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BTFD is more than a meme — it’s a revolution

Savvy cryptocurrency investors now know what the biggest players have long done, writes Michal Cymbalisty of Domination Finance — ‘buying the f* dip!’

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.

As Binance shrinks away in Asia, will it put down roots in the Middle East?

Binance’s CEO is now the richest Asian man, but the crypto exchange giant’s presence in Asia—where Binance got its start—is withering under regulatory heat.

Wuhan pledges to develop metaverse to boost Covid-ravaged economy

Wuhan, the major city in central China where Covid-19 first emerged, has announced plans to embrace the metaverse in an effort to boost its pandemic-devasted economy. Fast facts The government of Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, will push ahead with integrating the metaverse, blockchain, big data, cloud computing, geospatial information and quantum technology […]

Cardano ADA beats Bitcoin as Ethereum alternative: Twitter poll

Cardano’s ADA edged out Bitcoin as the currency of choice in a Twitter poll posted by Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin on a hypothetical future without ETH. Fast facts Buterin asked his 3.1 million followers on Friday what currency, aside from Ethereum, they would prefer to be used in 80% of all global transactions by 2035, […]

Up to code: Bringing digital assets into the regulatory architecture

If 2021 was a breakout year for crypto, this year may mark a similar advance for regulation of the industry, says Caroline Malcolm, Chainalysis’ new policy chief.

Upstart NFT marketplace LooksRare challenges OpenSea’s dominance

The NFT platform crosses $1B in sales volume within a week after launch, but with a controversial incentive structure and so-called ‘vampire’ attack.

North Korea hacked US$400M of crypto in 2021, says Chainalysis

State-backed hackers from North Korea stole cryptocurrencies worth about US$395 million last year across at least seven cyber attacks, according to Chainalysis, a blockchain data company. Fast facts Several of the attacks were likely led by Lazarus, a group of hackers believed to be backed by North Korea’s primary intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, […]

Crypto ‘finfluencers’ are attracting a new following — of regulators

Online influencers may be improving crypto-financial literacy for millions of people. But regulators have growing concerns.

Blockchain to enhance water supply chains in northern Australia

A new project in northern Australia is using blockchain technology to improve supply chains in the water market in one of the first applications of its kind. Fast facts More than 1,000 farmers in the northeastern state of Queensland have partnered with blockchain firm Civic Ledger and other groups for the project to address growing […]

This is what DeFi banking will look like in the future

Traditional banks are not going away and decentralized finance is here to stay, writes Edan Yago of Sovryn. Here’s how an amalgam of the two can take shape.

Hong Kong outlines stablecoin regulation plan to check financial stability risks

Stablecoins and CBDCs will likely co-exist in the city, experts say, as Hong Kong looks to thrive as crypto hub.

Kim Kardashian sued for alleged crypto pump-and-dump

An investor is suing Kim Kardashian; boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr.; Hall of Fame basketball player Paul Pierce, and the cofounders of Ethereum Max for allegedly colluding to promote the cryptocurrency last spring in a pump-and-dump scheme, according to papers filed on Jan 7. Fast facts The investor, Ryan Huegerich, brought the federal suit in the […]

Kazakhstan crypto mining fortunes falter as regime unplugs internet

Top blockchain and crypto news: Bandwidth bust in Kazakhstan. Binance chief CZ tops rich list. Digital yuan app adoption grows.

Arming up for a better fight against crypto-related crime

The current technologies in use do little to deter crypto money laundering, writes Dr. Mark van Staalduinen. What can nations do about this?

Kazakh crypto miners remain hopeful, assess satellite option amid unrest

Internet blackouts are partially restored but access remains unpredictable to support full crypto mining, industry players say.

Is Bitcoin’s rocky start to 2022 a sign of things to come?

The 2022 crypto market has had a tough start as Bitcoin and Ethereum dipped below significant price points. But crypto experts say it’s not all doom and gloom.

US central bank chief says he will tackle higher inflation

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will reiterate his pledge to prevent entrenched inflation, in testimony released before his Senate nomination hearing on Tuesday.  Fast facts “We will use our tools to support the economy and a strong labor market and to prevent higher inflation from becoming entrenched,” he said in a statement prepared for delivery. […]

Is the CFTC expanding its powers over crypto without authorization from Congress?

The CFTC is asserting greater regulatory powers over the crypto industry than ever before. But does the agency have the statutory backing to do so?
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China’s digital yuan wallet gets 16 million downloads in debut week

China’s pilot e-CNY wallet application, currently available in a dozen major cities, topped 16 million downloads in the first week after its launch, according to two data providers. Fast facts

Kazakhstan internet restoration still not enough for crypto miners, NetBlocks says

Limited restoration of internet access in Kazakhstan is not enough to bring the world’s second-largest crypto mining hub back fully online, according to internet tracker NetBlocks.  Fast facts Last week, internet access in the central Asian nation was shut off after protests over fuel prices spread across the country, resulting in more than 100 deaths […]

Blood, sweat and tiers: Why layer 2 remains the bedrock of Bitcoin development

How has layer-2 innovation saved Bitcoin from becoming a victim of its own success? Blockstream chief Adam Back explains.

Race to be crypto hotspot heats up in Miami, New York

What’s behind the crypto cheerleading by U.S. mayors? Are their city coins savvy moves — or will the bespoke crypto end up worthless?

Tendermint CEO Peng Zhong on how the Cosmos ecosystem is connecting a multi-chain world

In a special Q&A, a core contributor to the rapidly expanding Cosmos ecosystem discusses the ‘internet of blockchains’ and the new cross-chain economy.

The Sandbox metaverse names Mega City project partners

Gaming metaverse the Sandbox announced the partners for its upcoming Hong Kong-influenced virtual cultural hub.

Foxconn’s Taiwan subsidiary receives investment from Google for metaverse projects

The US tech giant will pour $40M via private placement in Ennoconn, as the iPhone supplier continues to dream big for metaverse.

Kazakh riots hit crypto miners amid internet blackout

Bitcoin hashrates tumble as miners unprepared for an outage, experts say.

LG to follow Samsung adding NFT features to flagship TVs

The ability to display, buy and even mint NFTs is seeping into mainstream products from South Korea’s largest corporations.

Tax authorities recover US$9M from India’s biggest crypto exchanges

Some of India’s largest crypto exchanges, including WazirX, blame ambiguity in the regulation of cryptocurrencies for missed tax payments.

CBDCs and the year that may reshape crypto markets

Top blockchain and crypto news: CBDCs at the crossroads. A token gesture from Samsung. NFTs survive in China.

Chinese mining rig maker Canaan deploys 10K machines in Kazakhstan

Chinese cryptocurrency mining rig maker Canaan announced Tuesday that it has entered into multiple partnerships in Kazakhstan and deployed over 10,000 mining machines in the country, as the company steps up efforts to expand globally. Fast facts Canaan said in a statement it has successfully launched the last batch of mining machines online under its […]

TradFi will push the envelope in 2022

Yuval Rooz of enterprise blockchain company Digital Asset Holdings, predicts traditional banks like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs will tokenize more assets to provide more privacy and scalability.

Ignore the rise of Web3 credit unions at your peril

Today’s consumers are looking for more equitable financial services, writes Sean Rach of hi. Here’s how blockchain can offer a nonprofit banking alternative.

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?

China moves to ban internet marketing services for crypto

The Chinese government published a draft regulation on Dec. 31 stating that no organization or individual is allowed to provide internet marketing for illegal financial activities, which include cryptocurrency transactions. Fast facts The regulation, drafted by the People’s Bank of China — China’s central bank — and other Chinese government institutions stipulates that any organization or […]

Binance faces regulatory rebuke in Ontario, obtains preliminary approval in Bahrain

The world’s largest crypto exchange continues struggling to stay compliant, but it has seen some luck in the Middle East.

After a stellar year for Bitcoin and record crypto prices, what to expect in 2022

2021 was a big year for crypto. As we enter a new year, Forkast.News asks market watchers what might be in store for the next 12 months.

Blockchain interoperability will take center stage in 2022, Aventus CEO predicts

Aventus CEO Alan Vey also predicts the decentralized finance rally is just getting started. Which blockchains does he see growing massively in the new year?

Bitcoin at 13: The new age of crypto

With wider acceptance as a financial asset, a teenage Bitcoin may not see the explosive 200% average annual returns of the past, but also may experience less price volatility.

Top 5 blockchain trends for 2022 and beyond

Looking beyond this year’s headlines like El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption, here are the key developments in blockchain technology that will have lasting impact in the new year and beyond.

U.S. regulatory turf wars and a spot Bitcoin ETF are on their way in 2022

Perianne Boring of the Chamber of Digital Commerce sees agencies elbowing each other to oversee the crypto industry while investors start to pay big taxes.

South Korea crypto exchange underdogs: Where are they now?

A regulatory hurricane swept away half of South Korea’s crypto exchanges in 2021. Who are the survivors — and are there larger lessons for the rest of the world?

How to protect crypto privacy in the age of regulation

It’s a myth that crypto transactions are anonymous, writes Warren Paul Anderson of Discreet Labs. Confusing anonymity with privacy is what causes trouble.

Crypto in Asia: 5 top fintech regulatory stories of 2021

Countries acted to encourage — or discourage — cryptocurrency and other blockchain-based assets, sending markets wildly up and down.

DapperLabs’ NFL Moments will bring a new audience to NFTs

The years of investment and development in NFTs and the metaverse will bear fruit in 2022, according to Cryptoslam CEO Randy Wasinger.

The top 5 ‘Ethereum killers’ of 2021

Ethereum was game-chaging at its 2015 launch, but today it’s showing its age. As Eth2 upgrades slowly unfold, who are the top rivals trying elbow out the #2 blockchain?

What lies ahead for crypto regulations in 2022

From China’s ban to FATF’s travel rule, crypto regulations have been top of mind this year. How might regulatory impulses and current trends play out?

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.

What will the metaverse be like in 2022?

Animoca Brands chairman Yat Siu sees a mass migration to the ‘open metaverse’ while the ‘closed’ ones will fail. What does this godfather of blockchain gaming mean by that?

Year in cryptocurrency: biggest surprises of 2021

While increasing crypto adoption was predictable, 2021 also saw much that was unexpected. Here are the events that shocked even crypto natives.

These e-CNY hard wallets might get people talking at the Winter Olympics

China prepares to show off its tech innovation muscles at the Beijing Winter Olympics as it unveils some unusual-looking wallets for its new digital yuan.
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Will 2022 be the year of crypto regulation?

Global shifts are underway in crypto regulations, writes Huong Hauduc of Bequant. How might the political and market forces play out next year?

Crypto Santa’s naughty and nice list for Christmas 2021

Who in the crypto world deserves Santa love this year, and whose chimney should be snubbed? The elves at Forkast.News help the big man with his list.

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?
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Why I got a Bitcoin wallet, and how it can be used for crypto gift-giving and receiving

Curious to use Bitcoin but don’t know where to start? Forkast.News explains how.

What Sam Bankman-Fried thinks will happen with NFTs and crypto exchanges in 2022

Which blockchain sector will flourish, and what’s not yet ripe for mass adoption just yet? FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried offers his crystal ball in a special Forkast.News video.

Are liquidity miners mercenary capitalists or infrastructure providers?

Liquidity mining plays a unique role in the DeFi ecosystem. How does it work?

CBDC tracker shows U.S. falling further behind

Of the Big Four central banks, including those of the EU, UK and Japan, only the Federal Reserve has not progressed beyond research mode in central bank digital currencies.

Japan’s SBI invests in Singapore crypto exchange Coinhako

Japan’s financial conglomerate SBI Holdings announced a joint investment in Singapore’s virtual asset exchange Coinhako with Switzerland-based Sygnum Bank. Fast facts The investment is made through a fund formed in Singapore named the SBI-Sygnum-Azimut Digital Asset Opportunity fund. SBI expressed certainty in supporting Coinhako’s international expansion and other startups that have growth potential in the […]
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Bitcoin sent by mistake, recipient will not be punished for keeping it: South Korea ruling

An investor who received $1.25M in Bitcoin by accident will not be criminally penalized, raising questions on the legal status of cryptocurrencies.

Does content moderation on platforms like OpenSea amount to censorship?

What are the responsibilities of blockchain companies when it comes to freedom of expression? A controversial cartoonist finds out the boundaries.

Bitcoin’s price is a lie, says Morgan Creek Capital chief

Bitcoin’s current price is not indicative of the crypto’s future prospects, says Mark Yusko, who looks forward to the tokenization of everything.

New Cosmos, Mastercard projects to boost Ethereum scalability

With Ethereum usage at all-time high, a Cosmos ‘bridge’ to other blockchains and Mastercard rollups aim to solve a major problem plaguing the Eth network.

Regulators and the problem of unstable stablecoins

Federal regulators have turned their sights on stablecoins. But is the attempt to tame this digital currency too late?

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.

Avalanche price surge leads minor market rebound

After two weeks of a downward price spiral, the market showed some signs of life this morning, with most coins managing to rise about 5% coming into business hours Asia time. AVAX, however, the native token of the Avalanche blockchain, gained almost 25% overnight to reach a two-week high of US$106.87 and finding itself in […]

Matrix Resurrections NFTs reward moviegoers who reserve tickets in South Korea

Lotte Cinema, one of South Korea’s largest movie theater chains, is giving away NFTs (non-fungible tokens) of the movie “The Matrix Resurrections” to people who reserve tickets to the latest addition in the popular science fiction series that depicts life in a simulated reality. Fast facts In collaboration with Warner Bros. and NFT tech startup […]

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.

Binance to set up digital asset exchange in Indonesia with local telecom giant

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, today announced that it has set up a joint venture with the venture capital arm of Telkom Indonesia, the country’s largest telecommunication company, to develop a new digital asset exchange there. Fast facts Binance said in a statement that it has teamed up with MDI Ventures — a US$830 […]

Australia on track for a crypto boom by 2030, EY report says

The report says the country’s crypto industry could swell by up to 30 times its current size in the coming decade.

China’s Zhejiang province busts dozens of state-owned entities for mining crypto

An internet authority in East China’s Zhejiang province has identified in July 4,699 IP addresses in the province that were involved with cryptocurrency mining, and among them 183 addresses were related to 78 state-owned entities, according to a Tuesday article published on the website of China’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), the country’s anti-corruption […]
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