Forkast.News is now Forkast Labs

SEC decision looms: Cboe pushes for Bitcoin ETFs

Cboe appeals to SEC for fast-tracking Bitcoin ETFs.

Bitcoin ETF applicants make swift amendments to filings following SEC’s response

Imminent SEC decision on Bitcoin ETFs could mark a watershed moment for crypto, spearheaded by industry giants BlackRock and VanEck, reshaping the investment world.

Upbit Singapore secures coveted MPI license

Upbit joins 15 other crypto firms permitted to provide digital payment token services in Singapore.

SEC’s Gensler warns of crypto risks amid Bitcoin ETF buzz

SEC Chair Gary Gensler cautions about cryptocurrency volatility, highlighting investor protection concerns, as his agency nears a decision on spot Bitcoin ETF applications.

MakerDAO’s Christensen wants to make DAOs fun again. He’s not alone.

Projects are rethinking how to make DAOs more fun and less disappointing.

From Silicon Valley to Sand Dunes: Why Indian crypto firms eye Dubai expansion

Indian crypto companies flock to Dubai, escaping high local taxes and finding solace in the emirate’s favorable regulatory environment.

Blockchain can transform the real estate business — if we remove the roadblocks in its way

From reducing paperwork to verifying title quickly, blockchain technology promises to overhaul the age-old industry. But it faces regulatory hurdles and resistance by those who profit from inefficiency.

Why a16z chose London for its first non-US office

Silicon Valley venture giant Andreessen Horowitz plants flag in London: fuels UK’s ascent as a Web3 innovator.

Blackrock files for Ether ETF: ETH tops US$2,100

BlackRock’s Ether ETF filing comes as the U.S. SEC entered an eight-day window to potentially approve pending Bitcoin ETF applications.

Ether breaches US$2,000 as BlackRock registers iShares Ethereum Trust entity

Ether rose to an over six-month high of US$2,045.

FTT up 65% after SEC’s Gensler hints FTX restart

FTT rose over 65% despite FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s guilty verdict last week.

Taiwan identifies new suspects in alleged JPEX fraud case: report

Prosecutors have reportedly identified new suspects after searching nine locations related to JPEX.

Can spot Bitcoin ETFs push Hong Kong to the crypto throne?

Top blockchain and crypto news: Hong Kong mulls Bitcoin ETFs, Ordinals flip Ethereum NFTs, IPO comes full circle.

Grassroots crypto adoption to follow real-world use cases, says Chainalysis APAC policy lead

Blockchain-based gaming and remittances among top drivers toward adoption in central and South Asia.

Bitcoin breaks US$36,000 as SEC enters potential ETF approval period

Bitcoin is up over 32% in the past month.

Binance introduces self-custody Web3 wallet

Binance said it aims to onboard the next billion Web3 users with its new wallet.

What we can learn from the sunsetting of Reddit’s crypto rewards program

Reddit’s shortsightedness and fixation on profits ultimately led it to pull the plug on Community Points. But here’s why Reddit should still be commended.

Proof Group among three top bidders for FTX relaunch: report

Proof Group is also part of the group that won the bid for bankrupt crypto lender Celsius.

SBF conviction closes “dark chapter” in crypto: Yat Siu

Siu said this marks the crypto industry’s evolution from the FTX collapse and the Terra-Luna meltdown.

SOL up over 21% in a year since Alameda’s balance sheet hole came to light

SOL rose over 319% in 2023 so far, despite concerns around FTX’s lawsuit.

XRP approved by Dubai’s Financial Services Authority

The XRP token now stands to benefit from legal and regulatory clarity in the DIFC, according to the announcement.

Sam Bankman-Fried found guilty on all charges

Bankman-Fried’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 28, 2024.

PayPal subpoenaed by SEC over PYUSD Stablecoin

PayPal said that it is collaborating with the SEC’s request.

PayPal registers crypto service with UK FCA

The registration enables PayPal to advertise its crypto services to U.K. customers.

SBF trial drama fails to dampen Bitcoin’s meteoric October

Top blockchain and crypto news: Bankman-Fried’s memory lapses, betting on the return of NFTs, ETF dreams and Bitcoin’s Uptober

Circle to cease USDC minting for retail customers

Circle said the account closures do not apply to businesses or institutional Circle Mint accounts.

Mad Lads creator Backpack to launch licensed crypto exchange in Dubai

Backpack said it also secured operational licenses in other jurisdictions.

‘Uptober’ narrative saved by spot Bitcoin ETF bounce

Often dismissed as coincidence, October has once again produced an upswing in the crypto market, with excitement around a potential U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF to thank for this year’s ‘Uptober.’

Sam Bankman-Fried’s credibility questioned by prosecutors during cross-examination

Prosecutors pointed out inconsistencies in Bankman-Fried’s public statements before FTX collapsed in a four-hour grilling.

UK plans to introduce fiat-backed stablecoin rules in early 2024

The U.K. intends to introduce rules on fiat-backed stablecoins in early 2024, according to the government’s latest cryptocurrency policy update published on Monday.  See related article: Singapore, Thailand clarify crypto rules; NFTs become new cultural frontier Fast Facts See related article: Blockchain tech in Thailand gets boost from new pro-crypto lead

Standard Chartered’s Zodia Custody to launch in Hong Kong

The move is part of an Asia Pacific expansion effort by the cryptocurrency custodian.

Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank buys majority stake in Satang crypto exchange

The lender, known as K-bank, said it will also open three additional crypto subsidiaries.

Neo sets sights on DeFi, unveils EVM-compatible sidechain

Neo’s new sidechain hopes to counter MEV attacks to mitigate exploits and manipulations.

Sam Bankman-Fried’s testimony gets a test run as the defense presents its case

In a rare move, Judge Lewis Kaplan sent the jury home early so he can decide what is and isn’t admissible in FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s testimony.

Bitcoin soars amid buzz of potential ETF approval: Is a crypto renaissance on the horizon?

Top blockchain and crypto news: Bitcoin ETF potential pumps life in markets. Ethereum NFTs back on rise. Major industry layoffs continue.

Mastercard explores partnerships with crypto wallets MetaMask, Ledger: CoinDesk

Mastercard’s potential tie up with custody service providers may turbocharge crypto wallets’ growth with its global payments prowess.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs — crypto’s silver bullet?

Amid news, fake or otherwise, of an imminent approval for at least one spot Bitcoin ETF, Bitcoin’s price has skyrocketed. Could a year of pain in the crypto industry be over?

Parity Technologies, Polkadot blockchain developer, lays off 30% of staff

Parity CEO Björn Wagner said that despite the need for layoffs, the company’s financial health “remains robust.”

Dark Side of the $MOON: What the collapse of Reddit Community Points teaches us about Web3 tokenomics

To quell the uproar over the imminent death of a popular rewards program, Reddit is blaming ‘scalability’ and regulatory woes. But the real culprit is Reddit itself for failing to make its tokens sustainable, writes Fabio Galbi, CEO of VSC.

Binance loses two more top execs in UK and France

Global regulatory pressure on the world’s largest exchange continues to take its toll.

Binance challenges CFTC’s global reach in legal clash

Binance hits back at CFTC, stating U.S. laws can’t police global crypto operations; claims Binance.US operates separately.

Bitcoin ETF fever sends BTC to heights not seen since May 2022

As Bitcoin breaks past $35,000, optimism brews in the crypto market. Is this the end of the prolonged ‘crypto winter’ investors have dreaded?

North America retains crypto crown even as US regulatory clouds loom: Chainalysis

The United States is the region’s top driver of crypto activity.

China’s central bank to ‘resolutely curb’ crypto speculation; Hong Kong updates regulations

PBOC to crack down on crypto speculation, as Hong Kong restricts access to certain “complex” virtual asset products.

Philippines’ Coins.ph may have lost US$6 million worth of XRP in hack: The Block

Coins.ph, a cryptocurrency exchange based in the Philippines with millions of users, appeared to have lost 12.2 million XRP tokens, The Block reported on Friday.

Bitcoin briefly rallies above US$30,000 following Grayscale’s new ETF application

Bitcoin gained over 10% this past week, boosted by Grayscale’s renewed spot Bitcoin ETF application.

Binance says it signed agreements with new euro banking partners 

Binance announced it has secured new fiat partners for euro services after its former partner cut ties with the exchange last month.

LBRY shuts down operations

LBRY issued a final goodbye to the crypto community before winding down operations.

Gemini, Genesis, DCG sued by New York Attorney General

The lawsuit alleges that the companies defrauded over 230,000 investors.

Coinbase taps Ireland as European hub ahead of MiCA regime

Coinbase said that the regulatory clarity MiCA provides to the industry is “hugely welcome.”

Binance’s rollercoaster week: expansion, setbacks, and the ghost of FTX’s collapse

Top blockchain and crypto news: Is Japan a new frontier for Binance? AI art sweeps NFT sales. ETF buzz electrifies Bitcoin.

OFAC sanctions Gaza-based crypto exchange allegedly linked to Hamas

The U.S. takes action against 10 Hamas-linked entities, including Gaza-based money transfer business and crypto exchange Buy Cash.

UK emerges as world’s third-largest economy in terms of crypto transaction volume: Chainalysis

The U.K. is also listed as the 14th economy on Chainalysis’ Global Crypto Adoption Index.

Over 40% of Hong Kong investors shun digital assets post-JPEX Scandal, survey reveals

The survey aimed to measure the public attitude towards virtual asset investments, following the JPEX incident.

Trust Wallet’s TWT up 7%, leads top 100 cryptos in gains

TWT price rose over 15% during the past week, after Trust Wallet announced a major rebranding upgrade.

SUI Foundations denies supply manipulation allegations

SUI fell to a new all-time low on Wednesday following supply manipulation allegations, which the Sui Foundation denies.

EU adopts new crypto tax rules, mandate data sharing from crypto firms

The new data sharing rules will go into effect 20 days after their publication in the Official Journal.

Rampant scams highlight critical need for greater crypto literacy

The plight of the Philippines — which has a high rate of crypto adoption but is also plagued by fraud — offers a window into why the industry’s ‘do your own research’ mantra isn’t enough.

Binance freezes over 100 accounts on Israeli police request: Financial Times

Israeli police requested information on 200 additional crypto accounts.

XRP support for Roblox “inaccurate”: Decrypt 

Correction: This article originally stated that the XRP cryptocurrency is available for in-game payments in Roblox and Smite through the payment processor BitPay. Roblox has denied the report and BitPay has since deleted its announcement on X. Roblox, a popular online game with an average of 65.5 million daily active users, has denied claims that […]

Binance Japan — death knell or savior for the nation’s smaller crypto exchanges?

Few tokens and too many exchanges are a bad recipe for Japan’s smaller crypto trading houses. The experts say there’s room for up to five only. So what happens to the little guy now that the world’s largest exchange Binance has rolled back into town?

Binance halts new user registration in the U.K.

The exchange added that it will also stop releasing new products and services in the country.

Tether freezes 32 addresses related to terrorism in Israel and Ukraine

Tether says it froze US$873,000 in USDT linked to terror activities in Israel and Ukraine. CEO Ardoino stresses crypto’s traceability.

Binance: One year on from FTX’s downfall

Inside the world’s largest crypto exchange’s annus horribilis.

Ferrari starts accepting crypto payments in the US

The luxury car maker said it started accepting crypto payments due to popular demand from its crypto investor customers.

Upbit Singapore receives in-principal license from MAS

Singapore’s major payment institution license will enable Upbit to continue offering regulated digital asset services while awaiting its full license.

Australian Treasury to release crypto draft legislation by 2024 

The Australian Department of the Treasury said it will accept feedback on the draft bill by December.

Tether appoints Paolo Ardoino as new CEO

Ardoino takes Tether’s helm after serving as the USDT stablecoin issuer’s chief technical officer since 2017.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin falls below US$27,000 following CPI and Israeli conflict

Bitcoin was subdued by the mounting geopolitical concerns around Israel’s war with Hamas and the ongoing FTX lawsuit.

Russian hackers may be behind FTX hack: Elliptic

The research firm said that on-chain data point toward Russian hackers, instead of the previously-suspected North Korean Lazarus Group.

Israel-Palestine crisis: Navigating the intersection of conflict, aid and blockchain

Top blockchain and crypto news: Gaza tensions, digital tremors, NFTs are not dancing in September, Joe Lubin talks traditional system’s twilight.

Coinbase Q3 trading volume drops 52% from last year

The current crypto bear market caused Coinbase’s trading volume to drop to levels not seen since 2020.