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Sailing around the world for digital gold with the Liberty Bitcoin Cup

Young sailors are competing to win one Bitcoin in the Liberty Bitcoin Cup — a youth version of the America’s Cup — heading to Hong Kong in early 2022.

Ripple plans major Southeast Asia expansion by buying 40% of Tranglo

Despite its legal battles in the US over the XRP token, Ripple continues its push in Asia to grow its cross-border payments and money-transfer business.

China writes blockchain and digital currency into nation’s future

China’s new five-year plan — its blueprint for development — pours resources into ‘new infrastructure’ like blockchain technology and DCEP’s digital yuan.

SEC tries to block XRP holders’ bid to intervene in Ripple lawsuit

SEC tells court that allowing XRP holders to join as third parties would create an ‘avalanche’ of claims and ‘undue delay, complexity and confusion.’

World’s first major crypto art show opens in Beijing

Headlined by crypto art superstars Beeple and Robert Alice, the in-person exhibit also features works by Chinese artists. Next stop: Shanghai.

How does China see its CBDC and its use in cross-border payments?

China’s central bank says its DCEP project’s digital yuan, now in pre-launch testing across the nation, ‘will coexist and cooperate’ with Alipay and WeChat Pay.

How blockchain can power the growth of green finance

As interest in green bonds grow around the world, Asia is emerging as a hotbed of sustainable finance. Here’s why China will be leading the way.

KPMG: Virtual asset service providers ready to professionalize and grow

New KPMG report outlines opportunities for investors as well as traditional banks with the rise of VASPs like cryptocurrency exchanges and custody services.

World’s central banks come together to collaborate on CBDCs

As the world increasingly turns to Bitcoin, stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies, a brain trust of central bankers want to take back control.

How liquid staking can unlock cross-chain interoperability and DeFi value

The siloed nature of many older blockchains is holding back DeFi’s potential, writes Sarah Kim of Terra. But help with greater interoperability is on the horizon.

What’s in DeFi’s future — and what does it mean for traditional banks?

Will DeFi replace centralized finance, and how might regulators respond? An all-star panel with leaders from SEC, WEF, ConsenSys and USDC explains.

Bithumb, OKEx roiled by Korea’s new law. Why Thailand hates baht-pegged stablecoins. What’s behind Metakovan’s NFT art buys?

Other top blockchain and crypto news: Japan’s SBI Crypto opens mining pool to public. In China, more companies turn to crypto to boost bottom line.

OKEx to shut its crypto exchange in Korea as new AML laws take effect

OKEx will soon follow Binance in leaving South Korea’s cryptocurrency exchange market. Is this what FATF and Korean regulators intended?

Why Roger Ver prefers Bitcoin Cash to the original BTC

Early Bitcoin investor and cryptocurrency promoter Roger Ver tells Forkast.News how faster transactions and lower fees are fueling Bitcoin Cash adoption.

Hong Kong now exploring retail CBDC in upcoming Project Aurum

Hong Kong Monetary Authority intensifies its CBDC efforts with a new study into ‘hybrid’ digital currencies and private CBDC-backed stablecoins.

Fed Chair Powell calls Bitcoin ‘speculative,’ says US not in CBDC rush

Countries around the world are exploring central bank digital currencies. But US and European central bank leaders say they value stability over speed.

Ripple recasts embattled XRP as a ‘bridge’ currency for CBDCs

As XRP holders step closer to intervening in SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple, the payment platform gears up to grow its CBDC business with a new white paper.

Bank of Thailand outlines stablecoins policy as it explores retail CBDC

Thailand’s central bank says it is ‘open’ to considering stablecoins but declares Terra’s THT to be illegal. What does this mean for Tether or USD Coin?

How JPMorgan’s Onyx is redefining payments in banking with blockchain

From JPM Coin to payments on Ethereum in outer space, JPMorgan’s Onyx division is pushing the blockchain frontiers in traditional banking.

Chia Network launches eco-friendly blockchain and XCH cryptocurrency

Founded by BitTorrent creator Bram Cohen, Chia Network’s new ‘proof of space and time’ blockchain aims to be a more sustainable alternative to bitcoin.

Who is really leading the global blockchain patent race?

Boosted by state incentives, companies in China are filing more blockchain patent applications than anywhere else. But how many patents got awarded?

Guide to Cardano and ADA: What is Cardano, and why it matters

Cardano’s ADA, up by 7,400% since last year, is now the 3rd most popular cryptocurrency in the world. Why is it called a ‘Ethereum killer’? Let’s find out.

Beauty selfie app Meitu buys another $50 million in bitcoin and ether

Another financially troubled Chinese company turns to blockchain to improve its bottom line — this time, by buying up cryptocurrency a la Tesla.
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Are bitcoin ETFs coming soon to America? Korea’s Shinhan Bank joins CBDC pilot. Argo seeks greener crypto pastures in Texas.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: As China tightens vise on crypto, Beijing to host 60-artist crypto art exhibition featuring NFT superstar Beeple.

Judge denies XRP holders’ bid to intervene in SEC v. Ripple lawsuit

XRP holders’ motion to join as third-party defendant was denied without prejudice as Ripple tries to bolster its ‘fair notice’ defense against SEC.

NEM launches Symbol blockchain and XYM crypto for new token economy

NEM’s Symbol blockchain will be interoperable, enable NFTs and allow assets like whiskey to be tokenized for investing. What will happen to XEM and NIS1?

XRP holders seek to join Ripple in fighting SEC lawsuit

In new legal filings, XRP holders blame SEC for causing ‘multi-billions in losses’ and say they intend to file a class-action lawsuit against the agency.

Looking past bitcoin: How tokenized real estate can diversify portfolios

Despite bitcoin’s new highs, BTC remains a volatile and risky investment. Are tokenized hard assets like real estate a better alternative for investors?

Will DeFi upend traditional finance and democratize capitalism?

GameStop’s drama is over, but it may signal big changes ahead for finance. Here’s why one former banker thinks ‘DeFi is going to absorb traditional finance.’

What does Weibo’s takedown of Binance & Huobi mean for crypto in China?

China’s Twitter-like platform disabled the crypto exchanges’ accounts on the same day China vowed to ‘crack down’ on businesses that sound like crypto.

Why blockchain and crypto offer women big career opportunities

In a special roundtable, top women in blockchain and crypto share leadership tips and how to give your daughter ‘a fabulous career when she grows up.’

SEC: no duty to warn about XRP; denies Ripple’s fair notice defense

Intensifying its legal warfare against XRP, SEC takes aims at the heart of Ripple’s defense. But Ripple scores wins in Tetragon and YouTube lawsuits.

Jack Dorsey cashing in on NFT frenzy. Ripple turns to CBDCs amid XRP’s legal troubles. Is India rethinking a crypto ban?

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Ethereum takes up with Amazon, plans gas fee changes. China likely to increase blockchain spending.

Does India have room for both bitcoin and a CBDC?

As debate rages over whether India should ban private cryptos in favor of a central bank digital currency, a case could be made that India needs both.

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.

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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Will India be left behind in the digital currency race?

India is moving toward banning all cryptocurrency and creating a state-backed digital rupee. But Tesla’s big bitcoin buy-in may be giving lawmakers pause.

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.

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.

Bitcoin prices skyrocket after Elon Musk’s Tesla reveals $1.5 billion BTC buy

Tesla has invested $1.5 billion into bitcoin, according to an SEC filing published today. The news sent bitcoin prices rocketing into a new stratosphere.

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.