Where is the stablecoin market heading in 2023?
FTX’s collapse triggered a stablecoin sell-off, but we will need them to survive the Crypto Winter, writes Vladimir Gorbunov of Choise.com.
NFT December sales surge to highest since June amid ‘tax-loss harvesting’
Slump in prices of some non-fungible tokens and other digital assets allows U.S. holders to take advantage of a loophole to reduce capital gains taxes.
Silvergate cuts 40% of staff after facing US$8.1B in withdrawals amid FTX collapse
Cryptocurrency bank Silvergate Capital has laid off 40% of its staff, or about 200 employees, after the collapse of FTX.com, which sparked mass withdrawals of around US$8.1 billion.
Crypto payments firm Wyre reportedly shutting down amid market downturn
Cryptocurrency payments company Wyre is reportedly shutting down operations by the end of January, amid the broader crypto market downturn following the fall of FTX
Alameda Research transfers spark suspicions as SBF denies involvement
Top blockchain and crypto news: Where is Alameda Research’s money going? US tax loophole may give crypto investors a break. China’s blockchain momentum builds.
U.S. banking regulators warn against cryptocurrency fraud, contagion risks
The U.S. Federal Reserve, FDIC and the OCC have issued a joint statement to warn banks of the risks with crypto assets.
OKX’s OKB, OKT tokens surge at least 13% each after 85% quarter
OKB, the utility token of OKX, jumped by up to 15% during Asia trading hours on Monday. OKT, the native token of the OKX Chain, was up 13%.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried allegedly cashes out US$684,000, on-chain data show
On-chain data showed that Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the now-bankrupt FTX exchange, sent around 570 Ether worth US$684,000 to a Seychelles-based exchange and Ren Protocol’s Bitcoin bridge on Wednesday
‘Tis the season for crypto tax-loss harvesting: IRS, regulators remain silent on crypto tax loophole ahead of new year
The past year has been tumultuous for crypto investors, with a bear market wiping out over half of Bitcoin’s market capitalization. However, with the end of the American tax year just days ahead, taxpayers could get some money back.
Stablecoins likely next in risk line, Karpelès says
A downward spiral of an algorithmic stablecoin was the beginning of the cryptocurrency industry’s troubles in 2022. Former Mt.Gox CEO Mark Karpelès says that the stablecoin drama is not over.
A series of events: Crypto’s 2022 timeline
Cryptocurrencies had a turbulent 2022 to say the least. Blockchain technology made progress but that failed to offset the multiple bankruptcies and hacks that plagued the industry through the year.
Late Nexon CEO’s US$6.7 mln crypto stolen; hacker gets six years in prison
A group of S.Korean hackers stole 8.5 billion Korean won (US$6.7 million) worth of cryptocurrencies from Kim Jung-ju, the late founder of Nexon.
How crypto crimes are evolving, and what to expect in 2023
Ponzi schemes, investment scams and rug pulls have drained billions from crypto users in recent years. What new kinds of crypto crimes are on the horizon?
Argo Blockchain shares soar after selling Texas mining facility to Galaxy Digital
Bitcoin miner Argo Blockchain PLC’s stock price spiked by more than 100% during U.K. trading hours on Wednesday and to close 73.33% higher on the London Stock Exchange.
A year to remember, a year to forget: Crypto highs and lows of 2022
From Terra and FTX crises to Ethereum’s triumphant Merge and China’s inventive NFT industry, Forkast reviews a rollercoaster year and its consequences.
Will non-financial use cases of NFTs emerge in 2023?
MetaKovan, owner of the world’s most expensive NFT owned by an individual, believes that crypto and blockchain are still the remedy for human corruption.
Why digital assets need regulations now more than ever
In times of market volatility, regulation can restore confidence and public trust in crypto, writes Albert Isola, Gibraltar’s minister for digital and financial services.
BTC.com hacked, around US$3 mln assets stolen
Blockchain browser and mining pool BTC.com said on Monday that it got hacked earlier this month, and lost around US$2.3 million of its own assets and US$700,000 of clients’ assets.
The last 12 months the year to forget, says India’s WazirX crypto exchange
A lot of the troubles for India exchanges in 2022 will run into next year as they shed staff and run down reserves to stay afloat, and not all are expected to make it.
Crypto’s traumatic year
This year hasn’t been the easiest for investors, will 2023 be better?
British Columbia suspends new electricity connections for crypto miners
British Columbia has paused new electricity connection requests from crypto miners for 18 months to support the province’s climate action.
Bankrupt miner Core Scientific may sell facilities under development: report
Core Scientific said it may sell some of its mining facilities under development that could be worth up to a gigawatt of power after it filed for bankruptcy protection.
Ban crypto or brace for the next financial crisis, RBI governor warns
The next financial crisis will come from “private cryptocurrencies” if they are not banned, RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said at a banking and finance event on Wednesday.
To unwrap Web3’s promises, we must break the barriers to blockchain adoption
Despite blockchain’s potential, barriers to use still stand in the way, writes Andrew Vranjes of Blockdaemon. Solving security issues and reducing risk will be key.
US bill set to demand know-your-customer from crypto companies
Top blockchain and crypto news: US senators push for crypto KYC. SBF faces the music in US courts. Alibaba Cloud to launch blockchain node.
Binance acquires Indonesian crypto exchange Tokocrypto
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has acquired Indonesia-based crypto exchange Tokocrypto, according to a CNBC report
How Web3 can make travel less stressful for future holidays
The travel sector has many pain points and is ripe for disruption, writes Freddie Hickman of Hyper SQ. Here’s what blockchain can do, from tracking baggage to letting you resell your no-longer-wanted air ticket.
Binance’s proof-of-reserves auditor suspends work for crypto firms
Mazars, the financial auditing firm behind Binance’s proof-of-reserves (PoR) audit, has suspended all work for crypto firms.
Hong Kong Stock Exchange debuts ‘Asia’s first’ crypto futures ETFs
Hong Kong launched two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking cryptocurrency futures on Friday, the first of their kind in Asia, the local exchange said.
MetaMask partners with PayPal for Ethereum purchases through wallet
ConsenSys Inc., the company behind leading crypto wallet MetaMask, announced on Thursday a new partnership with PayPal Holdings Inc.
Sam Bankman-Fried in Bahamas police custody, faces criminal charges in U.S.
Top blockchain and crypto news: SBF denied bail, US extradition likely next. The Block chief quits over secret FTX loans. Hong Kong readies digital asset rules.
KuCoin’s BTC, ETH reserves overcollateralized, says auditor Mazars
KuCoin, a Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange, on Monday released its proof of reserves report issued by third-party auditor Mazars, which concluded that the exchange’s reserves of Bitcoin, Ether, USDT and USDC are overcollateralized.
Crypto Mining Woes
Crypto miners worldwide are turning off their computers as the cost of mining rises and the value of bitcoin falls.
U.S. considering bill to require crypto miners to report carbon emissions
U.S. cryptocurrency miners would be required to report greenhouse gas emissions under a new bill submitted to the Senate, reflecting criticism the industry is adding to use of fossil fuels blamed for global warming.
FTX failure a ‘wake-up call’ for security, says former Mt Gox CEO Mark Karpeles
Before the FTX implosion there was Mt. Gox, an exchange that oversaw 80% of all Bitcoin trades before it collapsed in 2014. In this exclusive interview with Forkast, former Mt. Gox Chief Executive Officer Mark Karpeles says what he sees in store for the industry in 2023 in the wake of the FTX bankruptcy.
AAX’s future in doubt amid staff exodus and FTX contagion
Top blockchain and crypto news: AAX teeters on the brink. SBF hints at Congressional hearing no-show. Chinese court boosts NFT legitimacy.
Hong Kong’s race to launch first crypto-linked ETF begins
Three Hong Kong-based asset management firms have applied for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking Bitcoin and Ethereum futures for retail investors.
Crypto lender Nexo to quit U.S. market over ‘regulatory unclarity’
Cryptocurrency lender Nexo will pull out of the U.S. market “due to a lack of regulatory clarity.”
Cold comfort: Is Crypto Winter the right time to invest in Web3?
Amid the current crypto market carnage, Web3’s appeal for investors remains solid — and perhaps even stronger — says CVP NoLimit Holdings founder Gin Chao.
U.S. crypto exchange Kraken to lay off 30% of its workforce, cites ‘market conditions’
U.S.-based crypto exchange Kraken said it will lay off 30% of its global workforce, or approximately 1,100 people, to “adapt to current market conditions.”
Grayscale holdings questioned amid crypto investment giant’s silence
Top blockchain and crypto news: Grayscale’s cryptic reserves. Binance rides to the rescue? China hit by protests and digital dissent.
Diverging paths of two CEOs running FTX’s Alameda Research may meet again in court
Employee accounts of life at Sam Bankman-Fried’s flagship cryptocurrency trading arm Alameda Research paint a picture of overworked and inexperienced millennials running a ship headed for the rocks: one seemingly escaped.
Coinbase wallet ends support for ETC, BCH, XRP, XLM
The largest U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global Inc. announced that its wallet will no longer be supporting Ethereum Classic (ETC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), XRP and Stellar (XLM).
CeFi must adopt DeFi’s transparency following FTX collapse, Justin Sun says
Justin Sun says CeFi must adopt DeFi’s transparency to regain public trust as 1inch Network cofounder Sergej Kunz sees crypto’s struggles as an opportunity for DeFi.
ECB’s Christine Lagarde: Further crypto regulation ‘absolute necessity’ following FTX collapse
Christine Lagarde of the European Central Bank said regulating cryptocurrency in the EU is an “absolute necessity” following the collapse of Bahamas-based exchange FTX.com.
Markets: Top 10 crypto fall as BlockFi enters bankruptcy, macroeconomic concerns spread
Bitcoin and Ether fell in Tuesday morning trading in Asia as U.S.-based crypto lender Blockfi filed for bankruptcy overnight in what is seen as another casualty of the collapse of the FTX exchange this month.
Making DeFi Fairer
Why does making the most of the crypto ecosystem remains out of reach for many?
NFT images of anti-lockdown protests in China flood OpenSea
Pictures taken from protests against China’s zero-Covid policy across the mainland are now for sale on OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, as non-fungible tokens (NFT). See related article: ‘Voice of April’ NFTs highlight Shanghai struggles amid lockdown Fast facts See related article: Bitcoin price follows slide in Asia equity markets amid growing China protests against […]
Nigeria seeks distinction between digital assets and crypto
Nigeria seeks to advance digital asset trading in the country but is drawing a distinction between digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
Singapore’s Matrixport eyes US$100 mln fundraiser at US$1.5 bln valuation
Singapore-based crypto lender Matrixport is hoping to raise US$100 million at a valuation of US$1.5 billion, according to a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources.
Binance releases proof of reserves
The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance released its proof of reserves (PoR) on Friday to provide transparency on user funds.
Question: How do financial rules work when rogue individuals run companies? Answer: Not very well.
Calls for tougher rules on cryptocurrency have been echoing ever louder through the offices of global financial regulators since the collapse of the FTX exchange. But the firm did not invent dodgy business practices, so what can regulators and the industry do?
Wallet linked to defunct crypto exchange BTC-e suddenly activates
A wallet address linked to defunct crypto exchange BTC-e sent its largest transaction since August 2017 on Wednesday.
New York Attorney General eyes ban of crypto purchases through retirement funds
New York Attorney General (NYAG) Letitia James has recommended prohibiting crypto investments in defined contribution plans and individual retirement accounts (IRAs).
Genesis jitters keep investors on edge as contagion risks grow
Top blockchain and crypto news: Fear stalks crypto as Genesis wobbles. FTX cleanup begins. China’s NFT scene shrinks.
Coinbase CEO reaffirms exchange’s BTC holdings after CZ’s tweet
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is reassuring users about the financial health of the Nasdaq-listed crypto exchange, following a tweet — since deleted — from CZ of Binance.
Crypto mining firm Foundry to buy mining sites from embattled Compute North
Crypto mining firm Foundry Digital LLC plans to acquire two turnkey crypto mining facilities in the U.S. from troubled Compute North.
New York State passes two-year moratorium on some crypto mining facilities
New York became the first U.S. state to enact a temporary ban on new cryptocurrency mining permits at fossil fuel plants, despite lobbying against the measure.
Cathie Woods buys the dip as Ark Invest scoops up Coinbase, GBTC shares: Bloomberg
Cathie Wood’s Ark Investment Management has bought over 1.3 million shares of Coinbase Global since the start of November, and 450,000 shares of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC).
Who’s Next?
Bitcoin falls under $16K as Genesis temporarily halted withdrawals and redemptions.
Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway warns of scam crypto site with same name
Berkshire Hathaway, the investment conglomerate run by billionaire Warren Buffet, has issued a warning about a fake cryptocurrency website that uses the Berkshire Hathway name.
US senators urge Fidelity to drop BTC retirement plan after FTX collapse
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin and Tina Smith asked Fidelity Investments to rethink its decision to grant retirement plan exposure to Bitcoin.
Coinbase Custody holds 635,000 BTC on behalf of Grayscale that refuses to share proof of reserves
Coinbase Custody Trust, the institutional investment arm of Coinbase Global, holds 635,000 BTC on behalf of Grayscale Bitcoin Trust, according to a note by Coinbase Custody CEO Aaron Schnarch. Digital investment firm Grayscale has also declined to share proof of reserves, citing security concerns.
Man Group plans crypto hedge fund despite FTX, market turmoil: report
The world’s largest publicly traded hedge fund manager, Man Group Plc, plans to launch a cryptocurrency exclusive fund.
Beyond crypto: Why would companies want cryptocurrency-free blockchains?
Cryptocurrencies are getting in the way of the mass adoption of blockchain technology, especially by tech businesses, says Red Date Technology chief Yifan He.
Ethereum software developer ConsenSys co-launches Ethereum Climate Platform at COP27
Core Ethereum contributor ConsenSys co-launched the Ethereum Climate Platform (ECP) at the COP27 climate change conference in Egypt.
Genesis crypto broker freezes withdrawals; Winklevoss’s Gemini, S. Korea’s GOPAX exchanges affected
The Genesis brokerage arm of the Digital Currency Group is one of the latest cryptocurrency platforms to lock down withdrawals following the bankruptcy of crypto exchange FTX, and the freeze is spreading.
Australia to revamp cryptocurrency rules after FTX collapse
The country is one of the first to say it will act to set up regulations to prevent a collapse similar to FTX, which filed for bankruptcy protection and froze the assets of hundreds of thousands of investors.
Crypto winter may last until end of 2023: Coinbase research
The collapse of FTX may extend crypto winter to the end of 2023, according to a monthly outlook report by U.S.-based crypto exchange Coinbase dated Nov. 15.
Crypto exchanges see record-high week of BTC outflows, following FTX saga
Bitcoin outflows from centralized crypto exchanges rose to a historic high this week, as investors turned to self-custody options following the collapse of FTX.
FTX collapse leaves investors jittery over crypto contagion
Top blockchain and crypto news: FTX fallout spooks sector. Crypto.com’s $400 million ‘accident.’ Hong Kong’s new digital asset drive.
Korbit is first South Korean exchange to disclose full crypto reserves, post-FTX debacle
Korbit, one of South Korea’s five fully licensed crypto exchanges, announced Wednesday that it will reveal its full list of crypto reserves.