Crypto exchange Binance wants centralized headquarters amid regulatory heat
Under scrutiny around the world, the largest cryptocurrency exchange wants to do a better job engaging with regulators.
Avalanche’s AVAX token surges to all-time high after $230M fundraise
AVAX — the native token of the Avalanche blockchain — today surged to a new all-time high of US$68.34, according to CoinGecko data, boosted by news of a US$230 million investment into the Avalanche ecosystem. AVAX has increased by 60% over the past seven days. Fast facts Launched in September 2020, Avalanche is an open, […]
Why Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson says DeFi is ‘up for grabs’
As Cardano’s Alonzo upgrade goes live, founder Charles Hoskinson of IOHK calls DeFi a ‘bubble.’ How does he think the regulation that is sure to come will reshape DeFi in the future?
How quadratic funding promotes projects for the common good
What is quadratic funding, and why is this mathematical method ideal for allocating capital for a community? Pranav Sharma of Woodstock Fund explains.
Hong Kong-based crypto lender Babel Finance expands to Singapore
Babel Finance, a Hong Kong-based crypto lender and asset manager, today announced it is opening a business headquarters in Singapore named Babel Asia, as the company looks to serve more clients globally. Fast facts Babel Asia plans to serve as a base for future merger and acquisition activities, together with Babel Finance to drive mainstream […]
Logging each step in tea production on a blockchain — from farm to cup
With the ease of counterfeiting products like premium tea, keeping a tamper-proof digital paper trail can record each step along the way.
Canaan reports record revenues; Korea says no to crypto tax delay
Canaan reports record revenues meanwhile Korea says no to crypto tax delay
Canaan sees strongest ever quarterly sales results
Leading Chinese crypto mining hardware manufacturer attributes robust revenue to ‘substantial increase in total computing power sold.’
NFT charity auction to benefit low-income families in Singapore
Blockchain Association Singapore (BAS) and Singapore’s National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) U Care Fund today announced their inaugural non-fungible token (NFT) charity auction event, Blockchain For Good, which will take place Oct. 4 to 10. Fast facts The charity initiative — supported by a wide range of companies including Singapore Airlines, Amazon Web Services Inc., […]
South Korea’s finance minister stands by 20% crypto income tax plan
South Korea’s finance minister Hong Nam-ki gave a firm “no” at the National Assembly to lawmakers asking for crypto taxation to be delayed until the industry is fully prepared. Fast facts Minister Hong insisted the plan to tax capital gains from cryptocurrency transactions should be executed as planned. The amended tax law stipulates that crypto […]
China’s blockchain infrastructure project goes live in Hong Kong, Macau
Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) soft launch is the first attempt to roll out the state-backed ‘internet for blockchain’ outside of the Chinese mainland.
Insider trading scandal rocks world’s biggest NFT platform OpenSea
As the trading volume in non-fungible tokens begins to slow down from recent record heights, leading NFT marketplace OpenSea has been rocked by an insider trading scandal involving a senior team member. Fast facts The company, dubbed “the eBay of NFTs,” issued a statement yesterday acknowledging it became aware on Tuesday that an employee had […]
Solana validators complete restart; Laos ends crypto ban
Solana validators complete restart also Laos ends crypto ban
Litecoin unloved at Walmart. Cardano’s Alonzo upgrade. China takes aim at NFTs.
Top blockchain and crypto news: Walmart dispels Litecoin hoax. Cardano’s real work begins. Beijing bears down on NFTs.
SEC chair says most cryptocurrencies including stablecoins are securities
In his testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, Gary Gensler, chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, said that Coinbase lists “dozens of tokens that may be securities.” Fast facts In response to Senator Pat Toomey’s questions about whether cryptocurrencies classify as securities, Gensler said “very many” of the cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins, are in […]
Solana crashes, SOL prices tumble as network scrambles to restart
SOL had been on a tear but is now losing ground. Is Solana a victim of its own success — or does the network have deeper problems?
Bank of China, DBS and HSBC partner with GSBN on digitizing trade finance
Three banks — the Bank of China, Singapore’s DBS and HSBC — have partnered with the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), a Hong Kong-based non-profit consortium that recently launched a blockchain-based trade platform, to form a trade finance advisory group, according to a media release shared with Forkast.News today. Fast facts Trade finance — the […]
Laos backpedals on crypto ban, looks to trading, mining pilot program
The government of Laos has authorized six firms to trade and mine cryptocurrencies, ending a ban imposed in 2018, according to a recent notice from the prime minister’s office. Fast facts Laos had implemented a complete ban on cryptocurrencies three years ago, including on trading and mining activities. As recently as last month, the country’s […]
South Korean exchanges close cash-to-crypto trading services as new rules loom
Mid-sized crypto exchange Foblgate announced the closure of its Korean won (KRW) trading functions in advance of a government mandate banning digital asset platforms from operating cash-to-crypto services without a local bank partnership. Fast facts Foblgate announced it is temporarily suspending its KRW withdrawal, deposit and trading market between cryptocurrencies and the Korean won. Instead, […]
FTX hit by hack rumor; Korea updates crypto death note
FTX hit by hack rumor meanwhile Korea updates crypto death note
South Korea’s crypto ‘death note’ updated; 7 more exchanges to survive
Financial authorities reveal an updated list of virtual asset platforms that have complied with new regulations.
China’s Hebei and Gansu provinces to phase out crypto mining
More provinces in China are putting new limits on the cryptocurrency mining sector, as the country works toward its carbon neutrality goals and concerns over cryptocurrency trading loom. Fast facts Authorities in North China’s Hebei province today issued a notice to crack down on cryptocurrency mining and trading activities, saying that crypto mining consumes huge […]
Walmart, FTX and Animoca Brands hit by crypto misinformation
Scams and fake news have long dogged the crypto world. This week saw two major blockchain companies and a global retailer get swept up by hack rumors or hoaxes.
China-run media outlet criticizes NFT platform as a payment risk
In the latest response to a growing interest in non-fungible tokens, Beijing Business Today faults an art marketplace.
Ernst & Young teams up with Polygon on Ethereum scaling
Ernst & Young, one of the Big Four consulting multinationals, announced today it has integrated India-based Polygon, a Layer 2 Ethereum scaling solution, to allow its corporate clients to process blockchain-based transactions on the Ethereum mainnet. Fast facts EY has connected the public Polygon commit chain with EY’s blockchain services including EY OpsChain and EY […]
SEC chair reiterates call for crypto platforms to ‘come in and talk to us’
Ahead of the U.S. Banking Committee’s hearing on the “Oversight of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission” today, SEC Chairman Gary Gensler reiterated his call for crypto platforms and projects that have securities to register with the agency. Fast facts In prepared remarks, Gensler emphasized the concerns he sees over the lack of investor protection […]
CrossTower says it wants to collaborate, not compete, with Indian exchanges
CrossTower became the second international crypto exchange to enter the Indian market last week after Binance made its entry by acquiring WazirX in 2019.
China state mouthpiece criticizes NFT mania
A sister paper of the People’s Daily, Securities Times, published an opinion piece to criticize non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as hype and suggested the digital assets should serve the real economy by tokenizing actual assets. Fast facts The article offers as an example Justin Sun’s NFT purchase of a digital avatar for US$10.5 million and the […]
E-CNY problems to be solved; China sees warning over NFT hype
E-CNY problems to be solved, also China sees warning over NFT hype
Altcoins have their day in the sun as market pulls back
A few altcoins managed to stand out coming into the working week as Solana’s tear comes to an end.
What are smart contracts and what are they used for?
In this Forkast.News explainer, learn why blockchains with smart contract capability are surging in popularity and the new darlings of investors.
What crypto can learn from Apple’s smooth interface to computing
Crypto in 2021 is like the early days of the internet, writes Hisham Khan of Aldrin. Here’s why the quality of user experience will decide the industry’s future.
Searching for Asia’s ‘hidden treasures’ in NFTs and GameFi
Why is Axie Infinity so popular, and what is the potential of play-to-earn gaming? Two venture capitalists share insights on Asia’s special place as GameFi’s hub.
Cardano smart contracts set for Sunday: CrossTower launches in India
Cardano smart contracts set for Sunday also CrossTower launches in India
Hangzhou launches China’s first intellectual property blockchain certification platform
In another example of harnessing blockchain technology in the legal world, the Zhejiang Patent Office launched China’s first intellectual property blockchain certification platform on Thursday in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province’s capital city. Fast facts The platform provides users with a blockchain certification after they upload pictures or description documents of their original creation, such as art […]
Mastercard acquires crypto investigation firm to boost security
Payments giant Mastercard announced it is extending its reach into the realm of cryptocurrency with the acquisition of CipherTrace, a blockchain analytics startup, for “greater security, transparency and trust to digital assets across the ecosystem.” Fast facts CipherTrace, which calls itself the world’s first blockchain forensics team, provides cryptocurrency tracking and investigation services. It launched an […]
Cardano set for Alonzo launch, smart contracts and NFTs to come
Cardano’s Alonzo hard fork will bring smart contracts and NFT support to the world’s third-largest blockchain. What will it mean for the crypto market?
International crypto money launderer who worked with N. Korean hackers gets 11 years
A Canadian-American citizen, who laundered tens of millions of dollars for cybercriminals including North Korea’s military intelligence agency hackers, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Fast facts Ghaleb Alaumary, 36, pleaded guilty to money laundering in 2020 and has been asked to pay US$30 million in restitution […]
‘Pororo the Little Penguin’ NFTs and metaverse theme park underway
The Sandbox, Animoca Brand’s subsidiary for decentralized virtual gaming, announces partnership with animation studio in Korea.
Singapore’s cult-favorite premium collectibles maker XM Studios finances expansion plans through tokenization
Design studio that makes hand-crafted statues for global brands such as Marvel, DC Comics and Hasbro plans to expand into new product categories, markets and NFTs.
What does El Salvador’s new Bitcoin law mean for crypto markets?
El Salvador’s Bitcoin embrace may be a domino for some emerging markets, but a fierce rival to the BTC is also coming to the fore.
Why Algorand’s price is on a two-year high right now
Algorand’s ALGO cryptocurrency prices have surged by 90% over the past seven days, crossing the US$2 mark and hit a two-year high of US$2.44 today, according to CoinGecko data. ALGO, ranked the 17th largest cryptocurrency by market value, has not seen such price heights since its launch in 2019. Fast facts Algorand is an open-source, […]
South Korean exchanges facing closure may seek legal action to halt new regulations
At the risk of losing billions, crypto industry officials weigh options to oppose authorities.
Korea crypto damage assessed; Initium’s news based NFTs sell out
Korea crypto damage assessed meanwhile Initium’s news based NFTs sell out
Mark Cuban to Coinbase: ‘Go on the offensive’ against SEC over high-yield product
Billionaire investor Mark Cuban says Coinbase should “go on the offensive” against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in its feud over high-yield savings account Lend. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple — which is itself embroiled in ongoing litigation with the SEC — quipped “Welcome to the party” in a GIF tweet. Fast facts In […]
Crypto mining rig giant Bitmain to supply 56K miners to U.S. partners
China-based Bitmain, one of the world’s biggest producers of cryptocurrency mining rigs, has sealed a deal with its United States partners — ISW Holdings and Bit5ive — to expand its operation in America. Fast facts ISW Holdings, a Nevada-based portfolio company with extensive crypto mining operations, will host 56,000 Bitmain mining rigs and pair them […]
Former Hong Kong news site issues NFTs to preserve history
Initium Media, also known as 端傳媒, is turning to blockchain technology to grow revenue and to ensure controversial news does not get forgotten — or tampered with.
Solana launches into sixth place as price tear continues
As most of the market saw a 10% to 15% dip in the past 48 hours, Solana (SOL) has defied that trend, crossing the US$200 mark for the first time and becoming the new sixth-largest coin by market cap a few hours ago, according to data from CoinMarketCap.com. Fast facts SOL was trading at US$205.27 […]
Bitcoin miner Blockstream partners with Macquarie for zero-carbon project
As the debate over cryptocurrency’s carbon footprint rages on, leading bitcoin miner Blockstream is developing new zero-carbon Bitcoin mining facilities in partnership with Australia-based financial services giant Macquarie Group, according to a company blog post. Fast facts The first pilot site will be in the U.S. where Blockstream will leverage Macquarie’s experience in green investments […]
El Salvador wowed the world by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender. Other countries are taking note
Following crypto’s adoption in one struggling economy, nations in Latin America and elsewhere are now weighing the pros and cons of digital currency
Polkadot’s decentralized identity project KILT wins Kusama parachain auction
KILT Protocol, an open-source blockchain protocol for issuing self-sovereign, anonymous and verifiable credentials, has won the sixth Kusama parachain auction and has launched its mainnet, the project announced yesterday. Kusama is Polkadot’s canary network for blockchain developers to build and test out their code as well as products and services. Fast facts KILT Protocol had […]
Riding the NFT trend: questions to consider before investing in these hot digital assets
As non-fungible tokens break into the mainstream, experts advise buyers to do research and watch for a correction.
Chinese game company’s stock price soars after announcing metaverse game
A Chinese game company, Zhong Qing Bao, announced a metaverse game, and its stock rose considerably this week for two days in a row. Fast facts The game’s name is Brew Master, a game that lets players pretend to be winemakers and trade the wines that they make as NFTs. Two days after the game […]
What decentralization means for internet censorship | Ep. 2
What was internet censorship like in the early days, how has it changed, and what role does decentralization play.
Binance Smart Chain one year on — from DeFi to NFTs and gaming
Have DeFi exploits on BSC hindered the blockchain’s success? NFTs and gaming offer a boost.
South Korean crypto exchanges in ‘purgatory’ plea for survival
Smaller virtual asset exchanges ask for mercy as a deadline looms to commit to Korea’s new standards.
Bitcoin price plunges; Metaverse actions heats up in China
Bitcoin price plunges however Metaverse actions heats up in China
El Salvador’s big Bitcoin bet. Kim Kardashian, crypto flirt. Hong Kong’s crackdown warning.
Top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: El Salvador’s BTC experiment. EthereumMax and the power of celebrity. Hong Kong shores up regulatory oversight.
Markets shed 10-15%; experts say not to worry
Despite significant losses across the board, industry experts are not too concerned, seeing the plunge as normal market behavior.
SEC threatens to sue Coinbase over high-yield savings account
Crypto platform CEO claims regulators use ‘intimidation tactics behind closed doors’ by refusing to provide clarity.
Hong Kong regulator: ramp up oversight of virtual assets
An official from Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission said on Tuesday that the regulator wants to increase oversight of virtual assets because scams related to them have emerged in the market, according to a report by local media etnet. Fast facts Julia Leung, deputy chief executive officer at SFC, said Tuesday at a webinar […]
El Salvador ‘buys the dip’ as Bitcoin price tumbles one day after adoption
Just one day after El Salvador’s highly-anticipated adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender, the country’s recently acquired nest egg of 400 BTC lost roughly US$2.5 million in value as the entire crypto market saw a loss of 10% to 15% in 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.com Fast facts Bitcoin was trading around a four-month high […]
What are public, private and permissioned blockchains?
What are the different kinds of blockchain, and how do they compare? Learn all about public, private and permissioned platforms in this Forkast.News explainer.
El Salvador today becomes first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender
The Central American nation opens up the next chapter in the history of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency.
Solana hits all time high: FTX’s NFT marketplace spammed
Solana hits all-time19 high as FTX’s NFT marketplace spammed
FTX’s NFT platform spammed by fish; SBF’s test NFT sells for $270,000
FTX is the latest crypto exchange to join the NFT bandwagon. “Make your own NFTs,” CEO Sam Bankman-Fried tweeted.
UK regulator slams Kim Kardashian for endorsing speculative token
Charles Randell, chairman of the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority and chair of the Payments Systems Regulator, singled out celebrity influencer Kim Kardashian in his latest speech for endorsing a relatively unknown and unregulated token. Fast facts In June, Kardashian endorsed EthereumMax, a project launched by unknown developers in May 2021. Kardashian, wife of rapper Kanye […]
Solana price reaches new ATH; historic run goes on
Solana (SOL) is continuing to break new ground, gaining 22% in the past 24 hours to reach a new all-time high of US$177.95 at press time, according to data from CoinMarketCap.com. Fast facts It has been a historic run for the network, which rose 45% over the previous week to reach its previous all-time high […]
South Korea expected to allow more crypto exchanges to survive do-or-die regulations
Only 21 out of 60 exchanges are expected to continue their services in Korea.
Korean exchanges offered lifeline; NFL bans crypto sponsorships
Korean exchanges offered lifeline while NFL bans crypto sponsorships
NFL flags NFTs, crypto sponsorships for teams while it huddles on a digital game plan
The American football league’s 32 teams cannot sell NFTs or accept backing from crypto trading firms — at least for now.
What is the outlook for a US central bank digital currency?
It’s hard to move forward on a CBDC when those in charge can’t agree. Is time running out for an American digital dollar?