Bitcoin meets all of the essential criteria for an asset bubble, which is sure to burst soon and the spillover effects into traditional financial system would be limited, while the blockchain technology holds promise for investors, Allianz Global Investors said. The top cryptocurrency's trajectory resembles a textbook case of a financial-market bubble that may soon pop, the firm said. more...
Bitcoin transaction fees is cheaper now, as three of the most popular cryptocurrency exchanges have slashed their withdrawal fees rates by up to half. Binance, Bitfinex, and Kraken have enabled SegWit (Segregated Witness), a process to increase block size limit, and capacity to add more transactions. Transaction batching is another method being adopted to help them significantly reduce fees. more...
The first meeting of the G20's Digital Economy Task Force is being held in Buenos Aires on February 8 and 9. German and French finance ministers and central bank governors have sought joint action by the G20 group of advanced and developing countries to tackle the risks posed by cryptocurrencies, reports said Friday. In a letter to the finance minister of Argentina, which holds the G20 presidency now, they have asked the matter to be placed ...
The Northern Territory Racing Commission (NTRC), the Australian regional gambling regulator, is set to ban gambling using cryptocurrency in Australia. NTRC is against adding cryptocurrencies to Australian Gambling Websites. The chairman of the NTRC has reportedly sent out an informal email to all sports bookmakers and betting exchange operators in the Northern Territory asking them to immediately cease and desist from transacting in cryptocurrency. ...
The head of the Bank for International Settlements is forecasting a gloomy future for cryptocurrencies. "While perhaps intended as an alternative payment system with no government involvement, it has become a combination of a bubble, a Ponzi scheme and an environmental disaster," says Augustin Carstens, General Manager of the BIS. He was speaking at Goethe University House of Finance in Frankfurt. more...