“Bitcoin Cash House In Venezuela”
A new crypto resource has emerged in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, for Venezuelans interested in learning about Bitcoin Cash and cryptocurrencies. The project, called Bitcoin Cash House, is the brainchild of Roberto Garcia and is sponsored by Bitcoin.com and Sideshift.ai. It exists as a physical location and online initiative, seeking to educate newcomers to the space on the acquisition, storage, and general use of crypto, as well as development and job opportunities. Bitcoin Cash House teaches people in Venezuela
about the benefits of crypto.
“Bittrex To Release Frozen Crypto of Owners In Sanctioned Countries”
Crypto exchange Bittrex is looking to return crypto holdings to customers in sanctioned nations. According to a letter posted on Twitter by ex-user Ziya Sadr, Bittrex is reaching out to former customers who reside in “a country or region” in which the exchange is legally unable to offer services due to the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and whose accounts were suspended as a result. A number of restrictions apply for any former customers hoping to secure their funds. Residents of sanctioned nations must create an account at a cryptocurrency exchange that is not in Iran, Syria, Cuba or Crimea or otherwise subject to OFAC sanctions; create a Bittrex support account (using the same email as the original Bittrex account); and fill out a form
denoting where to send the funds.
“Bakkt Expands Crypto Custody To All Institutions”
Bakkt has expanded its Bitcoin custody offering to all institutions beyond just supporting those trading on Bakkt’s Bitcoin futures exchange. According to a
blog post today, this is because it has now received authorization from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) to do so. The first three insitutions to start using this service will be Pantera Capital, Galaxy Digital, and Tagomi. Bakkt plans to onboard new institutions
in the next few weeks.
“China Does U-turn On Crypto Mining Ban”
More than six months after the China National Development and Reform Commission proposed to categorize bitcoin mining as an industry to be phased out from the country, it appears the agency has now scrapped that plan. The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), a top-level economic planning agency under China’s State Council, published a finalized new Catalog for Guiding Industry Restructuring on Wednesday that will take effect from Jan 1, 2020. In the final version, which will replace the current one published in 2011, the agency has removed bitcoin mining or other virtual currency mining activities from the initially proposed category of industries that should be eliminated from China. Description related to virtual currency or bitcoin mining can’t be
found in the finalized catalog.