US 2016 presidential candidate Rick Perry says Bitcoin needs “regulatory breathing room”; The renown economist and tech writer George Gilder calls Bitcoin “the Gold of the Internet” and more top stories for July 30.
Rick Perry: “Bitcoin needs ‘Regulatory Breathing Room’"
A US 2016 presidential candidate has expressed support for digital currencies. Rick Perry in an interview with The New York Observer has stated that digital currencies such as bitcoin require a "regulatory breathing room."
The Republican presidential candidate also denounced the malpractices in the country’s financial system.
Bitcoin Shop Changed Name to BTCS, Launches New Website
Bitcoin Shop has formally changed its name to BTCS. Along with this new name, the company has also launched a new website.
In a press release Chief Executive Officer of BTCS Charles Allen has explained that these new changes were informed by the company's need to reflect a refined strategic focus.
Charles Allen:
"While our Company was initially focused solely on the digital currency space, we have since evolved our operations to position ourselves to be a leader in the much larger blockchain technology arena. This refined strategic focus represents an exciting market opportunity, and changing our name to reflect this broader focus was an important step in our evolution."
George Gilder: Bitcoin is the Gold of the Internet
The renowned an American investor, economist, and tech writer George Gilder has said that Bitcoin is the “Gold of the Internet.”
Mr. Gilder was speaking to Reason TV's Nick Gillespie in an interview at FreedomFest 2015 about net neutrality and his new book, The 21st Century Case for Gold: A New Information Theory of Money, where he also makes the case that Bitcoin is the missing eighth layer of the Internet.
Skype Co-founder Funds Blockchain Based Startup Marketplace
Funderbeam, an Estonian company that offers data intelligence on startups for angel investors, has announced plans to launch a startup investment trading platform on the blockchain to create liquidity for the startup marketplace. Among the funders of the company is Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn.
Funderbeam CEO Kaidi Ruusalepp:
“The main problem we are trying to solve is that startup investments are very illiquid right now. If you want to be an investor, you need to start with at least €10,000 to €30,000, and you will be stuck in that investment for at least five, maybe even six, seven or eight years. Our required minimum to invest, on the other hand, will be closer to €1,000, and you can immediately start trading the shares in these startup syndicates once they are funded.”
Survey: Bitcoin More Inconvenient Than Checks
A new study on paying for goods and services, released on Tuesday by Blackhawk Network, has observed that US shoppers consider bitcoin as a more convenient payment option than checks.
However, the “How America Pays in 2015: Traditional, Digital and Mobile Convergence in Payments” study still puts cash (93 percent), credit cards (92 percent), and PayPal (90 percent) ahead of bitcoin (38 percent). Only thirty percent of the 1,000 respondents chose checks as the most convenient method of payment.
Teri Llach, Chief Marketing Officer at Blackhawk Network:
“Consumers still have a strong preference for traditional payment methods like debit cards and prepaid cards. Those payments tools are not going away anytime soon, even as interest in and usage of new payment methods grows.”
Bitcoin Picnic Moscow 2015
Bitcoin enthusiasts in the Russian city of Moscow are preparing for a Bitcoin picnic that will take place August 1, 2015 at the city’s Gorky Park. According to the organizers, the format will resemble a Satoshi Square meetup but without bidding.
Bitcoin Is a Viable Digital Currency: Lee
BTC China CEO and Co-founder Bobby Lee has told Bloomberg that Bitcoin is gradually building its brand and acceptance. He also explained that while it is true that some people use the digital currencies for criminal purposes, the majority of the transactions carried out in bitcoin are legitimate.
Ripple Labs Taps US Treasury Official for Advisory Board
Michael Barr, a former US Treasury Department official, has joined Ripple Labs as a member of its board of advisors. Mr. Barr has held positions in the State Department, the US Supreme Court and the University of Michigan Law School.
Mr. Barr:
“Our global payments system is badly outdated. I think innovation in payments can help make the financial system safer, reduce cost and improve access and efficiency for consumers and businesses alike.”