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secured NFT, two padlocks on each side of the word NFT

Why I’m excited about commercial IP NFTs

NFT IP allows traders to multiply their brands and grow. The Nakamigos collection has leveraged this advantage of the technology.
Mad Lads listing on Solana NFT marketplace Tensor

Mad Lads tops weekly NFT sales in first week since launch

Mad Lads has been the best selling NFT collection in the world since its launch that was delayed last week due to a DDOS attack.
Coinbase advertisements in Time Square

Coinbase says SEC’s legal threats punish transparency, undermine public listing process

Coinbase said the Securities and Exchange Commission seems to be undermining its own role as the monitor of companies registering to sell shares to the public
Gold bitcoin coin falling to water. Bitcoin and water splash.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin flirts with US$30,000, Ether regains US$1,900

Bitcoin rebounded from US$27,000 multiple times this week. Uncertainty over U.S. regulation and geopolitical tensions may continue weighing on the crypto market, industry experts told Forkast.
Golden bitcoins. Cryptocurrency in front of green matrix background.

Bitcoin, Ether rise amid renewed recession fears after weaker-than-expected U.S. GDP

Bitcoin and Ether rose during Asian trading hours on Friday, while the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization closed mixed. The SOL token saw the biggest gain. Asian equity markets strengthened after the Chinese central bank boosted short-term cash injections for the 11th day.
Hong Kong flag and Bitcoin | HKMA urges local banks away from ‘one size fits all’ approach towards digital asset firms | Hong Kong, China, Bank, Regulation & Law, virtual asset service provider (VASP)

HKMA urges local banks to provide services to regulated digital asset firms

Arthur Yuen, Deputy Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, urged local lenders to provide banking services to regulated crypto firms.
Binance head of financial crime compliance Tigran Gambaryan speaking at Consensus 2023 | Binance says it built 700-member compliance team to handle crypto crime, legal enquiries

Binance says it built 700-member compliance team to handle crypto crime, legal enquiries

Binance said it has more than 700 employees in its compliance team, which includes 170 staff working to combat crypto fraud.
Bitcoin on USD | Bitcoin gains after week of bank turbulence, Ether dips, U.S. equity futures lose steam | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, SOL - Solana, Inflation

Bitcoin gains after week of bank turbulence, Ether dips, U.S. equity futures lose steam

Bitcoin rose on Friday morning in Asia amid worries about U.S. banks and a possible recession. Ether edged lower. along with most other top 10 tokens.
US Capitol and crypto coins

What the US stands to lose if it keeps heaping scorn on crypto

The current US approach to regulating crypto flies against its history of supporting tech innovation and undermines its own national interest, writes Hamilton Keats of Krayon Digital.
MATIC crypto skyrockets as Polygon joins Disney accelerator, Polygon brand in an animated workstation layout. Found in the Polygon brand book.

Polygon developers get access to Google Cloud’s node service

Google Cloud has announced that its node hosting service, the Blockchain Node Engine, will be available for developers on the Polygon blockchain. 
Coinbase SEC Pepe memecoin digital yuan

Coinbase sues SEC in bid for clarity on crypto rules

Top blockchain and crypto news: Coinbase in court to force SEC’s hand. PEPE surge lifts memecoin mood. China paves CBDC path with payroll.
Pile of Bitcoin Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin, Ether inch up; equities strengthen after phone call between China’s Xi Jinping, Ukraine’s Zelensky

Bitcoin and Ether rose during Asian trading hours on Thursday, while most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization declined. Cardano’s ADA token saw the biggest gain.
Hong Kong hopes to raise US$102 mln from digital green bonds debut: Bloomberg

Hong Kong’s SFC to release crypto exchange licensing guidelines in May: Bloomberg

Hong Kong’s Web3 industry can look forward to more regulatory clarity, with the city set to release its cryptocurrency exchange licensing framework in May
Coinbase logo

Investment bank H.C. Wainwright says ‘crypto winter over,’ rates Coinbase a ‘buy’

New York-based investment bank H.C. Wainwright has initiated a “buy” rating on publicly traded Coinbase Global Inc., the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., saying the company is poised to benefit from growth in the global digital asset economy as the so-called “crypto winter” of falling prices is over.
Franklin Templeton logo | Investment giant Franklin Templeton connects US$270 million fund to Polygon network | blockchain

Investment giant Franklin Templeton connects US$270 million fund to Polygon network

Franklin Templeton said Wednesday that its OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund is now supported on the Polygon network.
Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg. Image: Getty Images

Meta’s Zuckerberg says he is keeping focus on metaverse development despite losses

Meta Platforms Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said the social media giant is not moving away from its metaverse focus despite reporting repeated losses in the billions of dollars at its division dedicated to developing the virtual reality online world. 
Bitcoins | Bitcoin, Ether rebound after early morning plunge; U.S. equity futures gain on Meta outlook | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Binance, Bank

Bitcoin, Ether rebound after early morning fall; U.S. equity futures gain on Meta outlook

Bitcoin rose above US$29,000 on Thursday morning in Asia, rebounding from an earlier drop. Ether gained. Other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded mixed.
John Linden, CEO of Mythical Games in South Korea | Mythical Games CEO says U.S. regulatory uncertainties accounted for firm’s conservative stance on crypto | regulation web3 gaming

Mythical Games CEO says U.S. regulatory uncertainty accounted for firm’s conservative stance on crypto

The lack of clarity in crypto rules in the U.S. not only affects exchanges but also this U.S.-based blockchain gaming company, John Linden said.
Tensor and Magic Eden's logo

Mad Lads briefly boosts Tensor’s NFT trading volume past Magic Eden

Tensor topped Magic Eden’s sales volume on Wednesday afternoon in Hong Kong, giving it a brief stint as Solana’s top NFT marketplace. 
Christopher Giancarlo speaking

US response to crypto is like ‘deer caught in headlights,’ says ex-CFTC chair

Christopher Giancarlo, the former chair of the CFTC, said the U.S. is resisting cryptocurrency innovation due to its threat to vested interests in the financial system.
Golden bitcoins. Cryptocurrency in front of green matrix background.

Bitcoin, Ether, top 10 cryptos rise; Asian equity markets mixed

Bitcoin and Ether rose on Wednesday trade in Asia, along with all top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies, with Solana and Cardano leading the way.
and
South Korea's National Assembly | South Korea’s cryptocurrency bill gets nod in first phase of review, may pass this year | south korea crypto regulation

South Korea’s cryptocurrency bill gets nod in first phase of review, may pass this year

South Korea’s legislation on how to regulate digital assets passed the first phase of review in the country’s National Assembly on Tuesday.
Binance.US, Voyager Digital

Binance.US cites ‘hostile’ regulator, yanks US$1.3 billion deal to buy Voyager Digital

Binance.US, a cryptocurrency exchange set up by Binance chief Changpeng Zhao to serve U.S. clients, has pulled out of a US$1.3 billion deal to buy bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital, the company said Tuesday, citing a lack of clear regulations in the country for the crypto industry.
Bitcoin | Bitcoin bounces back to US$28,000, Ether gains; U.S. equity futures up on tech earnings | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Binance, Bank

Bitcoin bounces back to US$28,000, Ether gains; U.S. equity futures up on tech earnings

Bitcoin rose in Wednesday morning trading in Asia to reclaim the US$28,000 mark, with Ether and all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies moving higher.
gold bank vault with crypto Bitcoin

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.
NFTs: Bear Market or Burst Bubble?

NFTs: Bear Market or Burst Bubble?

The culture of collecting unique digital assets may be here to stay, but data suggests that NFT prices may continue to fall.
Coins with bitcoin symbol on red light and crypto stocks chart background. Concept of a cryptocurrency market crisis.

Bitcoin, all top 10 cryptos fall; Asian equity markets drop on rising Covid fears

Bitcoin fell in Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. Polygon was the biggest loser followed by Solana.
and
Dan Sung-han, the director of Seoul Southern District’s joint financial crimes team | South Korea indicts Terra co-founder Daniel Shin; Shin denies accusations | south korea, do kwon, terraform labs, terra luna

South Korea indicts Terra co-founder Daniel Shin; Shin rejects accusations

South Korean prosecutors on Tuesday indicted Terraform Labs co-founder Daniel Shin for alleged fraudulent transactions related to the collapse of the Terra-Luna crypto project.
Ethereum cryptocurrency coin

CoinShares says weekly investment in Ethereum-linked products rebounds after hard fork

Ethereum-linked digital asset investment products saw inflows of around US$17 million in the week ending April 21, up from US$300,000 in the previous week, appearing to show investor confidence following the blockchain’s milestone upgrade, Coinshares report shows.
SEC icon and Coinbase logo | Coinbase ups the ante with SEC, asking court to require crypto clarity from regulator | Coinbase, SEC - Securities and Exchange Commission, Reglation & Law

Coinbase ups the ante with SEC, asking court to require crypto clarity from regulator

Coinbase sued the U.S. SEC on Monday, asking that a court require the regulator to publicly respond to the Coinbase July 2022 petition asking for clearer crypto regulation guidelines. 
Bitcoin | Bitcoin loses ground, Ether dips even as inflows rise; Litecoin edges up, with halving cited | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, LTC - Litecoin, Memecoin

Bitcoin loses ground, Ether dips even as inflows rise; Litecoin edges up, with halving cited

Bitcoin fell below US$27,500 support on Tuesday morning in Asia. Ether and most other top 10 tokens traded lower amid a broader correction.
web3 and data transfer concept

Until Web3 offers a better user experience, the masses will stay away

People won’t want to bother with a new technology if it’s painful to use, even if they’re aware of the potential benefits, writes Toby Rush of Redeem.
Cyclist passing by the Bank of Japan in Tokyo, Japan | Japan's central bank urged to speed up CBDC efforts

Japan’s Web3 pivot needs global mindset, flexibility to succeed, says incubator founder

Japan’s welcome mat for Web3 is shifting the tone from “buzzword” to opportunity, but success will hinge on the authorities adopting a global, flexible view toward this new technology, says Yudai Suzuki, co-founder of Fracton Ventures.
Bitcoin and crypto mining farm.

Russia is 2nd biggest Bitcoin miner after U.S.: report 

Russia is now the second largest Bitcoin miner after the U.S., according to a report by Russian media Kommersant. 
Pepe the Frog on a banner

Memecoin PEPE falls 18% at start of trading week

PEPE, a memecoin launched on April 14, fell 18.81% to US$0.0000002626 in the 24 hours to 7 p.m. on Monday in Hong Kong. The coin is still up over 392% on the weekly chart and has a market capitalization of US$116 million, according to DEXTools.
bitcoin on downtrend red candlestick graph background

Bitcoin extends drop, stays below US$28,000; Solana, Polygon leads losers in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin extended losses in Monday afternoon trade in Asia, along with all top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, with Solana and Polygon as the biggest losers.
and
India finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman

India’s finance minister lauds DLT, says crypto regulation does not mean technology control

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in commending the potential of distributed ledger technology (DLT), has urged for a global consensus in regulating crypto while emphasizing that regulation did not equate to government control over the technology. 
regulation-related concepts

Crypto leaders need to collaborate with regulators more — for the industry’s own good

A clear and balanced legal framework will encourage more crypto investment, while the industry can promote best practices, writes Mahin Gupta of Liminal.
Digital yuan icon piggy bank | China’s Changshu city to pay civil servant salaries in digital yuan | China, Digital Yuan, e-CNY, CBDC - Central Bank Digital Currencies

China’s Changshu city to pay civil servant salaries in digital yuan

State employees in China’s Changshu City will receive their salaries in digital yuan from May, as China’s CBDC expands in daily uses.
Terraform Labs chief Do Kwon and the flag of Montenegro | Terraform Labs Do Kwon to get court hearing May 11 on Montenegro passport forgery charges | terra luna do kwon sec daniel shin

Terraform Labs Kwon to get Montenegro court hearing May 11 on passport forgery charges

Kwon Do-hyeong will have a court hearing on May 11 in Montenegro on charges of allegedly attempting to travel using a false passport.
Bitcoin on chart | Bitcoin, Ether gain, but hold losses for the week; U.S. equity futures lose ground | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum

Bitcoin, Ether gain, but hold losses for the week; U.S. equity futures lose ground

Bitcoin rose on Monday morning in Asia but was boxed in below US$28,000. Ether and most other top 10 tokens gained, but not by enough to erase losses for the past week.
Pepe

Uncertainty in crypto cycles from Memecoins & NFTs

A new memecoin craze is raising Ethereum transaction fees, but it’s also bringing new liquidity in for non-fungible tokens.
gold bank vault with crypto Bitcoin

Weekly Market Wrap: Can Bitcoin float above US$27,500 after sinking below US$30,000?

Bitcoin fell to US$28,000 in the same week the European Parliament passed its landmark crypto framework. Industry analysts told Forkast that holding US$27,500 will be crucial for Bitcoin in order to spark an upward momentum.
Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi calls for feedback on proposed legal framework for decentralized economy: CoinDesk

The UAE’s registration authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market is seeking feedback on its proposed legislative framework for distributed ledger technology, which will focus on disclosures, liquidation, and governance structures, according to a report by CoinDesk
A screenshot of Ordinals Punks, from Bitcoin Ordinals Market

Bitcoin’s mempool congestion eases after millionth Ordinals inscription

Mempool congestion issues subsided after the Bitcoin network surpassed 1 million Ordinals inscriptions.
Bitcoin on green light and crypto stocks chart background.

Bitcoin, Ether decline; equities fall amid U.S.-China tension

Bitcoin and Ether fell by the end of Asian trading hours on Friday afternoon, together with all top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization apart from the BNB token. Asian equities declined along with U.S. futures, amid mounting political pressure between China and the U.S. Fast facts See related article: EU green lights MICA but […]
Leading auction house Sotheby’s said it will hold sales of NFT artworks to the bankrupt crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital.

Sotheby’s to auction off NFTs owned by defunct hedge fund Three Arrows Capital

Leading auction house Sotheby’s said it will sell NFT artworks owned by the bankrupt crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital.
Bitcoin and crypto mining farm. Big data center.

Bitcoin mining difficulty rises 1.7% to record high, hashrate jumps

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 1.72% on Thursday to a record high, while the network’s hashrate increased, showing miners are applying more computing power.
Bitcoin on downward chart | Bitcoin falls to near US$28,000, Ether drops, U.S. equities slide on rate hike worries | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Coinbase, Federal Reserve

Bitcoin falls to near US$28,000, Ether flat, U.S. equities slide on rate hike worries

Bitcoin fell to near US$28,000 on Friday morning in Asia, with Ether trading flat and most other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens losing steam.
crystal Earth on soil and Bitcoin mining concept

Bitcoin mining produces energy gold. Let’s use it to help save our planet

Critics have long slammed Bitcoin mining for its enormous carbon footprint. But what if all the heat that miners emit can be sustainably powered and reused?
EU crypto MiCA

EU Parliament approves its first crypto regulation MiCA

The European Parliament has approved the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (MiCA), a legislation aimed at standardizing regulations and establishing harmonized rules for crypto assets across the European Union
Terraform Labs chief Do Kwon in front of red sky with moon image | From billionaire to Montenegro jail: The rapid rise and fall of Terra chief Do Kwon | montenegro, terra luna, do kwon, daniel shin, south korea, do kwon sec

From billionaire to Montenegro jail: The rapid rise and fall of Terra chief Do Kwon

South Korea’s Do Kwon went from a poster boy of digital finance as a co-founder of the US$40 billion Singapore-based Terraform Labs to a fugitive on Interpol’s wanted list, all in a matter of several rollercoaster years. He’s now in a Montenegro jail where he may face more time in detention as the U.S. and South Korea demand his extradition to face a long list of charges, including securities fraud – allegations he has repeatedly denied. The following is a timeline of how we got here.
Bittrex BAYC Hong Kong

Bittrex in SEC’s crosshairs as compliance lawsuits keep coming

Top blockchain and crypto news: Bittrex in SEC line of fire. Bored Apes fall after whale sale. Chinese banks court crypto clients.
Bitcoin in front of a chart | Bitcoin, Ether little-changed to lower in downtrend day; Forkast NFT 500 index dips | Markets, NFT - Non Fungible Token, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Forkast 500 NFT

Bitcoin trades below US$29,000, Ether slips, as market eyes Europe’s MiCA vote

Bitcoin and Ether fell during afternoon trading hours in Asia on Thursday, while most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization strengthened. Crypto investors were cautious ahead of Europe’s vote on the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) bill.
Bitdeer Technologies went public on Nasdaq on April 14. Image: Bitdeer/Twitter

Crypto miner Bitdeer falls 35% since Nasdaq debut, reports net loss in 2022

Shares of Singapore-based cryptocurrency miner Bitdeer have slid more than 35% since their Nasdaq debut on April 14, and were trading at US$6.41 at closing on Wednesday.
Bitcoin on stock chart | Bitcoin falls below US$29,000, Ether slumps, U.S. equities stall on inflation concerns | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Inflation, Bank

Bitcoin falls below US$29,000, Ether slumps, U.S. equities stall on inflation concerns

Bitcoin slid below the US$29,000 mark on Thursday morning in Asia. Ether lost hold of US$2,000 in a sell-off across all top 10 non-stablecoin tokens.
Featured pic for Trump Series 2 sells out, tops daily NFT sales chart: The National Rifle Association Holds Annual Convention in Indianapolis

Trump’s Series 2 sells out, tops daily NFT sales chart

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s second set of NFTs sold out within the first 24 hours since launch, according to the project’s website.
Hong Kong skyline

Hong Kong court deems crypto as property, in ruling on defunct exchange Gatecoin

Hong Kong’s High Court has recognized cryptocurrency as property in a March 31 landmark ruling in a legal tussle involving defunct crypto exchange Gatecoin
Illustration of Bitcoin sitting on top of a mining rig as difficulty reaches all-time highs

US chip giant Intel abandons Bitcoin ASIC production

Intel has announced it would shut down its Bitcoin mining chip production a year after launch.
Bitcoin on green light and crypto stocks chart background.

Bitcoin gains, holds above US$30,000; Solana, BNB biggest losers in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin rose and traded above US$30,000 on Wednesday afternoon in Asia, while Ether fell along with most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Solana lost the most, followed by Binance’s BNB token.
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Patriot man holding the United Kingdom flag.

U.K. could push out crypto regulation within a year: lawmaker Andrew Griffith

The U.K. could see digital asset regulation in the next 12 months as part of a push to turn the nation into a hub for digital assets, said economic secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith
Bitcoin bud | Bitcoin to peak at US$42,000 in 2023, end the year above US$35,000: Finder survey | BTC - Bitcoin, Price, Bank

Bitcoin to peak at US$42,000 in 2023, end the year above US$35,000: Finder survey

Bitcoin is expected to hit a high of US$42,225 in 2023 and close the year around US$35,485, according to a survey by Finder.
Shaikh Zayed mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE | United Arab Emirates opens licensing applications for cryptocurrency companies | binance, crypto.com, hex trust

United Arab Emirates opens licensing applications for cryptocurrency companies

UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority said Monday it has started accepting applications for operating licenses from cryptocurrency businesses.
Bitcoins stack up | Bitcoin reclaims US$30,000, Ether heads higher after SEC’s Gensler grilled, XRP leads winners | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Gary Gensler, SEC - Securities and Exchange Commission

Bitcoin reclaims US$30,000, Ether heads higher after grilling of SEC’s Gensler; Polkadot leads winners

Bitcoin rebounded above US$30,000 on Wednesday morning in Asia. All top 10 tokens rose after SEC chair Gary Gensler was criticized at a congressional hearing for his approach to digital assets.
stock and trading graph

The true cost of zero-fee crypto trading is anything but zero

Nothing in life is free. Be wary of crypto exchanges that offer ‘free trading,’ and ask hard questions about how they make money, writes Ben Caselin of MaskEX.
Politics will be Trojan Horse for NFTs

Politics will be Trojan Horse for NFTs

Former President Donald Trump’s NFT collection’s floor price may be dropping, but media coverage may extend his profits from the digital trading cards.
SEC Chair Gensler

SEC’s Gary Gensler dodges question on whether Ethereum is a security

SEC Chair Gary Gensler did not give a direct answer when asked whether Ether is a security or a commodity at a congressional oversight hearing on Tuesday. 
Former President Donald Trump Holds A Press Conference At Mar-a-Lago After Being Arraigned In New York

Trump announces more NFTs but the first collection’s price tanks

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a second drop of his NFT trading cards, but the first collection’s price is sinking.
Bitcoin cryptocurrency gold coin. Trading on the cryptocurrency exchange.

Bitcoin slips, Ether inches above US$2,100

Bitcoin dropped on Tuesday afternoon in Asia but remained above US$29,000, while Ether and most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies gained. Dogecoin and Solana fell on the day and rose on the week.
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Ethereum

Ethereum inflows slow following Shanghai upgrade, exchanges see Ether influx

CoinShares data showed Ethereum-linked products saw little investment interest with inflows of around US$300,000 in the week ending April 14, accounting for a tiny portion of the total US$114 million weekly inflow into digital assets and despite the blockchain’s milestone upgrade last week.
Bitcoin on red background | Bitcoin, Ether, other crypto fall as SEC waves big stick; Dogecoin gains; U.S. equity futures flat | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, SEC - Securities and Exchange Commission, Gary Gensler

Bitcoin, Ether, other crypto fall as SEC waves big stick; Dogecoin gains; U.S. equity futures flat 

Bitcoin, Ether and most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies dipped Tuesday morning in Asia after the SEC sued crypto exchange Bittrex on Monday.
abstract Web3 technology concept

Why trustless oracles are vital to Web3’s future

What are ‘trustless oracles,’ and how will they shape the development of the metaverse and Web3? Markus Levin of XYO and XY Labs explains.

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