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How NFTs are redrawing Asia’s art scene from artists to galleries

From Phillips auction house in Hong Kong to Art Fair Philippines, non-fungible tokens are redefining how Asia appreciates, buys and profits from art.

Ripple asks court to ignore 70+ SEC actions against cryptos before XRP

Did Ripple have ‘fair notice’ that SEC might deem the XRP a security? Ripple calls report on SEC’s prior anti-crypto enforcement actions ‘misleading.’

XRP sees robust institutional inflows; Ethereum ‘altcoin of choice,’ report says

XRP last week saw inflows of US$7 million into investment products, the most since April, according to CoinShares.

Chinese crypto social media crackdown; Seoul tightens rules on crypto | The Daily Forkast

Chinese social media Weibo bans crypto accounts as employees of South Korean crypto exchanges can no longer trade on their own platforms.

NortonLifeLock bids to turn users into home Ethereum miners

Users of cybersecurity product NortonLifeLock will soon be able to mine Ethereum on their home computers through a new feature named Norton Crypto.

What blockchain games like Alien Worlds say about life outside metaverses

In a special Q&A, Sarojini McKenna of Alien Worlds discusses play-to-earn gaming, digital assets like Trilium, and lives increasingly lived inside virtual worlds.

Criticisms of Tether’s reserves are unfounded, says Bitfinex CTO

After Tether’s legal settlement with New York, USDT’s growth is exploding—dispelling concerns over Tether’s reserves, says Bitfinex CTO Paolo Ardoino.

Prominent Chinese economist urges public to ‘avoid confusion’ between digital currency and cryptocurrencies

It is important to distinguish between developing a digital currency for currency digitalization and digitalization of assets or cryptocurrencies so that China can be more focused on preventing risks in the financial sector, said Fan Gang, a Peking University professor and a prominent advocate in China for economic reform. Fast Facts: In a keynote speech […]

Ripple execs seek info to defend XRP trades from 16 foreign crypto exchanges

To defend themselves against SEC lawsuit, Ripple’s CEO and chairman ask court for help getting XRP info from a who’s who list of offshore crypto exchanges.

DBS Bank tapping on tokenized bonds as a new way to invest

From digital bonds to real estate, blockchain-enabled security token offerings and tokenization are redefining corporate fundraising and investing.

South Korean crypto exchange Upbit in the dock over botched transfers

Eleven users of Upbit have filed a class action lawsuit against its owner, Dunamu Inc., seeking damages over a suspected technical failure.

Ethereum is rocketing out of this world with SpaceX and SpaceChain

Can Ethereum, also known as the ‘World Computer,’ function outside this world — in space? A SpaceX rocket launch today will put that to the test.

‘Green’ crypto mining should be spared crackdown, Canaan chief says

Green crypto mining operations should be spared China’s recent crackdown on the sector, according to the CEO of Canaan Inc.

SpaceChain shoots blockchain to space; Cardano’s bridge to China | The Daily Forkast

SpaceChain shoots blockchain to tech to the International Space Station aboard Falcon 9 as Cardano announces first cross-chain bridge with Nervos.

Cryptocurrency behind spike in illegal gambling, Asian racing body says

Illegal gambling in Asia is on the rise, facilitated in part by sites accepting bets in cryptocurrency.

Dogecoin to list on Coinbase Pro

Dogecoin has gained an additional measure of credibility, with crypto exchange Coinbase announcing that it will add DOGE to its professional trading platform.

Ethereum investment products hit market-share high of 27%, report says

Ethereum has hit a market-share high of 27% of all digital asset investment fund products following recent price corrections.

Thailand warns over DeFi; India green lights cryptos | The Daily Forkast

Thailand becomes one of the first governments to attempt DeFi regulation as India’s RBI clarifies that banking ban no longer exists.

Robinhood’s Chinese rivals to launch crypto services abroad

China-based trading apps Futu and Tiger Brokers have announced plans to move into crypto to compete outside China with apps such as Robinhood and eToro.

Financial Stability Board seeks faster, cheaper cross-border payments

The Financial Stability Board has launched a public consultation on global targets for cross-border payments.

Taxing crypto down under; Privacy coins spike in value | The Daily Forkast

Tax season is here and the ATO wants to make sure Aussies pay their taxes for crypto earnings. Also, Privacy coins have surged over the past weeks.

Privacy coin Monero surges as US and Australia target crypto gains

Privacy-centric coins like Monero, ZCash and Dash are seeing big price rises as the IRS and ATO issue warnings on taxable crypto transactions.

Turkey’s crypto clampdown underwhelms as investors claim ‘business as usual’

Turkish regulators have tightened their grip on cryptocurrencies, but small traders and investors appear to have barely noticed.

How FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried navigates crypto trading’s new normal

From mass liquidations to meme trading, the characteristics unique to the crypto market can now be seen in traditional markets, says FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried.

Are 73 SEC actions against crypto enough warning to Ripple about XRP?

SEC says Ripple had plenty of ‘notice’ that XRP transactions could be violating the law via its many enforcement actions against other crypto companies.

Bridging the DeFi data gap with indexing blockchain data

Blockchain technology has massive data requirements, but the data can be difficult and costly to access. What are some of the solutions?

Crypto sector faces tougher enforcement over sanctions-busting, report says

Sanctions enforcement affecting the cryptocurrency industry has intensified rapidly in the past two years, according to a new report by crypto compliance consultancy Elliptic.

Hong Kong crypto exchanges seek to wash hands of dirty power problem

Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com has announced that it is committed to becoming carbon-negative within 18 months, following carbon-neutral initiatives launched by other Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency exchanges FTX and BitMEX.

Chinese province’s hydropower gives hope to crypto miners following crackdown elsewhere

Energy regulators in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan, which has abundant hydropower resources, will hold a seminar on June 2 to assess the province’s cryptocurrency mining industry, fanning hopes among miners that the beleaguered sector may be given a reprieve from its recent hardships in China.

Almost four in ten consumers have bought cryptocurrencies, study finds

Consumer adoption of cryptocurrencies has grown, with 38% of respondents to a survey saying they have either invested in or bought a cryptocurrency, according to digital wallet provider Skrill, part of payments provider Paysafe.

Ethereum 2 to set green future; Koreans demand regulator steps down | The Daily Forkast

Vitalik Buterin sets a green future for the Ethereum network while Bitdeer becomes the latest to block Chinese miners.

Will China become the new digital currency superpower?

The U.S. dollar reigns supreme as the current world reserve currency. Could the USD’s status change with the rise of CBDCs like China’s DCEP digital yuan?

Tokenization to transform financial system, DBS Bank CEO says

The power of tokenization can fundamentally transform the fabric of the financial system, Singapore’s DBS Bank CEO Piyush Gupta told the Consensus by CoinDesk 2021 conference taking place this week.

How Ripple found new ways to grow XRP business despite SEC lawsuit

Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse says Ripple was hit hard financially after SEC filed its lawsuit, but the company is now expanding uses for XRP’s technology.

Vitalik Buterin speaks: What lies in the future of Ethereum?

Breaking into occasional Mandarin at a Hong Kong conference, Ethereum’s visionary creator tells all — including why Ethereum 2.0 is taking so long.

Crypto miner BitDeer blocks China users as Beijing gets tough on sector

BitDeer, one of China’s biggest crypto mining operators, blocked access to anyone using a mainland Chinese IP address last night.

PayPal to let users move their crypto into third-party wallets

Global payments giant PayPal plans to let its users move the cryptocurrency they hold on its platform into third-party wallets.

Digital currencies gain ground as governments launch CBDC initiatives

Cashless payment methods are on the rise as governments step up central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) initiatives.

Crypto market rebound as investors go green; Indonesia plans CBDC | The Daily Forkast

Investors are turning to green alternatives to tackle Bitcoin’s impact on the environment as Indonesia gears up for a CBDC.

Inner Mongolia takes steppes to tighten crypto mining ban

The Chinese region of Inner Mongolia – once a thriving cryptocurrency mining hub that has recently enacted a series of measures to rein in the sector – has unveiled eight new proposals designed to give added force to its recently imposed, all-out ban on crypto mining.

Tether’s market cap tops US$60B despite crypto outflows

Despite recent outflows from crypto, U.S. dollar-linked stablecoin Tether (USDT) has surpassed US$60 billion for the first time this week.

DeFi has boosted challenger banks. Now it’s their customers’ turn

New and innovative lenders are taking advantage of DeFi’s low costs to offer savings account interest rates that Main Street banks simply can’t match.

China crypto crackdown fallout; Politician turns influencer in Korea | The Daily Forkast

China’s miners prepare for migration and Hong Kong reacts to possible retail ban. Meanwhile a South Korean governor becomes a crypto influencer.

Cardano sees US$10M inflows as big investors switch to proof-of-stake coins

Amid declines in Bitcoin and Ethereum, Cardano and its native cryptocurrency ADA saw US$10 million inflows as institutional investors switch to proof-of-stake coins.

China’s cryptocurrency mining sector becomes target of fresh clampdown 

Chinese authorities’ latest regulatory offensive against the crypto industry may not be as bad for the sector as it appears.

What will happen if Hong Kong bans retail investors from trading crypto?

Hong Kong is poised to ban small investors from buying cryptocurrencies, while making exchanges get licences. Industry experts discuss how this might play out. 
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Hong Kong split on retail crypto ban; Korean conglomerate on custody | The Daily Forkast

Hong Kong reacts to the region’s pending legislation on limiting crypto investment to professional investors while a conglomerate enters South Korea’s crypto custody scene.

Half of hedge funds are now investing in crypto, says PwC report

PwC and Elwood Asset Management have published their third annual report on the global crypto hedge fund landscape. Here are its findings.

Bybit crypto derivatives exchange launches cloud mining for Ether

Crypto exchange Bybit is launching cloud mining to provide exposure to Ether. What happens when Ethereum moves from proof of work to proof of stake?

Crypto market rebound; Sotheby’s next NFT auction eyes millennials | The Daily Forkast

The crypto market has rebounded after one of its biggest crashes. Bitcoin is a ‘safe haven’ for many investors.

Solana gets Coinbase listing after SOL prices surge amid crypto market crash

Coinbase Pro adds Solana’s native token, opening the doors for US investors after SOL outperforms Bitcoin and most other cryptos amid market crash.

Bank on change: DeFi’s challenge to traditional finance and fintech

As mainstream finance embraces decentralized finance, neither it nor its younger challengers are likely to escape the evolutionary forces at work.

Thailand’s The Brooker Group still bullish on crypto, planning US$3M investment in DeFi

The Booker Group announced that it now holds approximately US$35 million in crypto and plans to invest US$3 million into DeFi in Q2.

U.S. SEC chair Gary Gensler says regulator will enforce crypto rules ‘aggressively and consistently’

U.S. SEC chair Gary Gensler says as technology and markets evolve, regulators should be ready to bring cases involving crypto.

Crypto chaos continues; mass BTC liquidations in exchanges across Asia | The Daily Forkast

Mass liquidations are observed across exchanges as the crypto market continues to struggle. Meanwhile, institutions explore DeFi.

South Korea switches course on crypto amid backlash over regulator’s remarks

Newly elected South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum appears to be leading an embrace of the cryptocurrency sector among lawmakers.

Judge denies Ripple’s bid to bar SEC from seeking foreign info on XRP

In a win for the SEC, a judge knocks back Ripple’s request to stop the SEC from asking foreign regulators for info on Ripple and XRP transactions overseas.

Illegal crypto mining in Inner Mongolia’s crosshairs as reporting hotline set up

The Chinese region of Inner Mongolia is urging members of the public to report all cases of cryptocurrency mining, setting up a reporting hotline, an office address and an email address to solicit tips for law enforcement authorities.

China’s BIT Mining inks deal for U.S. data center joint venture

Chinese cryptocurrency miner BIT Mining has signed a deal to build a data center in Texas.

Rejecting traditional finance, some firms now turn to DeFi for growth capital

DeFi project Maple Finance is launching a $17 million lending pool to provide crypto startups with capital. Is this the start of a DeFi credit underwriting trend?

Digital dollar’s values to fortify USD hegemony, says ex-CFTC chair

Former CFTC chairman Chris Giancarlo and Accenture’s David Treat are not in a CBDC race, but a ‘contest’ to develop money that reflects societal values.

China-based SOS announces activation of 6,039 mining rigs for ETH, BTC

Qingdao-headquartered tech company SOS Ltd. has announced the launch of more than 6,000 ETH and BCT mining rigs, claiming 90% renewable energy sources.

China shuts banks, finance firms out of cryptocurrency business

China has slapped a ban on finance sector businesses, including payment firms, from offering cryptocurrency services.

Will Singapore launch a people’s digital currency — and support DeFi?

As Singapore builds Project Dunbar, a cross-border multiple-CBDC platform, its government dives into DeFi learning and ponders a CBDC for the masses.

Banks take on enterprise blockchain; WeMade entrust crypto to KODA | The Daily Forkast

Banks in Singapore are leading blockchain and DLT developments while South Korean game developer WeMade entrusts its US$130 million crypto holdings to KODA.

What is Polkadot and why is it one of the hottest blockchains right now?

The final phase of Polkadot’s rollout — with parachains — just kicked off. Here’s what you need to know about Polkadot and parachains, and why it matters.

Elon Musk slips down rich list as Tesla’s stock loses shine

Tesla founder Elon Musk has lost his position as the world’s second-richest person following a 2.2% decline in the electric carmaker’s share price.

Fund managers urge caution amid crypto price swings

Fund managers have reacted swiftly to the latest price volatility in the cryptocurrency market triggered by recent Elon Musk tweets that have raised doubts over Tesla’s future relationship with Bitcoin, the Financial Times reports. Fast Facts: T Rowe Price President and Head of Investments Rob Sharps recognized the impact of cryptocurrencies across capital markets, but […]

Elon Musk Dogecoin tweet draws ire of crypto heavyweights

A tweet about Dogecoin by Tesla founder Elon Musk provoked a terse response from high-profile figures in the cryptocurrency industry on Sunday. Fast Facts: Musk responded to a tweet in which Twitter user @itsALLrisky claimed that Dogecoin was superior to Bitcoin, tweeting back: “Ideally, Doge speeds up block time 10X, increases block size 10X & drops […]

India’s demand for crypto ‘growing like crazy’ since ban attempt

It’s only a matter of time that digital currency ‘is going to overshadow all the other forms of money,’ says Neeraj Khandelwal of CoinDCX.

S. Korea facing backlash for banning police from owning crypto

To improve public trust, South Korea is barring police officers from buying cryptocurrency. Could this presage a broader clampdown on crypto in the country?

Binance under fire; Internet giant Naver takes on South Korea’s CBDC | The Daily Forkast

The Asian crypto industry reacts to the US Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service money laundering probe into Binance. In South Korea, the nation’s largest internet company plans to join Bank of Korea’s CBDC ventures. Over in Singapore, Southeast Asia’s largest lender DBS Bank expands its crypto services for its private bank clients by […]