Bitcoin made Anonymous and off the blockchain by BitcoinDark’s Cryptocurrency Teleport Technology

Tracking Bitcoin based transactions will get that more difficult with the launch of next generation anonymous Teleport technology. Being implemented BitcoinDark, the new technology will ensure all transactions made through this portal will be completely private and off the blockchain.  

The company, BitcoinDark today in a pressers, says that it aims to create a decentralized currency and payment system with supporting decentralized trading, a P2P asset exchange and constructive collaboration across the cryptocurrency ecosystem. As of now bitcoin transactions can be tracked through the blockchain which give Bitcoin wallet information.  BitcoinDark’s exclusive anonymous teleport technology will also make Bitcoin itself fully anonymous. 

BitcoinDark  is already available for trading on cryptocurrency exchanges Bittrex, Atomic Trade, Cryptsy and Poloniex.  To have the teleporting capabilities, Bitcoindark is getting the infrastructure in place.  The technology will use BitcoinDark’s open source Teleportation technology to keep the transactions away from prying eyes and keep them fully confidential.  Once the network and infrastructure is in place, it will give coin developers access to all of BitcoinDark’s cutting edge tools such as the being able to trade on decentralized exchange InstantDEX, run tradebots for their coin, auto convert bridges to get their coin accepted anywhere BTC is accepted, and earn dividends from InstantDEX.

BitcoinDark is a peer-to-peer Proof-of-Stake cryptocurrency. 1.2 million BitcoinDark coins were mined during the PoW phase. With 5% new coins per year from staking, it will take until the year 2020 to reach 1.5 million coins. With an ultimate maximum of 22 million coins, BTCD will generate 5% annual staking revenue for holders for more than 60 years. In addition, BTCD holders will earn revenue from InstantDEX and Teleport fees: BitcoinDark is the only cryptocurrency that will reward holders with income denominated in Bitcoin.

“I want to openly reach out to other coins to join BTCD revolution. I am making libjl777 that can be integrated into any coin in a few days and this will allow the creation of a super network that will dramatically increase privacy levels, not to mention InstantDEX trading volumes and revenue sharing that will be earned by these other coins. BTCD will help other coins teleport for a minimal fee and it is quite possible that with the revenue sharing that they would actually get paid for integrating into BTCD network!” explains BTCD head developer jl777.

Anonymous teleporting of funds occurs off the blockchain but is verified using the blockchain utilizing the benefits of a public record without leaking any personal information. 

The dark world of Bitcoins may get darker with the implementation of the teleporting protocol.

BTC.com domain sold for a record $1,000,000 to a Bitcoin mining hardware company called GAWMiners

Bitcoins have been a favorite subject in technology sector for a while now and to own a domain called BTC.com is amazing for all purposes but to buy it for 1 million USD is a differnt ball game all together.  As per a report published on domaininvesting, the BTC.com domain was sold to a Bitcoin mining hardware company called GAWMiners owned by Josh Garza for $1,000,000 by domain brokering company, Domain Guardians.

Domain Guardians announced the sale through Twitter with this tweet :

We are very excited to announce the sale of http://t.co/n0SeSwq00N to @GAWMiners for US$1,000,000! #bitcoin #domains
— Domain Guardians (@domainguardians) August 4, 2014

As per Domain Investing, btc.com domain name registration remains under privacy, and the landing page is being set up.  The new owner of btc.com says that "Something Amazing is coming soon."  The news of the sale was leaked by Domain Investing two month back but the deal took place over this weekend. Jen Sale, Co-Founder of Domain Guardians while commenting on the sale said that, “Your domain name is the foundation of your online brand.” Sale further added the virtues of owning a domain like btc.com, “Flagship domains like BTC.com solidify brands by empowering users to easily discover, remember, share and recognise your company online. The right domain name can take your brand to new levels.”

According to Domain Guardians, this is the largest public Bitcoin-related domain name sale of all time. BitcoinWallet.com sold for $250,000 back in February, and the domain name is already being used for a startup in the Bitcoin space. There have been a number of other Bitcoin-related domain name sales in the last several months, and CoinDesk published an article about this market.

Domain Investing also made a interesting observation that it now appears to me that most of the best exact match Bitcoin.com domain names are owned by end user companies.

Blockchain Releases New Android Wallet App To make bitcoin available for every Android user

Bitcoins have been a game changer for some, mystery for others and simply profits for hoarders.  Bitcoin wallets are a way to keep your Bitcoins safe in your account.  By intending to make the bitcoins more popular and more easier for users to handle, the popular bitcoin wallet provider Blockchain.info has released a new version of its Bitcoin Wallet App for Android devices.  The new App promises to allow you to store, receive and send bitcoins directly from your Android phone. Blockchain says that the App has been developed thinking of making bitcoin more accessible to users. This App hides the complexity of the protocol in order to encourage adoption of bitcoins by common Android users.

“Our Android app has to do with making bitcoin so easy to use that people don’t even have to think about addresses for example,” co-founder and CEO Nicolas Cary told TechCrunch “That stuff exists in bitcoin, but just like there are complicated things happening in email, they are hidden.” “When you explain why bitcoin is valuable, 99 percent of people understand that it’s useful. But it gets a little intimidating when they actually start using bitcoin”

Keeping is simple is the Blockchain.info's USP for this App.   If you want to send bitcoins to someone, you can just browse your address book and tap on someone’s name. After that, there are two possibilities. If this person is already a bitcoin user with an associated bitcoin address, it will simply send the bitcoins. If it’s someone new, it will send an email with a redemption code so that they can get their bitcoins.

The App also provides a  map view of with merchants who accept bitcoins so the users can find out the sellers and buyers of Bitcoins at a touch of a button. “It’s a world’s first,” Cary said. “We verified every single one of these merchants and we’re bringing new ones every week.”

The App will also help you understand how to manage your bitcoins. It will tell you to set a very strong password and two-factor authentication, it will suggests backup solutions, and it will show you tutorial videos.

“When you explain why bitcoin is valuable, 99 percent of people understand that it’s useful. But it gets a little intimidating when they actually start using bitcoin,” Cary said.

If you are into bitcoins then this is a must have App for your Android device.  If you are not into bitcoins, you may download it to learn about the worlds most famous cryptocurrency.  You can download the App from Google Play here.

California legalises Bitcoin usage with Bill No.AB 129, users can now legally purchase goods and services with bitcoins

Here is good news about Bitcon users, bitcoins have now been legalized in California, USA. California lawmakers approved making bitcoins legal on 28^th June, 2014. Governor of California Jerry Brown signed the Bill No. AB 129, which states alternative currencies including bitcoin, is legal to use in the state.

Remember this is a big news because the old legislation, prevalent upto the passing of the above bill, banned the use of anything other than the lawful money of United States. The Bill AB 129 states that various forms of alternative currencies such as digital currencies, coupons, and points are legal to use to purchase goods and services in state.

Assembly member Roger Dickinson, author of the bill said “In an era of evolving payment methods, from Amazon Coins to Starbucks Stars, it is impractical to ignore the growing use of cash alternatives,” Dickinson said. “This bill is intended to fine-tune current law to address Californians’ payment habits in the mobile and digital fields.”

Almost a year ago state of California told bitcoin foundation to stop operations or to face hefty penalty. Bitcoin has suffered lots of downfall in present year due to various reasons. Earlier this year Tokyo based bitcoin exchange, Mt.Gox had to shut down its website because of hacker attack and exchange lost about around 850,000 bitcoins ($500 million at current prices) and later, company announced that they recovered 200,000 bitcoins. Mt.Gox filed for a bankruptcy and received the approval for the bankruptcy proceeding just a few days ago and waiting for the settlements with U.S customers and right customer to sell its business. Another glitch in the surging bitcoin market was the recent incident in China, where 2 Chinese national banks and Tenpay banned all cryptocurrencies. After all the ups and downs, Bitcoin Foundation is hopeful with the new amendment and financial experts also giving the positive feedback about Bitcoin’s growth.

Australia has not yet lifted its restrictions on either Bitcoin or other digital currencies. Australian Tax Office (ATO) has not yet come for any conclusion regarding treating bitcoin as a currency. Bitcoin industry in Australia has been hoping for ATO to issue its taxation guidance before the end of the financial year. Though the financial year ended today (Australian FY), the ATO has not issued any instructions/guidelines regarding bitcoins.

Now that Bitcoin usage is legalised, you can Play with Bitcoin Casino in California

2013, the Rise and Rise of Bitcoin, is the bitcoin bubble growing too big to fail?

Bitcoin is an electronic digital currency which was introduced in 2009. Its a peer-to-peer payment system which has still not been fully accepted into the mainstream economy but is gaining ground in leaps and bounds everyday. It was started by developer Satoshi Nakamoto as the first cryptocurrency since it uses cryptography to control money as a means to purchase products and services. Peer-to-peer transactions take place through signing payment messages digitally with subsequent verification and timestamping. The machines where these bitcoins get signed are known as miners and they get rewarded with fees and new bitcoins pertaining to each transaction. In China, bitcoins cannot be exchanged for physical currency while in United States, bitcoin has seen widespread acceptance. Bitcoins like any other currency are prone to electronic theft but these risks can be mitigated through offline minting and storage of digital keys. Various vendors like Reddit and Virgin Galactic now accept bitcoins since merchant transaction fees are lower as compared to credit card processing fees.

2013 - The Incredible year for Bitcoins

2013 has seen a dramatic increase in bitcoin transactions as well as acceptance by many vendors. The year has seen a thriving price rise of bitcoins from a measly $13 to an astonishingly high $700 and above.

The following are month-to-month highlights for bitcoin's developing market through the year 2013:

January
- It gets noted by Bloomberg that the price of Bitcoin tripled in the year 2012.
- Bitpay and Butterfly Labs fund Bitcoin with $13000 to setup a booth at Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The Verge (www.theverge.com) puts up an article saying "The underground currency goes mainstream at the biggest tech show in the nation" here:
The Verge Bitcoin article
Price at start of January: $15
Price at end of January: $21.40

February
- Bitcoin's price hits its peak. Its value becomes even higher than what existed pre-2011 crash.
- Reddit allows users to buy gold from bitcoin currency.
- Kim Dotcom announces that it will accept bitcoins on its encrypted storage site called Mega.
Price at start of February: $20.60
Price at end of February: $33

March
- Bitcoin attains a billion dollar market cap.
- The U.S. Department of Treasury issues a statement telling exchangers to register with FinCEN before engaging in bitcoin transactions. A federal agency calls the Bitcoin legal sending Bitcoin believers into frenzy but banks deny working with Bitcoin businesses citing enhanced security regulation as the reason.
- Cyprus announces that it would seize parts of people's accounts to pay off rising debts. In response, Bitcoin rises with the speculation that people from Cyprus and other European countries would reach for bitcoin currency to safeguard their income from government regulations.
- Researchers at John Hopkins University bring to fore Zerocoin to make bitcoin transactions more anonymous and hidden from the entire network.
Price at start of March: $33.50
Price at end of March: $93

April
- Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, famous as villains in Facebook movie say they possess 1% of total bitcoins with themselves.
- Bitcoin start-ups start getting funded by major venture capitalists. The Winklevii gives BitInstant $1.5 million. BitInstant is a place to buy Bitcoin. OpenCoin, an open exchange for all forms of electronic currency lands $2 million through funding by venture capitalists again. Bitcoin wallent Coinbase will announce the following month that it receives $5 million.
- A journalist of repute, working with Slate announces that he made $152 through bitcoin exchange.
Price at start of April: $94
Price at end of April: $145

May
- In San Francisco, an insane individual decides to spend an entire week on Bitcoin only.
- Seattle-based Coinlab sues Japan-based Mt. Gox for $75 million in damages claiming breach of contract by the latter. Mt. Gox is supposed to be the world's largest Bitcoin exchange.
- The federal department seizes American bank accounts of Mt. Gox believing that Mt. Gox violates policies and operates without getting properly licensed with FinCEN.
- The Bitcoin 2013 conference sees participation of people from all walks of life. 
- The federal department brings down the curtain on Liberty Reserve. They say that the centralized online payment system was used to fund drug trading, child pornography and terrorism. Users of bitcoins see this as a warning.
- Mt. Gox announces that people doing bitcoin transactions would need to provide government id in order to comply with rules of federal department. This would reduce money laundering through Bitcoin.
- Speculations regarding the identity of Bitcoin developer Satoshi Nakamoto continue.
Price at start of May: $137
Price at end of May: $129

June
- Congress tax man GAO informs IRS to pay heed to and tax Bitcoin.
- Austin and Beccy Craig announce they will survive on Bitcoin alone for three months just before getting married in Utah.
- Bitcoin comes under the scanner of state regulatory authorities. In California, a cease-and-desist order is passed to the Bitcoin Foundation asking it to get licensed for exchanging money in the state. The Foundation denies it exchanges money.
- Bitcoins help buy a baby.
- A survey shows that 25% people know and have heard of Bitcoin.
Price at start of June: $129.50
Price at end of June: $95

July
- The Winklevii seek SEC approval for a Bitcoin exchange traded fund. Their main hope is that it would allow Wall Street to put its money in the bitcoin exchange.
- Its reported that Thailand bans Bitcoin. However, the rumours seem to be overrated and not completely true.
- A Texas citizen is charged with running a Bitcoin Ponzi scheme by SEC.
- SatoshiDice, a Bitcoin gambling site is sold to an anonymous buyer for 126,315 bitcoins (approximately $11.4 million at that time)
Price at start of July: $97.50
Price at end of July: $110

August
- A University of Florida professor reports in Politico's front page that Bitcoin could become a haven for tax evaders
- Germany accepts Bitcoin and say they will impose tax regulations on it.
- All bitcoin miners and users are summoned to court by New York's state financial regulator. They also announce all digital currency companies would need to procure "Bitlicenses."
- Bitcoin crimes are reported at a few places. A flaw in Android OS causes Bitcoin thefts.
- The Bitcoin ticker XBT is seen on Bloomberg terminals meaning it was not long before traders would seek to trade bitcoins.
Price at start of August: $106
Price at end of August: $147

September
- SecondMarket, the place where Facebook and Twitter shares were traded before they went public announces it would let investors bet on Bitcoin.
- China becomes a hub for Bitcoin mining and trading. Lightspeed funds Shanghai-based exchange BTC China with $5 million. BTC China will become the largest exchange in the world in two months.
- A UK escort service says it will accept bitcoins.  
Price at start of September: $141
Price at end of Sptember: $144

October
- The feds take down online drug market Silk Road which used Bitcoins in abundance. FBI seizes 26,000 coins from the site and 144,000 coins ($20 million) from the creator of Silk Road, Dread Pirate Roberts. After falling briefly, Bitcoin prices recover soon as investors cheer to note that an illegal Bitcoin usage has been terminated.
- Baidu, considered to be China's Google starts accepting Bitcoins for its security services.
-  Cody Wilson, famous for 3-d gun printing says that Dark Wallet, willing to launch in 2014 is seeking crowd-funding through the website Indiegogo to conceal Bitcoin transactions.
- In Vancouver, the first Bitcoin ATM gets opened.
- The Bitcoin newlywed couple goes for a trip around the world and pays everything in Bitcoins.
Price at start of October: $144
Price at end of October: $209

November
- The Federal Reserve issues a primer quoting Bitcoin as a "Small Phenomenon but Growing."
- $1.2 million worth of bitcoins are stolen from wallet service Inputs.io
- The U.S. Senate holds Bitcoin hearings to ascertain policies, threats and guidelines. The FBI says it formed "Virtual Currency Emerging Threats Working Group" in 2012 which included most federal agencies but these agencies claim that Bitcoin is under control. After the closure of Liberty Reserve and fears of Bitcoin being termed illegal a few months earlier, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says Bitcoin holds long term promise. As a result Bitcoin soars and reaches $1000.
- Famous billionaire Richard Branson announces that people can use Bitcoins to pay for going to space.
- Roger Ver's prediction about Bitcoin outperforming gold soon goes wrong by two months and he loses a best of 1,000 bitcoins ($1 million), which he donates to a nonprofit organization.
- Hong Kong Bitcoin exchange falters and shuts down drowning $4 million worth of investors' funds.
- A UK tech guy mistakenly throws his hard drive containing 7,500 bitcoins into a garbage bin.
- Stockholm-based KnC Miner sells high-powered mining machines woth a staggering $8 million within 24 hours.
Price at start of November: $144
Price at end of November: $1220

December
- Andreesen Horowitz gives $25 million dollars to Coinbase to make it the highest venture-funded Bitcoin start-up.
- Bank of America puts a price target on Bitcoin.
- China stops trading of Bitcoin for real world money. With payment companies not allowed to trade Bitcoin for yuan, the prices fall sharply.
- $220 million worth of Bitcoin stolen from drug bazaar Sheep Marketplace.
- Overstock's CEO announces that his company will start accepting Bitcoin in 2014.
- Bitcoin is declared evil by Paul Krugman.
- By the end of the year, 42% people are aware of the existence of Bitcoin.
Price at start of December: $1200
Price at end of December: $730

That was the monthly wrap-up of Bitcoin developments in 2013. In all, it has been a fabulous year for Bitcoin barring minor hiccups. Due to the low transaction fees, companies are making money by exchanging this digital currency for real world dollars causing it to gain momentum all the time. Whether this Bitcoin bubble is going to continue or burst remains to be seen as we start this new year. 

comboupdates foresees a major shakeup in the value of Bitcoin in the coming months of 2014 due to the various actions being initiated by governments across the world.  The United States Federal Reserve is also expected to come out with clear cut policy guidelines in respect of various virtual currencies around the world in the month of May 2014.  So if you are holding or hoarding bitcoins, it may be proper to make hay while the sun is shining on Bitcoin!