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Facebook reins in crypto ambitions with Diem stablecoin plan

Facebook’s much-anticipated foray into cryptocurrency has got off to a modest start, with the project it is backing confirming that it will launch a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. The social media giant had announced ambitious plans to launch a global digital currency named Libra in partnership with Visa and PayPal in 2019, but […]

Tesla pulls U-turn on Bitcoin payments amid founder’s environmental concerns

US carmaker Tesla has backed away from accepting Bitcoin as payment for its electric vehicles, citing the enormous environmental cost of mining and processing cryptocurrency transactions. In a Tweet posted on Wednesday, Tesla founder Elon Musk said the company would suspend vehicle purchases using Bitcoin. He said, “We are concerned about rapidly increasing use of […]

ICP takes crypto world by storm. Will Ethereum be the next Bitcoin? Goldman Sachs launches crypto trading desk.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: How Dogecoin copycat SHIB coin vaulted into crypto’s top 20. China unveils fingerprint ID for digital yuan.

SHIBA INU trends in Chinese social media; Indonesia mulls crypto tax | The Daily Forkast

Shiba Inu is the new “Doge killer” and Chinese investors “can’t get enough” of it, says Gate.io, as #SHIB trends in Weibo.

U.S. SEC takes crypto regulator crown with enforcement action tally

The United States’ Securities and Exchange Commission has emerged as a top cryptocurrency regulator, bringing 75 enforcement actions and 19 trading suspension orders between July 2013 and 2020, according to a study by Cornerstone Research. “In the last seven years or so, the SEC has established itself as one of the main regulators policing the […]

What is the real value of joke coins like Dogecoin and SHIB?

Crypto veterans are appalled by the sudden popularity of $hitcoins like DOGE and SHIB. But others say memecoins are making investing more accessible.

Indonesia eyes crypto trade tax as sector heats up

Indonesia’s tax authority is studying a proposal to tax cryptocurrency trading as interest in digital currencies gains momentum among local investors. Directorate General of Taxes spokesman Neilmaldrin Noor was quoted by Reuters as saying, “If there is a profit or capital gain generated from a transaction, the profit is an object of income tax. So […]

China’s new digital yuan wallet with fingerprint ID causes privacy worries

Chutian Dragon and IDEX Biometrics offer DCEP digital currency wallets with fingerprint recognition. The companies say the feature enhances security.

Indian crypto standoff takes toll on investment despite hopes for solution

Cryptocurrency investment in India has reportedly slowed to a trickle as both investors and cryptocurrency exchanges grapple with banks’ refusal to accept digital currency transactions. Despite the face-off, industry executives are hopeful that banking support will resume soon, according to a report by Moneycontrol. As reported by BloombergQuint, most crypto exchanges, including WazirX, CoinDCX, Zebpay, […]

Thailand’s Brooker Group bets US$48 million on DeFi, decentralized apps

Bangkok-headquartered financial consultancy and capital manager The Brooker Group is set to invest US$48 million in a portfolio of decentralized applications and decentralized finance tokens, a move that will see the company commit around half of its assets to the sector. The firm has identified what it describes in a press release as “huge” growth […]

Block.one raises US$10B to launch Bullish Global, set up new crypto exchange

Software company Block.one today announced the launch of new subsidiary Bullish Global. An independent entity that will operate under Block.one’s parentage, Bullish Global is focused on the rollout this year of Bullish, a blockchain-based cryptocurrency exchange, according to a press release sent to Forkast.News. Bullish aims to combine the performance, user privacy and compliance offered […]

FTX CEO on tokenized stocks; South Korean police officers want crypto | The Daily Forkast

FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried joins Forkast.News to share how the exchange is able to provide new financial products while still satisfying regulators.

Alpha Finance Lab launches oracle aggregator to boost scalability, flexibility

Alpha Finance Lab has developed an oracle aggregator with data from oracle providers Band Protocol and Chainlink to address challenges related to scalability, flexibility and security as the decentralized finance landscape continues its rapid evolution. A data oracle is a platform that combines and integrates real-world data and application programming interfaces that control smart contracts. […]

SNL lights too bright for Dogecoin; ESG investments join crypto | The Daily Forkast

Dogecoin is on its weekend hangover as trading volumes in India’s WazirX for DOGE reaches new heights. Meanwhile, ESG investments tackle crypto.

UK finance sector’s paper problem in line for fix as docStribute ledger launches

London-based regulatory technology startup ALT/AVE today launched its docStribute distributed ledger product, which aims to tackle the paper waste problem generated by companies in the financial services industry. Built on the Hedera Hashgraph network, docStribute enables financial institutions to distribute mandatory and highly regulated documents to customers, offering a secure and more sustainable digital alternative […]

SEC demands Ripple reveal legal advice Ripple received on XRP

In the latest volley in SEC v. Ripple Labs, the SEC contends that Ripple has waived its attorney-client privilege over legal advice on XRP’s status.

Philippine power firm looks to regulators to drive blockchain electricity trade

The head of a Philippine electricity generator and distributor says that blockchain-enabled trading of electricity can thrive in the country, so long as the right regulatory environment exists.   Emmanuel Rubio, president and CEO of Aboitiz Power, told the Manila Bulletin blockchain offered an opportunity in the electricity market, particularly in unleashing the potential of […]

Cambodia’s SBI LY HOUR Bank launches first cross-border blockchain transfers via Ripple

Cambodian lender SBI LY HOUR Bank has launched the first blockchain-based remittance services between Cambodia and Vietnam.   SBI LY HOUR Bank is providing the new services with Vietnamese lender TP Bank, in which its parent, SBI Holdings, has a stake, according to a report by the Phnom Penh Post. The lender is the first […]

Ethereum prices break $4,000 for first time—what’s driving ETH’s surge?

Is it all those new Ethereum ETFs, rising demand for Ethereum from DeFi and NFTs, or lower gas fees fueling ETH’s price jump to yet another all-time high?

Dfinity to unveil challenger to Ethereum, cloud services

Cryptocurrency startup Dfinity is set to unveil an “internet computer,” which it says can provide a faster, cheaper alternative to Ethereum and can rival Amazon Web Services and other cloud computing companies, according to a report by the Financial Times. The company’s self-described internet computer is a group of technologies designed to support next-generation decentralized […]

New Asian investment portfolio offers exposure to Canada’s Bitcoin ETFs

Aqumon’s SmartGlobalC aims to meet the rapidly growing demand for Bitcoin exposure for traditional investment portfolios in Asia.

Philippine bank, fintech XLOG to offer blockchain-based logistics financing

Union Bank’s financial supply chain platform to be integrated with XLOG’s logistics platform. Union Bank of the Philippines and fintech firm XLOG have teamed up to offer the Philippines’ first blockchain-powered supply chain financing solution embedded in a logistics platform. “We are firm believers in how blockchain technology can bridge gaps in different industries. We […]

Crypto gets AI treatment as BlockBank rolls out robots

Financial artificial intelligence firm seeks to use technology to mitigate risks in complex, volatile trading environment. BlockBank, which develops artificial intelligence for both decentralized and traditional, centralized finance, is using its technology to bring AI-enabled analytics and risk management practices to the crypto space. The company is working to offer a built-in fiat currency gateway […]

BCH gets the nod from Japan; Digital yuan travels to the countryside | The Daily Forkast

While Bitcoin Cash surges, we visit a Japanese coffee shop owner who just started accepting BCH as payment.

Ripple’s XRP sales increased over 90% in 1Q 2021

XRP sales by Ripple accounted for 0.07% of global XRP volume. Ripple says its sales were to support on-demand liquidity customers.

Citi mulls crypto services launch as clients embrace Bitcoin

Currency-trading giant says crypto trading, custody and financing all under consideration amid growing demand from asset managers, hedge funds. Citigroup is considering launching cryptocurrency services following a surge in interest in digital currencies among its clients, according to a report by the Financial Times. The report cited Citi’s global head of foreign exchange, Itay Tuchman, […]

How R3 is growing Corda’s reach with China’s Blockchain Services Network

R3’s Corda — one of the most widely used blockchains of Corporate America — is coming to China. What does it mean for the US and Europe?

High-end Miami condos to be city’s first flats with crypto price tag

Developer of Arte by Antonio Citterio partners with blockchain platform to allow buyers to pay with cryptocurrency. Sapir Corp, the developer of the Surfside district condominium, has teamed up with blockchain and securities trading platform SolidBlock to allow buyers of the luxury residences to purchase them using cryptocurrency. The partnership between Sapir Corp and SolidBlock […]

Tajikistan teams up with Fantom for e-government blockchain launch

Central Asian nation follows Pakistan and Afghanistan with blockchain-powered digitization initiative. Tajikistan is partnering with the Fantom Foundation to develop e-government infrastructure using Fantom’s blockchain-based IT products. Under the deal, the Ministry of Industry of New Technologies will provide Fantom with access to its data flows and documentation to develop a customized customer relationship management/management […]

Bitcoin vs. Bitcoin Cash: Everything an investor needs to know

With Bitcoin Cash prices rising in advance of its May 15 network upgrade, investors want to know: What’s the difference between Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin?

Court orders SEC to give Ripple internal documents on XRP, Bitcoin, Ether

Ripple scores another in legal wrangling over SEC lawsuit as SEC now must disclose its confidential internal communications over XRP, Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Kraken crypto investors in spotlight as US court approves IRS probe

Win for tax enforcer as California federal court gives it green light to seek information on Kraken exchange cryptocurrency deals. The U.S District Court for the Northern District of California has given the Internal Revenue Service approval to issue a “John Doe” summons seeking information on customers of San Francisco-based cryptocurrency exchange Kraken. A John […]

Uniswap v3 volume surges despite users’ cost gripes

New iteration outperforms predecessor amid concerns over costs, complexity. Uniswap founder Hayden Adams has declared Uniswap’s v3 launch day a greater success by volume than that of its v2 iteration, despite a slew of complaints from users about its costs. Adams wrote in a tweet dated May 7 that during its first 24 hours live, […]

Open DeFi launches DAO: ‘Multi-chain DeFi is here to stay’

Since its launch by Conflux Network, a Shanghai-endorsed public chain, the East-West alliance has added over 30 members. Open DeFi now forms a DAO.

“Everyone has been bitten by the Chia bug”; Indian banks puzzle crypto | The Daily Forkast

The Chia craze keeps on going while the Indian crypto industry speaks out against banks blocking crypto transactions.

Indian payments authority leaves banks to weigh crypto-trading bans

National Payments Corporation of India refuses to ban cryptocurrency trading, putting decision on whether to block trades in hands of lenders. India’s national payments authority has handed banks the responsibility for deciding whether or not to ban cryptocurrency trading. The National Payments Corporation of India has advised lenders across the country to impose bans on […]

Report: 1.7 million DeFi users now on Ethereum, 50% more since Jan. 1

ConsenSys Codefi’s Q1 report on decentralized finance (DeFi) trends also saw 7x growth in stablecoins and predicts flashbots dominating the Ethereum network.

How fractionalized NFTs could be the next frontier of investing

Where is the NFT market headed, and has the bubble burst? Consider a world where any asset could be tokenized and sold fractionally to investors.

South Korea to impose 20% capital gains tax on crypto in 2022

South Korea’s finance department on Wednesday announced a new rule imposing a 20% capital gains tax on cryptocurrency transaction gains starting in 2022. However, cryptocurrency investors are entitled to a tax deduction for expenses incurred during mining. The country’s Ministry of Economy and Finance explained cryptocurrency transaction gains exceeding 2.5 million won (about US$2,230) would […]

Crypto demand grows in Australia as rich families seek investment edge

Institutional interest propels cryptocurrencies into mainstream for wealthy investors looking to diversify portfolios. High net worth Australians are committing increasing sums in cryptocurrencies as digital assets move from the fringes of investment markets and become steadily more mainstream. Leigh Travers, executive director of technology investment firm DigitalX, says he has observed a growing trend toward […]

Indian banks, payment gateways reportedly blocking crypto transactions

India’s cryptocurrency exchanges are calling on local banks not to block their transactions. Cryptocurrency exchanges in Mumbai are reportedly struggling with payment gateways and banks, which they accuse of blocking their transactions by citing an old Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy to ban digital currency dealings. They claim the policy had been struck down […]

Boxer Tyson Fury teams up with HoDooi to sell NFTs

‘Gypsy King’ looks to blockchain-powered marketplace to tap demand for celebrity collectibles Two-time world heavyweight champion boxer Tyson Fury is partnering with HoDooi.com to launch his brand as a collectible in the non-fungible token market. HoDooi.com was founded by Matt Luczynski, who is also the co-founder of the blockchain travel business Travala.com. Commenting on the […]

Dogecoin price jumps to new ATH with Gemini support for DOGE

Dogecoin’s price is now at an all-time high of 69 cents, and the joke crypto is now bigger than Ford and Nintendo. Are DOGE investors high on Gemini?

INX completes $125M SEC- approved token IPO

The cryptocurrency exchange INX has completed the first-ever security token offering registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The initial public offering (IPO) closed with $85 million in proceeds from over 7,200 investors. In addition to the previous private token sales and the cash in private placement equity, INX has raised a total of […]

DCG to buy $750M in GBTC

Digital Currency Group, the parent company of the digital asset manager Grayscale, has decided to up its purchase of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) by $500 million. The firm plans to purchase $750 million worth of GBTC shares instead of the initial $250 million. The GBTC has been trading at a premium for some months for […]

South Korean banks set to serve crypto; Chia drives SSD shortage | The Daily Forkast

South Korea’s Kookmin bank sets up an KODA — an OTC and custody service for institutional investors. Chia is the latest mining craze.

China’s banks unveil ATM for foreigners to use digital yuan

China’s DCEP digital currency, not yet officially launched, take another leap forward with unveiling of prototype ATMs that convert foreign money to e-CNY.

SEC tries to block XRP holders from joining SEC v. Ripple lawsuit

In new court filings, the SEC says allowing XRP holders’ to join SEC v. Ripple lawsuit as third-party defendant would cause delays and ‘sow chaos.’

What could be the ‘greatest inhibitor’ to Dogecoin’s growth?

The NBA Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, has called “Robinhood’s withdrawal policy “the greatest inhibitor” to Dogecoin’s growth. The billionaire tweeted recently that businesses will start embracing Dogecoin because many people use it for transactions. According to Cuban, since people can’t spend DOGE on Robinhood, this could be the “greatest indicator to Dogecoin’s growth.” Cuban […]

German regulators could fine Binance heavily

According to a report, Binance could face investigation from European regulators over the issued stock tokens. The largest crypto exchange issued its first tokenized stock early this month, starting with Tesla stocks. The U.K Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) had revealed last week that it is working to understand the product to know whether Binance has […]

‘We should have bought Bitcoin, not gold’ — BNY Mellon fund

In its SEC filings, the asset management firm BNY Mellon revealed that the poor performance of its exchange-traded fund (ETF) was due to its non-exposure to assets invested in Bitcoin. The bank noted that its BNY Mellon Opportunistic Small Cap Fund (DSCVX) performance was partly because it had no exposure to MicroStrategy. MicroStrategy bought its […]

As DeFi swells past US$140 billion, FATF stokes worries over KYC/AML

Fast-growing DeFi — still a largely unregulated industry — gives FATF an earful over its proposed ‘travel rule’ and expanded anti-money laundering rules.

FinTech group: ‘digital footprints’ could help underbanked Philippines

Filipino-owned assets management company SAM Digital Technologies says adoption of blockchain could promote ‘digital footprints’ in the island nation. The country’s central bank is also interested in the technology.

Dogecoin price flies to moon on eToro listing and Elon Musk for rocket fuel

DOGE fans push Dogecoin price to all-time high (ATH) after eToro lists the joke coin for 20 million users, days before ‘Dogefather’ Musk appears on SNL.

Thailand tightens grip on cryptocurrency, increases KYC requirements

Thailand has issued fresh orders to tighten regulations on new cryptocurrency accounts, requiring customers to appear in person.

Ethereum breaks new records; South Korea split on crypto tax | The Daily Forkast

As Ethereum continues to soar to new all-time highs, South Korean crypto investors express mix sentiments on crypto tax.

Singapore’s US$31 million RegTech grant to boost crypto compliance

The RegTech grant, although not directed towards cryptocurrency, could have a profound impact on the industry.

Turkey’s Thodex exchange fraud case yields six new suspects

Turkish authorities arrested six individuals in connection with the Thodex exchange fraud case.

Singapore’s DBS Bank reports US$60 million crypto under custody

DBS Bank says it has over US$60 million in crypto under custody and plans to expand trading hours to 24/7.

Binance and Huobi stablecoins surge as Asia seeks fiat alternatives

Binance’s BUSD and Huobi’s HUSD dominated their stablecoin rivals in the first three months of this year. Why is Asia hungry for alternatives to fiat?

Ripple demands SEC to stop obtaining info on XRP dealings abroad

Ripple asks court to stop SEC from using MOU requests to get info on XRP from overseas regulators and pushes for access to SEC’s internal communications.

How to balance crypto investor protection and innovation in Hong Kong

US and Singapore have licensing laws that give investors more confidence in crypto firms. Stephen Richardson of Fireblocks urges Hong Kong to follow suit.

Nexon bags $100 million in Bitcoin; Inner Mongolia crypto mining exodus | The Daily Forkast

Nexon added 1,717 Bitcoins into its corporate treasury while deadline for Inner Mongolia’s closure of crypto mining operations approaches.

The NFT revolution is underway, and here’s what our future will look like

More than selling art and basketball mementos in a new way, NFTs can also transform copyright enforcement, royalties, real estate and financial markets.

PancakeSwap and controversial SafeMoon turbo boost BSC past Ethereum

Is Binance Smart Chain’s meteoric rise from PancakeSwap and cryptocurrency SafeMoon sustainable, and is an ‘Ethereum killer’ now finally closer to reality?

Binance dives into NFT; S.Korea’s FSC checks staff for crypto trading | The Daily Forkast

Binance announces its upcoming launch of an NFT marketplace while South Korean regulator asks staff to disclose personal crypto investments.

How blockchain technology can improve trust in democratic elections

Loss of faith in elections may be at an all-time high around the world. Here is how blockchain voting and decentralization can restore public trust.

Internet giants JD.com and Ant Group deepen support for China’s digital yuan

China intensifies its nationwide digital currency testing via JD.com paying employee salaries in digital yuan and Ant Group’s MYbank offering e-yuan services.

As Coinbase Pro adds USDT, Tether execs balk at continued scrutiny

Tether’s battle with New York may be resolved for now, but legal obligations have company on the defensive. Is Tether’s USDT regulated or just registered?

SEC sought info on Ripple and XRP from 20 foreign entities, including trading platforms

SEC says info on Ripple and XRP transactions overseas is important to lawsuit. But of the nine foreign regulators the SEC asked, two refused to help.

Taiwan set to roll out new AML regulations for crypto exchanges

Taiwan has enacted anti-money laundering regulations for cryptocurrency exchanges effective July 1. What will this mean for Taiwan’s growing crypto scene?

South Korean cryptocurrency industry claps back; Bitcoin’s nosedive | The Daily Forkast

Crypto investors in South Korea stir petitions to unseat the nation’s financial watchdog chief for his anti-crypto remarks.