Union Bank of Philippines partners with Hex Trust to enter digital asset ecosystem
Union Bank of the Philippines and Hex Trust, a Hong Kong-based digital asset custodian, today announced that the bank was partnering with Hex Trust to provide digital asset custody services to it as it enters the digital asset sector. Fast facts As part of the collaboration, Hex Trust will provide digital asset custody as an […]
Why Silicon Valley is pouring big money into India’s crypto industry
While Delhi goes back and forth over a crypto ban, crypto’s huge growth potential in the world’s second most populous country is captivating American venture capital.
Mawson buys more mining rigs from Canaan to expand in Australia, U.S.
Mawson Infrastructure Group, an Australian cryptocurrency mining company, has purchased an additional 17,352 ASIC Bitcoin mining machines from Chinese rig maker Canaan in a move to bolster its mining operations on its home turf and in the United States. Fast facts Mawson plans to deploy the additional machines — Avalon A1166s and A1246s — purchased […]
NFTs and the music industry: K-pop’s new token economy | Part 2
K-pop superstars Brave Girls, Se7en and A.C.E. are among the latest to jump on the non-fungible token bandwagon. Are fans buying it?
First SEC DeFi bust made in US$30M fraud case
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has taken its first regulatory action involving decentralized finance in a case involving the “unregistered sales of more than US$30 million in securities,” according to an agency press release. Fast facts Gregory Keough and Derek Acree were charged along with their Cayman Islands-based company, Blockchain Credit Partners, over allegedly […]
U.S. infrastructure bill set for possible change following crypto industry backlash
An amendment has been introduced to the US$1 trillion infrastructure bill currently before the U.S. Senate that would exempt bitcoin miners and other validators from a provision seeking to raise funds for its fulfilment, according to a report by CNBC. Fast facts As Forkast.News has reported, the provision sought to raise US$28 billion over the […]
Mastercard partners with Australian exchange for crypto card
In a further move towards cryptocurrency adoption, Mastercard has partnered with one of Australia’s oldest crypto exchanges, CoinJar, to launch one of the country’s first crypto payment cards. Fast facts The card became available on Tuesday in a digital form through integration with Apple Pay and Google Pay, and will be available in a physical […]
SEC chair labels crypto industry ‘Wild West,’ asks for more powers
The cryptocurrency trading industry has been labeled a “Wild West,” riddled with fraud and investor risk, by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, according to a Reuters report. Fast facts Calling on Congress at the Aspen Security Forum to give the SEC more power to regulate the industry, Gensler said many of the […]
HSBC blocks UK customer payments to Binance
Binance’s woes continue to mount as global banking giant HSBC is now blocking its customers in the United Kingdom from making credit card payments to Binance, according to Yahoo News. Binance is the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Fast facts HSBC’s move follows similar actions taken by NatWest — a Scotland-based bank with 12.5 million customers […]
Robinhood’s IPO is just the start of an investing class war
What is Robinhood really worth, now that it’s a public company? Perhaps its true value depends on who you are.
South Korean crypto exchanges warned over treatment of customers
The Korea Fair Trade Commission has advised eight cryptocurrency exchanges to changes terms and conditions in their user agreements that it deems unfair to customers. Fast facts The commission discovered 15 types of terms and conditions that it said were unfavorable to customers. One condition stipulated that balances of less than a minimum withdrawal amount […]
Digital asset custody platform Fireblocks completes $310 million fundraise
Capital increase takes company’s valuation to US$2 billion as it looks to grow customer base, partnerships.
Australian buy-now-pay-later fintech Zip to launch crypto trading
In the latest example of a fintech company looking to branch into crypto, Australian buy-now-pay-later company Zip Pay has announced it will launch crypto trading services in the next 12 months, Reuters reports. Fast facts Zip co-founder Peter Gray told Reuters that crypto trading was one of the most requested features by users of the […]
NatWest blocks customer payments to Binance
In the latest blow to Binance — the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange — U.K. bank NatWest is now blocking its customers from making payments to Binance both in the U.K. and abroad, reports Yahoo Finance. NatWest acted after Binance has come under increasing regulatory pressures. Fast facts The move by NatWest — a Scotland-based bank […]
Australian bourse warns of centralized exchange crypto custody risks
ASX, which operates Australia’s stock market, says the custody of cryptocurrency held on centralized exchanges presents a significant cybersecurity risk to investors, and recommends that regulatory action be taken to protect digital assets. It made the comments in a submission to the country’s Senate Select Committee on Australia as a Technology and Financial Center. Fast facts […]
Blockchain platform Enjin joins UN Global Compact to further sustainable NFT goals
Singapore-based Enjin, a non-fungible token and gaming blockchain platform, today announced it is joining the United Nations Global Compact corporate sustainability initiative as part of its efforts to develop a sustainable NFT ecosystem. Fast facts The Global Compact is a voluntary sustainability initiative for companies working towards implementing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Through its […]
BlockFi ordered to stop offering interest accounts to New Jersey customers
U.S. crypto lending platform BlockFi has been ordered by the New Jersey Bureau of Securities to stop accepting new customers who are based in New Jersey for its interest-bearing accounts due to alleged violations of securities laws. The order takes effect from from July 22. Fast facts In a series of tweets, BlockFi’s CEO and […]
Reserve Bank of Australia is exploring a CBDC — despite skepticism
The Reserve Bank of Australia is researching the implementation of a central bank digital currency — despite not seeing a need for it.
Euro CBDC looks to leave energy-intensive Bitcoin in its digital dust
The European Central Bank has launched a two-year project to prepare for the potential issuance of a digital euro. The central bank digital currency would be supported by an underlying architecture with a negligible environmental impact compared to Bitcoin’s hugely energy-intensive blockchain. Fast facts The ECB has begun the investigation phase of a digital euro […]
Visa to launch first Bitcoin-linked card in Australia
Australians will soon be able to use Visa cards to spend their Bitcoin holdings for the first time as the global payment giant is partnering with local fintech app CryptoSpend, the Australian Financial Review reports. Fast facts CryptoSpend allows payments to be made in several cryptocurrencies to any account in the Australian banking system, crediting […]
NFTs and the music industry: Token gesture or transformative technology? | Part 1
In the first of a four-part series, Forkast.News looks at how non-fungible tokens may be changing who calls the tune in the recording business.
Crypto exchange Gemini plans expansion in Asia and Australia
U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Gemini is planning to expand its Asia-Pacific operations to cash in on the region’s growth, the bourse’s Asia-Pacific Managing Director, Jeremy Ng, wrote in a blog post this week. Fast facts The new expansion is to capture the growth of its Singapore office after it was first established last year, he wrote. […]
Barclays bank blocks customer payments to Binance
British lender Barclays is preventing its customers from making payments to Binance following a regulatory crackdown on the crypto exchange by the country’s Financial Conduct Authority last month, the Financial Times reports. Fast facts The bank said the move would not impact customers’ ability to withdraw funds from Binance, and that it would continue to […]
One day, we’ll just call Bitcoin ‘money,’ says crypto veteran
El Salvador recently became the first country to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender, and it seems unlikely to be the last. Samson Mow, chief strategy officer of Bitcoin technology company Blockstream, looks forward to a future in which Bitcoin edges out fiat currency.
Hong Kong’s Cyberport invests in digital asset custodian Hex Trust
Hex Trust, a Hong Kong-based digital asset custodian, today announced that it has secured investment from Cyberport, a technology incubator project backed by the Hong Kong government.
What kind of new regulation can help Australia become a global crypto hub?
Through tomorrow, a Senate committee is taking public comments on how best to make Australia into a global crypto leader and fintech hub.
The importance of a third-party custodian
Interview with Phil Mochan, founder of UK-based custody provider Koine Forkast.News: What is a custody solution? What’s the difference between simple cold storage and custody? Phil Mochan: Custody is about a lot more than simply managing safes (or cold stores). The trade settlement process is an integral part of the function of the custodian. At […]
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 […]
Australian blockchain project targets construction sector traceability
Accountancy giant KPMG is partnering with Australian property group Mirvac to create a blockchain platform to track the provenance of buildings.
Australian auction house begins accepting crypto for all items
Auction house Lloyds Auctions Australia has begun accepting cryptocurrency for all purchases on its marketplace.
Survey: Crypto investing gender gap is narrowing in Australia
The number of Australian women investing in cryptocurrency has grown this year from 7% in January to 11% in June.
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.
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.
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.
Australian crypto exchange Bitunivex plans to go green
Australian crypto exchange Bitunivex.com has announced plans to offset its carbon footprint by investing in green crypto initiatives.
India crypto feud continues; Korea mining thief busted | The Daily Forkast
Regulatory uncertainty pushes India’s crypto industry towards self regulation as a secret Ethereum miner gets busted in Seoul Arts Center.
Beijing looks to boost blockchain, create industry champions
China has released guidelines aimed at boosting the country’s blockchain development.
Four in 10 Australian millennials would buy crypto over real estate
Nearly 40% of Australians born between the early 1980s and mid-1990s would rather invest in cryptocurrencies than real estate, according to a nesurvey.
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.
Australia’s first Bitcoin capital growth fund gaining interest
Australia’s first capital growth fund to offer institutional exposure to BTC has announced its received inquiries from some of the country’s largest companies.
Governments meet crypto industry; Hope for Bitcoin miners in Sichuan | The Daily Forkast
Governments meet up with the crypto industry to discuss how to regulate the booming industry as BC Group’s OSL ties up with SC Ventures.
Australian Tax Office issues reminder of cryptocurrency tax obligations
ATO will contact 400,000 Australian crypto holders over concerns that they may not be fully aware of their crypto tax obligations. Tax cheats beware!
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.
Indian lenders cling to overturned central bank crypto ban as customers fume
Banks in India, including some of the country’s largest lenders, are notifying their customers not to engage in cryptocurrencies, adhering to a central bank rule from 2018 that bans them from dealing in cryptos — despite the fact the ban was overturned by the Supreme Court more than a year ago.
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.
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.
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.
Australia seeks fresh submissions on cryptocurrency rules
In a paper released today by a Senate committee, the Australian government announced it is seeking help in establishing a crypto regulatory framework.
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.
DBS Private Bank launches crypto trust offering
Singapore’s DBS Private Bank has announced the launch of Asia’s first bank-backed trust offering for cryptocurrencies. The service, operated via the lender’s wholly-owned licensed trust subsidiary, DBS Trustee, allows clients to invest, custodize and manage their digital assets. The service will handle only those cryptocurrencies hosted on the DBS Digital Exchange — Bitcoin, Ether, Bitcoin […]
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 […]
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.
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.
South Korean cryptocurrency industry claps back; Bitcoin’s nosedive | The Daily Forkast
Crypto investors in South Korea stir petitions to unseat the nation’s financial watchdog chief for his anti-crypto remarks.
Why new SEC chief Gary Gensler may be Biden’s gift to crypto industry
Are digital assets securities or commodities? Outdated laws offer no clarity, but US is now poised to reform blockchain regulations and lead world by example.
Justin Chow: Why Asian institutional investment in Bitcoin will only grow
Justin Chow of Cumberland DRW explains why Asia has lagged behind the US in institutional interest in crypto — and why that will likely change soon.
Swire Properties series focuses on food and sustainability
Healthy food chain SaladStop! assesses the carbon footprint of food production and incentivizes customers to bring their own bowls. What can other retailers learn from this?
How new SEC chair Gary Gensler can reshape the crypto industry’s future
The former MIT blockchain professor and CFTC chair now sits atop a key regulator over crypto. How might his leadership affect SEC v. Ripple, or Bitcoin ETFs?
How blockchain can cut down fraud in the wine industry
High-tech solutions like blockchain, IoT, NFC and DLT are increasingly used to authenticate fine wine and detect counterfeits in China and around the world.
5 questions investors must ask before buying Bitcoin or digital assets
How do cryptocurrency investors know whom to trust, avoid scams and not buy coins with a shady history? Gunnar Jaerv of First Digital Trust explains.
Swire Properties series examines corporate responsibility in sustainability
Researchers did a United Nations ‘sustainability audit’ of technology firm PALO IT and discussed findings. What can other companies learn from this?
Justin Sun: Next generation traders will prefer NFTs and DeFi
Gen Z and millennials will transform investing. Here’s why one of their own — TRON CEO Justin Sun — thinks NFTs and DeFi are the wave of the future.
As big investors buy into bitcoin, demand for crypto custody grows
The race is on as crypto-native players and traditional banks ramp up cryptocurrency custody services for investors who can’t or don’t want to do it themselves
How blockchain is transforming the investing and securities industry
Modern financial markets still rely on slow and inefficient plumbing from a bygone era, writes Oi Yee Choo of iSTOX. Here is how blockchain offers a system upgrade.
Want in on bitcoin? Here are 5 things new crypto investor must know
If you’re wondering how to get started in investing in bitcoin or other cryptocurrency, this Forkast.News guide is for you. But beware the risks and pitfalls.
US must embrace digital dollar and cryptocurrency: Blockchain institute report
The Blockchain Research Institute-led report for Biden’s administration also outlines recommendations for crypto regulations and a national blockchain strategy.
Using blockchain to bolster vaccines and trust in public health | Part 3
As Covid vaccines come to market, immunization programs are being undermined by disinformation and counterfeiting. Here’s how blockchain can help.
Sonic Capital’s Stefan Rust predicts a ‘Cambrian Explosion’ of tokens in 2021
In this edition of the Forkast Forecasts, the founder and CEO at Sonic Capital and former Bitcoin.com CEO shares his views on the growth of decentralized finance and big partnerships in the crypto community.
Forkast Forecasts for 2021: Mance Harmon of Hedera Hashgraph on China, DeFi and industry giants
In this inaugural Forkast Forecast, the co-founder and CEO of Hedera Hashgraph offers his views on China’s blockchain drive and what the industry will be like in 2021.
How blockchain can launch more space industry startups into orbit
As space becomes increasingly commercialized, blockchain has the potential to be the backbone of this new economic frontier, says Jeff Garzik of SpaceChain.
Is China trying to put its cryptocurrency industry out of business?
After crackdowns on crypto exchanges, China is now freezing bank accounts. Why is the world’s largest bitcoin producer tightening the vise over its miners?