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NYDG-FIS partnership allows lenders to offer Bitcoin banking

Tie-up between Bitcoin trading platform and fintech firm will allow bank customers to use the cryptocurrency in their accounts. NYDIG, the Bitcoin subsidiary of alternative asset manager Stone Ridge, and fintech heavyweight FIS have joined forces in an industry-first partnership that will allow banks to offer customers the ability to buy, sell and hold Bitcoin […]

New York Giants ink partnership deal with Grayscale

Football team adds world’s biggest crypto asset manager to roster of corporate sponsors as sector firms make inroads into sports. The New York Giants have announced an exclusive partnership agreement with digital currency asset manager Grayscale Investments, which had $46.6 billion of assets under management as of April 30. The arrangement, a first in the […]

South Korea to impose 20% capital gains tax on crypto in 2022

South Korea’s finance department on Wednesday announced a new rule imposing a 20% capital gains tax on cryptocurrency transaction gains starting in 2022. However, cryptocurrency investors are entitled to a tax deduction for expenses incurred during mining. The country’s Ministry of Economy and Finance explained cryptocurrency transaction gains exceeding 2.5 million won (about US$2,230) would […]

Crypto demand grows in Australia as rich families seek investment edge

Institutional interest propels cryptocurrencies into mainstream for wealthy investors looking to diversify portfolios. High net worth Australians are committing increasing sums in cryptocurrencies as digital assets move from the fringes of investment markets and become steadily more mainstream. Leigh Travers, executive director of technology investment firm DigitalX, says he has observed a growing trend toward […]

Ethereum and Dogecoin prices skyrocket. Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto talent search. Mastercard wants in on CBDCs.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: S&P Dow Jones launches Bitcoin and Ethereum indices. Will China crack down on more crypto miners?

Dogecoin keeps on barking; Mining for Chia heats up | The Daily Forkast

Dogecoin breaks another ATH while Chinese electronics vendors say that Chia is the hottest mining project in the mainland.

Indian banks, payment gateways reportedly blocking crypto transactions

India’s cryptocurrency exchanges are calling on local banks not to block their transactions. Cryptocurrency exchanges in Mumbai are reportedly struggling with payment gateways and banks, which they accuse of blocking their transactions by citing an old Reserve Bank of India (RBI) policy to ban digital currency dealings. They claim the policy had been struck down […]

Dogecoin price jumps to new ATH with Gemini support for DOGE

Dogecoin’s price is now at an all-time high of 69 cents, and the joke crypto is now bigger than Ford and Nintendo. Are DOGE investors high on Gemini?

5 US digital dollar pilots launching to chase China’s CBDC lead

The private sector-led Digital Dollar Project is planning CBDC pilots for the US. How are central bank digital currency efforts and progress different in Asia?

NFTs shake up Asian art scene

From Manila to Beijing, the Asian art universe is changing as non-fungible tokens gain traction as assets. In Manila, friends and NFT collectors Gabby Dizon and Colin Goltra opened Narra Art Gallery early this year to provide the cryptocurrency community with a venue in which they could shop for digital art. The virtual gallery offers […]

INX completes $125M SEC- approved token IPO

The cryptocurrency exchange INX has completed the first-ever security token offering registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The initial public offering (IPO) closed with $85 million in proceeds from over 7,200 investors. In addition to the previous private token sales and the cash in private placement equity, INX has raised a total of […]

Spanish health care group Biziondo to accept Bitcoin payments

Biziondo, a Spanish medical group specializing in spinal health, announced plans to accept cryptocurrency payments, citing the start of the “Bitcoin revolution.” “It is clear that the Bitcoin revolution has already started in an economic context in which, in 2020, 60% of the world’s money was printed by European, United States, and Japanese central banks. […]

Binance Coin market cap hits new ATH, surpasses $100B

Binance Coin, or BNB, has set another record after posting a new all-time high above $660. The altcoin’s market cap first crossed the $50 billion benchmark in the first few days of April. However, the market cap jumped more than 100% in less than a month. As of this writing, BNB is trading around $661, […]

Mastercard survey: growing number of consumers eye crypto for shopping

A survey by credit card provider Mastercard shows that a growing number of consumers prefer using cryptocurrency when making their purchases. Mastercard’s New Payments Index polled more than 15,000 online respondents from North America, Latin America, the Asia Pacific region, The Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. The study shows 40% of those polled plan […]

Former US Treasurer joins Ripple board, Kristina Campbell is new CFO

U.S.-based payments solutions provider Ripple announced two key appointments on Monday, with former U.S. Treasurer Rosa “Rosie” Gumataotao Rios joining its board of directors and Kristina Campbell joining the firm as its new chief financial officer. Ripple chief executive officer Brad Garlinghouse said on the company’s official website, “These two exceptional leaders join Ripple at […]

Spanish healthcare group Biziondo to accept Bitcoin payments

Spanish spinal care specialist Biziondo says it will start accepting cryptocurrency payments, citing the “Bitcoin revolution.”

South Korean banks set to serve crypto; Chia drives SSD shortage | The Daily Forkast

South Korea’s Kookmin bank sets up an KODA — an OTC and custody service for institutional investors. Chia is the latest mining craze.

SEC tries to block XRP holders from joining SEC v. Ripple lawsuit

In new court filings, the SEC says allowing XRP holders’ to join SEC v. Ripple lawsuit as third-party defendant would cause delays and ‘sow chaos.’

Argentina looks to crypto shelter amidst inflation turmoil

Struggling Argentines are looking to cryptocurrency for opportunities to stave off rising prices, a devaluing currency and US dollar shortage.

What could be the ‘greatest inhibitor’ to Dogecoin’s growth?

The NBA Dallas Mavericks owner, Mark Cuban, has called “Robinhood’s withdrawal policy “the greatest inhibitor” to Dogecoin’s growth. The billionaire tweeted recently that businesses will start embracing Dogecoin because many people use it for transactions. According to Cuban, since people can’t spend DOGE on Robinhood, this could be the “greatest indicator to Dogecoin’s growth.” Cuban […]

Crypto mining farms under investigation in Beijing

Bitcoin’s energy consumption has been a critical issue among experts, governments, and industry players. Reuters reported that Beijing officials are investigating crypto mining establishments to determine how much energy they consume. On April 27, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information has ordered the city’s data centers to report the amount of power consumed […]

‘We should have bought Bitcoin, not gold’ — BNY Mellon fund

In its SEC filings, the asset management firm BNY Mellon revealed that the poor performance of its exchange-traded fund (ETF) was due to its non-exposure to assets invested in Bitcoin. The bank noted that its BNY Mellon Opportunistic Small Cap Fund (DSCVX) performance was partly because it had no exposure to MicroStrategy. MicroStrategy bought its […]

As DeFi swells past US$140 billion, FATF stokes worries over KYC/AML

Fast-growing DeFi — still a largely unregulated industry — gives FATF an earful over its proposed ‘travel rule’ and expanded anti-money laundering rules.

Dogecoin price flies to moon on eToro listing and Elon Musk for rocket fuel

DOGE fans push Dogecoin price to all-time high (ATH) after eToro lists the joke coin for 20 million users, days before ‘Dogefather’ Musk appears on SNL.

Ethereum breaks new records; South Korea split on crypto tax | The Daily Forkast

As Ethereum continues to soar to new all-time highs, South Korean crypto investors express mix sentiments on crypto tax.

XRP prices steady after court hearing, Ripple releases $1.6 billion XRP

XRP is up 600% since the start of the year and its holding steady as Ripple released one billion XRP over the weekend.

Ethereum prices soar over $3,200, making Vitalik Buterin a billionaire

As ETH prices hit a new ATH and continue to the moon, Ethereum’s visionary creator Vitalik Buterin becomes the youngest ever crypto billionaire.

Vietnam faces hard drive shortage due to Chia mining craze in China

Large capacity hard drives are selling like hotcakes in Vietnam as locals capitalize on China’s demand for Chia mining power.

Singapore’s US$31 million RegTech grant to boost crypto compliance

The RegTech grant, although not directed towards cryptocurrency, could have a profound impact on the industry.

Why Binance stock tokens are drawing regulatory scrutiny

Are Binance stock tokens in Tesla, Coinbase and Apple mere tokens or company shares by a different name? Securities regulators are taking a close look.

Turkey’s Thodex exchange fraud case yields six new suspects

Turkish authorities arrested six individuals in connection with the Thodex exchange fraud case.

Binance Charity Fund donates to India’s COVID-19 fight

The charity arm of Binance is sending 175 oxygen connectors to India to aid in the coronavirus relief effort.

Singapore’s DBS Bank reports US$60 million crypto under custody

DBS Bank says it has over US$60 million in crypto under custody and plans to expand trading hours to 24/7.

DBS digital asset exchange performance; Cardano connects Africa online | The Daily Forkast

120 investors join DBS bank’s digital assets exchange in Q1 as Cardano looks to enable Sub-Saharan Africa with decentralized identities

Why more big investors are now seeking interest and yields in DeFi

As corporations plow billions into Bitcoin, a new business model involving decentralized finance is emerging for investors, says Alessio Quaglini of Hex Trust.

China’s crypto miners make hard choices to meet climate goals

With Inner Mongolia banning crypto-mining and Xinjiang expected to soon follow, China’s crypto miners are turning to green energy or moving overseas.

Binance and Huobi stablecoins surge as Asia seeks fiat alternatives

Binance’s BUSD and Huobi’s HUSD dominated their stablecoin rivals in the first three months of this year. Why is Asia hungry for alternatives to fiat?

Stablecoin rush breaks out; JPM, DBS and Temasek launch Partior | The Daily Forkast

JPMorgan, DBS and Temasek launch Partior to digitize commercial money as stablecoin transaction volume surge in Asia-centric exchanges.

Ripple demands SEC to stop obtaining info on XRP dealings abroad

Ripple asks court to stop SEC from using MOU requests to get info on XRP from overseas regulators and pushes for access to SEC’s internal communications.

How to balance crypto investor protection and innovation in Hong Kong

US and Singapore have licensing laws that give investors more confidence in crypto firms. Stephen Richardson of Fireblocks urges Hong Kong to follow suit.

Tesla earnings soar from Bitcoin. PancakeSwap eclipses Ethereum. Coinbase delays Tether USDT listing.

Other top blockchain and crypto news: China’s internet giants JD.com and Ant Group reveal extent of digital yuan support. Turkey rethinks crypto ban.

Japan sees record crypto deposits, nearly 7 times more than last year

Japan’s regulated crypto trading breaks new records in a land known to be the world’s most crypto-averse. Is the tide turning for crypto adoption in Japan?

Nexon bags $100 million in Bitcoin; Inner Mongolia crypto mining exodus | The Daily Forkast

Nexon added 1,717 Bitcoins into its corporate treasury while deadline for Inner Mongolia’s closure of crypto mining operations approaches.

PancakeSwap and controversial SafeMoon turbo boost BSC past Ethereum

Is Binance Smart Chain’s meteoric rise from PancakeSwap and cryptocurrency SafeMoon sustainable, and is an ‘Ethereum killer’ now finally closer to reality?

Binance dives into NFT; S.Korea’s FSC checks staff for crypto trading | The Daily Forkast

Binance announces its upcoming launch of an NFT marketplace while South Korean regulator asks staff to disclose personal crypto investments.

World’s largest crypto exchange Binance to launch NFT market in June

Binance, the crypto exchange with more than 50 million users around the world, wants a piece of the fast-growing NFT minting, trading and auction business.

How blockchain technology can improve trust in democratic elections

Loss of faith in elections may be at an all-time high around the world. Here is how blockchain voting and decentralization can restore public trust.

Solana prices surge amid crypto crash as market seeks lower gas fees

Solana blockchain — a rising alternative to Ethereum for DeFi and NFTs — hit an all-time high this week while other cryptocurrencies stagnated. How come?

Ant Group shares exclusive database tech to grow China’s CBDC | The Daily Forkast

China’s internet giant Ant Group shares its OceanBase database for the e-CNY project. More investors try out DeFi platform PancakeSwap.

As Coinbase Pro adds USDT, Tether execs balk at continued scrutiny

Tether’s battle with New York may be resolved for now, but legal obligations have company on the defensive. Is Tether’s USDT regulated or just registered?

SEC sought info on Ripple and XRP from 20 foreign entities, including trading platforms

SEC says info on Ripple and XRP transactions overseas is important to lawsuit. But of the nine foreign regulators the SEC asked, two refused to help.

Taiwan set to roll out new AML regulations for crypto exchanges

Taiwan has enacted anti-money laundering regulations for cryptocurrency exchanges effective July 1. What will this mean for Taiwan’s growing crypto scene?

R3 Corda helping Thailand’s case for international trade dark horse

Thailand’s crypto adoption is often overlooked, but one of its largest commercial banks has been leveraging permissioned blockchain Corda of R3 to digitize trade finance in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Korean crypto advocates cry foul and demand FSC chair’s resignation

Angered by cryptocurrency tax laws and a government official’s remarks on crypto investing, over 51,000 South Koreans are trying to push back via petitions.
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Bitcoin prices crash 12% in 24 hours; below $50,000 for first time since March

BTC is down more than 24% from its all-time high of US$64,787, set just last week with the Coinbase public offering. Will Bitcoin’s downward spiral continue?

Europe’s CoinShares launches XRP exchange traded product

XRP joins the growing list of cryptocurrencies now available as exchange traded products (ETP). What does this mean for crypto investors?

5 reasons why CBDCs and Facebook-backed Diem go hand-in-hand

When Diem launches and central banks roll out digital currencies, what role will each play? Here is a look at the world’s financial and payments future.

Global crypto alliance pushes renewable energy and greener digital assets

The Crypto Climate Accord — a joint effort that includes World Economic Forum, ConsenSys and Ripple — is aiming for net-zero crypto emissions by 2040.

Blockchain’s green efforts and crypto carbon-nomics in Asia | The Daily Forkast

From institutions wanting carbon neutral Bitcoins, to tokenizing carbon credits — these are the latest green crypto trends in this region.

Huobi Asset Management launches crypto tracker funds with SFC’s help

Huobi’s institutional-grade crypto funds will invest in Bitcoin, Ether and crypto mining now that Hong Kong’s ‘very friendly’ regulators gave their thumbs up.

How Singapore transformed from fishing village to crypto powerhouse

The Lion City’s status as Asia’s crypto haven was no accident, writes Shaun Djie of Digix. What can other countries learn from Singapore’s fintech success?

Is Dogecoin’s price boom over? Investors punish Bitcoin and crypto market. Edward Snowden’s $5 million NFT.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Can China be warming up to digital assets and crypto investing? Ethereum ETFs roll out in Canada.

ASEAN+1 pledge to advance blockchain; Paypal to launch wallet in China | The Daily Forkast

Six blockchain groups in the Asia-Pacific form a consortium, aiming to champion blockchain advocacy in the region.

New ASEAN Blockchain Consortium forms to champion blockchain

Blockchain organizations from Australia and five Southeast Asian nations join forces for blockchain advocacy, public education and talent development.

Why Bitcoin’s carbon footprint may not be bad as you might think

As we observe Earth Day, let’s not scapegoat cryptocurrency. The truth about renewable energy and electricity use by banking and gold may surprise you.

While supporters rally to mark “Dogeday 4/20” – Here’s the weird history of Dogecoin

From controversial meme-coin to the 5th largest digital asset. Is Dogecoin a joke or the future of cryptocurrency?

Dogecoin frenzy spreads in Asia; Indian exchange logs 15x traffic | The Daily Forkast

Asia adds to global Dogecoin froth, investors buy into the meme-currency ahead of US hours. South Korea kicks off a crackdown on illicit crypto use.

12,600 XRP holders demand their day in court in SEC v. Ripple lawsuit

XRP investors and users ask to join SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple as third-party defendant. ‘Without our intervention, we are without a voice in the debate.’

Ethereum ETFs come to Canada while US waits for SEC on Bitcoin ETFs

While the US has pondered Bitcoin ETFs since 2013, Canada is now moving on to Ethereum ETFs — with 3 new Ether funds launching in the next 24 hours.

What is Bitcoin’s environmental impact — and what are the solutions?

The recent steep rise in Bitcoin and Ethereum prices has also led to more crypto mining and energy-consumption, much of it still powered by coal.

China calls crypto an ‘investment’; Crypto demand bounces back in Asia

China gives the “alternative investment” label to crypto at this year’s Boao Forum for Asia, and hints at reserving a seat for digital assets in the country’s digital economy. Meanwhile, exchanges in Asia recover from crypto’s weekend price crash and see spikes in Bitcoin long orders. We’ll have more on that story — and other […]

Crypto assets should be regulated as “alternative investments”, China’s central bank officials said

China’s central bank is exploring a new stance towards Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, now calling them investment vehicles – but not currency