Latest Bitcoin publications

Researchers from the U.S. have developed a system to increase the anonymity of parties involved in bitcoin transactions, using a mixing service to make it more difficult to track individuals sending and receiving bitcoin payments. The new system, called TumbleBit, is a computer protocol that uses a mixing service layered on top of existing bitcoin… Read More

Researchers in Italy, investigating the trend towards using Bitcoin’s blockchain for non-financial purposes, have concluded that the ongoing practice is likely to impact the Bitcoin system in the near future. The study An analysis of Bitcoin OP RETURN metadata, by Massimo Bartoletti and Livio Pompianu of Italy’s Universita degli Studi di Cagliari, examines the growing… Read More

A report issued by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the IRS has not provided essential guidance to taxpayers regarding investment in ‘unconventional assets’, including virtual currency. The GAO, a bipartisan investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, recommends that the IRS improve guidance for citizens saving for retirement using tax-deferred Individual… Read More

Postal Service Bank of China (PSBC) has selected IBM as a partner for its blockchain asset custody system, launched this week. This represents the first instance of blockchain asset custody deployment in China. PSBC used the IBM Hyperledger open-source blockchain platform to create this service. It has already successfully conducted over 100 transactions involving the sale… Read More

The People’s Bank of China has issued a statement designating bitcoin currency as as virtual goods, and stating that it does not have the same legal status as currency – and should not be used as money in the marketplace. The Bank also warned that individuals and institutions that invest in bitcoin should do so… Read More