花旗：比特幣處轉折點 可能成國際貿易主流貨幣
（中央社倫敦1日綜合外電報導）公債市場上週拋售熱潮降溫後，今天風險資產價格反彈，比特幣應聲勁揚近6%。美國投資銀行花旗（Citi）更認為比特幣正處於「轉折點」，有朝一日可能成為受歡迎的國際貿易貨幣。
路透社報導，台北時間今天晚間7時27分，目前最受歡迎的加密貨幣比特幣在Bitstamp交易所報價上漲5.7%，來到4萬7834美元。
比特幣價格已從去年3月的4700美元，一路飆漲到現在的4萬7000多美元。花旗分析師發布報告指出，比特幣近期的強勁表現，歸功於近年來越來越多法人投入市場，一反過去10年大多數時間主要只有散戶在買賣。
花旗並表示，隨著電動車巨擘特斯拉（Tesla）和信用卡公司萬事達卡（Mastercard）等跨國大企業最近加入擁抱比特幣行列，比特幣可能處於「大規模轉型為」主流貨幣的開端。
支付工具出身的比特幣，由於價格波動大且交易成本相對高，一直以來在主要國家幾乎不見商業使用。但過去一年在一些新興市場國家，例如非洲的奈及利亞，以比特幣進行商業交易的情況卻越來越多。
花旗說，若企業和個人未來能透過數位錢包，取得央行計劃發行的數位現金和所謂的「穩定幣」（stablecoin），屆時比特幣的遍及全球、可追溯和可能支援快速付款等特性，將使其享有成為受歡迎國際貿易貨幣的「最佳位置」。
不過花旗也指出，比特幣若要搖身一變成為實際上的全球貿易貨幣，也就是目前美元享有的地位，則比特幣市場得出現改變，讓法人能擴大參與；還得要有金融監管當局更密切監督。
花旗並提醒，若總體經濟環境改變，可能使得比特幣的需求不那麼迫切。而若比特幣未能成為國際貿易最熱門貨幣，也恐怕將面臨「投機炒作內爆」。
花旗分析師的結論是：「在比特幣前進的道路上，雖然充滿風險和阻礙；但衡量發展機會和可能的障礙後，我們認為比特幣正處於關鍵轉折點。」（譯者：張正芊/核稿：林治平）1100301
Stablecoin Issuer Tether Says It Is a Victim of a 500 BTC Ransom Demand Infoleak Threat – Security Bitcoin News
Stablecoin Issuer Tether Says It Is a Victim of a 500 BTC Ransom Demand Infoleak Threat
Just days after the conclusion of its long-running feud with the Office of the Attorney General of New York, Tether says it is now a victim of an extortion attempt. According to the stablecoin issuer, the blackmailers are threatening to release documents they claim “will harm the bitcoin ecosystem” if their demand for the payment of 500 bitcoins is not met.
Tether Not Paying the Ransom
However, in its statement dismissing the threat, Tether says the blackmailers were attempting to extort money using “forged documents.” According to Tether, the documents purport to show an interaction between Tether personnel and representatives of Deltec Bank. Still, in a Twitter thread, Tether says it will not send the 500 BTC which the blackmailers want to be paid by March 1.
The stablecoin issuer also says a formal report about the ransom demand has been made to law enforcement. Tether tweeted;
We have reported the forged communications and the associated ransom demand to law enforcement. As always, we will fully support law enforcement in an investigation of this extortion scheme.
Meanwhile, in his own tweet, Bitfinex and Tether CTO Paolo Ardiono similarly dismisses the ransom demand. He repeats the claim that while the attack is seemingly aimed at Tether, the attackers’ “main goal is to discredit bitcoin and all crypto.”
Leaked Emails
The CTO also goes on to share the screenshot of a February 27 tweet from a user going by the name Trolly McTrollface. According to the screenshot, McTrollface claims to be in possession of a leaked email from Tether to Deltec which the user says “is a crucial piece of the puzzle.”
Following the conclusion of the long-running investigation, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) determined that both Tether and Bitfinex had “recklessly and unlawfully covered-up massive financial losses to keep their scheme going and protect their bottom lines.”
However, in its statement, the OAG only acknowledges that the Bahamas-based Deltec Bank is Tether’s banker. The OAG did not say anything about the purported email dated May 3, 2020, wherein Tether personnel are asking Deltec representatives for help “in presenting their reserves in the best possible light.”
Consequently, Tether is labeling the latest rumours and the tweets “a pretty sad attempt at a shakedown.”
What are your thoughts on Tether’s latest predicament? You can share your views in the comments section below.
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons
Tether hit with 500 Bitcoin ransom demand — But says it won’t pay
Hackers have threatened to release sensitive company documents supposedly belonging to USDT stablecoin issuer Tether unless the firm sends a 500 Bitcoin (BTC) ransom to a specified address.
As revealed by the official Twitter account for Tether on Sunday, hackers purportedly threatened to leak documents that would “harm the Bitcoin ecosystem” if their ransom demands were not met. Tether has already stated that it will not pay the ransom, which amounts to a dollar value of $23.8 million at the time of publication. The firm tweeted:
“Today we also received a ransom demand for 500 BTC to be sent to bc1qa9f60pved3w3w0p7snpxlnh5t4uj95vxn797a7. The sender said that, unless they receive the BTC by tomorrow, they will leak documents to the public in an effort to ‘harm the bitcoin ecosystem.’ We are not paying.”
The firm said the extortionists’ motivations weren’t clear, noting that it could be a simple cash grab or part of a greater effort to undermine Tether and the rest of the Bitcoin ecosystem.
“It is unclear whether this is a basic extortion scheme like those directed at other crypto companies or people looking to undermine Tether and the crypto community as a whole," the firm tweeted. “Either way, those seeking to harm Tether are getting increasingly desperate.”
Tether may have assumed the worst of its troubles were behind it after reaching a settlement in the landmark case launched against the company by the Office of the New York Attorney General. Putting an end to the legal uncertainty surrounding Tether in the past few years, the firm was ordered to pay an $18.5 million fine and to submit regular reports of its reserves. The firm stressed that it had admitted to no wrongdoing in the wake of the judgment by the New York court.
On Sunday, Tether warned customers that forged documents were circulating on the internet that alleged to be genuine communications between Tether and representatives of Deltec Bank and Trust.
“PSA: Forged documents are circulating online purporting to be between @tether_to personnel and reps of Deltec Bank & Trust and others. The documents are bogus.”
The tweet and Twitter account from which the documents were posted have since been deleted, although peripheral discussion surrounding the posts can still be found on Reddit.
Now, Tether will seek help from authorities regarding what it deems to be a “pretty sad shakedown attempt.” A tweet from the company stated:
“While we believe this is a pretty sad attempt at a shakedown, we take it seriously. We have reported the forged communications and the associated ransom demand to law enforcement. As always, we will fully support law enforcement in an investigation of this extortion scheme.”
The deadline by which Tether was ordered to pay the 500 BTC ransom has since passed. Speaking to Cointelegraph, a Tether representative reiterated that the documents are fake. They stated that copies of the threats have been forwarded to law enforcement and that the company is unaware of the ransomer’s identity.