Startups

Stablecoins

Circle’s USDC Stablecoin Fully Dollar Backed, Says Latest Auditor’s Report

Crypto finance startup Circle’s USDC stablecoin was fully backed with fiat reserves at the close of 2018, according to auditing firm Grant Thornton.

Business  ·  17 January 2019
Exchanges

Game of Coins: Inside the Paxos-Gemini Stablecoin Discount War

Here's why several stablecoins saw sudden bursts of activity over the past three months.

Business  ·  16 January 2019
ConsenSys

Central Bank Veteran’s Blockchain ‘E-Money’ Startup Raises $2 Million

ConsenSys has joined a $2 million funding round for a blockchain startup led by a former chairman of the Central Bank of Iceland.

Business  ·  11 January 2019
Decentralization

‘0% Success’: Why Blockchain Apps Just Aren’t Taking Off

In 2018, the promise of a decentralized future took a big knock. There are lessons to be learned, says Yin Wu, founder of Dirt Protocol.

Business  ·  11 January 2019
Ethereum

Insiders Say ConsenSys Faces a Hurdle to 2019 Rebound: Joe Lubin’s Grip

ConsenSys insiders say ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin will need to welcome more stakeholders into the fold for his startups to survive.

Business  ·  9 January 2019
Bitcoin

New Bitrefill Service Aims to Make Lightning Payments Easy

Now bitcoin users can send someone a lightning payment without the hassle of setting up channels.

Business  ·  9 January 2019
ICOs

The Biggest Problem for ICOs? In 2018, It Was Their Own Investors

Hashed CEO Simon Seojoon Kim looks at the inherent limitations of ICOs, in particular the belief that "anyone can invest in an initial project."

Business  ·  6 January 2019
Exchanges

Bitcoin Exchange Paxful Sees 20% 2018 Growth, Driven by Africa

Despite bitcoin's price volatility in 2018, P2P exchanges Paxful and LocalBitcoins each saw significant user growth in Africa.

Business  ·  31 December 2018
Acquisitions

Crypto Firms Merge to Build Software for Institutional Investors

In a bid to provide services for institutional investors, investor tools provider Picks & Shovels is merging with crypto accounting startup CoinVantage.

Business  ·  21 December 2018
Ethereum

More Staff Cuts Are Coming at Ethereum Studio ConsenSys

ConsenSys 'spokes' are being offered the option to seek outside funding or accept severance packages, sources tell CoinDesk.

Tech  ·  20 December 2018
Ethereum

The Herd and the HODLers: Recovering from Crypto’s Two-Year False Start

Cryptocurrency industry observer David Nage thinks we're in the Friendster/Myspace error of blockchain, but that Facebook isn't too far away.

Business  ·  19 December 2018
Hackathon

CoinList Launches Hackathon Series to Spur Crypto Product Launches

Under its new "CoinList Build" brand, CoinList will be co-organizing hackathons with protocols that are looking to court developers.

Markets  ·  19 December 2018
Brazil

This Brazilian Bank Is Using Ethereum to Issue a Stablecoin

The Brazilian National Social Development Bank is to pilot a stablecoin based on ethereum to combat corruption.

Business  ·  17 December 2018
Startups

Crypto is for Activists: Why We Need More Cypherpunks, Not Cypherposers

Bitcoin is activism, not a get rich quick scheme or a startup platform, says Lamassu's Zach Harvey.

Business  ·  15 December 2018
Bitcoin

Sephora Shoppers Are Getting Their First Bitcoin Using Crypto Startup Lolli

Sephora has joined the list of retailers at which shoppers can earn bitcoin rewards via the Lolli app.

Business  ·  14 December 2018