Bitcoin (BTC) is a cryptocurrency that acts as money and a form of payment. It was invented in 2008 by an unknown entity under the name Satoshi Nakamoto.

Bitcoin enters its sweet sixteen

Bitcoin, the crypto giant that just turned 15, offers a tantalizing glimpse into what could have been for early investors. If you had allocated a mere dollar on its day of inception, you might have found yourself among the ranks of billionaires today

In October 2009, the first Bitcoin exchange transaction took place, involving over 5,000 tokens for a paltry sum of $5. Yet, since that inaugural exchange, Bitcoin's value has skyrocketed to eclipse even the most generous lottery windfalls.

Comparing Bitcoin to more conventional investments, the disparity is striking. Bitcoin has delivered an astonishing 3.4 billion per cent return since October 2009, originating from a modest starting value of around a tenth of a cent. In contrast, the S&amp;P 500, a benchmark for traditional investment, has grown by approximately 300 per cent over the same period.

Investing in Bitcoin on its nascence would indeed have been a game-changing move for those fortunate few. However, discerning Bitcoin as a future powerhouse 15 years ago was akin to picking the winning lottery numbers. The path to this financial triumph has been far from smooth.

Bitcoin's early years were marked by obscurity and limited trading activity. Investors had to weather gut-wrenching price swings, including significant downturns of 77 per cent in 2014, 72 per cent in 2018, and a 65 per cent drop just last year. Furthermore, Bitcoin holders faced the arduous challenge of safeguarding their assets amidst thefts, frauds, and even exchange closures.

While Bitcoin's meteoric rise may not offer similar astronomical returns in the near future, investors hold out hope for the potential launch of a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, which could provide fresh impetus to the market. Nonetheless, some argue that the era of 3.4 billion percentage gains may have passed, leaving crypto enthusiasts to grapple with the evolving landscape and the uncertainty that it brings.

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Bitcoin, the crypto giant that just turned 15, offers a tantalizing glimpse into what could have been for early investors. If you had allocated a mere dollar on its day of inception, you might have found yourself among the ranks of billionaires today In October 2009, the first Bitcoin exchange transaction took place, involving over 5,000 tokens for a paltry sum of $5.

Bitcoin, the crypto giant that just turned 15, offers a tantalizing glimpse into what could have been for early investors. If you had allocated a mere dollar on its day of inception, you might have found yourself among the ranks of billionaires today In October 2009, the first Bitcoin exchange transaction took place, involving over 5,000 tokens for a paltry sum of $5. Yet, since that inaugural exchange, Bitcoin's value has skyrocketed to eclipse even the most generous lottery windfalls. Comparing Bitcoin to more conventional investments, the disparity is striking. Bitcoin has delivered an astonishing 3.4 billion per cent return since October 2009, originating from a modest starting value of around a tenth of a cent. In contrast, the S&P 500, a benchmark for traditional investment, has grown by approximately 300 per cent over the same period. Investing in Bitcoin on its nascence would indeed have been a game-changing move for those fortunate few. However, discerning Bitcoin as a future powerhouse 15 years ago was akin to picking the winning lottery numbers. The path to this financial triumph has been far from smooth. Bitcoin's early years were marked by obscurity and limited trading activity. Investors had to weather gut-wrenching price swings, including significant downturns of 77 per cent in 2014, 72 per cent in 2018, and a 65 per cent drop just last year. Furthermore, Bitcoin holders faced the arduous challenge of safeguarding their assets amidst thefts, frauds, and even exchange closures. While Bitcoin's meteoric rise may not offer similar astronomical returns in the near future, investors hold out hope for the potential launch of a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, which could provide fresh impetus to the market. Nonetheless, some argue that the era of 3.4 billion percentage gains may have passed, leaving crypto enthusiasts to grapple with the evolving landscape and the uncertainty that it brings. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Here's how much you'd be worth if you had invested in Bitcoin on day 1

Bitcoin is soaring to almost $35,000 - it marked the highest point for the world's largest cryptocurrency, more than double the price seen at the start of 2022.

Bitcoin's big bounce, price highest since May 2022

Bitcoin rose 6 per cent&nbsp;on Tuesday to to $35,198, its highest in nearly a year-and-a-half, on mounting speculation that an exchange-traded bitcoin fund is imminent.

That followed a 10 per cent&nbsp;surge&nbsp;on Monday, when bitcoin posted its best day in almost a year, and the bullishness spread across the wider crypto market and into related stocks.

Any approval by the US&nbsp;Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that owns bitcoin on behalf of fund investors is predicted to fuel demand.

A spot bitcoin ETF, the argument goes, would allow investors previously wary of crypto access to the asset via the stock market, ushering in a new wave of capital to the sector.

"The value of ... any asset, basically, is the amount of people using it," said Steen Jakobsen, CIO at Saxo. "So the ETF would make a large audience and increase liquidity."

Bitcoin, a volatile asset whose price has doubled so far this year, was last up 3.2 per cent at $34,129. The second-largest cryptocurrency ether climbed to its highest since August.

Crypto-linked shares such as major U.S. exchange Coinbase Global&nbsp;(COIN.O)&nbsp;and bitcoin owner MicroStrategy&nbsp;(MSTR.O)&nbsp;rose in after-hours trade.

Investment giant BlackRock&nbsp;(BLK.N)&nbsp;is among&nbsp;several&nbsp;major U.S. financial firms with pending applications for bitcoin ETFs.

Speculation on their likely approval was fuelled by BlackRock's iShares ETF listing on the website of clearing house DTCC. It was unclear when or why the iShares ETF was added to the DTCC list. DTCC and BlackRock did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Anticipation also grew after reports this month, including from&nbsp;Reuters, that the SEC won't appeal a&nbsp;court<a data-testid="Link" href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-court-says-sec-wrong-deny-grayscales-spot-bitcoin-etf-proposal-2023-08-29/" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"> </a>ruling&nbsp;it had been wrong to reject an ETF application from crypto firm Grayscale Investments.

"The SEC being pressured by the courts increases the probability" of an ETF approval, said Standard Chartered's head of digital assets research Geoffrey Kendrick.

Last week BlackRock&nbsp;denied&nbsp;an erroneous report that its ETF had been approved.

Data on crypto derivatives analysis site Coinglass showed heavy bitcoin short-covering in the last 24 hours.

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Bitcoin rose 6 per cent on Tuesday to to $35,198, its highest in nearly a year-and-a-half, on mounting speculation that an exchange-traded bitcoin fund is imminent.

Bitcoin rose 6 per cent on Tuesday to to $35,198, its highest in nearly a year-and-a-half, on mounting speculation that an exchange-traded bitcoin fund is imminent. That followed a 10 per cent surge on Monday, when bitcoin posted its best day in almost a year, and the bullishness spread across the wider crypto market and into related stocks. Any approval by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that owns bitcoin on behalf of fund investors is predicted to fuel demand. A spot bitcoin ETF, the argument goes, would allow investors previously wary of crypto access to the asset via the stock market, ushering in a new wave of capital to the sector. "The value of ... any asset, basically, is the amount of people using it," said Steen Jakobsen, CIO at Saxo. "So the ETF would make a large audience and increase liquidity." Bitcoin, a volatile asset whose price has doubled so far this year, was last up 3.2 per cent at $34,129. The second-largest cryptocurrency ether climbed to its highest since August. Crypto-linked shares such as major U.S. exchange Coinbase Global (COIN.O) and bitcoin owner MicroStrategy (MSTR.O) rose in after-hours trade. Investment giant BlackRock (BLK.N) is among several major U.S. financial firms with pending applications for bitcoin ETFs. Speculation on their likely approval was fuelled by BlackRock's iShares ETF listing on the website of clearing house DTCC. It was unclear when or why the iShares ETF was added to the DTCC list. DTCC and BlackRock did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Anticipation also grew after reports this month, including from Reuters, that the SEC won't appeal a court ruling it had been wrong to reject an ETF application from crypto firm Grayscale Investments. "The SEC being pressured by the courts increases the probability" of an ETF approval, said Standard Chartered's head of digital assets research Geoffrey Kendrick. Last week BlackRock denied an erroneous report that its ETF had been approved. Data on crypto derivatives analysis site Coinglass showed heavy bitcoin short-covering in the last 24 hours. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Bitcoin soars to near 18-month high as ETF speculation mounts

Bitcoin rose nearly 10 per cent on Tuesday, reaching $34,872, its highest value in nearly 18 months. The rally followed mounting speculation about the launch of an exchange-traded bitcoin fund (ETF).&nbsp;

The bullish momentum has not only influenced the wider cryptocurrency market but has also made its presence felt in related stocks.&nbsp;

The market anticipates that the approval of a spot bitcoin ETF by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could drive substantial demand.&nbsp;

It is being argued that such an ETF would provide previously hesitant investors with access to cryptocurrencies through the stock market, potentially ushering a new wave of capital into the sector.&nbsp;

At present, Bitcoin, a highly volatile digital asset that has seen its price double this year, is trading at $34,020, marking the highest value since May 2022.&nbsp;

During Asian trading hours, it even briefly exceeded $35,000. The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ether, also experienced gains, rising by 4.50 per cent to reach $1,786.30, its highest value since August.&nbsp;

The impact of Bitcoin's ascent is not limited to the cryptocurrency market. Shares tied to the crypto industry, including major US exchange Coinbase Global and Bitcoin holder MicroStrategy, surged by more than 7 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively.&nbsp;

Reuters quoted Antoni Trenchev, co-founder of digital asset firm Nexo, as saying, "A sense of excitement has erupted in the crypto market and now it’s just a case of waiting to see if and when something concrete emerges from the SEC."&nbsp;

This surge in optimism about a Bitcoin ETF's imminent approval is bolstered by the presence of major US financial firms, including investment giant BlackRock, with pending ETF applications. Reports indicate that BlackRock's iShares ETF has been listed on the website of clearing house DTCC, further fuelling speculation.&nbsp;

Reports this month, including one from Reuters, suggested that the SEC would not contest a court ruling that held the agency of wrongfully rejecting an ETF application from crypto firm Grayscale Investments.&nbsp;

On Monday, the court formalised its decision, sending the application back to the SEC for a re-evaluation.&nbsp;Reuters quoted&nbsp;Geoffrey Kendrick, the head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered, as saying, "The SEC being pressured by the courts increases the probability of an ETF approval."&nbsp;

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

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Bitcoin rose nearly 10 per cent on Tuesday, reaching $34,872, its highest value in nearly 18 months. The rally followed mounting speculation about the launch of an exchange-traded bitcoin fund (ETF).

Bitcoin rose nearly 10 per cent on Tuesday, reaching $34,872, its highest value in nearly 18 months. The rally followed mounting speculation about the launch of an exchange-traded bitcoin fund (ETF). The bullish momentum has not only influenced the wider cryptocurrency market but has also made its presence felt in related stocks. The market anticipates that the approval of a spot bitcoin ETF by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could drive substantial demand. It is being argued that such an ETF would provide previously hesitant investors with access to cryptocurrencies through the stock market, potentially ushering a new wave of capital into the sector. At present, Bitcoin, a highly volatile digital asset that has seen its price double this year, is trading at $34,020, marking the highest value since May 2022. During Asian trading hours, it even briefly exceeded $35,000. The second-largest cryptocurrency, Ether, also experienced gains, rising by 4.50 per cent to reach $1,786.30, its highest value since August. The impact of Bitcoin's ascent is not limited to the cryptocurrency market. Shares tied to the crypto industry, including major US exchange Coinbase Global and Bitcoin holder MicroStrategy, surged by more than 7 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively. Reuters quoted Antoni Trenchev, co-founder of digital asset firm Nexo, as saying, "A sense of excitement has erupted in the crypto market and now it’s just a case of waiting to see if and when something concrete emerges from the SEC." This surge in optimism about a Bitcoin ETF's imminent approval is bolstered by the presence of major US financial firms, including investment giant BlackRock, with pending ETF applications. Reports indicate that BlackRock's iShares ETF has been listed on the website of clearing house DTCC, further fuelling speculation. Reports this month, including one from Reuters, suggested that the SEC would not contest a court ruling that held the agency of wrongfully rejecting an ETF application from crypto firm Grayscale Investments. On Monday, the court formalised its decision, sending the application back to the SEC for a re-evaluation. Reuters quoted Geoffrey Kendrick, the head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered, as saying, "The SEC being pressured by the courts increases the probability of an ETF approval." (With inputs from Reuters) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Bitcoin reaches near 18-month high amid growing ETF speculation 

The raw of a Ferrari's engine might soon be accompanied by the sound of blockchain transactions.

Crypto revolutionizing car market

Ferrari will now accept cryptocurrencies as payment for its luxury cars. Not even Elon Musk's Tesla offers that option. Which cryptocurrencies exactly will Ferrari accept? Is Ferrari making a sustainable decision or will it turn out to be a blunder?

Ferrari fuelling cryptocurrency revolution? | You can now buy a Ferrari with Bitcoin

A cryptocurrency-mining company in Pennsylvania, US is planning to burn tyres to produce bitcoin, a move that has enraged the residents and alarmed environmental groups.

Stronghold Digital Mining, the company, claims that it is repurposing waste materials. Opponents of the plan are worrying about risks posed by emissions to human health.

The company has been burning coal waste for cheap power to mine cryptocurrency since 2021. That year, it bought the Panther Creek power plant in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania. Burning coal waste to mine bitcoin is a controversial approach. Although the removal of coal waste can help contaminated land, the burning emits greenhouse gases and other chemicals that are harmful.

The process of generating electricity from coal waste can take twice the amount of waste than regular coal when used to produce electricity.

The company says that it sometimes needs to burn tire-driven fuel to make burning of coal more efficient.

The Guardian quoted Stronghold spokesperson Naomi Harrington who said that additives like tire fuel “are especially needed when the quality of the coal refuse is low in energy content”.

The company receives state subsidies to burn waste coal. It also has a temporary permit to test the use of tire-driven fuel. But it is reportedly trying to get permanent permission for tire-driven fuel.

“I was shocked,” said Carol Etheridge, a resident living near Panther Creek plant

“It’s terrible. I can’t even believe that people would be allowed to burn tyres.”

She was quoted by The Guardian.

Tire-burning plans have attracted criticism from environmental groups.

“It poses risks to the health of people living nearby,” said Charles McPhedran, an attorney with Earthjustice

Earthjustice is fighting the company's tire application.

“This sort of disposal of tyres is a last resort,” he said as quoted by The Guardian.

Burning tyres can form harmful chemicals like dioxins and furans. These chemicals have links to cancer. Additionally, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are carcinogenic, have also been associated with burning tyres.

“They are clearly looking to reduce their fuel costs,” said Rob Altenburg of PennFuture, a local environment group.

“There is no analysis for how this will add to the existing burden of legacy pollution in the area.”

He was quoted by The Guardian.

Moreover, the plant is within two miles of communities which have been defined by the state as environmental justice areas.

Residents of Carbon County have sent letters to the county commissioner and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) expressing their concerns.

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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A cryptocurrency-mining company in Pennsylvania, US is planning to burn tyres to produce bitcoin, a move that has enraged the residents and alarmed environmental groups.

A cryptocurrency-mining company in Pennsylvania, US is planning to burn tyres to produce bitcoin, a move that has enraged the residents and alarmed environmental groups. Stronghold Digital Mining, the company, claims that it is repurposing waste materials. Opponents of the plan are worrying about risks posed by emissions to human health. The company has been burning coal waste for cheap power to mine cryptocurrency since 2021. That year, it bought the Panther Creek power plant in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania. Burning coal waste to mine bitcoin is a controversial approach. Although the removal of coal waste can help contaminated land, the burning emits greenhouse gases and other chemicals that are harmful. The process of generating electricity from coal waste can take twice the amount of waste than regular coal when used to produce electricity. The company says that it sometimes needs to burn tire-driven fuel to make burning of coal more efficient. The Guardian quoted Stronghold spokesperson Naomi Harrington who said that additives like tire fuel “are especially needed when the quality of the coal refuse is low in energy content”. The company receives state subsidies to burn waste coal. It also has a temporary permit to test the use of tire-driven fuel. But it is reportedly trying to get permanent permission for tire-driven fuel. “I was shocked,” said Carol Etheridge, a resident living near Panther Creek plant “It’s terrible. I can’t even believe that people would be allowed to burn tyres.” She was quoted by The Guardian. Tire-burning plans have attracted criticism from environmental groups. “It poses risks to the health of people living nearby,” said Charles McPhedran, an attorney with Earthjustice Earthjustice is fighting the company's tire application. “This sort of disposal of tyres is a last resort,” he said as quoted by The Guardian. Burning tyres can form harmful chemicals like dioxins and furans. These chemicals have links to cancer. Additionally, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), some of which are carcinogenic, have also been associated with burning tyres. “They are clearly looking to reduce their fuel costs,” said Rob Altenburg of PennFuture, a local environment group. “There is no analysis for how this will add to the existing burden of legacy pollution in the area.” He was quoted by The Guardian. Moreover, the plant is within two miles of communities which have been defined by the state as environmental justice areas. Residents of Carbon County have sent letters to the county commissioner and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) expressing their concerns. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US company plans to burn tyres to mine Bitcoin, angering locals

Bitcoin scaled and shares of cryptocurrency-related firms soared after a US court overruled the Securities and Exchange Commission's decision to restrict an ETF that invests directly in the cryptocurrency.

Grayscale Investments LLC received approval from a federal court to form the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund in the United States, marking a watershed milestone in the cryptocurrency industry's aim to capture billions of dollars from average investors.

On Tuesday, Grayscale Investments' bitcoin trust posted an approximately 21 per cent gain, far outpacing bitcoin's gains, which were around 7 per cent, and causing the cryptocurrency to trade beyond $27,700.

The crypto asset management firm won a federal court case, paving the way for the first bitcoin ETF to be launched in the United States and sparking a rise in the digital asset market. As a result of its strong performance on Tuesday in New York, the trust's discount to its bitcoin holdings shrank to less than 17 percent.

A federal appeals court decided on Tuesday that Grayscale Investments' application for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund should have been authorised by the U.S. securities and exchange commission.

A spot bitcoin ETF would allow investors to obtain exposure to the digital asset without needing to buy bitcoin on a retail exchange or keep the currency in a separate crypto wallet; thus, the judgement may be good news for bitcoin.

Many in the industry predicted that Grayscale would prevail in its dispute with the U.S. SEC, and now they're trying to figure out what Tuesday's news means for the many other issuers who have applications out for a spot bitcoin fund and the timeline.

The court ruling was hailed as a major milestone for the cryptocurrency sector since supporters had campaigned for a spot bitcoin ETF for years. For the last decade, U.S. authorities have repeatedly denied registrations by issuers, citing grounds such as fraud and market manipulation each time.

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Bitcoin scaled and shares of cryptocurrency-related firms soared after a US court overruled the Securities and Exchange Commission's decision to restrict an ETF that invests directly in the cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin scaled and shares of cryptocurrency-related firms soared after a US court overruled the Securities and Exchange Commission's decision to restrict an ETF that invests directly in the cryptocurrency. Grayscale Investments LLC received approval from a federal court to form the first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund in the United States, marking a watershed milestone in the cryptocurrency industry's aim to capture billions of dollars from average investors. On Tuesday, Grayscale Investments' bitcoin trust posted an approximately 21 per cent gain, far outpacing bitcoin's gains, which were around 7 per cent, and causing the cryptocurrency to trade beyond $27,700. The crypto asset management firm won a federal court case, paving the way for the first bitcoin ETF to be launched in the United States and sparking a rise in the digital asset market. As a result of its strong performance on Tuesday in New York, the trust's discount to its bitcoin holdings shrank to less than 17 percent. A federal appeals court decided on Tuesday that Grayscale Investments' application for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund should have been authorised by the U.S. securities and exchange commission. A spot bitcoin ETF would allow investors to obtain exposure to the digital asset without needing to buy bitcoin on a retail exchange or keep the currency in a separate crypto wallet; thus, the judgement may be good news for bitcoin. Many in the industry predicted that Grayscale would prevail in its dispute with the U.S. SEC, and now they're trying to figure out what Tuesday's news means for the many other issuers who have applications out for a spot bitcoin fund and the timeline. The court ruling was hailed as a major milestone for the cryptocurrency sector since supporters had campaigned for a spot bitcoin ETF for years. For the last decade, U.S. authorities have repeatedly denied registrations by issuers, citing grounds such as fraud and market manipulation each time. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Bitcoin surges to two-week high after Grayscale ETF ruling

Nearly 10 per cent of women in India own cryptocurrency, which ranks third among all countries, according to a study. Data from the foreign exchange education portal Forex Suggest reveals&nbsp;that there are&nbsp;63 million female cryptocurrency owners in India, accounting for 9.2 per cent of the female population of around 685 million.

When looking at what the figures indicate in India, blockchain and emerging tech evangelist Sharat Chandra said, “There are several aspects including the propensity to explore new assets. Most educated women are seeking independence in employment. Financial literacy, their general awareness and their tendency to explore new asset classes is on the rise.”

Vietnam tops&nbsp;the list with 12 million female cryptocurrency owners, or 24 per cent of the female population. With 47 per cent female cryptocurrency owners, Vietnam has&nbsp;the most even gender distribution. Philippines comes second with 9.6 per cent, representing over 5.5 million female cryptocurrency owners.

Kenya and Colombia are tied for&nbsp;third place, with women making up 42 per cent of all cryptocurrency owners in both nations. India comes&nbsp;in eighth, with male and female crypto ownership at 60 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively.

According to the study, “This is a difference of just six percentage points, showing that female access to digital currencies is being supported by the local culture.”

Blockchain advisor Kamlesh Nagware differs&nbsp;from the study, saying that women investing in crypto is not a question of being supported by the local culture but has more to do with the “hype” surrounding it. “People are seeking opportunities, educated ladies especially, want to begin and set up their own new ventures.”

According to Chandra, in the Indian context, developer groups, both national and international are empowering and supporting women in this domain. He said that platforms like The Pheonix Guild have assisted in increasing awareness about digital and block work investments among women. “Not-for-profit orgnaisations and other established ones like Google are also working in the background to make women more employable,” he said.

Chandra said that there is more noise and less substance when it comes to talking about investment risks, adding that information asymmetry has been influencing investment decisions, as there are limited neutral voices but more biased content.&nbsp;

The lack of regulatory oversight, no definitive laws for protection and the lack of credible sources or ‘self proclaimed experts,’ pose additional threats for making crypto investments.

Nagware, on the other hand, said, “Understanding the regulatory culture, the laws involved and the security concerns about money laundering is essential. Grasping the technology involved and educating oneself about the domain are equally important.” He further discourages&nbsp;investors from making decisions based on inputs from crypto influencers.

Despite these setbacks, Chandra said that increasing asset tokenisation which in turn improves asset liquidity and the opening up of other asset classes are some of the positives women get to explore while investing in crypto. &nbsp;

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Nearly 10 per cent of women in India own cryptocurrency, which ranks third among all countries, according to a study. Data from the foreign exchange education portal Forex Suggest reveals that there are 63 million female cryptocurrency owners in India, accounting for 9.

Nearly 10 per cent of women in India own cryptocurrency, which ranks third among all countries, according to a study. Data from the foreign exchange education portal Forex Suggest reveals that there are 63 million female cryptocurrency owners in India, accounting for 9.2 per cent of the female population of around 685 million. When looking at what the figures indicate in India, blockchain and emerging tech evangelist Sharat Chandra said, “There are several aspects including the propensity to explore new assets. Most educated women are seeking independence in employment. Financial literacy, their general awareness and their tendency to explore new asset classes is on the rise.” Vietnam tops the list with 12 million female cryptocurrency owners, or 24 per cent of the female population. With 47 per cent female cryptocurrency owners, Vietnam has the most even gender distribution. Philippines comes second with 9.6 per cent, representing over 5.5 million female cryptocurrency owners. Kenya and Colombia are tied for third place, with women making up 42 per cent of all cryptocurrency owners in both nations. India comes in eighth, with male and female crypto ownership at 60 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively. According to the study, “This is a difference of just six percentage points, showing that female access to digital currencies is being supported by the local culture.” Blockchain advisor Kamlesh Nagware differs from the study, saying that women investing in crypto is not a question of being supported by the local culture but has more to do with the “hype” surrounding it. “People are seeking opportunities, educated ladies especially, want to begin and set up their own new ventures.” According to Chandra, in the Indian context, developer groups, both national and international are empowering and supporting women in this domain. He said that platforms like The Pheonix Guild have assisted in increasing awareness about digital and block work investments among women. “Not-for-profit orgnaisations and other established ones like Google are also working in the background to make women more employable,” he said. Chandra said that there is more noise and less substance when it comes to talking about investment risks, adding that information asymmetry has been influencing investment decisions, as there are limited neutral voices but more biased content. The lack of regulatory oversight, no definitive laws for protection and the lack of credible sources or ‘self proclaimed experts,’ pose additional threats for making crypto investments. Nagware, on the other hand, said, “Understanding the regulatory culture, the laws involved and the security concerns about money laundering is essential. Grasping the technology involved and educating oneself about the domain are equally important.” He further discourages investors from making decisions based on inputs from crypto influencers. Despite these setbacks, Chandra said that increasing asset tokenisation which in turn improves asset liquidity and the opening up of other asset classes are some of the positives women get to explore while investing in crypto. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Nearly 10 per cent of Indian women own crypto: Exploring the trend

Nearly 10 per cent of women in India own cryptocurrency, which ranks third among all countries, according to a study. Data from the foreign exchange education portal Forex Suggest reveals that there are 63 million female cryptocurrency owners in India, accounting for 9.2 per cent of the female population of around 685 million.

Nearly 10 per cent of Indian women own crypto currency

A husband and wife cyber crime team in the United States on Thursday (August 3) pleaded guilty to trying to launder $4.5 billion of Bitcoin that they stole in a hack in 2016.

A husband and wife cyber crime team in the United States on Thursday (August 3) pleaded guilty to trying to launder $4.5 billion of Bitcoin that they stole in a hack in 2016. In a hearing before US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, Ilya Lichtenstein, 37, admitted to hacking the Bitfinex exchange and enlisting his wife Heather Morgan, 33, to help conceal some 119,754 stolen Bitcoins, the news agency Reuters reported. The tokens were worth $71 million at the time of the hack but had appreciated to more than $4.5 billion at the time of their February 22 arrests in New York. According to Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, the $3.6 billion in assets recovered was the biggest financial seizure in US Department of Justice history. Since then, the Department of Justice recovered $475 million more, and the couple in court on Thursday agreed to jointly forfeit $72 million. Who is the couple? Ilya Lichtenstein has studied psychology and describes himself in his LinkedIn profile as a technology entrepreneur. Heather Morgan, on the other hand, masqueraded as a rapper and tech entrepreneur. She went by the artist name "Razzlekhan." On Thursday, prosecutor Christopher Brown said Lichtenstein had a long history of hacking, including as a juvenile, and had stolen funds from virtual currency exchanges before 2016. After Lichtenstein hacked the exchange, Brown said that Morgan helped her husband set up accounts with fictitious identities to help hide proceeds. "It was at my direction," Lichtenstein told the judge and acknowledged converting some funds to gold coins, which he gave to Morgan, who buried them in California. Law enforcement has since dug them up, a prosecutor said. The suspicion In a separate plea hearing, Morgan said Lichtenstein first told her that he hacked the Bitfinex exchange in 2020. However, the 33-year-old had long been suspicious that her husband's money came from an illicit source such as drugs or tax evasion. Morgan said that she and Lichtenstein took several trips to Ukraine and Kazakhstan, which she thought were for tourism and generating business for a company they ran. However, she said that alarm bells went off when she saw Lichtenstein burning documents in a trash can during a Kazakhstan visit. When confronted, he was evasive, Morgan said in the plea hearing. As per prosecutors, Lichtenstein used the trips to meet with "money mules" who converted cryptocurrency into government-issued currency and deposited it into Russian and Ukrainian banks. Lichtenstein and Morgan would then withdraw cash from the accounts in the US. The sentencing dates have not been set yet, and both defendants have agreed to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington as part of a late July plea deal. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US: Husband, wife plead guilty of laundering Bitcoins worth $4.5 billion after hacking exchange

There's a major development in the crypto industry. One that may have a longstanding impact on the sector. In a landmark judgment, a US Court ruled tech firm ripple labs did not violate federal securities law by selling its 'XRP' token on public exchanges.

Big verdict in favour of ripple labs vs US sec

US regulators are alleging violations against crypto exchanges. Traditional banks have limited their work with cryptocurrency. Is US trying to kill cryptocurrency? Mohammad Saleh reports.

Gravitas: US regulators crackdown on cryptocurrency exchanges

As the race to regulate digital assets heats up, a global securities watchdog will soon propose new rules for Crypto assets. This comes on the heels of news that the European Union (EU) states have ratified the first set of comprehensive rules to oversee digital assets.

Race to regulate Cryptos heats up | WION Business Watch

Bitcoin dropped below the crucial $27,000 level as regulatory concerns weighed on the cryptocurrency market. Ethereum also experienced a 3.1% loss, trading below $1,800. Jane Street and Jump Crypto, major market makers, announced their retreat from crypto trading in the US due to regulatory crackdowns. Despite the downward moves, crypto backers remain unfazed. Analysts are closely monitoring the $25,200 level as a significant support threshold. The joint warning from regulatory authorities earlier about liquidity risks associated with banking crypto firms adds to the challenges faced by the industry.

Cryptos caught in regulatory crosshairs

Mining cryptocurrency has long attracted criticism for the energy-guzzling nature of the process. But now a unique approach to this problem may be on the horizon. The investment arm of Bhutan along with Nasdaq-listed company Bitdeer Technologies Group is seeking investors to set up a fund of up to 500 million dollars. The fund will then be used to develop green crypto mining in the Himalayan kingdom, reported Bloomberg.&nbsp;

The fund-raising will reportedly target institutional investors and will begin by May end. A joint statement has said the goal of the venture will be to set up carbon-free digital mining. The function would make use of abundant hydroelectric power available in Bhutan.

Ujjwal Deep Dahal, CEO of Druk Holdings and Investments, the investment arm of Bhutan, said that for now, the mining will focus on Bitcoin.

"It's important for us to look at assets that are low volume, high value, or digital assets for that matter, and try to position ourselves in a way that we can be competitive globally over time to build our economy," said Dahal, as quoted in the Bloomberg report.

Bhutan's economy is dependent on hydropower revenues and the country, situated between India and China, is looking to diversify its economy. Druk Holdings and Investments has not only been taking care of the government's investments in traditional areas like stocks, bonds, energy etc but also in crypto assets. It calls this a 'future-facing' strategy.

Bitcoin mining involves a frenzy to solve complex mathematical puzzles using energy-hungry computer rigs. Traditional power sources fuel these operations. This attracts criticism against crypto mining for not being sustainable environmentally.

Bitdeer, the company Bhutan is partnering with, is a Singapore-based company. It is owned by Jihan Wu, a Chinese entrepreneur. Bitdeer is one of the top crypto miners by computing power.

Last month, Bitdeer began trading stocks on the Nasdaq.

Bloomberg reported that Bitdeer is looking to set up a 100-megawatt cryptocurrency mining operation in Bhutan.

Bhutan's entry into cryptocurrency mining may introduce an interesting element as the country holds 'Gross National Happiness' as a measure of its overall economic success.

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Mining cryptocurrency has long attracted criticism for the energy-guzzling nature of the process. But now a unique approach to this problem may be on the horizon.

Mining cryptocurrency has long attracted criticism for the energy-guzzling nature of the process. But now a unique approach to this problem may be on the horizon. The investment arm of Bhutan along with Nasdaq-listed company Bitdeer Technologies Group is seeking investors to set up a fund of up to 500 million dollars. The fund will then be used to develop green crypto mining in the Himalayan kingdom, reported Bloomberg. The fund-raising will reportedly target institutional investors and will begin by May end. A joint statement has said the goal of the venture will be to set up carbon-free digital mining. The function would make use of abundant hydroelectric power available in Bhutan. Ujjwal Deep Dahal, CEO of Druk Holdings and Investments, the investment arm of Bhutan, said that for now, the mining will focus on Bitcoin. "It's important for us to look at assets that are low volume, high value, or digital assets for that matter, and try to position ourselves in a way that we can be competitive globally over time to build our economy," said Dahal, as quoted in the Bloomberg report. Bhutan's economy is dependent on hydropower revenues and the country, situated between India and China, is looking to diversify its economy. Druk Holdings and Investments has not only been taking care of the government's investments in traditional areas like stocks, bonds, energy etc but also in crypto assets. It calls this a 'future-facing' strategy. Bitcoin mining involves a frenzy to solve complex mathematical puzzles using energy-hungry computer rigs. Traditional power sources fuel these operations. This attracts criticism against crypto mining for not being sustainable environmentally. Bitdeer, the company Bhutan is partnering with, is a Singapore-based company. It is owned by Jihan Wu, a Chinese entrepreneur. Bitdeer is one of the top crypto miners by computing power. Last month, Bitdeer began trading stocks on the Nasdaq. Bloomberg reported that Bitdeer is looking to set up a 100-megawatt cryptocurrency mining operation in Bhutan. Bhutan's entry into cryptocurrency mining may introduce an interesting element as the country holds 'Gross National Happiness' as a measure of its overall economic success. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Bhutan takes steps to set up green cryptocurrency mining operation: Report

Bhutan is one of the most isolated and self-sustainable economies of the world but now it seems to be getting an image-makeover. Bhutan could soon be the land of Bitcoin and could possibly attract several crypto millionaires. For more, watch the video.

Bhutan admits it mined Bitcoins since 2017

If you have invested in Cryptocurrency, we have some news for you, according to report from Standard Chartered - could hit hundred thousand dollar by the end of 2024. It is believed that Bitcoin could gain from various factors, be it from recent turmoil in the banking sector or from the improved profitability of crypto mining.

Have you invested in Cryptocurrency? Know how Bitcoin is a good investment | Business News | WION

While the world of crypto currencies continues to puzzle many, the kind of impact it has had on the financial systems across the world is noteworthy. But mysteries seem to be a running theme and given its origins, it is spot on. Over a decade ago, the world witnessed a cryptic milestone when Satoshi Nakamoto developed Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency. But who is this mastermind? No one knows for sure.

<h3>What do we know about Satoshi Nakamoto?</h3>

Nakamoto is said to be a pseudonym for the person or people who helped create Bitcoin&nbsp;but the real identity of who he, she or they might be,&nbsp;continues to remain one of the biggest mysteries of the 21st century. The mysterious individual or group was the author of a 2008 white paper which outlined the theory and operating structure of the Bitcoin payment system.&nbsp;

Nakamoto’s identity continues to remain shrouded in mystery due to the lack of personal or background details about the person who would only communicate via email. One of the biggest indications that Nakamoto created Bitcoin was the famous white paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System”.&nbsp;

The elusive mastermind behind the now largest cryptocurrency in the world was said to be working on the first version of the software back in 2007. Around two years later, Nakamoto created the first-ever online message board post which was dedicated to cryptocurrency, on the P2P Foundation forum.&nbsp;

“I’ve developed a new open source P2P e-cash system called Bitcoin. It’s completely decentralised, with no central server or trusted parties, because everything is based on crypto proof instead of trust. Give it a try, or take a look at the screenshots and design paper,” said Nakamoto, on the forum, as per Forbes.&nbsp;

However, in 2010, his involvement with Bitcoin ended but the cryptocurrency did not. As of 2021, at least one million Bitcoin miners were verifying the data that make up the Bitcoin blockchain and the cryptocurrency continues to remain one of the world’s largest by market cap.&nbsp;

<h3>What did Nakamoto do?</h3>

It is worth noting that while the idea of digital currency was not new at the time, as reports suggest, there had been few attempts to create it. However, Nakamoto managed to solve a fundamental problem with digital currency, duplication. Unlike tangible currency like coins or paper money which could only be present at one place at a time, cryptocurrency could be duplicated which is also known as “double-spending”.&nbsp;

Since digital currency does not exist in physical space, the transaction of said currency would not be in a single person’s possession. As a result, digital currency could be spent more than once. In order to overcome this issue, Nakamoto created a blockchain system of verification.&nbsp;

Initially, one of the solutions to circumvent this problem would be third-party intermediaries like banks which would verify if the currency has already been used by its holder. However, given the additional costs and the risk of fraud of the trust-based model, Nakamoto decided to remove the human factor altogether and proposed a decentralised approach for transactions using ledgers.

This is where the blockchain comes into play. This system adds timestamps to transaction information, and cryptographic techniques are used to encrypt the data which cannot be changed and must be validated. Subsequently, the network is required to verify the authenticity of the transactions based on a majority consensus mechanism called proof-of-work.

<h3>Is Nakamoto a real person?</h3>

We know so little about the so-called father of cryptocurrency that many have questioned if Satoshi Nakamoto really does exist. However, given what is known about the mastermind behind this system, there seems to be at least one person, if not people behind it. Case in point, somebody would have to write a source code for Bitcoin, publish the white paper which began it all, send emails and even create a forum to talk about the cryptocurrency.&nbsp;

<h3>About his disappearance&nbsp;</h3>

Several reports have quoted Nakamoto’s last email written on 24 April 2011 which was a short statement to another developer where the creator of Bitcoin said “I’ve moved on to other things” and that the project was in “good hands”. In December 2010 following the creation and initial implementation of Bitcoin, the creator seemingly vanished from the public eye.&nbsp;

It was in 2014 when a final forum post credited to Nakamoto simply said, “I am not Dorian Nakamoto.” This came after a Newsweek magazine article published in March of that year claimed that a 64-year-old Japanese-American physicist was the creator of Bitcoin.&nbsp;

The report said, “The trail followed by Newsweek led to a 64-year-old Japanese-American man whose name really is Satoshi Nakamoto”. Although it could be said that Nakamoto did not necessarily ‘disappear’ considering his identity was never revealed and anonymity would likely be his only choice to avoid public scrutiny.&nbsp;

<h3>Is Elon Musk Satoshi Nakamoto?</h3>

There have been speculations about Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk being Satoshi Nakamoto after a former intern for Musk’s SpaceX company Sahil Gupta, in a blog post on the website Medium suggested so. He cited the billionaire’s knowledge and interests which could have led him to develop a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin.

However, Musk has since denied this claim. In 2021, during a podcast by AI researcher Lex Fridman, the Tesla CEO said that he believes that the person behind the Nakamoto pseudonym is none other than cryptographic expert Nick Szabo.&nbsp;

“He seems to be the one more responsible for the ideas behind Bitcoin than anyone else. He claims not to be Nakamoto, but I'm not sure that's neither here nor there,” said Musk, as quoted by CNBC. However, Szabo had also previously denied this claim.&nbsp; 
 
 
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While the world of crypto currencies continues to puzzle many, the kind of impact it has had on the financial systems across the world is noteworthy. But mysteries seem to be a running theme and given its origins, it is spot on.

While the world of crypto currencies continues to puzzle many, the kind of impact it has had on the financial systems across the world is noteworthy. But mysteries seem to be a running theme and given its origins, it is spot on. Over a decade ago, the world witnessed a cryptic milestone when Satoshi Nakamoto developed Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency. But who is this mastermind? No one knows for sure. What do we know about Satoshi Nakamoto? Nakamoto is said to be a pseudonym for the person or people who helped create Bitcoin but the real identity of who he, she or they might be, continues to remain one of the biggest mysteries of the 21st century. The mysterious individual or group was the author of a 2008 white paper which outlined the theory and operating structure of the Bitcoin payment system. Nakamoto’s identity continues to remain shrouded in mystery due to the lack of personal or background details about the person who would only communicate via email. One of the biggest indications that Nakamoto created Bitcoin was the famous white paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System”. The elusive mastermind behind the now largest cryptocurrency in the world was said to be working on the first version of the software back in 2007. Around two years later, Nakamoto created the first-ever online message board post which was dedicated to cryptocurrency, on the P2P Foundation forum. “I’ve developed a new open source P2P e-cash system called Bitcoin. It’s completely decentralised, with no central server or trusted parties, because everything is based on crypto proof instead of trust. Give it a try, or take a look at the screenshots and design paper,” said Nakamoto, on the forum, as per Forbes. However, in 2010, his involvement with Bitcoin ended but the cryptocurrency did not. As of 2021, at least one million Bitcoin miners were verifying the data that make up the Bitcoin blockchain and the cryptocurrency continues to remain one of the world’s largest by market cap. What did Nakamoto do? It is worth noting that while the idea of digital currency was not new at the time, as reports suggest, there had been few attempts to create it. However, Nakamoto managed to solve a fundamental problem with digital currency, duplication. Unlike tangible currency like coins or paper money which could only be present at one place at a time, cryptocurrency could be duplicated which is also known as “double-spending”. Since digital currency does not exist in physical space, the transaction of said currency would not be in a single person’s possession. As a result, digital currency could be spent more than once. In order to overcome this issue, Nakamoto created a blockchain system of verification. Initially, one of the solutions to circumvent this problem would be third-party intermediaries like banks which would verify if the currency has already been used by its holder. However, given the additional costs and the risk of fraud of the trust-based model, Nakamoto decided to remove the human factor altogether and proposed a decentralised approach for transactions using ledgers. This is where the blockchain comes into play. This system adds timestamps to transaction information, and cryptographic techniques are used to encrypt the data which cannot be changed and must be validated. Subsequently, the network is required to verify the authenticity of the transactions based on a majority consensus mechanism called proof-of-work. Is Nakamoto a real person? We know so little about the so-called father of cryptocurrency that many have questioned if Satoshi Nakamoto really does exist. However, given what is known about the mastermind behind this system, there seems to be at least one person, if not people behind it. Case in point, somebody would have to write a source code for Bitcoin, publish the white paper which began it all, send emails and even create a forum to talk about the cryptocurrency. About his disappearance Several reports have quoted Nakamoto’s last email written on 24 April 2011 which was a short statement to another developer where the creator of Bitcoin said “I’ve moved on to other things” and that the project was in “good hands”. In December 2010 following the creation and initial implementation of Bitcoin, the creator seemingly vanished from the public eye. It was in 2014 when a final forum post credited to Nakamoto simply said, “I am not Dorian Nakamoto.” This came after a Newsweek magazine article published in March of that year claimed that a 64-year-old Japanese-American physicist was the creator of Bitcoin. The report said, “The trail followed by Newsweek led to a 64-year-old Japanese-American man whose name really is Satoshi Nakamoto”. Although it could be said that Nakamoto did not necessarily ‘disappear’ considering his identity was never revealed and anonymity would likely be his only choice to avoid public scrutiny. Is Elon Musk Satoshi Nakamoto? There have been speculations about Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk being Satoshi Nakamoto after a former intern for Musk’s SpaceX company Sahil Gupta, in a blog post on the website Medium suggested so. He cited the billionaire’s knowledge and interests which could have led him to develop a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. However, Musk has since denied this claim. In 2021, during a podcast by AI researcher Lex Fridman, the Tesla CEO said that he believes that the person behind the Nakamoto pseudonym is none other than cryptographic expert Nick Szabo. “He seems to be the one more responsible for the ideas behind Bitcoin than anyone else. He claims not to be Nakamoto, but I'm not sure that's neither here nor there,” said Musk, as quoted by CNBC. However, Szabo had also previously denied this claim. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | Mystery surrounding the identity of Bitcoin founder. Who is Satoshi Nakamoto?

Right now, Bitcoin is flying. The leading cryptocurrency is up more than 7% from the previous day, which means it has reached the psychological threshold of $30,000.

Ethereum finds buying interest around $2,000

Bitcoin is poised for its best month in a decade with a 40% rise in January. Does that mean that the so-called crypto winter is waning? For now, the threat looming over the crypto industry has retreated broadly.

World Business Watch: Bitcoin poised for its best month since 2013

With the number one cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, clocking at 26% increase in Ether, rising by about 29%. The value of the overall global cryptocurrency market is now again over one Trillion dollars after the big crypto crash last year.

Cryptoverse looks at good start to the year, Bitcoin jumps 26% in January

Bitcoin, the world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency rose 4.6 per cent to cross USD 20,000 mark for the first time in over two months on Saturday (January 14). Bitcoin rose to attain value of USD 20,853 at 01:01 GMT on Saturday. It added USD 922 to previous value at which it closed.

The cryptocurrency is up 26.4% from the year's low of $16,496 on January 1.

Ether, the cryptocurrency linked to Ethereum blockchain network, rose by 5.91 per cent and attained the value of USD 1,536.9

It added USD 85.90 to its previous close.&nbsp;

Cryptocurrencies, not very far in past, were considered an ideal investment. But volatility in recent years has shaken investor confidence.

Recent collapse of crypto exchange FTX has sent scare further. The crypto industry as a whole, is going through a certain phase.

Crypto.com said on Friday that it would lay off about 20% of its workforce

The Singapore-based company's announcement comes amid concerns about reserves and solvency across the sector, and only a few days after rival exchanges Coinbase Global Inc and Huobi announced their plans to lay off about 20% of their staff. A source told Reuters last week that Genesis, too, had cut jobs, equating to 30% of its workforce.

The layoffs at Crypto.com would be its second in about six months, after it reduced jobs in July last year to weather the macro economic downturn amid rising interest rates.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Bitcoin, the world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency rose 4.6 per cent to cross USD 20,000 mark for the first time in over two months on Saturday (January 14).

Bitcoin, the world's biggest and best-known cryptocurrency rose 4.6 per cent to cross USD 20,000 mark for the first time in over two months on Saturday (January 14). Bitcoin rose to attain value of USD 20,853 at 01:01 GMT on Saturday. It added USD 922 to previous value at which it closed. The cryptocurrency is up 26.4% from the year's low of $16,496 on January 1. Ether, the cryptocurrency linked to Ethereum blockchain network, rose by 5.91 per cent and attained the value of USD 1,536.9 It added USD 85.90 to its previous close. Cryptocurrencies, not very far in past, were considered an ideal investment. But volatility in recent years has shaken investor confidence. Recent collapse of crypto exchange FTX has sent scare further. The crypto industry as a whole, is going through a certain phase. Crypto.com said on Friday that it would lay off about 20% of its workforce The Singapore-based company's announcement comes amid concerns about reserves and solvency across the sector, and only a few days after rival exchanges Coinbase Global Inc and Huobi announced their plans to lay off about 20% of their staff. A source told Reuters last week that Genesis, too, had cut jobs, equating to 30% of its workforce. The layoffs at Crypto.com would be its second in about six months, after it reduced jobs in July last year to weather the macro economic downturn amid rising interest rates. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Bitcoin crosses $20,000 mark for first time in over two months

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