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Survey Reveals Majority of Americans Lack Confidence in Safety and Reliability of Cryptocurrency

June G. Bauer

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Cryptocurrency has been making headlines for years, and while some investors have seen significant gains, the majority of Americans are still skeptical about its safety and reliability.

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in March 2023, 75% of Americans who have heard of cryptocurrency are not confident that current ways to invest in, trade or use cryptocurrencies are reliable and safe.

The survey found that among those who have heard of cryptocurrency, 39% are not at all confident in its safety and reliability, and an additional 36% are not very confident. Only 2% of respondents are extremely confident, while 4% are very confident, and 18% are somewhat confident.

It’s worth noting that some groups of Americans are more skeptical of cryptocurrency than others. For example, adults aged 50 and older who have heard of cryptocurrency are more likely than their younger counterparts to say they are not confident in its reliability and safety. Additionally, women are slightly more skeptical than men, with 80% of women saying they are not confident in cryptocurrency, compared with 71% of men.

Furthermore, attitudes towards cryptocurrency differ based on whether someone has invested in it or not. One-in-five cryptocurrency users say they are extremely or very confident that it is safe and reliable, but that share drops to 2% among those who are familiar with cryptocurrency but have not invested. Interestingly, 43% of cryptocurrency users also have concerns about its security, saying they are not very or not at all confident in it.

When it comes to who uses cryptocurrency in the US, the survey found that 17% of US adults say they have ever invested in, traded or used a cryptocurrency. This share is mostly unchanged from previous Center surveys conducted in 2021 and 2022. Younger men are more likely to use cryptocurrency compared with men aged 50 and older and women of any age. For example, 41% of men aged 18 to 29 say they have ever invested in, traded or used cryptocurrency, compared with 16% of women in the same age range.

Cryptocurrency use also differs by race, ethnicity and income level. Some 24% of Asian adults and 21% of Black or Hispanic adults say they have ever invested in or used a cryptocurrency, compared with 14% of White adults. Additionally, adults with upper or middle incomes are more likely to have invested in cryptocurrency than those with lower incomes.

Finally, the survey found that few cryptocurrency users first used it within the past year. Roughly three-quarters of those who have ever invested in, traded or used cryptocurrency (74%) say they did so for the first time one to five years ago. Black users (27%) are more likely than White users (12%) to say they first used cryptocurrency within the past year, and lower-income households are more likely to have first invested in cryptocurrency within the past year than middle- or upper-income households.

Overall, the survey shows that while a significant minority of Americans have invested in, traded or used cryptocurrency, the vast majority are still skeptical about its safety and reliability. This could be due to the many challenges cryptocurrency has faced, including declines in value, multiple corporate bankruptcies, lawsuits, and regulatory threats. As cryptocurrency continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see whether attitudes towards it change and whether more Americans become confident in its safety and reliability.

Pop cultureaholic, Technology expert, Web fanatic and a Social media geek. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to email her at [email protected] or contact her on Twitter @JuneTBauer1

Bitcoin

Craig Wright’s “Satoshi Nakamoto” Claim Debunked in UK Court Ruling

June G. Bauer

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The mysterious identity of Satoshi Nakamoto, the inventor of Bitcoin, has been a burning question in the crypto world for over a decade. Several self-proclaimed candidates have stepped forward claiming to be Nakamoto, but their assertions have been widely doubted or disproven. One of the most vocal Nakamoto claimants is Australian computer scientist Craig Wright, but a recent UK court ruling has decisively undermined his case.

In a lawsuit brought by the Crypto Open Patent Alliance (COPA), a group representing crypto companies, the British High Court judge firmly rejected Wright’s claim to be the creator of Bitcoin. The evidence presented in court exposed critical flaws and deception in Wright’s story.

According to the lawyer representing COPA, Jonathan Hough, Wright’s insistence on being Satoshi Nakamoto amounted to “a brazen lie and an elaborate false narrative supported by forgery on an industrial scale.” Hough argued that Wright had provided fabricated documents, backdated file edits, and even indications of using AI language models like ChatGPT years before they were publicly available.

The judge, Justice Mellor, found the evidence overwhelmingly against Wright’s claims. In an unusually swift ruling, he stated unequivocally: “Dr. Wright is not the inventor of Bitcoin” and “Dr. Wright is not the author of the Bitcoin white paper, and he is not the person who adopted the name Satoshi Nakamoto.”

This legal setback is just the latest blow to Wright’s efforts to establish himself as the elusive Bitcoin creator. In a separate case in 2018, Wright was sued for fraud by the estate of the late Dave Kleiman, an American computer scientist considered by some to be a potential Nakamoto candidate. Wright lost that lawsuit as well and was ordered to pay $100 million in damages.

As the crypto community continues to speculate about Satoshi Nakamoto’s true identity, Craig Wright’s claims have been definitively dismissed by the UK court. The mystery endures, leaving open the question – who was the brilliant mind behind the revolutionary blockchain technology and the world’s first cryptocurrency? Only time may unravel the details shrouding Bitcoin’s enigmatic origins.

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Former IcomTech CEO Admits Guilt in Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme

sying.tien

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In a recent development, Marco Ochoa, the former CEO of IcomTech, has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. This admission of guilt is tied to the infamous Ponzi scheme orchestrated by IcomTech during Ochoa’s tenure as CEO, which lasted from the company’s inception in 2018 until 2019.

The U.S. Department of Justice, in an official statement, revealed that IcomTech enticed investors with the promise of daily returns on investment products, all under the guise of being a cryptocurrency mining and trading enterprise. To attract unsuspecting customers, the company went to great lengths, including hosting extravagant expos and community events on a global scale. Additionally, IcomTech introduced its own digital token, known as an “Icom.”

However, the shocking truth emerged that the company did not engage in cryptocurrency mining activities as claimed. Worse yet, investors found themselves unable to access the profits they believed were accumulating in their accounts. This deceitful scheme eventually unraveled, leading to the company’s collapse in late 2019.

In the aftermath, legal charges were filed against Marco Ochoa and other high-ranking IcomTech executives in November 2022. As a result of his guilty plea, Ochoa now faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.

This latest revelation serves as a stark reminder of the importance of due diligence when investing in the cryptocurrency space. It highlights the need for investors to exercise caution and skepticism, especially when confronted with promises of unrealistically high returns. As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, staying informed and making informed decisions remains paramount to protect oneself from fraudulent schemes like the one perpetrated by IcomTech.

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Robert Kiyosaki’s Bold Prediction: Citibank Tokens vs. Bitcoin and the US Dollar

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In a recent tweet that sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency community, renowned author and financial literacy advocate Robert Kiyosaki ignited a spirited debate about the future of Bitcoin and the US dollar. The tweet read:

This bold statement has raised questions about the impact of traditional financial institutions like Citibank embracing blockchain technology and its potential implications for both Bitcoin and the US dollar.

Citibank, one of the world’s leading financial institutions, made headlines by announcing its entry into the blockchain arena. The bank revealed its plans to leverage blockchain technology to create Citibank tokens, which will be backed by institutional savings. These tokens aim to facilitate instantaneous cross-border transactions, operating 24/7 without the limitations of traditional banking hours or international borders.

Bitcoin, often hailed as “digital gold” and a store of value, has faced both optimism and skepticism since its inception. While some see it as the future of global finance, others view it as a speculative asset prone to volatility. Citibank’s move to introduce its blockchain-based tokens could potentially challenge Bitcoin’s status as the premier digital asset.

Citibank’s tokens, backed by the credibility and stability of a major financial institution, may attract investors seeking a more secure and regulated digital asset. This development could lead to increased competition between Bitcoin and Citibank’s blockchain-based tokens, potentially impacting Bitcoin’s market dominance.

The US dollar, long considered the world’s primary reserve currency, has faced its share of challenges in recent years, including inflation concerns and geopolitical uncertainties. Citibank’s blockchain technology could potentially offer an alternative means for cross-border transactions that is not reliant on the US dollar.

As more institutions adopt blockchain-based solutions like Citibank’s, the traditional financial system’s reliance on the US dollar may gradually diminish. This could have far-reaching consequences for the global financial landscape, including potential shifts in currency preferences and a reduced role for the US dollar in international trade.

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