Some analysts believe that the looming no-deal Brexit will push Bitcoin (BTC) price to an unprecedented breakout and record highs in 2019. Nicholas Gregory, CEO of blockchain firm CommerceBlock, even predicts it could fundamentally shift Bitcoin’s place in the global economy, as reported by the Independent, Aug. 9. Brexit already causing market turmoil The prospect of a no-deal Brexit has already caused the pound sterling to lose value against other major currencies. Increasingly so, since the appointment of confirmed Brexiteer, Boris Johnson, as United Kingdom Prime Minister. Johnson has vowed that the U.K. will “do or die” leave the European …

The CEO of financial advisory giant deVere Group said positive cryptocurrency regulation should form a central part of the post-Brexit United Kingdom. Nigel Green made the comments in an interview with fintech news outlet Verdict on July 9. DeVere, which has around $10 billion of assets under advice, is concerned the U.K. will end up in recession in the event of a no-deal Brexit, which politicians have promised could happen as soon as October. “The growing cryptocurrency market has already provided tangible economic benefits to other major economies,” Green said. He added: “Post-Brexit Britain will be uniquely placed to go …

The CEO of a cryptocurrency firm has suggested that the recent rise in bitcoin’s (BTC) price could be linked to the trade war between China and the United States, Fortune reported on May 20. In an interview, Digital Currency Group founder Barry Silbert noted how BTC’s acceleration coincided with talks breaking down between Beijing and Washington. The crypto advocate said bitcoin is proving itself to be a safe haven for investors at times of drama in the global economy — and cited other examples where BTC’s value rose as traditional stock markets took a tumble. Silbert added: “If you look …

Hong Kong-based crypto reporter Eric Lam believes nobody in the crypto industry has a good theory to explain the recent recovery of crypto markets. Lam shared his stance with Bloomberg on April 3. On Tuesday, April 2, shortly after the Asian markets opened, the price Bitcoin (BTC) unexpectedly rallied by 20 percent. Today the world’s top currency hit $5,000 for the first time since November 2018, while major altcoins have seen double-digit gains. Lam has ironically linked the uprising to a crypto-related April Fool’s Day story, which claimed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) finally approved a Bitcoin …

Strong growth has returned to Ireland one decade after the banking crisis and international bailout. But, financiers and investors fear a “no deal” Brexit — in which the United Kingdom leaves the European Union without a trade agreement at the end of the month — could again destabilize Ireland’s boom-and-bust economy. The U.K. received 11 percent of Ireland’s exports of goods in the past year, while supplying more than one-fifth of its imports. The Irish central bank conjectures that an orderly exit from the EU would decrease the gross domestic product by 1.5 percent, according to a Reuters story. While …

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has delayed further work on a successful blockchain project in the wake of Brexit, according to a written parliamentary statement published Feb. 7. The question about the distributed ledger project for customs needs was raised in the Q&A section on the United Kingdom Parliament’s website. On Jan. 30, Member of Parliament (MP) Eddie Hughes asked whether the government plans to use blockchain for customs systems after the U.K. leaves Europe. He also requested an update on a previously announced trial of the technology. In response, the financial secretary to the U.K. Treasury, MP Mel …

San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has opened a new office in Dublin, Ireland, according to an announcement published Oct. 15. In addition to helping expand its operations in Europe, the new Irish offices are reportedly part of a contingency plan for when the U.K. leaves the E.U. Per the announcement, the Dublin team will take on a number of new business-related functions, while London will remain Coinbase’s main office in Europe. The Irish Minister for Financial Services and Insurance Michael D’Arcy commented on the exchange’s expansion: “I am delighted that Coinbase is opening an office in Dublin. This decision highlights …

Blockchain has one new supporter: the UK finance minister Philip Hammond. Quizzed at the Conservative Party conference on how the UK government might solve Brexit’s UK-Irish border issue, he suggested that blockchain technology may be a solution. "There is technology becoming available […] I don’t claim to be an expert on it but the most obvious technology is blockchain.” He didn't go into any further detail, but in raising distributed ledger technology (DLT) as one way of facilitating 'frictionless' movement between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, he sparked hope that blockchain could help ensure seamless post-Brexit trade between …

Cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, have flown a little too close to the sun recently, and it has seen them get burned by a few key monetary institutions, as well as governments. This attack on Bitcoin, as well as fear and speculation around other markets, could spell a good time for investment in gold. Seen as an insurance policy, gold has been a steady and safe investment for hundreds of years. As markets, beyond even the crypto market, get spooked, investors could see a safety net in the precious metal. Good time for gold While all the attention over the last few …