Roger Ver Pumps BCH, Slams Venezuela’s Oil-Backed Petro at Brazil Crypto Conference
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST Early bitcoin investor and prominent bitcoin cash (BCH) supporter Roger Ver recently participated in VI Bitconf, a cryptocurrency conference held in São Paulo, Brazil. According to local news outlet Portal do Bitcoin, Ver wasn’t physically there, as he participated while in Tokyo. Nevertheless, the chief executive officer of controversial website Bitcoin.com used the opportunity to The post Roger Ver Pumps BCH, Slams Venezuela’s Oil-Backed Petro at Brazil Crypto Conference appeared first on CCN |
CDX Brings Inaugural Blockchain Summit to New York
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Bitcoin Magazine, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST The Chief Digital Officer Global Forum (CDX) summit series is gearing up for its next installation in New York. Established in 2013, the summit has set up shop in Chicago, San Francisco, Singapore and, most recently, Las Vegas, with focuses on emerging innovations in mobile, IoT and digital advertising technologies. To be held on May 11, 2018, in Columbia University’s Lerner Hall, this latest installment will concentrate on advancements in blockchain technology and its application to traditional industries. To this end, the CDX Blockchain Brand Innovation Summit has an extensive list of speakers and panelists both from within and without the blockchain space, featuring representatives from the likes of Hulu, CNBC, IBM and BTC Media. “CDX has always focused on digital business transformation even when it wasn’t such a catch-phrase,” Drew Ianni, CDX’s founder and event chairman, told Bitcoin Magazine in an interview. “And certainly blockchain [technology] holds a lot of promise in regard to driving digital business transformation across a range of industries so we decided to stage a show on blockchain to help our attendees learn more about its potential,” he continued. Ianni and CDX have spurred the summit forth at a time when anything to the tune of crypto has reached a fever pitch in popular culture. But to Ianni, this conference isn’t about capitalizing on cryptocurrency’s meteoric popularity; it’s about staying informed. “[When] you have an emerging technology that is developing quickly and fueling a massive hype cycle, industry education is what’s needed most,” he expressed to Bitcoin Magazine. For such education to be effective, Ianni was careful to not pack “the agenda with a group of pure blockchain cheerleaders.” The overall goal, then, is diversity, as the summit is designed to “properly frame the debate and discussion about blockchain [technology] and its potential, and bring together some of the brightest minds in the space to help lead the discussion and dialogue,” Ianni indicated. These debates and discussions will run the gamut from healthcare to blockchain security and enterprise adoption, though the conference seems to have a soft spot for blockchain technology’s role in rethinking how we approach multimedia, especially in the realms of digital advertising and marketing. One panel, entitled “The Age of Brand Trust: Can Blockchain Transform the Media Supply Chain and Usher in a New Age of Transparency?,” will examine the potential ramifications of decentralized business models and direct product-to-consumer relations for current media brands. MediaCom’s group account director, Charlie Fiordalis, will be taking part in the panel along with the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Eric John, Hulu’s Adam Moser and FusionSeven’s Michael Jolly. “MediaCom is exploring the use of blockchain technology both as a member of WPP’s GroupM and individually for our clients,” Fiordalis told Bitcoin Magazine. And while the business is “focused on educating [itself] and [its] clients and identifying what problems blockchain [technology] is best suited to address,” Fiordalis believes that the blockchain’s “distributed ledger enables a level of transparency beyond the norms of [the] ‘walled garden’ ecosystem in the traditional media supply chain.” Alanna Gombert, global CRO of the blockchain advertising firm MetaX, shares Fiordalis’s conviction that with the proper application, blockchain technology could invite transparency to multimedia industries. “[Blockchain technology] flips the paradigm of communication and consensus and brings disparate voices together,” Gombert said to Bitcoin Magazine. “Digital advertising is ripe for disruption. Bad actors, fraud and the economics of digital transactions need to be in the bright light that transparency brings,” she concluded. Extending beyond digital advertising and marketing, speakers like Amir Azaran will touch on blockchain technology’s role in the future of content curation and monetization. During his talk on “Smart Contracts and the Promise of Permission-Based Blockchains,” Azaran, a partner at Loeb & Loeb LLP’s Chicago branch, plans to discuss how smart contracts could set a new standard for intellectual property rights copyright licensing. “Blockchain [technology] has the potential to change the way we do business across many industries, and we are seeing some early signs of this in advertising and media. For instance, there are companies trying to implement blockchain-based systems for intellectual property rights management, such as the licensing of images or music. Their offering depends on a blockchain database that provides transparency regarding who has licensed the copyrighted work, the duration of the license, payment of licensee fees, etc.,” he stated in an interview with Bitcoin Magazine. Two days out from CDX’s inaugural summit on blockchain innovation, Ianni anticipates that the aforementioned speakers and the conference’s entire cast of industries-wide talent will foster healthy discussion. Concluding our interview, he espoused his view that the variety of attendees the conference has accrued reflects the myriad advancements in a technology that used to be little more than a synonym for Bitcoin: “I think it’s a critical inflection point for the broader ecosystem and we are starting to see a much-needed de-coupling of ‘Bitcoin and Blockchain.’ It’s now time to amplify the real-world use cases and proof of concepts that are leveraging blockchain [technology] across a range of industries and companies. And, more than anything, I am simply hoping the event fosters strong discussion and debate both at the show and moving forward.” This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. |
Winklevoss Twins Secure Patent for Cryptocurrency ETP Exchange
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST According to a patent filing made public by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 8, 2017, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss have won a patent for settling exchange-traded products (ETPs) with digital currencies, including bitcoin, ripple, dogecoin and ethereum. ETPs are derivative-based investments that are traded on a securities exchange. An ETP is … Continued The post Winklevoss Twins Secure Patent for Cryptocurrency ETP Exchange appeared first on CCN |
Winklevoss Twins Secure Patent for Cryptocurrency ETP Exchange
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST According to a patent filing made public by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 8, 2017, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss have won a patent for settling exchange-traded products (ETPs) with digital currencies, including bitcoin, ripple, dogecoin and ethereum. ETPs are derivative-based investments that are traded on a securities exchange. An ETP is … Continued The post Winklevoss Twins Secure Patent for Cryptocurrency ETP Exchange appeared first on CCN |
Winklevoss Twins Secure Patent for Cryptocurrency ETP Exchange
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST According to a patent filing made public by the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 8, 2017, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss have won a patent for settling exchange-traded products (ETPs) with digital currencies, including bitcoin, ripple, dogecoin and ethereum. ETPs are derivative-based investments that are traded on a securities exchange. An ETP is … Continued The post Winklevoss Twins Secure Patent for Cryptocurrency ETP Exchange appeared first on CCN |
DMG Blockchain Solutions Launches BitScore AML Risk API for Crypto Exchanges and Payment Platforms
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Bitcoin Magazine, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST Vancouver-based blockchain and cryptocurrency firm DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc. has announced the official launch of its BitScore web API. The platform is designed to provide cryptocurrency deposit and withdrawal risk-scoring for both anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-fraud compliance. DMG Blockchain Solutions seeks to manage, operate and develop end-to-end solutions for monetizing the blockchain ecosystem, and BitScore is already being used by crypto exchanges and enterprise payment platforms so they can assess their risks of legal non-compliance. BitScore was engineered by DMG’s Blockseer development team and is powered by sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning models to examine the flow of cryptocurrency funds through the blockchain and establish their respective origins. Speaking with Bitcoin Magazine, DMG CTO Danny Yang explained, “Understanding the provenance of source and destination addresses is imperative for any exchange or payment platform sensitive to regulatory compliance. Allowing an address that accepts deposits from, or makes payments or deposits to disreputable networks is potentially abetting their activities, which creates legal liabilities for banks, exchanges and traders.” Here’s how it all works. Customers can submit any cryptocurrency source or destination address to BitScore. The platform’s algorithm returns a risk score to the user after evaluating the source of the funds. Customers are also informed if at any time in the past the monitored address has ever sent funds to high-risk parties. These typically include dark markets, hacking sites or money-laundering services. BitScore also examines several generations of transactions in both directions (receiving and sending) and applies a weighting function that determines the amount of questionable cryptocurrency flowing through studied transactions. At press time, BitScore supports bitcoin only, though it plans to add ether and ERC20 tokens this coming summer. Litecoin and bitcoin cash will be added by the end of 2018. BitScore is not the first effort of its kind. As regulatory compliance for cryptocurrency platforms becomes more crucial, several ventures involved in the blockchain arena are working to implement changes to their operations to certify rules are followed, customer safety is intact and monetary authorities remain satisfied. One such company — cryptocurrency exchange platform Vaultbank — recently entered a partnership with Gordian Compliance Solutions to guarantee AML and Know-Your-Customer (KYC) compliance. COO Aaron Travis stated, “If you’re on an exchange, or buying digital assets in which the originator or person selling them to you has not gone through great efforts to get to know you, and [has not] undergone KYC and AML checks, then I would be wary of it. If the platform you’re buying a digital currency from is not going through those hoops — those standard, basic efforts to protect the investor — you need to be wary of that.” Other companies — like Coinfirm, a risk and compliance platform designed predominantly for cryptocurrency businesses — have also released APIs built for further customer security and AML protection.This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. |
DMG Blockchain Solutions Launches BitScore AML Risk API for Crypto Exchanges and Payment Platforms
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Bitcoin Magazine, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST Vancouver-based blockchain and cryptocurrency firm DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc. has announced the official launch of its BitScore web API. The platform is designed to provide cryptocurrency deposit and withdrawal risk-scoring for both anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-fraud compliance. DMG Blockchain Solutions seeks to manage, operate and develop end-to-end solutions for monetizing the blockchain ecosystem, and BitScore is already being used by crypto exchanges and enterprise payment platforms so they can assess their risks of legal non-compliance. BitScore was engineered by DMG’s Blockseer development team and is powered by sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning models to examine the flow of cryptocurrency funds through the blockchain and establish their respective origins. Speaking with Bitcoin Magazine, DMG CTO Danny Yang explained, “Understanding the provenance of source and destination addresses is imperative for any exchange or payment platform sensitive to regulatory compliance. Allowing an address that accepts deposits from, or makes payments or deposits to disreputable networks is potentially abetting their activities, which creates legal liabilities for banks, exchanges and traders.” Here’s how it all works. Customers can submit any cryptocurrency source or destination address to BitScore. The platform’s algorithm returns a risk score to the user after evaluating the source of the funds. Customers are also informed if at any time in the past the monitored address has ever sent funds to high-risk parties. These typically include dark markets, hacking sites or money-laundering services. BitScore also examines several generations of transactions in both directions (receiving and sending) and applies a weighting function that determines the amount of questionable cryptocurrency flowing through studied transactions. At press time, BitScore supports bitcoin only, though it plans to add ether and ERC20 tokens this coming summer. Litecoin and bitcoin cash will be added by the end of 2018. BitScore is not the first effort of its kind. As regulatory compliance for cryptocurrency platforms becomes more crucial, several ventures involved in the blockchain arena are working to implement changes to their operations to certify rules are followed, customer safety is intact and monetary authorities remain satisfied. One such company — cryptocurrency exchange platform Vaultbank — recently entered a partnership with Gordian Compliance Solutions to guarantee AML and Know-Your-Customer (KYC) compliance. COO Aaron Travis stated, “If you’re on an exchange, or buying digital assets in which the originator or person selling them to you has not gone through great efforts to get to know you, and [has not] undergone KYC and AML checks, then I would be wary of it. If the platform you’re buying a digital currency from is not going through those hoops — those standard, basic efforts to protect the investor — you need to be wary of that.” Other companies — like Coinfirm, a risk and compliance platform designed predominantly for cryptocurrency businesses — have also released APIs built for further customer security and AML protection.This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. |
Texas Regulator Hit Two Bitcoin Investment Schemes with Cease-and-Desists
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST The Texas State Securities Board has uncovered more suspicious activity from cryptocurrency businesses targeting residents in the state. The agency has most recently issued a pair of emergency orders against two separate entities that according to the regulators were scamming investors, including a bitcoin mining operation and a bitcoin foreign exchange investment fund. Both startups … Continued The post Texas Regulator Hit Two Bitcoin Investment Schemes with Cease-and-Desists appeared first on CCN |
What you need to know on Wall Street today
Bitmain’s Biggest Bitcoin Mining Rival Plots $1 Billion Hong Kong IPO
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST Canaan Creative, China’s second-largest bitcoin mining hardware manufacturer, plans to raise $1 billion through an initial public offering (IPO) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (SEHK). The South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday that the Hangzhou-based firm will be the first blockchain startup to list on the SEHK, though sources also say that a The post Bitmain’s Biggest Bitcoin Mining Rival Plots $1 Billion Hong Kong IPO appeared first on CCN |
Hybrid Crypto Exchange Launches Convenient White Label Solutions for Businesses
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST This is a submitted sponsored story. CCN urges readers to conduct their own research with due diligence into the company, product or service mentioned in the content below. The crypto market entered 2018 on the wrong foot. In early January, Bitcoin lost nearly half of its value from December 2017, triggering a scandalous meltdown from $1 The post Hybrid Crypto Exchange Launches Convenient White Label Solutions for Businesses appeared first on CCN |
Reddit Founder Says Crypto Can 'Fuel a Potential New Internet'
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CoinDesk, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST Even with their high level of volatility, bitcoin and cryptos are still poised to "fuel a potential new internet," said Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian. |
Litecoin Cash Announce Their Plans for Worlds First Cryptocurrency SpaceDrop
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST This is a paid-for submitted press release. CCN does not endorse, nor is responsible for any material included below and isn’t responsible for any damages or losses connected with any products or services mentioned in the press release. CCN urges readers to conduct their own research with due diligence into the company, product or service mentioned The post Litecoin Cash Announce Their Plans for Worlds First Cryptocurrency SpaceDrop appeared first on CCN |
Bitcoin News Outlet Coinidol.com Opens the Doors to its Expert Members Club
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST This is a paid-for submitted press release. CCN does not endorse, nor is responsible for any material included below and isn’t responsible for any damages or losses connected with any products or services mentioned in the press release. CCN urges readers to conduct their own research with due diligence into the company, product or service mentioned The post Bitcoin News Outlet Coinidol.com Opens the Doors to its Expert Members Club appeared first on CCN |
CRYPTO INSIDER: Bloomberg launches a crypto index
CRYPTO INSIDER: Bloomberg launches a crypto index
CRYPTO INSIDER: Bloomberg launches a crypto index
CRYPTO INSIDER: Bloomberg launches a crypto index
Bloomberg, Billionaire Bull Novogratz Partner to Launch Cryptocurrency Price Index
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST One of bitcoin’s biggest bulls has inked a deal with an unlikely partner to create a cryptocurrency price index. Billionaire Mike Novogratz and Bloomberg LP on Wednesday announced that they are teaming up to launch the Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index (BGCI), which will track the aggregate performance of a basket of large-cap cryptocurrencies. “Today’s launch The post Bloomberg, Billionaire Bull Novogratz Partner to Launch Cryptocurrency Price Index appeared first on CCN |
Promoted: Trilliant’s Plan For Crypto-Based Fractional Ownership
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Bitcoin Magazine, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST For many, returns are the reason for investing in cryptocurrency. The thought of garnering profit without having to become intimately involved in the technical details is a proposition that holds great appeal. However, actually achieving investor peace of mind can be tricky in light of the cryptocurrency market’s complexities — the market based on blockchain technology, unregulated emerging technology that has created new vehicles of valuation. These issues can add up to perceived levels of unpredictability that threaten the comfort of some investors. But there is one vital component within the space that has become familiar to almost everyone, and that the budding ecosystem depends on: ATMs. It’s here that Trilliant is offering fractions of its ATMs to users and adding all profits to a revenue pool, which is divided up among investors. These ATMs are the essential point-of-service for deposits and withdrawals from everyday users. Trilliant does this by offering fractions of its ATMs to users and adding all profits to a revenue pool, which is divided up among investors. Trilliant’s project reflects a growing movement toward the withdrawal and deposit of cryptocurrency at ATMs throughout the world. According to Trilliant’s white paper: “There are less than 2,700 dedicated cryptocurrency ATMs in the world, of which roughly 40 percent are able to process altcoins such as Ethereum, Litecoin or EOS. Only around 30 percent of the existing ATMs allow users to sell Bitcoin (two-way), while most of the machines are only offering the purchase of coins (one-way).” Trilliant’s offering is an opportunity for everyday investors who might seek a stake in the cryptocurrency boom for the promise of a healthy return--via the comfortable familiarity of an ATM machine. Dubbed as the “Fractional Ownership Program for Next-Generation Cryptocurrency ATMs,” Trilliant seeks to encourage everyone from seasoned investors to crypto neophytes to participate. Trilliant’s Tokens are used to buy Fractional Ownership Units online and reduce transaction fees using the ATMs. Company leaders anticipate that the first batch of ATMs will be shipped sometime around the fall of 2018. The Road Ahead Trilliant began in 2008 when it was first launched as an investment vehicle. The umbrella firm behind Trilliant, Crypto Capital AG, is located in Switzerland. Therefore, company operations will take place in Zurich. Focusing on ATM operations gives Trilliant stability within the typical cryptocurrency volatility. This is because ATMs profit from market volume rather than market value. Therefore, Trilliant offers a different kind of investment in cryptocurrency; even when the market crashes or spikes, volume will spike. “Our aim is to have at least 500 ATMs operating by 2019,” said Sebastian Korbach, founder and CEO of Trilliant. “While ATMs currently produce an average revenue of around $40,000 USD, we’ll contribute a percentage of each ATM’s total revenue to the ATM fractional ownership unit owners. In the long run, we want our machines visible on every corner, creating greater awareness for cryptocurrencies in general.” Korbach is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of background in financial markets and payment solutions. He has spent three successful years working in cryptocurrency space. When asked about Trilliant’s target demographic, Korbach remarked, "We believe that Trilliant ATMs will be a must-have on street corners, especially as governments consider state-backed coins and crypto fights its way into the mainstream. We hope for our hardware to become an open window into the crypto industry." Korbach went on to point out the fact that whether or not the cryptocurrency market goes up or down, the same thing happens — they buy and sell: “We think that even the average Joe, without any knowledge of the cryptocurrency world, can use our services to generate steady income.” Contributors to the upcoming Tril Token sale will be directed toward the purchase of Trilliant ATMs. It is expected that every future hardware unit that becomes operational will fuel greater demand for the TRIL Token. Read more on the Trilliant white paper. This promoted article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. |
Promoted: Trilliant’s Plan For Crypto-Based Fractional Ownership
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Bitcoin Magazine, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST For many, returns are the reason for investing in cryptocurrency. The thought of garnering profit without having to become intimately involved in the technical details is a proposition that holds great appeal. However, actually achieving investor peace of mind can be tricky in light of the cryptocurrency market’s complexities — the market based on blockchain technology, unregulated emerging technology that has created new vehicles of valuation. These issues can add up to perceived levels of unpredictability that threaten the comfort of some investors. But there is one vital component within the space that has become familiar to almost everyone, and that the budding ecosystem depends on: ATMs. It’s here that Trilliant is offering fractions of its ATMs to users and adding all profits to a revenue pool, which is divided up among investors. These ATMs are the essential point-of-service for deposits and withdrawals from everyday users. Trilliant does this by offering fractions of its ATMs to users and adding all profits to a revenue pool, which is divided up among investors. Trilliant’s project reflects a growing movement toward the withdrawal and deposit of cryptocurrency at ATMs throughout the world. According to Trilliant’s white paper: “There are less than 2,700 dedicated cryptocurrency ATMs in the world, of which roughly 40 percent are able to process altcoins such as Ethereum, Litecoin or EOS. Only around 30 percent of the existing ATMs allow users to sell Bitcoin (two-way), while most of the machines are only offering the purchase of coins (one-way).” Trilliant’s offering is an opportunity for everyday investors who might seek a stake in the cryptocurrency boom for the promise of a healthy return--via the comfortable familiarity of an ATM machine. Dubbed as the “Fractional Ownership Program for Next-Generation Cryptocurrency ATMs,” Trilliant seeks to encourage everyone from seasoned investors to crypto neophytes to participate. Trilliant’s Tokens are used to buy Fractional Ownership Units online and reduce transaction fees using the ATMs. Company leaders anticipate that the first batch of ATMs will be shipped sometime around the fall of 2018. The Road Ahead Trilliant began in 2008 when it was first launched as an investment vehicle. The umbrella firm behind Trilliant, Crypto Capital AG, is located in Switzerland. Therefore, company operations will take place in Zurich. Focusing on ATM operations gives Trilliant stability within the typical cryptocurrency volatility. This is because ATMs profit from market volume rather than market value. Therefore, Trilliant offers a different kind of investment in cryptocurrency; even when the market crashes or spikes, volume will spike. “Our aim is to have at least 500 ATMs operating by 2019,” said Sebastian Korbach, founder and CEO of Trilliant. “While ATMs currently produce an average revenue of around $40,000 USD, we’ll contribute a percentage of each ATM’s total revenue to the ATM fractional ownership unit owners. In the long run, we want our machines visible on every corner, creating greater awareness for cryptocurrencies in general.” Korbach is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of background in financial markets and payment solutions. He has spent three successful years working in cryptocurrency space. When asked about Trilliant’s target demographic, Korbach remarked, "We believe that Trilliant ATMs will be a must-have on street corners, especially as governments consider state-backed coins and crypto fights its way into the mainstream. We hope for our hardware to become an open window into the crypto industry." Korbach went on to point out the fact that whether or not the cryptocurrency market goes up or down, the same thing happens — they buy and sell: “We think that even the average Joe, without any knowledge of the cryptocurrency world, can use our services to generate steady income.” Contributors to the upcoming Tril Token sale will be directed toward the purchase of Trilliant ATMs. It is expected that every future hardware unit that becomes operational will fuel greater demand for the TRIL Token. Read more on the Trilliant white paper. This promoted article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. |
Trump’s Former Economic Advisor Joins the ‘Blockchain Not Bitcoin’ Brigade
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST One of President Trump’s former advisors has hopped on board the “blockchain not bitcoin” brigade. Gary Cohn, who led the Trump Administration’s National Economic Council prior to his resignation last month, told CNBC that he believes in the promise of blockchain technology but is not sold on bitcoin. The longtime investment banker, who served as The post Trump’s Former Economic Advisor Joins the ‘Blockchain Not Bitcoin’ Brigade appeared first on CCN |
'I continue to hold Tesla accountable': Analyst interrupted by Elon Musk fires back (TSLA)
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Business Insider, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST
Tesla CEO Elon Musk was both praised and criticized last week after he interrupted analysts and opted instead to take questions from retail investors via YouTube in an unusual conference call. One of those analysts interrupted by Musk defended his line of questioning in an open letter on Wednesday. "I continue to hold Telsa (and every company I cover) accountable for implementing a strategic vision that aligns with an ability to execute at scale," RBC Capital Markets' Joseph Spak wrote. "As an analyst, my responsibility is to be well informed when I discuss Tesla’s stock with current and potential investors," he said. "A financial results call is an opportunity for Wall Street to re-calibrate our expectations based on the information you provide, so we can thoughtfully reflect on the financial outlook for your company. Our questions collectively represent the concerns and interests of your current and potential shareholders." He added: "Some of these questions can seem dry, boring or short-term focused, but hopefully you can appreciate that anyone looking to invest in Tesla’s future must first be comfortable with its present." On Tesla's first-quarter earnings call last week, Musk interrupted Spak's question about Model 3 reservations and what percentage of those potential buyers had declined to actually configure and take delivery of their car. The $1,000 deposit is fully refundable, the company's website says. "We're going to go to YouTube," Musk responded. "Sorry. These questions are so dry. They're killing me." Instead of answering the "dry" question, Musk opted instead to take a question from self-proclaimed Tesla and bitcoin enthusiast, Galileo Russell, who asked for an update on Tesla's car-sharing network that rivals competitors like Waymo or Lyft. In Wednesday's letter, Spak offered more questions for Musk, including clarification on labor issues, future capital expenditure plans, and the "production hell" plaguing Tesla's Fremont factory that have weighed on Tesla's stock price in recent months. Despite the unusual call, RBC maintained its "sector perform" rating, with a price target of $280 — roughly 7% below Tuesday's closing price. The firm also invited Musk to host a webinar with clients to "dispel any investor misconceptions" he may perceive. "We as analysts need to ask probing questions about balance sheets and production and other such topics to give our clients confidence that we aren’t simply gazing into a crystal ball," Spak said. "Don’t get me wrong. I love talking and thinking about the big picture and what Tesla can become. That’s what makes Tesla such a fascinating company to cover!" SEE ALSO: Tesla sinks after 'odd conference call that lacked answers' |
'I continue to hold Tesla accountable': Analyst interrupted by Elon Musk fires back (TSLA)
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Business Insider, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST
Tesla CEO Elon Musk was both praised and criticized last week after he interrupted analysts and opted instead to take questions from retail investors via YouTube in an unusual conference call. One of those analysts interrupted by Musk defended his line of questioning in an open letter on Wednesday. "I continue to hold Telsa (and every company I cover) accountable for implementing a strategic vision that aligns with an ability to execute at scale," RBC Capital Markets' Joseph Spak wrote. "As an analyst, my responsibility is to be well informed when I discuss Tesla’s stock with current and potential investors," he said. "A financial results call is an opportunity for Wall Street to re-calibrate our expectations based on the information you provide, so we can thoughtfully reflect on the financial outlook for your company. Our questions collectively represent the concerns and interests of your current and potential shareholders." He added: "Some of these questions can seem dry, boring or short-term focused, but hopefully you can appreciate that anyone looking to invest in Tesla’s future must first be comfortable with its present." On Tesla's first-quarter earnings call last week, Musk interrupted Spak's question about Model 3 reservations and what percentage of those potential buyers had declined to actually configure and take delivery of their car. The $1,000 deposit is fully refundable, the company's website says. "We're going to go to YouTube," Musk responded. "Sorry. These questions are so dry. They're killing me." Instead of answering the "dry" question, Musk opted instead to take a question from self-proclaimed Tesla and bitcoin enthusiast, Galileo Russell, who asked for an update on Tesla's car-sharing network that rivals competitors like Waymo or Lyft. In Wednesday's letter, Spak offered more questions for Musk, including clarification on labor issues, future capital expenditure plans, and the "production hell" plaguing Tesla's Fremont factory that have weighed on Tesla's stock price in recent months. A Tesla spokesperson did not immedeately respond to a request for comment. Despite the unusual call, RBC maintained its "sector perform" rating, with a price target of $280 — roughly 7% below Tuesday's closing price. The firm also invited Musk to host a webinar with clients to "dispel any investor misconceptions" he may perceive. "We as analysts need to ask probing questions about balance sheets and production and other such topics to give our clients confidence that we aren’t simply gazing into a crystal ball," Spak said. "Don’t get me wrong. I love talking and thinking about the big picture and what Tesla can become. That’s what makes Tesla such a fascinating company to cover!" SEE ALSO: Tesla sinks after 'odd conference call that lacked answers' Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: Why the Saudi crown prince met with Trump, Oprah, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos |
The former tech chief at secretive trading firm Jump has joined a crypto exchange
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Business Insider, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST
Steve Hunt, the former chief technology officer at secretive trading firm Jump Trading, has been hired by cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, people familiar with the hire told Business Insider. Hunt was hired by the exchange, which is based in San Francisco, as its vice president of engineering, the people said. Business Insider first reported on Hunt's departure from Jump Trading, a high-speed trading firm that is active in bitcoin markets, in November. Jump is known for its ultra high-speed trading strategies, but it's also been developing what it calls a "lower frequency trading strategy.” It's also known for its discretion, with little information on the firm available on its website. Hunt, who worked at the firm for ten years, joined from Goldman Sachs where he was a vice president. Kraken chief executive officer Jesse Powell told Business Insider in November that the firm was looking to fill a number of positions with Wall Street talent, including a vice president of engineering. "Where a Wall Street vet may not have the most relevant experience (i.e., cryptocurrency gateways), they could certainly help us with trading system technologies," Powell said. "In addition to developers, which we are always actively hiring, we are looking to bring on a VP of engineering, regulatory affairs counsel, trader, compliance manager, product manager, recruiter, and treasurer, just to name a few." Kraken isn't the only cryptocurrency exchange that is actively staffing up. As Business Insider previously reported, Coinbase and Circle, are both looking to double their headcount in 2018. "We're effectively doubling the numbers in terms of headcount, from roughly 250 to 500," Dan Romero, VP and general manager at San Francisco-based Coinbase, said in a wide-ranging interview. As Bloomberg News reported, Circle is also looking to add 100 people in staff as it builds out its operations in Asia. Crypto exchanges want to please high-speed tradersAll this hiring as needed as cryptocurrency exchanges have been building out their infrastructure to handle the breakneck growth of the market and meet the expectations of high-speed traders, most of which have only recently jumped on the bitcoin bandwagon. Coinbase, for instance, is working on products and services aimed at professional traders, including advanced order types and products tied to market data. Powell told Business Insider in November that Kraken is "working closely with our high-frequency traders to ensure we are bringing them the tools they need to be better traders." In addition to Jump Trading, DRW, Susquehanna International Group, and Jane Street are among the trading firms active in bitcoin markets. New services for traders and upgrades require talent that is in short supply, according to Miha Grcar, the head of business development at Bitstamp, a Luxembourg-based exchange founded in 2011. Grcar told Business Insider that a talent shortage, not a bitcoin bear market, was the big concern hanging over the head of cryptocurrency companies. "Globally, the pool of talent — people with experience in blockchain and distributed-ledger technology — is somewhat limited," Grcar said. "This is a big challenge." It's not just cryptocurrency exchanges going after such talent — companies like Bitstamp and Kraken have to go head-to-head with some of the largest financial firms in the world, including the likes of JPMorgan and Citigroup, which have posted job listings seeking people with experience in blockchain, the technology behind cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. Hunt did not respond to a message requesting comment. SEE ALSO: Coinbase snags a former New York Stock Exchange exec to push crypto to Wall Street |
Investment Researcher Won’t Recommend Bitcoin, Despite Recent Gains
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST DataTrek Research’s co-founder Nick Colas won’t recommend bitcoin to investors even though the bitcoin price has been rallying of late. Colas, a Wall Street veteran with experience in equity research, money management and investment banking, stated in a recent CNBC interview that bitcoin’s price has come down “quite a long way and we’re getting a … Continued The post Investment Researcher Won’t Recommend Bitcoin, Despite Recent Gains appeared first on CCN |
Crypto Exchange Coinone Taps Ripple for New Remittance Service
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CoinDesk, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST A subsidiary of South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Coinone is turning to Ripple's xCurrent blockchain network for cross-border payments. |
Bitcoin king Mike Novogratz has made another play to open up crypto trading — this time partnering with Bloomberg on a new index
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Business Insider, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST
The biggest name in cryptocurrencies is partnering with one of the finance industry's old guard. Launched on Wednesday under the name Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index, it's made up of the 10 most liquid cryptocurrencies, subject to exchange and size thresholds. Constituent coins are capped at 30% of the total and can't be less than 1%, Novogratz said in a Tuesday interview. The index will be rebalanced monthly. The index looks at the broad market and chooses coins based on their market capitalization, using a rules-based methodology. Bloomberg also conducted a bottoms-up, coin-by-coin due diligence process, Novogratz said. Galaxy Digital Capital Management consulted on the methodology and the broad guidelines, he said. "This is just one more building block in the foundation which will get, at one point, pension funds and family offices and sovereign wealth funds all participating in the crypto economy,'' he said. "We're excited to be part of it.'' SEE ALSO: 'Put your money where your mouth is': Winklevoss twin challenges bitcoin hater Bill Gates Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: A $163 billion chief economist outlines his biggest market fear |
Bitcoin king Mike Novogratz has made another play to open up crypto trading — this time partnering with Bloomberg on a new index
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Business Insider, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST
The biggest name in cryptocurrencies is partnering with one of the finance industry's old guard. Launched on Wednesday under the name Bloomberg Galaxy Crypto Index, it's made up of the 10 most liquid cryptocurrencies, subject to exchange and size thresholds. Constituent coins are capped at 30% of the total and can't be less than 1%, Novogratz said in a Tuesday interview. The index will be rebalanced monthly. The index looks at the broad market and chooses coins based on their market capitalization, using a rules-based methodology. Bloomberg also conducted a bottoms-up, coin-by-coin due diligence process, Novogratz said. Galaxy Digital Capital Management consulted on the methodology and the broad guidelines, he said. "This is just one more building block in the foundation which will get, at one point, pension funds and family offices and sovereign wealth funds all participating in the crypto economy,'' he said. "We're excited to be part of it.'' SEE ALSO: 'Put your money where your mouth is': Winklevoss twin challenges bitcoin hater Bill Gates Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: A $163 billion chief economist outlines his biggest market fear |
Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano Drop 5% in Crypto Market Retreat
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST The cryptocurrency market has lost more than $20 billion over the past 48 hours, as major cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, and Cardano recorded losses in the 2 to 5 percent range. Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano Most major cryptocurrencies have been on a continuous decline over the past 3 days, since May The post Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano Drop 5% in Crypto Market Retreat appeared first on CCN |
Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano Drop 5% in Crypto Market Retreat
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CryptoCoins News, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST The cryptocurrency market has lost more than $20 billion over the past 48 hours, as major cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, and Cardano recorded losses in the 2 to 5 percent range. Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano Most major cryptocurrencies have been on a continuous decline over the past 3 days, since May The post Ripple, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano Drop 5% in Crypto Market Retreat appeared first on CCN |
Topping Out? Bitcoin Bulls Need to Defend $9K
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CoinDesk, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST Having hit seven-day lows below $9,000 this morning, bitcoin is looking decidedly weak. |
Switzerland is about to vote on whether to send its financial system back to the dark ages in a referendum to ban banks from creating money
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Business Insider, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST
In June, a vote will be held to ask Swiss citizens if they back the introduction of a concept known as the sovereign money initiative. The initiative, if implemented, could lead to a seismic shift in the way Switzerland runs its economy, and possibly send ripples through other economies around the world. The concept of the sovereign money initiative itself is a fairly complicated one, but fundamentally boils down to a change in what is actually recognised as money, and what is not. Sovereign money is that money brought into circulation by the central bank of a given country, and according to Vollgeld Initiative campaigners, makes up around 10% of money currently circulated in the Swiss economy. The other 90% is either electronic or book money, and is created by non-central bank financial institutions — like regular banks. Under the proposals put forward by the Vollgeld Initiative, all deposits made to regular banks in Swiss francs would not be placed on their balance sheets, but instead held by the Swiss National Bank, Switzerland's central bank. "The Swiss National Bank alone will be able to create electronic money," the Vollgeld Initiative says in a paper explaining its proposed reforms. "Banks won’t be able to create money for themselves any more, they’ll only be able to lend money that they have from savers or other banks, or even, if necessary, money that the Swiss National Bank has provided them." The Vollgeld Initiative's main argument for such a system is that it would reduce the level of systemic financial risk in a country heavily dependent on its banking system. They tout the benefits of governments never having to bail out banks again. Here's their full justification for the policy (emphasis ours): Sovereign money in a bank account is completely safe because it is central bank money. It does not disappear when a bank goes bankrupt. Finance bubbles will be avoided because the banks won’t be able to create money any more. The state will be freed from being a hostage, because the banks won’t need to be rescued with taxpayers’ money to keep the whole money-transaction system afloat i.e. the “too big to fail” problem disappears. The financial industry will go back to serving the real economy and society. The money and banking systems will no longer be shrouded in complexity, but will be transparent and understandable. "The initiative would introduce several fundamental changes to the Swiss constitution. It would declare that money is not debt, and that the SNB could distribute funds to the state or directly to households," Philippe Bacchetta, a professor at the Swiss Finance Institute, wrote for Vox EU. If such an initiative passed, it could lead to advocates of a similar system in other nations to cause for change, possibly causing a ripple through the global financial system. Switzerland is a nation famed for its referendums, holding votes on everything from getting rid of TV licensing, all the way to its notorious, and highly controversial, vote to ban the building of minarets, but the sovereign money vote — scheduled to be held on June 10 — could be one of its most significant ever. While Vollgeld is aggressively lobbying for the change, Switzerland's major institutions are strongly opposed, with the SNB publishing a detailed argument against such an initiative. "There is no fundamental problem that needs fixing. A radical overhaul of Switzerland’s financial system is inadvisable and would entail major risks," it said, noting that the Federal Council — the country's government — is also opposed to the plans. "Today’s decentralised system is both customer-focused and efficient. Competition between banks ensures favourable interest rates and high-quality, modern and low-cost services," the SNB adds. Another issue likely to arise from the introduction of sovereign money is that borrowing in Switzerland would likely grind to a halt, as banks would be unable to create new capital on their balance sheets to fund such borrowing. Many do not believe the vote should even be held, with Bacchetta saying that: "The motivation and the specifics of the proposed reform in Switzerland have abstracted from current knowledge in economics." "It is a weakness of the Swiss democratic system that citizens can vote on economic initiatives in the absence of this type of analysis." In Switzerland, referendum questions need 100,000 supporting signatures to be put to a general vote. A vote is only considered valid if more than 40% of the population takes part. To win, you need a majority of the voting population and a majority in the number of cantons, or regions, that support the change. SEE ALSO: Every citizen should get $14,000 on their 25th birthday, according to a radical UK proposal Join the conversation about this story » NOW WATCH: A Wall Street chief economist explains what could be the saving grace for mega-cap tech companies |
Bitcoin Lightning Payments Are Slowly Becoming Less Reckless
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CoinDesk, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST With luck, the lightning network will become a part of everyday life no one has to think about. We're not there yet. |
Former Trump Advisor: 'We Will Have a Global Cryptocurrency'
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CoinDesk, 1/1/0001 12:00 AM PST The former Goldman Sachs COO, who recently left Trump's National Economic Council, is "not a big believer in bitcoin," but sees promise in blockchain. |