LinkedIn likes Blockchain, it likes them a lot

LinkedIn has included Bitcoin wallet startup Blockchain (formerly Blockchain.info) in its 25 most sought after startups in the UK listicle.

The venture nabbed the number nine spot, with LinkedIn noting that it had raised £70 million from investors, including Google and Richard Branson in 2017 as Bitcoin prices skyrocketed and new cryptocurrencies were taking off.

“The firm hosts 26 million wallets, where users can keep an ever-increasing number of cryptocurrencies and use them to trade or pay for goods,” it states, adding that, “as well as benefits such as free food and flexible working, employees at Blockchain are paid a bonus in cryptocurrency.”

Legal tussle

Last week, Coin Rivet reported that Blockchain had filed a complaint in a US federal court against rival venture Blockchain.io. We approached the latter for comment but received no response. However, once our story went live, Blockchain.io leapt in to action and asked to put its side of the story.

“Paymium, which has been successfully operating a BTC/EUR exchange since 2013 and serving 170,000 customers, is currently closing its private ICO to accelerate the roll-out of Blockchain.io. The public sale for this complementary cryptocurrency exchange service will start on 27th September. The domain name Blockchain.io was registered by Paymium way back in April 2012 and the Blockchain.io project launch was publicly advertised in the press months ago,” it said in a statement.

It’s just not crypto cricket

It added: “Three days before the beginning of the sale, and a few weeks away from the official release of our platform, it thus comes as no surprise that we are challenged by potential competitors. We condemn this approach, which surely doesn’t comply with crypto-community values. Moreover, Blockchain.io disputes the accusation of making false and misleading statements. What is at stake is, at first, the protection of our name, our reputation, and our loyal investors and customers.”

“For these reasons, our lawyers will answer point by point the claims that have been made. As for our ICO, we already provided early investors with the alpha version of our platform that is ready to be launched right after the public sale in November. The name blockchain.io is the legal property of Paymium and the public sale will start as planned on 27th September,” it concluded.

We’ve contacted Blockchain for comment. And so the dance continues…