CAMPAIGN INTEGRITY: The Online Trust Audit for 2020 Presidential Campaigns, conducted by the Internet Society’s Online Trust Association, examined all the presidential candidates’ campaign websites for cybersecurity, consumer protections and privacy, finding many lacking in key areas. “Overall, we found that campaigns have strong website security, reasonable email and domain protections and poor privacy scores,” the report concluded. Full story
‘SHADOW BANK’: The court-appointed legal counsel for victims of the collapsed QuadrigaCX exchange is asking for help identifying any records related to payment processor Crypto Capital, which may be holding some of the exchange's funds. Full story
BEAR TRACKER: Digital asset issuer Amun is launching a financial product for traders who predict bitcoin's price will drop. Listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX), the 21Shares Short Bitcoin ETP is an exchange traded product inversely tracking bitcoin’s price movements. Full story
DEV TAX: A group of bitcoin cash miners is preparing a controversial soft fork to redirect some of the block rewards into a new zcash-style development fund. In a blog post, Jiang Zhuoer, CEO of mining pool BTC.TOP, said that a group of some of the largest bitcoin cash mining pools would implement a "short-term donation plan" to divert 12.5 percent of block rewards for the fund. Full story
CRYPTO RESCUE? Pornhub has added new payment options including the tether (USDT) stablecoin, two months after PayPal cut its services to a claimed 100,000-plus performers on the adult site. Full story
TECH-SAVVY DELEGATE: A Virginia lawmaker is pushing her state’s government to study how blockchain could shape the future of local elections and commerce. “Right now, blockchain is a thriving technology,” said Delegate Hala Ayala (D-51), who’s recently sent two blockchain research bills to the state’s House. Full story
HEADED TO DAVOS? CoinDesk has a team of journalists at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland. It will be Davos, but through a lens of crypto and blockchain. Our daily dispatches will tell you what sessions you should attend, what you missed yesterday (or last night) and prep you for what people are talking about on the Promenade today. The CoinDesk Confidential newsletter will run for five days only, so be sure to sign up now. Subscribe here
DOWNSIDE BIAS: Bitcoin has fallen to nine-day lows around $8,290, held by support levels at $8,200 and $8,000. For the immediate downside bias to weaken, prices need to rise back above $8,515 (Jan. 21 low), although that looks a tall order with short-term indicators turning bearish. Full story
PRIVACY IN THE MOUNTAINS: Why is a cypherpunk in Davos? CoinDesk's Leigh Cuen speaks with Harry Halpin, CEO of Nym Technologies about privacy and the future of blockchain at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland. Watch now
Quadriga ties