#1 Source For Bitcoin And Altcoin News
Revolut, a digital banking alternative that features an in-app bitcoin and cryptocurrency exchange, has received a European banking license as it seeks to expand its offerings and position itself as the “Amazon of banking.” Revolut to Offer Bank Accounts in Europe The London-based unicorn, which remains one of the hottest fintech startups in the United
The post Bitcoin-Friendly Revolut Receives European Banking License, Aims to be ‘Amazon of Banking’ appeared first on CCN
Zebpay, formerly one of India’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has launched in Europe. Euro deposits, withdrawals, and trading are now live in 21 countries. While the exchange is not accepting new registrations from India, existing users can continue to use its wallet app.
Also read: Indian Supreme Court Moves Crypto Hearing, Community Calls for Positive Regulations
Zebpay announced on Tuesday that its European exchange is now live. “We have recently expanded our global footprints in Europe with our exchange and wallet enabling crypto-to-crypto trading,” the company wrote, adding:
The EU is in the process of establishing a blockchain forum and has invited at least five major banks including BBVA and Santander. The purpose of the IATBA (International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications) is to “ develop a trusted, secure and resilient European Blockchain Services Infrastructure meeting the highest standards in terms of privacy,
The post European Union Invites Major Banks to Join Blockchain Forum appeared first on CCN
Several financial institutions in Europe, like Danske Bank and Swedbank, have been mentioned in a Lithuanian report investigating large-scale crypto-fiat transactions that took place in the past two years. Some of the banks’ clients traded digital coins worth millions of euros and the Baltic nation’s financial crime combating agency wants to know where the first million came from. Many of the speculators are Lithuanian taxpayers.
Also read: Nordic Region’s Largest Bank Nordea Suspected of Money Laundering
The global cryptocurrency payment service provider, Bitpay, has announced the company’s loadable cryptocurrency debit card services will no longer work for European customers later this month. Bitpay has emailed all of its European card holding customers and revealed it is in the midst of sunsetting all Bitpay accounts related to the Wave Crest-issued Bitpay card.
Also read: Bitcoin Cash Speaker Series II Brings Leading Bitcoiners Together
European banks have allegedly been complicit as corrupt African leaders pilfer the wealth of their economies in the billions of dollars. The Angolan government on Monday arrested the son of ex-president Jose dos Santos for stealing $ 500 million from the country’s sovereign wealth fund, with the help of a British bank. It is only a few days ago that Nigeria demanded that a bank in Europe returns $ 100 million laundered by former dictator Sani Abacha. In Liberia, ex-central bank governor Milton Weeks is under investigation for the $ 104 million that vanished from state coffers.
One of Canada’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, Coinsquare, is expanding into the European market. This is the exchange’s first international expansion under its own brand. Its previous expansions were through partnerships with other companies.
Also read: Yahoo! Japan Confirms Entrance Into the Crypto Space
Ontario-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinsquare announced on Thursday, August 23, its plan to expand into the European market in the fourth quarter of this year. The company wrote:
Customers across Europe will have access to Coinsquare’s entire suite of coins – bitcoin, bitcoin cash, ethereum, litecoin, XRP, dogecoin, and dash.
The biggest cryptocurrency exchange in Canada, Coinsquare, have announced in a press release that they now plan on entering European markets by Q4 2018, meaning that come 2019, Coinsquare should be readily available across a number of European countries, opening up for the trade of Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, Dogecoin and Dash.
As an ultra-secure exchange, one that prides itself on its customer safety record, Coinsquare hopes to enter Europe as one of the most secure exchanges available, helping it retain the premier reputation it has built up in Canada.
7 Aug 2018 – SINGAPORE: ABCC Digital Asset Exchange (ABCC), the world-class cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the opening of its first European headquarters in Malta as well as its sponsorship of the Delta Summit 2018, the Maltese government’s official blockchain event.
The strategic decision comes as part of ABCC’s ongoing commitment to strengthen its presence in Europe and beyond. The firm’s move is anticipated to create new employment and investment opportunities in the island nation.
TALLINN, ESTONIA (May 21, 2018) – A new European company has found a way to unleash the true potential of digital assets. Depository Network (DEPO) has developed independent loan collateral architecture for the cryptocurrency age.
DEPO founders began by asking why assets have changed but loan collateral has not. Despite cryptocurrency being a strong asset that continues to grow, lenders have still not found a way to accept it as collateral. Until now.
Ripple, a San Francisco-based real-time gross settlement system, currency exchange and remittance network, has announced partnerships with five new European and Asian customers. FairFX (U.K.), RationalFX (U.K.), Exchange4Free (U.K.), UniPAY (Georgia), and MoneyMatch (Malaysia) will all use xVia to power frictionless payments over RippleNet.
xVia is a technological solution for corporates, payment providers and banks wishing to send payments across various networks using a standard interface. As explained by Ripple’s official website, “xVia’s simple API requires no software installation and enables users to seamlessly send payments globally with transparency into the payment status and with rich information, like invoices, attached.”
On April 10, 2018, 22 European countries joined forces to cooperate on blockchain regulation and education.
The European Blockchain Partnership “will be a vehicle for cooperation amongst Member States to exchange experience and expertise in technical and regulatory fields and prepare for the launch of EU-wide blockchain applications across the Digital Single Market for the benefit of the public and private sectors,” states the European Commission press release.
Localbitcoins trading volume has witnessed volume spikes across miscellaneous markets in recent weeks, with global volume bouncing to $ 75 million USD this past week. The Canadian and European markets both produced record volume this past week – after both markets produced seemingly anomalous spikes in trading activity.
Also Read:Capitalization of Cryptocurrency Markets Loses 59% in Q1 2018
The weekly global trading volume on localbitcoins has bounced to $ 75 million (8,586 BTC), following spikes in volume across several markets during the week of the 31st of March.
Alex Momot, CEO of Remme.io and one of the top crypto experts in Eastern Europe, became an advisor at TruePlay.io – an innovative blockchain-based platform for gambling projects.
A Board Member of the Bitcoin Foundation Ukraine for the last three years, Mr. Momot has been in the Bitcoin mining business since 2015. With over ten years of IT-experience, Mr. Momot has been working in the blockchain industry since 2013. In 2014 Alex ran BitX, a start up that allowed people to pay for telecom and other everyday usage services in bitcoins. Besides serving as the CEO of Remme.io, he is the BDM of Hotmine.io – a popular mining hardware store that’s focused on utilizing the thermal energy produced by mining to heat office and living spaces.
The European Central Bank (ECB) claimed Bitcoin is “not the answer to a cashless society” March 13 while also casting doubt on bank-issued digital currencies.
In an “opinion piece” co-authored by Benoît Cœuré, ECB board member and chair of the Bank for International Settlements’ (BIS) Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures, as well as chair of the BIS Markets Committee Jacqueline Loh, the bank argues Bitcoin represents a “challenge” due to banks’ failure to provide suitable international remittance options for consumers.
“Despite its many faults, bitcoin has put the spotlight on an old failing of our current system: cross-border retail payments,” they write.
Wopke Hoekstra, the Dutch finance minister, has issued a letter to Holland’s parliament describing the current regulatory framework pertaining to cryptocurrencies as “insufficiently equipped.” The minister advocates the development regional and international regulatory efforts in response to the burgeoning digital currency phenomenon.
Also Read: Excessive Crypto Regulation Not Optimal, EU Banking Authority Says
Mr. Hoekstra’s letter discusses the current regulatory framework in place governing cryptocurrencies, in addition to “bitcoin futures and other high-risk derivatives such as binary options.”
Following remarks made by Valdis Dombrovskis, vice president of the European Commission (EC), after a roundtable on cryptocurrencies, it appears that the European Union (EU) is prepared to take steps toward regulating cryptocurrencies.
While acknowledging that European nations should embrace blockchain technology in order to remain competitive in financial markets, Dombrovskis also cautioned that they should be taking steps to protect their citizens from hazards in the cryptocurrency space.
“Based on the assessment of risks and opportunities and the suitability of the existing regulatory framework for these instruments [cryptocurrencies and ICOs], the Commission will determine if regulatory action at EU level is required.”
The European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs) have issued a press release alerting consumers to the risks associated with buying cryptocurrency. The release follows previous statements issued that warned investors of the risks associated with participating in ICOs and trading digital assets.
Just yesterday, the ESAs issued a statement to consumers, warning them of the risks associated with cryptocurrency due to their non-regulated status. Their main concern for investors deals with the potential for a cryptocurrency exchange to be hacked or shut down, and the inability for the government to cover the associated losses.
