Why NFT scams are on the rise — and how to stop them
‘Lazy minting’ may seem affordable but heightens the risk of NFT theft, writes Anthem Blanchard of Herasoft. Is storing NFTs on-chain the solution?
NFT startup Immutable valued at $2.5 billion in Temasek-led financing
Australian non-fungible tokens (NFTs) startup Immutable has raised fresh funding in a round led by Singapore’s Temasek, bringing its valuation to US$2.5 billion, the company said in a statement on Monday. See related article: Jump in NFT demand reflects crypto prices, right? Wrong Fast facts Immutable raised US$200 million in a Series C funding led […]
NFTs enter ‘mini-bear market’ as buyers drop to three-month low
The number of unique non-fungible token (NFT) buyers in February dropped to 843,000, in what data aggregator CryptoSlam calls a “mini-bear market.” See related article: Wash trading in NFT marketplace LooksRare can inflate prices: analysts Fast facts February’s NFT market had a 7% month-over-month drop in buyers from the all-time high set in January. February […]
Nvidia hackers threaten to unleash Ethereum mining limiter disabler
The ransomware outfit behind Nvidia’s data breach last week is looking to sell what it claims to be a driver that unlocks Ethereum mining limitations on the chipmaker’s graphic cards. See related article: China customs seizes 49 second-hand crypto mining rigs for export Fast facts The hacker group Lapsus$ allegedly stole 1TB of data from […]
Play to live: GameFi drives a Southeast Asian crush on crypto
More people in the region are in thrall to play-to-earn gaming as it adapts to offer real-world uses, says Infinity Ventures Crypto founding partner Brian Lu.
Russia retreats from crypto ban as it pushes rules for industry
Moscow moves to regulate crypto. OpenSea’s security struggle. Will China cool its metaverse mania?
Why Are NFTs Worth Anything At All?
How do NFTs create value? The answer is not as complex as it seems.
Korea’s KB embraces crypto; China’s NFT fever
NFTs hit resale market in China despite criticism over speculation. Meanwhile, South Korean financial giant plans crypto funds.
Jump in NFT demand reflects crypto prices, right? Wrong
An asset bought and valued in crypto becomes decoupled from crypto prices, a split that reflects the differences between crypto investors and NFT buyers.
Azuki, CryptoPunks battle it out for week’s top NFT title
Azuki, an anime avatars NFT collection, is in a tight race with the CryptoPunks for the weekly sales volume title, building on its successful debut month in January, according to CryptoSlam data. See related article: ‘All eyes are on it:’ CryptoPunks at center of copyright legal dispute Fast facts Azuki traded the top spot with […]
US NFT trademarks increase by 420-fold in 2021: report
Over 1,200 non-fungible token (NFT)-related trademarks were registered in the U.S. in 2021, a 420-fold increase from the previous year, according to data acquired by Finbold. Fast facts More than 400 trademarks were filed in the month of December 2021 while none were filed in January 2021. There were 450 filings in January 2022, a […]
Prime time for crypto as Super Bowl ads make splash
Top blockchain and crypto news: Super Bowl score for digital asset exchanges. CryptoPunks holders face copyright conundrum. Hong Kong warns of NFT risks.
‘All eyes are on it:’ CryptoPunks at center of copyright legal dispute
The biggest-selling NFT collection of all time has two competing versions, threatening to undermine the value of the tokens and faith in the industry itself.
Fan tokens enjoy weekly sales surge while NFTs slump
Cryptocurrencies categorized as fan tokens surged by 27.53% in global sales volume over the past seven days while non-fungible tokens (NFTs) dropped by 31.66%, according to CryptoSlam data. Fast facts The market capitalization of fan tokens surged in tandem, rising by 41.3% over the same timeframe as NFTs also jumped by 30.4% in this measurement. […]
Web 3.0 developer Alchemy reaches $10B valuation
Web 3.0 blockchain developer Alchemy announced on Tuesday that it has raised an additional US$200 million, bringing its valuation to US$10.2 billion. Fast facts Led by venture capital firms Lightspeed and Silver Lake, the funding is a continuation of its Series C round launched in October where it raised US$250 million at a US$3.5 billion […]
Number of unique NFT buyers soars to all-time high in January
Unique non-fungible token (NFT) buyers hit an all-time high (ATH) in January with more than 895,000 shoppers, according to data tracker CryptoSlam. Fast facts The new ATH recorded an almost 3,000% year-over-year increase and a 6.5% month-over-month growth. The number of unique sellers grew by almost 14% from December to January with 741,865 vendors, just […]
Wash trading in NFT marketplace LooksRare can inflate prices: analysts
While sales volumes on NFT marketplaces thrive, new data show much of this comes from manipulating sales — painting the whole industry in a different light.
Crypto market suffers mauling as bears go berserk
Top blockchain and crypto news: Market chills make investors shiver. Hacking storm at OpenSea. Has Beijing tamed NFTs?
China’s BSN names eight partners for its non-crypto NFT platform
China’s state-backed blockchain network disclosed eight platform partners today in line with the soft launch of its non-fungible token (NFT) platform, the BSN-DDC network. Fast facts The auction house Rong Bao Zhai, Hainan International Culture and Artworks Exchange Center — an essential part of China’s free trade port — and EY Blockchain are among the […]
Crypto market tumbles amid uncertainty over Russia and Ukraine
Bitcoin and Ethereum fall below psychologically important levels as rising uncertainty clouds markets. Is the Fed also depressing crypto’s prospects?
Why Asia is poised to be the next big market for an NFT boom
Global NFT sales are exploding in 2022, but experts predict this is only the beginning of a bigger surge in Asia.
Facebook, Instagram explore NFT integration, marketplace: report
Meta’s Facebook and Instagram are exploring plans that would allow non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to be used as profile pictures, according to a report. Fast facts The plans include the showcasing, minting and selling of NFTs, several insiders told Financial Times. Meta staff members are also reportedly discussing the launch of a marketplace to buy and […]
Straight shot: How sports stars are sidestepping middlemen in Web 3.0
A pro basketball player and an ex-banker are aiming for a slam-dunk with a ‘creator first’ content platform. Calaxy co-founder Solo Ceesay explains how.
Fusang receives green light for US$10M equity-token IPO
Malaysian exchange will offer equity tokens representing direct shares on the blockchain, claiming it will be the world’s first fully regulated equity-token IPO.
Burnt Finance bags $8M funding led by Animoca Brands
Solana-based non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace Burnt Finance, best known for burning then tokenizing street artist Banksy’s artwork, announced on Tuesday an $8 million Series A funding round led by Animoca Brands. Fast facts Other investors in this round include Alameda Research, Multicoin Capital, Valor Capital, Figment, Spartan Capital, HashKey, Terra and Fantom. Burnt Finance got […]
The Australian Open launches on the metaverse, attracting digital fans
In the latest sign of growing blockchain adoption, the tennis tournament expands to the metaverse, offering rewards and participation through NFTs.
Palau plans to issue stablecoin; China rolling out NFT infrastructure
China’s Blockchain Services Network rolling out NFT infrastructure, while Palau plans to issue stablecoin.
NFTs may be the next killer app for video games, but some traditional players object
Developers adopt NFT technology to promote staple video game franchises, but reaction from a number of gamers has been negative.
Jay Chou dethrones Bored Ape Yacht Club; Bitcoin dips below US$40k
Taiwanese’s superstar Jay Chou’s NFT dethrones Bored Ape Yacht Club. Meanwhile Bitcoin dips below US$40k mark.
Taiwan icon Jay Chou’s PhantaBear NFT dethrones Bored Ape Yacht Club
A new non-fungible token (NFT) collection backed by Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou has dethroned Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) on the OpenSea NFT marketplace in trading volume, reflecting growing interest in celebrity-endorsed digital collectibles. Fast facts The PhantaBear NFT series, co-created by Jay Chou’s hipster brand PHANTACi, sold out its 10,000 algorithmically-created NFTs on Jan. […]
Sonic creator Sega may shelve NFT project if fan backlash continues
Sega, the Japanese gaming giant, has vowed to backtrack on its NFT (non-fungible tokens) plans if fans continue to criticize the project. Fast facts (Update removes mention of Mortal Kombat)
Bitcoin, Ethereum price level sluggish while NFT sales volume surges
The crypto market leaders are trading sideways so far in the new year. But NFT trading volume has exploded, with strong Q1 performance expected.
Top 5 NFT trends to watch in 2022
NFTs are finding novel uses across many sectors, from fashion to real estate. What industries stand to benefit most from this technology in the year ahead?
Looking ahead: 3 crypto predictions for 2022
As 2021 draws to a close, what are this year’s milestones and trends to watch in the year ahead? Forkast.News consults experts to find out.
Year in review: Top China blockchain news in 2021
China tries to stamp out Bitcoin mining while increasing its influence over blockchain technology and preparing the digital yuan for launch. What lies in store for 2022?
The Forkast.News guide to last-minute blockchain and crypto gift ideas
Not yet done with your holiday shopping? Here are ideas for all the loved ones on your list, whether they are tech-savvy or merely crypto-curious.
Running on empty: How NFT drops drive up gas fees — and transaction anxiety
Gas fee unpredictability is a highly problematic aspect of the Ethereum ecosystem, writes Matt Cutler of Blocknative. What are the solutions?
Myanmar’s resistance routes funding through Tether
Top blockchain and crypto news: Can stablecoins bankroll democracy? Nike swooshes into the metaverse. Animoca and Bored Apes venture deeper into the gaming jungle.
Bored Ape Yacht Club teams up with Animoca Brands to develop play-to-earn game
Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), one of the most successful non-fungible token (NFT) collections, is joining hands with Animoca Brands — a Hong Kong-based blockchain gaming, metaverse and NFT company — to develop a play-to-earn game utilizing BAYC’s popular avatar NFTs, according to a company statement. Fast facts The new game, which will feature play-to-earn […]
Twitch co-founder is building a marketplace for gaming NFTs
Justin Kan, co-founder of livestreaming platform Twitch, announced he will be launching Fractal, a new marketplace for gaming non-fungible tokens (NFTs). While the OpenSea NFT marketplace may be the largest, Fractal is not competing directly — it is betting on a niche in gaming NFTs. Fast facts The announcement comes days after a Twitch plug-in […]
Horses are joining humans as metaverse pilgrims
Blockchain gaming unicorn Animoca Brands announced yesterday a partnership with Aquis Farm — a major racehorse-breeding business owned by Hong Kong’s billionaire Fung family — to bring equestrian activities into the metaverse. The blockchain specialist will leverage Aquis Farm’s equestrian intellectual properties to develop blockchain games and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Fast facts “Aquis recognises the […]
Singapore-based NFT market Brytehall to auction physical artwork of a bicycle
Singapore-based Brytehall is to co-host a new non-fungible token (NFT) art auction with bike manufacturer Specialized on Dec. 16, to sell an artwork of a bicycle named “enishi-E” created by Japanese artist Kosuke Masuda, both physically and digitally in an NFT. Fast facts Kosuke described the bike to be auctioned as an “alive” one, for […]
Manny Pacquiao launches esports team in midst of presidential campaign
‘Team Pacquiao GG’ may be coming soon to League of Legends and Axie Infinity. But whatever happened to the former pro boxer’s Pac token?
Binance, Animoca Brands launch $200M investment program to accelerate GameFi startups
Binance Smart Chain (BSC) has joined hands with Animoca Brands — a Hong Kong-based blockchain gaming, metaverse and non-fungible token (NFT) company — to launch a US$200 million investment program to accelerate and incubate early crypto gaming startups built on BSC, according to a company statement released Monday. Fast facts Specifically, the duo are co-investing up to US$100 million […]
Bored Ape Yacht Club artist exhibits new NFT collection at Art Basel Miami
The lead artist behind the breakthrough non-fungible token series “Bored Ape Yacht Club” (BAYC), known as All Seeing Seneca, has released a new set of NFTs over the weekend at Dfinity’s Iconoclast gallery event at Art Basel Miami, according to the artist’s Twitter profile. Fast facts With over US$1 billion in sales attributed to the […]
First NFT exchange-traded fund falls in NYSE debut
NFTZ opened for trading on the NYSE in the midst of turmoil and fears of inflation and Omicron.
Living ‘Eco-NFTs’ and holograms on display at Art Basel Miami Beach
The firm behind legendary sci-fi series Star Trek, Roddenberry Entertainment, has immortalized a key moment in entertainment history — in a way that may in time become an equally iconic moment in blockchain history. Gene Roddenberry’s signature on the first contract between himself and Lucille Ball’s Desilu Productions, which made Star Trek a reality, has […]
What is Cosmos — the ‘internet of blockchains’?
The Cosmos ecosystem is expanding rapidly with inter-blockchain transfers on the rise. What makes Cosmos different from other blockchains? Forkast.News explains.
Japanese sci-fi novel’s English translations exclusively NFTs
Miyuki Ono’s science fiction story “Pure” is being released as NFT (non-fungible token) copies to create a new channel of income for writers and translators who are currently insufficiently compensated for their work. Fast facts “Pure” is one of world’s first Japanese science fiction works released as an NFT, while also being the first NFT […]
Hex Trust to provide financial services for Animoca gamers
Hex Trust and Animoca Brands team up to tackle a key problem in gamefi.
Martha Stewart releases Thanksgiving-themed NFTs
American lifestyle guru Martha Stewart auctions a storytelling NFT recounting her first, disastrous Thanksgiving dinner.
Snoop Dogg, deadmau5 join Outlier Ventures to invest in the metaverse
As interest in the metaverse continues to gain pace, big names in entertainment including Snoop Dogg, deadmau5 and Shaun Neff have joined leading crypto VC firm Outlier Ventures to invest and advise start-ups to accelerate the Open Metaverse. Fast facts Since launching its Base Camp Accelerator in 2019, Outlier Ventures has helped raise over US$250 […]
Taproot unlocks Bitcoin opportunities; Mintable aims big
Taproot unlocks Bitcoin opportunities meanwhile Mintable aims big
Miramax files lawsuit against Quentin Tarantino over Pulp Fiction NFTs
Movie director Quentin Tarantino is being sued by Hollywood studio Miramax over his recent plan to auction off a series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) based on his 1994 film “Pulp Fiction.” Miramax alleges that Tarantino’s planned offerings violate the copyright it holds to the director’s film, including the rights to the property he intends to […]
Mintable wants to be the world’s largest NFT market by cataloging all Ethereum-based NFTs
How to sift through millions of NFTs before buying? NFT marketplace Mintable is hoping to attract more users with these new organizing and ranking features.
‘Double Eleven 2021: Common Prosperity’ — how an NFT project examines Chinese tech giants’ dominance
In a 48-second, computer-generated 3D animation, ROK uses a decentralized format to offer an ironic take on China’s internet giants crowding to host the shopping holiday.
The media’s role in driving growth in crypto
Panel looks at best practices in news coverage from Decrypt Media, CoinDesk, South China Morning Post.
What are the digital assets powering the DeFi revolution?
Digital assets are disrupting financial services in ways not seen since the Middle Ages, writes Alex Tapscott of Ninepoint Partners. Here is the taxonomy for the future of finance.
Is 2021 the year of crypto’s coming of age?
Blockdata co-founder Jonathan Knegtel thinks so. Almost a teenager, Bitcoin is reaching a level of maturity that’s defying the predictions of its critics.
Fashion, art, games and community: What does a decentralized metaverse mean for you?
The idea of the metaverse has gone from the realm of science fiction to the latest business model of major companies from Facebook to Nike. What do metaverses powered by blockchain look like, and why is there so much interest in Decentraland?
Stablecoin toss to US Congress as regulators circle
Top blockchain and crypto news: Stablecoins at regulatory crossroads. Squid Game crypto players suffer shocking fate. Are metaverses China’s new national insecurity?
Tarantino auctions seven uncut ‘Pulp Fiction’ scenes as NFTs
Director Quentin Tarantino announced he will auction seven uncut scenes from Pulp Fiction as non-fungible tokens.
Scams now plague the NFT space. What can be done to stop them?
The big-money world of NFTs is also attracting hackers, thieves and con artists. How do you know if that Ape NFT or digital Banksy is fake?
Tales from the Crypt, 2021: 10 crypto horror stories
Behind this year’s giddy markets, evil and tragedies abound. Just in time for Halloween, Forkast.News shakes out the skeletons in crypto’s closet.
Blockchain gaming unicorn Animoca Brands closes $65M capital raise at $2.2B valuation
Animoca Brands, a Hong Kong-based blockchain gaming, metaverse and non-fungible token (NFT) company, has closed a capital raise for US$65 million at a pre-money valuation of US$2.2 billion, according to a company statement. Fast facts Investors in the round included Liberty City Ventures, Ubisoft Entertainment, Sequoia China, Dragonfly Capital, Token Bay Capital and Justin Sun, […]
Martha Stewart, media mogul and lifestyle guru, turns to Halloween-themed NFTs
In a sign that non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are hitting home, media personality and businesswoman Martha Stewart, perhaps the biggest influencer on modern American home life and middle-class domestic strivings, just launched online store FRESH Mint that will sell Halloween-themed NFTs featuring pumpkin crafts and costumed images of America’s domestic goddess herself. Fast facts The NFT collection is launched in partnership […]
How to make sense of the hot new digital assets, like Bored Apes? Think: Lego blocks
Money, culture and community are now converging in NFTs and the token economy, writes Lily Z. King. Welcome to a new world where ‘money Lego’ meets ‘culture Lego.’
Hong Kong exhibition to showcase NFTs for good causes
An NFT art exhibition demonstrates how digital tokens can be used to promote United Nations sustainability goals.
Bitcoin bulls set for stampede amid six-figure forecasts
Top blockchain and crypto news: Big money heads for Bitcoin. How fishy are Squid Game NFTs? China mothballs mining.
Crypto exchanges diversify amid growing competition
As non-crypto players like Twitter and PayPal take up digital assets, Coinbase, Binance and others look for ways to expand offerings.
Altcoin Stacks STX price surges 70% as crypto market slumps
While most of the market was down around 5% coming into the Asia trading day this morning, altcoin Stacks was up over 70% in 24 hours on Sunday night, according to data from CoinMarketCap, hitting a high of US$2.45 — the highest point the token had reached since the market-wide crash in May. The price has fallen […]
A crypto-trading hamster is outrunning Warren Buffett
Although scarcely the size of a human palm, Mr. Goxx is earning big returns in the virtual currency market, raking in a 16% return as of Tuesday.