Tether Launches on TON Blockchain with USDT, XAUT
Stablecoin issuer Tether has expanded to The Open Network with its USDT and gold-backed XAUT tokens, aiming to enhance liquidity.
Tether’s USDT becomes the first stablecoin to US$100 bln
Tether’s USDT stablecoin reaches a market capitalization milestone.
USDT issuer Tether pockets US$2.85 bln in profits in Q4 2023
Tether reports a record US$2.85 billion profit last quarter as its USDT soars towards US$100 billion market cap
USDT rises as money laundering tool in SEA, UN says
A UN report reveals USDT’s growing role in money laundering and underground banking in Southeast Asia
Tether stops USDT stablecoin mints on three blockchains
Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, announced on Thursday that it will discontinue support for its flagship stablecoin, on three blockchains, Kusama, Bitcoin Cash SLP (Simple Ledger Protocol) and Omni Layer.
Tether says USDT excess reserves reached US$3.3 billion in Q2
Tether Holdings Limited, the issuer of stablecoin USDT, released its consolidated reserves report for the second quarter of 2023 on Monday, showing consolidated assets of at least US$86.5 billion against total liabilities of US$83.2 billion. Tether reported an increase of approximately US$850 million in its excess reserves, totaling around US$3.3 billion as of June 30, the close of the quarter.
Chinese police uncover $54 million USDT money laundering scheme
Police in China’s Shanxi Province made 21 arrests in relation to an alleged USDT money laundering scheme amounting to over US$54 million.
USDT’s goal is to be the dollar, not beat it, says Tether CTO
Scrutiny on the stablecoin’s reserves has intensified since USDT’s latest depegging scare. Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Tether and Bitfinex, delves into the composition of USDT reserves, explaining how the firm ensures dollar redemptions, irrespective of secondary market prices.
Tether to release monthly USDT reserves report with new auditor BDO Italia
Tether Holdings Limited, the issuer of USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin by market capitalization, has roped in accounting firm BDO Italia for its regular reports of USDT reserves. See related article: Tether says USDT reserves have no Chinese commercial paper Fast facts Tether said in a statement shared with Forkast that it began working with […]
KuCoin ETFs to allow NFT purchase with USDT instead of ETH
The new product will help over 20 million KuCoin users to access blue chip non-fungible tokens (NFTs) through direct purchases with USDT, instead of ETH, the cryptocurrency exchange said. See related article: KuCoin dismisses rumors, eyes India for growth: report Fast facts KuCoin is partnering with Fracton Protocol and will initially list five NFT exchange-traded […]
Tether says USDT reserves have no Chinese commercial paper
Tether, the issuer of USDT, the world’s most traded stablecoin, said it doesn’t hold Chinese commercial paper in its reserves and it plans to reduce its commercial paper holdings overall. See related article: Tether slashes commercial paper, shows more reserves than liabilities Fast facts In a statement published on Wednesday, Tether said it “holds no […]
Tether USDT shaken by stablecoin market storm
Top blockchain and crypto news: Billions cut ties with Tether. Are Terra’s UST troubles just beginning? China’s miners stay one step ahead.
Tether, USDT market cap has dropped by US$10B since UST collapse
Tether, the operator of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has seen US$10 billion of its market capitalization shaved off since TerraUSD’s (UST) collapse. See related article: Nearly half of Tether reserves are now in US Treasury bills Fast facts USDT’s market capitalization was at US$73.35 billion at the time of publishing, following an all-time high […]
USDT-RUB volume outpaces Bitcoin pair as Russia sanctions pile
The trading volume of the USDT-RUB pair spiked to a 10-month high and outpaced the ruble’s Bitcoin pair as international sanctions against Russia shake local financial stability. See related article: US asks crypto exchanges to comply with Russian sanctions: report Fast facts The daily trading volume of the BTC-RUB pair surged to over 3 billion […]
Tether unveils reserves and backing for its USDT stablecoin in new report
To assuage critics and to abide by a legal settlement, Tether Holdings Limited, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has released a report by an independent accountant, which found that Tether’s tokens are 100% backed by its reserves. Fast facts In its review of Tether’s latest Consolidated Reserves Report, Cayman Island-based accounting firm […]
Bybit contributes $19M to BitDAO in ETH, USDT and USDC to support DeFi growth
Singapore-based crypto derivatives exchange Bybit today announced it had made a US$19.3 million contribution in Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) to BitDAO, one of the world’s largest decentralized autonomous organizations, which it helped launch last month. Fast facts Many crypto projects, especially those in decentralized finance, have organized themselves as DAOs for […]
What’s really behind the Bitcoin market crash? Tether USDT lifts veil on reserves. Facebook-backed Diem going to California.
Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: BlockFi’s accidental BTC millionaires. China’s Inner Mongolia asks citizens to report illegal crypto mining.
Tesla earnings soar from Bitcoin. PancakeSwap eclipses Ethereum. Coinbase delays Tether USDT listing.
Other top blockchain and crypto news: China’s internet giants JD.com and Ant Group reveal extent of digital yuan support. Turkey rethinks crypto ban.
As Coinbase Pro adds USDT, Tether execs balk at continued scrutiny
Tether’s battle with New York may be resolved for now, but legal obligations have company on the defensive. Is Tether’s USDT regulated or just registered?
Tether nets US$4.52 bln Q1 profit from investments
Stablecoin leader Tether’s Q1 earnings soar to $4.52 billion, buoyed by US Treasury and Bitcoin.
Stripe reopens crypto payments with USDC focus
Stripe reenters the crypto market, enabling stablecoin transactions for merchants.
Tether expands into new sectors amid regulatory watch
Tether diversifies into data, finance, power, and education sectors, aiming for innovation and empowerment.
Tether becomes seventh largest Bitcoin holder
Stablecoin leader Tether acquires 8,889 units of Bitcoin.
Morph EVM firm secures US$20 mln in funding
Singapore-based Morph EVM raises US$20 million to enhance layer 2 blockchain technology.
South Korean crypto criminals to face life sentence
Crypto criminals with more than US$3.76 billion in profits may face life in South Korea.
Tether, Solana’s Yakovenko back Oobit with US$25 mln funding
Industry giants Tether and Yakovenko invest in Oobit’s $25M funding round.
US, UK, Australia target Hamas-linked crypto networks
Allied nations impose sanctions on entities allegedly aiding Hamas’ crypto transactions.
Circle reportedly considering 2024 IPO: Bloomberg
Circle has previously tried to go public through a blank-check deal back in 2022.
Moody’s unveils AI that predicts stablecoin depegging
The artificial intelligence service is designed to predict the depegging of stablecoins in 24-hours.
Tether offers US$610 mln debt financing facility to German Bitcoin miner Northern Data
Tether extends US$610 million loan to boost Northern Data’s AI and Bitcoin mining operations.
Circle to cease USDC minting for retail customers
Circle said the account closures do not apply to businesses or institutional Circle Mint accounts.
Is TradFi’s entry into DeFi a turning point or a sign of greater battles ahead?
The pillars of Wall Street are muscling their way into crypto and decentralized finance. Who stands to benefit the most?
Tether freezes 32 addresses related to terrorism in Israel and Ukraine
Tether says it froze US$873,000 in USDT linked to terror activities in Israel and Ukraine. CEO Ardoino stresses crypto’s traceability.
Binance: One year on from FTX’s downfall
Inside the world’s largest crypto exchange’s annus horribilis.
Tether appoints Paolo Ardoino as new CEO
Ardoino takes Tether’s helm after serving as the USDT stablecoin issuer’s chief technical officer since 2017.
Israel-Palestine crisis: Navigating the intersection of conflict, aid and blockchain
Top blockchain and crypto news: Gaza tensions, digital tremors, NFTs are not dancing in September, Joe Lubin talks traditional system’s twilight.
Israel crypto firms launch emergency crypto fund
Crypto Aid Israel, a fund aiding war-impacted citizens, uses a multi-signature wallet for Bitcoin, Ether, and stablecoins donations.
Bitcoin, Ether and other top-10 cryptos down amid Wall Street sell-off
Bitcoin dropped on Friday morning in Asia to trade below the US$27,000 support level. Ether also retreated and lost control of the US$1,600 mark.
FTX gets green light to sell US$3.4 billion in crypto assets
A U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware approved failed crypto exchange FTX’s motion to sell its crypto assets at a court hearing on Wednesday.
Bitcoin flat below US$26,000 as rate hike woes cool down
Bitcoin edged up on Monday morning in Asia but remained below US$26,000. Ether also stayed range-bound at around US$1,650.
Hong Kong grants SEBA Bank in-principle approval for crypto trading
The Hong Kong branch of SEBA Bank has received an in-principle approval from regulators to provide virtual asset trading services in the jurisdiction.
Coinbase buys equity stake in Circle
Coinbase Global announced Monday that it is acquiring an equity stake in Circle Internet Financial, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin.
Will Singapore steady the stablecoin ship?
Top blockchain and crypto news: Singapore steps up stablecoin rules. DeGods decline. Hong Kong’s third crypto license.
To read Hong Kong’s future as a crypto hub, look closely at its colorful paper money: Opinion
Most countries allow only government to mint currency, but in the land of public-private partnerships, legal tender HKD notes are issued by private banks.
Weekly Market Wrap: Can Bitcoin close the week above US$29,300?
Bitcoin briefly rose above US$30,000 twice this week, but failed to remain the support level despite positive catalysts in the industry like the launch of PayPal’s new stablecoin. Bitcoin will have to close the week above US$29,300 for upward momentum, industry experts told Forkast.
Huobi seeks update of crypto holdings across data platforms, amid market talk of insolvency woes
Huobi has contacted multiple data platforms to update its cryptocurrency holdings, following market talk that the it might face an insolvency issue.
Is PayPal’s new stablecoin a watershed moment for crypto?
PayPal launches stablecoin. Traditional gamers take on NFTs. Tough times ahead for Huobi.
Huobi sees US$105 million outflow amid insolvency rumors
Rumors of arrest and insolvency plague the Huobi cryptocurrency exchange, which enjoys close ties to the Tron founder Justin Sun. How will Huobi respond?
Blockchain is fast, direct and all too cryptic — can it reshape international aid?
As explored in the first installment of this two-part series, crypto funding is being used to provide small but important items to troops on the frontline. But beyond the battlelines, how can crypto help get aid to civilians in times of crisis?
First aid kits, boots and batteries — how small but significant crypto funds are used in global conflicts
As war rages in eastern Europe, this first installment in a two-part series looks at the growing use of crypto funding in global conflicts, focusing on the small but significant provision of supplies to pro-Russian mercenary groups in Ukraine.
Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; most other top 10 cryptos fall
Bitcoin fell in Tuesday afternoon trading in Asia, dipping below the support level of US$29,000.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin falls below US$30,000 as institutional interest in ETFs fails to lift markets
Bitcoin fell under US$30,000, despite the SEC accepting eight spot Bitcoin ETF applications for review this week. A weekly close under that psychological level could lead to more panic selling, industry experts told Forkast.
National Australia Bank to block some crypto exchanges
NAB, one of Australia’s “big four” banks, announced it is taking action to block some payments to “high-risk” cryptocurrency exchanges, as part of its new measures aimed at protecting customers from scams.
S. Korea’s Shinhan Bank, SCB TechX, complete second stablecoin trial on Hedera
Shinhan Bank, the second largest bank in South Korea, and SCB TechX, the technology unit of Siam Commercial Bank, the oldest bank in Thailand, announced on Tuesday that they completed a second stablecoin transaction trial on the Hedera, a public distributed ledger network.
Stablecoins can make banking safe again: Opinion
Stablecoins play a pivotal role as a safe-haven medium of exchange in times of high inflation, writes James Glasscock. But they’re not without risks.
The bane of crypto today is quantity over quality: Opinion
The market now has 26,000 different cryptocurrencies and the total number of coins in circulation approaches infinity. How do those tokenomics make any sense?
Bitcoin dips under US$27,000, Ether falls, Litecoin leads winners, U.S. equities bounce back
Bitcoin fell Friday morning in Asia to trade below US$27,000. Ether and most other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded flat to lower. Litecoin gained.
Hong Kong to be digital asset rules sandbox for China, says former city regulator
Virtual assets will receive the same regulatory clarity in Hong Kong as their real-world counterparts, says former Hong Kong SFC regulator Angelina Kwan.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin weighed down by debt ceiling uncertainty
Bitcoin traded above US$26,000 as the uncertainty around the U.S. debt ceiling negotiations caused global concerns over a potential governmental default. Crypto markets will stay muted until a deal is reached, Industry experts told Forkast.
Is Tether unmoored — or just dandy?
Top blockchain and crypto news: Fighting words over USDT erupt on Twitter. Litecoin surges amid memecoin fever. Chinese city bids for blockchain business.
Bitget crypto exchange still hiring, eyes Hong Kong license, to rebrand BitKeep wallet
Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitget expects more clarity on Hong Kong’s licensing regime from June as the city pushes ahead with plans to attract blockchain and cryptocurrency entrepreneurs.
Declaring proof of reserves is important, but it’s not enough
‘Proof of reserve’ is the new catchphrase and promise by crypto leaders eager to allay investor fears. But loopholes remain and audits might not mean what you think, writes Anndy Lian.
Hacker exploits old Yearn Finance contract, steals $11.6 mln in stablecoins
A hacker took advantage of an old contract from Yearn Finance on Thursday to steal US$11.6 million in stablecoins.
S. Korean exchange GDAC hacked, loses around 23% of its assets
South Korean exchange GDAC has suspended withdrawals and deposits after losing over US$13.1 million in Bitcoin, Ether, Wemix and USDT in a hack.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin stuck at US$28,000 amid signs of slowing economies
Bitcoin bounced around the US$28,000 mark as worries about bank failures were replaced by concerns about a recession in the U.S. Just for good measure, the IMF forecast the global economy will see its slowest growth in two decades.
Crypto needs to look abroad as US exchanges go unbanked
The fall of Silvergate, SVB and Signature has left crypto firms scrambling for new banks. Will crypto banking head offshore for the long term?
Who should be held responsible for the Silvergate Bank and SVB crises?
As bank after bank topples, fingers are pointing everywhere. But crypto is not to be blamed for this unfolding crisis, writes Winston Hsiao of XREX.
Japanese banks to launch, test stablecoins on ‘Japan Open Chain’
Three major banks in Japan will issue stablecoins on an Ethereum-compatible blockchain created by the blockchain-related tools developer G.U. Technologies.
Industry reacts: US cracks down on crypto, India calls for regulatory collaboration
The cryptocurrency industry this week reacted to the recent moves by U.S. authorities against Kraken and Paxos. Meanwhile, India has been calling for a collaborative approach to crypto regulations.
Paxos ordered to stop minting Binance stablecoin as SEC mulls legal action
Top blockchain and crypto news: Paxos halts BUSD issuance. Kraken faces disclosure charges. Beijing backs new blockchain research center.
Digital Currency Group in spotlight over suspicious fund transfers
Top blockchain and crypto news: DCG under investigation. Lido DAO surges as Ethereum’s Shanghai upgrade looms. Hong Kong burnishes crypto credentials.
Where is the stablecoin market heading in 2023?
FTX’s collapse triggered a stablecoin sell-off, but we will need them to survive the Crypto Winter, writes Vladimir Gorbunov of Choise.com.