Top Stories This Week
Another week, another rollercoaster ride through the wild world of cryptocurrency! Here’s what you might have missed while you were pretending to be an adult.
US Charges 12 Russian Intelligence Officers With Crypto-Funded Election Interference
The U.S. Department of Justice has decided to spice up the headlines by charging a dozen Russian nationals for allegedly using cryptocurrency to meddle in the 2016 U.S. elections. These officials reportedly mined Bitcoin, which they then funneled into hacks targeting the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and various tech companies involved in the electoral process. Even the scavengers of the digital frontier can’t get a break, as they were branded self-proclaimed “American hacktivists,” which might be the most bold-faced lie since the “dog ate my homework” excuse.
Billionaire Google Co-Founder Reveals He Mines Ethereum with Son as a Side Hustle
In a revelation that might just make you rethink your life choices, Sergey Brin, Google co-founder, and his young son have taken up Ethereum mining together. Discussing their “side hustle,” Brin expressed that crypto is rather mind-boggling but added that Google hasn’t been at the forefront of this digital revolution. The only question left is: Will they soon be inviting their kid’s friends over for “bring your own hash rate” parties?
UK Study Finds Crypto Could Become a Mainstream Payment Method in a Decade
According to a joint research effort from the bright minds at Imperial College and the trading platform eToro, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin could take the leap to mainstream payment methods in the next ten years. Yes, you heard that right! But first, they need to solve six pesky challenges, including scalability, usability, and that one pesky detail: regulation. Remember kids, nothing says “we’re ready for the future” like resolving multiple existential crises!
Three American Economists Shoot Down Bitcoin’s Chances for Survival
Not all heads are nodding in agreement, though. Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, IMF heavyweight Kenneth Rogoff, and NYU’s doom-and-gloom prophet Nouriel Roubini took a moment (or ten) to basically say Bitcoin is doomed. Their arguments centered around Bitcoin’s volatility, anonymity, and its unfortunate reputation as a vehicle for shady transaction. Looks like the economists must have skipped the positivity class in college!
Elon Musk Comments on Twitter Crypto Scammers’ “Mad Skillz”
And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more bizarre, Elon Musk entered the fray, tweeting about the impressive skills of Twitter scammers who impersonate famous figures to pull off crypto thefts. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin wasn’t amused and promptly reached out for help, showing that the crypto community still believes in combative teamwork. In short, the clowns are out in full force this week, folks!
