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Asia’s richest man bets on blockchain, CBDC

Mukesh Ambani, Asia’s richest man from India, said on Monday that his Reliance Industries Ltd. is exploring blockchain-based platforms and central bank digital currencies (CBDC).

Friend.tech daily fees and buyers drop by over 90%

Friend.tech saw its daily revenue, fees and active buyers fall over 90% from its peak.

Bitcoin dips below US$26,000, crypto faces downward pressure amid Fed’s rate hike signals

Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies face headwinds on the first trading day of the week in Asia following the U.S. central bank’s Jackson Hole Symposium remarks, while Tron bucks the trend with modest gains.

Binance delists sanctioned Russian lenders from P2P services: WSJ

Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, has removed sanctioned Russian banks from its P2P trading service, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. 

Crypto market cautious after Fed’s Powell says US inflation still ‘too high’

Bitcoin, Ether and other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies held steady, despite Fed chair Jerome Powell’s hawkish comments on U.S. inflation.

DeFi revenue remains resilient despite Curve Finance hack

Even as the value of assets in DeFi dips, service provider revenues stand strong, undeterred by the US$73 million Curve Finance breach, Forkast Labs data shows.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin’s summer volatility, Coinbase’s new stake and anticipations on the Fed moves cryptocurrencies

From landmark business decisions to looming central bank announcements, the crypto landscape this week teemed with events that may shape the course of the market.

If Chinese crypto holders sneeze, will global markets catch a cold?

Top blockchain and crypto news: China’s economic woes could spell trouble for crypto. Real fear in NFT markets. Can Friend.tech revive SocialFi?

SOL reverses gains, Bitcoin holds US$26,000, top cryptos fall ahead of Powell’s speech

SOL reversed Thursday’s gains from its Shopify partnership while XRP fell to a six-week low. Bitcoin and Ether inched up during afternoon trading but struggled to gain more upward momentum.

Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyers granted unlimited prison visits; FTX tries to sell crypto holdings

Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyers can visit him in jail on a daily basis, a U.S. district court ruled on Wednesday, while FTX’s new CEO wants to sell its crypto.

It’s time for Web3 gaming to up its own game

Blockchain games are often touted as the next big thing. Joseph Cooper, CEO of Earn Alliance, takes a hard look at the industry’s challenges and how to overcome them.

Bitcoin back down to US$26,000 as investors await US Fed chair speech

Bitcoin dropped to around the US$26,000 level Friday morning in Asia, giving up much of the previous day’s gains. Ether also moved lower.

Mastercard and Binance end crypto card partnership, services shut down in Latin America, Middle East

Mastercard and cryptocurrency exchange Binance will end their crypto debit card program in Argentina, Brazil, Columbia and Bahrain from Sep. 22.
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Tornado Cash founders charged with money laundering crypto, including proceeds from North Korean heists

The Tornado Cash mixer’s co-founders have been charged by the U.S. Department of Justice with money laundering and sanctions violations.

Bitcoin back at US$26,500 as crypto mirrors Wall Street gains

Bitcoin rose on Thursday morning in Asia to trade in the US$26,500 range. Ether also moved up. Solana led the winners in the top 10 non-stablecoin tokens.

Blockchain tech in Thailand gets boost from new pro-crypto leader

Blockchain technology in Thailand could soon receive a boost by new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who had promised during his campaign to give 10,000 baht (US$300) through digital wallets to every Thai citizen aged 16 years and above.

Sam Bankman-Fried pleads not guilty to misusing customer funds

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, pleaded not guilty to a set of new charges tied to last year’s collapse of his crypto empire.

Could Rishi Sunak’s blockchain dream live on without him?

This final installment of a 3-part series on the U.K. digital asset industry looks at the politics driving the British crypto conversation. PM Rishi Sunak is a believer, but an election’s coming up, and his rivals appear less keen on turning the U.K. into a global crypto hub.

Binance denies Russia sanctions violation reported by WSJ

Binance continues to help a significant amount of Russian funds move abroad through crypto transactions, according to The Journal.

Japan Nomura’s crypto custody firm Komainu bags Dubai license

announced Tuesday that it received an operating license from the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai.

Bitcoin below US$26,000 with a new low of US$20,000 in the cards

Bitcoin fell Wednesday morning in Asia to trade below US$26,000. Ether also dropped as all other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded flat to lower.

India’s CoinDCX exchange lays off 12% of staff

CoinDCX, one of India’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, said on Wednesday it is laying off 12% of its staff due to the impact of a prolonged bear market and local tax rules. 

Bitcoin holds US$26,000, BNB flirts with annual low

Bitcoin holds its ground above US$26,000, but the top 10 cryptocurrencies see a dip. BNB remains subdued as Binance’s payment partner woes intensify.

‘Third category thing’ — untangling digital asset property law in England and Wales

How can we claim to own something that falls outside traditional categories of personal property? In this second installment in a 3-part series looking at the U.K. digital asset industry, Law Commissioner for England and Wales Sarah Green explains how.

Coinbase buys equity stake in Circle

Coinbase Global announced Monday that it is acquiring an equity stake in Circle Internet Financial, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin.

Bitcoin recovers after falling below $26,000 as the ETF excitement bubble bursts

Bitcoin stabilized Tuesday morning in Asia after dropping below the key US$26,000 support level over night. Ether also dipped but held the US$1,600 mark.

Bitcoin stabilizes as ETF enthusiasm tapers off

Bitcoin stabilized above the US$26,000 mark following last week’s sell-off. Top cryptos struggle to gain momentum as Bitcoin ETF applications continue to be delayed.

Tornado Cash sanctions upheld by US court

A U.S. district court has concluded that the Treasury Department’s sanctions on cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash are valid.

SEC wants to question Terra’s Daniel Shin, could ask South Korea for help

The U.S. SEC could call for South Korea’s cooperation in questioning Daniel Shin, co-founder of Terraform Labs.

Bitcoin, Ether stable after last week’s nosedive; XRP leads crypto gains; US stock futures mixed 

Bitcoin edged up on Monday morning in Asia to trade above US$26,000, after sliding over 10% for the week. Ether also moved higher but remained below US$1,700.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin falls below US$26,000 following Evergrande’s bankruptcy

Bitcoin fell over 10% this week and dipped to a two-month low following Evergrande’s bankruptcy filing.

Tether stops USDT stablecoin mints on three blockchains

Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, announced on Thursday that it will discontinue support for its flagship stablecoin, on three blockchains, Kusama, Bitcoin Cash SLP (Simple Ledger Protocol) and Omni Layer. 

XRP erases gains from Ripple’s partial victory as Bitcoin falls 10% in a week

Macroeconomic factors hit investor sentiment while a U.S. judge’s consent to SEC over its ongoing tussle with Ripple Labs affects crypto prices.

How blockchain-backed ID can lift up the lives of the unbanked masses: Opinion

Digital ID verified via blockchain can greatly expand economic opportunities for the world’s poor. But the market is fragmented and faces a rocky road of regulations, writes Tamas Kadar, CEO of SEON.

Over $1 billion in crypto market liquidations as Bitcoin hits 2-month low

Bitcoin traded at around US$26,800 on Thursday morning in Asia after hitting a two-month low of around US$25,400. Ether fell below US$1,700.

Bitcoin steady at US$28,500; Dogecoin leads market decline in Asia

Global institutional intrigue in digital currencies grows but the cryptocurrency market shows no signs of rallying.

Will Singapore steady the stablecoin ship?

Top blockchain and crypto news: Singapore steps up stablecoin rules. DeGods decline. Hong Kong’s third crypto license.

Bitcoin dives to US$28,500; Coinbase buoyed by US futures approval; Fed minutes cast shadow over equities

Bitcoin, Ether and Top 10 crypto fell on Thursday morning in Asia. Coinbase receives futures approval.

PayPal to pause UK crypto sales from October for at least 3 months

PayPal will pause cryptocurrency sales in the United Kingdom for a minimum of three months starting October 1.

Coinbase cleared to offer crypto futures trading in the US

Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., has obtained regulatory approval to offer crypto futures trading services to eligible clients

Bitcoin extends losses as BNB falls after Binance closes payment service

Bitcoin extends the day’s losses but keeps above US$29,000, while Binance’s BNB drops amid exchange’s payment service closure.

Binance to shut crypto payment infrastructure as market dominance dips

Binance will shut down its cryptocurrency payment service Binance Connect on Aug. 16, a Binance spokesperson confirmed. 

TradFi has its eyes on crypto, and here’s the real reason why: Opinion

Wall Street thought crypto would be a passing fad. But more big institutions are having a change of heart, in spite of crypto’s protracted market woes.

Cryptos decline on the back of Wall Street losses and Fed speculation

Bitcoin and Ether fell on Wednesday along with all other top 10 cryptos, NFTs moved down while U.S. stock futures steadied after a rocky Tuesday.

Bitcoin, Ether dip amid low volatility; Solana gains

Bitcoin traded flat on Tuesday afternoon in Asia. Ether dipped, while most other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded flat to lower. Solana rose.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried charged with stealing customer funds for political donations

The FTX founder faces charges of wire fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud and money laundering related to the exchange’s collapse in November.

Bitcoin trading sideways; NFT transactions soar; Nvidia leads Wall Street rally

Bitcoin edged higher on Tuesday morning in Asia. Ether also edged up, while other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded flat to higher. Solana led the winners.

BTC Markets CEO sees silver lining in Australian banks’ crypto clampdown

Australian banks are heightening scrutiny on digital asset exchanges and restricting crypto payments due to rising scams and frauds. Caroline Bowler, CEO of BTC Markets highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by the industry in the country.

Bitcoin inches up; Dogecoin, Solana lead losses

Bitcoin rose slightly in the past 24 hours while Ether lost. Dogecoin and Solana were the day’s biggest losers, both dropping by over 1%, although both posted gains on the week.

Shiba Inu surges; DeGods Season 3 unveiled; risk sentiment improves for US stocks

Bitcoin dipped slightly, having hovered around the $29,380 level throughout the weekend. Ether and most other top 10 crypto were little changed.

Weekly Market Wrap: Can Bitcoin close the week above US$29,300?

Bitcoin briefly rose above US$30,000 twice this week, but failed to remain the support level despite positive catalysts in the industry like the launch of PayPal’s new stablecoin. Bitcoin will have to close the week above US$29,300 for upward momentum, industry experts told Forkast.

Huobi seeks update of crypto holdings across data platforms, amid market talk of insolvency woes

Huobi has contacted multiple data platforms to update its cryptocurrency holdings, following market talk that the it might face an insolvency issue.

SEC to appeal in Ripple case, says ruling is a matter of opinion

SEC seeks to appeal a court ruling in July that the programmatic sale of Ripple’s XRP cryptocurrency did not qualify as sales of financial securities.

Slowing US inflation data inspires hope for a crypto price rally

Bitcoin and Ether dipped on Friday morning in Asia, while U.S. CPI data points to a potential rally in the crypto market.

Is PayPal’s new stablecoin a watershed moment for crypto?

PayPal launches stablecoin. Traditional gamers take on NFTs. Tough times ahead for Huobi.

Coinbase launches its own blockchain in first for a publicly listed company

Coinbase Global announced the public launch of its Ethereum layer-2 blockchain Base on Wednesday.

Bitcoin, Ether dip but more bullish times ahead?

Bitcoin dropped on Thursday morning in Asia after briefly breaching the US$30,000 level. Ether also dipped, while other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded mixed.

Bitcoin, Ether rise near key levels, Sol leads gains across top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ether rose during Wednesday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. With over 69% of Bitcoin supply inactive for over a year, long-term investors remain bullish on the world’s first cryptocurrency, industry experts told Forkast.

Huobi sees US$105 million outflow amid insolvency rumors

Rumors of arrest and insolvency plague the Huobi cryptocurrency exchange, which enjoys close ties to the Tron founder Justin Sun. How will Huobi respond?

Bitcoin, Ether rise; Solana leads post-PayPal stablecoin launch rally; several US banks downgraded

Bitcoin rose on Wednesday morning in Asia to trade above US$29,700. Ether also logged gains along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.

U.S. senators reintroduce crypto anti-money laundering bill

Two U.S. senators have re-introduced the ‘‘Digital Asset Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2023’’ after months of delay, which puts greater emphasis on industry participants such as miners and validators. If the bill is passed, all crypto participants will be required to report transactions of over US$10,000.

S.Korean prosecutors to submit XRP ruling to prove Terra-Luna as securities

South Korean prosecutors are looking to submit the recent U.S. ruling on Ripple to a Seoul court to prove Luna as financial securities.

PayPal launches fully backed and regulated USD stablecoin on Ethereum

Paypal, the California-based online payments giant, announced Monday that it is launching an Ethereum blockchain-based stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar.

How AI, with blockchain, can transform everyday life: Opinion

Combining blockchain with AI, two of the greatest innovations of this era, will unlock myriad benefits for consumers and businesses alike, writes Eugen Kuzin.

Bitcoin up as market digests PayPal stablecoin launch

Bitcoin edged up on Tuesday morning in Asia after U.S. multinational payment giant PayPal launched a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin on Monday.

Blockchain is fast, direct and all too cryptic — can it reshape international aid?

As explored in the first installment of this two-part series, crypto funding is being used to provide small but important items to troops on the frontline. But beyond the battlelines, how can crypto help get aid to civilians in times of crisis?

Crypto’s fear and loathing: Will TradFi take over?

Moves by big financial institutions into digital assets are worrisome to crypto purists, but it could be just what crypto needs to shake off its doldrums, writes Konstantin Horejsi of Blocktrade.

There will never be an X (Twitter) token: Elon Musk

Elon Musk appeared to put an end to recent speculation of X issuing its crypto token, in a tweeted reply Saturday to another user on the platform.

Bitcoin, Ether flat; Solana leads winners

Bitcoin traded flat on Monday morning in Asia to stay just above US$29,000 as the token’s volatility rating hit a record low. The NFT market recorded losses while, in the U.S., equities traders await more earnings reports.

First aid kits, boots and batteries — how small but significant crypto funds are used in global conflicts

As war rages in eastern Europe, this first installment in a two-part series looks at the growing use of crypto funding in global conflicts, focusing on the small but significant provision of supplies to pro-Russian mercenary groups in Ukraine.
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Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin plunges under US$30,000 amid market turbulence. Is US$27,000 next? 

Bitcoin dips below US$30,000 and Ether loses ground as a mix of bleak sentiment, SEC suits and recent hacks test investor nerves.

Bitcoin, Ether extend gains; top 10 cryptos mixed

Litecoin lost the most in the past 24 hours, followed by XRP, while Tron led gains.