Few groups have been as early and as active in attempting to understand the implications of digital currency and blockchain technology as US law enforcement. Despite expanded use and investment, cryptographic currencies such as bitcoin continue to be widely used for illicit activities. Dark market operators and extortionists were early and aggressive in their attempts to capitalize on the digital payment network and its cash-like approach to transactions, a trend that continues. As evidence, the Department of Justice, US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California (DOJ), appointed Kathryn Haun as its first Digital Currency Crimes Coordinator this June. The position finds Haun heading up a multi-agency task force in San Francisco and comprised of…
A long-time White House advisor and government official believes blockchain technology is likely to be used by the world’s central banks to create a “universal cashless system”. Dr Harald Malmgren served in the administrations of Presidents John F Kennedy, Lyndon B Johnson, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, working as a trade negotiator and policy researcher, and for decades played a part in shaping US foreign policy in the post-World War II era. Malmgren today acts as a consultant for companies and governments on international trade issues. In a recent interview published on Zero Hedge, Malmgren touched on the policy push by many governments worldwide to move transactional systems from those dominated by cash to those comprised of digital, trackable…
Roger Ver Q&A | ‘The Most Focused Man In Bitcoin’ Talks Comparative Advantage Written By: Patrick ‘PK’ McDonnell Roger Ver aka Bitcoin Jesus is a very rare case study when evaluating the future economic environment of Bitcoin & it’s underlying technology called, ‘The Blockchain or Blockchain Technology‘. I’m an advid learner of many pioneers who spearheaded cryptocurrency in distinctive ways, to name a few… Erik Voorhees, Nick Szabo, Roger Ver & Satoshi Nakamoto. However, I remain unbiased in my opinions of each community member & agree to disagree at times with each. NEWSBTC reached out to Roger Ver & had a unique opportunity to pick the brain of ‘The Most Focused Man In…
When digital card platform Gyft first integrated bitcoin payments, they accounted for 90% of the company’s sales, with PayPal and credit cards making up the remaining 10%, but this has all changed, according to the firm’s co-founder and CEO Vinny Lingham. The California-based company, acquired by First Data in 2014, integrated bitcoin payments in 2013 and initially saw a trend for this payment method, but this has since reversed – PayPal and credit card purchases now account for 90% of sales. Regardless, Lingham continues to be fascinated by bitcoin. In fact, it’s fair to say his personal fascination with the digital currency led to Gyft offering it as a payment option in the first place. Lingham told CoinDesk: “The reason we started…
Depending on who you ask, Whit Jackson is anywhere between 10 and 16 years old, his elastic age a testament to the general awkwardness of male puberty. Jackson, aware of this, quickly clarifies in conversation. He’s 15, a soon-to-be sophomore at Brentwood School in Los Angeles, a K-12 coed day school that boasts an A-list of alumni including child actors Ben and Fred Savage as well as three current members of the pop rock band Maroon 5. At school, Jackson already has a distinction, however. He’s “the bitcoin kid”, a nickname that seems to have stuck even if it’s origin story is less clear. “All my teachers know me as ‘the bitcoin kid’. I told a few of my friends and it spread just because I’m really…