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Creation of U.S. digital dollar would ‘crowd out’ crypto: ex-Biden adviser
A U.S. central bank digital currency would “crowd out” the cryptocurrency ecosystem and protect national security, according to an ex-top presidential adviser.
Blur NFT wash trading soars, fueling market distortions
Top blockchain and crypto news: Blur wash trading explodes. Coinbase extends developer foray with Base test. Hong Kong crypto embrace gets Beijing’s nod.
Visa not slowing down with crypto plans, says its crypto chief
American payments giant Visa is not slowing down its cryptocurrency plans despite last year’s bear market, according to the firm’s crypto head Cuy Sheffield.
Bitcoin, Ether rise along with most top 10 cryptos, amid ‘bull trap’ warning
Bitcoin and Ether gained in Wednesday afternoon trading in Asia, along with most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Asian equities mostly rose on Wednesday as investors digested economic recovery indications as Hong Kong ended its mask mandate.
Former executive Nishad Singh pleads guilty to criminal charges in FTX collapse
Nishad Singh, former engineering chief of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, pleaded guilty to fraud and several other criminal charges at a hearing on Tuesday related to the collapse of the company, Bloomberg reported.
Bitcoin, Ether fall; Polkadot leads losers among top ten tokens
Bitcoin fell in Wednesday morning trading in Asia, although held above the US$23,000 lower resistance line. Polkadot led the losers, while Litecoin rose.
Liquid staking TVL surpasses lending, becomes the second-largest among DeFi services
The total value of crypto assets deposited in liquid staking protocols rose to US$14 billion, surpassing lending services before Ethereum’s Shanghai update.
Bitcoin’s price gains this year bring needed relief to cash-strapped crypto mining industry
Officials at Bitcoin mining companies say the rebound in prices so far this year for the world’s biggest cryptocurrency has thrown a lifeline to the industry after some miners sought protection from creditors last year amid the slump in the token’s price.
Yuga Labs to launch its first Bitcoin-based NFTs TwelveFold
Yuga Labs announced that it will launch TwelveFold later this week, its first NFT collection on the Bitcoin network.
Bitcoin, Ether prices fall; Solana biggest loser in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin and Ether fell in Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, despite U.S. equities rising on Monday after last week’s selloff. Asian stock markets mostly rose on Tuesday as investors absorbed key economic indicators across the region.
Huawei forms Web3 alliance with Polygon, Morpheus Labs, others
Chinese smartphone maker Huawei partnered with multiple overseas Web3 firms, as part of the company’s blockchain and metaverse venture.
Coinbase exchange to delist Binance USD, says stablecoin ‘no longer met our listing standards’
Coinbase, the world’s second largest cryptocurrency exchange, said Monday it is suspending trade in the Binance USD (BUSD) as of March 13.
BitFlyer founder eyes CEO comeback, share sale amid boardroom conflicts: Bloomberg
Yuzo Kano, co-founder of Japan’s largest cryptocurrency exchange bitFlyer Inc., said he plans to return as CEO, sell shares to public.
Robinhood says it’s cooperating with SEC following subpoena over cryptocurrency services
Robinhood says it’s cooperating with an SEC investigation into the company’s trading and handling of cryptocurrencies.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether little changed; Polygon’s Matic token leads losers in top ten crypto
Bitcoin and Ether traded little-changed on Tuesday morning in Asia, while most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies fell, with Polygon leading the losers
Why the Hermès verdict was a big win for major brands and phygital commerce
The Metabirkins case makes clear that NFT trademarks belong to the original creator, bolstering future profit-making opportunities for fashion houses as well as other companies, writes Justin Banon of Boson Protocol.
Japanese tech, finance firms sign pact to build metaverse economic zone
About 10 Japanese companies, including Fujitsu, Mitsubishi and Sumitomo Mitsui, have agreed to advance Japan’s metaverse plans with the establishment of the “Japan Metaverse Economic Zone”.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether gain; Polygon, XRP biggest losers
Bitcoin and Ethereum rose in Monday afternoon trade in Asia along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Asian markets dropped on Monday, following last Friday’s Wall Street selloff, as investors brace for more interest rate hikes in the U.S. due to persistently high inflation.
Janet Yellen urges strong regulatory framework for crypto as India leads G20 push for regulation
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Reuters after the G20 meeting in India on Saturday that while the U.S. has not indicated any outright bans, it is critical to put in place a strong regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry.
Crypto is experiencing growing pains. What’s coming next?
Now a teenager, crypto is wrestling with its identity and purpose. But it’s learning from its mistakes and on its way to maturity, writes Zach Bronstein of Endaoment.
South Korea’s Lotte Group partners with Polygon for global NFT drive
Lotte Group plans to expand its non-fungible token (NFT) business onto the global market through a partnership with the Polygon blockchain.
Bitcoin, Ether gain, shrug off fall in U.S. equity markets; Solana bounces back
The top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies rose on Monday morning in Asia, despite the declines in equities on Wall Street on Friday.
At least US$577 million of Blur-linked NFT sales are wash trades, CryptoSlam says
NFT data aggregator Cryptoslam has flagged more than half a billion dollars worth of NFT wash trades related to Blur since the marketplace’s Valentines airdrops started
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin lingers at US$24,000 level after Wall Street’s worst day in 2023 so far
Bitcoin remained resilient around the US$24,000 level on Tuesday despite Wall Street’s worst day of the year so far. Industry experts are eyeing a potential retest of the US$25,000 psychological level, as a failure to reclaim it may result in a downtrend to around US$21,500.
Bankrupt crypto lender 3AC’s liquidators set to dump millions worth of seized NFTs
Teneo, the liquidator of the bankrupt crypto lender Three Arrows Capital plans to sell non-fungible tokens estimated to be worth millions of dollars.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried hit with four more criminal charges
The founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency firm FTX.com Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has received another four criminal charges in a superseding indictment on Thursday.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether fall along with all top 10 cryptos as investors await consumption index
Bitcoin and Ether fell during Asian trading hours on Friday, along with all the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Most Asian equities were down, despite Wall Street’s overnight performance.
Weekly NFT sales surge amid marketplace Blur’s new round of token airdrop
NFT sales more than doubled this week, with NFT marketplace Blur remaining the talk of the town.
IMF releases crypto action plan, advises against legal tender status
World governments should not grant cryptocurrency legal tender status, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive board said in its new nine-point action plan on how countries should approach crypto assets published Thursday. See related article: India working with IMF, FSB on crypto regulations, says economic affairs secretary Fast facts See related article: India’s finance minister […]
Why crypto offers great career opportunities for talented women
The blockchain sector’s gender divide is narrowing. Its newness and founding ideals also allow for more flexible workplaces, writes Anastasia Kor of Choise.com.
Markets: Bitcoin down, Ether up; US equities rise as unemployment benefit claims slide
Bitcoin was down and Ether was up on Friday morning in Asia, while most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization fell.
Creepz NFT sales surge 239% following Spotify partnership news
The sales volume of Creepz by Overlord surged by 239% in the 24 hours to 11:00 p.m. on Thursday in Hong Kong, after its creator announced a partnership with music streaming giant Spotify.
SEC accused of ‘back door’ labeling of crypto as securities in Coinbase insider trading case
A U.S.-based blockchain advocacy group has urged a federal court to dismiss SEC charges against an ex-Coinbase employee accused of insider trading.
Canada gives crypto companies 30 days to meet updated registration guidelines
Cryptocurrency companies in Canada have 30 days to meet updated crypto registration guidelines released on Wednesday or risk losing their users.
Taiwan must mandate a central authority to oversee crypto by May 16, says lawmaker
A Taiwanese lawmaker has reiterated that the cabinet will have to mandate an acting central authority to shape regulatory frameworks and development roadmap for the cryptocurrency industry by May 16, a move that would push Taiwan closer to adequate crypto regulation.
NBA partners Chinese fintech giant Ant Group to launch NFTs in China
NBA will partner Ant Group – Chinese tech giant Alibaba’s fintech affiliate – to issue NBA-themed NFTs and create content on Alipay.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether rise along with top 10 cryptos despite Fed signals to raise interest rates
Bitcoin and Ether rose during Asian trading hours on Thursday, along with all top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Asian equities were down
SEC has to clarify what’s permissible for staking, former CFTC chair says
It remains unclear whether the U.S. SEC’s enforcement action against cryptocurrency exchange Kraken represents a broader crackdown on staking, according to Timothy Massad, former Commodity Futures Trading Commission chairman.
Gate Group set to enter Hong Kong
Gate Group announced on Wednesday that it is applying for a new cryptocurrency license in Hong Kong, joining a growing list of Web3 firms entering the city.
Judge denies Dapper Labs request to dismiss NBA Top Shot security lawsuit
A US district court judge on Wednesday denied Dapper Labs’ request to dismiss a lawsuit that alleges that the NBA Top Shots NFT collection is an unregistered security.
Crypto exchanges face an existential challenge. What can bring users back?
Amid the rubble of FTX and other centralized exchanges, cross-chain technology and on-chain trading offer more trustworthy alternatives, writes Simon Harman of Chainflip.
Bitcoin back above US$24,000, Fed releases February minutes
Bitcoin fell in a mixed morning for the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies, with XRP posting the biggest gains in the list and Solana leading losses.
Hong Kong’s new crypto regulation may lure Web3 firms back, experts say
Hong Kong’s proposed crypto licensing regime received Huobi Global’s pledge to return to the city, and more companies may follow, industry experts told Forkast.
Binance, Ingenico begin crypto payments in France
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has partnered France-based global payments giant Ingenico to offer in-store crypto payments in France using Binance Pay.
Crypto scammers seize on AI frenzy as fraudulent ChatGPT tokens flood markets
Crypto scammers are deploying fraudulent tokens that appear affiliated with the popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, taking advantage of the tech’s investment hype.
Blur lives up to name as its trading volume surpasses OpenSea
Top blockchain and crypto news: Blur’s success spurs changes at OpenSea. Is Binance eyeing US exit? Taiwan asset disclosure rules may include crypto.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; Polygon, Solana biggest losers
Bitcoin and Ether fell in Wednesday afternoon trade in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Hong Kong to invest US$6.37 million to spur Web3 growth
Hong Kong is allocating HK$50 million (US$6.37 million) to develop its Web3 sector, the Financial Secretary Paul Chan announced Wednesday.
Coinbase reports growth in Q4 earnings despite decline in users
Coinbase reported an increase in its Q4 earnings on Tuesday, even as overall users declined throughout the period.
Crypto miner Hive Blockchain posts wider losses, cites Ethereum Merge
Vancouver-based cryptocurrency mining firm Hive Blockchain Technologies Ltd. reported bigger losses in its latest quarterly earnings report published Tuesday, mainly due to Ethereum’s Merge and lower Bitcoin prices. See related article: Bitcoin mining difficulty dips 0.5% over two weeks after hitting record high Fast facts See related article: Bitcoin miner Greenidge Generation cuts NYDIG debt […]
Ankr token surges 60%, partners Microsoft for enterprise-grade node service
ANKR surged by more than 60% after the blockchain infrastructure startup announced a partnership on Tuesday with Microsoft.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether fall as 2-year bond nears 15-year high
Bitcoin and Ether fell on Wednesday morning trading in Asia along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market cap.
Centralized crypto exchanges are dying, so long live centralized crypto exchanges?
Multi-billion dollar bankruptcies, fraud allegations, scandal, and plunging cryptocurrency prices in 2022 all characterized why investors came to distrust centralized exchanges. Yet, some commentators expect platforms to become ever more centralized … and regulated.
Polygon Labs cut 20% of workforce
Polygon Labs is firing 20% of its workforce, or about 100 positions, as part of its business consolidation.
Bitcoin exceeds 154,000 inscriptions in a month as Litecoin Ordinals launches
The Bitcoin Network has recorded over 154,554 inscriptions since the launch of Bitcoin Ordinals on Jan. 21, a fork that enables digital assets to be inscribed on satoshis (sats)
FTX Japan resumes withdrawals through Liquid Japan web platform
FTX Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of Sam Bankman-Fried’s bankrupt FTX, resumed withdrawal of customer holdings on Tuesday.
Markets: Bitcoin gains, returns to US$25,000; XRP biggest winner in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin and Ether prices rose in Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia, while all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies were mixed. XRP led gains at 2.37%, while Solana and Polygon dropped saw the largest declines.
China’s Shenzhen city to stamp data ownership on blockchain
Shenzhen is adopting blockchain technology to safeguard data ownership, as China seeks to build a regulated data economy.
Crypto hedge fund Galois Capital to close after losing US$40 mln in FTX
Cryptocurrency-focused hedge fund Galois Capital will close and return the remaining funds to investors after losing US$40 million worth of assets in the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.com
Huobi plans to move headquarters to Hong Kong from Singapore
Cryptocurrency exchange Huobi Global is seeking to relocate its Asia headquarters from Singapore to Hong Kong.
How Web3 in China is taking shape — with ‘Chinese characteristics’
What makes Web3 compelling to many is its promise to shift power from centralized players to individual users, but China is doing the opposite, writes Lily King.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether up, Solana, Helium rise after merge announcement
Bitcoin and Ether rose in a mixed morning for the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. Solana posted the biggest gains while Polygon’s Matic led losses Tuesday morning in Asia.
Philippine province taps blockchain technology, eyes tokenization
The Philippines’ Bataan province wants to streamline systems and procedures of government services through blockchain technology and tokenization, Bataan Governor Joet Garcia told Forkast.
Bitcoin surpasses Visa’s market cap to be 11th largest asset in the world
Bitcoin, the world’s first cryptocurrency, gained 15% in the past week to trade at US$24,885 and 7 p.m. in Hong Kong, surpassing payments giant Visa in market capitalization for the third time in history. See related article: Industry reacts: US cracks down on crypto, India calls for regulatory collaboration Fast facts See related article: Bitcoin […]
Hong Kong begins public consultation on crypto licensing regime
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission is calling for public feedback on its new proposals to regulate the crypto industry set to take effect in June.
Markets: Bitcoin rises above US$24,000; Solana gains most in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin rose above US$24,000 in Monday afternoon trade in Asia while all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies were mixed. Ether gained 0.18%, while Solana strengthened the most across the top 10 cryptos.
Trust in crypto is in shambles. How can we rebuild it?
Greater transparency and confidence in who you are transacting with could go a long way toward alleviating public mistrust, writes Travis Nelson of Quadrata.
Former FTX executive Nishad Singh negotiating guilty plea on fraud charges: Bloomberg
Nishad Singh, a former executive at bankrupt Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange FTX.com, may be leaning towards pleading guilty to fraud charges for his involvement in the company’s last November
Taiwan may mandate public servants to declare crypto holdings
Taiwan’s Ministry of Justice said on Wednesday that it may be adding cryptocurrencies to the list of properties for public servants to declare.
Markets: Bitcoin dips below US$24,000 to start the trading week in Asia
Bitcoin fell below US$24,000 in a mixed morning for the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization on Monday in Asia.
How tokenizing real estate can turn the ‘rules’ on their head – by mastering them first
The digital asset space is ripe for regulation, and tokenized real estate is no exception. But views differ when it comes to finding a framework that fits.
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.