Monthly Archives: May 2020

Medical Marijuana, Inc. Names Caroline Heinz and Raul Elizalde Co-CEOs of Subsidiary HempMeds, Appoints Todd Morrow to Chief Information Officer -…

Posted: May 8, 2020 at 11:13 am

SAN DIEGO, May 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Marijuana, Inc.(OTC: MJNA) (the "Company"), the first-ever publicly traded cannabis company inthe United Statesthat launched the world's first-ever cannabis-derived nutraceutical products, brands and supply chain, announced today that it has named Caroline Heinz and Raul Elizalde co-CEOs of its subsidiary HempMeds.

"It's been a humbling experience to see the drive and dedication that both of these professionals have showcased over the years," said Medical Marijuana, Inc. CEO Dr. Stuart Titus. "We saw our Latin American sales explode during 2018 and 2019, especially in Brazil and Mexico. We are optimistic about how Raul and Caroline are adding their leadership to the global HempMeds brand."

Caroline Heinz, formerly the Vice President of HempMeds Brasil, joined the Company in 2014 when Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) approved the import of HempMeds' Real Scientific Hemp Oilas the first-ever legally imported hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) product. With the help of numerous families using CBD, Heinz helped pass legislation to get the Brazilian government to subsidize CBD for several indications. She was also able to grow the Company's sales in Brazil, successfully established two HempMeds Brasil offices, created a network of Brazilian doctors and medical professionals, and has partnered with research organizations to study the Company's CBD oil for safety and efficacy.

Raul Elizalde, formerly the President of HempMeds Mexico and Latin American operations, joined the Company in June 2017. He was an active medical cannabis advocate prior to joining the Company because of his fight to gain access to CBD hemp oil for his daughter Grace. Elizalde's fight led to the legalization of medical cannabis in Mexico and, since joining the company, he has significantly grown HempMeds' presence and sales throughout Latin America, especially in Mexico. In Nov. 2017, Elizalde was invited to speak to the World Health Organization at the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.

"Medical Marijuana, Inc. is my family and I am very proud to be asked to step into this new role with such a smart and talented professional like Caroline," said Elizalde. "In my new role, I aim to utilize the successful strategies I used to grow HempMeds' sales in Latin America and apply them to the U.S. market. We will continue to build a brand that consumers can trust."

In their new roles, Heinz and Elizalde will continue to lead daily operations for HempMeds in Latin America, but will also oversee all marketing, sales and operations for HempMeds in the U.S. and globally. The Company currently ships its products across the U.S. in all states where it is legal and in 40 other countries around the world. As Elizalde waits to be granted his work visa in the U.S., Heinz will oversee CEO duties from the Company's headquarters in San Diego.

"Growth happens when we stretch ourselves in new directions," said Heinz. "Working with HempMeds for half a decade now has taught me so much about myself and about the tremendous need the world has for CBD. Raul and I already make such a great team and we believe that we will be able to take our U.S. operations to the next level."

In addition to these exciting announcements, HempMeds President Todd Morrow was promoted to become Chief Information Officer for Medical Marijuana, Inc. In his new role, Morrow will work with the Company's executive team to lead strategic decision making, cross-collaboration and planning to raise revenue and drive greater profitability within the organization's family of companies.

About HempMeds

Founded in 2012,HempMedswas the first company to bring hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) oil products to market in the U.S. As a subsidiary of Medical Marijuana, Inc., HempMeds is the exclusive distributor for premium brands including Real Scientific Hemp Oil and Dixie Botanicals, and operates in all 50 states and 40 countries.HempMeds is the only company to have its CBD products listed in the Prescribers' Digital Reference (PDR), the only company invited to speak to the World Health Organization and FDA on the benefits of CBD, and one of the first to be certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority. To learn more, please visitwww.hempmedspx.com.

About Medical Marijuana, Inc.

We are a company of firsts. Medical Marijuana, Inc. (MJNA) is a cannabis company with three distinct business units in the non-psychoactive cannabinoid space: a global portfolio of cannabinoid-based nutraceutical brands led by Kannawayand HempMeds; a pioneer in sourcing the highest-quality legal non-psychoactive cannabis products derived from industrial hemp; and a cannabinoid-based clinical research and botanical drug development sector led by its pharmaceutical investment companies and partners includingAXIM Biotechnologies, Inc.andKannalife, Inc. Medical Marijuana, Inc. was named a top CBD producer by CNBC. Medical Marijuana, Inc. was also the first company to receive historic import permits for CBD products from the governments of Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Paraguay and is a leader in the development of international markets. The company's flagship product Real Scientific Hemp Oilhas been used in several successful clinical studies throughout Mexico and Brazil to understand its safety and efficacy.

Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s headquarters is in San Diego, California, and additional information is available at OTCMarkets.comor by visiting http://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com. To see Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s corporate video, click here.

Shareholders and consumers are also encouraged to buy CBD oil and other products at Medical Marijuana, Inc.'s shop.

FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Medical Marijuana, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein.

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) DISCLOSURE

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

LEGAL DISCLOSURE

Medical Marijuana, Inc. does not sell or distribute any products that are in violation of the United States Controlled Substances Act.

CONTACT:Public Relations Contact:Andrew HardChief Executive OfficerCMW MediaP. 858-264-6600[emailprotected]www.cmwmedia.com

Investor Relations Contact:P. (858) 283-4016[emailprotected]

SOURCE Medical Marijuana, Inc.

https://www.medicalmarijuanainc.com/

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Medical Marijuana, Inc. Names Caroline Heinz and Raul Elizalde Co-CEOs of Subsidiary HempMeds, Appoints Todd Morrow to Chief Information Officer -...

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First hemp CBD production facility and retail store in Idaho opens in Idaho Falls – LocalNews8.com

Posted: at 11:13 am

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - Snake River Solace has been in business since 2018. The company used to have a separate building in Idaho Falls for their production facility.

Recently, in an effort to be more transparent with their customers, they decided to join both their production facility and their retail store together under one roof. This created the first hemp CBD production and retail facility in Idaho.

"CBD is the isolated molecule of industrial hemp. A lot of people have it confused because it comes from the cannabis plant, you know, but it's actually the cannabis plant is a cousin of hemp. So we just extract that individual molecule, out of there, and then that's the CBD," said sales associate Robert Chamberlin.

Snake River Solace takes pride in producing CBD products with ingredients sourced from Idaho. Chamberlin tells us the only outsourcing they do is the CBD isolate that has to be federally regulated and the coconut oil.

"We just want to help the economy here for our state rather than outsourcing it for other states," Chamberlin said.

Chamberlin along with his boss Cody, produce the CBD oil in a lab that can be viewed through a window in the retail store.

"We tried to strive for a quality product for our customers, and so we put in the new production facility that way people know that they were getting quality product, and they know what's in it is what we say is in it," Chamberlin said.

Getting ingredients locally helps the company offer lower prices than their competition. Chamberlin says they try to keep their prices at least fifty percent lower than the national average.

He says their products are used for medicinal purposes.

"So they can treat for anything from pain inflammation, clear up to a seizure conditions, and nausea, everything in between really helps with a very broad spectrum of different things."

In the future, Chamberlin says they hope more hemp CBD companies in Idaho choose to source their ingredients locally, to continue to help the economy.

With the CBD oil that they make in the facility, they are able to create different products in a variety of flavors.

Chamberlin says the natural medicine doesn't work for everyone and that some people are more receptive to it than others.

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5 Great Cannabis Skin Care Products To Consider Trying – Anti Aging News

Posted: at 11:13 am

In the past couple of years, weve seen an ever-rising interest in all things CBD. As a hemp-derived product, it offers all the benefits of marijuana without any of the side-effects. It wont get you high or alter your state of mind, even if its smoked or ingested. But smoking or eating CBD products arent your only options.

With many reliable sellers with a strong presence on the online market, the global market for CBD cosmetics and skincare is growing exponentially. Its expected that this market will be worth over $3,484.00 million by 2026. So, if you want to invest in alternative CBD products, give cosmetics a try.

If youre not sure where to start with CBD skincare, here are the top 5 products that you may want to consider including in your daily beauty routine.

CBD Lip Balm

As any high-quality lip product, CBD lip balm will help keep your lips looking shiny and smooth, but thats not all that it does. CBD contains vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as many other minerals and nutrients that promote better skin health.

A CBD lip balm will help you keep your chapped lips healthy, prevent flakiness, and will provide the necessary hydration. A variety of different factors can cause dry and flaky lips. Extremely hot or frigid temperatures can damage the sensitive skin on your lips. UV radiation can be harmful to the lips, along with a vitamin deficiency, dehydration, and even certain medicines can cause your lips to crack.

Whatever the cause, CBD lip balm can moisturize and nourish your lips. As a small and affordable beauty product, it can be a great choice for your first ever CBD skin care option.

CBD Anti-Aging Moisturizer

If youre looking for a better anti-age skincare product that eliminates wrinkles and keeps you looking bright and smooth, consider a CBD anti-aging moisturizer. CBD is known as an anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-oxidizing agent, and all of these properties combined make it a perfect anti-age product.

It helps to rejuvenate the skin, nourish, and moisturizes it, to help prevent the formation of new wrinkles, promoting better skin health and elasticity. Applying a small amount of CBD anti-aging moisturizer in the morning and evening may help to keep you looking and feeling young.

CBD Salve

If you have psoriasis or eczema, you know how uncomfortable these skin conditions are and how much they can affect your quality of life and overall well-being. Psoriasis leads to scaly, itchy, and often painful bumps on the skin and eczema can lead to severe irritations and inflammation. Both of these conditions are difficult to deal with and live with, and the topical treatments commonly prescribed rarely bring much relief.

However, CBD salves can be very beneficial and offer long-lasting results. CBD salves can be an excellent moisturizer and pain-reliever for some thats often combined with other essential oils to boost these effects to help soothe irritated skin.

Studies have shown that CBD can help treat psoriasis and alleviate the symptoms of eczema. It can be used on chapped and irritated skin, and youll notice the results almost immediately.

CBD Body Lotion

If you dont have skin problems but would just like to hydrate and nourish your skin, you may want to consider exchanging your regular body lotion for a CBD infused one. CBD body lotion helps to promote skin elasticity, and can even help alleviate pain and muscle soreness for some. Applying it right after the shower will keep your skin smooth. For the best effect, you can also use it instead of your regular massage oil for maximum benefits.

If you have muscle soreness or feel pain in your neck and back, CBD body lotion can help you relieve some of that pain. CBD is known for its analgesic properties, and it can be even more effective when combined with a soothing massage.

CBD Acne Serum

Fighting acne can become much easier with CBD for some. This hemp-derived product has anti-inflammatory properties, is packed with antioxidants, and helps to prevent excessive formation of sebum.

While sebum can help protect your skin from outside influences and environmental pollutants, if your skin produces too much of it, it can lead to acne. Excessive amounts of sebum on your face will allow it to mix with dirt, dead skin cells, and pollutants, and this mixture will clog up your pores, creating acne.

CBD acne serum with its antibacterial properties will help bring more balance to your skin, keeping it clean, fresh, and without acne.

The Bottom Line

There is a wide variety of CBD skin care products available for use, whichever type of product you choose, they can deliver excellent results. You can even make home-made CBD skin care products by mixing a small amount of CBD oil with coconut oil, aloe vera, argan oil, or others by following a recipe from a trusted certified and licensed natural health practitioner.

Before using any alternative medicine products it is advised to consult with your physician or certified medical professional to avoid any possible reactions, and always conduct a small spot test to check for reactions before use.

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The Ultimate Mother’s Day Giveaway Is Here – hobokengirl.com

Posted: at 11:13 am

This Mothers Day, many of us are yearning for a good hug from one of the many moms in our life. But since that might not be possible right now, treat a mom in your life to all the pampering and gifts possible with the Ultimate Mothers Day Giveaway. Hoboken Girl has teamed up with a few of the best local businesses to give one lucky mama the ultimate prize of all the goodies she could dream of from local businesses.

Entering the giveaway is easy check out the Hoboken Girl Instagram on Friday, May 8th to tag your friends and tell us why your favorite mom should win. One lucky will be announced on Saturday, May 9th.

SugarsuckleInstagram: @sugarsuckleGiveaway Gift: Box of assorted sweets, including Mothers Day cake pop making kit, individual sugar cookie, ready-to-bake chocolate chunk cookie dough, canvas tote, pink BKR water bottle {Valued at $71+}

Whether the occasion calls for a one-of-a-kind custom cake or a stylish dessert bar, Sugarsuckle offers a completely customized service to ensure that everything tastes amazing and looks great. These desserts will surely create a lasting impression on mom and all who see them. Follow Sugarsuckle on Instagram here.

NoelleryInstagram: @shopnoelleryGiveaway Gift: $50 gift card

Founded on the inspiration of creative design, vibrant color palettes, imperfect beauty, and quality materials, Noellery is a womens jewelry and accessories company established in New Jersey. Since the birth of the brand in 2015, there are now locations in Hoboken, Jersey City, and Montclair. Moms will love these unique finds. Follow Noellery on Instagram here.

Ver CBDInstagram: @verecbdGiveaway Gift: Full Spectrum CBD Oil {Valued at $64.95}

Cannabidiol {CBD} is a natural compound derived from cannabis plants and many people are turning to CBD as research and scientific studies show its ability to assist and support a multitude of health ailments, ranging from anxiety to insomnia. The therapeutic properties of CBD in CBD Oil may benefit those suffering specifically from anxiety whether it be generalized anxiety disorder {GAD} or post-traumatic stress disorder {PTSD}. Follow Ver CBD on Instagram here.

Bloomie Flower StudioInstagram: @bloomie_flower_studioGiveaway Gift: A special Mothers Day bouquet {Valued at $100}

Bloomie Flower Studio makes handcrafted bouquets that any flower-loving mom would want. Every bouquet is full of love and affection. The team carefully designs every order and hand-delivers it along with a hand-written card, which adds an invaluable personal touch to the flowers. Follow Bloomie Flower Studio on Instagram here.

Washington General StoreInstagram: @washingtongeneralGiveaway Gift: Mothers Day Box {Valued at $100}

Washington General Store is a home and gift store specializing in unique products from chandeliers to fine tea to everything in between something for every kind of mom. Located on Hobokens historic Washington Street, Washington General Store is a place to get inspired, spruce up your home, or find the perfect gift. Follow the Washington General Store on Instagram here.

Bang CookiesInstagram: @bangcookiesGiveaway Gift: $50 gift card and a T-shirt {Valued at $70}

Bangin tasty cookies made from ingredients in their most natural state is one of the reasons Bang Cookies has gained such popularity. Bang Cookies is keeping it real with organic flour that makes some really tasty cookies to please even the most picky taste buds. No crazy food colorings, no crazy stuff that looks good on Instagram but bad on taste. Just pure wholesome ingredients that make taste the king in these cookies. The mom with a sweet-tooth with love these. Follow Bang Cookies on Instagram here.

Blushtan HobokenInstagram: @blushtan_hobokenGiveaway Gift: One Cryoskin Treatment and One Airbrush tan {Valued at $350}

Blushtan doesnt believe in the stereotypical, one-color-fits-all result, so this team has created a line of blushtan professional solutions to include different color bases, along with multiple levels of darkness within each base. All of these options allow tan consultants to mix over 100 different custom colors and provide natural looking results for all skin tones. All blushtan products and solutions are doctor formulated with health in mind. Follow Blushtan on Instagram here.

Jane DOInstagram: @janedoGiveaway Gift: Virtual Private Training session + one month free of Jane DO On-Demand App {Valued at $74.99}

Jane DO is a fitness brand crafted by former Radio City Rockettes Jacey Lambros and Danielle DeAngelo. Knowing firsthand that it takes a comprehensive cross-training regime to be the most powerful version of yourself, they developed a workout that offers variety and caters to every woman. Jane DO has women reaching new levels of strength and confidence in the studio so they can take it outside the studio and DO incredible things. Follow Jane DO on Instagram here.

Make sure to enter on Instagram and follow @TheHobokenGirlBlogso that you dont miss anything!

Morgan is a career copywriter and copy editor with a background in small business marketing. Her professional work has been across many business verticals such as medical, web security, health + wellness, lifestyle, and consumer goods. She also had an original play produced at the Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken in June 2019. When not writing, she can be found in Sephora buying unnecessary amounts of makeup or teaching a yoga class at the Hudson Yoga Project. She works from her home office in Hoboken with her rescue dog Bowie.

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Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on CBD Oil Market Global Sales, Trends, Regional Demand, Opportunities and 2020-2026 Future Insights – Cole of Duty

Posted: at 11:13 am

The CBD Oil Market is continuously growing in the global scenario at significant pace. CBD is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa plant. CBD can be derived from two different species of cannabinoids: marijuana and hemp.

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Growing awareness about benefits of CBD oil among people and worldwide expansion of young population are the substantial driving factors of the market during the forecast period. In addition to this, the medicinal use of CBD oil is quite popular among this demographic Cohort which also propelling the demand of CBD oil across the globe. Moreover, legalization of cannabis-based products in many regions is the major factor that likely to creating lucrative opportunity in the near future.

Additionally, CBD Oils offers several benefits such as can relieve pain, reduce anxiety & depression, alleviate cancer related symptoms, reduce acne and so on. With these benefits demand of CBD Oil is increasing across the globe. However, problems associated with distribution of CBD oil is one of the major factor that limiting the market growth of CBD Oil during the forecast period.

The major market player included in this report are: IRIE CBD Elixinol NuLeaf Naturals Pharma Hemp Provacan Hempura CBD Love Hemp CBD Life UK Love CBD Good Hemp

The regional analysis of Global CBD Oil Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading/significant region across the world in terms of market share due to rapidly increasing geriatric population, rising production of CBD and rising prevalence of neurological pain among people across the region.

Europe is estimated to grow at stable growth rate in the global CBD Oil market over the upcoming years. Asia-Pacific is anticipated to exhibit higher growth rate / CAGR over the forecast period 2018-2025 owing to growing concern towards CBD oil among people in the region.

The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players.

Note: If you have any special requirements related to CBD Oil Market reportplease let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.

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Impact of COVID-19 Outbreak on CBD Oil Market Global Sales, Trends, Regional Demand, Opportunities and 2020-2026 Future Insights - Cole of Duty

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Five Alternative Ways to Get Rid of Anxiety – Big Easy Magazine

Posted: at 11:13 am

Photo credit: Johannes Krupinski

Severe anxiety can be crippling. It renders you unable to live your day-to-day life. A lot of people feel embarrassed by their anxiety, preferring instead to keep it hidden. This is unwise since the body suffers the consequences of prolonged anxiety.

Anxiety is not about the brain alone. When the body detects fear, it starts producing cortisol and adrenaline. Very high levels of these hormones can damage the body if they dont become lowered.

Anxiety is more common than youd think. About 18% of the U.S. population has an anxiety disorder. Less than half of them are treated for it. Treatment for anxiety is typically comprised of medications. However, there are alternative ways to treat it. Here are some:

Not only is exercise good for your physical health, but it is excellent for your mental wellbeing too. Regular exercise has many benefits, among them reducing anxiety levels.

Most peoples anxiety is triggered by stress. Stress comes in many forms. Most often, it is work-related or has something to do with personal relationships. When youre feeling stressed, you start becoming anxious. You worry about the future, whether things will work out, and what will happen.

Cardiovascular exercise requires getting your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes. You can do cardiovascular exercises at the gym, go walking or running, or by working out at home. This type of activity reduces your blood pressure. Your body perceives high blood pressure as a stressor that can trigger anxiety.

Yoga is a form of exercise that challenges the mind, body, and spirit. Through yoga, you can learn to be more centered and focused. This type of mindfulness is important if youre constantly feeling worried about the future. You lose out on the present when youre so anxious about what is to come.

Yoga is also good for your body and helps with fitness levels and health complications from being overweight. It might not look that difficult, but yoga requires a high degree of strength and endurance. Join a local yoga class to enjoy its benefits.

Dont assume that acupuncture is about a set of needles randomly pushed into your body for no apparent reason. There is a science behind acupuncture, in which special needles are inserted into pressure points. They allow for the release of stress and tension, which could be the cause of your anxiety.

Its probably not a good idea to try acupuncture if you have a phobia of needles. The anxiety leading up to the treatment would be exhausting. However, regardless of how you feel about needles, those who have had successful acupuncture treatments say that it leaves them feeling calm and markedly less anxious.

If youre going to try acupuncture, make sure you see a certified professional. Some people practice it without the necessary qualifications, and they could potentially make your situation worse.

You are what you eat. A poor diet could be contributing to your anxiety. A lot of processed, salty, and sugary foods place a lot of stress on the body. They can lead to conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, type two diabetes, and high blood pressure. Not making good food choices places the body under stress.

The body can only handle so much stress. When youre subjecting it to physical stress from the eating choices you make, the body is unable to process other stressors that can cause you to feel anxious.

There are some studies available about herbal remedies that can reduce or alleviate the symptoms of anxiety. However, there is more work to be done in terms of research. Before taking any such herbal remedies, its advisable to read about their side effects and how they might interact with other medications.

Find out about how much of the product you should be using. Taking too much can be dangerous. If youre thinking about using a herbal remedy, but you arent sure if you should, consult your doctor for advice.

One of the better-known treatments is lavender. Used as an essential oil on the body or for aromatherapy, it helps to make you feel fully relaxed. Other examples include lemon balm, chamomile, valerian, passionflower, and kava.

There is a growing interest in the medical benefits of CBD oil. Cannabidiol comes from the cannabis plant. However, it is not the same as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive component in cannabis.

CBD is the subject of much research. It is believed to have a positive effect on the bodys endocannabinoid system. The system helps to maintain homeostasis, which is a state of balance within the body. This includes keeping hormones, such as cortisol, at lower levels, thereby reducing feelings of anxiety.

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Bitcoin 101: What is Bitcoin? – CoinDesk

Posted: at 11:12 am

Last updated: 20th January 2018

Before owning any bitcoin, you need somewhere to store them. That place is called a wallet. Rather than actually holding your bitcoin, it holds the private key that allows you to access your bitcoin address (which is also your public key). If the wallet software is well designed, it will look as if your bitcoins are actually there, which makes using bitcoin more convenient and intuitive.

Actually, a wallet usually holds several private keys, and many bitcoin investors have several wallets.

Wallets can either live on your computer and/or mobile device, on a physical storage gadget, or even on a piece of paper. Here well briefly look at the different types.

Electronic wallets

Electronic wallets can be downloaded software, or hosted in the cloud. The former is simply a formatted file that lives on your computer or device, that facilitates transactions. Hosted (cloud-based) wallets tend to have a more user-friendly interface, but you will be trusting a third party with your private keys.

Software wallet

Installing a wallet directly on your computer gives you the security that you control your keys. Most have relatively easy configuration, and are free. The disadvantage is that they do require more maintenance in the form of backups. If your computer gets stolen or corrupted and your private keys are not also stored elsewhere, you lose your bitcoin.

They also require greater security precautions. If your computer is hacked and the thief gets a hold of your wallet or your private keys, he also gets hold of your bitcoin.

The original software wallet is the Bitcoin Core protocol, the program that runs the bitcoin network. You can download this here(it doesnt mean that you have to become a fully operational node), but youd also have to download the ledger of all transactions since the dawn of bitcoin time (2009). As you can guess, this takes up a lot of memory at time of writing, over 145GB.

Most wallets in use today are light wallets, or SPV (Simplified Payment Verification) wallets, which do not download the entire ledger but sync to the real thing. Electrum is a well-known SPV desktop bitcoin wallet that also offers cold storage (a totally offline option for additional security). Exodus can track multiple assets with a sophisticated user interface. Some (such as Jaxx) can hold a wide range of digital assets, and some (such as Copay) offer the possibility of shared accounts.

Online wallet

Online (or cloud-based) wallets offer increased convenience you can generally access your bitcoin from any device if you have the right passwords. All are easy to set up, come with desktop and mobile apps which make it easy to spend and receive bitcoin, and most are free.

The disadvantage is the lower security. With your private keys stored in the cloud, you have to trust the hosts security measures, and that it wont disappear with your money, or close down and deny you access.

Some leading online wallets are attached to exchanges (such as Coinbase and Blockchain). Some offer additional security features such as offline storage (Coinbase and Xapo).

Mobile wallets

Mobile wallets are available as apps for your smartphone, especially useful if you want to pay for something in bitcoin in a shop, or if you want to buy, sell or send while on the move. All of the online wallets and most of the desktop ones mentioned above have mobile versions, while others such as Abra, Airbitz and Bread were created with mobile in mind.

Hardware wallets

Hardware wallets are small devices that occasionally connect to the web to enact bitcoin transactions. They are extremely secure, as they are generally offline and therefore not hackable. They can be stolen or lost, however, along with the bitcoins that belong to the stored private keys. Some large investors keep their hardware wallets in secure locations such as bank vaults. Trezor, Keepkey and Ledger and Case are notable examples.

Paper wallets

Perhaps the simplest of all the wallets, these are pieces of paper on which the private and public keys of a bitcoin address are printed. Ideal for the long-term storage of bitcoin (away from fire and water, obviously), or for the giving of bitcoin as a gift, these wallets are more secure in that theyre not connected to a network. They are, however, easier to lose.

With services such as WalletGenerator, you can easily create a new address and print the wallet on your printer. Fold, seal and youre set. Send some bitcoin to that address, and then store it safely or give it away. (See our tutorial on paper wallets here.)

Are bitcoin wallets safe?

That depends on the version and format you have chosen, and how you use them.

The safest option is a hardware wallet which you keep offline, in a secure place. That way there is no risk that your account can be hacked, your keys stolen and your bitcoin whisked away. But, if you lose the wallet, your bitcoin are gone, unless you have created a clone and/or kept reliable backups of the keys.

The least secure option is an online wallet, since the keys are held by a third party. It also happens to be the easiest to set up and use, presenting you with an all-too-familiar choice: convenience vs safety.

Many serious bitcoin investors use a hybrid approach: they hold a core, long-term amount of bitcoin offline, while having a spending balance for liquidity in a mobile account. Your choice will depend on your bitcoin strategy, and your willingness to get technical.

Whatever option you go for, please be careful. Back up everything, and only tell your nearest and dearest where your backups are stored.

For more information on how to buy bitcoin, see here. And for some examples of what you can spend it on, see here.

(Note: specific businesses mentioned here are not the only options available, and should not be taken as a recommendation.)

Authored by Noelle Acheson. Wallet image via Shutterstock.

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Cryptocurrency market jumps by over $13 billion driven by bitcoin as major technical event approaches – CNBC

Posted: at 11:12 am

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A rally in bitcoin led the cryptocurrency market higher ahead of a major technical event for the digital coin and as industry participants report an increased interest from institutional investors.

Bitcoin crossed $10,000 on Friday morning Singapore time, the first time it has hit that price since February, according to data from CoinDesk. The cryptocurrency had pared some of those gains and was trading around $9,900.75 as of 1:39 p.m. Singapore time, still representing a more than 6.4% rise from the day before.

The entire market capitalization or value of the cryptocurrency market had jumped by more than $13 billion from the day before, as of around 1:39 p.m. Singapore time. That move had been largely driven by bitcoin which makes up most of that figure. The value of the entire market stood at $268.07 billion.

Industry participants said that a number of factors from supportive central bank monetary policy to increased interest from institutional investors has factored into the bitcoin rally.

Bitcoin suffered two bouts of intense selling in March sending it to a low of around $3,867, a price not seen since March 2019. Since then, the price has rallied over 150%.

Meanwhile, stock markets, which also saw sharp drops in March, have recovered. The Dow Jones Industrial Averageis up 28.4% since its March low.

"Overall markets have been bullish since the March lows and this is across asset classes, including crypto," Vijay Ayyar, head of business development at cryptocurrency exchange Luno, told CNBC. "Money printing by the Fed and other central banks globally have given a lot of confidence to investors that the economy will be supported no matter what."

The U.S. Federal Reserve has announced a number of unprecedented measures to help cushion the economic blow from the coronavirus outbreak. Other central banks around the world, including the European Central Bank (ECB), have unveiled their own stimulus packages. Central bank policies are seen as supportive of risk assets like stocks.

Part of the rise in bitcoin's price since the March low has been anticipation of a technical event known as "halving."

Bitcoin is not issued by a centralized authority like fiat currencies are. That is why it is often called a "decentralized" cryptocurrency. Instead it is governed by code and is underpinned by a technology known asblockchain.

In the world of bitcoin, so-called miners with specialized high-powered computers compete with each other to solve complex math problems to validate bitcoin transactions. Whoever "wins" this race gets rewarded in newly minted bitcoin. This "mining" activity happens in blocks, which is essentially a group of transactions joined into one.

Currently, these miners receive 12.5 bitcoin per block mined.The rewards are halved every few years to keep a lid on inflation. On May 12, the reward per miner will be cut in half again, to 6.25 new bitcoin.

The effect is that the supply of bitcoin coming onto the market is reduced. Previous halving events, which happen every four years, havepreceded big price increases in bitcoin.

"For the past few weeks, we have seen additional players enter the BTC market as prices have trended upward in anticipation of the halving event as bulls saw this as an opportunity to buy BTC ahead of a price pop and what many expect will be significant price appreciation," Matthew Dibb, co-founder of Stack, a bitcoin index fund provider, told CNBC. BTC refers to bitcoin's currency code like USD for the U.S. dollar.

"This has undoubtedly continued into this week and may even carry over the weekend as the halving draws closer."

Dibb said there are other factors at play as well, including more institutional money flowing into bitcoin.

Paul Tudor Jones, a high-profile Wall Street hedge fund manager,revealed in a message that one of his funds holds a low single-digit percentage infutures on the cryptocurrency, Bloomberg Newsreported.

"The news that renowned investor, Paul Tudor Jones, has backed bitcoinpublicly praising the asset for its properties as a store of value has almost certainly helped catalyse BTC's sudden movement into the US$10,000 zone," Dibb said.

"With monetary easing policies and 'unlimited' economic stimuli being recently unveiled across the world, fiat currencies seem set to weaken substantially. This has, in turn, led to bitcoin's narrative as a 'store of value' to gain added traction amongst investors who are seeking to hedge against volatility in traditional markets."

Bitcoin has often been compared to gold as a so-called safe haven asset during turbulent times for other risky assets like stock markets. However, recently, bitcoin has fallen and risen when stock markets have.

Bitcoin has always been known as a very volatile asset subject to huge price swings. In 2017, bitcoin saw somewhat of a frenzy that sent its price from under $1,000 at the start of the year to a record high of over $19,700 in December that year.

However, in 2018 the price of bitcoin came crashing down to just over $3,000 by mid-December.

Dibb believes that the recent rally is different from what was seen in 2017.

"This market is not moving purely on the back of retail speculationand it is primarily Bitcoin which is experiencing gains, not the altcoin market," Dibb said referring to smaller digital coins. "It is only now that we are really beginning to see institutional and accredited investors operating within the Bitcoin space, bringing a level of market maturity and financial understanding which was all but absent from the cryptocurrency sector as late as 2017 and 2018."

However, the risk of a substantial drop remains.

"We have gone from 3K to 10K in 2 months, too fast, too soon. There will be a pullback, and that will determine what kind of crash it is," Luno's Ayyar said.

"We could pull back to 8K, hold, and them move higher to 15K. Or we could go right back down to 3K as well. At this pointthough, one has to be bullish, unless, we see a violent move down. I think the current run up though is part of a larger move up, so don't think we'll see 3K again anytime soon. But if we do run up to 15-20K, then likelihood of a big move down and larger correction is higher."

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Cryptocurrency market jumps by over $13 billion driven by bitcoin as major technical event approaches - CNBC

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Bitcoin Prices Rally To Highest Since February – Forbes

Posted: at 11:12 am

Bitcoin broke through $9,600 today for the first time since February. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty ... [+] Images)

Bitcoin prices climbed today, reaching their highest in more than two months as the cryptocurrency built upon its recent gains.

The digital asset rose to as much as $9,603.77 this morning, CoinDesk figures showed.

At this price, bitcoin had attained its highest level since February 25th, additional CoinDesk data revealed.

[Ed note: Investing in cryptocoins or tokens is highly speculative and the market is largely unregulated. Anyone considering it should be prepared to lose their entire investment.]

When explaining these latest gains, analysts pointed to variables like sustained momentum and technical factors.

Denis Vinokourov, head of research for London-based digital asset firmBequant, spoke to these developments, describing bitcoins climb above $9,600 as a continuation of the recent upward trend.

However, he emphasized that the break of previous key resistance level was accompanied by a relatively modest follow through.

In other words, the move higher tripped only a handful of stops which suggests that the bears are just as cautious about betting on the downside, as the bullish camp going all out into the key risk event.

Going forward, the digital currencys position is tenuous, said Joe DiPasquale, CEO of cryptocurrency hedge fund managerBitBull Capital, citing technical analysis.

Having previously identified the $9,500 level as providing key resistance, he emphasized that the $9,500 resistance still stands, in that the daily candle is yet to close above it, and there is an obvious struggle at that price level.

However, the halving has a lot of media and marketing hype behind it, which naturally pushes the price higher as the event comes closer, said DiPasquale.

With so much hype around the halving, the price can go much higher near the event, but we can expect pullbacks at each resistance level, with the next expected around $9,800. On the downside, a post-halving decline towards $8,000 cannot be ruled out.

Disclosure: I own some bitcoin, bitcoin cash, litecoin, ether and EOS.

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The Case For Cryptocurrency: Why Even The Most Cynical Bitcoin Bear Should Consider Investing And How To Get Started – Forbes

Posted: at 11:12 am

With Volatility Comes Opportunity

Cryptocurrencies saw one of their most volatile months in March only to reverse course in April. Federal governments around the world are responding to the Coronavirus outbreak with unprecedented stimulus efforts with no end in sight. This unprecedented response is just one more reason we feel digital assets should make up part of an asset allocation.

As an example, the Bloomberg Commodity Index, which is often used as an investable allocation to commodities for inflation hedging purposes, was down almost 25% primarily due to crude oil trading down almost 43%. Meanwhile, Gold and Bitcoin are up 11% and 22% respectively.

Bloomberg.

I believe there are a number of narratives justifying a bullish move higher for digital assets. The two primary long-term justifications are:

The third and slightly more obtuse reason to appreciate cryptocurrencies is the volatility they offer to speculators. With volatility comes the speculators who bring liquidity, and price discovery, this inflow of capital and speculators then tempers volatility for the next wave of investors, point one above, and users, point two above.

The store of value concept is prone to criticism at times due to the short-term volatile nature of bitcoin and other digital assets, however, for those looking to hedge potential inflation risk with a supply-constrained asset that can easily be traded for fiat currencies, the thinking behind bitcoin as a digital gold is very relevant. In fact, it is not difficult to make the case that bitcoin could be considered far more valuable than gold because of its enhanced utility. Bitcoin has the added benefit of being easier to acquire, transfer, and store than gold. Imagine how much more practical it would be for someone looking to carry all of their worldly possessions from one geography to another. They would be far better off using bitcoin than they would if they were to convert their wealth to gold or some other unwieldy metal. Taking that argument to the next logical step, the added utility should ultimately factor into the overall economic value. To put a finer point on this, as of March 2020, the total estimated market capitalization of gold was about $9 trillion USD. By contrast, the bitcoin market capitalization is around $170 billion. For those without enough room on their calculator, a $9 trillion dollar market cap would value a single bitcoin at well over $400,000 USD.

Gold vs Bitcoin

Let me say that again, $9 trillion vs. $0.170 trillion. If you are anti-bitcoin I appreciate your point of view, heck, I felt the same way when I first tumbled down the proverbial rabbit hole. You may very well be right, but isnt it also conceivable that you might be wrong?

It is important to point out how rare it is to find an investment hedge with such an attractive asymmetry of payoffs. Put simply, a hedge is something you dont think will likely payoff, but just in case the ship hits the sand it will be there for you protecting at some of the losses in the rest of your portfolio. Hedges, if done properly should have nominal cost and big payoffs if in the unfortunate event that they work out. Similar to Pascals ultimate conclusion, the risks of not believing in God were far greater than the costs of believing in God. Or, for the glass half full perspective. The potential rewards are significantly greater than the costs.

Considering an investment in digital assets should be quite similar. Significant potential payoff vs. relatively little cost, even a small allocation of 2%-5% can have a meaningful impact on performance. The upside could be life-changing, if sized appropriately, the downside could be the equivalent to a bad day in the markets. Couple that with the fact that this hedge is both uncorrelated to nearly everything else, and at the same time it lacks the term risk of most hedges, bitcoin doesnt decay like options, or credit derivatives, etc.. Given this, even the bitcoin bears, owe it to themselves to slow down and consider investing a small amount in this asset class regardless of their point of view. If they are right and bitcoin goes to zero, they invested little and the loss is negligible. If they are wrong, the potential payoff could be many multiples of what they invested.

The second most common narrative is, digital assets as a form of currency or medium of exchange. Equally as important as the store of value narrative, though possibly a bit harder to imagine for those of us with access to the traditional banking system. We tend to take for granted the utility that cryptocurrencies provide. I realize, it is difficult to think of digital assets as currency, but just remember, it is big world, not everyone has the access to banking products that we take for granted.

Yes, in the short run, arguing that digital assets are currencies and a medium of exchange opens the door to critics like Peter Schiff, and Roubini ranting about transaction fees, transaction confirmation times, etc. etc. however, once again, this noise obscures the point that bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have the potential to offer even more utility as a form of money than traditional central bank currencies. Even Facebook recognized the fact that the antiquated bureaucratic, banking system is ripe for disruption, but even they were shut down by the incumbents who fear the loss of control rather than embracing the unlocked potential that free and open capital markets can offer.

The subtle but diminishing utility of the US Dollar

Like the boiling frog analogy, the United States Dollar has historically held a position as the world reserve currency because it offered a number of strong competitive advantages over the alternatives. It was easy to use and backed by a stable government committed to maintaining stability for the currency. Almost anyone around the globe could use and trust in this instrument of trade and commerce. However, over time, fiscal deficits, loose monetary policies and the onerous banking regulations have each steadily chipped away at the US Dollars stronghold as the world reserve currency. With the Bank Secrecy Act, the Patriot Act and many other banking regulations, it is becoming far more difficult for people and institutions to do business with the correspondent banking system. Anti Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements steadily become more and more oppressive for even the most reputable people and institutions, this added difficulty encourages participants to seek alternatives. Cryptocurrencies offer an easier-to-use alternate form of payment for goods and services particularly when it comes to cross-border payments.

As an example, a merchant in Nigeria looking to buy construction equipment from a company in Venezuela, historically, would have found it easier to convert to US dollars and send funds via the Swift network. However now, neither company can open accounts with a bank connected to Swift because AML/KYC requirements automatically flag the clients as high-risk accounts creating extra work and risk for the bank to justify doing business with these clients. For the bank, there is no incentive to work with such accounts, only disincentives. These fear-based, guilty until proven innocent attitudes force merchants and individuals to seek more useful alternative monetary options like bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Relative to banks, Bitcoin offers an uncensorable, immutable monetary system which can process transactions on a peer to peer system without any intermediary deciding who may or may not participate.

Speculators are vital

Another very valuable and often maligned use case for cryptocurrency is the power of speculation. The speculative nature of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies is an asset, not a weakness. Like all markets, speculators bring liquidity, adding even more utility to the users of a digital asset. Just like in the futures market for commodities, speculators and hedgers exist in a symbiotic relationship each bringing value to one another.

Until very recently, volatility for all asset classes was hovering at historic lows. Loose monetary policy from major central banks left capital markets desks flush with capital forcing them to compete to squeeze out arbitrage spreads from almost every nook and cranny of the markets. More adventuresome trading desks, in search of volatility, started trading cryptocurrencies over the past few years. The beneficial side effect of this was significantly more liquidity, tighter spreads, and more price discovery. As this first wave of institutions entered the market seeking the instability of wider bid-ask spreads and higher volatility, they ended up paving the way for the next wave of investors seeking more stability and confidence. The speculators pave the way for the investors (store of value camp) and the users (currency or medium of exchange camp) All three groups work together stabilizing and leaning on one another for added utility. Metcalfs law is alive and well in the digital asset realm. The more users who find value in a network, the more valuable the network becomes, enticing more users and so on.

Cryptocurrencies are no different in this regard, though many would argue that cryptocurrencies are only good for speculation, let them rant. They do not understand the other subtle societal benefits cryptocurrencies offer, and to be frank, they dont need to. As of May 4th, the market capitalization of cryptocurrencies was just over $240 billion USD. That is more than a mere experiment. Something very real is happening here, and those who ignore it are likely to face some significant regrets in the future.

The Time is NOW

If any of the points laid out above resonate with you, stop trying to pick your entry point, you never will. Prices will always seem too high and valuations will always be impossible to justify. One thing is certain, there will be moments of regret. The key to this asset class is that it will always deliver unrelenting punishing volatility. The intense feelings of FOMO (fear of missing out) and buyers remorse are almost too much to bear for any sane investor, so follow some simple strategies to make the journey easier.

Given those thoughts, if you are still wondering how much or when to invest, consider the Rule of Three.

So come on in, the water is warm, dip a toe in the shallow end. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about my team and I at Blockforce Capital navigate the volatility, please reach out for more information.

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The Case For Cryptocurrency: Why Even The Most Cynical Bitcoin Bear Should Consider Investing And How To Get Started - Forbes

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