Sports Betting with BTC

There are now providers of sports betting almost a dime a dozen. There are sometimes significant differences from provider to provider. But what many providers have in common is that they look to the future. That is why crypto currencies in particular are playing an increasingly important role.

Conventional payment methods have long since ceased to set the tone, and more and more people are turning to Bitcoins and Co. We would like to introduce you to the topic in more detail and also take up what crypto currencies have to do with sports betting using Bitcoins as an example. Finally there are more and more bookmakers with Bitcoin.

What are Bitcoins?

Bitcoins are a virtual currency but serve the same purpose as paying with coins or notes. The term Bitcoins is composed of Bit (the smallest memory unit on the computer) and Coin. However, the total amount of Bitcoin money is limited. Only a certain percentage is added each year. By around 2040, the limit of around 21 million Bitcoin is likely to be reached. In summary, these are calculated and encrypted data blocks, which are stored centrally by one computer, but decentrally by many computers around the world. This technology is called Blockchain and is considered to have a very promising future. However, we do not want to go into the exact technical details as this would go beyond the scope of this article. But Bitcoins are by no means the only payment method based on the block chain method. Currently there are about 800 different crypto currencies.

Where can I get Bitcoins?

Theoretically, anyone could create Bitcoins through so-called “mining”. However, the effort for private persons would be so high by now that this would no longer be worthwhile. That’s why it’s advisable to buy Bitcoins in exchanges such as eToro, Plus500, coinbase, bitcoin.de or Kraken. If Bitcoins are purchased on several portals, all Bitcoins can be combined in a Bitcoin Wallet. e-Wallet on the smartphone is suitable for daily use. For online purchases, this can also be done on a PC or Latop. Take care to protect it with a passphrase, which must be entered before each transaction.

Use Bitcoins for sports betting

With some providers it is now possible that crypto currencies such as Bitcoins can also be used as a means of payment. To do this, users must exchange their real money with one of the Bitcoins file sharing services. Afterwards a payment can be made to the bookmaker. The possibilities are endless, to get an overview off all leages you can bet on check out the site https://www.bestbitcoinbetting.com/leagues.

Bookmakers with Bitcoin as a means of payment

  • One of the most famous bookmakers, which offers a variety of crypto currencies is 1xbet. The Russian provider impresses with a huge betting offer and high odds and bets on alternative currencies.
  • Rivalo is a white label of Tipico and therefore has numerous overlaps with Tipico. At Rivalo you can also deposit with Bitcoins. However, German customers cannot currently register with Rivalo.
  • Netbet is an old hand in the market for sports betting and can convince in many points. The provider now also relies on Bitcoins. German customers, however, have to fall back on the remaining methods.
  • Betting has been possible with Intertops since 1983. In 1996 the Austrian provider was one of the first to enter the online business. In the meantime, bets can also be placed with Bitcoins at Intertops.
  • 1x2Bet is a provider from Greece, which is largely unknown on the German market. Bets can be placed at 1x2Bet since 2001. The provider with Greek roots makes a payment with Bitcoins possible.
  • Melbet is an offshoot of 1xbet and can shine with the identical advantages. At Melbet it is also possible to deposit with crypto currencies.

Possible alternative

Via a detour it is possible to pay in with Bitcoins. The e-wallet provider Neteller offers payment with Bitcoins. The Neteller account can therefore be filled with Bitcoins. From there you can deposit with the providers via normal payment. Please note that Neteller charges 1 percent of the deposit amount.

Providers who only offer crypto currencies as payment method

We would like to point out that with the above mentioned providers can be paid in as anonymous user, because here no personal data is required. Personal data or even proof of identification for account confirmation is not required.

Some of the providers not only offer BTC, at many of them you can pay via Monero. For a complete list check www.monerogambler.com.

Advantages of Bookmaker with Bitcoin at a glance

  • No delays in payment transactions
  • Purchase and handling simple
  • Low fees
  • Payments with Bitcoins do not contain sensitive data
  • Crypto currencies are independent of banks
  • Cannot be multiplied at will, therefore offer some protection against inflation

Disadvantages

  • Many years of experience cannot yet be employed, since blockchain is a new technology
  • Scepticism about crypto currencies remains high among both companies and customers
  • Security of the block chain is considered high, but large stock exchanges have already been hacked
  • High price fluctuations possible
  • Speculation bubbles possible
  • No stabilisation possible, for example through banks
  • Possible state intervention and ban

Conclusion

Crypto currencies have become an alternative and the number of companies offering crypto currencies as a means of payment is increasing. However, even scepticism is not limited and there are enough critics. We don’t want to make a name for ourselves as clairvoyants, but we do assume that crypto currencies will become more and more popular in the medium term and that they will also become indispensable in the field of sports betting.

This is especially true for bookmakers with Bitcoin. Whether this will be only one or more crypto currencies in the end is difficult to predict. After all, there are over 800 crypto currencies and it is foreseeable that only the best and most popular will prevail over time. It may well be that some currencies are enjoying a hype, but we still assume that crypto currencies will still be in their infancy and will go their way even in sports betting.

Virtual learning and working

Imaginary tiling, training via 360-degree glasses, product development in 3D – far more than gimmicks. How virtual is the job market in Germany already?

What does VR and AR mean?

Virtual and Augmented Reality, in short VR and AR, are still considered pioneering projects in the German economy. But their influence is on the rise. What exactly do these terms mean? Virtual Reality is the translation of Virtual Reality: You dive into an artificial world in which you shut yourself off from the real environment and are not aware of it. Virtual Reality is used, for example, in the field of education or architecture:  You stand in a virtually conceived room or learn classical craftsmanship on a virtual construction site.

There are a lot of different headsets, one of the most used is HTC VIVE, it is currently mostly used for gaming and porn. You can find a review at https://www.vrpornstream.com/htc-vive.

Where is VR and AR applied?

Ludger is Professor of Human-Machine System Technology at the University of Kassel. Together with a team of employees from his field, he has developed an application for 360-degree glasses that will help train craftsmen in the future. The researchers have investigated how motivation and learning success of apprentices develop when they are trained in a virtual room: “We made sure that the whole thing is neither high-end nor high cost, but is suitable for a whole class of twenty people. The result: The motivation was higher, the learning success absolutely satisfactory, but the distraction factor was significantly higher.

It becomes challenging when the technologies have to be suitable for mass production, for example in large companies. This is also how Detlef Gerst, an IG Metall expert on the future of work, sees it: “Many companies are already trying it out. This is also very sensible in order to gain experience in it and to consider afterwards where it can benefit the processes”.

So the technology exists, but the companies could not simply buy it and use it immediately. All technologies must be configured to internal structures, programmed accordingly and adapted to the IT environment of each company, says Gerst. “The companies must also remain realistic: If they invest in it, it must bring a benefit that justifies all the effort”. Gerst sees an urgency for VR in product development: “You can imagine a lot, for example a car that shows me “what it looks like where I’m going.” The decisive factor is what customers are willing to spend money on.

How expensive is virtual reality?

According to Gerst, the most common applications are tablets and PCs on which work instructions or information about work processes are imported. Product development with 3D views is also common practice in many processes. This means that many fields of application are based on end devices that are already widely used. As a result, the acquisition costs are often lower than expected. According to Schmidt, there are devices for virtual reality that are quite affordable: “For less than 50 euros, you can buy mounts in which a normal smartphone can be inserted and which thus become real virtual reality glasses. Augmented reality devices, on the other hand, are still relatively expensive, but have already been well researched. It is probably only a matter of time before cheaper solutions are available: Our students can build their own AR application in an hour and a half, something that took us an entire research institute 20 years ago.

What effects do VR and AR have on employees?

  • As with many other developments in the labour market, the question of jobs also arises with AR and VR.
  • Do jobs disappear because technologies can do it better?
  • Not in the field of virtual reality, says Schmidt, because it provides support for people moving in this virtual world, but cannot replace them.

The situation is somewhat different with augmented reality. Here, existing work processes are simplified by additional technologies: “Ultimately, this also means that I can use less qualified people in an assembly process, for example. So we no longer need the skilled worker, but have semi-skilled workers who we can introduce into the processes much more effectively and quickly. On the other hand, you need people who can produce instructions of extended reality and create these processes: “The field of qualification is changing, but neither of these are technologies that can replace human activity.”

Gerst from the IG Metall union takes a similar view. The willingness is great, the qualification effort relatively small: “Virtual and augmented reality provide new tools that employees can use in their everyday work without having to change their work fundamentally. Training is necessary, but these are usually simple adjustments”. Our media behaviour and the increasingly natural incorporation of technology in everyday life provide the best conditions:

Anyone who works a lot on a computer at home or enjoys playing games is familiar with virtual reality and knows how to install apps or maintain a mobile phone.

How streaming portals deal with shared accounts

For some, streaming is already the new television. But password sharing makes life difficult for providers.

Recently, Netflix announced that it would take measures against shared accounts. What about other streaming services? We have asked on three major platforms.

It has not been a month since Netflix announced when it announced its quarterly figures that it intends to take action against the shared use of access points in the future. How and when Netflix will take concrete measures in this regard has not yet been announced by the company – also at the request of our newspaper. How do other streaming services deal with password sharing? What can be shared, what is illegal?

If you just want to bypass the geoblocking, check out http://www.bestsmartdns.net/netflix-usa.

Amazon Prime Video

Customers of Amazon’s streaming service Prime Video can watch series and films on up to three devices simultaneously, provided that the content is different. It doesn’t matter who owns the streaming device. At Amazon, the GTCs regulate the handling of accounts and passwords. Passing on passwords to third parties is therefore not permitted. According to a company spokeswoman, account sharing is rare at Amazon anyway: “Since the Amazon account is basically used for all transactions at Amazon and customers deposit their credit card details, this sensitive data is normally not shared.

Sky Ticket

“Password sharing is a phenomenon known throughout the industry,” says Andreas Stumptner, who is responsible for communication on Sky product topics.

The extent to which Sky is affected and whether measures are planned against this was not answered on request. In the general terms and conditions of the streaming service Sky Ticket, the passing on of the Sky-Pin to minors and third parties is prohibited.

However, the log-in data of subscriptions can be shared without hesitation with adult persons who belong to the household. A maximum of four devices can be registered for this purpose, but they cannot be streamed to more than one device at the same time.

  1. According to Stumptner, password sharing is also limited in this way.
  2. Sky reserves the right to take legal action in the event of violations of the agreements, and the subscription can also be cancelled immediately.

DAZN

With a subscription to the DAZN sports streaming service, it is possible to watch on a maximum of two devices at the same time. A DAZN spokesperson will inform you on request that you have to agree to the terms of use before signing up.

This states that the log-in data may not be shared with other persons. In the event of a violation of the rules, there is the possibility of “immediately suspending or terminating the service”, according to the company spokesman.

When we were asked to what extent DAZN was affected by password sharing and whether there were any plans to take action against it, we were not informed.

Bitcoin Futures Trading Explained

btc futures margin trading

What are Futures? The name says it all: Futures are transactions whose fulfillment lies in the future. Both commodities and securities can be traded, sometimes even futures on fictitious securities are offered, such as the Bitcoin Future. In contrast to options, futures are an unconditional forward transaction, so there is no option right, but the purchase or sale takes place in any case.

What are Futures – Explanation in Key Points

  • Fulfillment in the future
  • commodities (which Bitcoin is in the USA) or securities tradable
  • Difference and delivery transactions
  • Very speculative

The Idea behind Forward Contracts

The future is uncertain and that is often a problem. For example, when airlines are already selling August tickets in January, but don’t yet know what prices they will have to pay for kerosene. Or when companies enter into long-term supply contracts at fixed prices without knowing what the raw materials will cost them in the future.

Futures are therefore a kind of insurance. Of course Lufthansa could already buy and store the fuel for the whole year today, but that would cause high storage costs. In the case of food, storage is only possible to a limited extent, and it works even worse in the case of electricity. The most important commodity futures exchange in Germany is therefore also the Energy Exchange in Leipzig, which primarily trades electricity.

Meanwhile, the idea has also been transferred to securities, even cheap shares can be traded online via Future. One of the best known examples of this is the Bitcoin Future. This is a futures contract with a nine-month term at the start of a fictitious federal bond with a term of ten years and an interest coupon of 6.0 percent.

Originally, futures contracts were mainly concluded for commodities, but today there are also numerous futures contracts on securities.

What information must a Futures Contract contain?

Each future is issued on a specific underlying asset, such as the DAX. The value ratio of the future to the underlying asset or the value of a point in the future must also be specified. With the USD BUND Future, a contract is concluded for bonds with a value of EUR 100,000. With the DAX Future (FDAX), each point is worth 25 USD. At the same time, the smallest change in value (tick) is also defined, the FDAX, for example, always moves in steps of half points, so it can rise from 2,022.5 points to 2,023.0 points, but not to 2,022.7.

In addition, of course, a maturity must be specified; the BTC Future, for example, runs for a maximum of nine months. In addition, the amount of the margin and the costs must be defined.

In addition to the underlying asset, information on the value, the term and the margin are particularly important.

Bitcoin margin trading gets well explained on The Margin.

What is an Unconditional Forward Contracts?

There are two types of forward transactions: conditional and unconditional. In the case of conditional forward transactions, a participant has the right, but not the obligation, to execute the trade. Such conditional forward transactions are options, in which the holder also has the option not to exercise the option. For example, anyone who has the right to buy a security at a price of 6.80 USD will not use it if the current price is only 6.40 USD, i.e. the option is out of the money.

The situation is different with a future, where trading takes place in any case. The holder of an option must pay twice for this, once for the option and also for the security or the commodity. In the case of a future, the option price is often replaced by a down payment, the margin. This, however, is later offset against the purchase price, in contrast to the price for the option.

What are futures? Futures are unconditional forward transactions, so trading always takes place. Options, on the other hand, are conditional forward transactions; the owner of an option can also waive his option right.

What is a Difference Contract?

If you trade futures for speculative reasons, you naturally do not want 100 tonnes of coffee delivered at the end of the term. Such delivery transactions are common when companies want to hedge against price fluctuations on the futures markets, for example when a coffee roasting company buys coffee beans for the future.

Anyone trading for speculative reasons is usually not interested in a delivery transaction. Difference transactions are therefore common, especially for futures on securities and indices. The difference between the market price and the agreed price is taken into account, from which profit and loss are calculated.

If the buyer of a futures suffers a loss, the margin is initially used to service the loss and the remaining money is returned. If the loss exceeds the security deposit, money must be replenished. In contrast to options, more money can be lost than the money initially paid. If the current value is higher than the purchase price, the buyer receives the difference and the margin is paid back, less the fees, of course.

Also read this article about margin trading in the field of cryptocurrency at cointelegraph.com in order to even better understand the concept.

How to surf anonymously and safely through the Internet

When using the Internet, your PC transfers a lot of data in the background. Advertising companies, but also criminals and secret services have an interest in it. In this way you protect yourself from annoying snoopers.

When surfing the Internet, you leave more traces than you might think. Whenever you visit a website, the site operator learns your approximate location and some technical details about your PC, such as which browser version you are using.

In the background your PC transmits a lot of data – mostly unnoticed. “Computer Bild” tells you here how third parties spy on you and what means there are to protect themselves. In most cases, just a few clicks are enough to be much safer on the net.

Which data traces make me identifiable?

If you open a website, the server you are using will know your IP address. Your Internet provider assigns this number, which is comparable to a house number or telephone number, to your router. It allows conclusions to be drawn about your place of residence.

An exact identification on street level is not possible, however, all loaded sides experience your approximate residential area. In addition to your IP address, your PC also transmits information about the operating system, screen resolution, browser plug-ins and installed fonts.

Web pages also recognize you by means of so-called cookies: These small text files store web pages on your hard disk as soon as you visit them. Flash cookies make it possible to track you even across browsers: Regardless of the surfing program used, advertising companies receive a detailed picture of your surfing habits.

What do third parties do with my data?

Websites use the data transmitted in the background to tailor their content to you. For example, if a website recognizes you by means of a cookie, it will greet you with your name.

However, it is also possible for websites to display targeted advertising: for example, you may receive purchase suggestions for products that match the keywords you have entered and that you can buy near you. Statistical surveys are also possible. Some websites regularly publish an overview of how many of their visitors use which operating system.

Especially tricky: Specially prepared websites detect weak points in your software and smuggle malware onto your PC. Those who know your e-mail address can also send you intrusive advertising mails. In many cases, unsubscribing from e-mail advertising is unsuccessful and you continue to receive unsolicited messages.

Fingerprint of your browser

Even if your IP address changes due to a new Internet connection and you delete treacherous cookies, websites often still recognize you. In many cases, the sum of the information transmitted is sufficient.

The US Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) shows how clearly your identity can be assigned with the online service Panopticlick. When you perform the test, Panopticlick analyzes the information you automatically send, such as operating system, resolution or browser plug-ins, and calculates how many PCs with the same configuration have performed the test so far.

The probability is very high that your browser is unique among the 3.7 million systems tested to date (as of January 2014). The result is a digital fingerprint of your browser that theoretically identifies you at any time.

Protection against Internet espionage: this helps

To prevent strangers from evaluating your surfing habits, reduce the amount of information transmitted. It also helps to be on the move with false data: if you change your IP address using an anonymization program, for example, you fake websites of a different origin.

In the photo gallery above, “Computer Bild” shows you the best free programs that allow you to surf undetected. For example, the programs presented exchange your IP number, prevent secret contact with Facebook and prevent Google from recording the addresses of visited pages.

How anonymizers work

If you call up a website, anonymization programs act as mediators: They switch between you and the desired page and forward all data traffic to the respective remote peer. The visited website only sees the IP address of the software provider, but not yours – this is known only by the program manufacturer.
Display

The disadvantage of anonymization software is that you can surf the Internet slower with your stealth activated. If you use an anonymizer, you also have to trust the provider completely. After all, your entire surfing session runs on one of its servers.

If the obfuscation works, you can find out on How is my IP: Call the page once with and once without anonymization. The displayed IP addresses should differ from each other, you can read more about it in this forum: https://www.nickles.de/.

Only enter as much data as necessary

The recommended programs reliably disguise you, but help little if you use web services with clear names. If you want to protect your privacy, you should either not use sites that require registration, such as social networks, or use false names.

  • The Fake Name Generator helps to create false identities. Based on predefined criteria, the page generates complete personal profiles at the push of a button.
  • Also be careful when it comes to publishing information on the Internet: as you know, the Internet forgets nothing.
  • Even if you delete content later, it is often still stored in a Google cache or on Archive.org. Your potential future employer might find embarrassing party photos of you costing you the job.

Using alternatives to big websites

For more discretion, it is advisable to switch to less popular Internet services. DuckDuckGo, for example, is an alternative to Google. According to its own information, the site does not store any user information.

Anonymous on the Internet via UMTS stick

What many users do not know: USB sticks, with which you can access the Internet via a mobile phone network, also contribute to your anonymity. The access providers ensure that you get an IP address that you can use to communicate with other websites.

  • Advantage: The IP address is given not only to you, but also to many other users of the provider. In addition, these are usually dynamically distributed addresses so that you can access the Internet with a new number when you dial in later. This means that third parties are not in a position to trace the IP address assigned to you by the mobile phone provider back to you – you are lost in the mass of users.
  • Attention: Surfing via UMTS stick does not guarantee complete anonymity! Using your SIM card and the serial number of the stick (International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI for short), the mobile phone provider will locate you easily. The method therefore only helps to withhold your own identity from website operators.

Fend off malware and spyware

If malware reaches your PC, such as a Trojan horse or spyware, it can spy on you. You can protect yourself by using an antivirus program and regularly updating installed programs.

The Best Bitcoin Casino Apps

BTC has become a trendsetter in many different industries like gambling. Here we will explain exactly how the best cryptocurrency games work.

How do you deposit with Bitcoin?

You also want to use your Bitcoins to gamble, for example at Bitcasino.io. What do you do to be successful? First, create an account on the company’s website. It’s quite easy because you just go to the homepage and click “Sign up”. The following data is required:

  • Available username
  • Secure password
  • Valid email address
  • Correct date of birth
  • Accepting the terms and conditions

You do not need to confirm your email address immediately as this will only be necessary when you request a withdrawal. However, it is worth doing this right away so that you do not have to worry about the confirmation in the future. Once in your account, click on the plus symbol in the top right corner of your balance sheet. If you have just opened an account, you will understandably find the 0.00 in the balance.

You will now find the address that you can use to send Bitcoins from your wallet to the casino. For your convenience, there is also a QR code for scanning with your smartphone.

Alternatively, you can deposit into Altcoins. Here the respective currency is exchanged for Bitcoin in the current exchange rate, so that there are still only Bitcoins in circulation in the casino. The website also offers you the opportunity to buy Bitcoins directly on an exchange, but this does not necessarily have to be the best option, as many of them do not meet the necessary security standards and can therefore cause you problems.

Where do you buy Bitcoin for use in casinos?

Our Bitcoin Casino experience is that the development of Bitcoin usage in casinos is slow but steady. Not all casinos have jumped on the bandwagon of crypto currencies online yet, but the total number is rising steadily. The focus is usually on Bitcoin, which can be used for both deposits and gaming at some casinos. As you could see in the previous chapter, the deposit goes quite smoothly. However, it can be problematic to choose the right exchange for the purchase.

This is where we would like to help you and recommend eToro to you. eToro is a regulated broker that has been on the market for many years and has been a leader ever since. On bitcoinMag.de we have tested the various Exchanges and Brokers in detail and have come to the conclusion that eToro is by far the best option for buying Bitcoin. In particular, the high level of security – decisive for trading in crypto currencies – ensures the positive ratings.

eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers CFD and non CFD products. 65% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

The most up-to-date and best measures will be taken to keep your data secure. In addition, the simplicity of the purchase speaks for the provider. You can easily buy crypto currencies via Paypal. Take advantage of all the benefits and register with eToro now!

Kraken Exchange – An Overview

Kraken.com is a large and strongly growing crypto exchange, which shines by simple operation and overview. In addition to the Bitcoin, 16 other Altcoins and 5 FIAT currencies, including Euro and US Dollar, are traded here. Kraken.com offers trading and good security settings, but requires some proof of identity, so you will have to wait immediately after registration. The account can be linked to the Fidor bank, which makes it possible to buy coins quickly.

 

Table of Contents

  1. An overview: What is Kraken.com?
  2. Registration and first steps
  3. Kraken and the Fidor Bank
  4. How safe is Kraken?
  5. How anonymous is Kraken and what are the limits?
  6. Which Altcoins are there?
  7. Pros and cons
  8. Bottom line

An overview: What is Kraken.com?

Kraken.com is a crypto exchange based in San Francisco (USA) which, according to its own statement, has the largest trading volume worldwide between crypto currencies and euros. With several hundred thousand customers the stock exchange belongs to the Top-10 world-wide.

The company behind Kraken.com was founded in 2011, followed 2 years later by the launch of the website. Already in October 2013 the cooperation with the German Fidor-Bank started, which – like Bitcoin.de – enables fast trading without annoying waiting times (see below).

Since then, Kraken.com has been working continuously to improve its offering, for example by raising security standards or adding new old coins. The use of the stock exchange is free; there are only fees for the purchase / exchange of crypto currencies (see below).

Source: www.bestbitcoinexchange.net/vs/bitmex.com+kraken.com

All important features at a glance:

Security measures: 2-factor authentication (2FA) for login (+ optional for funding, trading), master key for account resetting 17 crypto currencies and Euro, US Dollar, Canadian Dollar, British Pound and Japanese Yen
Suitable for: Beginners and Advanced
Anonymity: step-by-step verification against higher trading limits required
Daily payout limit: depending on verification level
Fees: trading fees for buyers and sellers staggered; between 0.10 and 0.26 percent for buyers; 0.1 percentage points lower for sellers each
Payment options: different depending on crypto currency
Language: English, Korean, Japanese
Mobile App: no
Trading: supported
Lending/Funding: not supported

Registration and first steps

Registering at Kraken.com is easy: enter your email address, username and password, confirm your terms and conditions and you’re done!

If you want to deposit Bitcoin or Altcoins afterwards, you will unfortunately reach a first limit: At the current verification level “Tier 0”, it is unfortunately not possible to make deposits and withdrawals. Neither in FIAT money nor with crypto currencies. Thus a too fast trade after the first registration is not possible.

Fortunately, the hurdles for the “Tier 1” level are not high: Full name, date of birth, home country and telephone number are quickly stored. After about one day this level was activated and confirmed by e-mail.

Now our deposit limit is unlimited; the payouts are limited to 2.500 USD daily or 20.000 USD monthly. Only FIAT money cannot be used yet, for this you need “Tier 2”. Interestingly, “Tier 2” is activated immediately after entering the address, without waiting time. In any case you can start now!

Remark: In the next animal levels the limits double or increase tenfold, in addition FIATs are added. For this you need the personal address (Tier 2), scan of the passport, an old invoice, photo ID (Tier 3). For the highest Tier 4 level (100.000 USD daily or 500.000 USD monthly) you have to contact customer service directly.

All crypto deposits are free of charge. SEPA deposits are also free of charge.

Directly after the activation of “Tier 1” we have deposited Bitcoin on Kraken.com for testing purposes. Just click on “Funding” in the top left corner and select the currency. Then simply select the desired crypto currency and first generate the address and then use it.

After our Test-Bitcoin was displayed about 30 minutes later, we exchanged Ripple and Monero. Kraken.com makes this very easy and similar to other exchanges.
Kraken and the Fidor Bank

In order to be able to deposit FIAT money, you must have reached the verification level “Tier 2” (see above), but as a German user “Tier 3” is unfortunately required!

Since Kraken.com cooperates with the Fidor Bank, Fidor account holders can deposit money on Kraken within a few minutes. A genuine advantage, if it must go fast.

How does it work?

Similar to Bitcoin.de, you connect your Fidor account to Kraken.com.

The initial transaction to and from a Fidor Bank account takes a little longer because the transfer has to be checked and confirmed by a Fidor Bank compliance specialist. That’s how long Kraken’s status is “On Hold”. Don’t despair, it can take a few days!
The transfer is automatically released after the transaction has been checked and approved.

Then you can transfer Euro contributions from Fidor to Kraken without any loss of time. This makes Kraken.com currently the first choice if not only Bitcoin, but also Altcoins wants to buy.

How safe is Kraken?

Kraken supports the standard 2-factor authentication (2FA) for login. Unlike other crypto exchanges, you enter this directly with the login (and not with the next screen). Optional is the 2FA activation for trades during funding (= deposit) and trading.

If you wish, you can also deposit a master key in the form of a 2FA for account reset. If you have an e-mail provider with PGP/GPG support, you can deposit the PGP key with Kraken and have encrypted e-mails sent to you.

Our assessment: Kraken.com has a modern and good security offer. Especially in comparison to other stock exchanges we would have wished for 1-2 more security settings. These include e.g. IP whitelists and adjustable e-mail notifications for logins, etc.

In addition to a secure password, we strongly recommend the activation of 2-factor authentication directly after the first login. Kraken.com offers some options to customize the 2FA:

How anonymous is Kraken and what are the limits?

As an American stock exchange, Kraken.com adheres to the money laundering regulations and know-your-customer principles: The Kryptobörse Kraken is not anonymous.
In the context of the transparency and the acceptance of crypto currencies in the public this is to be supported naturally, also other crypto exchanges (e.g. Poloniex (our test) or Bittrex (our test)) have these defaults. The Hong Kong stock exchange Bitfinex (click here for the test) completely refrains from an identification. This of course makes the application easier for us and saves time.

The limits depend on the verification level and can be taken from the table:

On “Tier 4” the daily deposit and withdrawal limit rises to 100,000 US dollars, just as high values can be paid out in the form of crypto currencies.
Monthly, the limits increase in parallel to 500,000 US dollars.
In order to activate “Tier 4”, customer service must be contacted.

Which Altcoins are there?

Kraken concentrates on a few but very important crypto currencies. You can currently find them there:

Bitcoin (BTC) – at Kraken.com abbreviated as XBT
BitcoinCash (BCH)
dash
Dogecoin (XDG)
EOS (EOS)
Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum Classic (ETC)
Gnosis (GNO)
ICONOMI (ICN)
Litecoin (LTC)
Melon (MLN)
Monero (XMR)
Augur REP tokens (REP)
Ripple (XRP)
Stellar/Lumen (XLM)
Tether (USDT)
Zcash (ZEC)

With 17 coins Kraken has a smaller offer than e.g. Poloniex (66 coins) or even Bittrex (200 coins).

Our estimation: All important coins are represented on Kraken. In addition, Kraken currently has some Altcoins in its portfolio, e.g. GNO, ICN or MLN, which are not often found on other major stock exchanges. If you are interested in the coins, you can find them on Kraken.com.

IOTA and OmiseGo would have been desirable from our point of view. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find out if Kraken was working on it.

It can be assumed that Kraken has consciously opted for a manageable offer that reflects currencies that will continue to make a name for themselves in the future.
Proponents can see this as a hint for investors who want to diversify – sceptics probably see some market influence here.
Pros and cons

Here is a short list of the pros and cons we could make out for Kraken.

Pros:

  • Quick registration (1 minute)
  • (Very) good security measures
  • After a short familiarization clear and easy to handle page
  • Connection to the Fidor bank and therefore very fast transfers

Cons:

  • Manageable offer (limited to essential coins)
  • Some verification levels required (takes time, especially “Tier 3”)
  • transfer limits that are set in parallel to the verification levels.

Bottom line

Kraken.com is a very convincing stock exchange, which shines with good security and manageability. The usability is good, the support responded to a (banal) test request within an hour! The only (but understandable) limitation is the loss of time due to verification and the resulting loss of anonymity.

Interested investors also get the chance to purchase certain old coins on Kraken.com, which are not always available on other major stock exchanges.

In short: A very solid and by the acceptance of euro very recommendable for the entrance into the crypto scene. We especially liked the connection to the German Fidor Bank.

What is a VPS (Virtual Private Server)?

The abbreviation VPS stands for the English term “Virtual Private Server”. VPS are often also called “Virtual Dedicated Server” which means exactly the same.

The Virtual Private Server is defined as a virtual web server based on a physical server. The powerful physical server is divided into several Virtual Private Servers. Each VPS on this device receives its own IP address, but shares the RAM, processor power and memory space with the other VPSs.

Hypervisor and VPS Hosting Management

The hypervisor manages the various virtual private servers on the physical resource. It is software that can divide the device into different virtual private servers. The hypervisor controls the hardware resource (memory capacity, RAM, CPU) accordingly and makes it available to the individual administrators.

The admin is guaranteed a certain performance, which is however usually only the minimum performance. The hypervisor has the possibility to scale the unused performance of other virtual private servers on the system and thus increase it if necessary.

Full VPS Root Access For Administrators

The different virtual servers on the same hardware resource can be equipped with different operating systems, such as Windows or Linux. Administrators have full root access to their VPS and can individually install the system they need for their applications.

This so-called encapsulation in virtual server hosting allows strict separation of foreign VPSs on the same hardware system.

Distinction From Cloud Hosting

Cloud hosting works very similarly from a technical point of view. However, there is a serious difference. While the costs for a Virtual Private Server are fixed, the costs for Cloud Hosting are only calculated according to the actual use.

With cloud hosting, different items are charged individually, but this is not necessarily always cheaper. Usage-based operating costs can even quickly become more expensive than on-premise with a dedicated server.

Advantages of the Virtual Private Server

VPS are located exactly between Shared Hosting and Dedicated Server. They therefore offer a possible intermediate route with the following advantages:

  • Hardware problems rarely lead to longer downtimes because the VPS can be quickly restarted on other hardware.
  • Usually cheaper than a complete dedicated server
  • Flexibility in performance upgrades
  • Similarly good performance as with a dedicated web server

Disadvantages Of Virtual Private Web Servers

The disadvantages are different from the dedicated server and are as follows:

  • Limited resources in CPU, RAM and memory capacity compared to a dedicated server
  • Usually there are more VPS in a host system than can be controlled via network and LAN.
  • In contrast to shared hosting, administration is more extensive.

Who Should Use Managed Virtual Private Servers?

VServers for private Minecraft hosting is probably the right choice for anyone running a strong user community, a company website with many subpages or a medium-sized e-commerce business.

The decision for such a system presupposes good knowledge for the administration. In small companies the effort is too high or the knowledge is not available. Managed services are a real help here and can be booked in various categories.

The installation and maintenance of a Managed Server is always done by the webhoster. Make sure that the Managed Service is always provided by “people”, there are providers who already want to sell an administration and configuration interface as Managed Hosting.

Factors to consider when choosing a Bitcoin Casino

Bitcoin has revolutionized the online gambling industry. Bets with Bicoins are legal all over the world, are settled instantly and are very easy to place. Just as before playing in a casino where real money is played, the player must research thoroughly before depositing money into a gambling site. Because not all websites are the same and some are obviously fraudulent.

Gambling With Bitcoin

Bitcoin has only recently become part of the world of gambling, which is why online casino operators are just beginning to offer Bitcoin and other crypto currencies as payment options. A quick Google search delivers many different results – some providers look amateurish, others resemble traditional online casinos. A good comparison will help you to find the best casino. Very popular games for bitcoin betting is pocket dice, see also www.bitcoindicegames.com/en/games/pocket-dice/.

Since Bitcoin is anonymous and handles transactions immediately, the industry’s casinos have developed the “provably fair” system to underline the seriousness of the casinos. Since these casinos do not require a gambling license, it became necessary to use verifiably fair software. When searching for a Bitcoin casino, one should therefore make sure that the provider either has verifiably fair software or a gambling license.

Another factor that should be considered is anonymity. Although some real money gambling casinos have begun to accept Bitcoin as a payment method, they still require that all personal information be provided in order to play on the site.

Therefore, it is preferable to choose a casino that uses only crypto currencies. It doesn’t matter whether the player has something to hide or not – the main advantage of Bitcoin casinos is that they do not require hours of verification of the players’ identity. This allows you to start playing immediately after the account has been opened. Deposits and withdrawals are processed immediately, which means that no proof of identity needs to be sent to customer service if large winnings are made.

How can I buy Bitcoins?

Now that it is clear that Bitcoins are the future, the next step is to buy Bitcoins. But how? In this guide we present everything there is to know about buying Bitcoins.

Bitcoins can be bought on regulated exchanges or directly from other people who sell them. You can pay for them in a variety of ways, including accepting cash and money transfers – it all depends where the Bitcoins are bought and where the buyer lives.

First, the buyer needs a Bitcoin Wallet

The buyer first needs a place where he can store his new Bitcoins. In the Bitcoin world, these places are called “wallets”, but you can imagine them as a kind of bank account.

  • The two most common options are: (1) a software wallet that is stored on the hard disk of the computer or (2) a web-based online service.
  • Both options have their weak points: if everything is stored locally on the computer, the user should make sure that the wallet is backed up regularly – after all, the hard disk could be damaged. Web wallets on the Internet apply a variety of security measures against hackers, ranging from very good to very bad. It is up to the user to decide which method he trusts most.
  • CoinBase is a popular wallet service that also switches dollars to Bitcoins and offers web apps and mobile (Android) apps.

Blockchain.info is another popular online wallet that doesn’t change normal money, but offers a mobile solution for Android. To the chagrin of iPhone/iPad users, the iOS wallet was recently banned by Apple when the company from Cupertino decided for unknown reasons to no longer offer wallets via the Apple Store.

Exchange/Online Wallets

The range of options seems to be growing every week, with new companies emerging on the Internet all the time, targeting new markets. Some are complete exchanges where normal money and several other digital currencies can be exchanged, while others are simpler wallet services with a limited number of trading options. Many store digital and/or normal currency for the client – just like a normal bank account.

Exchange/Wallets are the best option for those who want to trade and speculate regularly, do not need complete anonymity and accept longer bureaucratic account opening procedures that usually include proof of identity and detailed contact information. This is required by law in most countries. No regulated exchange can avoid this, as every company associated with the current financial system must meet the “Know Your Customer (KYC)” requirements and anti-money laundering (AML) requirements.

The best exchange for a particular need also depends on where the user is located. When this article was written, the largest complete trading exchanges were Bitstamp (US), BTC-e (unknown), Kraken (US), Huobi (China), OKCoin (China) and BTC China.

Once the user has opened his account, he will probably need a connection to an existing bank account to transfer money between the bank account and the new exchange account by wire transfer. There is usually a fee for this. Some exchanges also allow customers to make personal deposits into their bank account (through a customer service representative, not an ATM).

Although people in most countries can transfer money to foreign accounts, the fees are much higher and there may be long delays (if any) in switching from Bitcoins to normal money. If a bank account needs to be specified in order to use the exchange, only banks from that country may be permitted (for example, CoinBase only accepts US bank accounts).