IBC Group to move all its crypto mining out of China
In the wake of crackdowns on crypto mining in China, investment firm IBC Group has announced it plans to shut all BTC and Ethereum mining operations in the country and relocate elsewhere.
South Korean crypto exchanges tighten personal trading rules for employees
Three of the biggest cryptocurrency exchanges in South Korea have tightened restrictions on virtual currency trading by their employees in a move designed to comply with the nation’s crypto regulations. Fast facts Bithumb announced that starting this month, it had banned its employees from trading cryptocurrencies using Bithumb accounts. The exchange has made employees sign […]
How blockchain is giving rise to a growing ‘Crypto Nation’
Being a ‘crypto native’ involves much more than using Bitcoin and DeFi, writes Alvin Lee of DeGate DAO. It’s sharing core values like freedom and inclusion.
WazirX, Binance boost compliance procedures; Forkast speaks to FTX CEO
Crypto exchanges WazirX and Binance look to implement stronger compliance measures. Forkast News speaks with FTX founder and CEO Sam Bankman-Fried about crypto regulatory measures in Asia. Chinese district rewards residents with e-Yuan for counting footsteps. We’ll have more on these stories and other news shaping the cryptocurrency and blockchain world in this episode of […]
Mintable closes $13M series-A, set to integrate Ripple XRP Ledger
Mintable, a Singapore-based non-fungible token platform, this week closed a US$13 million series-A funding round, with U.S. payments technology company Ripple Labs investing. Fast facts Mintable, currently built on the Ethereum and Zilliqa blockchains, enables users to create, buy and sell NFTs using fiat or cryptocurrency. Mintable intends to use the fresh capital to scale […]
One day, we’ll just call Bitcoin ‘money,’ says crypto veteran
El Salvador recently became the first country to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender, and it seems unlikely to be the last. Samson Mow, chief strategy officer of Bitcoin technology company Blockstream, looks forward to a future in which Bitcoin edges out fiat currency.
Will court let Ripple force ex-SEC director to testify about XRP?
Ripple says William Hinman holds important insights into SEC’s stance on Bitcoin, Ether and XRP. How is Hinman’s 2018 speech on crypto relevant to the lawsuit?
Bye-bye, Binance. Elon Musk spawns Floki Shiba Inu craze. Tickets for tokens in China.
Top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Binance bounced out of Britain. Musk moves Shiba Inu prices again. China’s digital currency gets ready to roll.
How to assess the maturity of a network and DeFi ecosystem
What does a fully functioning network with DeFi applications look like, and why is it important to assess? Garrette Furo of Cosmos explains.
What is Theta blockchain, and how might it revolutionize online streaming?
With Theta’s new mainnet 3.0, the network aims to be the go-to blockchain-powered content delivery platform for online streaming. Will Theta succeed?
Family offices are turning to digital assets
Interview with Trent Barnes, Principal at Zerocap Tokenization brings new models for raising capital, as well as institutional-grade opportunities Forkast.News: How does a digital asset become “institutional-grade”? What sort of criteria are institutional-level traders looking for? TB: The criteria would include clear guidelines and regulatory frameworks as to how digital assets are treated, deepening pools […]
Metaverse hot in South Korea; Decentralized theme park hits HK | The Daily Forkast
South Korea’s top asset managers are racing to get into the metaverse game while Forkast.News visits a decentralized theme park in Hong Kong.
Singapore crypto exchange Coinhako sees trade soar 500%, eyes IPO
Singapore cryptocurrency exchange Coinhako today announced a 500% increase in trading volume during the first five months of 2021 compared to the whole of 2020.
Why big investors are pouring money into blockchain data analytics for crypto
Nansen, a Singapore startup, is the latest darling of venture capitalists like Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) bullish on the growing field of crypto analytics.
Growth of digital assets markets and exchanges
Interview with Thor Chan, CEO of AAX Forkast.News: The value of digital assets has exploded during the last year, and we are now at levels well above previous forecasts. What are you seeing in the market right now? Thor Chan: We think that the global crypto market is growing. More money is flowing in, and […]
China’s crypto miners eye Kazakhstan in exodus; e-HKD study on track | The Daily Forkast
Kazakhstan is quickly becoming a mining hotspot as China’s mining exodus settles down. In Hong Kong, and update on the e-HKD.
South Korean crypto exchange fee revelations deal blow to sector’s credibility
Payment for listings raises questions over integrity of cryptocurrencies’ credit scores as compliance deadline nears.
How enterprises are fueling blockchain adoption among SMEs
What is blockchain and how can it help smaller companies? A special panel sponsored by Blockchain-based Service Network explores the use cases.
Bitcoin not ideal for cyber crime, says Filecoin Foundation chair
Bitcoin was recovered by the FBI from the Colonial Pipeline ransomware cyber criminals DarkSide, sparking privacy concerns around cryptocurrencies.
China Blockchain Report
Blockchain Is Not China’s Future — It Is The Present Blockchain technology is a national priority for China, and it’s being integrated in both enterprise and government. Nowhere else in the world has a country approached the development of a technology with such a sense of urgency. Forkast.Insights sat down with top China-based insiders, academics, protocols, […]
Building construction meets blockchain, Binance launches NFT platform | The Daily Forkast
Construction meets blockchain in Australian and Binance’s NFT marketplace is open for business.
Palestine looks to launch central bank digital currency
Following Israel’s recent tests of a digital shekel, the Palestinian Monetary Authority is looking to launch its own central bank digital currency.
Paraguay university to accept crypto for tuition fees
A university in Paraguay has announced that it will begin accepting cryptocurrency as payment for tuition starting from August.
Bitcoin ETFs start trading on Brazil, Dubai stock exchanges
QR Capital’s Bitcoin exchange-traded fund — the first Bitcoin ETF in Latin America — has been listed on Brazil’s stock exchange.
Survey: 32% of novice traders only invested in crypto in past year
Nearly one in three novice traders reported making no traditional investments outside crypto over the past year, according to a survey published today by Overbit, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange. In contrast, 85.3% of professional traders reported diversifying their investment portfolios to stock, real estate or other traditional assets. Fast facts: The survey of 3,000 traders […]
Australian auction house begins accepting crypto for all items
Auction house Lloyds Auctions Australia has begun accepting cryptocurrency for all purchases on its marketplace.
Binance NFT marketplace launches with auction of Dali, Warhol
Crypto exchange Binance is launching a non-fungible token marketplace, auctioning NFTs of artworks by Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali.
Court grants Ripple access to SEC’s internal trading policies on XRP
A judge has granted Ripple’s request to force the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to reveal its non-public policies regarding whether agency employees may buy and sell XRP and other cryptocurrencies, according to a screenshot of a new legal filing shared by the lawyer representing XRP holders. Fast facts: Earlier this month, Ripple sought the […]
Bitcoin: Follow the money. Titan goes Titan-ic. China’s footloose miners.
Top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Bitcoin’s still winning. Titan’s troubles as a teachable moment. Beijing creates a crypto mining diaspora.
South Korea’s Upbit sued for patent violation, Alipay launches NFT platform | The Daily Forkast
Another legal challenge faces cryptocurrency exchange Upbit. In China, Ant Group is getting into the NFT game — through Alipay.
What lies ahead for CBDCs, Bitcoin and other digital currencies?
In a new report, Bank for International Settlements extols central bank digital currency (CBDC) as the future of money. Will CBDCs replace Bitcoin someday?
Taiwan developing Covid-19 blockchain platform to track jab history
A team of doctors and engineers in Taiwan is developing a blockchain-based platform that could keep track of residents’ vaccination histories and health conditions.
Bitcoin price rebounds after falling below $30K for first time in 6 months
After a spate of bad news, Bitcoin’s price tumbled to its lowest level this year before climbing back up to $34,000. Where are BTC prices likely to go next?
Report: US cryptocurrency crimes surging by 300% a year
Crypto-related crime in the US increased an average of over 300% per year from 2017 to 2020with a total of 82,135 cases last year alone.
Polkadot DeFi hub Acala’s Karura network wins first Kusama auction
Decentralized finance hub Acala Network’s sister network, Karura, has won the first parachain lease auction on Kusama, Polkadot’s pre-production network, and is now successfully producing blocks, according to an announcement today. Fast facts: The successful completion of Kusama’s first parachain slot auction and Karura’s launch brings Polkdot ever closer to its rollout. Karura raised more […]
New crypto mining hot spots emerge; Korea crypto controversy escalates | The Daily Forkast
The next generation of mining hot spots are shaping out in the aftermath of China’s mining exodus as Upbit’s delisting generates new enemies.
Bearish crypto sentiment focused on Bitcoin, CoinShares says
Bitcoin is in its sixth consecutive week of institutional outflows, with US$89 million exiting the coin, according to a weekly fund flows report.
Sotheby’s will accept Bitcoin and Ether for 101-carat diamond auction
Sotheby’s has announced it will be accepting cryptocurrency as payment in an upcoming auction for a 101.38-carat diamond with flawless clarity.
CoinShares partners with Germany’s Finanzen Zero on crypto ETPs
European digital asset manager CoinShares hasannounced a partnership with German financial news portal Finanzen.net to bring crypto exchange traded products to investors with no trading fees.
Asia’s newest unicorn, crypto trading firm Amber Group, raises $100 million
Forkast.News speaks with Michael Wu, Amber Group’s co-founder and CEO, on how the crypto firm is going from $100 million to $1 billion in valuation.
WazirX CEO: India’s crypto industry trying to keep ‘clean’ for regulators
Crypto literacy of Indian regulators is evolving and crypto players are trying to keep industry clean via self-regulations, says Nischal Shetty of WazirX.
MSCI to launch cryptocurrency index
Global securities index MSCI plans to launch a cryptocurrency index, according to CEO Henry Fernandez.
Grayscale eyes 13 more crypto assets including Polygon, Bancor
Institutional digital asset manager Grayscale announced today that it is exploring 13 more assets for its trusts, mainly related to decentralized finance.
How DeFi exchanges like SynFutures may challenge TradFi and CeFi
Singapore-based decentralized exchange SynFutures has closed a $14 million series A round to bring crypto derivatives to new users around the world.
More regulation for SK crypto exchanges; NFTs kick-start K-pop comeback | The Daily Forkast
Self-published tokens get barred from South Korean exchanges as Hong Kong’s air quality recording meets blockchain technology.
Bitcoin price dips but BTC dominance rises with US inflation fears
Bitcoin sheds 4% but BTC’s share of the total crypto market grows after US Fed projects higher inflation and plans interest hikes earlier than expected.
Airbnb to face decentralized rival as Dtravel launches
Former executives from online travel platforms have partnered with Binance-backed Travala.com to launch an Airbnb-like decentralized home-sharing platform.
The internet paradigm shift is here: Are you prepared for Web 3.0?
Permissionless, open source and decentralized, Web 3.0 will transform computing and data storage. Maria Paula Fernandez of Golem Network explains how.
BitDAO raises US$230M with Peter Thiel, VCs to drive DeFi adoption
BitDAO — a new decentralized autonomous organization that aims to promote and propel the mass adoption of open finance and the decentralized tokenized economy — has announced the completion of a US$230 million private sale.
Coinbase Pro adds Shiba Inu, Chiliz and Keep, causing prices to spike
Coinbase will add Shiba Inu, Chiliz and Keep Network to its professional trading platform with full trading beginning at 9am PT if liquidity conditions are met.
Yunnan warns miners over power use; WazirX faces gov’t heat | The Daily Forkast
China’s crypto mining crackdown continues while Indian finance authorities probe one of the nation’s largest exchange WazirX.
What is yield farming in DeFi and how does it work?
One of DeFi’s hottest trends, yield farming can bring riches but is not for crypto beginners or those who can’t afford to lose. Forkast.News explains why.
As blockchain becomes widely used in banking, what are its security risks?
Blockchain provides greater data transparency and security than ever before, but the technology is not immune to cyber attacks and data breaches.
Huobi launches Blockchain Assets Center for token listings
Huobi Group has announced the launch of a Blockchain Assets Center to provide a standardized, streamlined process for projects seeking to list on its cryptocurrency exchange, Huobi Global.
SK govt assists crypto exchanges; Aus firm accepts crypto for rent | The Daily Forkast
South Korean government is holding on-site visits to help crypto exchanges get regulated while an Aussie business wants crypto for rent.
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.
Foreign crypto exchanges eye India despite regulatory uncertainty
Despite regulatory uncertainty over cryptocurrency trading in India, some of the world’s largest crypto exchanges are looking to enter the market.
Algorithm-generated NFT artwork sells at Sotheby’s for US$11.8M
Auction house Sotheby’s has sold a non-fungible token of a digital artwork known as “CryptoPunk, Alien #7523” for US$11.8 million.
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.
Jump Trading partners with Solana-based DeFi protocol Oxygen
Jump Trading, a high-frequency trading firm, is joining Oxygen, a decentralized finance prime brokerage protocol, as a strategic partner and market-maker to provide liquidity on the Oxygen platform.
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.
Asian crypto exchange Kikitrade wins funds from UK billionaire Alan Howard
Kikitrade today announced a US$12 million fund raise with investment from British hedge fund billionaire Alan Howard to accelerate its growth.
Hong Kong eyes CBDC; Aussie Millennials favor crypto vs. real estate | The Daily Forkast
Hong Kong looks to explore CBDC feasibility as Australian millennials favor investing in crypto over traditional assets.
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.
India crypto feud continues; Korea mining thief busted | The Daily Forkast
Regulatory uncertainty pushes India’s crypto industry towards self regulation as a secret Ethereum miner gets busted in Seoul Arts Center.
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.
Take that, Miami: Hong Kong hosts its own Bitcoin meet-up
As 50,000 Bitcoiners and crypto superstars whoop it up at Miami’s Bitcoin 2021 fest, a smaller group of BTC fans hold their own at the Fringe in Hong Kong.
Chinese crypto social media crackdown; Seoul tightens rules on crypto | The Daily Forkast
Chinese social media Weibo bans crypto accounts as employees of South Korean crypto exchanges can no longer trade on their own platforms.
Ripple accuses SEC of ‘noncompliance’ in sharing XRP, Bitcoin and Ether communications
Ripple is also asking court to order SEC to reveal the agency’s internal employee policies on trading cryptocurrencies and other digital assets.
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.
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.