Bitcoin Daily: Bitcoin Breaks Through $4K; Leafbuyer Unveils Blockchain Initiative

Leafbuyer Technologies said on Monday (Jan. 7) that it has rolled out the first part of a blockchain initiative that has multiple phases, according to an announcement. With the launch, customers can make a blockchain wallet from inside the Leafbuyer Loyalty application. After users make their wallet accounts at a dispensary, they receive an SMS link on their mobile devices. By using the link, consumers can see their accounts and view their loyalty points, as well as transaction histories.

In other news, crypto exchange Kraken said in a tweet that inquiries from law enforcement and governmental agencies have risen by threefold, CoinDesk reported. The company said in its tweet that the “cost of handling subpoenas (regardless of licenses) is quickly becoming a barrier to entry. Inquiries up three times YOY.” According to a chart in the tweet, Kraken received 475 law enforcement requests in 2018, compared to 160 the year before. In the same chart, the crypto exchange noted that it received 71 law enforcement requests in 2016 and 39 in 2015.

On another note, bitcoin rebounded on Monday, as the cryptocurrency broke through the $4,000 level, CoinDesk reported. The outlet noted that the cryptocurrency’s price jumped by $262 as of 17:10 UTC, and the increase was “accompanied by a large injection of volume.” At the same time, the report noted CoinMarketCap data that indicated cryptocurrency market cap stands at slightly over $138.1 billion. The price of bitcoin was $4,006.61, according to CoinDesk as of 8:01 p.m.

A so-called bitcoin “millionaire” is in some hot water after four people are said to have been duped out of $380,000, The Next Web reported. The people reportedly bought machines to mine digital currency that was made for the millionaire’s new digital currency. According to the outlet, the machines were sold with the idea that they would churn a profit “within three months.” However, the tokens haven’t been traded, so the outlet said the cryptocurrency that the machines created doesn’t have any value. The “millionaire” had reportedly said the investors could receive a refund if the project wasn’t completed on schedule, but they claim he hasn’t met that pledge.