Forkast.News is now Forkast Labs

Bybit crypto exchange follows Binance in exiting Canada amid tightened rules

Dubai-headquartered Bybit said it will exit the Canadian crypto market and stop accepting new accounts from Wednesday, citing a “recent regulatory development.”

Bitcoin, Ether flat; XRP jumps; U.S. equity futures mixed ahead of debt ceiling vote

Bitcoin traded flat on Wednesday morning in Asia, after briefly breaching US$28,000. Ether dipped while other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded mixed.

The Flippenings: Bear to Bull Market and Ethereum NFTs to Bitcoin Ordinals

China’s possible entry into NFTs, Russia’s crypto payments, and new token standards fuel market optimism.

XRP edges past Bitcoin, Ether with Tuesday’s largest gains

Bitcoin and Ether inched up during Tuesday afternoon trading hours in Hong Kong, while the rest of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization were mixed.

U.S. congressman says crypto mining tax scrapped in debt ceiling deal

A proposed tax on electricity used by cryptocurrency miners in the U.S. has been scrapped in the deal to raise the country’s debt ceiling, according to Republican congressman Warren Davidson.

Bitcoin, Ether dip; XRP rises; U.S. equity futures gain as debt ceiling worries fade

Bitcoin fell in Tuesday morning trading in Asia. Ether and most other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens also logged losses, while XRP gained.

How NFT-financing can reshape the landscape of lending and borrowing

NFT-backed lending and borrowing can unlock liquidity and expand investment opportunities. Here are the best practices — and risks.

Singapore’s Temasek cuts employee compensation for failed FTX investment decision

Temasek, Singapore’s state-owned investment firm, said on Monday that it has cut the pay of senior management and the investment team involved in the decision to invest in the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange.

Bitcoin drops below US$28,000, Tron’s deflation slows losses

Bitcoin couldn’t maintain its Monday morning gains as the world’s largest cryptocurrency dropped below US$28,000 in the afternoon.
and

Why are so many VCs and startups flocking back to banks?

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and others led to predictions of big shifts away from centralized finance. James Wo examines why that hasn’t happened yet.

Beijing releases Web3 white paper, highlights challenges in talent, rules

Beijing’s local government on Saturday released a white paper outlining plans and challenges for development of the city’s Web 3.0 industry.

Bitcoin back above US$28,000 as cryptos rebound on positive debt ceiling talks

Bitcoin moved back above US$28,000 on Monday morning in Asia, leading a rally among all top 10 non-stablecoin tokens. Ether reclaimed the US$1,900 level.

Bitcoin and Ethereum: Two titans battle for NFT supremacy

Unpacking the NFT disparity at Veecon & BTC Miami 2023: established ETH vs emerging BTC. CryptoSlam seeks to bridge the gap.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin weighed down by debt ceiling uncertainty

Bitcoin traded above US$26,000 as the uncertainty around the U.S. debt ceiling negotiations caused global concerns over a potential governmental default. Crypto markets will stay muted until a deal is reached, Industry experts told Forkast.

Most top 10 cryptos up, despite looming fears of US default

Bitcoin and Ether rose during afternoon trading in Asia on Friday, along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding the Solana and Tron tokens.

China: Zhengzhou City proposes metaverse plan

China’s Zhengzhou city issued a set of policy proposals Wednesday to support metaverse companies, including a 10 billion yuan (US$1.42 billion) metaverse fund.

Why GameFi is the future of the new player economy

Opinions about Web3 gaming remain divided, but it’s undeniable that NFTs and GameFi offer players big opportunities, writes Ramona Ciocea of Protokol.

AI-themed cryptos rise; NFT lenders duke it out; US debt talks continue

Surge of interest in AI chipmaker Nvidia extends to crypto, Binance and Blur vie for top NFT lender spot, while uncertainty abounds over U.S. debt talks.

In battle to be Asia’s crypto hub, which city will emerge victorious?

Top blockchain and crypto news: Asia’s crypto hub race. Is US debt ceiling fight a boon or a bane for crypto? China’s red carpet for metaverse investment.

Hong Kong is world’s most crypto-ready jurisdiction, new study claims

Hong Kong is the most crypto-ready jurisdiction in the world, based on the number of blockchain startups per 100,000 people and the number of crypto ATMs proportional to the population, according to a new study by forex education platform Forex Suggest. 

Top 10 cryptos decline, except Matic, as debt ceiling negotiations erode risk appetite

Bitcoin and Ether fell during afternoon trading in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding Polygon’s Matic token. Most Asian equities declined while most U.S. stock futures strengthened, despite Fitch Ratings placing America’s AAA rating on a negative watch, citing rising concerns that the government could default on its […]

South Korea will require all public officials to disclose crypto holdings from 2024

South Korean lawmakers unanimously approved a new bill requiring public officials to disclose their crypto holdings to be implemented in December.

Hong Kong’s new crypto rules covered by China state TV in rare move from Beijing

Analysts say the move could signal a bull run in cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin drops near US$26,000 amid U.S. debt uncertainties

All top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies fell, as investors assess macro sentiment.

Japan to implement anti-money laundering rules for crypto: report 

Japan will introduce strict anti-money laundering rules on cryptocurrency transactions from June 1, the Southeast Asian nation’s cabinet decided on Tuesday.

DAO communities – we need to talk about decentralization

Just how decentralized are today’s DAOs? When compared to the world’s largest transnational corporations, not so much, says Pat Rawson, co-founder of Web3 innovation network Curve Labs.

Bitcoin drops below US$27,000, Dogecoin biggest loser

Bitcoin dropped 2.33% to US$26,671. Ether lost 2.15% but traded above US$1,800.
and

China’s Nanjing city launches state-backed metaverse entity

China’s Nanjing City launched a state-backed organization on Monday to promote and enhance metaverse studies throughout the nation.

Only 4% of South Koreans use metaverses, survey reveals

Only 4.2% of South Korean citizens have said that they regularly use metaverse services, a recent survey results show.

Crypto’s aversion to anti-money laundering standards is only hurting itself

For crypto to grow for the long term, the industry must show greater respect for global standards that combat crime, writes Slava Demchuk of AMLBot.

Bitcoin, Ether rise; Dogecoin falls despite record high transaction volume

Top 10 non-stablecoin cryptos traded mixed, while investors continue to assess U.S. debt talks.

VeeCon: Rekindling the NFT Community’s Fire

VeeCon 2023 NFT conference inspires and strengthens the market with community focus and innovation. Gary Vaynerchuk’s keynote resonates with fans worldwide.

Hong Kong? Singapore? Tokyo? Seoul? Dubai? The race is on for the Web3 hub of Asia | Part 2

While U.S. regulators continue debating over whether cryptocurrencies are securities or commodities, the digital assets industry is being pleasantly welcomed by several Asian cities. And the competition is really hotting up now.

Bitget crypto exchange registers in Poland

Seychelles-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange Bitget announced on Tuesday that it successfully registered as a virtual asset service provider in Poland.

Hong Kong to open crypto to retail traders, plans guardrails

Hong Kong will allow licensed cryptocurrency trading platforms to offer services to retail investors and will implement a slew of measures to protect individual traders, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said on Tuesday.

Governments could access Ledger wallet private keys, says CEO

Cryptocurrency wallet Ledger’s new update allows governments to access users’ seed phrases via subpoena, said Pascal Gauthier, the chief executive officer of Ledger. 

All top 10 cryptos rise; Hotbit crypto exchange shuts down; U.S. stock futures drop

Bitcoin gained 1.71% and Ether climbed 2.35%. Polygon gained the most in 24 hours followed by Tron.
and

Philippines regulator warns against Gemini Derivatives for unregistered securities

The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission warned the public last week not to use crypto exchange Gemini’s derivatives platform.

How many of today’s AI darlings will end up in the dot-com and crypto sewage?

For every PayPal or Google, countless other startups from the bubble days of yore took investor money down the toilet, writes Naveen Agnihotri. What makes this AI boom any different?

Bitcoin, Ether, top 10 cryptos rise; US futures climb

The top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ether, were up across the board as U.S. Fed rate talks and debt negotiation outcomes remain unpredictable.

Hong Kong? Singapore? Tokyo? Seoul? Dubai? The race is on for the Web3 hub of Asia | Part 1

As U.S. regulators file lawsuits against cryptocurrency platforms, prompting some digital asset companies to seek more favorable jurisdictions, a fleet of cities in Asia are putting out the welcome mat, seeking to attract the jobs and investment that Web3 technologies promise. Right now, Hong Kong seems to be grabbing the limelight, but it has competition.

Malaysian regulator orders Huobi crypto exchange to cease local operations

The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), the capital markets regulator, has charged cryptocurrency exchange Huobi Global and its chief executive officer Leon Li for operating a digital asset exchange (DAX) without registration.

Bitcoin, top 10 cryptos fall except Tron; U.S. futures slightly up; Asian equities rise

Bitcoin traded below US$27,000 in Monday afternoon trade in Asia.
and

Are deposit tokens the new stablecoins — or a wolf in sheep’s clothing?

Stablecoins are a key part of the crypto ecosystem, but banks like JPMorgan are now exploring deposit tokens as an alternative. Which is better, and why?

S.Korean lawmakers propose public officials disclose crypto holdings

A South Korean ruling party lawmaker proposed all public officials and candidates disclose their crypto holdings in a new bill unveiled last Friday.

Circle: US regulation can help create the ‘most stable stablecoin’

Circle Vice President of Global Policy Corey Then says he is optimistic that U.S. regulatory developments can eventually benefit local players despite ongoing scrutiny.

Bitcoin, Ether fall; Tron trades higher; Investors digest G7, U.S. debt ceiling implications

Bitcoin fell below US$27,000 on Sunday, dipping further Monday morning in Asia as wider macro developments continue to weigh.

XRP lone gainer among top 10 cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin and Ether fell during afternoon trading in Asia, along all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding XRP.

Ripple joins Hong Kong CBDC pilot, partners with Fubon Bank

Ripple Labs has launched a new payment platform for a central bank digital currency in Hong Kong.

XRP gains; Lift-off for Space Pepe NFTs; US investor sentiment up on positive debt talks

Bitcoin and Ether prices fell on Friday morning in Asia. XRP gained after Hong Kong CBDC announcement by issuer Ripple.

How blockchain can shift electric car use into the fast lane

Electric vehicles remain rare in developing countries because of high costs and ‘range anxiety,’ writes George Cox of eTukTuk. Here’s how blockchain technology can remove those barriers.

Hong Kong’s e-HKD pilot puts the world on notice

Rollout of the central bank digital currency in Hong Kong is a potential game-changer and a move that others may soon look to follow.

Matic leads crypto rise despite Ledger security concerns

Cryptocurrencies rebounded on Thursday but wallet service provider Ledger’s latest update raised new security concerns.

Bitcoin mining difficulty rises to a new all-time high

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 3.22% on Thursday, hitting an all-time high, as the network’s hashrate also increased to a record high.

Conflux Network, China Telecom unveil blockchain-based SIM card

Conflux Network and China Telecom on Tuesday unveiled their first blockchain-based SIM card, which will be piloted in Hong Kong.

Bitcoin, Ether mixed; Polygon leads gainers; Equity futures flat as U.S. debt default worries recede

Bitcoin prices rose on Thursday morning in Asia. Ether edged down, while other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization gained.

Bitget crypto exchange doubles down on expansion, to hire 300 more

Bitget is looking to hire 300 more people across operations, compliance, research and development, and customer support, the cryptocurrency exchange said.

Ordinals inscriptions slow down but Bitcoin congestion lingers

Ordinals inscriptions have slowed down this week but Bitcoin continues suffering from congestion issues due to the BRC-20 craze.

UK lawmakers propose cryptocurrency regulation as gambling

In a new report, U.K. lawmakers suggest treating Bitcoin and Ether like gambling due to significant consumer financial risks.

Bitcoin slips below US$27,000, XRP leads gains in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin prices dropped below US$27,000 on Wednesday afternoon in Asia, while XRP gained the most after positive news for Ripple Labs on its lawsuit against U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
and

China’s top prosecuting body issues warnings, guidance about country’s NFT market

China’s top legal authority issued a commentary on Monday about the risks and potential in NFTs, highlighting the need for legislation.

Web3 needs to engage with local communities. Its future depends on it

Web3’s terrible user experience, scams and lack of diversity could be solved if its leaders take a cue from environmentalists and ‘act locally,’ writes Tim Williamson of NieuxCo.

XRP gains as SEC motion denied; NFT index down; US investors anticipate debt ceiling deal

Bitcoin prices fell on Wednesday morning in Asia but remained above the US$27,000 line. Ether gained but still posted a weekly drop. XRP led gainers among other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin history shows first financial transaction was almost an NFT

Internet sleuths unearth the first financial transaction on Bitcoin, showcasing the potential of NFTs.

Bitcoin, Ether fall, Solana leads declines; U.S. stock futures trade flat; Asian equities mixed

Bitcoin fell 0.58% while Ether dropped 0.36%. Solana was the biggest loser of the day, dropping 1.67%.
and

EU’s MiCA gets unanimous nod from European Council

European Union finance ministers unanimously approved MiCA, a set of cryptocurrency rules aiming to reshape the digital asset industry across the EU bloc.

SEC in no rush to respond to Coinbase calls for regulatory clarity

As part of the ongoing legal dispute between the two, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it would not be hurried into a response to Coinbase demands.

How DeFi can keep out bad apples while upholding crypto’s core ideals

Crypto users need not fear the increasing KYC/AML requirements around the world and loss of privacy, writes Kurt Hemecker of the Mina Foundation. Here’s why.

Bitcoin, Ether gains; Litecoin continues bull run; optimism a solution to US debt crisis can be reached

Bitcoin prices rose along with Ether, while Litecoin continues to lead gainers among other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin, Ether push higher, Litecoin biggest gainer in top 10 cryptos; U.S. stock futures, Asian equities gain

Bitcoin rose 2.07% to US$27,409 in 24 hours while Ether gained 1.27% to US$1,829. Litecoin was the biggest gainer of the day, rising 7.65%.
and

Head of U.S. DOJ crypto enforcement eyes crackdown on non-compliant crypto exchanges: FT

The U.S. Department of Justice is aiming to crack down on cryptocurrency exchanges that help criminals facilitate money laundering

Tokenization is changing the world, from finance to art

Fractionalizing assets on the blockchain opens up investment opportunities for the public and the capital market’s access to liquidity, writes Bob Ras. Here’s what’s holding it back.