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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?

SOL, DOT, ETH are the biggest movers in a week of continued price growth

The broader market recovery following the May crash continues with five of the top 10 coins by market cap showing double-digit growth over the past seven days, according to data from CoinMarketCap.com. Fast facts Continuing its historic run, Solana (SOL) showed the most movement, gaining over 45% this past week to hit a new all-time […]

SEC launches probe into Uniswap Labs

In another sign of increasing regulatory pressure on the crypto industry, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Uniswap Labs, the developer behind the decentralized exchange of the same name, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. Fast facts Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said the SEC is seeking information on […]

Binance.com to cease trading in Singapore

In response to increased scrutiny from regulators, crypto exchange Binance is removing itself from app stores in Singapore, as well as ending support for trading pairs and payment options in the Singapore dollar (SGD), according to a company press release. The move takes effect Friday, Sept. 10 at 04:00 UTC. Fast facts Last week, the Monetary Authority […]

The world of crypto opens up life-changing earning opportunities for Indian tweens and teens

Gajesh Naik and Laya Mathikshara, two Indian 13-year-olds, are getting global recognition — and making astronomical sums — through their ventures in crypto and NFTs.

How DeFi can unlock staking rewards and boost liquidity

As the blockchain industry shifts to ‘proof of stake,’ staking’s bonding period can lock up capital. What are the alternatives?

How aggrieved traders are uniting against Binance after the crypto crash

Too small to fight as individuals, Binance users are now banding together to take on the world’s largest crypto exchange in arbitration. David Kay of Liti Capital explains how it’s done.

TV series ‘Men of the House’ to be fully financed by NFTs

TokenSociety.io, a non-fungible token minting platform and marketplace for the entertainment industry, has completed its first NFT Drop for the pilot episode of “Men of the House,” a situation comedy TV series, the company announced today. Fast facts The pilot episode of “Men of the House” is completely financed through the sale of its NFTs […]

Imagining a global digital wallet and the future it can hold

As governments and citizens embrace digital currencies of all kinds, from Bitcoin to CBDCs, here’s what the world and daily life could look like.

So, no ban? India’s crypto bill will treat virtual currencies as commodities in the asset class

The veil of uncertainty that has shrouded crypto regulatory discussions seems to be lifting, but how the government will regulate and tax digital money remains to be seen.

Deadline looms for Korean exchanges; Doge meme tokenization explodes

Deadline looms for Korean exchanges as Doge meme valuation explodes

Exchanges in South Korea race toward last chance of survival

Crypto trading platforms rush to meet a Sept. 24 deadline, hoping to comply with new rules designed to protect investors.

Japan’s SBI Holdings announces plans to launch crypto fund by November

In another positive move for Japan’s crypto industry, financial services group SBI Holdings Inc. plans to launch a crypto fund in the country before the end of November, according to a report by Bloomberg. Fast facts Citing Tomoya Asakura, president of SBI affiliate Morningstar Japan K.K., Bloomberg reported the fund could grow to several hundred […]

Fractional ownership of the Doge meme hits $400M valuation

What does it mean to own an NFT? Furthermore, what does it mean to own a billionth of an NFT? For Doge lovers, it might be a good investment, or barking mad.

Poolin partners with crypto trading firm Quant Satoshi to expand US business

Poolin, a major cryptocurrency mining pool with significant operations in China, on Thursday announced a partnership with Quant Satoshi to further expand its mining operation in the U.S. Fast facts Poolin has partnered with Quant Satoshi, an American quantitative trading firm that focuses on crypto high frequency trading, to expand Poolin’s U.S. presence, the company […]

Ethereum dominance trends up while rivals Cardano and Solana hit all-time price highs

As Bitcoin continues to battle the $50,000 level, Ethereum rises in dominance while smart contract platforms Solana and Cardano buck the sideways trend to reach new price levels.

Market cap of crypto mining firms surged 121% this year: CoinShares Research

In the first eight months of 2021, the fledgling but fast-growing cryptocurrency industry saw almost as many companies come to market as 2019 and 2020 combined, according to the “The Arrival of Cryptocurrency Stocks” report published this month by CoinShares Research. Fast facts As of August 20201, there were 57 publicly listed cryptocurrency pure play […]

SEC wins access to Ripple’s Slack message for XRP lawsuit

Overruling Ripple’s objections over cost, a judge gives the SEC a green light to review more XRP-related Slack communications.

India crypto exchanges allow bank deposits; FTT token on a roll

India crypto exchanges allow bank deposits while FTT token on a roll

Hacked DeFi platform pledges to replace stolen crypto to users

C.R.E.A.M. Finance suffered a flash loan exploit that was much larger than earlier estimates

Securities exchange ADDX inks $200M deal to bring digital assets to Chinese investors

Singapore-based digital securities exchange ADDX today announced it had reached a US$200 million agreement that will give accredited investors in China access to digital securities covering various asset types, the company said. Fast facts According to a company statement, ADDX has reached an agreement with ICHAM, a Singapore-regulated wealth and fund management company, to be […]

New Korean DeFi service launches to increase scalability of ‘Kimchi coins’

Donkey, launched Sept. 1, aims to become a DeFi service that brings more South Korean investors into decentralized finance by making their favorite cryptos more scalable and available. Fast facts Donkey is a virtual asset deposit and lending protocol that runs on the Ethereum blockchain where anyone can deposit crypto as collateral and borrow other […]

How blockchain can drive video games into the Web 3.0 future

NFTs, metaverses and ‘play-to-earn’ are upending gaming’s traditional revenue model. Shreyansh Singh of Polygon explains blockchain gaming’s business potential.

‘Crypto Dad’ Giancarlo steps down from BlockFi board

After only four months in the position, “Crypto Dad” Chris Giancarlo is stepping down from BlockFi’s board of directors, according to a recent press release. No reason for Giancarlo’s departure has yet been provided, though he apparently will continue to provide strategic counsel to the firm in an advisory role. Fast facts Ellen-Blair Chube, Managing […]

DeFi TVL hits new all-time high; US, Vietnam, Thailand lead global DeFi adoption

The United States, Vietnam, Thailand, China and the United Kingdom lead global adoption in decentralized finance (DeFi), according to Chainalysis’ Global DeFi Adoption Index published this month. Fast facts “While grassroots cryptocurrency adoption generally is highest in emerging markets, DeFi adoption is strongest in high-income countries that already had substantial cryptocurrency usage, especially amongst traders […]

Singapore adds Binance.com to list of unregulated entities

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today added Binance.com — the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading value — to its Investor Alert List, according to local media reports. Fast facts MAS’ Investor Alert List flags entities that are unregulated, but may have given the public the impression that they are licensed by MAS. In […]

SEC charges BitConnect founder with $2B ‘textbook Ponzi scheme’

The founder of the now-defunct crypto exchange BitConnect is being sued for a US$2 billion “textbook Ponzi scheme” by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a Reuters report. Fast facts The SEC alleges BitConnect’s founder Satish Kumbhani, an Indian citizen, lied about the exchange’s ability to earn 40% returns on investments of BitConnect’s […]

BIS Innovation Hub, 4 central banks in CBDC test for cross-border transactions

The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub together with the central banks of Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa today announced they will be collaborating to test the use of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) for international settlements. Fast facts According to a joint statement, the pilot is part of Project Dunbar, a wholesale […]