CRYPTOCURRENCIES
Bitcoin-Only Casino Generates Over $1.4 Mil in Turnover in its First 3 Months
BitCasino.io, the first ever licensed bitcoin-only casino has grown to a player base of 7,000 users betting over 3,000 BTC (~$1,400,000) since February 2014. The success of the casino has been built around its world-class software that includes Live Dealers, Live Dice/Lottery and over 150 HD video slots as well as traditional table games.
Bitcoin Sportsbook Coinbet.cc Folds After Only Four Months
Coinbet.cc, a bitcoin-only online sportsbook, has closed its doors, leaving customers wondering if they will ever see their winnings.
[SportsBettingOnline.com does accept bitcoin here]
SatoshiDice.com Bitcoin-Denominated Stock Sale Draws Ire of SEC
Bloomberg News is reporting that the Securities and Exchange Commission is conducting an investigation into the Bitcoin-denominated stock sale of the online gambling website SatoshiDice.com.
Satoshi Nakamoto Claims Not to Have Been Creator of Bitcoin (Video)
LOS ANGELES (Associated Press) - Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto said Thursday that he is not the creator of bitcoin, adding further mystery to the story of how the world's most popular digital currency came to be.
The denial came after Newsweek published a 4,500-word cover story claiming Nakamoto is the person who wrote the computer code underpinnings of bitcoin.
Bitcoin Exchange Executive Found Dead: No Foul Play According to Police
SINGAPORE (Associated Press) — The CEO of a virtual currency exchange was found dead near her home in Singapore.
A police spokesman said Thursday that initial investigations indicated there was no suspicion of "foul play" in the Feb. 26 death, meaning officers do not suspect murder.
The spokesman said police found 28-year-old Autumn Radtke, an American, lying motionless near the apartment tower where she lived.
Police have so far classified the death as "unnatural," which can mean an accident, misadventure, or suicide.
Japan Finance Minister Gathering Facts on Bitcoin Exchange Mt.Gox
(Reuters) - Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso said on Tuesday that the government is still trying to figure out what has led to the collapse of the Tokyo-based bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox and is not sure whether crime is involved.
"We still have not had a clear grasp of the situation," Aso said in response to a reporter's question after a cabinet meeting. "(We) don't know if it was a crime or just a bankruptcy."
Bitcoin Businesses Subpoenaed by US Attorney Preet Bharara
(Reuters) - Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has sent subpoenas to Mt. Gox, other bitcoin exchanges, and businesses that deal in bitcoin to seek information on how they handled recent cyber attacks, a source familiar with the probe said on Wednesday.
In the attacks - known as distributed denial of service attacks - hackers overwhelmed bitcoin exchanges by sending thousands of phantom transactions. At least three exchanges were forced to halt withdrawals of bitcoins on February 7, including Mt. Gox, which was the largest at the time.
Mt.Gox Bitcoin Exchange Files for Bankruptcy
(Reuters) - Mt. Gox, once the world's biggest bitcoin exchange, filed for bankruptcy protection in Japan on Friday, saying it may have lost nearly half a billion dollars worth of the virtual coins due to hacking into its faulty computer system.
The collapse caps a tumultuous few weeks in which the company has remained virtually silent after halting trades of the crypto-currency, shaking the nascent but burgeoning bitcoin community.
Infiniti Poker, The Bitcoin Room That Never Was, Vanishes
The wait is over…..really over.
Bitcoin Shocker as One-Time Largest Exchange Closes Its Doors
In yet another blow to the anonymous digital currency bitcoin, the largest exchange has shut its doors.
Mt.Gox posted an update to its site Tuesday saying a "decision was taken to close all transactions for the time being," citing "recent news reports and the potential repercussions on MtGox's operations.
The Bitcoin Revolution on CBS4 South Florida (Video)
“This high tech coin could make cash money obsolete.” That’s the introduction to a special report Wednesday night on CBS4 South Florida. The video itself should be available on the CBS4 website by Thursday morning.
Mt.Gox Bitcoin Exchange Withdrawals to Resume ‘Shortly’
Following a halt to bitcoin withdrawals by one of the anonymous digital currency’s largest exchanges, Mt.Gox, it was announced Monday that these withdrawals should resume “shortly”.
Second Bitcoin Exchange Halts Withdrawals: Canada to Tighten Grip
A second major bitcoin exchange has temporarily ceased withdrawals following an apparent cyberattack that has seen the anonymous digital currency’s price drop in recent days.
Bitstamp followed the move of Mt.Gox by halting withdrawals after hackers had exploited a bug in some underlying software to carry out the attack.
Bitcoin Startup ZipZap.com Could Give Western Union a Run for its Money
CNN Fortune published an article warning that bitcoin start up ZipZap.com could fast become stiff competition for international money exchange outfit Western Union.
Up until now, Western Union has operated nearly as a monopoly.
CoinDesk Removes Mt.Gox From Bitcoin Price Index
The world leader in news, prices and information on bitcoin and other digital currencies, CoinDesk.com, has taken the unprecedented step of removing exchange Mt.Gox from its bitcoin price index on Monday.
Russia Bans Bitcoin: Price Still Hovering Around $700
Russia banned the bitcoin this weekend, concluding a highly tumultuous week for the anonymous digital currency.
Miami Beach Police Make What Could be First Ever Bitcoin Vendor Arrests
Police in Miami Beach in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service’s Miami Electronic Crimes Task have arrested two men moving a large amounts of cash in and out of the Bitcoin virtual currency. Experts believe this could be the first case that bitcoin vendors have been charged with a crime.
Bitcoin Price Down Nearly 7 Percent Friday: Volatility Declining, BitBet.com Debuts
The price of bitcoin had dropped approximately 7 percent Friday, quite likely on news that one of the biggest exchanges, Mt.Gox, had stopped processing withdrawals temporarily.
The price of bitcoin had fallen to $686 but rebounded later in the evening to $703, matching the day’s opening price.
Bitcoin Community May Give Up on Mt. Gox Exchange
Following yet another currency withdrawal halt at bitcoin’s most famous exchange, Mt. Gox, traders in the anonymous digital currency may finally be willing to give up on the mysterious Japanese-based operation.
Apple Removes Blockchain Bitcoin Wallet Service App
(Reuters) - Bitcoin wallet service Blockchain was removed from Apple devices.
Apple has removed popular bitcoin wallet app Blockchain from its app stores in a major setback for the popular digital currency.
As a result, iPhone and iPad users do not have any bitcoin wallet options for their devices at present.
Companies That Accept Bitcoin – Including Online Gambling
This week, NASDAQ.com released a listing of companies that accept bitcoin and these mainstream (some not-so-mainstream like Virgin Galactic perhaps) are listed below. But we also list online gambling companies that currently accept the anonymous digital currency as of February 1, 2014.
Betting the 2015 Super Bowl With Bitcoin: Sportsbook Offers Plenty of Props
There is now a high demand for betting on the 2015 Super Bowl with bitcoin and Americas Cardroom has all the odds and prop bets a gambler’s heart desires along with full Bitcoin deposit and withdrawal options.
Americas Cardroom calls itself one of the world's first full-service bitcoin sportsbooks with other payment options available. They claim to have the best odds, the easiest transactions, and deliver a consistently evolving feature set.
More Major Retailers Poised to Start Accepting Bitcoin in Wake of Overstock Success
On the heels of Overstock.com, the Sacramento Kings, two Las Vegas casino establishments and the popular online poker room Americas Cardroom each now embracing the anonymous digital currency bitcoin, other major retailers are about to follow suit.
Hearing on Bitcoin Turns Into Discussion Regarding Shortcomings of Banks
A Tuesday hearing about the anonymous digital currency bitcoin turned into a forum on the shortcomings of the traditional banking system.
Bitcoin Exec Charged With $1 Mil in Money Laundering Out on $1 Mil Bail
Charlie Shrem, CEO of one of the largest bitcoin exchanges BitInstant, was released on $1 million bond Tuesday for his alleged role in money laundering tied to the notorious Silk Road website.
Satoshi Square Becomes Gathering Spot for Bitcoin Traders on Wall Street (Video)
Every Monday night, Bitcoin traders holds a meet up called Satoshi Square, named in honor of Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious creator of Bitcoin, in which participants exchange virtual currencies for U.S.dollars. Previously, these meetings took place in a Whole Foods market on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Bitcoin Price Crosses $1000 Threshold Again: Leading Exchange Exec Arrested
Bitcoin prices rose above the $1,000 (€731, £606)-mark once again Monday, peaking at $1,038 on Tokyo-based MT Gox bitcoin exchange. This essentially countered the negative effects of a sell-off in emerging markets.
New Bitcoin Sportsbook CoinBet Debuts in Times Square: Hot or Dangerous Trend in 2014
A new bitcoin-only sportsbook made its debut smack in the middle of Times Square this past week, advertising on the Reuters interactive billboard.
Coinbet.cc is one of the newest online gambling sites to enter the lucrative bitcoin Web gaming market. This appears as if it will become a pretty significant trend as we move forward into 2014.
But it could prove to be a dangerous one as well.
Cubeia Online Poker Network Latest to Incorporate Bitcoin
The latest online gambling company to begin accepting bitcoin transactions is Swedish-based Cubeia, an Internet poker network. They follow in the footsteps of Americas Cardroom, which announced two weeks ago they too have begun offering the anonymous digital currency as a payment alternative.
Bitcoin Now Accepted at Two Vegas Casinos: The D Las Vegas and Golden Gate
The D Las Vegas and Golden Gate Hotel & Casino become the first properties in Sin City to begin accepting the alternative digital currency bitcoin.
Both establishments will start offering bitcoin transactions on Wednesday (January 22, 2014) for reservations, dining and gift purchases. Bitcoin will not immediately be offered in the casino itself for gambling purposes at either hotel.
The Golden Gate was recently upgraded. It is the oldest hotel in Las Vegas, having opened in 1906. The D Las Vegas is a much newer property.