Monday, September 30, 2019

Central Banks in Panic Mode

Central banks around the world continue to pump more stimulus into the economy as they anticipate the beginning of a new financial crisis. In the context of a sluggish economy, loosening of currencies, negative interest rates and ‘normalisation, the balance sheet is the name of today's game. Now central banks are contemplating more unique monetary policy methods such as helicopter money to save the economy.





and Now Helicopter Money





The reserve banks are trying to guide the economy in the hope that they can avoid a financial crisis. There is a domino effect of monetary easing in which at least 19 central banks have cut interest rates, joined large-scale asset purchases, cut reserve ratios, bought debt securities and pumped billions. dollars into specific markets. For example, in the third week of September, over a two-day period, the US Federal Reserve pumped about $ 128 billion into markets through an acquisition deal.





This month, ECB President Mario Draghi revealed that he started printing more money to buy financial assets. According to the report, Lagarde, Draghi and other ECB members discussed monetary policy methods such as macroeconomic concept (MMT) and helicopter money.





Helicopter money or direct financing is a form of monetary policy that begins when central banks transfer money directly to the private sector and even to taxpayers. Basically, this process could be a direct distribution of capital into the economy and some people have called this idea dividends of citizens. Many years ago, helicopter money was considered a kind of final program and was considered worse than quantitative easing.





Deutsche Bank: It could be highly effective if properly implemented





In June 2016, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) planned to use helicopter money to stimulate the economy. According to reports at that time, the Japanese central bank was considering reducing payments below $ 100 for low-income residents. A month later, BoJ decided not to use the helicopter approach, but instead approved a $ 274 billion stimulus package. In 2016, Japan became the first modern economy to print money for direct distribution. Right now, I think helicopter money is still on the table. Fast forward today, and bankers and economists are starting to believe that ideas like helicopter money and MMT are creative economic concepts.





A recent report by Deutsche Bank that argues about helicopter money and financial institutions says that because the economy is so bleak, central banks are planning to explore more unique policies. Need more stimulation in their arsenal. The recent report emphasises that central planners using direct delivery methods can promote consumerism and more spending. [Helicopter money] can be highly effective if properly deployed, Deutsche Bank points out.





Current Easing Is “Organic”





There are many signs that bankers and central planners are uninterested and panicked before the horrific recession. However, it is the central banks that have to blame for the confusion they have caused when there are about 15 trillion dollars of sovereign debt and negative sovereign debt worldwide. Income below 0% has frightened economists for believing that negative interest rates are never equivalent to strong monetary policy.





A liquidity crisis, slow economic growth and inflation are the main reasons why central banks are scrambling to fix the problem they see developing into a financial crisis. Back in 2008, similar methods were used in the beginning of the economic crisis where short-term yields were extremely volatile and banks began participating in overnight acquisitions. The Fed and many other banks have begun to upgrade their overnight acquisitions. Once again, central banks think printing stimulation and bailout are the only way to help the situation.





Source: Bitcoin




Tags: #CentralBanks, #FiatMoney

Source: https://xeonbit.com/central-banks-in-panic-mode/

Friday, September 27, 2019

Spyware on Crypto-wallets Via Telegram

Juniper Threat Labs discovered a new Trojan malware implementing on app Telegram. The malware will stole all victim's information. Under the name “Masad Clipper and Stealer” the spyware is capable of stealing a broad list of browsing data, including usernames, passwords, credit card information.





Moreover, the malware also includes a function that replaces cryptocurrency wallets from the clipboards with the one by the attacker’s party. According to the report, the spyware’s clipping supports a number of major cryptos such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), XRP, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Litecoin (LTC), among others.





Specifically, the malware uses Telegram as a Command and Control (CnC) channel, which reportedly allows the malware some anonymity. This malware is written using Autoit scripts and then compiled into a Windows executable, according to the report. After being installed, Masad Stealer starts by collecting sensitive information from the system like crypto wallet addresses, credit card browser data, PC and system information.





The security portal concluded that Masad Stealer is an active and ongoing threat Command and Control bots were still alive at the time of publication.





Meanwhile, Telegram released a wallet for its TON Blockchain’s native token Gram in the app’s alpha version for iOS on Sept. 26. On Sept. 24, Telegram announced a bug bounty competition within its new smart contract coding contest.





Source: CT




Tags: #Crypto, #Security

Source: https://xeonbit.com/spyware-on-crypto-wallets-via-telegram/

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Time To Buy When Bitcoin Price Index Turns Blood Red

Bitcoin (BTC) price dropped out of the descending triangle. Causing a level of extreme fear to spread throughout the entire crypto market. 





Bitcoin prices briefly slipped below $8,000 each on Thursday for the first time in three months. Though the cryptocurrency is still more than double its level at the start of 2019. What do these bold – and volatile – moves mean for the ecosystem?





David Nage discusses his views on this week’s price drop and whether price volatility in cryptocurrencies might turn off big investors.





Nage, who saw bitcoin’s price to be artificially bounded until this correction stated:





With bitcoin, where there’s potentially a drop. Obviously you can see it as a potential to buy.





Nage believes that as an asset bitcoin is akin to future-pointing equities like Netflix and Amazon. “We’re not in the business of price predictions,” said Nage.





If supply continues to get cut in half and the demand continues to rise, classical economics shows the price increases.





Catalysts for price action





And while the BTC’s halving set for release on May 15, 2020 is potentially bullish, both the technical and fundamental views point toward uncertain times ahead for BTC’s direction after its recent sell-off threw into question the long-term trend.




Tags:

Source: https://xeonbit.com/time-to-buy-when-bitcoin-price-index-turns-blood-red/

Is there any way to construct a transaction manually?

Yes, there is. It works a bit different than in Bitcoin due to Xeonbit specifics involving scanning for outputs with the view-key and checking the spent status by using key images.





First, we assume you have a fully-synced node and fully-refreshed watch-only wallet on the hot computer. Also, we assume you have wallet software on the cold computer (don't need the node, just xeonbit-wallet-cli).





  1. Using watch-only wallet, command export_outputs <filename>. There will be a file with <filename> created in the working folder*.
  2. Copy the file to the cold wallet computer.
  3. Using cold wallet, command import_outputs <filename>*. The cold wallet now has all the outputs and can prepare a signed key image for every one of them (unless something new was received after step 1. It won't display the correct balance because it can't check the spent status of the key images, as it is offline.

--- Stop here if you only want to monitor incoming transfers and don't care to see the correct balance and when something has been spent ---





  1. Using cold wallet, command export_key_images <filename>. There will be a file with <filename> created in the working folder*.
  2. Copy the file to the hot wallet computer.
  3. Using watch only wallet, command import_key_images <filename>*. The watch wallet is now aware of spent status for each output and it shows the correct balance (unless something new was received in the meantime, after step 1.

--- Stop here if you only want to monitor the balance with the watch only wallet. Goto 1. after each newly received funds. Continue for cold spending. ---





  1. Using watch only wallet and transfer command as you would normally, prepare an unsigned transaction. The syntax is the same as if it was a full wallet, but in this case the watch wallet will automatically save the TX to the unsigned_xeonbit_tx file* and a message Unsigned transaction(s) successfully written to file: unsigned_xeonbit_tx will be displayed.
  2. Copy the file to the cold wallet computer.
  3. Using cold wallet, command sign_transfer, to sign and export the transaction. Note that the wallet will look for the file to sign in the working folder*. The signed transaction will be automatically saved to the file* signed_xeonbit_tx and a message Transaction successfully signed to file signed_xeonbit_tx, txid ... will be displayed.
  4. Copy the file to the hot wallet computer.
  5. Using the watch wallet, command submit_transfer and the transaction will be sent to the network. The signed_xeonbit_tx file* must be located in the working folder so it can be found by the wallet. A message Money successfully sent, transaction: ... will be displayed.
  6. Goto 1. because you need the signed key image for the change output.

*Note on folders and file locations, as it could create some confusions. The wallet will look for the files and export them to the folder from where it was started, ie where your command prompt / shell was when you called xeonbit-wallet-cli. It may or may not be the same folder as your actual wallet files or xeonbit-wallet-cli, depending on how you go about it.





For example, your wallet could be on some USB drive like f:\temp\, and your wallet software on c:\xeonbit\ and your shell working folder could be c:\.





If you remain in c:\ with the shell, you could start the wallet by its full path and specify the wallet file location: c:\xeonbit\xeonbit-wallet-cli.exe --wallet-file f:\temp\mywallet. In this case, all the import/export stuff would be read/written to c:\ because that's still your shell's working folder.





It would be probably feel more natural to cd into the wallet folder. Do f: to change drive and then cd f:\temp\. Then, simply start the wallet from that location by its full path again: c:\xeonbit\xeonbit-wallet-cli.exe --wallet-file mywallet. Notice how you don't have to write the full wallet path now as you're already there with your shell. In this case, all the files mentioned above would be written or read from the same folder as the wallet files.




Tags: #HowTo

Source: https://xeonbit.com/is-there-any-way-to-construct-a-transaction-manually/

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

How to verify your funds with a private view key

To prevent your Xeonbit (XNB) funds from being stolen if your computer is hacked, you will probably want to keep some of your funds in long term offline cold storage.





In other words, you'd store your Xeonbit (XNB) in a wallet that you don't keep stored on your regular computer. You'd instead reboot to a freshly installed operating system that is unlikely to have any viruses, download the wallet software, disconnect your computer from the internet and create an offline wallet.





You'd then write the wallet seed down onto a piece of paper, delete the wallet from your computer and reboot.





Since your offline wallet will have never communicated with the internet, you'll want to check that your funds did really arrive to your offline wallet.





To do this, you will need to know your wallet's secret "view key" and your wallet's "address". At the time of writing, only the command line wallet can display your view key. To display your view key, run the command line wallet and type:[wallet WcB5AUY]: address WcB5AUYzHvHYUxgHfyKUed2LoVyzgVDoi2zRXpJpYZ1CVDXma9p1fzsDhTscVLogx1MFbSrKtz4KBEBcUSvWajyq2t6Kvjrvk[wallet WcB5AUYz]: viewkey secret: 8a881f323c5e43dc64cd8a648eda40be6d544acd9fbf8cbceca6d510d634a804 public: a0bc7f63eb578148a578167fabf3367f87a43ee601d9feda98c803c135c0b509The "secret" view key is what you will need. If the view key is ever disclosed, the worst that can happen is that someone will be able to view your funds. They will not be able to steal them.





Once you have the secret view key, you can create a new wallet that is only able to view funds on an internet-connected computer. This currently requires the command line version of Xeonbit (XNB). To create a command line wallet from your view key, do the following: (replace "myviewonlywallet" with the filename you'd like to use to save your wallet)





./xeonbit-wallet-cli --generate-from-view-key myviewonlywallet 




Xeonbit 'Dreizehnllium'' (v0.13.0.4-release) Logging at log level 0 to /root/xeonbit/./xeonbit-wallet-cli.log Restore from specific blockchain height (optional, default 0): 0 Standard address: WcB5AUYzHvHYUxgHfyKUed2LoVyzgVDoi2zRXpJpYZ1CVDXma9p1fzsDhTscVLogx1MFbSrKtz4KBEBcUSvWajyq2t6Kvjrvk View key: 8a881f323c5e43dc64cd8a648eda40be6d544acd9fbf8cbceca6d510d634a804 Enter a password for your new wallet: ********** Confirm Password: ********** Generated new wallet: WcB5AUYzHvHYUxgHfyKUed2LoVyzgVDoi2zRXpJpYZ1CVDXma9p1fzsDhTscVLogx1MFbSrKtz4KBEBcUSvWajyq2t6Kvjrvk Starting refresh... You can then use commands such as "balance" to check the contents of your view only wallet. You can also import the wallet file into your Xeonbit GUI to view the balance and transaction history there.





IMPORTANT: Using the steps outlined above, the view only wallet can ONLY be used to verify the amount of funds that have been sent to a wallet. If you spend your funds with a full wallet, your view only wallet will not reflect the decrease in funds. This is because Xeonbit's privacy mechanisms prevent anyone except an owner of a full wallet from knowing when funds have been spent. Therefore only rely on a view wallet to check when funds are received, and never rely on it to verify that funds have not been subsequently stolen.





There is a way to be able to monitor if you funds have been stolen using a view only wallet, and that requires you to export your 'key images' from your full wallet to your view only wallet. To do this, follow the clip.








Tags: #HowTo, #Viewkey

Source: https://xeonbit.com/how-to-verify-your-funds-with-a-private-view-key/

Bug Fix for Ransoming Malware WannaCryFake

Software firm Emsisoft released a bug fix for the bitcoin-ransoming malware WannaCryFake.





Announced today in a blog post, the free software will help recover encrypted files without leading to data loss.





Unlike real crypto-mining exploits, ransomware is dependent on extortion to reap a reward. Ransomware attacks increased 118 percent in 2019, equaling 504 new threats per minute, in the first quarter, according to a McAfee report.





WannaCryFake is a variant of the infamous WannaCry ransomware that targeted Microsoft computers in 2017. It locks victims’ files using AES-256, or the advanced encryption standard.





An infected victim will receive a message that says:





“You have to pay for decryption in bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us. After payment we will send you the tool that will decrypt all your files.”





Victims are instructed to contact the ransomware distributors through ProtonMail or Telegram, and are then provided steps on how to send bitcoin through Pidgin.





Though the virus suggests LocalBitcoin’s as the “easiest way to buy bitcoin,” it also sources beginners’ guide to bitcoin for users unfamiliar with the digital currency.





The malware also warns, “Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.”





Once downloaded, the Emsisoft Decryptor uses the encrypted file and the original unencrypted version to piece together the keys needed to decrypt locked data. Because the protocol uses filename extensions to determine the encryption parameters, users are instructed not to rename their files.





Emsisoft’s software allows users to keep a record of the decryption process by using the Save Log button.





In addition to an increase in bitcoin ransoming malware, crypto-jacking scams are up 29 percent in the first half of 2019, despite the difficulty in mining due to bitcoin’s increasing hash rate.





Source: CD




Tags: #BugFix

Source: https://xeonbit.com/bug-fix-for-ransoming-malware-wannacryfake/

RBI Limits Withdrawals to ₹1,000 at 137 Bank Branches

The Reserve Bank of India has imposed regulatory restrictions on a cooperative bank with 137 branches across India. limiting customer withdrawals to a total of 1,000 rupees (approximately $14) per account for six months. Police personnel had to be deployed to control angry customers at some locations.





RBI’s Restrictions





The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced on Sept. 24 that it has placed Mumbai-based Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC Bank) Ltd. under regulatory restrictions. The central bank wrote:





Depositors will be allowed to withdraw a sum not exceeding ₹ 1,000 (rupees one thousand only) of the total balance in every savings bank account or current account or any other deposit account by whatever name called, subject to conditions stipulated in the RBI directions.





Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank is also prohibited from a number of activities without prior approval in writing from the RBI. These include granting or renewing any loans and advances, making investments, and incurring any liabilities including borrowing funds or accepting new deposits. After detailing a long list of prohibited activities, the RBI wrote:





The directions shall remain in force for a period of six months from the close of business of the bank on September 23, 2019.





The central bank noted, however, that the notice does not mean the cancellation of the Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative Bank’s license. “The bank will continue to undertake banking business with restrictions till further notice/instructions,” the RBI detailed, adding that it “may consider modifications of these directions depending upon circumstances.”





Joy Thomas, Managing Director of PMC Bank, clarified in a statement that the bank has been put under regulatory restrictions because of irregularities disclosed to the central bank. “All efforts are being made to remove the restrictions by rectifying the irregularities,” The Hindu conveyed. “As the M.D. of the Bank, I take the responsibility and assure all the depositors that these irregularities will be rectified before the expiry of six months,” Thomas was quoted as saying.





Panic Erupts





PMC Bank currently has 137 branches across multiple states in India, The Hindu detailed, adding that they are located in Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. At the end of March, the bank had deposits and advances aggregating ₹11,617 crore (~1.63 billion) and ₹8,383 crore (~1.18 billion), respectively, the news outlet elaborated.





The central bank’s action has led to protest by customers outside the bank’s main branch in Mumbai and various other branches, local media reported. “Angry and dejected customers, both young and old, protested across various branches” of PMC Bank, the publication wrote. A reporter spoke to several customers waiting for answers at their bank, who said they were “anxious about the fate of their savings,” having “parked their lifetime savings in the bank as it offered higher fixed deposit rates than mainstream banks, and its customer service was good.” The news outlet continued:





At some locations, police personnel had to be deployed to control angry customers who had either queued up at the bank’s onsite ATMs to withdraw money or demanded to know the fate of their deposits. Cops waved the RBI circular at the customers, but they were in no mood to listen or disperse.





Customers turning up to the bank told the publication that they are worried about the fixed deposits they had placed with the bank, as interest on these deposits was a key source of income for some.





Angry customers at PMB Bank demanding to know the fate of their money. Image credit: PTI

Other customers were worried about the fate of their electronic clearing service (ECS) transactions and post-dated checks they had issued towards monthly installments for home, auto and vehicle loans. Some “feared they may be classified as loan defaulters, with lenders taking recovery action due to the non-execution of the ECS mandates or bouncing of post-dated PMC Bank cheques,” the publication added. One family told the news outlet that they hold about ₹22 lakh (~$30,962) with the bank, stating that “The management and RBI officials should have reached out to assuage customers’ concerns.”





RBI’s Powers and Other Banking Restrictions





According to the RBI, “The directions are imposed in exercise of powers vested in the Reserve Bank under Sub-section (1) of Section 35 A of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949 read with Section 56 of the said Act.” Section 35(A) of the Banking Regulation Act says that the RBI can issue the restriction on entities “to prevent the affairs of any banking company being conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of the depositors or in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the banking company; or to secure the proper management of any banking company generally,” The Hindu Business Line detailed.





This is not the first time the central bank has put this kind of restriction on a cooperative bank. In June, the RBI issued a similar order to Shri Anand Co-operative Bank Ltd., also limiting withdrawal amounts to 1,000 rupees for six months.





Historically the RBI has been known to raise the limit amount at times. For example, in August, the central bank modified its restrictions on Adoor Co-operative Urban Bank Ltd., originally placed in November last year, which limited withdrawals to 2,000 rupees per account. The RBI stated that it had reviewed the financial position of the bank and considered it necessary in public interest to allow withdrawals of up to 25,000 rupees per account, with other restrictions unchanged.





Deepak Shenoy, the founder of Capitalmind, believes the latest RBI order could last “a long time.” He cited another bank, the Rupee Cooperative bank, which received a similar 1,000 rupee withdrawal restriction order in February 2013, and is still not clear of RBI’s restrictions even after the central bank amended its order three years later to allow withdrawals of 20,000 rupees per account. “The PMC Bank mess can last a long time. Even a change in the 1000 rs. withdrawal limit can be far away,” he tweeted, emphasizing:





I would suggest that please do not keep your money in cooperative banks. RBI’s total lack of transparency and slow resolution means there is little hope of getting your money back if things go wrong.





“As a deposit holder, you have a right to go to court against the bank – and you should,” Shenoy continued. “However, the situation will take years to resolve. Unless RBI acts fast, confidence in coop banks is going to fall. RBI has not acted fast in the past.”





The central bank has also placed banking restrictions on all regulated financial institutions, prohibiting them from providing services to crypto businesses such as exchanges. Banks subsequently closed accounts of crypto exchanges forcing some of them to shut down. Following the ban, a number of industry stakeholders filed writ petitions, challenging the RBI restriction at the country’s supreme court which is scheduled to resume hearing the case today.





Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or as a recommendation, endorsement, or sponsorship of any products, services, or companies. We does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is 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 this article.





Source: Bitcoin




Tags: #CentralBanks, #RBI

Source: https://xeonbit.com/rbi-limits-withdrawals-to-%e2%82%b91000-at-137-bank-branches/

Monday, September 23, 2019

Why People Still Don’t Get in Crypto?

Cryptocurrency is literally at the intersection of a lot of contentious topics — history, politics, technology, money.





Take that in for a second.





In order to understand crypto, you have to throw away your beliefs about money, dive into grasping a totally new technology, and consider the implications of structuring society in a different way.





People are going to get pretty heated if there’s something that could potentially shake the foundations on several fronts.





Unless you’re in tech, or you’re an optimist, it’s going to be hard for you to wrap your head around the value proposition.





That doesn’t mean you can’t. It’s not rocket science, but it isn’t intuitive. It goes against the grain.





“Science and technology revolutionize our lives, but memory, tradition and myth frame our response.” — Arthur Schlesinger





Technology is hard to understand





When Mark Zuckerberg was on trial he was asked some pretty stupid questions.





The senator asked, “So, how do you sustain a business model in which users don’t pay for your service?”





“Senator, we run ads,” Zuckerberg responded. He couldn’t help but smirk.





The fact that many people (let’s say aged 40 and over) don’t understand the business model of one of the biggest tech companies in the world doesn’t give us much hope.





For some, it’s easy to hear “thermodynamically-guaranteed, peer-to-peer, decentralized, censorship resistant digital money that is not backed by the government” and turn the other way.





Money is a touchy subject





We’re all generally insecure about money. Next time you meet someone, ask them “how much money do you make?” and look at the expression on their faces.





They preach the benefits of index funds, compounding interest, Roth IRA’s and becoming a millionaire by saving your hard-earned money for the next 40 years.





The “tried and true way” is starting to reveal some cracks. Entrepreneurs have known this for a long time — the law of asymmetrical gains — but now new currencies are being fashioned out of thin air and it totally boggles people’s minds.





For many, if not all, ego is involved. Those that are wealthy are even more insecure than those who have no money because they’re trying to hold on so dearly to their hard-earned cash.





And many of those same people did get into BTC and lost money (and they’re mad), while others are bitter because they didn’t get involved sooner.





Take Bob, for example. Bob didn’t listen to his friends when they told him about Bitcoin. Now he regrets it.





He’s mad that he wasn’t part of the “bubble.”





And he’s mad that he missed out on the best-performing financial asset in history.





I’m sure there are plenty of people like Bob.





Politics and bad memories





The story we told ourself for many centuries was one of imperialism. Conquer territory, take resources, and expand.





Imperialism continued on for some time and culminated in WWI. But we realized that it wasn’t worth it anymore — to many lives were lost, and we proclaimed it was the last war we’d fight.





We were wrong. Just a few years later a new ideology was on the block. The story changed to one of fascism, sweeping us into an even bigger bloodbath than we could’ve ever imagined.





Then it was communism’s turn in the global arena. A promise to put the power back in the hands of the people (sound familiar?) After millions of lives lost and being on the brink of nuclear war, it was clear that it didn’t work.





Ultimately, after some close calls liberalism prevailed — the belief that we should enhance the freedom and protect the individual, both from other people and from governments.





Anyone that has any recollection of the 20th century knows the dire cost of inflated ideologies and big promises.





Now crypto comes in and creates money out of thin air. It preaches a libertarian ideal — a left-leaning idea that’s on the spectrum closer to communism — that wants government out of the picture.





This is unfortunate, because Satoshi didn’t say that. Nobody really said that.





The best use case for crypto is actually to give some power back to people who greatly need it — you know, people in Venezuela and Ukraine and Russia and India and Greece — to protect themselves from actual dictators, actual tangible losses from hyper inflated currencies, and financial corruption.





Like my grandma in Crimea (Ukraine) who can’t received bank transfers because of the ‘embargo.’





People fear what they don’t understand





When you question how money works and the underpinnings of the economy, it just goes over people’s heads. It’s revolutionary.





Most people haven’t read Satoshi’s white paper. Why? The same reason that people don’t research the details of an article that says “Coconut oil is bad.”





We’re living in a world where our day starts with a deluge of information that is impossible for one person to sort through.





So, instead of digging deep into big claims, we do what we’ve always done. We accept first, verify later. Except we don’t usually verify.





The way that most of us form our views isn’t by doing meticulous research. It’s by hearing something, accepting whether or not it fits into out world view and identity, and thats it.





It’s much less time-consuming both emotionally and mentally. It’s much easier to just say “bitcoin is like Tulip Mania.” But deep down you’re scared (but maybe too lazy) to do any more research — to seek out knowledge.





Old people especially don’t get it





It’s partially a generational gap — as we get older, we prefer not to challenge the status quo. And, like I mentioned above, you have to get the tech.





I’ve talked about Warren Buffet in this respect. He’s decried bitcoin, calling it ‘rat poisoned squared,’ and all sorts of other names.





But, he’s been wrong before. He regrets not investing in Google or Facebook. He says, “I was too dumb to realize.”





Most of us can’t explain how an airplane, car, or the internet works. But we use these things all the time. And I’m sure that every time some new invention comes along, old folks are against it. They don’t get it. They say it’s a waste of time and stand on the sidelines, simultaneously fascinated, confused and bewildered.





That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t heed the advice of those older than us. In fact, we should be very thoughtful about what we’re doing. Technology has no moral underpinnings. We can use a hammer to build, or we can use it to smash someone’s face.





We have to be careful not to repeat the mistakes of the past. But we can’t just stop being interested in something, though. It’s too late for that.





As one blockchain entrepreneur told me, ‘the genie has been let out of the bottle.’





Source: @Mishablog Medium




Tags: #Bitcoin, #Fintech

Source: https://xeonbit.com/why-people-still-dont-get-in-crypto/

Sunday, September 22, 2019

U.S. Dollar Flat; Fed Officials Appearances, Brexit In Focus

The U.S. dollar was little changed on Monday in Asia. Investors will be looking ahead to appearances by a number of Federal Reserve policymakers this week, while Brexit developments remained in the spotlight.





The U.S. dollar index that tracks the greenback against a basket of other currencies slipped 0.1% to 98.090 by 1:15 AM ET (05:15 GMT).





New York Fed President John Williams, St Louis Fed President James Bullard and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans will deliver speeches this week. Their comments will come after last week’s Fed meeting pointed to growing divisions among officials over the future direction of monetary policy.





The Federal Reserve slashed interest rate for the second time in 2019 last week as expected. Other major central banks, including the Bank of England, the Bank of Japan and the Swiss National Bank, left rates unchanged last week.





Meanwhile, the GBP/USD pair inched up 0.1% to 1.2485. Brexit developments are being closely watched as Britain's Supreme Court is expected to make a ruling on whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted unlawfully in suspending parliament.





Hopes that a no-deal Brexit could be avoided increased since last week after European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said last Thursday he thought Brussels could reach agreement with Britain on its departure from the European Union.





The AUD/USD pair rose 0.1% to 0.6777, while the NZD/USD pair gained 0.3%.





The USD/CNY pair traded 0.3% higher to 7.1125.





Source: Investing




Tags: #Brexit, #FED, #Investment, #US

Source: https://xeonbit.com/u-s-dollar-flat-fed-officials-appearances-brexit-in-focus/

Cryptocurrency Accepted Around The World

Nowadays, the list of marketplaces and retailers accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is significantly larger. They are Providing crypto enthusiasts with more options for making real-world purchases.





Currently, several fast-food restaurants and coffee shops have started accepting Bitcoin as payment.





Food with Crypto





Burger King in Germany now claims to accept Bitcoin as payment for its online orders and deliveries. This is not the first time Burger King has warmed up to Bitcoin as a form of payment. The company, headquartered in Florida in the United States, had its Russian branch announce in 2017 that it would start accepting Bitcoin payments, but it ultimately did not take off.





Starbucks is one of the companies taking advantage of this concept through Flexa, a U.S.-based payment startup that is helping the cafe giant, as well as dozens of other companies, accept cryptocurrency payments. Crypto enthusiasts in Silicon Valley’s Palo Alto might already be familiar with Coupa Cafe. Through its partnership with a Facebook software developer. Coupa Cafe has been accepting Bitcoin as payment since 2013.  OrderTakeaways (UK) is one of the surest ways to get a pizza paid for with crypto delivered to your doorstep.





Spend Bitcoin to tour space





Virgin Galactic, started accepting Bitcoin as payment as far back as 2013. The company achieved its first suborbital space flight last year. Perhaps soon, people will be able to tour the moon on crypto’s dime.





Jewelry with Bitcoin





Reeds Jewelers (US) accepts Bitcoin for both its physical and online stores. What’s more, if a purchase is worth more than $25,000, the company provides free armored delivery for safety. Other jewelry companies accepting Bitcoin include Blue Nile Jewelry, Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry and Coaex Jewelry, to name a few.





A big advantage of purchasing large ticket items — like a diamond — with crypto is that it makes moving around large amounts of money cheap and effortless. Reports show that more Silicon Valley investors are buying jewelry with Bitcoin. Last year, Stephen Silver Fine Jewelry reported a 20% growth in crypto transactions, leading to a boost in the company’s sales. The company has been accepting Bitcoin since 2014.





Gift cards with Bitcoin





Gyft, a digital platform that allows users to buy, send and redeem gift cards, was one of the first merchants enabling cryptocurrency adoption to gain traction in the real world. The mobile gift card app allows Bitcoin to be used to purchase gift cards from several retailers, some of which include Burger King, Subway, Amazon and Starbucks. The company has also partnered with popular crypto exchange Coinbase to enable users to buy gift cards from their Coinbase wallets.





Travel and pay in Bitcoin





If a traveler only has Bitcoin at their disposal, the following merchants will gladly offer services in exchange for it. TravelbyBit, a flight and hotel booking service, accepts cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Binance Coin and Litecoin (LTC) as payment. Other platforms to book flights with crypto include Destinia, CheapBizClass, CheapAir, AirBaltic, Bitcoin.Travel and ABitSky, among others. 





If ever one finds themselves traveling to Zurich Switzerland, either BTC or Ether (ETH) can be used to pay for a stay in a five-star hotel in Zurich. In May 2019, five-star hotel and spa Dodler Grand announced that it will start accepting Bitcoin and Ether as payment. 





Electronics and more with crypto





Newegg, for instance, is an electronic retail giant that uses BitPay to process payments made with digital currencies. Even though one cannot get refunds for Bitcoin purchases, Newegg has a good reputation for quality items. Other platforms for gadget junkies include Eyeboot (a platform that sells crypto mining rigs in exchange for crypto), Microsoft, FastTech and Alza (a U.K.-based online store that sells phones and beauty products).





An ever-expanding list





There is still a long way to go before full adoption can be achieved, but many companies have nevertheless benefited from being early adopters.





Source: CT




Tags: #Bitcoin, #Cryptocurrency, #Electronics, #Food, #GiftCard, #Jewelry, #Pizza, #SpaceTour, #Travel

Source: https://xeonbit.com/privacy-coin-private-digital-currency-private-blockchain-secure-private-blockchain-secure-payment-network-privacy-network-privacy-payment-solution-private-system-blockchain-privacy-cry/

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Tax Haven in Portugal

Last month The Portuguese Tax Authority (PTA) announced that there is no value added tax (VAT) for any cryptocurrency transactions and payments in cryptocurrency.





Portuguese tax benefit for crypto traders: Ruling 5717/2015, stating that the sale of cryptocurrencies to people will be tax exempt. According to a ruling published in February 2018, the sale of cryptocurrencies is not eligible as capital gains if the tokens are derived from the sale of financial products in accordance Portuguese law, usually subject to the 28% tax rate. In addition, cryptocurrency transactions will not be considered investment income, which is also subject to the 28% tax rate in other cases.





According to the notice, payments made in cryptocurrency under Article 9 (27) (d) of Portuguese tax law are exempt from VAT. This applies only to Portuguese, as businesses based in Portugal are still subject to some taxes such as VAT, social security and income taxes.





Because the ruling applies only to people, business income earned from transactions or other activities is subject to progressive taxation for personal income tax.





For anyone familiar with Portugal's tax regime, these two decisions are not surprising. In fact, Portugal is considered a very taxpayer friendly country, with rules designed specifically to attract wealthy and high net worth people.





Although paid in the usual way in many other countries, Portugal has no inheritance tax, gifts or property on its residents.





These significant tax benefits are reserved for occasional tax residents to attract high-value professionals from around the world. Many occupations in STEM and the arts are considered of high value and range from architects to investors.





These irregular, high-value groups enjoy a 25% tax rate on income taxes, avoid taxes up to 48% applicable to other resident groups, and pay a 28% tax rate on dividends, capital gains and Investment income - that's why the Portuguese investors and cryptocurrency traders have no surprise.





If all the above is convincing enough to move to Portugal, the residency rules are worth checking it out.





A person is considered resident of Portugal if they spend more than 183 days (in a row or not) in Portugal in any 12-month period. A person who becomes a tax resident in Portugal and is not taxed as a resident in Portugal in the previous five years can apply a special tax regime for extraordinary tax residents. However, in the five years, there may be many countries that see cryptocurrency trading as a duty-free activity.
Source: CT




Tags: #Cryptocurrency, #Portugal, #PortugueseTaxAuthority, #PTA, #TaxHeaven

Source: https://xeonbit.com/tax-haven-in-portugal/

Friday, September 20, 2019

Crypto Investigations Mobile by CipherTrace Scout App

Blockchain forensics firm CipherTrace has developed a mobile tool for flagging bitcoin and ethereum tokens with a criminal past.





Announced today, CipherTrace Scout grants street-level investigators
more freedom to identify, track and document illicit crypto transactions
from the field, company representatives and law enforcement experts
said.





The software builds on a suite of investigatory tools investigators
already use. An app-based interface “traces” addresses through the
blockchain to identify what coins may have been used by the crypto
underworld, in dark market purchases or in ransomware extortion attacks.





Users input an address and CipherTrace Scout generates an instant report. It flags potentially criminal addresses “with a high degree of certainty,” according to Julio Barragan, a financial crime and compliance analyst at CipherTrace.





“You can imagine some beat cop in a high risk area, literally finding
something that appears to be tainted,” Barragan said. “He can share a
case with an analyst at headquarters and that analyst could do the
tracing very quickly to determine where the source of the funds were.”





Casey Bohn, a high-tech crime specialist and educator for the
National White Collar Crime Center who trains agents to use CipherTrace,
said that the new technology will be of immediate use in the field.





“I think a scenario like this [CipherTrace Scout], where I can put an
address in and see: ‘hey, this [address] has been involved in some sort
of nefarious activity,’ I think that can be huge,” Bohn, who teaches
law enforcement officials how to use tracking services, said. “You can
almost rule in and rule out things at that point.”





Federal agencies, police investigators and auditors already use cryptocurrency tracking software for finding crooks.





The Internal Revenue Service contracted crypto transaction tracer Chainalysis from 2015 through at least 2017. Then, America’s tax service called the software “necessary to identify and obtain evidence on individuals using bitcoin” for criminal dealings.





Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents cross-reference ransomware attacks against an internal database called the Internet Crime Complaint Center, which maintains a list of every such instance. They also use a blockchain-based tool to process victim addresses.





Federal agents want to move their tracing ever deeper. In a pre-solicitation document at the end of last year, the Department of Homeland Security mulled the feasibility of tracing privacy tokens, which confound easy research with complex security.





Technologies such as CipherTrace and Chainalysis now pervade law
enforcement agencies across the country, according to Bohn, the tech
crimes expert. He says that Chainalysis is something of a federal
standard.





But CipherTrace Scout builds on what Bohn called a law enforcement favorite: visualization.





“We can visualize the transactions [using the software]. I can see
‘from A to B” and then I can start pivoting from there in a visual
manner, which is often times easier for someone to understand.”





“I like the visualization, the students like the visualization,” he noted.





CipherTrace Scout’s rollout comes alongside a spike in street-level cryptocurrency use.





Bohn said law enforcement partners reported a surge in low-level uses cases: prostitution, drug sales, child pornography trades.





“We have found that your drug dealer on the street has gotten savvy.
They’ve gotten a little more savvy and they have started to develop
these trades online, using other cryptocurrencies.”





Barragan, the CipherTrace analyst, credits the proliferation of Bitcoin ATMs and other crypto-capable kiosks.





“There are approximately 900 Coinstar machines embedded in Safeways
across the U.S. that spit out crypto,” he said. “It’s becoming very very
easy anyone to acquire crypto, and it’s starting to be used for street
crimes.





The Scout flags nefarious addresses. But it also ignores every-day users, a feature Bohn calls critical.





“While there is criminal activity that occurs with these technologies, there’s a lot of normal, regular people who are taking part in this technology as well.”





Source: CD




Tags: #CipherTraceScout, #CryptoInvestiation, #FBI, #Hacker, #Software

Source: https://xeonbit.com/crypto-investigations-mobile-by-ciphertrace-scout-app/

Deadline for Brazilian Crypto Exchange To Fix Withdrawals

Brazilian cryptocurrency exchange and alleged pyramid scheme Atlas Quantum rejected court deadlines to resolve its delayed Bitcoin (BTC) withdrawals.





As Brasil reported previously, on Sept. 17, the Federal Court of Brazil ruled that the current activities of the cryptocurrency exchange Atlas Quantum may constitute a financial pyramid, and therefore decided to immediately freeze the company’s assets and bank accounts and give the company 48 hours to resolve outstanding accounts. 





In a Sept. 18 response to the court's ruling and deadline, Atlas Quantum stated that there is no actual deadline that requires them to resolve the problem of late withdrawals by any given date.





The crypto exchange
further stated that they do not agree with the federal court’s ruling
that claims it is a financial pyramid scheme. “We are fully focused on
resolving the issues at hand,” the exchange said.





The
company's CEO, Rodrigo Marques, who launched the exchange in Brazil in
2015, reportedly recorded a video in an attempt to contain the
withdrawal crisis that the company is currently facing.





Previously reported that a court in Rio de Janeiro ordered alleged investment scheme Unick Forex to pay $28,500 to a client who filed a lawsuit against the company for a delay in platform withdrawals and moral damages. As reported, the presiding judge granted a default judgment, which means Unick Forex did not show up in court to defend its case.





The State Court of Justice in Sao Paulo is also going after crypto companies and has made a block request to several Bitcoin trading companies — Atlas Quantum included. The courts are in search of virtual assets that belong to Miner, which is considered to be another financial pyramid scheme.





Source: CT




Tags: #BitcoinTradingCompanies, #Brazilian, #CryptoExchange, #SaoPaulo

Source: https://xeonbit.com/deadline-for-brazilian-crypto-exchange-to-fix-withdrawals/

Commissioners to Talk Blockchain at Congress Hearing Next Week

The U.S. House Financial Services Committee plans to question the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about cryptocurrencies project next week, among a host of other topics.





According to a calendar notice on the House of Representatives’ website, the committee will hold a one-panel hearing with SEC Chairman Jay Clayton, as well as Commissioners Robert Jackson, Elad Roisman, Allison Lee and “Crypto Mom” Hester Pierce on Sept. 24 in the Rayburn House Office Building.





The hearing will cover the SEC‘s actions around the cryptocurrency space, as well as private markets vs. public markets; public company disclosures; enforcement; and fiduciary responsibilities.





While the notice does not specify which areas the committee might
focus on, it does note that the SEC published its analysis of whether a
token is an investment contract using the three prongs of the Howey
test, and it includes a general definition of exchange-traded funds
(ETFs).





“Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are a type of investment company, which
can be redeemed by the fund like mutual funds, but also allow investors
to trade throughout the day on an exchange at market prices,” the
notice reads, adding:





“If an asset is an investment company and not exempt from
registration, it must comply with regulations designed to minimize
conflicts of interest, including regular disclosure of their financial
condition and investment policies to investors.”





The SEC is currently reviewing two bitcoin ETF proposals, filed by Bitwise Asset Management and Wilshire Phoenix (a third ETF proposal by VanEck and SolidX was withdrawn earlier this week).





The notice also addresses crypto project, which was first announced in June 2019. Libra, as envisioned, would act as a stablecoin backed by a basket of global currencies, which currently includes the U.S. dollar, euro, Japanese yen, British pound and Singapore dollar.





The cryptocurrency will be overseen by a governing council of 100 members, of which 28 have already signed tentative agreements to join (it is worth noting that Calibra are two of the members). The Libra Association will be based in Geneva, Switzerland, though Financial Services Committee Chair Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) has expressed unease with this plan.





Thursday’s notice hints at possible securities implications for
Libra’s companion token, which would be distributed to members of the
association, writing:





“The Libra Investment Token could amount to a security since it is intended to be sold to investors to fund startup costs and would provide them with dividends. The Libra token itself may also be a security, but it does not intend to pay dividends and it is unclear if investors would have a ‘reasonable expectation of profits.’ However, the offer of Libra could be integrated into the offering of the Libra Investment Token, thereby deeming both securities.”





“Like ETFs, Libra would be redeemable by certain authorized resellers
and bought and sold in the open market,” the notice concluded.





The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing specifically about Libra in July, a day after the Senate Banking Committee held its own. At the time, lawmakers questioned blockchain lead and Calibra CEO David Marcus about how the project would operate and whether it would impact the U.S. or global economies, among other areas of concern.





Source: Coindesk




Tags: #Blockchain, #Commissioners, #Congress, #Facebook, #Libra, #SEC, #SecuritiesAndExchangeCommission

Source: https://xeonbit.com/commissioners-to-talk-blockchain-at-congress-hearing-next-week/

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Bitcoiners Giving Away Altcoins To Support Tor Project

On the lighter side of things in the cryptosphere, some Bitcoin (BTC) owners have been donating altcoins to the TOR Project — a nonprofit organization primarily responsible for running “The Onion Router.”





For some Bitcoiners, the trend is a way of killing two birds with one stone — supporting the TOR Project and getting rid of “shitcoins.” As for the latter half of the equation, Bitcoiners appear keen to extend the running gag of altcoins being worthless.





“Donate shitcoins, stack sats”





Earlier in September, Bitcoin maximalist and co-host of the “Tales from the Crypt” podcast Matt Odell posted a tweet urging people to support the TOR Project by way of donation. In a cheeky addendum, Odell added, “donate shitcoins. stack sats.”





Sarah Stevenson, fundraising director at the TOR Project, initially thought the donations were coming from members of the Stellar community, likely because of the influx of altcoin tokens.





Bitcoiners swiftly corrected her conclusion, seemingly opposed to letting their attempted ribbing go unnoticed. They soon piled onto the thread, dropping Twitter soundbites like the “perfect destination for my airdropped shitcoins” and “sounds like a good place to dump my shitcoins.”





Some of the donations reportedly came from recipients of the Keybase airdrop. As previously reported, encrypted messaging platform Keybase partnered with the Development Foundation to launch a $120 million airdrop.





The Bitcoiners did, however, advise Stevenson and the team to quickly convert the donations into fiat. Data from CoinMarketCap shows a 45% decline in the altcoin price since the start of the year. Altcoin tokens are also down more than 93% from their all-time high of $0.8755 in 2018.





On Wednesday, the altcoin spot price saw a 52% rise in a little under two hours, leading to speculation about the arrival of another altseason. The upward surge was followed by a steep retrace, reducing the initial 24-hour trading gains by more than half.





For Stevenson, the TOR Project appreciates the donations regardless of the subtext. The TOR Project’s fundraising director offered her thoughts on the matter, stating:





“I am generally a peace, not war kind of person but I welcome any activity that draws attention to the importance of financially supporting the Tor Project. Everyone benefits from the privacy and anonymity technologies we develop and maintain. As for the tangible value proposition for altcoins, I'll plead the fifth because I prefer to be friends with everyone.”





At the time of publication, the TOR Project has received more than 21,300 altcoin tokens, valued at over $1,200.





The crypto-philanthropy angle





Apart from the TOR Project, other nonprofit organizations are also asking holders of spare altcoins to consider donating in support of worthy causes around the world. Via its Twitter account, Bitcoin Venezuela called on people to send their unwanted altcoin to support its Bitcoin for Venezuela Initiative.





According to another Twitter account, “The Giving Block,” there are other nonprofit organizations that accept altcoin donations. Recently, cryptocurrency has seemingly taken on increased prominence in philanthropic work across the globe.





As previously reported, Fidelity Charitable — an independent public charity organization — has received more than $100 million in cryptocurrency donations since 2015.





Global aid organizations such as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund — or UNICEF — have encouraged PC gamers in the past to mine cryptocurrencies with their computers and donate the earnings to support humanitarian aid efforts for children in Syria. There is also the Pineapple Fund from 2018, which donated more than $55 million in Bitcoin to numerous nonprofit organizations around the world.





Related: From Clean Water Supply to Rebuilding Notre Dame: Crypto and Blockchain in Charity





Apart from using cryptocurrencies as an avenue for donating to charities, there is also talk of leveraging blockchain technology to improve the transparency of these organizations. An excerpt from Binance Academy’s post on the benefits of adopting crypto-philanthropy reads:





“Each cryptocurrency transaction is unique, which means that it is also easily tracked through the blockchain. The higher level of transparency and public accountability can ease donors’ minds and encourage them to give while also reinforcing the charity's reputation for integrity. [...] Funds can move directly from donors to charities, and the decentralized nature of blockchain makes it uniquely suitable for international transactions.”





Bitcoin maximalism





According to Joseph Lubin, there are observable elements of tribalism within the crypto space. Mati Greenspan, quoted Lubin as saying:





“Ultimately we’re all on the same team. Yes, there’s a lot of tribalism but we’re all working towards similar goals.”





Lubin’s comments came during a session at the Ethereal Summit in Tel Aviv on Sunday.





The struggle for relevance among the major cryptocurrency projects formed a large part of the discussions at the event. The debate over whether any altcoin project can challenge Bitcoin’s dominance is one that often seems to draw myriad opinions.





As with any debate among groups holding strong opinions, the emergence of category-specific rhetoric — or, as Lubin puts it, “tribalism” — is likely. There are the Bitcoin maximalists whose position is that “Bitcoin is king” and all other altcoins are “shitcoins.”





To be fair, such a position might not seem extreme considering the many instances of exit scams among altcoin projects coupled with the poor price performance of the altcoin market.





This seemingly never-ending decline in altcoin prices becomes even more apparent when considered alongside Bitcoin. Bitcoiner and self-professed “toxic maximalist” Udi Wertheimer recently called out the leaders of altcoin projects, writing:





“Shitcoin founders [...] deserve all the fiery hate they receive from the community, and more. When you choose to sell your reputation for tens of millions, you don’t get to keep your reputation. Reputation can’t be double spent... not at scale.”





Another brand of Bitcoin maximalism, while agreeing that “Bitcoin is king,” says there is no harm in catching the frequent bounces in the altcoin scene and making money. Posting on Twitter earlier in September 2019, crypto analyst Josh Rager wrote:





“Bitcoin is king, I'm still Bitcoin maximalist, I like to make money though so I'll invest in any tech that likely presents to give a solid ROI.”





If commentators like Matt Hougan of Asset Management are correct, then 95% of all altcoins will die. Probable mass altcoin extinction aside, donating cryptos to charities while they still hold significant U.S. dollar value doesn’t seem like a bad idea.
Source: Cointelegraph




Tags: #Altcoin, #Bitcoin, #BitcoinMaximalism, #GivingAway, #TOR

Source: https://xeonbit.com/bitcoiners-giving-away-altcoins-to-support-tor-project/

New System Of Annual Registration For Crypto Miners in Iran?

Iran’s cabinet is looking into a proposal to register cryptocurrency miners on a year-to-year basis.





The requirements seem designed to allow the Iranian government to curtail unsavoury activities related to crypto while continuing to profit from an industry thriving in a country facing international sanctions and inflation economic factors that have resulted in a rise in national misery.





According to documents reported on Sept. 19, a draft proposal to register crypto mining operations is currently on its way to official approval in Tehran. The proposed licenses would require information on employment, rent agreements and other business activities. 





Status of crypto in Iran





Recent months have seen a great deal of hubbub surrounding the Iranian government’s attitude towards cryptocurrency within its borders. 





In June, Iran’s Ministry of Energy said that they would be cutting off power to mining operations using the country’s subsidised energy grid until special pricing went into effect. A month later, that special pricing was finalised, with miners expected to pay $0.07 per kilowatt-hour, compared to $0.05 for most citizens. 





Subsequently, at the end of July, Iran authorised mining as an industrial activity. And while the Iranian cabinet rejected the use of cryptocurrencies in transactions at the beginning of August, Iran’s National Tax Administration did agree to exempt repatriated crypto mining earnings from taxation last week.





Source: Coindesk




Tags: #AnnualRegistration, #CryptoMiner, #Iran, #NewSystem

Source: https://xeonbit.com/new-system-of-annual-registration-for-crypto-miners-in-iran/

Glossary of the most important Xeonbit $XNB terms

Public address


Also known as your address or wallet address . An example address looks like this: WcAH3omZSUYCmJYskCUx2tV5oB5tLVrp58AeMYLrFhcz2umUVQHiHu62nG5CS3mvcfgKHC3fPtq6DHkEbMjqvCAZJW5nw9E

Payment id


When someone sends you funds, they can specify a payment ID of their or your choice. Because Xeonbit $XNB's privacy protections usually prevent you from knowing the source of funds that you receive, the payment ID can be used by the sender to identify themselves to you.

Integrated payment address


To make it easier for other people to send you funds with a payment ID that you require, you can generate an integrated address to send to them which contains both your public address and the payment ID you request them to use.

Wallet / wallet files / wallet software


Your wallet holds your private key, which allows you to view your funds and spend them. A wallet may be configured to only hold a view key, so that the wallet can observe your funds but not spend them. Your wallet also contains a list of transaction IDs and transaction keys, which allow you to see a list of payments you've previously made.

If you create another wallet from your seed (which is a representation of your private key), then you will have the full ability to spend your funds but you will not be able to see a list of transactions that you've previously made. This is why, if you need to see a history of your transactions, that you should back up your wallet files and not just your seed.

'Wallet' may refer to just the wallet files on your computer, or additionally to the wallet software that you run which allows you to view your wallet files and transact. Your wallet communicates with a Xeonbit $XNB daemon to scan the blockchain for incoming transactions and to send new transactions.

Private key / Seed


Your private key is what allows you to spend your funds. Your 'seed' is just a 25 word representation of your private key which is easy for you to write down on paper. You must keep your private key a secret, or other people will be able to spend your funds. Your private key is the only thing you need to access and spend your funds. Your public address can be recovered from your private key, so you do not need to additionally keep a note of your public address.

View key, also known as a secret view key or private view key


Your view key is normally kept private. If you wish, you can give out your view key so that others can observe the contents of your wallet. For security reasons, you may use your own view key to observe your funds on a computer which may be at risk of attack. Therefore if that computer became compromised, the attacker could see that you have funds, but not be able to steal them. Your private key would be kept safe and only used when you need to send funds when on a more secure computer.

Daemon


'Daemon' is a technical term for a program that runs in the background. Xeonbit $XNB uses a daemon to synchronize with the Xeonbit $XNB network to scan for incoming transactions and to send new transactions. Your wallet needs to use the daemon to scan the entire blockchain for incoming transactions, because only your wallet has your private view key. Only your private view key can be used to detect which transactions on the Xeonbit $XNB network have been sent to you. This is a key part of Xeonbit $XNB's privacy technology.

Balance / Unlocked balance


When someone sends you funds, they will appear in your balance. Once the Xeonbit network has 'confirmed' the transaction 10 times, which will take on average 20 minutes, your funds will become spendable and will be listed as part of your 'unlocked' balance. The 10 confirmation minimum is necessary to prevent double spending by the sender.

Refresh / synchronization


Because of Xeonbit $XNB 's privacy mechanisms, your private view key needs to be used to scan the blockchain to detect transactions destined for you. This means that until your wallet software has scanned the entire blockchain, you will not see your funds appear in your wallet's balance.

Mining / Blocks / Blockchain


Mining is the process by which the network of Xeonbit $XNB nodes collectively verifies transactions, in exchange for a small transaction fee. When transactions are mined, this causes them to appear in a block, which is added to the blockchain. The blockchain is therefore the entire record of all Xeonbit $XNB transactions that have ever taken place. Xeonbit $XNB's privacy mechanisms ensure that the blockchain can only be used to reveal information about transactions to those involved in the transaction. The blockchain is necessary to prevent the double-spending of funds, because it contains the information necessary to verify that funds have not already been spent by their owner.

Mining pool


A group of computers that together run mining software to process Xeonbit $XNB transactions and collectively share in the reward. The advantage of a Mining pool is that a single computer would take too long to mine a single block if it were working alone, and so the owner of the computer would have to wait unreasonably long to receive their first share of the mining rewards.

Privacy level / mixing


When you send funds, Xeonbit $XNB 's privacy mechanism will obscure your funds as a possible source by 'mixing in' other sources of funds in the transaction. It is impossible for any observer to know which is the real source of the funds, and only you can prove that you were the real source by deciding to reveal the secret transaction key generated by you for that transaction.

A mixing level of 4, which is the minimum allowable in the Xeonbit $XNB GUI, will mean that your funds will appear to be one of 5 possible sources of funds for the transaction. In the GUI, the mixing level is referred to as the 'privacy level'. Remember that every other person that sends a transaction may randomly select your funds to be a plausible source in their own transaction. This means that although it may at first seem like you are one of 5 possible senders, the aggregate effect of all Xeonbit $XNB users constantly mixing each others' funds means your privacy level is radically higher than the number '5' would at first suggest. Over time, it will appear as if you've at some point plausibly directly or indirectly participated in transactions with most other Xeonbit $XNB users, even if you're hardly ever using Xeonbit $XNB.

Transaction priority


Your transaction will be mined into a new block on the blockchain. However, if there are a lot of transactions occurring, your transaction may not make it into the very next block that is mined, and so you may have to wait a few more minutes for your transaction to be included in the blockchain. You can increase your transaction priority to compete for position in the next block that gets mined. Usually, there is no reason to increase your transaction priority because there will most often be room in the next block for your transaction. Xeonbit $XNB has been designed to automatically increase the size of blocks as transaction volume increases, which means you only need to adjust your transaction priority higher if the Xeonbit $XNB network is temporarily experiencing a surge in transaction volume and the Xeonbit network has not yet adjusted upwards the sizes of blocks that are created to store those transactions.

Sweep unmixable


A button that appears in the beta version of the Xeonbit GUI that you don't have to worry about. It's only for those that received payments long ago, before RingCT and before denominations were used as part of Xeonbit transactions.

Exchange


A place you can go to exchange dollars, Bitcoin or other currencies for Xeonbit $XNB.

XNB


The currency code for Xeonbit.

GUI


GUI Stands for Graphical User Interface. It makes it easy for you to use Xeonbit $XNB.

CLI / Command line interface


A text only application that does not have a graphical interface.

Stealth address


When a transaction is sent, Xeonbit $XNB does not publicly record the recipient's public address as the destination, and instead creates a new anonymous one-time address as the destination that is not linked to the recipient's public address. This one-time address is called a stealth address, because it ensures that your public address does not appear on the blockchain. Only the recipient has the necessary secret view key to scan the blockchain to locate these one-time destination addresses that contain the received funds.

Tags: #Glossary, #Xeonbit, #XNB

Source: https://xeonbit.com/glossary-of-the-most-important-xeonbit-xnb-terms/

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Bitcoin's Price Volatility Nears 5-Month Low May Be Building for Fantastic Move

Review





  • Bitcoin’s price volatility, as represented by Bollinger bandwidth, has hit the lowest level since May 3, and is closing on a level seen ahead of violent price swings in the past.
  • While technical charts are increasingly favoring a downside move, bitcoin’s non-price metrics continue to call a bullish move, which, so far, has remained elusive.
  • BTC risks falling to $9,855 (Sept. 11 low) in the next couple of days and could extend the decline toward $9,320 (Aug. 29 low).
  • The bearish case would weaken above Sept. 13’s high of $10,458. The outlook, as per the daily chart would turn bullish above $10,956 (Aug. 20 high).

Bitcoin’s volatility has hit its lowest level in over four months – a price squeeze that may force a significant move either way.





BTC’s bull run stalled at highs above $13,800 on June 26 and prices have created lower highs and higher lows ever since.





Notably, the trading range has narrowed sharply over the last two weeks, with bitcoin consolidating between $9,850 and 10,950, as per Bitstamp data.





As a result, the Bollinger bands – volatility indicators placed 2 standard deviations above and below the price’s 20-day moving average – have narrowed sharply.





More importantly, Bollinger bandwidth, an indicator used to gauge market volatility, has dropped to 0.11 – the lowest reading since May. 3, as seen in the chart below.





Bollinger Bandwidth





The volatility level has dropped steadily from 0.62 to lows near 0.10 in the 2.5-months.





In the past, BTC has witnessed big moves following drops to or below 0.10 (marked by arrows).





For instance, the bandwidth dropped to 0.06 a week before BTC broke into a bull market with a high-volume move to $5,000 on April 2. It also fell to 0.10 on May 2 – a day before BTC jumped above $5,600, marking an upside break of a three-week-long consolidation. And, in the days leading up to last November’s sell-off below $6,000, volatility dropped to 0.05.





If history is a guide, then BTC could soon witness a big move on either side. Technical analysis theory also states than an extended period of low volatility is often followed by a big move.





While the record high hash rate (miner confidence) is calling a bullish move, the technical charts are beginning to favor the bears.





As of writing, BTC is changing hands at $10,170 on Bitstamp, representing little change on a 24-hour basis.





Daily chart





Bitcoin jumped 2.6 percent on Sept. 12, confirming an upside break of a falling wedge pattern. The bullish breakout, however, failed to draw bids and the cryptocurrency has ended up creating another lower high at $10,458 (Sept. 13 high).





With the failed breakout, the bearish view put forward by Sept. 6’s big red engulfing candle has gained credence.





BTC risks falling back to the Sept. 11 low of $9,855 in the short-term. A violation there would open the doors for $9,320 (Aug. 29 low).





A few observers are calling for a deeper drop to levels below $8,000. That possibility cannot be ruled out as the cryptocurrency is looking heavy on the longer duration charts.





Monthly and weekly charts





The back-to-back inside bar candlestick patterns on the monthly chart (above left) indicate buyer exhaustion following a stellar rally from $4,000 to $13,880.





A bearish “inside bar” reversal would be confirmed if prices close (UTC) below $9,049 – the low of the first inside bar created in July – on Sept. 30.





Further, a negative reading on the weekly moving average convergence divergence (MACD) indicates scope for a deeper pullback.





The bearish case would weaken if prices rise above $10,956 (Aug. 20 high), invalidating the lower highs setup on the daily chart.





That said, a weekly close (Sunday, UTC) above $12,000 is needed for bull revival, as discussed last month.





Source: CoinDesk




Tags: #Bearish, #Bitcoin, #BTC, #Bullish, #FantasticMove, #Volatility

Source: https://xeonbit.com/bitcoins-price-volatility-nears-5-month-low-may-be-building-for-fantastic-move/

There are 10 Tax Tools for Crypto Owners

While tax laws on cryptocurrency vary by jurisdiction, there are many useful tools to help you calculate crypto taxes, lower your tax liabilities, and simplify your filing — no matter where you are. Many of them work globally, supporting tax forms of multiple countries, and can import data directly from all major crypto exchanges.





Crypto Tax Tools





Tax laws and filing obligations may vary from country-to-country, state-to-state, and even city-to-city, but there are many tools that work worldwide to help you. In preparing to file your taxes, you would first need to have good records of all your crypto dealings to determine the types of taxes you owe and how much. The tax tools below can help you keep records of your crypto transactions, calculate your tax liabilities, minimize taxes owed, and prepare your filing. They are especially useful for those frequently trading many cryptocurrencies on multiple exchanges.





Beartax is a cryptocurrency tax service with audit support. You can consolidate trades across over 40 exchanges and calculate capital gains. The platform is tailored to individuals, CPAs, and enterprise-level accounting firms.





Bittax is a tax filing platform which offers up to 3 calculation methods to optimize your tax results. You can import your wallet addresses and exchange data to calculate your taxes.





Blox offers cryptocurrency accounting, tracking and management tools, aimed at clients such as crypto businesses, asset managers, mining operations, crypto funds, and VCs. It also offers specific tools for mining operations.





Cointracker is a cryptocurrency wallet tracker and tax calculator that provides full tax reports for four countries and capital gain reports for all countries.





Cointracking analyzes your trades and generates real-time reports on profit and loss, realized and unrealized gains, and others for tax preparation. Data can be directly imported from eight wallets, over 50 crypto exchanges, as well as 15 closed platforms such as Mt. Gox.





Cryptotax can import data from over 20 exchanges. It offers country-specific tax reports which can be generated in over 30 local currencies.





Cryptotrader supports 26 cryptocurrency exchanges. It has partnered with Turbotax, a leading U.S. tax preparation platform, so your data can be directly imported into Turbotax software for e-filing.





Koinly helps you calculate cryptocurrency taxes and minimize taxable gains in over 100 countries. Data can be directly imported from 33 exchanges, five wallets, and six blockchains.





Tokentax accepts data from every major cryptocurrency exchange and helps you calculate your crypto taxes and file your full return.





Zenledger also works with all major exchanges, cryptocurrencies, and fiat currencies. It is an official Turbotax partner so your data can be automatically imported into the popular tax preparation software.





Some of the tools above are also discussed in our articles on portfolio tracking tools and tax calculation tools.





Taxable Transactions and Filing





Once you have all of your crypto records on hand, you can either take them to a tax accountant who can help you file your taxes or use a tax preparation software to do it yourself. For U.S. filers, there are many software products, including the aforementioned Turbotax, to help you file your taxes and claim applicable deductions and credits. Digital asset exchange platform Coinbase described in a nutshell:





All crypto sells, conversions, payments, donations, and earned income are reportable by U.S. taxpayers.





Not all crypto transactions are taxable, however. Some examples of non-taxable events include donating cryptocurrencies to a qualified tax-exempt charity, buying crypto with cash and holding it, and transferring cryptocurrencies between wallets.





A tax preparation software usually takes care of evaluating which transactions are taxable. It usually asks questions about your crypto earnings and transactions, then inputs your answers into relevant tax forms. However, these questions can be vague and some software may not provide enough explanation for you to accurately answer them, potentially resulting in errors on tax forms. In addition, even if your tax filing was accepted, tax authorities could ask you to file amended returns or pay back taxes years later, as did the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in its recent letters to crypto owners.





Most software aims to help you lower your tax liabilities, such as through capital loss deductions, as crypto losses can be used to offset other types of capital gains or income.





A survey by personal finance firm Credit Karma shows that the number of taxpayers who reported short-term capital losses from cryptocurrencies in the first month of this year jumped 521% year-on-year. However, the company additionally found that the number of people who would not declare their crypto income also increased.





Refunds and Payments in Crypto





If you are due a tax refund, you may be able to receive it in cryptocurrency. Refundo, a provider of tax-related financial products, has been helping U.S. taxpayers receive all or a portion of their federal and state tax refunds in BTC. The platform works with a number of leading tax software such as Turbotax, Taxact, Credit Karma, and H&R Block. Refunds are sent directly to the taxpayer’s wallet. In April, the company partnered with payments provider Bitpay to enable refunds to be sent through Bitpay’s payouts.





A growing number of cities and states worldwide are starting to accept cryptocurrencies for tax payments. The Swiss cities of Zug and Chiasso and the U.S. state of Ohio, for example, are already doing so. Ohio accepts both bitcoin and bitcoin cash for payments of 23 types of taxes through Bitpay. The state of New Hampshire has approved a bill to allow tax payments in bitcoin, and the Canadian city of Richmond Hill, Ontario, has announced that its residents will soon have the option to pay their property taxes in the digital currency.





Source: Bitcoin




Tags: #Bittax, #Blox, #CoinOwners, #Cointracker, #Cointracking, #CreditKarma, #Cryptotax, #Cryptotrader, #HRBlock, #IRS, #Koinly, #Refundo, #TaxFilling, #TaxTools, #Taxact, #Tokentax, #Turbotax, #USTaxpayer, #Zenledger

Source: https://xeonbit.com/there-are-10-tax-tools-for-crypto-owners/

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

FATF-Driven Delistings Capture the Criminalization of Privacy

The delisting of privacy coins like monero, zcash, dash, and xeonbit is becoming something of a trend in Asia, and could soon expand elsewhere. In the wake of the intra-governmental Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issuing new global standards, Korean exchanges Okex and Upbit have announced they will delist and put warnings on several privacy coins in the immediate future, with Okex to axe the tokens in October. The progressive abandonment of such coins in “crypto-friendly” Asia is a warning call to all privacy advocates: you can’t have your regulations and privacy, too.





A Growing Trend





Prior to the issuance of FATF recommendations, one of Japan’s largest exchanges had already swung the axe. Coincheck delisted four major privacy coins in 2018 thanks to pressure from the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA). An outright ban on Japanese exchanges dealing in privacy coins followed soon after. Further, very few privacy coins are set to be listed on Binance’s upcoming U.S.-compliant exchange, making the concerted effort of regulators worldwide to put the brakes on privacy very clear.





According to a September 10 blog post by Okex, the widely used exchange will cease trading of XMR, DASH, ZEC, ZEN and SBTC for Korean customers as of October 10, 2019 17:00 KST. Users will be able to make withdrawals of the tokens until December 10, 2019 17:00 KST. The announcement, translated from Korean, states in part:





According to the statement corresponding to FATF R.16 … We decided to take measures to end the trading support of stocks that are privacy-oriented cryptocurrency, aka dark coin.





The Okex blog post specifically details the necessity of knowing both sender and recipient information as per the FATF guidelines, something privacy coins can make exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, for exchanges.





In similar fashion, Korean exchange Upbit has now listed several privacy coins under an “investment warning” status, informing traders that the tokens are under review and may be removed if they are not found to meet FATF recommendations. A September 9 notice on their English website reads: “The amendment to the FATF R.15 states companies handling virtual assets must hold the standard equivalent to that of financial institutions and to register/report its legal business of operation. Particularly applicable in R.16, it states that the collection and retention of information related to the sender and the recipient of the virtual asset.” An update is expected soon as to the final fate of the coins.





Binance’s U.S.-Compliant Exchange





The upcoming U.S. legal compliant iteration of trading behemoth Binance won’t be a haven for privacy seekers, either, judging by the looks of things. With registration beginning on September 18, users will be greeted with a whittled down assortment of trading pairs, and the assets under consideration conspicuously do not include regulator-shunned monero.





In deciding which assets will be supported, Binance lists criteria for qualification including:





Whether trading the candidate asset will affect Binance.US’s ability to comply with applicable legal requirements, including, without limitation, US AML/CFT and securities laws and their implementing regulations … Whether the candidate asset’s community has a record of reaching compromises and consensuses to move the project forward.





The notice is authored by former Ripple executive Catherine Coley, who is overseeing the rollout of the platform as CEO of Bam trading services, the operator of the upcoming Binance U.S. exchange.





Privacy’s Not Dead





Compliance, delistings, and compromise are not exactly thrilling prospects for the Satoshi Nakamotos of the world who got into the crypto game to take back financial sovereignty. With privacy coins being gutted, it seems crypto might be losing itself in order to fit in with the big boys of legacy finance. Problem is, the whole idea of bitcoin was to give the financial bullies on Wall Street the middle finger, and not a goofy, submissive thumbs up. In spite of all the pressure, though, the embattled class of privacy coins is far from dead.





XMR ranks number 10 for market cap with a slice of $1.3 billion at press time. DASH is in the 16 slot, and ZEC sits at 28. There is, furthermore, the continued capacity for various “standard coins” to implement new privacy protocols that make regulatory pigeon-holing even harder. Litecoin, for example, may support confidential transactions (CT) in the future according to talk early in the year from Charlie Lee. Developments in that arena seem to be moving forward, if slowly. In the BCH community, the privacy enhancing Cashshuffle protocol is being improved with a proposed anonymizing feature called Cashfusion. The Github project spec states:





Cashfusion provides high levels of privacy via a flexible scheme that allows an arbitrary number of inputs and outputs of non-standard amounts. It provides anonymous, trustless coordination with usually zero-knowledge of linkages revealed to other players or the server.





Where some privacy coins have anonymizing features baked right into the source code, a new generation of protocols like Cashfusion and CT are emerging to afford even “standard” coins a kind of toggle switch allowing for greater anonymity. This way, both mainstream onboarding zealots and philosophically grounded privacy advocates could theoretically get behind the same assets. The trouble this might create for the big-government-doting exchanges would be interesting to watch.





Cui Bono?





When it comes to tokens being banned, blackballed, or delisted, it stands to ask who benefits. As news.Bitcoin.com has reported in past articles, if the concern surrounding these assets was truly about the prevention of terror and crime, the USD fiat scheme should be priority number one for overhaul, but it’s not. In a Reddit thread from August discussing Coinbase’s delisting of zcash in the U.K., user sathound remarked sardonically:





Remember children, tax avoidance and moral bankruptcy is only for the rich.





Asia and Japan are commonly hailed as crypto meccas thanks to adoption, regulation, and active use cases. Many in the space view this acceptance of crypto as a very bullish sign and a product of forward thinking societies. To those old-fashioned curmudgeons still intently focused on “a purely peer-to-peer version of electronic cash that would allow online payments … without going through a financial institution,” all this talk can ring hollow, however. Of course, exchanges can do as they please, and time will tell which are going to kowtow to the FATF, and which DEXs, OTC platforms, and private traders won’t.





Source: Bitcoin





What are your thoughts on the delisting of privacy coins? Let us know in the comments section below.




Tags: #Binance, #BitcoinCash, #Cryptocurrency, #Dash, #FATFInternationalStandards, #Japan, #JapanFSA, #Monero, #PrivacyCoins, #Ripple, #SatoshiNakamoto, #Xeonbit, #XNB, #Zcash

Source: http://xeonbit.com/fatf-driven-delistings-capture-the-criminalization-of-privacy/