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Blockchain and parametric insurance offer a bigger safety net for the world’s most vulnerable, writes Jan Stockhausen of Etherisc. Here’s how it works.

In an interview by the Washington Post on Tuesday, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler questioned the future of cryptocurrency, saying, “I don’t think there’s a long-term viability for five- or six thousand private forms of money. History tells us otherwise.” He added that “in the meantime, it’s worthwhile to have an investor […]

Crypto investors and industry watchers are following closely the potential collapse of Chinese property giant Evergrande.

Blockchain communities are instrumental to shaping how projects develop and operate, writes Humpty Calderon of Ontology. What are the signs of a thriving ecosystem?

A focus of China’s free trade and shipping, Shanghai will explore in pilot project cross border trading with offshore renminbi stablecoin.

ETH 2.0 is expected to address transaction speeds and gas fees on the world’s number two blockchain, but a growing number of layer-2 protocols are looking to solve those issues today.

As most of the crypto market stagnates, Cosmos has been on a tear over the weekend, gaining 35% since Saturday morning Asia time to reach an all-time high of US$44.54 this morning, according to CoinMarketCap.com. Fast facts Though it dropped slightly to US$41.72 just before press time, this jump marks the first time the ATOM […]

AVAX — the native token of the Avalanche blockchain — today surged to a new all-time high of US$68.34, according to CoinGecko data, boosted by news of a US$230 million investment into the Avalanche ecosystem. AVAX has increased by 60% over the past seven days. Fast facts Launched in September 2020, Avalanche is an open, […]

With the ease of counterfeiting products like premium tea, keeping a tamper-proof digital paper trail can record each step along the way.

Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) soft launch is the first attempt to roll out the state-backed ‘internet for blockchain’ outside of the Chinese mainland.

Blockchain and tokenization are transforming how real estate can be bought and sold. Here is how one fintech startup in Asia is using digital fractionalization to raise capital.

Top blockchain and crypto news: Walmart dispels Litecoin hoax. Cardano’s real work begins. Beijing bears down on NFTs.

In his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, Gary Gensler, chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, said that Coinbase lists “dozens of tokens that may be securities.” Fast facts In response to Senator Pat Toomey’s questions about whether cryptocurrencies classify as securities, Gensler said “very many” of the cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins, are in […]

Ahead of the U.S. Banking Committee’s hearing on the “Oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission” today, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler reiterated his call for crypto platforms and projects that have securities to register with the agency. Fast facts In prepared remarks, Gensler emphasized the concerns he sees over the lack of investor protection […]

The Miss Universe Thailand 2021 pageant has partnered with Bangkok-based crypto exchange Bitkub to feature non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as part of the competition, Bitkub announced. Bitkub claims the event will mark the first NFT beauty pageant. Fast facts Bitkub will mint NFT collectible cards of the pageant contestants. The company also will provide participants with […]

In another example of harnessing blockchain technology in the legal world, the Zhejiang Patent Office launched China’s first intellectual property blockchain certification platform on Thursday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province’s capital city. Fast facts The platform provides users with a blockchain certification after they upload pictures or description documents of their original creation, such as art […]

Football giant Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) today announced a multi-year partnership agreement with Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com that will see the exchange become the Parisian club’s official cryptocurrency platform partner. Fast facts PSG competes in Ligue 1, the top division of French football, and its star-studded team includes forwards Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar. […]

Hong Kong-based Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), a nonprofit consortium whose members handle one-third of all the shipping containers in the world, announced yesterday that its new blockchain platform for global trade has officially gone live. The platform, built in partnership with Oracle, Microsoft, AntChain and Alibaba Cloud, aims to accelerate digital transformation in the […]

Billionaire investor Mark Cuban says Coinbase should “go on the offensive” against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in its feud over high-yield savings account Lend. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple — which is itself embroiled in ongoing litigation with the SEC — quipped “Welcome to the party” in a GIF tweet. Fast facts In […]

China-based Bitmain, one of the world’s biggest producers of cryptocurrency mining rigs, has sealed a deal with its United States partners — ISW Holdings and Bit5ive — to expand its operation in America. Fast facts ISW Holdings, a Nevada-based portfolio company with extensive crypto mining operations, will host 56,000 Bitmain mining rigs and pair them […]

KILT Protocol, an open-source blockchain protocol for issuing self-sovereign, anonymous and verifiable credentials, has won the sixth Kusama parachain auction and has launched its mainnet, the project announced yesterday. Kusama is Polkadot’s canary network for blockchain developers to build and test out their code as well as products and services. Fast facts KILT Protocol had […]

Have DeFi exploits on BSC hindered the blockchain’s success? NFTs and gaming offer a boost.

What are the different kinds of blockchain, and how do they compare? Learn all about public, private and permissioned platforms in this Forkast.News explainer.

Too small to fight as individuals, Binance users are now banding together to take on the world’s largest crypto exchange in arbitration. David Kay of Liti Capital explains how it’s done.

NFTs, metaverses and ‘play-to-earn’ are upending gaming’s traditional revenue model. Shreyansh Singh of Polygon explains blockchain gaming’s business potential.

The United States, Vietnam, Thailand, China and the United Kingdom lead global adoption in decentralized finance (DeFi), according to Chainalysis’ Global DeFi Adoption Index published this month. Fast facts “While grassroots cryptocurrency adoption generally is highest in emerging markets, DeFi adoption is strongest in high-income countries that already had substantial cryptocurrency usage, especially amongst traders […]

The multiplayer online role-playing game is widely popular elsewhere, while Korea bans play-to-earn crypto and NFT trading.

The Securities Association of China (SAC), a self-regulatory organization for the securities industry, recently held a symposium with Chinese brokerages to promote blockchain applications in China’s securities industry. The deputy director of the association’s Tech Bureau, Dongxing Jiang, said the association will implement its blockchain infrastructure plan, known as the “Securities Industry Alliance Chain,” and […]

As its first international expansion, China’s Blockchain-based Service Network is launching a portal in Korea. Who are the key players, and where else in the world will BSN emerge this year?

Blockchain is helping with cross-examinations in China while bolstering chain of custody for evidence in Taiwan. Is Asia ahead of the technological legal curve?

Zipmex, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange, has completed a US$41 million Series B funding round as it innovates toward a “full 360 digital banking offering,” the company said during a media briefing today. Fast facts Investors in Zipmex’s Series B funding round indicate increasing institutional buy-in to the digital assets industry. The investors include Krungsri Finnovate, […]

Nigeria, a country with one of the world’s highest cryptocurrency adoption rates, is moving ahead with its plan for a central bank digital currency pilot project called Project Giant. The Central Bank of Nigeria has selected Bitt Inc., a Barbados-based fintech startup, as its technical partner for the project, which is scheduled to launch on […]

Though crypto is not yet part of daily life, it may be a matter of time, writes Simon Yu of StormX. Here are the keys to the industry’s long-term success.

John Paulson, the billionaire who famously shorted the U.S. subprime mortgage bubble in 2008, has called crypto a bubble that will “eventually prove to be worthless” in an interview with Bloomberg TV. Fast facts “I wouldn’t advise anyone to invest in cryptocurrencies,” said the 65-year-old, who has consistently backed gold as a store of value. […]

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission on Monday warned that digital tokens and initial coin offerings (ICOs) could be involved in unauthorized collective investment schemes (CIS) and urged investors to exercise extreme caution. Fast facts The SFC’s warning comes as the regulator added two property-related CIS investment projects and the “LABS Security Token” to its […]

Korea’s new FSC chair speaks meanwhile Axie Infinity to work with governments

China-based Bitmain, one of the world’s biggest producers of cryptocurrency mining rigs, confirmed in a social media post a 20% price hike in the chips it buys from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). Fast facts Bitmain said on Thursday in a WeChat post that TSMC had informed all clients, including the mining rig maker, that […]

Anyone who owns a website is now able to receive crypto payments directly to their domain name, as Ethereum Name Service announces full integration with the centralized web. Fast facts Making the announcement on Twitter Friday morning, the new upgrade will bring interoperability between the centralized web and the blockchain-based ENS system. The internet currently […]

Rising from the rubble of a Covid economy, shipping companies are now using blockchain technology to rebuild profitability and reduce inefficiencies.

Amid global supply shortage, the move could impact clients such as mining rig maker Bitmain, which sources TSMC’s wafers for its Antminer S19 series.

Bitcoin ATM operators DigitalMint and Coinsource are joining blockchain analytics company Chainalysis to form the Cryptocurrency Compliance Cooperative (CCC). The mission of the CCC is to bolster compliance standards and protect consumers in the cash-to-cryptocurrency industry. Fast facts Leaders in the cash-to-crypto business say they are on the mission to create a safer environment for […]

The previous version of Antinalysis, which was based on the AMLBot API, was shut down but within a week it has respawned not just on the darknet but also on the clearnet.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Wednesday launched a public consultation on its proposed amendments to regulations for the custody of crypto holdings in digital asset businesses. Fast facts The additional regulations — which the SEC said are intended to enhance investor protection — include requiring digital asset businesses to comply with “the principles […]

In a legal first for the region, the Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court used a new blockchain system in a lending dispute case so the parties can submit evidence and do cross-examination online. Fast facts The “blockchain electronic cross-examination system” allows each side to upload its evidence online. The opposing party, under the judge’s supervision, can cross-examine the […]

Sandbank, a South Korean bank for virtual assets, says it is in the process of acquiring the necessary certification needed to legally operate in the country. However, the financial authorities have yet to decide whether their requirements apply to crypto banks. Fast facts In an announcement, Sandbank told its customers it has put acquiring the […]

Fetch.ai, an artificial intelligence lab based in the British city of Cambridge, today announced the launch of its new non-fungible token (NFT) platform, Colearn Paint, that will allow creators to automatically generate NFTs using a machine learning algorithm. Fast facts Alongside the surge in NFT sales over the past year, NFT marketplaces have proliferated. According […]

Professor jailed for crypto scam while Cryptopunks trading volume soars

The Poly Network hacking saga has finally reached a happy ending with the crypto thieves releasing the last key to the remaining funds of 28,953 Ether and 1,032 Wrapped Bitcoin tokens, worth approximately US$141 million, on Monday. According to Poly Network, the company is in the process of returning full asset control to users, although […]

XREX’s fundraise reflects Taiwan’s ambition to be part of fintech and blockchain innovation in spite of the island’s strict banking regulations.

Steelmaker Ansteel Group and lithium battery producer Tianneng are the latest companies to make use of blockchain in accordance with China’s national strategy.

Finder.com CEO Fred Schebesta is offering AU$5 (US$2.85) worth of Bitcoin to every Australian who is fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Fast facts Announcing the plan on Sydney radio this week, the self-made millionaire said he was looking for a way to contribute to the vaccination effort and thought this could be a way to help. […]

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is seeking to bring an enforcement action against Aux Cayes Fintech Co. Ltd., which operates the OKEx platform, for allegedly violating Ontario securities law, according to a statement. Fast facts According to the statement of allegations filed by the OSC’s enforcement team on Aug. 18, Seychelles-incorporated Aux Cayes — which […]

The Brooker Group, a publicly listed financial consultancy and capital management company in Bangkok, this week reported that it held US$23.86 million of digital assets, according to its financial results for the first six months of 2021. Fast facts The Brooker Group also reported an impairment loss of US$12 million in the first half of […]

TRON founder Justin Sun’s social media account on Weibo, China’s Twitter-like microblog platform, appears to have been blocked again, along with the accounts of several other cryptocurrency-related interests. Fast facts TRON is a blockchain with a cryptocurrency native to the system founded by Sun in 2017. Sun, 31, has been active on social media, and […]

The Poly Network hackers have returned assets worth around US$427 million, the company announced on Thursday. But hackers accused the company of “incompetency” and are refusing to give back the rest of the loot. Fast facts The hackers had transferred the stolen assets worth over US$600 million in total to mutli-signature wallets controlled by the […]

China continues its crackdown on certain illegal social organizations, as authorities shut down the website and social media accounts of the China Blockchain Application Center — a organization once led by some of the nation’s most prominent crypto industry leaders, state media China National Radio reported yesterday. Fast facts The China Blockchain Application Center was […]

Blockchain investment goes green while Court says bitcoin legally protected

As ESG drives more corporate agendas, Sonic Capital’s Sphere aims to provide access to blockchain investment opportunities toward a greener future.

The Bank of Thailand today published the results of its retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) study and public survey, which the central bank says will guide the development of the country’s CBDC pilot test. Fast facts The Bank of Thailand underscored that a CBDC for the general public “must not adversely affect monetary policy […]

A district court in Shanghai has ruled that Bitcoin is virtual property, not a currency that is allowed to circulate, according to a statement released earlier this week. Fast facts A Minhang district court in Shanghai stated this week that it heard a case in which a plaintiff purchased Bitcoin mining machines from a defendant […]

The Securities and Exchange Board of India, a markets watchdog, has asked depositories to employ blockchain to record and monitor the creation of securities and covenants involving non-convertible securities, according to a report by Livemint. Fast facts SEBI formed a group in November to suggest ways to strengthen the process of creating and monitoring securities, […]

IBM Japan, Mitsui Chemicals and Nomura Research Institute have announced a new consortium to explore how blockchain technology can be used to create better plastic recycling methods, according to a press release from the NRI. Fast facts Making new plastics from recycled plastics is an exact process that requires knowing the specific chemical makeup of […]

With the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan capturing headlines around the world, Jack Butcher, the founder of New York-based graphic design agency Visualize Value, has partnered with the Cooperative for American Remittances (CARE) humanitarian charity to launch a non-fungible token fund to provide “care packages” to displaced Afghan families. Fast facts The NFT care packages are […]

India crypto bill awaits approval while Poly Network hack saga continues

If cabinet approves crypto bill by November, it could be introduced as early as parliament’s winter session.

South Korean internet giant Kakao this week announced that its newly established non-profit entity headquartered in Singapore — the Klaytn Foundation — will lead the development and global expansion of the Klaytn blockchain, according to a company release. Fast facts The Klaytn Foundation, together with Krust, Kakao’s newly established global accelerator unit, and GroundX, which […]

Solana prices are soaring to all-time highs and SOL is now a top-10 crypto. In this Forkast.News explainer, learn why investors are heaping love on this Ethereum rival.

HIVE Blockchain Technologies, a Vancouver-headquartered crypto mining company, is buying 1,800 machines from Chinese mining rig maker Bitmain to expand its mining operation. Fast facts HIVE said that it had ordered 1,800 Antminer S19j Pro miners from Bitmain, and the new machines are expected to bring an aggregate hash power of 180 petahash per second, […]

Taiwanese VC firm attracts big investors as it bets on future of region and staying-power of NFTs.

Global investment in blockchain and cryptocurrencies leapt in the first half of 2021, with US$8.7 billion raised and 548 deals sealed, according to consulting firm KMPG’s latest Pulse of Fintech H1’21 report. Fast facts Global fintech investment in H1 2021 reached US$98 billion in 2,456 deals, compared to US$121.5 billion for the whole of 2020, […]

Poly Network has confirmed that all its remaining stolen assets on Ethereum, worth around US$269 million, barring US$33 million worth of Tether that was frozen post-attack, have been returned to a multi-signature wallet controlled by itself and the hacker. Fast facts The hacker had returned more than 50% of the assets stolen on the Polygon […]

TZ APAC, an entity supporting the Tezos blockchain ecosystem in Asia-Pacific, this week announced a “strategic commitment” to the region as it bolsters its efforts to grow the Tezos ecosystem. Fast facts TZ APAC intends to deploy capital and resources across the region towards business development, marketing and project management to drive adoption of the […]