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Guide to tokens and NFTs: what is ‘tokenization’ and how does it work?

What do tokenized securities and Jack Dorsey’s NFT tweet have in common? In this Forkast.News explainer, learn how crypto tokens are changing the world.

International Women’s Day 2021: Women making an impact in blockchain

Forkast.News showcases 10 inspirational women blazing trails — in business, government, law and NGOs — in crypto- and blockchain-related fields.

How blockchain can fight the scourge of synthetic identity fraud

Synthetic ID fraud is a new form of identity theft and a fast-growing crime. What is it, and what are the solutions? Rakesh Soni of LoginRadius explains.

Ripple: SEC did not give fair notice that XRP violated law

In its latest court filing, Ripple also says SEC led market to believe that XRP was not an investment contract. Outside court, Ripple pursues the CBDC business.

China’s bitcoin miners flee Inner Mongolia ahead of crypto mining ban

One of world’s biggest bitcoin-producing regions will soon ban cryptocurrency mining to meet China’s clean air goals. Where will all those miners go?

How blockchain advocates stopped FinCEN’s ‘crypto wallet rule’—for now

Blockchain association leader Perianne Boring explains the controversial rule and how the industry pulled together to force FinCEN to consider public input.

2021 will be the tipping point for institutional investors in digital assets

In a 2021 report, the HashKey Group predicts that more than 50% of institutional and professional investors will have exposure to digital assets by the year’s end.

Coinbase to go public on Nasdaq. Cardano upgrades amid ADA price rally. Beeple’s pop art riding high on NFT wave.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Goldman Sachs, more big banks line up behind bitcoin. Short-sellers probe crypto miners in China.

China’s DCEP project launches biggest digital yuan test yet

As China widens the e-CNY’s testing to Chengdu, the future of WeChat Pay and Alipay becomes complicated. What are the new CBDC’s pros and cons?

Cardano transitions to multi-asset blockchain amid ADA price surge

Cardano blockchain, a so-called ‘Ethereum killer,’ completes its Mary hard fork upgrade as ADA becomes 3rd largest cryptocurrency behind bitcoin and ether.

Non-crypto firms in China jump into bitcoin mining to lift fortunes

Inspired by bitcoin’s boom, companies with no business in crypto are pivoting to cryptocurrency mining. A New York investors lawsuit offers a cautionary tale.

Major crypto players Coinbase and CoinShares are going public

Despite recent bitcoin and ether price drops, crypto giants Coinbase and CoinShares are betting that investment in digital assets will continue to grow.

The brief, meteoric rise of crypto Clubhouse in China

Now that China’s censors are blocking Clubhouse, what are the popular audio networking app’s mainland members doing? VPNs are the new velvet ropes.
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Why crypto data aggregation will be essential to fintech in 2021

How will the rise in cryptocurrency drive banking and fintech innovation? Decentralized finance may offer a model, writes Christopher Brown of Zabo.

NFT mania: Are blockchain art and NBA crypto collectibles a fad or the future?

From Beeple’s digital art to LeBron James video trading cards, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are transforming the way we create, own and profit from content.

How the super rich are upending crypto’s DIY investment ethos

China, Hong Kong and Singapore are home to some of the world’s wealthiest investors. As they move into digital assets, how do their expectations differ?

4 central banks and BIS exploring CBDC bridge for Asia and Middle East

China, UAE, Hong Kong, Thailand and Bank for International Settlements collaborate on ‘m-CBDC Bridge’ digital currency project for cross-border payments.

Will new CasperLabs token take a bite out of high gas fees?

CasperLabs, a new smart contract blockchain network, announces its CSPR token sale — which CTO Medha Parlikar likens to a ‘gas futures market.’

Bitfinex, Tether banned in New York. No end yet to Ripple XRP’s SEC lawsuit woes. CBDC bridge for Asia and Middle East.

Other top blockchain and crypto news: Bill Gates on bitcoin. Nvidia protects gamers from crypto miners with separate CMP and GeForce RTX graphics cards.

No Ripple-SEC lawsuit settlement in sight as XRP prices tumble

Ripple and SEC face off in a pretrial conference as MoneyGram, the world’s second largest money transfer provider, suspends trading on Ripple’s platform.

In Singapore, bitcoin is challenging gold as a store of value

Eugene Ng of Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange that recently expanded in Singapore, explains why the Lion City is good for doing crypto business.

Capitol riot: Is political extremism tarnishing blockchain by association?

Decentralized apps like DLive are gaining attention since the violent attack on the US Capitol. How will this affect the wider adoption of blockchain DApps?

Hong Kong plans to ban retail investors from trading cryptocurrency

Industry insiders warn that proposed rule to allow only ‘professional investors’ to buy and sell crypto could drive companies to crypto-friendlier shores.

Can blockchain solve Covid vaccines’ chaotic rollout? | Part 5

How can blockchain improve vaccine logistics? Forkast.News examines the frontiers of blockchain technology in this last article of a special five-part series.

Robinhood, GameStop frenzy players face Congressional questioning

Congress investigates links between Robinhood, Citadel, Reddit’s WallStreetBets and GME prices amid shifting investor interest to cryptocurrency and DeFi.

BNY Mellon, Jay-Z join bitcoin conga line. Will NFTs take over real world? Roadmap for Biden to take blockchain leadership.

Other top blockchain and crypto news: DeFi under Fed study. Andrew Yang, Wyoming vie for crypto attention. Hong Kong and India edge toward crypto bans.

Don Tapscott’s “personal call” to President Biden to lead blockchain policy

Blockchain Research Institute’s Don Tapscott outlines how Biden administration can lead technology policy for US to stay ahead in the innovation race.

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.

Can blockchain protect journalism and push back against censorship?

As press freedoms come under attack around the world, blockchain and distributed ledger technology are emerging to protect journalism.

How NewsHash will combat fake news through blockchain and DLT

Jim Nasr, CEO of blockchain application developer Acoer explains how distributed ledger techology could bolster trust in journalism.

Bitcoin miners seek 2nd hand gear to drive output amid rally

Tesla’s bitcoin dive is recharging an already hot crypto market, worsening the run on new mining equipment and heating up the second-hand rig market.
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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.

How blockchain can improve vaccine safety and distribution | Part 4

Speeding Covid vaccines to market also led to confusion and waste. Here’s how blockchain can plug the gaps in the vaccine supply and distribution chain.

CasperLabs wants to help “morph” China’s BSN into the AWS of blockchain

CEO of CasperLabs, part of the Blockchain Service Network’s China and international versions, gives an insider’s view of blockchain’s future on the mainland.

Will 2021 be a bull year for crypto e-hongbaos?

Red packets are going digital, and e-hongbaos for cryptocurrency are on the rise across Asia this Lunar New Year of the Ox.
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Tesla drives bitcoin to the moon. Ripple XRP finds love in Japan. First Boulevard partners with Visa.

Other top blockchain and crypto news: ETH hits new high with CME Ethereum futures. DeFi yawns at YFI attack. China steps up DCEP digital yuan tests.

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.

Is the Tesla-inspired bitcoin gold rush the sign of a rational market?

Before Tesla’s bitcoin moves, big money was already placing BTC bets. What are bitcoin’s long-term fundamentals? Geoff Morphy of Bitfarms explains.

Binance Labs invests in Plasm Network to expand Polkadot

Plasm Network, a leading DApps hub on Polkadot and first parachain on its Rococo testnet, secures $2.4 million to build out the growing Polkadot ecosystem.

China’s BSN will add CasperLabs’s proof-of-stake blockchain to its network

Casper Network goes big on its ‘first of many’ expansion ambitions in Asia by receiving the nod to join both BSN China and BSN International.

As bitcoin hovers near all-time highs, what does it mean for investors?

2021 is already shaping up to be a very different bull market for bitcoin compared to the past, writes Kadan Stadelmann of Komodo. Here’s why.

How crypto forensics traced $32 million worth of ‘lost’ bitcoin

Is cryptocurrency use totally private and anonymous? Think again. The Cubits/Dooga case shows just how easy it is to trace bitcoin compared to fiat.

Uproar over WhatsApp and user privacy shows need for new data economy

Sharing user data in exchange for free services is not necessarily a bad thing, writes Henri Pihkala of Streamr. The key is transparency and user consent.

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.

China’s blockchain network at new milestone with open permissioned chains

Tai’an and WenChang chains join BSN China’s ‘Open Permissioned Blockchain Initiative’ as nation grows its blockchain network while maintaining controls.

GameStop sinks as ETH hits all-time high. Ray Dalio weighs in on crypto. Elon Musk, bitcoin’s new warrior.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: India pushes CBDC and proposes banning crypto. Korea’s DeFi future. How does Bitmain’s drama end?

XRP prices see ‘pump and dump’ as Ripple outlines legal defense strategy

In its response to SEC’s lawsuit, Ripple denies that XRP is a security, points out the clash with FinCEN and questions why SEC is not going after Ethereum.

As SEC goes after Ripple and Bitcoiin2Gen, is DeFi next in its line of fire?

Securities lawyers read the tea leaves of SEC’s lawsuits against Ripple XRP and Bitcoiin2Gen. Will DeFi be next for SEC enforcement actions or regulations?

Facebook-backed Diem, now close to launch, is propelling crypto into the mainstream

Formerly named Libra, the Diem stablecoin is now awaiting regulatory approval, writes Ilia Maksimenka of PlasmaPay. What are Diem’s odds of success?

Binance’s CZ predicts bitcoin prices will go as high as $400,000 in 2021

The founder and CEO of the world’s largest crypto exchange explains why he thinks bitcoin prices will keep rising but DeFi won’t be as hot as it was in 2020.

Digital payments — not cash — is now king in Asia’s payment ecosystem

Singapore and Thailand launch the world’s first real-time cross-border digital payment system. Here’s what else is happening in Hong Kong and China.
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Binance report: over 100 million people are now crypto users

About half of cryptocurrency users are hobbyists while 15% consider crypto their primary source of income, according to a survey of 61,000 crypto users.

Blockchain, mobile apps and advances in Covid tracking and tracing | Part 2

Blockchain amplifies the value of Covid testing and makes contact-tracing more effective. Here are some programs and apps now in use around the world.

74% of stablecoins are issued on Ethereum, according to new report

ConsenSys Codefi’s 4Q 2020 report on DeFi trends also predicts more ‘wrapped’ tokens, tranche lending products and Ethereum 2.0 derivatives in 2021.

Tether prosecution delayed again. Bitcoin’s false ‘double-spend’ rumors. Brave sends 24 million users to Web 3.0 via IPFS.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: BIS touts digital currencies. China’s blockchain network to add CBDCs as payment option.

IOHK’s Charles Hoskinson says proof of stake is much better than proof of work

IOHK and Cardano’s founder also explains why new US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is the ‘single biggest development’ for the crypto industry’s future.

Is Signal experimenting with Stellar-based cryptocurrency?

Signal, which exploded in popularity after WhatsApp’s privacy stumbles, may be exploring a business strategy pursued by Big Tech. What are the risks?

Bitcoin and other crypto trends to watch in 2021

How high will bitcoin prices go — and will 2021 be the year of the bitcoin ETF and advanced crypto derivatives? Jay Hao of OKEx looks to the future.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce is optimistic about crypto regulation in 2021

The SEC Commissioner doesn’t want the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry to obsess over regulations, but ‘think about how the technology can be used.’

Singapore’s DBS bank becomes first in Asia to offer crypto exchange

As bitcoin and other digital assets go mainstream, traditional banks want a piece of the action. Singapore’s crypto-friendly regulations are paving the way.

China’s blockchain network adds CBDC payment layer, ConsenSys as partner

BSN’s new digital payment network will be a boon to Ethereum, stablecoins and CBDCs like China’s DCEP digital yuan while keeping other cryptos out.

Cardano’s Hoskinson wants to win over Fortune 500 companies

Comparing countries like Ethiopia to ‘China in the 80s,’ Charles Hoskinson of IOHK explains Cardano’s Africa strategy and why the Fortune 500 needs crypto.

China’s DCEP digital yuan wraps up another mass test

Now renamed e-CNY, China’s new digital yuan has now been tested by 250,000 shoppers in two cities. Is it finally close to launch?
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Special series: blockchain, Covid-19 and the future of healthcare | Prologue

Over the next few weeks, Forkast.News will publish a special 5-part series on blockchain’s growing role in the global battle against Covid. Here is an overview.

How blockchain technology can help revive air travel | Part 1

In Part 1 of a special series on blockchain, Covid and healthcare, Forkast.News examines how the technology fosters greater trust in traveler health records.

Acoer’s Jim Nasr on using blockchain to track Covid vaccinations

Acoer’s founder and CEO offers his predictions for 2021, including blockchain being used to track Covid vaccinations as well as in the war against fake news.

Biden’s American Rescue Plan. Crypto’s regulatory outlook in 2021. How not to lose your bitcoin password (don’t ask Stefan Thomas).

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Twitter’s blue sky initiative. In China, Conflux Network wins another government deal.

OKEx’s Jay Hao expects ‘more amazing developments from DeFi’ in 2021

OKEx CEO speaks candidly on how 2020 was difficult for his crypto exchange, and offers his predictions for DeFi, regulations and CBDCs in year to come.

How blockchain can usher in new era in crypto regulatory compliance

When it comes to issues over crypto regulations and compliance, answers could be found in blockchain technology, writes Rachid Ajaja of AllianceBlock.

MIT professor Gary Gensler is chosen to lead US SEC

President-elect Joe Biden has named the former CTFC chief to lead the SEC. What does this mean for Ripple and other crypto firms?

Bitcoin is ‘better form of value’ than fiat, says Binance CEO CZ

In a special video interview, Binance CEO CZ also explains why — despite DeFi’s spectacular rise up to now — he thinks many current DeFi projects will fail.

Binance’s CZ on bitcoin prices: Is crypto in a bubble or bull run?

Is bitcoin’s volatility worrisome or normal? Binance’s CEO offers bitcoin predictions and insights for 2021, in an exclusive interview with Forkast.News.