Bitcoin’s value proposition relies on its ability to resist any type of censorship. Without that feature, Bitcoin loses its power to challenge and resist any authority that wants to subjugate Bitcoin to the same rules that apply in the traditional world. With this in mind, it’s paramount that bitcoin has no central points of failure whatsoever. If there is a gatekeeper, there is a vulnerability. If there is a vulnerability, it will be exploited. And at that point, Bitcoin as an exercise of free and decentralized digital money simply stops.

To ensure the network’s decentralization, robustness and anti-fragility, we need to maintain the very components that assure us, through…

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Thailand is set to kick off a groundbreaking cryptocurrency pilot program in Phuket, targeting international tourists. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira unveiled the initiative on January 8, designed to integrate digital currency into everyday transactions without altering existing laws. This program allows visitors to use Bitcoin for payments, ensuring a seamless and modern financial experience for travelers.

The government is promoting the pilot as a strategic move to maintain competitiveness in tourist-centric cities. By allowing the conversion of Bitcoin transactions into Thai baht through a local clearinghouse, the scheme simplifies digital purchases for foreigners, making it more accessible and efficient. Pichai highlighted that such advancements are vital to keep up with global digitization trends and attract business opportunities.

Highlighting the broader implications, Pichai referenced the utility of Bitcoin for refugees from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, who can use the cryptocurrency to buy property in Thailand. This initiative is part of a broader push by former leaders like Thaksin Shinawatra, who advocate for proactive digital asset exploration to position Thailand at the forefront of the technological curve in global finance.

Source

South Korea is poised to revitalize its cryptocurrency market as the Financial Services Commission (FSC) announces plans to lift restrictions on local institutional cryptocurrency trading. This strategic move is designed to integrate institutional investors into the crypto economy, beginning with non-profit organizations, according to reports from Yonhap news agency.

The FSC’s initiative aligns with President Yoon Suk-yeol’s campaign pledges to bolster the local cryptocurrency sector. The administration, together with the ruling People Power Party, is advocating for the introduction and local trading of spot crypto exchange-traded funds, currently not available in South Korea.

Further regulatory advancements are on the horizon as the FSC aims to refine the Virtual Asset Investor Protection Act with a new focus on stablecoins, crypto exchanges, and token listings. Amendments to the Financial Information Act are also expected, introducing a screening system for major shareholders of virtual asset service providers, marking a significant step forward in crypto regulation.

Report

Company Name: Ledn

Founders: Mauricio Di Bartolomeo and Adam Reeds

Date Founded: September 2018

Location of Headquarters: N/A (Fully remote)

Number of Employees: 51

Website: https://ledn.io/

Public or Private? Private

“Lending is the type of relationship where you value the return of your assets more than the return on your assets.”

This was Di Bartolomeo’s answer when I asked him what has set Ledn, a bitcoin and crypto borrowing and lending platform, apart from its competitors, including now defunct companies that offered similar services like BlockFi, Celsius and Voyager.

“There’s no company in this space that has a better track record of returning your assets than Ledn,” Di…

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