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Upbit Singapore secures coveted MPI license

Upbit joins 15 other crypto firms permitted to provide digital payment token services in Singapore.

From Silicon Valley to Sand Dunes: Why Indian crypto firms eye Dubai expansion

Indian crypto companies flock to Dubai, escaping high local taxes and finding solace in the emirate’s favorable regulatory environment.

Can spot Bitcoin ETFs push Hong Kong to the crypto throne?

Top blockchain and crypto news: Hong Kong mulls Bitcoin ETFs, Ordinals flip Ethereum NFTs, IPO comes full circle.

Grassroots crypto adoption to follow real-world use cases, says Chainalysis APAC policy lead

Blockchain-based gaming and remittances among top drivers toward adoption in central and South Asia.

Bitcoin breaks US$36,000 as SEC enters potential ETF approval period

Bitcoin is up over 32% in the past month.

SBF trial drama fails to dampen Bitcoin’s meteoric October

Top blockchain and crypto news: Bankman-Fried’s memory lapses, betting on the return of NFTs, ETF dreams and Bitcoin’s Uptober

SBF trial enters final stage; Bankman-Fried lied about spending customer funds, prosecutors say in closing arguments

Bankman-Fried trial nears end: defense claims good faith as prosecution alleges misuse of funds.

Bitcoin soars amid buzz of potential ETF approval: Is a crypto renaissance on the horizon?

Top blockchain and crypto news: Bitcoin ETF potential pumps life in markets. Ethereum NFTs back on rise. Major industry layoffs continue.

Mastercard explores partnerships with crypto wallets MetaMask, Ledger: CoinDesk

Mastercard’s potential tie up with custody service providers may turbocharge crypto wallets’ growth with its global payments prowess.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs — crypto’s silver bullet?

Amid news, fake or otherwise, of an imminent approval for at least one spot Bitcoin ETF, Bitcoin’s price has skyrocketed. Could a year of pain in the crypto industry be over?

Parity Technologies, Polkadot blockchain developer, lays off 30% of staff

Parity CEO Björn Wagner said that despite the need for layoffs, the company’s financial health “remains robust.”

China’s central bank to ‘resolutely curb’ crypto speculation; Hong Kong updates regulations

PBOC to crack down on crypto speculation, as Hong Kong restricts access to certain “complex” virtual asset products.

Bitcoin briefly rallies above US$30,000 following Grayscale’s new ETF application

Bitcoin gained over 10% this past week, boosted by Grayscale’s renewed spot Bitcoin ETF application.

LBRY shuts down operations

LBRY issued a final goodbye to the crypto community before winding down operations.

UK emerges as world’s third-largest economy in terms of crypto transaction volume: Chainalysis

The U.K. is also listed as the 14th economy on Chainalysis’ Global Crypto Adoption Index.

Over 40% of Hong Kong investors shun digital assets post-JPEX Scandal, survey reveals

The survey aimed to measure the public attitude towards virtual asset investments, following the JPEX incident.

Trust Wallet’s TWT up 7%, leads top 100 cryptos in gains

TWT price rose over 15% during the past week, after Trust Wallet announced a major rebranding upgrade.

Israel-Palestine crisis: Navigating the intersection of conflict, aid and blockchain

Top blockchain and crypto news: Gaza tensions, digital tremors, NFTs are not dancing in September, Joe Lubin talks traditional system’s twilight.

Japanese yen-backed digital currency set to launch next July

The DCJPY could play a central role in the future’s currency system, according to DeCurret Holdings.

Coinbase Q3 trading volume drops 52% from last year

The current crypto bear market caused Coinbase’s trading volume to drop to levels not seen since 2020.

Sam Bankman-Fried planned to raise money from Saudi crown prince, Ellison testifies

Caroline Ellison details how Sam Bankman-Fried planned to raise capital from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman as FTX struggled to repay lenders.

ESMA says DeFi can bring greater financial inclusion, but warns of volatility risks

The regulator said that DeFi doesn’t pose a risk to financial stability, due to its small size, but said it needs to be monitored in the future.

BlackRock shares go digital on JPMorgan’s Onyx blockchain

JPMorgan’s Onyx blockchain showcased near-instant collateral transfer in BlockRock’s tokenized share transaction with Barclays.

Former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison testifies in ex-boyfriend Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial

Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman-Fried’s ex-girlfriend and former CEO of Alameda Research, details how the trading firm took around $14 billion from FTX customers to repay lenders.

Hamas crypto donation accounts frozen by Israel police

Israel Police’s cyber unit, Lahav 443, halts Hamas’ cryptocurrency fundraising efforts following Israeli crypto firms’ aid initiatives for war-affected citizens.

Can Asia’s progressive regulators tame crypto’s Wild West?

The Web3 sun is shining in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, where forward-thinking regulations are fostering crypto’s growth while boosting investor protections.

ESMA publishes second MiCA consultation paper

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is seeking feedback on the second consultation paper on the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) bill, published on Thursday.  See related article: Binance ICO raised less than US$5 mln: Forbes Fast Facts See related article: What Europe’s new spot Bitcoin ETF means for global markets

Ledger cuts 12% of workforce, citing macroeconomic conditions

Cryptocurrency hardware wallet developer Ledger said it is cutting 12% of its workforce, according to a Thursday letter to employees by chief executive officer Pascal Gauthier. See related article: Binance ICO raised less than US$5 mln: Forbes Fast Facts See related article: Governments could access Ledger wallet private keys, says CEO

Crypto trust on trial: Bankman-Fried faces judgment

Top blockchain and crypto news: Spotlight on Bankman-Fried, Pudgy Penguins’ new revenue stream and Google’s Web3 goggles

CMCC Global raises US$100 mln to launch Hong Kong Web3 fund

CMCC Global, a Hong Kong-based blockchain-focused venture capital fund, announced Wednesday that it raised US$100 million to launch the “Titan Fund.” See related article: SFC to monitor illegal VATP activities with Hong Kong Police Force Fast Facts See related article: Valkyrie CIO expects US spot Bitcoin ETF approval in Q2 2024 (Update adds comment from […]

Sam Bankman-Fried committed ‘massive fraud,’ says prosecutor in opening statements

Prosecutors allege the founder of the failed FTX cryptocurrency exchange had a reputation that was “built on lies” as hotly awaited trial begins.

How the NFT market peaks and bottoms differently from the rest of the industry

Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are evolving and carving out distinct niches, prompting a closer look at their diverging paths and the emerging trends in the digital financial landscape.

Chainalysis cuts 150 employees 

Chainalysis, a New York-headquartered blockchain intelligence firm, is reportedly laying off about 150 employees, or approximately 15% of the 900 staff members. See related article: ‘There’s no doubt we picked a side here’ — Chainalysis founder Michael Gronager talks analytics, Ukraine and crypto adoption in Asia Fast Facts See related article: Bitwise to launch two […]

Why regulated decentralized exchanges are the wave of crypto trading’s future

Bringing together the best parts of centralized and decentralized exchanges, RDEXs also take into account the inevitability of regulations.

Back from the dead: Can FTX stage a comeback?

The prospect of FTX’s return to the competitive exchange landscape is being keenly watched by stakeholders, reflecting on its meteoric rise, groundbreaking approach, and tumultuous fall.

‘There’s no doubt we picked a side here’ — Chainalysis founder Michael Gronager talks analytics, Ukraine and crypto adoption in Asia

In the second in a series of 1-on-1 interviews from the Token 2049 crypto conference in Singapore held Sept. 13-14, Michael Gronager, founder of blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, spoke to Forkast about crypto use in the Ukraine conflict, tracking illicit on-chain activity and digital asset adoption in Asia.

SEC Chair Gensler faces bipartisan backlash over strict crypto regulations

Top blockchain and crypto news: U.S. lawmakers berate SEC over ETF applications. NFTs down but not dead. Hong Kong sees year’s biggest crypto heist so far.

Top 10 cryptos mixed, SEC again delays decision on Ark Invest ETF filing

Toncoin led losses among top 10 cryptos. Bitcoin dropped while Ether rose marginally.

Bitcoin, Ether tread water; U.S. equities slide with mega-cap tech giants leading the declines

Bitcoin dipped on Wednesday morning in Asia to trade range-bound below US$26,300. Ether edged higher but failed to reclaim the US$1,600 mark.

Bitcoin, Ether rise; BNB leads gains among top 10 cryptos

Binance’s BNB token gained the most after Binance Japan and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation jointly announced they are collaborating on the issuance of fiat-pegged stablecoins.

Bitcoin, Ether fall with Toncoin leading losses in top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin fell below US$26,500 while Ether dipped below US$1,600 in the past 24 hours.

AI, Asia and analytics — an interview with Nansen’s Alex Svanevik

Blockchain analytics are key to understanding the nascent crypto industry. But the analysis sector is far from immune from the pressures of the ongoing crypto bear market. In the first of a series of 1-on-1 interviews from the Token2049 conference held in Singapore Sept. 13-14, Alex Svanevik, CEO of blockchain analytics firm Nansen, sat down with Forkast to discuss current crypto challenges, the Asia growth market and the increasing use of artificial intelligence in the industry.

Bitcoin, Ether drop; top cryptos retreat with Toncoin leading losers

Bitcoin fell Monday morning in Asia to trade below US$26,300. Ether also dipped and remained below the US$1,600 mark. All top 10 non-stablecoin tokens dropped.

Matic biggest loser among top 10; Bitcoin falls, Ether dips below US$1,600 

Matic was the biggest loser in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, falling alongside most other cryptos and with Ether falling below US$1,600. Despite Bitcoin’s sluggish price action, industry experts say that institutions continue adopting the world’s first cryptocurrency.  See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750 MATIC […]

Toncoin leads declines, Bitcoin dips below US$27,000 

Toncoin was the biggest loser in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, falling alongside most other cryptos except Dogecoin. With Bitcoin below US$27,000, FTX’s crypto liquidations could keep prices subdued for the rest of the month, market analysts told Forkast. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750 […]

Bitcoin, Ether dip; Toncoin leads crypto retreat following hawkish Fed comments

Bitcoin briefly fell below US$26,900 on early Thursday morning in Asia but is now trading above US$27,000. Ether also dropped but held above US$1,600.

Toncoin leads top 10 cryptos with weekly gain of 31%, could Bitcoin rise to US$30,000 by October?

Toncoin led gainers in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, rising over 31% since its Telegram partnership last week. Despite Bitcoin’s short-term corrections, it could return above the US$30,000 support level by October, according to market experts. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750 TON leads winners, […]

SEC will load more charges on crypto exchanges and DeFi, says enforcement chief

The U.S. SEC will expand its regulatory enforcement onto crypto exchanges, intermediaries and decentralized finance (DeFi) entities.

Bitcoin trades above US$27,000; Toncoin extends rally

Bitcoin rose on Wednesday morning in Asia to trade above US$27,200. Ether remained flat at around US$1,640. All other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens logged gains.

Solana leads winners in top 10 cryptos; Bitcoin, Ether rise for 2nd consecutive day

Solana led gainers in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, recovering from a two-month low. Bitcoin and Ether rose during afternoon trading in Asia along with most cryptos. Market experts said that the continued entrance of large institutions could provide the crypto industry more legitimacy and price stability. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: […]

How Singapore is redefining Web3’s public-private landscape

Now a top-ranked crypto hub, Singapore is a shiny example of the central role that government can play in nurturing industry growth while bolstering consumer protections.

Bitcoin, Ether rise; Toncoin leads crypto rebound

Bitcoin rose on Tuesday morning in Asia to around US$26,700, after briefly breaching the US$27,000 mark. Ether also logged gains but remained below US$1,650.

BNB leads winners in top 10 cryptos; Bitcoin, Ether rise 0.8% in afternoon trading 

BNB led gainers in the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, despite Binance’s growing challenges. Bitcoin and Ether rose during afternoon trading in Asia, as market analysts are saying it could start picking up more bullish momentum above the US$26,000 mark. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750 […]

Bitcoin, Ether flat; altcoins drop amid FTX liquidation

Bitcoin dipped on Monday morning in Asia to trade at around US$26,500. Ether also moved lower but held the US$1,600 support level.

Crypto and Formula One’s honeymoon is over, can Web3 save a rocky marriage?

The third installment of Forkast’s ‘Crypto in Sport’ series comes from Singapore, which this week plays host to Formula One’s Singapore Grand Prix. Crypto companies poured hundreds of millions of sponsorship money into F1 at the height of the bull market, but might a prolonged crypto winter pull the plug on this marriage of convenience? Or can diversification and real world use cases help breathe new life into the relationship? Welcome to crypto’s very own drive to survive.

Half a world away — Gary Gensler’s SEC dominates discussion at Singapore’s Token 2049

Billed as Asia’s largest crypto event, Token 2049 took place over Sept. 13-14 in the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore. Drawing over 10,000 attendees from all parts of the world, there was excitement about blockchain adoption in the region. But repeat references to one man were a reminder of the U.S. regulatory concerns weighing heavily on the crypto industry.

Who’s who in the Sam Bankman-Fried trial?

FTX’s former CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, faces DOJ scrutiny with seven charges. Here are the six key figures in the coming crypto courtroom showdown.

Most top 10 cryptos rise; Tron, Toncoin biggest gainers

Bitcoin rises past US$26,500. All other top 10 cryptos gain, except BNB.

Investing in a Monet painting is no longer just for the super-rich, thanks to blockchain

The gates are opening for ordinary investors to buy into real-world assets like rare art and fancy real estate. But regulations and compliance hurdles remain.

SEC fines Stoner Cats for selling unregistered securities as NFTs

NFT markets fear more enforcement action may be heading their way, while NFT offerings as securities fail to convince the SEC.

Bitcoin, Ether continue to slide; altcoins under pressure

Bitcoin remained under US$26,000 and Ether dropped below US$1,600 in Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia.

Advice for Web3 projects: Your reputation is as important as your runway

Web3 companies often focus on building their tech above all else, but poor public communications can undermine all the work they do.

Korea Blockchain Week: diverging crypto paths for the US and Asia

The annual Korea Blockchain Week conference in Seoul is running from Sept. 4 to 10. Crypto industry leaders and advocates from around the world have gathered in the South Korean capital to discuss all things blockchain, including the growing regulatory gap between the U.S. and Asia.

North Korean hackers stole US$41 million from gambling site: FBI

North Korea-backed Lazarus Group was behind the US$41 million hack of online crypto gambling platform Stake.com on Monday, FBI says.

U.S. CFTC charges three DeFi projects for illegal derivatives offerings

CFTC charged three U.S.-based decentralized finance protocols – Opyn, ZeroEx and Deridex – on Thursday for omitting necessary registrations .

Coinbase and Wall Street: The merging worlds of TradFi and crypto

Top blockchain and crypto news: Coinbase steps up to fill void of crypto lenders. NFTs extend losses. What’s next for crypto as Singapore gets a new president?

US regulation could stifle blockchain innovation, says former White House cybersecurity director

Blockchain innovation in the U.S. could suffer from over-regulation of the crypto industry, cybersecurity expert Carole house said.

Do you really trust the smart contracts in charge of your crypto?

Making sure the smart contracts behind DeFi platforms are thoroughly audited isn’t just a job for code developers — it’s also a must for ordinary investors.

China court says virtual assets legally protected as properties

Virtual assets remain legal property protected by law in China, said a Friday report from People’s Court Daily.

SEC delays verdict on BlackRock’s ETF application; Will Bitcoin ETFs see light of day?

After Grayscale’s legal win, the SEC decided to postpone its decision on spot Bitcoin ETF applications. Will these proposals be greenlit? And when?

The rise and continuing fall of Sam Bankman-Fried: A step-by-step guide to his case so far

The 9 key pieces of information you need to know ahead of the FTX founder’s first trial on Oct. 2

A Dark but necessary time for NFTs is here

From Miami parties with A$AP Ferg to a historic NFT market slump: The highs and lows of the NFT world.