For the average millennial or at least anyone that pays attention to the business world, the term “cryptocurrency” would not seem like such a strange word. If that is, then the terms Bitcoin, Ethereum or at least Blockchain should ring a bell. One might wonder, why are these terms suddenly so prevalent, especially cryptocurrency news? Computing is getting rather pervasive and the society is leaning towards digital services. The finance world too isn’t spared as the disruption of technology into this sector has fostered the birth and development of Fintech organizations.
These Fintech organizations look to digitize payments and transactions, offering the same services that are currently in existence but in a better, efficient and more effective way.
Blockchain is the network upon which most of these cryptocurrencies operate on. The history of blockchain and bitcoin, in particular, does not have a definite story. In 2009, an individual or group of individuals known to be “Satoshi Nakomoto” developed and published the technology to allow people make digital payments between themselves anonymously without having an external party to verify or authorize the transfer of the currency being exchanged.
Although technologies like this might seem rather complex, understanding how Blockchain works is quite easy, given that one has a basic idea of how networks work. Blockchain is simply a database shared between several users, containing confirmed and secured entries. It is a network, where each entry has a connection to its previous entry.
This technology affords a very secure model whereby every record in the database cannot be tampered with. Apart from the stellar security that this network offers, the transparency and speed at which the network operates give it an edge over the conventional way of conducting transactions.
In simple terms, cryptocurrencies are just monies in digital form, transacted via digital means and over a digital network. The transfer of these currencies is utilized with cryptography and the aforementioned blockchain network. Up until the 2010s, cryptocurrencies were not really known until Bitcoin made its breakout and this gave rise to the birth of new cryptocurrencies.
Cryptocurrencies have had their fair share of bullish and bearish trends, going to show how unstable they can be. The latest cryptocurrency news reports lots of people predicting prices for various cryptocurrencies in the years to come but no-one can say for sure.
Blockchain, on the other hand, is making its way into pervasive computing, especially IoT, giving way for the development of new solutions that embrace data security and transparency.
The release of Skycoin Fiber Platform is on the way – a direct response to existing blockchain flaws and the foundation of “Blockchain 3.0”.
Singapore blockchain-based start-up Odyssey has announced its successful partnership with the oBike Global Bike Sharing Platform.
Coinbase Venture will help in offering finances to early-stage companies working in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space.
Global leading broker ExpertOption has released a one coin for three investment platforms that are set to combine traditional online trading with blockchain investments.
Japanese financial services provider Monex Group announced 100% share acquisition of Coincheck. The deal is planned for April 16.
Aitheon, an Estonian-based Blockchain startup, holds talks with major market heavyweights on integrating its platform in their business models.
Blockchain Technology Foundation (BCTF) aims to modernize the market and social relations by furthering blockchain adoption and educating business community on harnessing this instrument to create a more secure, equitable, and functional future.
With a view to legalize its ICO market, a Japanese research group proposed guidelines for regulating this form of venture-capital fundraising.
The blockchain smartphone will host tons of feature with crypto-related activities. The first batch will be shipped in October 2018 at a price of $1000.
Ripple is making a big step forward as its XRP ledger’s underlying technology has been for the first time used to create the digital currency for e-commerce.
Blockchain is constantly showing its potential in new ways, and the world of content sharing is one area that could especially benefit from more decentralization.
While data brokers invade the privacy of consumers to get their data, Opiria is creating a decentralized marketplace that offers companies the opportunity to buy personal data directly from consumers, without middlemen and with consumers’ full consent.
CoinList, a platform that is connecting investors with blockchain projects, has raised $9.2 million which will be allocated for business development.
Ripple is said to have made lucrative offers to the crypto exchanges which could have possibly ensured huge liquidity for the XRP tokens.
Coincheck, the cryptocurrency exchange that suffered the largest theft earlier this year, has accepted a takeover bid by Japanese online brokerage Monex Group Inc.