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BinanceAus

After Singapore, Binance pulls back from Australia under growing regulatory pressure

Following similar moves in Singapore, embattled crypto exchange Binance — the largest in the world by trading volume — is ending its derivatives trading in Australia by year’s end, according to a company blog post on Tuesday. Fast facts Aussie traders will have 90 days to reduce or close their positions on options, futures and […]
Hacker steals US$35M worth of assets in second Avalanche hack

Second Avalanche hack hits Vee Finance for $35M in assets

Decentralized finance platform Vee Finance, which is based on the Avalanche blockchain, has suffered from a hack that saw the loss of Ether and Bitcoin tokens worth US$35 million, the lending platform announced on Tuesday. Fast facts Vee Finance suspended the platform’s contracts as well as its deposit and borrow function to protect user assets […]
Studio audio headphones for recording sound in male hands on a blurred studio background of a music studio. Sound recording process.

What is Audius and could it be the next Spotify?

Audius is enjoying outsized buzz. Should Spotify be scared? In this Forkast.News explainer, learn how this blockchain startup could threaten music industry money — and power.
Insurance

Over 90% of the world’s poor are not insured, but blockchain could soon change that

Blockchain and parametric insurance offer a bigger safety net for the world’s most vulnerable, writes Jan Stockhausen of Etherisc. Here’s how it works.
SEC Chair Gary Gensler says most cryptocurrencies including stablecoins are securities

SEC chair Gensler doubts crypto longevity: interview

In an interview by the Washington Post on Tuesday, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler questioned the future of cryptocurrency, saying, “I don’t think there’s a long-term viability for five- or six thousand private forms of money. History tells us otherwise.” He added that “in the meantime, it’s worthwhile to have an investor […]
Golden bitcoins and South Korea flag | South Korean exchanges in limbo step back except for one

S. Korean crypto exchanges at crossroads on cash-to-crypto service suspension

With only a few days left until Korea’s regulatory deadline for virtual asset exchanges, all have accepted the government mandate in service suspension except for one exchange, Gopax. Fast facts Twenty-four virtual asset exchanges in South Korea are in limbo — they have only met one of two new requirements, and were subsequently asked by […]
Canaan

Chinese rig maker Canaan to buy back shares up to $20M to bring up valuation

Chinese crypto mining rig maker Canaan Inc. announced Monday that its board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program, in a signal of confidence in crypto mining’s future and a belief that its own stock is undervalued. Fast facts Nasdaq-listed Canaan said it may repurchase up to US$20 million worth of its outstanding American […]
Bitcoin mining

Bitcoin miners expected to face tougher digging but demand continues growing

As total hashrate recovers, adjustment would follow four increases after as many declines since China intensified crypto mining clampdown.
Crypto mooncake and mooncake NFT

How crypto enthusiasts in Asia are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival this year

From crypto-embossed mooncakes to mooncake NFTs to gatherings in the metaverse, how Asia’s crypto fans are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Indian crypto bill could be introduced in the parliament this month

Banks blocking transactions? No problem. Indians find ways to continue trading crypto

As major banks distance themselves from crypto business, alternative trading methods like peer-to-peer transfers are gaining popularity among investors
Evergrande

Evergrande’s uncertainty rocks crypto market

Crypto investors and industry watchers are following closely the potential collapse of Chinese property giant Evergrande.
Community, Why community is key to blockchain and crypto project success

Why community is key to blockchain and crypto project success

Blockchain communities are instrumental to shaping how projects develop and operate, writes Humpty Calderon of Ontology. What are the signs of a thriving ecosystem?
Coinbase

Crypto exchange Coinbase nixes plan for lending product after SEC lawsuit threat

Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States, has dropped its plans to launch its high-yield-generating “Lend” product following the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s threat to sue the exchange if they did. Fast facts Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal disclosed in a blog post earlier this month that the company had received […]
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies

Solana funds see institutional investment inflows despite recent network outage

Despite suffering a network outage due to a denial-of-service attack that took the Solana network offline for 17 hours on Sept. 14, Solana funds continued to see inflows of US$4.8 million last week, according to digital asset manager CoinShares. Fast facts “This suggests investors were happy to shrug-off the attack, seeing it as teething problems […]
crypto miner, Bitcoin mining rigs become unprofitable in less than 17 months, which generates as much e-waste as the Netherlands produces in a year

Bitcoin mining rigs generate as much e-waste as the Netherlands

The amount of electronic waste generated by the Bitcoin network is comparable to the amount of discarded electronic equipment in a small country like the Netherlands, a study published by the academic journal Resource, Conservation and Recycling states. Fast facts According to the paper, a Bitcoin mining machine can lose 35% of its profit potential […]
Upbit's About page on its owner Dunamu's official website | Upbit becomes first exchange to be registered under the South Korean authorities

Upbit becomes South Korea’s first newly registered crypto exchange

Upbit can operate as a virtual monopoly as it becomes the country’s first licensed business to handle cryptocurrencies.
Shanghai

Conflux, Shanghai Maritime partner on offshore RMB stablecoin in free trade zone

A focus of China’s free trade and shipping, Shanghai will explore in pilot project cross border trading with offshore renminbi stablecoin.
National flag of Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan cracks down on illegal crypto mining

Kyrgyzstan is cracking down on cryptocurrency mining farms that are using power illegally, local media outlet 24.kg reported Saturday, citing a release from the State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan. Fast facts Authorities have spotted over 500 crypto mining farms that were illegally connected to power grids, leading to power shortages, as one set of […]
BobaNetwork

Boba network announces mainnet launch of layer 2 optimistic rollup

ETH 2.0 is expected to address transaction speeds and gas fees on the world’s number two blockchain, but a growing number of layer-2 protocols are looking to solve those issues today.
Csomos

Cosmos price reaches for the stars as market remains firmly on the ground

As most of the crypto market stagnates, Cosmos has been on a tear over the weekend, gaining 35% since Saturday morning Asia time to reach an all-time high of US$44.54 this morning, according to CoinMarketCap.com. Fast facts Though it dropped slightly to US$41.72 just before press time, this jump marks the first time the ATOM […]
Crypto exchange Binance logo with magnifying glass

Binance faces US probe for possible insider trading and market manipulation

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is reportedly now under investigation for possible insider trading and market manipulation by the United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Fast facts According to a Bloomberg report that cited unnamed sources, investigators from the CFTC — the agency that regulates the U.S. derivatives markets — […]
Athlete waiting for the starting gun, More Chinese cities to compete for the next batch of e-CNY pilots

4 Chinese cities to compete for inclusion in e-CNY pilot programs

Four Chinese cities announced they will compete for inclusion in the next batch of digital renminbi pilot projects. They are Guangzhou, Tianjin, Yiwu and Fuzhou. Fast facts Guangzhou and Tianjin have written their goals into their city’s “14th Five-Year Financial Industry Reform Plan,” and Yiwu’s plan has been reported to the State Council. Guangzhou is […]
South Korean crypto exchange KDEX's main webpage shows announcement of service suspension | Black Friday in South Korea as more than half of its crypto exchanges announce shutdown

Black Friday in South Korea as crypto exchanges announce shutdown

All but four platforms in South Korea obligated to announce the suspension of their services by today.
Banking challenges of Indian crypto exchanges continue as largest public bank blocks UPI payments

India’s largest public bank bars payments to crypto exchanges

Most banks distance themselves from virtual asset platforms as the country’s central bank lobbies for a ban.
AVAX SHIB

In crypto market, altcoins get a chance to shine

AVAX and SHIB outperform Bitcoin, which gained in price but shied from the $50K mark.
crypto mining farm

China’s Inner Mongolia seeks out stealth crypto mining operations

China’s Inner Mongolia region — once a thriving cryptocurrency mining hub that has enacted a series of measures to rein in the sector — is tightening its crackdown by hiring a contractor to monitor and ferret out mining operations. Fast facts The Inner Mongolia Development and Reform Commission announced on Wednesday a bidding result for […]
Chinese RMB banknote

China’s e-CNY rollout enters ‘sprint stage’ for Beijing Winter Olympics

Digital yuan expected to undergo its first crucial international test despite concerns it can be used as a surveillance tool.
and
treasury

U.S. Treasury prepares to recommend stricter regulation on stablecoins

The U.S. Treasury is preparing a raft of recommendations for stricter oversight of Tether and other stablecoins, as unnamed insiders say the department has identified the greatest risks posed by the tokens, according to a recent Bloomberg report. Fast facts Making sure investors are able to transfer money in and out of tokens is a […]
bitcoinbeach

El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption, one week on

It’s hot on Bitcoin Beach and the Twitterverse, but the new legal tender doesn’t have uptake elsewhere in the Central American country.
Crypto exchange CEO Changpeng Zhao

Crypto exchange Binance wants centralized headquarters amid regulatory heat

Under scrutiny around the world, the largest cryptocurrency exchange wants to do a better job engaging with regulators.
Avalanche

Avalanche’s AVAX token surges to all-time high after $230M fundraise

AVAX — the native token of the Avalanche blockchain — today surged to a new all-time high of US$68.34, according to CoinGecko data, boosted by news of a US$230 million investment into the Avalanche ecosystem. AVAX has increased by 60% over the past seven days. Fast facts Launched in September 2020, Avalanche is an open, […]
Institutional DeFi poised to become a $1 trillion industry, Blockdata says

Institutional DeFi poised to become a $1 trillion industry, Blockdata says

Blockchain research firm sees explosive growth in smart contract-based products that can replace existing financial services.
Man casting his vote to a ballot box mockup, quadratic funding can democratize community capital allocation

How quadratic funding promotes projects for the common good

What is quadratic funding, and why is this mathematical method ideal for allocating capital for a community? Pranav Sharma of Woodstock Fund explains.
Babel Finance, Babel Finance survives short-term debt requirements

Hong Kong-based crypto lender Babel Finance expands to Singapore

Babel Finance, a Hong Kong-based crypto lender and asset manager, today announced it is opening a business headquarters in Singapore named Babel Asia, as the company looks to serve more clients globally. Fast facts Babel Asia plans to serve as a base for future merger and acquisition activities, together with Babel Finance to drive mainstream […]
kombucha

Logging each step in tea production on a blockchain — from farm to cup

With the ease of counterfeiting products like premium tea, keeping a tamper-proof digital paper trail can record each step along the way.
Bitcoin mining machines, Canaan sees strongest ever quarterly sales results

Canaan sees strongest ever quarterly sales results

Leading Chinese crypto mining hardware manufacturer attributes robust revenue to ‘substantial increase in total computing power sold.’
BAS and NTUC-U-Care logos. One of the auction NFTs titled “'Protectors of the Soul” contributed by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Hamlatul Arsy Mulia, daughter of HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah.

NFT charity auction to benefit low-income families in Singapore

Blockchain Association Singapore (BAS) and Singapore’s National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) U Care Fund today announced their inaugural non-fungible token (NFT) charity auction event, Blockchain For Good, which will take place Oct. 4 to 10. Fast facts The charity initiative — supported by a wide range of companies including Singapore Airlines, Amazon Web Services Inc., […]
South Korean National Assembly | Finance Minister says no delay in crypto tax law

South Korea’s finance minister stands by 20% crypto income tax plan

South Korea’s finance minister Hong Nam-ki gave a firm “no” at the National Assembly to lawmakers asking for crypto taxation to be delayed until the industry is fully prepared. Fast facts Minister Hong insisted the plan to tax capital gains from cryptocurrency transactions should be executed as planned. The amended tax law stipulates that crypto […]
African man using his phone, African cryptocurrency market grows by more than 12 times in the past year

African cryptocurrency market grows by more than 12 times in past year

African countries collectively received US$105.6 billion worth of cryptocurrency between July 2020 and June 2021, a year-on-year increase by more than 12 times, blockchain data platform Chainalysis said in a report. Fast facts The adoption rate of cryptocurrency in Africa at the grassroots level is the highest in the world. And retail transactions in Africa […]
BSN

China’s blockchain infrastructure project goes live in Hong Kong, Macau

Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) soft launch is the first attempt to roll out the state-backed ‘internet for blockchain’ outside of the Chinese mainland.
NFTs

Insider trading scandal rocks world’s biggest NFT platform OpenSea

As the trading volume in non-fungible tokens begins to slow down from recent record heights, leading NFT marketplace OpenSea has been rocked by an insider trading scandal involving a senior team member. Fast facts The company, dubbed “the eBay of NFTs,” issued a statement yesterday acknowledging it became aware on Tuesday that an employee had […]
Fraction

How you can own a (tiny) part of a Thai beachfront villa for US$150

Blockchain and tokenization are transforming how real estate can be bought and sold. Here is how one fintech startup in Asia is using digital fractionalization to raise capital.
Shoppers Hit Stores On Black Friday Amid Worsening Pandemic

Litecoin unloved at Walmart. Cardano’s Alonzo upgrade. China takes aim at NFTs.

Top blockchain and crypto news: Walmart dispels Litecoin hoax. Cardano’s real work begins. Beijing bears down on NFTs.
SEC Chair Gary Gensler says most cryptocurrencies including stablecoins are securities

SEC chair says most cryptocurrencies including stablecoins are securities

In his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, Gary Gensler, chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, said that Coinbase lists “dozens of tokens that may be securities.” Fast facts In response to Senator Pat Toomey’s questions about whether cryptocurrencies classify as securities, Gensler said “very many” of the cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins, are in […]
Asian Games NFT

2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou to sell torch NFTs supported by Alipay

Despite widespread criticism of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that has emerged in Chinese state-owned media, the 2022 Asian Games has announced the sale of its first NFT collection. Fast facts Organizers of the games, set to take place in September 2022 in Hangzhou, the capital city of the eastern province of Zhejiang, announced in a social […]
Solana

Solana crashes, SOL prices tumble as network scrambles to restart

SOL had been on a tear but is now losing ground. Is Solana a victim of its own success — or does the network have deeper problems?
GSBN MOU signing

Bank of China, DBS and HSBC partner with GSBN on digitizing trade finance

Three banks — the Bank of China, Singapore’s DBS and HSBC — have partnered with the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), a Hong Kong-based non-profit consortium that recently launched a blockchain-based trade platform, to form a trade finance advisory group, according to a media release shared with Forkast.News today. Fast facts Trade finance — the […]
RBA

Reserve Bank of Australia posts CBDC job position

Amid the country’s ongoing Senate inquiry into crypto regulation, the Reserve Bank of Australia has posted a job advertisement for a position within its central bank digital currency research team. Fast facts A successful applicant would join a new cross-disciplinary team to research “whether there is a case for a CBDC in Australia, and if […]
Laos backpedals on crypto ban, looks to introduce positive regulation

Laos backpedals on crypto ban, looks to trading, mining pilot program

The government of Laos has authorized six firms to trade and mine cryptocurrencies, ending a ban imposed in 2018, according to a recent notice from the prime minister’s office.  Fast facts Laos had implemented a complete ban on cryptocurrencies three years ago, including on trading and mining activities. As recently as last month, the country’s […]
Golden bitcoins and South Korea flag. | South Korean crypto exchanges shut down cash-to-crypto markets under harsh regulations

South Korean exchanges close cash-to-crypto trading services as new rules loom

Mid-sized crypto exchange Foblgate announced the closure of its Korean won (KRW) trading functions in advance of a government mandate banning digital asset platforms from operating cash-to-crypto services without a local bank partnership. Fast facts Foblgate announced it is temporarily suspending its KRW withdrawal, deposit and trading market between cryptocurrencies and the Korean won. Instead, […]
Microstrategy buys another 5,050 Bitcoins for US$242.9M

The world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder goes even bigger

Software firm MicroStrategy, the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder, purchased an additional 5,050 Bitcoins for US$242.9 million at an average price of US$48,099 per Bitcoin.  Fast facts Bitcoin was trading 3% lower on Monday, the day of the purchase, at around US$44, 800. The purchase puts MicroStrategy’s total Bitcoin holdings at 114,042 Bitcoins acquired for around […]
Golden bitcoins and South Korea flag. | South Korea updates crypto 'death note', says seven more will survive.

South Korea’s crypto ‘death note’ updated; 7 more exchanges to survive

Financial authorities reveal an updated list of virtual asset platforms that have complied with new regulations.
a man with vr device, China’s largest brokerage said the metaverse would be popularized in two decades

China’s largest brokerage says the metaverse will be popularized in two decades

China’s largest brokerage firm, CITIC Securities, said in a research report the metaverse will enter an exploration stage in the next three to five years and could become a way of life in 20 years. Fast facts The report said the development of the metaverse can be divided into three stages. The first stage will be completed […]
Person playing games on a computer

Huobi Ventures bets on DeFi and gaming in $10M GameFi fund

Huobi Ventures, the investment arm of cryptocurrency exchange Huobi, today announced the launch of a US$10 million “GameFi” fund to invest in early-stage projects that integrate blockchain gaming and decentralized finance (DeFi). Fast facts Huobi’s new GameFi fund follows the launch of its US$100 million DeFi fund in May and comes amid increasing mainstream interest […]
RMB

China’s e-CNY soft rollout continues, while Moody’s frowns at use of CBDCs in cross-border payments

A tourist spot in South China’s Hainan province to hand out digital yuan, while Shenzhen tests adoption for Hong Kong residents.
Bitcoin mining

China’s Hebei and Gansu provinces to phase out crypto mining

More provinces in China are putting new limits on the cryptocurrency mining sector, as the country works toward its carbon neutrality goals and concerns over cryptocurrency trading loom. Fast facts Authorities in North China’s Hebei province today issued a notice to crack down on cryptocurrency mining and trading activities, saying that crypto mining consumes huge […]
HONGKONG

Walmart, FTX and Animoca Brands hit by crypto misinformation

Scams and fake news have long dogged the crypto world. This week saw two major blockchain companies and a global retailer get swept up by hack rumors or hoaxes.
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen backs NFT platform Recur

Mets owner, hedge fund mogul Steve Cohen backs NFT platform Recur

Florida-based non-fungible token (NFT) platform Recur announced it has received backing from Steve Cohen, owner of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, in its US$50 million series A funding round. Fast facts The financing round, which valued Recur at a US$333 million post-money valuation, was led by Digital, a metaverse investment platform backed by Cohen’s […]
UMX.ART NFT

China-run media outlet criticizes NFT platform as a payment risk

In the latest response to a growing interest in non-fungible tokens, Beijing Business Today faults an art marketplace.
Ernst & Young integrates Polygon for Ethereum scaling solutions

Ernst & Young teams up with Polygon on Ethereum scaling

Ernst & Young, one of the Big Four consulting multinationals, announced today it has integrated India-based Polygon, a Layer 2 Ethereum scaling solution, to allow its corporate clients to process blockchain-based transactions on the Ethereum mainnet. Fast facts EY has connected the public Polygon commit chain with EY’s blockchain services including EY OpsChain and EY […]
SEC Chair Gary Gensler

SEC chair reiterates call for crypto platforms to ‘come in and talk to us’

Ahead of the U.S. Banking Committee’s hearing on the “Oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission” today, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler reiterated his call for crypto platforms and projects that have securities to register with the agency. Fast facts In prepared remarks, Gensler emphasized the concerns he sees over the lack of investor protection […]
CoinShares' crypto market fund flows

Solana funds attract strong inflows of $50M despite crypto market correction last week

Institutional investors continued to buy into Solana investment products despite the market correction last week, according to a report by digital asset manager CoinShares. Fast facts Solana prices, which have soared by over 13,000% this year, reached an all-time high of US$213.47 on Sept. 9, according to CoinGecko data. Solana briefly overtook XRP to become […]
Don Guo, co-founder and CEO of Broctagon Fintech Group

The cryptocurrency industry’s liquidity issues — and an effort to solve them

Broctagon Fintech Group is launching what it hopes will become a new global standard for cryptocurrency exchanges to reduce price discrepancies. Will it work?
Bitcoin, CrossTower says it wants to collaborate, not compete, with Indian exchanges

CrossTower says it wants to collaborate, not compete, with Indian exchanges

CrossTower became the second international crypto exchange to enter the Indian market last week after Binance made its entry by acquiring WazirX in 2019.
NFT concept,China state mouthpiece criticizes on NFT Frenzy

China state mouthpiece criticizes NFT mania

A sister paper of the People’s Daily, Securities Times, published an opinion piece to criticize non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as hype and suggested the digital assets should serve the real economy by tokenizing actual assets. Fast facts The article offers as an example Justin Sun’s NFT purchase of a digital avatar for US$10.5 million and the […]
Miss Universe Thailand to include NFTs in a world first

Miss Universe Thailand, NFTs join in world first

The Miss Universe Thailand 2021 pageant has partnered with Bangkok-based crypto exchange Bitkub to feature non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as part of the competition, Bitkub announced. Bitkub claims the event will mark the first NFT beauty pageant. Fast facts Bitkub will mint NFT collectible cards of the pageant contestants. The company also will provide participants with […]
Feature Image Alt 1

Altcoins have their day in the sun as market pulls back

A few altcoins managed to stand out coming into the working week as Solana’s tear comes to an end.
Blockchain, smart contract explainer

What are smart contracts and what are they used for?

In this Forkast.News explainer, learn why blockchains with smart contract capability are surging in popularity and the new darlings of investors.
CNY, China's e-cny adoption progress

China’s central bank reports progress, challenges on e-CNY adoption

PBOC still working out regulatory rules, acceptance environments and payment systems.
Iran flag

Iran closes down more unauthorized crypto mining farms: reports

Iran, which imposed a temporary ban on Bitcoin mining a few months ago, continues to crack down on illegal crypto mining operations, closing down thousands of unauthorized mining facilities, according to local media reports. Fast facts The Iran Power Generation, Distribution and Transmission Company, also known as Tavanir, told the state-run ISNA that it had […]
mooncake NFT

Alibaba’s Tmall sells out mooncake NFTs

Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is sparing no efforts in riding the non-fungible token (NFT) wave, with its online retailer Tmall selling out a new collection of NFTs featuring mooncakes — a signature snack made to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival that falls on Sept. 21 this year. Fast facts Tmall has issued “mooncake NFTs” built with […]
CoinSwitch Kuber becomes largest Indian exchange with over 10 million customers

CoinSwitch Kuber says it’s now the largest Indian exchange with over 10 million customers

The platform reports more users than WazirX and CoinDCX, and aims to make crypto trading as easy as ordering food online.

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