CrowdCrypto Newsletter

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• ??Investors and entrepreneurs are moving to Puerto Rico to establish residency and avoid stringent taxation laws, planning to build a crypto-utopia (Sol) where an entire ecosystem runs on virtual currency and public contracts.
• After last week’s talk of imminent crypto regulation, a White House official claimed on Friday that legislation surrounding cryptocurrency is unlikely to appear in the near future. Efforts are currently focused on the criminal use of cryptocurrencies and the inability to retrieve funds used in illegal transactions.
• Crypto collectibles? CryptoKitties, once the only Ethereum-based crypto game where users trade for digital items worth up to 100,000 ETH, is facing competition from a variety of crypto collectible apps promising users unique items if the price is right.
• ???More ideas on how to protect crypto earnings from the IRS comes this week from Robert W. Wood, who details pre-existing exemptions that may be useful for investors to utilize.  
• Blockchain, a provider of digital currency wallets, hired Peter Wilson of Facebook and Google in its efforts to create a cryptocurrency exchange that competes with rivals such as Coinbase. ?? This news came after the hiring earlier this month of Marco Santori, a former Cooley attorney and creator of the controversial SAFT. 

?Global Spotlight:

• ???For the first time in February, the cryptocurrency market has recovered to $500 billion, as most major cryptocurrencies including BTC and ETH recorded large gains in the past two days.
• ???Dutch ‘big four’ bank ABN AMRO has launched a new service wherein bank accounts are issued to individual clients via the blockchain, as alternatives to escrow accounts. Amsterdam-based FinTech stock exchange operator Nxchange will become the bank’s first client to use the blockchain-based bank accounts. The exchange, which enables direct securities trading between companies and investors, will begin using the service this month.
• We are seeing heightened activity by Hong Kong investors in US crypto futures who prefer stronger regulation (and security) of their investments.
• The Internet Finance Associate Working Conference was held in Beijing last week, with Chinese officials advocating for greater education concerning ICOs and investment fraud. This push towards information instead of tighter regulation may shed light on the longer-term strategy of Chinese regulators, who have to-date advocated strongly for greater crackdowns and bans of crypto trading.
• Additionally, China’s official media agency Xinhua featured an article detailing how some of their reporters were able to trade crypto using Huobi Pro and AliPay and highlighted that there are still over 20 OTC exchanges. Analysts highlight that this reporting, coupled with the conference last week, indicate a shift in stance for the Chinese government who previously indicated strong regulations of cryptocurrency were inevitable.
• ?Check out the Crypto Olympics! Crypto Currency News is hosting a daily competition tracking gains and losses of different coins. 

• New York, NY (2/24/18) or Los Angeles, CA (3/24/18): Attend the North American Crypto Currency Conference and join industry leaders who are dedicated to disrupting the global economy.
• Silicon Valley (2/15/18-2/18/18): Explore the future of FinTech, ICOs, Blockchain and the sharing economy at D10e, the leading conference on decentralization.
• New York, NY (2/19/18): Crypto Mondays is being held this week.
• ???Los Angeles (4/30/18-5/2/18): At the Crypto Invest Summit, join industry leaders at the largest crypto expo space in the world.

• Cannabis brand Jane West launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on Republic this week, seeking $1.07M in funding before 4/20. CEO Jane West highlighted the growing opportunity in cannabis investments, saying “Cannabis is for everyone, and the ability to participate financially should be to.”
• Crowdcube celebrated having 500,000 members and rasing £310 million in equity crowdfunding this week. Investors have focused their efforts on food and beverage companies, consumer goods, and consumer internet sectors.
• ?Planning a crowdfunding campaign? Lessons from Dr. David Aaker's interview with Forbes may help you to connect with your crowd through storytelling.