qatar-2022

Betting on the 2022 World Cup with Cryptocurrencies

With the world’s biggest sports betting event taking place in Qatar over the next several weeks, the sector might see even more disruption.

The World Cup, like the Super Bowl or the Wimbledon final, is one of those exceptional athletic events that manages to pique the curiosity of people across the globe. It is hardly shocking that this is also a major development in the world of sports betting. For example, the astronomical sum of $133.7 billion was wagered on the 2018 World Cup, which was hosted in Russia.

In comparison to the about $6 billion bet on the most recent Super Bowl, the World Cup finals took in around $8.2 billion. According to analysts in the industry, the amount of money wagered on the Qatar 2022 games will most likely far exceed the amount wagered on Russia 2018.

Significant Four-Year Shift

Only a small fraction of the betting market in 2018 cared about the World Cup in terms of cryptocurrency use for the same. Additionally, most of the participants were early adopters and industry veterans in the cryptocurrency sector.

Much has changed in that segment of the gambling industry in the space of only four short years. Sports bettors and casino gamers alike are increasingly turning to digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum for their wagering and gaming needs.

Additionally, the development of crypto-friendly online gaming platforms is being spurred by this need. Along with more conventional payment options like credit cards and e-wallets, more and more well-known firms are beginning to accept Bitcoin as payment.

Lots More to Look Forward To

However, the World Cup is not drawing attention to cryptocurrencies because of sports betting alone. Many prominent bitcoin companies are now sponsors, and this has drawn criticism. Because of the volatility of the bitcoin market in the last several years, this is to be anticipated.

Case in point, one large cryptocurrency exchange recently announced that it would no longer be continuing its nearly $500 million sponsorship of FIFA over five years. Furthermore, Everton fans have asked the club to sever connections with a prominent crypto-gambling firm that has sponsored the team.

While there are undoubtedly still some bumps on the road ahead, it’s heartening to see how far we’ve come. As general awareness of cryptocurrencies increases, even casual sports fans will learn to appreciate their many benefits. Fans may make wagers with ease thanks to our streamlined, safe, and user-friendly system among other benefits.

bitcoin-sports-betting

The Rise of Big League Crypto Sports Betting

Even though there has been a significant slump in the value of cryptocurrencies over the course of the last few months, U.S. sports bettors are slowly but surely coming around to the idea of using digital currencies for betting purposes. As virtual currencies grow more prevalent in daily life, proponents of the change contend that it will be a key tool in keeping bettors away from the offshore market.

Many well-known sports betting organizations have recently started accepting bitcoin deposits into their users’ gaming accounts. An important element of this procedure is played by third-party payment providers.

Lots to Offer

Sports bettors will appreciate cryptocurrency’s numerous advantages over traditional forms of payment. To begin with, it has an exceptionally high level of security making it very tough to crack. It is essential for operators to ensure that this is the case so that your wagers are protected from any kind of manipulation. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are also decentralized, which means they are not governed by a single entity. This makes it almost hard for anybody to take advantage of the system.

Last but not least, using cryptocurrencies is remarkably quick and affordable. It has very cheap costs and allows for almost instantaneous transaction completion. As a result, it’s an ideal choice for individuals who wish to gamble on sports without having to worry about transaction costs.

Dealing With the Concerns

Even though cryptocurrency is still in its infancy, there are already several compelling arguments suggesting that placing bets on sporting events using bitcoin might be the wave of the future. Cryptocurrency has the potential to completely change the online sports betting industry with its speedier transfers, reduced costs, and increased anonymity.

There have, of course, been some concerns. Thankfully, these are being addressed in different ways.

no-bitcoin

The Wikimedia Community to Stop Accepting Crypto Donations

Following a three-month debate in which the environmental effect of bitcoin and other digital currencies was a significant discussion topic, Wikimedia, the non-profit foundation behind Wikipedia, has decided to cease accepting crypto payments and donations.

Accepting donations in digital currencies including popular options like BTC and ETH signals the endorsement of digital coins and a clear push for more mainstream adoption. These also have a reputation for being “inherently predatory” as investments. As such, they do not align with the Wikimedia Foundation’s commitment to environmental sustainability, according to a proposal from contributor Molly White.

Crypto miners have been accused of polluting the environment by utilizing massive quantities of computer power to confirm transactions. Molly White included this in the proposal. The foundation singled out BTC and ETH for their high energy requirements, while also pointing out that there are alternative “greener” cryptocurrencies. However, these are less extensively used even for payments or donations to the foundation.

The decision was reached via a vote.  Nearly three-quarters of the fewer than 400 people who voted, leaned in favor of no longer accepting BTC. This is definitely a big deal for the crypto community as proponents have been working hard to increase adoption. However, all hope is not lost it seems. Wikimedia has kept the possibility of restarting crypto acceptance on the table. For now, it will continue to watch the situation.

Can crypto go green?

The energy consumed by computers to issue new digital tokens via a process known as “proof of work” accounts for a large part of crypto’s environmental effect. That is simply because it requires a lot of computing power. According to some estimations, the server farms that compete to produce new Bitcoins consume as much power as a small nation every year.

A greener crypto future most likely implies a more regulated one. Two types of legislative measures for crypto regulation are possible. The first kind would need greater openness on the carbon costs of operating a cryptocurrency mining farm. The second would involve regulators imposing some form of carbon tax. Already, these kinds of rules are being pushed by some notable environmental and economic justice organizations.

Other options such as the adoption of renewable energy at the mining farms have also been fronted. Still, we cannot dismiss the fact that crypto is growing at an incredibly fast pace and government regulatory measures often take time to create and implement. It will very certainly fall to the industry to embrace sustainability with the same zeal that it has innovated.

bitcoza

Bitcoza Debuts World’s First Charity Bitcoin Casino

Crypto charities are not an exactly new concept but the idea of a Bitcoin charity had not come up until recently. Bitcoza, a fast-rising operator in the world of crypto has recently launched what it claims is the first charity Bitcoin online casino on the planet.

According to the creators and operators of the platform, Bitcoza is aimed at offering players a fun gaming environment while at the same time giving them a chance to contribute to initiatives aimed at making communities. Better. So, in addition to being a profitable entertainment spot, the platform has an interest in assisting in the protection of endangered species.

This will be achieved by the company donating up to a whopping 50 percent of its revenue to charitable campaigns. As mentioned, the key focus of the charity efforts is endangered species so we expect to see a bias in that regard.

One of the current initiatives that the company is currently pursuing with its top-level VIP program involves saving the endangered Pinta Island Tortoise. The Pinta Island Tortoise which is currently at the Galapagos National Park and Conservancy is the only of its kind left in the world. In addition to that, Bitcoza has also been offering support to the World Wide Fund For Nature and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

More About Bitcoza

Since its launch in the Spring of 2021, Bitcoza has built up quite a reputation. To begin with, it is a licensed and regulated gaming site. It has a license from the jurisdiction of Curacao. Players are therefore assured of fairness and safety. The operator also plans to take this a notch higher by rolling out a set of responsible gambling tools. These are going to come in handy for tracking spending and playing responsibly.

While its charity initiatives specifically reference Bitcoin, the iGaming site accepts several other digital currencies as payment methods. These include Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Dai, and USD Coin. Increasingly popular crypto tokens are also eventually bound to find their way onto the platform.

When it comes to the games, Bitcoza has a pretty solid selection of titles too. Among its popular titles are blackjack, poker, baccarat, lotteries, slots, and roulette. One of the most notable things about the platform is the fact that its bonus schemes could net players up to a whopping $22,000 in bonuses. To make it even better, these bonuses are not accompanied by any wagering requirements should players choose to withdraw them.

Solana-Pay-Share

Solana Pay Ventures into the Crypto Payments Space

While crypto has certainly revolutionized online payment in many respects, the sector still has more room to grow and advance further. There have been lots of different initiatives and developments dedicated to solving some of the things that have plagued crypto payments. Stablecoins and Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, for instance, were all dedicated to bringing some much-needed improvements to the sector.

Now, Solana Labs is hoping to make its play for the crypto payments sector with a solution it believes will be a gamechanger. The company has co-developed software that it will use to help merchants accept payments via the Solana network.

While still relatively new, the Solana network has been steadily growing in popularity. Today, it is the blockchain network that is the Ethereum network’s biggest competitor. That is because it offers a solid range of products and services. The most notable ones are the cheaper, faster, and more scalable transaction processing capabilities that the network boasts of.

Its new product is aimed at facilitating merchant payments and commerce rails. Both are very lucrative and thus a provider that offers the most value in terms of costs and instant payment settlements can tap into this unique growth opportunity.

No Middleman

Perhaps the most interesting thing about Solana’s new venture is that it lives up to the promise of crypto. Using QR codes, users will be able to make direct peer-to-peer (P2P) payments. All they need to have is a valid cryptocurrency wallet.

According to Solana Labs Head of Payments Sheraz Shere, the new product has the potential of paving the way for the future of mainstream crypto use. The fact that there is no need for a middle man taxing every transaction makes it very appealing to both merchants and consumers.

“Now that we have a blockchain that has the throughput, speed and scalability and low fees of traditional payment networks – 50,000 transactions per second and sub-second transfer times, we can potentially build a merchant payment system that’s truly on the blockchain, and most importantly, that’s peer-to-peer and decentralized and permissionless.”

Sheraz Shere, Solana Labs’ Head of Payments.

For those who may be concerned about volatility, the new product is particularly focused on USDC. According to the company, USDC transfers are the best way to go as they are not only simple to execute but also unlikely to add any stress to the network.

2022

Some Expert Predictions for Crypto and iGaming in 2022

The new year is finally here and, as always, everyone is already looking into what might eventually come of it. For various industries, the beginning of a new year is often both a time of reflection and a time to ramp up preparations for what’s to come. This applies to the gambling and crypto industries as well.

These two sectors have enjoyed a surge in popularity over the past couple of years and 2022 is seemingly set to be yet another great year for them. There were, of course, some ups and downs. Still, from what we have already seen, it is possible to estimate the trajectory of these sectors. Some of the things that we should watch out for include:

More Mainstream Push for Crypto

For a long time, the gambling industry carried nearly all the weight as far as mainstream crypto use is concerned. 2021 changed that significantly thanks to the impressive rise in institutional interest. Lots of mainstream organizations including investment firms and financial institutions got in on the world of crypto.

There is a lot of optimism about 2022 and how it could be an even better year for crypto. Institutional support is one of the biggest pieces of the puzzle when it comes to bringing crypto use to the mainstream. More adoption of digital tokens and currencies will likely be a defining aspect of the year.

The Rise and Rise of Non-Fungible Tokens

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were one of the most divisive topics in 2021. While some people saw it as a fad, there were lots of people who saw its potential. The idea is still quite new to many people even those in the crypto community. This raises a few eyebrows with regards to its future.

Well, many experts are optimistic that NFTs are here to stay. The innovative technology has proven to be quite popular among crypto enthusiasts and creators alike. The latter have been able to find new ways of making money from their work. A few issues such as concerns about power consumption will need to be ironed out though.

Enter the Metaverse

With huge companies such as Meta (formerly Facebook) and Microsoft making a play for the Metaverse, the technology was a huge part of conversations in 2021. In 2022, those conversations continue and we expect even more announcements about potential additions to the metaverse.

Knowing how dynamic the iGaming sector is, it will not be long before we hear about more operators leveraging the power of the Metaverse. Crypto and the blockchain will, without a doubt, be a huge part of that shift.

binance-logo

Binance On the Spotlight Over Ties to Betting App in India

Both crypto and betting have been enjoying massive popularity all around the world. The situation is, however, not as rosy in India. The country has been known for its rather strong stance against gambling and the burgeoning digital currency and blockchain ecosystem. Its government has been trying hard to regulate these sectors. The latest casualty of these efforts is Binance, one of the world’s most popular crypto exchanges and brands.

Recently, the Enforcement Directorate, India’s anti-money laundering agency, began a probe into Binance Holdings Limited. The investigation is meant to ascertain whether the crypto exchange had something to do with betting apps. Its executives are currently being investigated.

No official communication is available on the matter. The Enforcement Directory has not commented and representatives from Binance have denied receiving any summons.

“We have always been a proactive player in fighting crime. We comply with regulator requests all around the world and we don’t comment on any specific engagements.”

Binance’s Spokesperson.

However, sources close to the matter have shared differing information that points to some messy issues. It will certainly take a bit of time before any of these matters get settled. It is thus bound to reach the public domain soon.

What Caused the Problem?

Blockchain, digital currencies, and the businesses related to them are no stranger to controversy. Binance is no exception. The company was incorporated in the Cayman Islands and has no corporate headquarters. This raised some eyebrows and the exchange has been facing scrutiny. Many countries including India have concerns that digital currencies can potentially be used to facilitate money-laundering, drug trade, and even terrorism.

Binance’s woes in India may have emanated from its involvement with betting apps which are also still facing some troubles themselves. The operators of said betting apps used wallets with WazirX to buy, convert and transfer funds on Binance. There should be a straightforward way of dealing with this but that is, unfortunately, not the case.

As it turns out, Binance failed to take responsibility by collecting the necessary know-your-customer documents from clients in most of the transactions. In addition to that, the crypto exchange also reportedly failed to collect information as required by the Finance Action Task Force (FATF), the global anti-money laundering watchdog.

Now, this may blow over without too many implications. Still, it represents a clear need for further action concerning the regulatory framework. India in particular has a long way to go when it comes to warming up to crypto and betting.

cryptocom-f1

Crypto.com To Sponsor Formula 1’s New Sprint Races

Renowned international racing auto racing organization Formula 1 has become one of the latest entities to partner with the crypto industry. This is thanks to a multi-million-dollar deal between the organization and Crypto.com which is one of the fastest-growing crypto platforms in existence.

As per the terms of the partnership agreement, Crypto.com will now be able to enjoy a significant amount of brand presence around Formula 1 events. This will begin with the new Spring qualifying format that Formula 1 will be using to determine the starting positions of cars in some of its races.

Speaking on the new development, a spokesperson from Formula 1 said that they are very excited about the partnership. Crypto.com’s reputation as a leading crypto platform across the globe certainly opens doors for new ways of fan engagement. F1 director of commercial partnerships Ben Pincus has also confirmed that cryptocurrencies are “an area we are very interested in.”

All the Sprint races will go down in three rounds of the championship in 2021. After its launch at Silverstone, more events will likely head to Monza after which the next location will be selected. There is speculation that this could be either Interlagos in Brazil or the Circuit of the Americas in the USA

NFTs Coming to Formula 1

The idea that one of the biggest racing organizations will now be associated with the crypto industry is very exciting, to say the least. What is even more exciting is the fact that some arguably newer crypto technologies such as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) will be a part of the deal.

“As F1 continues to explore new ways for fans to engage and become more immersed in the sport, Crypto.com will also become the Official Cryptocurrency Sponsor and NFT Partner of F1. Mirroring the fan-first approach F1 has adopted to engage with new audiences, Crypto.com aims to democratize the world of cryptocurrency for fans, through education and experiences in the new partnership.”

To kick things off, Crypto.com will be presenting a brand-new award. This is yet to be announced but we expect some news on it ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.

All in all, this is a great step forward for the world of digital currencies. The sector is still fundamentally considered to be complicated. Thanks to such partnerships as the one between Crypto.com and Formula 1 we can expect even more growth. It is going to be very exciting to see how this partnership pans out going forward.

sony-crypto-esports-betting

Sony Publishes Patent for Crypto-Powered Esports Betting

Thanks to the massive success of its PlayStation ecosystem, Sony is arguably the most cherished gaming company on the planet right now. This has not stopped the company from pursuing various areas of growth and, as it turns out, crypto seems to be one of the areas that the company has been looking at. In mid-May, this was confirmed following a report from Market Research Telecast which states that the Japanese video game company had finally published a crypto-related patent that they had filed back in 2019.

The report gave a glimpse of Sony’s plans for the crypto industry. It plans to start accepting bitcoin payments which would allow for live in-game esports betting. The platform would reportedly use both traditional or fiat currency as well as digital currencies but we are naturally more interested in the crypto aspect of the whole thing particularly because it represents yet another massive growth milestone for the sector.

How Would It Work?

Sony already boasts of a massive network as it stands and perhaps their next moves in this regard will revolve around making the new technologies work with their existing products. From what we could gather, the new crypto esports betting feature will simply work as an overlay. This means that the gamblers will still be able to watch the games live and be able to bet in real-time.

When it comes to the betting odds, the company will reportedly rely on artificial intelligence (AI) system that will be utilizing data related to the game’s history and that of the players. To make it even better, Sony seems to be planning to make the amazing new feature available to users of other platforms as well. In the patent, the company mentions porting it other consoles and gaming devices from companies like Nintendo and Microsoft which are the company’s biggest competitors.

Why This Matters

Digital currencies have generally been all the buzz lately and while most of the attention it has been getting could be good, there are still lots of people that are not sold on the idea yet. Sony’s, which owns the most recognizable gaming brands on the planet, entry paves the way for even more adoption.

Gaming has always been one of the most promising use-cases of digital currencies and with the massive rise in esports, there is certainly no better time to begin this journey than now. If everything falls into place, gamers all around the world will soon be able to have an even more refined glimpse of what the video game company has in store for them.

bitcoin-wallstreet-boom

Bitcoin Boom Prompts New Developments for Financial Institutions

The past couple of months have been quite monumental for the world of crypto. Bitcoin, in particular, managed to scale to even greater heights and broke records it had set before, something that has a ton of impacts on the way individuals and institutions perceive crypto. Already, we are seeing several new developments with the most notable ones being by leading financial institutions. It is not just gambling operators anymore.

Goldman Sachs to Reopen Its Cryptocurrency Trading Desk

Beginning next week, Goldman Sachs Group Inc will be reopening its crypto trading desk. It is the second time that the banking powerhouse will be pursuing a piece of the crypto market. The previous attempt was in 2018 and was abandoned following the crash of bitcoin at the time. Now, there has been a change of heart for the company which is without a doubt a result of the mind-numbing bitcoin surge recorded over the past several weeks.

Goldman Sachs’ new crypto trading operation will see it deal bitcoin futures for clients. In addition to that, it will also be trading non-deliverable forwards which are already quite popular in foreign exchanges and commodities markets. This move has been equated to decisions by investors and companies to use bitcoin as a hedge against inflation especially as governments and central banks turn on various stimulus taps.

Coinbase’s Impending Listing

Riding on the back of a very strong 2020 and a solid first two months of 2021, Coinbase which happens to be one of the world’s most popular exchanges is finally taking another leap forward by becoming a public company. This will not only enable it to raise capital publicly but also push forward its plans to give more people access to crypto. If you missed out on the crypto boom, this will be the perfect opportunity to jump onto the bandwagon.

An official offering date is yet to be announced but if the ongoing rumors and speculations are anything to go by, we should expect some developments very soon.

Robinhood Records Massive Surge in Crypto Activity

Robinhood has also recently reported seeing growing consumer interest in crypto trading – the volumes have already risen significantly which goes to show just how lucrative the sector is becoming. To put this into context, the company saw a whopping 6 million new crypto traders at the beginning of 2021, a number that is still growing.

Perhaps the next move will involve the expansion of its crypto portfolio. As it stands, it only supports seven digital currencies which is a rather small number when compared to other trading platforms. This should, hopefully, change very soon.