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Omkar Godbole  
  Mar 21, 2018 at 10:45 UTC  |  Updated  Mar 21, 2018 at 10:46 UTCBitcoin's (BTC) three-day winning streak is encouraging for the bulls, but only a quick move above $10,500 would negate the risks of the so-called "death cross.

"Having bottomed out at $7,335 on Sunday, prices on CoinDesk's Bitcoin Price Index (BPI) rose to $9,127 today - the highest level since March 14. As of writing, the BPI is seen at $9,074.

The retreat from the intraday highs could be associated with the signs of bearish relative strength index divergence seen on the hourly chart. The 22.7 percent recovery from $7,335 suggests the bulls have regained control, at least for the time being.

However, the cryptocurrency is not out of the woods yet, the long duration technical studies indicate.To start with, the cryptocurrency is still in a downtrend as indicated by the trendline sloping downwards from the Dec. 17 high and Jan. 6 high is intact.

And furthermore, the imminent and scary-sounding "death cross" - when the 50-day moving average (MA) will cut the 200-day MA from above - could throw a spanner in the works.

Daily chart

The above chart shows (prices as per Bitfinex) that bitcoin will encounter a number of points of stiff resistance in the $9,180-$9,470 range:

• The 200-day moving average is seen at $9,181.
• Double top neckline resistance (former support) stands at $9,280 (Feb. 25 low).
• The 50-day moving average resistance is seen at $9,449.
• 50 percent Fibonacci retracement of the recent drop is $9,470.

A clear break above $9,470 would provide more power to the bulls. That said, the weekly chartindicates a bullish trend reversal only above $11,700.Hence, the bulls require at least a quick and a convincing break above $10,500 (long-term descending trendline resistance).

Failure to do so will likely result in the 50-day MA cutting the 200-day MA from above (the death cross mentioned above). As discussed on Monday, the death cross is not a reliable indicator, as the major portion of the sell-off has already happened (RSI shows oversold condition) by the time the crossover is confirmed.

However, the death cross could bring a sell-off in this instance, given the RSI is below 50.00 (in the bearish territory), but holding well above 30.00 (oversold territory).

View

• A quick break above $10,500 would open doors for a bullish trend reversal (move above $11,700).
• Consolidation around $9,000 could end up triggering another sell-off. In such a scenario, prices could revisit the February low of $6,000.
• The longer it takes for BTC to take out $9,180-$9,470, the higher will be the risks of the "death cross," given the weekly chart is biased to the bears.

Bitcoin chart image via Shutterstock

The leader in blockchain news, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups.

Discover more insights and research covering cryptocurrencies from Coindesk here: https://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-returns-above-9k-but-death-cross-still-a-risk/

It’s been hailed as a global revolution, and shunned as a piece of technology used by drug dealers and cartels. But in reality, blockchain (the underlying technology that enables crypto currencies like Bitcoin) is a fascinating piece of technology that has the power to change our world.  

Think of blockchain as a ledger that lives on every device on which it is installed. Whenever the ledger is changed, the information is updated on each device. This networked method of tracking information has supported the rise of decentralized currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

But blockchain has a wide variety of uses that have already started to shape consumer expectations, go-to-market strategy, and data collection. Moving forward, the blockchain revolution will mean brands need to start positioning themselves differently in a world where decentralization and transparency are king.

Consumer Expectations Are Changing Consumer expectations are already changing as a result of blockchain thanks to tools like HybridBlock, which provide laypeople with information about blockchain and cryptocurrencies. HybridBlock’s suite of products will educate and provide all of the tool to enter cryptocurrency as a novice and advance through the ranks to become more skilled and educated. 

As consumers and companies learn more about the capabilities of blockchain, they will begin to choose products and services that operate in a decentralized manner.

One Silicon Valley startup, OPEN Platform, provides a turnkey solution for blockchain integration between both on-chain and off-chain applications. What this means is that developers, marketers, and businesses can now build marketing tools and applications with minimal blockchain knowledge.

 OPEN Platform CEO Ken Sangha says they understand the next wave of marketing applications and that CMOs will be focused on blockchain and cryptocurrency technology.

"Much like mobile applications spawned the last generation of technology CMOs that’s why we’ve built OPEN in the most modular way possible, to appeal to the next generation of marketing application developers and the CMOs who will use them.

”But thanks to blockchain, the technology is designed to safely and transparently share data between a large group of people without needing centralized oversight to keep data safe. Thanks to blockchain, customers can monitor how a corporation handles their data, or track the origins of a particular item. Blockchain gives consumers the platform they need to hold centralized institutions accountable. 

Capital Is Becoming More AccessibleThe second most common reason why startups fail is that they “ran out of cash” according to a report by CB Insights. CMOs in need of funds to bring marketing campaigns to life can now propose a new avenue of funding to other members of the c-suite. 

Thanks to blockchain, and cryptocurrencies, startups now have access to capital through avenues that simply did not exist a few years ago. Take TrustToken as an example, a technology that is poised to enable people around the world to buy fractional ownership in commodities like real estate, gold, or small businesses. Each asset or business could get its own token, that is tradable on global cryptocurrency exchanges just like Bitcoin or Ethereum.

TrustToken’s technology will be used to audit the asset ownership and monitor each transaction, bringing the power of blockchains to improve real-world markets.

continue reading page 2 of this article on Forbes here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveolenski/2018/03/12/what-the-blockchain-revolution-means-for-cmos/#...

With the upcoming EU regulations on big data in the form of the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the way businesses in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, the U.S. and other regions handle client data is about to change.

The law, which will take effect on May 28, 2018, requires firms to acquire consent and clarify their ultimate purpose when collecting data from individuals or businesses in the EU region.

Publishers and advertisers will also need to get consent from each user in order to use their personal data to target ads.Contrary to popular belief, the GDPR will also impact businesses outside of the EU if they collect data or behavioral information from people in the EU region.

Also, the implementation of this new law is likely to prompt other regions to tighten their regulations on big data. But with the robust growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the ever-rising instances of consumer data abuse, it seems that strict big data regulation is all but necessary.


However, there is a challenge for businesses in terms of the costs and complexity of implementing these laws. For instance, according to estimates  by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) in collaboration with EY, Fortune 500 companies will spend a total of $7.8 billion to comply with the GDPR regulation.

This equates to an average of around $16 million per company.The costs range, from the implementation of compliant measures to financial penalties that might occur in the event of a data breach, as well as the reputational damage from public rebuke by regulators in the field.

With regulations such as the GDPR in place, companies may find themselves on the wrong side of the law, especially considering the gray areas that exist in these regulations.

The lack of clarity means that it will largely be at the discretion of the regulators to decide what constitutes a violation and what does not.It, therefore, goes without saying that businesses will need superior solutions to be able to adhere to these regulations while keeping their costs low.

Blockchains, the immutable public ledger technology, are providing answers to most of these challenges through a number of innovative solutions.

Blockchain technology is all about shifting power from central bodies to individuals. In the big data industry, this means allowing individuals to take control of their personal data and capitalize on it.

Traditionally, internet users have had little control over how their data is collected and used by businesses and data brokers. What's even worse is that most people are unaware of the value of their data and how data brokers are using it to generate immense wealth.

Blockchain technology is aiming to move the power back to the individual by enabling people to choose when to share their data and to define how and when it should be used as well. Moreover, blockchain platforms will make it possible for individuals to make an income by sharing their personal data with advertisers.

One innovative solution that has reached a huge milestone in making the decentralization of the big data industry possible is Endor , a blockchain platform founded by MIT engineers. The project, known as "Google for predictive analytics," seeks to introduce a fully automatic, open platform for behavioral prediction on which firms can ask predictive questions and receive instant insights.

On the other hand, data owners can choose to share their personal data on the platform and get rewarded in Endor's EDR tokens.Zebi , a blockchain platform that aims to solve India's big data problem, is another example of a big data solution driven by a blockchain.

The project intends to make high-value and sensitive data readily available for authorized business purposes while securing and safeguarding it from hackers. Unlike the Endor project, Zebi's main focus is on protecting sensitive data elements such as land records, education and health data, employee and salary information, pension payments and others.

With the Zebi solution, companies that handle sensitive user information have a guarantee that they will not find themselves on the wrong side of the law.Solutions such as Endor and Zebi will enable businesses to save on costs and comply with regulations without the fear of unknowingly violating them.

 This is the best time for firms to start embracing blockchain-driven solutions in their big data endeavors and save themselves many headaches down the line.The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
This article appears in: Bitcoin , Blockchain