Johnny Depp is arguably one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood – having played characters from the likeable Willy Wonka to the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow.
The star is now reportedly being targeted to play Matthew Mellon, the late banking heir and cryptocurrency millionaire who died earlier this year, in a potential biopic.
According to an unconfirmed report by Page Six, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor is interested in playing the role although Mellon’s family is reportedly divided over the project.
“There is a screenplay being shopped,” sources exclusively told Page Six.
Mellon, who had faced drug problems since 2009, died of a heart attack on 16 April 2018 allegedly leaving behind more than 500 million dollars in cryptocurrency Ripple (XRP).
Cup A Joe with Litecoin
A director at ‘payments company of tomorrow’ Flexa took to Twitter to show how he used the app to buy a Starbucks coffee with Litecoin.
Scott Mandel is director of community at the New York-based company and a self-confessed “crypto junkie”.
Just used @flexahq to buy Starbucks with @litecoin. This ones for you @SatoshiLite pic.twitter.com/kRr0EogwJJ
— Scott Mandel (@scottmandel) July 23, 2018
Taking crypto seriously?
A UK police force has recently made history by becoming Britain’s first to both seize and convert bitcoin from a criminal.
After going through the proper channels and processes, Surrey Police were able to get their hands on 295 bitcoins after arresting 31-year-old Seregjs Teresko on suspicion of money laundering and drug offences.
They were later converted to almost £1.25 million through an international exchange in what has been hailed as a “UK policing first”.
Matthew Durkin, detective inspector of the Economic Crime Unit, had some strong words for potential offenders: “I hope this sends a clear message to criminals using bitcoin to fund illegal activities; it’s not an anonymous as you think, we are able to trace you and we will prosecute.”
Breaking #Bitcoin Bonanza ??
In a UK policing first, we have seized, converted and retained £1.2m in the #cryptocurrency from a drug dealer who tried hiding illegal assets. Want to know more? ?? https://t.co/fketqTPbiO pic.twitter.com/6KsfE5tFki
— Surrey Police (@SurreyPolice) July 19, 2018
Waste not, want not
An eco-friendly technology company in the UK wants to turn human waste into energy to be used for mining popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Yes, you read that right!
The brainchild of Varun Datta, 4Now has recently raised a $30 million investment from Mirach Capital for its very different approach to crypto mining.
The company has designed a process that uses anaerobic digestion technology to convert regular household waste and feedstock into electricity.
The energy is currently being sold to the National Grid – but will also be going towards cryptocurrency mining.
Pay for your Uber with crypto
First-time cryptocurrency investors will tell you just how exciting it is to buy and own virtual currencies – but remember that they’re still notoriously difficult to spend as most merchants won’t accept them.
The good news is that could soon change thanks to a partnership between a London start-up and Coinbase.com.
The global crypto exchange is rolling out a new feature that will allow customers in Europe to load an electronic gift card with cryptocurrency from their wallet and use them at over 100 retailers including the likes of John Lewis, Tesco, Amazon and ASOS.
Customers will also be able to use their digital gift cards to pay for an Uber.
The scheme will initially be available only in the UK, France, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and Australia, although Coinbase ultimately plans to expand to other countries.