Today's blockchain and cryptocurrency news Bitcoin is up 2% at $8,167 XRP is up 1% at 24 cents and Ethereum is up 5% at $173 Top gainers in the last 24 hours: Dent up 23% Metal up 23% Cortex up 21% and Particl up 20% Proposals of a treasure tax on cryptocurrency mining have been put forth by the Association of Banks of Russia. The NBA has rejected Spencer Dinwiddie's proposal to tokenize his multi-million dollar contract. ING’s chief economist predicts central banks will be issuing their own digital currencies in 2 to 3 years.