"The guardians of the global economy have two sets of issues to address. First is what to do, if anything, about the emergence and growth of the private cryptocurrencies that are grabbing more and more attention -- with bitcoin climbing above $10,000. The second question is whether to issue official versions."
"With one unit of Bitcoin now worth 10,000 times the US dollar, it makes sense that the Fed would begin to feel a bit defensive. Indeed, the speech comes to the defense of the central bank, the existing money, and payment system networks, and calls for the pace of innovation to be controlled by regulators in the interest of 'prudence.'"
"If passed, the bill would likely have far-reaching effects for users of digital currencies both in the US and abroad."
"Joseph Stiglitz said that he favours making the digital currency illegal because it does not have a 'socially useful function'. 'Bitcoin is successful only because of its potential for circumvention, lack of oversight,' the renowned economist said."
"The creators lauded the launch as establishing the first nation to have all of its territory in space, though no countries have acknowledged its statehood. For now, the primary benefit of 'citizenship' is being able to store data on Asgardia-1 while it’s in orbit. Only those who support the constitution will have the right to upload data to the satellite. Asgardia will have taxes, though only businesses will be forced to contribute. Individual taxes will apparently be voluntary. The website explains that 'people can decide what amount of tax they would like to pay.' The country will also have passports, IDs, a national bank, business regulations, and a cryptocurrency called SOLAR."
"'Buy bitcoin' is now a more popular search phrase than 'buy gold' on Google. The buzz is starting to impinge on gold’s role as a store of value especially since, like the precious metal, there’s a finite supply of bitcoin, which proponents say gives it anti-inflationary qualities. Sales of gold coins from the U.S. Mint slid to a decade low in the first three quarters months of 2017."
"Many people in Zimbabwe don’t have bank accounts. But a growing number own smartphones. And that’s all you need to buy bitcoin. But this isn’t just happening in Zimbabwe. The people of Venezuela are becoming increasingly desperate. And many are buying bitcoin to survive. That’s because bitcoin doesn’t lose value by the day like the bolivar, Venezuela’s currency. Instead, it becomes more valuable."
"Called a Long-Term Equity Anticipation Security (LEAPS), the trade was matched by the platform this morning and is set to expire on December 28, 2018. Such long term futures options have long been seen in the industry as a much needed sign of maturity, and could in part help pave the way for even more institutional money to enter the space."
"Our nations are now undergoing a digital revolution, which will radically reshape them once again — this time into borderless online communities with services that can be accessed anywhere there is an internet connection."
"'It just doesn't make sense. This thing is not regulated, it's not under control, it's not under the supervision' of any central bank, Alwaleed said in an interview on CNBC's 'Squawk Box.' 'I just don't believe in this bitcoin thing. I think it's just going to implode one day. I think this is Enron in the making,' Alwaleed said."