Video: Roundup of This Week’s Bitcoin News 18th April 2014

Been too busy during this shorter work-week? Before you dive headfirst into the long weekend, check out our biggest news headlines from the last seven days:

Bicoin price tops $500 as China fears subside: It had been rumoured for a couple of weeks that People's Bank of China had issued a deadline for all banks in the country to cut-off bitcoin exchanges. The 15th April deadline came and went and it was business as usual, at least for BTC China. The price of bitcoin rose back up past $500 mid-week following this news.

Gyft no longer offering Walmart gift cards: Mobile card provider Gyft was forced to abruptly end Walmart gift card support. The company sent an email to its users  informing them it was no longer offering Walmart gift cards. Walmart was one of the most requested retailers on the site, having been added only a few weeks ago on 24th March.

Amazon decides against accepting bitcoin: Amazon is another company that is officially not interested in accepting bitcoin. The company's payments head, Tom Taylor, said Amazon had considered bitcoin, but decided against it. It is possible Amazon may be developing an in-house digital payment service.

Marijuana vending machine accepts bitcoin: Billed as the first of its kind in America, ZaZZZ is a marijuana vending machine that will not be placed behind any sales counters. It was unveiled in Colorado last week and accepts cash, credit or bitcoin.

Wishing all the readers a happy bank holiday (or long weekend as we call it in North America)!