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Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao. Image: Binance/Youtube

Binance, Zhao sued by CFTC for alleged regulatory violations

Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao have been sued by the CFTC for allegedly violating derivative rules
Michael Saylor, MicroStrategy stick to their guns on Bitcoin, MIAMI, FLORIDA - JUNE 04: MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor speaks at the Bitcoin 2021 Convention, a crypto-currency conference held at the Mana Convention Center in Wynwood on June 04, 2021 in Miami, Florida. The crypto conference is expected to draw 50,000 people and runs from Friday, June 4 through June 6th. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images),

MicroStrategy buys 6,555 Bitcoin worth US$150 mln

MicroStrategy acquired 6,555 Bitcoin for around US$150 million, at an average price of US$23,238 per coin, between Feb. 16 and March 23
Stack of golden cryptocurrency tokens

Bitcoin rises, most top 10 cryptos drop, amid mixed signals on state of banking sector

Bitcoin rose while Ether and most of the other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies fell during afternoon trading in Asia on Monday.
and
Shanghai city and Ethereum coins

What impact will Ethereum’s Shanghai upgrade have on ETH and crypto markets?

Despite the potential sell pressures after Ethereum’s upcoming hard fork, it’s more likely that ETH stakers will hold for the longer term, writes Bill Xing of Bybit.
Pedestrians walk past a digital screen displaying Bitcoin logos on February 15, 2022 in Hong Kong. Image: Getty Images

China state-owned banks turn crypto-friendly in Hong Kong: Bloomberg

China banks in Hong Kong are offering services to crypto businesses, Bloomberg reported on Monday, as more digital asset firms operate in the city.
Row of microphones and glasses of water prepared for participants of summit | G7 nations set to push for stricter cryptocurrency regulations ahead of Japan summit in May | g7 crypto, japan crypto, crypto regulations, fumio kishida

G7 nations set to push for stricter cryptocurrency regulations at Japan summit in May

The Group of Seven industrial countries will discuss tougher rules on cryptocurrencies to improve transparency, protect investors.
Bitcoin on blue background | Bitcoin gains as investors diversify amid worries about banking system; U.S. equity futures rise | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH -Ethereum, Federal Reserve, Bank

Bitcoin gains as investors diversify amid worries about banking system; U.S. equity futures rise

Bitcoin and the other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies rose on Monday morning in Asia, as investors diversify amid the ongoing banking turmoil.
Zipmex logo

Zipmex buyer misses payment, could risk US$100 million buyout: Bloomberg

Zipmex cryptocurrency exchange’s US$100 million venture capital buyout may be in danger, after buyer V Ventures missed the US$1.25 million payment due on March 23
Bitcoin logo on a queen chess piece with other pieces fallen around it

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin hovers around US$28,000 as banking concerns return. Will it hit US$30,000?

As banking contagion worries reignited, Bitcoin traded firmly above US$28,000 for most of the week. Considering that Bitcoin was made for a potential banking crisis, industry experts are eyeing the US$30,000 mark for BTC.
Bitcoin in sand. Markets: Bitcoin price nears US$21,000 amid market rally as Ether, Dogecoin lead gains

Bitcoin, Ether, Forkast 500 NFT index rise; gold nears year-high over banking sector concerns

Bitcoin and Ether rose during Asian trading hours on Friday, along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, with Litecoin posting the biggest gains.
samson lee, CEO of Signum Digital | Hong Kong blockchain initiatives natural evolution for finance hub, says Signum Digital CEO | hong kong crypto, hong kong web3, signum digital

Hong Kong blockchain initiatives natural evolution for finance hub, says Signum Digital CEO

Hong Kong’s new crypto licensing regime isn’t the only bullish sign for the city’s digital asset industry, says Signum Digital, the first company to win a preliminary license to handle securitized tokens in the city.
Bitcoin and crypto mining farm. Big data center.

Bitcoin mining difficulty rises 7.6% to set new all-time high as hashrate jumps

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 7.56% on Friday, hitting an all-time high along with the network’s hashrate, showing miners are applying more computing power.
Bitcoins stack up | Bitcoin rebounds above US$28,000 as equities gain in U.S. on Treasury easing bank worries | Markets, BTC -Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Federal Reserve, Bank

Bitcoin rebounds above US$28,000 as equities gain in U.S. on Treasury easing bank worries

Bitcoin bounced back above US$28,000 on Friday morning in Asia amid a rebound in all top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies and gains in equities overnight.
image of a calculator with focus on the TAX key, sheet of paper with numerical values, a metal pen, and Bitcoin with rolled dollar bills

Death and crypto taxes: Which one inspires greater dread?

Filing taxes on crypto assets is a ‘massive pain in the proverbial butt,’ writes Don Gossen of Nevermined. As IRS deadlines loom large, how can responsible investors avoid underreporting or overpaying?
Angelina Kwan, chief executive officer of Stratford Finance (left); Hong Kong landscape. Image: Envato Elements

Hong Kong may face backlog in virtual asset license applications as demand grows, former SFC regulator says

Angelina Kwan, who helped shape early Hong Kong automated trading services and internet trading regulation, told Forkast the upcoming virtual asset licensing regime is almost identical to that for traditional financial institutions.
do kwon and europe map | Crypto fugitive Do Kwon said to be hiding in Europe, mocks ‘cops from world over’ in series of tweets | do kwon, do kwon news, terraform labs

South Korea confirms identity of man arrested in Europe as Terra-Luna fugitive Do Kwon, seeks extradition

South Korea’s police said they confirmed the identity of a man arrested in Montenegro, Europe, as the Terraform Labs co-founder Kwon Do-hyung, who is wanted on charges of fraud related to the collapse of the stablecoin and cryptocurrency project he led.
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Set of cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin, Ether, Forkast 500 NFT index fall, gold rises, as Janet Yellen rules out broad bank deposit insurance

Bitcoin and Ether fell during Asian trading hours on Friday, along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, with Binance’s BNB sustaining the biggest loss in the top 10.
coinone logo and hands accepting bribery | South Korea arrests former Coinone exchange official for alleged crypto listing bribery | south korea crypto, coinone

South Korea arrests former Coinone exchange official for alleged crypto-listing bribery

A former employee of the Coinone exchange was arrested Tuesday on charges of accepting bribes in exchange for listing certain cryptocurrencies.
Coinbase

SEC warns Coinbase of potential legal action over staking, separately targets Tron founder Sun

The Securities and Exchange Commission has warned Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., it may face legal charges related to staking services and digital asset listings.
decentralized autonomous organization concept

How DAOs can be remade to be more efficient and successful

DAOs are exploding in popularity but still hampered by weak governance and treasury mismanagement. What can help these novel organizations become more effective?
Bitcoin in front of a chart | Bitcoin tracks equities lower on downbeat Fed, Treasury comments on rates, banks | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Federal Reserve, Bank

Bitcoin tracks equities lower on downbeat Fed, Treasury comments on banks

Bitcoin fell on Thursday morning in Asia, tracking equities lower after the U.S. Fed indicated interest rates could stay higher for longer.
Image from the DC Blockchain Summit 2023

Centralized intermediaries were cause of crypto failures in 2022, says Voorhees

If there was a lesson from the crypto implosions of 2022, it is the demonstration of the superiority of open code and decentralization over central intermediaries, argues Voorhees at DC Blockchain Summit.
Bitcoin

Bitget invests US$30 mln in BitKeep wallet, becomes controlling shareholder

Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitget said it has invested US$30 million in decentralized multi-chain wallet BitKeep to become its controlling shareholder. 
Magic Eden

Magic Eden introduces Bitcoin Ordinals for NFT traders

Magic Eden, the largest Solana-based non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, has launched its “audited” Bitcoin Ordinals for NFT traders.
Bitcoin buoyed as bank bust fears stalk investors

Bitcoin buoyed as bank busts spook investors

Top blockchain and crypto news: Banking woes boost Bitcoin. Arbitrum counts down to launch. Chinese billionaire faces US crypto scam charges.
Bitcoin on dollar banknotes.

Bitcoin rises above US$28,000; XRP biggest gainer in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin continued to trade above US$28,000 on Wednesday afternoon in Asia. Ether also rose, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies with XRP and Cardano leading gains.
and
NFT and tax | Internal Revenue Service in U.S. solicits public opinions on proposed NFT taxes | Tax, NFT - Non-Fungible Token, IRS - Internal Revenue Service, U.S., Regulation & Law

Internal Revenue Service in U.S. solicits public opinions on proposed NFT taxes

The IRS intends to tax NFTs as collectibles in the U.S. and is soliciting public opinions on the proposal through June.
Bitcoin coins and the judge gavel

Texas legislature introduces bill to attract Bitcoin-related businesses, protect interests of same

The Texas legislature introduced a bill on Tuesday to attract more Bitcoin-related businesses and protect the rights of Bitcoin holders, miners, and developers.
Timmy2 2

K-pop star G-Dragon launches NFT on OpenSea with Fandom Studio, BNB Chain

South Korean singer G-Dragon has launched an NFT collection on OpenSea in collaboration with Fandom Studio.
Bitcoin in a cart | Bitcoin holds above US$28,000, Ether moves higher, XRP surges, U.S. equities rally | Market, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH -Ethereum, XRP, Federal Reserve

Bitcoin moves above US$28,000, Ether gains, XRP surges, U.S. equities rally

Bitcoin held above US$28,000 on Wednesday morning in Asia amid a rebound in most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. XRP led the winners.
Stacked Bitcoins | Bitcoin back above US$24,000, Fed releases February minutes | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum

Bitcoin Fear & Greed index rises to 16-month high as investors seek safe-haven assets

The Bitcoin Fear & Greed index rose to a 16-month high of 68 points today, signaling that investors are becoming more greedy than fearful.
Biswa Bangla Gate

Indian crypto exchange WazirX blocks over 2,400 accounts in 6 months

WazirX, India’s largest crypto exchange by trade volume, has blacklisted over 2,431 accounts between October 2022 and March 2023, based on its internal monitoring process as well as under the direction of law enforcement agencies (LEA). 
Bitcoin crypto currency coins on US dollar bills.

Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; all eyes on U.S. interest rates

Bitcoin and Ether fell in Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia after rallying through the past week, while financial authorities injected cash into markets to ease liquidity pressures and took other steps to address concerns over a banking sector crisis in the U.S. and Europe. 
and
Terraform Labs co-founder Daniel Shin | Gyeongbokgung in South Korea | Terraform Labs’ Daniel Shin again questioned by South Korea prosecutors over stablecoin collapse | do kwon, terra luna, daniel shin

Terraform Labs founder Daniel Shin again questioned by South Korea prosecutors over stablecoin collapse

Terraform Labs co-founder Shin Hyun-seung, also known as Daniel Shin, was again called in for questioning by South Korea’s prosecutors on Monday.
cryptocurrency and digital information technology in the world concept

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?
Bitcoins in front of a price chart | Bitcoin treads water, other crypto retreat ahead of U.S. Fed’s decision on interest rates | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Federal Reserve, Bank

Bitcoin treads water, other crypto retreat ahead of U.S. Fed’s decision on interest rates

Bitcoin traded flat below US$28,000 on Tuesday morning in Asia. Most other top cryptocurrencies retreated ahead of a U.S. decision on interest rates.
Merlion statue fountain in Merlion Park and Singapore city skyline at night.

Singapore to publish crypto, stablecoin consultation feedback by mid-2023

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) aims to publish cryptocurrency and stablecoin consultations feedback by the middle of this year, it said Monday.
Hong Kong cityscape | Hong Kong retail investors blocked from crypto spot ETFs

Over 80 Web3 firms in line to set up shop in HK, ahead of crypto regulations taking effect in June

Over 80 foreign and Mainland China companies have expressed their interest in establishing a Web3 company in Hong Kong, ahead of new crypto regulations that will take effect from June
Pile of Bitcoin Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin rises past US$28,000, most other top 10 cryptos gain

Bitcoin traded above US$28,000 on Monday afternoon in Asia, a gain of 25% over last week, as a banking crisis in the U.S. and Europe prompted traders to see Bitcoin as a safe haven.
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Dubai Marina Port.

Singapore-based Crypto.com gets preparatory license to expand services in Dubai

Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com will soon be able to extend its services in Dubai, after it received a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) Preparatory License from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). 
NFT artist painting on a digital tablet

How NFTs can protect creators and fortify their legal rights

The digital era has made piracy rampant and copyright enforcement difficult, but blockchain technology is shifting power back to creators, writes Wes Levitt of Theta Labs.
Taipei Taiwan Skyline

Taiwan’s financial supervisory commission will oversee crypto, chair says

Crypto in Taiwan remains largely unregulated, but lawmakers have requested the cabinet to appoint a regulator by May 16 to oversee all things crypto.
Kaiko logo and Hong Kong skyline | Crypto data provider Kaiko to move Asia HQ to Hong Kong from Singapore: Bloomberg | hong kong crypto, kaiko crypto

Crypto data provider Kaiko to move Asia HQ to Hong Kong from Singapore: Bloomberg

Paris-based Kaiko will move its Asian headquarters to Hong Kong as it sees growing crypto-related opportunities in the city.
bithumb office in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea | Bithumb executive faces investigation over alleged bribery in South Korean crypto listing | bithumb, south korea crypto, kang jong hyun, park min young

Bithumb executive faces investigation over alleged bribery in South Korean crypto listing

South Korean prosecutors are investigating Lee Sang-jun, the CEO of Bithumb’s holding company, for alleged bribery in listing certain tokens on the platform.
A Signature Bank branch stands in Manhattan on March 13, 2023 in New York City. Image: Getty Images

New York Community Bancorp unit to assume Signature Bank deposits, FDIC says

New York Community Bancorp will assume all deposits and certain loan portfolios of the failed Signature Bank, the FDIC said on Sunday.
Bitcoin in front of a green chart | Bitcoin leads crypto rally as central banks promise liquidity to stem rising bank risk | Markets, BTC -Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Federal Reserve, Bank

Bitcoin leads crypto rally as central banks promise liquidity to stem rising bank risk

Bitcoin briefly breached US$28,000 at the weekend in a bullish run extending into Monday morning in Asia amid worries about bank risk.
Bitcoin sitting on a tablet.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin rises above US$26,000, as ‘store of value’ narrative strengthens amid bank failures

As the U.S. banking system stared into the pit of bank runs and collapsing share prices, the authorities acted swiftly to try and pull everything back from the edge. However, Bitcoin seemed unperturbed. Is this what a safe haven looks like?
Set of cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin, Ether rise; relief for investors as major banks get liquidity lifeline

Bitcoin and Ether rallied by the end of Asian trading hours on Friday afternoon, together with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Salesforce logo, Ryan Wyatt | Enterprise software giant Salesforce partners with Polygon for NFT-based loyalty programs | salesforce web3, blockchain, polygon matic, polygon blockchain

Enterprise software giant Salesforce partners with Polygon for NFT-based loyalty programs

Salesforce has partnered with Polygon Labs to help its clients develop non-fungible token (NFT) based loyalty programs on the Polygon blockchain.
Signum digital, CS.Pro graphic | Signum Digital says it won first security token offering approval in Hong Kong | hong kong crypto, sfc, hong kong crypto regulation

Signum Digital says it won first approval to offer security tokens in Hong Kong

Signum Digital said it’s the first company to win preliminary approval in Hong Kong to operate a platform to trade security tokens.
Bitcoins in front of a chart | Bitcoin, Ether, other crypto gain with equities amid global fund injections to support banks | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Binance, Bank

Bitcoin, Ether, other crypto gain with equities amid global fund injections to support banks

Bitcoin neared the US$25,000 mark on Friday morning in Asia. Cryptocurrencies gained as the U.S. and Europe moved to backstop troubled banks with cash.
Silvergate and SVB

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.
DOJ Logo

US, Germany shut ChipMixer for alleged ties to US$3 bln crypto laundering 

US, and German shuttered ChipMixer, a cryptocurrency service that allegedly laundered more than US$3 billion in crypto since 2017.
Close up picture of Indian rupee.

India, UAE to collaborate on cross-border central bank digital currencies

The Indian central bank and the UAE will jointly run pilot programs on their central bank digital currencies, according to the Reserve Bank of India. 
A Bitcoin logo, on a smartphone, held in someone's hand, in front of a busy road

Bitcoin, Ether, Forkast 500 NFT index fall; euros rises amid Credit Suisse’s loan

Bitcoin and Ether declined by the end of Asian trading hours on Thursday afternoon, with all the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies also falling, apart from Binance’s BNB.
Ripple coin isolated on black background. Cryptocurrency. Top view | Ripple executives say XRP lawsuit ruling will have little impact on global business operations | ripple xrp, ripple v. sec, ripple lawsuit

Ripple executives say XRP lawsuit ruling will have little impact on global business operations

The court ruling in a lawsuit brought by the SEC against Ripple will have minimal impact on the company’s business, APAC policy director Rahul Advani said.
do kwon in front of south korea flag | South Korea cranks up pressure to extradite Do Kwon, founder of failed Terra-Luna stablecoin | do kwon sec, do kwon terra luna, do kwon fbi, south korea

South Korea cranks up pressure to extradite Do Kwon, founder of failed Terra-Luna stablecoin

South Korean prosecutors said they will expand cooperation with overseas legal agencies to facilitate the arrest and extradition of Do Kwon.
Guo Wengui. Images: Wiki Commons, U.S. Attorney SDNY's Twitter account

US accuses exiled Chinese tycoon Guo Wengui of $1 billion crypto-linked fraud

Guo Wengui, an exiled Chinese billionaire, was arrested in New York on Wednesday for allegedly orchestrating a more than US$1 billion fraud conspiracy that included cryptocurrency, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). See related article: U.S. banking regulators warn against cryptocurrency fraud, contagion risks Fast facts […]
Bitcoin in front of blue background | Bitcoin, Ether drop, other top cryptocurrencies retreat as bank liquidity concerns rise | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Bank, Inflation

Bitcoin, Ether drop, other top cryptocurrencies retreat as bank liquidity concerns rise

Bitcoin and Ether dropped in Thursday morning trading in Asia along with most other leading tokens amid broader concerns about bank liquidity.
sign that says "safe space" and various crypto coins

What the crypto industry should do to rebuild public trust

Many crypto users see losses as the cost of doing business. In fact, we can and must improve the sector’s deficiencies, writes Pelle Brændgaard of Notabene.
Hooded hacker in front of a digital background

Web3 crowdfunding launchpad Poolz Finance hacked for US$390,000 on BSC, Polygon

Poolz Finance, a cross-chain crowdfunding launchpad for Web3 projects, has been exploited for US$390,000 worth of digital assets
Stablecoin USDC bounces back after Silicon Valley Bank bust.

Circle’s USDC bounces back after Silicon Valley Bank bust

Top blockchain and crypto news: USDC stabilizes after SVB collapse. Silvergate closes shop. China tightens financial supervision.
Voyager-Binance.US' $1 bln deal should be put on hold, says U.S. Department of Justice

Voyager-Binance.US’ $1 bln deal should be put on hold, says U.S. Department of Justice

A deal valued at over US$1 billion between Binance.US and Voyager should be put on hold while key legal objections are worked out, says U.S. government.
Stacked bitcoin cryptocurrencies and 100 dollar bills

Bitcoin, Ether, Forkast 500 NFT index extend gains; U.S. banking crisis concerns ease as inflation slows to 6%

Bitcoin and Ether rose on Wednesday afternoon in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Solana and Polygon were the biggest gainers, both rising above 5% in the last 24 hours.
and
Anchorage Digital website | Anchorage Digital lays off 20% of staff on low demand for NFTs, says bank unit not affected | anchorage layoff, meta, nft

Anchorage Digital lays off 20% of staff amid low NFT demand, says bank unit not affected

Digital asset platform Anchorage Digital will lay off 75 employees as it restructures to meet regulation challenges.
Signature Bank branch stands in Manhattan on March 13, 2023 in New York City. Image: Getty Images

New York regulator says Signature Bank closure ‘nothing to do’ with cryptocurrencies: Reuters

The decision to shut down Signature Bank at the weekend was not related to cryptocurrencies, the New York regulator told Reuters on Tuesday.
Bitcoin stacks | Bitcoin, Ether continue run up; Solana, Dogecoin lead gainers; U.S. equities rebound | Markets, BTC - Bitcoin, ETH - Ethereum, Bank, Binance

Bitcoin, Ether continue run up; Solana, Dogecoin lead gainers; U.S. equities rebound

Bitcoin and Ether continued strong price gains, with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies logging advances for the past seven days.
Bitcoin on the British flag

Binance suspends pound sterling services for U.K. customers as payment provider backs out

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, announced that it is halting its British pound deposits and withdrawals.
Stack of golden bitcoins

Bitcoin breaks US$26,000 as inflation cools in February

Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, rallied past the US$26,000 mark at 09:15 p.m. in Hong Kong, shortly after the release of the United States Consumer Price Index (CPI)
India

India imposes money laundering regulations on crypto industry

India’s crime fighting agencies have been investigating crypto exchanges and individuals on money laundering charges and have now put the onus on exchanges to report suspicious transactions.
Pile of Bitcoin Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin, Ether extend gains as U.S. regulators take charge of banking industry turmoil

Bitcoin and Ether rose the most in the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization on Tuesday afternoon in Asia. Cryptocurrencies have been on a rebound since U.S. regulators took charge of the failures in the banking industry and moved to protect deposits across crypto-linked banks.
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China's emblem on NFT | China regulator says NFT trading complaints skyrocketed in 2022 from prior year | China, NFT - Non-Fungible Token, Scams

China regulator says NFT-related complaints skyrocketed in 2022

Amid the NFT hype in 2022, Chinese buyers’ complaints about NFT scams and price manipulations surged 30,000% to 59,700 from 198 in the year before.

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