One country dominates the global bitcoin market
Almost all bitcoin trading is done in China. The share of the cryptocurrency that’s traded via China’s mainland currency escalated over the past few years, overtaking the US dollar as the dominant currency. From less than a 10% share in January 2012, the yuan now makes up nearly 100% of all bitcoin trading. Bitcoin surged 120% last year, outperforming every other currency in the world. It kicked off 2017 by rising above $1,000 for the first time since 2013.Those moves were made possible largely because of China. Volumes of bitcoin trading increased as China’s foreign reserves shrank, by about 8% to $3.05 trillion in 2016. Meanwhile, the yuan weakened against […]
Government urged to test blockchain’s potential
Blockchain technology might help prevent a repeat of the Centrelink data-matching disaster, says investment banker turned business professor Christine Helliar. Blockchain is the technology behind cryptocurrency Bitcoin, but is increasingly viewed as having applications elsewhere in business and government. In simple terms, blockchain is a tamper-proof digital ledger that keeps a continuous record of all transactions that take place. Each transaction is time stamped and stored as part of a detailed history that builds up over time. The information can be shared among a network of computers.Professor Helliar, who works for the University of South Australia, said blockchain could be used to link all tax and welfare payments, reducing the […]
Bitcoin tipped to replace gold as portfolio staple
Digital currency is increasingly being seen as serious asset class, but investors need to get in soon to mine the opportunity, says a Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur. Speaking to InvestorDaily from San Francisco, Australian-born entrepreneur Michael Dunworth, CEO of Wyre and a former staffer at Midwinter Financial Services, said professional investors and advisers are waking up to the bitcoin opportunity following strong market performance. “Bank of America, hedge funds and high-net-worth individuals – they’re all getting into digital currencies as part of their diversified portfolio,” Mr Dunworth said. “There’s no getting away from it. It has been one of the best performing assets for the past five years, with no serious […]
Cybersecurity takes prominence alongside Blockchain Technology in 2017
The new year, 2017 started with a bang. Bitcoin price surpassed its previous high by increasing beyond the $1100 mark. The popular cryptocurrency’s underlying blockchain technology and its applications in fintech and other sectors is expected to peak during the year as well. While Bitcoin and Blockchain continue to scale new heights, the Bitfinex hack, ransomware attacks and other security breaches aren’t forgotten. The massive DDoS attack that almost disrupted the internet is also fresh in everyone’s memory. After making it through an eventful year, Bitcoin companies, banking and financial institutions, governmental organizations and other businesses are increasing their focus towards cybersecurity. According to reports, the increasing importance towards cybersecurity […]
Bitcoin rises to record on currency controls
Bitcoin hit an all-time high overnight, according to Bloomberg data, thanks to continued adoption in China and other parts of the world where traditional currencies are tightly controlled. The digital currency, which just turned eight years old, reached $US1140.64, which was higher than the $US1137 it hit in November of 2013. In December, bitcoin also surpassed its previous all-time high in total market capitalisation, which now exceeds $US16.1 billion. The latest increase was driven by capital or currency restrictions in countries ranging from China to India and Venezuela, where people purchased bitcoin to protect their savings, as well as increased adoption by investors. The digital currency beat every other currency, […]
Value of digital currency Bitcoin surges past $US1000
The value of Bitcoin has surged above $1000 as the digital unit continues a dizzying rise that made it the best-performing currency of 2016. Its value has more than doubled in the last year and it was trading at around $US1,024 in afternoon European trading yesterday, after breaking through the $US1000 mark on Sunday. It is now within reach of its historic high of more than $US1200 reached in 2013. Some analysts believe the rise in Bitcoin is due to some investors treating it as a safe-haven, like gold, at a time of global uncertainty. Others believe buying is being driven by speculative demand, with investors anticipating future rises and […]
China is behind the latest Bitcoin craze
Bitcoin had a great 2016. The cryptocurrency rallied 120% to $952, and is threatening to break the $1,000 mark for the first time. While Bitcoin has seen a consistent bid throughout the year, its 57% gain (in US dollar terms) over the past three months has been particularly impressive. So what’s behind the move? China. In his latest edition of “Greed & Fear,” CLSA’s Christopher Wood notes, “Daily turnover in Shanghai-based BTC China, the world’s largest bitcoin exchange by volume, has risen from around Rmb1bn in late September to a peak of Rmb27.8bn on 22 December and Rmb16.4bn on Wednesday (see Figure 11) while the Bitcoin price has risen by […]
The price of bitcoin is at a 2016 high
The price of cryptocurrency bitcoin has passed its 2016 peak in recent days, with some market commentators taking it as a sign of fears about global growth in 2017. Bitcoin has hit $807 on Wednesday at just after 11.13 a.m. GMT (6.13 a.m. ET). It is the first time bitcoin has been above $800 this year and represents a fresh peak from June’s high of $775: The June high came after a spike in the price of the cryptocurrency following Britain’s shock vote to leave the European Union on June 28th. However, within a month of the $775 high, the price of bitcoin fell bellow $600 again. It began steadily […]
