Latest news with #peerToPeer
The Verge
08-07-2025
- The Verge
Jack Dorsey made an encrypted Bluetooth messaging app
Twitter co-founder and Block Head Jack Dorsey launched a new peer-to-peer messaging app over the weekend called Bitchat that runs entirely over Bluetooth. Bitchat relies on Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networks to send encrypted communications directly to nearby devices without requiring internet or cellular service. 'Bitchat addresses the need for resilient, private communication that doesn't depend on centralized infrastructure,' according to a white paper published on Dorsey's Github page. 'By leveraging Bluetooth Low Energy mesh networking, Bitchat enables direct peer-to-peer messaging within physical proximity, with automatic message relay extending the effective range beyond direct Bluetooth connections.' Images of the app posted by Dorsey also show that Bitchat operates without accounts, servers, or data collection, and includes privacy features like password-protected channels and a 'Panic Mode' that instantly clears all data when the logo is triple-tapped. Similar Bluetooth-based messaging apps like Bridgefy and the now-defunct FireChat have notably been used by pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong over the last decade because they're harder for Chinese authorities to trace or block. While Bridgefy says it can send messages over a distance of 100 meters (330 feet), Bitchat offers a range of more than 300 meters (984 feet), with future updates planned that will allow users to increase speed and range via Wi-Fi Direct. Bitchat is available to beta testers via Apple TestFlight, but TestFlight is currently full after reaching its maximum 10,000-user capacity. Dorsey says the app is still undergoing review ahead of its full release.
CTV News
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Renting out your car or backyard to generate extra cash? What to know about insurance
Whether it's camping equipment, your backyard or a vehicle, the peer-to-peer sharing market has boomed in recent years. 'It seems, naturally, that consumers see a benefit when they're not using their space or otherwise to generate additional income for themselves,' said Daniel Ivans, an insurance expert with 'This might be a quick, easy opportunity to maybe make some money.' At a time when many Canadians are struggling to make ends meet, renting out their personal belongings has become a side hustle. But offering assets, especially big-ticket items like a car, for rent is more complicated than just getting an ad up on an app or online forum. It's also about considering the wear on the item and potential damage costs — and finding the right insurance coverage. When bigger assets such as a home or vehicle are made available as short-term rentals, Ivans said they're exposed to additional damage risks. The first thing the host should do is notify their insurance broker and talk about how their situation is changing, he said. If the individual doesn't inform their insurance provider about short-term rental usage of the asset, they could end up losing their policy coverage and be left with a hefty bill in case of damages, Ivans said. Most apps, such as car-sharing app Turo, come with existing insurance for the host's vehicle. Every trip on Turo is covered by the company's commercial insurance policy across provinces, said Bassem El-Rahimy, vice-president of Turo Canada. The company's insurance covers up to $2 million in liability per host, while renters can take on additional protection plans, he added. 'Insurance is essentially built in,' El-Rahimy said. Most Turo hosts don't opt for supplemental insurance on top of what the company and their personal auto insurance provide, he added. 'If anything happens to the car while it's being shared, our insurance policy will cover it and kind of keep the host's insurance policy intact,' El-Rahimy said. Turo also mandates its hosts notify their personal auto insurer about the car usage. 'Insurance is a trust game,' El-Rahimy said. 'You can't be lying or hiding anything from your insurer.' But not all apps may provide that built-in security. Ivans said it often gets hard for insurance companies to evaluate additional exposure when the item is shared with strangers. 'You're not only loaning something to a friend ... but loaning something to the general public,' he said. 'How many providers are out there that are ready to take on that kind of exposure? Probably not too many,' Ivans said. Home insurance can be complicated to assess when a homeowner adds more usage to the property, he said. 'If (consumers) are renting out, say, for example, items like swimming pools or usage of their property, they would want to consult with a broker who can look around to try to find the right company,' Ivans said. David Adams started Sniffspot for city-dwelling pet owners who couldn't find open spaces for their pets in Washington. His solution was to connect dog owners with homeowners who have empty backyards. The idea took off and spread across the United States, eventually moving north of the border. Adams said safety is a key aspect of the idea — making sure no one is injured and no property gets damaged. Like many peer-to-peer sharing apps, Adams said the company offers damage protection and liability insurance. 'Damage protection provides up to $5,000 of protection against any kind of damage that a guest would cause at your property, like a broken gate or a broken chair, things like that,' he said. Liability insurance covers up to $1 million for accidents or injuries that may occur at the property during rented hours, he added. Still, Ivans warned there can be disparities when using peer-to-peer share apps, especially those with a cross-border presence or international markets. 'There are no guarantees that any app or any organization necessarily can provide somebody with full and holistic coverage for (the) household and their family in the potential case of financial devastation,' he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025. Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press
Zawya
26-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Crypto exchange Kraken debuts peer-to-peer payments app Krak
Crypto exchange Kraken on Thursday launched a peer-to-peer payments app that enables users to send and receive funds - in both cryptocurrency and fiat currency - across more than a hundred countries. The move is a bid to expand Kraken's offerings beyond its digital asset trading business, and puts the firm in competition with PayPal, Venmo and Block's CashApp. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Crypto exchanges such as Kraken are increasingly signaling an interest in expanding outside of the digital asset trading that initially became popular with retail investors. Kraken said last month that it is launching tokens of U.S. equities, called xStocks, in select markets outside the United States. CONTEXT Krak users will have a dedicated spend account and will be able to instantly send and request payments across 300 different assets, including crypto and local currencies, the company said in a press release. Crypto transfers will be made using blockchain technology, while Kraken will make cash transfers internally without using external banking infrastructure. KEY QUOTE "We're able to move money across borders right off the bat, because that's what we do from a trading perspective in our venues, and we've actually already spent over 10 years building out that system for money transmitter licenses... in all the jurisdictions," said Arjun Sethi, co-CEO of Kraken, in an interview with Reuters. "You have to do that as an exchange anyways, and so what we realized is that our customers just wanted to do more with their money." WHAT'S NEXT Kraken plans to launch a series of products through Krak in the future, including physical and virtual cards as well as pay-in-advance services like loans, the company said. (Reporting by Hannah Lang in New York; Editing by Louise Heavens)
CNA
26-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Crypto exchange Kraken debuts peer-to-peer payments app Krak
Crypto exchange Kraken on Thursday launched a peer-to-peer payments app that enables users to send and receive funds - in both cryptocurrency and fiat currency - across more than a hundred countries. The move is a bid to expand Kraken's offerings beyond its digital asset trading business, and puts the firm in competition with PayPal, Venmo and Block's CashApp. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT Crypto exchanges such as Kraken are increasingly signaling an interest in expanding outside of the digital asset trading that initially became popular with retail investors. Kraken said last month that it is launching tokens of U.S. equities, called xStocks, in select markets outside the United States. CONTEXT Krak users will have a dedicated spend account and will be able to instantly send and request payments across 300 different assets, including crypto and local currencies, the company said in a press release. Crypto transfers will be made using blockchain technology, while Kraken will make cash transfers internally without using external banking infrastructure. KEY QUOTE "We're able to move money across borders right off the bat, because that's what we do from a trading perspective in our venues, and we've actually already spent over 10 years building out that system for money transmitter licenses... in all the jurisdictions," said Arjun Sethi, co-CEO of Kraken, in an interview with Reuters. "You have to do that as an exchange anyways, and so what we realized is that our customers just wanted to do more with their money." Kraken plans to launch a series of products through Krak in the future, including physical and virtual cards as well as pay-in-advance services like loans, the company said.
Forbes
31-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Bitcoin Is Quietly Entering The Healthcare Sector
Bitcoin has made inroads into finance, energy, and even politics. Now, a growing number of healthcare companies are embracing it. Not only as a hedge or a balance sheet asset, but also as a guiding philosophy and potential infrastructure layer. The move may seem unlikely, given healthcare's deeply regulated and bureaucratic nature. But that's precisely the point. For companies like CrowdHealth and Semler Scientific, Bitcoin's appeal isn't speculative. It's structural. In a sector inundated with reverse incentives, opaque pricing, and costly middlemen, Bitcoin offers transparency. The U.S. healthcare system is worth roughly $5 trillion, averaging over $17,000 per person. Even with the high costs associated with health insurance, claims are often denied. Andy Schoonover, founder and CEO of CrowdHealth, experienced this firsthand. His insurer refused to pay an $8,000 bill for his daughter's ear tube surgery, despite doctors deeming it medically necessary. Soon after, he dropped his insurance and began building a cash-pay model that eventually became CrowdHealth. A peer-to-peer platform where members fund one another's healthcare needs. In this process, he found a natural audience among bitcoiners. Schoonover, who told Forbes in an interview he holds roughly 80% of his liquid assets in Bitcoin, says the overlap wasn't accidental. 'Bitcoiners understand incentives,' he said. Schoonover believes that as patients dig deeper into the healthcare system, it becomes clear that hospitals, health networks, and government policies often work against patients' best interests. A pattern quickly recognized by bitcoiners. CrowdHealth allows members to pay a monthly fee, directly contributing to each other's care. In return, they avoid premiums and networks. Schoonover said their model has grown to over 10,000 members. CrowdHealth is leaning further into Bitcoin by letting users invest unused healthcare funds into bitcoin. The long-term vision, according to Schoonover, is Bitcoin circularity in healthcare. 'If we can build bitcoin circularity within healthcare we believe that will go a long way in normalizing bitcoin as a medium of exchange,' Schoonover said. Unlike insurance, CrowdHealth doesn't guarantee payment. However, Schoonover claims that the community fully funds over 99% of eligible bills. While CrowdHealth integrates Bitcoin at the user level, Semler Scientific takes a top-down approach. The publicly traded medtech company adopted Bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset in 2024, becoming one of the first healthcare companies to do so. For Semler chairman Eric Semler, Bitcoin represents resilience, scarcity, and alignment, traits sorely lacking in the healthcare system. 'Bitcoin is monetary freedom,' Semler told Forbes. 'We're freeing people medically through early detection, and Bitcoin helps us stay strong financially.' The company's core product, QuantaFlo, is an FDA-cleared diagnostic tool for vascular disease. It enables early detection of cardiovascular issues, allowing for timely and potentially life-saving interventions. Semler emphasized the importance of early detection and noted that healthcare could benefit from adopting principles found in Bitcoin's design, such as decentralization, transparency, and reducing reliance on middlemen. In an interview with Forbes, Eric Semler of Semler Scientific explained that their Bitcoin strategy isn't just about protecting cash in an inflationary environment. It's about owning the digital future. The company is exploring ways to mine Bitcoin creatively and integrate value into its shareholder model. 'We're in acceleration mode,' Semler said. 'We're not just buying Bitcoin, we're adding value to our value.' In 2023, Semler became active in the company his father had founded. He joined the board to improve capital allocation and saw Bitcoin as the obvious next step, following Michael Saylor's Strategy concept. 'It was a last resort in the best way.' Bitcoin offered a neutral reserve asset with no counterparty exposure or political entanglements, making it a good fit. Despite its early-mover status, Semler Scientific remains a rarity. Semler said that few medtech or biotech peers have followed suit. One exception is KindlyMD, a company that shares philosophical alignment but little market overlap. Still, he believes healthcare is well-positioned to lead a treasury shift. Healthcare companies generate steady cash flow, operate under strict regulations, and require long-term resilience, which according to Semler, makes Bitcoin a natural fit. That shift may be slow, but for now, Semler is content leading the charge. The future of Bitcoin in healthcare, according to companies like CrowdHealth and Semler Scientific, is not about layering crypto onto a broken system. It is about rebuilding that system from the ground up using first principles. They see Bitcoin with the potential to help make healthcare more affordable, build trust by putting patients in control, protect savings from inflation, and support better systems for sharing medical information. Schoonover envisions a future where bitcoiners fund one another's procedures and doctors accept bitcoin directly, cutting out insurers entirely. Semler imagines a more robust, future-proof treasury model that gives healthcare companies stronger balance sheets and global leverage. Bitcoin won't eliminate the need for regulation, nor will it immediately replace legacy players. But it does offer some interesting options. The examples of CrowdHealth and Semler Scientific suggest that some healthcare companies are exploring Bitcoin not for its popularity, but as a response to challenges in the current system.
