Mastercard’s Ciphetrace VP discusses decade-long maturation of cryptocurrency
Crypto is “part of the future,” said Melissa Wisner, vice president of crypto risk at Ciphertrace, during her panel discussion at D3 Bahamas.
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.
Japanese yen-backed digital currency set to launch next July
The DCJPY could play a central role in the future’s currency system, according to DeCurret Holdings.
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.
Digital assets are here to stay, Bahamas prime minister says
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis said the island nation will continue to be a pioneer in the digital asset space.
Sam Bankman-Fried planned to raise money from Saudi crown prince, Ellison testifies
Caroline Ellison details how Sam Bankman-Fried planned to raise capital from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman as FTX struggled to repay lenders.
ESMA says DeFi can bring greater financial inclusion, but warns of volatility risks
The regulator said that DeFi doesn’t pose a risk to financial stability, due to its small size, but said it needs to be monitored in the future.
Ethereum NFT production falls to all-time low in September
NFT production on Ethereum fell to an all-time low in September, as the floor prices of blue-chip NFT collections continued their decline.
BlackRock shares go digital on JPMorgan’s Onyx blockchain
JPMorgan’s Onyx blockchain showcased near-instant collateral transfer in BlockRock’s tokenized share transaction with Barclays.
Blockchain’s 2 billionth user could be an AI, says Joe Lubin
The CEO of blockchain services provider Consensys and co-founder of Ethereum spoke to Forkast at the Token 2049 crypto conference in Singapore. He discussed decentralization and what he sees as the crucial role to be played by blockchain in AI and vice-versa.
Can Asia’s progressive regulators tame crypto’s Wild West?
The Web3 sun is shining in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, where forward-thinking regulations are fostering crypto’s growth while boosting investor protections.
SBF trial kicks off, Singapore gives crypto licenses as blockchain data comes to rescue
Welcome to Forkast IQ, presented by Forkast’s Megha Chaddah, where we look beyond the headlines to get you insights that power smarter decisions.
Coinbase is “doubling down” on Singapore following license, says country director
The largest U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange will be launching more products and services in the Lion City, Coinbase’s Hassan Ahmed says.
ESMA publishes second MiCA consultation paper
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is seeking feedback on the second consultation paper on the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) bill, published on Thursday. See related article: Binance ICO raised less than US$5 mln: Forbes Fast Facts See related article: What Europe’s new spot Bitcoin ETF means for global markets
Crypto trust on trial: Bankman-Fried faces judgment
Top blockchain and crypto news: Spotlight on Bankman-Fried, Pudgy Penguins’ new revenue stream and Google’s Web3 goggles
HKEX to launch smart contract settlement platform
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced on Wednesday that it is implementing a smart contract upgrade to its Connect, a system that bridges Hong Kong and China’s stock markets, to enhance post-trade workflows and reduce settlement risk. See related article: SFC to monitor illegal VATP activities with Hong Kong Police Force Fast Facts […]
Bank of Korea to kick off wholesale CBDC pilot
South Korea’s central bank will be launching a pilot program for its central bank digital currency (CBDC) to explore infrastructure requirements, according to an Oct. 4 joint statement by the Bank of Korea (BOK), the nation’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS). See related article: CBDCs are coming. Here’s why you […]
Silver Lining? Google Cloud’s head of Web3 talks Big Tech possibilities for the blockchain
At the Token 2049 crypto conference in Singapore held Sept. 13 to 14, Google Cloud’s James Tromans spoke to Forkast about a possible marriage between Webs 2 and 3.
Coinbase obtains Singapore’s Major Payment Institutions license
The Major Payment Institution license from Singapore’s central bank allows the exchange to expand its digital payment token services in the Lion City.
Why regulated decentralized exchanges are the wave of crypto trading’s future
Bringing together the best parts of centralized and decentralized exchanges, RDEXs also take into account the inevitability of regulations.
Philippines no plans to mirror U.S. SEC’s ‘crypto crackdown’, to publish crypto framework by H1 of 2024, says securities regulator
The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission delayed the publishing of a crypto framework earlier this year citing the FTX collapse in late 2022 as the reason.
SEC Chair Gensler faces bipartisan backlash over strict crypto regulations
Top blockchain and crypto news: U.S. lawmakers berate SEC over ETF applications. NFTs down but not dead. Hong Kong sees year’s biggest crypto heist so far.
Bitcoin, Ether gain; Wall Street on edge amid government shutdown fears
Bitcoin traded above US$26,300 Thursday morning in Asia after briefly breaching US$26,800. Ether also rose above US$1,600 before falling back.
JPMorgan’s U.K. bank Chase bans payments linked to crypto
Chase, the U.K.-based digital bank, told customers Tuesday in an email that it will ban U.K. clients from making crypto-related payments.
Hong Kong crypto network Mixin loses US$200 million in hack
Mixin Network announced Monday that the database of its cloud service provider was hacked, resulting in the loss of approximately US$200 million.
PayPal’s stablecoin is a big step forward for crypto’s legitimacy but not much yet for the cause
PYUSD’s launch is injecting much-needed trust into crypto’s turbulent landscape, but its current form does not come with any of the benefits of real crypto, writes Danny Chong, co-founder of Tranchess.
Bitcoin, Ether flat; MicroStrategy adds to Bitcoin holdings
Bitcoin traded flat below US$26,300 Tuesday morning in Asia. Ether edged up but remained below the US$1,600 mark.
Bitcoin, Ether fall with Toncoin leading losses in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin fell below US$26,500 while Ether dipped below US$1,600 in the past 24 hours.
AI, Asia and analytics — an interview with Nansen’s Alex Svanevik
Blockchain analytics are key to understanding the nascent crypto industry. But the analysis sector is far from immune from the pressures of the ongoing crypto bear market. In the first of a series of 1-on-1 interviews from the Token2049 conference held in Singapore Sept. 13-14, Alex Svanevik, CEO of blockchain analytics firm Nansen, sat down with Forkast to discuss current crypto challenges, the Asia growth market and the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the industry.
Bitcoin, Ether drop; top cryptos retreat with Toncoin leading losers
Bitcoin fell Monday morning in Asia to trade below US$26,300. Ether also dipped and remained below the US$1,600 mark. All top 10 non-stablecoin tokens dropped.
HK’s SFC & US SEC crack the whip as Blockchain Week rocks Manila
It’s a week for regulatory enforcement in the cryptocurrency space as blockchain takes center stage in the Philippines.
Weekly Market Wrap: Nomura’s Bitcoin Fund, Citigroup blockchain move fail to lift Bitcoin above US$27,000
Bitcoin remained below the US$27,000 mark, despite significant institutional players, like Japan’s largest bank, Nomura, launching a Bitcoin adoption fund earlier this week.
Hong Kong may tighten enforcement amidst JPEX scandal, says former SFC official
The JPEX scandal sheds light on the vulnerabilities in Hong Kong’s crypto marketplace, prompting reflection on regulatory safeguards as the city aspires to be a global digital asset hub, former SFC regulator Angelina Kwan says.
NFT creators seek alternatives after OpenSea cuts royalties
Following OpenSea’s decision to cut creator royalties, artists are seeking more creator-centric alternatives, but industry experts told Forkast that the decision could impact the entire NFT space in the long term.
South Korea’s Kakao, Com2Us wind down metaverse units
South Korea’s top internet company Kakao and leading game developer Com2uS are sizing down their metaverse teams after large losses.
Adding AI to Web3 will spark a Cambrian explosion of innovation — but not anytime soon
Blockchain and AI’s synergistic combination will create technology beyond today’s wildest imagination. But true AI-Web3 integration remains a difficult affair.
Bitcoin, Ether and other top-10 cryptos down amid Wall Street sell-off
Bitcoin dropped on Friday morning in Asia to trade below the US$27,000 support level. Ether also retreated and lost control of the US$1,600 mark.
US SEC to tighten regulatory enforcement beyond Coinbase, Binance.US
Top blockchain and crypto news: U.S. SEC steps up regulatory enforcement. Gaming giant Zynga moves into NFTs. Woes ahead for JPEX exchange after HK arrests.
South Koreans hold nearly US$100 billion in crypto overseas
South Korean investors and corporations hold over 131 trillion Korean won (US$97.9 billion) worth of cryptocurrencies in overseas accounts.
Bitcoin, Ether dip; Toncoin leads crypto retreat following hawkish Fed comments
Bitcoin briefly fell below US$26,900 on early Thursday morning in Asia but is now trading above US$27,000. Ether also dropped but held above US$1,600.
Bitcoin, Ether rise; Toncoin leads crypto rebound
Bitcoin rose on Tuesday morning in Asia to around US$26,700, after briefly breaching the US$27,000 mark. Ether also logged gains but remained below US$1,650.
JPEX crypto exchange shuts trading amid Hong Kong regulator probe
Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange JPEX is shutting trading its platform amid a probe by the Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission that said the firm was operating as an unlicensed entity, according to media reports.
What Europe’s new spot Bitcoin ETF means for global markets
Europe’s first spot Bitcoin ETF ushers in an era where traditional finance and crypto are converging, setting the stage for digital assets to become mainstays in the economy.
US legislators to discuss CBDC prevention bill on Sept. 20
The U.S. House Financial Services Committee announced last Friday that it will discuss a new bill to prevent the issuance of a CBDC.
Bitcoin, Ether flat; altcoins drop amid FTX liquidation
Bitcoin dipped on Monday morning in Asia to trade at around US$26,500. Ether also moved lower but held the US$1,600 support level.
Half a world away — Gary Gensler’s SEC dominates discussion at Singapore’s Token 2049
Billed as Asia’s largest crypto event, Token 2049 took place over Sept. 13-14 in the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore. Drawing over 10,000 attendees from all parts of the world, there was excitement about blockchain adoption in the region. But repeat references to one man were a reminder of the U.S. regulatory concerns weighing heavily on the crypto industry.
Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750
Bitcoin hit a weekly high of US$26,750 after Deutsche Bank announced plans to offer crypto custody services for institutional investors, days after Standard Chartered launched its own institutional crypto wing.
Who’s who in the Sam Bankman-Fried trial?
FTX’s former CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, faces DOJ scrutiny with seven charges. Here are the six key figures in the coming crypto courtroom showdown.
Most top 10 cryptos rise; Tron, Toncoin biggest gainers
Bitcoin rises past US$26,500. All other top 10 cryptos gain, except BNB.
Hong Kong crypto exchange CoinEx suffers hack, at least US$43 million lost
Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange CoinEx Global suffered a security breach on Tuesday, resulting in an estimated loss of US$43 million in cryptocurrencies.
Binance.US cuts one-third of workforce; CEO Brian Shroder steps down
The U.S. affiliate of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance has laid off one-third of its staff, or more than 100 employees.
Bitcoin, Ether continue to slide; altcoins under pressure
Bitcoin remained under US$26,000 and Ether dropped below US$1,600 in Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia.
Standard Chartered’s crypto custody arm Zodia launches in Singapore
Zodia Custody owned by Standard Chartered, announced Tuesday that it is launching its services in Singapore for financial institutions.
Gaming blockchain Oasys partners Japan telco KDDI’s αU Wallet, αU Market in Web3 push
Oasys, a blockchain-based game development platform, will team up with non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace αU market and cryptocurrency wallet αU Wallet – a crypto wallet by KDDI, one of Japan’s top three telecom companies – for users to trade NFTs on the αU market. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: ETF developments bolsters Bitcoin above […]
Bitcoin, Ether lose key support levels; altcoins slide amid FTX liquidation woes
Bitcoin fell on Tuesday morning in Asia to hover above US$25,000 after briefly losing the key support level. Ether also slid to lose control of US$1,600.
Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; G20 eyes global crypto regulation
Bitcoin started the week below US$26,000 while Ether dropped to US$1,611. Toncoin and XRP lead losers in the last 24 hours.
Animoca Brands raises US$20 million to boost Mocaverse
Animoca Brands announced Monday that it has raised US$20 million to accelerate the development of Mocaverse, its flagship project.
Advice for Web3 projects: Your reputation is as important as your runway
Web3 companies often focus on building their tech above all else, but poor public communications can undermine all the work they do.
Bitcoin starts week below US$26,000; Ether dips after hack on Vitalik Buterin’s X account; more rate hike worries on Wall Street
There was red ink across the crypto market Monday morning in Asia as Bitcoin dipped below US$26,000. Ether also fell to near the US$16,000 mark.
Korea Blockchain Week: diverging crypto paths for the US and Asia
The annual Korea Blockchain Week conference in Seoul is running from Sept. 4 to 10. Crypto industry leaders and advocates from around the world have gathered in the South Korean capital to discuss all things blockchain, including the growing regulatory gap between the U.S. and Asia.
Weekly Market Wrap: ETF developments bolsters Bitcoin above US$26,000
Bitcoin returned to US$26,000 on Friday, bolstered by Ark Invest’s Ether ETF application and Grayscale’s continued efforts for its potential Bitcoin ETF.
India’s G20 Presidency, Blockchain Week & Singapore’s new President
As the 2023 G20 Summit is set to kickoff over the weekend, we take a closer look at India’s role in kicking off its crypto regulation agenda.
North Korean hackers stole US$41 million from gambling site: FBI
North Korea-backed Lazarus Group was behind the US$41 million hack of online crypto gambling platform Stake.com on Monday, FBI says.
Bitcoin above US$26,000; JP Morgan working on blockchain payment system
Bitcoin rose Friday morning in Asia to above US$26,000, leading a rally across most top 10 cryptos. Ether gained but was still below US$1,650.
Coinbase and Wall Street: The merging worlds of TradFi and crypto
Top blockchain and crypto news: Coinbase steps up to fill void of crypto lenders. NFTs extend losses. What’s next for crypto as Singapore gets a new president?
No bounce for Ether after Ark Invest files for its first U.S. spot Ether ETF
Bitcoin traded flat Wednesday morning in Asia below the resistance level of US$26,000. Ether also traded flat, hovering around US$1,600.
Japan’s Mizuho bank to join MUFG’s stablecoin platform
Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation and Web3 developer Ginco Inc. have partnered to introduce what they call Japan’s first “crypto asset trust.”
Bitcoin, Ether flat; US equities drop as rate hike concerns return
Bitcoin was trading flat below US$26,000 Wednesday morning in Asia. Ether edged up but remained below the US$1,650 mark.
Bitcoin, Ether decline as Dogecoin leads gains ahead of Elon Musk’s biography
Dogecoin led the winners in the top 10, in anticipation of Tesla owner Elon Musk’s upcoming biography, which reportedly details his involvement in the memecoin’s development.
Do you really trust the smart contracts in charge of your crypto?
Making sure the smart contracts behind DeFi platforms are thoroughly audited isn’t just a job for code developers — it’s also a must for ordinary investors.
Bitcoin, Ether down; Binance loses another top executive
Bitcoin edged lower on Tuesday morning in Asia to trade below US$26,000. Ether dipped to near the US$1,600 mark.