The cryptocurrency hardware wallet provider Ledger has partnered with The Sandbox blockchain game to promote crypto education in its virtual world. Ledger’s chief experience officer Ian Rogers announced the news at the Non-Fungible Conference (NFC) on Monday. He said that the new partnership aims to bring security into The Sandbox’s world and also provide Ledger with a place in The Sandbox (SAND) to educate people about crypto. Rogers thanked The Sandbox and the company’s co-founder and chief operations officer Sebastien Borget for this opportunity, noting that Ledger will provide SAND owners with custom Ledger Nanos as part of the partnership. …

Coinbase is set to continue its global acquisition strategy, reportedly buying the Brazilian company 2TM, the parent company of Mercado Bitcoin. According to information from Estadão, the third-largest newspaper read by Brazil’s 212 million populace, the Coinbase acquisition could be complete by next month. Negotiations for the purchase have been taking place over the course of 2022. Mercado Bitcoin is Latin America’s largest crypto brokerage, whose parent company, 2TM cemented its unicorn status as a billion-dollar company in 2021. Valued at $2.2 billion, 2TM has also pursued an acquisition strategy, particularly in lusophone countries. 2TM’s Mercado Bitcoin snapped up Portuguese …

Seasoned crypto enthusiasts will remember Didi Taihuttu as the man who went all-in on Bitcoin (BTC) in 2016. He sold his and his family’s possessions. camping out in the Netherlands while he waited for Bitcoin to the moon. In an interview with Cointelegraph, Taihuttu recalls how it felt to own almost nothing but Bitcoin, 6 years ago: “I don’t have any cars, motorbikes, nothing. And I’m happier than ever. And she [Taihuttu's wife] agrees! At that moment we decide to break that chain and lead by example for the kids.” He explains his realization that life is about accumulating happiness, …

“Hodling” really is the way when it comes to accumulating Bitcoin (BTC). At least, that’s the conclusion made by an AI trading bot coded up by a Portuguese software developer. Bitcoiner Tiago Vasconcelos is the man behind the trading experiment. Vasconcelos built an AI trading bot that would help him accumulate more Bitcoin and test his coding skills. Almost inconceivably, instead of trading, the bot quickly concluded that the best way to trade Bitcoin is to buy and hold onto it. Vasconcelos is the lead founder of Aceita Bitcoin, a Portuguese organization promoting the adoption, education and sharing of information …

While Switzerland holds the spotlight for being the most crypto-friendly jurisdiction in Europe, Portugal is picking up the pace. Indeed, the Republic offers more than just quality of life improvements for Bitcoin (BTC) owners, including an attractive fiscal environment and a growing Bitcoiner community. Cointelegraph recently interviewed the Bitcoin Family, who recently relocated to Portugal, learning that there was more to the move than pursuing "300 days of sunshine" and "cheap coffee." Didi Taihuttu, father and husband to the Bitcoin Family, first spoke to Cointelegraph six years ago. In 2016, he rose to crypto fame after selling all his family’s …

Brazilian 2TM Group, the operator of Latin America’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Mercado Bitcoin, is moving to expand its global footprint with a strategic acquisition in Portugal. The company officially announced Wednesday the acquisition of a controlling stake in CriptoLoja, a Lisbon-based crypto exchange licensed by the Portuguese central bank. Subject to approval by Banco de Portugal, the new deal intends to help 2TM start its expansion into Europe with over-the-counter exchange services. The company also plans to offer the services of Mercado Bitcoin to retail and institutional investors in Portugal. “We will access the European market using the clear synergies …

Web Summit 2021, the biggest tech conference in the world, kicked off on Monday in Lisbon, Portugal, and will last until Nov. 4, 2021. In an opening statement, Carlos Moedas, the Mayor of Lisbon, said that "My dream is that Lisbon will be the capital of innovation in the world." Meanwhile, João Leão, the Minister of Finance of Portugal, stated: "Portugal is the country people come to invest, to do business and to look live, and to do so in a manner that is open to different cultures." Notable guest speakers included Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, Black Lives Matter co-founder …

Major global technology conference Web Summit is returning to Portugal with an in-person event to delve into the world of fintech and cryptocurrency. On Nov. 1, Web Summit 2021 will kick off in Lisbon, Web Summit’s first physical conference since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event covers topics from cryptocurrencies to geopolitics and is anticipated to bring together 40,000 attendees, running until Nov. 4. Crypto an integral part of Web Summit Web Summit’s fintech expert, Shauna Kiely, told Cointelegraph that the crypto industry has emerged as one of the conference’s most-discussed topics in recent years, largely covered at …

Chinese electronics manufacturer Xiaomi has denied the company's involvement in a move by a Portuguese Xiaomi shop to start accepting Bitcoin (BTC) payments. Mi Store Portugal, a Xiaomi retailer in the country, announced Wednesday on Facebook that it now allows customers to purchase devices using five cryptocurrencies, including BTC, Ether (ETH), Tether (USDT), Dash (DASH) and the Utrust (UTK) token. A spokesperson for Xiaomi subsequently reacted to the news on Chinese social media platform Weibo, stressing that the Mi Store Portugal is not directly related to Xiaomi’s operations. “We are concerned about the information that Mi Store Portugal accepts digital …

Blockchain-based sports platform Chiliz has partnered with the Portuguese Football Federation to release fan tokens on Socios. In a Thursday announcement from Socios, the platform said it will be dropping tokens for the Portugal national football team, also known as A Seleção or “The Selection,” within the next few days for local fans. As with previously tokenized sports franchises, the digital collectibles are minted on the Chiliz blockchain and allow token holders to vote in polls and earn VIP rewards. “The launch of the $POR Fan Token will allow us to create new ways of reaching our supporters and interact …

Luzboa, a small energy trading company in Portugal, will soon start accepting Bitcoin (BTC) as payment for electricity. The company’s president Pedro Morais Leitão announced the news to Portuguese publication Expresso on Wednesday, stating that the new payment option should become available this month. According to the executive, Luzboa will create a Bitcoin wallet in the coming days, allowing residents to pay for electricity under a new payment system known as “Bit Spot.” According to Leitão, the firm plans to instantly convert received Bitcoin into euros to protect its business from unstable prices. “We are aware of currency volatility, but …

Law enforcement officials from around the world hav taken action against a major transnational money laundering operation involving cryptocurrency. On Oct. 15, Europol announced a successful operation across 16 countries that resulted in the arrest of 20 individuals suspected of working for the QQAAZZ criminal network. The organization is accused of laundering tens of millions of euros for top cybercriminals since 2016. The funds are allegedly transferred through international bank accounts, shell companies based in Poland and Bulgaria, and via cryptocurrency mixing services. Around 40 homes were searched across the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Latvia, and Bulgaria as part of …