n nn nn Braiinswants to redefine open-source mining software.The company behind Slush Pool recently rolled out the initial release of its ASIC miner firmware Braiins OS. The operating system is advertised as the very first fully open-source, Linux-based system for cryptocurrency embedded devices, an alternative to the factory-default firmware that comes with most popular mining hardware.Upon visiting the projects website, visitors are greeted with a clear message,
CryptScout #BitFeed RSS – Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency News 24/7
Omise Bags Japanese Investment to Support its Blockchain PayPal Alternative
Japanese venture capital firm Global Brains has invested an undisclosed sum into Omise Holdings, a Thailand-based FinTech service provider, the companies announced in a press release.
Global Expansion
The investment, which is also led by 31VENTURES, a venture capitalist arm of Mitsui Fudosan, one of the largest real-estate developers in the country, and returning Indonesian venture capital SMDV, is aimed at financing Omise’s expansion plans in Japan. It would also offer support to the development of Omise’s financial infrastructure, which includes a PayPal-like payment and remittance service, and an Ethereum-powered decentralized exchange.
Improving the traditional financial infrastructure with innovative tools will be Omise’s prime agenda as it expands into new territories. The startup recognized the millennial’s need for a border-less and speedy payment service as their businesses grow globally.
“Global expansion is a key growth driver for businesses around the world, yet financial transactions are being processed by legacy platforms built on infrastructures that are not geared to support global commerce needs,” the Omise statement read. “As global commerce and population movement grow, the ability to conduct payments anytime and anywhere becomes a necessity.”
Omise will, therefore, eye enterprise adoption in Southeast Asia as a part of its strategy, beginning with Japan. The company will leverage on it OMG Network, eWallet Suite, and OMG DEX financial tools to enable local businesses and individuals to conduct day-to-day finance operations from the comfort of their mobile phones.
In a statement to Tech in Asia, the company’s spokesperson acknowledged Japan’s enthusiasm towards blockchain-enabled startup like theirs. “We have [many] services under Omise Holdings which our investors’ portfolio companies could choose to implement according to the requirements of their business needs,” the spokesperson said.
Investors’ Strategic Participation
Omise and Global Vision has previously partnered on a few ongoing blockchain projects, including the Ethereum Community Fund (ECF) and Neutrino, a blockchain focused co-working space. The lead investor, alongside Mitsui Fudosan and SMDV, has committed that they will leverage their resources to support the Omise blockchain ecosystem’s “penetration into Japan, Southeast Asia and another key, high-growth markets.”
The companies will do so by assisting Omise building relationship with their clientele and other business partners.
“We are excited our investors have affirmed their continued support for Omise with their contribution to this latest funding,” said Jun Hasegawa, CEO & Founder of Omise. We look forward to engaging in broader partnerships and opportunities to tap into Japan’s rapidly evolving market.”
The investment once again marks the mainstream industrial giants’ mounting interest in the blockchain, despite it being refuted by some economists. Omise particularly has gained momentum as an Ethereum-powered startup which has backing from some of the very knowns of the industry. The company’s previous funding round in 2016 had attracted .6 million in funding, led by SBI Holdings. In its ICO round that took place in 2017, Omise had raised million in cryptocurrencies.
Image from Shutterstock
The post Omise Bags Japanese Investment to Support its Blockchain PayPal Alternative appeared first on NewsBTC.
Russian Lobby Group to Present Alternative Bill on Digital Assets
n A Russian lobby group that includes two of the ten richest businessmen in the country is proposing its own version of digital asset legislationn
CryptScout #BitFeed RSS – Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency News 24/7
Mining Like a Viking How the Fjords of Norway Offer a Greener Alternative
n nn nn Make sure to close the door behind you, Mathis Schultz, the CEO of Northern Bitcoin, said to me in a near shout. As we entered the backside of the shipping container, partitioned for the ASIC miners exhaust, Schultz wanted to make sure the heat emitted wouldnt mingle with the temperature-controlled front end of the shipping container.The door opened, my senses, already ringing from the blaring of the ASICs mechanized grind, were ignited. Like stepping from
CryptScout #BitFeed RSS – Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency News 24/7
Bettergram — A Crypto-Focused Telegram Alternative
“Bettergram… isn’t it named Telegram?” Was the first thought that popped into my mind as I saw a tweet bringing attention to a newfangled messaging application. But don’t get me wrong, Bettergram is so much more than just a medium of communication aimed at crypto enthusiasts, or at least in my eyes it is.
Telegram — A Crypto Investor’s Favorite Mode Of Contact
Telegram, the worldwide messaging application, has been right up crypto’s alley for years now, with the sleek mobile and desktop applications quickly reaching adoption throughout the crypto industry. Chances are, the communities surrounding your favorite projects and cryptocurrencies have their own Telegram channels, which are active all-day and every-day with thousands, if not tens of thousands of users discussing their favorite crypto topics.
Those behind this simple, but sweet platform have recently taken notice of the crypto-focused community that uses their platform on a day-to-day basis, launching an ICO behind closed doors. As reported by NewsBTC, Telegram has raised upwards of .8 billion dollars in private funding rounds, and now plans to launch its own digital payments system. While this is not an explicit bid to catch the attention of the crypto crowd, it sure stirred up a lot of discussion in this flowering industry.
While Telegram may have captured the thoughts of many in the cryptosphere, Bettergram might bring features to the table which Telegram cannot.
Bettergram Meet Crypto, Crypto Meet Bettergram
For those who are unaware, Bettergram is a recently-launched application that intends to offer consumers with a different Telegram experience. It is important to note that Bettergram does not run in full independence, as this new platform is essentially an improved interface based on Telegram’s original Messenger platform. As Bettergram’s website states:
“We’ve built an improved version of Telegram Messenger with super helpful features our users absolutely love.”
This statement may lead some to ask, what features does this new application offer that makes it so great?
Firstly, the platform allows its users to pin up to 50 chats, while Telegram only offers support for a measly five. Secondly, Bettergram has implemented the novel idea of introducing multiple tabs to sort through the array of different types of Telegram channels. These are as follows: favorites, groups, personal messages (PMs/DMs), and announcement channels. These four tabs allow users to easily scroll through their conversations to find exactly what they are looking for.
Last but not least, Bettergram has built-in a cryptocurrency price tracker for the top ten crypto assets. While this tracker is by no means as fully-fledged as a site like LiveCoinWatch or CoinMarketCap, it allows a great overview of the market for a user on the go.
NewsBTC briefly sat down with the founder of this innovative platform to discuss his vision and aspirations for this project.
NewsBTC: Why did you create Bettergram?
Crypto Max: So basically I built it because I was super frustrated at missing dms. Communication and networking with new people in crypto essentially goes at a snail’s pace on Telegram because every single person is in 800 groups and channels. Since the channels are more active than DMs, your important private messages (and potentially huge business deals/connections) often get lost.
NewsBTC: What sets Bettergram apart from Telegram? Do you even want to compete with Telegram?
Crypto Max: Telegram is awesome. They let developers like me build out niched applications on their giant network. Bettergram is better for power users of Telegram because of the features it offers. If you’re in 1000 groups, you have to scroll through to find who messaged you on Telegram. With Bettergram, you just have to click the DM Tab.
NewsBTC: What is your vision for the application?
Crypto Max: If enough people are using Bettergram, communication flow in this industry improves since you can read your DMs with 1 click. We hope to constantly reiterate and build the best messaging app we can, with the introduction of content integration like RSS feeds and Youtube video feeds.
Taking a look at Max’s reasoning behind the creation of Bettergram, it quickly becomes apparent that he built this platform due to personal qualms he has had with the original Telegram application.
Bettergram, like its name implies, is quickly proving itself to be an improved take on Telegram’s Messenger application, or for crypto “power users” at least. Let’s just hope that the team behind this piece of software doesn’t decide to launch its own ICO that is only open to bigwig investors.
Featured Image from Shutterstock
The post Bettergram — A Crypto-Focused Telegram Alternative appeared first on NewsBTC.
Crypto Startup Introduces Alternative Mining Method for Entry Level PCs
Cryptocurrency mining, while also being an integral part of many blockchain networks, has become a source of profit and business for exclusive crypto firms. The recently-founded HoneyMiner startup is attempting to make mining more accessible to a wider array of consumers, by providing users, like you or I, with an innovative new platform.
HoneyMiner: The New Way To Mine Cryptos
HoneyMiner provides an easy-to-use software for retail consumers looking to get into mining, allowing users of the Windows operating system to passively mine popular cryptocurrencies by allocating computer power to the service.
Unlike traditional crypto mining operations, HoneyMiner allows users with entry-level desktop computers, or even laptops to join a mining pool filled by thousands of other users, with the service distributing cryptocurrencies to all users involved. The service utilizes the strength in numbers, allowing for the collective hash power of thousands, if not tens of thousands of computers to make computational contributions to a variety of different Proof of Work focused blockchains, in exchange for transaction fees.
In its current state, HoneyMiner pays out all earnings made by a user in Bitcoin, automatically converting the mined cryptocurrencies into the equivalent Satoshi value for an easier consumer experience.
Using HoneyMiner is as easy as downloading the launcher from the website, setting up an account for withdrawals, and subsequently running the miner in the background of your computer. In exchange for a relatively negligible 2.5% to 8% fee, the service handles all of the heavy lifting, configuring the mining software to the most profitable crypto in a long list of GPU-mineable coins.
Speaking on the ease-of-use of the application, Noah Jessop, a venture capitalist and an advisor for the HoneyMiner project, said:
“The miner doesn’t have to do the math or manage all the configurations and settings, or manually check the prices. We make it so that any surplus compute, so any laptop you aren’t using all the way up to a rig that you run is automatically doing the most profitable computation.”
It has become apparent that this service was founded with the average Joe in mind, specifically targeting users with less powerful machines and who do not hold the prerequisites required to upkeep a 24/7 mining operation. The service may also be targeting consumers who currently are on the sidelines of the industry, but are looking to secure a solid entry point into the industry. Jessop stated:
“If you hear about crypto and you want to learn, you can either go out and pay real cash money or you can download a program in 30 seconds and start earning your own crypto, for free.”
However, it is still important to note that users with high-end graphics cards can easily use the service, but it may not be the most efficient method for computational power at that caliber to contribute to the mining scene.
HoneyMiner Sees Influx Of Users After Mainstream Crypto Endorsements
As this project began to spread in the cryptocurrency community, crypto influencers and media sources began to pick up on the innovative service.
An individual who works with HoneyMiner, going by @CoinYeezy on Twitter, pointed out that 20% of HoneyMiner users are located in developing countries, likely citing stats he/she received as an insider in the firm. While this is great news for the startup, this figure also shows how the cryptocurrency market penetration has spread all across the world, not limited to certain locations or users hailing from a specific background.
Honeyminer isn’t just a mining app. It’s a tool that empowers people.
Nearly 20% of our users are in developing countries.
We provide everyone in the world access to Bitcoin.
— :: (@coinyeezy) July 24, 2018
In other positive news about the service, a Twitter user pointed out that HoneyMiner has a higher profitability then NiceHash, another consumer-focused mining tool that has been hailed as this startup’s primary competitor.
HoneyMiner is running at a higher profitability than NiceHash FYI.
— xbtman (@decentraman) July 20, 2018
The service has seen a rapid uptick in its user base over the past few days, with the application now garnering over 10,000 downloads from all across the world, from users looking to capitalize on the ease-of-use and the profitability of the service. As of the time of press, the HoneyMiner site seems to be nonfunctional, with a message seen on the website stating that a “504 Gateway Time-out” error has occurred, likely due to an influx of positive consumer interest.
Featured Image from Shutterstock
The post Crypto Startup Introduces Alternative Mining Method for Entry Level PCs appeared first on NewsBTC.
Crypto Becomes Proper Alternative to Cash in Struggling Economies
The use of crypto donations by a Venezuelan citizen has shown cryptocurrencies are better than some fiat currencies even though they have been dismissed as too volatile. These donations also highlight the changing perception of crypto away from its murky past on the dark net.
Crypto Helps Citizens Affected by Hyper-Inflation
The NANO community has donated almost ,000 worth to a Venezuelan called Hector. After initially receiving a month’s worth of salary (0.5 NANO, or .20), further donations enabled him to buy 300 kg of food with 61 NANO (5). The balance in the account now stands at 1,809 NANO (,178) which equates to almost 9,000 kg of food.
Hector is choosing to store the donations as NANO instead of his local currency, the bolívar, and has been buying food from a vendor who accepts NANO payments. This showcases how cryptocurrencies in their current state can work better than the worst performing fiat currencies. While volatility is a key issue for the crypto market, it is decreasing and will continue to reduce with an increase in liquidity.
The main issues faced in Venezuela is hyper inflation. The annual rate of inflation is 15,657% and their currency inflates by 167% monthly. Citizens have started making handbags and purses out of the paper notes in order to make some value out of them. The main cause is the government’s relentless printing of money.
An analysis by JP Morgan in 2017 showed that only billion had entered the crypto market when the total market cap was higher than it is today. In contrast, Venezuela’s GDP is at 0 billion. If the entire economy was using one cryptocurrency, it would not just become a stable currency but there would be no hyperinflation through the printing of more money.
Think Tank Calls for More Crypto Donations
Mainstream media has often disregarded cryptocurrencies due to their association with buying illegal goods on the dark net. eToro UK Managing Director Iqbal Gandham told NewsBTC that he was frustrated with the ‘tired commentary’ on the crypto industry. However, recent initiatives have started raising awareness of the number of people using cryptocurrencies to help situations globally.
— eatBCH Venezuela (@eatBCH_VE) July 1, 2018
EatBCH is feeding citizens in Venezuela and South Sudan through Bitcoin Cash donations. Their account has received 21.8 BCH (,800) and has spent 6.2 BCH (,800) on providing food. Both countries have financial troubles over crippling inflation rates, with the Sudan Sudanese Pound hitting rates of 11,000%. The Center for Strategic and International Studies has also called on more cryptocurrency donations to help support these citizens.
Moises Rendon, Associate Director at CSIS’s Americas Program, said: “For example, the use of cryptocurrency to safely transfer worldwide donations, following a model like EatBCH, is a novel approach already creating a positive impact for Venezuelans on the ground today. More peer-to-peer electronic cash transfers should be encouraged to assist with humanitarian aid from abroad.”
Featured Image From Shutterstock
The post Crypto Becomes Proper Alternative to Cash in Struggling Economies appeared first on NewsBTC.
The DApps Platform Module May Become an Alternative to Ethereum, EOS, and Stellar
An interesting new project is expected to appear in the crypto industry in the near future: the Japanese DApps platform Module, which has every chance of becoming an alternative to such proven market players as Ethereum, EOS, and Stellar.
One of the main goals of the project is to simplify as much as possible the process of creating, launching and developing your own applications or services that store and transfer data on the blockchain using the Module platform for creating decentralized applications (DApps). To this end, the platform’s Japanese creators offer their smart contract technology, the possibility of honest cryptocurrency mining, and a set of high-speed, low-cost solutions that allow users to store their data reliably and confidentially while managing their data quickly and independently.
The entire data file will be located at a special address in the cloud on the blockchain, access to which is fully controlled by the user. In addition, for improved fraud protection, project clients will have the ability to use a secret sharing system for data access (author’s note – secret sharing is a means of distributing secret data for access to goods and services among a group of participants, each of which receives a part of the access key).
One of the main ways that Module differs from its competitors, among which are such market “dinosaurs” as Ethereum, Stellar, and EOS, lies in its use of other people’s mobile gadgets – smartphones, tablets, laptops – to store information.
Nick Evdokimov, a blockchain expert, consultant, and founder of ICOBox, explains: “Today we actually have a situation where people have a large amount of memory on their gadgets that go unused. Module’s concept will literally make it possible to store data on your neighbor’s cell phone. This will then provide the most rapid possible access to this information and give the gadget’s owner the opportunity to earn money renting out the idle memory. It’s a very interesting solution, one that no other DApps platform has used up to now.”
Decentralized applications (DApps) are being called the new future of the blockchain industry. They are protected against any form of censorship on the part of centralized servers, and they ensure full confidentiality of the information being transmitted and complete security of transactions, all thanks to P2P communications based on the blockchain. In addition, DApps give people the ability not only to use the services they contain but also to themselves become active participants in the network: for example, to act as shareholders, developers, miners, bounty testers, and so on.
The presale of “coins” for the Module platform started on June 15, 2018. To carry out its ICO, the project has concluded an agreement with ICOBox, the world’s largest supplier of SaaS solutions for the launch and conduct of initial coin offerings.
The post The DApps Platform Module May Become an Alternative to Ethereum, EOS, and Stellar appeared first on NewsBTC.
There’s a Facebook Alternative, It’s Called Self-Sovereign Identity
The answer to Facebook’s fiasco isn’t a new platform. It’s an open standards-based infrastructure that centers on people and fosters a new ecosystem.
CoinDesk
Swedish-Born Theodor Forselius Hopes To Replace Wikipedia With Crypto Alternative
22-year old Swede Theodor Forselius co-founded Everipedia, an organization that intends to take on Wikipedia as the internet’s premier encyclopedia. Earlier this month, Everipedia landed a million deal with former Goldman Sachs partner Michael Novogratz’ new crypto-bank Galaxy Digital.
Everipedia aims to overtake Wikipedia as the world’s leading digital encyclopedia. The company was co-founded by Theodor Forselius — a Swedish high school drop out and entrepreneur who moved to the U.S. in 2014. Mahbod Moghadam, a co-founded of Genius.com, is also one of the co-founders. And Late last year Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger joined Everipedia as their new Chief Information Officer.
Before founding Everipedia, the team were active editors on Wikipedia, but thought that the company’s editing system was obsolete and that the criteria for which specific topics merited articles left out certain things, like the ever-changing landscape that produces social media stars.
So while search engines and social networks were constantly evolving, the team felt that Wikipedia was standing still. In response, on January 1st 2015, Everipedia was launched. Now, Everipedia has over 3 million unique visitors a month, several thousand active editors, and currently 6 million articles — a number which is increasing everyday.
“Of course many people questioned that we would be able to compete with Wikipedia since it is one of the largest sites in the world. Now that we have raised a lot of money and have one of Wikipedia’s founders on-board we are being taken more serious,” says Forselius.
According to the Everipedia’s homepage: “Everipedia is the next generation encyclopedia rebuilt for the modern age. With over 6 million articles and counting, it’s already the world’s largest English encyclopedia by content. Everipedia is free from ads and free to use for everyone under creative commons.”
Differentiator
A differentiator between Wikipedia and Everipedia is that the latter is utilizing blockchain technology to run its network, with the goal being to finance Everipedia by means other than donations or banners. Another reason for the move is to make it difficult for nation-states and corporations to censor information, Forselius says.
In addition, he says giving the encyclopedia a crypto-twist will add financial incentives for users. Editing Everipedia costs tokens. If the edit is not an improvement, the token is forfeited; On the other hand, if the edit is deemed to improve the site, the user will be rewarded with more tokens.
“People around the globe will have a chance to tap into the economic value that is created when they use internet services. What we are seeing now is the beginning of something much bigger,” Forselius said.
According to Forselius, it was this decision to use the blockchain that helped convince Larry Sanger to join the company — this is because, interestingly, Sanger once had the same vision for Wikipedia: “Hopefully, Wikipedia will be improved by the competition. But they are cautious about making large changes and have a vast bureaucracy to navigate. So it will probably take a while,” he says.
The post Swedish-Born Theodor Forselius Hopes To Replace Wikipedia With Crypto Alternative appeared first on NewsBTC.