Leading crypto exchange Binance announced the launch of Binance Lite Australia, which allows Aussies to buy bitcoin with cash.
The offering is Binance’s first fiat gateway on the blockchain continent, providing a cash-to-bitcoin brokerage service via a network of more than 1,300 supported newsagents across Australia. There are plans to support more digital currencies and fiat purchasing options in the future.
“Binance Lite Australia further expands digital currency adoption by providing easier ways to buy bitcoin. We are excited to continue to roll out more fiat to crypto gateways around the world to support the growth of our industry,” Wei Zhou, Binance CFO, said in a press release. “We firmly believe that more adoption will lead to more innovation and more economic opportunities.”
In other news, CoinMarketCap announced it is launching two cryptocurrency benchmark indices on Nasdaq Global Index Data Service, Bloomberg Terminal, Thomson Reuters Eikon and Börse Stuttgart.
The two indices are calculated and administered by German index provider Solactive, and will cover the top 200 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, one including bitcoin and one without it. The index that doesn’t include bitcoin will be called CMC Crypto 200 ex BTC Index, while the one including the crypto is called CMC Crypto 200 Index (CMC200).
“We are excited to launch and share these indices with the market,” Brandon Chez, CEO of CoinMarketCap, said in a press release. “These indices will promote greater accessibility to cryptocurrency data in an easier-to-digest format. In partnership with Solactive, our chosen index administrator, we hope these professionally-calculated indices will serve to expand the reach of cryptocurrencies into the larger financial markets.”
And bitcoin is struggling to stay above $4,000, with the crypto’s market value stuck in the price range of 3,920-$4,020 for the fourth consecutive day.
According to CoinDesk, bitcoin had created a bullish outside-reversal or “engulfing” candle in the three days to March 16, but a price break above $4,040 is needed to validate the indicator. At press time, bitcoin is at $3,986 on Bitstamp, a 0.3 percent gain on a 24-hour basis.