Plasm Network closes $10M fundraise to bolster Polkadot ambitions
With Kusama slot parachain auctions underway, the first starting next week, Plasm and Shiden networks prepare for a multi-chain future with Polkadot.
How the layer 2 race is scaling Ethereum before ETH 2.0
While the world waits for Eth 2, blockchain developers like Enya.ai and OMG Network are trying to solve Ethereum’s scalability issues via layer 2.
Is Chinese province Yunnan banning cryptocurrency mining?
Yunnan is getting prepared to ban cryptocurrency mining activities, BTC.top, one of the country’s major mining pools, today told Forkast.News, citing a screenshot of a notice.
IMF targets El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption, citing financial and legal concerns
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will meet with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to finalize discussions around a pandemic relief loan to support the Central American nation. In a Thursday press briefing, IMF spokesman Garry Rice also implied that El Salvador’s decision to make Bitcoin a national currency will be a focus of the meeting for the IMF team.
Singapore’s GIC takes 8% stake in HK’s digital asset company BC Group
GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, is investing in BC Group—the parent company of OSL, Hong Kong’s first licensed cryptocurrency exchange.
Bitcoin hot in Singapore; China crypto mining bans widen | The Daily Forkast
El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin has the world buzzing. Can Singapore be next? China mining crackdown continues.
BIS, Swiss and French central banks team up for CBDC Project Jura
The BIS, together with the central banks of France and Switzerland, are collaborating on a wholesale central bank digital currency experiment for cross-border settlements.
Singapore central bank says blockchain can boost Asia’s low-carbon future
Ravi Menon, managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, says technologies such as blockchain will help Asian nations to reduce carbon emissions.
Saudis lead $30M Series A for China nationwide blockchain network manager
Beijing-based Red Date Technology — the face of China’s ambitious nationwide blockchain service network — receives a big investment boost.
Vitalik Buterin: Why Eth2 will propel Ethereum’s use in enterprise
In a talk this week, Vitalik Buterin explains Ethereum’s growing use in enterprise and the importance of building diverse, open-source communities.
Iranian president calls for crypto regulation to mitigate risks
Iran wants to “preserve and protect national interests” in the field of digital currencies and cryptocurrencies, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says.
Miami property deal breaks crypto real estate record
A Miami property has set a record for the highest price paid in cryptocurrency in a real estate transaction — US$22.5 million.
Australian crypto exchange Bitunivex plans to go green
Australian crypto exchange Bitunivex.com has announced plans to offset its carbon footprint by investing in green crypto initiatives.
UNICEF invests in blockchain startups for financial inclusion
UNICEF Venture Fund is awarding up to $100,000 to blockchain startups, including India’s GovBlocks, in its latest funding round. Here are the other projects.
Hong Kong eyes digital currency as part of new fintech plan
Hong Kong will be initiating a study on a digital Hong Kong dollar as part of its plans to “future proof” the city for central bank digital currencies.
Ripple proposes federated sidechains for XRP Ledger smart contracts
Ripple is inviting feedback from its developer community on a plan to introduce federated sidechains on the XRP Ledger.
How NFTs are redrawing Asia’s art scene from artists to galleries
From Phillips auction house in Hong Kong to Art Fair Philippines, non-fungible tokens are redefining how Asia appreciates, buys and profits from art.
World Economic Forum offers DeFi ‘toolkit’ for policymakers
In collaboration with Wharton business school, WEF releases a toolkit for governments to consider the opportunities and risks of decentralized finance.
Taiwan boy band star Van Ness Wu praises NFTs, prepares for charity selfie sale
California-born singer looks to rekindle relationship with his fans as he pledges to donate the proceeds from his NFT sale to a Taiwan-based NGO.
Beijing looks to boost blockchain, create industry champions
China has released guidelines aimed at boosting the country’s blockchain development.
What blockchain games like Alien Worlds say about life outside metaverses
In a special Q&A, Sarojini McKenna of Alien Worlds discusses play-to-earn gaming, digital assets like Trilium, and lives increasingly lived inside virtual worlds.
Luno crypto exchange looks to expand into Indonesia and SE Asia
Global crypto exchange Luno is in talks with conglomerate Lippo Group to launch operations in Indonesia in order to enter the Southeast Asian market.
How serious is the threat of Bitcoin mining to the environment?
Is Bitcoin’s carbon footprint a growing risk to Earth, or is it a red herring? On this year’s United Nations World Environment Day, crypto mining is a hot topic.
Criticisms of Tether’s reserves are unfounded, says Bitfinex CTO
After Tether’s legal settlement with New York, USDT’s growth is exploding—dispelling concerns over Tether’s reserves, says Bitfinex CTO Paolo Ardoino.
Prominent Chinese economist urges public to ‘avoid confusion’ between digital currency and cryptocurrencies
It is important to distinguish between developing a digital currency for currency digitalization and digitalization of assets or cryptocurrencies so that China can be more focused on preventing risks in the financial sector, said Fan Gang, a Peking University professor and a prominent advocate in China for economic reform. Fast Facts: In a keynote speech […]
Governments meet crypto industry; Hope for Bitcoin miners in Sichuan | The Daily Forkast
Governments meet up with the crypto industry to discuss how to regulate the booming industry as BC Group’s OSL ties up with SC Ventures.
Ripple execs seek info to defend XRP trades from 16 foreign crypto exchanges
To defend themselves against SEC lawsuit, Ripple’s CEO and chairman ask court for help getting XRP info from a who’s who list of offshore crypto exchanges.
DBS Bank tapping on tokenized bonds as a new way to invest
From digital bonds to real estate, blockchain-enabled security token offerings and tokenization are redefining corporate fundraising and investing.
Ethereum is rocketing out of this world with SpaceX and SpaceChain
Can Ethereum, also known as the ‘World Computer,’ function outside this world — in space? A SpaceX rocket launch today will put that to the test.
Standard Chartered, BC Group to launch digital asset trading platform
Standard Chartered and BC Group to launch digital asset trading platform for corporate and institutional clients in Europe and the UK.
SpaceChain shoots blockchain to space; Cardano’s bridge to China | The Daily Forkast
SpaceChain shoots blockchain to tech to the International Space Station aboard Falcon 9 as Cardano announces first cross-chain bridge with Nervos.
Cardano and Nervos to launch cross-chain bridge
Input Output Hong Kong and Nervos announced today that they will be launching a cross-chain bridge to connect the two networks.
Is India’s central bank greenlighting crypto? Bitcoin fees fall to new lows. Cardano rolls out Alonzo upgrade for DeFi.
Other top blockchain and crypto news: Thailand’s SEC tries to rein in DeFi via regulation. Will China’s future DCEP digital yuan offer smart contracts?
What’s up with Taproot, the biggest proposed change to Bitcoin since 2017?
Bitcoin’s proposed Taproot update for smart contracts and privacy has wide verbal support from miners, but will they put their crypto where their mouth is?
Singapore’s DBS Bank launches its first digital bond
Singapore’s DBS Bank has announced its first security token offering on the DBS Digital Exchange.
Privacy coin Monero surges as US and Australia target crypto gains
Privacy-centric coins like Monero, ZCash and Dash are seeing big price rises as the IRS and ATO issue warnings on taxable crypto transactions.
South Korean finance watchdog set to take over crypto regulation
South Korea is in the process of tasking a branch of the Financial Services Commission with regulating cryptocurrency exchanges.
How FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried navigates crypto trading’s new normal
From mass liquidations to meme trading, the characteristics unique to the crypto market can now be seen in traditional markets, says FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.
Bridging the DeFi data gap with indexing blockchain data
Blockchain technology has massive data requirements, but the data can be difficult and costly to access. What are some of the solutions?
Ethereum 2 to set green future; Koreans demand regulator steps down | The Daily Forkast
Vitalik Buterin sets a green future for the Ethereum network while Bitdeer becomes the latest to block Chinese miners.
Will China become the new digital currency superpower?
The U.S. dollar reigns supreme as the current world reserve currency. Could the USD’s status change with the rise of CBDCs like China’s DCEP digital yuan?
Tokenization to transform financial system, DBS Bank CEO says
The power of tokenization can fundamentally transform the fabric of the financial system, Singapore’s DBS Bank CEO Piyush Gupta told the Consensus by CoinDesk 2021 conference taking place this week.
How Ripple found new ways to grow XRP business despite SEC lawsuit
Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse says Ripple was hit hard financially after SEC filed its lawsuit, but the company is now expanding uses for XRP’s technology.
Asia-Pacific fintech investment more than doubles in first quarter
Fintech companies in Asia-Pacific pulled in US$2.35 billion in investment during the first three months of 2021, more than the total amount raised in the first half of the previous year.
Vitalik Buterin speaks: What lies in the future of Ethereum?
Breaking into occasional Mandarin at a Hong Kong conference, Ethereum’s visionary creator tells all — including why Ethereum 2.0 is taking so long.
DeFi has boosted challenger banks. Now it’s their customers’ turn
New and innovative lenders are taking advantage of DeFi’s low costs to offer savings account interest rates that Main Street banks simply can’t match.
South Korea forges ahead on its digital currency development
Kicking the digital won’s development into higher gear, Bank of Korea is calling for bids to be a technology supplier for its digital currency (CBDC) project.
How NFTs could trigger lawsuits and anti-money laundering regulation
Non-fungible tokens may be a boon for art and sports collectibles, but the technology is also spawning a host of thorny regulatory and legal issues.
Solana gets Coinbase listing after SOL prices surge amid crypto market crash
Coinbase Pro adds Solana’s native token, opening the doors for US investors after SOL outperforms Bitcoin and most other cryptos amid market crash.
Singapore’s DBS Bank says no investment discussion can omit Bitcoin
Diversification to allocate funds to Bitcoin is an “opportunity that (fiat) money cannot buy”, says DBS Bank’s chief investment officer.
Bank on change: DeFi’s challenge to traditional finance and fintech
As mainstream finance embraces decentralized finance, neither it nor its younger challengers are likely to escape the evolutionary forces at work.
U.S. SEC chair Gary Gensler says regulator will enforce crypto rules ‘aggressively and consistently’
U.S. SEC chair Gary Gensler says as technology and markets evolve, regulators should be ready to bring cases involving crypto.
Digital dollar’s values to fortify USD hegemony, says ex-CFTC chair
Former CFTC chairman Chris Giancarlo and Accenture’s David Treat are not in a CBDC race, but a ‘contest’ to develop money that reflects societal values.
Bitcoin drops below US$40,000; China sends another crypto warning | The Daily Forkast
China’s newest warning against crypto sends market into nosedive and Bitcoin dips below US$40,000 for the first time since February.
Australia seeks fresh submissions on cryptocurrency rules
In a paper released today by a Senate committee, the Australian government announced it is seeking help in establishing a crypto regulatory framework.
China-based SOS announces activation of 6,039 mining rigs for ETH, BTC
Qingdao-headquartered tech company SOS Ltd. has announced the launch of more than 6,000 ETH and BCT mining rigs, claiming 90% renewable energy sources.
China’s new crypto ban shouldn’t stoke fear, says Conflux network co-founder
Fan Long, a co-founder of Chinese public blockchain network Conflux, says China’s latest broadside against the use of cryptocurrencies in the financial sector should not be interpreted as a sign that Beijing is intent on shutting down digital currencies.
Will Singapore launch a people’s digital currency — and support DeFi?
As Singapore builds Project Dunbar, a cross-border multiple-CBDC platform, its government dives into DeFi learning and ponders a CBDC for the masses.
Banks take on enterprise blockchain; WeMade entrust crypto to KODA | The Daily Forkast
Banks in Singapore are leading blockchain and DLT developments while South Korean game developer WeMade entrusts its US$130 million crypto holdings to KODA.
Deutsche, STACS wrap up Singapore DLT test project for tokenized securities
Deutsche Bank Securities Services in Singapore and Singapore fintech firm Hashstacs, or STACS, today announced the completion of a tokenized securities proof-of-commercialization test named Project Benja.
What is Polkadot and why is it one of the hottest blockchains right now?
The final phase of Polkadot’s rollout — with parachains — just kicked off. Here’s what you need to know about Polkadot and parachains, and why it matters.
Ripple seeks to protect legal advice on XRP from disclosure to SEC
Ripple rebuts SEC’s attempt to obtain Ripple’s confidential communications with lawyers over XRP’s legal status and seeks to bolster ‘fair notice’ defense.
Audience fave ‘Charlie bit me’ video to be auctioned off as NFT
The home video that has been viewed more than 880 million times is set to be sold as NFT to highest bidder — and then deleted forevermore from YouTube.
New York’s Bitcoin mining showdown sets stage for battles elsewhere
A dispute over a Bitcoin mine’s environmental impact leads to a push to ban crypto mines in New York state. Will other places follow Albany’s lead?
India’s demand for crypto ‘growing like crazy’ since ban attempt
It’s only a matter of time that digital currency ‘is going to overshadow all the other forms of money,’ says Neeraj Khandelwal of CoinDCX.
DBS Bank rolls out crypto estate planning for the ultra-rich
What will happen to your Bitcoin keys and crypto wallets when you die? Southeast Asia’s largest bank will now take care of it all for the super wealthy.
Self-styled Bitcoin ‘creator’ files $5.6B claim in UK court
An Australian computer scientist has become the latest person to claim to have developed Bitcoin, an assertion he hopes might bring him a £4 billion (US$5.6 billion) windfall. Craig Wright, who claims to have invented Bitcoin, and the identity behind the Satoshi Nakamoto pseudonym, has filed a lawsuit in a UK court to retrieve a […]
NFT player Animoca hits unicorn status with $89 million capital raise
Animoca Brands’ valuation tops US$1 billion as it charges forward in the NFT and blockchain gaming space with $88,888,888 in new funding.
Gibraltar’s DLT rules hailed as key to BITSO US$255M capital raise
Gibraltar’s distributed ledger technology regulations have been credited with the success of Latin American crypto platform BITSO’s latest US$255 million fundraising. The series-C equity round was led by hedge funds Tiger Global and Coatue Management, and boosted BITSO’s value to US$2.2 billion. Gibraltar’s DLT legislation is the world’s first purpose-built regulatory framework for businesses using […]
How FTX crypto exchange won over 1 million investors and grew 25-fold
FTX crypto derivatives exchange pioneered TRUMP crypto futures and now dwarfs Coinbase in trading volume. Is going public in FTX’s near future?
Tesla pulls U-turn on Bitcoin payments amid founder’s environmental concerns
US carmaker Tesla has backed away from accepting Bitcoin as payment for its electric vehicles, citing the enormous environmental cost of mining and processing cryptocurrency transactions. In a Tweet posted on Wednesday, Tesla founder Elon Musk said the company would suspend vehicle purchases using Bitcoin. He said, “We are concerned about rapidly increasing use of […]
ICP takes crypto world by storm. Will Ethereum be the next Bitcoin? Goldman Sachs launches crypto trading desk.
Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: How Dogecoin copycat SHIB coin vaulted into crypto’s top 20. China unveils fingerprint ID for digital yuan.