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DBS Bank slams brakes on retail crypto trading

Singapore’s largest lender won’t expand cryptocurrency trading on its exchange to retail investors any time soon due to “regulatory restrictions” in the island state. See related article: How Singapore is reimagining its ‘Asian crypto hub’ image Fast facts CEO Piyush Gupta said that regulatory agencies are “rightfully concerned” about holding back cryptocurrency trading for retail […]

New owner gives Pudgy Penguins NFTs happy feet

Prices of Pudgy Penguins non-fungible tokens (NFTs) collection recovered as the community got a new leader. They now trade at 2.85 ETH on marketplace OpenSea, and 2.98 ETH on LooksRare after hovering around 1 ETH for most of March. See related article: Why Asia is poised to be the next big market for an NFT […]

China’s digital yuan is now in 23 cities

The People’s Bank of China said it expanded its digital yuan pilot program to 11 more cities, including in Hangzhou, which hosts the Asian Games in September. See related article: The digital yuan’s de-dollarization Fast facts The 11 cities that will trial China’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) are Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangzhou, Fuzhou, Xiamen, and […]

Yi He: Binance will take the arrows for industry compliance, security

Pioneers take arrows. No one knows it better than Binance. The world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange by volume wants to set the industry standard when it comes to compliance and security as past missteps hold it in good stead.

Calling a spade a spade holds Binance’s lesser known cofounder in good stead

As the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange battles the onslaught of regulators globally, cofounder Yi He is stepping out of the shadows to help steer the company.

How decentralization is making everyone their own CEO

The emancipatory promise of decentralization has been both evangelized and excoriated. The Algorand Foundation’s Jason Lee explains why we should be believers.

China’s e-CNY push; India’s crypto tax kicks in

India’s long-awaited crypto tax comes into effect. Meanwhile, China expands the digital yuan program.

NFT buyers dip for a second straight month

In contrast to the rising crypto market, NFT sales have declined significantly in March, but one industry watcher says there’s no need to panic just yet.

Ronin hack delays Axie Infinity upgrade

Sky Mavis, the developer of the popular blockchain game Axie Infinity, delayed its highly anticipated Origin upgrade in response to the recent hack worth over US$600 million on its Ronin network.  See related article: Top NFT game Axie Infinity generated $1.3B in revenue last year Fast facts The Vietnam-based developer’s new Origin upgrade will now […]

BNY Mellon to become custodian for USDC reserves

Circle has selected one of America’s oldest banks, BNY Mellon, as the primary custodian for the world’s second-largest stablecoin USDC’s reserves. See related article: USDC to be 100% backed by cash, US Treasuries Fast facts USDC issuer Circle chief Jeremy Allaire had claimed the stablecoin became 100% backed by cash and short-term treasury bills after […]

South Korean banks seek green light on crypto

The Korea Federation of Banks (KFB) may request South Korea’s incoming presidential administration to approve local banks servicing cryptocurrencies, according to a leaked draft report. See related article: South Korea’s largest financial group mulls crypto ETFs Fast facts KFB, the largest body representing domestic lenders, wrote in its report that banks should be permitted to […]

China’s digital yuan expands to five more cities

Residents in five more Chinese cities were able to access digital yuan wallets starting Thursday, marking a major development for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) globally.  See related article: Asian Games set for digital yuan, metaverse pilots, tech firm claims Fast facts See related article: Digital yuan pilot attracts Chinese province bordering Russia

Crypto tax in India is now a reality 

India’s 30% flat levy on all capital gains made on cryptocurrencies kicked in on April 1 in a development likely to stifle the relatively nascent industry in the country. See related article: India’s crypto tax will incur losses for government, says WazirX CEO Fast facts Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been facing investor backlash over […]

Binance signs on as Grammys’ official crypto exchange partner

The operator of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange will become the first-ever official crypto exchange partner for the annual Grammy Awards for musical achievement. See related article: Binance to take $200M stake in Forbes Fast facts Binance will bring various Web 3.0 technology solutions and experiences to the organization’s members, events and initiatives, a press release […]

European Union to track all crypto transfers

European lawmakers have voted to introduce new legislation designed to stop illicit flows amid industry pushback claiming the measures will stifle innovation and infringe on privacy. See related article: EU votes against de facto Bitcoin mining ban Fast facts The proposal requires crypto service providers to collect information on senders and beneficiaries in all crypto […]

China’s WeChat bans NFT accounts; Zilliqa token soars

NFTs accounts banned from WeChat due to “crypto speculation”. Meanwhile, Zilliqa on the rise after Metapolis announcement.

How women artists are bridging the NFT gender gap

Despite the promises of decentralized technology, women remain vastly underrepresented in the NFT art world. Forkast talks to artists working to change that.

Wormhole to bridge Polkadot, Kusama to Ethereum, Solana

Polkadot parachain Acala and its Kusama-based counterpart Karura are integrating with cross-chain bridge Wormhole, bridging its decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystems with eight major Layer 1 blockchains.  See related article: Polkadot is top crypto held by VCs and hedge funds in Q4 2021 Fast facts The Wormhole integration will bridge Acala and Karura to Ethereum, Solana, […]

WeChat bans NFT accounts, citing ‘crypto speculation’

WeChat has blocked more than a dozen accounts belonging to non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces from its social media platform, citing prevention of “crypto speculation.” See related article: China state-backed paper’s NFTs surge in price on second-hand market Fast facts When visited, the banned accounts of the NFT marketplaces displayed a message from WeChat: “No legal […]

India’s financial stability at risk from cryptos: IMF

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is voicing concerns over the adoption of cryptocurrencies in India, suggesting it poses significant risks to the country’s financial stability, local media report. See related article: Killing it softly or regulating to innovate? India at the crypto crossroads Fast facts Crypto assets pose significant risks, including to financial stability in […]

Should Tether’s shrinking cash reserves be cause for investor worry?

USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin, is now backed by much smaller cash reserves than before. XREX analyzes the risks.
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Metapolis’ Zilliqa surges 80% over 24 hours, outpacing Solana’s OpenSea integration

Zilliqa is leading Thursday’s crypto market with an 80% charge over the last 24 hours, part of a 270% weekly pump since its metaverse-as-a-service platform Metapolis launch event was announced.

Alibaba invests in AR; Ronin Network hacked

Alibaba makes a $60M metaverse bet on AR glasses maker Nreal. Meanwhile, Axie’s Ronin blockchain gets hacked.

Is Dubai the new crypto promised land?

Top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Dubai’s crypto caravan. Mt. Gox unlocked. Digital yuan in play again.

Indian district issues caste certificates on Polygon

A district government in Maharashtra, India, has started stamping 65,000 caste certificates through LegitDoc, a document-verifying system on the Polygon blockchain.  See related article: India releases ‘National Strategy on Blockchain’ for e-governance Fast facts In India, caste certificates are used by marginal communities such as tribes to gain access to certain government benefits and subsidies.  […]

Indian MP proposes raising crypto tax higher than 30%

Sushil Kumar Modi, a member of Parliament (MP), has urged India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to consider raising the capital gains tax on crypto income to over 30%, the flat rate scheduled to kick in from April 1.  See related story: India’s tax bogeyman is scaring off young crypto investors Fast facts The minister argued […]

Alibaba makes $60M metaverse bet on AR glasses firm Nreal

Augmented reality (AR) glasses maker Nreal raised US$60 million in its Series C+ led by Alibaba, which joins rival Chinese tech giants Tencent and ByteDance in a race into the metaverse.  See related article: Why the metaverse is a trillion dollar opportunity Fast facts See related article: Foxconn’s Taiwan subsidiary receives investment from Google for […]

Hong Kong Exchange to trial digital assets trading in ‘Diamond’ pilot

The Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX) Tuesday revealed plans to launch “Diamond,” a trading platform to pilot digital assets in 2022.  See related article: China’s e-CNY pilot to boost Hong Kong as offshore yuan trading center Fast facts See related article: Hong Kong to propose bill to license crypto exchanges

DeFi lender Aave’s token has surged over 80% since V3 launch

Decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocol Aave’s governance token surged 84% since its March 16 V3 upgrade, and was trading at US$220.01 at press time, according to CoinGecko data.  See related article: DeFi lending platform Aave to ‘build Twitter on Ethereum’ Fast facts Aave is also the top gainer in the past 24 hours with a […]

OpenSea’s Solana NFT integration, long rumored, is now real

Leading non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace OpenSea has released a teaser of its long-rumored integration of NFTs on the Solana blockchain, now planned for April. See related article: What is the Solana ecosystem and how is it fueling SOL’s stratospheric rise? Fast facts OpenSea’s teaser video shared on Twitter on Tuesday morning Asia time displayed a […]

India’s biggest telecom firm latches onto metaverse

Bharti Airtel Ltd., India’s largest wireless telecom services provider by active users, is planning to cash in on the metaverse by leveraging its upcoming fifth-generation radio waves (5G) network, according to local media reports.  See related article: Who are the biggest players in the metaverse today? Fast facts Airtel is seeking partnerships with content providers […]

Lessons learned from my five years of building blockchain

DLT projects are defined by their network effects, writes Donald Thibeau of HBAR Foundation. Here’s why open networks and community are critical for success.

Axie Infinity blockchain Ronin hacked for over $600M

Ethereum sidechain Ronin, where play-to-earn blockchain game Axie Infinity runs, has been hacked for over US$600 million in crypto, making it one of the biggest hacks in crypto history. See related article: Axie Infinity becomes first NFT series to break $4B in sales Fast facts Ronin said the hacker compromised four of their own validator […]

Binance wants to play ball with regulators

Binance is racing to anchor its sprawling global operations as regulators in China, where it was founded in 2017, go after firms for lax know-your-customer practices.

Terra’s US$10 billion Bitcoin Bet Sends LUNA to Record High

Terra’s LUNA, the eighth largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, reached a new all-time high of US$106.14 on Tuesday early afternoon Asia time, following a US$135 million purchase of Bitcoin.

Gaming fintech firm enables Bitcoin tips for streamers

Gaming fintech ZEBEDEE launched ZBD Streamer on Tuesday, enabling content creators to collect Bitcoin tips while live streaming on online platforms including Twitch and YouTube.  See related article: PlayNFT plug-in to enable streamers to offer NFTs on Twitch Fast facts Viewers can send tips using a Bitcoin Lightning wallet, with an option to send custom […]

UAE becoming crypto hub; India’s tax bogeyman

The UAE is becoming the new crypto hub of the world. Meanwhile in India, high crypto taxes are scaring away young investors.

Xiamen reveals plan to bolster its metaverse, NFT-related firms

Xiamen has revealed its three-year action plan to nurture its cluster of metaverse firms involved in non-fungible tokens (NFTs), VR/AR, chips and related hardware with over 100 million yuan (US$15 million) in revenue, according to the local government’s working plan. See related article: ‘Metaverse’ enters government radar at China’s Two Sessions Fast facts See related […]

Crypto.com, Bybit book tickets to Dubai to set up UAE bases

Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchanges Crypto.com and Bybit have announced that they will be setting up offices in Dubai, as the industry continues its migration towards the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  See related article: As Binance shrinks away in Asia, will it put down roots in the Middle East? Fast facts See related article: Ripple launches first […]

Like it or not, blockchain and P2E will disrupt the traditional gaming space

Despite criticisms of play-to-earn games, blockchain innovations are here to stay and represent gaming’s future, writes William Wu of Catheon Gaming.

India’s tax bogeyman is scaring off young crypto investors

The country’s attempt to profit from digital asset gains puts off new investors to the asset class, even as existing ones redeploy funds into traditional assets.

Mastercard partners with Australia’s BTC Markets for payment options

Australian crypto exchange BTC Markets has partnered with Mastercard to allow its customers to make direct debit, prepaid or credit card payments to purchase cryptocurrencies from the platform. See related article: Mastercard partners with Australian exchange for crypto card Fast facts The move is part of a broader trend by payments giants like Mastercard and […]

Bitcoin ETF rejection could trigger Greyscale to sue the SEC

Greyscale Investments might sue the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) if its filing to convert its US$30 billion Bitcoin trust into an exchange-traded fund (ETF) is rejected, company CEO Michael Sonnenshein told Bloomberg. See related article: Bitcoin price hits all-time high after ProShares ETF debut Fast facts The SEC’s deadline to approve or reject […]

Binance US on track for IPO

Binance US is on track for an initial public offering (IPO) in two to three years, with a “couple of hundred million dollars” in funding to be announced in April, Binance US CEO Brian Shroder said at the Binance Blockchain Week on Monday.  See related article: Binance US under probe for ties with trading affiliates: […]

Ukraine’s NFT museum; Bitcoin on the up.

Ukraine launches its NFT Museum of War. Meanwhile, Bitcoin passes $47,000 mark.

Ransomware attacks are growing in sophistication. What can stop them?

Aided by crypto like Monero, ransomware crimes are on the rise globally, writes Srinivas Mukkamala of Ivanti. Android users are especially vulnerable.

ASX blockchain upgrade delayed for fourth time

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has announced its highly anticipated AU$250 million (US$187 million) blockchain project has been delayed for release until late 2023 at the earliest. See related article: Australian Securities Exchange to launch crypto-related ETF Fast facts CHESS, or Clearing House Electronic Subregister System, was initially slated for a blockchain upgrade by April […]

World of Women Galaxy NFTs sell out in 3 days

World of Women (WoW) Galaxy, the second non-fungible token collection launched by WoW, a community focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, was sold out within three days after launching with US$14 million in primary sales.   See related article: Ukraine’s NFT museum of Russian conflict goes live Fast facts Total WoW Galaxy sales in the past […]

Mt. Gox may return Bitcoin worth over $6 billion, Karpeles says

The Japanese trustee for Mt. Gox is likely to distribute the remaining trove of Bitcoins held by the defunct cryptocurrency exchange sooner than later, former CEO Mark Karpeles tells Jake Adelstein in an exclusive interview for Forkast.

Asian Games set for digital yuan, metaverse pilots, tech firm claims

A Hangzhou-based data firm has confirmed that it is working on the application of the digital yuan and the metaverse in the upcoming 2022 Asian Games.  See related article: China’s digital yuan app now publicly accessible, one step closer to launch Fast facts See related article: 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou to sell torch NFTs […]

Bitcoin crosses $47,000 mark as crypto surges in Monday’s market

Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, crossed US$47,000 on Monday Asia time after a sudden spike, the first time since early January.  See related story: Bitcoin wakes up to pass $40,000 before going back to sleep Fast facts Bitcoin has traded below US$45,000 since January, but broke out to trade at US$46,823 on Monday […]

South Korea recruits NFT experts for metaverse boot camp

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) is recruiting extended reality, artificial intelligence, and non-fungible token (NFT) experts for its upcoming boot camp designed to train future metaverse professionals.  See related article: South Korea wants to be the physical home of the metaverse Fast facts MSIT is launching what it calls the nation’s first […]

Ukraine’s NFT museum of Russian conflict goes live

Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation launched the Meta History Museum of War on Friday, a museum hosted on the Ethereum and Polygon networks that chronicles the country’s war with Russia through non-fungible tokens (NFTs). See related article: Zelenskyy legalizes cryptocurrency in Ukraine Fast facts “Disinformation is used by Russia on a par with deadly military […]

China’s Greenland plans cross-border carbon credit trading with Singapore exchange

Chinese state-backed real estate giant Greenland Group has formed a partnership, through its financial arm, with Singapore-based digital securities exchange MetaVerse Green Exchange (MVGX), to offer cross-border digital carbon credits trading services. See related article: China eyes blockchain for carbon trading Fast facts The partnership will allow accredited, institutional investors to trade digital carbon credits […]

Russia’s bitcoin for oil proposal; Crypto market makes gains

Russia considers a bitcoin for oil proposal. Meanwhile, crypto markets make gains after weeks of volatility.

Killing it softly or regulating to innovate? India at the crypto crossroads

India’s crypto tax represents both a threat to the industry and an opportunity to create a regulatory framework to support it, says Polygon’s Jaynti Kanani.

Azuki spikes past Bored Apes in daily sales

Azuki, an anime-inspired NFT avatar collection, surged over 140% in the past 24 hours to top Friday’s sales volume chart, surpassing Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and Mutant Ape Yacht Club, according to CryptoSlam data.  See related article: Azuki, CryptoPunks battle it out for week’s top NFT title Fast facts With its latest spike, Azuki’s […]

Bitcoin, crypto market on the rise along with global markets

Volatility has been the name of the game in the past few months, but experts tell Forkast that may be coming to an end.

Bitcoin legal tender status meets stop sign in Malaysia

Malaysia’s deputy finance minister Shahar Abdullah turned down a proposal to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender on Thursday, calling cryptocurrency unfit for payments.  See related article: Malaysia ministry: adopt crypto as legal tender to engage the young Fast facts Abdullah voiced concerns around cryptocurrencies’ price volatility and cyber security risks. Zahidi Zainul Abidin, the deputy […]

S.Korea tosses travel rule private wallet compliance to exchanges

South Korea’s financial watchdog has passed on the compliance of private cryptocurrency wallets to exchanges, as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) travel rule went into effect on Friday. See related article: FATF updates regulatory guidance for crypto industry Fast facts “The travel rule only regulates transactions among individuals. There isn’t any rule pertaining to […]

EarnU taps Indian crypto sports enthusiasts

EarnU, a play-to-earn crypto sports and esports prediction platform, has forayed into India, to target betting Indians looking to earn crypto rewards for correct predictions.  See related article: How sports and crypto are knocking it out of the park Fast facts EarnU is a game that is free to play for BETU token holders.  While […]

China takes aim at corruption in underground Bitcoin mines

China’s anti-graft watchdog has warned that authorities are keeping a close eye on possible corruption behind underground cryptocurrency mining that persists even after the government banned the sector.  See related article: China ousts former official for supporting crypto mining, corruption Fast facts The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Chinese Communist Party said […]

Russia proposes Bitcoin payments for oil and energy exports

Russia State Duma deputy and Energy Committee chairman Pavel Zavalny proposed Bitcoin and national currencies as payment options for energy exports to “friendly countries,” such as Turkey and China, at a press conference on Thursday. See related article: EU says crypto included in sanctions against Russia and Belarus Fast facts Zavalny proposed gold and Russia’s […]

What Else Can You Do With An NFT?

NFTs are mostly recognized as digital art and collectibles. But what else can they be used for?

Bollywood Icon’s Tax Bill; Metaverse Fashion Week Opens

Chinese telecom ZTE registers metaverse-related trademarks. Meanwhile, Bollywood star gets chased over NFT taxes.

How to protect NFT intellectual property rights explored at Australian Blockchain Week

With explosive growth in the past 12 months, the non-fungible token industry is getting too big to ignore IP licenses, experts say.

Thailand bans Bitcoin and crypto payments

Cryptocurrency payments will be banned in Thailand starting April 1, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on Wednesday.  See related article: Thailand eases crypto tax burden until 2023 to promote industry Fast facts The SEC said price volatility, lack of customer safeguards, money laundering and cyber theft risks drove the decision to ban cryptocurrencies […]

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan ponies up tax on NFT sale

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan is in the crosshairs of Indian tax authorities again, this time for NFT sales.

Chinese telecom giant ZTE snaps up metaverse-related trademarks

Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE has successfully registered a number of metaverse-related English trademarks. See related article: ‘Metaverse’ enters government radar at China’s Two Sessions Fast facts ZTE’s trademarks fall under the scientific equipment and communication services categories, setting the stage for the firm to provide related services in the metaverse. The partially state-owned Chinese […]

South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate to issue own cryptocurrency

South Korean megacorporation SK Group’s information technology-investment arm, SK Square, is preparing to launch a cryptocurrency this year to build a blockchain-based virtual economy that would link its group of information and communications technology (ICT) businesses. See related article: South Korea wants to be the physical home of the metaverse Fast facts SK Square established […]

The Great Resignation needs a solution. Could DAOs be the answer?

DAOs promise radically inclusive and rewarding workplaces, writes Parker McCurley of Decent Labs. Here’s how it would work.

Bored Apes as NFTs: What is the Bored Ape Yacht Club?

BAYC is one of the hallmark NFT collections and a billion-dollar ecosystem. This Forkast explainer explores the cartoon primates and what makes them so special.