The number of attendees of the Ethereum Community Conference (EthCC) conference in Paris to contract coronavirus has now increased to seven — highlighting the urgent need for attendees to get tested for COVID-19. The EthCC conference took place from March 3 until March 5 — just a few days prior to the Macron government banning all public gatherings of more than 1,000 people in France. First confirmed COVID-19 case among EthCC attendees announced on March 11 The first confirmed case among EthCC conference-goers was TorusLabs co-founder, Zhen Yu Yong, who tweeted that he had been diagnosed with coronavirus on March …

Opportunistic hackers are increasingly seeking to dupe victims using websites or applications purporting to provide information or services pertaining to coronavirus. Cybersecurity threat researchers, DomainTools, have identified that the website coronavirusapp.site facilitates the installation of a new ransomware called “CovidLock.” The website prompts its visitors to install an Android application that purportedly tracks updates regarding the spread of COVID-19, claiming to notify users when an individual infected with coronavirus is in their vicinity using heatmap visuals. CovidLock ransomware launches screen lock attack on unwitting victims Despite appearing to display certification from the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease …

On March 14, Tyler Winklevoss, the co-founder and CEO of Gemini and prominent early Bitcoin investor, took to Twitter to defend Bitcoin despite the recent market crash. In the tweet, Tyler emphasizes that Bitcoin is still in its infancy, stating: “If bitcoin isn't gold 2.0, then what is it? The fact that it's not acting how you might expect only underscores just how early it is.” Supporting Winklevoss’ assertion, Anthony Pompliano, the co-founder and partner at Morgan Creek Digital, has attributed the recent crypto market meltdown to a broader liquidity crisis coursing through the global economy. He said: “Bitcoin and …

Consensus, a major global cryptocurrency and blockchain-focused event, is another industry conference that had to change its plans due to intensifying coronavirus fears. In line with the increasing number of industry events being delayed or canceled in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Consensus will not be hosting a conference in New York this year. Consensus 2020 will be hosted in virtual reality at no charge However, that doesn’t mean that Consensus 2020 will not happen. According to an official March 13 announcement by Coindesk, the industry publication that coordinates the event, Consensus 2020 will now be a “completely virtual experience,” …

Bitcoin just suffered a 40% price crash while global markets were shaken at their core by the Coronavirus pandemic. Chief market analyst Naeem Aslam and veteran trader Charlie Burton told Cointelegraph what sense they make of this bloodbath and their strategies to survive it. Why did Bitcoin fall with the rest of the markets? Naeem Aslam explained the Bitcoin plunge as a direct consequence of the equity market crumbling amidst Coronavirus-driven panic and what it means for investors: “They have no other option but to liquidate some of their positions in other assets such as Bitcoin [...] In order to …

The final stage of London Blockchain Week looked as if it would be the latest victim to the coronavirus crisis. Many of the events that had initially been set to take place physically were held online. Others were canceled outright. But the jewel in the crown of blockchain week in London, CryptoCompare’s Digital Asset Summit, went ahead as planned. Rumors swirled that there would be poor attendance and mass dropouts from panelists. Many of the week’s previous events had suffered from coronavirus fears, and venues were often half-empty. The massive Magazine London space, in the shadow of the city’s iconic …

As after any major Bitcoin (BTC) crash, analysts are now arguing over what could potentially have been the cause. But this time, the answer is simple, at least according to noted Bitcoin bull and Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz. In a tweet on March 13, Novogratz said: “[Bitcoin] was always a confidence game. All crypto is. And it appears global confidence in just about anything has evaporated.” Pandemic panic The coronavirus pandemic has shaken global markets to their core, and disputes between oil-producing nations have only added to the misery. As investors have been frantically liquidating their assets, even those …

New York City’s mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency in response to the coronavirus outbreak yesterday. “The only analogy is war,” he said — and the consequences for the crypto industry, as for all others, are sobering. Even ahead of de Blasio’s action, the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) sent a letter to all regulated institutions engaged in crypto-related activities on March 10, asking them to submit detailed “preparedness plans” to address the historic risk: “COVID-19 has already had adverse economic effects domestically and globally. It is critical that each regulated entity establish plans to …

Bitcoin dipped below $4000 today, for the first time since the depths of crypto winter — and one veteran market analyst believes it could have even further to fall. Crypto markets have been in freefall following the announcement of travel bans yesterday between the U.S. and Europe, and ongoing volatility in all financial markets. Veteran trader Peter Brandt — who is famous for correctly predicting the market crash from the all time high — today tweeted an answer that no one wanted to hear in response to an inquiry about the new ‘bottom’ for Bitcoin due to coronavirus. Brandt said …

After a tumultuous day of trading which saw Bitcoin (BTC) price drop 28.35% from $7,650 to $5,500, the carnage restarted at 11:00 (UTC) when Bitcoin abruptly dropped another 24%. This brought the price to $4,679, a new 2020 low and a price not seen since April, 2019. The price action of the day means Bitcoin’s 2020 gains are completely wiped out and the asset is currently 58.07% down from its 2020 high at $10,500, a price achieved less than one month ago. Data from Coin360 also shows Bitcoin’s market capitalization dropped $48.3 billion, falling from $137.8 billion to $89.5 billion …

Equities markets and the crypto market continue to struggle as Europe and the United States enact increasingly drastic measures to ward off the spread of the Coronavirus. Among the general public and investors, there is a feeling that world governments have drug their feet in responding to what is clearly an urgent crisis, thus major markets continue to tumble. The Dow opened sharply down, triggering the circuit breaker which halted trading for 15 minutes. Despite the intervention and a live statement from President Trump, the Dow is down 7% and the S&P 500 has dropped by 6%. Fed vows to …

In the United States, President Trump announced new travel restrictions today in response to the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The Commander in Chief signed a Presidential Proclamation suspending the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the U.S. These countries include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The United Kingdom is exempt. Meanwhile, India announced it would suspend visas for most foreign …