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As many as 600 NFTs featuring a montage of audio calls and complaints made by Shanghai residents as they interacted with medical staff and neighborhood compound managers have appeared on OpenSea.

China has broadened the range of public services and the number of cities included in its digital yuan pilot project underway in the provinces of Zhejiang and Fujian. See related article: Chinese state media calls for wider e-CNY adoption Fast facts See related article: Hangzhou races to showcase digital yuan at Asian Games

The New York State Assembly said it passed a cryptocurrency mining moratorium bill on Tuesday, blocking new permits and expansion for proof-of-work (PoW) mining facilities using carbon-based energy sources.  See related article: New York’s Bitcoin mining showdown sets stage for battles elsewhere Fast facts The bill needs approval by the New York State Senate. Existing […]

The Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Monday said it granted a full license to the global cryptocurrency exchange, allowing it to service customers across the Middle East and North Africa region. See related article: Dubai could be crypto’s promised land, Citi says Fast facts The license from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM […]

Former Microsoft strategist Joe McCann’s new crypto fund Asymmetric has gained backing from a16z’s Marc Andreessen and Solana cofounders Anatoly Yakovenko and Raj Gokal, The Block reported. See related article: KuCoin launches $100 mln fund for NFT projects Fast facts Asymmetric is aiming to raise US$1 billion to be split into a venture investment fund […]

Binance has partnered with European banking service provider Contis to launch a crypto card for Ukrainian refugees, enabling crypto payments in the European Economic Area for those displaced by the war. See related article: Russians turn to crypto as Western sanctions hit the ruble Fast facts Kirill Khomyakov, Binance’s Ukraine general manager, said the crypto […]

The Bitcoin Mining Council, a voluntary forum of cryptocurrency mining companies supported by Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy Inc., said its latest quarterly survey showed the global Bitcoin mining industry is relying more on electricity from sustainable sources.  See related article: Can Ethereum’s proof-of-stake transition save the planet? Fast facts The global Bitcoin mining industry had a […]

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says it has charged Spaniard Alejandro Cao de Benos and U.K. citizen Christopher Emms with allegedly assisting former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith in presenting the uses of crypto to avoid U.S. sanctions against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). See related article: Former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith gets […]

The world’s largest crypto exchange may soon establish a regulated entity in a G-7 nation in Europe, Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao said Tuesday at the Financial Times Crypto and Digital Assets Summit. See related article: Binance wants to play ball with regulators Fast facts Zhao said Binance already has a standard corporate structure […]

Jump.trade, a gaming non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace by GuardianLink, sold 55,000 Meta Cricket League (MCL) collectibles within nine minutes of launching on Friday, Economic Times reported. See related article: NFTs are leveling up gaming and not all about money Fast facts Priced at $25 each, the Super Loot NFTs marked GuardianLink’s foray into the artificial […]

Fireblocks, a digital asset custody platform, says its institutional clients can now access decentralized applications supported by Terra’s decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, the No. 2 protocol behind Ethereum. See related article: Late digitization is Asia’s edge in crypto, says Fireblocks CEO Fast facts Institutional users can now access decentralized applications built on Terra such as […]

Crypto and stock markets tumbled as the U.S. dollar rallied to its highest point since March 2020 amid concerns of looming interest rate hikes at the U.S. Federal Reserve. See related article: Is Bitcoin really a hedge against inflation? Fast facts The U.S. stock market fell with Nasdaq dropping by 4% on Tuesday over concerns […]

Dogecoin skyrockets as Elon Musk’s Twitter deal finalizes. Meanwhile, a Korean music platform registers NFTs patent.

Fidelity, one of the largest providers of 401(k) retirement plans in the U.S., is allowing participants to invest a piece of their retirement portfolio into Bitcoin, provided the employers allow it. See related article: Nexo and Fidelity Digital Assets expand institutional lending services Fast facts Fidelity introduced a digital assets account to hold Bitcoin, integrating […]

Pikotaro, the Japanese singer-songwriter and creator of the 2016 global sensation Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen (PPAP), is teaming up with famed nine-year-old non-fungible token (NFT) artist Zombie Zoo Keeper to create a unique NFT project. See related article: Japan’s messenger app LINE launches NFT marketplace Fast facts The new music video, named “Zombie Zoo to PIKOTARO DESU,” will […]

After being on track to beat the US to the launch of a Bitcoin spot ETF, the delay is likely to undermine Australia’s desire to emerge as a top destination for digital assets in the developed world.

Bored Ape Yacht Club’s (BAYC) official Instagram profile was hacked to promote a fraudulent phishing link to scam millions of dollars worth of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from victims on Monday.  See related article: Why NFT scams are on the rise — and how to stop them Fast facts OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, has banned […]

Koong World has been awarded a South Korean patent that utilizes non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and sound source information to enable artists to upload and share their works on its platform without fear of copyright infringement. See related article: What does Music have to do with NFTs? Fast facts The Korean Intellectual Property Office awarded Koong […]

BlockBar, a luxury liquor brand non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, has partnered with whiskey distiller Monkey Shoulder on a range of exclusive collectibles for Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and BlockBar NFT holders. See related article: Hic Hic Hurray! Scottish distillery Ardbeg to release limited-edition whiskey NFTs Fast facts BlockBar will allow 10 BAYC owners to […]

Non-fungible token (NFT) scammers took control of the University of the Philippines’ official Twitter account on Monday evening, posting several tweets promoting a fake airdrop.  See related article: Twitter hacker takes over verified accounts to promote fake Azuki NFT drop Fast facts The attackers renamed the Twitter account to “takashi murakami” — the name of […]

Bilibili, a video streaming platform popular with China’s Generation Z, Monday enabled non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to be transferred between users, becoming the second major Chinese tech firm to allow NFT transfers after Alibaba. See related article: China state-backed paper’s NFTs surge in price on second-hand market Fast facts Bilibili requires a 30-day gap between each […]

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this report stated the NFT proceeds will be donated to NGO Atam Pargas. The NGO has reached out to Forkast to clarify it is not associated with the NFT project. Lekh-Haq, the organizer of the NFT has confirmed this correction to Forkast. Indian journalists and filmmakers launched farmers’ protest […]

NFT in gaming is not only for play-to-earn, writes Nicholas Douzinas of Ajuna Network. It should also be fun and foster human connections.

Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game that rewards players with cryptocurrencies and NFTs. Learn all about how Axie Infinity is creating a play-to-earn revolution in this Forkast explainer.

Dogecoin is back in the crypto top 10 after Twitter accepted Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s US$44 billion offer to purchase the social media platform. See related article: Will the dog have its day on Doge Day? Fast facts The world’s leading memecoin reached a high of US$0.1677 before retreating slightly, its highest point since Musk […]

Binance categorically denies sharing client data with Russia. Meanwhile, Chinese officials push for e-CNY use at the Asian Games.

India’s leading banks have asked the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to issue a formal directive that explains the curbs on money transfers using the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for trading in virtual digital assets. See related article: Coinbase snafu sets the cat among the crypto pigeons in India Fast facts Indian banks had […]

CoinDCX cofounder Sumit Gupta tells Forkast in an exclusive interview the crypto exchange that recently raised US$135 million will look to triple its headcount by the end of the year.

Singapore’s OCBC Bank has partnered with MetaVerse Green Exchange (MVGX) to develop financial solutions, including tokenized carbon credits, to help large corporations offset their carbon emissions, according to a statement. See related article: Crypto exchange Gemini buys carbon offsets, pledges carbon-neutrality Fast facts The tokenized carbon credits, due to launch later this year, will use […]

The cryptocurrency investment firm has stepped up its lobbying efforts with the U.S. regulator following its recent nod to a Bitcoin futures ETF. See related story: SEC comes around on Bitcoin ETFs Fast facts Grayscale’s lawyers have written to the Securities and Exchange Commission saying that its application for a Bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) […]

Li Ning, a leading Chinese sportswear and equipment company headquartered in Beijing, is set to release a line of clothing featuring images of the Bored Ape Yacht Club #4102, as the brand looks to take advantage of the growing popularity of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). See related article: Chinese Communist Party paper to “develop” NFTs Fast […]

Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, denied sharing client data with Russian authorities, following a Reuters investigation into the exchange’s ties with the country.

The Lazarus Group, the North Korean hacking group linked to the US$600 million Axie Infinity hack in March, is still laundering funds stolen from the hack despite sanctions imposed by the U.S.  See related article: Axie Infinity blockchain Ronin hacked for over $600M Fast facts Despite U.S. sanctions, North Korean hackers have been freely laundering […]

A month after South Korea adopted the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) travel rule, two solution providers VerifyVASP and CODE have linked their services on Monday to allow seamless access to exchanges for investors. See related article: DeFi, NFT access at stake as FATF travel rule takes effect in South Korea Fast facts The FATF […]

Preparing to show off the capabilities of the digital yuan at the Asia Games is a priority from April to August, despite high possibilities of a delay in the event itself. See related article: Asian Games set for digital yuan, metaverse pilots, tech firm claims Fast facts China wants to showcase the digital yuan at […]

Joe Biden’s executive order on crypto has put America on course for solid success in the digital asset space, says the Blockchain Association’s Kristin Smith.

More crypto players are eyeing the UAE as a hub. Meanwhile, a mysterious map sends Pudgy Penguin NFTs skyrocketing.

While the cryptocurrency industry continues to wait with bated breath for a spot-traded Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) to be approved in the U.S., three separate crypto funds were given the green light in Australia this week.  Australia’s ETFS Management (AUS) Ltd., or ETF Securities, launched a Bitcoin and an Ethereum fund, in partnership with Switzerland-based […]

Dubai and neighboring Abu Dhabi have been on a tear when it comes to crypto service providers moving the core of their operations there.

Time to dust off your Dotori. The social media platform that once reigned in South Korea is trying to make a grand comeback with in-game crypto, NFTs and the metaverse.

Hong Kong rail operator MTR Corporation announced Thursday that it will partner with The Sandbox on a metaverse project to build a subway-themed virtual world theme park. See related article: Sandcastles in cyberspace and the rise of the metaverse Fast facts The rail operator said it will partner with The Sandbox, a subsidiary of Animoca […]

Sales volume of the popular non-fungible token (NFT) series shot up about 519% in the past 24 hours, according to CryptoSlam data, after Pudgy Penguins teased an Antarctic map that resembles a gaming metaverse. See related article: New owner gives Pudgy Penguins NFTs happy feet Fast facts Penguin fans speculate the project is hinting at […]

The world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange hired former Financial Conduct Authority official Steven McWhirter as a director of regulatory policy to better manage its compliance function.  See related story: Binance wants to play ball with regulators Fast facts McWhirter will lead the global regulatory policy team for Binance and brings over 20 years of experience in […]

South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) Thursday said it approved GOPAX as the country’s fifth digital asset exchange to provide cash-to-crypto services. See related article: South Korea’s crypto crackdown: What you need to know Fast facts Cash-to-crypto services on GOPAX starts Apr. 28. Last September, South Korea mandated strict licensing requirements for crypto exchanges to […]

TRON founder Justin Sun announced on Thursday a new decentralized dollar-pegged algorithmic stablecoin on the Tron blockchain called USDD. See related article: What are stablecoins, and why are some governments so afraid of them? Fast facts The TRON Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) intends to raise US$10 billion within the next year to fund a crypto […]

Can blockchain embody the values of Earth Day? Consider its growing role in ESG and the energy-efficiency of newer crypto, writes Eddie Hui of MVGX.

A Russian crypto miner has been added to the US Sanctions list. Meanwhile, Dogecoin underperforms as Apecoin storms ahead.

Under Chinese copyright law, the court ruled a marketplace’s failure to ensure the uniqueness of an NFT constituted aiding infringement.

A panel of 35 crypto professionals have grown collectively less confident on the year-end target price for Bitcoin, although they expect the dominant cryptocurrency to end significantly higher than current levels and even set a new all-time high, according to a report by Finder. See related article: Bitcoin crosses $47,000 mark as crypto surges in […]

Coinbase’s non-fungible token (NFT) platform launched its beta version for select customers on Wednesday. See related article: Coinbase and Binance move to diversify; Stablecoins under scrutiny Fast facts Only a few customers of the three million on the waitlist can access the beta market, but it is also open for public view. The beta platform […]

A Porsche dealership in Baltimore, Maryland, has begun accepting mainstream crypto payments for vehicles, along with DOGE and Shiba Inu, according to a Tweet by U.S.-based crypto payment service provider BitPay. See related article: Lamborghini’s last all-gas Aventador to be auctioned with NFT Fast facts See related article: Hic Hic Hurray! Scottish distillery Ardbeg to […]

Binance.US, the American crypto exchange set up by Binance cofounder Changpeng Zhao, will exit lobby group Blockchain Association and allocate resources to its own lobbying workforce in Washington, D.C. and state capitals, according to a media report.   See related article: Binance.US wins license in Puerto Rico to fuel growth Fast facts Binance.US is establishing its […]

A desire to stay in line with global anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism norms is forcing the city state’s hand when it comes to regulating cryptocurrency exchanges.

Ink, the Ashton Kutcher and Mark Cuban-backed Web 3.0 platform that allows artists and creators to sign, draw or write on any form of digital content into non-fungible tokens (NFTs), launched Wednesday. See related article: Warner Music is ready to play in The Sandbox metaverse Fast facts By digitally signing any existing photo, album cover, […]

The U.S. sanctioned Russian cryptocurrency miner Bitriver and its 10 subsidiaries on Wednesday, in an attempt to further isolate Russia from the global economy for invading Ukraine.  See related article: Russia proposes Bitcoin payments for oil and energy exports Fast facts “Russia has a comparative advantage in crypto mining due to energy resources and a […]

The Dogecoin community hoping for a price rally was disappointed on “Doge Day” as ApeCoin stole the spotlight with a 30% climb. See related article: Will the dog have its day on Doge Day? Fast facts DOGE investors were hoping to recreate last year’s success when DOGE rallied over 500% in the days leading to […]

Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs are coming to Australia. Meanwhile, Dogecoin Day has fans hyped.

Top blockchain and crypto news: Crisis response brings crypto relief. North Korea’s Lazarus Group named in Ronin hack. NFTs face new risks in China.

Holders of the world’s leading memecoin are hoping for a repeat of 2021 where a community effort helped propel the token’s price into the stratosphere. But one industry watcher says the market is a very different place now.

Alibaba-owned Ele.me announced the launch of its first non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on Tuesday with the Hangzhou Cuisine Museum, featuring traditional Hangzhou dish cod meatballs. See related article: Chinese tech giant Huawei debuts NFTs Fast facts See related article: China’s largest broadcaster’s NFT series becomes a trilogy

Robinhood announced Tuesday it will purchase London-based crypto firm Ziglu as part of the trading platform’s global expansion. See related article: SHIB price pumps on Robinhood listing with SOL, MATIC, COMP Fast facts U.K.-based users of Robinhood can access 11 cryptocurrencies with Ziglu, earn yield, pay with debit cards, and send crypto across borders.  Robinhood […]

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) is reportedly planning to designate local crypto exchange Upbit owner Dunamu as an enterprise subject to limitations on mutual investment, which would add more regulations to the entity. See related article: Two crypto exchanges reach unicorn status in South Korea Fast facts A company with total assets over 10 […]

Cofounders of the Binance-backed Indian crypto exchange WazirX have reportedly moved to Dubai amid regulatory uncertainty and taxation, local media report. See related article: India’s crypto tax will incur losses for government, says WazirX CEO Fast facts Nischal Shetty and Siddharth Menon have reportedly moved to Dubai along with their families.  “Crypto has no boundaries,” […]

In the short history of DeFi, bridge hacks have accounted for an enormous amount of stolen funds, writes Joshua Tobkin. What can stop these attacks?

Binance.US has obtained a money transmitter license in Puerto Rico, as the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange continues to expand globally while seeking to become more mindful of compliance. See related article: Binance.US valued at $4.5B following first seed round Fast facts Binance.US CEO Brian Shroder on Tuesday said that Puerto Rico is an important market […]

Australia’s mass retail appetite for cryptocurrency is about to be tested as two Bitcoin and one Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been approved for listing. See related article: New Australian ETF grants exposure to Bitcoin mining sector Fast facts All three ETFs are set to go live on Cboe (formally Chi-X) Exchange on April […]

US authorities says North Korea is responsible for Ronin hack. Meanwhile, Binance and Gulf Energy initiate joint venture.

Crypto trading platform KuCoin, through its venture capital arm KuCoin Ventures and KuCoin NFT marketplace — Windvane — is introducing a US$100 million “creators fund,” the company said in a statement. See related article: How Southeast Asia’s NFT ecosystem lifts up local artists Fast facts The fund will support and incubate early stage non-fungible token […]

An attempt to assuage Axie Infinity players miffed by falling earnings isn’t turning out too well for developer Sky Mavis, Forkast learns, as loyalists bemoan it may be too little, too late.

Indian cryptocurrency exchange CoinDCX’s latest funding comes as investors double down on the country’s potential to emerge as the world’s top market despite government apathy.  See related story: CoinDCX’s Sumit Gupta on CBDCs, regulation and India’s potential for crypto in 2021 Fast facts Series D funding was led by Pantera and Steadview Capital, the company […]

Hyundai Motor plans to support its own non-fungible token (NFT) community with an initial token release in collaboration with Meta Kongz this week, and a dedicated NFT website to launch in May. See related article: 20,000 line up for South Korean convenience store’s NFTs on White Day Fast facts Hyundai Motor, South Korea’s leading automobile […]

State-owned broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) ‘s online branch will launch a new NFT series on Thursday to celebrate the seventh China Space Day.  See related article: China’s industry lobbies join NFT bashing chorus Fast facts CCTV’s first NFT collection was issued for free during Chinese New Year on Tencent’s blockchain. The second batch was […]