eBay files for two cryptocurrency-related patents

     Multinational e-commerce giant eBay has filed two patent applications related to cryptocurrency technology.

     The news was announced last week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and both applications were filed on April 18 last year.

     According to the content of the document, the patents eBay wants to apply for are "Decentralized cryptocurrency unauthorized transfer monitoring system" and "Decentralized cryptocurrency reputation system".

     The release of Ebay’s filing comes after the USPTO published Coinbase’s applications for nine bitcoin-related products and 21 Inc’s application for a patent for a digital currency mining circuit.

     eBay’s potential involvement in cryptocurrency has been hotly discussed in recent years, as CEO John Donahoe has hinted on a number of occasions at Bitcoin integration for PayPal (eBay’s former subsidiary).

     CoinDesk sought comment from eBay but has not yet received a response.