Colleagues, the Cryptocurrency
Academy has closely tracked and reported
on the NASDAQ’s interest in trading cryptocurrencies. Therefore, it comes as no
surprise that CEO Adena Friedman was recently quoted by Ethereum
World News that is now beta testing a
Crypto Pricing Prediction Model, which would become part of the exchanges’ Analytics Hub. Moreover, Friedman is on record as stating NASDAQ
would “consider
becoming a crypto exchange over time.” We believe there are two fundamental
issues standing between the NASDAQ and its implementation of full-blown crypto
trading services: Security and Regulation. The global crypto ecosystem has been
wrought with security breaches on all sides during the past two years.
Moreover, the US SEC has been sending mixed signals with regard to its
consideration of cryptocurrencies (and related ETFs) as financial “securities”.
Security threats and lack of regulatory clarification notwithstanding, we
believe NASDAQ’s drive to be on the bleeding edge of financial innovation will
lead it to provide crypto trading and exchanges services within 12-24 months. Send us your thoughts today! Lawrence – Cryptocurrency
Academy (https://cryptocurrencyacademy.blogspot.com/)
Our mission is to provide Training and Certification programs to enable Cryptocurrency, Blockchain and FinTech traders and investors worldwide to achieve their career goals.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
How will the lack of regulatory clarity impact Goldman, JP Morgan and Blackrock crypto trading desks?
Colleagues, in H1 2018 the
cryptosphere was abuzz about top tier financial institutions implementing
cryptocurrency trading and investment services. For the time being Goldman
Sachs has decided to focus on crypto
custody services while halting any plans for
cryptocurrency trading for institutional clients citing concerns about the
direction of the US SEC’s regulatory framework. Under the leadership of incoming CEO
David Solomon and its current CFO Martin Chavez is taking a cautious “wait and
see” approach. GS notwithstanding, other tier one player such as JPM,
Blackrock, Vanguard and Fidelity appear to be less risk averse. Bottom line:
The Cryptocurrency
Academy anticipates two key
developments. First, the aforementioned players are likely to move ahead with
their plans for crypto trading. Second, given time (perhaps 24-36 months) we
still believe that Goldman Sachs will launch a crypto trading service once the
SEC firms-up its regulatory guidelines and other financial institutions begin
to gain traction in crypto trading. Send us your thoughts today! Lawrence – Cryptocurrency
Academy (https://cryptocurrencyacademy.blogspot.com/)
Monday, September 10, 2018
Will Gemini’s New Crypto Key Storage System Prevent Double-Spend Cyber Attacks?
Colleagues, co-founders of the Gemini crypto exchange Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss have been granted a patent for “Systems and methods for storing digital math-based
assets using a secure portal”. Digital asset ledgers will be used to protect users from “double-spend” cyber-attacks. Unlike traditional paper currencies,
cryptocurrencies have the
potential to be copied and rebroadcasted. This leads to the opportunity for
nefarious cyber criminals to spend the same cryptocurrency twice. Multiply this
type of transaction known as “double-spend” by 100s of thousands of transactions
and the value of crypto jacking easily runs into the millions of USD. Bottom
line: How effective will the new crypto key storage system be in preventing
illicit “double-spend”? Our readers along with the global crypto ecosystem will not know the answer until this system is
designed, developed and battle tested in the real world. Yes, we will be
tracking this matter closely. Send us your thoughts today! Lawrence – Cryptocurrency
Academy (https://cryptocurrencyacademy.blogspot.com/)
Friday, September 7, 2018
Will Blockchain’s Time-Stamped and Immutable Data Bolster the Fight Against Crypto Cyber Crime?
Colleagues, China has become one
of the first countries to recognize Blockchain-based
smart contracts as legally binding evidence. Moreover,
the PRC has opened two courts dedicated to processing Internet and cybercrime.
These moves would appear to strengthen crypto cyber security in both domestic
and cross-border transactions. The UK Law
Commission reported in July 2018 that it
has launched a research project to assess the legitimacy of smart contracts as
well. Meanwhile, the American
Bar Association (ABA) views recognizes
Blockchain-based smart contracts as a “disruptive
advancement” which have the potential of transforming the legal system. Surely,
there is a vocal minority in the global crypto ecosystem who view such measures
as a hindrance to cryptocurrency adoption. By contract, we believe that
collectively these initiatives will have two positive outcomes. First, enhanced
security in cryptocurrencies and the Blockchains that enable them. Second,
improvement in consumer and institutional confidence in cryptocurrencies. Send us your thoughts today! Lawrence – Cryptocurrency
Academy (https://cryptocurrencyacademy.blogspot.com/)
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
IBM to join the parade of Blockchain-based payment systems vendor … with what level of security?
Colleagues, two of the greatest
value propositions Blockchain offers the established financial and banking
system is faster transaction speed accompanied by lower OPEX. This is
especially appealing for trans-border payments. IBM’s
World Wire joins the ranks of RippleNet, Ant
Financial and GMO in this enticing market niche. The key players will likely tout
their systems at the up-coming Sibos fintech conference in Australia this October. These systems are
based upon on model integrated into a bank’s existing systems, fiat currency is
exchanged into a digital asset at bank A which in turn is transferred to
bank B where it is converted back into a second fiat currency. Sounds
attractive, indeed. Bottom line: There are three critical success factors
needed for this process to be commercially viable. They have speed and can
reduce OPEX, but with what level of security … which is the Achilles heel of
all Blockchains in the banking sector and beyond. We will closely monitor the
aforementioned vendor’s system and report this fall. Send us your thoughts today! Lawrence – Cryptocurrency
Academy (https://cryptocurrencyacademy.blogspot.com/)
Monday, September 3, 2018
Which steps can Internet browser vendors take to reduce cyber crypto mining attacks?
Colleagues, crypto jacking has become a
monumental cyber challenge for cryptocurrency mass adoption. Most crypto
jacking attacks target Chrome, Firefox, IE and Safari browsers by adding
nefarious scripts, which perform illicit mining unbeknownst to end-users. The Google Play Store and Apple App Store have
implemented policies to remove suspicious apps from their online stores. However,
this is just one small step. Google, Apple, Microsoft and the Mozilla Foundation all need to
proactively integrate tools, which will prevent scripts and related adware. Moreover,
a more user-friendly method for automatically pushing security patches to mobile
devices and laptop-desktop computers alike. Bottom line: The security and
browser software firms have some of the best minds on the planet within the
ranks of their employer. We need something comparable to a moonshot commitment
to innovate security protection rather than constantly play catch-up to cyber
criminals if the cryptocurrency ecosystem is to achieve
the credibility needed by investors small and large. Send us your thoughts
today! Lawrence – Cryptocurrency
Academy (https://cryptocurrencyacademy.blogspot.com/)
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Can Japan’s National Police Agencies’ New Software Security Tool Reduce Crypto Money Laundering?
Colleagues, it
is common knowledge that money laundering is bonanza for crypto cyber
criminals. The Japanese NPA has decided to
fund the development of AML software by a private sector
security firm. Japan is home to some of some
prominent crypto exchanges including Coincheck, BitOcean, Bitarg, Zaif and GMO Coin. With cyber-attacks on both crypto exchanges and users, running rampant
Japan is on the bleeding edge of cyber enforcement … not by choice, rather by
necessity. The NPA reported some 170 cases of suspected crypto
crime during a mere six-month
period in 2017 alone. Does this strategy
represent a silver bullet for resolving the crypto AML dilemma? Not at all. It
is, however, one more important counter-measure to protect the global crypto
ecosystem. We expect other nation’s securities and law enforcement agencies to
fund similar tools in an effort to gain an upper hand against the crypto cybercrime
contagion. Send us your thoughts
today! Lawrence – Cryptocurrency
Academy (https://cryptocurrencyacademy.blogspot.com/)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
-
Colleagues, crypto time warp attacks occur when miners collude to report incorrect timestamps that are farther apart, messing with the ...
-
Crypto Traders, gain a competitive advantage in cryptocurrency and Bitcoin trading with three complementary programs. First, the Certified C...
-
Colleagues, we have written extensively about the CBDC initiatives underway in China (PBoC), US (US Federal Reserve) and the UK (Bank of...