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World Economic Forum argues for CBDCs, Australia latest to test use-case technology
With over 100 countries experimenting with the technology behind Central Bank Digital Currencies, the World Economic Forum of Davos fame lays out its views on the potential benefits and drawbacks of CBDCs.
Slowdown in crypto interest to continue for rest of the year: KPMG
A slowdown in crypto investment — particularly in firms offering coins, tokens and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) — will continue in the second half of the current year, according to a new report by global audit and consulting firm KPMG. See related article: Siloed regulatory efforts unlikely to help bring oversight to highly decentralized crypto industry […]
Crypto influencer collects, then returns, US$100K from investors in fake scheme
Crypto influencer Fatman Terra pitched his own fake investment scheme on Twitter — and found willing investors instantly — in an attempt to educate people about scams in the industry. See related article: Terra’s Mirror Protocol fixes exploit that drained more than US$2 million Fast facts “In two hours, I received over one hundred DMs,” […]
Markets: Bitcoin slumps below US$19,000, Ether drops despite Merge progress
Bitcoin dipped under US$19,000 to the lowest price since mid-June in an across-the-market slump for the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization in Wednesday morning trading in Asia. Ether also lost ground even though it began one of its last required upgrades on Tuesday before the network Merge expected later this month. See related article: […]
‘Doctor Bitcoin’ claims to be heading to prison for P2P BTC sale
Crypto entrepreneur Mark Hopkins, also known as Doctor Bitcoin” or “Rizzn”, claimed on Twitter that he has been sentenced to six to 15 months in federal prison for allegedly participating in peer-to-peer Bitcoin sales without a federal license. See related article: Tornado Cash arrest heralds storm season for crypto mixers Fast facts P2P sale of […]
Crypto exchange Bybit barred from brokering securities in Brazil
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (CVM) has banned Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange Bybit from brokering “securities” within the country. See related article: Thailand mandates warnings on crypto ads Fast facts The CVM released a declaratory act, in an announcement on Monday, that ordered the suspension of Bybit’s security offerings and intermediation services directly or […]
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, Cardano, XRP extend gains on the day
Prices of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, XRP and Solana rose on Tuesday afternoon in Asia. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin rises slightly, Ether and Ethereum Classic gain amid price run for alternatives Fast facts Bitcoin rose 0.77% in the past 24 hours as of 4 p.m. in Hong Kong to US$19,906.86. Ethereum saw bigger gains today […]
Binance move to remove USDC and others raise questions about market conduct
The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange said the move was designed to “enhance liquidity and capital-efficiency for users.”
Indian police arrest alleged crypto trickster in US$31 mln scam: report
Indian police in the state of Maharashtra have arrested a man on charges of cheating 1,441 investors in a fake cryptocurrency scam, according to a local media report. See related article: Tax authorities recover US$9M from India’s biggest crypto exchanges Fast facts The scam may be in excess of 2.5 billion rupees (US$31.2 million) and […]
Australia establishes federal crypto police unit
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have set up a crypto crime unit that will trace and seize illicit cryptocurrency linked to money laundering and other criminal activity, the Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported Monday. See related article: Ukraine National Police takes down crypto fraud cybercrime group Fast facts Launched in August, the unit will help […]
SK Telecom’s Ifland metaverse adds cashable in-app economy
The Ifland metaverse, run by South Korean telecommunications giant SK Telecom (SKT), is allowing users to earn money by hosting meetups in the virtual world, the company announced Monday. See related article: South Korea’s Ifland metaverse dives into play-to-earn Fast facts SKT has adopted an “ifland point” system to usher in its metaverse economy — […]
Singapore’s DBS commits to crypto offerings despite slump: report
Singapore’s largest bank, DBS, aims to expand its cryptocurrency and digital assets offerings to 300,000 new clients in the face of the crypto bear market, according to a Financial Times report on Tuesday. See related article: Why DBS’ move into the digital asset space is more than a token gesture Fast facts In an interview, […]
Why play-to-earn gaming is losing steam and where GameFi must go next
Axie Infinity’s decline shows that earning can’t be everything, writes Riaz Lalani of Gambit Games. What went wrong with P2E and what can we learn from it?
Ethereum Classic surges over 24%, hashrate hits record high
ETC, the token of Ethereum Classic, logged a double-digit gain in the past 24 hours as of Tuesday morning in Asia, while its hashrate hit a record high on Monday as miners look for alternatives in anticipation of the “Merge.” See related article: Markets: Bitcoin rises slightly, Ether and Ethereum Classic gain amid price run […]
Markets: Bitcoin rises slightly, Ether and Ethereum Classic gain amid price run for alternatives
Bitcoin rose slightly in Tuesday morning trading in Asia after falling below the key resistance line of US$20,000 on Monday morning. Ether posted the greatest gains in the crypto top ten by market cap as the rest of that list rose or fell by less than 1%. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin, Ether edge up; […]
Poolin pauses withdrawals from Pool Accounts, admits liquidity issues
Poolin has paused withdrawals from its wallets known as “Pool Accounts”, the major Bitcoin and cryptocurrency mining pool said in a statement on Monday. See related article: Poolin partners with crypto trading firm Quant Satoshi to expand US business Fast facts A recent surge in withdrawal demand is the primary root of the mining pool’s […]
China to speed up, expand digital yuan smart contracts, PBOC official says
Mu Changchun, head of the central bank’s digital currency institute, says the agency is developing a platform to review and register smart contracts for e-CNY, the country’s new digital currency in trial.
Markets: Bitcoin stuck under US$20,000, Ether edges up, Cardano slides
Bitcoin edged up in Monday afternoon trading in Asia, but it still traded below the US$20,000 resistance line, a level it has now fluctuated around since late August. Ether rose, along with Solana and Polkadot. Cardano reversed morning gains to trade lower. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin, Ether edge up; Cardano, Solana lead gains in […]
Where will DeFi be after crypto winter ends?
The collapse of Celsius and Anchor wasn’t a failure of DeFi, writes Kaaran Kalantari of WingRiders. They failed to assess risk, and crypto Darwinism took shape.
New hire in Saudi Central Bank to work on crypto regulations: report
Saudi Arabia’s central bank has appointed Mohsen AlZahrani, a former managing director at consultancy firm Accenture, to head its virtual assets and central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiative, Bloomberg reported. See related article: Governments pushing for CBDCs smell blood in Terra Classic’s struggles Fast facts With the United Arab Emirates aiming to be a global […]
Anti-crypto U.S. congressman says too much power, money prevent all-out ban
U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman, who chairs a House subcommittee on investor protection and a leading crypto skeptic in Washington, is seeking more stringent cryptocurrency regulation, if not all-out bans, according to a report by the LA Times. See related article: CFTC, SEC seek input on hedge fund crypto reporting rules Fast facts In an interview […]
S.Korea TV network partners with metaverse gaming platform The Sandbox
MBC (Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation), one of South Korea’s four national television and radio networks, has signed a business partnership with Hong Kong-based metaverse gaming platform The Sandbox, according to its announcement on Friday. See related article: Netflix Sweet Home producer to build K-drama metaverse in the Sandbox Fast facts MBC will create its emblematic Sangam […]
India crypto exchanges plan long-term future as day traders flee
In facing a government hostile to cryptocurrency trading, Indian exchanges are trying to attract new business with suites of different investment products.
Cardano’s Vasil hard fork upgrade confirmed for Sept. 22
The Cardano blockchain’s hard fork upgrade, Vasil, is scheduled for mainnet on Sept. 22, according to Cardano developer and operator Input Output Global’s (IOG) Twitter announcement over the weekend. See related article: Cardano delays Vasil blockchain upgrade, citing bugs and ‘abundance of caution’ Fast facts “Vasil is the most significant Cardano upgrade to date, bringing […]
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether edge up; Cardano, Solana lead gains in crypto top 10
Bitcoin rose slightly in Monday morning trading in Asia, but the world’s largest cryptocurrency was trading below the key resistance line of US$20,000 after falling below that mark on Saturday. Ether edged up, along with Cardano and Solana, while most other tokens in the top 10 by market capitalization were little changed. See related article: […]
Bitcoin gains as US unemployment rate rises to 3.7%, indicates inflation slowing
Bitcoin gained almost 2% on Friday evening in Asia after the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the unemployment rate in August rose to 3.7% from 3.5% in July. The figures suggest the U.S. economy is slowing, which may influence the Federal Reserve when it meets this month to decide on raising interest rates. […]
Thailand mandates warnings on crypto ads
Cryptocurrency advertisements in Thailand must indicate potential risks of investing in the nascent asset class, the nation’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said in a statement on Thursday. See related article: Singapore central bank warns against crypto marketing, promotion Fast facts Crypto businesses in the Southeast Asian nation must report all details of advertisements and […]
ENS provider reports third-highest monthly revenue, ahead of “The Merge”
Ethereum Name Service (ENS) reported its third-highest month of revenue in August, with 301,000 new “.eth” registrations, totaling 2.17 million names, according to a post on its verified Twitter handle. See related article: ENS domain name expires as developer is in prison, becomes up for grabs in Sept. Fast facts ENS generated 2,744 ETH, currently […]
IMF looks to build platform for cross-border CBDC transactions
The director and division chief of IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department will soon publish a paper laying out a blueprint for a platform to support CBDC clearing and settlement transactions between multiple countries. See related article: Inter-country use key for CBDCs to reach potential: report Fast facts See related article: US Digital Dollar Project […]
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether, Cardano, Doge gain; Celsius token jumps amid refund reports
Bitcoin edged above the US$20,000 mark, the price it fluctuated around all week, while Ether rose more than 3% in late afternoon trading in Asia on Friday. Cardano, Dogecoin and Solana all added more than 2%. Celsius rallied over 34% in the past 24 hours. See related article: Bitcoin fluctuates, Ether gains, MATIC jumps on […]
CFTC, SEC seek input on hedge fund crypto reporting rules
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have jointly sought public comments to amend crypto rules for large hedge funds advisers. See related article: New US crypto bill seeks to make CFTC top Bitcoin, Ethereum watchdog Fast facts The CFTC and SEC are jointly proposing to amend the rules […]
Do I really need another picture of an ape? NFT market slumps in August
The NFT hype from earlier in the year is dying off as the market continues its downward path into the final third of the year. Fire sale coming for apes and cats?
Hong Kong hosts Digital Asset Series seminars for mass literacy
Hong Kong is hosting the Digital Asset Series (DAS) educational seminars, which started in August to continue into November this year. See related article: Why children around the world need crypto education Fast facts The free educational seminars will be delivered by industry experts, legal professionals, regulators and scholars from the finance-technology (fintech) sector, according […]
Chinese central bank should issue RMB stablecoin for metaverse: academic
China should issue a digital yuan-collateral stablecoin to establish an on-chain payment system for China’s metaverse, as the infrastructure developed by China itself is the key to ensuring national security, said influential academic Zhang Ping of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, an institution providing policy consultation to the Chinese State Council. See related article: Naver’s […]
Naver’s Zepeto metaverse teams with Thailand’s telecom giant True
Naver Z, the operator of South Korea-based Zepeto metaverse, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Thai telecommunications and digital services provider True Corporation to grow Thailand’s metaverse ecosystem. See related article: Naver’s Zepeto metaverse starts blockchain initiative with Solana Fast facts Utilizing Zepeto as a platform, True will provide future-oriented, online-to-offline experience that […]
Binance chief Changpeng Zhao reiterates Binance not a Chinese company
Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao reiterated that Binance is not a Chinese company and it “was never incorporated in China,” as the country continues to ban cryptocurrency trading. See related article: Binance to help S. Korea’s Busan build first city-backed exchange Fast facts In a blog post published on Thursday, Zhao wrote that the […]
Binance says it complies with regulators following US anti-money laundering probe report
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, said it has worked with regulatory agencies from around the world to address outstanding compliance questions, following a Reuters report that U.S. federal prosecutors asked the exchange to offer internal records involving founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao for anti-money laundering checks in late 2020. See related […]
Crypto lender Celsius to return US$50 mln to locked out users
Celsius Network Ltd., which has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, has filed a motion to return around US$50 million worth of tokens to a portion of holders as these funds are not part of the bankruptcy estate, unlike funds from Earn and Borrow clients. The hearing on the filing will take place on Oct. 6. […]
Bitcoin fluctuates, Ether gains, MATIC jumps on Robinhood inclusion
Bitcoin was fluctuating around US$20,000, while Ether was among the biggest gainers in the cryptocurrency top 10 by market capitalization in early Friday morning trading in Asia. Most other tokens on the list were little changed, though Cardano rose. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin, Ether, Cardano slip; remnants of Terra – USTC and LUNC – […]
BABL tanks 92% after Babylon Finance announces shut down
BABL, the native cryptocurrency of Babylon Finance, has lost 92% of its value after the decentralized finance (DeFi) asset management protocol’s founder Ramon Recuero on Wednesday announced plans to shut down its services. See related article: Chainalysis says $2 bln stolen in cross-chain bridge hacks this year, more expected Fast facts The token was trading […]
Director at China’s Securities Regulatory Commission deep-dives into Web 3.0 in new book, a year after China’s crypto ban
Nearly a year after China banned crypto trading and mining, the director of the Technology Supervision Bureau at Chinaøs Securities Regulatory Commission has published a book discussing Web 3.0 and blockchain technology. See related article: Shanghai turns to metaverse, NFTs to counter lockdown economic fallout Fast facts Yao Qian’s book “Web 3.0: Changes and Challenges […]
South Korea’s taxman keeps circling crypto – airdrops look to be the next target
South Korea last week said crypto token airdrops are subject to a gift tax of as much as 50% under existing laws, but what is the likelihood this rule can be applied to digital holdings?
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether, Cardano slip; remnants of Terra – USTC and LUNC – jump
Bitcoin slid back down under the US$20,000 mark late afternoon in Asia, with the rest of the top 10 tokens by market capitalization turning lower. Terra’s fallen cryptocurrency surged, likely due to LUNA Classic’s recent network upgrade. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin edges up; U.S. stocks, bonds post worst returns in 5 decades Fast facts […]
Why Ethereum PoW fork gains some crypto exchange backings
Amid uncertainty over Ethereum ‘Merge,’ some seek ways to potentially profit
Indonesia to launch crypto stock exchange at end-2022
Indonesia will launch a crypto stock market by the end of this year, said the country’s deputy trade minister Jerry Sambuaga, according to a media report. See related article: Indonesia’s biggest tech firm buys local crypto exchange Fast facts The Southeast Asian nation had earlier announced a 2021 launch but revised it to the first […]
Bybit to work with Circle to offer USDC spot pairs
Singapore-headquartered crypto derivatives exchange Bybit is partnering with Circle, the issuer of stablecoin USD Coin (USDC), to offer USDC spot pairs. See related article: Bybit to cut up to 30% of its workforce Fast facts Bybit said on Thursday it will offer Circle’s services to its users by expanding its USDC spot pair listings to […]
MicroStrategy and Michael Saylor sued by District of Columbia for evading taxes
The software enterprise company is accused of helping Saylor misstate his residential address to avoid paying taxes in a district where residents pay the most in federal taxes per capita.
US Digital Dollar Project to work with Ripple on CBDC technical sandbox
The U.S.-based Digital Dollar Project said it will work with Ripple and a few other digital asset firms to launch a technical sandbox program to further study a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC). See related article: CBDCs better poised for cross-border payments than Bitcoin, stablecoins: ECB study Fast facts The non-profit initiative announced on […]
LG Electronics to launch Hedera-based crypto wallet
South Korea-based LG Electronics is reportedly preparing to release its first crypto wallet application named “Wallypto” in the third quarter of 2022. See related article: S. Korea’s Danal, LG CNS to build ‘one-for-all’ Web3 payments platform Fast facts LG Electronics has been running a beta test of the application with developers since August and is […]
How did Big Tech gain such power over our data, and how do we take it back?
Google earns hundreds of billions annually by monetizing its users. Can blockchain return meaningful control over personal data back to the people?
Markets: Bitcoin edges up; U.S. stocks, bonds post worst returns in 5 decades
Bitcoin and Ether made up some ground, with most other tokens in the crypto top 10 little changed in early Thursday morning trading in Asia. Bitcoin traded back above US$20,000 after falling through that resistance level overnight. Global macroeconomic headwinds continue to drag on both crypto and capital markets. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin trades […]
Ukraine National Police takes down crypto fraud cybercrime group
The National Police of Ukraine (NPU) said on Tuesday it took down a network of call centers targeting Ukrainian and European Union citizens, who have already been duped by crypto scams. See related article: Ukraine seizes funds from crypto wallet funding Russian forces Fast facts According to NPU’s official announcement, the cybercrime network was disguised […]
Fed’s inflation fight batters crypto market as pressure mounts
Top blockchain and crypto news: Is crypto in for a long cold spell? Ava Labs lashes out at CryptoLeaks claims. China eyes blockchain power trading.
Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin to release book on proof of stake
Vitalik Buterin will release a book on proof-of-stake consensus on Sept. 27, compiling various writings by the Ethereum founder over the last 10 years, according to his recent Twitter post. See related article: Vitalik Buterin says he used Tornado Cash to donate to Ukraine Fast facts The book, titled “Proof of Stake, The Making of […]
Markets: Bitcoin trades above US$20,000, Ether slides, Cardano gains
Bitcoin held on to the US$20,000 mark, but was trending weaker in late Wednesday afternoon trading in Asia. Ether was also moving lower, along with most other top 10 coins by market capitalization. Cardano was the standout on the list with a marginal gain. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin dips back below US$20,000, Ether falls […]
Asia crypto advocates look beyond English to promote digital assets
Cryptocurrency advocates and exchanges in Asia say they are teaching the ins and outs of digital assets and blockchain in regional languages to help promote crypto investments and protect people against scams. See related article: Crypto is based on the greater fool theory: Philippines’ incoming central bank chief Fast facts Philippine crypto exchange Coins.ph, which […]
Bitcoin mining difficulty at its second highest on record, rises over 9%
Bitcoin mining difficulty rose by 9.3% on Wednesday, marking the biggest jump since January and the second highest level on record, according to data from BTC.com. See related article: Chinese mining rig maker Canaan says global expansion on track despite ‘crypto winter’ Fast facts The mining difficulty reading was at 30.98 trillion, as of block […]
Tether pushes back at WSJ doubts on its reserves
In response to the Wall Street Journal alleging that Tether’s USDT stablecoin is not adequately backed by reserves, Tether called the report a series of “unsubstantiated conclusions” that tried to “discredit Tether’s work on transparent and honest communications to the public.” See related article: Should Tether’s shrinking cash reserves be cause for investor worry? Fast […]
Crypto.com refunded user US$7 million instead of US$68 – took 7 months to realize
Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com in May 2021 transferred AU$10.4 million (US$7.15 million) to an Australian woman instead of an intended refund of AU$100 (US$68), and took seven months to recognize the mistake, the Herald Sun newspaper reported. See related article: Bitcoin sent by mistake, recipient will not be punished for keeping it: South Korea ruling […]
The X-to-Earn model: Eat, sleep, do almost anything and get paid in crypto
Are you a good runner? Or eater? Or sleeper? Chances are whatever you’re good at, there’s a Web3 project out there to reward you in crypto. But do the tokenomics stack up?
South Korea’s capital city launches first stage of “Metaverse Seoul”
Seoul is launching a closed test run of the first stage of its metaverse project on Wednesday. See related article: South Korea wants to be the physical home of the metaverse Fast facts The test run will feature the virtual reconstruction of Seoul city hall and the Seoul Plaza, where participants can participate in interactive […]
FTX agrees to help South Korea’s Busan build its own crypto exchange
Busan, South Korea’s second most populous city, Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with global cryptocurrency exchange FTX to help develop a digital asset exchange. See related article: Binance to help S. Korea’s Busan build first city-backed exchange Fast facts FTX will provide technical and infrastructure assistance to Busan city in establishing the digital […]
Markets: Bitcoin dips back below US$20,000, Ether falls in boxed-in crypto market
Bitcoin fell back below US$20,000 after moving above that resistance line on Tuesday, while Ether also lost ground in early morning trading in Asia on Wednesday amid signs broader macroeconomic concerns are keeping a lid on cryptocurrency markets. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin holds gains; Ether, Avalanche surge; Solana jumps Fast facts Bitcoin fell 2.5% […]
Indonesia’s biggest tech firm buys local crypto exchange
Indonesia’s biggest tech firm GoTo Gojek Tokopedia (GOTO) has forayed into the cryptocurrency market with the purchase of local crypto exchange Kripto Maksima Koin for US$8.38 million. See related article: Indonesia’s wholesale CBDC to be ready for bank use by year end: report Fast facts GoTo has acquired 100% of Kripto Maksima Koin shares for […]
Temasek to lead US$100M funding round in Animoca Brands: report
Singapore state-backed fund is leading a US$100 million funding round into Hong Kong-based blockchain and game venture Animoca Brands, Bloomberg reported. See related article: Singapore’s Temasek says doesn’t own Bitcoin, but prepping for tokenized assets Fast facts Temasek will make the investment through convertible bonds, according to unnamed sources cited by Bloomberg. Temasek has been […]
Fed expects to launch long-awaited Faster Payments System by 2023
The new payments system will allow faster payments of bills, paychecks and other transfers around-the-clock instead of days. See related article: Fed issues guidelines for crypto banks to enter central banking system Fast facts The U.S. Federal Reserve expects to launch the payments system between May and July of 2023, after a testing phase beginning […]
Crypto lender Hodlnaut placed under creditor protection by Singapore court
Singapore-based crypto lender Hodlnaut has been placed under Interim Judicial Management (IJM), a form of creditor protection, and will now be managed and controlled by interim judicial managers appointed by court order. See related article: Singapore’s central bank says cryptocurrencies have ‘no fundamental value’ Fast facts Hodlnaut said its legal representatives attended the IJM hearing […]
Binance Australia strengthens user protection: report
Binance Australia is tightening its sign-up process for new users, as part of renewed efforts to protect users considered most vulnerable to scams and cyber attacks, according to a report by Binance Australia. See related article: Binance to suspend ETH deposits, withdrawals during “The Merge” Fast facts According to the report, the company’s research and […]
Markets: Bitcoin holds gains; Ether, Avalanche surge; Solana jumps
Bitcoin and Ether added to morning gains in Tuesday afternoon trading in Asia, as most other top 10 coins by market capitalization also rose. Avalanche rebounded after a slump over the weekend following whistleblower allegations that the company paid a law firm to stage litigations and class-action lawsuits against its rivals. See related article: Markets: […]
India’s CoinDCX says it’s hiring to prepare for DeFi expansion
Despite the Indian government’s hostility towards cryptocurrencies, the CoinDCX exchange says more traditional financial products will shift to DeFi platforms.
Bank of Korea to institutionalize ICOs in new crypto law
South Korea will have to institutionalize initial coin offerings (ICO) when establishing its new crypto law, tentatively named the Digital Asset Basic Act, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK). See related article: South Korea’s all-encompassing crypto law is coming — what we know so far Fast facts South Korea’s Financial Services Commission banned ICOs […]
CME Group launches euro-denominated Bitcoin, Ether futures
CME Group — the world’s largest operator of financial derivatives markets, including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange — has launched euro-denominated futures on Bitcoin and Ether. See related article: New US crypto bill seeks to make CFTC top Bitcoin, Ethereum watchdog Fast facts See related article: Here comes the crypto derivatives boom