Preparations for the launch of Bitcoin (BTC) futures on Bakkt are on track. While market participants were excited before the launch of CME group’s futures trading at the end of 2017, the current launch is being approached with caution. Bitcoin’s volatility continues to drop, which shows that both bulls and bears are not taking large directional bets. Bitcoin’s dominance, that had risen above 71% in the past week is showing signs of cooling down. It has currently dropped below 70%. This implies that, for a few days, the action might shift to altcoins. However, this period of low volatility is …

The United States Federal Reserve is not working on a digital currency of its own, said Fed Chair Jerome Powell. He said that cyber security issues are likely to deter central banks from releasing their own digital currency. However, reports suggest that China might launch its digital currency as early as Nov. 11. If the Chinese digital currency becomes a success, it will force other central banks to launch their own to keep up with the competition. There are several important events lined up in the next few months that are likely to be positive for cryptocurrencies. The first such …

From speculation about its inherent value to theories about it being the payment method of choice for criminals, cryptocurrency is having a tough time keeping a clean name. One of the most common accusations is that cryptocurrencies perpetuate the sale of illicit drugs, a view recently expressed by United States Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Cointelegraph takes a look at the impact of cryptocurrency on illegal drug sales and whether it should shoulder more of the blame than cash. U.S. government clamps down The watershed moment for the U.S. taking decisive action against illicit drugs being purchased with cryptocurrency happened in …

Jennifer Bailey, the vice president of Apple’s payments service, Apple Pay, said that the company was watching cryptocurrencies closely as they believe it has long-term potential. The company claims that Apple pay processes about one billion transactions every month. With such a wide reach, Apple’s move to crypto, similar to Facebook, will be a huge positive as it will attract a large number of retail and institutional investors alike. It is not only large organizations that are taking the crypto plunge. The second largest economy in the world has also made it clear that it wants to launch its digital …

Asset managers VanEck and SolidX plan to offer a limited version of their Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to qualified institutional buyers. While the wait for retail investors continues, institutional players might get an opportunity to buy the shares starting on Sept. 5. This is a positive development because a strong demand from institutional players might help in expediting approval for a full-fledged Bitcoin ETF for retail investors. The uncertainty of the trade war between the United States and China, endless money printing and negative yields around the world are all driving institutional investors toward safe haven assets, one of …

The total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies has again bounced from just below the $250 billion mark, which is a positive sign. This level has repeatedly provided support in the past three months. It shows that investors are using dips to accumulate. Volatility has shrunk in the past few days, but we expect it to pick up. During the run-up to the launch of CBOE futures in Dec. 2017, the market rallied hard but then sold off after the launch and entered a long bear phase. Will the launch of long-awaited Bakkt futures platform also result in a similar situation or …

French police have shut down a massive botnet that has been used for Monero (XMR) cryptojacking. Cryptojacking backed by “massive firepower” BBC News reported the development on Aug. 27. According to the police, the botnet was distributed by sending virus-laden emails with offers for erotic pictures or fast cash, and further propogated through infected USB drives. The virus, called Retadup, ultimately infected 850,000 computers in over 100 countries — thus creating a massive botnet. The chief of C3N — the French police’s cybercrime unit — Jean-Dominique Nollet spoke on France Inter radio about the power of a botnet this size, …

In the past few weeks, both Bitcoin and gold have attracted investors who have flocked to safe haven assets due to trade wars and an uncertain geopolitical environment. While traditional investors prefer investing in gold, the discovery of fake kilogram gold bars in the vault of JPMorgan Chase points to a forgery crisis. While gold owners need an expert to confirm the authenticity of their holding, Bitcoin node operators do not need any, which is a huge advantage. The government has confiscated gold holdings of the public in the past, hence, there is a possibility that it can do it …

Cryptocurrencies can benefit from wider adoption and many believe that with a user base of about two billion people, Facebook can speed up the process. Its Libra project has drawn sharp criticism from regulators, finance ministers and central banks around the world. Previously, Bitcoin rallied along with risky assets, however, in the past few months, it has been acting similar to a safe haven, though it is not there yet, according to Nelson Minier, head of over-the-counter sales at cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. Minier said that the current state of the cryptocurrency industry, with all its innovation and trading, is similar …

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision. Market data is provided by the HitBTC exchange. Though institutional investors are professionals with years of experience under their belt, they have been slow to recognize and embrace cryptocurrencies, which is the new trend in the digital age. Conversely, retail traders who are considered amateurs have been quick to adopt cryptocurrencies and have benefitted immensely from it, according to Tyler Winklevoss. His …

The White House has issued two advisories to warn that fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are being purchased using major cryptocurrencies. The advisories were addressed to financial institutions as well as digital payments platforms, and are designed to help them detect and report suspicious transactions. Warning that the United States “is in the midst of an unparalleled epidemic of addiction and death,” the documents said: “An analysis of sensitive financial data indicates that domestic illicit drug manufacturers, dealers, and consumers use online payment platforms or CVC to purchase precursor chemicals or completely synthesized narcotics primarily sourced from China.” White House: …

The views and opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cointelegraph. Every investment and trading move involves risk. You should conduct your own research when making a decision. Market data is provided by the HitBTC exchange. Crypto markets are under pressure as the total market capitalization has dipped close to $260 billion. United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo believes that Bitcoin should be regulated similar to other financial transactions because the ability to do anonymous transactions with it can be used for financing terrorism. This shows the myopic vision …