Bitcoin

BIP 148 + SegWit2x? A Bitcoin Scaling Compromise Might Not Be So Easy (Coindesk)

Now, more than ever, there seem to be more efforts that could lead to splits, which is one reason why this current group of proposals have vehement detractors. Still, while the thought of a split is worrisome to many stakeholders, bitcoin’s scaling debate has seen plenty of false alarms. In the past, other developers and users have suggested they would like to split off from bitcoin, but none, so far, have actually followed through.

Popular Demand Spurs Goldman Sachs to Start Covering Bitcoin (Bitcoin)

There is a lot of fresh liquidity flowing into bitcoin, thanks to a surge in interest among investors in Asia, notably Japan and Korea, coupled with a resolution to the scaling debate. – Aurelien Menant, CEO of Gatecoin

ICOs

Civic's ICO Pre-Sale Sells Out, But Crowd to Get Second Chance (Coindesk)

We don't want the vanity headlines, where it all happens in pre-sales and behind the scenes. We don't want to be sold out in 30 seconds, we want to be distributed to as many people as possible. – Vinny Lingham, Founder and CEO

Can CryptoPing’s Subscription Services Help Investors in Muddy Altcoin Markets? (The Cointelegraph)

If CryptoPing succeeds in delivering on its mission of using market data, statistics, news and social media to produce more precise trading signals and a more accurate forecast of cryptocurrency markets, it could be a game changer. There is a distinct possibility that it would bring clarity and simplicity to muddied waters that dominate the cryptocurrency markets today.

ICO: Easy Route to Making Money or Means of Project Development? (The Cointelegraph)

The fear of missing out is real, and when people see others making money, they will rush to join without doing their due diligence. Then, when the price of a token drops, people will shout "scam" because they have no idea what is actually going on with a token, so they base the price drop as somehow being relative to their buy in. – Larry Christopher Bates, Chief Security Officer at Bitland

Blockchain

Kazakhstan's Central Bank Tests Blockchain App for Debt Sales (Coindesk)

In a statement published today, the central bank said it plans to launch a mobile app that will enable retail investors to buy the short-term notes – denominated in amounts worth 100 tenge (the country's national currency) – without having to rely on a broker. The app is currently being tested internally, with a launch expected sometime later this year. In the long term, the bank went on to say, the platform could be used to facilitate initial public offerings (IPOs). Further, the institution indicated it will look to work with the country's banking sector on future versions and uses.

Exchanges Kraken, Coinbase, Gdax and Poloniex Repeatedly Overloaded During Big Price Movements (Bitcoin)

The problems experienced by exchanges may have contributed to the intensity of yesterday’s crash. Coinbase, Gdax, Kraken, and Poloniex all experience difficulties during the same period, resulting in a significant number of traders having found themselves locked out of their accounts. The threat of being unable to manage one’s accounts during a period of intense volatility sends emotions running high, prompting many traders to close their positions and cancel open orders to minimize risk exposure in case they are unable to manage their trades. This intensifies aggressive price moves like yesterday’s crash, as traders simultaneously race to exit the markets.

Top-10 Market Cap Coins