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Articles by

Zoltan Vardai

Zoltan is a writer at Forkast with a deep passion for storytelling and blockchain. Prior to joining the team, he worked as a marketing and content writer, focused on software and technology. Zoltan holds a master’s degree from the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and is interested in the future of global financial decentralization.

Author's profile on Twitter @ZVardai
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October 2023

Caroline Ellison told Alameda Research about FTX user deposits last November: Cointelegraph

Alameda Research reportedly did not know about the misuse of FTX user deposits until last November.

Russian hackers may be behind FTX hack: Elliptic

The research firm said that on-chain data point toward Russian hackers, instead of the previously-suspected North Korean Lazarus Group.

Bitcoin slightly dips following U.S. CPI report

With the U.S. CPI holding steady and predictions favoring unchanged Fed rates, Bitcoin remains resilient.

Japanese yen-backed digital currency set to launch next July

The DCJPY could play a central role in the future’s currency system, according to DeCurret Holdings.

Coinbase Q3 trading volume drops 52% from last year

The current crypto bear market caused Coinbase’s trading volume to drop to levels not seen since 2020.

Digital assets are here to stay, Bahamas prime minister says

Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis said the island nation will continue to be a pioneer in the digital asset space.

FTX collapse helped the evolution of crypto regulation, says Bahamas securities regulator

FTX’s collapse and the crypto winter helped regulators familiarize themselves with the rapidly evolving crypto industry, said Christina Rolle of the Bahamas Securities Commission.

ESMA says DeFi can bring greater financial inclusion, but warns of volatility risks

The regulator said that DeFi doesn’t pose a risk to financial stability, due to its small size, but said it needs to be monitored in the future.

Ethereum NFT production falls to all-time low in September

NFT production on Ethereum fell to an all-time low in September, as the floor prices of blue-chip NFT collections continued their decline.

BlackRock shares go digital on JPMorgan’s Onyx blockchain

JPMorgan’s Onyx blockchain showcased near-instant collateral transfer in BlockRock’s tokenized share transaction with Barclays.

Brazilian congressional committee calls for Binance CEO Zhao’s indictment 

The congressional committee accused Changpeng Zhao and three other executives, along with 45 individuals, of running a financial pyramid scheme in the country.

UK committee calls for tighter NFT copyright and fan token measures

The committee said fraudulent non-fungible token advertising could harm both NFT artists and investors.

Bitmain reportedly suspended employee salaries from September

Bitmain, one of the world’s largest Bitcoin application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) manufacturers, has suspended employee salary payments from September, according to a Tuesday report by China-based tech news outlet Leiphone. See related article: Hamas crypto donation accounts frozen by Israel police Fast Facts See related article: CMCC Global raises US$100 mln to launch Hong Kong […]

S.Korea’s crypto market rebounds in H1 but down 48.5% from 2021 close

South Korea’s cryptocurrency market has bounced back during the first half of this year but is still almost 50% below its value at the end of 2021, according to the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KOFIU), a government agency that oversees the nation’s anti-money laundering regime. See related article: Hamas crypto donation accounts frozen by Israel […]

Binance users in Hong Kong hooked by US$450,000 phishing attacks

The Hong Kong police warned on Monday that 11 Hong Kong-based Binance users lost over US$446,000 (HK$3.5 million) in cryptocurrencies to phishing text messages in the last two weeks. See related article: Gitcoin error sends US$460,000 to digital void Fast Facts See related article: CMCC Global raises US$100 mln to launch Hong Kong Web3 fund

Hamas crypto donation accounts frozen by Israel police

Israel Police’s cyber unit, Lahav 443, halts Hamas’ cryptocurrency fundraising efforts following Israeli crypto firms’ aid initiatives for war-affected citizens.

Israel crypto firms launch emergency crypto fund

Crypto Aid Israel, a fund aiding war-impacted citizens, uses a multi-signature wallet for Bitcoin, Ether, and stablecoins donations.

Crypto investment products record highest inflows since July: CoinShares

Inflows in cryptocurrency investment products reached US$78 million last week, the highest volume since July, according to crypto asset manager CoinShares.  See related article: Alameda had a US$65 bln line of credit, says FTX co-founder Gary Wang Fast Facts See related article: DOJ seeks to block Bankman-Fried from bringing up Anthropic fundraise in court

Clay Nation launches Cardano-Polygon NFT bridge in The Sandbox 

Clay Nation, a project of 10,000 non-fungible tokens (NFTs), announced the launch of a new blockchain bridge for Cardano and Polygon networks in The Sandbox metaverse.  See related article: DOJ seeks to block Bankman-Fried from bringing up Anthropic fundraise in court Fast Forkast See related article: NFT creators seek alternatives after OpenSea cuts royalties

Gitcoin error sends US$460,000 to digital void

Crowdfunding platform Gitcoin’s project lead Jonathan Miller said he accidentally sent approximately US$460,000 worth of Gitcoin tokens (GTC) to an unrecoverable contract address. See related article: DOJ seeks to block Bankman-Fried from bringing up Anthropic fundraise in court Fast Forkast See related article: SBF trial kicks off, Singapore gives crypto licenses as blockchain data comes […]

DOJ seeks to block Bankman-Fried from bringing up Anthropic fundraise in court

Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder and former chief executive officer of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, should be blocked from bringing up artificial intelligence firm Anthropic’s latest fundraising efforts in his defense against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), prosecutors said in a court filing on Sunday. See related article: Little-known FTX co-founder Gary Wang testifies in Sam […]

Alameda had a US$65 bln line of credit, says FTX co-founder Gary Wang

Gary Wang, co-founder and former chief technology officer of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, testified on Friday that Alameda Research, the sister trading firm of the exchange, had a special line of credit of up to US$65 billion from FTX, that allowed the firm to spend US$8 billion of customer funds. See related article: Little-known FTX co-founder […]

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin falls 1.3% following U.S. jobs report

Bitcoin fell 1.3% in the hour following the U.S. jobs report, fueling market concerns that borrowing costs will remain high over a longer period of time.

ESMA publishes second MiCA consultation paper

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is seeking feedback on the second consultation paper on the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) bill, published on Thursday.  See related article: Binance ICO raised less than US$5 mln: Forbes Fast Facts See related article: What Europe’s new spot Bitcoin ETF means for global markets

Ledger cuts 12% of workforce, citing macroeconomic conditions

Cryptocurrency hardware wallet developer Ledger said it is cutting 12% of its workforce, according to a Thursday letter to employees by chief executive officer Pascal Gauthier. See related article: Binance ICO raised less than US$5 mln: Forbes Fast Facts See related article: Governments could access Ledger wallet private keys, says CEO

Binance ICO raised less than US$5 mln: Forbes

Binance’s 2017 initial coin offering (ICO) of its Binance Coin (BNB) reportedly raised less than US$5 million, contrary to the US$15 million claimed by the company and its Chief Executive Officer Changpeng Zhao.  See related article: U.S. SEC denied immediate access to Binance.US software Fast Facts See related article: Binance Japan partners with mega bank […]

Crypto fundraising in Q3 lowest in three years: Messari

The amount of funds raised by cryptocurrency firms dropped to a three-year low of US$2.1 billion in the third quarter of 2023, according to a new report published by on-chain intelligence firm Messari. See related article: CMCC Global raises US$100 mln to launch Hong Kong Web3 fund Fast Facts See related article: HKEX to launch […]

HKEX to launch smart contract settlement platform

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced on Wednesday that it is implementing a smart contract upgrade to its Connect, a system that bridges Hong Kong and China’s stock markets, to enhance post-trade workflows and reduce settlement risk. See related article: SFC to monitor illegal VATP activities with Hong Kong Police Force Fast Facts […]

CMCC Global raises US$100 mln to launch Hong Kong Web3 fund

CMCC Global, a Hong Kong-based blockchain-focused venture capital fund, announced Wednesday that it raised US$100 million to launch the “Titan Fund.” See related article: SFC to monitor illegal VATP activities with Hong Kong Police Force Fast Facts See related article: Valkyrie CIO expects US spot Bitcoin ETF approval in Q2 2024 (Update adds comment from […]

SFC to monitor illegal VATP activities with Hong Kong Police Force

The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Police Force announced Wednesday the establishment of a working group to monitoring and investigating illegal activities related to Virtual Asset Trading Platforms (VATPs).  See related article: Hong Kong crypto network Mixin loses US$200 million in hack Fast Facts See related article: JPEX […]

Bank of Korea to kick off wholesale CBDC pilot

South Korea’s central bank will be launching a pilot program for its central bank digital currency (CBDC) to explore infrastructure requirements, according to an Oct. 4 joint statement by the Bank of Korea (BOK), the nation’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). See related article: CBDCs are coming. Here’s why you […]

EU wholesale CBDC plans to publish within weeks, France central bank governor says

European Union central banks will publish plans for a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the coming weeks, François Villeroy de Galhau, the governor of France’s central bank, said at a Tuesday event in Paris. See related article: US legislators to discuss CBDC prevention bill on Sept. 20 Fast Facts See related article: Nepal […]

XRP up over 4% after judge denies SEC’s interlocutory motion

The XRP token rose 4.42% after a federal judge denied the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) motion to overturn its recent loss against Ripple Labs. XRP traded at US$0.5308 at 2:45 p.m. in Hong Kong on Tuesday, according to CoinMarketCap data.  See related article: HK’s SFC & US SEC crack the whip as Blockchain […]

Chainalysis cuts 150 employees 

Chainalysis, a New York-headquartered blockchain intelligence firm, is reportedly laying off about 150 employees, or approximately 15% of the 900 staff members. See related article: ‘There’s no doubt we picked a side here’ — Chainalysis founder Michael Gronager talks analytics, Ukraine and crypto adoption in Asia Fast Facts See related article: Bitwise to launch two […]

Bitwise to launch two Ethereum Futures ETFs

Bitwise Asset Management, a U.S.-based cryptocurrency index fund, announced that its two Ethereum futures exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the Bitwise Ethereum Strategy ETF (AETH) and the Bitwise Bitcoin and Ether Equal Weight Strategy ETF (BTOP), will start trading on Monday, Oct. 2.  See related article: Valkyrie CIO expects US spot Bitcoin ETF approval in Q2 2024 […]

Coinbase obtains Singapore’s Major Payment Institutions license

The Major Payment Institution license from Singapore’s central bank allows the exchange to expand its digital payment token services in the Lion City.

September 2023

Weekly Market Wrap: Nomura’s Bitcoin Fund, Citigroup blockchain move fail to lift Bitcoin above US$27,000

Bitcoin remained below the US$27,000 mark, despite significant institutional players, like Japan’s largest bank, Nomura, launching a Bitcoin adoption fund earlier this week.

NFT creators seek alternatives after OpenSea cuts royalties

Following OpenSea’s decision to cut creator royalties, artists are seeking more creator-centric alternatives, but industry experts told Forkast that the decision could impact the entire NFT space in the long term.

Matic biggest loser among top 10; Bitcoin falls, Ether dips below US$1,600 

Matic was the biggest loser in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, falling alongside most other cryptos and with Ether falling below US$1,600. Despite Bitcoin’s sluggish price action, industry experts say that institutions continue adopting the world’s first cryptocurrency.  See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750 MATIC […]

Toncoin leads declines, Bitcoin dips below US$27,000 

Toncoin was the biggest loser in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, falling alongside most other cryptos except Dogecoin. With Bitcoin below US$27,000, FTX’s crypto liquidations could keep prices subdued for the rest of the month, market analysts told Forkast. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750 […]

Toncoin leads top 10 cryptos with weekly gain of 31%, could Bitcoin rise to US$30,000 by October?

Toncoin led gainers in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, rising over 31% since its Telegram partnership last week. Despite Bitcoin’s short-term corrections, it could return above the US$30,000 support level by October, according to market experts. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750 TON leads winners, […]

Solana leads winners in top 10 cryptos; Bitcoin, Ether rise for 2nd consecutive day

Solana led gainers in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, recovering from a two-month low. Bitcoin and Ether rose during afternoon trading in Asia along with most cryptos. Market experts said that the continued entrance of large institutions could provide the crypto industry more legitimacy and price stability. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: […]

BNB leads winners in top 10 cryptos; Bitcoin, Ether rise 0.8% in afternoon trading 

BNB led gainers in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, despite Binance’s growing challenges. Bitcoin and Ether rose during afternoon trading in Asia, as market analysts are saying it could start picking up more bullish momentum above the US$26,000 mark. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750 […]

Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750

Bitcoin hit a weekly high of US$26,750 after Deutsche Bank announced plans to offer crypto custody services for institutional investors, days after Standard Chartered launched its own institutional crypto wing.

Toncoin gains 13% on Telegram partnership; Bitcoin, Ether little changed 

Toncoin led gainers in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, rising over 13% after the project announced its partnership with Telegram. Bitcoin and Ether were little changed during afternoon trading in Asia, but market analysts are looking at September as a period for strategic Bitcoin accumulation. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: ETF developments […]

Gaming blockchain Oasys partners Japan telco KDDI’s αU Wallet, αU Market in Web3 push

Oasys, a blockchain-based game development platform, will team up with non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace αU market and cryptocurrency wallet αU Wallet – a crypto wallet by KDDI, one of Japan’s top three telecom companies – for users to trade NFTs on the αU market. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: ETF developments bolsters Bitcoin above […]

Weekly Market Wrap: ETF developments bolsters Bitcoin above US$26,000

Bitcoin returned to US$26,000 on Friday, bolstered by Ark Invest’s Ether ETF application and Grayscale’s continued efforts for its potential Bitcoin ETF.

Ether, most top 10 cryptos rise as Bitcoin leads gains in market recovery 

Bitcoin rose in afternoon trading in Asia, leading the gainers in the top 10 cryptocurrencies, fueling a wider market recovery as it returned to the US$26,000 support level. Despite the uptick, market experts warn of another potential drop to US$25,000. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Grayscale’s favorable court verdict, ETF hype fail to lift […]

Toncoin leads gains in top 10 cryptos as Bitcoin, Ether slip; Google to allow NFT gaming ads

Toncoin led gainers in the top 10 cryptos after it saw stronger investor interest since the launch of its new programming language, Tact.

Solana leads gains following Visa partnership news, Bitcoin little changed even as whales snap up asset

Solana led gainers in the top 10 cryptos, after the protocol announced a new partnership with payments giant Visa.

Bitcoin, Ether decline as Dogecoin leads gains ahead of Elon Musk’s biography

Dogecoin led the winners in the top 10, in anticipation of Tesla owner Elon Musk’s upcoming biography, which reportedly details his involvement in the memecoin’s development.

Bitcoin, Ether remain under key levels; Sol leads gains in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ether have struggled to gain traction since the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) postponed its decision on seven Bitcoin ETF proposals.

Weekly Market Wrap: Grayscale’s favorable court verdict, ETF hype fail to lift Bitcoin above US$28,000

While Grayscale’s favorable verdict over the SEC could pave the way for the first spot Bitcoin ETF in the U.S., it failed to bring Bitcoin above the US$28,000 support level.

August 2023

Friend.tech daily fees and buyers drop by over 90%

Friend.tech saw its daily revenue, fees and active buyers fall over 90% from its peak.

DeFi revenue remains resilient despite Curve Finance hack

Even as the value of assets in DeFi dips, service provider revenues stand strong, undeterred by the US$73 million Curve Finance breach, Forkast Labs data shows.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin’s summer volatility, Coinbase’s new stake and anticipations on the Fed moves cryptocurrencies

From landmark business decisions to looming central bank announcements, the crypto landscape this week teemed with events that may shape the course of the market.

SOL reverses gains, Bitcoin holds US$26,000, top cryptos fall ahead of Powell’s speech

SOL reversed Thursday’s gains from its Shopify partnership while XRP fell to a six-week low. Bitcoin and Ether inched up during afternoon trading but struggled to gain more upward momentum.

Bitcoin, Ether rise with SOL leading winners in top 10 cryptos

SOL was the biggest gainer in the top 10 following its Shopify deal. Bitcoin and Ether also rose along with most top 10 cryptocurrencies.

SOL falls to six-week low, BNB biggest gainer despite reports of Binance violating Russian sanctions

Bitcoin recaptured the US$26,000 mark today, while Solana fell to a six-week low. BNB was the biggest gainer in the top 10, despite allegations against Binance resurfacing.

Bitcoin holds US$26,000, BNB flirts with annual low

Bitcoin holds its ground above US$26,000, but the top 10 cryptocurrencies see a dip. BNB remains subdued as Binance’s payment partner woes intensify.

Bitcoin stabilizes as ETF enthusiasm tapers off

Bitcoin stabilized above the US$26,000 mark following last week’s sell-off. Top cryptos struggle to gain momentum as Bitcoin ETF applications continue to be delayed.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin falls below US$26,000 following Evergrande’s bankruptcy

Bitcoin fell over 10% this week and dipped to a two-month low following Evergrande’s bankruptcy filing.

SEC granted permission to file interlocutory appeal in Ripple case

Judge Analisa Torres has granted the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the request to file an interlocutory appeal in its lawsuit against Ripple Labs.

PayPal to pause UK crypto sales from October for at least 3 months

PayPal will pause cryptocurrency sales in the United Kingdom for a minimum of three months starting October 1.

Coinbase cleared to offer crypto futures trading in the US

Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., has obtained regulatory approval to offer crypto futures trading services to eligible clients

Weekly Market Wrap: Can Bitcoin close the week above US$29,300?

Bitcoin briefly rose above US$30,000 twice this week, but failed to remain the support level despite positive catalysts in the industry like the launch of PayPal’s new stablecoin. Bitcoin will have to close the week above US$29,300 for upward momentum, industry experts told Forkast.

Bitcoin slips but remains in ‘bullish scenario’ above US$27,500; Ether, most top 10 cryptos slide

Bitcoin and Ether fell during Friday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Despite its recent crab walk, Bitcoin is in a “bullish scenario” as long as it holds US$27,500, industry experts told Forkast.

Will Bitcoin fall to US$28,500? Ether, top 10 cryptos slide

Bitcoin and Ether fell during Thursday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. With a lack of positive news catalysts, Bitcoin could fall to the US$28,500 support level, but US$27,500 is also on the table, industry experts told Forkast.

Bitcoin, Ether rise near key levels, Sol leads gains across top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ether rose during Wednesday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. With over 69% of Bitcoin supply inactive for over a year, long-term investors remain bullish on the world’s first cryptocurrency, industry experts told Forkast.

Bitcoin, Ether slip as long term holders continue to accumulate BTC

Bitcoin and Ether fell during Tuesday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Long term investors continue accumulating Bitcoin, despite the asset’s recent price action, industry experts told Forkast.

Bitcoin, Ether slip as XRP leads declines in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ether fell during Monday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, with XRP leading losses in the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Investor sentiment remained subdued given regulatory concerns and a lack of positive catalysts, industry experts told Forkast.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin plunges under US$30,000 amid market turbulence. Is US$27,000 next? 

Bitcoin dips below US$30,000 and Ether loses ground as a mix of bleak sentiment, SEC suits and recent hacks test investor nerves.