Crypto Market Overview Feb. 26 - Bitcoin Core 0.16 released, Circle acquires Poloniex and Bitcoin back above $10k

Welcome to my Cryptocurrencies Market Overview for Monday, February 26, 2018.

Breaking news today:

• Bitcoin jumped back above $10,000 today.
• Bitcoin Core 0.16.0 is released with ‘Full Support’ for SegWit.
• Circle announced it is acquiring Bitcoin exchange Poloniex for $400 Mln.
• And more crypto news below...

24 Hour Change

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Month-to-Date Change

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Latest Crypto News - February 26, 2018

Bitcoin Core 0.16.0 Is Released: Here’s What’s New

Today marks the official release of Bitcoin Core 0.16.0, the 16th generation of Bitcoin’s original software client launched by Satoshi Nakamoto a little over nine years ago. Overseen by Bitcoin Core lead maintainer Wladimir van der Laan, this latest major release was developed by some 100 contributors over a span of five months.
_{Read more: bitcoinmagazine.com}

Other sources:

• Bitcoin Core 0.16.0 With ‘Full Support’ For SegWit Gets Official Release

Goldman-backed startup Circle buys Poloniex cryptocurrency exchange

Goldman Sachs-backed payments company Circle has acquired U.S. cryptocurrency exchange Poloniex, Circle said on Monday, in an effort to cement its position as one of the leading companies in the world of blockchain technology. “We’re proud to announce that Circle has extended its commitment to a new vision for global finance by acquiring Poloniex, a leading token exchange platform,” founders Sean Neville and Jeremy Allaire wrote in a post on the company’s website.
_{Read more: www.reuters.com}

Other sources:

• This Big Cryptocurrency Acquisition Could Create a Wall Street-Style Financial Giant (Fortune)
• Mobile Payments App Circle Acquires Crypto Exchange Poloniex For $400 Mln (Cointelegraph)
• Cryptocurrency Exchange Poloniex Has Been Bought by Circle (Bitcoin.com)
• Circle Acquires Poloniex (Circle.com - Official press release)

Litecoin (LTC): LitePay Launch Expected, is Optimism Unbreakable?

Litecoin (LTC) grew while the market slumped, establishing itself around $230 in expectations of soon taking over Bitcoin Cash (BCH) in terms of market capitalization. With the previous boost from the Litecoin Cash hard fork, the LTC price proved once again its capabilities to hold steady and recover well.
_{Read more: cryptovest.com}

Global Regulators Urge Better Understanding of Crypto-Related Money Laundering Risks

The 37 member states behind the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) are calling for improved understanding of money laundering risks at a time when cryptocurrencies are steadily growing in popularity, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Monday.
_{Read more: cryptovest.com}

Other sources:

• Global AML Watchdog to Step Up Crypto Money Laundering Scrutiny
• Global Money Laundering Watchdog Briefed on Korea’s Crypto-Friendly Rules

European Commission Roundtable: Blockchain ‘Holds Promise,’ Investors Must Know Risks

The European Commission has hosted a roundtable titled “Cryptocurrencies - Opportunities and Risks,” covering the influence of crypto on financial markets and problems arising with Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) Monday, Feb. 26.
_{Read more: cointelegraph.com}

Bitpay Bans Payments to Merchants of Explicit Content, Cloud-Mining and Gambling

Bitcoin was originally created to free people’s money from the control and censorship of regulators, banks and governments. Companies in the ecosystem are supposed to be infused with this ethos, but as they strive to become more mainstream some, like Bitpay apparently, adopt the more prevailing standards in the business world.
_{Read more: news.bitcoin.com}

Other sources:

• BitPay Payment Processor Begins Enforcing Ban On Prohibited Activities On Its Platform

Swiss Stock Exchange Chairman Sees ‘Upsides’ To Launch Of Crypto Franc

The chairman of Switzerland’s stock exchange SIX Romeo Lacher thinks there are “a lot of upsides” to releasing a crypto version of the Swiss franc. Speaking to the Financial Times Sunday, Feb. 25, Lacher said the organization would be “very supportive” of such an initiative, adding that he “doesn’t like cash.”
_{Read more: cointelegraph.com}

Vladimir Putin Acknowledges Need for Blockchain Tech Adoption

Russian president Vladimir Putin has fully endorsed blockchain technology, acknowledging its significance and emphasizing the importance of early adoption in order to avoid being left behind.
_{Read more: cryptovest.com}

This 11-year-old just wrote a book on bitcoin that hopefully a kid can understand

Like most sixth graders, Andrew Courey is usually playing sports and toying with his iPhone when he's not in school. But unlike most other 11-year olds, he's also an expert on bitcoin.
_{Read more: www.cnbc.com}

Venezuela Launches Free Cryptocurrency Training Course For Citizens

The Venezuelan government has launched a free cryptocurrency training course to teach its citizens how to buy, sell and mine digital currencies, particularly the oil-backed Petro that has been recently issued by the state, local news outlet Telesur TV reported on Saturday, Feb. 24.
_{Read more: cointelegraph.com}

US Senator Calls for Crackdown on Venezuela’s Petro

Insisting that Venezuela's new oil-backed cryptocurrency is an extension of credit to the regime of President Nicolás Maduro, US Senator Robert Menéndez has urged Washington to take further action against the Petro.
_{Read more: cryptovest.com}

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