Bitcoin

China’s Largest Bitcoin Exchange Seeks Recognition for Currency

"BTC China, the nation’s largest Bitcoin exchange, has had low-level discussions with regulators seeking recognition of the digital currency that would allow it to be used to buy goods and services in the country. The company has sought to discuss Bitcoin regulations with officials from agencies including the People’s Bank of China, the China Banking Regulatory Commission and the China Securities Regulatory Commission, BTC China Chief Executive Officer Bobby Lee said in a Nov. 29 interview in Shanghai. It’s not yet been able to arrange any high-level meetings, he said." Continue reading →

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Leaked Docs: Dutch Rabobank Blocked Bitcoin for ‘Ethical Reasons’

"Rabobank, the Netherlands’ third-largest retail bank by market share,blocked its customers’ transfers to bitcoin exchanges for ‘ethical reasons’, according to several first-hand customer reports and bank documents leaked to Dutch news sites. When questioned about the blocks, Rabobank apparently told some customers there were 'technical problems' with the transfer, but told others the bank’s own internal Ethics Commission had ruled to disallow bitcoin trading. The documents went on to recommend customers engaging in bitcoin trading be labeled as having a 'higher risk profile' in general." Continue reading →

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US Regulators: the World’s Bitcoin Police?

"It’s clear that some of the top cops in the United States aspire to regulate virtual currencies on a global scale. A series of meetings took place last week in response to the criminal activities lawmakers have witnessed using distributed money such as bitcoin. What does this mean for those starting bitcoin-based businesses in the US? And what impact will this have on virtual currencies in the global economy?" Continue reading →

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Bitcoin: Experts clash over the crypto-currency

"Bitcoin is reaching new heights thanks to a combination of speculation on future value and genuine, undeniable usefulness. Think about it: Why can it take days or weeks for banks to send money around the world, when an email travels in seconds? Does the money travel by steamboat? Are they loading gold bars onto the side of a camel and sending it over the mountains of Mongolia? Of course not. The real answer is depressing - banking is a stagnant market running on long-obsolete infrastructure, which improves only when forced to by government. [..] When Metro Bank opened in 2010, it received the first new UK banking licence issued in 150 years." Continue reading →

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How a wire transfer stuck in OFAC almost cost me $140K

"My wire transfer for $600,000 got stuck for more than a week in two banks and I almost lost my $140,000 deposit on a house as a result. If the funds transfer had been done with bitcoin, I would have had the funds there within an hour of sending them, and nobody could have stopped it. The escrow part could also have been done with bitcoin. One this becomes the norm, bitcoin is going to revolutionize the process of closing a house purchase, making it safer, cheaper, and faster for everyone. Here is the OFAC SDN list. If your first and last names match any of the names in this list, don't do any large wire transfers!" Continue reading →

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Bitcoin: Hoping for the Best After Bernanke’s Endorsement

"Presumably we could discuss forever the occurrence of bitcoin and its evolution. Was it merely the first evolution of digital currency or was it put in place as a kind psyop to develop a currency that could then be subject to discussion, regulation and enforcement? Inevitably, we know what we are rooting for, which is the emergence of bitcoin as a truly untouchable digital currency that finds its own market path without the heavy hand of central bank supervision. The method that the power elite follows is all too predictable by now. They use false flags to get ahead of a trend and then attempt to steer that economic or sociopolitical trend toward a destination with which they are comfortable." Continue reading →

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Dutch Bank Rabobank is Blocking Customers from Buying Bitcoins

"In the US many banks don’t accept any bitcoin businesses as clients, possibly because of regulatory concerns and money laundering risks. Individuals aren’t free from bitcoin banking issues either. CoinDesk reported recently that a Swedish bank froze a customer’s account for selling just 5 BTC. Now it is the Netherlands’ turn. According to an article in the Dutch press, Rabobank cancelled 99% of its customers’ transactions with bitcoin exchanges on Tuesday and Wednesday. Rabobank did not give a reason for this, but a spokesperson for Dutch bitcoin exchange BTCNext said it was because transactions are seen as potential fraud." Continue reading →

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Bitcoin Gets a Cautious Nod From China’s Central Bank

"Speaking at an economic forum on Wednesday, Yi Gang, the deputy governor of the People’s Bank of China and director of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said that it would be impossible for China’s central bank to recognize the Bitcoin as a legitimate financial instrument in the near future. But, Mr. Yi added, people are free to participate in the Bitcoin market and he would personally adopt a long-term perspective on the currency. The statement comes during a week of remarkable turbulence on China’s numerous Bitcoin exchanges." Continue reading →

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If Senators Really Like Bitcoin They Should Encourage Banks To Cooperate

"With many of their fears assuaged, the senators seemed ready to ask what they could do to foster Bitcoin and other digital currencies during these early stages of innovation. And the message was clear: give banks the assurances they need to accept Bitcoin companies as clients. In the last year, this has been a huge problem for U.S.-based companies. The senators expressed an admirable concern about falling behind in this arena. And if they really want the country to catch up, they will find a way to help Bitcoin integrate with the U.S. banking system." Continue reading →

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