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Each NFT scam perpetrator gained average of $300,000 in past year: Elliptic report

More than US$100 million worth of NFTs were scammed between July 2021 and July 2022, with each scam perpetrator making an average of US$300,000, according to a report released on Wednesday by crypto analysis firm Elliptic. See related article: Who fared worse in cryptocurrency slump: criminals or legitimate users? Fast facts See related article: Ronin […]

Shanghai Data Exchange launches untradeable NFTs

The Shanghai Data Exchange has debuted blockchain-based digital assets without allowing secondary trading, a day after the exchange began digital asset trading on Wednesday.  See related article: Ant Group, JD.com, Tencent pledge to resist speculation of ‘digital collectibles’ Fast facts See related article: Beijing, Hengqin ramp up metaverse amid struggling economy

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether bounce back; XRP climbs, Ether Classic jumps, Ankr gains on staking

Bitcoin and Ether staged a rebound Thursday afternoon in Asia, with most other tokens in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization following them higher in a tentative recovery from last week’s slump. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin treads water, Ether Classic gets a bump, Cosmos gains on Kujira news Fast facts Bitcoin gained 1.97% […]

Alleged Tornado Cash Developer Alexey Pertsev to stay in jail

Alleged Tornado Cash developer, Alexey Pertsev, was accused of facilitating money laundering through the now-sanctioned crypto mixer. Pertsev will stay in jail for at least another 90 days, a judge in the Netherlands ruled on Wednesday. The developer has not been officially charged with any crime. See related article: Tornado Cash arrest heralds storm season […]

Crypto miners plan to fork Ethereum, will it make a difference to the Merge?

Ethereum has by far the most developers from DeFi projects to NFTs so how are they expected to respond to a plan by Etheruem miners to fork the network, a move miners argue is needed to stay in business.

Crypto trader donates US$100,000 to YouTuber fighting defamation suit

Crypto trader Cobie has donated US$100,000 to YouTuber Erling Mengshoel “Atozy” to fight a lawsuit filed against him by Ben Armstrong “BitBoy Crypto”. See related article: Crypto ‘finfluencers’ are attracting a new following — of regulators Fast facts In a Twitter post, Atozy said he was being sued by BitBoy Crypto for a video Atozy […]

Ethereum finalizes start date for Bellatrix upgrade

The “Bellatrix” upgrade ahead of the Ethereum merger will activate on Sept. 6, followed by the Ethereum mainnet merge between Sept.10-20, according to a blog published on Thursday by the Ethereum Foundation. See related article: Fast facts See related article: Chandler Guo tells why he is the man who would hard fork Ethereum

SEC seeks to file up to 90-page long reply to motion in XRP lawsuit

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is requesting to file a lengthy reply to its motion that seeks to exclude the testimony of Ripple Labs’ witnesses, as the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple drags on. See related article: Judge grants Ripple’s request to review videos of SEC officials Fast facts The SEC filed the request on […]

Ant Group, Malaysian investment bank Kenanga develop crypto wealth app

Ant Group, Chinese tech giant Alibaba’s fintech affiliate, has partnered with Malaysian investment bank Kenanga to launch a wealth management app with features to trade cryptocurrencies. See related article: Tencent gets patent nod to use blockchain for missing persons’ notices Fast facts Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad announced on Wednesday that it signed a memorandum of […]

Tether says didn’t freeze sanctioned Tornado Cash addresses so as to not interfere in investigations

Tether Holdings Ltd.,the issuer of USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin by market capitalisation, Wednesday said freezing the sanctioned addresses might interfere with ongoing investigations despite no clear instruction to do so by law enforcement. See related article: Bad actors in North Korea, Russia send record-high funds to crypto mixers Fast facts The U.S. Treasury Department’s […]

How Web3 can reduce concert ticket fraud and clean up the industry

The $65-billion event ticketing industry is riddled with skulduggery, but NFT technology can transform it for the common good, writes Josh Katz of Yellowheart.

Huobi warning issued; Singapore’s blockchain aims

Huobi in hot water after being put on investor alert list. Meanwhile, we take a closer look into crypto regulation in Asia.

Tornado Cash arrest heralds storm season for crypto mixers

Top blockchain and crypto news: Tornado Cash, mixer crash. Cardano’s Vasil vulnerabilities. Canaan earnings buoy expansion plans.

Markets: Dogecoin still in the dog house; Bitcoin, Ether make up some ground

Bitcoin and Ether traded higher in Wednesday afternoon trading in Asia, as the two biggest cryptocurrencies in the top 10 by market capitalization made up some marginal ground from the recent slump. Dogecoin fell, marking a 20% loss over the past seven days. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin, Ether gain with most of crypto top […]

Ukraine seizes funds from crypto wallet funding Russian forces

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) seized and blocked a cryptocurrency wallet used to fund the Russian military campaign in the country. The agency is working on tracking the funds and transferring them under Ukrainian jurisdiction, according to the SSU. See related article: Vitalik Buterin says he used Tornado Cash to donate to Ukraine Fast […]

OSL Digital placed a ‘tokenized bond’ in July — what’s next for blockchain securities?

Financial instruments sold and traded on a public blockchain could be the next big thing, so Forkast caught up with OSL to hear about what’s planned.

Nike becomes highest-earning brand for NFT sales

Footwear giant Nike’s non-fungible token (NFT) projects have brought the company’s revenue to US$185.34 million, more than seven times that of luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana, which ranks second in NFT profits, according to the data published on crypto analysis platform Dune. See related article: Touchdown: How ex-NFL players are helping college athletes score […]

Crypto exchange Bitfinex plans new chain split tokens

iFinex Financial Technologies Limited, which operates the Bitfinex cryptocurrency exchange, has announced Ethereum chain split tokens (CSTs) to help prepare for all eventualities as the Ethereum merge nears.  See related article: ‘The Merge’ can make crypto payments mainstream again: Vitalik Buterin Fast facts “The Merge” upgrade involves the Ethereum blockchain’s transition from the proof-of-work (PoW) […]

Huobi Global talking to Malaysian regulator about being put on investor alert list

Huobi Global told Forkast it is working towards being in compliance with Malaysia after its securities regulator put the Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange on its investor alert list for operating the digital asset business without proper registration. See related article: Huobi to end crypto derivatives trading in New Zealand Fast facts “We are currently in discussions […]

NFT platform SudoRare vanishes with 519 Ethereum

Non-fungible token (NFT) platform SudoRare has allegedly run off with US$815,000 in user funds and deleted its social media accounts, raising alarms over investor protection.  See related article: Klaytn chief says reducing ‘human elements’ can prevent hacks Fast facts According to PeckShield Inc., a blockchain security and data analytics company, SudoRare took off with 519 […]

Beijing, Hengqin ramp up metaverse amid struggling economy

Following Shanghai’s plan to develop its metaverse industry, additional local Chinese governments are adding the metaverse to their economic blueprints. Two recent plans come from Beijing’s Tongzhou District and Hengqin near neighboring Macau, just as some of China’s tech companies are shrinking their businesses to face an economic downturn. See related article: Shanghai sees its […]

Coinbase hit with lawsuit over allegedly poor security

U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has been hit with a class action lawsuit last week over claims the firm allegedly failed to properly secure customers’ accounts, leaving them vulnerable to unauthorized activity. See related article: Coinbase under investigation by SEC, quarterly report reveals Fast facts Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of […]

Philippines central bank approves two more digital banks

A total of six digital banks are now allowed to operate in the Philippines after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) issued Certificates of Authority to UnionDigital Bank, Inc. (UDB) and GoTyme Bank Corporation (GTYME). Read more: Philippine central bank governor says no plan to ban crypto BSP earlier authorized four digital banks namely Tonik […]

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether gain with most of crypto top 10; BNB slips, U.S. equities flat

Bitcoin gained along with most other top 10 tokens by market capitalization in early morning trading in Asia, though Ether was the pace leader with the larger climb. U.S. equities were little changed overnight. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin edges up, Ether posts biggest gain among top 10 tokens Fast facts Bitcoin added 0.6% to […]

Bitcoin has been mounting in DBS Digital Exchange in volatile June

Bitcoin custodied by Singapore-based DBS Digital Exchange (DDEx) grew by 30% from April 30 to June 30 this year while Ethereum under custody grew by 3% during the same period.  See related article: DBS Bank slams brakes on retail crypto trading Fast facts Bitcoin bought on DDEx in June was nearly four times that of […]

NEAR Foundation, Forkast shortlist 20 Women in Web3 for inaugural Changemakers list

Ten winners will be selected by public vote, which will end on August 29.

Tornado Cash storm; Australia plans crypto rules

The Tornado Cash bans have stirred the pot in the crypto markets. Meanwhile, Australia looks for new ways to regulate crypto.

More than half of Indian crypto investors want to increase investments: report

Over 50% of Indian crypto investors intend to increase their investments over the next six months as they view the asset class as a long-term investment rather than hype, according to a report by cryptocurrency exchange Kucoin.  See related article: Most Indian traders impacted by India’s crypto tax: survey Fast facts While 56% of crypto […]

Markets: Bitcoin edges up, Ether posts biggest gain among top 10 tokens

Bitcoin made up some ground, while Ethereum posted the largest gain among the top 10 coins by market capitalization in Tuesday afternoon trading in Asia. Dogecoin was the second-largest gainer among the top 10. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin, Ether mixed; Solana hit six-week low overnight, Dogecoin dips Fast facts Bitcoin gained 0.62% in the […]

Australia’s crypto industry split on Treasury’s ‘token mapping’ scheme

The Treasury Department says its plan for how to regulate cryptocurrencies is unlike anything else in the world, but the country’s crypto industry isn’t sure that’s a good thing.

Tencent gets patent nod to use blockchain for missing persons’ notices

Chinese tech giant Tencent has received a patent for blockchain-based notices for missing persons, as the tech firm continues to explore blockchain applications despite shutting one of its non-fungible token (NFT) platforms recently. See related article: Tencent’s Huanhe allows NFT refunds, halts further sales Fast facts Tencent’s design could enhance the efficiency of publishing such […]

Hodlnaut owes US$200 mln debt to 17,000 creditors: report

The Singapore and Hong Kong-based Hodlnaut has a funding gap of about US$193 million, and potentially 17,513 creditors, crypto media outlet The Block reported citing an affidavit the troubled crypto lender filed with the court last week. See related article: India authorities freeze Vauld exchange’s assets worth $46.5 mln Fast facts See related article: Hodlnaut […]

S. Korea tax authority says crypto airdrops subject to gift tax: report

Virtual asset airdrops could be subject to gift taxes in South Korea, local publication Yonhap News Agency reported on Monday, citing tax authorities. See related article: S. Korea’s 20% crypto tax delayed by two more years Fast facts In response to a tax law interpretation inquiry, a government official said recipients of free virtual asset […]

Celsius ‘withhold’ account depositors lawyer up to seek claims

Another group of claimants against bankrupt crypto lender Celsius Network LLC is banding together to retain legal representation and seek to form an ad hoc group in bankruptcy hearings to get their money back. See related article: Celsius says it owes its users US$4.72B amid a US$1.19B balance sheet deficit Fast facts See related article: […]

India blockchain forum plans to chart future with governments, regulators

Stakeholders in India’s blockchain space have created a new forum with more than 40 influencers to liaise with governments and regulators for blockchain and Web 3.0 adoption in the country. See related article: India’s latest tax assault on crypto exchanges starts Friday Fast facts According to a local media report, India Blockchain Forum is setting […]

Uniswap blocks over 250 wallet addresses from front end in sanction compliance

Decentralized exchange Uniswap has appeared to block 253 wallet addresses linked to illicit financial activities on its front end after the U.S. government imposed sanctions on Tornado Cash earlier this month. See related article: Largest Ether mining pool Ethermine stops processing Tornado Cash transactions Fast facts DeFi platform Yearn developer Banteg tweeted on Saturday that […]

Problems with tokenizing real estate and how to fix it

Real estate as an investment is not very liquid, composable or accessible, writes Joel Lin of CitaDAO. Can tokenization and DeFi transform this market?

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether mixed; Solana hit six-week low overnight, Dogecoin dips

Bitcoin and Ether were mixed Tuesday morning in Asia, while Solana led the downturn in the rest of the cryptocurrencies in the top 10 by market capitalization. Most of the Top 10 are seeing double-digit price declines over the last seven days.   See related article: Markets: Bitcoin, Ether dip; DOGE, SHIB slide; Jackson Hole, […]

Australia to keep pace with crypto laws with “token mapping”

The Australian Treasury under the ruling Albanese Government will prioritize “token mapping” in 2022 to help regulations Down Under keep pace and adapt with the crypto sector.  See related article: Singapore’s MAS to further strengthen crypto regulations Fast facts “Token mapping”, the primary step in the government’s reform agenda, intends to identify the appropriate direction […]

Crypto volatility returns; Big names investing in blockchain

BTC and ETH hit by volatility, while big players start investing in blockchain despite market wobbles.

Ronin hackers converted stolen ETH to BTC using sanctioned mixers: report

The hackers responsible for stealing US$610 million worth of crypto from Axie Infinity’s Ronin bridge back in March have since transferred most funds from ETH into BTC using renBTC and privacy tools like Blender, ChipMixer, and TornadoCash, according to a report. See related article: Axie Infinity blockchain Ronin hacked for over $600M Fast facts The […]

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether dip; DOGE, SHIB slide; Jackson Hole, Merge in focus

Bitcoin and Ethereum edged down again in Monday afternoon trading in Asia, after both posted sharp declines on Friday and had a bit of a rollercoaster over the weekend that drove most other tokens lower. Dogecoin was the biggest mover today among the top 10 coins by market capitalization and logged a 3.09% fall in […]

If successful, Ethereum’s Merge will cause a sea change in ETH supply and value

The Merge, one of this year’s biggest crypto events, is now due to happen next month. Why is it so hotly anticipated — and feared?

Liquidity crunch may loom for Bored Ape-collateralized loans as floor price slides

Not every NFT collection is facing the same issue, but due to the collection’s outsized influence it could have a significant impact on the rest of the Ethereum NFT ecosystem.

Largest Ether mining pool Ethermine stops processing Tornado Cash transactions

The largest Ethereum mining pool, Ethermine, stopped processing transactions from crypto mixer Tornado Cash-related addresses around Aug. 11, according to crypto analyst @takenstheorem. See related article:  U.S. Treasury overstepping authority in Tornado Cash sanction, says advocacy group Coin Center Fast facts See related article: Ronin hack proceeds seen headed to Tornado Cash

USDC whales leave, trading volume soars

The percentage of stablecoin USD Coin (USDC) supply held by the top 1% addresses dropped to a 22-month low on Monday, while USDC average trading volume in seven days surged to an all-time high on the same day, according to crypto data dashboard Glassnode. See related article: Vitalik Buterin says he used Tornado Cash to […]

FTX revenue grew 1,000% in 2021 amid booming crypto market: SBF

FTX chief executive officer Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has confirmed media outlet CNBC’s report that FTX’s revenue grew 1,000% in 2021 on the back of a booming crypto market and a host of acquisitions.  See related article: Sam Bankman-Fried lashes out at Voyager for rejecting FTX’s proposal  Fast facts In a Twitter post, SBF said, “Fwiw […]

FTX.US among 5 companies cited by FDIC for ‘false, misleading’ claims to consumers

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), one of the two federal agencies insuring savings in American depository institutions, has sent cease-and-desist letters to five companies, including FTX.US, for making false statements about deposit insurance. See related article: FDIC clarifies that cryptocurrencies are not insured Fast facts In a press release, the FDIC said it has […]

Creditors object to bankrupt crypto lender Voyager paying out bonuses

Creditors of cryptocurrency lender Voyager Digital Holdings are objecting to the company’s request for funds to payout bonuses to staff, saying the employees are already “well-compensated.” See related article: Court allows Voyager Digital to return US$270 mln in custodial account to customers Fast facts The creditors’ objection came after Voyager, which filed for Chapter 11 […]

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether gain; BNB best performer among top 10 tokens

Bitcoin and Ether rose with most of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization in Monday morning trading in Asia. The gains follow a flash crash last Friday afternoon that dragged the world’s leading cryptocurrency below US$21,000 on Saturday for the first time in almost a month. Bitcoin is still down about 12% in the […]

Keeping it real: How metaverses connect to the physical world

Metaverses are more than gamified virtual spaces — they’re a different way to live real life, says Metapolis cofounder Sandra Helou.

Merge prep rush; Scams down, hacks up

CME prepares to launch ETH options as the merge gets closer, Meanwhile, a Chainalysis says crypto scams are down.

Hodlnaut exploring option to allow withdrawal of deposits with interest before closing accounts

The Singapore and Hong Kong-based crypto lender said it was exploring options to allow users to withdraw deposits at an undisclosed discount rate, while seeking Singapore court approval to appoint a judicial manager for the company, according to a post on its blog on Friday. See related article: How a market slump may be helping […]

Markets: Bitcoin below $22,000; Ether extends decline; Cardano, Solana, DOGE slide

Bitcoin fell below US$22,000 in Friday afternoon trading in Asia as investors after a nervous week seemed to be trimming portfolios ahead of the weekend. Ethereum fell back despite the buzz around its upcoming blockchain Merge. Cardano, Solana, Dogecoin and Polkadot dropped over 10% in the past 24 hours. See related article: Bitcoin, Ether fall […]

Who fared worse in cryptocurrency slump: criminals or legitimate users?

Report by Chainalysis says both use cases fell in dollar terms in first half of year and while legitimate usage by value far exceeds criminal, illicit activities fell by a much narrower margin.The report attempts to explain why.

Crypto exchange Gemini launches MATIC, ETH, SOL and DOT staking

The New York-based crypto exchange said its staking service will allow customers to stake their cryptocurrencies and receive rewards within their Gemini account.  See related article: Gemini sued over US$36 mln Bitcoin and Ethereum hack Fast facts Gemini Staking will be available for users across the U.S. (excluding New York), Singapore, and Hong Kong, the […]

Run-to-earn protocol Stepn announces NFT project colab with Atlético de Madrid

Web3 lifestyle app Stepn is releasing a non-fungible token (NFT) running shoe collection in partnership with crypto exchange WhaleFin and Spanish soccer club Atlético de Madrid, the company announced on Thursday. See related article: Play-to-earn game developers pivot to engaging fans Fast facts This collection will feature 1,001 Atlético de Madrid shoes that grant the […]

ETHPoW token price drops to all-time-low on Thursday

ETHPoW, the token that will run on a potential Ethereum PoW fork, fell to an all-time low of US$50.36 on Thursday, down 64% from its Aug. 2 peak, according to CoinMarketCap.  See related article: Chandler Guo tells why he is the man who would hard fork Ethereum Fast facts The ETHPoW token is currently only […]

What’s in a name? Ethereum domain name creation doubles in four months

With all the excitement surrounding the Ethereum merge scheduled for next month, the number of Ethereum Name Service (ENS) addresses created have surpassed the 2 million mark, according to a Twitter post by ENS Domains.  See related article: Ethereum will soon turn 7 — and its upcoming ‘Merge’ will be well worth the wait Fast […]

Mining rig maker Canaan shares nudge up, profit expanded in Q2

Shares of cryptocurrency mining rig maker Canaan traded up 0.77% in U.S. trading on Thursday after the company said net income expanded in the second quarter from a year earlier despite the fallout from Covid-19 lockdowns in China and challenging market conditions. See related article: Chinese mining rig maker Canaan says global expansion on track […]

South Korea to block access to 16 unregistered crypto companies

The Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU) has requested investigative authorities to block 16 unregistered foreign-based Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) that reportedly targeted domestic consumers by offering services in Korean. See related article: South Korea’s all-encompassing crypto law is coming — what we know so far Fast facts According to a press release, these unregistered […]

CME, world’s biggest derivatives exchange, to offer Ether options in September

CME Group – the world’s biggest operator of financial derivative markets, including the Chicago Mercantile Exchange –  on Wednesday said it will offer options on Ether futures starting Sept. 12, pending regulatory review. See related article: New US crypto bill seeks to make CFTC top Bitcoin, Ethereum watchdog Fast facts See related article: ETH futures […]

Bitcoin mining difficulty rises 0.63% in latest adjustment

Bitcoin mining difficulty rose by 0.63% on Thursday, marking the second increase in a row in latest adjustments, according to data from BTC.com. See related article: Bitcoin miner Stronghold to return mining rigs to cut debt; shares plunge as losses widen Fast facts The mining difficulty reading was at 28.35 trillion, as of block height […]

Bitcoin, Ether fall in broad crypto pull back; memecoins reverse gains

Bitcoin and Ether continued their weekly slide, while all other top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization fell in Friday morning trading in Asia. The world’s number one cryptocurrency fell below US$23,000 for the first time in over a week. Investors remain tentative about macroeconomic trends – inflation and interest rates in the U.S. and a […]

Ukraine spends US$54 mln in crypto donations towards war supplies

The embattled Ukrainian government has spent US$54 million, raised through donations in cryptocurrencies, to supply defenders with military equipment, armor, clothing, medicines and vehicles, a senior minister said.  See related article: Vitalik Buterin says he used Tornado Cash to donate to Ukraine Fast facts See related article: Ukraine’s NFT museum of Russian conflict goes live

Tether to release monthly USDT reserves report with new auditor BDO Italia

Tether Holdings Limited, the issuer of USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin by market capitalization, has roped in accounting firm BDO Italia for its regular reports of USDT reserves. See related article: Tether says USDT reserves have no Chinese commercial paper Fast facts Tether said in a statement shared with Forkast that it began working with […]

dWallet raises US$5 mln in pre-seed funding led by Node Capital, DCG

dWallet Labs, a cybersecurity company specializing in blockchain technology, has raised US$5 million in pre-seed funding led by Node Capital and Digital Currency Group (DCG), the company said in a statement. See related article: Why DeFi remains attractive to institutions in a bear market Fast facts The funding round also included investors Amplify Partners, Lightshift […]

EU seeks to limit banks’ crypto exposure

European Union (EU) banks with exposure to highly volatile cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin should face higher capital requirements, according to a proposed amendment to a European financial services law.  See related article: Bitcoin miner Stronghold to return mining rigs to cut debt; shares plunge as losses widen Fast facts Crypto assets like Bitcoin, which are considered […]

Beyond Ethereum – NFT Legacy for Blockchain | NFT Moments in History Ep. 12

Forkast x CryptoSlam! are proud to present Moments in NFT History — an explainer video series hosted by Forkast’s Joel Flynn that gives you a front-row seat to history-in-the-making. When it comes to technology, few things in history could claim to be as significant as the automobile. It redefined the idea of movement and opened […]

Confusion from US regulators; Markets hit by ‘vibe-flation’

The FDIC tries to deter banks from doing business with crypto firms. Meanwhile. Genesis CEO steps down amidst reshuffle.

Coinbase would shut down ETH staking under regulatory threat, says CEO

Responding to a hypothetical scenario on Twitter, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said that the company would shut down its Ethereum staking services to preserve the blockchain network’s integrity, in the event of a regulatory crackdown. See related article: BlackRock, Coinbase partner to extend crypto trading to institutional investors Fast facts The hypothetical question was posted […]

Markets: Bitcoin, Ether fall; Solana, DOGE extend their declines

Bitcoin and Ether traded lower in Thursday afternoon trading in Asia. Solana saw the largest fall among the top 10 tokens by market capitalization, followed by Dogecoin. Asia equity markets were softer after minutes from the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee showed Fed Reserve officials saw little sign of inflation slowing. See related article: Markets: […]