eight years in prison. DoctorClu, the right-hand man to Silk Road 2.0 chief Blake Benthall aka “Defcon” and second-highest admin at Silk Road 2.0 was sentenced to […]

The post Silk Road 2.0 Admin Gets an 8-Year Prison Sentence appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

New York-based bitcoin exchange Gemini, founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss will now begin operations in Canada, as a part of an international expansion program. Canadians will now have access to a new digital currency exchange in the Winklevoss twins’-led Gemini, a US-based exchange. In an announcement late yesterday, Cameron Winklevoss revealed that registered users […]

The post Winklevoss Twins’ Bitcoin Exchange Gemini Expands to Canada appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

Financial writer Frances Coppola gave a history and forecast of bitcoin and blockchain technology in an article on American Express. While she is uncertain about bitcoin’s long-term future, she believes blockchain technology will play an important role in international payments. Bitcoin/Blockchain Overview Coppola begins the article explaining how bitcoin and the blockchain work and how bitcoins […]

The post AmEx Op-Ed: Bitcoin May Soon Be Challenged by Central Banks’ Digital Currencies appeared first on CCN: Financial Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency News.

HSBC is developing a major new app called "Nudge" that aims to help people save money by keeping track of their everyday spending.

The high-profile development was actually born out of a simple exercise between HSBC's new digital chief and his wife.

"My wife used to leave Post-It notes on the fridge, nudging me not to eat the rest of the desserts in the fridge," said Raman Bhatia, head of digital UK at HSBC in an interview with Business Insider.

"The notes would say, 'you've had one pot already, don't eat another.' Basically it was a push notification, it's the same principle [as those used on Nudge]."

Nudge sends tailor-made notifications to users on their spending habits, telling them how much they are spending on a day-to-day basis and comparing it to past days or similar people.

For example, it can tell you that today you spent £25 ($36) more on food than you did last week, or that you have spent £50 more on coffee in one week than someone else in the same age or demographic does.

The idea is to "encourage customers to make small, regular financial decisions that will result in a change to long-term spending habits," says HSBC.

"We are the first bank to marry behavioural science with everyday banking," says Bhatia. "The theory of Nudge is very simple. Whether you are deciding to eat that next doughnut or save for a rainy day, people are motivated by the present rather than planning for the future."

"We thought, 'how do you make everyday financing more engaging and contextual for customers,' so we partnered with leading academic Professor Paul Dolan [from the London School of Economics and Political Science] to look at how to address everyday financial behaviour."

The app took around 6-8 weeks to build and was trialled with 500 HSBC employees over a 3-month period at the start of the year.

Bhatia says: "We found that a combination of positive reinforcement and messages of loss aversion, and comparing your [spending] activity to people like you on a real-time basis helped people trying to save."

Bhatia added that the feedback from the pilot scheme of Nudge was "overwhelmingly" positive and says the more personalised the notifications are, the more the users saves money.

"We deliberately tried to be 'nannying' with the notifications and the users of the app found that the more highly personalised the messages were, the more people were acting on [notifications]. For example, personalised messages [that had greater effect] were like 'if you spend this much on coffee, you will not meet your saving goal,' rather than 'you are spending a lot of money on coffee,'" said Bhatia.

It is with this in mind that Bhatia and his team are making tweaks to the app before a public roll-out to HSBC customers.

Nudge is potentially a big deal for HSBC, which is currently a lot less prominent in the fintech — financial technology — sector than other banks, many of which are ploughing huge amounts of investment into more esoteric concepts such as blockchain, the technology that underpins bitcoin.

While not as flashy, HSBC's tech developments are helping customers, says Bhatia. For example, HSBC claims it has saved retail customers over £100 million by automatically signing customers up to text message alerts that tell them if they are over their agreed lending limits.

Usually, if a customer breaches an agreed overdraft limit, they are charged a £5 penalty per day they remain over the limit. This can sting you at the end of the month if you don't check your balance regularly.

But the text from HSBC notifies the customer to the breach and if they deposit the relevant funds to take them back into their agreed limit they can avoid the charge.

As for Nudge, Bhatia is tight-lipped on the actual launch date. He didn't even give what quarter or year the bank is working towards for a full launch. HSBC customers will have to wait for now.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Don't walk into an interview at Goldman Sachs without doing this first

As the Bitcoin Core development team inches closer to scaling the bitcoin network, contributors recently met up in Switzerland to review code.