PundiX has announced the launch of a payment system which can be used by both traditional card holders as well as Crypto holders. The Crypto payments start-up has stated that this innovative integration was accomplished through utilizing a device developed by the US based POS (Point of Sale) device producer VeriFone. This is according to a press release made on the 12th of July.New Device To Enable Both Traditional Card And Crypto Payments Going by the press release the Crypto payments company successfully used the X990 Android Point of Sale device, which is used by many retailers in the US as well as across the globe, to run the Crypto payment module XPOS. This successful trial means that retailers will now be able to accept Crypto payments as well as traditional credit and debit cards without having to use multiple devices.In the press release, the start-up stated that this integration will now enable shops and retail outlets utilizing the XPOS module activated VeriFone X990 to process both types of payments easily using one device.VeriFone has estimated that there are over 35 million VeriFone devices being used by merchants in 150 countries across the world. The company boasts an annual revenue of close to $2 billion. Since the official launch, there have been a limited number of the devices in the market. However, despite this, Bitcoin users get to be the first Crypto users to test out the device as Bitcoin payments are already possible. The company is one of the largest POS devices producers in the world.More Crypto Wallets To Hopefully Be Added In The Near Future Zac Cheah, the CEO and co-founder of the Crypto payment firm said that this new partnership with VeriFone has greatly advanced its overall mission of making Blockchain Technology accessible to more people. He added that with the XPOS software in more VeriFone POS terminals, users will be able to enjoy seamless and more secure transactions through any of the major Cyptocurrencies supported.VeriFones Asia Pacific President Yiannos Papadopuolos said that the company is excited to be working with PundiX in this innovative project. He added that this integration will revolutionize the way its partner retailers enable payments with a new generation of customers who have Cryptocurrencies.Digital Currencies Supported By The Device This newly released integrated device will reportedly support various digital currencies. Among the supported Cryptocurrencies are BTC (Bitcoin), KCS (Kucoin Shares), ETH (Ethereum), KNC (Kyber Network), BNB (Binance Coin), XEM (Nem) and NPXS (PundiX). The device will purportedly be able to automatically make Crypto to fiat conversions during each transaction. Users can use either the XWallet app or the Pundi XPASS cards to make Crypto payments.The company hopes to add on more Crypto wallets in the near future as the solution accepts more Crypto payments using different digital assets.Bold Move Into Crypto-Stern Indonesia Last year PundiX rolled out its first POS devices in Indonesia. The company hopes that the countrys Central bank will reconsider its stand on Cryptocurrencies.PundiX Launches Card Reader Integrated With Crypto Payment was last modified: July 15th, 2019 by Samantha Mitchell

For reasons obvious, crypto and payment industry experts are considering this announcement to be a game-changing event that has the potential to reshape the perception around digital assets in a radically new way. 

A concise deep-dive into the expanse of Mastercard as a global service provider shows us that the enthusiasm around its latest declaration stands on robust foundations. 

Mastercard is global in the truest sense of the word. It serves individual consumers, small and medium sized businesses, governments and public sector enterprises, large private enterprises and banks, and credit unions in more than 210 countries and territories. 

Even during a pandemic-stricken economy, Mastercard managed to register a growth of 4.4% in their worldwide purchase transaction numbers. 

If we look at the purchase volume in terms of their combined US dollar value, we find astounding numbers that indicate the global dominance Mastercard commands in the global transactional economy. In FY 2020, Mastercard facilitated purchases worth more than 2.7 trillion dollars worldwide. 

To get a sense of how significantly large this size is, let’s have a look at the volumes of some of the world’s largest economies. India’s economy is the fifth-largest in the world, with a GDP of 2.94 trillion USD, followed by the United Kingdom’s 2.83 trillion USD and France’s 2.71 trillion USD.

This payment flow has brought benefits beyond consumers, to businesses as well. A number of small businesses payment and accounting software, such as Freshbooks, allow businesses to get paid fast and with low fees—including via Mastercard.

When such a large-scale global player decides to support crypto payments, we can reasonably presume that the growth and expansion of cryptocurrencies have led traditional financial institutions to look at digital currencies as an addition to the mainstream rather than a mere alternative. 

The question that arises now is this: how would the support of Mastercard help cryptocurrencies in the days to come? To better comprehend the benefits, we need to understand the nature of the exchange between these two segments in greater detail. 

Since interaction between a globally-renowned payment facilitator and instruments of decentralized finance is a newly-developing, nascent formation, Mastercard has carefully weighed the pros and cons of the association. Their assessment reinforces the claims that crypto advocates have been citing for quite some time now. 

Mastercard admits in no uncertain terms that people are increasingly using cards to buy crypto assets. This tendency augmented further on the back of Bitcoin’s surge in value. Mastercard has also observed users increasingly leveraging crypto cards to access their assets and convert them to fiat currencies for spending. 

To speak in numbers, data obtained from global consumer surveys shows that consumer interest and investment in digital currencies had grown at such a significant pace in recent years that in many of the countries up to 20 percent of the population are holding them. Additionally, a notably increased number of merchants, digital players, and financial institutions are exploring the provision of payment through cryptos. 

Before deciding to include crypto payment services in their portfolio, Mastercard prepared a framework that would help them, in the future, to finalize which currencies to support. 

Consumer protection features are of utmost importance to Mastercard. They want the cryptocurrencies they support to have the same standards of privacy and security that their consumers are habituated to getting from their credit cards. 

They would also demand their cryptocurrencies to have stringent compliance protocols such as mandatory KYC declarations and strict adherence to local laws and regulations. Finally, they would want their crypto assets to offer the stability that a spending instrument essentially requires.

Since most of the cryptocurrencies would aim to leverage the huge network that Mastercard has to offer, they would make sincere efforts to keep up with these requirements. It would mean improvement in their blockchain protocols in terms of security and protection and sustained efforts to contain the volatility in crypto prices. 

Mastercard has already teamed up with Wirex and BitPay to create crypto cards that allow people to make transactions using their cryptocurrencies. It has also joined forces with LVL, a soon-to-arrive exchange for cryptocurrency. While Mastercard’s collaboration will allow many more merchants to accept crypto payments, the cryptocurrency platforms would get more opportunities to streamline their services and innovate. 

Mastercard has the crypto industry’s largest blockchain portfolio to offer. It has already been granted a total of 89 blockchain patents globally. An additional 285 blockchain patent applications are pending worldwide. Resultantly, crypto protocols get a large-sized innovation reservoir to draw from. 

The collaboration with Mastercard will also help to solve the longstanding issues associated with delayed payments. As cited earlier, Mastercard processes more than a hundred billion transactions each year. Practically, it reduces the transaction time to a matter of milliseconds. Thus, crypto payments would become more convenient for users. 

Mastercard is also engaging with several major central banks around the world. This collaboration will help the banks to create the most sophisticated currencies possible.

Overall, the relationship between crypto-assets and Mastercard would prove to be mutually beneficial. While Mastercard would get a readymade crypto-user audience to serve, the cryptocurrencies will gain more credibility. Mainstream users will trust them more. The use of cryptocurrencies as a medium of payment would become equipped to offer more ease and convenience to its users.

What do you think of Mastercard’s announcement to support crypto in 2021? Which cryptocurrencies do want to see supported? Let us know in the comments below.

Bitcoinist | Feb 15, 2021 | 12:17

Right now, the hottest thing that the entire internet is talking about is Bitcoin. Everyone wants some or a part of the ultra-scarce cryptocurrency. The FOMO is real. But let’s face it, Bitcoin is expensive now. Many people would require an entire year’s salary just to afford one coin.

But there’s now a much more fun way to win Bitcoins instead, right from your PC, Mac, or smartphone. All with the help from BIG2.WIN. Here’s how to play this exciting and fast-paced card game for a chance to win big.

BIG2.WIN is a peer-to-peer (P2P) platform from Costa Rica-based Penfield Entertainment SRL featuring the game Big 2 (known in Chinese as (大老二 or 鋤大D). It offers unique bonuses and a chance to win Bitcoin by battling other players. To get started, it takes only a few minutes and clicks, along with an email address, username, and password – nothing more.  

After registration, players can gather together to battle for Bitcoin with any device containing an HTML5-capable browser. BIG2.WIN’s reliable in-browser gaming technology works consistently no matter the platform, with players ranging from Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac, and more.

Due to the diverse variety of devices able to access and play BIG2.WIN, thousands of players are online at any given moment – meaning there’s always a game ready to be joined 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Up to four players face off against one another, with each player being dealt 13 cards tasked with the goal of getting rid of the entire hand before the competition does. Leftover cards in the hands of the losing player will earn the winner a point each. Any player, unfortunately, left with more than nine cards will lose twice the number of points. You can learn more about the game’s full set of official rules at the BIG2.WIN website.  

Those new to BIG2.WIN can try the card game for free, while more experienced or bolder players can bet up to five different stake levels of mBTC for a chance to win the full pie worth of Bitcoin.

Here are the currently staking levels:

Stake Level mBTC per Point

Free      0.00000 mBTC

Level 1 0.02000 mBTC

Level 2 0.20000 mBTC

Level 3 0.40000 mBTC

Level 4 1.20000 mBTC

Level 5 2.00000 mBTC

BIG2.WIN is certified fair by iTech Labs, one of the leading accredited testing labs for the certification of online gaming systems worldwide. The platform utilizes a cryptographically secure Random Number Generator created as per the UK Gambling Commission’s standards. Depositing BTC is easy BIG2.WIN, and withdrawals are just as simple – BIG2.WIN gives you total flexibility.  

As part of an incredible and exciting promotion, BIG2.WIN will match your Bitcoin deposits of up to 50mBTC by 100% for a limited time. That means BIG2.WIN gives you free Bitcoin to play with for a chance to win much more. The bonus period lasts starting 90 days from account creation, letting new users maximize their chances. Additional bonuses of 0.20 mBTC are also unlocked for every 1 mBTC paid in rake fees.

BIG2.WIN also has a robust affiliate program that allows users to earn commissions for bringing in their friends, family, and peers. Referrals range from 10% to 20% paid out monthly. BIG2.WIN even offers a VIP Club with a personalized account manager for elite users. For those interested in learning more about BIG2.WIN and the chance to play to win Bitcoin, visit the big2.win website to try the demo, or jump right in and play now!

Disclaimer: The information presented here does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author/company and do not represent those of Bitcoinist. We strongly advise our readers to DYOR before investing in any cryptocurrency, blockchain project, or ICO, particularly those that guarantee profits. Furthermore, Bitcoinist does not guarantee or imply that the cryptocurrencies or projects published are legal in any specific reader’s location. It is the reader’s responsibility to know the laws regarding cryptocurrencies and ICOs in his or her country.

In recent weeks, observers across the board have seen the price of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum skyrocket, blowing past the bold expectations of the most seasoned “Crypto Twitter” forecasters. 

With thousands of projects and tokens to invest in, it is safe to say that within the cryptocurrency Market, and in the context of this new “Bull Run”, there is no shortage of investment opportunities.

Getting into the market is all well and good…

But how does one spend this new form of money – money which has adopted the form of cryptocurrencies? 

Such a simple question and yet the answers to this are not obvious.

We would like to share with our readers a short guide on how (and where) to spend cryptocurrency. The information one can gather online is often outdated, inaccurate and incomplete… Our guide doesn’t aim to be exhaustive but rather provide a “wide view” of what it is possible to do with your cryptocurrency holdings.

The Gig Economy

The gig economy, thanks to Covid-19 and the unstoppable rise of remote tech workforces, is expanding at a very fast clip.  By 2027, 60% of the US workforce will be composed of independent professionals. Let that sink in for a minute: gig workers will vastly outnumber traditional workers.

Combine the sheer size of the gig economy, with the fact that a growing number of gig workers now prefer or outright demand to get paid in cryptocurrency… and you can see the size of the opportunity for fast movers.

A few platforms have emerged that make it possible for gig workers, regardless of their area of specialty, to get paid in Cryptocurrency.

If you are an entrepreneur and happen to hold some cryptocurrency, these platforms might be exactly what you are looking for. Direct Cryptocurrency payments to contractual workers are an excellent way to use your holdings.

Among the platforms that have emerged within the crypto gig economy,  LaborX  seems to be a  force to be reckoned with. Beautifully designed, it adopts a  Fiverr -like approach to matching customers and workers, letting them freely exchange and negotiate in the chat portion of the site. Funds are sent by customers in advance and are kept in Escrow until the finished product or service is delivered, so LaborX gets extra points for security and for providing peace of mind to its users.

Other notable gig platforms include:

Online Retail

Cryptocurrency Veterans will  always  remember how painfully difficult it was in the old cryptocurrency days to cash out safely – by cashing out safely we mean: without having one’s bank account closed without any reason by overzealous bank staff – and use  their own money  in order to purchase products and services. 

Back then, anyone who wished to make purchases using the cryptocurrency they owned (we didn’t have the wealth of crypto checkout options we had today) had to literally jump through financial hoops, cash out using their bank account and use their bank card to make the purchases.

Fast forward to 2021: things have certainly gotten a lot easier for cryptocurrency holders, thanks to a wider range of crypto checkout options designed specifically for merchants.

It is now possible to purchase products and services in cryptocurrency, without having to cash out to a bank account. 

Purse.io , for example, allows users to import Amazon Wish lists and purchase the items on those lists with cryptocurrency – and in the process (we are not certain how this is achieved exactly) users can shave off up to 15% on the price of their purchases!

Alagoria  allows users to make Home Depot and WalMart purchases, anonymously, while saving money.

Overstock.com ,  famous for its involvement in the crypto world  is also known to carry a large assortment of furniture and household items, which can be bought with Cryptocurrency.

The Online Retail Market is ripe for disruption and we certainly hope to see more options for consumers in the near future.

Offline retail

It is safe to say that “Brick and Mortar” retail has taken a beating in 2020. The fear of Covid spreading has forced the hand of countless business owners who had no choice but to close their doors temporarily. Covid lockdowns are forcing offline retail to reinvent itself and the answer to the problems of retail might be Cryptocurrency.

A growing number of offline merchants now accept contactless cryptocurrency payments as a check-out method.

Cryptocurrency holders today have the option of using their holdings for online shopping but also in a growing number of more traditional, Brick and Mortar outlets that have implemented Blockchain technology in a bid to remain competitive.

PizzaforCoins ,  Cooperativa RadioTxi ,  Comicap  and  Anshin Oyado  are part of the growing list of offline retailers that accept cryptocurrency.

Gift Cards and Payment Cards

A few platforms allow cryptocurrency holders to purchase gift cards and payment cards using their cryptocurrency holdings.

You read that right! It is possible to purchase  American Express ,  Visa  and  Mastercard  products, not to mention gift cards for literally hundreds of merchants, in various denominations, with cryptocurrency.

Gift cards and payments cards might just be the most convenient way to spend cryptocurrency, and this side of the market is rapidly expanding with a slew of emerging companies competing with large incumbents.

Coinsbee ,  Bitrefill ,  Crypto to Cards  and  Jour Cards  are reliable platforms you will want to check out and try for yourself.

Hotels and Flights

Don’t you wish you could just purchase flights outright without having to exchange cryptocurrency, as the fees for doing so these days are rather high? 

Well, we have some good news for you: booking flights and hotels with one’s crypto holdings is now possible. 

Using platforms such as:  Cheapair ,  Destinia  and  Travelbybit , holders do not have to jump through financial hoops to make travel arrangements.

If you are looking for something a little more exotic and ambitious than a Vanilla flight, know that  Virgin Galactic  accepts Bitcoin as a means of payment for Space flights!

Casino Games and Sports Betting

The global online gambling market’s size was estimated at 53.7 US billion dollars in 2019 and reached a mouth-watering 59.6 billion US dollars in 2020. It is expected to grow at an annual rate of 11.5% from 2020 to 2027, which is very significant. 

A few things are driving market growth here: high internet penetration, the increasing use of mobile phones for playing games, easier access to online gambling, legalization and cultural approval. And let us not forget, the fact that people are literally  stuck at home  thanks to Covid-19 lockdowns around the world!

A few key players have emerged in the crypto market gambling space and it seems like gambling, sports betting and crypto payments are a winning combination for users and businesses.

Gambling and Sports Betting are very pleasurable ways to spend one’s Cryptocurrency.  FunFair  and  SportX  (for sports betting and e-sports) are dominant forces in the crypto gabling industry with a very loyal following on social media.

Blockchain Gaming

Such a wide overview would certainly not be complete without a section focused on entertainment and more specifically on Blockchain Gaming.

As our readers know, Covid-19 lockdowns have forced countless individuals to work from home. Perhaps you, the reader, are finding yourself in this situation right now.

Work is changing at a very fast pace…  and so is Entertainment. After months of lockdown, and with traditional entertainment venues such as theatres, bars and night clubs forcibly closed, individuals around the world have found or are finding new ways to entertain themselves without needing to leave their home.

Blockchain Gaming (and especially this segment of Blockchain Gaming that converges with Virtual reality) is emerging as a  clear winner. Blockchain is transforming the way we play games online.

If you are a gamer at heart and a holder,  a plethora of games  allow you to turn your holdings into items, virtual worlds or playing cards, which can then be bought or sold on exchanges, and even used as collateral for crypto loans.  Ubisoft  and  Enjin  are among the companies that are pushing blockchain innovation forward in this space.

Conclusion

While this guide was certainly not exhaustive, it did provide a comprehensive view of the kinds of products and services it is possible to purchase with cryptocurrency.

As cryptocurrency and blockchain technology accelerates its unstoppable penetration of traditional segments of the economy, more and perhaps better options will appear on the market to further empower cryptocurrency holders.

Bitcoinist | Feb 12, 2021 | 09:00

Apple Pay and Google Pay cryptocurrency purchases are available to both the users of Mercuryo and its business partners.

Mercuryo , a leading global cryptocurrency payment provider, adds Apple Pay and Google Pay support for digital asset transactions. Fiat to crypto “rails”, available via Mercuryo’s flagship widget product, allows anyone with a smartphone device to purchase crypto with fiat currency using a wide range of payment methods. In addition to Mercuryo’s direct consumer base, Apple Pay and Google Pay support will also be available on partner cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges – such as Trust Wallet, Trezor, and CoinPayments – that have integrated the company’s widget.

The crypto industry is growing rapidly, reaching a total market capitalization of over $1 trillion in 2021. With the mission to make cryptocurrencies more accessible for everyone globally, the fintech company Mercuryo offers a seamless fiat-to-crypto payment gateway to consumer and business clients. Featuring two flagship products, a digital asset wallet, and a widget, Mercuryo has been serving over 600,000 users and 200 cryptocurrency partners, including prominent enterprises like Binance, Bybit, Bitfinex, Trust Wallet, and Bithumb. Since its launch, Mercuryo has quickly become one of the leading crypto payment gateway providers globally, realizing a 20-fold increase in volume in the past six months alone.

Mecuryo’s cryptocurrency widget can be easily integrated into the partners’ applications and website platforms, such as digital asset exchange and wallet services. In addition to flawless integration, the widget provides global coverage, allowing users to purchase crypto with various payment methods and currency pairs in any country.

With a focus on simplicity, the Mercuryo cryptocurrency widget features a user-friendly design with multi-language support and a 24/7 live customer support service. The service’s straightforward nature allows users to purchase and sell digital assets without any in-depth knowledge of the crypto world. For that reason, Mercuryo’s partners can use the company’s widget to achieve high conversion rates while offering their customers exposure to multiple digital currencies.

Neither consumers nor businesses have to worry about their funds’ safety as the company operates a fully regulated and compliant service that features state-of-the-art security. With guaranteed protection against chargebacks and continuous transaction monitoring, Mercuryo provides a completely ready-made and secure service to businesses in any country in the world. As a one-stop solution, Mercuryo takes care of everything for its partners, including compliance, liquidity, payments, and fraud management.

Not only does Mercuryo offer some of the lowest commissions on the market for buying cryptocurrency, the company’s widget can also be integrated into any platform and customized by business partners in order to suit the preferences of their customers.

Mercuryo also features a simplified KYC procedure for users to confirm their identities in a few minutes when making their first transactions.

“Aside from our direct customer base, all our partners that have integrated the Mercuryo widget have access to Google Pay and Apple Pay to offer a new, smooth way to purchase cryptocurrency for their users. Many of our business partners, such as Trust Wallet, Trezor, and Coinpayments, already feature the service, and we are always looking to strike new partnerships with promising companies,” Petr Kozyakov, Mecuryo’s co-founder and CBDO, stated.

By adding support for Apple Pay and Google Pay, Mercuryo allows its customers to buy digital assets with fiat currency in a swift and simple manner, without the need to add their card details. The entire process will only take users a couple of minutes at most.

Disclaimer: The information presented here does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author/company and do not represent those of Bitcoinist. We strongly advise our readers to DYOR before investing in any cryptocurrency, blockchain project, or ICO, particularly those that guarantee profits. Furthermore, Bitcoinist does not guarantee or imply that the cryptocurrencies or projects published are legal in any specific reader’s location. It is the reader’s responsibility to know the laws regarding cryptocurrencies and ICOs in his or her country.

Everyone’s getting in on it – BlackRock, MassMutual, SkyBridge Capital, and of course, the one man who can change the economy’s gravitational field with one tweet: Elon Musk. In a word, #bitcoin. 

Why is bitcoin hitting so hard right now? And with prices skyrocketing to upwards of $47,000 per coin and chatter about volatility, is it a safe investment for most Americans?

On my podcast this week , my guest was former White House Press Secretary Anthony Scaramucci. Anthony recently kicked off his bitcoin-centric investment fund, and he helped me make sense of the current crypto craze.

In Anthony’s words, bitcoin is to cryptocurrency what Amazon is to retail, what Google is to search engines, and what Facebook is to social networks… And speaking of Facebook, the Winklevoss Brothers pitched him on bitcoin back in 2014 at a SALT Talks Conference. He didn’t bite then, though.

He said that, at the time, bitcoin didn’t pass the Metcalfe Law stress-test. This Internet-centric theory purports that any network’s value roughly equates to its number of users squared. Or, put cleanly, in 2014, not enough people were trafficking in bitcoin for it to be a viable investment opportunity.

Think of Steve Jobs. Since the 80s, Apple’s products – personal computers, smartphones, iPads – didn’t initially have many users. But now, nearly everyone has each of these. And bitcoin shows the same strength for adaptation and growth, as it keeps scaling exponentially and more investors are becoming aware of its potential.

For many readers, you still want an answer to the more beguiling bitcoin question: what exactly is it?

Bitcoin is a cryptographic code on the Internet that’s sequenced and transferred to you over a blockchain in the most literal terms. If that last sentence meant nothing to you, here’s the takeaway: Bitcoin’s a thriving, decentralized financial network: portable, transferable, safe, and scarce, i.e., very valuable.

Crypto transactions take out the middlemen and have a fully transparent ledger – this is wildly appealing to consumers. And since bitcoin started saturating the market, it caught the attention of regulators. And any time regulators get involved, you know it’s legitimate. Bitcoin’s also insanely safe and almost impossible to hack – the code itself can be stored on your own digital devices (USB/SIM card) or at institutions as Fidelity Digital Assets .

In terms of a potential ROI on bitcoin, Anthony served up a hypothetical. If you put $10,000 in Amazon on its IPO date in 1997, you’d have 21 million dollars by now. He thinks these same kinds of gains are possible with bitcoin (if you’re able to suffer some losses along the way).

At this moment, there are 21 million bitcoins, 105 million users, and Anthony himself has put 25 million dollars of his own company’s capital in a crypto-fund. Bitcoin currently sits as a store of value and will be treated like gold over time (or already by millennials).

Whether bitcoin has a chance as an actual currency is still unknown. What is apparent is the ever-growing enthusiasm around it – and there’s only so much of it. Even if you don’t understand developers mining for coins or blockchain , try grasping the idea that this is a finite digital resource. And anyone can appreciate the value in that.

If you want to grapple with the existential question of what bitcoin is worth, think of all the legal tender in humanity’s history.

Whether it was the paper money of the 20th century or digital inputs on a bank ledger now, money has always been an idea, a representation of something else, an entity worth far less than the goods and services it backs. In short, money’s an agreed-upon bit of fiction meant to correlate to reality.

And our current reality is a landscape where everything is digitized, a trend ramping up even more so since the pandemic. So, why wouldn’t that happen with our monetary networks? Cryptocurrency like bitcoin provides more transparent, secure, and safer fiscal transactions for Americans. As its network expands, so shall its undeniable worth.

Did any of you even know what Zoom was in 2019? Exactly. But now it’s ubiquitous. That will be bitcoin in just a few years… a phenomenon that seemingly comes out of nowhere and ultimately, we won’t be able to live without it.

Read our latest issues of   American Consequences.

Love us? Hate us? Let us know how we’re doing at   [email protected] .

Trish Regan Publisher,   American Consequences With Editorial Staff February 13, 2021

In a recent interview with DrWealth, I highlighted an issue I had with the term “cryptocurrencies”. I feel that by painting all crypto as currencies, there was no way for traditional investors to grasp the idea that crypto could be valued. It has become such a deep-seated idea in traditional investors’ minds that they dismiss crypto out of hand without doing more research.

I hope to slowly chip away at this bias by talking about crypto assets that are beyond simple currencies / store of value. This means not talking much about Bitcoin at all and focusing on programmable blockchains, namely Ethereum. Programmable blockchains like Ethereum form the basic underlying infrastructure that enables decentralised applications (DApps). The most successful DApp to date is decentralised finance (DeFi).

Before we can talk about DApps like DeFi, investors first need to understand, at least on a conceptual level, what Ethereum truly is.

This article tries not to focus on the underlying technologies of blockchain and Ethereum as it can be quite technical. Feel free to research more to convince yourself on how Bitcoin and Ethereum works and how the underlying technologies secure the network.

Disclaimer: I invest and use in some of the protocols mentioned in this article. Mentioning these protocols does not constitute my endorsement of the protocol or financial advice. Please always do your own due diligence, especially in a very speculative field like crypto and DeFi.

To understand Ethereum, let’s talk a bit about Bitcoin.

Bitcoin is essentially a distributed network of computers that work in tandem to maintain a distributed ledger (blockchain). A bundle of technologies and cryptography enables all parties involved to trust the ledger. The ledger only records transactions and movements of BTC from address to address, with no additional functionality.

As such, Bitcoin can only function as a currency or store of value as the only thing you can do with it is transfer it from wallet A to B.

Ethereum builds on top of this concept by allowing people to write code and create smart contracts / DApps. This extends Ethereum’s native asset ether, ETH, beyond what BTC can be used for.

Don’t understand? Perhaps the following analogy helps.

Imagine Ethereum as a giant IPhone the size of Earth. The Ethereum network provides all the components and infrastructure for this giant IPhone to work. DApps add functionality to this giant IPhone like Apps in the App Store. Anybody can create a DApp on Ethereum, much like how anybody can create a App in the App Store. ETH pays for using or investing in these DApps instead of cash.

This is why Ethereum is sometimes called the “world computer”. A global network providing the infrastructure and computing power to run DApps.

The result is Ethereum is its own global marketplace and economy for digital assets and services. This economy has its own monetary policy with ETH as its base currency. Each DApp can also have its own micro economy that plugs into the overall Ethereum economy.

Why each DApp creates its own micro economy is because in a decentralised world, you need to assume that participants are rational and will not provide anything for free. Tokens are useful in measuring the utility of the DApp and incentivise participants.

Each DApp can have its own native token. On Ethereum, these are usually ERC-20 standard tokens.

Depending on each DApp’s token design (also known as tokenomics), the native token provides some form of utility or measure of value to the micro economy. Tokenomics is also how you incentivise participants to act in a manner favourable to the DApp, while also punishing bad behaviour. This is also what drives value to the native token.

Tokenomics is a giant topic on its own and deserves to have its own separate discussion in future articles.

DeFi is probably the killer app on Ethereum, with most of Ethereum network’s transaction volume coming from DeFi DApps. I’ve been giving readers a taster of what is possible in DeFi in my DrWealth interview and earlier articles. Some functions I’ve shared in the past include:

While these applications seem quite usual when compared to traditional finance, the reality is that the sky is the limit on the type of DeFi applications we can potentially see in the next decade. Blockchain technology enables unprecedented transparency, access and interoperability in the financial ecosystem, something traditional finance has never solved / wanted to solve.

A recent example of this inefficiency in traditional finance is how Gamestop shorts were allowed to short more than 100% of GME’s float. If everyone was aware of how much GME’s float was sold short at any given moment in time, brokers would have disallowed the trade. Blockchain technology usage would have avoided this.

At the minimum, I expect DeFi to be much more efficient and transparent than traditional finance. For the more imaginative, it may enable financial applications that we have not seen or experienced before.

Future articles will discuss more about DeFi.

Something worth mentioning is the presence of the ERC-721 token standard. It enables Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) trading on Ethereum. Each individual NFT is unique (thus non-fungible), which allows tokenisation and trading of unique assets.

Examples of assets that are “NFT-like” in the real world include art, collectibles like Pokemon cards and even real estate, assuming each property is unique. Imagine tokenising these assets digitally on the blockchain and traded freely.

Currently, NFT adoption and implementation has been quite nascent, with implementations mainly related to digital art and collectibles.

The only NFT application that has significant development is in gaming, where digital gaming assets are tokenised as NFTs to be traded by players. 2 examples of crypto gaming applications include:

Personally, I feel that current implementations of NFTs still need work. However, it is an area that has great design space and potential for the right application.

The last thing I think investors should be aware of is the ETH 2.0 roadmap. Ethereum is currently undergoing a migration process from Ethereum 1.0 to Ethereum 2.0. The reason for transition is, in my opinion, largely due to 2 things:

The launch phase has 3 – 4 phases and will take about 18 months. The transition process has begun in November 2020 with the launch of the Beacon Chain (Phase 0).

I’ve mentioned in an earlier portfolio update that you can stake your ETH in the Beacon Chain and earn yield on your ETH. Here’s a guide to how to do it.

For more information on ETH 2.0, see Ethereum’s official website and Eth2 Launch Pad.

Programmable blockchains like Ethereum create and enable digital marketplaces and new economies. This marketplace enable the creation of applications known as DApps, which provide various digital services and assets to use and invest in. Currently, the main DApps for Ethereum fall within the DeFi sector, with other interesting applications like gaming and NFTs yet to be fully explored.

I hope this article helps you understand that the native assets of programmable blockchains like Ethereum are not mere stores of value / currency. While they serve as the base currency of new digital economies, they also serve as the gateway to digital assets and services.

Assets that can generate cashflows and as result, can be valued.

Happy Hunting, KK

With Bitcoin trading around $40,000 many readers are asking, “Am I in time to invest in Bitcoin, is it worth investing with Bitcoin at this price?” .

The quick answer to this question is: Yes, you are on time. We don’t think you’ll be late to the party. 

According to analysts at JP Morgan the price of Bitcoin will soar in the medium term to reach an  estimated $146. 0001 , while the same investment firm believes it will reach $650,000 by the end of 20222 . 

If we look at the mathematical models that aim to — and succeed in — forecasting the price of Bitcoin , the Stock to Flow (S2F, hereafter) model stands out. Said mathematical model was created by a Dutch institutional investor, whose identity has not transcended, with a background in the field of quantitative finance3. So far the S2F model has managed to forecast with astonishing accuracy all Bitcoin movements, and claims that its price will reach $288,0004 in the current growth cycle (Reaching $1 million in 2024). In a few paragraphs we will tell you all the ins and outs of this surprising predictive mathematical model, which so far has been accurate as clockwork. 

In short and by way of summary: If you have not yet invested in Bitcoin you have in front of you the opportunity to achieve potential returns of between 265% and 1,525% in the medium term, according to the estimates of financial analysts and mathematical models mentioned.

Throughout this article we will explain everything you need to know to discover the real impact that Bitcoin has on the economy by proposing a paradigm shift, as well as everything you need to become an educated investor, able to take advantage of an opportunity that, perhaps, will never be presented to us again in our lives.

By now you probably have a fairly formed idea about what Bitcoin is and what its function is. By way of summary, Bitcoin was created by a mathematician (or group of experts in mathematics and cryptography) self-named Satoshi Nakamoto. Although the actual identity of this person or group of people is unknown, it is believed that Bitcoin was created to:

As we see what Bitcoin proposes is a paradigm shift: until now we have relied on governments and central banks to manage, support and manipulate the global monetary system; Bitcoin dispossesses these actors of such power. 

What gives Bitcoin its value?

To answer this question we first have to ask ourselves what gives value to the dollar. Until not so long ago the coins and bills that were in circulation were notes of exchange that could be exchanged for spot gold. Dollar bills included, in small print, “Ten Dollars: In gold coin payable to the bearer of this bill.” 

In effect, in those days we could show up at the US Federal Reserve and ask to have our bill exchanged for its gold equivalent. All banknotes in circulation were backed by gold, held by the central bank of each country. 

However, some time later governments began to spend the gold they stored in their central banks. They realized that they could spend that gold and in parallel print more banknotes (not backed by gold) to generate unlimited wealth. Apparently nothing happened and the citizens did not complain. 

At that moment the world monetary system left aside the “gold standard”, and we went on to have a currency backed, solely and exclusively, by government imposition, with no real intrinsic value.  

This monetary system, called fiat or fiduciary, only has value because governments have forced it to be so by decree. 

And, of course, because we citizens have decided to obey. 

It only has value because we all obey and believe it should have value. Its value is based, solely and exclusively, on popular belief. 

However, the traditional or fiat monetary system has a terrible problem: It gives absolute power to central banks to print banknotes in an uncontrolled manner. 

When banknotes are printed uncontrollably, inflation is created. Printing banknotes does not mean creating wealth, quite the opposite: printing banknotes means stealing wealth from citizens, diluting existing wealth. 

Let’s look at it with an example: Let’s say that there are currently 1 billion euros in circulation in Spain, and that a loaf of bread costs 1€. To get out of the coronavirus crisis, the European Central Bank decides to put an additional 1 billion euros into circulation, doubling the amount of money in circulation. Is Spain now twice as rich? Not at all, the wealth of the country will remain the same, only the value of money has been diluted: The loaf of bread that used to cost €1 will now be worth twice as much. The citizen who had €1,000 saved in the bank has just seen the value of his money decrease by half. The State has just robbed him of half of his savings. 

Money printing dilutes the value of money in circulation. Money printing is nothing more than a strategy of central banks to steal wealth from the citizen, to impoverish him even more. One need only look at the cases of Venezuela and Argentina. 

At this point, any reader will understand the inevitable need for an alternative monetary system, which is not under the clutches of states and governments, which is not manipulable and which does not leave citizens disempowered.

As a counterpoint to the monetary scenario we have presented, Bitcoin appeared. However, it is quite possible that before investing in Bitcoin you are still asking yourself: but what really gives Bitcoin value ?

In recent years the mainstream media have repeated ad nauseam that Bitcoin was nothing more than a bubble, equating it, without any basis whatsoever, to the tulip bubble and other great bubbles in history. 

In fact, according to Bitcoin Obituaries5, the media have “killed” Bitcoin a total of 397 times, sentencing that it was pure speculation, a bubble, a fad… Articles and opinions that have certainly not aged well at all and that were written by someone who had no idea what he was dealing with.

What many today have not come to understand is that Bitcoin, like many other markets and financial assets, has a cyclical behavior. Its natural and healthy growth consists of sharp rises followed by not-so-sharp falls.

Most financial assets have a cyclical behavior, including large technology companies, gold or silver, or even commodities such as coffee.

The natural growth cycle of Bitcoin has its own peculiarities and idiosyncrasies, but fortunately our has already been studied enough today and we can draw on it to find out if right now is a good time to invest in Bitcoin.

As of the writing of this article, Bitcoin has gone through three complete growth cycles, and we are on the verge of the fourth. In each cycle the Bitcoin price grows exponentially. In fact to represent such cycles of Bitcoin a logarithmic scale is required, because with a linear standard one they cannot be properly appreciated. 

In the following graph you can see the Bitcoin growth cycles, which consist of months of strong rise in the price followed by slight declines (called corrections):

Something of great interest that we draw from analyzing the Bitcoin growth cycles with perspective is that the current moment we are in (marked with the red marker in the image above) is an exceptionally good time to invest in Bitcoin. 

At this point, and before investing in Bitcoin, you will probably want to dig further into the predictive models that project the Bitcoin price to the levels we discussed a few paragraphs above. 

As we mentioned in the introduction, the best known and most respected model for the accuracy it has demonstrated is the Stock to Flow (S2F, hereafter). It is an adaptation of pre-existing models used to predict the price of commodities such as gold, silver or palladium, all of them–including Bitcoin–with a peculiarity in common: they have a limited amount of supply. 

As you may recall, the maximum number of Bitcoins that can be mined is 21 million, and currently 18.5 million of that total have already been “released”. Clearly, if demand continues to increase as it has so far, supply will not be enough to meet it. By law of supply and demand the only solution to that equation is for the price to grow to the levels posited by the S2F6 model. 

The S2F model is far more complex than what we have described here7, as it takes into account other intrinsic variables in Bitcoin, such as the halvings, the Bitcoins that have been lost, the cryptocurrencies that are available in circulation, the Bitcoin phase changes and clusters… However, it is too complex a mathematical model to deal with in detail in this article. 

Since the anonymous institutional investor known as PlanB published this mathematical model a couple of years ago the price of Bitcoin has continued to grow following the proposed pattern with astonishing accuracy. In fact, due to the accuracy of this model, S2F is considered to be the most accurate predictive model we have for predicting the price of Bitcoin.  The most relevant aspect of this model is that it considers that in the fifth Bitcoin growth cycle it will reach an estimated price of $288,000, while in the medium term (in 2026, approximately) it could surpass $1,000,000. 

The S2F model might not have much relevance in isolation were it not for the fact that analysts from large investment funds agree, in whole or in part, in their predictions for the price of Bitcoin. 

The renowned investment bank JP Morgan published this past January its estimates on the price of Bitcoin, placing it in the medium term above $146,000, “because Bitcoin already competes with gold”8. 

The same financial analysts at the American firm were saying a few days later that, as soon as Bitcoin manages to breach the $40,000 barrier, “it is very unlikely to go back below those levels”9. 

In the same vein in late 2020 an internal document from Wall Street giant Citibank was leaked, in which its analysts estimated that Bitcoin could reach $300,000 by the end of 202110, and called the dominant cryptocurrency “the gold of the 21st century”. 

Chamath Palihapitiya, the well-known billionaire investor, has no hesitation in placing the Bitcoin price at $200,000 in the medium term. “How long will it take? I don’t know, maybe 5 or 10 years, but it will get to that price,” he explains11.

Max Keiser, a financial analyst and Wall Street veteran who has managed to predict the price of Bitcoin with great accuracy, estimates that Bitcoin will reach $220,000 later this year: “With the hashrate reaching new highs, the 2021 target is $220,000.”12. 

In these paragraphs we have synthesized some of the most popular and relevant forecasts for anyone who wants to invest in Bitcoin. However, we could go on listing many more. The important thing in this regard is to understand that in the financial world there is consensus on one aspect: Bitcoin will continue to grow by leaps and bounds and exponentially; this has only just begun.  

A few years ago there was much talk that when institutions (large banks, corporations, businesses and government entities) adopt Bitcoin there will be a point of no return in their growth. 

That distant horizon is today. 

While we were writing this article the news that Tesla had bought $1.5 billion in Bitcoin and that Elon Musk’s company was going to allow its customers to pay with this dominant cryptocurrency13 was made public. This news has propelled the price of Bitcoin to $48,000, a tipping point that will most likely mean we will never see Bitcoin below $40,000 again.

What does it mean that Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has decided to put a part of Tesla’s treasury in Bitcoin? That many more companies are going to follow this path. 

Tesla has not been the first, other companies such as Microstrategy, Square or Paypal have been buying Bitcoins massively for months and trying not to make much noise. 

Big investment funds and institutional investors such as Grayscale, Morgan Stanley, ARK Investments or Rothschild Investment own Bitcoin, directly or indirectly. As reported by Bloomberg a year ago, almost 40% of US and European banking institutions already own Bitcoin or derivative products14. (Today it is very likely that this percentage has already surpassed 50%). In the US even retirement funds are starting to invest in Bitcoin15. 

All the Bitcoin buyers we’ve listed (and many others we haven’t mentioned) have been buying Bitcoin in excess of the available supply for months. There is no Bitcoin for everyone, and the market’s way of regulating supply shortage and excess demand is to continuously and steadily increase prices.  

The massive irruption of institutional investors brings innumerable benefits to the Bitcoin ecosystem. First of all, it acts by stabilizing the system, taking away volatility (sudden changes in price), while fostering continuous growth in the price of the dominant cryptocurrency. 

In short, the institutional breakthrough in Bitcoin has caused the market to mature by leaps and bounds. Gone are those days when Bitcoin could drop 40% in hours due to the weakness of a market primarily made up of retail investors. Institutional investors are “strong hands”, buy to hold and are not driven by cycles or one-off news. 

Institutional irruption is synonymous with stability, growth and maturity. 

At this point of the article you are probably already aware that we are living a paradigm shift, a historical moment. We have no doubt that in the not too distant future society will be divided between those who own Bitcoin and those who do not have such a privilege. 

By way of summary, we would like to summarize the advantages that investing in Bitcoin can offer us in the middle of 2021:

According to the mathematical models and forecasts we have seen in this article the price of Bitcoin will in the short term be above six figures, while in the medium term we can expect it to exceed a quarter of a million dollars. 

We are talking about potential medium-term returns located between 150% and 500%. What other asset or investment can give such high potential returns? .

And we are not talking about “optimistic” forecasts. 

We are talking about history: Bitcoin has been, most probably, the most profitable investment we have ever had at our disposal for years. In the last 2 years it has given a return of +1,187%. In the last 5, of +10,536% (yes, ten thousand percent). In the month and a half so far in 2021 Bitcoin has already given a return of over +60%. 

Those who right now believe that it is already too late to invest in Bitcoin imagine what they will think when its price exceeds a quarter of a million dollars. 

In recent months we have witnessed the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank moving towards experimental monetary policies based on quantitative easing .

The Western central banks that control the euro and the dollar have decided that the solution to get out of the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 is to print more money to inject into the economies.

As is evident and we have already seen in this article, wealth cannot be created out of thin air. Printing money is not a solution to move the economy forward, quite the contrary: it only devalues currencies and steals purchasing power from citizens.

This experimental and historically unprecedented solution – widely criticized by large sectors of society – has begun to devalue the price of the dollar and the euro and is putting economies at risk of hyperinflation.

In the US, 35% of all dollars in circulation have been printed in the last 10 months16. The Federal Reserve printed more bills in a single month than in 2 entire centuries17.  

In the face of this unprecedented manipulation by Western governments and central banks investing in Bitcoin is not a possibility; it is imperative to protect our purchasing power and grow our wealth.

No government or entity in the world will be able to “print” more Bitcoins or manipulate their value. Bitcoin is, let us remember, an unmanipulable and deflationary currency: it was designed to increase in value with each passing day.

For many investing in Bitcoin has a clear ideological component. Investing in Bitcoin means embracing the paradigm shift we are living, it means repudiating the current monetary system manipulated and controlled by the powerful to evolve towards a fairer, more equitable, unmanipulable and decentralized monetary and store of value system. 

Investing in Bitcoin today also represents being part of a minority of early adopters. Although it may seem that Bitcoin has already intensely penetrated society we are still at a relatively early stage; it may seem to be late, but a look with perspective shows us otherwise. 

And as has happened in the past with other advances, early adopters usually benefit from being pioneers in embracing a new technology. As of this writing, it is estimated that 100 million people own Bitcoin18, representing just 1.32% of humanity. It is estimated that only 0.01% of humanity owns more than 1 BTC19.

It seems plausible to think that in the not too distant future society will be divided between two types of individuals: those who have been able to accumulate considerable amounts of Bitcoin, and those who have not.

Bitcoin may represent an unparalleled wealth redistribution opportunity: but only for those willing to pay attention to it and determined to undertake the movement. Elon Musk, one of today’s most privileged and visionary minds, seems to have realized just in time.  

Investing in Bitcoin, although relatively simple nowadays, is not a risk-free activity. For now we still can not go to our traditional bank to make the management, and there are many scams that aim to trap the unwary. 

Similarly, we find a multitude of exchanges located in tax havens, China or in places that do not require any type of regulation and do not offer any guarantee to the customer. 

One of the few reliable alternatives we found is the broker eToro.com , one of the most well-known and widely used exchanges worldwide. Based in London and authorized by the CySEC, the FCA (the UK Financial Authority) and the CNMV, it is the favorite choice of more than 20 million investors worldwide. It’s fast, it’s easy and it has the guarantees required by the European Union.

eToro.com, with all the European regulations and guarantees required, is the only exchange we can recommend to our readers without reservation. In addition eToro.com allows you to add funds instantly via Paypal, credit card or SEPA bank transfer, among others. 

Creating an account at eToro.com takes no more than 5 minutes and is completely free:

For your convenience, you can log in with your Facebook account. Once we have entered our data, we will arrive at the following screen:

In the bottom left corner, we click on the “Deposit funds” button. It will take us to the next screen:

We enter the amount we want to deposit. In our case we start with a deposit of £10.000. eToro works with US Dollars ($), so the deposit we make in $ will be automatically converted to US Dollars. We recommend starting with small amounts, in the order of £500 or £1,000. There is always time to invest more money.

In this screen we will have to select the payment method. We can choose between depositing funds by credit card, bank transfer, Paypal… In our case we choose Paypal as it is a very safe payment method that offers protection to the buyer.

With the deposit made, we click on the left menu “Instruments”. In the next screen we will find several cryptocurrencies to invest in:

In our case, to buy Bitcoins, we search for the symbol BTC and click on “Buy”. The following window will open:

We enter the amount we want to buy at this very moment ($1.000 in our case) and click on “Open Trade”. And at that very moment, We are already the proud buyers of a portion of Bitcoin equivalent to $1.000!

It should be added that, of course, eToro also offers us the option to sell the Bitcoins when we decide that the time has come to liquidate our investment and take the potential profits. At that moment our cryptocurrencies will be sold at the market price and the dollars from closing the transaction will appear in our account. And not only that, but eToro also offers the possibility of “betting” down through orders known as short sell: These orders allow us to profit from an asset that is in decline.

Generally speaking there is no minimum amount to invest in Bitcoin. Most investment platforms allow us to buy fractions of Bitcoin, which allows small investors to trade with ease. In the case of eToro the minimum to invest in Bitcoin is $25 (or the equivalent in euros or pounds).

Years ago eToro.com did not offer real cryptocurrencies to its customers. Instead, it offered CFD (Contracts for Difference, a derivative product) on cryptocurrencies. However, they have long offered real cryptocurrencies .

Of course not, you can buy fractions of bitcoin. Just as the euro has smaller units (cents), the Bitcoin also has smaller parts: the so-called satoshis. Each Bitcoin contains 100 million satoshis, so at the time of writing this article 1,000 satoshis is equivalent to about €0.38. 

Any investment, whatever the product, carries risks. And Bitcoin, like any other investment, is not without risk. However, if we decide to invest in this dominant cryptocurrency through a regulated broker registered with the National Securities Market Commission, we will be able to reduce the potential risks of the operation. On the other hand, we believe that Bitcoin has entered a period of maturation, with lower volatility and fewer sharp drops, creating a more favorable scenario for investors seeking greater stability.

Bitcoinist | Nov 16, 2020 | 11:35

The holiday season is quickly approaching. With social distancing measures still in place in many places, along with new restrictions on get-togethers over a certain capacity, giving gifts is certainly going to be far more challenging. 

However, using CoinsBee and cryptocurrencies, one can purchase gift cards easily and then send them to loved ones with little to no effort. Read our review to find out how CoinsBee is reshaping the holiday shopping season and redefining the gifting culture.

Initially buying a gift card would require a trip to a brick and mortar store where a card valued in specific denominations were made available around the holidays.

The explosion of e-commerce platforms transformed gift cards and made them something that also offers additional value for customers.

Today finance itself is moving increasingly toward the digital age. Bitcoin and altcoins are now nearly as mainstream as dollars and cents. But using them isn’t always so easy, until recently.

More and more companies are emerging that let users spend cryptocurrencies or use them in some way. DeFi allows users to lend and borrow, and platforms like CoinsBee encourage adoption and usage over just holding alone. 

CoinsBee lets users buy gift cards from over 500 major brands and retailers, ranging from the biggest and the best to smaller platforms with niche followings.

Rather than letting BTC or altcoins sit in a wallet only to sell someday, crypto holders can now use some of their digital coins and contribute to the growing ecosystem, all while getting something in return.

The gift cards themselves don’t have to be given as gifts and instead can allow crypto holders to turn their coins into cards for services like the PlayStation Store, Steam, Xbox Live, and more.

Value cards for mobile phone credits are also in abundance, as are general payment cards like VISA or Mastercard debit cards. A full range of eCommerce gift vouchers, certificates, and cards for companies like Apple, Amazon, Netflix, and Spotify make sure that all the most popular services and stores are covered, and then some.

CoinsBee offers gift card purchases from more than 500 different vendors, and more are being added regularly. In just a few clicks, users can buy from any of the supported partners, using any of the supported coins.

Crypto assets that Coinsbee covers include Bitcoin (with Lightning Network support), Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, Tron, Bitcoin Cash, Nano, DAI, USDT, Travala, and a total of over 50 different cryptocurrencies. 

Users considering CoinsBee to assist with their holiday shopping this season or just want to convert some crypto into gift cards for themselves can rest assured they will receive high service standards, according to user reviews. 

CoinsBee is highly rated with a 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and is recommended by several crypto industry veterans. After trying it ourselves, we can confidently say that for anyone looking to buy gift cards with crypto, CoinsBee is the destination.

Visit the CoinsBee website to learn more and see the full list of supported coins and a list of partner brands where users can purchase gift cards.

Disclaimer: The information presented here does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author/company and do not represent those of Bitcoinist. We strongly advise our readers to DYOR before investing in any cryptocurrency, blockchain project, or ICO, particularly those that guarantee profits. Furthermore, Bitcoinist does not guarantee or imply that the cryptocurrencies or projects published are legal in any specific reader’s location. It is the reader’s responsibility to know the laws regarding cryptocurrencies and ICOs in his or her country.

PRESS RELEASE. ZelaaPayAE, with a vision to build and improve the financial structure, introduces a Crypto Debit Card with the ability to be swiped not just in UAE but also globally.

Partnering with Baanx, ZelaaPayAE is providing Mastercard enabled Debit Card featuring personalized cards with a low monthly fee and extreme accountability. What makes it stand out is the true ability to support a unique 5 multicurrency BIN which would enable you to spend in 8 currencies (USD, CNY, JPY, GBP, and others) with Mastercard Spot price i.e., Zero Forex mark up.

The Fundamental utility is not in the FX or global transaction, it is its ability to support ZPAE, DGB, KLV, TRX, and BTC. Making transacting from Cryptocurrency to Fiat a breeze, there are many crypto to fiat debit cards out there but they eventually require you to preload them. Omnibus Account Framework for ZelaaPayAE Debit Card by Baanx allows you to just seamlessly spend without having to preload, through APIs for seamless spending thus promoting the transactional framework in a way how a transaction in its truest form should be.

Swipe Wallet’s card functions in a similar way but SXP stakes are required and also most of the categories have FX markups. Catching up this trend Crypto.com and Binance are not too far behind, offering crypto debit cards but yet again lacking the proprietary tech and the omnibus Account framework and personalization ability. Swipe, Binance, and Crypto.com have VISA-enabled debit cards thus the usage gets restricted in some regions.

ZelaaPayAE stacks above both of them in terms of global coverage (being partnered with Mastercard, Visa and China Union Pay through Baanx; thus, unrestricted global usage). Providing the flexibility of a virtual card and removing the need to preload the card, ZelaaPayAE have managed to make innovation as customer-centric as possible.

Baanx has a successful track record of catering to a high potential fin-tech market and is also working with the project of the visionary Akon, Akoin.

The real standing out feature is and will always be ZelaaPayAE’s vision to build the infrastructure for the future of transaction and money. The ability to bridge the gap between fiat and crypto on top of having it backed by technology, belief, and Vision, ZelaaPayAE x Baanx Debit cards have and will always manage to stay at the forefront of Innovation in Financial Services.

Media contact: info@zelaapay.ae

This is a press release. Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to the promoted company or any of its affiliates or services. Bitcoin.com is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in the press release.

Use Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash to play online casino games here.

PRESS RELEASE. Amon, known for their innovative app that aims to make using digital currencies stress-free, will soon release their debit card in 31 EEA countries.

The company, which recently got approval to release a crypto debit card, is currently fundraising on the online platform that facilitates investments in FinTech, blockchain, and bitcoin companies, BnkToTheFuture.

Amon has so far raised over $470.000 in equity funding and is backed by a large Hungarian Bank and a VC. Amon is still fundraising on BnkToTheFuture for a few more days.

Since its inception in April 2018, Amon has onboarded two institutional investors -MKB Bank (the fourth largest bank in Hungary) and Digital Magics, a VC that invests in innovative FinTechs.

They have been developing Amon Wallet which integrates fiat, crypto, and several other products to support user spending and investing. The Wallet offers different solutions to ease crypto adoption such as:

Coming up soon are:

An Ethical Token Utility to support charities

What are the main value propositions?

With the green light for the card launch, Amon is set to become an important player in a market that is still widely underserved, considering going by the massive growth of crypto users in of the past years (from five million in 2016 5 to 46 million crypto users from 2016 to by 2018 according to a Cambridge University Study).

Amon is also launching an Investment Assistant which its CEO, Daniele Izzo, says that “will support users in their investments and spending decisions.” says the CEO, Daniele Izzo. The Amon Investment Assistant is a tool that will help new and existing crypto users to understand crypto trends, compare volatility and get a risk score to each user’s Portfolio. This information will help users to balance their portfolio in a more or less risk averse position.

Celsius.Network is also actively supporting Amon fundraising on their Twitter showing Amon as one of their first partners. The integration of the Wallet with the Card will then allow users to earn passive interests and spend them within the same Wallet.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, here you can find their pitch on BnkToTheFuture.

This is a press release. Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to the promoted company or any of its affiliates or services. Bitcoin.com is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in the press release.

Spot-markets for Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Litecoin and more. Start your trading here.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), one of the largest banking institutions in Japan, is set to launch its high-speed blockchain payment network with the U.S.-based tech firm Akamai in 2021.  MUFG and Akamai aim to provide cheaper and more efficient payment services via their joint venture Global Open Network (GO-NET). The network will integrate payment terminals from electronic device manufacturer Seiko Holdings with the bank’s credit card company MUFG NICOS in February, CoinDesk Japan reported. GO-NET initially announced the launch of the payment services to be in the first half of 2020.  The network also plans in July of next year to start a service allowing customers to buy canned and bottled beverages at some vending machines in Japan by placing a credit card on a machine reader. GO-NET said its payment platform can process 100,000 transactions per second, which exceeds Visa’s processing capacity of about 70,000 per second. According to GO-NET, the platform can be expanded to reach as high as 10 million transactions per second for small payments. By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk products and you agree to our terms & conditions and privacy policy.Read more: ZenGo Joins Visa Fast Track Program to Get Non-Custodial Crypto Card Off the Ground  Founded in May 2018, GO-NET is a joint venture between MUFG and Akamai, with the bank owning 80% of the firm’s stake. The collaboration between the two companies in developing the payment platform started as early as 2016, according to CoinDesk Japan.  While MUFG can leverage its existing financial services to increase the adoption of the network, Akamai helps GO-NET build its infrastructure with around 280,000 servers in 136 countries and the blockchain technology that comes with a native wallet. MUFG has been working on its own digital currency, MUFG Coin, for several years. It is unclear if the blockchain payment network is related to the bank’s coin initiative.  GO-NET expects the payment services to be fully functional across Japan by the summer of 2022.  PaymentsJapanBlockchainMUFGDisclosureThe leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups.What is undefined?

Bitcoinist | Dec 23, 2020 | 17:25

Trusted global cryptocurrency exchange and trading platform, Huobi, has announced that it is celebrating the end of 2020 and the coming New Year with special Huobi Happy New Year Activities that will start on December 24th, 2020 and end on January 6th, 2021. They will include daily awards, over 400 gifts, and a lucky draw game with a $1 million jackpot to award.

Here are all the details about how to join in on Huobi’s New Year celebration and potentially end this challenging year on a much more positive note. 

The first way to win is the Trade, Spin, and Get Daily Awards Activity. For your chance to participate, simply engage in regular spot trading activity between December 24, 2020, through January 6, 2021, to earn a “spin” on Huobi’s Happy New Year Wheel of Fortune. 

The larger the trading volume, the more spins. For example, 100 – 1000 USDT earns one spin, while 1000 – 10,000 USDT earns two, and 10,000 USDT above gets three spins and chances to win daily awards through the Huobi Point Card and HUSD Airdrops.

Spins can be earned at a maximum of three per day and must be used that day to access the daily awards offered. Each day, the amount of spins earned is refreshed and must be earned again.

To access a chance to open a Treasure Chest containing a gift, follow the same rules above to earn daily rewards and opportunities to spin the Wheel of Fortune. Users who spin the wheel ten times between December 24, 2020, through January 5, 2021, get a chance to win a spin on the final Wheel of Fortune containing Treasure Chests.  Treasure Chests are opened and prizes awarded in real-time.

Finally, Huobi will soon debut a “Trade USDT-Margined Swaps To Win $1 Million Lucky Draw Activity where users can be the lucky winner of a life-changing $1 million.  

All campaigns are limited to Huobi users who have passed ID verification and meet any of the above trading volume requirements. For those who haven’t yet signed up to Huobi, they’re also offering a $170 welcome bonus to encourage more investors to take part in the New Year celebration. For more information, please visit huobi.com.

Disclaimer: The information presented here does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author/company and do not represent those of Bitcoinist. We strongly advise our readers to DYOR before investing in any cryptocurrency, blockchain project, or ICO, particularly those that guarantee profits. Furthermore, Bitcoinist does not guarantee or imply that the cryptocurrencies or projects published are legal in any specific reader’s location. It is the reader’s responsibility to know the laws regarding cryptocurrencies and ICOs in his or her country.

The trouble with many current DeFi projects is that while they eliminate traditional institutions from the mix, they instead transfer ultimate control over to a select group of insiders who have their financial motives and agendas. It’s an arrangement that’s ripe for abuse, and something that should be anathema to anyone who believes in the real promise of DeFi. But now, there’s a DeFi solution that’s on a mission to deliver where so many others have failed. It’s called the Defito (DTO), and Defi Shopping Stake (DSS) is designed to be a platform that is a Bridge between Defi and E-Commerce. About DTO: A DTO token controls the Defito Ecosystem. Defito is a decentralized finance (Defi) platform with the goal of providing a solution for Defi to access e-commerce such as : DTO is the native token in the Defito platform. Users can earn it by contributing liquidity to Defito’s liquidity pool and use the token for Platform Governance and Online Shopping. About DSS (Defi Shopping Stake): We are proud to introduce DSS to the public for the first time. We believe that the Defi Shopping Stake (DSS) model will be used more widely in e-commerce companies in the near future. DSS is a Defi-oriented enhancement of the Loyalty program system. As usual, each customer will have to show loyalty cards (also known as Rewards cards, Points cards, or Club cards) and Present them after each successful purchase (including online shopping) to collect the Reward Points. From now on, each wallet address used for payment will automatically be used for bonus recognition after each order is completed. The customer’s rewards points will be recognized with the smart contract and available for Spending at any time. Burn Mechanism & Governance Token Vote: The community has some right to vote for a burning token from the shopping treasury. If they want token keep for further development of the reward system or Burning for the growing value of DSS. Burn Mechanism Governance How to Stabilize DSS Value? – The number of DSS tokens generated by staking and mining is limited. – If the community votes for DSS token burning, the number of tokens will become scarce. – When the amount of tokens in the shopping fund is burned. A further amount of tokens will be repurchased from the market. This process continued over time and will significantly increase the DSS value. About Uquid: On May 28, 2020, the digital currency and blockchain company Uquid has announced that the Uquid Shop is now live and accepting cryptocurrencies like bitcoin cash for payments. The team at Uquid has dubbed the market the “world’s biggest digital shop for crypto users is ready to launch with 30,000 digital products.” To know more, visit: defi.uquid.com This is a press release. Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to the promoted company or any of its affiliates or services. Bitcoin.com is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in the press release. FINANCE | 2 hours ago FINANCE | 6 hours ago Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, DeFi, DeFi Shopping Stake, Defito, Defito Finance, DSS, DTO, e-commerce, Uqid Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Purchase Bitcoin without visiting a cryptocurrency exchange. Buy BTC and BCH .

The Cryptocurrency space is on fire once again as the price of Bitcoin rages to new all-time highs, flying higher in recent days to surpass levels last seen at its mania highs in December 2017.

The big catalyst fueling the move is clear: mainstream acceptance and integration signaled by recent moves from PayPal and Square to start investing in and using Bitcoin, which has legitimated the cryptocurrency space and thesis, branding it as a viable alternative asset for mainstream use as a medium of exchange and as an inflation hedge for asset allocators and money managers.

Since news emerged from PayPal in October, Bitcoin has ramped over 65% higher as major investors and money managers began diversifying both growth and inflation-hedge capital into the market in a FOMO sprint that has reignited the speculative juices lying dormant for the past 3 years.

While traders and investors are chasing the coins, the smart money may well be looking at the relatively small number of publicly traded companies with ties to the crypto space as a secondary play on the action. The risk-reward ratio may be more interesting given that some of these stocks have only just started to react and reprice. Those with current or approaching real operations tied to the crypto space may be seeing a tangible and large jump in fundamental value driven by the increase in the price of Bitcoin that has yet to be priced into shares.

With that in mind, we take a look at some of the more interesting names in the space, including: Square Inc (NYSE:SQ), Riot Blockchain Inc (NASDAQ:RIOT), ISW Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS:ISWH), and HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd (OTCMKTS:HVBTF).

Square Inc (NYSE:SQ) provides payment and point-of-sale solutions in the United States and internationally. The company’s commerce ecosystem includes point-of-sale software and hardware that enables sellers to turn mobile and computing devices into payment and point-of-sale solutions.

It offers hardware products, including Magstripe reader, which enables swiped transactions of magnetic stripe cards; Contactless and chip reader that accepts Europay, MasterCard, and Visa (EMV) chip cards and Near Field Communication payments; Chip card reader, which accepts EMV chip cards and enables swiped transactions of magnetic stripe cards; Square Stand, which enables an iPad to be used as a payment terminal or full point of sale solution; and Square Register that combines its hardware, point-of-sale software, and payments technology, as well as managed payments solutions.

Square Inc (NYSE:SQ) made big headlines back in October when it announced that it had purchased approximately 4,709 bitcoins at an aggregate purchase price of $50 million. Bitcoin was trading at just over $10k at the time, and it has already nearly doubled.

According to the company, Square believes that cryptocurrency is an instrument of economic empowerment and provides a way for the world to participate in a global monetary system, which aligns with the company’s purpose. The investment represents approximately one percent of Square’s total assets as of the end of the second quarter of 2020.

SQ shares are acting very well over the past five days, up about 8% in that timeframe. Shares of the stock have powered higher over the past month, rallying roughly 36% in that time on strong overall action.

Square Inc (NYSE:SQ) pulled in sales of $3B in its last reported quarterly financials, representing top line growth of 139.6%. In addition, the company is battling some balance sheet hurdles, with cash levels struggling to keep up with current liabilities ($2.9B against $3.8B, respectively).

Riot Blockchain Inc (NASDAQ:RIOT) is a well-known player in the crypto space. The company specializes in cryptocurrency mining with a focus on bitcoin. Riot also holds non-controlling investments in blockchain technology companies.

Riot is headquartered in Castle Rock, Colorado, and the Company’s primary mining facility is located in Massena, New York under a colocation agreement with Coinmint.

Riot Blockchain Inc (NASDAQ:RIOT) most recently announced that Hubert Marleau has been appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors, effective today, to fill the previously announced vacancy.

According to the company’s release, Mr. Marleau, age 76, is a veteran capital markets professional, corporate director, and Chair of the Marleau Lecture Series on Economic and Monetary Policy at the University of Ottawa. Currently, he serves as Chief Economist at Palos Management, a boutique investment management firm headquartered in Montreal, Canada. In addition to a career in the capital markets that has spanned over five decades, Mr. Marleau has previously served as a Governor of the Montreal and Vancouver stock exchanges, and as a Director of the Listing Committee for the Toronto Stock Exchange and Director of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada (now known as IIROC).

If you’re long this stock, then you’re liking how the stock has responded to the announcement. RIOT shares have been moving higher over the past week overall, pushing about 41% to the upside on above average trading volume. Shares of the stock have powered higher over the past month, rallying roughly 158% in that time on strong overall action.

Riot Blockchain Inc (NASDAQ:RIOT) generated sales of $2.5M, according to information released in the company’s most recent quarterly financial report. That adds up to a sequential quarter-over-quarter growth rate of 26.8% on the top line. In addition, the company has a strong balance sheet, with cash levels far exceeding current liabilities ($39.1M against $1.3M).

ISW Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS:ISWH) is clearly the most speculative name on this list, but it may also be the most underpriced relative to its positioning and recent catalysts. The company formed a partnership with Bit5ive over the summer vaulting it into a very interesting narrative under the radar in the crypto space.

ISWH recently announced that its new Proceso, Pod5ive datacenter pod, which is capable of driving Megawatt-level cryptocurrency computational mining power, has been fully assembled and is now ready for shipment to the 100 MW renewable energy Bit5ive LLC cryptocurrency mining project based in Pennsylvania.

“The job now is about bringing in revenues from participation in the Bit5ive Pennsylvania project while simultaneously building a track record for the Proceso, Pod5ive Data Center Pods as a global best-in-class solution for mining facilities around the world,” remarked Alonzo Pierce, President and Chairman of ISW Holdings. “We have begun sourcing partnerships in this endeavor, and we feel our technology division has an extremely bright future ahead in step with the growing success of Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency space.”

ISW Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS:ISWH) followed that up this morning with news that it is negotiating with its noteholders toward the establishment of a new agreement that will form the foundation for its emerging anti-dilution policy designed to protect the value of its common stock and return more of that value to its shareholders.

According to the release, the current negotiation contemplates an agreement whereby noteholders will exchange their notes for preferred restricted shares, reducing debt on the balance sheet and protecting shareholders against dilution. While this arrangement is not yet currently in place, the company is making active strides toward establishing it in principle as a template for future funding rounds going forward. In addition, to augment this step, the company has already begun to cancel out restricted shares in a process that it believes will lead to more than 8 million shares (nearly 25% of the company’s outstanding shares) being returned back to treasury.

“We are moving toward the commercial launch of our Cryptocurrency segment, which was established this summer through our partnership with Bit5ive, LLC,” noted Pierce. “We also continue to see very strong tangible growth in our Home and Telehealth Healthcare segment, where we just posted strong top and bottom-line data for Q3 and where we are already on pace to post new record numbers to close out the year. As these efforts get off the ground, we want to take steps now to ensure that the value we are creating confers to our common shareholders. In short, we are determined to keep the share structure attractive to investors while bringing in solid and growing revenues.”

ISW Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS:ISWH) has demonstrated rapid topline growth in its home healthcare operations with six consecutive quarters of sharp sequential growth. Its most recent quarter put the company on an annual run-rate to pull in more than $1.5 million in revenues not counting what appears to be significant growth brewing in its Proceso cryptocurrency mining and mining equipment segment over coming months. That could have huge implications for a stock now trading on a market cap of just over $1 million.

HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd (OTCMKTS:HVBTF) trumpets itself as a growth oriented, TSX.V-listed company building a bridge from the blockchain sector to traditional capital markets.

HIVE owns state-of-the-art green energy-powered data centre facilities in Canada, Sweden, and Iceland which produce newly minted digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum continuously on the cloud. Its deployments provide shareholders with exposure to the operating margins of digital currency mining as well as a portfolio of crypto-coins.

HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd (OTCMKTS:HVBTF) recently announced that it has entered into a non-binding, exclusive memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GPU.One Holding Inc. (GPU.One) to expand HIVEs Canadian footprint through the potential purchase of GPU Atlantic Inc. (GPU Atlantic).

“We are excited about this opportunity for HIVE to expand our Canadian footprint through the acquisition of this data centre campus which has access to 50 megawatts (MW) of low-cost green power in Grand Falls, New Brunswick,” said Frank Holmes, Interim Executive Chairman of HIVE. “Mr. Holmes added, Further, and important to building our vision, is the GPU.One team of young, skilled and proven data centre professionals with deep high density data centre build out and maintenance experience who will take on executive positions within HIVEs organization.”

The context for this announcement is a bit of a bid, with shares acting well over the past five days, up about 75% in that timeframe.

HIVE Blockchain Technologies Ltd (OTCMKTS:HVBTF) managed to rope in revenues totaling $9.1M in overall sales during the company’s most recently reported quarterly financial data — a figure that represents a rate of top line growth of -25.3%, as compared to year-ago data in comparable terms. In addition, the company is battling some balance sheet hurdles, with cash levels struggling to keep up with current liabilities ($10.6M against $13M, respectively).

This article is part of JournalTranscript.com Networks. Read the JournalTranscript.com Networks Disclaimer.