Crypto miner Bitdeer to go public on Nasdaq via SPAC deal
Singapore-headquartered crypto mining firm Bitdeer Technologies is set to go public on Nasdaq on April 14 via a SPAC merger following multiple delays in closing the US$4 billion deal.
US crypto miner Core Scientific appoints new president amid bankruptcy
Adam Sullivan, whose most recent role was managing director of XMS Capital Partners, will will work on financial and strategic matters while assisting with the negotiation of a reorganization plan.
U.S. SEC committee urges ‘aggressive enforcement’ on crypto, says most tokens are securities
The U.S. SEC Investor Advisory Committee urged the federal agency to continue its aggressive enforcement on crypto players that offer unregistered securities.
S. Korean exchange GDAC hacked, loses around 23% of its assets
South Korean exchange GDAC has suspended withdrawals and deposits after losing over US$13.1 million in Bitcoin, Ether, Wemix and USDT in a hack.
Blur nemesis OpenSea releases OS Pro trading tools, Gemesis NFT
OpenSea has reignited the marketplace battle by introducing its own pro tool. What’s in it for NFT traders?
ECB’s Lagarde gets pranked, reveals digital euro will have ‘limited’ control
ECB President Christine Lagarde said the digital euro would have “limited control” in a prank call.
Swiss PostFinance bank to offer crypto services to 2.5 mln customers
PostFinance, a Swiss government-owned retail bank, has partnered with Sygnum Bank to provide crypto-related services.
The TradFi vs. DeFi rivalry is hitting a new peak — and that’s bad for everyone
Amid the current banking crisis, each side is exhibiting disdain for the other when neither holds the moral high ground, writes Rachel Lin of SynFutures.
Arbitrum’s AIP-1 proposal to be split after community backlash
Top blockchain and crypto news: Arbitrum to segment AIP-1. DeGods NFT collection moves to Ethereum. Crypto on the agenda at ‘China’s Davos.’
Overseas crypto transfers cost 96.7% less than traditional system: Coinbase
Americans spend more than US$12 billion in remittance fees each year when sending money to family and friends living overseas using the traditional financial system. However, overseas remittances using Bitcoin and Ethereum cost 96.7% less, according to research by Coinbase.
Polygon SDK: Helping shape NFTs at scale
Polygon blockchain is gaining traction among traders with fast transactions, low gas fees and Ethereum’s provenance. From hosting popular games to partnering with major brands, Polygon’s versatility is one to watch.
What the US can learn from the Philippines to regulate crypto in a smarter way
The Philippines has licensing requirements and proactively monitors crypto firms, while the US regulates by enforcement only after consumers are already badly hurt, writes Robert De Guzman of Coins.ph.
Crypto investors remain optimistic despite crackdown
Most cryptocurrencies remained calm in spite of the CFTC-Binance lawsuit.
HK-based venture fund hopes to raise US$100 mln for crypto investments: Bloomberg
Hong Kong-based asset management firm Plutus VC plans to raise US$100 million by the end of 2023 to fund investments in the cryptocurrency market, according to a Bloomberg report. The fundraising comes as the city moves to regain its status as an international finance and crypto hub.
Binance faces legal battle as US regulator gets ready to rumble
Top blockchain and crypto news: Binance targeted in CFTC lawsuit. Law catches up with Do Kwon. Chinese banks bet on Hong Kong crypto.
Binance sees US$627 mln in net Ethereum outflow following CFTC lawsuit
Binance saw about US$627 million in net Ethereum-related withdrawals in the 24 hours through Tuesday morning, data from blockchain analytics platform Nansen showed.
Is our banking system obsolete?
For long, people could only put cash into a bank account or under the mattress, writes Eric Johnson. Will blockchain technology offer a viable alternative?
What impact will Ethereum’s Shanghai upgrade have on ETH and crypto markets?
Despite the potential sell pressures after Ethereum’s upcoming hard fork, it’s more likely that ETH stakers will hold for the longer term, writes Bill Xing of Bybit.
G7 nations set to push for stricter cryptocurrency regulations at Japan summit in May
The Group of Seven industrial countries will discuss tougher rules on cryptocurrencies to improve transparency, protect investors.
Centralized intermediaries were cause of crypto failures in 2022, says Voorhees
If there was a lesson from the crypto implosions of 2022, it is the demonstration of the superiority of open code and decentralization over central intermediaries, argues Voorhees at DC Blockchain Summit.
Bitget invests US$30 mln in BitKeep wallet, becomes controlling shareholder
Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitget said it has invested US$30 million in decentralized multi-chain wallet BitKeep to become its controlling shareholder.
Japan’s Web3 Era
Japan’s been a little behind in the Web3 space, but their new Metaverse Economic Zone could be a game changer.
Web3 crowdfunding launchpad Poolz Finance hacked for US$390,000 on BSC, Polygon
Poolz Finance, a cross-chain crowdfunding launchpad for Web3 projects, has been exploited for US$390,000 worth of digital assets
Circle’s USDC bounces back after Silicon Valley Bank bust
Top blockchain and crypto news: USDC stabilizes after SVB collapse. Silvergate closes shop. China tightens financial supervision.
Binance suspends pound sterling services for U.K. customers as payment provider backs out
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, announced that it is halting its British pound deposits and withdrawals.
Circle’s Disparte speaks on de-risking crypto from banking risks
The recent U.S. banks fallout is a stress test for both traditional finance and digital assets but to weather the storm side by side is a powerful opportunity, says Circle Chief Strategy Officer Dante Disparte.
Banks are bringing systemic risks to crypto, says Circle’s Disparte
The recent U.S. bank failures are proof that the banking system is introducing systemic risks to the crypto industry, not vice versa, says Circle chief strategy officer Dante Disparte.
Crypto banking crisis?
As the U.S. tries to head off a bank run, crypto is quickly running out of places to bank with.
Euler Finance loses nearly US$200 mln in exploit
Euler Finance, a decentralized finance lending protocol has lost approximately US$197 million in an exploit, according to online crypto security analysts.
Beware the perils of one-size-fits-all approach to crypto investing
The collapse of Voyager and Celsius highlights the risks of crypto investing apps and underscores the need for tailored user education, writes Jackson Zeng of Caleb & Brown.
Circle’s USDC stablecoin regains parity as regulators act to stop bank run risk
Circle said its $3.3 billion of USDC cash reserves at the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank will be available Monday after regulators stepped in to backstop deposits.
Solana NFT sales surge as traders farm for Tensor rewards
The Forkast SOL NFT Composite dropped 6.13% over the past week while sales increased. Industry expert suspects casino-like behavior of traders moving funds to new projects.
Bet on the Black? Take a punt on the Red? Or maybe put it all down on an NFT?
Savvy traders are quick to extract liquidity to reinvest into the “slot machines” of the NFT casino, according to CryptoSlam’s NFT strategist.
New York attorney general sues KuCoin for ‘falsely representing itself as an exchange’
The NY State Attorney General is suing crypto exchange Kucoin for not registering as a securities and commodities broker-dealer and calling itself an exchange.
Most of NFT industry working on recycled liquidity, says Forkast Labs’ co-founder
NFT sales and market capitalization show rising investor activities, but recycled liquidity and wash trading may tell a different story, Forkast Labs co-CEO says.
CFTC chair calls Ethereum a commodity, in contrast to SEC chair Gensler’s position
CFTC chair Rostin Behnam has called Ethereum a commodity and not a security, in apparent contrast to past statements from SEC Chairman Gary Gensler.
Crypto mining rig maker Canaan shares slump after Q4 revenue sank 82%
Canaan’s shares on Nasdaq closed 3.83% lower at US$2.51 on Wednesday after the cryptocurrency mining rig maker reported an 82% year-on-year drop in revenue on Tuesday for the fourth quarter of last year, citing “lackluster market demand” for mining machines as the price of Bitcoin fell.
Crypto bank Silvergate to close, return all deposits; becomes latest victim of 2022 crypto turmoil
Silvergate Capital said Wednesday it will cease operations and liquidate its bank unit.
Forkast 500 NFT index dips, Vitalik-linked NFT token gains momentum
The Forkast 500 NFT Index dipped 1.25% to 4,235.97 in the 24 hours through 10:00 a.m. in Hong Kong on Thursday.
Silvergate teeters as regulators circle and crypto firms cut ties
Top blockchain and crypto news: Silvergate woes spark bankruptcy talk. LDO dips on false enforcement rumors. Chinese leaders push digital development.
Fed’s Powell says stablecoins could have role in financial sector if properly regulated
Stablecoins could have a place in the U.S. financial services sector if appropriate regulation is put in place, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Tuesday at a hearing before Congress.
The Future of NFTs
As multi-chain NFTs take off, Forkast Labs launches a vital new way to measure value on the blockchain.
FTX’s Alameda sues Grayscale over crypto trusts
Alameda Research has filed a law suit against crypto conglomerate Digital Currency Group and its asset management business Grayscale over trust investments.
What Web3 must do if it wants to attract 1 billion users
Web3 is growing more rapidly than the early internet, writes Ken Timsit of Cronos Labs. But to achieve mainstream success, the following issues must be addressed.
Singapore’s DDEx eyes security token offerings, mulls adding more cryptocurrencies
DBS bank’s digital exchange, which serves institutional clients, said macroeconomic conditions last year were not suitable for security token offerings (STO), but it will explore opportunities for such listings in 2023 and plans to add more crypto tokens.
Creation of U.S. digital dollar would ‘crowd out’ crypto: ex-Biden adviser
A U.S. central bank digital currency would “crowd out” the cryptocurrency ecosystem and protect national security, according to an ex-top presidential adviser.
Blur NFT wash trading soars, fueling market distortions
Top blockchain and crypto news: Blur wash trading explodes. Coinbase extends developer foray with Base test. Hong Kong crypto embrace gets Beijing’s nod.
Visa not slowing down with crypto plans, says its crypto chief
American payments giant Visa is not slowing down its cryptocurrency plans despite last year’s bear market, according to the firm’s crypto head Cuy Sheffield.
BitFlyer founder eyes CEO comeback, share sale amid boardroom conflicts: Bloomberg
Yuzo Kano, co-founder of Japan’s largest cryptocurrency exchange bitFlyer Inc., said he plans to return as CEO, sell shares to public.
Crypto is experiencing growing pains. What’s coming next?
Now a teenager, crypto is wrestling with its identity and purpose. But it’s learning from its mistakes and on its way to maturity, writes Zach Bronstein of Endaoment.
Crypto’s Weird Prices
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies have remained stable while Wall Street reported its biggest loss of the year. How has crypto remained unimpacted by problems seen by the stock market?
IMF releases crypto action plan, advises against legal tender status
World governments should not grant cryptocurrency legal tender status, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive board said in its new nine-point action plan on how countries should approach crypto assets published Thursday. See related article: India working with IMF, FSB on crypto regulations, says economic affairs secretary Fast facts See related article: India’s finance minister […]
Why crypto offers great career opportunities for talented women
The blockchain sector’s gender divide is narrowing. Its newness and founding ideals also allow for more flexible workplaces, writes Anastasia Kor of Choise.com.
Binance, Ingenico begin crypto payments in France
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has partnered France-based global payments giant Ingenico to offer in-store crypto payments in France using Binance Pay.
Blur lives up to name as its trading volume surpasses OpenSea
Top blockchain and crypto news: Blur’s success spurs changes at OpenSea. Is Binance eyeing US exit? Taiwan asset disclosure rules may include crypto.
Crypto miner Hive Blockchain posts wider losses, cites Ethereum Merge
Vancouver-based cryptocurrency mining firm Hive Blockchain Technologies Ltd. reported bigger losses in its latest quarterly earnings report published Tuesday, mainly due to Ethereum’s Merge and lower Bitcoin prices. See related article: Bitcoin mining difficulty dips 0.5% over two weeks after hitting record high Fast facts See related article: Bitcoin miner Greenidge Generation cuts NYDIG debt […]
Centralized crypto exchanges are dying, so long live centralized crypto exchanges?
Multi-billion dollar bankruptcies, fraud allegations, scandal, and plunging cryptocurrency prices in 2022 all characterized why investors came to distrust centralized exchanges. Yet, some commentators expect platforms to become ever more centralized … and regulated.
Huobi plans to move headquarters to Hong Kong from Singapore
Cryptocurrency exchange Huobi Global is seeking to relocate its Asia headquarters from Singapore to Hong Kong.
Trust in crypto is in shambles. How can we rebuild it?
Greater transparency and confidence in who you are transacting with could go a long way toward alleviating public mistrust, writes Travis Nelson of Quadrata.
Industry reacts: US cracks down on crypto, India calls for regulatory collaboration
The cryptocurrency industry this week reacted to the recent moves by U.S. authorities against Kraken and Paxos. Meanwhile, India has been calling for a collaborative approach to crypto regulations.
Weekly NFT sales spike after Blur’s Valentines airdrop
Blur.io, the NFT marketplace that beat OpenSea’s trading volume in the past month, airdropped its platform tokens on Valentine’s Day, contributing to the global NFT sales increase this week.
Paxos ordered to stop minting Binance stablecoin as SEC mulls legal action
Top blockchain and crypto news: Paxos halts BUSD issuance. Kraken faces disclosure charges. Beijing backs new blockchain research center.
Digital asset industry comes under fire at hearing by U.S. Senate on ‘Crypto Crash’
The cryptocurrency industry faced criticism during a Senate committee meeting on Tuesday entitled “Crypto Crash: Why Financial System Safeguards are Needed for Digital Assets.”
SEC may make it harder for hedge funds to work with crypto firms: Bloomberg
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plans to propose rule changes that would make it difficult for cryptocurrency firms to hold digital assets.
Why the crypto sector needs radical transparency in the post-FTX world
Self-custody is cumbersome and carries risks of seed phrases getting lost, but how can we ensure if a third-party custodian can be trusted?
Coinbase CEO says he will “happily defend” crypto staking service against claim it’s a securities product
CEO Brian Armstrong said that the company will defend its staking services in court against claims that they need to be classified as securities.
Securities and Exchange Commission may sue BUSD stablecoin issuer Paxos, WSJ reports
The U.S. SEC may sue the Paxos Trust Company for allegedly violating investor protection laws in its issue of the Binance USD (BUSD) stablecoin.
Jury sides with fashion giant Hermès in MetaBirkins NFT case
Luxury fashion house Hermès International won its lawsuit against NFT artist Mason Rothschild on Wednesday for violating its Hermès’ Birkin trademark.
Blockchain developers have taken a decentralized interest in cloud storage – will it shake up the industry?
Blockchain developers want a piece of the multi-billion dollar cloud computing pie. Do current heavyweights in the industry – Amazon, Google and Microsoft – have cause for concern?
CBDCs are coming. Here’s why you should worry
Governments are pushing central bank digital currencies to exert more control over macro policy, writes Josef Tětek of Trezor. But your money and privacy are also at stake.
Binance makes Korea comeback with GOPAX acquisition
Top blockchain and crypto news: GOPAX deal sees Binance return to South Korea. Inflation fight spooks crypto markets. Chinese liquor giant gives cheers to NFTs.