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SEC lawsuit sees Binance.US wobble, trading platforms delist cryptos

Top blockchain and crypto news: Binance.US at risk. Ex-SEC official’s comments complicate Ripple suit. Hong Kong lawmaker aims to entice exchanges.

Bitcoin below US$25,000; all top 10 cryptos fall

Bitcoin and Ether extended losses in Thursday afternoon trade in Asia amid U.S. regulator’s clampdown on top crypto exchanges.

Japan’s Fujitsu to launch blockchain-based project for cross-border collaborations

Tokyo-based information technology company Fujitsu will launch a new platform on June 30 to connect different economies using blockchain.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority urges banks to service crypto firms: Financial Times

HKMA is urging lenders including HSBC, Standard Chartered and Bank of China to service crypto exchanges. Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Bitcoin mining difficulty rises 2.18% to record amid increasing competition among miners

A higher difficulty reading indicates it is more competitive to mine Bitcoin, reducing profit. The network’s hashrate also increased to a record high. 

Bitcoin, Ether, top 10 crypto in red amid thinner trading, Fed warning of more rate hikes

Bitcoin fell below US$25,000 support at one stage, while other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies dropped as the Fed warned of more interest rate hikes this year.

Back to the physical: China metaverse seeks to boost real-world economy

The final story in a three-part series on Asia metaverse developments looks at China’s national strategy, which has seen dozens of cities and provinces release spending plans and training schemes to adopt this digital world in real-world industries. China’s initiatives, however, face challenges from regulation and global competition.

Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; XRP drops most among top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ether continued to slide amid lawsuits against top crypto exchanges in the U.S.

How low can NFTs go?

SEC scrutiny sends NFT market into downturn. Traders liquidate or hold off as Forkast 500 NFT Index hits all-time low amidst crypto turbulence.

XRP reverses gains after document release in SEC lawsuit vs Ripple

Prices of XRP, which powers some of Ripple Labs’ payment services, reversed gains that followed the release of internal SEC documents related to the lawsuit against Ripple.

How American courts have become central to crypto law

To date, none of the 30-plus crypto bills in Congress have become law, so judges are stepping up to fill the void. What does this mean for crypto in America?

Bitcoin, Ether retreat; BNB leads gainers on U.S. court ruling, top 10 crypto mixed

Bitcoin trading remains stuck under the US$26,000 resistance line. Ether dips while other top 10 crypto were mixed.

Chicken first, egg later — Japan’s need for a macroscopic view of the metaverse

After a slow start, Japan’s development of a domestic metaverse is gaining pace. This second account in a three-part series asks: can the nation compete with rivals China and South Korea in building a 3D virtual world that – according to the promises – would open up new realms of economic prosperity and even potentially ease nagging social problems?

Bitcoin rises above US$26,000; all other top 10 cryptos gain as U.S. regulatory battle rumbles on

All top 10 cryptos, including Binance’s BNB, gained on Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia for the first time this week amid ongoing lawsuits with the U.S. SEC.

Binance.US says SEC’s motion to freeze exchange’s assets may end its operations

The operations of cryptocurrency trading platform Binance.US, “would quickly grind to a halt” if a court rules in favor of an SEC request last week to freeze the firm’s assets, the company said Monday in a court filing.

The SEC has spoken: The future of finance is not in America

The SEC’s one-two punch of Coinbase and Binance couldn’t have come at a better time for Hong Kong and Singapore, as US crypto firms look to shift to friendlier shores, writes Hamilton Keats of Krayon Digital.

Bitcoin edges up, but stuck under US$26,000; Ether slides with Solana, BNB; top 10 mixed

Bitcoin rose but failed to break through US$26,000. Ether slipped, while other top 10 crypto were mixed as SEC chair Gary Gensler doubled down on reasons for suing U.S. crypto exchanges.

Charting the digital continent — East Asia’s real-world race to build the metaverse

South Korea, China, Japan — East Asia’s three industrial powerhouses are taking their economic rivalry to the virtual world. Each is developing a domestic metaverse in a race to become the region’s industry leader. This first account in a three-part series takes a look at what’s happening in South Korea.

Recursive inscriptions update to unlock games, more generative art on Bitcoin

Recursive inscriptions, an update that allows Ordinals inscriptions to reference another inscription, is set for deployment later this week.

Bitcoin stays below US$26,000 in mixed market, Binance’s BNB biggest loser in 24 hours

BNB token of crypto exchange Binance dropped 5.5% in 24 hours amid lawsuits against the exchange by the U.S. SEC.

Bitcoin NFTs raise unique legal issues. Here’s what you need to know

Bitcoin Ordinals are also called NFTs, but intellectual property laws may not treat them the same as Ethereum- and Solana-minted NFTs, writes Cameron Pick.

Nanjing city district announces bold metaverse goals as China competition heats up

Jiangning, a district in China’s Nanjing city, released a metaverse plan on Saturday that includes training thousands of professionals for the industry.

Hong Kong legislator encourages Coinbase to set up shop in city under new crypto rules

Local legislator suggests global cryptocurrency exchanges such as U.S.-based Coinbase set up operations in Hong Kong as the city’s new licensing regime for crypto retail trading took effect on June 1.

Bitcoin, Ether little changed after weekend slump; Solana, Cardano lead the losers

Bitcoin fell below US$26,000, while Solana, Cardano and BNB posted hefty weekly losses after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission targeted exchanges with lawsuits.

SEC FUD can’t stop the fun in NFTs

NFT Community Resilience: Amid SEC scrutiny, builders thrive with Bitcoin NFTs soaring, Polygon’s mystery unveil, art sales surging, and IP licensing advancements.

Inside The Sandbox: A glimpse into the metaverse with co-founder Sebastien Borget

Sebastien Borget of The Sandbox and Yehudah Petscher of Forkast Labs discuss the promise of the metaverse, the role of NFTs and the potential impact of Apple’s Vision Pro.

Weekly Market Wrap: SEC crackdown on Binance, Coinbase ‘can’t stop’ Bitcoin as it trades above US$26,000

Bitcoin recovered above the US$26,000 psychological level after a brief dip, as investors seemingly shrugged at the SEC’s crackdown on Binance and Coinbase. The quick crypto recovery could be a sign of a maturing asset class, industry experts told Forkast.

US SEC sues major exchanges; Circle gets Singapore license

Welcome to Forkast IQ, presented by Forkast’s Megha Chaddah, where we look beyond the headlines to get you insights that power smarter decisions.

EU’s MiCA crypto rules published in official journal

The Official Journal of the European Union published on Friday the European Union’s landmark Markets in Crypto Assets law (MiCA), stating that the regulation would enter into force in 20 days from the date of publication.

Bitcoin rises, Ether slips, most top 10 cryptos begin to pick up after SEC crackdown

Bitcoin rose and Ether fell, while most top 10 cryptos inched up following the U.S. SEC’s lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase.

Binance.US suspends U.S. dollar deposits, to pause fiat withdrawal channels

Binance.US, a cryptocurrency trading platform set up by Binance chief Changpeng Zhao to serve U.S. clients, said on Friday that it has suspended U.S. dollar deposits to protect customers amid intensifying regulatory pressure.

The Moment3 to launch NFTs with Alibaba’s e-commerce platform AliExpress

AliExpress, the global online platform of China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, will launch NFTs on June 25 working with NFT project “the Moment3!”.

The grand experiment in crypto compliance: What will the future look like?

From US crackdowns on Binance and Coinbase to new business-friendlier frameworks in Hong Kong and Europe, seismic shifts in crypto regulations are under way.

Bitcoin, Ether rise amid ‘swoon-soar’ trading after SEC lawsuits against Binance, Coinbase

Bitcoin fails to break US$27,000 ceiling. Binance’s BNB gained 2%, even as latest SEC filing alleges customer funds were moved to private accounts, a charge Binance rejected.

Pudgy Penguins CEO unveils licensing platform, pushes for NFT revenue beyond airdrops

Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Netz says he aims to revolutionize the NFT marketplace, shifting focus from creating virtual assets out of “thin air” to generating real-world revenue via licensing.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler offered to advise Binance in 2019: CNBC

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler allegedly offered to serve as an advisor to Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, in 2019, according to a CNBC report on Wednesday that cited documents filed by the regulator. 

Binance moved billions of dollars in client funds to accounts of company officials, SEC says in new filing

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has submitted a new court filing to support its lawsuit against the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.

Why the US is waging war on Binance, Coinbase

Top blockchain and crypto news: Binance, Coinbase in SEC firing line. Solana NFTs slump as Bitcoin’s surge. New dawn in Hong Kong crypto regulations.

Bitcoin, Ether gain while most top 10 cryptos fall, pressured by SEC lawsuits

Bitcoin and Ether rose but most top 10 cryptos were unable to escape the gravity of the SEC’s lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase.

Bitcoin falls below US$27,000; Ether, all top 10 cryptos slide amid SEC lawsuit fallout

The SEC lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase have sent alt coins tumbling. Binance’s BNB lost 15.7% over the past week.

U.S. court orders SEC to respond to Coinbase’s rulemaking petition

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been ordered on Tuesday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to respond to cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase’s pending petition for rulemaking within seven days. 

Bitcoin, Ether fall; most top 10 cryptos rise following SEC’s lawsuit against Coinbase

Most top 10 cryptos rebounded, despite the SEC suing Coinbase exchange a day after it sued Binance’s U.S. arm.

Swift, Chainlink to test blockchain token transfers with at least 12 major banks

The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (Swift) and blockchain data provider Chainlink will work with more than 12 major banks across the world to test the use of existing Swift infrastructure to transfer tokenized assets across public and private blockchain networks, Swift said on Tuesday.  See related article: SWIFT, Chainlink announce cross-chain interoperability partnership […]

China state media covers SEC’s lawsuit against Binance, CEO Changpeng Zhao

CCTV, China’s largest national TV broadcaster, ran about a minute-long segment on Tuesday flagging SEC’s lawsuit against Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao.

USDC stablecoin issuer Circle obtains Singapore license for digital payments, others

Circle Singapore said Wednesday it has received a Major Payment Institution license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Why lack of diversification is cripping to the crypto market

Small cryptos often rise and fall with BTC and ETH — the market’s two biggest players. The concentration risk is profound, and here’s why you should care.

Bitcoin, Ether most other top crypto bounce back even as Coinbase joins Binance as SEC lawsuit target

Nearly all top 10 tokens rebounded as investors look beyond U.S. regulator’s lawsuits against two of the world’s most influential crypto exchanges.

SEC sues Coinbase for violating securities rules a day after Binance lawsuit

The U.S. SEC sued Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., for allegedly breaching securities rules, less than 24 hours after the regulator sued Binance on similar charges. 

Crypto industry reacts to SEC’s lawsuit against Binance

The SEC sued Binance on Monday, amid mounting regulatory scrutiny of crypto exchanges. Industry experts shared insights on what this could mean for Binance and how it could drive crypto innovation out of the U.S.
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MUFG enables bank-backed stablecoin issuance amid new Japanese regulations

MUFG, Japan’s leading bank, is pioneering the crypto industry by supporting stablecoin issuance on the Progmat Coin platform, offering an alternative route for entry and exit in the volatile cryptocurrency market.

SEC targets US$115 billion of crypto following lawsuit against Binance: Bloomberg

The U.S. SEC has extended the list of cryptocurrencies it considers unregistered securities to cover US$115 billion worth of tokens following its Monday lawsuit against crypto exchange Binance, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.

Ledger is proving the perils of sacrificing security on the altar of user experience

Ledger’s attempt to simplify self-custody and key recovery triggered a community revolt. Was this inevitable or could Ledger have sidestepped this fiasco?

Bitcoin, Ether skid; BNB drops more than 10% after U.S. securities regulator sues Binance

All top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies took a sharp fall Tuesday morning in Asia, after the SEC sued Binance over alleged securities violations.

Binance, US platform, CEO face SEC lawsuit over alleged securities violations

The U.S. regulator alleges Binance and its leader of unregistered offers, sale of tokens, defrauding investors and manipulating trade volumes.

JPMorgan teams up with Indian banks for blockchain-based settlements: Bloomberg

JPMorgan has reportedly launched a pilot project with top private lenders in India for interbank dollar transaction settlements through its blockchain platform, Onyx. 

Bitcoin dips below US$27,000, Litecoin biggest loser

Bitcoin drops below US$27,000 on Monday amid mixed crypto market. Litecoin, BNB see losses while XRP, Tron, Solana gain.

Why G7’s proposed crypto regulations will be bad for DeFi

FATF’s travel rule is looming over the crypto industry as an existential threat, writes Jack Jia of Unlimit. Here’s why it’s especially worrying to DeFi and self-custody wallet users.

Montenegro court approves second bail request for Terra-Luna founder Do Kwon

A court in Montenegro approved a second bail request for Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon, who faces allegations of using fake passports.

Bitcoin little-changed around US$27,000, Ether treads water; Solana, XRP gain

Bitcoin, Ether traded little changed Monday morning in Asia, along with most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. However, both Solana and XRP rose.
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Hong Kong’s crypto rules offer level playing field, investor protection, says OSL exchange executive

OSL is one of only two digital assets trading platforms in Hong Kong licensed to offer services to professional investors.

HK green lights retail crypto trading as Beijing releases Web3 white paper

Welcome to Forkast IQ, presented by Forkast Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, where we look beyond the headlines to get you insights that power smarter decisions.

Solana’s NFT sales dive as Bitcoin Ordinals surge

A significant drop in Solana’s monthly NFT sales coincides with a boom in Bitcoin NFTs. Experts believe Bitcoin could soon challenge Ethereum’s dominance in the market.

Bitcoin rises above US$27,000, Litecoin leads gains among top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin gained 1.08% on Friday afternoon and Ether strengthened 1.78%.

Japan’s ANA airline launches NFT marketplace, sees future in metaverse projects

Japan’s All Nippon Airways, or ANA Group, has launched a non-fungible token platform known as “ANA GranWhale NFT MarketPlace” to trade art and photograph collectibles through its metaverse subsidiary ANA NEO, the company tweeted on Thursday.

What’s holding back DeFi and keeping the masses away

DeFi has the potential to revolutionize finance, but hacks, poor user experience, and a lack of a regulations make many wary, writes Arthur Firstov of Mercuryo.

Bitcoin dips under US$27,000, Ether falls, Litecoin leads winners, U.S. equities bounce back

Bitcoin fell Friday morning in Asia to trade below US$27,000. Ether and most other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded flat to lower. Litecoin gained.

What’s next for crypto miners after US debt ceiling deal?

Top blockchain and crypto news: Miners dodge tax bullet. Blur, Binance heat up NFT lending. Chinese cities’ plans reveal nationwide Web3 ambition.

Bitcoin drops below US$27,000 with Cardano leading losses

Bitcoin fell 1.36% to US$26,805 in 24 hours. Ether slipped 0.82% to US$1,854.

Bitcoin mining difficulty rises 3.4% to all-time high as hashrate jumps

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 3.4% on Thursday to an all-time high, as the network’s hashrate also increased to a record high.

What if troubled companies like Twitter can be run by a DAO?

Decentralized autonomous organizations are the future of business, writes Lomesh Dutta. The key is designing them to avoid management and voting pitfalls.

Bitcoin logs monthly loss, Ether retreats, XRP leads losers, U.S. equities slide

Bitcoin fell on Thursday morning in Asia to post the first monthly loss of the year. Ether and all other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens also traded lower.

Hong Kong to be digital asset rules sandbox for China, says former city regulator

Virtual assets will receive the same regulatory clarity in Hong Kong as their real-world counterparts, says former Hong Kong SFC regulator Angelina Kwan.