COVID-19

Pandemic Is Changing Bitcoin Usage in ‘Unexpected Ways,’ Says Chainalysis

Source Node: https://cointelegraph.com/news/pandemic-is-changing-bitcoin-usage-in-unexpected-ways-says-chainalysis
Time Stamp: April 2, 2020 6:05 AM - Modified On: August 29, 2021 - Published By:
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Leading blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis has found that the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic contraction is affecting Bitcoin (BTC) consumer habits in surprising ways.In a new report published on March 30, Chainalysis details how Bitcoin spending trends in three areas — merchant services, gambling and darknet marketplaces — have changed, or even reversed. Weakening correlation could be a boon for Bitcoin merchant services, says reportChainalysis reported that one such change in trend shows resilience among Bitcoin merchant services in the current economic crisis. For example, the firm’s data for Bitcoin spending using

Ark’s 1 Million Token Grant Fund Drives Community Innovation

Source Node: https://cointelegraph.com/news/arks-1-million-token-grant-fund-drives-community-innovation
Time Stamp: April 2, 2020 3:49 AM - Modified On: August 29, 2021 - Published By:
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Interoperable blockchain project Ark (ARK) designated one million ARK valued at roughly $150,000 toward its new development grants program on March 24.While the grant program was launched one week ago, Ark’s Strategic Partnerships Manager, Ray Alvarez, told Cointelegraph that it has already received proofs-of-concept from developers.The program exclusively funds “proposals involving technical deployments and usage of [the] ARK technology stack.”The applications include standalone applications and plugins, including development contributing to Ark’s decentralized private messaging application, desktop wallet, and transaction plugins.In addition to sparking development for specific applications, Alvarez states that

Decoupling? Bitcoin Price Surges Above $6.7K as Stocks Again Bearish

Source Node: https://cointelegraph.com/news/decoupling-bitcoin-price-surges-above-67k-as-stocks-again-bearish
Time Stamp: April 2, 2020 1:56 AM - Modified On: August 29, 2021 - Published By:
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Since topping out at $6,500 on March 31, Bitcoin (BTC) price had spent the majority of Wednesday in a steady slump which saw the price drop from $6,494 to $6,147. The pullback mirrored the poor performance in traditional markets where the S&P 500 and Dow dropped by 4.41% and 4.44% respectively. The slump in traditional markets appeared to be a reaction to dismal news that the United States surpassed more than 200,000 Coronavirus cases. Earlier this week the White House also stated that it concurs with the estimate that up to

Indian Cryptocurrency Exchange to Expand Internationally

Source Node: https://insidebitcoins.com/news/indian-cryptocurrency-exchange-to-expand-internationally/256161
Time Stamp: April 1, 2020 11:27 PM - Modified On: August 29, 2021 - Published By:
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An Indian cryptocurrency exchange, BuyUcoin, has just received a license to expand internationally, according to a report from Business Standard.Apparently, the platform received what is called a crypto trade and wallet license from Estonia. Based in Delhi, BuyUcoin will only expand to countries with a clear regulation for cryptocurrencies.Speaking on the matter is BuyUcoin CEO and a co-founder of the project, Shivam Thakral:“The incredible judgment will lead to economic growth, job creation, investment opportunities along with overall mass adoption for blockchain and cryptocurrency-based products and services. At BuyUcoin, we strive

Crypto to the Rescue After Khan Academy’s COVID-19 Traffic Surge

Source Node: https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-to-the-rescue-after-khan-academys-covid-19-traffic-surge
Time Stamp: April 1, 2020 7:54 PM - Modified On: August 29, 2021 - Published By:
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The founder of education platform Khan Academy has put out an urgent call for donations following a 250% surge in users due to the coronavirus crisis.CEO Sal Khan asked users to donate fiat — or they can donate Basic Attention Tokens (BAT) via their Brave browsers — to help the platform stay open during the pandemic.Khan said the surge was due to record numbers of students forced to stay home during lockdowns and social distancing requirements. A billion schoolkids are staying home because of COVID-19Khan Academy is a non-profit organization that

Doing Well by Doing Good: 5 Reasons Why it Works

Source Node: https://www.bitcoinmarketjournal.com/doing-well-by-doing-good-5-reasons-why-it-works/
Time Stamp: April 1, 2020 7:38 PM - Modified On: August 29, 2021 - Published By:
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“Do well by doing good.” The phrase has a deep meaning during this time in human history. In a nutshell, it means that companies that do good (i.e., help out during the Coronacrisis) will do well (i.e., make money and thrive). This is counter-intuitive. Logically, you would not help out during a recession: you would lay off workers, conserve your remaining cash, and “hunker down,” to use an unfortunate phrase. Here are a few reasons why the opposite is true. Your name gets out there. Many of our clients are

U.S. Crypto ATM Network Helps to Promote Social Distancing

Source Node: https://cointelegraph.com/news/us-crypto-atm-network-helps-to-promote-social-distancing
Time Stamp: April 1, 2020 5:30 PM - Modified On: August 29, 2021 - Published By:
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Bitcoin Depot, the largest Bitcoin ATM operator in the world, has begun powering down some of its machines in an effort to halt further spread of COVID-19.As much of the world sits in quarantine, Bitcoin Depot has chosen to temporarily shut off crypto ATMs which specifically reside in high traffic areas. The company is undertaking this push as a way to encourage social distancing.“As we monitor the ongoing situation, the number of locations temporarily taken offline will likely increase,” Bitcoin Depot’s director of product, Alona Lubovnaya, told Cointelegraph in an

Fed’s Quantitative Easing Strategy Holds Long-Term Benefits for Crypto

Source Node: https://cointelegraph.com/news/feds-quantitative-easing-strategy-holds-long-term-benefits-for-crypto
Time Stamp: April 1, 2020 11:30 AM - Modified On: August 29, 2021 - Published By:
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These are perilous times, and it hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice that the United States Federal Reserve is doing its part to alleviate the suffering — which began with the coronavirus pandemic and has spread to the global economy. It’s printing more money. “There is an infinite amount of cash at the Federal Reserve,” Neel Kashkari, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, told Scott Pelley of CBS on March 22, adding: “We will do whatever we need to do to make sure there is enough cash in the financial

Berkeley Blockchain Xcelerator Director on What DLT Startups Need to Succeed

Source Node: https://cointelegraph.com/news/berkeley-blockchain-xcelerator-director-on-what-dlt-startups-need-to-succeed
Time Stamp: April 1, 2020 9:28 AM - Modified On: August 29, 2021 - Published By:
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The Berkeley Blockchain Xcelerator — an incubator for early stage distributed ledger technology startups at the University of California, Berkeley — recently launched its spring cohort, which includes startups seeking to fight COVID-19, launch a cannabis-themed massively multiplayer online game and create a reverse auction platform for loans.Cointelegraph spoke to Jocelyn Weber, the director of the Xcelerator, to find out more about the resources the program offers to startups, success stories from previous cohorts and advice for startups looking to launch in the crypto space.Cointelegraph: Could you give an overview

Bitcoin and Visa Transactions Plunge But Pizza Deliveries Are Up

Source Node: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-and-visa-transactions-plunge-but-pizza-deliveries-are-up
Time Stamp: April 1, 2020 3:22 AM - Modified On: August 29, 2021 - Published By:
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Online purchases using Bitcoin (BTC), Visa, and some retail apps are down for the first quarter of 2020, spanning cryptocurrency and fiat currency transactions.With many around the world self-quarantining or otherwise recommended to stay inside to prevent the spread of COVID-19, one might assume there would be an increase in online purchases and deliveries. Yet with unemployment on the rise and an uncertain economic future, it seems consumers want to save their money rather than spend it.Bitcoin transactions rivaling those during crypto winterThe crypto market is not exempt from this