3 advertisements on the Internet generate 5.5 times more revenue than cryptojacking

Key facts:

The research was conducted by the University of Crete and the University of Illinois, Chicago.

Cryptojacking generates serious negative effects on users' computers.

Malicious cryptocurrency mining on the web, also known as cryptojacking, dirve-by mining or hidden mining, never had the opportunity to become an alternative source of revenue or replace the classic ads.

According to new academic research published this month, a website that includes three ads generates 5.5 times more revenue than a website that deploys a cryptojacking script, for the average duration of a web visit.

To be profitable, a website that uses cryptojacking script would need to keep a user on its pages for more 5.53 minutes, the researchers said.

Mining in web search engines slows down computers

But keeping users in sites with cryptojacking scripting has negative side effects on the user's device, since web mining scripts quickly clog resources and slow down the user's device.

Researchers at the University of Crete and the University of Illinois at Chicago said that websites that use cryptojacking script end up consuming 59 times more CPU resources than a website that shows ads.

Websites with cryptojacking script also require 1.7 times more RAM than classic websites with ads.

In addition, websites maintained by cryptojacking generate 3.4 times more background traffic than sites maintained by advertisements, as they need to constantly report their profits to mining services.

The researchers also found that miners within the browser also severely affect parallel execution processes, as cryptojacking sites degrade the performance of parallel execution applications up to 57% when left in the browser background.

However, the research team said that visiting a website that uses cryptojacking script consumes 2.08 more energy on average than regular ad-based sites, and the user's device works with up to 52.8% more Of temperature.

Good in some places, but bad for most

However, the researchers conclude that cryptojacking can be an effective monetization scheme, but only for a certain class of websites, where users tend to spend a lot of time, such as movie streaming services or online games.

Here, browser miners have a good amount of time to collect revenue for website operators, revenue that would never have been available just by displaying a few ads when loading the page.

But, on the other hand, the use of classic ads will generate more benefits and avoid disturbing users with scripts that increase functions on their CPUs and slow down their devices, which can lead to damage to the reputation of websites that are They engage in such practices.

Cryptojacking is dead

The cryptojacking phenomenon on the web has largely disappeared these days, after experiencing an explosion at the end of 2017 and throughout 2018.

When it was launched, it was criticized as an alternative source of revenue for the classic ad-supported model, which has its own flaws and more.

However, mining within the browser never reached popular websites, and was mostly abused by groups of cybercriminals who hacked legitimate websites and left scripts to mine Monero devices on sites without permission.

Most cryptojacking operations died after the closure of the Coinhive service in March 2019 and, according to Malwarebytes, most of the websites that continue to work with browser miners are abandoned sites that have been hacked in the last two years and nobody He has bothered to clean them.

Zcash: nodes must update software to correct significant security breach

Key facts:

On September 13, developers were informed of this vulnerability.

The software update of the nodes would not pose a risk to user funds

The company behind the Zcash cryptocurrency is urging network participants to update the software of their nodes, with the aim of immediately adopting the latest version, as it contains an important security update.

"Users should update their nodes to version 2.0.7-3 immediately, and discontinue the use of previous versions," commented a newsletter dated September 24.

The notification indicates to users that this important update for the security of Zcash nodes will not place their funds at risk of "being stolen or forged" before promising further details at future dates.

Earlier this year, the news exploded with the fact that Zcash developers had kept a high vulnerability secret for eight months, before it was fixed.

Had the fault been exploited, infinite amounts of the Zcash cryptocurrency could have been falsified, which in turn would have paralyzed its entire ecosystem.

In this case, the vulnerability was initially reported to Zcash developers for the first time on September 13.

The Hard Fork information medium has requested more information from Electric Coin, which maintains the Zcash software, and will update on this news once more responses have been obtained.

Chinese Army plans to use blockchains to manage military personnel data

Key facts:

The plan is to use a blockchain platform to keep track of staff performance.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army seeks to conduct a more objective assessment of the troops.

The Chinese army could adopt blockchains technologies to manage their personnel data, stimulate training and mission performance, as well as deliver soldiers with tokens that could be used as collectible rewards. This is a strategy that experts say could give more immediate incentives to military personnel compared to previously used reward systems.

To the extent that blockchains technologies gain importance in the management area, their proper use in the military field could boost innovation in the development of army management, according to the information reported by the official newspaper of the Liberation Army of the Chinese people (PLA).

Blockchain technology, described as an open and distributed ledger or a transaction log between two parties that cannot be manipulated, could be used to store information from military personnel, including basic information, professional background, missions performed and Rewards received, the media commented, noting that such data would be technically guaranteed to be real and reliable.

Since a blockchain platform can record information about military training, professional skills and assigned missions, a soldier's performance record could be calculated and evaluated. In this way good performance could be rewarded with additional tokens, while poor performance could result in token deduction, according to the official media report.

This token system could also generate an objective assessment of the troops and help motivate military personnel, the newspaper added.

This token system could also generate an objective assessment of the troops and help motivate military personnel, the newspaper added.

About it, an anonymous expert, familiar with the administrative work of the PLA, told a media outlet that the token system could be a more immediate incentive compared to reward and promotion systems previously used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army . Among these systems, the citations of merits that are delivered only after outstanding achievements and the promotion of ranks, based on years of service and long-term performance, are mentioned.

"It sounds similar to the KPI (key performance indicator) system that provides feedback to troops quite frequently," experts said, noting that the PLA might still need to find out what the rewards might be. The tokens are probably not allowed to circulate as money, so they could only be used to exchange for rewards if the system is created, experts predicted.

Blockchain technology could also provide a secure data transmission, while providing the military with an advantage in terms of confidentiality, concludes the PLA newspaper report.

Free cryptocurrency training school awaits the nomination of entrepreneurs

Key facts:

The program will run from February to April 2020.

Participants do not need advanced knowledge about the blockchain world.

The US venture capital fund UU. Andreessen Horowitz (also known as a16z) announced on November 8 that he will begin accepting documents for the free training camp of his new special school for future entrepreneurs of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The program is face-to-face and the conferences will take place in the city of Menlo Park, in California.

The company known for investing in projects such as Coinbase, Ripple and OpenBazaar, announced in a statement that the Crypto Startup School will feature guest speakers from Paradigm, Union Square Ventures, Galaxy Digital, Facebook Calibra and others.

In addition, the statement indicates that the program will run from February to April next year. It will last approximately 7 weeks and will feature expert guest speakers, including Linda Xie from Scalar Capital; Michael Jordan, Paradigm researcher; Dani Grant, an analyst at Union Square Ventures and Morgan Beller, head of Calibra's strategy at Facebook.

“We have been involved in crypto / blockchains for almost seven years, and as a team, we have had the opportunity to learn from world-class entrepreneurs and technologists on topics such as product design and technology, organizational development, marketing, strategy and best legal practices. / regulatory. We believe that sharing the most important lessons we have learned could accelerate the development of existing projects and inspire more talented people to join the space. ”

Chris Dixon general partner of Andreessen Horowitz.

Some of the experts of the cryptocurrency ecosystem that will guide the participants through their learning process. Source: events.a16z.com.

The curriculum includes basic and advanced topics ranging from: What are crypto networks and why are they important? Description of application development tools, Development of blockchain applications and regulatory landscape, and Business models in the field of cryptocurrencies, among others. At the end of the program there will be a demonstration day in which each project will be presented. Although participants do not need knowledge about the blockchain world, they must have a technical background and be comfortable learning Solidity, the programming language of Ethereum.

On the other hand, the firm reported in June 2018 an investment of USD 300 million in emerging projects, incorporated companies and crypto-related protocols. The Silicon Valley-based investment fund, which manages businesses valued at USD 2.7 billion, announced its idea of ​​developing investments in crypto assets, ensuring that it is a business model that they plan to maintain in the sector for more than 10 years.

A similar program was launched in February this year by the educational platform focused on C9 cryptoactive technology, which together with the Department of Decentralization (DoD), formerly called ETHBerlin, announced the opening of a period of Selection to offer a free mentoring, training and certification program to 1,000 students, aspiring to become Ethereum developers.

Bakkt bitcoin futures reach daily trading maximum

Key facts:

Bakkt's total bitcoin futures volume is USD 106.74 million (12,012 BTC).

The increase could be related to a program to encourage liquidity.

Bakkt, the provider of cryptocurrency derivatives, has just recorded the highest trading volume in a single day of its bitcoin futures, physically liquidated in the period of one month.

The volume of USD 15.33 million reached on Friday exceeds its previous maximum of USD 10.25 million, as of October 25. The total volume of Bakkt's monthly bitcoin futures is now USD 106.74 million (12,012 BTC) since its launch on September 23.

The average volume has been USD 3.05 million (343.2 BTC) daily, during the last 35 days of trading. Undoubtedly, USD 15 million is a small fraction of the average daily turnover on the most established cryptocurrency futures trading platforms, such as CME Group. But this figure represents a jump from the slow start of the trade of this product.

Bakkt recently announced that it plans to launch an application and a commercial portal for cryptocurrency users in the first half of 2020, alongside Starbucks, the provider's first launch partner. Jeffrey Sprecher, CEO of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), also announced in a report discussed at a conference that many financial institutions were in communication with Bakkt to explore the possibility of adopting their offer. ICE is the main sponsor of Bakkt.

On November 1, the company launched a program to incentivize liquidity on the platform, which could be playing a role in the recent volume growth.

Hong Kong regulators will apply new scheme to cryptocurrency exchange houses

Key facts:

Exchange houses must apply KYC and anti-money laundering procedures.

The new regulatory scheme will require exchange houses to submit annual reports.

According to the second round of regulatory guidance for industries, the supervisory entity of the Hong Kong stock exchange will begin to treat cryptocurrency trading platforms as traditional stock exchanges, if they offer securities tokens.

On Wednesday, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) revealed a document establishing its position on the exchange houses of digital assets or cryptocurrencies, in which they announce a new licensing scheme, which they claim is no different from the It applies to the Hong Kong stock exchanges and automated trading centers.

Any cryptocurrency company that trades at least one value token will fall under the jurisdiction of Hong Kong regulators. Applications for peer-to-peer exchange houses (P2P), as well as decentralized exchange houses (DEX) or non-custodial trading platforms, will not be examined by the SFC.

Under the new permit conditions, regulated cryptocurrency exchange houses can only offer their products to “professional investors” as defined by the SFC. The companies, following the approval of the regulators, could also modify their services and products and must have an existing relationship with an independent auditing industry, and annually they must fill out reports on the activities of the exchange house. The exchange houses must also submit monthly reports to the commission.

Hot wallets, cryptocurrency storage centers with internet connection, cannot keep more than 2% of the total funds of the exchange houses. In that same order, the exchange houses will have the obligation to have insurance for all assets, so that they can be backed up in the event of a violation or an attack on the platforms, the SFC said.

Anti-money laundering and knowing-your-client (KYC) procedures are cited as a major concern, so the SFC says that cryptocurrency exchanges should take steps to "establish the complete and true identity of each of its clients, of the financial situation, their experience in investments and the investment objectives of these ».

When licenses are guaranteed, companies enter the SFC Regulatory Framework, which, according to regulators, offers more accurate monitoring reports and standards.

Hong Kong regulators also issued warnings on Wednesday for those suppliers of cryptocurrency-based futures products, which target Hong Kong citizens without proper documentation. The SFC said that to date “they have not licensed or authorized any person within Hong Kong to offer or trade digital asset futures contracts” and that it remains “unlikely that they will grant licenses or authorizations to carry out a business under those contracts. ”

Cryptocurrency derivatives providers, such as BitMEX and OKEx have already restricted access to their products to citizens in Hong Kong.

The first licensing scheme referring to cryptocurrencies, which was initially presented in November 2018 and which has been updated this October, referring to exchange houses that invest 10% or more of their cryptocurrency portfolio, have only given their approval to a single investment fund in the past year.

AMD's new CPU will achieve greater processing power in Monero

Key facts:

Miners can get up to 30% more hashrate compared to the previous version of the CPU.

The Ryzen 9 3950X is positioned as one of the best processors on the market alongside the Intel Xeon.

AMD will launch its new Ryzen 9 3950X processor in November, which could become one of the most powerful CPUs to undermine Monero. This new version reaches 30% more hashrate than the Ryzen 9 3900X, which went into circulation in September, according to mining experts.

The equipment offers 16 CPU cores, 32 threads, 4.7 activations per second (Ghz) and a maximum power (TDP) of 105W. It also works with its own cooling system, called Wrath Prism. All these features allow you to reach a processing power of 1.75 Kh / s in Monero.

Ryzen 9 3950X is positioned as the second most powerful processor in the market, being surpassed only by the Gold 6140 of Intel Xeon that achieves a hashrate of 1.86 Kh / s. Analysts believe that this new version could be very popular both for its capacity and its background. In September AMD launched another of its third generation equipment, the Ryzen 9 3900x, which had a very good acceptance among miners, players and computer enthusiasts.

This equipment has 12 cores, 24 threads and performs up to 4.6 activations per second. Although its performance is lower than the Ryzen 9 3950X and the Ryzen Threadripper, it reaches a hashrate of 1.35 Kh / s. The CPU has had such a high demand that the equipment has been scarce in the network, producing a spiral of speculation. Because of this, you cannot know for sure how much it costs to acquire one of these processors. However, if it is known that the AMD Ryzen 9 3950X will cost about $ 749 at the time of its launch.

Other powerful processors

The miners of Monero are, today, one of the most interested groups in this type of processors, since after the last fork, mining with ASIC cannot be carried out in said network. Although other networks can also be mined with CPUs, without a doubt thanks to the RandomX algorithm mining with processors such as Ryzen 9 3950X is much more profitable in Monero.

For those interested, Intel is one of the companies that has several of the most powerful processors in the market, but also the most expensive. For example, your Xeon® Gold 6140 CPU is the one that has the highest hashrate in the market today, registering 1.86 Kh / s. The product has one 18 cores, 36 threads, can reach up to 3, 70 Gh / z and has a TDP of 140W for the price of more than $ 2,300. Also, the Intel® Xeon® E5-2698 v4 CPU can process up to 1.69 Kh / s of hashrate on Linux operating systems worth more than $ 3,000.


ADM has also managed to position the Ryzen Threadripper 1950X as one of its best and most economical processors. The CPU has 16 cores, about 32 threads, activations every 4.0 Gh / z and a TDP of 180W. In this way, the processor manages to reach a hashrate of 140 Kh / s in Monero. Each of these CPUs can cost about 570 dollars, a price that positions AMD as a cheap option in this ecosystem.