This is a guest post from Voyager, a crypto brokerage firm with a commission-free trading app.
This week, Voyager announced that it acquired Circle Invest, the retail digital asset trading business from Circle Internet Financial, Inc., adding more than 40,000 customers to its user base. As part of the deal, Circle will become a minority shareholder in Voyager Digital Canada, Ltd.(CSE: VYGR; OTCQB: VYGVF; FRA: UCD2), and the two companies will work together to deliver fast, global, low-cost payments through Circle’s stablecoin services to Voyager users.
Voyager’s First Anniversary
The timing of this announcement is extra special to Voyager. On February 13, 2019, we were celebrating the launch of the Voyager iOS app and Voyager’s public listing. It’s hard to believe that just one year ago, we had only a handful of users, and today we have hundreds of thousands of loyal and engaged customers using our products to access the crypto market every day.
Since our launch, we’ve expanded our coverage to 49 states and all U.S. territories and released the Voyager app on Android. We now trade 33 different crypto assets and have added an array of features like limit orders, crypto transfers, the Voyager Interest Program, and more. In the coming months, we’ll also be adding Circle’s popular “collections” feature and recurring purchases so customers can effortlessly gain exposure to the market. As we continue to grow, we’ll add even more assets, features, and services to fit our customers’ evolving needs.
The Real Deal
In our 2+ years as a company, we’ve experienced the wild ups and downs of the crypto market, from the 2017 bull run to 2018’s “Crypto Winter.” Despite the volatility, the industry has matured and proven itself every step of the way, and its resilience has not gone unnoticed.
Today, I feel a definite shift happening in the crypto industry. Here are just a few of the positive developments I’ve witnessed over the last couple of years:
- The media is now starting to cover crypto as it would any other sector
- Banks are building cryptocurrencies
- Bitcoin futures launched and are gaining traction
- New retail investors are entering the market every single day
- Governments around the globe are making plans to regulate and empower the industry
- The most influential companies in the world are utilizing blockchain technology
Two years ago, many would have called these milestones impossible, and today, they are a reality. As we all know, the crypto market could flip in a moment, but the foundation is being built to power a new digital economy, and I’m more excited than ever about what’s to come.
Thanks for indulging in my nostalgia and taking this crazy ride with Voyager.
Circle Sells Crypto Investing App Business to Voyager Digital
Circle Internet Financial Ltd. agreed to sell Circle Invest, a digital-asset-investment app for individual investors, to Voyager Digital (Canada) Ltd. for an equity stake in the company. Read more.
Exclusive: JPMorgan in talks to merge blockchain unit Quorum with startup ConsenSys – sources
JPMorgan Chase & Co is in talks to merge its marquee blockchain unit Quorum with Brooklyn-based startup ConsenSys, according to people familiar with the plans. Read more.
Inside Chainalysis’ Multimillion-Dollar Relationship With the US Government
Federal agencies have spent at least $10 million ($10,690,706 to be precise) in American tax dollars on Chainalysis’ tools, services and training since 2015, when Chainalysis was founded, according to 82 records of federal procurement contracts reviewed by CoinDesk. Counting contracts with possible extensions, the company stands to take in more than $14 million. Read more.
North Korea Is Expanding Its Monero Mining Operations, Says Report
U.S. cybersecurity firm Recorded Future said in a report Sunday that network traffic for Monero (XMR) mining that had originated from North Korean IP ranges had increased by “at least tenfold” since May 2019, making it the most popular digital asset to mine and surpassing the regime’s mining activity for Bitcoin (BTC). Read more.
FC Barcelona to Issue Tokens for Blockchain-Based Fan Platform
Barca, as one of the world’s most popular football clubs is known, will issue tokens for use on a fan-engagement platform. The tokens, expected in the second quarter, will let holders vote on a variety of decisions about the team such as what music to play in the stadium when the team scores a goal. The idea is to let supporters around the world participate in the club. Read more.
Samsung’s new Galaxy S20 will have Cryptocurrency Support
Samsung announced a new generation of smartphones during its Unpacked event on February 11. The Galaxy S20s provide advanced cameras, 5G technology and will be able to store your crypto. Read more.
Mnuchin Says U.S. Planning Cryptocurrency Rules on Transparency
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday the U.S. soon will announce new regulations related to cryptocurrency and digital payment systems. Read more.
Here’s how Bitcoin Gets to $12,000
The bitcoin boom is back on. The cryptocurrency has risen 46% this year, pulling back above $10,000 this week for the first time since September. Read more.
Massive Bitcoin mining farm in Texas to host Japan’s SBI Crypto
Northern Data AG and Whinstone US are on the verge of launching the first stage of an enormous Bitcoin mining farm in Texas. And now we know the first business partner that will make use of some of that extensive capacity. Read more.
The original Voyager post can be found here. You can earn $25 in BTC by signing up for the Voyager app and trading $100 (or use code SLUDGE25).
