The Montreal Economic Institute Addresses Bitcoin

The Montreal Economic Institute has published a research note on bitcoin in which it concluded that the digital currency's future hinges upon its legal status. The institute argues that retailers, consumers and investors need to know that a clear set of rules governing bitcoin is in place. Such rules would bolster confidence and boost adoption, while at the same time speeding up investment in bitcoin companies. However, "the proposed rules must not hamper the use of bitcoin as a means of exchange, either with burdensome taxes or with excessive administrative rules for users," the institute....

Could bitcoin reinvigorate Canada's creaking payment system? A prestigious Canadian economics institute has released a report suggesting that bitcoin could become a "common currency" and reduce payment costs, if only regulators would provide clarity. It unveiled the report just as the Canadian government declared that bitcoin wasn't legal tender. The Montreal Economic Institute, a Quebec-based non-profit research organisation, said that although bitcoin use is still marginal, "recent developments suggest that this use is bound to increase."Citing CoinDesk, the report suggests that merchant....

Canadian regulation of Bitcoin is favorable so far, but several more conditions have to be met for the cryptocurrency to meet its potential, a new report by a Canadian research institute found. The report, entitled “How Should Bitcoin Be Regulated?” and published by the Montreal Economic Institute last week, analyzed how cryptocurrency is treated in Canada compared to several other countries and offered insight on what needs to happen for Bitcoin to reach normalized, widespread use. Overall, pretty positive. Canada treats bitcoins like simple goods that can be exchanged in a barter system.....

The number of Bitcoin dedicated conferences to in 2015 suffered a considerable drop. Last year, Bitcoin conferences were held at least one per month on average. Currently, we have seen them drop down and being replaced with the showcasing of blockchain technology and payment innovation at various FinTech conferences. Montreal has the most bitcoin ATMs per capita, and it would be the welcoming change for Montreal, home of the world's first Bitcoin Embassy, to at least get one Bitcoin conference. Unfortunately, the Montreal Bitcoin Expo is being postponed, apparently because the organizers....

A bitcoin expo that was about to be held in Montreal was postponed by its organizers due to the lack of sponsors for the event. This event was supposed to take place in August 21-23 at the Centre Mont-Royal. For now, the organizers haven't given any details on when the event might be rescheduled or if it will even take place at all. According to Leeja Murphy, a spokesperson for the event, it is unclear when the bitcoin expo might be moved. Bitcoin Expo Letdown. While most of the bitcoin headlines have mostly focused on startups in New York or San Francisco, Montreal also boasts of a high....