Category Archives: Bitcoin

Bug in Bitcoin Wallets Found Using the Replace-By-Fee Feature – PRNewswire

DUBLIN, July 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ResearchAndMarkets.com published a new article on the bitcoin industry "Bug in Bitcoin Wallets Found Using the Replace-By-Fee Feature"

A team at ZenGo discovered the BigSpender bug affecting major crypto-wallets, including Ledger Live, Edge, BreadWallet and potentially many more. The bug exploits how certain wallets handle the replace-by-fee feature which allows a user to swap an unconfirmed transaction with another transaction that has a higher fee. The RBF feature has become a standard way for users to send bitcoin and was developed as a way to circumvent slow confirmation times by paying more in fees.

Attackers can send funds to a wallet and set the fees low enough to almost guarantee the transaction will not receive a confirmation. The attacker can then use the RBF feature to replace the pending transaction with a transaction to another wallet that they control. For vulnerable wallets, this pending transaction will be reflected as an increase in the account balance, leading some users to believe they have received funds even though they have not. Attackers can also use the BigSpender vulnerability to send multiple fake transactions and reroute them before they are confirmed. This can cause the victim's stated balance and actual funds to become decoupled and could make the wallet unusable. Both Breadwallet and Ledger Live have released fixes to prevent the attacks.

To see the full article and a list of related reports on the market, visit "Bug in Bitcoin Wallets Found Using the Replace-By-Fee Feature"

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Bug in Bitcoin Wallets Found Using the Replace-By-Fee Feature - PRNewswire

Nearly $60M in Bitcoin Moved to Ethereum in June – Yahoo Finance

Nearly $60 million worth of bitcoins moved to Ethereum during June, according to data estimates from Dune Analytics. Wrapped Bitcoin, the oldest tokenized bitcoin protocol on Ethereum, is responsible for roughly 75% of that growth after moving more than 4,800 BTC to Ethereum last month.

Demand has increased for using bitcoin in a variety of decentralized financial services as Ethereum continues to be the most popular off-chain destination for bitcoins. More specifically, yield farming and MakerDAO adding tokenized bitcoin as collateral are likely strong catalysts, said Medio Demarco, former associate at Deutsche Bank and co-founder of cryptocurrency research firm Delphi Digital.

The recent trend shouldnt come as a surprise and will probably continue, Demarco told CoinDesk.

Related: Introducing the CoinDesk 20: The Assets That Matter Most in Crypto

The increasing popularity of tokenized bitcoin is also no surprise to Ben Chan, CTO at BitGo, the cryptocurrency payments processor that spearheaded Wrapped Bitcoin. The purpose of WBTC is to bring bitcoin to the world of decentralized finance, Chan said. Yield opportunities for lending and supplying WBTC in Ethereum-based applications are driving recent growth, he added.

Currently $132 million worth of bitcoin is on Ethereum, at the time of publication, or roughly 0.08% of the leading cryptocurrencys market capitalization, according to OnChainFX.

Is the growing demand to use bitcoin on Ethereum a positive signal for the leading cryptocurrency? According to Demarco, the trend has a synergistic effect for both blockchains.

Chan agreed, telling CoinDesk that, for Ethereum, growth in the value of assets on decentralized finance applications is a step towards the maturation of trustless and transparent financial services. For Bitcoin, the benefit comes from being able to earn yield and collateralize bitcoin, which adds incentive for users to invest in the cryptocurrency, according to Chan.

Related: As Gold Hits 9-Year High, Bitcoin Eyes Price Breakout

Using bitcoin on Ethereum is potentially bullish for both networks, Chan said.

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Nearly $60M in Bitcoin Moved to Ethereum in June - Yahoo Finance

ModiHost’s Token Is Live on HitBTC, the Leading European Bitcoin Exchange | Press release – Bitcoin News

Gifts and Remittances: Bitcoin.com's New Tools Allow People to Send BCH via Email

This month Bitcoin.com launched two services that help facilitate bitcoin cash adoption and crypto remittance via email. In a recent video on June 5, Bitcoin.coms Roger Ver showcased gifts.bitcoin.com, a new feature that allows individuals to send BCH gift cards ... read more.

Bitcoin Investors Pocketed 42% in Gains During the Second Quarter of 2020

The second quarter of 2020 was very profitable for bitcoin investors, according to data analytics firm Skew. During the period, the top cryptocurrency climbed 42%, its fourth-best quarterly close since 2014. For the March quarter, the digital asset fell 10.6%, ... read more.

Tether's Market Valuation Grows 144% in 2020, USDT Market Cap Worth $10 Billion

The most popular stablecoin, Tether, has propelled its way into the third-largest position by cryptocurrency market capitalization. At the time of publication, a number of market valuation aggregators show that Tethers market cap is between $9.1 to $10.1 billion. Tether ... read more.

Alt-Right Activist Stefan Molyneux Banned from Youtube, Raises $100K in Crypto Donations

The founder of Freedomain, philosopher and alt-right activist, Stefan Molyneux, received more than $100,000 in cryptocurrency donations after he was banned from Youtube on June 29, 2020. Stefan Molyneux is well known for his Youtube videos, podcasts, and books. His ... read more.

A 'Significant Increase': UK Regulator Says 2.6 Million Residents Have Bought Cryptocurrencies

The UK's top financial regulator has conducted a survey and found a "significant increase" in the number of crypto owners and awareness of cryptocurrencies. The regulator estimates that 2.6 million people in the country have bought cryptocurrencies, most of which ... read more.

Russian Court: Bitcoin Theft Not a Crime

A Russian district court has dismissed bitcoin theft as a crime since cryptocurrency is not regulated in Russia and there is no legal status for bitcoin. The accused were found guilty, sentenced to prison, and ordered to return only the ... read more.

UK Court Denies Maduro Access to $1 Billion of Venezuela's Gold

The UK is denying Nicolas Maduro access to Venezuela's gold worth about $1 billion, stored at the Bank of England. The UK High Court has ruled that the country does not recognize Maduro as president of Venezuela, blocking him from ... read more.

Despite Covid-19 Negativity, Crypto Prediction Markets Say Trump Wins the 2020 Election

According to a number of crypto prediction markets and futures, Trump will still win the election in 123 days, but his chances have lessened a great deal. No matter who wins, however, the large sums of money flowing into these ... read more.

Crypto Use-Cases in Africa on the Rise, According to Luno

Twitter and Square CEO, Jack Dorsey recently said Africa will define the future (especially the Bitcoin one!) But was he right? Crypto in Africa on the Rise Sad to be leaving the continentfor now. Africa will define the future (especially ... read more.

The IRS Investigation Division Is Requesting Information About Privacy-Centric Cryptocurrencies

The United States tax agency has published a request for information pertaining to privacy-centric cryptocurrencies and technologies that obfuscate crypto transactions. The IRS-CI Cyber Crimes Unit request is also asking for information in relation to layer two offchain protocol networks, ... read more.

Personal Data of 250,000 People From 20 Countries Leaked by Bitcoin Scam

A global bitcoin scam has reportedly leaked personal data of about 250,000 people from more than 20 countries. The majority of the compromised data were of people in the U.K., Australia, South Africa, and the U.S. This bitcoin scam operates ... read more.

Over 2,500 Austrian Merchants Can Now Accept Cryptocurrency Payments

More than 2,500 merchants in Austria can accept three types of cryptocurrencies via the payment processor Salamantex. The company explained that the system was tested with a number of select A1 5Gi network shops. Since the Covid-19 outbreak, contactless payments ... read more.

A New Price Valuation Model Says $10,670 Fair Value For Bitcoin

Seba, a Switzerland based bank, is proposing a Bitcoin valuation model that places its fair value at $10,670. At this price, the model suggests Bitcoin is trading at a significant discount, at just above $9,100. In a blog posting this ... read more.

Bitcoin Entrepreneur Brock Pierce Joins the 2020 US Presidential Election

Blockchain entrepreneur and former Disney child actor, Brock Pierce, is running for President of the United States this election. Pierce announced he was running during Americas Independence Day celebration on July 4, the same day Kanye West revealed his candidacy. ... read more.

700,000 Expedia Hotels Can Now Be Paid With Cryptocurrencies via Travala

More than 700,000 Expedia Group hotels and accommodations are now available via crypto-friendly travel booking platform Travala. Bookings can be paid with more than 30 cryptocurrencies, including bitcoin. Despite covid-19, Travala saw a 170% increase in booking revenue from its ... read more.

The Tokenized Metaverse: Non-Fungible Token Sales to Surpass $100 Million

On July 1, 2020, the partner of Polynexus Capital, Andrew Steinwold, detailed that the sales of blockchain-powered non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are about to cross the $100 million mark. The popularity of NFTs has grown massive since 2017, as blockchain cards, ... read more.

Bitcoin Volatility Hits Three-Year Low, Sparking Fears of Massive Sell-Off

The cryptocurrency data analytics and research company, Skew has warned that bitcoin could see a massive sell-off due to declining volatility. The data analytics firm says that bitcoin (BTC) realized volatility hit 20% over the past 10 days - it's ... read more.

European Blockchain Ecosystem Needs 350 Million for the Next 18 Months

A study report by Leadblock Partners, an appointed representative of Sapia Partners LLP, finds an accelerating growth of the European blockchain ecosystem.The findings of the Leadblock Partners study suggest European respondents have a funding need for 350 million for the ... read more.

Crypto Derivatives Volumes Crash 36% to $393 Billion in June, a Low for 2020

Crypto derivatives trading volumes plunged 36% to $393 billion in June, the lowest they have reached in 2020, according to a new report by Cryptocompare. The decline may be the result of a lull in investor interest in the instruments ... read more.

South African Investors to Lose $13 Million as Bitcoin Scammer Declared Bankrupt

A South African high court has declared an alleged bitcoin scam mastermind, Willie Breedt, bankrupt. The court decision follows an application by one disgruntled investor, Simon Dix, a News24 report states. Willie Breedt is the CEO of the defunct Vaultage ... read more.

Encryption Crackdown: Private Phone Network With 60,000 Users Dismantled by Law Enforcement

An international law enforcement team has brought down an encrypted phone network with 60,000 users worldwide. The platform was one of the largest providers of encrypted communications, widely used by organized crime groups. UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), Europol, Eurojust, ... read more.

Bitcoin.com Wallet Launches New Portfolio Breakdown and Stablecoin Swap Features

With over 11 Million Bitcoin.com Wallets created, were building new features our users need most in order to enjoy the best possible cryptocurrency experience. Our wallets latest features now provide seamless swaps between bitcoin (BTC), bitcoin cash (BCH), and the ... read more.

Tiktok Ban: US May Join India in Banning Chinese Social Media Apps

The Trump administration is looking at banning Tiktok and other Chinese social media apps, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. India has already banned Tiktok in its country, along with 58 other mobile apps. Recently, a Tiktok video about ... read more.

Escalating Bank Runs Spur Chinese Government to Require Approval for Large Cash Transactions

A series of bank runs has prompted the Chinese government to begin requiring approval for large cash deposits and withdrawals at commercial banks, starting with banks in a northern province. Recently, two bank runs happened within a week as people ... read more.

The Popular Stablecoin Tether Is Now Circulating on the Bitcoin Cash Network

The most popular stablecoin tether (USDT) has officially been minted on the Bitcoin Cash blockchain via the Simple Ledger Protocol (SLP). At press time theres only 1,010 SLP-based USDT in circulation, as the firm Tether Limited seems to be issuing ... read more.

Bitcoin Price Poised for 'Imminent' Breakout As Network Hashrate Hits Record Highs

The price of bitcoin could see an 'imminent' breakout, according to the latest Glassnode data. The data firm says bitcoin (BTC) has been flashing bullish for the past six weeks amid positive onchain activity. Meanwhile, the BTC network hashrate has ... read more.

Renters Threaten US Real Estate Market, 20 Million Americans Face Eviction

The aftermath of the coronavirus-provoked business shutdowns in the United States caused a number of market observers to focus on the U.S. real estate and rental markets. As the federal moratorium on evictions reaches its expiry, a recent Aspen Institute ... read more.

Crypto Facilities Gets FCA Nod to Set up Crypto Futures Venue

Crypto Facilities, a subsidiary of Kraken cryptocurrency exchange, has obtained a Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF) license from the UKs Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).An MTF is a European regulatory term for a self-regulated financial trading venue. MTFs are an alternative to ... read more.

Major Indian Company TCS Launches Cryptocurrency Trading Solution for Banks' Customers

Leading Indian IT company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), is launching a cryptocurrency trading solution for banks to allow their customers to invest in cryptocurrencies. TCS is part of the Tata group, India's largest multinational business group, and is listed on ... read more.

Market Update: Crypto Assets Slowly Gather Gains, Bitcoin Needs Capital Inflow, ADA Jumps 85%

Cryptocurrency market prices have improved a great deal since our last market update, as the overall market capitalization of all 5,700+ coins has gained $16 billion since June 14. Most of the top digital assets have remained in a consolidated ... read more.

About 90% of Bitcoin Investors Worried About Fate of Their Assets After Death: Study

Nearly 90% of cryptocurrency investors worry about what will happen to their assets after they die, but few plan appropriately. Younger investors are particularly culpable, barely thinking beyond their own lives. According to a new study by the Cremation Institute, ... read more.

Permissionless Software Foundation Aims to Foster Open-Source Software With Bitcoin Cash

Just recently, Bitcoin Cash proponents were introduced to a new foundation called the Permissionless Software Foundation aimed at spreading Bitcoin Cash and SLP token technology. This week an organization called the Permissionless Software Foundation (PSF) revealed an announcement to the ... read more.

John McAfee Launches Ghost Phone Service to Supplement His Cryptocurrency

Two-time U.S. presidential candidate John McAfee has launched a privacy-centric cell phone data service. McAfee said that his Ghost cell phone data service offers 4G data without using a physical SIM card, is compatible with most major phones, and works ... read more.

'Bitcoin Is Not a Privacy Coin' Says Crypto Evangelist Andreas Antonopoulos

Andreas Antonopoulos discussed how he desired to see Bitcoin have more privacy features in a recent live stream Q&A session published on Youtube on July 7. Antonopoulos discussed the privacy-centric coin monero and concepts like stealth addresses and ring signatures. ... read more.

Jeffrey Epstein Confidant Ghislaine Maxwell's Last Reddit Post Was About Bitcoin

The cryptocurrency community has been discussing the infamous Ghislaine Maxwell, the associate of the financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell was recently arrested and many speculators think she may see the same fate as Epstein before she talks. ... read more.

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ModiHost's Token Is Live on HitBTC, the Leading European Bitcoin Exchange | Press release - Bitcoin News

For The First Time It’s Free To Hold Bitcoin In A Retirement Account – Introducing The No Annual Fee Choice IRA For Digital And Traditional Assets -…

Kingdom Trust Also Unveils Solution for Individuals to Hold Their Own Bitcoin Private Keys in Retirement, Powered by Casa

- Kingdom Trust Unveils No Annual Fee Choice Retirement Account for Bitcoin and Traditional Assets

- The no annual fee account is the first account that makes it free to hold bitcoin in retirement

- Choice now offers members a full range of custody options: from no annual fee, to paid cold storage, to self-secured private keys

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., July 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- 28 years after Charles Schwab Trust Company introduced the no-annual-fee IRA for traditional assets, Choice by Kingdom Trust is breaking down that wall on the digital asset front with the no annual fee Choice IRA.

With the new No Annual Fee Choice IRA, savers and investors get the free retirement account they've already come to expect for stocks, ETFs and bonds with a twist - they can hold bitcoin and other digital assets with no annual fee as well.

"No fee accounts have become the status quo in the traditional markets over the last decade, and we are excited that the industry has matured enough to bring free accounts to the digital space as well. That said, nothing in life is really free, usually when you aren't being charged for something - you or your assets are the product. Today we are excited to bring free accounts to the 7.1 million bitcoiners and beyond, while openly acknowledging the risks associated and offering a full spectrum of custody choices - from a free account where your bitcoin is in motion, to holding your own keys," says Ryan Radloff CEO of Kingdom Trust.

Offering the freedom to choose investments based on personal preferences and risk tolerances is a core tenant of Choice's mission. To that same end, Choice has unveiled a full spectrum of memberships which offer multiple custody options including: subsidizing your account with bitcoin in motion; having your bitcoin held in cold storage on your behalf; and even holding your own bitcoin private keys.

The latter option of holding your own private keys is a complex process which to date has been opaque and often required hiring professional consultants. To simplify that, Choice's solution is powered by Casa, the team known for making it easy to hold your own Bitcoin private keys in a secure manner.

"We're thrilled to work with the Choice team to help people make tax-advantaged investments in Bitcoin while maintaining control of their private keys, something I've wanted to do personally for a while now. Choice and Casa are giving people the chance to truly own their retirement savings by holding their own bitcoin keys, which is critical when saving over such a long period of time," said Nick Neuman, CEO of Casa.

The free account which right now, simply pays for itself, will allow for a yield share back to Choice members in the near future. This yield share program will use tools behind the scenes similar to what are used in the traditional financial markets to subsidize accounts or client fees and generate yield off of assets under custody.

"This type of intra-industry yield generation is typical in traditional financial markets, whether it is lending or order-book/trade flow selling and we think clients should get the same perks they've come to expect in traditional markets - free accounts, for their digital assets as well, if they are comfortable with that risk, said Radloff."

For more information on choice membership options or features, please visit retirewithchoice.com.

About Kingdom Trust Kingdom Trust is an independent qualified custodian regulated by the South Dakota Division of Banking. We specialize in unique and innovative custody solutions for individual investors, investment sponsors, family offices, advisory firms, broker-dealers and various other investment platforms. This approach has led to us powering more than 100,000 retirement accounts, and providing custody for more than $13 billion worth of assets. We pride ourselves on friendly service and our flexible platform, which holds more than 20,000 unique assets and empowers the most curious, creative investors.

In addition to retirement accounts, Kingdom Trust supports some of the biggest names in finance, providing a range of professional custody and escrow services for hundreds of institutional clients. From investment advisors and advisory firms to broker-dealers or fund managers, we help firms scale their business by making alternative assets accessible to clients, opening up private offerings to retirement investors and removing the complexities of custody.

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Permissionless Software Foundation Aims to Foster Open-Source Software With Bitcoin Cash – Bitcoin News

Just recently, Bitcoin Cash proponents were introduced to a new foundation called the Permissionless Software Foundation aimed at spreading Bitcoin Cash and SLP token technology.

This week an organization called the Permissionless Software Foundation (PSF) revealed an announcement to the BCH community. The groups mission aims to foster the growth of open-source software and growing adoption of Bitcoin Cash across the globe.

Moreover, the PSF plans to bolster Simple Ledger Protocol innovation. Crypto fans can read about the PSF on the organizations new web portal called psfoundation.cash. The organizations business model states:

The Foundation is a community-oriented, highly automated, and legally-nonexistent decentralized autonomous organization whose purpose is to foster the growth of open-source software and the adoption of Bitcoin Cash across the globe. The PSF will offer a Simple Ledger Protocol (SLP) token on the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) network to self-fund the development of open-source software, and reward contributors that help the organization grow.

According to the press release, PSF and the web portal fullstack.cash will offer consulting services going forward.

More and more businesses are looking into the great opportunities of integrating Bitcoin Cash and SLP tokens into their operations, explains the announcement. Finding the right information and the best people can be a daunting task but this service is already proving helpful for those businesses wanting to step into the world of Bitcoin Cash.

The Bitcoin Cash (BCH) proponent and host of the developers monthly video series, David R. Allen, joined the PSF as the Business Development Manager. [Allen] has agreed to assist and support the Permissionless Software Foundation and to be a primary contact for businesses as the community grows out of its infancy. His experience and contributions are a welcome addition to the foundation, the PSF announcement details.

PSF also aims to offer white-label BCH and SLP wallets as well, according to the press release details. At the time of publication, the work is being executed in order to provide the community with a fully functional white-label web wallet.

With this wallet, businesses will be able to release reliable web wallets with organisation-specific branding, the announcement notes. This will lower the barrier to entry for businesses even further. An early prototype of the wallet can be seen at wallet.fullstack.cash.

The software developer Chris Troutner is also involved with the PSF, and nine days ago he created a post about the subject on the Reddit forum r/btc. Troutner and the PSF have also released an introductory video which can be viewed on Youtube.

BCH supporters seemed to like the project, according to a number of comments within the Reddit post. Super interesting [and] very exciting, one person wrote.

What do you think about the Permissionless Software Foundation (PSF) for Bitcoin Cash? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below.

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, psfoundation.cash

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com 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.

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Permissionless Software Foundation Aims to Foster Open-Source Software With Bitcoin Cash - Bitcoin News

Bitcoin Will Never Be Truly Private Says Andreas Antonopoulos – Cointelegraph

Bitcoin educator Andreas Antonopoulos says he would like to see more privacy features on Bitcoin, but theyre unlikely to happen anytime soon.

In a livestream Q&A on Antonopoulos YouTube channel on July 7, he said Bitcoin (BTC) was unlikely to ever implement privacy features similar to those used by Monero (XMR).

Antonopoulos said creating such features on a cryptocurrency like BTC would create an enormous amount of controversy. In addition, he said the structure of Bitcoin simply doesnt allow ring signatures and stealth addresses.

I think what were going to see soon is Schnorr, Taproot, and Tapscript, which open the door to a lot of improvements, Antonopoulos said, But they still do not involve zero-knowledge proofs or the types of ring signatures and stealth addresses that are done in Monero. Bitcoin is not a privacy coin.

The features to which Antonopoulos is referring Schnorr, Taproot, and Tapscript (a scripting update to Taproot) have been cited by others in the crypto community as having the potential to make Bitcoin more private.

The director of research at blockchain firm Blockstream Andrew Poelstra has referred to Taproot as a system which could possibly render any transaction mostly indistinguishable from one another on the BTC blockchain. However, he noted that transaction amounts and the transaction graph are still exposed, which are much harder problems to address.

Multisignature schemes (MuSigs) from Schnorr are another possibility. Poelstra said using this method doesnt reveal the original set of signers, or even provide the number of signers for MuSig transactions.

Bitcoin can be better thought of as pseudonymous rather than fully anonymous, as many transactions on the BTC blockchain can still be traced even with these privacy improvements.

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Bitcoin Will Never Be Truly Private Says Andreas Antonopoulos - Cointelegraph

Forget Bitcoin and Cash ISAs! I’d buy cheap FTSE 100 shares now to beat the State Pension – Yahoo Finance UK

Investors seeking to build a retirement nest egg to overcome a low State Pension may naturally seek assets other than the FTSE 100 after its recent market crash. The index has rebounded, but still trades significantly below its 2020 starting price.

However, the stock market could offer strong recovery potential over the coming years. Therefore, it may prove to be a superior means of building a retirement nest egg compared to buying Bitcoin or holding your capital in a Cash ISA.

The FTSE 100s track record shows that it has been an effective means of obtaining a retirement fund that can provide a passive income in older age. The index has gained around 8% per annum including dividends since its inception in 1984. Therefore, investing even modest amounts in a diverse range of large-cap shares has been a highly profitable strategy for anyone who has a long time horizon.

With the State Pension age set to rise and its payments currently amounting to around a third of the UKs average annual salary, large-cap shares offer the chance to reduce your reliance on the State Pension. Although in the short run events such as a market crash can cause the index to fall, it has always recovered from its various downturns over the years to post new record highs.

Other assets such as Bitcoin and Cash ISAs may hold greater appeal at the present time due to the FTSE 100 market crash. However, they may fail to provide a reliable means of generating a nest egg from which to draw an income in retirement.

Cash ISAs face what could be a considerable period of time with low returns. Interest rates could stay at low levels for many years due to the economic challenges faced following the coronavirus pandemic. This may even mean that Cash ISAs produce a negative return when inflation is factored-in. This could lower your spending power and make it more difficult to obtain a retirement portfolio that reduces your reliance on the State Pension when compared to buying FTSE 100 shares.

By contrast, Bitcoin has the capacity to make strong gains. Its price doubled following a decline in the earlier part of the year. However, its risks are also relatively high. Challenges such as regulatory concerns, competition from other virtual currencies and its lack of fundamentals could derail Bitcoins progress in the coming years. This may mean that it fails to produce a reliable return as per the 36-year track record of the FTSE 100.

Clearly, buying FTSE 100 shares today may not seem to be an attractive prospect due to the indexs recent decline. However, it is likely to recover, while its past performance suggests that it is set to remain an effective means of obtaining a passive income in retirement that reduces your dependence on the State Pension.

The post Forget Bitcoin and Cash ISAs! Id buy cheap FTSE 100 shares now to beat the State Pension appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

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Peter Stephens has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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Forget Bitcoin and Cash ISAs! I'd buy cheap FTSE 100 shares now to beat the State Pension - Yahoo Finance UK

Ethereum, Bitcoin locked in DeFi hits all-time high of $2 billion – Decrypt

DeFi is growing by leaps and bounds, and today, the nascent industry has hit a new milestone. The total value locked (TVL) in decentralized finance has doubled to $2 billion in just over three weeks, as measured by DeFi Pulse.

The rapid accumulation started on June 15, the same day Compound began distributions of the COMP governance token, allowing community members to control the fate of the decentralized money lending service. It appears the relatively smooth roll out of distributed governance for one of DeFis foundational protocols has fostered new confidence in DeFi users, flooding the market with locked deposits that show no signs of slowing down.

Total value locked represents the amount of liquidity being made available to borrowers and other users in different DeFi apps. As TVL increases, the capacity for many DeFi applications to service a greater number of users at a favorable interest rate or swap fee goes up. Favorable rates draw in more users, who in turn may add liquidity of their own to support the protocols.

Compound currently holds the top spot for total locked assets, shooting up from less than $100 million on June 14 to more than $660 million at time of writing, marking an all-time high and an increase of more than 575% in just three weeks. Maker, the DAI stablecoin loan and savings protocol has seen its total value locked on a more recent upswing, increasing nearly 30% between June 30 and July 6 to mark a new all-time high.

While Ethereum dominates the DeFi space, representing the majority of the value locked as measured by DeFi Pulse, it's worth noting that Bitcoin also contributes to the total. DeFi Pulse ranks the Lightning Network as 14th on the list of DeFi protocols, accounting for just over $9 million in value locked across DeFi apps.

Another factor contributing to the recent $2 billion milestone is the addition of Flexa to the DeFi Pulse rankings. Flexa uses crypto to facilitate digital payments and is already ranked in the top 10 for total value locked, currently worth more than $60 million. With Flexa on board, Ethereum is now the most valuable platform in all the DeFi Pulse categories, including payments, lending, derivatives, and more.

Another notable TVL run-up has come from Synthetix, a protocol for generating on-chain derivatives that track the value of various assets like ETH or gold. Synthetix TVL has increased nearly 170% since June 1, marking new all time highs almost daily.

As DeFi protocols continue to work through their growing pains, how long before the value locked in DeFi doubles again?

The views and opinions expressed by the author are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, or other advice.

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Ethereum, Bitcoin locked in DeFi hits all-time high of $2 billion - Decrypt

Nearly $60M in Bitcoin Moved to Ethereum in June – CoinDesk – CoinDesk

Nearly $60 million worth of bitcoins moved to Ethereum during June, according to data estimates from Dune Analytics. Wrapped Bitcoin, the oldest tokenized bitcoin protocol on Ethereum, is responsible for roughly 75% of that growth after moving more than 4,800 BTC to Ethereum last month.

Demand has increased for using bitcoin in a variety of decentralized financial services as Ethereum continues to be the most popular off-chain destination for bitcoins. More specifically, yield farming and MakerDAO adding tokenized bitcoin as collateral are likely strong catalysts, said Medio Demarco, former associate at Deutsche Bank and co-founder of cryptocurrency research firm Delphi Digital.

The recent trend shouldnt come as a surprise and will probably continue, Demarco told CoinDesk.

The increasing popularity of tokenized bitcoin is also no surprise to Ben Chan, CTO at BitGo, the cryptocurrency payments processor that spearheaded Wrapped Bitcoin. The purpose of WBTC is to bring bitcoin to the world of decentralized finance, Chan said. Yield opportunities for lending and supplying WBTC in Ethereum-based applications are driving recent growth, he added.

Currently $132 million worth of bitcoin is on Ethereum, at the time of publication, or roughly 0.08% of the leading cryptocurrencys market capitalization, according to OnChainFX.

Is the growing demand to use bitcoin on Ethereum a positive signal for the leading cryptocurrency? According to Demarco, the trend has a synergistic effect for both blockchains.

Chan agreed, telling CoinDesk that, for Ethereum, growth in the value of assets on decentralized finance applications is a step towards the maturation of trustless and transparent financial services. For Bitcoin, the benefit comes from being able to earn yield and collateralize bitcoin, which adds incentive for users to invest in the cryptocurrency, according to Chan.

Using bitcoin on Ethereum is potentially bullish for both networks, Chan said.

The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups.

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Nearly $60M in Bitcoin Moved to Ethereum in June - CoinDesk - CoinDesk

The Three Most Controversial Bitcoin Price Models and What They Predict – Cointelegraph

There are several well-known Bitcoin price models and theories that are often highly debated and considered controversial. Models like stock-to-flow, Hyperwave and Elliot Wave typically predict large price movements in the medium- to long-term.

The first and most widely acknowledged Bitcoin price model is stock-to-flow. The S2F model predicts the long-term trend of Bitcoins value based on its scarcity. Since Bitcoin has a fixed monetary supply, the biggest value proposition of the dominant cryptocurrency is its scarcity and the reducing supply of BTC.

The model takes the stock-to-flow of gold and silver as its benchmark. The term stock-to-flow refers to the flow of new supply relative to the amount of existing circulating supply. The model believes the value of gold held up over time because it is not possible to newly create all of the circulating supply of gold to render the precious metal worthless.

Unlike gold and silver, the supply of Bitcoin is fixed, and every halving decreases the rate of supply production. As such, in theory, Bitcoin is even more scarce than gold and silver. The model predicts the market capitalization of Bitcoin to exceed $1 trillion after the May 2020 halving. The prediction goes in line with the performance of Bitcoin following previous halvings in 2012 and 2016. PlanB, the creator of the model, explained:

The predicted market value for Bitcoin after May 2020 halving is $1trn, which translates in a Bitcoin price of $55,000. That is quite spectacular. I guess time will tell and we will probably know one or two years after the halving.

The main criticism around stock-to-flow comes down to two main arguments. First, some say the assumption that golds value derives solely from scarcity is inaccurate. Second, others think that the use of linear regression might lead to imprecise predictions. Nico Cordeiro, the chief investment officer at Strix Leviathan crypto hedge fund, wrote:

From a theoretical foundation, the model is based on the rather strong assertion that the USD market capitalization of a monetary good (e.g. gold and silver) is derived directly from their rate of new supply. No evidence or research is provided to support this idea, other than the singular data points selected to chart gold and silvers market capitalization against Bitcoins trajectory.

Cordeiro also argued that the use of linear regression to chart the S2F model poses a high probability of spurious results. The investor said that many random data points can be fit into the model as a result of the regression.

But, it is difficult to state that the S2F model is correct or flawed, because there is not enough data to definitively reject the predictions made by the model. As an example, evidence is lacking to support that the value of gold is dependent on its scarcity. Yet, it is also challenging to prove that scarcity has not been the main catalyst of golds longevity as a store of value.

The Elliott Wave Theory is widely utilized by technical analysts to determine market cycles. It spots both bearish and bullish cycles, by assuming that the market moves based on crowd psychology. Typically, the Elliott Wave Theory is applied in many bearish scenarios. It presents an eight-part move, where the price of the asset declines on a level-by-level basis.

The Elliott Wave Theory is often criticized because it is considered to be highly subjective. It also assumes that the market follows the same crowd psychology across varying time frames. As such, it frequently leads to extreme price predictions for both bearish and bullish scenarios.

A report on the Elliott Wave Theory by Binance Academy reads:Critics argue that the Elliott Wave Theory isnt a legitimate theory due to its highly subjective nature, and relies on a loosely defined set of rules. However, it also makes note that, There are thousands of successful investors and traders that have managed to apply Elliotts principles in a profitable manner.

The Elliott Wave Theory is not a specific technical pattern or market structure. It is a principle that can be adopted by traders on how they see fit, depending on the price trend of an asset at a certain time. It is difficult to establish that the Elliott Wave Theory is inaccurate or flawed, because it does not set specific targets. It is up to traders and technical analysts that adopt the principle to assess crowd psychology of a certain market.

The Hyperwave Theory, popularized within the cryptocurrency market by a well-established trader, Tone Vays, determines the formation of a potential bubble in the market. It is a seven-part market cycle that spots a bearish trend reversal typically at a peak. The Hyperwave structure is similar to the Elliott Wave principle, but it only pertains to bearish scenarios.

Hyperwave-based price predictions are often controversial because they assume the peak of an asset has been hit. Consequently, it often leads to extreme predictions, calling for an 80% to 90% drop from a local top. For instance, Vays said that he used the Hyperwave Theory in early 2018 to call for a price target of $1,500. Over the next year and a half, the price of Bitcoin dropped from around $18,000 to $3,100.

Referring to the Hyperwave Theory, Vays said: I was off by 12%. That was my margin of error. When I called $1,500 (from the January 2018 top), I was only off by 12% on the low of the bear market.

In a recent discussion about the Hyperwave Theory, Vays said that the model is still calling for a $1,000 price point for Bitcoin. But Vays emphasized that it does not mean he is waiting for BTC to drop to the $1,000s, suggesting that it is merely a theory and a point of reference. Vays noted:

I dont know why people think I am still waiting for $1,200 or $1,500. That is a ridiculous view. People seem to be very confused. And for some reason, people seem to be very upset that when I said Bitcoin has a high probability of going to $1,500, I said it when Bitcoin was here [at a record high].

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The Three Most Controversial Bitcoin Price Models and What They Predict - Cointelegraph