Even though Bitcoin merchant processor BitPay is not required to maintain an anti-money laundering (AML) program, the startup maintains one and is beefing it up with the hiring of former Visa executive Tim Byun.

Licensed money services business AstroPay is launching Ripple LatAm, connecting the Latin American market with the digital currency payment provider Ripple Labs' network partners and gateways in North America, Europe and Asia.

Tax compliance provider Avalara has made many connections within the payments industry to respond to merchant demand for built-in tax reporting functions at the point of sale.

Expresscoin is launching a digital currency purchasing platform that the company says will offer the "personal customer service" that has been missing from the Bitcoin environment.

The two most popular Bitcoin services providers, Coinbase and BitPay, are neck-and-neck in signing up merchants to accept digital currency.

About 25,000 people around the world are being paid in Bitcoin on a regular basis by posting content on Women's Annex, a blogging platform predominantly focused on Afghanistan, and its parent site Film Annex.

Bitcoin entrepreneur Erik Voorhees will pay more than $50,000 to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission that he failed to register a stock offering.

Apple Inc. changed its policy to let software developers include virtual-currency transactions in their applications, paving the way for new forms of money like bitcoin to appear on iPhones and iPads.

Xapo says its Bitcoin debit card will start rolling out by the end of June, and it will be accepted anywhere by using the rails of a card network, interchange fees included.

CrowdCurity is applying the core principle of Bitcoin—decentralization—to security by offering a crowdsourced marketplace of global security testers.

Dish Network Corp. subscribers will soon be able to pay their bills using bitcoin, the online virtual currency that's drawn scrutiny from regulators.

Avalara Inc. has launched a Bitcoin module for its AvaTax compliance engine to help merchants who accept Bitcoin manage their taxes.

Robocoin is installing a Bitcoin ATM in Las Vegas at the D casino hotel, enabling visitors to deposit funds to a Bitcoin wallet in person.

Jumio Inc. has formed the Bitcoin Identity Security Open Network (Bison) to enable its clients to share fraud trend data.

Jumio is working with the European Bitcoin exchange Safello to provide faster verification of customers.

The Dutch startup Eaze has begun the public beta of its "Nod to Pay" app for the Google Glass headset and has added support for two Bitcoin wallets.

The promise of Bitcoin is to never have to trust anyone, but one of the field's most prominent startups wants to let its users reach out and touch someone.

BitPay will partner with Toshiba to support Bitcoin digital currency acceptance at the physical point of sale through Toshiba's VisualTouch software.

BitPay, an Atlanta-based company that processes payments in the digital currency Bitcoin, said it secured $30 million in venture capital funding.

Connecticut's top banking regulator on Monday warned investors about the dangers of Bitcoin.