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John Law

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John Law is an 18th century Scottish entrepreneur, financial engineer and gambler. Having reformed the French economy, invented paper currency, state banks, the Mississippi Bubble and other ideas essential to modern economics, he took three hundred years off in a small cottage outside Bude. He has returned to write for CoinDesk on the foibles of digital currency.

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Apple
Apple Sours on Bitcoin, Corner Shop Conundrum, and the Stolen Good
This week John Law takes a bite out of Apple, ventures into 'unbanked' territory and ponders a sticky bit-lemma.
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By John Law
Feb 7, 2014 at 10:45 p.m. UTC
Feb 7, 2014
AppleAndroidGoogleZipzapNewsFeatures
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Markets
China
A Million is Never Enough, Chinese Laundry, and Bad Taste by Bitcoin
This week in the wonderful world of bitcoin: high-profile arrests, Chinese trillions and eyelashes for cars.
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By John Law
Jan 31, 2014 at 3:35 p.m. UTC
Jan 31, 2014
ChinaJohn LawCharlie ShremNews
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Markets
John law
Roll up for Branded coins, Roll on the Robot Overlords - or Just Roll Your Own
This week John Law delves into custom currencies, robot rulers and cannabis-related bitcoin conundrums.
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By John Law
Jan 24, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. UTC
Jan 24, 2014
John LawTechnologyEthereumAltcoinsNewsTechnology News
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Markets
Derivatives
The £150 ATM, Benefits of Risky Futures, and Bitcoin's Common Touch
John Law wades knee-deep into bitcoin's hectic week of cut-price ATMs, risky derivative markets and merchants galore.
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By John Law
Jan 17, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. UTC
Jan 17, 2014
DerivativesATMsSkyhookBitcoin ATMsBitcoinNewsFeatures
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Markets
Twitter
A Billion-Dollar Bitcoin Bet, Making Cents of Twitter, and Indian Brews
This week has provided two excellent counter-examples against the inherent badness of bitcoin – one small, one very big.
punch-drunk
By John Law
Jan 10, 2014 at 2:59 p.m. UTC
Jan 10, 2014
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Markets
Atms
From China to Cyberspace: Bitcoin's Year in Review
It's a legal requirement for journalists to write an end-of-year roundup, and John Law is nothing if not law-abiding.
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By John Law
Dec 31, 2013 at 6:00 a.m. UTC
Dec 31, 2013
ATMsChinaUS SenateCryptolockerNews
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Markets
China
Tulips, Pigs and Eternal Graffiti: Bitcoin’s Colourful Week
This week John Law grapples with Tulip Mania, block chain graffiti and the murky world of FUD.
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By John Law
Dec 20, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. UTC
Dec 20, 2013
ChinaMt GoxBlockchain TechnologyFeatures
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Markets
Dogecoin
Patent Nonsense, Coinbase Futures, and Who’s a Good Doggie? You Are!
JP Morgan causes a stir, re-presents old cryptocurrency patent, Coinbase receives $25m investment, while John Law digs for dogecoins.
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By John Law
Dec 13, 2013 at 3:35 p.m. UTC
Dec 13, 2013
DogecoinNews
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Markets
Blockchain technology
Questions for Cash, Chains of Command, and with this Coin, I Thee Rob
John Law ponders BTC-e's credentials, block chain security and hiding bitcoins from divorce lawyers in his weekly review.
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By John Law
Dec 6, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. UTC
Dec 6, 2013
Blockchain TechnologyBTC-eNews
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Markets
Bitstamp
No Hiding Place in Bitcoin, Real Mining for Virtual Cash, and the Wrong Sort of Fun
As the highest-value bitcoin transaction occurs, a Welsh resident searches a landfill for his £4m hard drive.
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By John Law
Nov 29, 2013 at 4:50 p.m. UTC
Nov 29, 2013
BitstampNewsFeatures