Bitcoin Inches Up as Thai Stock Exchange Considers Crypto Exchange

Investing.com - Cryptocurrency prices were mixed on Friday, extending an unusually long period of low volatility.

Bitcoin rose 0.24% to $3,599.00 as of 7:48 AM ET (12:48 GMT) on the Investing.com Index. It's now barely traded outside a 5% range since Jan. 10.

Cryptocurrencies overall were flat with the total coin market capitalization at $121 billion at the time of writing.

Ethereum slipped 0.21% to $120.03 and Litecoin was at $30.755, up 0.11%, while XRP decreased 0.56% to $0.3222.

Elsewhere, Thailand’s stock exchange said it plans to apply for a license to operate a cryptocurrency exchange, in a move that may help the asset class move closer to the financial mainstream.

If implemented, it would be the first stock exchange to set up a separate digital currency exchange. The news comes after Thai financial regulators gave licenses to three other trading companies to set up crypto exchanges.

Thailand is considered one of the regulator-friendly places for crypto businesses in Asia. The country has approved virtual currency regulations and has legalized seven cryptocurrencies.

In other news, Bitcoin ATM company Coinme is partnering with coin converter Coinstar to allow Bitcoin purchases through its kiosks in the U.S. The launch will only include some Safeway and Albertsons stores in California, Texas and Washington, with plans to extend to other U.S. markets, the press release stated.

The partnership will make it easier for consumers “participate in this dynamic new economy,” Coinme cofounder and CEO Neil Bergquist said.

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