‘95% CERTAIN’: Ethereum’s next system-wide upgrade, Eth 2.0, won’t launch in Q2 2020 as previously indicated, though the project’s researchers remain confident the initial network parameters will deploy this year. Anything less would be considered a “failure,” they said. Full story
IMMUTABLE MEMORIAL: An unknown netizen created a smart contract on ethereum memorializing Dr. Li Wenliang, the whistleblower of China's coronavirus outbreak who died of the disease Thursday. Full story
BRIDGE BUILDING: The parent company of bitcoin-based smart contract platform RSK has launched a new token bridge joining it to ethereum. Gibraltar-based developer IOV Labs announced Wednesday that the new interoperability function would allow users to move RSK- and ethereum-based digital assets across the different protocols. Full story
$10K BROKEN: Bitcoin futures listed on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange rose to multi-month highs, breaking $10,000 early Friday. CME’s February contract printed a high of $10,030 at 11:40 UTC, a level last seen on Oct. 26. Full story
STAYING STRONG: Though key indicators show bullish momentum is strong, bitcoin buyers have struggled to keep gains above $9,850 over the last 24 hours. If that level keeps proving a tough nut to crack, a short-term pullback may on the cards. Full story
TAXMAN COMETH: Tomicah Tillemann is the chairman of the Global Blockchain Business Council and, at Davos this year, he pushed for ways to make tax systems more efficient, transparent and accountable. “Tax, obviously, is on its face about the most boring topic imaginable, but it turns out that it powers many of the most fundamental elements of our lives," he told CoinDesk's Michael Casey. Watch now
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