Digital currencies

Bitcoin’s dramatic surge may be more than just a speculative frenzy. The recent rally is being driven partially by enthusiasts rotating out of riskier digital assets and into the more established cryptocurrency, according to industry executives.

Blockchain platform's capital raising is its biggest to date; mutual fund giant now accepts digital currency in its cafeteria as CEO Abigail Johnson embraces it.

Peach Aviation Ltd. will become the first Japanese carrier to accept bitcoin as payment for airline tickets as the discount airline aims to attract more tourists from other parts of Asia.

The creators of a top "altcoin" are building privacy features for JPMorgan's blockchain platform.

Consumer debt breaks the previous mark set back in 2008, but some are worried that people are returning to their profligate ways; Wells Fargo makes greater use of consumer surveys to fix its brand.

U.K.-based global online payments provider Payza is streamlining the process for consumers who transact with bitcoin by making the cryptocurrency directly accessible within its eWallet.

Stellar, which started as a splinter group from Ripple, has formed a for-profit company called Lightyear.io to help financial institutions integrate its software.

Ripple's distributed ledger platform has fed an appetite for cheaper and more efficient cross-border payments, but it may not measure up to the needs of a larger market. Ripple wants to scale its payment system to something resembling a large card network.

The financial press looks at possible ramifications from Jes Staley's attempt to unmask a whistleblower at the British bank; why has the digital currency failed to live up to eight years of hype?

A new company, bridge21, says it is using bitcoin to allow users to send money from the United States to Mexico at better rates than traditional payments companies.

Readers sound off on airing political opinions at the office; putting banks and fintechs under the same regulatory umbrella; putting consumer needs first regardless of tech advancements; and more.

Slock.it says its current project will enable people to exchange the ownership of devices connected to the internet of things.

Accenture has agreed to acquire First Annapolis Consulting in an effort to add payments expertise in several international markets.

Brave, founded by JavaScript creator and former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich, intends to issue a cryptocurrency to fund the development of a new way to buy and view digital ads.

BloqLabs, created by the startup Bloq, wants to help developers get their projects in front of enterprise clients.

If the Federal Reserve and other central banks began issuing their own digital currencies, they could benefit consumers, boost the economy and fight financial crime. But not without risks to cybersecurity, individual privacy — and possibly bank profits.

U.S. regulators rejected an exchange-traded fund based on bitcoin, wiping out weeks of gains for the digital currency as investors speculated the Securities and Exchange Commission would approve the security.

The question is more than academic. At stake is the role blockchain technology can play in lowering the costs of raising money.

Banks have signaled bullishness for blockchain tech. But some say ignorance is leading to ill-informed choices.

Banks have traditonally lagged behind in embracing innovation, though blockchain provides the opportunity to quickly ramp up digital services.