Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg is still optimistic about the metaverse
Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg said that he remains optimistic about the future of the metaverse over a “five-to-ten-year horizon” despite widespread skepticism of his company’s venture into the technology.
Troubled Hong Kong crypto exchange AAX unlikely to reopen, says former executive
Hong Kong-based crypto exchange AAX is likely to end operations and restructure, former head of communications, Ben Caselin, told CoinDesk TV on Wednesday.
South Korea’s Shinhan Bank starts ‘metaverse’ services, according to local media
Shinhan has opened a metaverse to provide financial and non-financial services, claiming to be the first bank in the country to provide such a platform.
U.S. crypto exchange Kraken to lay off 30% of its workforce, cites ‘market conditions’
U.S.-based crypto exchange Kraken said it will lay off 30% of its global workforce, or approximately 1,100 people, to “adapt to current market conditions.”
Indonesia central bank releases whitepaper on digital rupiah, to develop wholesale CBDC first
Indonesia’s central bank has released a whitepaper detailing plans for its central bank digital currency (CBDC), as the country looks to “advance digital transformation.”
Telegram plans decentralized crypto exchange, wallets following FTX collapse
Telegram plans to build non-custodial wallets and decentralized exchanges for cryptocurrencies following the collapse of the FTX exchange says CEO Pavel Durov.
It’s time for more institutions to adopt blockchain and crypto: Opinion
Despite the myriad benefits of blockchain and cryptocurrency, institutional interest remains mixed in Asia Pacific. What lessons should the industry learn from 2022 to overcome the barriers to adoption?
Markets: Bitcoin, crypto, rise after Fed Chair Powell hints at easing rate hikes
Bitcoin and Ether rose as Fed Chair Jerome Powell said on Wednesday that the central bank may start easing interest rate hikes.
Philippines’ Blockchain Future
The Philippines might have moved on from Axie Infinity and other NFT collections, but its still steaming ahe
Binance re-enters Japan with acquisition of regulated Sakura Exchange BitCoin
Binance returned to the Japanese market with the acquisition of regulated crypto exchange Sakura Exchange BitCoin (SEBC), according to a blog post on Wednesday. See related article: Binance to help S. Korea’s Busan build first city-backed exchange Fast facts See related article: Crypto exchange Binance in regulators’ crosshairs as scrutiny mounts
Philippine Blockchain Week: Blockchain adoption struggles in the Philippines as businesses ‘invest to survive’
Blockchain adoption in the Philippines is struggling because businesses are focused on survival, according to Dr. Donald Lim, lead convenor at Philippine Blockchain Week in Manila.
Grayscale holdings questioned amid crypto investment giant’s silence
Top blockchain and crypto news: Grayscale’s cryptic reserves. Binance rides to the rescue? China hit by protests and digital dissent.
S.Korea requests warrant to bring Terra-Luna cofounder Daniel Shin into custody
A court in South Korea will review if prosecutors are allowed to arrest and bring Terraform cofounder Daniel Shin and seven others into custody, for charges including fraud.
Markets: Bitcoin rises, Ether leads gains across most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptos
Bitcoin and Ether strengthened in Asian trading on Wednesday afternoon, with Ether the biggest gainer among top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies that also generally increased. See related article: Diverging paths of two CEOs running FTX’s Alameda Research may meet again in court Fast facts See related article: Dominica releases ‘world’s first national’ crypto token with Huobi, […]
China activists use NFTs, decentralized technology to counter censorship
Many are minting NFTs and posting articles on Matters, a decentralized content-sharing platform, amid protests across China against Covid-19 lockdowns that turned political.
Diverging paths of two CEOs running FTX’s Alameda Research may meet again in court
Employee accounts of life at Sam Bankman-Fried’s flagship cryptocurrency trading arm Alameda Research paint a picture of overworked and inexperienced millennials running a ship headed for the rocks: one seemingly escaped.
FTX’s LedgerX prepping US$175 mln for bankrupt parent firm
FTX subsidiary LedgerX is reportedly preparing US$175 million for its parent company’s bankruptcy proceedings, according to unnamed sources cited by Bloomberg on Wednesday.
Sony launches motion capture wearables for the metaverse
Sony Japan unveiled Mocopi, a set of wearable motion-tracking sensors that captures user movements that are reflected by virtual avatars
Dominica releases ‘world’s first’ national crypto token with Huobi, Tron
The Commonwealth of Dominica in the Caribbean reportedly issued its national crypto token, DMC, on Tuesday, in partnership with crypto exchange Huobi Global, TronDAO and DMC Labs.
Swiss crypto bank SEBA Bank expands to Hong Kong
Swiss crypto bank SEBA Bank announced on Wednesday the opening of its Hong Kong office to serve global institutional clients as part of its Asia-Pacific expansion. See related article: Hong Kong said it remains upbeat on digital assets after FTX debacle Fast facts See related article: Hong Kong needs engineering talent to reclaim role as […]
Digital Currency Group receives offers to buy CoinDesk: report
CoinDesk, an online crypto news site, has attracted potential buyers to take over the media outlet from Digital Currency Group amid market turmoil, Semafor reported.
S. Korea’s Wemade files injunction against country’s top 4 crypto exchanges
The blockchain game maker fights delisting of its symbolic WEMIX crypto token.
S. Korea releases ethical guidelines for the metaverse
South Korea’s science ministry released a guideline of core ethical principles for metaverse application participants.
Coinbase wallet ends support for ETC, BCH, XRP, XLM
The largest U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global Inc. announced that its wallet will no longer be supporting Ethereum Classic (ETC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), XRP and Stellar (XLM).
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether gain as China eases Covid rules amid protests; Dogecoin jumps
Bitcoin and Ether both rose in Wednesday morning trading in Asia, with all other non-stablecoin top 10 cryptocurrencies also gaining ground as China on Tuesday said it will relax some Covid rules in response to protests.
CeFi vs DeFi
FTX’s collapse has now led to another crypto service filing for bankruptcy. Could this be the end for centralized exchanges?
India to roll out retail CBDC on Dec. 1
India will launch its retail CBDC pilot on Thursday with plans to gradually expand trials, the RBI announced on Tuesday.
CeFi must adopt DeFi’s transparency following FTX collapse, Justin Sun says
Justin Sun says CeFi must adopt DeFi’s transparency to regain public trust as 1inch Network cofounder Sergej Kunz sees crypto’s struggles as an opportunity for DeFi.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether rise; top 10 crypto mostly higher with Dogecoin leading gains
Bitcoin and Ether rose in Asian trading on Tuesday afternoon. Top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies also mostly strengthened, led by gains in Dogecoin and Litecoin
FTX to resume paying wages
FTX Trading and its affiliates will resume paying wages to employees globally and to some non-U.S. contractors and service providers
BlockFi files for bankruptcy protection, set to sue Sam Bankman-Fried over collateral
The cryptocurrency lender was hit by the earthquake set off across the industry by the collapse and bankruptcy of the FTX crypto exchange this month, and other companies are looking vulnerable.
ECB’s Christine Lagarde: Further crypto regulation ‘absolute necessity’ following FTX collapse
Christine Lagarde of the European Central Bank said regulating cryptocurrency in the EU is an “absolute necessity” following the collapse of Bahamas-based exchange FTX.com.
Kraken pays over US$360K to US Treasury to settle Iran sanctions allegations
U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has agreed to pay over US$362,000 to settle claims that it violated sanctions against Iran, the Treasury said Monday.
Will the future metaverse amplify the good or the evils of the real world?
The metaverse has the potential to improve access to opportunities and create a better version of the offline world. How do we prevent it from perpetuating society’s ills?
U.S. cryptocurrency lender BlockFi files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, will lay off about 200 staff
Crypto lender BlockFi Inc. and eight of its affiliates have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in the U.S.
Markets: Top 10 crypto fall as BlockFi enters bankruptcy, macroeconomic concerns spread
Bitcoin and Ether fell in Tuesday morning trading in Asia as U.S.-based crypto lender Blockfi filed for bankruptcy overnight in what is seen as another casualty of the collapse of the FTX exchange this month.
Making DeFi Fairer
Why does making the most of the crypto ecosystem remains out of reach for many?
LINE’s crypto exchange BITFRONT announces closure, to suspend trading by 2023
LINE’s cryptocurrency exchange based in the U.S., BITFRONT, has announced closure on Monday to shift its focus to developing LINE’s blockchain ecosystem.
Blockchain is transforming capital markets, and Singapore is leading the way: Opinion
Asset tokenization and DeFi hold tremendous potential for the finance sector, writes Han Kwee Juan of DBS Bank. Here’s how the Singaporean government is at the forefront of change.
U.S., S. Korea applied for over 75% of world’s metaverse patents: report
Companies based in the U.S. and South Korea have filed for more than 75% of patent applications related to the metaverse, VR and AR.
NFT images of anti-lockdown protests in China flood OpenSea
Pictures taken from protests against China’s zero-Covid policy across the mainland are now for sale on OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, as non-fungible tokens (NFT). See related article: ‘Voice of April’ NFTs highlight Shanghai struggles amid lockdown Fast facts See related article: Bitcoin price follows slide in Asia equity markets amid growing China protests against […]
Nigeria seeks distinction between digital assets and crypto
Nigeria seeks to advance digital asset trading in the country but is drawing a distinction between digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
Terra-Luna cofounder Daniel Shin may face fraud charges in South Korea, prosecutors say
South Korean prosecutors may charge Terraform Labs cofounder Daniel Shin with fraud for promoting the Terra stablecoin as a payment method despite multiple warnings from financial regulators that it was against the law.
Changpeng Zhao says Binance has ‘no negative balances involved’ in proof of reserves
Changpeng Zhao tweeted that Binance’s proof of reserves have “absolutely no negative balances involved” after the exchange released its PoR on Friday.
Bitcoin price follows slide in Asia equity markets amid growing China protests against Covid-19 lockdowns
Reports of civil disobedience, protests and clashes with the police in cities and universities in China are unnerving financial markets in Asia
Australian fintech firm launches new AUD stablecoin, AUDE
Australian blockchain fintech startup Ettle Pty Ltd. has completed the first transaction on its recently launched Australian dollar-pegged stablecoin, AUDE.
Markets: Bitcoin little changed, Dogecoin leads pack in muted morning of trading
Bitcoin was little changed in Monday morning trading amid mixed results from the other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies following a relatively muted few days of trading over the Thanksgiving weekend in the U.S.
Singapore’s Matrixport eyes US$100 mln fundraiser at US$1.5 bln valuation
Singapore-based crypto lender Matrixport is hoping to raise US$100 million at a valuation of US$1.5 billion, according to a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources.
Binance releases proof of reserves
The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance released its proof of reserves (PoR) on Friday to provide transparency on user funds.
Can crypto return?
Terra, 3AC and now FTX, it’s been a difficult year, but can crypto come back stronger?
Sam Bankman-Fried could face decades in jail if convicted of law violations in FTX collapse, lawyers say
The former CEO of the collapsed crypto exchange “needs to keep his mouth shut” and stop making public comments that could be used against him in future court cases, lawyers tell Forkast.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether fall; Litecoin leads decline across most top 10 crypto
Bitcoin and Ether fell in Asian trading on Thursday afternoon, with Litecoin seeing the steepest drop in declines across most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies ranked by market capitalization
S.Korean Wemade’s stock falls 30% after exchanges announce WEMIX token delisting; CEO blames Upbit exchange
The delisting poses a great obstacle to the game maker’s growing blockchain empire, while Wemade’s CEO blames the crypto exchange
MetaMask says “we changed nothing” in response to criticism update collects more user data
ConsenSys, which operates the popular cryptocurrency wallet MetaMask, said an update to the wallet has made no change to the data the platform collects from its users, only the wording had changed.
Stablecoin project Ardana on Cardano halts operation
Ardana, a stablecoin project being built on the Cardano blockchain, announced the project has been halted due to funding and uncertainty over its timeline.
Singapore police say they are investigating crypto lender Hodlnaut on fraud allegations
Singapore’s white-collar crime unit is investigating Hodlnaut on allegations of fraud, according to a statement on the website of the Singapore police dated Nov. 23.
Binance says it will set up US$1 billion ‘recovery’ fund for distressed crypto businesses
Binance said it will establish a US$1 billion fund for its “Industry Recovery Initiative” to mitigate the damage from the collapse of the FTX exchange.
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao says he should have tweeted sooner about FTX woes
The chief executive officer of Binance, Changpeng Zhao, regrets sending ‘too late’ a tweet that contributed to the collapse of FTX.com.
Markets: Bitcoin little changed, Ether rises ahead of ‘Shanghai’ upgrade, XRP climbs
Bitcoin traded little changed Friday morning in Asia, while Ether rose amid a mixed performance by the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Crypto exchange Bybit establishes US$100 million fund to aid institutional clients
Crypto exchange Bybit has established a US$100 million fund to support its institutional clients
Russia plans launch of national crypto exchange
Russian lawmakers aim to launch a national cryptocurrency exchange, supported by the country’s Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Russia.
Scam Center Slavery?
It’s no secret that crypto scams and fraud are abundant – but those doing the scamming might be victims of something even more sinister.
India’s CoinDCX crypto exchange publishes proof of reserves
Cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX, India’s first crypto unicorn, published its proof of reserves on Thursday
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether extend gains; Solana leads rise across most top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin and Ether increased in Asia trade on Thursday afternoon. The top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization also mostly rose, with Solana leading gains
Fake crypto awards on the rise during football world cup: research
Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has warned against fraudsters taking advantage of football fans during the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Hex Trust bags virtual asset license from Dubai
Digital asset custodian Hex Trust received the MVP license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority on Nov. 24.
Question: How do financial rules work when rogue individuals run companies? Answer: Not very well.
Calls for tougher rules on cryptocurrency have been echoing ever louder through the offices of global financial regulators since the collapse of the FTX exchange. But the firm did not invent dodgy business practices, so what can regulators and the industry do?
Digital Currency Group seeks to calm investors over Genesis loans: reports
Barry Silbert of DCG disclosed his company owes a US$575 million loan and a US$1.1 billion promissory note to its subsidiary Genesis Global Capital.
US senators call for holding FTX executives accountable to fullest extent of the law
U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Sheldon Whitehouse called for holding former FTX CEO “and any complicit FTX executives” to the fullest extent of the law.
Wallet linked to defunct crypto exchange BTC-e suddenly activates
A wallet address linked to defunct crypto exchange BTC-e sent its largest transaction since August 2017 on Wednesday.
Disgraced FTX founder SBF to speak at New York Times Dealbook Summit despite controversy
Sam Bankman-Fried will speak at a time when he’s reportedly facing investigations with FTX undergoing bankruptcy protection proceedings.
The crash and burn of FTX: What lessons does it teach us?
As FTX victims and creditors sift through the pieces, how much of this blowup should regulators have seen coming — and could it happen again?