Ukraine-based crypto exchange Liqui is shutting down its services, citing a lack of liquidity, Cointelegraph Japan reports today, Jan. 28. Liqui said it decided to close all accounts and stop providing services because it currently does “not see any economic point in providing” them in a statement posted on its official website, Jan. 28. The crypto exchange claimed that it has informed its clients about the issue, and stated that withdrawal of digital assets will be available within 30 days after the message was posted. Liqui further noted that the firm cannot guarantee they will maintain their website after 30 …

Overregulation in Ukraine is reportedly preventing the cryptocurrency industry from evolving in the country. An official of the Ukrainian central bank (NBU) told this to a local crypto news outlet LetKnow Tuesday, Jan. 8. Mikhail Vidyakin, the director of the strategy and reform department of NBU, believes there are too many institutions in the country that have the authority to regulate cryptocurrencies. LetKnow has highlighted that there are at least three government organizations in Ukraine that fall under that definition: the NBU, the Ministry of Finance and the National Securities Commission. In order to foster the development of the industry, …

Ukraine’s former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is currently running a presidential campaign for the March 2019 elections, wants to tackle corruption using blockchain, according to a recent Facebook post from Sunday, Dec. 9. Tymoshenko dedicated her post to International Anti-Corruption Day, stating that modern Ukraine is immersed in “total corruption.” She further explained that her party, the All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", is trying to combat bribery. The former prime minister mentioned blockchain technology as an effective tool for public administration. According to Tymoshenko, in order to prevent corruption, state registries should be stored on a blockchain. Among other measures, she …

The Economic Development and Trade Ministry of Ukraine has initiated a “state policy” for the classification and legalization of crypto-related activities, Ukrainian state information and news agency Ukrinform reported Oct. 26. The Ministry has reportedly issued an official press release stating that its purpose is to “create understandable conditions for conducting activities in the field of virtual assets and virtual currencies," and to usher in “adoption of the concept of a state policy” for crypto. To this end, it has proposed establishing legal definitions for key terms, including “virtual currency” (“cryptocurrency,”) “virtual assets,” Initial Coin (or Token) Offerings (ICOs or …

Coming every Sunday, the Hodler’s Digest will help you to track every single important news story that happened this week. The best (and worst) quotes, adoption and regulation highlights, leading coins, predictions, and much more — a week on Cointelegraph in one link. Top Stories This Week CNBC’s Ran Neuner Claims Bitcoin’s Price Is Set To “Explode” Ran Neuner, crypto analyst and host of CNBC’s show Cryptotrader, said this week that the price of Bitcoin is “about to explode.” In a series of tweets, the trader predicted that a notable Bitcoin rally could be tied to the SEC’s upcoming decision …

The Ukrainian Ministry of Finance is creating a working group to discuss and develop a legal framework for crypto taxation, according to an Oct. 8 announcement on the ministry’s official website. The group will start its work beginning Oct.16 to identify crypto-related tax regulation options within the existing legal framework. The group of experts will also identify possible instances in which new or revised legislation is necessary. The findings of the group will be presented to the Expert Council for the preparation of common tax consultations by the end of 2018. In mid-September the Verkhovna Rada, the parliament of Ukraine, …

A Ukrainian legislator has urged parliament during a speech on Monday, October 1 to review his alternative bill on cryptocurrencies that offers to freeze taxes for crypto traders up to 2030. MP Yuriy Derevyanko, a member of the anti-corruption Movement of New Forces founded back in 2017 by former Georgian politician Mikheil Saakashvili, introduced his version of the bill at the conciliation board of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the country's unicameral parliament. "The bill provides tax exemptions for all the participants of crypto market up to 31 December, 2029," Derevyanko stated. He further explained the importance of such a …

The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) is considering launching a state-owned digital currency based on blockchain, local news outlet Vesti Ukraine reported Tuesday, September 25. NBU says that the blockchain-based hryvnia, or e-hryvnia, has to be centralized and remain under government control, Vesti Ukraine writes. The state-backed coin is expected to increase the rate of non-cash payments, along with reducing their cost. Ukraine has brought up the "digital coin" idea several times already within the framework of project called the “Cashless Economy”. For instance, NBU had revealed plans in January to launch an e-hryvnia that would not be based on …

Coming every Sunday, the Hodler’s Digest will help you to track every single important news story that happened this week. The best (and worst) quotes, adoption and regulation highlights, leading coins, predictions, and much more — a week on Cointelegraph in one link. Top Stories This Week Japanese Cryptocurrency Exchange Zaif Hacked Of Reported 5,966 Bitcoins As a result of a security breach on September 14, hackers have managed to steal 4.5 billion yen from Japan’s Zaif cryptocurrency exchange, as well as 2.2 billion yen from the assets of the company, with total losses amounting to 6.7 billion yen or …

The Verkhovna Rada, the parliament of Ukraine, has proposed a bill that, once passed into law, would tax operations with crypto assets, according to a draft law published September 14. The tax bill, which was initiated by 23 government officials, suggests a five percent tax on individuals and legal entities operating with virtual currency assets, such as cryptocurrencies and tokens. Starting Jan. 1, 2024 crypto-related profits by businesses would be taxed at 18 percent, which is a basic rate for corporate and personal income tax in Ukraine, according to Trading Economics. The new bill aims to withdraw large volumes of …

A member of Ukraine’s Electoral Commission revealed in an Aug. 7 Facebook post that they are working with NEM on a blockchain voting pilot. Oleksandr Stelmakh, head of the State Register at the Central Electoral Commission of Ukraine, appeared pleased with the ongoing tests, writing in the post that they are “continu[ing] a series of experiments applying blockchain technology within electoral voting.” Stelmakh noted that they created a test vote using 28 nodes with the NEM blockchain “several weeks ago,” adding that “voting is still open and anyone can take part it in.” The trial, which came about as a …

The Financial Stability Council of Ukraine has supported a concept for crypto regulations, Timur Khromaev, head of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (SSMCS) reported in a Facebook post July 20. According to Khromaev, the concept involves recognizing cryptocurrencies and tokens as financial instruments, establishes the roles and functions of governmental bodies in regulating those instruments, in addition to licensing transaction participants, defining information disclosure conditions, and other factors. The Financial Stability Council comprises of the Governor the National Bank of Ukraine, the Minister of Finance, heads of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission and the National Commission …