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Why a wash sale rule for crypto may be coming soon — and what this means for you: Opinion

For years, crypto and NFT investors enjoyed tax advantages that holders of stocks and bonds do not have, but legislation on the horizon could end that loophole.

How Web3 is disrupting gaming business models and player economics: Opinion

From pay-to-play arcade video games to sales of home consoles, gaming’s evolution into peer-to-peer marketplaces is posing a new challenge to the status quo, writes Jackson Poon.

Global shifts in crypto capital are underway. Here’s where the money is going

Digital assets funds have been flowing in waves all over the world since crypto’s inception, writes Amy Yu, CEO of SEBA Bank. Where is crypto capital going now?

South Korea approves crypto bill to protect investors, goes into effect in one year

South Korea approved a bill to protect cryptocurrency investors as part of building the country’s first legal framework devoted to digital assets.

Generative Art – The Golden Goose of NFTs

Dmitri Cherniak’s generative art NFT, ‘The Goose’, sold for US$5.4 million at Sotheby’s. The sale, a second highest for generative art, signals NFT art’s growing prominence and potential in the Web3 era.

US SEC says Bitcoin ETF applications inadequate: WSJ

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said the recent series of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications by asset managers were inadequate and not sufficiently clear, according to a report by Wall Street Journal on Friday. 

FXHASH NFT upgrade to allow users to mint on both Tezos and Eth

FXHASH, the largest non-fungible token (NFT) platform by sales volume on the Tezos blockchain, has announced an upgrade that allows users to choose between Tezos and Ethereum, along with on-chain minting for both networks. 

ApeCoin DAO replaces Yat Siu and Alexis Ohanian

ApeCoin DAO, the decentralized autonomous organization behind the ApeCoin cryptocurrency, has replaced Animoca Brands chairman Yat Siu and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, in its special council that oversees the Ape Foundation.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin breaches US$31,195 following Fidelity’s spot Bitcoin ETF application

Bitcoin briefly rose to US$31,195 after Fidelity filed its spot Bitcoin ETF application. Can the wave of institutional interest keep Bitcoin above US$30,500?

Ripple executive spells out Asia future after license success in Singapore

Ripple Labs’ Asia-Pacific branch is offering digital payment services in Singapore after receiving in-principle approval of its license application from the MAS on June 22. What does that mean for the company’s Asia business?

Bitcoin, Ether rise along with all other top 10 cryptos

Cyptocurrency investor sentiment continues to improve with Litecoin posting strong gains as its halving event in August gets closer.

U.K. bill to regulate crypto assets passes into law, offering ‘rocket boost’ for economy

A U.K. bill to recognize cryptocurrency trading as a regulated financial activity passed into law on Thursday.

The bane of crypto today is quantity over quality: Opinion

The market now has 26,000 different cryptocurrencies and the total number of coins in circulation approaches infinity. How do those tokenomics make any sense?

Binance to change euro banking partner from September

Binance’s euro banking partner, Paysafe Payment Solutions, will stop offering its services for the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange from Sept. 25.

Crypto gets a boost following reports of Fidelity’s imminent Bitcoin spot ETF filing

Top blockchain and crypto news: Fidelity Investment is reportedly close to filing its own Bitcoin ETF. NFT traders seek liquidity. Singapore eyes asset tokenization.

China Mobile launches metaverse industry alliance

China Mobile, a leading telecommunication company of China, launched a metaverse alliance on Wednesday, whose members include Huawei, Xiaomi and Unity China. 

Ledger wallet launches institutional crypto trading platform

Ledger announced the launch of Ledger Enterprise Tradelink, a secure and regulation-friendly trading system for institutional investors.

Bitcoin, all other top 10 cryptos lose ground; Azuki Elementals NFT disappoints investors

Bitcoin dropped but remained above US$30,000, with all other major cryptocurrencies falling, as investors reacted to news of MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin purchase and ARK Invest’s spot Bitcoin ETF plan.

EU publishes draft bill for digital euro and cash payments

The European Commission released two proposals on Wednesday, one for the digital euro, the ECB’s CBDC, and a legislative proposal to safeguard the role of cash.

Bitcoin dips but holds above US$30,000, all top 10 cryptos drop

Despite a slight dip in crypto prices, positive investor sentiment persists, buoyed by the potential of Bitcoin ETFs, rising institutional adoption, and recovery from regulatory concerns.

Sony Network Communications to invest in Japanese Web3 developer Startale Labs

With the announcement of funding invested in Japanese firm Startale Labs, gaming giant Sony will increase its already active exploration of Web3 and the possibilities inherent in blockchain technologies.

Crypto in the land of geisha — the global Web3 community arrives in Kyoto

Geisha, kimono, tea ceremony — the Japanese city of Kyoto is a place rich in traditional culture. But as the national government pivots toward the cutting edge potential of digital assets and Web3, the city is this week playing host to one of Asia’s largest crypto get-togethers.

Why Asia’s Web3 ecosystem needs collaborative venture building: Opinion

Collaborative venture building involves pooling resources, expertise and ideas — a strategy ideal for Web3 startups to succeed, writes Katherine Ng.

Can Azuki’s new Elementals spark the entire NFT market?

Azuki’s Elementals launch may be a turning point for the NFT market, with the continued decline of top projects’ floor prices.

Bitcoin holds above US$30,000, most other top 10 cryptos mixed

Bitcoin slipped 0.04% but remained above US$30,000. Ether fell 0.97% to US$1,875.

Singapore outlines design framework for interoperable networks in collaboration with financial firms

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the city state’s central bank, has proposed a framework for designing open, interoperable networks for digital assets, developed jointly with the Bank for International Settlements and other financial institutions. 

Crypto is sweeping South and SE Asia. Here’s why it matters to the rest of the world

Five countries in South and Southeast Asia now rank in the global top 10 for cryptocurrency adoption, embracing DeFi and defying government attempts to discourage crypto use. Is this a harbinger of larger trends to come?

Bitcoin loses ground, but holds above US$30,000; most other top 10 crypto decline

Bitcoin slipped in directionless trading while Ether retreated, but both held gains for the past seven days. Most other top 10 tokens lost ground, led by Solana, while Tron was in the green as markets entered the last trading week of June.

Switzerland freezes US$26 million in crypto held by Terraform Labs and Do Kwon

Swiss prosecutors have reportedly frozen about US$26 million in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies that belong to Terraform Labs and its chief executive officer Kwon Do-hyeong.

Bitcoin treads water above US$30,000; SEC approves first leveraged Bitcoin futures ETF

Bitcoin held ground above US$30,000 following a week of traditional financial institutions showing interest in financial instruments that include the token. The U.S. regulator approved the first leveraged Bitcoin Futures ETF on Friday.

Binance Abu Dhabi’s Longman discusses UAE’s crypto boom

Binance Abu Dhabi’s chief Dominic Longman discusses the UAE’s approach to cryptocurrencies and the state’s support for innovation.

UAE welcomes digital assets as Ripple wins in Singapore

As Ripple receives an in-principle approval for Singapore’s digital payment license, institutional investors continue to look toward Bitcoin ETFs.

Wall Street-backed crypto exchange a sign of lingering interest despite SEC’s crackdown

Top blockchain and crypto news: Wall Street backs new crypto exchange. NFT traders remain cautious. Alibaba’s incoming chairman is a crypto fan.

SoftBank-backed crypto bank Xapo to expand services in India

Xapo Bank, a Gibraltar-based cryptocurrency bank backed by SoftBank, DST Global and Ribbit Capital, has announced its expansion to India, the world’s most populous nation. 

Ripple gets in-principle approval for Singapore digital payment license

The Asia-Pacific arm of San Francisco-based technology firm Ripple Labs saidThursday it received in-principle approval to start offering digital payment services in Singapore.

Bitcoin breaches US$30,000 on institutional interest; Ether, other tokens follow higher

Bitcoin breached US$30,000 in Thursday morning trading in Asia, leading gains across all top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

Singapore central bank, Amazon, IMF unveil ‘purpose-bound’ money technical concept

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) released on Wednesday a whitepaper for “purpose bound” money, detailing a technical overview of digital currencies designed for specific purposes.

Hong Kong is the crypto industry’s beacon amid the current storm: Opinion

The relationship between Hong Kong and crypto will likely only grow stronger over time, as it’s based on mutual respect as well as need, writes Lily King.

WisdomTree files new spot Bitcoin ETF application following BlackRock

New York-based asset manager WisdomTree has submitted a new application for a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund in the U.S., less than a week after BlackRock filed its application for a similar spot Bitcoin ETF.

Ordinals inspire a new type of Ethereum collectible called Ethscriptions

Ethereum developers inspired by Bitcoin’s ordinals launch ‘Ethscriptions’, a new on-chain collectible.

Citadel, Fidelity, Schwab-backed crypto exchange launches amid U.S. crackdown

EDX Markets, a cryptocurrency exchange with backing from major Wall Street players such as Citadel Securities, Fidelity and Charles Schwab, officially launched on Tuesday.

Bitcoin inches up, Ether slips; top 10 cryptos mixed

Bitcoin rose and Ether fell during Tuesday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, while most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization closed mixed.

IMF says common global CBDC platform, rules needed for international transactions: Reuters

Central banks need to agree on a common global platform and rules to ensure international use of CBDCs, IMF’s Kristalina Georgieva said.

Bitcoin, Ether, rise; most top 10 cryptos fall as SEC lawsuit weighs on investor sentiment

Bitcoin and Ether rose during Monday afternoon trading hours in Hong Kong, while most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization declined. Risk appetite remained low after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Binance and Coinbase two weeks ago.

Hong Kong’s Cyberport signed up 150 Web3 firms in past year, says city’s financial secretary

Paul Chan, Hong Kong’s financial secretary, said more than 150 Web3 companies had registered at the Cyberport business park.

Independent Reserve plans Hong Kong office, explores further Southeast Asia expansions

Independent Reserve may have a new Hong Kong office in the “next few months,” the Singapore chief of the Australian crypto exchange said in an exclusive interview. Focusing on institutional clientele, the exchange aims to double trade volumes and expand its user base this year.

Whales are feasting on NFT Art

Sotheby’s NFT auction sees Ringers #879 rise to the record books as one of the highest ever generative art in Ether value.

Crypto in the time of cockroaches

An account of a holiday from hell draws parallel to the dark world of cybercrime and how anyone can fall victim to sophisticated crypto thefts.

Binance France under investigation for money laundering: CoinDesk

Binance France is reportedly under investigation for “aggravated” money laundering and the illegal provision of digital asset services.

Weekly Market Wrap: Crypto lawsuits, Hinman and a rare rate hike pause

Bitcoin dipped below US$25,000 for the first time in three months, as the SEC’s lawsuits continued to erode crypto investor appetite. Bitcoin needs to hold above US$24,000 to avoid more bearish momentum, industry experts told Forkast.

SEC’s crypto battle continues as Asia marches ahead with metaverse

In this week’s Forkast IQ with Megha Chaddah, we dive into the U.S. SEC’s crypto crackdown and the state of the East Asian metaverses.

BlackRock files for spot Bitcoin ETF, taps Coinbase as custodian

The ETF, if approved, would be the first publicly traded crypto product of its kind in the U.S., but the SEC just sued crypto exchanges for alleged securities violations and has rejected similar ETF applications in the past.

Asia lays out a welcome mat for crypto, while US bars its door

As the US escalates its crackdowns on digital asset companies, it’s also losing its dominance in crypto — to Asia’s advantage, writes Henry Liu of BTSE.

Bitcoin edges up after slump, Ether little-changed, other top 10 tokens continue bumpy ride

Bitcoin edges up but still stuck below US$26,000. Ether was little changed amid a weekly fall, while other top 10 crypto were mixed.

SEC lawsuit sees Binance.US wobble, trading platforms delist cryptos

Top blockchain and crypto news: Binance.US at risk. Ex-SEC official’s comments complicate Ripple suit. Hong Kong lawmaker aims to entice exchanges.

Bitcoin below US$25,000; all top 10 cryptos fall

Bitcoin and Ether extended losses in Thursday afternoon trade in Asia amid U.S. regulator’s clampdown on top crypto exchanges.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority urges banks to service crypto firms: Financial Times

HKMA is urging lenders including HSBC, Standard Chartered and Bank of China to service crypto exchanges. Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Bitcoin mining difficulty rises 2.18% to record amid increasing competition among miners

A higher difficulty reading indicates it is more competitive to mine Bitcoin, reducing profit. The network’s hashrate also increased to a record high. 

Bitcoin, Ether, top 10 crypto in red amid thinner trading, Fed warning of more rate hikes

Bitcoin fell below US$25,000 support at one stage, while other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies dropped as the Fed warned of more interest rate hikes this year.

Back to the physical: China metaverse seeks to boost real-world economy

The final story in a three-part series on Asia metaverse developments looks at China’s national strategy, which has seen dozens of cities and provinces release spending plans and training schemes to adopt this digital world in real-world industries. China’s initiatives, however, face challenges from regulation and global competition.

Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; XRP drops most among top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ether continued to slide amid lawsuits against top crypto exchanges in the U.S.

How low can NFTs go?

SEC scrutiny sends NFT market into downturn. Traders liquidate or hold off as Forkast 500 NFT Index hits all-time low amidst crypto turbulence.

How American courts have become central to crypto law

To date, none of the 30-plus crypto bills in Congress have become law, so judges are stepping up to fill the void. What does this mean for crypto in America?

Chicken first, egg later — Japan’s need for a macroscopic view of the metaverse

After a slow start, Japan’s development of a domestic metaverse is gaining pace. This second account in a three-part series asks: can the nation compete with rivals China and South Korea in building a 3D virtual world that – according to the promises – would open up new realms of economic prosperity and even potentially ease nagging social problems?

Binance.US says SEC’s motion to freeze exchange’s assets may end its operations

The operations of cryptocurrency trading platform Binance.US, “would quickly grind to a halt” if a court rules in favor of an SEC request last week to freeze the firm’s assets, the company said Monday in a court filing.

The SEC has spoken: The future of finance is not in America

The SEC’s one-two punch of Coinbase and Binance couldn’t have come at a better time for Hong Kong and Singapore, as US crypto firms look to shift to friendlier shores, writes Hamilton Keats of Krayon Digital.

Bitcoin edges up, but stuck under US$26,000; Ether slides with Solana, BNB; top 10 mixed

Bitcoin rose but failed to break through US$26,000. Ether slipped, while other top 10 crypto were mixed as SEC chair Gary Gensler doubled down on reasons for suing U.S. crypto exchanges.

Charting the digital continent — East Asia’s real-world race to build the metaverse

South Korea, China, Japan — East Asia’s three industrial powerhouses are taking their economic rivalry to the virtual world. Each is developing a domestic metaverse in a race to become the region’s industry leader. This first account in a three-part series takes a look at what’s happening in South Korea.

Recursive inscriptions update to unlock games, more generative art on Bitcoin

Recursive inscriptions, an update that allows Ordinals inscriptions to reference another inscription, is set for deployment later this week.

Bitcoin stays below US$26,000 in mixed market, Binance’s BNB biggest loser in 24 hours

BNB token of crypto exchange Binance dropped 5.5% in 24 hours amid lawsuits against the exchange by the U.S. SEC.

Nanjing city district announces bold metaverse goals as China competition heats up

Jiangning, a district in China’s Nanjing city, released a metaverse plan on Saturday that includes training thousands of professionals for the industry.

Hong Kong legislator encourages Coinbase to set up shop in city under new crypto rules

Local legislator suggests global cryptocurrency exchanges such as U.S.-based Coinbase set up operations in Hong Kong as the city’s new licensing regime for crypto retail trading took effect on June 1.