Two federal agents who took part in the US government’s efforts to take down illicit online black market Silk Road have been charged with fraud for allegedly misusing funds denominated in bitcoin while on assignment. Perhaps most notably, the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges special agent with the US Secret Service (USSS) Shaun Bridges “diverted” […]

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has taken note of the issues hindering partnerships between bitcoin businesses and banks. At a Brussels meeting with industry figures last Friday, the anti-money laundering policy maker proposed a risk-based approach that ensures every digital currency business is evaluated on an individual basis. A risk-based approach means that banks […]

Bitcoin entrepreneur Charlie Shrem begins his stint in prison today, having been sentenced in December to two years behind bars. The 25-year-old will serve his time at Lewisburg Federal Prison Camp in Pennsylvania for aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business. “Of course I’m scared, but I’ll get through it. I’ve prepared,” he told […]

“This is about building tools that help facilitate conversations in markets.” So says Chris Ellis of the ProTip micropayments project that is seeking to create peer-to-peer (P2P) mechanisms for people to support musicians, artists and other creators of digital media using bitcoin. ProTip is a web browser plug-in that functions as a specialized wallet, designed to […]

Fred Wilson is a VC and principal of Union Square Ventures. USV invests in bitcoin companies, but not the currency itself. Fred is interested in bitcoin because he believes it can be and possibly will be the financial and transactional protocol for the global Internet.  Here, he shares his thoughts on New York State’s revised Bitlicense regulations. Continue reading at […]