WITCH COIN? Leigh Cuen took a deep dive into the world of the occult to find out that modern witches are turning to bitcoin to cast their spells. Apart from the "little bit of magic" that all technology represents, cryptocurrency can enhance witches’ power by letting them transact beyond the grasp of restrictive mainstream commerce platforms. Full story
KEY STORE: Cold storage custody provider Vo1t is offering clients secure data centers from IBM to hold and encrypt their private keys. The new option, which comes from IBM Hyper Protect, ensures clients’ keys are safe even if Vo1t’s data centers are compromised. Full story
BRIEF CANDLE: Cryptocurrency exchange Altsbit said it has been hit by a hack it can't afford to cover, months after its launch. An update on the company's website said "fortunately a good part of the coins were kept on cold storage" though users will only be issued partial refunds before the exchange closes up shop. Full story
SELF RULE: Ukraine's government has indicated it won't be creating regulations for the crypto mining sector. In a new manifesto, the Ministry of Digital Transformation proved surprisingly tech savvy, saying: “this activity is regulated by the protocol itself and network members.” Full story
TAKING A BREATHER? Bitcoin has dropped sharply from 3.5-month highs above $10,000, indicating temporary bullish exhaustion. A $400 pullback is backed by an uptick in selling volumes and looks to have legs, though an extended move lower could be reversed if bulls hold off selling pressure near $9,600. Full story
IN THE WAKE: On this episode of The Breakdown, Andy Bromberg, CEO of CoinList, sits down with Nathaniel Whittemore to discuss SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce's proposed Rule 195 to give token projects a three-year safe harbor. The regulation could be a watershed moment for the crypto industry, if it passes. Listen in
Occult coin