Category Archives: News
Video Documentary: The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin
Documentary: The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin
“The genie is out of the bottle.”
“Satoshi is the Keyser Söze of the Internet.”
Those are a few choice quotes from the trailer for the upcoming documentary The Rise and Rise of Bitcoin.
Below is the official description:
Dan is a 35 year old computer programmer from Pittsburgh who lives a busy life. Along with balancing work, his marriage, and raising his three boys, Dan spends much of his time actively involved in all things Bitcoin. After discovering Bitcoin in 2011, his love and obsession for the crypto-currency was born, revealing an uncharted world of new possibilities for him to explore.
Join us as we take a journey through the rapidly growing world of Bitcoin. Along the way, we’ll follow the stories of entrepreneurs and startups that are helping shape the new financial frontier. We’ll look at the competitive mining market and the various subcultures within the Bitcoin community. You’ll encounter a variety of characters and opinions as we examine the social and political impact of an open-source digital currency. Will the rise of Bitcoin bring a monetary paradigm shift that will forever change the world?
And here is the trailer of the film, still in production.
Bitcoin Exchanges in Canada Won’t Be Regulated – Report
Canada Bitcoin Regulation Will Allow Exchanges to Operate
With all of the excitement about Bitcoin, there is also a concern that governments will try to regulate the flow and restrict anonymity. Well, the team at Pokerati has an extensive article suggesting that Bitcoin exchanges won’t be regulated in Canada. Here is a summary:
Canada’s federal anti-money laundering agency, FinTRAC, has publicly indicated that it will not regulate certain bitcoin businesses because they don’t view bitcoins as “funds” within the meaning of applicable Canadian law. Specifically, transactions on a bitcoin exchange in Canada between parties exchanging bitcoins for Canadian dollars and vice versa will not, according to FinTRAC, engage the Money Services Business rules in the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and Regulations. This could present interesting opportunities for those exploring new business models in the bitcoin space, but readers are cautioned that the federal Department of Finance might move to change the applicable regulations in future. This might be yet another instance of the law failing to keep pace with technology.
Read the full article “Canada Becomes Bitcoin Friendly.”
Boost VC Launches Bitcoin Fund and Accelerator Program
Boost Bitcoin Fund and Accelerator
There are lots of startups getting into Bitcoin, from networks like Ripple to exchanges like BitInstant. Now there’s a new fund designed to support Bitcoin startups, called Boost Bitcoin Fund.
Adam Draper, Founder & CEO of Boost VC, announced the Boost Bitcoin Fund on his blog.
Bitcoin, the decentralized, ungoverned currency has become an obsession of mine. Almost all of my blog posts have been about it, and almost all of my meetings in the last 3 months have been in reference to it. Bitcoin is the most exciting innovation that is happening in the world today. That is why we here at Boost VC are excited to announce the Boost Bitcoin Fund.
The Boost Bitcoin Fund is a follow-on, or “start” fund for Bitcoin companies that graduate from the Boost accelerator program. The fund will provide each Bitcoin company in the summer cohort with a $50k investment after completing the program in September, in addition to the $15k invested by Boost VC. The fund is anchored by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Rothenberg Ventures, The Bitcoin Opportunity Fund and Ben Davenport. This impressive set of investors have already established themselves as true “thought leaders” in the alternative currency space, and I’m incredibly excited to have them onboard.
The idea for the fund came together 3 months ago when we decided to accept 5-7 Bitcoin companies into our summer session. We received incredibly positive responses from the investment community following our announcement, and as a result, decided to put together this follow on fund for this cohort of companies. Interest was so strong that the capital came together in a week! These awesome investors have partnered with Boost in the hope of producing the next generation of Bitcoin entrepreneurs and innovators. We’re committed to pushing Bitcoin toward becoming the next digital frontier.
As an added bonus one fourth of this fund will be invested as Bitcoin into the startup companies.
Mining Bitcoins with the $15,000 Cryonic Bitcoin FrostBit
Bitcoin Mining Taken to the Next Level
Mining Bitcoins today requires a powerful computer, and the next frontier in Bitcoin mining seems to be dedicated hardware. One of the latest machines to come to market specializing in Bitcoin mining is the Cryonic Bitcoin FrostBit, which also comes with a $15,000 price tag.
TechCrunch interviewed Fahad Koumaiha, CEO of Cryoniks.
It’s the first time a ‘PC’ has been built for consumers with built-in liquid nitrogen generators. We use helium compression technology to super-cool condensers that in turn condense nitrogen air into its liquid form. There’s nothing even remotely similar available to the consumers. By sustaining cryonic temperatures we were able to achieve superconductivity with our custom designed ASIC processors. Not only do we get a huge boost in speed, but we cut down power consumption to around 2800W per unit; significantly less than anything on the market today.
Via TechCrunch.
At Bitcoin HQ, An Interview in the Meditation Room in the UK
Interview at Bitcoin HQ in the UK
“Bitcoin started in the black markets, but people will soon realize they can cut large amounts of costs … It’s a new type of leadership.”
Understanding Bitcoin requires understanding the power users behind the alternative currency.
In the video below is an interview with two young libertarians from the UK sharing their perspective on the impact Bitcoin could have on the global market.
More from IamSatoshi.com.
Through London, Sun and rain, across the bridge, Bit-towers looms ahead, Anarcho- Libertarian, underworld cyber currency, or alternatively, the future.
Door opens and Mohawk welcomes us in. Post 80’s boom, large office complex, now home to upwards of sixty anarchists, activists, occupy members, squatters, hackers, programmers possible genius’s and appreciators of the above.
Upstairs to the Meditation room. We set up camera and get to know our hosts. Open source programmers and developers, stock market players and she sleeping off last nights party. Organic fruit, mineral water, soya milk an’coffee.
About to begin and Mohawk receives a call on his mobile. Grandmother from Brighton calling to ask advice on how to move money without being rinsed by the money transfer co.’s. Mohawk advises elderly lady. Anarcho- Libertarian support for the old and distressed by government. Stereo types are here to be broken.
Amir Taaki begins to speak, enthusiasm and imagination dance. Eyes telling of possible futures. Where people aren’t beholden to banks, untenable taxes, government spying/ snooping. Prophecies of the future or youthful passion, are they mutually exclusive?
From dizzy heights we return to earth. Jonathan Harrison talks of markets, gold, silver, financial solvency and Libertarianism. The language of the economist or banker (almost). Currently involved in negotiations with various leading exchange bureau’s. He points out, most criticisms are coming from institutions that may well lose heavily if Bitcoin becomes established in the “mainstream”. Confidence and pragmatism exist here. This is not an exercise in faith alone.
