Bitcoin News
The rundown: Bitcoin and all major cryptocurrencies were up in the morning; South Korea plans to build a secure blockchain-based voting system; BitTorrent begins accepting cryptocurrency for premium services; Sumitomo Corporation of Americas to use blockchain to supercharge its logistics business; Swytch launches an enterprise-ready, artificial intelligence-powered clean energy platform on blockchain; and Canada’s luxury fine jewelry brand Birks partners with BitPay to accept Bitcoin at retail stores.
Here is what is happening in the cryptocurrency market on Wednesday.
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In the News
BitTorrent, which operates the world’s most popular P2P communications protocol and products, namely BitTorrent and µTorrent, has started accepting cryptocurrency for premium services. In a press statement, the company said that customers can now pay for Pro and Ads Free products in TRX, BNB, and BTC. BitTorrent teamed up with CoinPayments.net, an integrated payment gateway provider for cryptocurrencies, to offer the crypto payment option.
Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, the largest subsidiary of Sumitomo Corp., plans to use blockchain to supercharge its logistics business. In a press statement, the company said that it has joined the Blockchain in Transport Alliance, which is dedicated to determining best practices and standards for blockchain in the transportation and logistics industries. By using blockchain technology, Sumitomo is hoping to identify new opportunities for growth and the potential to evolve into new business models, according to a press statement.
Swytch has launched an enterprise-ready, artificial intelligence-powered clean energy platform on blockchain. The platform offers “enterprises real-time visibility into their green energy production data in a way that ensures its anonymity and security and uses AI-based predictive technology to create sustainable policies,” the company said in a statement. The launch follows an operational beta test with Energy2market GmbH, an energy trading house in Europe. The large-scale pilot includes roughly 3.5Gw of solar, wind, hydro and biogas energy capacity in Germany, which is enough to power over 500,000 homes.
Canada’s luxury fine jewelry brand Birks Group announced that it now accepts Bitcoin at selective stores across Canada. The group partnered with BitPay to enable its customers to pay in Bitcoin at retail locations for brands such as Rolex, Bulgari, Cartier and Breitling. “It is of great significance to Birks Group to launch BitPay,” Jean-Christophe Bédos, the chief executive officer of Birks Group, said in a press release. “As an internationally growing brand, we believe that BitPay will benefit our customers as we look to align ourselves with these innovative capabilities that are on the forefront of technology.”
South Korea is going to use blockchain to build a secure voting system. According to a report by ZDNET, officials plan to begin testing the blockchain-based voting system next month. The system, to be developed by the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the National Election Commission, will allow voters to cast votes using mobile and personal computers, according to the report.
Cryptocurrency Prices Today (As of 8:35 AM EST)
Bitcoin (BTC) is up 11.22% over the past 24 hours, trading at $4,183.47.
Ethereum (ETH) is trading at $117.15 in the morning, up 10.13% over a 24-hour period.
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) is trading at $223, up 8.6% over the past 24 hours.
Ripple (XRP) is trading at $0.3851, up 9.56% over a 24-hour period.
Litecoin (LTC) is trading at $33.57, up 12.65% over a 24-hour period.
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