Category Archives: Cryptocurrency

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Cryptocurrency exchange provider Ethbits has broken the $1M barrier in the crowdsale of its ETB token. The blockchain startup is building Ethbits Local, an exchange, currently in beta, that facilitates secure trades between people from bank accounts to cryptocurrency. Following the crowdsale success, Ethbits Local will expand its offering with iTrade, a new peer-to-peer social trading platform that offers copy trading across 15 new cryptocurrency pairs. Traders can learn from their peers and experienced traders can earn rewards for growing a follower base.

To date, 570 participants have contributed more than 11,400 ETH to see the platform developed. ETB tokens will play an essential role on the trading platform in the form of exchange fees. Participants will also qualify for quarterly dividend payouts of at least 11% of profits. Ethbits CMO and co-founder Matt Radbourne had this to say;

We are completely humbled by the support for Ethbits to raise $1M with still one week left to go on the crowdsale puts us in a great position, we are excited to now be able to bring our vision for Ethbits to life. The pre-sale of ETB tokens has raised much needed funds for development and launch of the platform

Ethbits Local is readying itself for launch immediately after the sale ends on 13th May. The addition of iTrade will take a little longer to develop and is slated for release at the end of the year. iTrade will enable face-to-face trades across a range of cryptocurrencies. To help facilitate this feature, Ethbits recently partnered with BCB ATM an expanding Bitcoin ATM service based in the UK. Ethbits iTrade platform will be linked to BCB ATMs to help people find crypto traders in their local area.

There is still a week to run on the crowdsale and with every 1000 ETH raised, Ethbits will provide token holders an additional 1% in dividends. The crowdfund will run until 13th May at 5pm UTC. To get involved see https://ico.ethbits.com.

This is a paid press release. Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to thepromotedcompanyor 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.

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ETHBITS Breaks $1 Million Barrier for New P2P Cryptocurrency ...

Dash has had a great run so far as one of the more exciting projects in cryptocurrency, fueled by a large and active community focused on positivity, productivity, cooperation, and mass adoption. However, this does not mean that these values are shared by those outside the community, and the coin has attracted a certain amount of flak from players elsewhere in the space. Here are the top 5 Dash haters.

1: Riccardo Spagni

Also known as FluffyPony, Spagni is the head honcho of the head honchco-less crypto Moneros development team, the go-to figurehead for the coin. He has long made his opinions on Dash clear as one of the main adherents of the Dash is a scam line, and has had no reservations about sharing his opinion on the subject at every opportunity, including co-hosting the CryptoScam episode on Dash with Tone Vays (more on him in a bit) and airing his displeasure on Twitter.

2: Tone Vays

Bitcoin maximalist, technical analysis pundit, host of CryptoScam, and steadfast friend of the Fluffiest of Ponies, Tone Vays is one of the most consistent critics of Dash. The favorite way he con-Vays his dislike for Dash is via technical analysis tweets, where he has engaged in a long-term no wait this time Dash is about to crash predictions constituting an increasingly tortured-looking cup-and-handle pattern.

3: Charlie Lee

Founder of Litecoin, the great throwback coin and silver to Bitcoins gold, Charlie CobLee Lee is also known for his quick and sarcastic wit on Twitter. He is also known for being no big fan of Dash, throwing in humorous remarks and wordplay whenever presented the golden (silver?) opportunity.

4: Peter Todd

One of the more prominent Bitcoin Core developers, Todd is known for his tact and restraint in the highly contentious Bitcoin scaling debate, as well as for palling around with Spagni. As seems to come with the territory, he doesnt appear to be the biggest fan of the Dash.

5: Greg Maxwell

Finally, Blockstream CTO, prominent Bitcoin Core developer, and go-to /r/BTC boogeyman Greg Maxwell has recently shared some of his opinions on Dash, including his colleague Todds snakeoil line, when discussing privacy in cryptocurrency.

Did we miss any prominent Dash haters? Let us know in the comments!

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5 Biggest Dash Haters in Cryptocurrency - Dash Force News

The combined market capitalization of all public cryptocurrencies has surged nearly 80% over the last month, as more than $20bn worth of new investment dollars has flooded the nascent market.

In roughly 30 days alone, the market cap for experimental blockchain-based cryptographic assets has ballooned from $27.8bn to $49.5bn, according to data fromCoinMarketCap, with the strongest gains observed outside of the market's historical leader, bitcoin.

A closer look reveals the total market cap of so-called 'altcoins', cryptographic tokens that seek to serve alternative use cases to bitcoin, has surged to $23.5bn, up more than 600% from just over $3bn in early March.

Amid this sharp rally, some market observers have expressed concerns that the asset classmay have entered a speculative bubble.

When supporting his argument, Jacob Eliosoff, a trader who runs a cryptocurrency fund, pointed to not only to the price gains, but also the fact that so many cryptocurrencies including those that haven't seen technical or business progress have risen in value.

Eliosoff told CoinDesk:

"I've been making the bubble argument for weeks. Doge, Dash, Litecoin, Stellar, Gnosis ... practically every coin has surged."

Hefurther cautioned that this development is "a sign of unthinking buyers that will sell as soon as the tide turns."

Daniel Masters, director of the regulated investment vehicle Global Advisors Bitcoin Investment Fund (GABI), offered similar sentiment, emphasizing that even cryptocurrencies with smaller market caps like litecoin, ether, namecoinand ripple have all experienced strong gains over the last few months.

He told CoinDesk that he believes "sentiment [is] too strong," noting that between this and record prices for cryptocurrencies, a bubble may be forming.

While the aforementioned analysts provided cautious viewpoints, other market observers were more optimistic, asserting that cryptocurrency prices have significant room to appreciate despite current prices.

Harry Yeh, managing partner of Binary Financial, took a bullish slant, telling CoinDesk that "there's still quite a ways to move" as more investors take note of big gains in the sector.

Tim Enneking, chairman of Crypto Currency Fund, also spoke to the market's potential. "I would agree that prices have increased too far too fast, but I don't think it's a serious problem more like a buying opportunity," he said.

He elaborated on this statement, pointing out that it is challenging to determine the "true value" of a cryptocurrency:

"I'm not sure I would label it a bubble, at least not yet. It's quite difficult to definitively state what the intrinsic value is or should be of an altcoin," he said, adding:

"Property is worth what people are willing to pay for it."

One strong indicator of the bullish sentimentis robust trading. While transaction volume for many of the digital assets listed on Coinmarketcap has risen, over-the-counter (OTC) trading firms have also reported an increase in activity.

Martin Garcia, vice president of Genesis Global Trading, noted that his New York-based firm is experiencing such an improvement.

"Our new applications are up significantly, and old clients are circling back as well," Garcia said.

Ryan Rabaglia, head trader for Octagon Strategy, expressed similar sentiment.

"Our desk has had [a threefold] volume increase over the last few months and over the last few weeks we're onboarding new counterparties at a record rate," he said.

Finally, Rabaglia spoke to the changing demands of his customers, emphasizing that while bitcoin and ether are still the "hottest names," his trading desk has repeatedly received requests for trades involving lesser-known alternative cryptocurrencies such as ZEC, DASH, ETC and XRP.

Ultimately, he characterized the current market as one with abundant opportunities for his business.

He concluded:

"Up to this point we've dabbled in each and are considering dedicating more resources if the demand persists."

Disclosure:CoinDesk is a subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which has an ownership stake in Genesis Global Trading.

Soap bubble image via Shutterstock

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$25 Billion in 30 Days: Are Cryptocurrencies in a Bubble? - CoinDesk

Men and women concerned in the entire world of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency at some point exhibit attributes of OCD. To be much more precise, there are folks who go through from obsessive Cryptocurrency Problem. Presented all of the hype and excitement encompassing this marketplace, that is anything at all but shocking. Nevertheless, it can trigger rather some challenges concerning mental overall health and lessen ones social life to a bare bare minimum.

Outsiders often underestimate the willpower it normally takes to not search at cryptocurrency investing charts all day. As shortly as a person owns a Bitcoin or choice cryptocurrency, they will want to hold tabs on the rate. That is only typical, even while things may perhaps not adjust all that significantly more than the study course of a day. To be much more precise, a large amount of volatility has left the cryptocurrency scene as of late, even though some currencies are even now subject to large trade swings.

Holding track of a cryptocurrencyportfolios price is not all that difficult both. In most instances, it begins out by opening a independent tab on just one of the pc screens wherever a chart is updating in actual-time. Some traders and lovers even devote a next or 3rd watch to cryptocurrency rate charts to hold tabs on things. Though that is not essentially disturbing, it can have an impact on productivity by rather a margin.

Cell phones are also a good instrument to hold track of a cryptocurrencys price. A number of mobile exchange and investing applications exist, all of which have some sort of API that can be utilised as a telephone widget. Simply change on your display screen to see the latest Bitcoin or altcoin rate you are seeking for. As soon as again, it seems innocent at initial, but it quickly becomes next nature.

This is how Obsessive Cryptocurrency Problem begins to manifest by itself. When things like examining a coins rate are section of your every day schedule, it only is a matter of time until finally the urge to do so becomes frustrating. Cost watching is a sickness, as just one Reddit consumer aptly factors out. It is difficult to not get swept up in all of the excitement when the candles change green, or the despair when things head south.

In fact, a large amount of cryptocurrency lovers go through from Obsessive Cryptocurrency Problem, yet fall short to recognize it. Staying concerned in Bitcoin and altcoins requires examining rates, which only seems purely natural to us. Nevertheless, in some instances, it begins ingesting at peoples lives, costing them snooze, minimizing their productivity, and even influencing their social life. though a significant section of our modern society is usually examining their phones, it has develop into problematic when a person keeps evident at charts and mumbling to them selves, while.

Obsessive Cryptocurrency Problem is just like any other issue folks can get psyched about, while. Grabbing for a telephone, tablet, or any other electronic system to search up precise information and facts or join to the entire world has develop into a every day schedule for most of us in this day and age of digitization. We have to have to locate a way to deal with this new form of OCD, while, as it is not a healthy enhancement by any implies.

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What is Obsessive Cryptocurrency Problem ... - good ...

This weekend on May 6-7 a conference is being held in Bogota, Colombia, that immerses participants into the bitcoin ecosystem by learning from the experts. Bitcoins Bootcamp is a two-day event aimed at teaching attendees how to use bitcoin, a wallet, trade with the virtual currency, and learn all the basics.

Also read:How to Disrupt Everything: the Largest Blockchain Conference Coming to Amsterdam

The Bitcoins Bootcamp conference is aimed at giving attendees total immersion into the world of bitcoin. The event is sponsored by cryptocurrency industry leaders such as Investopi, the regional bitcoin exchange Surbtc, Tropay, Wagecan, the Crypt-store, and Bitcoin.com.

In Bootcamp, you will not only learn what bitcoins are, but you can also create your own wallet, learn mining, trading, crowdlending and start using your bitcoins in the day to day, explains Bitcoins Bootcamp organizers. You will have a total immersion into the world of bitcoins hand in hand with the best experts in the region.

Attendees of Bitcoins Bootcamp will not only learn to about the decentralized currency but also hear from regional industry experts who operate virtual currency businesses in the area. This includes Juliana Matiz (Investopi), Alejandro Beltran (Surbtc), Erick Ospina (Tropay), Arley Lozano (Panda Server) and many more.

Bitcoin.com spoke with Arley Lozano, CEO, and founder of Panda Server about the Bitcoins Bootcamp event. Lozano says participants starting to learn about bitcoin are going from zero to hero during the two-day event. Currently, Lozano says there are roughly 240 participants at Bitcoins Bootcamp both attending virtually and in the fleshin the audience.

Organizers of the bitcoin training conference say the event is not a traditional webinar by any means. People participating are using computers, learning to mine, trade, and utilize bitcoins for daily activities like shopping. Lozano tells Bitcoin.com that attendees are also learning about how to avoid Ponzi schemes. Attendees also receive US$30 in BTC to open a wallet and learn to trade. Bitcoins Bootcamp organizers detail that participants will become very knowledgeable about cryptocurrencies after finishing the conference.

Panda Servers founder says hes thrilled to attend the event and be immersed in such a learning atmosphere.

The event at this moment is so great, Lozano details to Bitcoin.com. People have a chance to talk with each speaker when they are finished speaking. From my point of view, the event is really good for newbies as they are learning each step of using the virtual currency and what is bitcoin.

What events will you be attending this year? Let us know in the comments below.

Disclaimer:noticias.bitcoin.com is a sponsor of Bitcoins Bootcamp and a Media partner.

Images via Bitcoin.com, and Arley Lozano.

Do you want to talk about bitcoin in a comfortable (and censorship-free) environment? Check out the Bitcoin.com Forums all the big players in Bitcoin have posted there, and we welcome all opinions.

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Bitcoins Bootcamp Brings Cryptocurrency Education to Colombia ...

Slowly but surely, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are gaining traction in different regions around the world. South Korea could prove to be an important ally on the road to mass cryptocurrency adoption. Several exchanges are active in this market, although not all of them are known by the public. We have listed four of the main platforms serving customers in South Korea.

This fairly unknown Bitcoin exchange has been around for quite some time now. Unfortunately, they only made media headlines due to a recent hack affecting the platform. Over 3,000 bitcoins were lost, and Yapizon was forced to reduce user balances by a sizable amount to recover the losses. A reward program has been put in place to compensate affected users moving forward, though.

Another relatively unknown cryptocurrency exchange operating in South Korea goes by the name of Coinone. The company offers three main trading markets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Ethereum Classic. All of these currencies can be traded against the Korean Won, but not against one another. It does appear the exchange is doing quite well, though, as it generates a fair bit of volume every single day.

As we have come to see from other exchanges focusing only on fiat currency trading markets, the maker-taker fee structure depends on how much volume is traded. In the western world, a similar tactic is employed by platforms such as Kraken. It will be interesting to see if Coinone decides to add other currencies and trading pairs to its platform in the future. For now, South Korea seems very keen on ETH, ETC, and BTC, that much is evident.

One of the oldest Korean exchanges goes by the name of Korbit. The platform has built up a solid reputation over the years, mainly due to being the first BTC/KRW exchange in history. As time progressed, the company decided to add Ethereum and Ethereum Classic to its trading market as well. Interestingly enough, the platform also lists Monero, Litecoin, and XRP, although they are not openly advertised, so to speak. It looks as if all of the supported currencies can only be traded against the Korean Won as well.

Although very few people had heard about this exchange just a few months ago, things have changed quite a bit ever since. Bithumb has quickly become one of the most dominant cryptocurrency markets in all of South Korea. That is quite an impressive feat, and it looks like the overall trading volume continues to grow every single week.

It is possible Bithumb will only become more popular ever since they recently added a Litecoin trading pair. Other supported currencies include Bitcoin Dash and Ethereum, both of which can be exchanged for the Korean Won. Bitcoin is the platforms largest trading market for now, although Ethereum and Litecoin see decent daily volumes as well.

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Top 4 South Korean Cryptocurrency Exchanges - The Merkle

PAUL MITCHELL

Last updated20:16, May 9 2017

MURRAY WILSON/FAIRFAX NZ

Palmerston North retiree Bruce Thompson made over $140,000 investing in cryptocurrencies over the past year.

A pensioner stands at an airport security checkpoint with a backpack full of gold bullion, a knife and false beard.

Why? To understand that, you need to know a little about Palmerston North retireeBruce Thompsonand why he's so excited about "cryptocurrency".

Aformer IT worker, and earlyadopter,Thompson has followed the rise of digital currencywith avid interest.

SUPPLIED

People from around the world trade in cryptocurrencies through online exchanges such as Poloneix.

He's made $146,000 since he started dabbling withcryptocurrencyin June 2016, $108,000 of that in the past month and a half.

READ MORE: * A beginners guide to Bitcoin: what you need to know * Cryptocurrency in crossfire as surge in dodgy transactions reported to police intel * Agribusiness Investment Showcase startups vie for investment * KiwiSavers harshly taxed compared to property investors, book claims

Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that use encryption to secure transactions and control how new "coins"are made.Bitcoin is the most famous, but there are others, such as Ehtereum and Dash.

Each "coin"has a unique computer-generated number, andonly a limited amount can be created. They can be used anonymously.

In mid-March, Thompson readabout amajor international bankbuying Ethereum,andsaw the currency's valuestart to tick upwards in the online exchanges.

He realised itwasabout to skyrocket. So he made a snap decision to dip into another investment he'd made over the years his gold bullion.

That's how Thompson came to be standing at a checkpointin Wellington Airport, with a bemused security guard giving him the side-eye.

The problem washis gold was in a safe deposit box in the State Insurance building in Wellington, and the vault was closing in only three hours.

He snatched up a backpack and dashed to the bus stop in Palmerston North, and arrived in thecapital with an hour to spare. And he needed every bit of it to navigate the vault's tight security,so he sprinted three blocks through thecrowded centralWellington streets.

Soon he was back on the street with his backpack$103,000 in gold bars heavier, and was ready to fly to Auckland to cash it in.

But in his rush to the vault, he'd never checked to see what else was in his backpack.

The knife was from a hiking trip, and the fake beard was part of a costume for an amateur musical production. It took some explaining, but he was eventually on his way,minus the knife.

"It was all a bit of a risk, but it has paid off hugely for me."

Thompson said he wanted to share the wealth, so he madeastarter's guide to buyingcryptocurrenciesto make it a bit easier for others to seize the opportunity.

"When you make $140,000 basically overnight, you feel a bit guilty.

"You think, how can this just be happening to me?I should tell everyone else."

He said investing in cryptocurrency wasa solid gamble, because it changed money and banking the same way digital technology was changing so many areas of life.

Thompson said people shouldn't invest with money they couldn't afford to lose, and they should practise with $10 until they got a handle on the market.

"I could be fatally wrong.ButI've got enough put aside, I own my own house, and I'm a pensioner ,so I'm all right."

-Stuff

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Palmerston North retiree makes a mint ditching gold for cryptocurrency - The Dominion Post

Bitcoin is still leading the cryptocurrency world, but isless dominant than it was a few years ago (Credit: mdorottya/Depositphotos)

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin may seem to be the fad that keeps coming back every year or so, but a new study finds they may be much bigger than previously thought. Even before the price of Bitcoin hit new record highs in recent weeks, a landmark study out of the University of Cambridge found that cryptocurrencies are actively used by three times as many people compared to other estimates.

The Global Cryptocurrency Benchmarking Study released this month is based on data collected between September 2016 and January 2017. It puts the estimated number of unique active cryptocurrency wallet users at between 2.9 million and 5.8 million.

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The nature of cryptocurrency can make it difficult to perform any sort of reliable census of users. A 2015 report from Juniper Research put the total user base at 1.3 million, but the new Cambridge report claims to provide some of the first hard data on the size of the industry.

The study is based on data gathered from over 100 cryptocurrency companies in 38 countries, providing a snapshot of an estimated 75 percent of all cryptocurrency activity.

"Cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin have been seen by some as merely a passing fad or insignificant, but that view is increasingly at odds with the data we are observing," says co-author Dr. Garrick Hileman at Cambridge Judge Business School.

Other notable findings include the growth of new cryptocurrency Ether that is largely responsible for a dip in Bitcoin's dominance, which is down to 72 percent of the total cryptocurrency market from 86 percent just two years ago. It also finds that China and the United States dominate when it comes to the origin of much of the currency that is "mined" via a processor-intensive number-crunching process.

"Currently, the combined market value of all cryptocurrencies is nearly $40 billion, which represents a level of value creation on the order of Silicon Valley success stories like Airbnb," Dr. Hileman says in a foreword to the study.

Despite all that value, cryptocurrencies aren't making much of a dent when it comes to creating jobs. The study finds just a few thousand people are employed full-time in the industry.

Source: University of Cambridge [1], [2]

More here:
Study puts cryptocurrencies market at triple the size of earlier estimates - New Atlas

Cryptocurrency has been a controversial solution to the economic problems several developed and developing countries are facing. Here we discuss both the risks and opportunities blockchain technologies bring. The Bitcoin Argument

Even the mere mention of Bitcoin evokes mixed response[s] among seasoned economists according to NewsBTS. There are those who call Bitcoin revolutionary, while others discredit its potential, calling it a giant pyramid scheme.

Watch Forbes Video: Getting Rid Of Pocket Money

However, in places like Venezuela where people are living off a government-issued stipend that equates to about $6 per month Bitcoin has proved to be much more reliable than national banks for handling day to day transactions.

According to Crypto Coin News, the Venezuelan government suddenly, unilaterally, [and] without any apparent due process declared 100 Venezuelan Bolivar notes (worth around two cents in October of last year) to be completely worthless in December 2016.

This problem was almost certainly compounded by the three highly variable exchange rates Venezuelans must choose from (the elite market, the common market, and the widely used black market).

The end result? Even the highest denominations of the bolivar are now so worthless citizens of Venezuela have taken to weighing (rather than counting) their bills.

But Venezuela isnt the only nation facing an imminent economic crisis.

According to Frisco dAnconia, a West African native and writer for Crypto Coin News, Zimbabwes inflation rate was estimated at an unimaginable 79.6 billion percent by as early as 2008.

This was the era where Zimbabwe bank notes varied from 10 to 100 Billion Zimbabwean dollars, dAnconia reflects.

By 2009, economic instability forced Zimbabwe to adopt the U.S. Dollar. However, without ready access to U.S.dollars, the Zimbabwean government created a strict daily withdrawal limit of just $50 per day.

Last year, the introduction of bond notes helped resolve hyperinflation somewhat but did nothing to fix the limited availability of currency. According to dAnconia, daily withdrawal limits are still in place, and (depending on the bank) those limits could either fall even lower (to $30 a day) or banks could close their ATMs altogether (now a common practice).

Remember, these arent the only examples of hyperinflation throughout history.

If you remember seeing wheelbarrows filled with cash from the Weimar Republic following World War I, you should be able to recognize just how quickly an economic problem like this can turn into a social, global, and political disaster.

Bitcoin isnt the only cryptocurrency out there; As of today, there are over 824 unique cryptocurrencies participating in the e-commerce market.

In fact, the total market cap for cryptocurrency stands at: $48,567,465,937USD

According to Forbes, many Venezuelans are turning to Bitcoin as an alternative. Some of the benefits of cryptocurrency they describe include:

That is not to say that Bitcoin (and other cryptocurrencies) currently possess optimal economic scaffolding.

As Forbes notes, cryptocurrency transaction fees can vary widely and (in the case of Bitcoin) are far too high to benefit developing nations. Platforms like BitSquare are free and decentralized, and there are not obvious transaction fees. However, banking fees and currency conversions will still eventually cost the buyer.

On the other hand, for some developed nations, Bitcoin is viewed as too volatile.

However, BTC News reports that cryptocurrency has already proven its capabilities in the African continent by making financial services accessible to the unbanked and underbanked.

A number of cryptocurrency critics, including economists and government officials, are weary of a hypothetical flaw in blockchain technology (the process that dictates cryptocurrency transactions) called a 51% Attack. There is also a worry that quantum computers will present a security danger to cryptocurrency systems, but this is also still a hypothetical.

According to Investopedia, this attack leaves market participants open to:

miners controlling more than 50% of the networks mining hashrate, or computing power. The attackers would be able to prevent new transactions from gaining confirmations, allowing them to halt payments between some or all users. They would also be able to reverse transactions that were completed while they were in control of the network, meaning they could double-spend coins.

Even though this attack is still theoreticalother similar hacks have been executed using Bitcoin in the past. As Joo Ian Wong, technology reporter for Quartz, remarks:

The history of bitcoin exchanges is Darwinian, marked by abrupt failures triggered by security breaches. If you run a big bitcoin exchange, its usually a question of when, not if, your defenses will be breached.

However, many cryptocurrencies have created potential workarounds to safeguard against excessive mining.

In fact, Coin Market Cap currently shows 380 cryptocurrencies that are not minable. Only 16 of the 824 known cryptocurrencies have been significantly mined in the past.

Moreover, mining and cryptocurrency exchange can be difficult for most people to execute in such a complex way. They must know how to manipulate bitcoin marketplaces and currency exchanges in highly intricate wayssomething the major population of a developing country would be hard pressed to find time to do.

Still, there are several possible solutions for improving global cryptocurrency security measures including:

Because the World Bank works largely with poor and developing countries, what this partnership could mean is that instead of working on an individual competitive scale for currency rates, these developing countries could pool their currency values and participate in a fairer economic market.

In addition to assisting developing nations to stabilize their currency, cryptocurrency could ease or prevent international conflicts.

In 2015, Greece was scheduled to rollout 1,000 Bitcoin ATMs in an effort to relieve their ongoing financial crisis.

However, that proposed rollout appears to have been either delayed or canceled altogether. Right now, there are only two Bitcoin ATMs available in all of Greece, according to Bitcoin ATM Radar.

In fact, The Guardian reports that negotiations between Athens and their creditors have come to a grinding halt. As Helena Smith reports that:

The possibility of Grexit, or euro exit, has re-emerged and bond yields have soared. The yield on two-year Greek government bonds has risen from 6% to 10% in less than two weeks as spooked investors have dumped their holdings. And the shrill rhetoric last seen at the height of the crisis in 2015 has returned.

As in the case of Zimbabwe, Argentina, and Venezuela, Greece could potentially pull itself back from the brink of disaster by incorporating cryptocurrency into their economy.

Since negotiations are at a standstill, working with the World Bank & the United Nations to set guidelines on the usage of cryptocurrencies could very well spell a fresh start for Greeces the Grecians turbulent economic and social climate.

Excerpt from:
Cryptocurrencies Help Stabilize Economies - Edgy Labs (blog)

People involved in the world of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency eventually exhibit traits of OCD. To be more specific, there are people who suffer from obsessive Cryptocurrency Disorder. Given all of the hype and excitement surrounding this industry, that is anything but surprising. However, it can cause quite some issues regarding mental health and reduce ones social life to a bare minimum.

Outsiders often underestimate the willpower it takes to not look at cryptocurrency trading charts all day. As soon as someone owns a Bitcoin or alternative cryptocurrency, they will want to keep tabs on the price. That is only normal, even though things may not change all that much over the course of a day. To be more specific, a lot of volatility has left the cryptocurrency scene as of late, although some currencies are still subject to massive trade swings.

Keeping track of a cryptocurrencyportfolios value is not all that difficult either. In most cases, it starts out by opening a separate tab on one of the computer screens where a chart is updating in real-time. Some traders and enthusiasts even dedicate a second or third monitor to cryptocurrency price charts to keep tabs on things. While that is not necessarily disturbing, it can affect productivity by quite a margin.

Mobile phones are also a great tool to keep track of a cryptocurrencys value. Multiple mobile exchange and trading apps exist, all of which have some form of API that can be used as a phone widget. Simply turn on your screen to see the current Bitcoin or altcoin price you are looking for. Once again, it seems innocent at first, but it quickly becomes second nature.

This is how Obsessive Cryptocurrency Disorder starts to manifest itself. When things like checking a coins price are part of your daily routine, it only is a matter of time until the urge to do so becomes overwhelming. Price watching is a disease, as one Reddit user aptly points out. It is difficult to not get swept up in all of the excitement when the candles turn green, or the despair when things head south.

In fact, a lot of cryptocurrency enthusiasts suffer from Obsessive Cryptocurrency Disorder, yet fail to recognize it. Being involved in Bitcoin and altcoins involves checking prices, which only seems natural to us. However, in some cases, it starts eating at peoples lives, costing them sleep, reducing their productivity, and even affecting their social life. while a large part of our society is always checking their phones, it has become problematic when someone keeps glaring at charts and mumbling to themselves, though.

Obsessive Cryptocurrency Disorder is just like any other thing people can get excited about, though. Grabbing for a phone, tablet, or any other electronic device to look up specific information or connect to the world has become a daily routine for most of us in this day and age of digitization. We need to find a way to deal with this new type of OCD, though, as it is not a healthy development by any means.

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What is Obsessive Cryptocurrency Disorder? The Merkle - The Merkle