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Here are the top 10 most popular stories On Bitcoin brought you in November 2013.

10. Coin Validation Causes Controversy Among the Bitcoin Community

Coin Validation announces its plans to help the government regulate Bitcoin through identity validation and redlisting, and is met with strong criticism.

9. Bitcoin Exchanges Plagued by Liquidity Issues and Attacks

After the price of Bitcoin shot up to $900, the exchanges could not handle the volume and investors hit liquidity caps.

8. You Can Now Buy Your Subway Footlong Sandwich with Bitcoin

In Allentown, Pennsylvania, and Moscow, Russia, Subway customers have posted evidence of paying for their food with Bitcoin.

7. A Primer on Bitcoin Taxation, Disclosure and Penalties

In a thorough whitepaper, attorney Tyler Robbins discusses Bitcoin taxation, taxable events, disclosure of foreign brokerage accounts, and more.

6. Silk Road 2.0 Launches, Government Authorities and Users React

A so-called Silk Road 2.0 has been launched, just one month after the original Silk Road was seized. Read what’s different and how it impacts Bitcoin.

5. Newegg Hints at Accepting Bitcoin for Consumer Electronics

Consumer electronics powerhouse Newegg hinted that it is exploring the option of accepting Bitcoin.

4. Venture Capitalist Brad Feld On Bitcoin: Likes the Platform, Not the Currency

Venture Capitalist Brad Feld shared his thoughts on Bitcoin. He’s excited about the platform but has some concerns about the currency. Owns 10 BTC.

3. Goodbye Second Life, Hello Bitcoin New Economy Seventh Continent

Bitcoin new economy game Seventh Continent launches its platform for online businesses to trade in Bitcoin. Remember Second Life?

2. World’s First Company Incorporated in Bitcoin; Interview with Founder

First Blockchain is the first company to be incorporated in the Bitcoin blockchain, bypassing the need for state regulation.

1. Senate Committee Listens to Bitcoin Experts, Expresses Open-Mindedness

Sen. Tom Carper led a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on Bitcoin and financial crimes, listening to Bitcoin experts and expresses a willingness to learn.

Thanks for reading in November!

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Show a private key, get your funds stolen, learns a Bloomberg TV reporter

Bloomberg reporter Matt Miller has been hosting a series called 12 Days of Bitcoin where he is educating Bloomberg TV viewership about different aspects of the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Toward the end of a segment called How do you mine for Bitcoins?, Miller handed out Bitcoin paper wallets to his Bloomberg colleagues on air as a small gift for the holidays.

Paper wallets have both the public key and private key printed on them, everything you need to unlock funds from a Bitcoin address. Usually the private key is hidden in some way to prevent someone from taking a photo using the key to steal the funds.

One of the reporters opened up his paper wallet to show the private key, and, not too surprisingly, the funds were quickly stolen by a Bitcoiner who announced his conquest on Reddit.

I took it, it was only $20 worth. It was exhilarating nevertheless. I’ll send it back once Matt gives me a new address since someone else can sweep the old one. A segment on Bitcoin security and the importance of NOT showing the private key and also BIP0038 (Password Encrypted Private Keys) Wallets will be more than enough compensation. Blockchain confirmation and Public key of where i sent the bitcoin

Instead of being angry, Matt Miller told the thief that he could keep the funds.

haha — YES!!! so freaking classic but also a GREAT lesson in bitcoin security! you can keep the $20 — well earned.

Watch the full video of the episode where this happened.

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BTC China CEO Bobby Lee has had a busy week. He wrapped up a tour of Las Vegas where he gave an inspiring presentation about China’s role in the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Then the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) told his 3rd party payment processors to stop allowing RMB deposits in China. The Bitcoin market crashed, heavily, then recovered.

In a gesture that many CEOs are taking these days, Mr. Lee decided to write an open letter to his community and publish it on BTC China’s website.

The letter contains two important statements.

1. Lee is looking for alternatives to allow deposits into BTC China.
2. BTC China launched a new product called currency lock that secures Bitcoin via cold storage.

Here is the full letter, translated from Chinese:

Dear Bitcoin China (BTC China) Users:

Recently, due to third-party payment companies in China disrupted and Bitcoin (BTC China) recharge channels, resulting in China Bitcoin (BTC China) is temporarily unable to provide RMB prepaid services. In this regard, on behalf of China Bitcoin (BTC China) expressed deep regret for the inconvenience, please understand. We are actively seeking other recharge methods. Currently, in addition to recharge RMB, the yuan withdrawals, recharge and withdrawals Bitcoin service as usual, may be slightly delayed during peak hours. We have enough for the user bits and the RMB currency withdrawals.

Today Bitcoin China (BTC China) formally launched a new product, “currency lock” – the most secure online bitcoin wallet. “Currency lock” the safest way to store the user’s offline Bitcoin, a process known as cold storage, it can ensure that your wallet will not be stolen by hackers online. Your “money locked” account we have bank-level security protection. In the future, China Bitcoin (BTC China) users can send your bitcoins safely stored in bitcoins China (BTC China) of “currency locked” inside.

As China’s first Bitcoin and Bitcoin trading platform company, we have more than two and half years of operating experience and a good reputation. November 18 this year, China Bitcoin (BTC China) successfully obtained $ 5 million in financing, China Bitcoin (BTC China) would have been afloat, please rest assured users. Five ministries notify People’s Bank of China also made it clear: “Bitcoin transaction as a commodity trading behavior on the Internet, ordinary people have the freedom to participate in the premise own risk.”

September 24 this year, we announced a temporary exemption transaction fee, which increases the degree of mobility and frequent Bitcoin transaction, resulting in China’s Bitcoin prices to some extent, causing a large number of reports of widespread concern in the community and the media. Therefore, in order to prevent speculation and cause Bitcoin Bitcoin prices spike, we choose to restore a 0.3% transaction fee, please customers understanding. Only maintain price stability bitcoin, bitcoins to get healthy development.

I believe you love Bitcoin will fully understand our decision.

Nicholls yuan (Bobby Lee) China Bitcoin (BTC China) CEO, co-founder of December 20, 2013

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With news coming from China that deposits into Bitcoin exchanges were being banned, the price of Bitcoin tumbled heavily, nearly 50% overnight, before recovering slightly.

“Today we received notice from our 3rd party payment processor and they essentially have cut us off from allowing customer deposits into BTC China’s Bitcoin exchange,” said Bobby Lee, CEO of BTC China in a phone interview with CNBC, confirming the rumors first posted on Chinese messaging network Weibo.

Just a week ago, Lee took the stage at the Inside Bitcoins conference in Las Vegas to explain why China is #1 for Bitcoin and why Bitcoin exchanges are legal and people have the right. And over the last few months Bitcoin has seen a rally predominantly driven by trading volume out of China.

There are rumors that the the People’s Bank of China held meetings on Monday with the top payment processors on Monday, explained Lee. He admitted that BTC China does not have a direct line of communication with the PBOC.

“We’re still holding a lot of deposits, and withdrawals will still be allowed. No need to panic,” Lee offered. “We’re looking for alternatives.”

But many investors are panicking. Considering that a few weeks ago the price was at $1200 per Bitcoin, many people had digital wealth beyond their wildest dreams. Now with the price less than half of that, it is telling that the top voted post on the Reddit forum for Bitcoin is the suicide prevention hotline.

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After the success of Bitcoin Black Friday, many Bitcoin owners are looking for where to spend their bitcoins this holiday season. There’s still time to get some great gifts with Bitcoin.

Here is our Bitcoin Holiday Gift Guide 2013, featuring:

• Gift cards from Gyft
• Bitcoin gifts from BitGo
• Bitcoin deals at BitDazzle, Coingig and other marketplaces
• And buying from the Bitcoin Black Friday merchants!

Read our full guide and make it a Bitcoin holiday!

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