Cryptocurrency round-up: Bitcoin is dead (again) and Microsoft accepts bitcoin in Europe

• Bitcoin price: $224.77 (£149.38, €198.40 via CoinDesk.com)

Bitcoin continued its steady price slide over the weekend, falling to as low as $212 on Sunday before a minor rally brought it back up to around $225.

The only major cryptocurrency to see any significant positive movement was darkcoin. The anonymity-focussed altcoin saw a 15% surge in value of the last 24 hours to take its market cap up towards $10m once again.

The biggest mover across all markets was burst, which experienced a 50% increase in price since yesterday, moving it into the list of the top 30 most valuable cryptocurrencies.

'Bitcoin has died 40 times'

A site tracking reports of bitcoin's death has registered the 40th instance that bitcoin has been pronounced dead by the media.

Bitcoin Obituaries, a site created by bitcoin advocate Jordan Tuwiner, logged a 29 January article in Forbes as the 40th report of bitcoin's death.

The latest reason given for bitcoin's death is the emergence of Apple's mobile payment system Apple Pay.

The New York Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Washington Post and USA Today all feature on the list of reports compiled by Bitcoin Obituaries, which dates back to 2010 when the Underground Economist first reported how bitcoin could never be a currency.

Microsoft accepts bitcoin in Europe?

Microsoft appears to have begun accepting bitcoin payments for its digital products from European customers.

The tech giant first announced that it would allow people to purchase Windows, Windows Phone and Xbox software with the cryptocurrency in December, however it was limited to customers in the US.

Some European customers are now claiming to be able to use bitcoin during the online checkout process.

If true, the news could provide a much-needed boost to bitcoin's price, similar to the price surge that took place when Microsoft integrated bitcoin payments for its US customers.