Bitcoin Daily: Bitcoin Approaches $12K Level, ‘Cryptocurrency’ Makes Dictionary Debut

As Coinbase seeks to make more acquisitions, the popular U.S. cryptocurrency exchange has hired LinkedIn’s former VP of corporate development. Emilie Choi took the helm as Coinbase’s new VP of corporate and business development on Monday (March 5), Fortune reported. While at LinkedIn, Choi was involved in more than 40 acquisitions, such as the company’s $1.5 billion purchase of Lynda in 2015.

XRP, Ripple’s digital currency and the third-largest cryptocurrency, saw its value jump by double digits on Monday (March 5) – recently up 16 percent – as speculation abounds it could have an exchange listing, CoinDesk reported. Based on comments spreading across social media, investors think XRP’s price will continue to move higher, since Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, is scheduled to appear on CNBC’s “Fast Money” on Tuesday (March 6). The executive is expected to be joined by Asiff Hirji, the COO of Coinbase.

And has Ryan Gosling taken a new gig as the lead graphic designer for a cryptocurrency startup? That is not the case, TheNextWeb reported. Miroskii has apparently used a stock photo of the actor as the headshot for the position on its website. The site also apparently used other photos from around the internet for its staff page, but TheNextWeb said it didn’t seem to feature other celebrities.

Bitcoin just might reach the $12,000 mark again, MarketWatch reported. The cryptocurrency has almost reached that level twice since late January, but market experts see that another attempt may, in fact, be successful. “Technically speaking, as long as the February low remains intact, the path of least resistance is firmly skewed to the upside,” ThinkMarkets’ chief market analyst, Naeem Aslam, told MarketWatch.

And three terms associated with crypto have made their dictionary debut, Coindesk reported. Merriam-Webster has added “cryptocurrency,” “blockchain” and “initial coin offerings” to its word lists. The words join more than 800 new terms.

In the finance world, investors have put $300 million since the start of third quarter toward applications that will allow people to trade energy with crypto, Bloomberg reported. Half of that investment was made in January alone, according to Massachusetts-based GTM Research. Potential applications could include the sale of solar power from rooftop panels to electric vehicle charging.

And the U.S. Marshals are trying to unload some bitcoin, Coindesk reported. The agency is reportedly seeking to sell approximately $25 million of bitcoin at auction. Those who want to bid on the bitcoin have to place a $200,000 deposit and fulfill other requirements by March 14.