Forkast.News is now Forkast Labs
Hong Kong cityscape | Hong Kong retail investors blocked from crypto spot ETFs

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether fall; DOGE leads losses across top 10 crypto

Bitcoin fell in evening trade in Asia along with almost all other top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins, with the sole gain seen in Polkadot’s uptick.
Forkast Opinion Images 2

Satoshi’s other big legacy: Bitcoin is propelling a green energy revolution

The Bitcoin white paper, published 14 years ago this day, launched an industry that is now subsidizing clean energy and turning waste into digital gold, writes Will Szamosszegi of Sazmining.
WEMIX logo and graphics | South Korea’s Wemade to remedy WEMIX token after ‘investment warning’ by crypto exchanges | wemix, wemade, south korea

South Korea’s Wemade to remedy WEMIX token after ‘investment warning’ by crypto exchanges

South Korea-based blockchain game developer Wemade is working on a fix for WEMIX after four major crypto exchanges in the country added the cryptocurrency to an “investment warning” list for inaccurately reporting circulation numbers.
Hong Kong begins public consultation on crypto licensing regime

Hong Kong seeks to allow crypto futures ETFs

The city is seeking to allow digital asset-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to be publicly listed and traded in the city.
Bitcoin and Hong Kong banknote

Sam Bankman-Fried says Hong Kong could become Asia’s Web 3 hub

The founder of crypto exchange FTX, which moved out of Hong Kong in 2021, said that the city could emerge as a Web3, blockchain and cryptocurrency hub.
Do Kwon and Singapore | Terra CEO Do Kwon faces lawsuit in Singapore, next hearing on Wednesday | do kwon news, do kwon terra, terra luna

Terra CEO Do Kwon faces lawsuit in Singapore, next hearing on Wednesday

A hearing is scheduled in Singapore on a lawsuit filed against Terraform Labs’ Do Kwon on behalf of investors who lost about US$57 million in the collapse of Terra-LUNA.
Matt Damon in Crypto.com advertisement Fortune Favors the Brave

Fortune favors the brave? One year on from Crypto.com’s ad with Matt Damon

Trading volume on cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com has slumped about 90% in the 12 months since the company’s “fortune favors the brave” ad.
Bitcoin on a plain background. Markets: Bitcoin, Ether, Cardano, XRP fall; BNB gains on Binance Twitter investment

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether, Cardano, XRP fall; BNB gains on Binance Twitter investment

Bitcoin and Ether fell in Monday morning trading in Asia, along with most other top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins.
Visa card next to a golden Bitcoin

Visa’s trademark filings hint at launch of crypto wallet

Visa International Service Association on Oct. 22 filed two trademark applications that hinted at plans of launching a crypto wallet.
Woman showing thumb down while using VR virtual reality headset over an isolated background. Technology concept.

Meta’s one-year anniversary: Virtual reality meets tough reality

It is the one-year anniversary of Facebook’s rebrand as Meta, a major step in the company’s foray into virtual reality and Web3. However, in actual reality, not everything has gone to plan for the platform’s new parent company.
shutterstock 1209348046 gID 2

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether drop; ADA leads decline across top 10 crypto

Bitcoin dropped nearly 3% in afternoon trading in Asia. All other top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins, declined following a strong two-day rally by most tokens.
Binance, a16z among investors backing Musk's Twitter bid with US$7 bln

Binance confirms equity in Elon Musk’s Twitter acquisition

Binance has confirmed its participation in Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk’s Twitter acquisition as an equity investor.
Gopax logo | Blockchain will be YouTube for finance, says CEO of South Korean blockchain firm Streami | gopax, south korea, busan

Blockchain will be YouTube for finance, says CEO of South Korean blockchain firm Streami

The use of blockchain technology in finance will have an impact similar to that of YouTube on the media industry, said Lee Jun-haeng, CEO of South Korea-based blockchain company Streami.
Bored Ape Yacht Club

NFT ‘hype cycle’ over, major changes expected in 2023: report

New York-based technology consulting firm, Activate Consulting, has projected that 2023 will see “the end of NFTs hype cycle” with the token class expected to undergo major changes in how they are used and regarded.
Leon Foong, Head of APAC for Binance | Binance will help Busan grow blockchain from bottom up | binance, binance busan

Binance says will help Busan city grow blockchain industry from bottom up

Busan, S. Korea’s designated blockchain city, plans to make itself a global center for the technology. Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, plans to help.
Hong Kong and chinese flag

Hong Kong set to relaunch itself as digital asset hub with revamped policies

When China banned cryptocurrency trading and mining in September 2021, it was feared that policy would make its way into Hong Kong. Seems that concern is getting a rethink.
FTX said to be in talks to acquire S.Korea’s Bithumb exchange

SBF: FTX stablecoin, ‘Second Great Stablecoin War’ are coming

Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the crypto exchange FTX, says he hopes FTX will soon join most other major exchanges in having launched a stablecoin.
bitcoin and rolled dollar bills with black and white graveyard background

How to manage your crypto assets beyond the grave

When the Grim Reaper comes, will he take all your Bitcoins, too? Here’s how to ensure your crypto wealth will survive and live on for your heirs.
looksrare logo on black background. Ethereum’s LooksRare latest NFT marketplace to make creator royalties optional.

Ethereum’s LooksRare latest NFT marketplace to make creator royalties optional

LooksRare is the latest NFT marketplace to make paying creator royalty fees optional as the industry struggles amid an ongoing slump in the NFT market.
Huobi

Huobi Global to end HUSD trading, delist stablecoin

Crypto exchange Huobi Global will delist its stablecoin HUSD on Friday, refund holders 1:1 with USDT.
Two bitcoins on a black background. Markets: Bitcoin, Ether fall; Dogecoin gains as Elon Musk’s Twitter buyout moves ahead

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether fall; Dogecoin gains as Elon Musk’s Twitter buyout moves ahead

Bitcoin’s recent price gains came to a halt in Friday morning trading in Asia though it remained above the US$20,000 support line.
amit shah talks about crypto as a rising medium of exchange for drug smugglers

Crypto a rising currency of choice for drug smugglers in India

India has witnessed an increase in drug smuggling using cryptocurrencies and the darknet, according to the country’s Home Minister Amit Shah. 
Nur-Sultan, the capital city of Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan’s central bank to test CBDC on BNB chain

The National Bank of Kazakhstan [NKB] will be testing the integration of their central bank digital currency (CBDC) on the BNB Chain.
British pounds

UK High Court shuts down PGI Global for alleged crypto scam

The United Kingdom High Court has shut down PGI Global UK Ltd. for allegedly running a crypto scam and has appointed the official receiver as the company’s liquidator. 
core scientific mining facility

World’s largest Bitcoin miner Core Scientific’s stock tumbles amid liquidity crisis

The Nasdaq-listed company expects to deplete its cash resources by the end of this year.
Hong Kong at night

Hong Kong mulls plans to legalize retail crypto trading: Bloomberg

Hong Kong is mulling plans to legalize retail crypto trading to regain its status as a global digital asset hub.
Dogecoin, litecoin, etheteum and bitcoin, Markets: Dogecoin reenters top 10 tokens by market cap, Bitcoin and Ethereum up

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether rise; Dogecoin leads gains across most top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin extended its rally and rose nearly 2%, with top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins, mostly higher on the day, led by Dogecoin’s 18% gain as Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter neared completion.
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (screen) at BWB2022 | Education is best protection measure in blockchain tech, says Binance chief CZ | Binance, changpeng zhao, binance cz

Education is best protection measure in blockchain tech, says Binance chief CZ

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao believes education is key to a wider, safer adoption of blockchain technology.
Sam Bankman-Fried at BWB2022 | FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried stresses need for global regulatory framework | sam bankman fried, sbf, ftx

FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried says action needed on global rules for cryptocurrencies

Bankman-Fried says the global crypto industry needs a “passporting” policy framework that lowers barriers for crypto businesses.
golden-ethereum-coin-3d-rendering-EF7DBD2

Crypto a ‘better bet’ than gold, says Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin

Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has called crypto “the better bet” over gold, and that “gold has less adoption than crypto.”
Ripple coin image, court hammer

SEC takes no position on two motions in support of Ripple in XRP lawsuit

The SEC is not taking a position on two motions, submitted by non-profit organization Investor Choice Advocates Network and crypto wallet provider SpendTheBits, which seek to weigh in on the lawsuit between the SEC and Ripple.
Crypto.com COO Eric Anziani at BWB2022 | Gaming and NFTs will drive Web3 growth: Crypto.com COO | crypto.com busan, south korea crypto

Gaming and NFTs will drive Web3 growth: Crypto.com COO

The future of the burgeoning Web3 sector will be gaming and non-fungible tokens, said Eric Anziani of global digital asset exchange Crypto.com.
metaverse

Meta AR/VR arm adds to mounting losses for Facebook parent company

Meta’s metaverse division Reality Labs lost US$3.7 billion in the third quarter of this year, bringing its accumulated losses in 2022 to US$9.4 billion.
Person's shadow in front of the Google logo. Google to update legal compliance following lost criminal crypto exchange data

Google to update legal compliance following lost criminal crypto exchange data

Google agreed to improve its legal compliance process in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice after failing to produce data on the now-defunct crypto exchange BTC-e in 2016.
3D art sculpture _Meta Skull_ by Jacky Tsai displayed on LG Transparent OLED Screen at Digital Art Fair Xperience Hong Kong 2022. Image: Courtesy of Digital Art Fair

More than just a JPEG? Digital Art Fair Hong Kong explores NFTs for data streaming and display

Pixelated pictures and cartoonish drawings have typically dominated the world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), but some exhibits at Hong Kong’s Xperience art fair show new means of applying the technology.
Wemade CEO Henry Chang at BWB2022 | A 100% reserve is a must for any stablecoin: Wemade CEO | wemade stablecoin, wemix, wemix 3.0, wemix$

A 100% reserve is a must for any stablecoin: Wemade CEO

A stablecoin that is not stable is an ‘oxymoron,’ said Henry Chang, CEO of South Korea-based blockchain game developer Wemade.
pile of cryptocurrency coins and European Union flag

How Europe’s MiCA can pave the way for crypto’s revival

Europe’s new MiCA framework for regulating crypto shows the good that can happen when government works with and not against the industry, writes Nick Saponaro of Divi Labs.
Bitcoin in sand. Markets: Bitcoin price nears US$21,000 amid market rally as Ether, Dogecoin lead gains

Markets: Bitcoin price nears US$21,000 amid market rally as Ether, Dogecoin lead gains

Bitcoin continued its price run higher in Thursday morning trading in Asia as it neared US$21,000. Ether and the rest of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins, also rose. The total crypto market cap exceeded US$1 trillion for the first time since mid-September. Leading memecoin Dogecoin was the best performer, while the […]
Bitcoin coins and money on the business desk

Cash App users can now receive Bitcoin via the Lightning Network

Cash App users in the U.S. can now buy, send, and receive Bitcoin using the Lightning Network, directly within the app. 
Dubai

Hong Kong crypto firm Q9 Capital gets Dubai provisional approval

Hong Kong-based crypto investment firm Q9 Capital has received a provisional virtual asset approval from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA), the company said on Wednesday in a statement shared with Forkast.
Aptos debut underwhelms amid questions over design and performance

Aptos debut underwhelms amid questions over design and performance

Top blockchain and crypto news: Aptos launch falls short. Why FTX chief is calling for crypto regulations. Is Hong Kong paving way for a retail CBDC?
Timeline shows the progress of the mBridge CBDC pilot project

BIS’ mBridge shows CBDCs enhance cross-border payment efficiency: HKMA

The pilot successfully executed real-value cross-border transactions involving four currencies and 20 commercial bank participants across four jurisdictions, the HKMA said.
singapore merlion

Singapore floats tests for retail crypto traders, plans to regulate stablecoins

The central bank is also considering options such as banning crypto firms from offering credit facilities, leverage or staking services to retail traders.
PBOC

Chinese blockchain firms conducting financial businesses may be violating PBOC guidelines

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) has reminded financial technology (fintech) firms to comply with financial laws and regulations, in the central bank’s new set of guidelines released earlier this month.
US CPI FED crypto

Markets: Bitcoin price hits three-week high; top 10 cryptos gain, led by Ether

Bitcoin posted a three-week high in afternoon trading in the Asia time zone. Ether led gains across all top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, with a 12% surge. Cardano’s ADA and Solana’s token also registered double-digit gains.
Guochun He (left) and Zheng Wang

US alleges Chinese spies used Bitcoin to bribe law enforcement officer

Two Chinese intelligence officers allegedly paid a double agent to help steal files related to a federal investigation into a China-based global telecom firm, reported to be Huawei.
Golden bitcoins and South Korea flag | S.Korea’s Shinhan Securities lays groundwork for hoped-for crypto expansion | shinhan securities, shinhan crypto

S.Korea’s Shinhan Securities lays groundwork toward hoped-for crypto expansion

As a leading financial institution of South Korea, Shinhan is gearing up for business expansion into crypto — while a local ban remains on the books.
NFTs featuring bubble tea images

Meta, Taiwan LGBT group launch NFTs for upcoming pride

Meta is collaborating with a Taiwan LGBT advocacy group and a local cryptocurrency exchange to issue charity NFTs as part of the Taiwan Pride celebration.
coins Bitcoin, on a background of Great Britain and the British flag, concept of virtual money, close-up. Conceptual image of digital crypto currency.

UK lawmakers vote to regulate digital assets as financial instruments

Lawmakers in the British Parliament’s lower house voted in favor of recognizing cryptocurrency assets as regulated financial instruments and products Tuesday.
Singapore skyline. Singapore court issues ‘landmark’ NFT decision, allows papers to be served via blockchain

Singapore court issues ‘huge’ NFT decision, allows papers to be served via blockchain

The lead counsel for the plaintiff in the case has called Friday’s ruling a decision with implications for the global blockchain industry
Parliament of Australia against blue sky. Australian 2022 budget confirms digital assets will not be taxed as foreign currency

Australian 2022 budget confirms digital assets will not be taxed as foreign currency

The Australian Government has clarified that cryptocurrency will continue to be taxed as an asset class instead of a foreign currency in its 2022 budget released on Tuesday.
us capitol

As US midterms approach, poll says voters want policy interests to align with crypto, technology

Survey reveals popularity of crypto ownership among voters, their hopes for the industry’s growing potential and the need for regulation to protect consumers.
Backdrop of Busan at night and gate.io, crypto.com logos | Crypto.com, Gate.io sign on to boost Busan’s blockchain aspirations | busan blockchain, crypto.com, gate.io

Crypto.com, Gate.io sign on to boost Busan’s blockchain aspirations

South Korea’s Busan signs agreements global cryptocurrency exchanges Crypto.com and Gate.io to grow the city’s blockchain ecosystem.
Bitcoins stacked on a black back ground. Bitcoin back above US$20,000, Ether jumps as U.K. votes to regulate crypto

Markets: Bitcoin price back above US$20,000, Ether jumps as U.K. votes to regulate crypto

Bitcoin was trading above US$20,000 for the first time in almost three weeks on Wednesday morning trading in Asia.
Four Reddit NFT Avatars, on Reddit's NFT platform

Reddit NFT trading volume hits all-time daily high as avatars sell out

Reddit non-fungible token (NFT) avatar trade volumes hit an all-time high, with sales exceeding US$2.5 million in the past 24 hours.
Bitcoin

Markets: Bitcoin little changed, Ether rises, top 10 cryptos mixed, XRP leads losers

Bitcoin traded flat on Tuesday afternoon in Asia hours, while Ether edged higher in a mixed day for prices among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins. XRP led the losers for the second consecutive day. Polygon’s Matic token held onto recent gains and Dogecoin also moved higher.
Taiwanese singer Annie Yi and her artist son Harrison Yu. Theirsverse NFT

Taiwan singer Annie Yi taps LGBT NFTs with artist son to advocate inclusion

The singer-actress and son Harrison Yu said they launched the Theirsverse NFT brand in New York to engage marginalized groups in the early building of Web 3.0.
Hong Kong cityscape | Hong Kong retail investors blocked from crypto spot ETFs

HNWI, family offices to drive crypto adoption across Asia: KPMG, Aspen Digital report

Family offices and high net worth individuals (HNWI) will drive the adoption of digital assets across Asia, according to a joint report by professional services firm KPMG China and Hong Kong-based crypto asset management platform Aspen Digital. See related article: Hong Kong, BIS explore CBDC-backed stablecoins in retail prototype Fast facts The report, largely based […]
Apple logo and a seesaw with u.s. dollars on one hand, a bag labelled NFTs on the other | Apple will not allow NFTs used to unlock in-app features | apple nft, apple nft fee

Apple will not allow NFTs to unlock in-app features

Apple is allowing NFTs in applications, but will not allow them to be used to unlock in-app content or features.
Hong Kong skyline

BIS, Goldman Sachs, HKMA test tokenized green bond project Genesis 2.0

Genesis 2.0 aims to explore tokenized carbon credits and IoT facilities to monitor green bond issuers’ emission-reducing commitment.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 23: Sam Bankman-Fried speaks onstage during the first annual Moonlight Gala benefitting CARE - Children With Special Needs - hosted by Michael Cayre, Roy Nachum and MegaMoon Museum at Casa Cipriani on June 23, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for CARE For Special Children )

Sam Bankman-Fried to refund FTX phishing victims — just this once

Cryptocurrency exchange FTX will reimburse US$6 million lost by users in a phishing attack over the weekend, according to founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
Mark Zuckerberg avatar and close-up of LED stock graph | Letter to Zuck: Meta, metaverse dreams need to come down to earth | mark zuckerberg, meta metaverse, altimeter capital

Letter to Zuck: Meta, metaverse dreams must come down to earth

Meta shareholder Altimeter Capital’s CEO Brad Gerstner wrote a letter to Mark Zuckerberg suggesting a cut in headcount and in metaverse investments.
investors discussing layered with cryptocurrency coins

The crypto industry needs to do more to help ordinary investors

Cryptocurrency was created to be accessible to the masses. So why are retail investors getting shut out from the best analytical and trading tools?
Bitcoin and cash on a black background Bitocin falls as mining difficulty hits record high

Markets: Bitcoin falls as mining difficulty hits record high, rest of crypto top 10 also decline

Bitcoin dipped in Tuesday morning trading in Asia, but held above the US$19,000 support line where it has been fluctuating for several weeks.
Rishi Sunak waves, among colleagues

Top “UK Crypto Hub” proponent Rishi Sunak to become prime minister

Rishi Sunak, who previously spearheaded the UK’s crypto hub ambitions as finance minister, has been elected by the Conservative Party on Monday following Liz Truss’ resignation last week. 
Bitcoin and crypto mining farm. Big data center.

Bitcoin mining difficulty logs new high, up 3.4%

Bitcoin mining difficulty has reached a new high after a 3.44% increase in Monday’s biweekly adjustment, according to data from BTC.com.
View of Hong Kong skyline form Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Hong Kong, BIS explore CBDC-backed stablecoins in retail prototype

The BIS Innovation Hub Hong Kong Centre has completed its CBDC study, Project Aurum, which examined the feasibility of intermediated CBDCs and CBDC-backed stablecoins.
Hong Kong skyline

Markets: Bitcoin gains, Polygon leads top 10 crypto; Hong Kong stocks plunge

Bitcoin rose in Monday evening trading in Asia in a mixed day across the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins. Ether gained more than 2% and Polygon had a strong run up of more than 6%. XRP fell. Different picture for Hong Kong stocks, where the Hang Seng Index plunged to lows last […]
arrows and graphs showing stock market crash with various cryptocurrencies

Is crypto dead? No, but doomsayers may profit from your panic

A lack of regulations means anyone can say bad things about crypto to stir up fear — and push you to sell. Even if they stand to make money from your losses.
Court hammer, XRP token | SEC asks court to deny Ripple motion for summary judgment in XRP lawsuit

SEC asks court to deny Ripple motion for summary judgment in XRP lawsuit

The U.S. SEC has filed a legal rebuttal to Ripple’s motion for summary judgment, a day after Ripple took a similar move against the SEC.
nft

‘Chinese Netflix’ iQIYI taps smart contract ERC-3475 to resolve copyright disputes

iQIYI, one of China’s largest online video platforms with over 100 million subscribers, is tapping Ethereum smart contract standard ERC-3475 to solve copyright-related issues, according to a press release on Sunday from the standard’s inventor, decentralized bond protocol DeBond.
Wemade's MIR4 | South Korea’s MIR4 maker WEMADE launches stablecoin | wemade, wemix 3.0, wemade stablecoin, mir4

South Korea’s MIR4 maker Wemade launches stablecoin

WEMADE, a South Korean blockchain game developer, recently launched its stablecoin, WEMIX$, for growing its blockchain ecosystem, which houses NFTs and DeFi.

Delivered weekly on Thursdays

The Current Forkast

An unmissable weekly round up of the biggest stories in emerging tech from an Asian perspective, featuring commentary from Forkast Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau. Check out recent editions.