DeFi has a trust gap. What can rebuild its credibility?
Traditional institutions are testing crypto waters, but given last year’s market carnage, it’s not easy to gain their confidence, writes Simon Schaber of Spool.
Hong Kong financial secretary eyes Web3 push despite market fluctuations
Paul Chan said it is the right time for the city’s Web3 push ahead of Hong Kong’s busy week of blockchain and finance gatherings.
Bitget exchange starts US$100 mln fund to support ‘next-generation’ crypto projects
Bitget on Monday said it had launched a Web3 Fund with an initial investment of US$100 million to support development of cryptocurrency projects.
FTX’s lack of financial controls complicates bankruptcy asset recovery, says legal filing
Former executives of the bankrupt crypto exchange FTX failed to install appropriate financial controls in the company, complicating the asset recovery process, the restructuring team of the failed exchange said.
Arkansas joins Montana, Texas with bills on guidelines, protection for Bitcoin miners
Arkansas has joined Montana and Texas this year in proposing legislation to offer legal protections to companies operating crypto mining sites.
Bitcoin resumes rise, Ether gains ahead of upgrade, Dogecoin makes up some lost ground
Bitcoin resumed its rise above US$28,000 in Monday morning trading in Asia, a support level it has fluctuated around for most of April.
Thai opposition pledges US$15 bln in digital tokens: Bloomberg
Thailand’s main opposition party said it would distribute US$15 billion worth of digital tokens to citizens if it wins the general election
Blur nemesis OpenSea releases OS Pro trading tools, Gemesis NFT
OpenSea has reignited the marketplace battle by introducing its own pro tool. What’s in it for NFT traders?
Solana introduces ‘state compression’ to lower NFT storage costs
Solana has introduced a solution that aims to reduce on-chain storage costs for non-fungible tokens (NFT). See related article: Solana NFT sales surge as traders farm for Tensor rewards Fast facts See related article: DeGods begins migration to Ethereum
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin stuck at US$28,000 amid signs of slowing economies
Bitcoin bounced around the US$28,000 mark as worries about bank failures were replaced by concerns about a recession in the U.S. Just for good measure, the IMF forecast the global economy will see its slowest growth in two decades.
ECB’s Lagarde gets pranked, reveals digital euro will have ‘limited’ control
ECB President Christine Lagarde said the digital euro would have “limited control” in a prank call.
Bitcoin trades under US$28,000, Dogecoin biggest loser
Bitcoin rose as Ether fell during Asian trading hours on Friday, with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization dropping. XRP rose the most, while Dogecoin was the biggest loser.
Local prosecutors say Terra-Luna’s Do Kwon has no identifiable assets in South Korea
The arrested crypto fugitive Kwon Do-hyung has “zero ” identifiable assets in his native South Korea, prosecutors said on Friday.
Web3 is not all about ‘ownership’ — it’s so much more
Ownership is only one feature of Web3. The more important and defining characteristic is ‘verifiability,’ writes Jonathan Victor of Protocol Labs.
Bitcoin holds US$28,000 in choppy trading; Ether falls after US Treasury warns against DeFi risk
Bitcoin moved in a narrow range above the support line at US$28,000 in Friday morning trading in Asia, while most other top 10 crypto declined.
US Treasury warns DeFi is being used for illicit transfers
DeFi services threaten U.S. national security and need to comply with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws, the U.S. Treasury said on Thursday.
India prioritizes offline CBDC transfers, targets 1 mln users in three months: CoinDesk
India is reportedly aiming to have one million users of its CBDC within three months of launch, according to sources familiar with the matter cited by CoinDesk.
Singapore developing guidelines for banks on crypto clients: Bloomberg
The Monetary Authority of Singapore is reportedly working on guidelines to help local banks vet and provide banking services to cryptocurrency clients
Chinese state-owned company launches crypto funds in Hong Kong
A major state-owned firm in China is launching two cryptocurrency funds in partnership with investment firm Waterdrip Capital.
Ethereum’s Shapella upgrade is imminent – and investors are excited
Ethereum is set for a few upgrades which will see quality of life improvements and aproof-of-stake protocol.
Bitcoin, Ether down with top 10 cryptos, most equities fall ahead of U.S. Jobs Report
Bitcoin and Ether fell during afternoon trading hours in Asia on Thursday, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
ASIC cancels Binance Australia’s derivatives license
The Australian securities regulator has canceled Binance Australia’s derivatives license.
Bitcoin briefly loses its grip on US$28,000
Welcome to The Daily Forkast – April 6, 2023 – presented by Megha Chaddah. Bitcoin lost its hold onto the uS$28,000 mark briefly Thursday morning Hong Kong time. Elsewhere in the markets, Dogecoin lost some of its hype overnight after rallying upwards of 30% Tuesday morning, losing 5% in 24 hours.
Swiss PostFinance bank to offer crypto services to 2.5 mln customers
PostFinance, a Swiss government-owned retail bank, has partnered with Sygnum Bank to provide crypto-related services.
Meta says new focus on generative AI could boost metaverse development: Nikkei
Meta is investing heavily in artificial intelligence and this will benefit its metaverse businesses, Meta’s Andrew Bosworth told Nikkei Asia.
Japan’s CoinTrade partners with Fireblocks to improve digital asset security
CoinTrade said it has partnered with crypto custody platform Fireblocks to provide institutional clients with improved security for digital assets.
The TradFi vs. DeFi rivalry is hitting a new peak — and that’s bad for everyone
Amid the current banking crisis, each side is exhibiting disdain for the other when neither holds the moral high ground, writes Rachel Lin of SynFutures.
Bitcoin, Ether dip; Dogecoin loses Twitter tailwind; U.S. equities drop on recession concerns
Bitcoin dipped below US$28,000 in Thursday morning trading in Asia as most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies lost steam. Dogecoin led the losers.
MicroStrategy buys 1,045 Bitcoin, holds 140,000 BTC in total
MicroStrategy acquired 1,045 Bitcoin for around US$29.3 million, at an average price of US$28,016 per coin, between March 24 and April 4, 2023
Arbitrum’s AIP-1 proposal to be split after community backlash
Top blockchain and crypto news: Arbitrum to segment AIP-1. DeGods NFT collection moves to Ethereum. Crypto on the agenda at ‘China’s Davos.’
Bitcoin holds above US$28,000, Ether rises most in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin remained above US$28,000 in Wednesday trade in Asia. Ether made the most gains as the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization increased, except Dogecoin.
Overseas crypto transfers cost 96.7% less than traditional system: Coinbase
Americans spend more than US$12 billion in remittance fees each year when sending money to family and friends living overseas using the traditional financial system. However, overseas remittances using Bitcoin and Ethereum cost 96.7% less, according to research by Coinbase.
Bitcoin pushes beyond US$28,000; Polygon’s Matic leads gainers, same chain sees surge in NFT trades
Bitcoin rose on Wednesday, moving above US$28,000. Ether, Matic and most other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens gained.
Paxful shuts Bitcoin exchange due to regulatory challenges, staff departures
Paxful Bitcoin exchange announced the indefinite suspension of the marketplace on Tuesday, citing regulatory challenges and staff departures.
Polygon SDK: Helping shape NFTs at scale
Polygon blockchain is gaining traction among traders with fast transactions, low gas fees and Ethereum’s provenance. From hosting popular games to partnering with major brands, Polygon’s versatility is one to watch.
Bitcoin trades above US$28,000, Dogecoin leads gains among top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, recovered to trade above US$28,000 on Tuesday afternoon in Asia.
Bitcoin dips as Binance rumors surface, Twitter embraces the Doge
Welcome to The Daily Forkast – April 4, 2023 – presented by Angie Lau. Bitcoin and most cryptocurrencies dipped after unverified rumors alleging that Interpol had issued a red alert for Binance’s Changpeng Zhao surfaced earlier today. However, Dogecoin rallied to the highest level in a month after Elon Musk changed Twitter’s icon to the […]
Singapore’s Alchemy Pay eyes South Korea expansion with US$10 mln funding
Alchemy Pay is eyeing expansion in South Korea following its US$10 million funding from blockchain investment firm DWF Labs.
WonderFi, CoinSmart, Coinsquare to merge into Canada’s largest crypto trading platform
Three Canadian cryptocurrency companies announced a merger on Monday, creating Canada’s largest crypto asset trading platform with over 1.65 million registered users.
Bitcoin dips, Ether gains, Dogecoin soars following Twitter icon change
Bitcoin dipped below US$28,000 in mixed Tuesday morning trading in Asia. Ether rose. Dogecoin surged after Elon Musk switched the Twitter icon to Dogecoin’s Shiba Inu.
What the US can learn from the Philippines to regulate crypto in a smarter way
The Philippines has licensing requirements and proactively monitors crypto firms, while the US regulates by enforcement only after consumers are already badly hurt, writes Robert De Guzman of Coins.ph.
Bitcoin drops below US$28,000, Dogecoin biggest loser in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin fell and traded below US$28,000 in Monday afternoon trade in Asia. Ether and most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization also declined.
Web3 can change the world. Why aren’t more people on board?
Despite Web3’s vast potential, it’s still too clunky and opaque to most people, writes Miles Parry of MPCH Labs. Here’s what can make it more user-friendly.
Japan’s FSA steps up crypto regulation with warnings to Bybit, other exchanges
Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has been ordered to comply with Japan’s regulatory requirements and cease offering services to Japanese residents, after Japan’s Financial Services Agency issued a warning to the company over its registration process
S.Korea to expand probe on token listing bribes if it sees ‘more evidence’
Taking bribes in exchange for listing cryptocurrencies has been common practice among South Korean exchanges, one expert told Forkast.
Bittrex crypto exchange to shutter U.S. operations due to regulatory uncertainty
Seattle-based crypto exchange Bittrex, Inc. will wind down its U.S. operations from April 30, citing continued regulatory uncertainty in the region.
Bitcoin, Ether drop; US equities rise as inflation cools
Bitcoin dipped on Monday morning in Asia but held above US$28,000. Most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptos dropped following a week unsettled by regulatory woes.
DeGods begins migration to Ethereum
Largest Solana NFT DeGods has started its migration to Ethereum just days after Y00ts began to move to Polygon.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin pops above US$29,000, market shrugs off Binance legal woes
With a U.S. regulator coming after Binance with a lawsuit and the seeming mounting pile of warnings and fines against other exchanges in the country, Bitcoin briefly skidded below US$26,677 only to rebound and pop up above US$29,000 on Thursday. Since then it has moved along the US$28,000 line, so what does this lawsuit by the heavyweight Commodity Futures Trading Commission mean for the broader crypto market?
Crypto investors remain optimistic despite crackdown
Most cryptocurrencies remained calm in spite of the CFTC-Binance lawsuit.
Bitcoin, Ether fall; top 10 cryptos mixed; gold closes March 8% higher
Bitcoin and Ether fell during Asian trading hours on Friday, while the rest of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization were mixed, amid mounting allegations against Binance
Crypto platforms need regulation as form of investor protection: HK’s SFC chief
Government officials from Hong Kong and mainland China talked about cryptocurrencies at the Boao Forum in China, as both chase Web3 ambitions.
Japan’s finance ministry to launch panel to assess digital yen: NHK
Japan’s Finance Ministry is reportedly planning to launch an expert panel next month to assess the feasibility of issuing a digital yen, according to NHK.
Bitcoin keeps its head held high despite options expiration
Welcome to The Daily Forkast – March 31, 2023 – presented by Megha Chaddah. Bitcoin holds above US$28,000 even as over US4 billion dollars worth of bitcoin option are set to expire later in the day. BNB prices saw a dip mid-week as news regarding the Binance-CFTC lawsuit came to light, but saw a slight […]
Bitcoin miner TeraWulf reports 146% revenue growth, expanded mining capacity
U.S.-based Bitcoin miner TeraWulf, which started operations in March last year, reported a 146% surge in revenue in the fourth quarter of last year compared to the previous quarter, citing expanded mining capacity.
South Korea court rejects second arrest warrant request for Terraform Labs’ Daniel Shin
A South Korean court dismissed for the second time a request by prosecutors for an arrest warrant for Terraform Labs co-founder Daniel Shin.
Bitcoin fluctuates to hold US$28,000, Binance BNB token rises despite regulatory threat
Bitcoin dipped in Friday morning trading in Asia but held above US$28,000. The top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies traded mixed. Binance’s BNB led the winners.
Banking crisis shows why Bitcoin is needed more than ever
From the ashes of Lehman Brothers to this year’s bank failures, Bitcoin has proven itself as a necessary part of the global financial system, writes Mike Belshe, CEO of BitGo.
The future of digital transformation
From traditional finance to digital transformation – how can both learn from each other?
Bitcoin rises; Ether, other top 10 cryptos fall amid fresh Binance allegations
Bitcoin, the only gainer in the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, rose during Asian trading hours on Thursday.
HK-based venture fund hopes to raise US$100 mln for crypto investments: Bloomberg
Hong Kong-based asset management firm Plutus VC plans to raise US$100 million by the end of 2023 to fund investments in the cryptocurrency market, according to a Bloomberg report. The fundraising comes as the city moves to regain its status as an international finance and crypto hub.
Montenegro hints U.S. may get to extradite Terra fugitive Do Kwon ahead of South Korea
The U.S. may have gained an edge in a race with South Korea to extradite Terra chief Kwon Do-hyung from Montenegro on charges of fraud.
Hong Kong may license at least 8 crypto firms by year-end: former SFC regulator
Hong Kong may issue virtual asset trading licenses to at least eight cryptocurrency-related firms by the end of this year as part of the city’s new crypto licensing regime, said Angelina Kwan, chief executive officer of financial services firm Stratford Finance and a former regulator of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.
Binance denies China ties, says it started relocating staff out of China in 2021
The Binance comments came in response to a Financial Times article that cited internal documents and said the company had close ties with China despite claims it had left the country in 2017 following a government crackdown.
Bitcoin climbs above US$28,000, XRP leads winners for the week, U.S. equities jump
Bitcoin edged above US$28,000 in Thursday morning in Asia amid a broad rally in most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.
Why rollups-as-a-service will be to Web3 what AWS was to Web2
The blockchain world is hampered by many of the same problems as the early internet, writes Amrit Kumar of Altlayer. What could RaaS do for the industry?
Bitcoin passes US$28,000, Binance accused of hiding Chinese links
Welcome to The Daily Forkast – March 30, 2023 – presented by Joel Flynn for the latest in the crypto markets. Bitcoin once again passes the US$28,000 mark, with the wider crypto market also seeing gains over the last 24 hours. Binance has been accused of hiding extensive links to China for years after claiming […]
SEC Chair urges more resources to regulate crypto and technology at House Subcommittee hearing
SEC Chair urges for increased funding to address challenges posed by crypto markets and rapid technological innovation during House Subcommittee testimony.
SEC charges Beaxy cryptocurrency platform for violating securities laws
The SEC has charged the Beaxy crypto trading platform and its executives for operating as an unregistered exchange, broker, and clearing agency.
Binance concealed ‘extensive’ ties to China: Financial Times
Binance reportedly hid ties to China for years despite claiming to have left the country following Beijing’s regulatory clampdown in 2017.
Crypto exchange Fasset hopes to win Indonesia license next month
Dubai-based Fasset says Indonesia digital asset adoption is still in early stages, but the country’s young population is taking to crypto faster, encouraging exchanges to move in despite infrastructure constraints.
Russia delays CBDC pilot to await new law
Russia has postponed the trial of a digital ruble originally scheduled for April 1, as it awaits a regulatory framework to be adopted before the pilot, according to a report by state-owned news agency TASS.