Forkast.News is now Forkast Labs

Bitcoin loses ground, Ether dips even as inflows rise; Litecoin edges up, with halving cited

Bitcoin fell below US$27,500 support on Tuesday morning in Asia. Ether and most other top 10 tokens traded lower amid a broader correction.

Until Web3 offers a better user experience, the masses will stay away

People won’t want to bother with a new technology if it’s painful to use, even if they’re aware of the potential benefits, writes Toby Rush of Redeem.

Japan’s Web3 pivot needs global mindset, flexibility to succeed, says incubator founder

Japan’s welcome mat for Web3 is shifting the tone from “buzzword” to opportunity, but success will hinge on the authorities adopting a global, flexible view toward this new technology, says Yudai Suzuki, co-founder of Fracton Ventures.

Russia is 2nd biggest Bitcoin miner after U.S.: report 

Russia is now the second largest Bitcoin miner after the U.S., according to a report by Russian media Kommersant. 

Memecoin PEPE falls 18% at start of trading week

PEPE, a memecoin launched on April 14, fell 18.81% to US$0.0000002626 in the 24 hours to 7 p.m. on Monday in Hong Kong. The coin is still up over 392% on the weekly chart and has a market capitalization of US$116 million, according to DEXTools.

Bitcoin extends drop, stays below US$28,000; Solana, Polygon leads losers in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin extended losses in Monday afternoon trade in Asia, along with all top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, with Solana and Polygon as the biggest losers.
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India’s finance minister lauds DLT, says crypto regulation does not mean technology control

India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in commending the potential of distributed ledger technology (DLT), has urged for a global consensus in regulating crypto while emphasizing that regulation did not equate to government control over the technology. 

Crypto leaders need to collaborate with regulators more — for the industry’s own good

A clear and balanced legal framework will encourage more crypto investment, while the industry can promote best practices, writes Mahin Gupta of Liminal.

China’s Changshu city to pay civil servant salaries in digital yuan

State employees in China’s Changshu City will receive their salaries in digital yuan from May, as China’s CBDC expands in daily uses.

Terraform Labs Kwon to get Montenegro court hearing May 11 on passport forgery charges

Kwon Do-hyeong will have a court hearing on May 11 in Montenegro on charges of allegedly attempting to travel using a false passport.

Bitcoin, Ether gain, but hold losses for the week; U.S. equity futures lose ground

Bitcoin rose on Monday morning in Asia but was boxed in below US$28,000. Ether and most other top 10 tokens gained, but not by enough to erase losses for the past week.

Uncertainty in crypto cycles from Memecoins & NFTs

A new memecoin craze is raising Ethereum transaction fees, but it’s also bringing new liquidity in for non-fungible tokens.

Weekly Market Wrap: Can Bitcoin float above US$27,500 after sinking below US$30,000?

Bitcoin fell to US$28,000 in the same week the European Parliament passed its landmark crypto framework. Industry analysts told Forkast that holding US$27,500 will be crucial for Bitcoin in order to spark an upward momentum.

Abu Dhabi calls for feedback on proposed legal framework for decentralized economy: CoinDesk

The UAE’s registration authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market is seeking feedback on its proposed legislative framework for distributed ledger technology, which will focus on disclosures, liquidation, and governance structures, according to a report by CoinDesk

Do Kwon: The Rise & Fall

Do Kwon has been charged by Montenegrin authorities for attempting to travel with forged documents as the US and South Korea race to extradite him.

Bitcoin’s mempool congestion eases after millionth Ordinals inscription

Mempool congestion issues subsided after the Bitcoin network surpassed 1 million Ordinals inscriptions.

Bitcoin, Ether decline; equities fall amid U.S.-China tension

Bitcoin and Ether fell by the end of Asian trading hours on Friday afternoon, together with all top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization apart from the BNB token. Asian equities declined along with U.S. futures, amid mounting political pressure between China and the U.S. Fast facts See related article: EU green lights MICA but […]

EU green lights MICA but Cryptos tumble on economy worries

Welcome to The Daily Forkast – April 21, 2023 – presented by Megha Chaddah. The European Union has approved the passage of their Markets in Cryptoassets (MiCA) law, making it the first major jurisdiction in the world to introduce a comprehensive law for the crypto sphere. Meanwhile, the crypto markets have sailed on steadily for […]

Sotheby’s to auction off NFTs owned by defunct hedge fund Three Arrows Capital

Leading auction house Sotheby’s said it will sell NFT artworks owned by the bankrupt crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital.

Bitcoin mining difficulty rises 1.7% to record high, hashrate jumps

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 1.72% on Thursday to a record high, while the network’s hashrate increased, showing miners are applying more computing power.

Bitcoin falls to near US$28,000, Ether flat, U.S. equities slide on rate hike worries

Bitcoin fell to near US$28,000 on Friday morning in Asia, with Ether trading flat and most other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens losing steam.

EU Parliament approves its first crypto regulation MiCA

The European Parliament has approved the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (MiCA), a legislation aimed at standardizing regulations and establishing harmonized rules for crypto assets across the European Union

From billionaire to Montenegro jail: The rapid rise and fall of Terra chief Do Kwon

South Korea’s Do Kwon went from a poster boy of digital finance as a co-founder of the US$40 billion Singapore-based Terraform Labs to a fugitive on Interpol’s wanted list, all in a matter of several rollercoaster years. He’s now in a Montenegro jail where he may face more time in detention as the U.S. and South Korea demand his extradition to face a long list of charges, including securities fraud – allegations he has repeatedly denied. The following is a timeline of how we got here.

Bittrex in SEC’s crosshairs as compliance lawsuits keep coming

Top blockchain and crypto news: Bittrex in SEC line of fire. Bored Apes fall after whale sale. Chinese banks court crypto clients.

Bitcoin trades below US$29,000, Ether slips, as market eyes Europe’s MiCA vote

Bitcoin and Ether fell during afternoon trading hours in Asia on Thursday, while most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization strengthened. Crypto investors were cautious ahead of Europe’s vote on the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) bill.

Bitcoin, other cryptos fall as investors book profit

Welcome to The Daily Forkast – April 20, 2023 – presented by Megha Chaddah. Bitcoin is down more than 5% Thursday morning in Asia. Ethereum also fell to lose hold of the US$2,000 price support in a sell-off across all top 10 non-stablecoin tokens. In the multi-chain economy, the Forkast Labs indexes trade mixed.

Crypto miner Bitdeer falls 35% since Nasdaq debut, reports net loss in 2022

Shares of Singapore-based cryptocurrency miner Bitdeer have slid more than 35% since their Nasdaq debut on April 14, and were trading at US$6.41 at closing on Wednesday.

Bitcoin falls below US$29,000, Ether slumps, U.S. equities stall on inflation concerns

Bitcoin slid below the US$29,000 mark on Thursday morning in Asia. Ether lost hold of US$2,000 in a sell-off across all top 10 non-stablecoin tokens.

Trump’s Series 2 sells out, tops daily NFT sales chart

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s second set of NFTs sold out within the first 24 hours since launch, according to the project’s website.

Hong Kong court deems crypto as property, in ruling on defunct exchange Gatecoin

Hong Kong’s High Court has recognized cryptocurrency as property in a March 31 landmark ruling in a legal tussle involving defunct crypto exchange Gatecoin

US chip giant Intel abandons Bitcoin ASIC production

Intel has announced it would shut down its Bitcoin mining chip production a year after launch.

Bitcoin gains, holds above US$30,000; Solana, BNB biggest losers in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin rose and traded above US$30,000 on Wednesday afternoon in Asia, while Ether fell along with most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Solana lost the most, followed by Binance’s BNB token.
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U.K. could push out crypto regulation within a year: lawmaker Andrew Griffith

The U.K. could see digital asset regulation in the next 12 months as part of a push to turn the nation into a hub for digital assets, said economic secretary to the Treasury, Andrew Griffith

Bitcoin to peak at US$42,000 in 2023, end the year above US$35,000: Finder survey

Bitcoin is expected to hit a high of US$42,225 in 2023 and close the year around US$35,485, according to a survey by Finder.

Bitcoin rebounds as Eth withdrawal queue gets longer

Welcome to The Daily Forkast – April 19, 2023 – presented by Megha Chaddah. Bitcoin rebounded above the US$30,000 mark and Ether gained ground as the withdrawal queue gets longer. Meanwhile, in the world of NFTs, former U.S. President Donald Trump is back in action as the second set of his digital collectibles was released.

United Arab Emirates opens licensing applications for cryptocurrency companies

UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority said Monday it has started accepting applications for operating licenses from cryptocurrency businesses.

Bitcoin reclaims US$30,000, Ether heads higher after grilling of SEC’s Gensler; Polkadot leads winners

Bitcoin rebounded above US$30,000 on Wednesday morning in Asia. All top 10 tokens rose after SEC chair Gary Gensler was criticized at a congressional hearing for his approach to digital assets.

The true cost of zero-fee crypto trading is anything but zero

Nothing in life is free. Be wary of crypto exchanges that offer ‘free trading,’ and ask hard questions about how they make money, writes Ben Caselin of MaskEX.

Politics will be Trojan Horse for NFTs

Former President Donald Trump’s NFT collection’s floor price may be dropping, but media coverage may extend his profits from the digital trading cards.

SEC’s Gary Gensler dodges question on whether Ethereum is a security

SEC Chair Gary Gensler did not give a direct answer when asked whether Ether is a security or a commodity at a congressional oversight hearing on Tuesday. 

Trump announces more NFTs but the first collection’s price tanks

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a second drop of his NFT trading cards, but the first collection’s price is sinking.

Bitcoin slips, Ether inches above US$2,100

Bitcoin dropped on Tuesday afternoon in Asia but remained above US$29,000, while Ether and most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies gained. Dogecoin and Solana fell on the day and rose on the week.
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Bitcoin hovers under US$29,500 level; Dogecoin gains

Welcome to The Daily Forkast – April 18, 2023 – presented by Megha Chaddah. Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies slipped in early morning Asia time. Meanwhile, Dogecoin shrugged off the overall down market, gaining almost 3% as sentiment around the memecoin got a lift after Twitter – led by Dogecoin fan Elon Musk – officially […]

Ethereum inflows slow following Shanghai upgrade, exchanges see Ether influx

CoinShares data showed Ethereum-linked products saw little investment interest with inflows of around US$300,000 in the week ending April 14, accounting for a tiny portion of the total US$114 million weekly inflow into digital assets and despite the blockchain’s milestone upgrade last week.

Bitcoin, Ether, other crypto fall as SEC waves big stick; Dogecoin gains; U.S. equity futures flat 

Bitcoin, Ether and most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies dipped Tuesday morning in Asia after the SEC sued crypto exchange Bittrex on Monday.

Why trustless oracles are vital to Web3’s future

What are ‘trustless oracles,’ and how will they shape the development of the metaverse and Web3? Markus Levin of XYO and XY Labs explains.

Bank of England says stablecoins need limits on use to prevent financial instability

The Bank of England may set limits on use of stablecoins, citing concern rapid introduction of such digital currencies could lead to financial instability, Deputy Governor Jon Cunliffe said in a speech on Monday.

Do Kwon retained law firm in South Korea before Terra collapse: Bloomberg

The founder of Terraform Labs, Do Kwon, reportedly retained a law firm in South Korea before the April 14 wipeout in TerraUSD’s value, according to a Bloomberg report.

Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; Solana gains most in mixed market

Bitcoin dropped on Monday afternoon in Asia and continued to trade below US$30,000. Cardano led losers among top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies in a mixed market. Solana led gains, followed by Binance’s BNB token and memecoin Dogecoin.

Bittrex cryptocurrency exchange rejects U.S. SEC charges it offered unregistered securities

Seattle-based crypto exchange Bittrex Inc. has rejected charges by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it and co-founder Bill Shihara operated an unregistered national securities exchange, broker and clearing agency. The SEC filed the charges on Monday. See related article: U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex lays off 83 employees Fast facts See related article: U.S. SEC […]

How blockchain can counter fake news and preserve history

In this era of disinformation and deep fakes, what can blockchain technology do to safeguard the truth about humanity’s shared past?

Bitcoin stays afloat while Solana and BNB rally

Welcome to The Daily Forkast – April 17, 2023 – presented by Jeff Cheung. Bitcoin and most other major cryptocurrencies had a relatively tame weekend, trading sideways up until early morning Asia time. Some notable mentions include Solana, BNB, and Litecoin – the three of which have seen increases in their price tags over the […]

U.S. House Financial Services Committee releases draft stablecoin bill for Wednesday hearing

The U.S. House Financial Services Committee is set to hold a hearing on April 19 to discuss a draft bill released over the weekend on regulating stablecoins, a class of digital currency designed to offer price stability by being pegged to another asset’s value.

East meets West at DAO Tokyo conference as Japan plays catch up

The global culture of decentralized autonomous organizations arrived in Japan last week for DAO Tokyo, the first event of its kind in Asia according to the organizers, drawing over 350 founders and contributors from all corners of the world for discussions on all things DAO.

SEC ‘crypto mom’ Hester Peirce attacks U.S. regulator’s new exchange definition on DeFi

SEC member Hester Peirce has criticized the regulatory agency for its proposal that seeks to expand the definition of an “exchange” to DeFi platforms.

Bitcoin dips under US$30,000; Ether takes a breather; Binance, Solana lead gainers

Bitcoin dipped below US$30,000 in early Monday morning trading in Asia. Ether stalled after strong gains that followed last week’s blockchain upgrade.

AI has taken over crypto’s share of VC funding, says Mysten Labs founder

Crypto’s share of venture capital money is now going to artificial intelligence, says Mysten Labs founder, Evan Cheng.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin tests upper US$30,000, Ether rises past US$2,000 after Shanghai upgrade

Bitcoin moved within a couple of hundred dollars of the US$31,000 ceiling in trading later in the week as market sentiment improved after Ethereum’s successful upgrade to unlock staked Ether. The Ethereum token broke above US$2,000 on Friday. Weaker inflation readings out of the U.S. later in the week pushed recession worries off center stage and generated some demand for “risk-on” assets, including Bitcoin, with some crypto enthusiasts seeing US$32,000 as the next barrier to break.

Bitcoin tops $30,000; ETH upgrade lifts market.

Welcome to Market Movers – April 14, 2023 – presented by Megha Chaddah for your weekly market wrap up. Bitcoin has stood it’s ground over the past week, holding firm above the US$30,000 mark for the most part. However, the completion of Ethereum’s Shapella upgrade has played a huge part in lifting the spirits of […]

Bitcoin rises to near US$31,000, Ether leads gains across top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin continued its rally to near the US$31,000 mark in Friday afternoon trading in Asia. All other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptos gained, led by Ethereum.

Kraken to withdraw US$1.17 bln of staked Ether in line with SEC ruling, settlement

As part of its February settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the U.S.-based Kraken crypto exchange has submitted the largest Ether withdrawal request since Wednesday’s upgrade to the Ethereum blockchain. The SEC ordered Kraken to shut down what it called unregistered staking programs.

Ethereum ups the ante post Shapella upgrade

Welcome to The Daily Forkast – April 14, 2023 – presented by Megha Chaddah. Ethereum’s feeling the hype as the Shapella upgrade is out in full force, showing a near 11% increase over the last 24 hours. Dogecoin also saw a spike as Twitter announced a partnership with E-Toro which would allow users to buy […]

Bitcoin heads higher, Ether breaches US$2,000, U.S. equities rally on weak inflation readings

Bitcoin rose higher in the US$30,000 band on Friday morning in Asia amid strong gains among the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. Ether led the winners.

Can crypto wallets be both accessible and hacker-proof?

Securing keys is an issue that has bedeviled the crypto world, as the $600M Ronin and $300M Wormhole heists have painfully shown. Is there a better way?

Cardano NFTs slump as users trade top-tier projects in favor of newer ones

Cardano NFT ecosystem sees a significant decline as users sell off top-tier projects for newer ones, according to Forkast CAR NFT Composite.

Forkast NFT indexes reveal the hidden costs of y00ts, DeGods’ moves across blockchains

Forkast Labs’ NFT indexes reveal Polygon’s US$3 million incentive to move y00ts over to its blockchain may have cost its users.

Hacker exploits old Yearn Finance contract, steals $11.6 mln in stablecoins

A hacker took advantage of an old contract from Yearn Finance on Thursday to steal US$11.6 million in stablecoins.

Musk’s Twitter partners with eToro to offer crypto and stocks to users

Twitter users will soon have access to stocks and cryptocurrency through a new partnership with eToro, a trading platform. 

Bitcoin inches up, remains above US$30,000; Ether gains after Shapella upgrade

Bitcoin and Ether rose during Asian trading hours on Thursday, along with all of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Ether rose the most, following the successful completion of the Shapella upgrade.

Binance chief says unclear crypto regulation ‘the worst’

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said regulators need to come up with clear crypto regulations and should understand that the crypto industry is different from the traditional financial industry.

Ethereum stands firm as Shapella upgrade rolls out

Welcome to The Daily Forkast – April 13, 2023 – presented by Jeff Cheung. Ethereum’s Shapella upgrade is finally here, and despite worries of selling pressure now that staked ETH withdrawals have been made easier, it has held its ground above the US$1,900 level. Other currencies have seen a slight dip overnight though, as the […]

Hong Kong’s ZA Bank starts offering crypto-fiat conversion services: Bloomberg

ZA Bank, the largest virtual bank in Hong Kong, has started offering cryptocurrency conversion services through licensed crypto exchanges.