Major cryptocurrency platform Coinbase is onboarding the cryptocurrency Tezos (XTZ) to its professional trading platform, Coinbase Pro. As per an official announcement, Coinbase Pro will open up inbound XTZ transfers on August 5. As the company has done in the past, Coinbase Pro will ramp up to full XTZ trading in four steps: (1) transfer-only, (2) post-only, (3) limit-only, and finally (4) full trading. Additionally, the exchange will document the on-boarding steps on Twitter. All jurisdictions are stated to receive immediate support for the new offering, with the exception of New York State. The company also notes that Tezos is …

Two American inventors have won a patent for a blockchain-based recording system for ballistic data. The United States Patent and Trademark Office awarded two inventors — Jason Palazzolo and Kevin Barnes — a patent for a “firearm environmental recording apparatus and system” on July 23. This apparently could include multiple recording devices, including a camera, microphone, and spatial sensor module that can record velocity, spatial measurements and acceleration data. The filing states that a blockchain database or network could be used to store or be associated with any of the data gathered by the mechanisms. Justifire and evidence for self-defense …

Steve Lee, a project manager at Square Crypto — the crypto arm of the payments company Square — made a number of recent remarks that solidify the company’s emphasis on Bitcoin (BTC). Lee commented to this effect in the course of an “ask me anything” (AMA) session via Twitter on July 29. Jack Dorsey had previously discussed how Square Crypto aims to develop the crypto ecosystem in general, and is taking steps to improve infrastructure for all — not just Square. However, the recent AMA indicates that Bitcoin is playing a main role in their current developments. Early on in …

Cryptocurrency enthusiast and antivirus software namesake John McAfee appears to have been released by authorities in the Dominican Republic today. McAfee posted a picture on his official Twitter account with the caption: “Leaving detention (don't judge my looks — four days of confinement). I was well treated. My superiors were friendly and helpful. In spite of the helpful circumstances, we've decided to move on. More later.” On July 23, a post was made on McAfee’s twitter account, allegedly by McAfee’s campaign manager Rob Benedicto Pacifico Juan Maria Loggia-Ramirez, saying that McAfee and his boat crew had likely been detained. McAfee …

St. Louis Fed Chief James Bullard reportedly views cryptocurrencies as part of a global currency competition that is ultimately unhealthy. Bullard presented his views at the Central Bank Research Association 2019 annual meeting in a talk entitled “Public and Private Currency Competition.” Presentation slides have subsequently appeared on the official Twitter account for The St. Louis Fed on July 19. In Bullard’s slides, he noted that there is historical precedent for certain key features of cryptocurrency. One of his bullet points reads: “Global currency competition is nothing new, nor is electronic delivery of value.” He also presented that “public and …

There’s a novelty in finding new ways to communicate through coded conversations and secret languages. How is this being implemented for good — or otherwise — on blockchains? Since its beginnings, blockchain technology has led to many movements, including the formation of a unique crypto community. This blockchain community is forming its own lexicon (including a more formal vocabulary that industry opinion-makers are creating and debating and Twitter-based crypto slang like hashtagging Lambos and Bitcoin whales.) There is also another language that has developed, the one in blockchain platforms themselves — developed through a “glitch” in the blockchain system — …

Tech giant IBM has tripled the number of blockchain patents secured in the United States since last year, currently boasting over 100 active patent families. That makes IBM’s growth in US patents the largest of last year, according to a report by crypto-related news site BeinCrypto on July 16. According to data gathered by Yuval Halevi, co-founder of crypto and blockchain PR company GuerillaBuzz, IBM’s number of active patent families dwarfs other notable corporations. This includes some primary tech companies, such as Intel, Microsoft, and Dell Technologies: “In just 1 year the number of IBM blockchain patents has grown by …

Disclaimer: This story is breaking and will be subject to updates. United States President Donald Trump voiced his opposition to cryptocurrencies as a whole, citing Bitcoin and Libra specifically, in a series of tweets published around 8:15 p.m. EST on July 11. The full text of the three tweets reads: “I am not a fan of Bitcoin and other Cryptocurrencies, which are not money, and whose value is highly volatile and based on thin air. Unregulated Crypto Assets can facilitate unlawful behavior, including drug trade and other illegal activity....” “...Similarly, Facebook Libra’s ‘virtual currency’ will have little standing or dependability. …

The Tron office in Beijing has been surrounded by police as a crowd gathered to protest against a Chinese ponzi scheme that went under a Tron-like name, Twitter personality Crypto Authority reports on July 8. Videos with crowds surrounded by police officers in the Tron’s office have spread over Twitter, with people apparently coming to express outrage at a local crypto scam that reportedly led to $30 million worth of losses and one suicide. As can be seen on the videos, people are apparently considering Tron to be the fraudulent entity, with the crowd reportedly yelling "Tron is a scam.” …

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group has announced more record-breaking highs for bitcoin (BTC) futures in an official Twitter post on June 28. The futures in question are standardized contracts that bind a party to buying or selling bitcoin at some set time after signing. According to the post, CME Bitcoin futures hit $1.7 billion in notional value traded on June 26, a 30% increase from its last recorded high. The open interest for BTC futures now sits at 6,069 contracts, reportedly as a result of institutional interest. New CME bitcoin futures record. Source: Twitter A week prior, on June …

Major cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Pro has added support for Chainlink, according to a blog post on June 26. Coinbase has listed two trading pairs for the token of smart contract platform Chainlink (LINK) on its professional trading platform. LINK will be available to trade with the U.S. dollar (LINK/USD) and with ether (ETH) (LINK/ETH). The post says that the token will be available in all its covered jurisdictions except for the state of New York. According to the announcement, Coinbase Pro will roll out options for LINK in four steps. The four steps are (1) transfer-only, (2) post-only, (3) limit-only, …

San Francisco-based payments company Square has just made bitcoin (BTC) deposits available on its Cash App on June 26 Cash App users will now be able to deposit bitcoins from external wallets into their app bitcoin address. According to Square’s announcement, deposits are limited to $10,000 worth of bitcoin in a seven day period. It also notes that transfers could take several hours to be confirmed on the blockchain. As noted by Coindesk, Square apparently made bitcoin deposits previously available for some users. Twitter user and self-proclaimed “Bitcoin Permabull” Dennis Parker recently claimed on June 25 that BTC deposits were …