EU Commissioner to Host 'High Level Roundtable' on Cryptocurrencies
https://www.coindesk.com/eu-official-to-host-high-level-roundtable-on-cryptocurrencies/

A European Union commissioner plans to hold a meeting of public and private sector stakeholders to discuss the impact of cryptocurrencies.

Payment Processor Stripe to End Support for Bitcoin
https://www.coindesk.com/stripe-to-end-support-for-bitcoin-transactions/

Payments processor Stripe announced it would end support for bitcoin in April, citing rising transaction costs and times as two reasons for the move.

South Korea Allows Cryptocurrency Trading for Real-Name Registered Accounts
https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/south-korea-allows-cryptocurrency-trading-real-name-registered-accounts/

Six Korean banks (http://www.kookje.co.kr/news2011/asp/newsbody.asp?code=0200&key=20180123.99099009919) will begin allowing the simultaneous (https://twitter.com/CryptoKorean/status/955553303898750976) opening of accounts, deposits and withdrawals, as well as transfers of funds between these accounts and exchanges, beginning on January 30, 2018, but with some new restrictions.
South Korea’s government continues its efforts to rein in the trading of virtual currencies such as ether and bitcoin with a new announcement from South Korea’s Financial Services Commission. Investors will now be required to convert their virtual bank accounts to real-name bank accounts in order to continue trading. Deposits and withdrawals are allowed only between real-name bank accounts and matching crypto-exchange accounts within the same bank. The “real name” registration system for cryptocurrency trading will begin by January 30, 2018, with six banks, which include Nonghyup Bank and Shinhan Bank. Koreans have found cryptocurrencies to be an attractive high-yield investment option; it is estimated that South Korea accounts for 20 percent of bitcoin trades worldwide. The Korean government has been trying to restrict crypto-trading recently, raiding major exchanges and floating ideas such as bans on domestic trading. A statement from the Office for Government Policy Coordination reflected an increased level of frustration with speculative investing in cryptocurrencies: “[We] can’t let this abnormal situation of speculation go on any longer.”The South Korean government also said this week that it is planning to collect corporate and income taxes at a collective rate of 24.2 percent from local cryptocurrency exchanges this year. Today’s announcement is also seen as a method to curb money laundering and fraud in addition to providing what should be a simpler and more acceptable (to the government) method of trading crypto in South Korea.This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine (https://bitcoinmagazine.com/).

Amazon User Orders Bitcoin Miner, Gets 'Boss Baby' DVD Instead
https://www.coindesk.com/amazon-user-orders-bitcoin-miner-gets-boss-baby-dvd-instead/

An Amazon UK customer is relieved after finally receiving a refund for an Antminer S9 which he paid for but never received.

MakerDAO and More: The Quest for a Stable Stablecoin Continues
https://www.coindesk.com/makerdao-quest-stable-stablecoin-continues/

Even with a tumultuous past and harsh critics, stablecoin projects keep popping up, aiming to relieve some of the volatility in the crypto markets.

UK Government Lures Distributed Ledger Projects With $26 Million Fund
https://www.coindesk.com/uk-government-lures-distributed-ledger-projects-26-million-fund/

Innovate UK, the United Kingdom's innovation arm, plans to invest more than $26 million in emerging tech projects, including distributed ledgers.

🚀 BITCOIN ATOM (BCA) FORK HAPPENING IN LESS THAN 5 HOURS!🚀


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US Government Lab, BlockCypher Tap Blockchain for P2P Energy Transactions
https://www.coindesk.com/us-government-lab-blockcypher-tap-blockchain-for-p2p-energy-transactions/

BlockCypher and a U.S. Energy Department lab are developing solutions allowing energy transactions to be settled across blockchains.

Building a Base? Bitcoin Demand at $10K Hints at Move Higher
https://www.coindesk.com/building-a-base-bitcoin-demand-at-10k-hints-at-move-higher/

Persistent demand around the $10,000 mark hints that bitcoin could be building a base for an eventual move to over $13,000.

Decentralization vs Scale: Studies Explore Crypto's Growing Struggle
https://www.coindesk.com/decentralization-vs-scale-studies-explore-cryptos-growing-struggle/

New academic papers dive into just how decentralized the most popular blockchains are, and how resistant they'd be to takeover by controlling force.

Stellar Run Ahead? XLM Flirts With Price Breakout
https://www.coindesk.com/stellar-run-ahead-xlm-flirts-with-price-breakout/

Having rallied 27 percent in the last 24 hours, Stellar's XLM token is eyeing a bullish breakout on the price charts.

Skuchain, NTT Data Partner on Blockchain Supply Chain Venture
https://www.coindesk.com/skuchain-ntt-data-partner-on-blockchain-supply-chain-venture/

Blockchain technology startup Skuchain and NTT Data Corporation have partnered to bring blockchain's benefits to supply chains.

CFTC Sues Obscure Crypto Scheme 'My Big Coin' for Fraud
https://www.coindesk.com/cftc-sues-crypto-scheme-big-coin-fraud/

The Commodity Future Exchange Commission (CFTC) has charged two individuals and a Las Vegas-based business in connection with a cryptocurrency scam.

Virginia Lawmakers Seek Study on Government Blockchain Use
https://www.coindesk.com/virginia-lawmakers-seek-study-on-government-blockchain-use/

A new Virginia bill would form a subcommittee to research the impact of implementing blockchain technology within the state's government.

'Not True': Goldman Denies Bitcoin Trading Rumor
https://www.coindesk.com/not-true-goldmans-blankfein-denies-bitcoin-trading-desk-rumor/

The CEO of Goldman Sachs has denied a report from last year which said that the investment bank was moving to launch its own bitcoin trading desk.

Two More Companies Sign On to Test Ripple's XRP in xRapid Pilots
https://www.coindesk.com/two-companies-sign-test-ripples-xrp-xrapid-pilots/

IDT Corporation and Mercury FX announced Wednesday that they would pilot Ripple's XRP token to facilitate real-time, low-cost international transfers.

Canada's VersaBank Unveils 'Digital Vault' Blockchain Service
https://www.coindesk.com/canadas-versabank-unveils-digital-vault-blockchain-service/

VersaBank, based in Canada, is developing a "blockchain-based digital safety deposit box" as part of an effort to tap the tech for new services.

Rapper 50 Cent Is Now a Bitcoin Millionaire
https://www.coindesk.com/rapper-50-cent-now-bitcoin-millionaire/

Rapper 50 Cent's move to accept bitcoin for his 2014 "Animal Ambition" album has resulted in a multi-million dollar windfall.