What the coming Bitcoin-futures ETF bonanza means for investors
The first US Bitcoin futures EFT is set to begin trading today. Will this exchange-traded fund bring Bitcoin closer to the masses?
China fuels blockchain development despite stricter crypto ban
Authorities encourage new ways to apply blockchain across various industries, although there’s no room for crypto
As regulators circle above, how should the DeFi industry respond?
Traditional finance evolved over centuries while DeFi is coming into its own in a few years, writes Adi Ben-Ari of Applied Blockchain. Are its risks inevitable?
BTC price nears all-time-high as futures ETFs near approval
The U.S. could see a long-awaited Bitcoin futures ETF trading on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq in the next few days. Forkast.News spoke with market watchers to find out what it means for the industry.
Taking opulence online: How blockchain is beckoning luxury brands
As luxury brands eye the virtual realm, Zilliqa co-founder Max Kantelia looks forward to a convergence of desirable objects and digital opportunities.
Sotheby’s to auction digital art in a digital world
Sotheby’s, the 277-year-old auction house, is launching its own immersive digital experience to offer prospective buyers a new way of engaging with the latest art-world craze — non-fungible token (NFT) artworks — according to a press release shared with Forkast.News. Fast facts Sotheby’s is creating a metaverse to allow users to explore and learn about […]
Taiwanese fintech startup XREX collaborates with TRM Labs to ramp up security
XREX Inc., a Taipei-headquartered crypto-fiat exchange and trade technology platform, today announced a partnership with TRM Labs, a blockchain intelligence provider, to ramp up its platform’s security and enhance its ability to combat fraud and suspicious activities. Fast facts XREX said in a statement it has put to use the risk management tools developed by […]
East Asia falls from 1st to 4th place in share of global crypto transaction volume
East Asia’s share of global cryptocurrency transactions plunged to 14% in June 2021 from 31% in April 2019 when it was by far the world’s largest crypto economy, according to blockchain data provider Chainalysis’ 2021 Eastern Asia Report published today. Fast facts China’s crypto crackdown in May saw East Asia — with China the biggest […]
Public blockchain Nervos launches cross-chain ‘Force Bridge’ on mainnet
Nervos, a public blockchain backed by China Merchants Bank International and Sequoia China, today announced the mainnet launch of its cross-chain “Force Bridge,” according to a company statement shared with Forkast.News. Fast facts The Force Bridge enables cross-chain transactions between Nervos and Ethereum, with support for ETH and whitelisted ERC-20 tokens, including Dai (DAI), Tether […]
Why global regulations for stablecoins can help catalyze crypto adoption
In this special Q&A, industry leaders tell Forkast.News why global stablecoin regulations can help catalyze crypto adoption.
Australian Securities Exchange to launch crypto-related ETF
Hot on the heels of a similar exchange-traded fund being approved in the U.S., the Australian Securities Exchange is close to launching the “BetaShares Crypto Innovators ETF,” which will grant exposure to global companies working in the digital asset space, according to the Financial Review. Fast facts Using the ticker “CRYP,” the ETF aims to […]
China’s state-backed blockchain network, U.S. firm team up to enhance CBDC efficiency
China’s Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) — a public-private nationwide infrastructure project to spur mass adoption of blockchain technology — is partnering with a New York-based blockchain company to advance interoperability as BSN actively expands its global presence to lure more developers to use the blockchain network. Fast facts Cypherium, a smart contract technology provider focusing on central […]
Bitcoin bulls set for stampede amid six-figure forecasts
Top blockchain and crypto news: Big money heads for Bitcoin. How fishy are Squid Game NFTs? China mothballs mining.
Coinbase and Binance move to diversify; Stablecoins under scrutiny
Coinbase and Binance move to diversify meanwhile Stablecoins under scrutiny
TikTok’s first NFT collection auction goes live featuring rapper Curtis Roach
Popular short-video app TikTok has started its non-fungible token (NFT) auction of “TikTok Top Moments” that feature works of a series of rappers and artists, as the social media giant appears keen to jump on the NFT bandwagon. Fast facts The auction of Detroit rapper Curtis Roach’s “Bored in the House” NFT has gone live, […]
Crypto exchanges diversify amid growing competition
As non-crypto players like Twitter and PayPal take up digital assets, Coinbase, Binance and others look for ways to expand offerings.
Squid game NFTs traded on Opensea; Bitcoin on a roll
Squid game NFTs traded on Opensea, also Bitcoin on a roll
‘Squid Game’ NFTs being traded on OpenSea
An unidentified NFT (non-fungible token) creator with user name 9194C0 on digital marketplace OpenSea has created nearly 2,000 NFTs that replicate the globally popular Netflix series ‘Squid Game’ with some being traded for more than 1 ETH. Fast facts The NFTs replicate a card that appears on the television series inviting the protagonist to join […]
Bitcoin price poised to retest all-time high
Crypto market watchers tell Forkast.News what’s behind Bitcoin’s latest resurgence and predict Bitcoin’s price heading into Q4 2021.
Stacks surges after NFT push; Samsung Next invests in Sky Mavis
Stacks surges after NFT push while Samsung Next invests in Sky Mavis
Altcoin Stacks STX price surges 70% as crypto market slumps
While most of the market was down around 5% coming into the Asia trading day this morning, altcoin Stacks was up over 70% in 24 hours on Sunday night, according to data from CoinMarketCap, hitting a high of US$2.45 — the highest point the token had reached since the market-wide crash in May. The price has fallen […]
China’s national blockchain network to expand to Turkey, Uzbekistan
China’s Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) — a public-private nationwide infrastructure project to spur mass adoption of blockchain technology — is setting up more portals overseas, as it moves a step closer to more international exposure. Fast facts Red Date Technology, the company China tapped to manage its BSN, announced today that it is working to […]
What Powell’s ‘No intention to ban’ means for crypto
Jerome Powell’s remarks on Sept. 30 following his testimony about the financial hardships of the pandemic caught the attention of crypto enthusiasts. Taking questions from the House Committee on Financial Services, Chairman Powell said the Federal Reserve would not seek a ban on crypto but reiterated that stablecoins should be regulated. Bitcoin jumped by […]
2021 is a banner year for NFTs. Here’s what you need to know
The NFT boom is transforming the art world, writes Laura Ballman and Michael Greenwald. Collectors would be wise to learn all they can about this new technology.
Judge makes XRP holders ‘friends of court’ in SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple
A US court has denied XRP holders’ bid to join the SEC v. Ripple lawsuit as third-party defendants, but XRP advocates say being ‘amici curiae’ is still a win.
Crypto miners blamed for Kazakhstan’s power shortages; Bitcoin on the up
Kazakhstan blames its newly settled crypto miners for power shortages as South Korea’s largest exchange is accused of listing faulty tokens for profits.
Bitcoin price crosses $50K, but market dominance continues falling
This is the second time the world’s largest cryptocurrency has hit the mark in recent months. Does that mean this price point is here to stay?
MetaMask Institutional partners with crypto custodians BitGo, Qredo, Cactus Custody
MetaMask Institutional (MMI), the version of the MetaMask decentralized finance (DeFi) wallet for institutions, today announced its partnership with digital assets custodians U.S.-based BitGo, British Virgin Islands-headquartered Qredo, and Hong Kong-based Cactus Custody to facilitate companies seeking access to DeFi. Fast facts The partnership comes amid growing institutional interest in DeFi and aims to address […]
Korea crypto tax pause called for; TikTok jumps into NFTs
Korea crypto tax pause called for meanwhile Tiktok jumps into NFTs
TikTok makes high-profile entry into NFT market with NY Times ad buy
TikTok, an app that is popular for making and sharing short videos, is jumping onto the non-fungible token (NFT) bandwagon. TikTok placed a full-page advertisement in the New York Times to promote its entry into that market. Fast facts The fast-growing social media platform, which has just surpassed 1 billion monthly users worldwide, announced plans […]
Axie Infinity revenue plunges, while AXS price breaks new ground
It’s been quite a run for the world’s leading play-to-earn game, but as its monthly revenue takes a hit, what’s in store for the future of the game?
Bitcoin funds lead 7th consecutive week of inflows: CoinShares data
Bitcoin investment products saw inflows of US$69 million last week amid improving investor sentiment, according to digital assets fund manager CoinShares. Fast facts “We believe this decisive turnaround in sentiment is due to growing confidence in the asset class amongst investors and more accommodative statements from the U.S. Securities [and] Exchange Commission and the Federal […]
What are stablecoins, and why are some governments so afraid of them?
Stablecoins combine the portability of crypto with the price stability of fiat currencies. But are they all that stable?
Tech selloff positions Bitcoin as an inflation hedge
Markets on Tuesday in the U.S. were unsettled by the prospect that energy crises in Europe and China could lift inflation to new highs, compelling central banks to reverse accommodations sooner than expected. US Treasuries reacted with a fierce rise in yields and that spilled over to the equity markets. Although the markets drove down […]
After the crackdown: go underground, go along, or buy the dip?
Chinese social media has been abuzz since authorities lowered the boom on crypto. Forkast.News has been following the chatter. Here’s what they’re saying on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter.
dYdX price surges 80% in a week to all-time high
dYdX, the governance token for the dYdX exchange protocol, surged to a new all-time high of US$27.86 today, according to CoinGecko data. Fast facts dYdX is a decentralized exchange (DEX) built on Ethereum that currently supports perpetual contracts, margin trading and spot cryptocurrency trading, as well as lending and borrowing. It is a non-custodial exchange […]
Why China’s latest stomp on crypto is turbo-charging DeFi growth
DeFi tokens like dYdX soared after China’s latest move to throttle crypto. Is this a short-term spurt or decentralized finance shifting into high gear?
South Korean banks find workaround to cash in on crypto services
NH Nonghyup is the third bank in South Korea to invest in a virtual asset custody service while they are prohibited from running their own.
Unmade in China: Beijing’s crypto cold war turns hot
Top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Beijing’s crypto crusade comes to a head. Chinese mining caves in. Mr. Goxx reaps robust returns.
BeePool, Tiger Brokers among the latest to respond to China’s crypto ban
China’s stepped-up cryptocurrency ban continues to send shockwaves through the industry, as more crypto service providers are shutting their doors to users in China. BeePool and Tiger Brokers are among the latest to announce service suspensions. Fast facts China-based BeePool, the fourth-largest Ethereum mining pool in hashrate, said Tuesday that it has stopped registering new […]
China fallout hits mining; Korea digital custody competition heats up
China fallout hits mining meanwhile Korea digital custody competition heats up
Crypto mining players continue to flee China as latest ban kicks in
China’s earlier efforts to eradicate mining may not have been as effective as the government had hoped, but Friday’s announcement is having an impact.
Crypto funds see 6th consecutive week of inflows led by Bitcoin: CoinShares data
Cryptocurrency investment products saw inflows of US$95 million last week, with total inflows over the past six weeks of US$320 million, according to digital assets fund manager CoinShares. Fast facts “The continued inflows suggest the recent headwinds for digital assets, such as the widened China ban, were seen as buying opportunities for investors,” wrote CoinShares […]
IOHK has big plans for Cardano, including Dish, Chainlink partnerships
At the Cardano Summit over the weekend, IOHK founder Charles Hoskinson revealed a slew of partnerships and other developments for the Cardano blockchain
FTX CEO: This is the canary in China’s crypto ban coal mine
Amid China’s new clampdown, why is DeFi surging and the RMB-to-crypto market important? Sam Bankman-Fried analyzes what it all means and why FTX is leaving Hong Kong for a new home.
China’s crypto ban: what you need to know
How is China’s latest clampdown on crypto different from its previous bans — and how do authorities plan to catch the scofflaws? Henri Arslanian of PwC breaks it down.
Crypto markets shrug off China’s latest saber-rattling
Is China’s influence over Bitcoin and the global crypto market waning? Chinese exchanges get a thrashing as decentralized exchanges get happy on clampdown news.
Why DeFi holds the key to metaverse success
A profound shift is underway in online culture, writes Anndy Lian of BigOne Exchange. Here’s how decentralized finance might one day power the NFT and metaverse economy.
Crypto market is shaken as China declares all crypto transactions illegal
Bitcoin and Ethereum prices fall after Beijing intensifies crackdown on crypto trading, mining.
Former US Treasury advisor predicts no ‘real action’ from Fed on CBDC
While a US digital dollar is stuck at pole position, China’s digital yuan is nearing the finish line. Michael B. Greenwald of Tiedemann Advisors explains why it matters to the future global economy.
SushiSwap developer rejects claims of billion-dollar bug
SushiSwap, a Japanese decentralized exchange, has dismissed the claims of a white hat hacker who says two contracts on the exchange have a vulnerability that puts US$1 billion worth of user assets at risk. Fast facts An anonymous white hat hacker published a report on Thursday claiming there is a loophole in the emergency withdrawal […]
81 of top 100 companies use blockchain technology, Blockdata research shows
Survey shows growing consensus on adoption, investment and use cases. ‘Blockchain is here to stay.’
VC names jump in on NFTs; Crypto investors brush off Evergrande
VC names jump in on NFTs meanwhile crypto investors brush off Evergrande
After Evergrande, will virtual real estate be the next alternative asset class?
The property market is increasingly expensive and out of reach for today’s younger generation. Digital land sales may hit home with some buyers.
Bhutan to adopt Ripple’s XRP technology for CBDC pilot
Ripple’s win in Bhutan comes as it suffers a setback in a US court as judge rebuffs Ripple’s request for SEC’s internal trading decisions over XRP.
Crypto investors brush off Evergrande
The cryptocurrency market has rebounded in the past 24 hours as news broke that China Evergrande Group, the second largest property developer in the world’s most populous nation, has taken a step back from falling off a potential debt cliff today. Fast facts While the overall cryptocurrency market is still down for the week, all […]
Crypto markets plunge as roof falls in on Evergrande
Top blockchain and crypto news: Evergrande end-game roils crypto markets. SEC takes aim at stablecoins. How close is China’s digital yuan to the finish line?
What is Audius and could it be the next Spotify?
Audius is enjoying outsized buzz. Should Spotify be scared? In this Forkast.News explainer, learn how this blockchain startup could threaten music industry money — and power.
Evergrande debt woes hit crypto; Mooncakes in the metaverse
Evergrande debt woes hit crypto meanwhile Mooncakes are in the metaverse
How crypto enthusiasts in Asia are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival this year
From crypto-embossed mooncakes to mooncake NFTs to gatherings in the metaverse, how Asia’s crypto fans are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Evergrande’s uncertainty rocks crypto market
Crypto investors and industry watchers are following closely the potential collapse of Chinese property giant Evergrande.
Solana funds see institutional investment inflows despite recent network outage
Despite suffering a network outage due to a denial-of-service attack that took the Solana network offline for 17 hours on Sept. 14, Solana funds continued to see inflows of US$4.8 million last week, according to digital asset manager CoinShares. Fast facts “This suggests investors were happy to shrug-off the attack, seeing it as teething problems […]
Upbit passes Korea crypto race post; P2P transactions surge in India
Upbit passes Korea crypto race post meanwhile P2P transactions surge in India
Boba network announces mainnet launch of layer 2 optimistic rollup
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.
Cosmos price reaches for the stars as market remains firmly on the ground
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 […]
Avalanche’s AVAX token surges to all-time high after $230M fundraise
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, […]
Institutional DeFi poised to become a $1 trillion industry, Blockdata says
Blockchain research firm sees explosive growth in smart contract-based products that can replace existing financial services.
Why Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson says DeFi is ‘up for grabs’
As Cardano’s Alonzo upgrade goes live, founder Charles Hoskinson of IOHK calls DeFi a ‘bubble.’ How does he think the regulation that is sure to come will reshape DeFi in the future?
How quadratic funding promotes projects for the common good
What is quadratic funding, and why is this mathematical method ideal for allocating capital for a community? Pranav Sharma of Woodstock Fund explains.
China’s blockchain infrastructure project goes live in Hong Kong, Macau
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.
Insider trading scandal rocks world’s biggest NFT platform OpenSea
As the trading volume in non-fungible tokens begins to slow down from recent record heights, leading NFT marketplace OpenSea has been rocked by an insider trading scandal involving a senior team member. Fast facts The company, dubbed “the eBay of NFTs,” issued a statement yesterday acknowledging it became aware on Tuesday that an employee had […]
How you can own a (tiny) part of a Thai beachfront villa for US$150
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.