Ethereum’s institutional outflows hit record US$50M, CoinShares data says
Ethereum is bearing the brunt of negative sentiment on crypto, with net outflows from institutional products related to the token hitting a record of US$50 million last week.
Custodians: looking after your assets
The need for custody Who holds the keys? Who looks after the digital assets? The person with control has custody. For an exchange, that custodian should be a third party for better risk management, more robust security and improved accountability. There is no shortage of examples of the inherent problems that can arise when exchange […]
Growth of digital assets markets and exchanges
Interview with Thor Chan, CEO of AAX Forkast.News: The value of digital assets has exploded during the last year, and we are now at levels well above previous forecasts. What are you seeing in the market right now? Thor Chan: We think that the global crypto market is growing. More money is flowing in, and […]
Special Series, Part 2: China lays digital groundwork for a new Silk Road
How China’s deployment of the digital yuan intertwines economics with geopolitics and concrete with virtual infrastructure, from Cambodia to the Caribbean.
Introduction
Executive Summary The crypto market of 2020 is not the crypto market of 2013. What was once a cryptocurrency market is now a digital asset market. Blockchain’s strengths in efficiently and transparently tracking assets have given birth to an industry of assets represented by tokens, allowing both a new class of investors to have exposure […]
The Unstoppable Rise of Digital Assets
Table of contents Foreword For any currency, confidence is essential. This report is about the development of digital assets, cryptocurrencies and tokenization and how that all-important confidence is established. by Angie Lau, Forkast Editor-in-Chief Executive summary and introduction The crypto market of 2020 is not the crypto market of 2013. What was once a cryptocurrency […]
China’s crypto miners eye Kazakhstan in exodus; e-HKD study on track | The Daily Forkast
Kazakhstan is quickly becoming a mining hotspot as China’s mining exodus settles down. In Hong Kong, and update on the e-HKD.
South Korean crypto exchange fee revelations deal blow to sector’s credibility
Payment for listings raises questions over integrity of cryptocurrencies’ credit scores as compliance deadline nears.
Shiba Inu price jumps 25% after Elon Musk throws new Twitter bone on dog
Elon Musk set off a new SHIB price rally after tweeting that he would name his Shiba Inu—the dog breed that the joke meme coin is named after—’Floki.’
Special series, Part 1: China bets on the blockchain
Long before most governments, the Asian superpower saw the potential in Bitcoin’s technology to spawn the next internet and a new form of money.
Building construction meets blockchain, Binance launches NFT platform | The Daily Forkast
Construction meets blockchain in Australian and Binance’s NFT marketplace is open for business.
SEC seeks to stop Ripple from calling ex-SEC director for XRP testimony
SEC does not want its former head of Corporation Finance to testify or answer question about XRP. Who is William Hinman — and what might he tell Ripple?
What will Ethereum’s London hard fork do as an upgrade?
A major Ethereum upgrade via London hard fork — which experts call a ‘seismic shift’ for the industry — is coming soon. Are ‘Ethereum killers’ doomed?
Crypto exchange Gemini buys carbon offsets, pledges carbon-neutrality
Crypto exchange Gemini has bought US$4 million in carbon credits to offset the environmental impact of its Bitcoin holdings
Mining rig maker Bitmain halts sales amid flood of second-hand machines
Chinese crypto mining rig maker Bitmain has decided to suspend global spot sales of its Antminer machines, as some of its clients are reselling their rigs.
Blockchain data cruncher Chainalysis raises $100M to expand in Asia Pacific
Chainalysis, the blockchain and cryptocurrency data analytics firm, announced today that it has raised US$100 million in a Series E funding round with a US$4.2 billion valuation. Fast facts: Headquartered in New York, Chainalysis provides blockchain-based software that enables governments and businesses to detect and prevent cryptocurrency crime and money laundering. Chainalysis’ series E round […]
Tesla, Facebook and Netflix stock tokens launch on Solana blockchain
Swiss-based Digital Assets AG, a firm focused on the design of tokenized stock infrastructure, has launched over 50 tokenized stocks on the Solana public blockchain.
Blue House responds to petition; Bitmain offers relocation assistance | The Daily Forkast
South Korea’s Blue House responds to a national petition calling for the financial watchdog head’s resignation.
Paraguay university to accept crypto for tuition fees
A university in Paraguay has announced that it will begin accepting cryptocurrency as payment for tuition starting from August.
Survey: 32% of novice traders only invested in crypto in past year
Nearly one in three novice traders reported making no traditional investments outside crypto over the past year, according to a survey published today by Overbit, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange. In contrast, 85.3% of professional traders reported diversifying their investment portfolios to stock, real estate or other traditional assets. Fast facts: The survey of 3,000 traders […]
South Korea points to crypto regulation efforts after calls for watchdog to quit
South Korea’s presidential office has reacted defensively to a petition calling for the chief of the country’s main finance sector regulator to step down over comments he made about cryptocurrencies.
Australian auction house begins accepting crypto for all items
Auction house Lloyds Auctions Australia has begun accepting cryptocurrency for all purchases on its marketplace.
Rig maker Bitmain offers help to Chinese miners looking to relocate abroad
Chinese mining rig maker Bitmain is offering assistance to clients that want to relocate their cryptocurrency mining operations from China to other countries.
Binance NFT marketplace launches with auction of Dali, Warhol
Crypto exchange Binance is launching a non-fungible token marketplace, auctioning NFTs of artworks by Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali.
Court grants Ripple access to SEC’s internal trading policies on XRP
A judge has granted Ripple’s request to force the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to reveal its non-public policies regarding whether agency employees may buy and sell XRP and other cryptocurrencies, according to a screenshot of a new legal filing shared by the lawyer representing XRP holders. Fast facts: Earlier this month, Ripple sought the […]
Chinese crypto mining rig maker Bitmain suspends sales as prices drop
Chinese mining rig maker Bitmain has stopped selling in-stock cryptocurrency mining equipment amid a plunge in the prices following a shutdown of major mining pools in China.
South Korea’s Upbit sued for patent violation, Alipay launches NFT platform | The Daily Forkast
Another legal challenge faces cryptocurrency exchange Upbit. In China, Ant Group is getting into the NFT game — through Alipay.
Iran seizes record haul of 7,000 crypto mining machines
Iranian police have confiscated 7,000 cryptocurrency mining machines from an abandoned factory in western Tehran, the largest batch discovered in recent days.
Report: US cryptocurrency crimes surging by 300% a year
Crypto-related crime in the US increased an average of over 300% per year from 2017 to 2020with a total of 82,135 cases last year alone.
What is Ethereum, and could it become the future of blockchain?
Ethereum is much more than a cryptocurrency, and it has already attracted huge interest among investors. What’s all the fuss about? Forkast.News explains.
New crypto mining hot spots emerge; Korea crypto controversy escalates | The Daily Forkast
The next generation of mining hot spots are shaping out in the aftermath of China’s mining exodus as Upbit’s delisting generates new enemies.
Chinese crypto miners head west as Beijing’s crackdown gains pace
Kazakhstan offers nearby bolthole as North America and Europe beckon.
Iron Finance’s DeFi bank run — and how Mark Cuban got ‘rekt’
Iron Finance, once a DeFi darling, went from billions to bust in a day. Should investors have seen the crash coming? How stable are algorithmic stablecoins?
Cash for CBDCs at Beijing ATMs; Asia sees new unicorn in Amber Group | The Daily Forkast
CBDC ATMs appear around Beijing and Hong Kong-based Amber Group is Asia’s billion dollar unicorn after raising US$100 million in its Series B.
Iran bans blockchain association, citing regulatory breaches
Iran’s interior ministry has suspended the Iran Blockchain Association over alleged breaches of government regulations.
CoinShares partners with Germany’s Finanzen Zero on crypto ETPs
European digital asset manager CoinShares hasannounced a partnership with German financial news portal Finanzen.net to bring crypto exchange traded products to investors with no trading fees.
Asia’s newest unicorn, crypto trading firm Amber Group, raises $100 million
Forkast.News speaks with Michael Wu, Amber Group’s co-founder and CEO, on how the crypto firm is going from $100 million to $1 billion in valuation.
WazirX CEO: India’s crypto industry trying to keep ‘clean’ for regulators
Crypto literacy of Indian regulators is evolving and crypto players are trying to keep industry clean via self-regulations, says Nischal Shetty of WazirX.
Crypto clampdown hits Sichuan; Dtravel launches Airbnb rival | The Daily Forkast
China’s crypto clampdown reaches Sichuan. A sneak preview into how China’s digital yuan works.
Miami woos crypto miners fleeing China
The city’s mayor says it welcomes an exodus of miners from China amid a generalized clampdown on the industry.
Chinese crypto mining ban coming to Sichuan — reports
Miners face imminent shutdown as power companies told to cut electricity, according to multiple reports.
U.S. securities watchdog’s regulatory agenda turns blind eye to crypto
Dashing hopes of greater regulatory clarity for the cryptocurrency industry, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently released annual regulatory agenda does not mention Bitcoin or cryptocurrency regulations.
MSCI to launch cryptocurrency index
Global securities index MSCI plans to launch a cryptocurrency index, according to CEO Henry Fernandez.
Grayscale eyes 13 more crypto assets including Polygon, Bancor
Institutional digital asset manager Grayscale announced today that it is exploring 13 more assets for its trusts, mainly related to decentralized finance.
‘China’s Robinhood’ halts CME crypto futures services amid sector clampdown
Chinese stock trading app Futu Niuniu has suspended Chicago Mercantile Exchange cryptocurrency futures services and stopped supplying crypto market information.
Angry Aussie crypto investors eye Binance class action
Australian investors adversely impacted by repeated system failures on Binance are considering taking a class action lawsuit to recoup their losses.
U.S. Republican Party to accept donations in cryptocurrency
The National Republican Congressional Committee in the US will begin accepting donations in cryptocurrency.
How DeFi exchanges like SynFutures may challenge TradFi and CeFi
Singapore-based decentralized exchange SynFutures has closed a $14 million series A round to bring crypto derivatives to new users around the world.
More regulation for SK crypto exchanges; NFTs kick-start K-pop comeback | The Daily Forkast
Self-published tokens get barred from South Korean exchanges as Hong Kong’s air quality recording meets blockchain technology.
Survival race of SK exchanges; Ethereum powers digital passports in HK | The Daily Forkast
50 crypto exchanges apply for ISMS in South Korea while Hong Kong sees the birth of a blockchain passport for Covid vaccinations.
The internet paradigm shift is here: Are you prepared for Web 3.0?
Permissionless, open source and decentralized, Web 3.0 will transform computing and data storage. Maria Paula Fernandez of Golem Network explains how.
Yunnan mining ban clarified; Korean exchanges start ‘coin thinning’ | The Daily Forkast
Chinese authorities provide more details on its notice issued to the local mining industry while South Korean exchange start ‘coin thinning’.
Chinese province of Yunnan puts crypto mining under the microscope
Following rumors of a possible ban on cryptocurrency mining in the province last week, its energy regulator has clarified an approach to the industry that looks set to rein in rogue operators.
Beyond the NFT hype: Why NFT technology is flawed and buyers must beware
What does it mean to own an NFT, and why are some NFTs vanishing? Alexander Hobbs of Zenotta explains the weaknesses in NFTs’ underlying technology.
Ethereum sees record institutional outflows of US$12.7M
Ethereum saw its largest institutional outflows on record last week as outflows from Bitcoin eased, according to a report by CoinShares.
El Salvador’s BTC remittances in May quadruple from last year
Bitcoin transactions in El Salvador during May increased by more than four times compared to a year ago, yet fiat remittances still represent the vast majority of transactions in the country.
Yunnan warns miners over power use; WazirX faces gov’t heat | The Daily Forkast
China’s crypto mining crackdown continues while Indian finance authorities probe one of the nation’s largest exchange WazirX.
Who’ll blink first in India’s crypto stand-off?
India’s central bank has clarified that cryptocurrencies are not illegal, but that does little to prevent lenders from refusing to provide crypto-related services.
As blockchain becomes widely used in banking, what are its security risks?
Blockchain provides greater data transparency and security than ever before, but the technology is not immune to cyber attacks and data breaches.
Huobi launches Blockchain Assets Center for token listings
Huobi Group has announced the launch of a Blockchain Assets Center to provide a standardized, streamlined process for projects seeking to list on its cryptocurrency exchange, Huobi Global.
SK govt assists crypto exchanges; Aus firm accepts crypto for rent | The Daily Forkast
South Korean government is holding on-site visits to help crypto exchanges get regulated while an Aussie business wants crypto for rent.
Plasm Network closes $10M fundraise to bolster Polkadot ambitions
With Kusama slot parachain auctions underway, the first starting next week, Plasm and Shiden networks prepare for a multi-chain future with Polkadot.
How the layer 2 race is scaling Ethereum before ETH 2.0
While the world waits for Eth 2, blockchain developers like Enya.ai and OMG Network are trying to solve Ethereum’s scalability issues via layer 2.
Twitter chief says integration of BTC Lightning Network “a matter of time”
Twitter’s founder and CEO says the integration of Bitcoin layer-2 payments — the Lightning Network — into the social media platform may be on the horizon.
Is Chinese province Yunnan banning cryptocurrency mining?
Yunnan is getting prepared to ban cryptocurrency mining activities, BTC.top, one of the country’s major mining pools, today told Forkast.News, citing a screenshot of a notice.
Bitmain rallies crypto miners to ponder options as industry eyes China exit
Chinese crypto mining rig maker Bitmain is reportedly set to meet with miners and industry participants next week to discuss relocating mining operations overseas.
Australian serviced office firm to accept rent in crypto
Australian serviced office firm Business Hub will accept cryptocurrency as payment for rent on serviced office space and other business services as of July 1.
Singapore’s GIC takes 8% stake in HK’s digital asset company BC Group
GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, is investing in BC Group—the parent company of OSL, Hong Kong’s first licensed cryptocurrency exchange.
Basel Committee starts public consultation on banks’ crypto asset exposures
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision has launched a public consultation on preliminary proposals for the treatment of banks’ crypto asset exposures.
Hashrate drops as Chinese crypto mining ban extended to more provinces
Cryptocurrency mining prohibition in Xinjiang and Qinghai follows Inner Mongolia ban.
Jump Trading partners with Solana-based DeFi protocol Oxygen
Jump Trading, a high-frequency trading firm, is joining Oxygen, a decentralized finance prime brokerage protocol, as a strategic partner and market-maker to provide liquidity on the Oxygen platform.
U.S. millennial crypto fans want to spend their coins like cash, study shows
Ninety-three percent of millennial current or former cryptocurrency holders in the U.S. would consider using their digital coins for everyday purchases, according to a recent survey.