Archives
How blockchain could remix the music industry (and why it hasn’t yet)
Most artists earn a pittance and have little bargaining power against record labels and streaming platforms. But blockchain could level the playing field.
Can a victims‘ superfund save Europeans from cryptocurrency crime?
EU committee has turned down a petition for a tax on nodes to create a crypto fraud superfund for victims. But lawyer vows to try again.
Cities are smarter than ever. But at what cost to privacy?
Smart cities could boost sustainability and quality of urban life, but some worry about privacy and data security. Can blockchain offer trusted solutions?
Why DeFi’s exponential growth is not a bubble and will ‘keep soaring’
Risks, bugs and mistakes are a necessary part of DeFi’s evolution — just like the early days of the internet, writes Justin Banon of Boson Protocol
Macau is using blockchain to bring back tourists. Is Hong Kong next?
A blockchain-based health code system that can certify a visitor’s Covid-free status has reopened travel between Macau and mainland China
Ep. 35 | Filecoin launch hits miner turbulence. USDC adds Stellar to rely less on Ethereum. Associated Press to publish US elections data on blockchain.
Other top news: OKEx cryptocurrency exchange freezes services amid police investigation. Investors bet $100 million on ‘neobank’ Razorpay in India
What’s up with Filecoin and the uproar over its miners?
Miners’ complaints with economic model are resulting in early rewards release and falling FIL prices. What happened to 800,000 coins?
How China is embracing blockchain, from DCEP to BSN
Blockchain has become a national priority in China’s public and private sectors, in contrast to many Western governments’ approach to cryptocurrency.
Filecoin launches mainnet in competitive blockchain cloud storage market
Kraken, Huobi and Gemini have all confirmed that they will list the token days after Filecoin rival EOS confirms its deal with Google
Blockchain and Space Law 3.0: How smart contracts can help govern the moon and outer space
As nations and private firms venture farther into the galaxy, blockchain and distributed ledger technology could help enforce rules and resolve conflicts.
Blockchain VC deals are on the upswing despite Covid-19
PwC and Crunchbase data show cryptocurrency industry M&A deals and venture capital funding already surpassing last year’s volumes, with investments shifting to Asia
PwC’s ‘Time for Trust’ report misses mark on blockchain in China
The ‘Time for Trust’ report downplays the growing impact that blockchain is having on China’s economy. Here’s what’s really going on with this technology.
Ep. 34 | Square buys $50 million worth of bitcoin. Google Cloud bets on EOS blockchain. CBDCs ramp up around the world.
Other top news: China accelerates digital currency testing with 50,000 e-RMB ‘red packets.’ Hong Kong as DCEP’s future sandbox. VC in India.
China pushes 50,000 people to spend DCEP right away, in biggest test yet of new digital currency
China advances its new e-RMB closer to launch after distributing to Shenzhen residents 10 million yuan in digital ‘red packets’ that will expire next week
As nations race CBDCs to market, are they repeating mistakes of the past?
Digital currency efforts now mirror global economic rivalries, with China’s DCEP leading the pack. Central banks would be wise to avoid these pitfalls.
Congested Ethereum hosts 96% of DeFi transactions. Who are its up-and-coming competitors?
2020 is banner year for DeFi as industry balloons by over $100 billion in volume from Q2 to Q3 — most of it riding on Ethereum, according to a new report
China leads in blockchain patent filings, but how much of that is real?
Blockchain patent filings may not be indicative of China’s technological prowess or patent quality — especially when standards are questionable
US regulators are finally lining up over digital assets
A recent flurry of US regulatory activity is helping legitimize the digital assets space. Here’s the latest on SEC, FINRA, CFTC and OCC’s new level of coordination.
Ep. 33 | BitMEX and John McAfee in legal hot water. Who is the cryptocurrency market betting on to be the next US president?
Other top news: Filecoin’s mainnet set to launch. Chinese banks help DCEP digital currency get market-ready. NetEase to preserve email forevermore.
Trump’s Covid ills are infecting cryptocurrency betting markets
Are US presidential candidate futures an accurate gauge of public opinion? Cryptocurrency exchange FTX’s TRUMP and BIDEN prices offer clues.
Arthur Hayes of BitMEX not likely to leave Hong Kong anytime soon, but DeFi faces crossroads
BitMEX’s CEO, who faces money-laundering charges, may be the beneficiary of Hong Kong’s political turmoil and current lack of an extradition treaty with US government
Why blockchain and crowdfunding are mutually beneficial technologies
The $14 billion global crowdfunding market is expected to triple by 2026. Here’s how blockchain is fueling this trend.
Cryptocurrency futures give thumbs down to Trump’s debate performance
FTX cryptocurrency traders are dumping TRUMP after the first US presidential debate, a raucous affair punctuated by insults and interruptions.
How bitcoin could offer a hedge as markets hit peak dislocation
Massive public spending, supply chain disruptions and ballooning debt are a volatile mix for investors. Here’s why bitcoin should be part of a balanced portfolio in this pandemic economy.
Ahead of massive IPO, Ant Group launches blockchain platform for global B2B trade
The Chinese fintech giant rolls out its ‘Trusple’ platform for cross-border business uses, on the eve of an IPO anticipated to be the largest in the world.
Little Coda Protocol changes name to Mina after tussle with heavyweights
“We’ve come to understand that we are more than just a name,” says the team no longer named Coda, after getting sued by Wall Street-backed R3 over its Corda trademark.
Ep. 32 | Bithumb on the block amid fraud probe. Wealthsimple debuts Canada’s first regulated crypto exchange. BitFlyer permits BTC buys via PayPal.
Other top news: Ant Group launches blockchain platform for cross-border trade. China makes Beijing, Hunan and Anhui into special free trade zones.
Whistleblower accuses Chinese crypto lender Babel Finance of misusing funds
Anonymous critics take to social media to claim that Babel is recklessly speculating with investor and client funds. The company denies wrongdoing.
US bills could shake up cryptocurrency exchanges and ICO prosecutions
Proposed federal laws would upend SEC rules for digital tokens and give CFTC sweeping powers. Will it be enough to rein in crypto’s Wild West ways?
Blockchain is shooting for the stars in the new Space Age
In the first of a special two-part series, Forkast.News examines how blockchain — from smart contracts to crowdfunding missions — could transform public and private ventures in outer space.
Bitcoin-inspired art ‘Portraits of a Mind’ debuts at Christie’s New York
A giant 40-painting series of blockchain art aims to capture the image and ethos of Satoshi Nakamoto in the source code that he left behind.
Ep. 31 | FinCEN files tie big banks to $2 trillion in crimes. Tezos tapped to explore CBDC for France.
More top news: Wounded Unikr settles with SEC for $6.1 million. China’s nationwide blockchain service network launches ‘public permissioned’ chain.
China’s national blockchain network offers 24 new chains to users for free—with a catch
China’s latest state-backed blockchain initiative’s official name proclaims that it is ‘public.’ But is it really? Forkast.News explains.
Why cryptocurrency exchanges need more regulations to protect investors
Being dodgy about office location and faking volume data are all part of Asian crypto exchanges’ Wild West ethos. What are the alternatives for investors?
US private equity activity takes a walloping due to Covid-19
Deals in mid-size firms that make up the engine of the economy were down as exits were put on pause — but fintech and broader tech sector still shine bright
What China’s New Era politics means for the digital economy and decentralized finance
Access to China’s cryptocurrency market will accelerate as long as the government can keep out criminal activity, writes James Gillingham of Finxflo.
Tencent Cloud continues blockchain expansion with two new platforms
Aside from cross-chain compatibility and scaling, the Shenzhen tech giant is also aiming to resolve data privacy and security issues in healthcare and finance.
Ep. 30 | DeFi gets fishier with Sashimiswap. MasterCard stages CBDC cosplay. IRS targets Monero and Bitcoin Lightning Network.
More top news: OKLink offers free cryptocurrency tracker. Trade fair in China introduces blockchain ideas to 20,000 companies.
Esports gambling platform Unikrn settles with SEC for $6.1 million
SEC’s crackdown comes as more states permit online gambling, putting a further squeeze on the company once backed by celebrities like Ashton Kutcher.
How blockchain is reforming the colored gemstone trade, from ‘mine to finger’
Everledger CEO Leanne Kemp explains blockchain’s role in promoting ethical labor and confidence in goods like wine. Are less toxic electric cars next?
Rented hash power for 51% attacks is a ‘huge vulnerability’ for proof-of-work blockchains, says ETC Labs CEO
Ethereum Classic Labs CEO Terry Culver calls the hash rental market shady “like under a rock somewhere…. They’re basically money laundering operations.”
The World War of Digital Currencies: Is it too late for South Korea?
As China muscles DCEP to market and the U.S. enlists MIT for a future digital dollar, South Korea struggles to find its place in the crypto economy.
DeFi is crypto’s latest craze, and it may soon challenge traditional banks
Excessive money printing and near-zero returns on bonds are making investors flock to fancy cryptocurrency derivatives and 8% yields. What’s the catch?
Ep. 29 | DeFi surges to dizzying heights. Brazil jumps into CBDC race. Swiss ‘Crypto Valley’ tax collectors will soon accept bitcoin.
In other news: Public gets sneak peek at China’s digital currency DCEP in flash testing. US-China trade war threatens SMIC and bitcoin mining.
Proposed sanctions on SMIC threatens silicon supply for China’s bitcoin miners
Caught in the US-China trade war crossfire, the semiconductor manufacturer’s shares tumbled alongside Beijing’s fading dreams of a domestic silicon supply.
Are blockchain game voxels the new square foot?
From CryptoKitty pets to metaverses like Minecraft and Decentraland, blockchain video games are redefining what it means to own virtual property.
Why blockchain is the trust-building technology our post-Covid world needs
By promoting transparency and data security, blockchain is poised to transform international trade. Dr. Geoff Jiang of Ant Group explains how.
Ep. 28 | FTX buys Blockfolio in $150 million deal. What’s up with the 300 crypto-terror accounts? China forks BSN to retain control.
Also: Japan’s deputy PM Taro Aso urges greater blockchain cooperation. Inner Mongolia raises bitcoin mining costs. Fintech investments in S. Korea.
Will Ethereum 2.0’s launch be blockchain’s iPhone moment?
Released this week after much anticipation, Eth2 could finally become “the world’s computer” that the original Ethereum aspired to be. What challenges lie ahead?
Why decentralization and democratic governance are blockchain myths
Many blockchain protocols claim to be decentralized, but industry practices show the opposite. Even Bitcoin is largely controlled by a few.
Where in the world are the fintech startups?
Global fintech funding is growing in some surprising areas and signals potential for disruption. Which countries top the list?
Ep. 27 | YFI soars past bitcoin. ConsenSys acquires JPMorgan’s Quorum blockchain. OMG Network integrates Tether transfers.
Other top news: $50 billion in cryptocurrency leaves China. Severe flooding in Sichuan destroys bitcoin mining farms. DeFi in India.
How cryptocurrency fuels protests and anti-government movements
As mass demonstrations rock the world, technologies like blockchain, social media and AI are escalating unrest and state crackdowns to the next level.
What is the secret to Conflux Network’s success in China?
Conflux wins rare endorsements from Shanghai and Hunan provincial governments as other blockchain firms struggle for a toehold on the mainland.
What the Twitter hack reveals about the need for digital identity security
Could blockchain technology and decentralized ID verification have prevented all those VIP Twitter accounts from being commandeered for a bitcoin scam?
Journalist Maria Ressa’s ordeal shines light on social media’s dark side
Can blockchain stop the paid trolls, bot armies and floods of fake news that are subverting democracy through sites like Facebook?
Ep. 26 | US Fed taps MIT for CBDC research as China intensifies DCEP testing. YAM protocol soars before crashing.
Other top news: USPS explores blockchain for voting. Coinbase offers crypto loans. Huobi launches Global DeFi Alliance.
US Postal Service explores blockchain-assisted mail-in voting system
A USPS patent application outlines models for blockchain-secured absentee ballots for future elections.
Ethereum at the crossroads: Where does the popular blockchain go from here?
As Ethereum moves toward its 2.0 upgrade, here is a reflection on the open-source platform’s transformational impact on the blockchain ecosystem.
How close is China’s digital currency DCEP to launching?
As China’s digital currency begins large-scale testing, business giants like Didi and Meituan appear to be signing on. What does China’s central bank say?
Coda Protocol announces new cohort for Genesis token Program
New lightweight protocol nearing mainnet launch says it is distributing six times more tokens than others to attract developers and encourage greater decentralization.
Ep. 25 | Bitcoin surges in Hong Kong’s geopolitical storms. China widens DCEP testing. Ethereum Classic’s audacious attacks.
Other top news: Teen accused of masterminding Twitter VIP hack heads to court. Huobi launches DeFi lab. Fintech VC in Singapore and Indonesia.
Binance launches bitcoin-margined perpetual futures
New perpetual contracts — a crypto derivatives product — can be ‘inversed’ and priced in BTC rather than tied to fiat. What does this mean for investors?
China’s DCEP will be the world’s Sputnik money moment
China’s CBDC — the world’s first major government-issued digital currency — could launch this year. Are we ready for its financial and geopolitical impact?
Crypto tax in Australia: what investors need to know
Australians can buy bitcoin from post offices and use cryptocurrency in soda vending machines. But are confusing tax policies discouraging wider adoption?
US authorities are taking aim at DeFi. Are crypto loans next?
DeFi crypto lending — a loosely regulated industry that grew by 700% last year — is catching investor attention. What do the IRS and SEC think?
Ep. 24 | Bitcoin riding high again. Philippines enters global CBDC race. Cardano’s Shelley mainnet goes live.
Other top news: China imposes standards for blockchain companies. Huobi launches digital asset custody business. Blockchain VC in the Middle East.
Are US regulators finally warming to crypto and digital assets?
CFTC’s new plans for crypto regulations and OCC permitting banks to be crypto custodians could boost digital asset adoption. What’s next for FATF and SEC?
More pro tips for working from home: 8 software tools and their Web3 cousins for remote teams
Here are our favorite and best-in-class apps for the decentralized work place. Plus, the Web3 dApps that could disrupt them.
Work-from-home tips for managers: How to build and better manage a remote team
In the blockchain world, decentralized workplaces are already the norm. As Covid forces more companies to do the same, here are our pro tips for executives and managers.
Diginex announces launch of EQUOS.io, first US-listed digital asset exchange
As US regulators warm to digital assets, Diginex capitalizes on the world’s most mature financial market by launching platform that allows crypto spot trading.
Ep. 23 | Is Ethereum more popular than Bitcoin now? Crypto love comes to K-pop world. SEC-sanctioned crypto firms receive PPP funds.
Other top news: China’s BSN blockchain network expands global reach. US lets major banks act as crypto custodians. VC in India and Singapore.
