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Decentralized Marketplace OpenBazaar Integrates ShapeShift, Allowing Payment with Any Digital Asset

OpenBazaar, which launched in April 2016, is an open source project with the goal to create a decentralized network for peer-to-peer online commerce using bitcoin. The platform allows buyers and sellers of goods to directly create shops and sell goods without fees, restrictions or accounts. Prior to the company’s Shifty Button integration, OpenBazaar was only available to those who had Bitcoin to deposit. Sellers can now accept dozens of digital assets.

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“Enabling users to pay for OpenBazaar purchases with bitcoin and dozens of other cryptocurrencies was always something we wanted to do and ShapeShift enabled us to do that quickly and easily,” said OpenBazaar CEO and Project Lead Brian Hoffman. “Our community has been very eager for this feature and we’re happy to be able to provide it through a great partner.”

The ShapeShift Shifty Button provides websites the option of accepting dozens of leading digital currencies by generating an easy-to-implement snippet of code. The Button’s code is free and open source and has been integrated by dozens of bitcoin-friendly merchants to broaden customer payment needs quickly and easily.

“We feel a distinct kinship with the OpenBazaar project, both companies foster permissionless exchange between anyone, anywhere on Earth,”

said ShapeShift CEO and Founder Erik Voorhees.

As one of the most talked about commerce projects in the blockchain space in 2016, OpenBazaar took home three of five awards during the 2016 Blockchain Awards in New York City in May including ‘Best New Startup,’ ‘Bitcoin Champion of the Year’ and ‘Most Promising Consumer Application.’ They announced $3 million in new funding this month, led by BlueYard, a Berlin-based VC, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz and Union Square. The integration with ShapeShift follows the pattern of connections being rapidly formed between “fintech” companies as they innovate within the new payments and digital money industry.

About ShapeShift.io

ShapeShift is a crucial piece of infrastructure in the world of Bitcoin. From start to finish, users can exchange blockchain tokens in seconds, with no account required. No emails or passwords. No lengthy sign­up process. No accounts. No bid and ask orders. No friction. ShapeShift’s goal is the fastest, safest, and most convenient way to swap digital assets. See more at: https://shapeshift.io

About OpenBazaar:

OpenBazaar is an open source project to create a decentralized network for peer to peer commerce online—using Bitcoin—that has no fees and no restrictions. It’s a different way to do online commerce. Instead of visiting a website, you download and install a program on your computer that directly connects you to other people looking to buy and sell goods and services with you. This peer to peer network isn’t controlled by any company or organization – it’s a community of people who want to engage in trade directly with each other. Learn more here: https://openbazaar.org/

Bitstamp exits Washington State: Regulation hampering innovation?

Tightening regulations are hindering the development of fintech companies currently in US. The latest state to join this list is the State of Washington where regulations on digital currency startups have made significant impact on businesses. Following regulations many companies have ceased to serve the residents of the respective region and Washington is no different. Following the same, Luxembourg-based bitcoin exchange Bitstamp has announced effective 20 December, it will stop serving residents of the state. The exchange operates out of U.K and U.S with good volumes and has been one of the leading exchanges in the market of cryptocurrencies. Though the strong reason behind this move is still unclear, let’s look into the details of the exit:

Regulation in the past:

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Most notable step towards regulation took place in 2015 with the introduction of BitLicense in New York. While most people saw it as a ‘necessary evil’, this move saw a huge impact on various bitcoin based businesses.  Exchanges like Coinsetter, MonetaGo payed the licensing fee and decided to stay and serve the customers in the area. Many small businesses like Poloneix exchange and GoCoin ceased their operations in New York due to cost and many other factors. Many companies like ShapeShift stopped their operations after seeing that they would have to drive up their service charges.

Washington and Regulatory moves:

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In the State of Washington, Nations capital Washington DC has been a very pleasant environment for the development of Bitcoin and Blockchain ecosystem. In September, Coin Center, a Washington D.C.-based non-profit and advocacy center focusing on public policy issues facing bitcoin started a Congressional caucus. The function of the caucus is to study bitcoin and blockchain technology deeply and resolve the issues. It also aims at making policy makers to understand open technologies like bitcoin and ethereum.

Is Bitstamp withdrawing proactively?

Bitstamp has launched the trading of the biggest traditional currency trading pair – Euro/Dollar in June. This marked the entry of the exchange into mainstream trading apart from cryptocurrency trading. After such a move, this move came out to be suspicious. There has been speculations around this that after federal Judge approving IRS summons, Bitstamp is protecting itself. In this recent incident, the Judge has instructed bitcoin wallet and exchange Coinbase to disclose transaction records of bitcoiners. Hence this can be seen as a preemptive move on part of Bitstamp.