Skip to main content

The Daily: Bitfinex Schedules Exchange Downtime, Koinex Adds New Security Features

The Daily: Bitfinex to Go Offline to Change Servers, Koinex Adds New Security Features

Ifinex, the operator of Bitfinex and Ethfinex, is planning to briefly restrict access to the crypto trading platforms on Jan. 7 while migrating data to its new servers in Switzerland. Also in The Daily on Sunday, Indian exchange Koinex has updated its security features and Huobi’s mining subsidiary is preparing to launch a new trading platform dedicated to an altcoin.

Also read: Wallet Hacking Debate Heats Up, Bitcoin-Based Patreon Alternative Emerges

Ifinex Switches From AWS Cloud to Own Servers

The Daily: Bitfinex Schedules Exchange Downtime, Koinex Adds New Security FeaturesHong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex and its subsidiary Ethfinex will temporarily halt trading on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. The two platforms will be offline for three to seven hours, during which time their operator, Ifinex, will complete the migration of all data to new servers. Account holders will not be able to access their wallets and all features will be inaccessible for the duration of the upgrade.

In an announcement, Ifinex revealed it’s switching from AWS cloud services to a self-designed infrastructure. The exchanges will now be using its own dedicated servers in a data center located in the Swiss Crypto Valley. The hardware is suitable for high-volume trading and the company tweeted that the move aims to “significantly enhance platform speed, security and performance.” Ifinex further explained:

The last stage in this process necessitates taking Ifinex trading platforms offline, meaning that Bitfinex and Ethfinex account holders will be unable to trade or access their wallets during the transition.

The operator also noted that the change will bring some benefits to users. For example, the combination between selected hardware and new order submission gateways can potentially double the speed of processing. Ifinex also claims the bare-metal servers are inherently more secure as they are running dedicated custom hardware and are not reliant on a third-party cloud service.

The Daily: Bitfinex Schedules Exchange Downtime, Koinex Adds New Security Features

Koinex Introduces Security Updates

India’s leading crypto exchange Koinex has unveiled new security features for its customers. The trading platform explained on Medium that the additional layers of security applied to the accounts  will provide greater protection for users’ funds and add new functionalities. Koinex also promised to release more security updates in the future.

The Daily: Bitfinex Schedules Exchange Downtime, Koinex Adds New Security FeaturesA special “Protection Mode” is now automatically activated after signing in. It prevents any withdrawals of digital assets for the first 10 minutes of each session. During that time, users can lock their account if they suspect it has been compromised. However, clients will be able to start trading immediately after they log in and the mode does not restrict P2P fiat withdrawals of the Indian rupee.

Koinex developers have also introduced an additional verification step for cryptocurrency withdrawals. Now each withdrawal request will have to be confirmed over email, which users can do by following a verification link they will receive to their registered email address.

The notification email sent to account holders after they sign in now has a “Lock My Account” link that allows them to block any transaction if they suspect fraudulent activity. The link will take users to a security page, where they’ll be able to lock their account and delete any open orders. When an account is locked, all crypto withdrawal requests that have not been confirmed by email are cancelled automatically.

Huobi Pool to Launch EOS-Dedicated Exchange

The Daily: Bitfinex Schedules Exchange Downtime, Koinex Adds New Security FeaturesHuobi Group announced that its crypto mining subsidiary, Huobi Pool, is preparing to launch a new digital asset exchange in the first quarter of 2019. The platform will be focused on EOS and will allow users to trade the coin against a number of other cryptocurrencies. Commenting on the announcement, Huobi Pool’s chief executive officer Cao Fei stated:

As an EOS super node, Huobi Pool has placed its ecological development high on its list of priorities. Launching this EOS exchange is simply the next logical step in our support.

In the past few months, Huobi Pool has been working closely with the EOS community. The company has taken part in the building of an EOS testchain called the Crypto Kylin Testnet, which can be used to evaluate EOS-based projects.

Singapore-based Huobi group is a major crypto company that operates the third largest cryptocurrency exchange by daily trading volume, Huobi. It has been expanding its business recently in a number of sectors and markets.


Images courtesy of Shutterstock, Koinex.


Make sure you do not miss any important Bitcoin-related news! Follow our news feed any which way you prefer; via Twitter, Facebook, Telegram, RSS or email (scroll down to the bottom of this page to subscribe). We’ve got daily, weekly and quarterly summaries in newsletter form. Bitcoin never sleeps. Neither do we.

The post The Daily: Bitfinex Schedules Exchange Downtime, Koinex Adds New Security Features appeared first on Bitcoin News.



from Bitcoin News http://bit.ly/2s2vM3M

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Deep Web Roundup: Dream Adds Monero and Bitcoin Tumbler “Chip Mixer” Launches

The darknet has been quiet of late, which is the way it’s meant to be. No news means no mega busts, honeypots, or mass market shutdowns. Even when it’s out of the spotlight though, the deep web is quietly making news, whether trialling the latest privacy coins or the newest coin mixers that promise to restore a little of the privacy that’s being stripped away from bitcoin users on a daily basis. Also read: U.S. Agency ICE Conducts Investigations That Exploit Blockchain Activity The Battle for Privacy Heats Up Privacy is all relative, but of late there’s been relatively little privacy to be enjoyed by bitcoin users. Blockchain monitoring software is becoming more sophisticated and more common, with U.S. law enforcement agencies using it to profile and hunt down deep web users. Chip Mixer is a relatively new bitcoin tumbler that’s designed to restore some of that privacy. Available on both the clearnet and darknet, the service uses a variety of techniques to obfuscate blockchain m

International Crypto Exchange Luno Adds Bitcoin Cash Trading

Luno exchange has added bitcoin cash trading to the platform following feedback from its client base. BCH is now only the third cryptocurrency available for trading on the exchange, in addition to BTC and ETH , but more options could be on the way once Luno determines that they are credible enough. Also Read: Bitflyer Adds Bitcoin Cash Trading Across Europe and the US Luno Adds Bitcoin Cash Trading Luno, the London-headquartered company formerly known as Bitx, recently announced that bitcoin cash was made available on its cryptocurrency exchange. Starting from Monday, September 23, customers at Luno are now able to store, buy and sell BCH on the platform. The reason given for adding BCH to the exchange is feedback from users in developing markets that convinced Luno to expand their offering from previously just BTC and ETH . Marcus Swanepoel, CEO of Luno, said , “We are in a new and exciting financial era. Developing economies are leading the large-scale adoption and appli

Ombudsman Receives Complaints About Crypto Investments in Spain

The Spanish ombudsman has been receiving complaints about cryptocurrency and how some Spanish citizens investing in these vehicles have lost everything. In his annual report, Angel Gabilondo recognized the rise of cryptocurrencies as a new problem due to the little or no regulation crypto sees in the country. In the same way, the EU has also warned about these assets recently. Spanish Ombudsman Gives His Take on Crypto Angel Gabilondo, the Spanish ombudsman, has given his take regarding cryptocurrencies and the effects they have on citizens investing in some of these projects. Gabilondo said in his yearly report that cryptocurrencies have become “a new problem” during the year examined, with many people having lost all of their funds invested. The report states : Cryptocurrency exchange companies or platforms are not regulated in the legal system, are not subject to any public supervision system, nor do they benefit from deposit guarantee systems. The affected users that sought