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wazirx

Binance tells Indian crypto exchange WazirX to remove funds from its platform as feud escalates

Binance has stopped providing wallet services to Indian crypto exchange WazirX, asking it to withdraw any remaining assets held in Binance wallets by Feb. 3.
Bitcoin coins on keyboard computer with trading exchange graph

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin breaches US$23,000 in best monthly performance since October 2021

Bitcoin climbed more than 39% in January to break through the US$23,000 resistance ceiling in its best monthly performance since October 2021. Can the world’s first and biggest cryptocurrency maintain the upward momentum? Industry commentators share their views with Forkast.
binance gopax logo, dark South Korean flag in the back | Binance declines comment on speculation it may buy South Korean crypto exchange GOPAX | binance gopax south korea changpeng zhao cz binance

Binance re-enters S. Korea through GOPAX equity purchase: report

Binance has returned to South Korea after a two-year break by acquiring a majority stake in the local cryptocurrency exchange GOPAX, Bloomberg reported Friday.
Red Fort (Lal Qila). Delhi, India

India working with IMF, FSB on crypto regulations, says economic affairs secretary

India, the current holder of the G20 presidency, has been working with the IMF and the Financial Stability Board FSB to develop a regulatory approach for cryptocurrencies.
AI chip

Crypto exchange PayBito begins to integrate ChatGPT into its platform

Cryptocurrency exchange PayBito announced its plans to integrate ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developed by research firm OpenAI, on Friday.
Pile of golden bitcoin tokens laid out

Markets: Bitcoin and Ether down, Polkadot biggest winner among top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ether fell during Asian trading hours on Friday, along with the rest of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, with Polkadot’s DOT posting the biggest gains.
Bicoin on China's flag | China should reconsider its ban on cryptocurrencies, says former central bank official | China, China crypto ban, cryptocurrency trading, digital yuan

China should reconsider its ban on cryptocurrencies, says former central bank official

China’s blanket ban on cryptocurrency trading can have the country miss critical opportunities for technological development, says former PBOC official.
Japan flag in front of blockchain backdrop, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida | Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says NFTs and DAOs can bolster ‘Cool Japan’ strategy | japan web3, japan news, japan crypto, japan nft, japan metaverse, fumio kishida, japan dao, cool japan, japan news today

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says NFTs and DAOs can bolster ‘Cool Japan’ strategy

NFTs and DAOs can help support Japan’s national strategy dubbed ‘Cool Japan’ to attract investment and expand the economy.
silvergate logo

Silvergate probed by US prosecutors over FTX, Alameda accounts: Bloomberg

U.S. prosecutors are investigating California-based cryptocurrency bank Silvergate Capital Corp. for how it handled accounts tied to now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX and its brokerage arm Alameda Research, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
concept of DeFi and blockchain

Why DeFi remains niche and what might get it out of its market rut

DeFi is still a Wild West, and many would-be users are wary of its lawlessness and anonymity. Could decentralized IDs foster greater trust and growth in the sector?
bitcoin gold token and dollar bills | Markets: Bitcoin dips to US$23,500; Ether inches up, other top 10 cryptocurrencies mixed | bitcoin price today, bitcoin news, ether price today, ether news, apple earnings, amazon earnings, alphabet earnings, dogecoin, elon musk

Markets: Bitcoin dips to US$23,500, Ether inches up, other top 10 crypto mixed

Bitcoin and Ether traded mostly little changed Friday morning after a strong run up in the week, with other top 10 cryptocurrencies prices mixed.
Indian money, rupees, layed out on a wooden table

India’s largest retailer Reliance starts CBDCs sales

Indian retail giant Reliance Retail announced on Thursday that it has started accepting digital rupee payments to become the largest Indian firm to adopt the nation’s CBDC.
stack of Bitcoins. | January weekly crypto investment reaches highest since July 2022, says CoinShares report

Markets: Bitcoin and Ether up, Matic tops gains as investors wait for ECB’s decision on interest rates

Bitcoin and Ether rose during Asian trading hours on Thursday, along with the rest of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Polygon’s Matic posted the biggest gains
A man with VR headset in front of a Suzhou Chinese garden | China’s Suzhou city joins other regions in country seeking to be metaverse hub | metaverse, China

China’s Suzhou city joins other regions in the country seeking to be metaverse hub

Suzhou has laid out plans to attract at least 200 companies in working with VR technology by 2025.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump. | Donald Trump helps Polygon NFTs outsell Ethereum on OpenSea exchange for second month.

Donald Trump helps Polygon NFTs outsell Ethereum on OpenSea exchange for second month

The non-fungible token (NFT) project by former U.S. President Donald Trump has helped its host network, Polygon, outsell Ethereum on the leading NFT marketplace OpenSea for the second straight month, according to transaction data.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Image: Getty Images

Meta’s metaverse division Reality Labs posts wider loss of $13.7 billion in 2022

Meta Platforms Inc., the former Facebook, said losses at its Reality Labs division developing virtual reality technologies widened last year, but the company’s Q4 earnings beat expectations and it projected overall stronger growth into 2023, according to its earnings report released Wednesday.
bittrex logo and layoff image | U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex lays off 83 employees | bittrex layoffs, crypto layoff

U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex lays off 83 employees

Seattle-based cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex is laying off 83 employees, according to the U.S. Employment Security Department’s layoff alert.
USD digital stablecoin

Why the cloud will be critical to US competitiveness in world finance

The future global financial system will be reliant on the cloud, especially when it comes to CBDCs and stablecoins, writes Michael Greenwald and Logan Weber.
and
bithumb logo and handcuff backdrop | S. Korea issues arrest warrant for crypto exchange Bithumb owner | Kang Jong-hyun, south korea crypto, park min young

South Korea arrests head of Bithumb crypto exchange for alleged embezzlement

A South Korean court approved the prosecutor’s request to issue an arrest warrant for Kang Jong-hyun for alleged embezzlement.
Bitcoin in front of a graph. | Bitcoin breaks through $24,000 after Fed says ‘disinflationary process’ started in U.S. economy

Markets: Bitcoin breaks US$24,000 ceiling after Fed says ‘disinflationary process’ started in U.S. economy

Bitcoin rose above US$24,000 for the first time since mid-August in Thursday morning trading in Asia before sliding back slightly.
Intruder gains access to secrets. Hacker hacking into the security system. Data leakage, industrial espionage. Crypto theft, computer viruses. Authentication. Electronic encryption key.

Crypto hackers stole record US$3.8 bln in 2022, mostly from DeFi and cross-chain bridges: Chainalysis

Hackers stole at least US$3.8 billion in cryptocurrencies throughout 2022, a record-breaking year for crypto heists, says blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis.
Piggy moneybox with dollar cash closeup. Financial concept

Bankrupt FTX held US$1.4B in cash at the end of 2022

Bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX.com had around US$1.4 billion in cash reserves at the end of 2022, according to a financial update released Tuesday.
Cardano logo on a computer keyboard

Cardano’s Djed stablecoin locks US$10 mln in reserves on its first day

Djed, a Cardano-based algorithmic stablecoin, has collected over US$10 million in its reserves within the first 24 hours since it was launched on Wednesday.
Golden bitcoin on keyboard computer.

Markets: Bitcoin stays above US$23,000; Cardano leads gains in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin traded above US$23,000 throughout Wednesday afternoon trading in Asia, while Ethereum and other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies were mixed. Cardano led gains with 2.03% followed by XRP’s 1.13%. 
E-CNY logo on a Lunar New Year themed table | Digital yuan sales over Lunar New Year up from last year, online retailers say | digital yuan, China, e-CNY, CBDC

Digital yuan sales during Lunar New Year up from last year, online retailers say

Digital yuan sales at online retail platforms in China have surged during the Lunar New Year holidays fueled by local governments’ red packet coupons.
Top blockchain and crypto news: Bitcoin ETF outperforms. SBF under pressure as accusations mount. ‘China’s Instagram’ embraces NFTs.

Bitcoin mining fund soars as BTC powers into 2023

Top blockchain and crypto news: BTC mining ETF outperforms. SBF under pressure as accusations mount. ‘China’s Instagram’ embraces NFTs.
Nirmala Sitharaman

India crypto industry on ‘Stairway to Heaven’ as government ignores requests in Budget

Cryptocurrency exchanges in India had lobbied the government to reduce taxes introduced last year, arguing the levies were backfiring by driving local investment offshore.
Bitcoin sitting inside a computer. | New Bitcoin protocol allowing for NFT creation may reshape trading market

New Bitcoin protocol may shake up the NFT market

Bitcoin has long been the world’s largest cryptocurrency blockchain, but non-fungible tokens or NFTs were always the domain of Ethereum. A new protocol could change that, and some in the Bitcoin community are not too pleased.
greenidge

Bitcoin miner Greenidge Generation cuts NYDIG debt 78% to US$17 million

Troubled U.S.-based Bitcoin mining firm Greenidge Generation Holdings Inc. has restructured more of its debt to investment management service provider NYDIG and investment bank B. Riley Commercial Capital, the company announced on Tuesday.
John Deaton, the lawyer for XRP holders petitioning to congress, talks to Forkast

Judge rules secondary sale of LBC does not classify as security in SEC vs LBRY appeal

In the SEC’s case against decentralized publishing platform LBRY Inc., the judge ruled that the secondary sale of LBC does not qualify as a security.
Bitcoins sitting on top of U.S. cash. | Markets: Bitcoin climbs back above US$23,000 as most top 10 crypto tokens gain ground

Markets: Bitcoin climbs back above US$23,000 as most top 10 crypto tokens gain ground

Bitcoin prices broke back above US$23,000 in Wednesday morning trading in Asia.
Bitcoin and Hong Kong banknote

Hong Kong to mandate stablecoin licensing as early as this year

The HKMA said in a consultation conclusion that algorithmic stablecoins will not be allowed in the city.
Celsius misled investors, spent customer funds, bankruptcy examiner claims

Celsius misled investors, spent customer funds, bankruptcy examiner claims

Celsius Network may have misled its investors and spent customer funds, an independent examiner said in a Tuesday court filing.
Alameda Research: Follow the money

Alameda Research sues Voyager Digital for US$445.8 mln 

Alameda Research has sued bankrupt digital assets lender Voyager Digital to reclaim US$445.8 million worth in loan payments before FTX filed for its own bankruptcy.
Analysis graph for bitcoin

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether drop; Dogecoin rebounds

Bitcoin and Ethereum prices fell during Tuesday afternoon trading in Asia along with most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. Dogecoin was the exception in that list as it rebounded from morning losses.
stack of Bitcoins. | January weekly crypto investment reaches highest since July 2022, says CoinShares report

January weekly crypto product investment reaches highest since July, says CoinShares report

Digital asset investment products reached US$117 million in the week ending Jan. 27 — the highest since July 2022 — with nearly all of that going into Bitcoin.
South Korean palace | South Korea regulator recommends unified crypto disclosure system to protect investors | south korea crypto regulation, financial supervisory service

South Korea regulator recommends unified crypto disclosure system to protect investors

South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service has recommended a unified system for mandatory disclosure from issuers of cryptocurrencies.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried left Manhattan Federal Court after his arraignment and bail hearings on December 22, 2022 in New York City. Image: David Dee Delgado/Getty Images

Judge rules Sam Bankman-Fried’s $250 mln bail co-signers should be named

A U.S. federal judge has granted motions to reveal the identities of the two unnamed co-signers of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s US$250 million bail bond.
jigsaw puzzle with concepts related to regulations and compliance

What we must learn from FTX so that history does not repeat itself

Tighter regulations are necessary but not enough. The industry also needs to address its issues with custody and transparency, writes Chen Zhuling of RockX.
Two Bitcoin on a black background.

Bitcoin falls in broad crypto pull back ahead of U.S. Fed meeting on interest rates

Bitcoin fell along with Ether and all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies in Tuesday morning trading in Asia, wiping out most of Monday’s gains.
WGMI ETF's performance illustrated by a TradingView chart

Valkyrie’s WGMI Bitcoin Miners ETF named best-performing U.S. fund, surges 105% in 2023

Valkyrie’s Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin Miners exchange-traded fund (ETF), WGMI, has been the best-performing fund of 2023 so far, rising over 105% throughout January.
Nigerian money in a magnifying glass

Bitcoin trades higher in Nigeria amid cashless economy drive

Bitcoin price was trading at a premium in Nigerian cryptocurrency exchanges on Monday following the central bank’s limit on ATM cash withdrawals.
golden bitcoin and us dollars

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether extend gains; Solana leads among top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ethereum were up in Monday afternoon trading in Asia, while all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies were mixed. Solana led gains at 5.08%. 
thunderstorms and Bitcoin puzzle

A crypto regulatory storm front is coming in 2023. Are we ready for it?

Laws to prevent another FTX blowup, crackdowns on crypto tax cheats, and a ruling on Ripple are likely imminent. A bull’s eye is also on DeFi, writes Gergo Varga of SEON.
Row of bitcoin miners set up on the wired shelfs

Bitcoin mining difficulty hits new all-time high with 4.7% rise

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 4.68% on Sunday, hitting an all-time high, as the networks’ hashrate also continued to increase.
NFTs on Xiaohongshu's R-Space.

China’s ‘Instagram’ gets NFT makeover with Conflux

Xiaohongshu, or “Little Red Book,” a popular social media application widely described as the Chinese equivalent of Instagram, has integrated layer-1 public blockchain Conflux Network, allowing users to showcase their non-fungible tokens on their profile pages, Conflux announced on Thursday.
Ministry of Justice | S.Korea to adopt crypto tracking software in the first half of 2023 | south korea crypto crypto crime

S.Korea to adopt crypto tracking software in the first half of 2023

The South Korean Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announced Thursday that it will adopt a cryptocurrency tracking system within the first half of 2023.
Sunset glow in Sanya, the capital city of Hainan province.

China’s Hainan province to step up NFT supervision

Hainan province, a popular tourist destination in South China, published a notice on Sunday vowing to step up oversight on non-fungible tokens, or “digital collectibles,” which authorities said come with risks of fraud, money laundering and illegal fundraising.
U.S. White House. | Biden administration urges U.S. congress to pursue crypto regulation.

Biden administration urges U.S. congress to pursue crypto regulation

Four senior officials in U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration called for Congress to “step up its efforts” in regulating the cryptocurrency market.
Bitcoins sitting on top of U.S. cash. | Markets: Bitcoin closes in on US$24,000, lifts crypto top 10

Markets: Bitcoin closes in on US$24,000, lifts crypto top 10

Bitcoin was up on Monday morning in Asia, reaching its highest price in five months. Ether also rose along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies, with Solana and Litecoin posting the biggest gains.
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 22: FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves Manhattan Federal Court after his arraignment and bail hearings on December 22, 2022 in New York City. Bankman-Fried, who was indicted on December 9th and arrested 3 days later by Bahamas law enforcement at the request of U.S. prosecutors, consented to extradition to the U.S. where he is facing eight criminal counts of fraud, conspiracy and money-laundering offenses which includes making illegal political contributions. He is potentially facing life in prison if convicted. He was released on $250 million bond with the bail package requiring him to stay with his parents in California. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

Sam Bankman-Fried’s family members are not cooperating with FTX attorneys, court documents claim

Sam Bankman-Fried’s mother and brother are not cooperating with the FTX legal team’s investigations into the Bahamans-based exchange’s bankruptcy and misappropriation of customer funds
Computers connected to the network are victims of ransomware attacks

DOJ, FBI hack Hive Network, save US$130 mln from crypto ransomware attacks

The FBI and the DOJ have concluded a month-long disruption campaign against the Hive ransomware group, preventing victims from having to pay US $130 million.
Bankrupt BlockFi asks court to approve bonuses to keep staff

Bankrupt BlockFi asks court to approve bonuses to keep staff

BlockFi said it needed bonus payments to keep employees from fleeing the company. But creditors argue the plan is excessive when compared to other crypto bankruptcies.
Coins with bitcoin symbol on red light and crypto stocks chart b

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin rebounds above $23,000. Can it maintain momentum?

Bitcoin this week broke through the US$23,000 price ceiling for the first time since Aug. 2022. Can the benchmark cryptocurrency maintain its momentum? Industry commentators share their views with Forkast on what the market is telling investors and the signals from the U.S. Federal Reserve on interest rates.
Two Bitoins sitting on a grey background. | Markets: Bitcoin, Ether prices little changed; Polkadot gains as Polygon, Solana give up ground

Markets: Bitcoin up, Ether down; MATIC tops gains among top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin was up and Ether was down by the end of Asian trading hours on Friday afternoon when most of the top coins fell slightly. Polygon’s MATIC saw the biggest gains among the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies
bithumb office in Gangnam, Seoul | More bad news for South Korea’s Bithumb exchange with “Kimchi coin” manipulation allegations | bithumb, south korea, bithumb investigation, kang ji-yeon, kang jong-hyun

More bad news for South Korea’s Bithumb exchange with “Kimchi coin” manipulation allegations

Prosecutors raided the Bithumb crypto exchange on Thursday on allegations of price manipulation and fraudulent transactions in local tokens,
security scan identifying a computer exploit in a string of binary code

Are weak DAOs inviting attacks and manipulation?

Decentralized autonomous organizations suffer from faulty code and lax governance, which the unscrupulous can easily exploit, writes Michael Lewellen of OpenZepplin.
Ethereum and Bitcoin | Markets: Bitcoin dips but holds above US$23,000, Ether slips, Polygon biggest gainer in top 10 | bitcoin news, bitcoin price today, ether news, ether price today, polygon mastercard, polygon matic, polygon arkham intelligence

Markets: Bitcoin dips but holds above US$23,000, Ether slips, Polygon biggest gainer in top 10

Bitcoin and Ether gave up some of their January gains in Friday morning trading in Asia, though both are still higher for the week.
Coinbase

Coinbase fined US$3.6 mln by Dutch central bank

The Dutch central bank (DNB) has fined U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase €3.3 million (US$3.6 million) for failing to obtain correct registrations
FTX balance sheet

Apple, New York Times, Hong Kong Government listed among FTX creditors

Lawyers for the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, FTX.com, filed a document with a list of its institutional creditors on Thursday, which included major technology firms, publications and government bodies.  
Cryptocurrency trading platform visible on a screen

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether up; ADA posts most gains among top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ether were up during Asia trading hours on Thursday afternoon as many markets in Asia returned from the Luna New Year break. Cardano’s ADA led the rally among top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Forkast.News Editor-in-chief Angie Lau (left), World Economic Forum Head of Blockchain and Digital Assets Brynly Llyr (right) | World Economic Forum’s digital asset head expects real-world blockchain adoption in 2023 | crypto, davos 2023

World Economic Forum’s digital asset head expects real-world blockchain adoption in 2023

Cryptocurrencies post the Terra-Luna, FTX failures were a debated topic at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos in the week through Jan. 20, with some authorities calling for a doubling down on regulations. Others had a more nuanced view.
and
Forkast Opinion Images 4

An open letter to Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Your shotgun approach to crypto is dangerous for America

FTX’s implosion is spurring a regulatory scramble to rein in the crypto sector. But one influential US lawmaker may do more harm than good, writes Kadan Stadelmann, CTO of Komodo.
bitcoin crypto currency diagram | Markets: Bitcoin, Ether prices rise as crypto market stages rebound; Solana biggest gainer among top 10 | bitcoin price, ether price, crypto price, cardano, solana, polygon

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether prices rise as crypto market stages rebound; Solana biggest gainer among top 10

Bitcoin and Ether rebounded in Thursday morning trading in Asia amid broad gains in the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.
Digital Currency Group

DCG-owned Luno exchange to axe 35% of its staff

Cryptocurrency exchange Luno, the London-based trading platform owned by venture capital firm Digital Currency Group (DCG), will let go of 35% of its global workforce
European Union flag with a golden Bitcoin in the background

EU looks to place limit on banks holding crypto

European Union lawmakers have voted in favor of a draft bill that imposes stricter capital requirements on banks holding crypto assets.
Bankrupt BlockFi's financials show US$1.2 bln exposure to FTX, Alameda

Bankrupt BlockFi’s financials show US$1.2 bln exposure to FTX, Alameda: report

Bankrupt BlockFi reportedly had over US$1.2 billion of assets tied to FTX.com and its sister trading firm Alameda Research
Top blockchain and crypto news: Genesis bankruptcy begins. FTX chief ponders a reboot. China’s CBDC gets a smart-contract upgrade.

Will Genesis meet its maker amid creditors closing in?

Top blockchain and crypto news: Genesis bankruptcy begins. FTX chief ponders a reboot. China’s CBDC gets a smart-contract upgrade.
cryptocurrency and stock market business concept

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; Solana, Cardano biggest losers in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ethereum fell in Wednesday afternoon trading in Asia, as Solana and Cardano led losses among the other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Bitcoin mining machines. | Blockstream says it raised US$125 million to expand Bitcoin mining hosting operations

Blockstream says it raised US$125 million to expand Bitcoin mining operations

Blockchain infrastructure firm Blockstream Corporation Inc. on Tuesday said it raised US$125 million from convertible note and secured loan financing to expand its Bitcoin mining operations and meet strong demand for what it called “institutional hosting services.”
Bitcoins sitting inside a wallet. | Binance says it erroneously mixed customer funds with collateral for Binance-issued tokens

Binance says it erroneously mixed customer funds with collateral for Binance-issued tokens

Binance Holdings Ltd., the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, acknowledged it mistakenly stored customer funds in the same wallet holding collateral for its Binance-pegged tokens, known as B-Tokens
tokyo and tether stablecoin token on top of dollar bills | Japan’s financial regulator aims to lift ban on foreign stablecoin trading by June this year | japan stablecoin crypto regulation stablecoin ban

Japan’s financial regulator aims to lift ban on foreign stablecoins by June this year

Japan plans to introduce regulations by June this year that will allow domestic investors to trade certain stablecoins from overseas.

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