bitcoin – news

16.November 2022

Ob Kundengelder veruntreut wurden, will nun die Polizei der Bahamas herausfinden. Die zusammengebrochene Handelsplattform FTX.com hatte den Karibikstaat als Standort gewählt.
Nach dem Insolvenzantrag der Kryptobörse FTX hat die Polizei der Bahamas Ermittlungen aufgenommen. In Anbetracht des globalen Kollapses von FTX untersuche ein Team von Finanzermittlern in enger Zusammenarbeit mit der Wertpapieraufsicht des Inselstaates, ob kriminelles Fehlverhalten vorliege, teilte die Polizei am Sonntag mit. Auf den Bahamas sind das internationale Geschäft von FTX sowie der zurückgetretene Chef Sam Bankman-Fried ansässig. Die Wertpapieraufsicht hatte zuvor angegeben, das Unternehmen stehe unter Verdacht, unter anderem Kundengelder veruntreut zu haben.

Bankman-Frieds internationale Kryptoplattform FTX.com war vor einer Woche in Zahlungsschwierigkeiten geraten, nachdem Zweifel an den Kapitalreserven zu einer Kundenflucht und Mittelabzügen im Milliardenvolumen geführt hatten. Am Mittwoch sah es zunächst so aus, als ob der Konkurrent Binance den Großteil des angeschlagenen Konzerns übernehme. Doch dieser Plan scheiterte am Tag darauf.

Wie FTX zusammenbrach

Am Donnerstag teilte die Wertpapieraufsicht der Bahamas mit, bestimmte Vermögenswerte von FTX eingefroren und einen Insolvenzverwalter für die Abwicklung beantragt zu haben. Am Freitag

beantragte FTX nach eigenen Angaben Gläubigerschutz in den USA, Bankman-Fried gab seinen Rücktritt als Chef bekannt.

Der Justitiar der US-Tochter von FTX, Ryne Miller, teilte am Samstag auf Twitter mit, es habe „nicht autorisierte Transaktionen“ gegeben. Die britische Analysefirma Elliptic äußerte die Vermutung, dass am Freitagabend Kryptowerte im Umfang von 473 Millionen Dollar von FTX gestohlen worden seien.

Bankman-Fried hatte als 30-jähriger Starunternehmer noch vor wenigen Monaten Titelseiten von renommierten US-Wirtschaftsblättern geziert. Seine zeitweise von Investoren mit 32 Milliarden Dollar bewertete Firma fiel binnen weniger Tage komplett in sich zusammen. Das FTX-Debakel belastete auch den ohnehin arg gebeutelten Kryptomarkt.

Update April, 28. 2022

Second country to adopt Bitcoin as legal currency

The Central African Republic has adopted Bitcoin as a legal currency, becoming only the second country to do so after El Salvador.

Lawmakers from the central African country unanimously adopted a bill to make Bitcoin legal tender alongside its CFA franc and legalised the use of cryptocurrencies.

President Faustin Archange Touadera signed the measure into law, his chief of staff Obed Namsio said in a statement.

While countries such as India have in the past banned crypto transaactions, El Salvador became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender last September.

But the move by El Salvador was heavily criticised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

  • The IMF warns El Salvador to drop Bitcoin as a legal currency

„The adoption of a cryptocurrency as legal tender, however, entails large risks for financial and market integrity, financial stability and consumer protection,“ it warned.

Updated: 04/12/2021

Paying with Bitcoin: These are the major companies that accept crypto as payment

Cryptocurrencies are never far from the headlines these days. If it’s not news that the value of Bitcoin has reached a record high of $60,000 (€50,500) for the first time, it’s news that Tesla founder Elon Musk is investing billions in it.

While buying and selling cryptos is becoming increasingly mainstream, the opportunities to spend virtual currencies are somewhat limited in comparison due to its volatility.

There are, however, a growing number of companies across a plethora of industries – from big tech to airlines – who are embracing cryptocurrencies, allowing customers to use them as an official method of payment for their goods and services.

Bitcoin has been controversial since its beginning in 2009, as have the subsequent cryptocurrencies that followed in its wake.

While widely criticised for its volatility, its use in nefarious transactions and for the exorbitant use of electricity to mine it, Bitcoin is being seen by some, particularly in the developing world, as a safe harbour during economic storms.

But as more people turn to cryptos as either an investment or a lifeline, these issues have manifested in an array of restrictions on their usage.

Here are some of the biggest and more well-known companies using and accepting cryptos.

Mastercard

In November, Mastercard said it would allow partners on its network to enable their consumers to buy, sell and hold cryptocurrency using a digital wallet, as well as reward them with digital currencies under their loyalty programmes.

The move would allow customers to earn and spend rewards in cryptocurrency rather than loyalty points.

The credit card giant will be pairing up with Bakkt Holdings Inc, the digital assets platform founded in 2018 by NYSE-owner Intercontinental Exchange, to offer the new crypto services to its customers.

Pavilion Hotels & Resorts

As the latest company to permit crypto transactions, the Hong Kong-based Pavilion Hotels & Resorts group has also become the first international hotel chain to embrace virtual currency payments.

The group – which owns properties in Amsterdam, Madrid, Lisbon, and Rome as well as Bali and Phuket – will accept bookings using 40 different tokens, including Bitcoin and Ethereum from July through their partnership with payment platform Coindirect.

AXA Insurance

As of the start of April, the insurance broker behemoth will allow customers in Switzerland to use Bitcoin as a payment option for their bills. The decision to embrace cryptocurrencies has been in the pipeline since market research conducted by the company in 2019 found that nearly a third of respondents aged 18 to 55 had either already invested in them or were interested in doing so.

Customers will now have a reference code printed on bills for non-life insurance policies in order to pay their premiums through crypto exchange Bitcoin Suisse which will then convert them into Swiss Francs.

Microrosoft

As one of the largest software companies in the world, it is significant that Microsoft accepts Bitcoin payments, going some way to instill a degree of confidence in using cryptos. Redeemed for credit in topping up user accounts, Bitcoin can be used to pay for an array of services, including Xbox Live and Skype.

The company’s interest in crypto technology doesn’t end there. Utilising blockchain, Microsoft has also launched ION, a two-layered authentication platform on the Bitcoin network in late March. Instead of payments, the technology creates digital IDs to authenticate online identities.

Starbucks

Following an extensive trial, Starbucks customers can now use the new Bakkt app to pay for drinks and goods at the coffee chain with converted Bitcoin. According to the app’s creators, 500,000 people took up the invitation-only, early access programme to test the digital wallet as a method of payment.

Tesla

The CEO of electric carmaker Tesla Elon Musk has an up and down relationship with Bitcoin. Initially, the company announced earlier this year that it would accept Bitcoin payments for vehicle purchases in the US. It comes off the back of a $1.5 billion (€1.2 billion) investment in the cryptocurrency by Elon Musk’s company in February. However, this has now been turned on its head with pronouncements that Tesla until more than 50 per cent of tokens are mined using renewable energy.

Amazon

It was reported earlier this year that Amazon was joining the ranks of other tech giants, including Facebook, in laying the groundwork for its own exclusive cryptocurrency. That said, the e-commerce company doesn’t directly accept cryptos yet. You can, however, buy Amazon vouchers through crypto-only company Bitrefill, a platform that makes living on cryptocurrencies easier by converting Bitcoin into gift cards, refill phones, and so on.

Visa

Credit card company Visa confirmed at the end of March that it was piloting a scheme with platform Crypto.com to accept cryptocurrency to settle transactions on its payment network. It will now accept USD Coin (USDC), a stablecoin crypto that is pegged to the value of the US dollar.

PayPal

Following an announcement in October last year, PayPal users in the US can now buy, sell or hold a select few cryptos, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, and Litecoin. In addition, you’ll be able to track cryptocurrencies through the PayPal app. The only drawback is that money can’t be transferred out of the company’s digital wallet.

In August, the company announced that users in the uk can now also trade in Ether, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash on PayPal’s website and mobile app.

So far, PayPal is tight-lipped about whether it intends to expand the service to other countries.

airBaltic

Latvian airline airBaltic became the first aviation company in the world to accept Bitcoin as payment for fares back in 2014. According to the company, it has processed more than 1,000 Bitcoin transactions since it launched the payment option seven years ago. Its decision to do so saw another eastern European airline, LOT Polish Airlines, follow suit the following year.

Sotheby’s

Renowned auction house Sotheby’s first began accepting cryptocurrency as payment in late June and has since firmly embraced both cryptos and NFTs.

Since it announced it now accepted cryptos, it accepted Bitcoin as payment for a rare 101 carrat diamond which sold in July for $12.3 million (€10.4 million). It became the most valuable item ever bought with cryptocurrency at an auction.

Where lots are listed as „cryptocurrency payments,“ the auction house will accept both Bitcoin and Ether as payment. There are certain restrictions, however, as payments will only be accepted through certain approved exchange wallets, including Coinbase

Coca Cola

Amatil, the drinks’ giant’s bottler and distributor in the Asia-Pacific region, has enabled cryptocurrency as a method of payment through its partnership with the Centrapay platform. As of 2020, there are now over 2,000 vending machines in Australia and New Zealand which are geared to accept cryptos to pay for drinks.

LOT Polish Airlines

Following in the wake of airBaltic, LOT Polish Airlines announced in 2015 that it would also accept Bitcoin as a payment method for flights. Despite the six years that have passed since its decision, LOT remains one of the only European airlines to allow cryptocurrency as a payment option.

Expedia

Travel giant Expedia is one of the most prominent travel agencies to accept Bitcoin through its partnership with crypto-friendly travel booking platform Travala. You can now book 700,000 hotels from the website’s listings with more than 30 different cryptos, including Bitcoin.

Lush

Lush was one of the first global companies to adapt to the use of cryptocurrencies, fully embracing them in 2017 when the handmade cosmetics company started to allow Bitcoin payments for orders on its website through a partnership with Bitpay.com.

Crypto – balance – author 3.28.2022

Crypto – balance – author 4.28.2022

Crypto balance – author 16.6.20.2022

Frage: was hat dem Bitcoin in den vergangenen Monaten einen solchen Höhenflug beschert?

Dafür sind im Wesentlichen drei Faktoren verantwortlich: Der Bitcoin ist nicht mehr das Nischen-Anlageobjekt, als das er vor über zehn Jahren gestartet ist. Mittlerweile investieren nicht nur private, sondern auch institutionelle Anleger wie Fonds und Banken in den Bitcoin.

Da seine Anzahl auf 21 Millionen Stück begrenzt ist, führt die derzeitige Nachfrage zu einem umso höheren Anstieg seines Kurses. Und aufgrund des anhaltenden Zinstiefs nutzen ihn immer mehr Anleger als Alternative zu ihren früheren Investitionen.

Was bedeutet das für die weitere Entwicklung?

Die Euphorie im Markt ist irreführend, denn anders als bei Aktien oder Gold ist der Bitcoin nicht mit einem Wert hinterlegt. Er generiert keinen Cashflow, keine Dividendenausschüttung. Er ist und bleibt hochspekulativ. Seine Kurszuwächse sind überhaupt nicht nachhaltig. Das zeigt sich an der aktuellen Achterbahnfahrt.

Wie groß sind die Risiken, wenn ich als Privatanleger in Bitcoin investiere?

Ebenso wie die Ertragschancen sind auch die Risiken immens: Die Analysten der Investmentbank JP Morgen haben in einer Studie errechnet, dass der Kurs des Bitcoin auf bis zu 146.000 Dollar steigen kann. Aber das ist vorerst reine Theorie.

Was wir in den vergangenen Jahren gesehen haben und auch jetzt wieder sehen, ist eine brutale Volatilität: Diese Kursschwankungen sind gerade für Privatanleger gefährlich, da sie den Verlauf nicht ständig kontrollieren. So können sie in kürzester Zeit ihre komplette Investition verlieren.

Die Europäische Zentralbank und andere Notenbanken wollen den Markt der Kryptowährungen regulieren und zum Teil auch eigene digitale Währungen schaffen, um den aktuellen Wildwuchs einzudämmen. Ist das realistisch?

Die Initiativen der Notenbanken zeigen, dass sich die wenigsten Nationen das Währungsmonopol wegnehmen lassen wollen. Zumindest gilt das für die Industrieländer. Andererseits gibt es genügend Schwellen- oder Entwicklungsländer, denen es womöglich nicht gelingt, die Hoheit über die Produktion digitaler Währungen zu behalten.

Vor dem Hintergrund der Corona-Pandemie rufen einige Menschen zur Nutzung von Kryptowährungen auf. Sie wollen so einer „staatlichen Kontrolle“ entgehen. Ist dieses Ansinnen ernst zu nehmen? Und müssen wir uns womöglich darauf einstellen, dass sich eine finanzielle Parallelwelt entwickelt?

Der Aufruf zum Boykott eines vermeintlichen Überwachungsstaates ist nicht neu. Auch einige Befürworter des Bargelds pochen darauf, nur um damit „freie und unkontrollierbare Bürger“ bleiben zu können. Die Nutzung von Kryptowährungen ist jedoch in diesem Zusammenhang neu.

Aber wir Menschen mögen es bequem. Neue Zahlungsarten setzen sich dann durch, wenn sie sicher und zuverlässig sind. Solange der Bitcoin und die anderen digitalen Währungen so starken Schwankungen unterliegen, werden nur wenige Menschen sie nutzen.

Sollten sie sich aber stabilisieren, könnten auch sie sich durchsetzen. Ob als Wertanlage oder Zahlungsmittel: In jedem Fall ist es wichtig, die Entwicklung des Bitcoins und der anderen Kryptowährungen im Blick zu behalten.

4. Juni 2022

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