CryptoCompare is holding an interactive webinar on July 16 on what makes a Top-Tier cryptoasset exchange. In the webinar, we will debut our latest Exchange Benchmark next to a panel of experts from our top-ranking exchanges.

Binance has started rolling out its cryptocurrency debit card in Europe and the UK, with most regions to follow. Users will be able to apply for a Binance Card starting in August.

A letter PayPal has sent to the European Commission back in March confirms the fintech giant has been developing cryptocurrency capabilities.

Bitcoin transaction mixer usage has surged between the last quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of this year, according to a report by crypto analytics service Bitfury Crystal.

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Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• Explore CryptoCompare's Exchange Benchmark with Coinbase, Gemini and Bitstamp
• Binance Rolls out Crypto Debit Card in Europe
• PayPal Letter Confirms Development of Crypto Capabilities
• Bitcoin Mixer Use on Darknet Surged in First Quarter of 2020: Report
• Sponsored: Binance Airdrop, Exclusive For CryptoCompare users: 20,000 USDT Airdrop

At the time of writing, bitcoin (BTC) is trading at $9,230.03 (0.37%) with a daily Top Tier volume of $1.64 bn. As for ether (ETH), it is trading at $239.51 (0.42%) with a daily Top Tier volume of $467.70 million. The MVIS CryptoCompare Digital Assets 10 Index is currently tracking at 3,201.37 (-0.14%).

Explore CryptoCompare's Exchange Benchmark with Coinbase, Gemini and Bitstamp

The number of digital trading venues available to investors keeps on growing, and with it making a decision on trusting a trading platform becomes harder. Amid growing allegations of inflated trading volumes, CryptoCompare’s team set out to design a system that would evaluate exchanges that was not based on data that could be manipulated.

The result was the release of our first Exchange Benchmark in June 2019. The Exchange Benchmark has since become an industry standard for ranking exchanges as it provides a comprehensive framework for assessing risk, and brings transparency and accountability to the rapidly evolving market.

In an interactive one-hour webinar, CryptoCompare will debut its latest Exchange Benchmark on July 16. We will go through our methodology and hear from an expert panel of some of our top-ranking exchanges. Join us.

Binance Rolls out Crypto Debit Card in Europe

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has announced the official rollout of its cryptocurrency debit card, the Binance Card, in the European Economic Area and the UK. The Binance Card will initially support four cryptoassets: bitcoin, Binance Coin (BNB), Binance’s BUSD stablecoin, and Swipe’s SXP token.

Using the card users will be able to pay with cryptocurrency at over 60 million merchants throughout the world. The card allows users to keep their crypto in their native form until a point-of-sale transaction occurs, at which point the funds are converted to fiat.

The card is powered by Swipe, a cryptocurrency debit card issuer that Binance acquired earlier this year for an undisclosed sum. Commenting on the card’s rollout, Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said the firm is furthering its mission “of making crypto more accessible to the masses,” and added:

“Giving users the ability to convert and spend their crypto directly with merchants around the world, will make the crypto experience more seamless and applicable.”

Users will be able to top up their Binance Cards directly from the cryptocurrency exchange’s wallet, and choose which cryptoasset they want to spend when making a transaction. The card will be rolled out to other regions in the future.

PayPal Letter Confirms Development of Crypto Capabilities

In a letter sent to the European Commission in March, PayPal revealed it is “monitoring the evolution of the crypto-asset space,” and that it has taken “unilateral and tangible steps to further develop its capabilities in the area.”

PayPal was a founding member of the Facebook-led Libra cryptocurrency project, before it withdrew in October 2019, along with other payment giants. The letter is significant as PayPal is reportedly working on offering crypto buying and selling services to its over 300 million users.

The letter came in response to a public consultation opened in December 2019, as the Commission was looking for feedback on building an EU framework for cryptoassets. PayPal said it supported such a framework as blockchain technology and cryptoassets could help achieve “greater financial inclusion” and help reduce or even eliminate “some of the pain points that exist today in financial services.”

The letter added:

“PayPal is continuously monitoring and evaluating global developments in the crypto and blockchain/distributed ledger space. PayPal would be supportive of a harmonized approach across EU markets on applicable licensing or authorization requirements.”

The fintech giant suggested the EU should bring clear definitions for cryptoassets and properly license and regulate companies in the industry.

Bitcoin Mixer Use on Darknet Surged in First Quarter of 2020: Report

Data published by blockchain analytics service Bitfury Crystal revealed a significant increase in the use of bitcoin transaction mixers between the last quarter of 2019 and the first quarter of 2020.

According to the report, in dollar terms the increase was of 294%. The data was gathered by tracing direct and indirect bitcoin transactions between clusters “owned by darknet entities, as well as non-darknet and unidentified entities."  The report reads:

• "The amount of bitcoin sent to mixers by darknet entities rose significantly this year — from 790 total bitcoin in Q1 2019 to 7,946 bitcoin in Q1 2020. The same growth was also observed in USD — an increase from $3m in Q1 2019 to $67m in Q1 2020. This indicates a rapid adoption of crypto mixing services by darknet entities."

The authors add that from their analysis, cryptocurrency exchanges enforcing know-your-customer and anti-money laundering checks are “becoming less popular as a way to withdraw bitcoin from darknet entities.”

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Disclaimer: Futures trading is a highly risky endeavour, with the potential for both great profits and significant losses. Please be aware that in the event of extreme price movement, there is a chance that all margin balance in your futures wallet may be liquidated.

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