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  • We Have Reasons To Believe That Bitcoin Is Back On Top

    We Have Reasons To Believe That Bitcoin Is Back On Top

    2 min read

    Bitcoin Trend Indicator Shows the Same Pattern As In Mid-2016

    Bitcoin trend indicator shows almost the same pattern as in the middle of 2016. It was just before Bitcoin started its bull run and led BTC into the spotlight. Only a year and a half later, Bitcoin hit its highest price at the end of 2017.

    This Bitcoin trend indicator is noticed by one of the most respectable analysts known as PlanB. 

    PlanB pointed out the Bitcoin trend indicator shows that the current price performance almost exactly matches a pattern from the mentioned period.

    Bitcoin trend indicator

     

    Bitcoin’s relative strength index is similar to its last bull run

    Does the current setback really mean a big uptrend?

    PlanB is very important and one of the most respected crypto analysts. He has made comprehensive research into Bitcoin price. Moreover, he stands behind the Bitcoin stock-to-flow model. A frequently quoted by extremely honored people from the financial sector.

    PlanB had a great influence and still has, on crypto-skeptics. It was like a miracle watching how he turned skeptics into fans. For example CNBC’s  Squawk Box hostJoe Kernen. 

    PlanB’s fresh analysis, the chart of Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index (take a look again) shows a forceful indicator.

     

     

    Can you see an extraordinary similarity? Just compare the year 2016 and nowadays action.

    After a decline in RSI from the high 60s to low 60s, BTC RSI then climbs higher to approximately 75, stands there for a while to take a breath, then proceeds to rise over, crossing out just a bit below 90 on the RSI scale.

    The point of this similarity is the strength of Bitcoin to stay on this level long enough to take a new breath and start a true bull run to the highest high.

    The history should replicate itself.

    Bitcoin is recognized as a safe asset. BTC does not connect to any single country’s policy determinations. Bitcoin is indeed a great advantage in these times of economic uncertainty.

    Don’t miss THIS! LEARN HOW TO MONETIZE BITCOIN

    Check your knowledge about crypto

  • Singapore Stock Market – Why To Invest?

    Singapore Stock Market – Why To Invest?

    Singapore Stock Market - Why To Invest?
    Singapore stock market is strong and that fact causes investors from all meridians to invest in with a high level of safety.

    By Gorica Gligorijevic

    Singapore stock market is healthy and that fact brings investors from all meridians. The reason is that Singapore’s market provides them to invest with a high level of trust.

    According to the IMD World Competitiveness Rankings 2019, Singapore is rated as the world’s most competitive economy. In 2019,  it rose from third place to the top. This progress was caused by educated professionals, excellent technological base, and, most important, advantageous tax policies. 

    The global investment community is observing Singapore for its trade and financial areas. According to some researches, this country could easily catch nearly a third of the world’s agri-commodity trade by 2025.

    This success came due to geographical position, low tax rates, absence of corruption, experienced workforce, etc. Singapore stock market is the largest in Southeast Asia and works for more than 700 companies.

    You would like: Trade on the Indian stock market and win

    Is the Singapore stock market is cheaper?

    The Singapore stock market begins with the Singapore stock exchange or the SGX exchange. SGX Singapore is one of the 30 parts of the Straits Times Index (STI).

    Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) didn’t avoid the global sell-off last year, but the STI kept better so, Singapore’s shares are still cheaper. According to leading wealth managers, they are extremely attractive.

    This year, Singapore’s stock market delivered beautiful returns to investors. This can confirm major investors such as UBS Global Wealth Management and Citi Private Bank. If you take a dividend as a referent, Singapore ranks very high. 

    To show you the Singapore stock market is cheaper, let’s take a look at some data.

    The STI’s average PE ratio from 1973 to 2010 was 16.9 but in 1973 it was 35, which was the historical highest. The lowest P/E ratio was in 2009, and the current P/E, since August, 16, the ratio of 10.3.

    So, you can see that Singapore stocks are cheaper than average.

    We can also use the other method. The net-stock number shows that there is a lot of net-stocks, more than usual, which lead us to conclude they are cheap right now. You know that when supply is bigger than demand…

    Where to invest in Singapore?

    Let’s say you want to buy Singapore stocks right now. Our suggestion is to find, for example, 10 – 15 cheapest shares and keep them to the next ranking. It is usually for one year. Of course, you shouldn’t buy any share just because it is cheap. The odds to hit the rotten are surprisingly high.

    Traders-Paradise gives you a track to follow. We made some selection, but maybe you will pick different.

    UOB-Kay Hian Holdings Limited with a market cap of 977.8 and a P/E ratio at 0.689 is a good choice. The further is SLB Development Ltd, market capitalization – 105.0, P/E ratio – 0.697. Or Sing Holdings Limited with a market cap 158.4 and with P/E ratio 0.899.

    These are just three suggestions and criteria to employ when investing in the Singapore stock market. But you are the one who has to decide where to invest in. We are here to give you a hint.

    The benefits of investing in the Singapore stock market

    * open and free economy

    * favorable tax rates

    * excellent technological infrastructure

    * high-skilled professionals

    * favorable P/E ratio

    * plenty of cheap net-stocks

    But there are some risks involved.

    Singapore’s economy depends on foreign trade. And, Singapore is deeply connected with China’s economy so the trade war between China and the US influences Singapore’s economy too.

    If you want to invest in foreign markets, the Singapore stock market is one of the best. Singapore has succeeded to develop an excellent business-friendly atmosphere.

  • The value of investments is falling – What to do?

    The value of investments is falling – What to do?

    The value of investments is falling - What to do?
    This can be a big issue, try not to panic, and follow these steps to protect your capital invested.

    by Gorica Gligorijevic

    The value of investments is falling and you are worried. Don’t be, it’s normal from time to time but also, you may profit from it. Let me explain this.

    In stock investing, you have to respect a few general facts. You may face the value of investments fall, as first. What you have to do? To find the reason behind. When you determine the reason you will have a powerful weapon in your hands: you will be able to decide should you sell or hold your stocks. Moreover, you’ll be able to buy a new stock of shares. Well, you can see it isn’t the end of the world. Just think about other opportunities and try not to panic.

    Put your emotions aside and turn on your brain. Your investments are not your sweetheart.

    So, when (notice there is nor “IF”) the value of investments falls, don’t jump immediately to sell them. Yes, the news comes, but just stay cool because it can be temporary. Do you know how many investors lost their fortune reacting impulsively?

    It is painful to watch at stocks are falling in price, that’s true. But take a closer look at historical data of stock you hold. Maybe you can notice some patterns. When and why their value has had fallen before? 

    When the value of investments is falling, identify the pattern

    Yes, it is very important to identify the pattern. 

    Past performances don’t guarantee the future behave but at some point, you will figure out the causality. Most stocks respond to market movements in a logical pattern. And you’ll be ready for the next move. 

    Besides, just looking at the charts can make you more nervous. You must have more information. You must have a clear picture of how the whole industry is performing. Industry in which your beneficial company is working, of course. You are holding its stocks and you have to know something about the sector it is working on. What is about the overall market appearance, what is happening there? Is the market volatile maybe? Moreover, did you read at least one quarterly report from the company whose stocks you hold?

     

    The value of investments is falling don’t get panicked

    Okay, let’s talk about this a bit more. Let’s assume you have all the info. So, what would you do with this?

    The key is to recognize what forces the value of your investments to fall. If you cannot identify the reason behind, you should exit your position.

    Sometimes the gap in the market can cause the value of investments to fall. Or it can happen due to the market’s weakness. If you find this case, you should stay in a position. It isn’t rocket science, it is just market: supply and demand relationship. If you are on the market it is reasonable to have a diversified portfolio, right? This is very important, especially in today’s market. A diversified portfolio will produce a positive return to you. But more importantly, it will allow you to have a return higher than the inflation rate is. So, if you are a long-term investor, just stay cool when the value of investments is falling. Your investment horizon is what is really important. 

    Temporary drops shouldn’t concern you. 

    The question is, what is the main goal of any investing strategy? To gain returns bigger than the overall market for some level of risk. It is always a good concept to check how the performance of your stock is in comparison to the overall market. 

    But what if the value of investments is falling suddenly and it different from past performances? The company is still good as it was when you bought your stock! Think! Maybe the reason for the value of investments falling is exactly there. The company is too good and maybe many investors are willing to buy a stake of its shares. If you are not among them, leave your position and invest in some other company.

  • Who Is The Richest Person That Ever Lived?

    Who Is The Richest Person That Ever Lived?

    the richest person ever lived
    It is always an intriguing question. Here is what Traders-Paradise found.

    By Gorica Gligorijevic

    Some of you may think that Bill Gates is the richest person ever lived. Well, he is one of the richest today with $77.8 billion. Also, there was much fanfare when Amazon boss Jeff Bezos was marked as the wealthiest person ever lived with his $105.1 billion fortune. But it is a small part of what some other man held.
    That title is assumed to go to Mansa Musa. Who is Mansa Musa? 

    He was a West African ruler with wealth valued at $400 billion. This isn’t a fairytale and you will see why.  

    “Contemporary accounts of Musa’s wealth are so breathless that it’s almost impossible to get a sense of just how wealthy and powerful he truly was,” Rudolph Butch Ware, associate professor of history at the University of California, said the BBC.

    And Jacob Davidson wrote about the African king for Money.com in 2015  Musa was “richer than anyone could describe”.

    Do you know who were the greatest stock traders of all time

    Why Mansa Musa is the richest person that ever lived?

    His wealth is estimated at $400bn, but historians admit that his wealth is difficult to pin down to a number. That’s how huge it was.

    Mansa Musa was born in 1280 in a family of rulers.  His brother, Mansa Abu-Bakr, ruled the empire until 1312 when he abdicated and went on an expedition with a fleet of 2,000 ships and never returned.

    Mansa Musa inherited the kingdom of Mali. He was an impressive ruler. 

    The kingdom of Mali was from the Atlantic Ocean to Niger, with parts of Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Guinea covering almost 2,000 miles. That large landmass gave great resources, for example, gold and salt.

    According to the British Museum, under Mansa Musa ruling, Mali possessed almost half of the Old World’s gold. And everything belonged to the king.

    “As the ruler, Mansa Musa had almost unlimited access to the most highly valued source of wealth in the medieval world,” said Kathleen Bickford Berzock, who specializes in African art at the Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University, to the BBC.

    “Major trading centers that traded in gold and other goods were also in his territory, and he garnered wealth from this trade,” she figured.

    The empire of Mali had so much gold that Musa was the world’s greatest gold producer and seller. 

    Who was Mansa Musa?

    To meet one of the five pillars of Islam, Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca. This adventure cost huge amounts of cash. This “Lord of the Mines of Wangara” had to travel stylish and luxurious. The 60,000 big caravans had 1,000 helpers, 100 camels with gold packages, countless musicians for Musa to enjoy, and more than 500 slaves.

    Mansa Musa came back from Mecca bringing several Islamic teachers. Among them were direct descendants of the prophet Muhammad, for example, and an Andalusian poet and architect, Abu Es Haq es Saheli, who designed the famous Djinguereber mosque. Musa allegedly paid the poet 200 kg in gold. Counted today, it is about $8.2 million.

    Besides his legacy, Musa’s property is estimated to be worth an inconceivable amount, to around $400 billion. According to Time magazine: “There’s really no way to put an accurate number on his wealth.” 

    Some believe that Mansa Musa’s unbelievable fortune may have been somewhat overstated. Nevermind, he is still the richest person that ever lived.

    Don’t tell to the Rothschild Family.

  • Traders are Worried Due Economic Recession

    Traders are Worried Due Economic Recession

    3 min read

    Economic Recession is Here

    Gorica Gligorijevic

    Investors are worried due to the economic recession. Traders have invested a huge capital into bonds over the past 3 months. Actually, they invested a record $155 billion into bond funds during the past three months.

    So, what’s going on? This activity shows that traders and investors are looking for safe assets and the global crisis is on the door. Traders are purchasing sovereign debts. If they continue as it seems they will, we can be pretty sure we will have a huge recession. This trend isn’t good.

    Investors prefer bonds as increased global economic difficulty induces a need for safety.

    According to data collected by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, investors put a record $155 billion into bonds during the last three months. And we all know what is the safest investment when crisis knocks on the door. The government bonds are the safest assets.

    Worries expressed in money

    In just one week, the week behind, the bonds lured $7.1 billion. For one week only. By the way, it was one of the biggest inflows ever.

    Investors have a risk aversion. They don’t like to see their capital is at risk. And as they recognized the symptoms of this financial illness called the economic recession they started to invest in safer bonds. But their action caused another problem. Everyone in the markets feels anxiety, the trade tensions are rising along with worries the global economy is worsening. 

    The markets are volatile and everyone would like to put money in assets that perform better during the crisis.

    “What we’re seeing from a risk standpoint at this point in the market is really investors that are seeking haven in longer duration US treasuries,” Charlie Ripley, a senior investment strategist for Allianz Investment Management, said Markets Insider in the interview. 

    What does stand behind this traders’ action? 

    Fear! Fear of a coming economic recession. Fear is a powerful force. And that fear is caused by an inverted yield curve. It appears for the first time since 2007, and traders and economists noticed it several days ago. 

    View this too

    That’s important because such an inversion has happened before every economic recession since 1950.

    The yield curve is inverted again. Meanwhile, China ramped up its trade war with the US. The previous developments in trade war have pushed companies of an economic slowdown. The new situation added more stress to investors.

    Trump’s “Sorry”?

    President Donald Trump, at a press conference at the Group of Seven summit in Biarritz, France, said he was not concerned that his more volatile attitude toward China would threaten stability in the global economy. 

    “Sorry! It’s the way I negotiate,” he told reporters. “It’s done very well for me over the years. It’s doing very well for the country.”

    This comment occurred after a woozy week of economic announcements from the White House. These reports have caused uncertainty among businesses and investors. 

    Trump said that China asked the US to restart consultations and negotiations. He also said about President Xi Jinping that he is “a great leader who happens to be a brilliant man”. Yes, only a few days before, he called him “enemy”.

    The Global Times, an organ of the Chinese Communist Party, also disputed Trump’s enthusiasm.

    “Based on what I know, Chinese and US top negotiators didn’t hold phone talks in recent days,” the Global Times editor Hu Xijin wrote in a tweet. “The two sides have been keeping contact at the technical level, it doesn’t have significance that President Trump suggested. China didn’t change its position. China won’t cave to US pressure.”

    All of this caused great uncertainty among investors. We will follow what is next.

  • The Most Valuable AI Startups In Europe

    The Most Valuable AI Startups In Europe

    2 min read

    AI startups in Europe

    The field of AI and MA is one of the most interesting businesses for European venture capital. From the beginning of this year, there were 323 VC contracts in Europe in these businesses. That brought almost $2.1 billion in total.

    Much more than the last year.

    The reason behind is that there are so many fields to apply AI technology.

    This variety is seen in the top five most important European AI startups. Let’s take a look at them.

    Graphcore (Valuation: $1.7 billion) 

    This is one of the most valued AI startups in Europe. As a difference from the other companies, Graphcore is essentially involved in the hardware behind AI tech. This England-based unicorn develops a new-generation computer processor to hasten machine intelligence learning. Graphcore carries the highest valuation of AI startups in Europe. It reached $200 million Series D co-led by Atomico and Sofina.

    Darktrace (Valuation: $1.65 billion) 

    Based in the UK this cybersecurity startup utilizes AI and machine learning to examine and recognize security vulnerabilities and malicious traffic. Darktrace reached its current valuation when it raised a $50 million Series E led by Vitruvian Partners last September KKR and TenEleven Ventures also funded this startup

    Meero (Valuation: $1 billion)

    The France-based developer of an on-demand photography platform is one of two French startups on the list. It uses AI to quickly process digital images for customers in over 100 countries. Meero funded $230 million in a Series C co-led by Eurazeo and Prime Ventures. 

    Iov42 (Valuation: €520 million)

    This startup rides AI and Blockchain. Iov42 develops an AI-powered blockchain-operating platform that gives service to cryptocurrencies. Its latest investment was a €20 million Series C3. 

    ContentSquare (Valuation: €276.8 million)

    ContentSquare develops a platform that assists businesses to understand how and why clients are associating with their app, mobile and web sites. This Paris-based company applies a mixture of behavioral data, AI and big data to give automatic recommendations, measure content performance and understand visitor intentions. In January, the company raised a €52.55 million Series C led by Eurazeo. Highland Europe and Canaan Partners also funded it.

    Bottom line

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is an important sector for Europe and it can be a hack for economic growth. For some people, it still represents destructive robot troops that will wipe out humans.

    As you can see it is worth business.

    Technology, throughout history, has demonstrated to increase the productivity of countries creating new jobs. But instead, this technology is connected to the deadly robot troops.

    We need a new tech generation. Yes, it is very expensive and not truly strong enough to make a notable impact on economies. But it absolutely will be

     

  • Top Blue – Chip Stocks Today

    Top Blue – Chip Stocks Today

    3 min read

    top-blue-chip-stock

    These top-quality stocks lead their industries, and they’ve been good to investors over the long run.

    We know, you are wondering how to choose the best stock for you. There are a billion stocks out there and it is difficult to find the right one. So, it is time to say something about blue-chips stocks.

    Many investors would advise you to choose the leading company in its industry. So, the biggest companies with long track records of performances are blue-chips stocks. 

    And you are wondering which they are? Let’s take a closer look at some.

    The companies we would like to recommend to your attention are among the biggest in the world. They already have a high market cap but they plan to grow more. 

    Apple

    The famous Apple has had a huge impact on purchases electronics and new technology in modern history. The first Mac users, those from the 90s, still use this Macs. The modern ones, of course, but Mac. That is loyalty. But Apple built consumers’ confidence with diligence. After first Macs, it made a revolution with the iPod, iPhone and Apple Watch were on the scene. And it is still one of the biggest companies in the world. That is a blue-chip company.

    You may ask how it is a great possibility without new products in recent years. Yes, that is true, Apple has started to look more like an old guy in the new era. The added catch is that Apple has yielded huge amounts to shareholders during the past several years. So, you may ask why they didn’t reinvest it? So many investors are asking that almost every day.

    Traders-Paradise wouldn’t bet that they don’t have. I just think they are watching and preparing something revolutionary. Recently, they said they are not a high-tech company anymore. Don’t worry about that, it is due to some taxes and regulations. But it looks like everything is okay now. Their focus is on Apple TV+ service to take part in the video-streaming industry. And beat the rivals. There is still a lot of work but definitely, Apple is worth being in your plan as a top blue-chip company.

    Berkshire Hathaway

    It is one of the most successful blue-chip stocks in history with legendary Warren Buffett. He is still in the head of this company.

    Berkshire Hathaway has a large portfolio of  100-percent-owned companies and publicly traded stocks. Where are the blue-chip stocks out there? Berkshire’s top holdings are Apple and JPMorgan Chase. There is GEICO, also, and railroad giant BNSF, altogether with the Dairy Queen restaurant chain. Its share price is very high, they are traded currently a bit above $300,000. Truly Class A stocks. They have one of the best track record performance over a long long time. This conglomerate isn’t a member of Dow. But you don’t have to be a genius to understand why Berkshire Hathaway is a top blue-chip stock.

    JPMorgan Chase

    The other company from the conglomerate.

    JPMorgan Chase is an important player in the U.S. banking industry.

    But you have to know something. JPMorgan Chase was so close to slipping the edge during the 2008-2009 financial crisis. The bank performed a significant role in supporting the financial system through its buying of Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual and ended up on financial support from the federal government. It took time for the bank to grow from a difficult period.

    Today JPMorgan is recovered completely. This bank is stronger than ever. High returns on net tangible equity provide it a valuable advantage in an atmosphere of low-interest rates. And it is capable to gain on chances to grow in main fields on its business divisions. Investors can be safer than ever with this top blue-chip stock and rank that JPMorgan Chase owns.

    Facebook

    We were thinking should we add Facebook among the top blue-chip stocks.  Facebook exists a bit more than 15 years and is a publicly-traded since 2012. But it is the pioneer of social media and it became a giant.

    Moreover, Facebook still has a lot of ways in which it can develop. Its Instagram app is strong followed among youngsters. But, the company still didn’t generate large revenue from WhatsApp or from Oculus. One is for sure, the future could make those parts much more important to Facebook’s overall returns. Facebook is the clear leader in the social media field.

    Little after its IPO, Facebook’s stock experienced huge declines. It didn’t take too long and Facebook’s stock price rose. The company successfully turn its PC-focused platform to mobile devices and showed the ability to keep up with the times. So, profitability is out the question. So, it is a top blue-chip stock.

    Visa

    The credit card giant originally had the name BankAmericard, formed by Bank of America. In the 1970s, the company changed its name to Visa. A long time before its IPO, it was a private corporation. In 2008, Visa finally became a publicly-traded company.  

    Visa is a blue-chip stock because of its leading position in the credit and debit card industry. With billions of cards issued, Visa exists all over the world. Moreover, Visa pioneered in electronic payments. Visa is producing huge profits.

    The competition has risen, and that’s forced Visa to be careful in its territory and been successful. Visa aims to maintain its status by making it easier for clients to use mobile devices to transfer money more efficiently.  Taking all this into consideration, Visa should be a top blue-chip stock in the payments industry for a long time.

  • Planning When You Are Insolvent

    Planning When You Are Insolvent

    2 min read

    How to reduce costs and improve credit score

    You don’t have enough cash, right? And you don’t know how to reduce costs.  Well, it’s more likely you don’t have a plan. First of all, try not to spend more than you earn. If you do, you would prevent the growing credit card debts and you would not have broken credit score. So, what to do when you have all of this? Honestly, you are not a lonely case. Don’t worry, you still have the chance to reach your financial intentions. 

    All you have to do is to take several steps. So, let’s start. We don’t need all this stress surrounding us.

    Neglect the 10% savings rule. This isn’t time for it. Forget it.

    Puting10% of your salary into your savings account is a tricky part if you’re surviving paycheck to paycheck. You cannot save a cent. So, wait with that. So, the first step is to balance your budget.

    Further, how to reduce costs…

    Ask for bill extensions. It is often allowed. Talk to your landlord if you are worried to save a roof over your head. But consider the other possibilities to decrease your bills. For example, maybe you don’t need all the services your mobile provider is giving, or you may spend less money on electricity bills, and so on.

    If your biggest worry is eviction from your apartment, talk to your landlord, but, also, see if you can get increases on any other expenses to free up money for keeping a roof over your head.

    Let’s see what else you can do.

    Analysis of your credit card payments. What? Do you want to tell you are using that for minimum payments? Well, you are on the right path to disaster. You will ruin your credit score! Don’t even try to avoid credit card payments. That will make your debts even worse.

    Rather make the highest payment you can support. 

    Decrease spending in other fields and stay focused on your debt. Yes, you may think are not saving money while you are increasing credit cards payments. But, honestly, you do. In this way, you will be able to save up to 30% per year in interest rate. For example, if you manage to pay $2,000 added this year, you will pay almost $600 ahead. It can be on-month-rate and you are on a good way to avoid eviction.

    Moreover, prioritize your bills. Check what you have to pay as first and make a plan based on your paydays. If you already have some late bills, talk to representatives from bill company. Be honest with them and say you are going on a more stringent budget. Just tell them how much you can pay per month and don’t promise you will pay more with the next paycheck. What if some other costs arise? What are you going to do? So, just be honest.

    Review your spending in the last month. Make a list of different categories or use online banking or some app for that. Call your credit card company or companies and try to reduce the interest rate. Negotiate!  

    How to reduce costs else?

    Try to reduce your expenses. Actually, you have to do so. Check your fridge! Is there rotten food? Of course, you have to shop for less fresh food. Make a menu for one week, for example, and stick with it. The big result will come with small steps. Cut back on coffee, invite friends to your home, instead to see them in restaurants. Eating out is expensive anyway. You will not need that for a while.

    Give your budget a one-month chance. Make notes every day, use the app on your mobile or some software on your computer. Follow the spending of every cent. And you will see where you need to adjust your spending. Decide where to cut. Oh, yes! Don’t try to exclude supermarkets, utilities, and rent. You have to buy food, you must have a place to live and you need electricity and other utilities. Just reduce the light (you are not living in the surgery room, for God’s sake), and start to cook.

    And try to find more income.

     

  • U.S. Government is Blacklisting the Bitcoin Addresses

    U.S. Government is Blacklisting the Bitcoin Addresses

    2 min read

    Blacklisting the Bitcoin Addresses

    The blacklisting results are three sanctioned Chinese persons and 11 Bitcoin addresses and 1 Litecoin address added to this list for now.  The U.S. government said that is investigating criminal activity linked with Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

    Experts are expecting more and more similar activities. On Wednesday, the Treasury Department issued sanctions against three Chinese because they were allegedly using Bitcoin for laundering profits from drug selling.

    The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) by adding 12 crypto coins addresses more, ensure that no one in the US can make business with people behind any of those addresses.

    This action isn’t the first blacklisting.

    During the past year, it is second. The first was against Iranian residents 8 or 9 months ago. On November last year, OFAC issued a sentence for two Iranians with the same arguments – laundering dirty money using Bitcoin.
    The unprecedented move happened last year. That was the first time ever, the US government has attached two Bitcoin addresses to a list of sanctions. The addresses were linked to those Iranians who ran an ad-hoc crypto exchange. 

    So, we have to remind you that Bitcoin or any other crypto is anonymous as many people like to believe. 

    Traders-Paradise recently wrote about that HERE 

    The newly revealed addresses are, as the previous two,  listed on the Specially Designated Nationals list. All with their names, email and physical address.
    The addresses are linked to two Iranian nationals who ran an ad-hoc crypto exchange in the country. Their bitcoin addresses are now listed on the Specially Designated Nationals list alongside their names, email addresses, and physical address.

    In a  statement last year, the US Treasury Department revealed:

    “We are publishing digital currency addresses to identify illicit actors operating in the digital currency space. Treasury will aggressively pursue Iran and other rogue regimes attempting to exploit digital currencies and weaknesses in cyber and AML/CFT safeguards to further their nefarious objectives.”

    These actions are the beginning of larger activities, said to Chainalysis Global Head of Policy Jesse Spiro. This kind of criminals collected about $4.3 billion in 2019 so far, stated the new statement

    “We anticipate further action by OFAC to include additional cryptocurrency addresses attributed to these individuals and others that are involved in narcotics trafficking going forward,” Spiro said to Decrypt. He pointed out that those cases confirm the need for “strict cryptocurrency compliance programs to immediately identify high-risk behavior and activity.”

    So, we can expect more blacklisting the Bitcoin addresses in the future.

    The criminal and money laundering are problems by their nature. The other problem is cryptocurrency lost in these crimes.

    “As lawmakers and regulators focus their attention on the industry, it is more critical than ever that cryptocurrency businesses demonstrate compliance best practices,” said John Dempsey, VP in Chainalysis. “Every minute counts when managing exposure to sanctioned entities, hacked funds, darknet markets, and other illicit activities.”

    The US exchanges are now obliged to screen for blocked persons. Contrary, anyone who breaks these sanctions can face penalties up to $10 million and criminal charges, also.

    “By having such procedures in place, institutions and exchanges can work with governments and law enforcement in detecting and preventing such illicit activities,” stated Spiro.

    The regulations are a necessity for the crypto ecosystem. How it will keep the anonymity of transactions is another question. And we have to ask, will they blacklist banks which launder money?