One of the largest crypto exchanges in the United States- Kraken, has officially bought the United Kingdom’s based crypto futures provider and exchange Crypto Facilities according to the company’s press release that we are covering in today’s crypto news. Crypto Facilities was founded in 2015 and is fully regulated which gives Kraken a huge step ahead in the European market. Both of the sides decided not to discuss the price of the purchase but they did say that it was a nine-figure deal. Kraken CEO Jesse Powell said:

 “We are excited to introduce eligible clients to these industry leading futures and index products. Over the coming months, our teams will continue to enhance and expand these offerings.”

The decision comes after crypto exchanges are trying to expand abroad and expand their reach to users and at the same time circumventing the restrictions by the regulatory climate in the United States versus other markets. For example, crypto exchange Bittrex also decided to launch an international branch of its trading platform that will divide the US users so it can be able to offer more tokens to all of the non-US users. This is why both of the companies (Kraken and Crypto Facilities) agreed on the partnership and focus on going forward. According to the press release:

 “Crypto Facilities will remain London-based, benefiting from the regulatory oversight of the Financial Conduct Authority, one of the world’s most forward looking and innovation-focused regulators, and reflecting Kraken’s commitment to the UK as the leading financial and cryptocurrency hub in Europe.’’

Business owners in Amsterdam express their worries in today’s crypto news about criminals who are threatening to harm their businesses unless they pay them insanely high amounts of bitcoin. According to local NLTimes, multiple businesses received emails where the criminals demand more than 50,000 euros worth of bitcoin. If the business owners fail to pay the extorted sum, the criminals threaten that they will plant hand grenades where the business are or as a second option, the business will be shot upon. As a precaution, businesses are required to shut down in Amsterdam for an indefinite period of time in case explosive devices are found or a shooting takes place. A piece of the email threat reads:

 “You probably noticed how many entrepreneurs have had to close their doors recently by order of the municipality. To prevent you from being the next one, you must immediately take action.’’

In order to pay the extortion fee, the business owners are instructed to open a new account on two crypto exchanges and them being Coinbase and Coinmama. Next up they have to buy bitcoins on either one of the exchanges and then transfer them to a required address. At least three coffee shops have already received a threat like this in Amsterdam and also a few nightclubs. The criminals even said that the extortion fee will be doubled if the owners don’t make the payment in five days. The email recipients must keep the threat confidential and they are warned for informing the police or any other law enforcement body. If they don’t maintain the confidentiality, the extortion fee will reach a stunning 200,000 euros. However, there is no single business registered to have paid the said amount.

We have been covering the economic crisis in Venezuela on many occasions on our DC Forecasts crypto news site - and the hyperinflation that has been staggering for many residents of the country. The good news, however, is that Venezuelans have found a way out of the crisis - in Bitcoin. According to Coin Dance, more than 300 million Bolivars (Venezuela's fiat currency) have been traded last week only - and the record could only be broken this week, knowing that more than 292 million Bolivars have already been traded.