Bitcoin Soft Fork Becomes Political Popularity Contest - Perhaps

In most updates I provide a `breaking' story - this really is more background than story.... but - it's new today too - Bitcoin Softfork... underlying question of course is when or if BTC will change into store of value haven and challenge the existing fiats. Read more about the SegWit Solution soft fork.
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Crypto Links

In HUGE news - The IRS Has Issued A Summons To Coinbase to identify at least several BTC accounts that seem to suggest illegal activity that avoids IRS taxes - since most in USA if not many nations use Coinbase as their source of BTC - worrisome indeed. The story really leaves it open how large or specific the IRS request to Coinbase is...stay tuned.

First India and now Venezuela is imposing currency ATM restrictions - and the interest in Bitcoin continues to grow as fiats are seen as less reliable. Same is true for Canada - even if for different reasons than a currency collapse - indeed, BTC ATM's have come to Coffee Shops In Canada Recently.

As Bitcoin continues to rise in price - 4% Rises In One Hour are starting to occur.

As you know by simply being here and reading the links a few times a month - things are changing fast as more and more uses for the blockchain are imagined... now how about earning money for your computer's own downtime? Read About The Golem Pre-Sale. (earlier in month)

As more and more merchants understand the potential to reach the BTC market... and understand it's convertibility - more and more are accepting it for retail - Like Dozens Of Merchants In France This Week.

How about this read about ETH's situation... seems that various ETHEREUM projects may be what is Sustaining It's Real Value. Interesting.

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Bitcoin Usage Grows

Here's some of the latest links in Cryptocurrencies:
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10's of 1000's Of Merchants In South Africa Take Bitcoin

friendly government policies

Paying Your Electric Bill In Bitcoin In Japan Might Save You 5%

how's that for confidence in future value?

The Over The Counter BTC Market In China Is Dominating BTC

does it suggest that prices will rise?

First Blood Crowdsale Sells Goal In Under One Hour
the betting days are near indeed
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Blockchain Size Becomes New Focus?

Yes... still working on that huge `reference' update for you... be patient.
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Obviously... more than 7 transactions a second are needed if the BTC blockchain is going to grow..... what to do and when is a new focus for the entire CryptoCurrency segment and traders. Are there even other potentials too? - Forks which leave BTC behind? Will `value' be driven by practical usage for business and banking - including non BTC options/coins?

Lots of breaking and interesting developments in just the last couple weeks... wanted to get a few of those trends and so forth into your vision... worth your read.
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Here's the call for the blockchain size to double by November 2015 while others are calling for a change in the fee structure of BTC up to a 20 fold increase.

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All of the calls above are because of a relative explosion in BTC usage recently... as shown by a variety of links below.

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For Example

Coinbase Says Wallets Doubled Since 2014 and Transactions Up 93%

It does seem that some Americans are getting the idea.

Bitpay Latin America Transactions Up 500%

BTC is being seen as a hedge against inflation in crappy economies based on higher value currencies... Is Greece next?

BTC Is Taking Off With MERCHANTS In The Philippines

over 2,500 already

Bitcoin Real Estate Company To Enable China Middle Class To Buy American Real Estate

a way to avoid the capital controls in China, interesting read

MEANWHILE IN AMERICA

SIMILAR BIG-TIME MOVEMENT?

Is The Blockchain About To Leap Frog The Current Loyalty Points Programs?

Is Ribbit.Me in the forefront - RibbitRewards (coin)

The San Francisco Federal Reserve Speaks Up On Using Bitcoin As Collateral On A Loan

Sounds like we are talking REAL money here

Coinbase CEO Says Bitcoin Will Replace US Dollar For Reserve Currency

(he says in 15 years)

Coinbase has established itself as on top of the BTC experience in America IMO

Buy Your First Bitcoin At Coinbase With A Click

MEANWHILE

MIKE TYSON Just Turned His 5 Million Followers Onto BTC Via Twitter

the unbanked is a huge market potential, obviously

Might BTC Fight The Two Party System In America?

Paul has been silent for too long? Article is from Gary Johnson who was the Libertarian Candidate before.

The HULL Coin... Local CryptoCurrencies Backed By The Government For Volunteer Work In Community

Could this idea be a catalyst?

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Are you convinced yet that you might want to own some Bitcoin?

America USES Coinbase