navigating-bitcoin’s-impact:-softswiss’-igaming-industry-overview

Navigating Bitcoin’s Impact: SOFTSWISS’ iGaming Industry Overview

Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

In March 2024, Bitcoin soared to a historical high, nearing 70,000 euro per coin. How does this impact the iGaming market? Being a tech company with over 15 years of experience and an innovator in crypto iGaming software development, SOFTSWISS shares anticipations in its quarterly crypto analysis.

Over 220 brands powered by the company engaged in crypto transactions during the first quarter of 2024, which is 12% higher than the previous quarter. SOFTSWISS experts analyse the data gathered from crypto-friendly brands by employing extrapolation, comparative, and correlative analysis.

 

iGaming Market Overview: Unveiling Anticipated Growth

The size of the global online gambling and sports betting industry is expected to rise significantly and exceed 170 billion euro by 2032, according to Statista. Based on SOFTSWISS data, the iGaming market has demonstrated a stable pattern of growth year after year.

In absolute terms in euro, the Total Bet Sum grew by 5.8% in the first quarter of the year compared to the last quarter of 2023. Analysing the year-on-year increase, comparing Q1’24 with Q1’23, the growth is more impressive, showcasing a 47.2% boost.

Simultaneously, the Total Bet Count, both fiat and crypto, displayed a slightly larger gain in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous quarter, surpassing 6.1%. The indicator’s year-on-year boost is much more notable, revealing a 57.2% increase.

The popularity of iGaming in recent years has been fuelled by its global reach and accessibility due to constant technological advancements. On one hand, the quality of internet connectivity continues to rise, while on the other, new payment methods are emerging, simplifying payment procedures.

The in-depth quarterly analysis, ongoing since the beginning of 2022, reveals that fiat bets are undergoing more substantial growth compared to crypto bets. In Q1’24, the Fiat Bet Sum increased by 6.9% compared to Q4’23, while the rise of Crypto Bet Sum was at 2.4%.

 

The more active growth of fiat bets led to a slight decrease in the share of crypto. In the first quarter of 2024, the crypto share in the Total Bets Sum settled at 24.4%, decreasing by 0.8 percentage points (p.p) compared to the last quarter of 2023.

 

What is the State of Crypto in iGaming?

Analysing crypto bets, it is crucial to highlight that almost 93% of them are facilitated through the in-game currency conversion tool, which is gaining traction. This mechanism allows operators to engage players with cryptocurrency assets in games initially tailored for fiat only. Operators that adopt such options are gaining more competitive advantages in the market.

While the Q1’2024 Crypto Bet Sum shows a moderate 2.4% growth compared to the previous quarter, the year-on-year analysis demonstrates a 20.8% increase. The Crypto Bet Count remained unchanged in Q1’24 compared to the previous quarter’s indicator. Simultaneously, the metric increased by 21.3% year-on-year. The figures speak volumes, showcasing a consistent interest among players in crypto gaming.

“The lack of a substantial increase in the number of crypto bets during Q1’24 can be partly attributed to the significant rise of the Bitcoin exchange rate during this period, leading players to be more cautious with their crypto bets.  This trend mirrors the situation in the first quarter of the previous year when the Bitcoin exchange rate surged following a decline at the end of 2022,” comments Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operating Officer at SOFTSWISS.

 

What Distinguishes the Average Crypto Bet?

The average crypto bet increased to 1.71 euro in the first quarter of the year from 1.66 euro in the last quarter of 2023. This growth correlates with a significant strengthening of the Bitcoin rate during the first quarter of 2024.

The average fiat bet remained steady at around 0.81 euro in Q1’24 and Q4’23. The average total bet stayed constant since the second half of the previous year and is equal to 0.93 euro.

 

Notably, the average crypto bet is double that of fiat. This indicates that digital currencies are preferred by higher-income players.


Why Did Bitcoin’s Share Drop?

The Top Five most operated digital coins in iGaming have remained stable during the last two years with minor changes in ranking order. The top still includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Tether.

 

In Q1 2024, Bitcoin experienced a significant decline of 9.4 p.p. compared to Q4 2023. This could be attributed to the bolstering Bitcoin exchange rate and players exercising a more cautious approach towards it.

In contrast, the shares of other digital coins have increased. Ethereum and Litecoin showed growth of 4.0 p.p. and 3.8 p.p., respectively, during the same period. Simultaneously, Dogecoin rose to fourth place in the ranking, leaving Tether behind.

Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operating Officer at SOFTSWISS, summarises: “The benefits of employing digital currencies, such as fast transactions and anonymity, still attract many players. Embracing cryptocurrencies in iGaming can boost operator profits despite their volatile nature.

As the Bitcoin rate is expected to strengthen after the Bitcoin Halving, the average crypto bet and projected gains may see a notable impact. During such promising times, it is crucial to have reliable and experienced partners to navigate the path to success.”

 

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform, and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.

 

 

The post Navigating Bitcoin’s Impact: SOFTSWISS’ iGaming Industry Overview appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

should-igaming-be-worried-about-2024-bitcoin-halving?

Should iGaming Be Worried About 2024 Bitcoin Halving?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

In its LinkedIn newsletter, ‘The SOFTSWISS Special’, SOFTSWISS, a global tech expert with over 15 years of experience in iGaming, delves into the impact of Bitcoin Halving on the iGaming realm. 

The recent historical moment of Bitcoin Halving took place on 19th April 2024. SOFTSWISS, a pioneer in crypto-friendly iGaming software, shares its insights and forecasts for how this event may shape the future of iGaming, shedding light on potential opportunities and challenges for industry stakeholders.

 

What is Bitcoin Halving?

The Bitcoin halving is a scheduled event that occurs approximately every four years or every 210,000 blocks. During this event, the reward for mining and verifying new blocks is reduced by 50%, resulting in miners earning only half the number of BTC per mined block. 

Since its launch in 2009, Bitcoin’s mining reward has halved four times, occurring in 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024. The recent April halving reduced the reward to 3.125 BTC per block. Such events are crucial for Bitcoin’s scarcity and inflation control, ensuring that the total supply never exceeds 21 million coins and aligning with its deflationary principles.

Historically, each halving event has resulted in a rise in Bitcoin’s price. This is attributed to the reduced supply and increased scarcity, although other market factors have also influenced these outcomes.

 

Exploring the Impact of Bitcoin Halving on the iGaming Industry

To provide an in-depth analysis of the Bitcoin Halving impact on iGaming, SOFTSWISS invited Bradley Peak, blockchain expert and tokenomics adviser, to share its anticipations.

  • Bets rise: The halving is expected to lead to an increase in Bitcoin’s value. If the trend of impressive price surges persists, Bitcoin-friendly iGaming brands could see a positive impact.
  • Crypto adoption increase: Implementing crypto-friendly models has the potential to boost player trust and transparency in iGaming. Additionally, it could rejuvenate unique gaming experiences like provably fair games and decentralised casinos.
  • Regulatory frameworks improvement: The recent Bitcoin halving could prompt regulatory bodies to reassess their stance on cryptocurrency gambling. This could lead to new regulations ensuring fairness, responsible gambling, and anti-money laundering measures in the crypto-driven iGaming sector. 

Bradley Peak, blockchain expert, comments on the recent changes: “Any transformation will not be without its challenges. It is important to adapt – invest in employee learning and development, onboard crypto processing, and make sure your platform remains secure in the process.”

Explore the influence of the 2024 Bitcoin Halving on the iGaming industry in the fourth edition of The SOFTSWISS Special newsletter on LinkedIn.

 

About SOFTSWISS 

SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.

 

The post Should iGaming Be Worried About 2024 Bitcoin Halving? appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

bitcoin-sv-technical-standards-committee-recommends-first-technical-standard

Bitcoin SV Technical Standards Committee recommends first technical standard

 

Bitcoin Association for BSV, the Switzerland-based global industry organisation that works to advance business with the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain and digital currency, today announces that the Bitcoin SV Technical Standards Committee (TSC), an industry-led standards organisation for the BSV ecosystem, , has progressed the Merkle proof standardised format to the recommended stage – the first BSV Technical Standard to reach this milestone.

Merkle proofs are vital to all uses of Simplified Payment Verification (SPV) described in the original Bitcoin whitepaper and form the foundation of most user interactions with the Bitcoin network. Because there are a wide variety of implementations transmitting and receiving Merkle proofs, a standardised format was proposed to improve interoperability of Merkle proofs between applications across the BSV ecosystem.

After first being proposed in June 2020 and passing an initial checkpoint review by the 10 Technical Standards Committee members, the proposed standard data format for Merkle inclusion proofs was drafted by a dedicated workgroup and subjected to several subsequent review phases – including an open public review – after which the standard was published in June 2021. Following the publication of the standard, the TSC has monitored the standard for adoption from businesses to determine its usefulness to the broader BSV ecosystem.

With the Merkle proof standardised format now in use across three prominent ecosystem applications – the Bitcoin SV node software, Merchant API (mAPI), ElectrumSV and ElectrumX – the TSC has determined that the standard has reached a sufficient level of adoption to progress to the recommended stage. The standardised format for Merkle proofs is now recommended for all businesses across the BSV ecosystem that utilise Merkle proofs in their application or service. The TSC will continue to monitor the standard for adoption, as well as any potential improvements or modifications that may be required to ensure that it remains useful and relevant for businesses that implement it.

The TSC was established to professionalise the development of Bitcoin technology in order to support major enterprise use and accelerate global adoption. It works to promote technical excellence and enhance interoperability across the BSV ecosystem through standardisation. The committee aims to facilitate industry participation and representation in the development of global standards that will promote technical excellence and enhance interoperability across the BSV ecosystem. To find out more, visit tsc.bitcoinassociation.net today.

Commenting on today’s announcement, Bitcoin Association for BSV Founding President Jimmy Nguyen said:

‘The work of the Bitcoin SV Technical Standards Committee is vital to professionalising the development of Bitcoin technology for business and ensuring that it is compatible, interoperable and useful. After nearly two years of work, the Merkle proof standardised format becoming the first standard to reach the recommended phase and see real adoption across the BSV ecosystem is a testament to the hard work that has been put in, the processes that have been developed – and more broadly – the importance of the TSC. I would like to extend my personal thanks to the TSC, the members of the Merkle proof standardised format working group and all of the individuals that have contributed to the success of the first BSV technical standard.’

Also commenting, Chair of the Bitcoin SV Technical Standards Committee Steve Shadders said:

‘The first BSV technical standard progressing to the recommended stage – the final stage for technical standards – represents a significant achievement for the Bitcoin SV Technical Standards Committee. The process to get to this stage has been lengthy, but the standard satisfying all of the criteria required to reach the recommended stage is significant and serves as validation, not only for the Merkle proof standardised format, but also for the TSC and the value it brings to the wider BSV ecosystem. Being the first technical standard to reach this stage, there have been several lessons learned throughout the process for the TSC and its working groups, which will benefit the development of all future technical standards – and more broadly – the BSV ecosystem.’

thunderpick-is-launching-the-first-ever-esports-tournament-series-with-a-prize-pool-in-bitcoin

Thunderpick is launching the first ever eSports tournament series with a prize pool in Bitcoin

Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

The Thunderpick Bitcoin Series is an online event that officially starts on the 17th of January with a CS:GO tournament that will last until the 7th of March. Other CS:GO and Dota 2 tournaments within the Thunderpick Bitcoin Series are expected later in 2022.

The first tournament of the Series will host top CS:GO squads from all over the world. There will be a total of 23 teams competing for a chance to win a chunk of the 1.2 Bitcoin prize pool with at least $75,000 guaranteed. The minimum amount is a secure prize, but there is no telling how high the Bitcoin price might go up during the playoffs, so the main prize might be even higher!

The format of the CS:GO tournament will be a standard best-of-three, divided further into three stages with the collective 50 Bo3 matches. In the closed qualifier 4 teams will face double elimination, where the winning team will advance to the main stage. Main stage will feature 16 teams where only 8 can get into the final stage and play against 4 additional guest teams. During the Grand Finale the top teams of the tournament will fight over who will take the main prize home.

bitcoin-association-launches-free-introduction-to-bitcoin-infrastructure-course-at-bitcoin-sv-academy

Bitcoin Association launches free Introduction to Bitcoin Infrastructure course at Bitcoin SV Academy

 

Bitcoin Association, the Switzerland-based global industry organisation that works to advance business with the BSV blockchain, today announces the official launch of the Introduction to Bitcoin Infrastructure course at Bitcoin SV Academy. The course is available free of charge and can be accessed from today at http://bitcoinsv.academy

Introduction to Bitcoin Infrastructure is the first course to be offered in the Bitcoin Infrastructure stream of Bitcoin SV Academy and has been designed to equip learners with an understanding of the role of nodes and node operators in the construction of the Bitcoin SV network. The course covers the in-built incentive model that drives investment in scaling at an enterprise level and that ultimately underpins the network, in addition to covering important fundamental concepts including payment channels, mempools and block assembly. At the conclusion of the course, participants will be tested on their knowledge through an online examination, with a course certificate available upon successful completion for those who have demonstrated proficiency and understanding of the subject matter.

Bitcoin SV Academy is an online education platform for Bitcoin which offers academia-quality, university-style courses and learning materials in three distinct streams, Bitcoin Theory, Bitcoin Development and Bitcoin Infrastructure. Developed and run by Bitcoin Association, Bitcoin SV Academy has been created to make learning about Bitcoin – the way creator Satoshi Nakamoto designed it – accessible, accurate and understandable.

The launch of Introduction to Bitcoin Infrastructure today follows the successful rollout of the introductory courses in the Bitcoin Theory and Bitcoin Development streams over the past 12 months, in addition to the stand-alone Bitcoin Basics: Protocol and Design course. Next year, Bitcoin Association will begin to release the first intermediate and advanced level courses across the three streams.

Visit bitcoinsv.academy today to find out more.

Speaking on today’s announcement, Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, commented:

“Education is a cornerstone of the work we do at Bitcoin Association, as we help more and more individuals, enterprises and governments understand the vast potential of blockchain technology. Bitcoin SV Academy is essential to this work, providing a world-class platform and university-level courses free of charge. The launch of the first course in the Bitcoin Infrastructure stream – the third and final stream to launch – is a fantastic achievement by the Academy team and will help the growing number of students enrolled in courses to round out their knowledge ahead of the launch of intermedia and advanced level courses in 2022.”

how-to-make-bitcoin-transactions?

How to Make Bitcoin Transactions?

Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

Bitcoin today is still one of the hottest cryptocurrencies on the market and is definitely one of the most talked-about virtual currencies. Also, Bitcoin’s market capitalization has surpassed $650. 07 billion.

Needless to say, the crypto market is booming, and Bitcoin is the central aspect of this growth. If you’re new to BTC transactions and wondering how to get started because all this is too confusing for you, in this article, we explain in more detail what BTC transactions are.

Bitcoin – Virtual Currency

Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that was developed as a means to transfer money over the Internet without an intermediary. It operates differently from traditional currencies because it is based on the blockchain network.

Moreover, this is a decentralized, peer-to-peer database where the BTC transactions are added to a so-called blocks of transactions, which are linked via cryptography in the network.

After a BTC transaction is recorded in the system, it’s not possible for the details of the transaction to be changed by any user. This makes every BTC transaction irreversible in the network.

Plus, there is complete transparency regarding the information about the transactions in the network in order to ensure there is total security in the network. Otherwise, the identity of the users is confidential.

Elements of BTC Transactions

The main elements of every BTC transaction are a transaction output, input, and designated amount. The input is the BTC address which is the address of the Bitcoin wallet from which the transaction was initiated. The second part is the output, specifically the other Bitcoin address of the receiver.

It should be noted that for each BTC transaction is necessary for both parties to have their own Bitcoin wallets. A bitcoin wallet is a software where the Bitcoin tokens are stored, and each Bitcoin wallet has its own set of private and public keys, which are required for any BTC transaction.

For example, if you want to trade on an online trading site, it’s important for you to invest in a good BTC wallet. There are great automated trading sites like BitcoinProfit.org where you can invest in BTC, and you can also exchange your BTC for other cryptocurrencies. If you want to create an account, you only need $250.

The Bitcoin address is actually a hashed version of your public key. Moreover, the private key is seen as a unique string of characters that are paired with your public key, and the private key is necessary for you to sign your BTC transaction.

The Blockchain Network

When you want to make a BTC transaction and send BTC to another user, your Bitcoin wallet will create a transaction output which is basically the address of the user you want to send BTC to. After you have initiated the transaction on the blockchain network, the transaction will be recorded on the system, and the information regarding your Bitcoin address will be registered as a transaction input while the transaction output will be the person’s Bitcoin address.

The transaction is processed by the miners on the network. When you want to make a transaction, you also need to take into account the transaction fees that you will need to pay in order for your BTC transaction to be completed on the network.

Amount of BTC
When it comes to the amount of BTC that you can send, you can actually send satoshis via the network. But obviously, you cannot send one satoshi, as it is only 100 millionth of one Bitcoin. The minimal number of BTC tokens that you can send over the network is actually 546 Satoshis. The name of the smallest unit of a Bitcoin comes from the name of Bitcoin’s creator Satoshi Nakamoto.

“bridges:-from-gold-to-crypto”

“BRIDGES: From Gold to Crypto”

 

Triggering a wide-ranging, serious and objective discussion on Blockchain and Bitcoin technologies, laying bare their revolutionary potential within society, creating bridges between the world of technological finance and the community, that is, between awareness of innovation and understanding the opportunities it offers to individuals and institutions.

This is the goal of “BRIDGES”, to be held in Venice on the 6th and 7th of November, 2021.

Identified as the main drivers guiding innovation in this sector, these developments are having a major impact on social, political and economic systems. This change must be observed and understood in order to promote the development of emerging economies and the evolution of those already established towards more sustainable models.

BRIDGES is aimed at citizens, students, workers, decision-makers in the public and private fields, the media and institutions through a series of engagements that will feature, as guests, nationally and internationally renowned personalities who stand out for their active commitment in promoting and encouraging the understanding of all those phenomena that impact our society.

Opportunity, Innovation, Revolution

The meetings will cover three subject areas – Opportunity, Innovation, Revolution – curated by three outstanding personalities from the academic and business world, celebrated internationally for their independence and the richness of their contributions.

These exceptional curators will be: Ernesto Sirolli (economist, entrepreneur and lecturer) for the Opportunity section, exploring the issue of digital technology as a valuable tool not only to encourage the evolution of western economies towards more sustainable models but also to sustain the development of emerging economies; Fabio Fracas (lecturer and researcher who has collaborated with the CERN openlab in Geneva) for the Innovation section, illustrating the benefits of digital finance in everyday life and the need to develop tools and regulations for a correct and concrete adoption of Blockchain and Bitcoin technologies; Sara Roversi (entrepreneur and founder of the Future Food Institute) for the Revolution section, stressing the value of research and knowledge as effective tools to ensure the evolution of the new digital phenomena as a lever to attain the goals of Agenda 2030.

These are the three guiding principles identified, ranging from technology to the economy, from politics to sociology, from physics to sustainability, through which BRIDGES will make possible the creation of a pathway of personalised knowledge. Twenty-three encounters, with vertical webinars and events open to the public to foster the creation of communities with shared interests and passions, accommodating different points of view in order to enrich the scenario of opportunity and change.

Combining history and innovation

This event could only be held in Venice which, with more than 400 bridges and 1,600 years of entrepreneurial and commercial history, is one of the best known, open and inclusive cities in the world, the ideal setting for an event of international importance like BRIDGES. It will be held over two days at the University Ca’ Foscari on the campus of the faculty of Economics.

BRIDGES arose from the multifaceted potential of two driving forces that have operated for some time in the panorama of Bitcoin and blockchain-based technologies.

Satoshi Design, the event’s organiser, is the leading Italian company specialising in strategic marketing, design and creation for innovation in the ecosystem generated by Bitcoin and Blockchain technologies, with the aim of creating relationships and supporting connections between different groups and communities.

The project is supported by Bcademy, an international network formed in 2018 with the mission of teaching and consultancy in across-the-board expertise of relevance to the economic and technological world generated by the digital revolution.

The festival is supported by Knowledge Partners of international importance, including the Sirolli Institute, Future Food Institute and Coinlex.

a-golden-opportunity:-how-to-win-a-lamborghini-in-2021

A Golden Opportunity: How to Win a Lamborghini in 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Dreams do come true.

 

On April 24th, a FreeBitco.in user, out of over 42 million registered users, won a brand new Lamborghini, crypto’s favorite car.

And that wasn’t the first time. Since May 2019, FreeBitco.in, one of the world’s biggest Bitcoin gaming websites, has given away Lamborghinis to four lucky winners.

And they don’t intend to stop…

It’s Time for Round 5!

The Lamborghini Giveaway at FreeBitco.in is a Golden Ticket Contest where users have to collect Golden Tickets which are entered into a provably fair draw to pick the winner.

User 15324044 is the latest winner and they held over 882,251 Golden Tickets over the course of the contest. The lucky winner gets to choose between a Lamborghini or $200,000 in BTC credited directly to their FreeBitco.in account.

Over the last 2 years, FreeBitco.in has given away a total of $800,000 in BTC through four popular editions, and now they’re making it $1 million with Round 5.

And the best part? You can win a Lambo too!

How to Participate?

Win a Lambo Round 5 began as soon as Round 4 ended. Everyone can participate in Crypto’s Biggest Giveaway and stand a chance to win.

Follow these steps to join the contest:

  1. Create an account on FreeBitco.in.
  2. Collect Free BTC or deposit BTC into FreeBitco.in wallet.
  3. Play the HI-LO dice game, or bet on events.
  4. For every 0.005 BTC wagered in total on both the dice game or the event betting page, the user gets 1 Golden Ticket.
  5. Golden Tickets can also be bought for 0.00025 BTC each.
  6. Collect as many Golden Tickets as possible to increase the chances of winning a Lamborghini.
  7. After the contest ends, a provably fair lottery draw will be conducted to pick the lucky winner.

It’s that simple!

The contest ends on 23rd October, 2021. You have six months to collect as many tickets as you can. Who knows, you could be driving home a shiny Lamborghini come October!

bitcoin-association-appoints-new-ambassadors-for-japan-and-the-south-pacific-to-advance-bitcoin-sv

Bitcoin Association appoints new ambassadors for Japan and the South Pacific to advance Bitcoin SV

 

Bitcoin Association, the Switzerland-based global industry organisation that works to advance business with the Bitcoin SV (BSV) blockchain, today announces that it has appointed two new Ambassadors for the Asia-Pacific region as part of its global ambassador programme, with George Siosi Samuels appointed as Ambassador for the South Pacific and Masumi Hamahira appointed as another Ambassador for Japan.

Bitcoin Association Ambassadors are experienced professionals from the Bitcoin SV ecosystem who work to raise awareness and improve understanding of the Bitcoin SV blockchain and BSV digital currency, as well as the power of the original Bitcoin protocol to support a massively scaled distributed data network for the world. With today’s additions, there are now 22 Bitcoin Association Ambassadors representing 23 different countries and territories.

George Siosi Samuels is the managing director of Faiā, a community tech consultancy working to bridge gaps between communities and technology, particularly in small and developing nations and regions. Faiā is working together with BSV ecosystem companies nChain and Elas Digital to help the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu build – using the BSV blockchain – the world’s first national digital ledger to become the world’s first paperless society.  In addition, Samuels is the founder of Honā, a BSV blockchain-based social accountability platform that can be utilised across a range of different use cases, including the ability to improve the productivity of remote workers worldwide.  Honā was voted the #1 judges’ choice during the Draper University Pitching Competition run by venture capitalist Tim Draper’s organisation.

Masumi Hamahira is a veteran financial executive, having spent 22 years working for MUFG – the world’s fifth-largest bank – including in Malaysia.  An expert in the requirements of Islamic Finance, Hamahira also serves on the board of directors for the Chartered Institute of Islamic Finance Professionals (CIIFP). Supporting BSV initiatives in his individual capacity (rather than on behalf of MUFG or CIIFP), Hamihara is an initial member of the Bitcoin SV Technical Standards Committee and already serves as Bitcoin Association’s Ambassador for Malaysia.   Having relocated from Malaysia to Tokyo, Japan, Hamahira now will also act as a Bitcoin Association Ambassador in Japan (adding to efforts of Ken Shishido, the Association’s first appointed Ambassador for the country).

Speaking on today’s announcement, Bitcoin Association Founding President Jimmy Nguyen, commented:

“As Bitcoin SV continues to demonstrate its utility across a variety of business use cases all over the world, especially in countries in Asia-Pacific, we continue to expand our global Bitcoin Association team to help spread the word and support the ongoing BSV growth story. Both George and Masumi have demonstrated ability as leaders in their respective business fields and as strong advocates for BSV, making them ideal candidates to be new Bitcoin Association Ambassadors for the Asia-Pacific region.”

Speaking on his appointment as Bitcoin Association Ambassador to the South Pacific, George Siosi Samuels, said:

“I see huge potential for the Pacific region, not just for BSV adoption, but for the underlying utility of the technology and its ability to offer leapfrogging development that will facilitate future social, cultural and economic growth. While the Pacific region is often overlooked because of its remoteness, I believe that our Pacific nations will be able to draw on our history as master ocean explorers and translate that into mastering the new digital ocean enabled by Bitcoin technology.”

Speaking on his appointment as a Bitcoin Association Ambassador to JapanMasumi Hamahira, said:

“I foresee Bitcoin SV as a driver for innovation as a global public blockchain protocol in the same way that the Internet protocol did, just as I see great potential in Japan for sophisticated corporates to use BSV in new and unique ways. In my new role, I will work to enhance the awareness of BSV among regulators, lawyers, industry associations, developers and academia by leveraging my network as a global banker and working so that we see the beautiful dawn of Bitcoin SV from the Land of the Rising Sun.”

safello-acquires-bitcoin.se-–-sweden’s-leading-cryptocurrency-portal

Safello Acquires Bitcoin.se – Sweden’s Leading Cryptocurrency Portal

 

Swedish fintech Safello continues its growth journey and announces that it has acquired Rational Money AB, the company behind Bitcoin.seSweden’s leading educational portal on cryptocurrencies.

For almost a decade, Bitcoin.se has played a vital role in informing and educating the Swedish public about topics related to cryptocurrencies and their surrounding ecosystem. Since 2012, the site has been the leading independent portal in Swedish for information, news and discussion about cryptocurrency, blockchain technology and economics.

In 2018, Bitcoin.se was introduced to the international audience with an English version. Behind the company is the founder David Hedqvist, one of Scandinavia’s foremost crypto evangelists, a Bitcoin enthusiast and board member of the Swedish Bitcoin Association. The journalistic integrity of Bitcoin.se will be safeguarded by David Hedqvist, who will remain as editor-in-chief and an active contributor.

“David has been a strong advocate for the Swedish cryptocurrency market. In the past, he led the court case that set the regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies on VAT for the EU, an effort Safello at the time sponsored. Our collaboration has extended over the years and we share the values and objectives of David and Bitcoin.se. We are excited for David to continue his journey together with Safello,” said Frank Schuil, CEO of Safello.

The acquisition comes after a successful partnership period between Safello and Bitcoin.se, where the latter has used Safello’s Partner Widget product. Bitcoin.se contributed to trades generating a significant part of Safello’s turnover during the past six months.

In connection with the Bitcoin.se acquisition, Safello is expecting to see significant synergies that are likely to increase Safello’s profitability and create opportunities for new customer generation and continued growth.

“After 9 years as a one-man project I felt that Bitcoin.se deserved to be taken to the next level, but it was important to me that it was done in a way that didn’t compromise on its core values. My relation with Safello over the last few years has been one of mutual respect and I’m convinced that they are just the right company to take on the task,” said David Hedqvist, founder of Bitcoin.se and CEO of Rational Money AB.

The news comes on the heels of a recent announcement about several industry veterans’ appointment to Safello’s Board of Directors. Christina Ploom has previously served as COO at Spotlight Stock Market and has had leading positions at Nasdaq and Sweden’s Financial Supervisory Authority, Finansinspektionen. Johan Lorenzen is the former CEO of Holvi and long term fintech investor. Knut Pedersen is the former President and CEO of Catella and Managing Partner at ABG Sundal Collier AB.

Safello, backed by reputable investors, including Digital Currency Group (DCG)Northzone and White Star Capital, is in full swing with its plans to be listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market during Q2 2021. Recently, the company announced a strategic partnership with Klarna and a handful of key recruitments, including Johan Edin as Chief Financial Officer and Swedish crypto profile Gina Pari as Client Director.