Blockchain development firm Blockstream has expanded its satellite service and is now broadcasting the Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain to all of Earth’s major land masses, Forbes reported Dec. 17. The wider coverage — which comes via the addition of a fifth leased satellite — brings potential internet-free Bitcoin transactions and information sharing to crypto users in the Asia Pacific region. The satellite […]

U.S. President Donald Trump has hired the prominent Bitcoin supporter Mick Mulvaney to be his new White House Chief of Staff. Donald Trump is one of the most polarizing people on Planet Earth and whether you love him or hate him, it is beneficial for the crypto industry to have a major Bitcoin advocate whispering […]

A separatist government in Cameroon’s semi-autonomous English-speaking southern region of Ambazonia has announced the launch of a new sovereign cryptocurrency called AmbaCoin (AMBA). Operating on the ERC-20 standard, AmbaCoin is being touted as the official currency of the “Federal Republic of Ambazonia,” the currently unrecognised country that separatists are pushing to actualise. QZ Africa reports that more than […]

The government of Venezuela has reportedly started converting pensioners’ monthly payments from the country’s fiat currency, the bolivar, to its oil-backed cryptocurrency Petro, without giving them a choice. According to the Caracas Chronicles, a politics and economics-focused website based in Venezuela, the country’s pensioners are notified every time their monthly payments arrive, but this time received […]

Payments platform PayPal has so far avoided Bitcoin acceptance and, at least visibly, not considered blockchain for its platform. Now, it has launched an internal blockchain-based employee incentive program. A production of PayPal’s innovation lab, in San Jose, California, the platform took 25 strong team six-months to build and went live this November, according to […]

The second largest stock exchange in Germany, the Stuttgart Exchange Group and the banking institute SolarisBank are joining forces to create infrastructure for a zero-fee crypto exchange. While some digital currency fanatics welcome large banking establishments into the crypto-affray, others believe it goes against the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency. However, you cannot stop the market […]

Two pro-crypto members of the French Parliament (Parlement français) want the country to invest up to 500 million euros in blockchain programs to elevate France as a “blockchain nation.” Deputies Jean-Michel Mis and Laure de La Raudière released a report on Dec. 12 outlining 20 proposals to support the development and mainstream adoption of blockchain, […]

It’s confirmed. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia will work on cross-border digital currency. The exact date when it would be issued is still unknown but we know one thing, the digital currency is not targeted at consumers. It’s strictly for banks. Arabian news outlet Gulf News reports that the central bank of the UAE, […]

Electronics giant Samsung has filed applications for three blockchain-related trademark requests for smartphones. Based on the descriptions provided by the company, the three European trademark requests relate to providing crypto custody services on smartphones, which indicates that Samsung may be planning to make its entry into the ‘blockchain smartphone’ market following the recent release of HTC’s Exodus […]

The United Nations’ charity arm for children, UNICEF, is funding research into blockchain tech. Announced Monday, UNICEF is investing $100,000 in six blockchain startups to “solve global challenges using blockchain technology,” ranging from healthcare delivery transparency to managing finances and resources. The investments are part of a broader program which already funds 20 technology startups, according to […]