Categories
Bitcoin Bitcoin ETF Bitcoin Investment Crypto Mining cryptocurrency exchange Cryptocurrency Investment Cryptocurrency news Investment News NFT Investment

Japan’s Largest Bitcoin Lightning Community Partners With Tokyo’s Largest Real Estate Company

Diamond Hands, Japan’s largest Lightning Network community, is partnering with a major real estate company in Tokyo for a joint research project for wider adoption.

Japan's largest Lightning community, Diamond Hands, is teaming up with one of the largest real estate companies, Open House Group, in Tokyo for a joint research project.

Open House will investigate how to leverage the Bitcoin Lightning Network for real estate transactions in the region.

The real estate company will also look to develop infrastructure practices for companies in the area looking to adopt the Lightning Network.

Open House Group Company Limited, a major real estate company in the Tokyo metropolitan area, is sponsoring Japan’s largest Lightning Network community, known as Diamond Hands, in a joint research project, according to a press release sent to Bitcoin. . Magazine.

Open House will sponsor Diamond Hands’ advocacy and outreach efforts in its pursuit of greater adoption of the Lightning Network in the region. The Lightning community will join Open House on internal research and development and community development projects regarding Lightning adoption for individual users and businesses.

In addition, Open House seeks to strengthen its understanding of the ecosystem by exploring full-node business operations for enterprises. This research will include secure data storage on personal devices and cloud databases on full nodes in real estate, leveraging layer two Bitcoin technology for real estate transactions and how to route payments on the Lightning Network.

Previously, Diamond Hands made headlines for its partnership with bitcoin gaming company ZEBEDEE, in which the two organizations, along with Mimesis Capital, joined forces to strengthen Lightning adoption in Asia.

Consequently, Mimesis Capital, being a bitcoin-focused family office, planned to leverage Diamond Hands connections to offer business advice to companies looking to integrate the Lightning Network into their professions. Additionally, ZEBEDEE sought to build infrastructure to enable high levels of bitcoin gaming in the region.

“The Diamond Hands community has played a key role in the adoption of Lightning for individuals and businesses in Japan over the past year, but we look forward to taking this forward by collaborating with businesses and international communities,” Koji Higashi, co-organizer of Diamond Hands had previously stated.

Categories
Bitcoin Bitcoin ETF Bitcoin Investment Bitcoin Wallet Crypto Mining cryptocurrency exchange Cryptocurrency Investment Cryptocurrency news Investment News

Brazilian congressman sees Bitcoin as a transformer for the country

Brazilian congressman Fábio Ostermann sees Bitcoin as a means to make state tools obsolete and allow technology to free people.

In an episode of the “Bitconheiros” podcast with the guest Fábio Ostermann, the Brazilian deputy commented, among various topics, on Bitcoin and the adoption of decentralized technologies. This story was shared by local news outlet Bitcoin Bulletin.

The Brazilian parliamentarian said that technologies that promote decentralization have the potential to liberate Brazil, as they can render many institutions obsolete, such as the Central Bank and other institutions linked to monetary policy. he he shared,

“Personally, I firmly believe in the future of freedom in Brazil and, consequently, in the future of prosperity in Brazil. I believe that our children will live in a level of freedom that we never imagined.

“Probably because of what our generation is building. […] I have a lot of confidence in the future of freedom and of Brazil, consequently, because I see that in the worst case, technology will make us free.”

Brazil currently ranks 133rd out of 177 countries in the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom. The Latin American country did not have a significant indication of freedom in any observable aspect.

Bitcoin, as the parliamentarian and various people throughout the episode rightly pointed out, has the potential to open up a lot of room for the growth of freedom in the world. It takes away from centralized agents the monopoly of money issuance and the financial system.
Bitcoin Adoption in Brazil

In recent decades, Brazil has gone through a series of episodes that have undermined the population’s trust in state institutions. From 1940 to 1994, the country experienced severe inflation and occasional hyperinflation. Many point out that this may be one of the main reasons for the popularity of bitcoin in the country, since the population is used to not trusting money issued by the government.

Brazil currently has more people investing in bitcoin and other digital assets than the US stock market.

The lack of confidence in the government itself due to various historical events has become an inseparable part of the culture of Latin American countries. As most South American countries have experienced hyperinflation, dictatorships, and confiscation of their economies, it is natural that there will be resistance to trusting centralized institutions.

Because it is a decentralized currency network that does not need to rely on intermediaries, Bitcoin has become a strong net alternative to government-issued money, as well as a way to gain sovereignty through hard currency in a crash-resistant currency network. the censorship.
“Technology will set us free”

During the conversation, the deputy, known for defending agendas linked to economic freedom, continued:

“[Bitcoin] is going to transform various state tools, which today, or until recently, were considered as indispensable as the Central Bank itself. As monetary regulatory authorities, it will sooner or later render them obsolete.”

As stated, Bitcoin has the real potential to undermine the power of central banks and monetary institutions around the world because it is a protocol for money in the virtual cyberspace of the Internet.

Through aligned incentives and an “army of miners” striving to find new blocks and maintain network security, Bitcoin has held its own for 13 years, providing a robust monetary network and a highly appreciable liquid asset.

The parliamentarian also highlighted the emergence of a number of technologies that have the potential to reduce the role of the state through decentralization. “The trend is that we follow the path of increasing decentralization… It is what some people commonly call uberization… But there is a phenomenon behind it, which is the phenomenon of decentralization, the decentralization of options.”

Ostermann was most likely referring to decentralized applications, which seek to run services from conventional applications and systems through complex smart contracts. The congressman’s statements are very reminiscent of the predictions made by the economist Milton Friedman, who stated on several occasions that eventually the creation of money native to the internet would be responsible for diminishing the role of governments around the world.

Bitcoin is a hope for Brazil, for Latin America and for people around the world.

Categories
Bitcoin Bitcoin ETF Bitcoin Investment Crypto Mining cryptocurrency exchange Cryptocurrency Investment Cryptocurrency news HYIPs Investment News

Bank of America: 90% of respondents plan to buy cryptocurrencies in the next 6 months

Despite bearish market sentiment, most cryptocurrency holders plan to buy “some amount of crypto” before the end of the year.

A new Bank of America survey shows that interest in cryptocurrencies remains high among Americans, with more than 90% of respondents saying they plan to buy cryptocurrencies within the next six months.

According to Jason Kupferberg, an analyst at Bank of America, the survey was conducted on June 1, after the collapse of Terra Luna. The sample size was 1,000 US adults.

In an interview with CNBC’s ‘TechCheck’, Kupferberg added that the percentage of respondents looking to buy cryptocurrencies was similar to the number they said they bought during the first six months of 2022.

Bitcoin adoption and payments

Regarding the use of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, the bank says that adoption is not very pronounced.

However, with more movement towards payments tied to cryptocurrencies such as Coinbase’s Visa card, connecting with merchants and users is much simpler and more useful to bring new impetus to the industry.

Bank of America also says that the cryptocurrency market is unlikely to see a major shift in the global adoption of many cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency exchanges. Comparing it to the dot-com era, Kupferberg says it is very likely that some of the projects will die out, before those that survive have wider adoption.

Stock and BTC price correlation

The BofA analyst also noted that Bitcoin remains highly correlated with equities, especially high-growth tech stocks. This lock trade has the price of BTC falling along with market downturns, trending towards a bear market as major stocks sell off.

On Monday, the price of Bitcoin dropped nearly 18%, with negative headlines about the Celsius Network compounding the downward pressure. The BTC/USD pair dropped to a 24-hour low of $22,725.

Categories
Bitcoin Bitcoin ETF Bitcoin Investment Bitcoin Wallet Crypto Mining cryptocurrency exchange Cryptocurrency Investment Cryptocurrency news Investment News

New American Express credit card allows shoppers to earn cryptocurrency rewards tradable in over 100 cryptocurrencies

cryptocurrency rewards tradable in over 100 cryptocurrencies
American Express and Abra are launching a new credit card that will allow shoppers to earn cryptocurrency rewards “tradable in over 100 different cryptocurrencies” with no annual or foreign transaction fees.

American Express and Abra Launch Crypto Rewards Credit Card

American Express (Amex) and cryptocurrency trading platform and wallet provider Abra announced the upcoming launch of the Abra Crypto Card on the American Express network on Friday. Abra described the new card as:

The first cryptocurrency rewards credit card on the American Express network that will transact in US dollars and offer cryptocurrency in any category and purchase amount.

“Crypto rewards will be tradable in more than 100 different Abra-backed cryptocurrencies, with no annual or foreign transaction fees,” the cryptocurrency company detailed.

The Abra Crypto Card will offer a number of benefits from the American Express Network, including Amex deals, access to pre-sale tickets, global dining benefits and purchase protections, Abra noted.

Mohammed Badi, President of Global Network Services at American Express, commented: “One of the ways we support the evolution and innovation of commerce is by making it easier for fintechs to develop and scale innovative payment solutions leveraging the US global payment network. and the Amex/i2c platform”. The Amex executive added: “We have a long-standing relationship with Abra through our Amex Ventures investment portfolio.”

Interested customers can now join the waiting list for the card, which Abra hopes will “be available for the first time in late 2022.”

Additionally, the cryptocurrency firm on Friday announced a new feature for buying and selling non-fungible tokens (NFTs) “with managed custody and [a] full collection gallery in the Abra app that will remove the hassle and minimize the risks of using it. “defi [decentralized finance] wallets.”

Categories
Bitcoin Bitcoin ETF Bitcoin Investment Bitcoin Wallet Crypto Mining cryptocurrency exchange Cryptocurrency news Investment News

Dubai Market Attracts Major Exchanges – Crypto.com Secures License

Prominent cryptocurrency exchanges like Crypto.com and Binance have been looking to set up operations in the friendly Dubai cryptocurrency market.

Crypto.com Gets Provisional Approval

Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com has set its sights on the lucrative Dubai market. After appealing to the Dubai regulator responsible for virtual asset licenses, the exchange was able to obtain a provisional approval, the Virtual Assets MVP License, to provide crypto services in the city. The exchange announced the news on Thursday, revealing that it would receive the full operating license once VARA conducts and completes due diligence and other mandatory compliance requirements.

Crypto.com Co-Founder and CEO Kris Marszalek said:

“We are excited to offer more of our products and services in a market that is critical to our business and equally committed to regulation and compliance. We look forward to working with regulators across the region to further expand Crypto.com’s offering and market presence.”

The regulatory body in question is the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), which was created earlier this year to oversee and facilitate the growth of the cryptocurrency industry in Dubai. VARA manages the operations of various crypto platforms for a secure investment environment, much needed for a thriving industry.

Crypto.com starts operations in Dubai

Approval means that the exchange has completed an initial level of compliance checks to the satisfaction of the regulatory body. Therefore, Crypto.com will now be able to offer all its products and services to those interested in Dubai. However, the supervisory body will be attentive to all procedures to guarantee maximum protection for investors.

Foreign Trade Minister Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi commented on the news and said:

“The United Arab Emirates is focused on developing a world-leading environment for innovative technology and collaboration, and we believe that cryptocurrencies, virtual assets and blockchain will revolutionize the financial services industry. Through our Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and other key initiatives, we are attracting businesses to the UAE to build on this vision and enable the technologies of the future to flourish here.”

Binance moves in Dubai

Crypto.com will face fierce competition in Dubai as another major cryptocurrency exchange has also applied for the VARA operating license. Binance Holdings Ltd., which operates the largest exchange in the cryptocurrency industry by trading volume, has already signed an agreement with the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) to work together on establishing the latter as a global hub for digital assets. Reports also stated that Binance is seeking accreditation to begin providing crypto services on the DWTC, which has been declared a “free zone” for cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.

Meanwhile, another global cryptocurrency company, FTX, has been exploring a completely different market. It recently announced the launch of FTX Japan to tap into the growing Japanese market despite strict crypto regulations in the Asian country.