Pokemon Go maker Niantic has partnered with Fold to create the world’s first augmented reality (AR) bitcoin earning feature in the metaverse. The Fold AR feature is currently available for Fold App users to play in beta, enabling them to earn bitcoin and in-app benefits by exploring their physical surroundings. Niantic hopes to take this augmented reality to the next level by working with Fold. Read more for additional pictures and information.
It’s official, El Salvador is set to construct the world’s first “Bitcoin City”, funded entirely by bitcoin-backed bonds in the first phase. This cryptocurrency-themed city would be circular, complete with an airport, residential / commercial areas, and even have a central plaza designed to look like a bitcoin symbol from the air. The bond would be issued on the “liquid network”, a bitcoin sidechain network, and after 10 of these are issued, roughly $5-billion in the cryptocurrency would be taken off the market for several years.
Hamsters have been taught to play video games, and now, trading various cryptocurrency assets. Meet Mr. Goxx, the world’s first crypto-trading hamster, who spends his time in an apartment-like living space, complete with a separate office for his money making ventures. Put simply, the office consists of an “intention wheel” in which he runs on to select a currency to trade, while two tunnels allow him to buy or sell the currency selected with the wheel. Read more for two videos and additional information.
As of Tuesday (Sep. 7), El Salvador is now the world’s first country to recognize bitcoin as legal tender, according to President Nayib Bukele. The country hopes that the Salvadorans living abroad will be able to save millions of dollars in commissions on money sent home, which reached nearly $6-billion in 2020 alone. However, the government did warn that it could increase regulatory, financial and operational hazards for financial institutions. Read more for two videos and additional information.
The Malaysia department discovered that a Bitcoin mining farm was stealing electricity for their ASIC machines, so they not only shut down the operation, but also steamrolled 1,069 of their machines. This was a joint operation carried out by the police department and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) in Miri that took place between February-April, 2021. An investigation was carried out after residents complained of frequent power outages. Read more to see these machines get steamrolled.
It’s true, cryptocurrency is taking over the world after already making its mark in the world of physical art and objects. Sotheby’s announced that they will accept cryptocurrency for one of the earth’s rarest treasures, a massive 101.38-carat pear-shaped D Flawless diamond. It has an estimated value of US$10-15 million (HK$78-118 million), and according to Sotheby’s, no other physical object with this value has ever been publicly offered for purchase with cryptocurrency. Read more for a video and additional information.
You could either use a dedicated ASIC machine, graphics cards, or a C64 to mine Bitcoin. That’s right, this computer is powered by a 8-bit MOS Technology 6510 microprocessor, 64KB of 8-bit-wide dynamic RAM, 1KB of 4-bit-wide static color RAM, and 20KB of ROM, but one caveat, it will take you countless lifetimes to mine even a single coin. Why? It’s only capable of achieving a hash at a rate of every 3.5 seconds, or about 0.3 H/s.
Photo credit: Marc Angeles
It’s not unusual for a mega mansion to pop up for sale in Los Angeles, but we’re just beginning to see sellers who also accept Bitcoin as a form of payment. This stunning 18,169-square-foot “Elementi” mansion was designed by Michael Chen and inspired by the Pacific Coast Highway bridges as well as waterfalls. This seven-bedroom, 14-bath residence sits atop the private enclave of Trousdale Estates at 1108 Wallace Ridge Court, Beverly Hills CA.
With the price of Bitcoin continuing its meteoric rise, along with other cryptocurrencies, it’s no surprise that some people are looking for creative ways to mine these coins. This person decided to not fight the scalpers for graphics cards and use a classic Nintendo Game Boy for mining operations, or so it appears. In reality, the Game Boy is connected to a PC using a Raspberry Pi Pico computer, while a level shifter handles the different voltage levels. Read more for a video and additoinal information.
According to an SEC filing, Tesla invested $1.5-billion in bitcoin and Elon Musk could start accepting the cryptocurrency as payment. This news caused the price of Bitcoin to soar to above $44,000 Monday, thus giving Tesla more flexibility to further diversify and maximize returns on its cash. The company reported its first annual net profit in 2020, and is now the world’s most valuable automaker, thanks to its S&P 500 inclusion. Read more for a video and additional information.