Forkast.News is now Forkast Labs

Will the future metaverse amplify the good or the evils of the real world?

The metaverse has the potential to improve access to opportunities and create a better version of the offline world. How do we prevent it from perpetuating society’s ills?

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.

Blockchain is transforming capital markets, and Singapore is leading the way: Opinion

Asset tokenization and DeFi hold tremendous potential for the finance sector, writes Han Kwee Juan of DBS Bank. Here’s how the Singaporean government is at the forefront of change.

U.S., S. Korea applied for over 75% of world’s metaverse patents: report

Companies based in the U.S. and South Korea have filed for more than 75% of patent applications related to the metaverse, VR and AR.

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.

Bitcoin price follows slide in Asia equity markets amid growing China protests against Covid-19 lockdowns

Reports of civil disobedience, protests and clashes with the police in cities and universities in China are unnerving financial markets in Asia

Markets: Bitcoin little changed, Dogecoin leads pack in muted morning of trading

Bitcoin was little changed in Monday morning trading amid mixed results from the other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies following a relatively muted few days of trading over the Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S.

Sam Bankman-Fried could face decades in jail if convicted of law violations in FTX collapse, lawyers say

The former CEO of the collapsed crypto exchange “needs to keep his mouth shut” and stop making public comments that could be used against him in future court cases, lawyers tell Forkast.

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether fall; Litecoin leads decline across most top 10 crypto

Bitcoin and Ether fell in Asian trading on Thursday afternoon, with Litecoin seeing the steepest drop in declines across most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies ranked by market capitalization

Stablecoin project Ardana on Cardano halts operation

Ardana, a stablecoin project being built on the Cardano blockchain, announced the project has been halted due to funding and uncertainty over its timeline.

Singapore police say they are investigating crypto lender Hodlnaut on fraud allegations

Singapore’s white-collar crime unit is investigating Hodlnaut on allegations of fraud, according to a statement on the website of the Singapore police dated Nov. 23.

Markets: Bitcoin little changed, Ether rises ahead of ‘Shanghai’ upgrade, XRP climbs

Bitcoin traded little changed Friday morning in Asia, while Ether rose amid a mixed performance by the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

Crypto exchange Bybit establishes US$100 million fund to aid institutional clients

Crypto exchange Bybit has established a US$100 million fund to support its institutional clients

Scam Center Slavery?

It’s no secret that crypto scams and fraud are abundant – but those doing the scamming might be victims of something even more sinister.

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether extend gains; Solana leads rise across most top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ether increased in Asia trade on Thursday afternoon. The top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization also mostly rose, with Solana leading gains

Fake crypto awards on the rise during football world cup: research

Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has warned against fraudsters taking advantage of football fans during the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

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?
and

Digital Currency Group seeks to calm investors over Genesis loans: reports

Barry Silbert of DCG disclosed his company owes a US$575 million loan and a US$1.1 billion promissory note to its subsidiary Genesis Global Capital.

Chinese mafia forcing Filipinos to work for crypto scams, says Philippine Senator

The organized crime gangs victimize both the trafficked and those that get scammed, according to the official

Disgraced FTX founder SBF to speak at New York Times Dealbook Summit despite controversy

Sam Bankman-Fried will speak at a time when he’s reportedly facing investigations with FTX undergoing bankruptcy protection proceedings.

The crash and burn of FTX: What lessons does it teach us?

As FTX victims and creditors sift through the pieces, how much of this blowup should regulators have seen coming — and could it happen again?

Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev to remain in jail until February

Alexey Pertsev, a developer of the now-sanctioned crypto mixer Tornado Cash, has been ordered to stay in jail until Feb. 20 at least.

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.

One Bad Apple?

A majority of downfall of FTX was caused by a handful of people, but who else is to blame?

Singapore’s DBS bank completes intraday repurchase transaction on JPMorgan’s blockchain-based platform

Singapore-based DBS bank, the largest lender in Southeast Asia, has said it is the first bank in Asia to complete an intraday repurchase transaction on a blockchain-based network. 

S.Korea’s top regulator says digital assets, virtual assets are different

While the crypto industry grapples with the definition of blockchain-based digital tokens, South Korea wants to nail down the terminology.

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.

Regulators should seek greater disclosure from stablecoin issuers: HK monetary authority researchers

Regulators should seek more disclosure from stablecoin issuers, as stablecoins could transmit risk from markets to traditional finance, according to researchers at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority

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).

Cardano, blockchain payment firm Coti to launch algorithm stablecoin Djed in Jan 2023

Proof-of-stake blockchain platform Cardano and blockchain payment platform Coti will launch an algorithmic stablecoin Djed in January 2023

Hong Kong residents spend most time online globally: NordVPN survey

Hong Kong residents spend the most time online – almost half of their lives – mainly watching videos on YouTube followed by scrolling through social media channels, according to a new survey by virtual private network provider NordVPN. 

China’s foreign exchange bureau urges stronger legislation to regulate crypto trade

China should integrate legislation on cryptocurrencies in order to better regulate crypto tradings, said Huang Hui, a deputy director of the Supervision and Inspection Department of State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

Thai crypto exchange eyes Hong Kong for possible public share sale in 2024: report

Bitkub, one of the largest crypto exchanges in Thailand, is aiming to list in Hong Kong as early as 2024 when it goes public.

FTX alleged hacker is moving funds to dodge authorities: analysts

The alleged hacker behind the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars from the cryptocurrency exchange FTX is moving the funds around to separate wallets.

Bitcoin price falls to more than two-year low amid growing concerns about FTX fallout

Investors are unnerved by the possibility of more failures among companies linked to the now bankrupt FTX exchange, fearing a repeat of the Terra-Luna stablecoin collapse in May that also brought down other businesses.

Why digital assets need better infrastructure and risk management

Investor confidence may be shaken, but crypto is here to stay, writes Alex Manson of Standard Chartered’s SC Ventures. Here’s how to restore trust and make the sector more resilient.

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.

Singapore’s central bank says not possible to protect local users from FTX fallout

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said on Monday that it was not possible for the central bank to protect local users from FTX’s collapse as the crypto exchange operated offshore and was not licensed by MAS.

Markets: Bitcoin, other tokens add to losses in Asia trading Monday

Bitcoin and Ether extended their losses through late Asian trading on Monday, as did all the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Dogecoin was the biggest loser. 

Bitcoin mining difficulty reaches all-time-high despite slump in price, FTX woes

Bitcoin mining difficulty rose 0.51% to an all-time-high in Monday’s biweekly adjustment, according to BTC.com.

FTX failed because of humans, not crypto

Human greed and deception led to FTX’s fall. That’s why the antidote is not more regulations but could be found in blockchain’s original promises, writes Marieke Flament, CEO of NEAR Foundation.

S.Korea examines exchange native tokens after FTX meltdown

S.Korean authorities are looking into self-issued cryptocurrencies that may exist within local exchanges following FTX.com’s FTT-led liquidity crisis.

FTX owes US$3.1 billion to top 50 unnamed creditors, court filing shows

Collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX Trading Ltd. and its affiliates owe their 50 largest creditors about US$3.1 billion, according to a court filing. The creditors were not named.

South Korea, Singapore, Japan biggest users of FTX pre-collapse, says CoinGecko

South Korea, Singapore and Japan were the biggest users of FTX.com based on the number of monthly unique visitors from January to October 2022

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.

Crypto exchange Bullish says it has no exposure to FTX

Crypto exchange Bullish has said it does not have any exposure to now-bankrupt FTX and Alameda Research, and expects FTX’s bankruptcy to have no impact on Bullish’s operations. The exchange is operated by Bullish (GI) Limited and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission. 

Bahamas regulator orders transfer of all FTX digital assets to government wallet

The Securities Commission of The Bahamas (Commission) on Nov. 12 ordered the transfer of all digital assets of FTX Digital Markets to a digital wallet controlled by the Commission, for “safekeeping,” in an announcement on Nov. 17.

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether rise as most top 10 cryptos rally

Bitcoin and Ether inched up in Friday evening trade in Asia with most other top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins. Dogecoin and Solana lost ground for a second consecutive day.

Binance to re-bid on bankrupt crypto lender Voyager: report

Binance.US is preparing to re-bid for bankrupt lending platform Voyager Digital’s assets, according to a CoinDesk report.

FTX’s Alameda, affiliates had US$5 bln in liabilities end of Sept, court filing shows

Alameda Research and its affiliates had about US$5.1 billion in liabilities as of Sept. 30, according to a bankruptcy court filing dated Nov. 17.

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.

Terra cofounder Daniel Shin denies $100 mln LUNA cashout: report

Terra cofounder Daniel Shin reportedly told S.Korean prosecutors during an investigation on Thursday that he did not sell LUNA at a high point.

FTX contagion in S.Korea: GOPAX halts Genesis-backed DeFi

S.Korean crypto exchange GOPAX halted withdrawal of principal and interest payments in its DeFi service which brokers products from Genesis.

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.

Markets: Bitcoin flat, most crypto top 10 fall as Fed indicates further rate rises

Bitcoin traded little changed Friday morning in Asia, while Ether fell along with most other non-stablecoin top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

New FTX chief says lack of controls at bankrupt exchange ‘unprecedented’

John J. Ray III, a Chicago-based lawyer and the new CEO of now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, has criticized the lack of “appropriate corporate governance” across FTX Group companies under Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of FTX. 

China’s state blockchain infrastructure Xinghuo BIF partners Malaysian MyEG to fuel global push

China’s state blockchain infrastructure Xinghuo Blockchain Infrastructure and Facility has signed an agreement with Malaysian digital service provider MY E.G. Services Berhad to own and operate an “international supernode,” as China continues its international blockchain push.

South Korea freezes Terra cofounder Daniel Shin’s US$104 mln in assets; CEO Do Kwon tweets he was wrong, not fraudulent

Terra’s former executive Daniel Shin’s US$100 million were frozen on Thursday; Do Kwon tweets that the Terra team did everything to save UST

Indian crypto exchange CoinSwitch says proof of reserves shows sufficient reserves to match clients’ stake

Indian crypto exchange CoinSwitch’s proof of reserves summary, that was shared on Thursday, stated that as of Nov. 4, the exchange’s overall holdings of crypto and fiat balances in Indian Rupees (INR) exceeded those held by the exchange on behalf of its users.

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether fall along with top 10 cryptos, led by Polygon’s Matic

Bitcoin fell during Wednesday afternoon trading in Asia along with all other top 10 cryptocurrencies, excluding stablecoins, led by declines in Polygon’s Matic.

How Hong Kong and Singapore can make Asia the center of crypto’s future

Yes, there is rivalry between the two global finance hubs. But their strengths are also complementary for Asia to become an even bigger crypto powerhouse, writes Lily Z. King.

Singapore’s Temasek writes off US$275 mln in FTX

Temasek says its belief in Sam Bankman-Fried may have been ‘misplaced.’

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether fall as FTX implosion, job cuts in tech industry cloud outlook

Bitcoin and Ether prices fell in Thursday morning trading in Asia along with all other top 10 tokens by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins.

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.

Binance gets Abu Dhabi regulator’s nod to offer crypto custody services

Binance, world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has obtained Financial Services Permission from Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), to provide custody to professional clients in and from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center of the UAE’s capital.

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.

Markets: Bitcoin inches up, Ether falls; most top 10 crypto rebound

Bitcoin inched up during Wednesday afternoon trade in Asia while most of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins, rallied from recent losses.

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.

USDC stablecoin issuer Circle expects slower growth over Binance’s BUSD conversion

Circle, the issuer of U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin USDC, has said that stronger competition in the stablecoin market is likely to pressure Circle stablecoins, thereby slowing its growth and weighing on the financial outlook of the company. 

AAX crypto exchange at risk of capital deficit, says market vulnerable from FTX collapse

AAX wants to reopen withdrawal services with additional capital, while VP Caselin told Forkast AAX is caught in a market-wide vulnerability.

NFT platform, art collective launch collaboration in aid of Ukraine

NFT platform laCollection has launched a series of collaborations with international artists to raise funds for Ukrainian cultural institutions.