October 2022
Satoshi’s other big legacy: Bitcoin is propelling a green energy revolution
The Bitcoin white paper, published 14 years ago this day, launched an industry that is now subsidizing clean energy and turning waste into digital gold, writes Will Szamosszegi of Sazmining.
How to manage your crypto assets beyond the grave
When the Grim Reaper comes, will he take all your Bitcoins, too? Here’s how to ensure your crypto wealth will survive and live on for your heirs.
How Europe’s MiCA can pave the way for crypto’s revival
Europe’s new MiCA framework for regulating crypto shows the good that can happen when government works with and not against the industry, writes Nick Saponaro of Divi Labs.
The crypto industry needs to do more to help ordinary investors
Cryptocurrency was created to be accessible to the masses. So why are retail investors getting shut out from the best analytical and trading tools?
Is crypto dead? No, but doomsayers may profit from your panic
A lack of regulations means anyone can say bad things about crypto to stir up fear — and push you to sell. Even if they stand to make money from your losses.
Why local language education holds the key to crypto’s future
The crypto sector operates mainly in English, but more than 6 billion people — many of whom crypto would benefit the most — use other languages, writes Wei Zhou of Coins.ph.
Why the crypto bear market can be a bull for innovation
The market may be in the doldrums, but there’s no better time to clean house and build for the future, writes Clayton Roche of UMA. Here are 5 areas of opportunity.
Is crypto suffering from the same ills as TradFi?
Centralized lenders like Celsius and Voyager have proven hugely problematic, but DeFi also has big issues. What if we pursue a hybrid approach?
Why appchains are critical to Web3’s future
What’s wrong with ‘fat protocols’ like Ethereum and Solana, and why should there be alternatives for the little guys? Yaoqi Jia of AltLayer explains.
A bear market may be painful, but it’s good for DAOs
When times are tough, a DAO must trim fat and focus on providing a better product or service to its community, writes Redmption of Harvest Finance.
Is that bottle of ‘Grand Cru’ for real? An NFT can nose out the truth
The tradition-bound wine world is not always open to change, writes Sebastian Schier of vinID. But new technology can solve the age-old problem of wine fraud.
How will the crypto tax debate play out in the UK?
Like many nations, the UK is formulating new rules and guidelines for crypto taxation. Will they help or hinder its crypto hub aspirations?
3 reasons crypto will spring back after Crypto Winter
The crypto market has been down for months, but the industry’s long-term future is brighter than ever, writes Guilhem Chaumont of Flowdesk. Here’s why.
September 2022
Are stablecoins like Tether ready for regulatory scrutiny?
The Terra UST disaster is spurring regulators to converge on global stablecoin standards, writes Michael Shing of XREX. But major issuers still fall short.
Is crypto in a deep funk? Think again
Beyond the bear market, Web3 technology is shining bright in gaming and music, writes Hannes Graah of Gro. Are we at a tipping point for mass adoption?
Is the Philippines on track to becoming a blockchain hub?
The Philippines now ranks 2nd in the world for crypto adoption, but its path ahead is unclear, writes Emman Navalan. What are the hurdles it must overcome?
Blockchain’s lack of accessibility will limit its potential
Blockchain technology remains a world divided by silos that keep out developers and users, writes Manu Siddaligegowda of Lisk. What are the solutions?
If the UK wants to become a crypto hub, it must do better
Britain’s internal divisions could thwart its crypt ambitions, writes Nick Saponaro of Divi Labs. Will it be eclipsed by crypto-friendly Dubai?
Why DeFi interest rate swaps may be the next frontier of finance
Already a big part of global finance, interest rate swaps can be a boon for DeFi — if it can overcome these challenges, writes Simon Jones of Voltz Labs.
Why the crypto space needs more women — as employees and at the top
The crypto labor force skews heavily male, which could impede the industry’s future growth, writes Lottie Wells of Wirex. Here are some ways to increase women’s participation.
Why Ethereum Merge will be game-changing for DeFi and crypto investing
Ethereum post-Merge will be much more attractive to institutional investors keen on ESG and earning stable yields, writes Wei Zhou of Coins.ph. Here’s why.
Why Ethereum Merge won’t be able to overcome the ‘Scalability Paradox’
Ethereum’s completion of its much anticipated ‘Merge’ this week will unlikely improve the network’s long-term speed or scalability, writes Mark Lurie of Shipyard Software. Why is this so, and why will it still be good for innovation?
Ethereum has had problems since its inception. Will the ‘Merge’ solve them?
Ethereum has long grappled with centralization, which the Merge will unlikely address in a meaningful way, writes Daniel Dizon of Swell Network.
The metaverse is already here. What’s holding back the party?
Interoperability is a key characteristic for the metaverse to be useful, writes Dr. Dimitry Mihaylov of National Univ. of Singapore. But the technology and laws are still lacking.
Why the real Ethereum killer might just be Bitcoin
Bitcoin is the most secure blockchain, and Ethereum’s proof-of-stake move will expose it to more security risks, writes Jagdeep Sidhu of Syscoin Network.
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?
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.
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?
August 2022
What in crypto hell just happened to all your money?
Crypto investors were blindsided when firms like Voyager suddenly froze their accounts. How can we improve digital asset protection in the future?
Why the crypto world needs more women as leaders and investors
Women foster a better environment for innovation and are sober with money — which is what the industry needs, writes Gracy Chen of Bitget.
How Web3 can reduce concert ticket fraud and clean up the industry
The $65-billion event ticketing industry is riddled with skulduggery, but NFT technology can transform it for the common good, writes Josh Katz of Yellowheart.
Problems with tokenizing real estate and how to fix it
Real estate as an investment is not very liquid, composable or accessible, writes Joel Lin of CitaDAO. Can tokenization and DeFi transform this market?
If successful, Ethereum’s Merge will cause a sea change in ETH supply and value
The Merge, one of this year’s biggest crypto events, is now due to happen next month. Why is it so hotly anticipated — and feared?
Crypto winter may be just what DeFi needs to grow and thrive
The decentralized finance sector is now a fraction of its former self. What will help companies survive this bear market and emerge stronger?
Establishing standards will be key to the metaverse’s future success
Virtual worlds currently exist in silos, and there is no easy way to communicate between ecosystems — which limits their value, writes Witek Radomski of Enjin.
Why crypto firms should embrace regulations and compliance
Regulatory compliance will be critical to improving crypto’s ‘Wild West’ image and public acceptance, writes Karen Er and Benjamin Bai of Amber Group. Here’s why.
Despite the bear market, enterprise blockchain has nothing to fear
Crypto’s volatility may be top of mind right now, but blockchain’s practical uses will be the industry’s future, writes Johannes Schweifer of CoreLedger.
Why crypto remains niche and far from the mainstream
The crypto world is plagued by products that are hard to use and have little utility, writes Roman Kashcheev of Quantfury. What can turn things around?
Why Singapore may be the ideal place for companies to rebuild post-crypto winter
Singapore is growing its digital assets industry while reducing risks, and its clear regulations allow firms to better plan for the future, writes Desmond Yong of DTC.
What NFT.NYC missed that Coachella got right
2022’s marquee NFT event in America’s biggest city failed to capitalize on its namesake technology, while an iconic music festival in the California desert understood the possibilities, writes Mirwan Suwarso of Mola TV.
Why crypto and DeFi are key to building wealth in times of high inflation
As wages stagnate and prices spiral, crypto offers investment and growth opportunities unmatched by the traditional financial system, writes Tarik Moon, CEO of Alpine.
Recovering crypto from insolvent companies may be easier than you think
A stolen painting may be lost forever, but a fraudulent Bitcoin transaction — with these legal strategies and tracing tools — can lead right to the criminal.
How data unions can reshape the global data economy
Europe’s Digital Markets Act will soon take power over personal data away from Big Tech and give it back to the people. How can data cooperatives help?
July 2022
Why DeFi remains attractive to institutions in a bear market
Despite the bleak macro outlook, more institutions are looking to gain exposure to the DeFi sector, writes Robert Alcorn of Clearpool. Here’s why.
What is the crypto industry’s public responsibility?
The crypto world is consumed by a spiritual battle between its believers and haters, and it is in need of a rebirth and new identity, writes Prof. Yanto Chandra of Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
How cold storage can ward against this crypto winter’s freeze
As the Celsius bankruptcy shows, moving to decentralized ways to hold crypto is not only sensible, it’s what Satoshi envisioned all along, writes Ruben Merre, CEO and cofounder of NGRAVE.
This is what the metaverse will look like 20 years from now
The metaverse of the future will transform how we work and our sense of self — and what we see now is only scratching the surface, writes Eaven Portillo.
The Lummis-Gillibrand bill could reshape global crypto regulations
As a world leader, the US now offers a regulatory template for crypto that others are sure to follow, writes Michael Shing of XREX. Here are the key provisions.
How the crypto winter is laying groundwork for Web3 to reach its potential
Digital assets are powering new industries, and DeFi will be the financial system of the future internet economy, writes Alex Tapscott in his new book, ‘Digital Asset Revolution.’
Ethereum will soon turn 7 — and its upcoming ‘Merge’ will be well worth the wait
The ‘Merge’ will have a major impact on the Ethereum ecosystem and beyond, and getting it right is more important than speed, writes Kevin Loo of IDEG.
Why Singapore needs to rethink its approach to regulating crypto
Singapore wants to attract institutional capital while shielding its people from crypto — but it can’t have it both ways, writes Donovan Choy.
Why Bitcoin is still a good investment despite the bear market
BTC remains a safe haven for investors for the long term amid this year’s soaring inflation and market volatility, writes Josef Tětek of SatoshiLabs.
What are ecosystem DAOs and why will they be important to Web3?
Decentralized autonomous organizations are spinning off new ways to bring communities together. Will ecosystem DAOs be the wave of the future?
How blockchain technology can transform the mortgage industry
Bad mortgages once dragged the world into a financial crisis. Can smart contracts prevent the worst from happening again?
Crypto’s biggest problem is not volatility, but scalability
Notwithstanding this bear market, Web3’s more pressing issue is its inability to handle large volumes, writes Greg Gopman. Can sidechains offer a solution?
June 2022
Why tougher crypto regulations are urgently needed
Lack of public trust remain a big barrier to crypto adoption, writes Tristan Roozendaal. Here’s why regulators should ‘move fast and break things.’
Are we helpless against attacks on blockchain bridges?
Harmony’s Horizon cross-chain bridge is now the third of its kind to suffer a major hack this year. What are the alternatives that may be more secure?
What will be the law of the metaverse?
The legal and ethical dilemmas plaguing technology today will only grow more acute in the metaverse, writes Brian Harley. How will real-world laws apply?
What is the right approach to regulating stablecoins?
Terra UST’s crash and burn is prompting calls for regulations. But lawmakers shouldn’t paint all stablecoins with the same brush, writes Alan Chiu.
Crypto self-custody is no longer a choice. It’s an imperative.
Celsius and Babel Finance’s freezing of customer accounts highlights the risks of intermediaries, writes Nick Saponaro. Crypto users should take back control.
You can’t spell nonprofit without ‘NFT’
More than a passing fad, NFTs can empower philanthropic organizations in ways never thought possible before, writes Nick Lynch of Collidescope.io.
What lessons can we learn from Terra’s LUNA/UST meltdown?
Terra’s LUNA/UST death spiral was entirely predictable — and it served as a stress test for better-designed stablecoins, writes Gytis Trilikauskis of MEV Capital.
Why Web3 will be critical to countering a dystopian ‘splinternet’
As the internet fractures into silos degraded by censorship and disinformation, DAOs and public blockchains may offer ways to restore trust.
The metaverse isn’t a fad but part of the future economy
An open and interoperable metaverse economy will drive consumer activity — and it’s on a similar track for growth as e-commerce, writes Ben Caselin of AAX.
Why the IMF is wrong about El Salvador’s Bitcoin experiment
Is El Salvador committing a major blunder in making Bitcoin legal tender — or finding its way out of the hell of dollarization? Bryan Hernandez explains.
How the bear market could accelerate the Web2 to Web3 migration
The downturn is forcing Web3 firms into a reset — and opening opportunities for Web2 entrepreneurs to enter the playing field, writes Lily Z. King of Cobo.
What does Lael Brainard’s rise in the US Federal Reserve mean for the crypto industry?
The Fed’s new No. 2 is ahead of the curve in her thinking — which bodes well for crypto’s future around the world, writes a former colleague of Brainard.
Why blockchain gaming needs more rules and regulations
The right balance of regulations can better protect gaming companies’ intellectual property as well as players’ assets, writes Henry Chang of Wemade.
May 2022
Why children around the world need crypto education
Financial literacy is a life skill that is often neither taught at school nor home, writes Grace ‘Ori’ Kwan of Orca. How can we close this knowledge gap?
How DAOs are remaking capitalism into a community-owned economy
Fueled by seismic shifts in societal values, decentralized autonomous organizations are now poised to go mainstream, writes Hannes Graah of Gro.
Why a Hong Kong CBDC is coming — for institutions
Governments around the world are racing to develop their own digital currencies, but an e-HKD may not make sense for Hong Kong’s people. John Mitchell of Episode Six explains why Hong Kong is unique.
Are we heading for a post-Terra crypto winter?
Terra’s LUNA and UST implosion is dragging down an already ailing market. What do other developments suggest about crypto’s long-term future?