Research and Markets: Virtual Currencies: A Global Gamble
Research and Markets has announced the addition of Javelin Strategy & Research's new report "Virtual Currencies: A Global Gamble"to their offering.
As traditional financial services providers from the networks to card issuers to financial service providers begin to invest in virtual currency acquisitions, virtual currency rewards, and virtual currency exchange opportunities, the conventional understanding of commodities and payment exchange has shifted.
The lack of governance by a central authority extends to use of these currencies for business purposes, in foreign exchange, and to the potential use of virtual currencies for illicit purposes. With the ability to cross channels and support online, mobile, and POS commerce, virtual currencies can be readily extended to a variety of environments.
But, in the process, these currencies and providers including Bitcoin, Facebook Credits, Ven, zCoins, World of Warcraft Gold, and PlaySpan have garnered the attention of regulators, crime enforcement, and traditional payments service providers as each struggles to understand these currencies' potential implications. This report details some of the issues and threats surrounding this emerging payments market.
Primary Questions
- How prevalent are virtual currencies?
- Who uses virtual currencies and for what purpose are they used?
- What recent events are changing the virtual currencies market?
- What new regulations may affect virtual currencies?
- How are virtual currencies being employed beyond the online gaming arena?
Key Topics Covered:
- Overview and Primary Questions
- Methodology
- Executive Summary
- Virtual Currencies Getting Real
- Zeitgeist Virtual Currencies 2013
- The Virtual Currency User
- Evolution to the Physical Realm
- Today's Real Opportunity
- Appendix
- Related Research
- Table of Figures
Companies Mentioned
- Activision Blizzard
- Amazon
- American Express
- Bank of America
- Bitcoin
- Discover
- European Central Bank
- Expensify
- Facebook
- Hub Culture
- InComm/Zeevex
- Litecoin
- Mt.Gox
- OpenCoin
- PayPal
- Ripple
- Second Life
- Visa/PlaySpan
- Zynga
For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/bcmfqg/virtual
About Research and Markets
Research and Markets is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Related News
From previously being dismissed as a medium of exchange in criminal markets, virtual currencies have been one of the highlights of the latest Commonwealth of Nations meeting. Senior finance officials and central bank governors from Australia, India, Singapore and the United Kingdom discussed how virtual currencies can be used to address current global financial issues. Advantages of Virtual Currencies. One of the major applications of virtual currencies was in the remittance sphere, which has been acknowledged as a growing industry in some of the members of the Commonwealth of Nations.....
Bitcoin seems set to revolutionize the world of online gambling. A new infographic explains why and how to casino operators. There has always been gambling, and there will always be gambling. I am a firm believer in everyone's right to spend their money as they like. I don't gamble, and I don't understand the urge to gamble, but I will fight to death for your right to gamble if that's what you want (adapted from Voltaire). Infographic. The fight for the right to gamble is on. Governments everywhere impose more and more regulations on casinos, poker clubs, slot machines, and all kinds of....
The SWIFT Institute has announced it is launching a new research programme on digital currencies, with a €15,000 grant on offer for the author of the winning proposal. The institute is looking for research on recent developments in digital currencies and cryptocurrencies, but places an emphasis on bitcoin, which it describes as “arguably the most popular” digital currency. “With bitcoin’s increasing usage, virtual currencies are becoming more of a reality. There are bitcoin ATMs in more than 10 countries worldwide, and the currency is increasingly accepted by mainstream retailers,” the....
A new report from the SWIFT Institute has found that fiat currencies are more likely to crowd out digital currencies such as bitcoin. The paper, Virtual Currencies: Media of Exchange or Speculative Asset? [PDF] analyses the dynamic relationship between virtual currencies, such as bitcoin, and fiat currencies. The research looked at whether or not the design and the size of virtual currencies could pose an immediate risk to monetary, financial or economic stability. The paper found that fiat currencies are more likely to crowd out virtual currencies and that the design and size of virtual....
In a new report, the Commonwealth of Nations has called for the acknowledgement and legislation of virtual currencies by its member nations. A new Commonwealth report – the result of research conducted by the Commonwealth Virtual Currencies Working Group – has broadly spoken toward the impact of virtual currencies like Bitcoin and called for member nations to acknowledge and legislate virtual currencies. The report also reveals that Bangladesh is the only country out of the 53 Commonwealth collective where its central bank declared virtual currencies illegal. Still, there were at least 60....