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Beijing releases Web3 white paper, highlights challenges in talent, rules
Beijing’s local government on Saturday released a white paper outlining plans and challenges for development of the city’s Web 3.0 industry.
Bitcoin back above US$28,000 as cryptos rebound on positive debt ceiling talks
Bitcoin moved back above US$28,000 on Monday morning in Asia, leading a rally among all top 10 non-stablecoin tokens. Ether reclaimed the US$1,900 level.
Bitcoin and Ethereum: Two titans battle for NFT supremacy
Unpacking the NFT disparity at Veecon & BTC Miami 2023: established ETH vs emerging BTC. CryptoSlam seeks to bridge the gap.
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.
Most top 10 cryptos up, despite looming fears of US default
Bitcoin and Ether rose during afternoon trading in Asia on Friday, along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding the Solana and Tron tokens.
Warren Buffet-backed Nubank, Visa, Mastercard to join Brazil’s CBDC pilot
Banco Central do Brasil, the central bank of Brazil, has selected 14 institutions to participate in the pilot run of the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) named Real Digital.
China: Zhengzhou City proposes metaverse plan
China’s Zhengzhou city issued a set of policy proposals Wednesday to support metaverse companies, including a 10 billion yuan (US$1.42 billion) metaverse fund.
Binance launches NFT loan service to rival Blend
Binance Marketplace, Binance’s NFT trading platform, is launching a new service Friday where users can loan Ether by using NFTs as collateral.
South Korea: Former Coinone executive pleads guilty to bribery
A former executive at Coinone pleaded guilty on Thursday to accepting bribes in exchange for listing certain cryptocurrencies on the platform.
Nvidia chip boom a boost for AI-related cryptos
The stock price boost for tech giant Nvidia on the back of an AI chip boom has sent AI-related cryptocurrencies on a surge.
Why GameFi is the future of the new player economy
Opinions about Web3 gaming remain divided, but it’s undeniable that NFTs and GameFi offer players big opportunities, writes Ramona Ciocea of Protokol.
AI-themed cryptos rise; NFT lenders duke it out; US debt talks continue
Surge of interest in AI chipmaker Nvidia extends to crypto, Binance and Blur vie for top NFT lender spot, while uncertainty abounds over U.S. debt talks.
In battle to be Asia’s crypto hub, which city will emerge victorious?
Top blockchain and crypto news: Asia’s crypto hub race. Is US debt ceiling fight a boon or a bane for crypto? China’s red carpet for metaverse investment.
Hong Kong is world’s most crypto-ready jurisdiction, new study claims
Hong Kong is the most crypto-ready jurisdiction in the world, based on the number of blockchain startups per 100,000 people and the number of crypto ATMs proportional to the population, according to a new study by forex education platform Forex Suggest.
Top 10 cryptos decline, except Matic, as debt ceiling negotiations erode risk appetite
Bitcoin and Ether fell during afternoon trading in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding Polygon’s Matic token. Most Asian equities declined while most U.S. stock futures strengthened, despite Fitch Ratings placing America’s AAA rating on a negative watch, citing rising concerns that the government could default on its […]
South Korea will require all public officials to disclose crypto holdings from 2024
South Korean lawmakers unanimously approved a new bill requiring public officials to disclose their crypto holdings to be implemented in December.
Hong Kong’s new crypto rules covered by China state TV in rare move from Beijing
Analysts say the move could signal a bull run in cryptocurrencies.
Terraform CEO Do Kwon’s bail revoked in Montenegro
The high court of Montenegro’s capital city Podgorica has revoked its decision to grant bail to Terraform Labs chief executive officer Do Kwon.
Bitcoin drops near US$26,000 amid U.S. debt uncertainties
All top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies fell, as investors assess macro sentiment.
Japan to implement anti-money laundering rules for crypto: report
Japan will introduce strict anti-money laundering rules on cryptocurrency transactions from June 1, the Southeast Asian nation’s cabinet decided on Tuesday.
DAO communities – we need to talk about decentralization
Just how decentralized are today’s DAOs? When compared to the world’s largest transnational corporations, not so much, says Pat Rawson, co-founder of Web3 innovation network Curve Labs.
Singapore’s OCBC Bank, ADDX exchange launches tokenized structure notes
OCBC Bank will offer tokenized equity-linked structured notes to accredited investors, in a partnership with private market exchange ADDX.
Bitcoin drops below US$27,000, Dogecoin biggest loser
Bitcoin dropped 2.33% to US$26,671. Ether lost 2.15% but traded above US$1,800.
China’s Nanjing city launches state-backed metaverse entity
China’s Nanjing City launched a state-backed organization on Monday to promote and enhance metaverse studies throughout the nation.
Only 4% of South Koreans use metaverses, survey reveals
Only 4.2% of South Korean citizens have said that they regularly use metaverse services, a recent survey results show.
Crypto’s aversion to anti-money laundering standards is only hurting itself
For crypto to grow for the long term, the industry must show greater respect for global standards that combat crime, writes Slava Demchuk of AMLBot.
Bitcoin, Ether rise; Dogecoin falls despite record high transaction volume
Top 10 non-stablecoin cryptos traded mixed, while investors continue to assess U.S. debt talks.
VeeCon: Rekindling the NFT Community’s Fire
VeeCon 2023 NFT conference inspires and strengthens the market with community focus and innovation. Gary Vaynerchuk’s keynote resonates with fans worldwide.
Hong Kong? Singapore? Tokyo? Seoul? Dubai? The race is on for the Web3 hub of Asia | Part 2
While U.S. regulators continue debating over whether cryptocurrencies are securities or commodities, the digital assets industry is being pleasantly welcomed by several Asian cities. And the competition is really hotting up now.
Bitget crypto exchange registers in Poland
Seychelles-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange Bitget announced on Tuesday that it successfully registered as a virtual asset service provider in Poland.
Binance allegedly commingled customer funds: Reuters
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has been accused of blending client funds with its own corporate revenue in violation of U.S. financial regulations, according to three unnamed sources cited by Reuters.
Hong Kong to open crypto to retail traders, plans guardrails
Hong Kong will allow licensed cryptocurrency trading platforms to offer services to retail investors and will implement a slew of measures to protect individual traders, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said on Tuesday.
Governments could access Ledger wallet private keys, says CEO
Cryptocurrency wallet Ledger’s new update allows governments to access users’ seed phrases via subpoena, said Pascal Gauthier, the chief executive officer of Ledger.
All top 10 cryptos rise; Hotbit crypto exchange shuts down; U.S. stock futures drop
Bitcoin gained 1.71% and Ether climbed 2.35%. Polygon gained the most in 24 hours followed by Tron.
Philippines regulator warns against Gemini Derivatives for unregistered securities
The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission warned the public last week not to use crypto exchange Gemini’s derivatives platform.
How many of today’s AI darlings will end up in the dot-com and crypto sewage?
For every PayPal or Google, countless other startups from the bubble days of yore took investor money down the toilet, writes Naveen Agnihotri. What makes this AI boom any different?
Bitcoin, Ether, top 10 cryptos rise; US futures climb
The top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ether, were up across the board as U.S. Fed rate talks and debt negotiation outcomes remain unpredictable.
Hong Kong? Singapore? Tokyo? Seoul? Dubai? The race is on for the Web3 hub of Asia | Part 1
As U.S. regulators file lawsuits against cryptocurrency platforms, prompting some digital asset companies to seek more favorable jurisdictions, a fleet of cities in Asia are putting out the welcome mat, seeking to attract the jobs and investment that Web3 technologies promise. Right now, Hong Kong seems to be grabbing the limelight, but it has competition.
Malaysian regulator orders Huobi crypto exchange to cease local operations
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), the capital markets regulator, has charged cryptocurrency exchange Huobi Global and its chief executive officer Leon Li for operating a digital asset exchange (DAX) without registration.
Bitcoin, top 10 cryptos fall except Tron; U.S. futures slightly up; Asian equities rise
Bitcoin traded below US$27,000 in Monday afternoon trade in Asia.
Are deposit tokens the new stablecoins — or a wolf in sheep’s clothing?
Stablecoins are a key part of the crypto ecosystem, but banks like JPMorgan are now exploring deposit tokens as an alternative. Which is better, and why?
S.Korean lawmakers propose public officials disclose crypto holdings
A South Korean ruling party lawmaker proposed all public officials and candidates disclose their crypto holdings in a new bill unveiled last Friday.
Circle: US regulation can help create the ‘most stable stablecoin’
Circle Vice President of Global Policy Corey Then says he is optimistic that U.S. regulatory developments can eventually benefit local players despite ongoing scrutiny.
Bitcoin, Ether fall; Tron trades higher; Investors digest G7, U.S. debt ceiling implications
Bitcoin fell below US$27,000 on Sunday, dipping further Monday morning in Asia as wider macro developments continue to weigh.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin trades below US$27,000 amid U.S. debt ceiling negotiations
Bitcoin traded below the US$27,000 mark for most of the week, as investor sentiment was weighed down by the prospect of the U.S. government’s potential default. Investors will be closely monitoring the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations.
XRP lone gainer among top 10 cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin and Ether fell during afternoon trading in Asia, along all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding XRP.
Ripple joins Hong Kong CBDC pilot, partners with Fubon Bank
Ripple Labs has launched a new payment platform for a central bank digital currency in Hong Kong.
XRP gains; Lift-off for Space Pepe NFTs; US investor sentiment up on positive debt talks
Bitcoin and Ether prices fell on Friday morning in Asia. XRP gained after Hong Kong CBDC announcement by issuer Ripple.
How blockchain can shift electric car use into the fast lane
Electric vehicles remain rare in developing countries because of high costs and ‘range anxiety,’ writes George Cox of eTukTuk. Here’s how blockchain technology can remove those barriers.
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.
Hong Kong’s e-HKD pilot puts the world on notice
Rollout of the central bank digital currency in Hong Kong is a potential game-changer and a move that others may soon look to follow.
Binance suspends Australian dollar services
World’s largest cryptocurrency exchange halts Australian dollar services after payment provider cuts off service.
Matic leads crypto rise despite Ledger security concerns
Cryptocurrencies rebounded on Thursday but wallet service provider Ledger’s latest update raised new security concerns.
Philippine telco giant partners BlockchainSpace for Web3 creator platform
Smart Communications, one of the Philippines’ largest telcos, is entering the Web3 space through a partnership with Web3 community enabler in Southeast Asia, BlockchainSpace.
Bitcoin mining difficulty rises to a new all-time high
Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 3.22% on Thursday, hitting an all-time high, as the network’s hashrate also increased to a record high.
Montenegro prosecutors appeal court ruling to allow bail for Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon
Montenegro prosecutors have filed an appeal against a local court decision to approve bail for the detained Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon.
Conflux Network, China Telecom unveil blockchain-based SIM card
Conflux Network and China Telecom on Tuesday unveiled their first blockchain-based SIM card, which will be piloted in Hong Kong.
Bitcoin, Ether mixed; Polygon leads gainers; Equity futures flat as U.S. debt default worries recede
Bitcoin prices rose on Thursday morning in Asia. Ether edged down, while other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization gained.
Bitget crypto exchange doubles down on expansion, to hire 300 more
Bitget is looking to hire 300 more people across operations, compliance, research and development, and customer support, the cryptocurrency exchange said.
Ordinals inscriptions slow down but Bitcoin congestion lingers
Ordinals inscriptions have slowed down this week but Bitcoin continues suffering from congestion issues due to the BRC-20 craze.
Ripple Labs acquires digital asset custody provider Metaco for US$250 mln
San Francisco-based Ripple Labs, a technology and financial services firm built around the XRP cryptocurrency, said it will acquire Metaco, a Swiss-based tokenization and digital asset custody provider, for US$250 million.
UK lawmakers propose cryptocurrency regulation as gambling
In a new report, U.K. lawmakers suggest treating Bitcoin and Ether like gambling due to significant consumer financial risks.
Bitcoin slips below US$27,000, XRP leads gains in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin prices dropped below US$27,000 on Wednesday afternoon in Asia, while XRP gained the most after positive news for Ripple Labs on its lawsuit against U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
China’s top prosecuting body issues warnings, guidance about country’s NFT market
China’s top legal authority issued a commentary on Monday about the risks and potential in NFTs, highlighting the need for legislation.
XRP lawsuit: Judge denies SEC motion to seal documents in win for Ripple
A U.S. federal judge has denied a motion by the SEC to seal internal documents related to a speech given by the SEC’s former director on whether cryptocurrencies are securities.
Web3 needs to engage with local communities. Its future depends on it
Web3’s terrible user experience, scams and lack of diversity could be solved if its leaders take a cue from environmentalists and ‘act locally,’ writes Tim Williamson of NieuxCo.
XRP gains as SEC motion denied; NFT index down; US investors anticipate debt ceiling deal
Bitcoin prices fell on Wednesday morning in Asia but remained above the US$27,000 line. Ether gained but still posted a weekly drop. XRP led gainers among other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin history shows first financial transaction was almost an NFT
Internet sleuths unearth the first financial transaction on Bitcoin, showcasing the potential of NFTs.
Bitcoin, Ether fall, Solana leads declines; U.S. stock futures trade flat; Asian equities mixed
Bitcoin fell 0.58% while Ether dropped 0.36%. Solana was the biggest loser of the day, dropping 1.67%.
EU’s MiCA gets unanimous nod from European Council
European Union finance ministers unanimously approved MiCA, a set of cryptocurrency rules aiming to reshape the digital asset industry across the EU bloc.
SEC in no rush to respond to Coinbase calls for regulatory clarity
As part of the ongoing legal dispute between the two, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it would not be hurried into a response to Coinbase demands.
South Korea raids firms Upbit, Bithumb, Kakao over local lawmaker’s crypto scandal
South Korean prosecutors have raided Upbit, Bithumb and the crypto wallet unit of Kakao, as part of their investigation into lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk.