3 themes driving institutional adoption of digital assets
What makes 2021’s roaring crypto market different from 2017’s are the banks and VCs piling in, writes Calvin Shen of Hex Trust. What’s behind their crypto adoption?
Crypto exchange industry consolidating as DEXes surge in popularity
The highly competitive cryptocurrency exchange industry appears to be consolidating, according to blockchain analytics provider Chainalysis as part of its Competitive Landscape Report that will be released next week. Fast facts The number of active cryptocurrency exchanges peaked at 845 in August 2020 and stood at 672 as at August 2021, Chainalysis reported. The exchanges […]
Ethereum drives crypto comeback as US tax fears leave market unfazed
Top blockchain and crypto news: Ethereum rises and rivals follow. Taxing times for US investors. New life for reborn crypto miner.
Ethereum hits new all-time high; S Korea says NFTs not virtual assets
Ethereum hits new all-time high meanwhile South Korea says NFTs not virtual assets
New Hong Kong youth association hopes to nurture ‘patriotic fintech talents’
The city’s disaffected post-protest youth and recent statistics suggest a brain drain in the city’s future.
Canaan sues over patent infringement; PayTM considers crypto services
Canaan sues over patent infringement also, PayTM considers crypto services
Chinese companies rush to register metaverse-related trademarks
Chinese companies are in a craze for trademark registrations related to the metaverse, and Baidu and NetEase are the latest tech giants to register such trademarks. Fast facts According to the QiChacha, a website where you can search for information about Chinese company information, shows that NetEase has applied for three trademarks with the metaverse: […]
Is 2021 the year of crypto’s coming of age?
Blockdata co-founder Jonathan Knegtel thinks so. Almost a teenager, Bitcoin is reaching a level of maturity that’s defying the predictions of its critics.
Asia-Middle East multiple CBDC bridge builds out business use cases for international payments
22 private sector finance heavyweights together with the BIS and central banks of China, Hong Kong, Thailand, and UAE aim to achieve a production-ready international trade settlement platform using CBDCs.
Crypto mining rig maker Canaan sues two Chinese tech companies over patent infringement
Canaan is seeking $14 million in alleged losses from Shenzhen HighSharp Electronic Technology and Sichuan Yinbimei Technology.
What is the Solana ecosystem and how is it fueling SOL’s stratospheric rise?
Solana prices keep cresting to new heights, making SOL a top-five cryptocurrency by size. What makes Solana and its ecosystem stand out? Forkast.News explains.
e-CNY scam investigated; S Korea gets metaverse bug
e-CNY scam investigated meanwhile S Korea gets metaverse bug
ETH and SOL hit all-time highs; CBA to offer crypto services
ETH and SOL hit all-time highs as well as CBA offers crypto services
Stablecoin toss to US Congress as regulators circle
Top blockchain and crypto news: Stablecoins at regulatory crossroads. Squid Game crypto players suffer shocking fate. Are metaverses China’s new national insecurity?
BXH suffers US$130 million exploit; Squid game token meets deadly end
BXH suffers US$130 million exploit, also Squid game token meets deadly end
BXH says its exploit, now estimated at $139M, came from admin key leakage
The hacked DeFi platform called China’s cyber police first thing as most users appear to be in China.
Tech giants vow to resist NFT hype; Squid token under scrutiny
China’s tech cut ties to NFTs as Squid Game token leaves users questioning its legitimacy.
Can Axie Infinity go the distance?
The darling of the play-to-earn gaming world had an explosive start but now struggles with deflation and lower player earnings. Is the play-to-earn model sustainable?
Warning issued over K-pop crypto; Dog fight hits crypto market
Warning issued over K-pop crypto meanwhile Dog fight hits crypto market
FATF updates regulatory guidance for crypto industry
The global AML watchdog provides clarifications on how crypto is to be regulated — and why DeFi could see more scrutiny.
Back to the future: Why Bitcoin is still a game-changer
Bitcoin is awakening humanity to its own sovereign capacities, says Ben Caselin of AAX. Here’s why the world’s first cryptocurrency is still at the cutting edge of finance and culture.
Tales from the Crypt, 2021: 10 crypto horror stories
Behind this year’s giddy markets, evil and tragedies abound. Just in time for Halloween, Forkast.News shakes out the skeletons in crypto’s closet.
Tesla’s trillion-dollar triumph — and its bond with Bitcoin
Top blockchain and crypto news: Is Tesla’s turbocharge a boost for Bitcoin? Mastercard’s Bakkt with a new crypto deal. Chinese NFTs on knife-edge.
Mastercard partners with Bakkt to offer crypto payments
Payments giant Mastercard and cryptocurrencies firm Bakkt Holdings Inc. announced on Monday they have partnered to facilitate cryptocurrency debit and credit card payments. The partnership will make it easier for merchants, banks and fintechs in the U.S. to offer a broad set of cryptocurrency services and enable consumers to buy and sell digital assets through […]
Proshares files for exemption; Shiba Inu hits all-time high
Proshares files for exemption meanwhile Shiba Inu hits all-time high
FTX raises $421 million, valuation jumps $7B in 3 months
Just three months after closing a record US$1 billion series B, the two-year-old cryptocurrency exchange is now valued at US$25 billion. Fast facts The US$420,690,000 Series B-1 funding round saw the participation of 69 investors, with prominent names the lineup, including Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, via its Teachers’ Innovation Platform, Singapore’s state-owned investment firm […]
Bitcoin hits all-time high; Lotte World opens in metaverse
Bitcoin hits all-time high, also Lotte World opens in metaverse
Bitcoin reaches new all-time price high, but in a very different market since last time
When the world’s largest cryptocurrency last reached a price high, China had yet to crack down on crypto mining, and there was no U.S. Bitcoin futures ETF. What do changing market conditions mean for the growth of Bitcoin and the crypto industry?
What Singapore’s novel crypto license scheme means for the future of payments
In a special Q&A, CEO Louis Liu describes the hoops FOMO Pay jumped through to win Singapore’s first crypto license and calls its regulator a ‘collaborator.’
The crypto policy landscape and how to educate policy makers about Web 3.0 | Ep. 5
How the crypto economy is engaging with legislators, what policy makers need to know about Web 3.0 and what role the U.S. infrastructure bill has played in kickstarting better cryptocurrency education.
Bitcoin inches toward all-time-high; Mining difficulty on the up
Bitcoin inches toward all-time-high on the back of the first Bitcoin futures ETF in the U.S.
Trick of the trade: Is SEC helping or reining in Bitcoin with ETF?
Top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Bitcoin grows up. Facebook’s metaverse journey. China’s crypto investors find a workaround.
Chinese find ways around crypto ban; ANZ settles debanking case
Chinese find ways around crypto ban meanwhile ANZ settles debanking case
E-CNY soft rollout continues as Beijing Capital Airport accepts CBDC payment
The soft rollout of the electronic Chinese yuan (e-CNY) continues across China in advance of its expected formal launch in time for the Beijing Winter Olympics in February. In the latest sign, Beijing Capital International Airport has become the first airport in the country to support payment by the central bank digital currency (CBDC), which […]
Binance taps former Dubai financial services official as regulatory liaison chief
Binance — the world’s biggest cryptocurrency by trading volume — today announced the appointment of Mark McGinness, former head of international relations at the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), as its chief regulatory liaison officer, according to a company statement. Fast facts McGinness’ appointment comes as Binance bolsters its compliance efforts and navigates regulatory headwinds […]
East Asia falls from 1st to 4th place in share of global crypto transaction volume
East Asia’s share of global cryptocurrency transactions plunged to 14% in June 2021 from 31% in April 2019 when it was by far the world’s largest crypto economy, according to blockchain data provider Chainalysis’ 2021 Eastern Asia Report published today. Fast facts China’s crypto crackdown in May saw East Asia — with China the biggest […]
Another Chinese state-run media outlet faults NFT frenzy
The Chinese government-aligned newspaper Guangming Daily published an opinion article to criticize non-fungible token (NFT) hype, which is “definitely not good for the healthy development of NFT.” Fast facts The article cited Gartner, a global technology research company, and its report Hype cycle for emerging technology, indicating that NFTs are at a high point of hype. The […]
Bitcoin bulls set for stampede amid six-figure forecasts
Top blockchain and crypto news: Big money heads for Bitcoin. How fishy are Squid Game NFTs? China mothballs mining.
Coinbase and Binance move to diversify; Stablecoins under scrutiny
Coinbase and Binance move to diversify meanwhile Stablecoins under scrutiny
Squid game NFTs traded on Opensea; Bitcoin on a roll
Squid game NFTs traded on Opensea, also Bitcoin on a roll
Stacks surges after NFT push; Samsung Next invests in Sky Mavis
Stacks surges after NFT push while Samsung Next invests in Sky Mavis
NFTs and the music industry: Flatten the learning curve | Part 3
Singers and musicians are embracing non-fungible tokens, but will their non-crypto active fans buy it?
Crypto miners blamed for Kazakhstan’s power shortages; Bitcoin on the up
Kazakhstan blames its newly settled crypto miners for power shortages as South Korea’s largest exchange is accused of listing faulty tokens for profits.
How should the world tackle crypto criminals and digital dangers?
Top blockchain and crypto news: US leads charge in ramping up cybersecurity. Crypto fans crow as Facebook flops. China bears down on metaverses.
Korea crypto tax pause called for; TikTok jumps into NFTs
Korea crypto tax pause called for meanwhile Tiktok jumps into NFTs
Central and Southeast Asia among fastest-growing regions in global crypto adoption: Chainalysis
Much of the growth in the region is driven by strong grassroots adoption rates led by Vietnam, India and Pakistan, new data from Chainalysis shows
e-CNY chat wallet launched; Korean illegal crypto transactions surge
China’s telecom giants to bring digital yuan transactions to mobile chatting boxes.
What are stablecoins, and why are some governments so afraid of them?
Stablecoins combine the portability of crypto with the price stability of fiat currencies. But are they all that stable?
Tech selloff positions Bitcoin as an inflation hedge
Markets on Tuesday in the U.S. were unsettled by the prospect that energy crises in Europe and China could lift inflation to new highs, compelling central banks to reverse accommodations sooner than expected. US Treasuries reacted with a fierce rise in yields and that spilled over to the equity markets. Although the markets drove down […]
After the crackdown: go underground, go along, or buy the dip?
Chinese social media has been abuzz since authorities lowered the boom on crypto. Forkast.News has been following the chatter. Here’s what they’re saying on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
CBDC plans advance in Nigeria, Chile, Tajikistan
Nigeria, Chile and Tajikistan have taken major steps in their plans for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), while mainland China, Hong Kong, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates explore the potential for CBDCs in cross-border payments. Fast facts The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has launched a website for eNaira, the country’s CBDC, which will […]
Fewer South Korean crypto exchanges remain in business under new industry regulations
Around 35 virtual asset exchanges will vanish as of midnight Friday, as the country imposes new rules designed to protect consumers.
D-day for Korean crypto exchanges; e-CNY project speeds up
D-day for Korean crypto exchanges meanwhile e-CNY project speeds up
Former US Treasury advisor predicts no ‘real action’ from Fed on CBDC
While a US digital dollar is stuck at pole position, China’s digital yuan is nearing the finish line. Michael B. Greenwald of Tiedemann Advisors explains why it matters to the future global economy.
Digital yuan could come to overseas users to challenge dollar dominance: policy bank expert
China may be a small step closer to internationalizing the yuan, though its central bank says the e-CNY is now mostly tested for domestic use.
South Korea’s crypto crackdown: What you need to know
The country’s crypto industry has been turned upside down with stricter operating rules that take effect tomorrow.
VC names jump in on NFTs; Crypto investors brush off Evergrande
VC names jump in on NFTs meanwhile crypto investors brush off Evergrande
Evergrande debt woes hit crypto; Mooncakes in the metaverse
Evergrande debt woes hit crypto meanwhile Mooncakes are in the metaverse
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.
Evergrande’s uncertainty rocks crypto market
Crypto investors and industry watchers are following closely the potential collapse of Chinese property giant Evergrande.
Black Friday for Korean exchanges; E-CNY launch in final stretch
Black Friday for Korean exchanges while E-CNY launch in final stretch
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.
Why Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson says DeFi is ‘up for grabs’
As Cardano’s Alonzo upgrade goes live, founder Charles Hoskinson of IOHK calls DeFi a ‘bubble.’ How does he think the regulation that is sure to come will reshape DeFi in the future?
Canaan sees strongest ever quarterly sales results
Leading Chinese crypto mining hardware manufacturer attributes robust revenue to ‘substantial increase in total computing power sold.’
Solana validators complete restart; Laos ends crypto ban
Solana validators complete restart also Laos ends crypto ban
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 […]
FTX hit by hack rumor; Korea updates crypto death note
FTX hit by hack rumor meanwhile Korea updates crypto death note
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.
Searching for Asia’s ‘hidden treasures’ in NFTs and GameFi
Why is Axie Infinity so popular, and what is the potential of play-to-earn gaming? Two venture capitalists share insights on Asia’s special place as GameFi’s hub.
El Salvador wowed the world by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender. Other countries are taking note
Following crypto’s adoption in one struggling economy, nations in Latin America and elsewhere are now weighing the pros and cons of digital currency
South Korean crypto exchanges in ‘purgatory’ plea for survival
Smaller virtual asset exchanges ask for mercy as a deadline looms to commit to Korea’s new standards.
El Salvador’s big Bitcoin bet. Kim Kardashian, crypto flirt. Hong Kong’s crackdown warning.
Top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: El Salvador’s BTC experiment. EthereumMax and the power of celebrity. Hong Kong shores up regulatory oversight.