Forkast.News is now Forkast Labs

Looking ahead: 5 predictions for crypto and blockchain in 2021

What will be hot in blockchain next year, and what will be the curveballs? Forkast.News consults top industry leaders and thinkers to bring you a crystal ball.

Diginex’s Richard Byworth: Crypto borrowing and lending to increase 10-fold

In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, Diginex’s CEO offers his views on CBDC initiatives, crypto custody, and more growth in borrowing, lending of digital assets in the upcoming year.

Crypto Santa’s naughty and nice list for Christmas 2020

Who in blockchain is making the world a better place this year, and who deserves nothing under the tree? Santa’s helpers at Forkast.News tell all.

ConsenSys’ Charles d’Haussy: The ‘staking capital of the world’ will emerge in Asia in 2021

In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, the director of strategic initiatives at ConsenSys and author of “Block Kong” shares his views on CBDCs, stablecoins and Asia’s blockchain space.

Year in Review: 5 biggest blockchain and crypto stories of 2020

Here are the hottest blockchain news and trends that dominated Forkast.News headlines over the past 12 months. Let the countdown to 2021 begin!

World Economic Forum’s Sheila Warren expects ‘tremendous activity’ on China’s digital currency in 2021

In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, the head of Blockchain, Data and Digital Assets and member of the Executive Committee of the World Economic Forum shares her views on sovereign digital currencies, and the global regulatory landscape.

A CBDC for Indonesia would bridge the old world with the new

Bank Indonesia now sees the value of stablecoins and digital currency. Here’s how a central bank-backed digital rupiah could lift the nation of 18,000 islands.
and

SEC Plans to Sue Ripple for Securities Violations: Reports

In interviews, the Ripple CEO told Fortune and the Wall Street Journal that the SEC plans to sue the company in the near future for offering unlicensed securities.

Sonic Capital’s Stefan Rust predicts a ‘Cambrian Explosion’ of tokens in 2021

In this edition of the Forkast Forecasts, the founder and CEO at Sonic Capital and former Bitcoin.com CEO shares his views on the growth of decentralized finance and big partnerships in the crypto community.

How global fragmentation is holding back blockchain’s progress

To bridge regulatory and technical gaps, World Economic Forum and Global Blockchain Business Council join forces to promote global blockchain standards.
and

Crypto exchange Coinbase is officially going public

As 2020’s bitcoin bull run surges ever higher, Coinbase — America’s largest crypto company — files for an IPO with the SEC.

Blockchain Research Institute’s Alex Tapscott on stablecoins, DeFi and more

In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, the bestselling author offers his views on crypto regulations, DeFi’s rise and digital assets becoming mainstream.

Special report: The Unstoppable Rise of Digital Assets

In a special report for AAX, we examine the new generation of exchanges, custodians, regulations and asset classes now leveling the investment playing field.

What’s next for Ethereum 2.0 after the Beacon Chain?

Eth2 will run in parallel with Ethereum 1 for now. For how much longer, and will this affect ether inflation and block rewards? Konstantin Richter of Blockdaemon explains.

Joe Lubin and other prominent crypto leaders decry the STABLE Act

Ethereum co-founder Joe Lubin and blockchain investor Alex Tapscott tell Forkast.News that the stablecoin bill aimed at Libra/Diem and Tether could have broader repercussions on the blockchain industry.

The best of Ethereum 2.0 is yet to come, says Infura GM

Ethereum 2.0 has transformed to proof of stake via its new Beacon Chain. When will Eth2 have sharding, smart contracts and more features?

Visa hops on USDC’s Eth2 wagon. China flexes DCEP digital currency in biggest test yet. Will US tighten Libra/Diem’s tether?

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: S&P Dow Jones to launch crypto index. Walmart invests big in India’s PhonePe.

How blockchain is painting a brighter future for art in a Covid world

Blockchain crowdfunding, tokenized ownership and NFTs are creating new opportunities for artists and museums in a time of immense financial struggles.

Proposed US law would require stablecoins to be 1:1 dollar-backed

Are American lawmakers going after Facebook’s Libra, now called Diem? Controversial Tether may be the real target of new stablecoin-restraining bill.

The ultimate guide to crypto holiday gift shopping for 2020

What to buy for loved ones who already have it all? Here’s the Forkast.News guide to blockchain-inspired gifts that will please even the most discerning.

S&P Dow Jones is adding cryptocurrency indices in 2021

Days after bitcoin broke its all-time high price, S&P Dow Jones announces that it will offer new cryptocurrency index products starting next year.

How blockchain can launch more space industry startups into orbit

As space becomes increasingly commercialized, blockchain has the potential to be the backbone of this new economic frontier, says Jeff Garzik of SpaceChain.

Ethereum’s big transformation arrives with launch of Ethereum 2.0

Coinbase and Huobi now support Eth2 staking as the ‘Beacon Chain’ heart of the new platform goes live. What will happens to users of Ethereum 1.0?

Was China Construction Bank’s $3 billion blockchain bond doomed from the start?

Beijing put a stop this week to Fusang’s China Construction Bank bond listing on the Ethereum blockchain. What was the Chinese government afraid of?
and

Filecoin explained: Decentralizing cloud storage for Web 3.0

AWS is down again? Protocol Labs’ Filecoin — an ‘Airbnb for cloud storage’ — is a response to the risks inherent in centralized data storage and cloud giants

Ethereum 2.0 now set for December launch after early lukewarm reception

ETH 2.0 raises over $300 million from over 16,300 participants, putting it on track for release next week after whales make big investments in the last minute.

Will India face another crypto ban when Parliament is back in session?

India’s cryptocurrency ban rumor mill will surely rev up again when lawmakers meet for winter session. The CEO of Unocoin explains the worries.

Why DeFi is here to stay and its takeover in finance inevitable

Decentralized digital access to financial services like cryptocurrency trading, lending and borrowing is the wave of the future, writes James Wo of ETC Labs

Is China trying to put its cryptocurrency industry out of business?

After crackdowns on crypto exchanges, China is now freezing bank accounts. Why is the world’s largest bitcoin producer tightening the vise over its miners?
and

After BitMEX, will CFTC go after more crypto exchanges and DeFi?

CFTC cracked down hard on BitMEX. Forkast.News investigates what other cryptocurrency exchanges, if any, might be next in its line of enforcement fire.

Blockchain is now on the front line against climate change

Blockchain technology is spurring more carbon credit trading while lowering costs for young investors to get involved, says Stefan Rust of Sonic Capital, in a special Forkast.News interview.

Will Diginex’s backdoor Nasdaq listing start a crypto industry trend?

Diginex CEO Richard Byworth reveals that world’s largest cryptocurrency companies are now seeking his advice on going public. How did Diginex do it?

Is DeFi’s breathtaking rise just like the ICO bubble?

DeFi’s explosive gains in 2020 may look like the 2017 ICO craze all over again. But Chyna Qu of DeFiner explains why the two are very different.

Why cybersecurity will be DeFi and blockchain’s next big challenge

DeFi’s explosive growth may be the cryptocurrency world’s biggest story in 2020. But is the industry ignoring risks and cybersecurity gaps?

2021 may be the year of China’s DCEP and other digital currencies

A big trend now: Central banks exploring digital currencies that are ‘programmable money,’ says Charles d’Haussy of ConsenSys. Should users be concerned?

Hong Kong’s new crypto exchange laws will be embraced—with VPNs

Hong Kong SFC lays out plan to regulate cryptocurrency exchanges to allow only institutional money. But retail users likely won’t be deterred.

Ep. 37 | JPMorgan’s JPM Coin goes live. ConsenSys fueling CBDCs worldwide. Is DBS Bank planning a cryptocurrency exchange?

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Bitcoin paper’s 12th anniversary. New Huawei phone has DCEP wallet. FDA on blockchain and food safety.

Hong Kong and now Australia heating up global digital currency race

China’s DCEP digital yuan and new US interest in digital dollar are fueling sense of urgency on CBDCs — as blockchain firm ConsenSys paves the way.

Cryptocurrency’s carbon footprint is massive and not sustainable

Bitcoin and crypto mining now use more energy than some nations. To help lead fintech into a greener future, Ripple pledges to be carbon net-zero by 2030.

Filecoin mainnet launch brings Web 3.0 apps to the mainstream

After some early turbulence, Filecoin is now opening up applications like video streaming and social networks that used to exist only in centralized Web 2.0.

Why India’s crypto industry needs regulatory clarity more than ever

India is now a vibrant cryptocurrency hub, but its future remains uncertain. Sathvik Viswanath of Unocoin explains what’s holding back the nation of 1.3 billion.

How serious is the FDA in pursuing blockchain for food safety?

Despite talk, US Food and Drug Administration has not explored blockchain for food safety in meaningful ways, according to a Forkast.News investigation

Chinese tech titan Jack Ma: digital currencies may be wave of future

Poised for historic IPO, Ant Group reveals via patent filings its business strategies for China’s new DCEP digital yuan — including how it would help enforce government regulations

Can a victims‘ superfund save Europeans from cryptocurrency crime?

EU committee has turned down a petition for a tax on nodes to create a crypto fraud superfund for victims. But lawyer vows to try again.

Cities are smarter than ever. But at what cost to privacy?

Smart cities could boost sustainability and quality of urban life, but some worry about privacy and data security. Can blockchain offer trusted solutions?

Why DeFi’s exponential growth is not a bubble and will ‘keep soaring’

Risks, bugs and mistakes are a necessary part of DeFi’s evolution — just like the early days of the internet, writes Justin Banon of Boson Protocol

Why blockchain and crypto regulations are ‘necessary evil’ for US and Europe

Regulatory finesse toward cryptocurrency and DeFi will spur investment while not stifling innovation, says Alex Tapscott of Blockchain Research Institute

What’s up with Filecoin and the uproar over its miners?

Miners’ complaints with economic model are resulting in early rewards release and falling FIL prices. What happened to 800,000 coins?

Blockchain and Space Law 3.0: How smart contracts can help govern the moon and outer space

As nations and private firms venture farther into the galaxy, blockchain and distributed ledger technology could help enforce rules and resolve conflicts.

China pushes 50,000 people to spend DCEP right away, in biggest test yet of new digital currency

China advances its new e-RMB closer to launch after distributing to Shenzhen residents 10 million yuan in digital ‘red packets’ that will expire next week

Congested Ethereum hosts 96% of DeFi transactions. Who are its up-and-coming competitors?

2020 is banner year for DeFi as industry balloons by over $100 billion in volume from Q2 to Q3 — most of it riding on Ethereum, according to a new report

US regulators are finally lining up over digital assets

A recent flurry of US regulatory activity is helping legitimize the digital assets space. Here’s the latest on SEC, FINRA, CFTC and OCC’s new level of coordination.

Is DeFi a $10 billion Ponzi scheme?

The risk of getting scammed is real, but DeFi also offers investors opportunities to earn yields in this pandemic economy, says Two Prime CEO Marc Fleury.

Ep. 33 | BitMEX and John McAfee in legal hot water. Who is the cryptocurrency market betting on to be the next US president?

Other top news: Filecoin’s mainnet set to launch. Chinese banks help DCEP digital currency get market-ready. NetEase to preserve email forevermore.

Trump’s Covid ills are infecting cryptocurrency betting markets

Are US presidential candidate futures an accurate gauge of public opinion? Cryptocurrency exchange FTX’s TRUMP and BIDEN prices offer clues.

Arthur Hayes of BitMEX not likely to leave Hong Kong anytime soon, but DeFi faces crossroads

BitMEX’s CEO, who faces money-laundering charges, may be the beneficiary of Hong Kong’s political turmoil and current lack of an extradition treaty with US government

Why blockchain and crowdfunding are mutually beneficial technologies

The $14 billion global crowdfunding market is expected to triple by 2026. Here’s how blockchain is fueling this trend.

DeFi with Chinese characteristics? How China may centralize crypto finance

As Wild West DeFi surges to new heights with Chinese capital, China wants to build a separate digital finance network — in its own, tightly controlled image.

Cryptocurrency futures give thumbs down to Trump’s debate performance

FTX cryptocurrency traders are dumping TRUMP after the first US presidential debate, a raucous affair punctuated by insults and interruptions.

Little Coda Protocol changes name to Mina after tussle with heavyweights

“We’ve come to understand that we are more than just a name,” says the team no longer named Coda, after getting sued by Wall Street-backed R3 over its Corda trademark.

Ep. 32 | Bithumb on the block amid fraud probe. Wealthsimple debuts Canada’s first regulated crypto exchange. BitFlyer permits BTC buys via PayPal.

Other top news: Ant Group launches blockchain platform for cross-border trade. China makes Beijing, Hunan and Anhui into special free trade zones.

Whistleblower accuses Chinese crypto lender Babel Finance of misusing funds

Anonymous critics take to social media to claim that Babel is recklessly speculating with investor and client funds. The company denies wrongdoing.

US bills could shake up cryptocurrency exchanges and ICO prosecutions

Proposed federal laws would upend SEC rules for digital tokens and give CFTC sweeping powers. Will it be enough to rein in crypto’s Wild West ways?

Blockchain is shooting for the stars in the new Space Age

In the first of a special two-part series, Forkast.News examines how blockchain — from smart contracts to crowdfunding missions — could transform public and private ventures in outer space.

Ep. 31 | FinCEN files tie big banks to $2 trillion in crimes. Tezos tapped to explore CBDC for France.

More top news: Wounded Unikr settles with SEC for $6.1 million. China’s nationwide blockchain service network launches ‘public permissioned’ chain.

Why cryptocurrency exchanges need more regulations to protect investors

Being dodgy about office location and faking volume data are all part of Asian crypto exchanges’ Wild West ethos. What are the alternatives for investors?

US private equity activity takes a walloping due to Covid-19

Deals in mid-size firms that make up the engine of the economy were down as exits were put on pause — but fintech and broader tech sector still shine bright
and

What China’s New Era politics means for the digital economy and decentralized finance

Access to China’s cryptocurrency market will accelerate as long as the government can keep out criminal activity, writes James Gillingham of Finxflo.

How blockchain is reforming the colored gemstone trade, from ‘mine to finger’

Everledger CEO Leanne Kemp explains blockchain’s role in promoting ethical labor and confidence in goods like wine. Are less toxic electric cars next?

How DeFi’s massive 8-fold growth brings scaling, gas fees challenges

In a special interview, Alchemy CEO Nikil Viswanathan discusses blockchain as the next internet, keen interest from investors like Charles Schwab, and the hottest cryptocurrency trend since ICOs.

Rented hash power for 51% attacks is a ‘huge vulnerability’ for proof-of-work blockchains, says ETC Labs CEO

Ethereum Classic Labs CEO Terry Culver calls the hash rental market shady “like under a rock somewhere…. They’re basically money laundering operations.”

The World War of Digital Currencies: Is it too late for South Korea?

As China muscles DCEP to market and the U.S. enlists MIT for a future digital dollar, South Korea struggles to find its place in the crypto economy.