UK plans to introduce fiat-backed stablecoin rules in early 2024
The U.K. intends to introduce rules on fiat-backed stablecoins in early 2024, according to the government’s latest cryptocurrency policy update published on Monday. See related article: Singapore, Thailand clarify crypto rules; NFTs become new cultural frontier Fast Facts See related article: Blockchain tech in Thailand gets boost from new pro-crypto lead
Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank buys majority stake in Satang crypto exchange
The lender, known as K-bank, said it will also open three additional crypto subsidiaries.
Take two: Sam Bankman-Fried testifies, for real this time
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried denied defrauding anyone as he took to the stand in his criminal trial.
Bitcoin ETF fever sends crypto prices up, SBF trial testimony, Nepal’s blockchain future
Bitcoin soars to its highest price in a year and a half as Grayscale’s legal victory against the U.S. SEC gets finalized.
Taiwan introduces crypto regulation proposal
Taiwan’s new bill mandates crypto platform permits, addressing self-regulation gaps.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s testimony gets a test run as the defense presents its case
In a rare move, Judge Lewis Kaplan sent the jury home early so he can decide what is and isn’t admissible in FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s testimony.
Bitcoin soars amid buzz of potential ETF approval: Is a crypto renaissance on the horizon?
Top blockchain and crypto news: Bitcoin ETF potential pumps life in markets. Ethereum NFTs back on rise. Major industry layoffs continue.
NFTs dressing up as a bull?
Amid Bitcoin’s ‘Uptober’ surge and Friend.tech’s security concerns, traders pivot back to NFTs, spurred by Blur’s rewards end date and potential Bitcoin ETF approvals.
US spot Bitcoin ETFs — crypto’s silver bullet?
Amid news, fake or otherwise, of an imminent approval for at least one spot Bitcoin ETF, Bitcoin’s price has skyrocketed. Could a year of pain in the crypto industry be over?
Parity Technologies, Polkadot blockchain developer, lays off 30% of staff
Parity CEO Björn Wagner said that despite the need for layoffs, the company’s financial health “remains robust.”
Binance challenges CFTC’s global reach in legal clash
Binance hits back at CFTC, stating U.S. laws can’t police global crypto operations; claims Binance.US operates separately.
Bitcoin ETF fever sends BTC to heights not seen since May 2022
As Bitcoin breaks past $35,000, optimism brews in the crypto market. Is this the end of the prolonged ‘crypto winter’ investors have dreaded?
North America retains crypto crown even as US regulatory clouds loom: Chainalysis
The United States is the region’s top driver of crypto activity.
China’s central bank to ‘resolutely curb’ crypto speculation; Hong Kong updates regulations
PBOC to crack down on crypto speculation, as Hong Kong restricts access to certain “complex” virtual asset products.
Is TradFi’s entry into DeFi a turning point or a sign of greater battles ahead?
The pillars of Wall Street are muscling their way into crypto and decentralized finance. Who stands to benefit the most?
Bitcoin briefly rallies above US$30,000 following Grayscale’s new ETF application
Bitcoin gained over 10% this past week, boosted by Grayscale’s renewed spot Bitcoin ETF application.
Dubai’s crypto boom, Australia’s rules & Binance’s battles
Web3 leaders gather in the Future Blockchain Summit in Dubai and we take a deep dive on the woes of crypto’s largest exchange, Binance.
Binance says it signed agreements with new euro banking partners
Binance announced it has secured new fiat partners for euro services after its former partner cut ties with the exchange last month.
LBRY shuts down operations
LBRY issued a final goodbye to the crypto community before winding down operations.
Grayscale files for new spot Bitcoin ETF on NYSE Arca
Grayscale said that its fund is ready to operate as an ETF upon regulatory approval.
Gemini, Genesis, DCG sued by New York Attorney General
The lawsuit alleges that the companies defrauded over 230,000 investors.
Wallet Wars’ raW Pass NFTs sells out in 5 minutes
Wallet Wars, a Space Invaders-inspired game with a Web3 twist: upgradeable NFT spaceships.”
Coinbase taps Ireland as European hub ahead of MiCA regime
Coinbase said that the regulatory clarity MiCA provides to the industry is “hugely welcome.”
Binance’s rollercoaster week: expansion, setbacks, and the ghost of FTX’s collapse
Top blockchain and crypto news: Is Japan a new frontier for Binance? AI art sweeps NFT sales. ETF buzz electrifies Bitcoin.
OFAC sanctions Gaza-based crypto exchange allegedly linked to Hamas
The U.S. takes action against 10 Hamas-linked entities, including Gaza-based money transfer business and crypto exchange Buy Cash.
UK emerges as world’s third-largest economy in terms of crypto transaction volume: Chainalysis
The U.K. is also listed as the 14th economy on Chainalysis’ Global Crypto Adoption Index.
Trust Wallet’s TWT up 7%, leads top 100 cryptos in gains
TWT price rose over 15% during the past week, after Trust Wallet announced a major rebranding upgrade.
EU adopts new crypto tax rules, mandate data sharing from crypto firms
The new data sharing rules will go into effect 20 days after their publication in the Official Journal.
Rampant scams highlight critical need for greater crypto literacy
The plight of the Philippines — which has a high rate of crypto adoption but is also plagued by fraud — offers a window into why the industry’s ‘do your own research’ mantra isn’t enough.
FTX top lieutenant Nishad Singh bought US$3.7 million house after learning about the exchange’s misuse of customer funds
Nishad Singh testified he bought a house a month before FTX’s collapse despite learning of the exchange’s misuse of customer funds weeks prior.
Binance.US suspends USD withdrawals
Users can still withdraw cryptocurrencies, according to the exchange’s updated terms of use.
Binance Japan — death knell or savior for the nation’s smaller crypto exchanges?
Few tokens and too many exchanges are a bad recipe for Japan’s smaller crypto trading houses. The experts say there’s room for up to five only. So what happens to the little guy now that the world’s largest exchange Binance has rolled back into town?
OSL exchange’s HK$1 billion sale is “factually inaccurate,” says BC Technology
OSL’s parent firm said investors should exercise caution due to the “unusual movement” in the company’s stock price.
Binance halts new user registration in the U.K.
The exchange added that it will also stop releasing new products and services in the country.
Fake BlackRock ETF news prompts US$57 mln in Bitcoin long liquidations
Bitcoin briefly spiked to US$29,388 after the fake post, before tracing back the gains.
FTX exec Nishad Singh testifies on Bankman-Fried’s ‘excessive’ and ‘flashy’ spending
FTX co-founder Nishad Singh testified on Bankman-Fried’s “excessive” spending including political donations coordinated in a group chat titled “Donations Processing.”
Binance: One year on from FTX’s downfall
Inside the world’s largest crypto exchange’s annus horribilis.
A Bitcoin ETF is coming to the US. Here’s what to expect when that happens
A spot Bitcoin ETF will allow BTC be easily tradeable without the headaches and pitfalls of self-custody. Its arrival — likely just around the corner — will mark the moment crypto goes mainstream.
Upbit Singapore receives in-principal license from MAS
Singapore’s major payment institution license will enable Upbit to continue offering regulated digital asset services while awaiting its full license.
Digital frontiers: Alex Tapscott on Web3, AI, and banking’s new dance
From tech monopolies to the synergy of AI and blockchain, Alex Tapscott, author of “Web3: Charting the Internet’s Next Economic and Cultural Frontier,” dissects the trajectories of the digital landscape.
Mastercard’s Ciphetrace VP discusses decade-long maturation of cryptocurrency
Crypto is “part of the future,” said Melissa Wisner, vice president of crypto risk at Ciphertrace, during her panel discussion at D3 Bahamas.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin falls below US$27,000 following CPI and Israeli conflict
Bitcoin was subdued by the mounting geopolitical concerns around Israel’s war with Hamas and the ongoing FTX lawsuit.
Caroline Ellison told Alameda Research about FTX user deposits last November: Cointelegraph
Alameda Research reportedly did not know about the misuse of FTX user deposits until last November.
Coinbase Q3 trading volume drops 52% from last year
The current crypto bear market caused Coinbase’s trading volume to drop to levels not seen since 2020.
Digital assets are here to stay, Bahamas prime minister says
Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis said the island nation will continue to be a pioneer in the digital asset space.
Sam Bankman-Fried planned to raise money from Saudi crown prince, Ellison testifies
Caroline Ellison details how Sam Bankman-Fried planned to raise capital from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman as FTX struggled to repay lenders.
ESMA says DeFi can bring greater financial inclusion, but warns of volatility risks
The regulator said that DeFi doesn’t pose a risk to financial stability, due to its small size, but said it needs to be monitored in the future.
Ethereum NFT production falls to all-time low in September
NFT production on Ethereum fell to an all-time low in September, as the floor prices of blue-chip NFT collections continued their decline.
Malaysia grants Hata in-principle approval to operate digital asset exchange
The Malaysian Securities Commission has given crypto firm, Hata, a conditional approval to operate a “digital asset exchange” with a “digital broker” license.
Brazilian congressional committee calls for Binance CEO Zhao’s indictment
The congressional committee accused Changpeng Zhao and three other executives, along with 45 individuals, of running a financial pyramid scheme in the country.
Pudgy Penguins were bred for the NFT Winter
As ‘Floptober’ rattles the NFT world, Pudgy Penguins emerge as unlikely victors, spotlighting the potential of IP-focused tactics.
Former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison testifies in ex-boyfriend Sam Bankman-Fried’s trial
Caroline Ellison, Sam Bankman-Fried’s ex-girlfriend and former CEO of Alameda Research, details how the trading firm took around $14 billion from FTX customers to repay lenders.
Blockchain’s 2 billionth user could be an AI, says Joe Lubin
The CEO of blockchain services provider Consensys and co-founder of Ethereum spoke to Forkast at the Token 2049 crypto conference in Singapore. He discussed decentralization and what he sees as the crucial role to be played by blockchain in AI and vice-versa.
Binance users in Hong Kong hooked by US$450,000 phishing attacks
The Hong Kong police warned on Monday that 11 Hong Kong-based Binance users lost over US$446,000 (HK$3.5 million) in cryptocurrencies to phishing text messages in the last two weeks. See related article: Gitcoin error sends US$460,000 to digital void Fast Facts See related article: CMCC Global raises US$100 mln to launch Hong Kong Web3 fund
DOJ seeks to block Bankman-Fried from bringing up Anthropic fundraise in court
Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder and former chief executive officer of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, should be blocked from bringing up artificial intelligence firm Anthropic’s latest fundraising efforts in his defense against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), prosecutors said in a court filing on Sunday. See related article: Little-known FTX co-founder Gary Wang testifies in Sam […]
Can Asia’s progressive regulators tame crypto’s Wild West?
The Web3 sun is shining in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, where forward-thinking regulations are fostering crypto’s growth while boosting investor protections.
Alameda had a US$65 bln line of credit, says FTX co-founder Gary Wang
Gary Wang, co-founder and former chief technology officer of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, testified on Friday that Alameda Research, the sister trading firm of the exchange, had a special line of credit of up to US$65 billion from FTX, that allowed the firm to spend US$8 billion of customer funds. See related article: Little-known FTX co-founder […]
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin falls 1.3% following U.S. jobs report
Bitcoin fell 1.3% in the hour following the U.S. jobs report, fueling market concerns that borrowing costs will remain high over a longer period of time.
SBF trial kicks off, Singapore gives crypto licenses as blockchain data comes to rescue
Welcome to Forkast IQ, presented by Forkast’s Megha Chaddah, where we look beyond the headlines to get you insights that power smarter decisions.
Binance ICO raised less than US$5 mln: Forbes
Binance’s 2017 initial coin offering (ICO) of its Binance Coin (BNB) reportedly raised less than US$5 million, contrary to the US$15 million claimed by the company and its Chief Executive Officer Changpeng Zhao. See related article: U.S. SEC denied immediate access to Binance.US software Fast Facts See related article: Binance Japan partners with mega bank […]
Little-known FTX co-founder Gary Wang testifies in Sam Bankman-Fried trial
Wang admits he implemented special privileges in the exchange’s code to enable Alameda Research to withdraw unlimited funds.
Crypto trust on trial: Bankman-Fried faces judgment
Top blockchain and crypto news: Spotlight on Bankman-Fried, Pudgy Penguins’ new revenue stream and Google’s Web3 goggles
SFC to monitor illegal VATP activities with Hong Kong Police Force
The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Police Force announced Wednesday the establishment of a working group to monitoring and investigating illegal activities related to Virtual Asset Trading Platforms (VATPs). See related article: Hong Kong crypto network Mixin loses US$200 million in hack Fast Facts See related article: JPEX […]
EU wholesale CBDC plans to publish within weeks, France central bank governor says
European Union central banks will publish plans for a wholesale central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the coming weeks, François Villeroy de Galhau, the governor of France’s central bank, said at a Tuesday event in Paris. See related article: US legislators to discuss CBDC prevention bill on Sept. 20 Fast Facts See related article: Nepal […]
How the NFT market peaks and bottoms differently from the rest of the industry
Cryptocurrencies and NFTs are evolving and carving out distinct niches, prompting a closer look at their diverging paths and the emerging trends in the digital financial landscape.
To succeed, Web3 must become human-centered
Web2 may be easier than ever to use, but its users are plagued by personal data theft and other security risks. Here’s how Web3 can do better.
Ripple attains Singapore license to offer digital payment token services
The Asia-Pacific branch of Ripple Labs has received a Major Payments Institution license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Uptober in crypto, Floptober in NFTs
October’s ghouls and ghosts seem to spook NFT markets too. While Bitcoin shines bright every autumn, NFT traders brace for a ‘floptober’ dip.
Silver Lining? Google Cloud’s head of Web3 talks Big Tech possibilities for the blockchain
At the Token 2049 crypto conference in Singapore held Sept. 13 to 14, Google Cloud’s James Tromans spoke to Forkast about a possible marriage between Webs 2 and 3.
Chainalysis cuts 150 employees
Chainalysis, a New York-headquartered blockchain intelligence firm, is reportedly laying off about 150 employees, or approximately 15% of the 900 staff members. See related article: ‘There’s no doubt we picked a side here’ — Chainalysis founder Michael Gronager talks analytics, Ukraine and crypto adoption in Asia Fast Facts See related article: Bitwise to launch two […]
Bitwise to launch two Ethereum Futures ETFs
Bitwise Asset Management, a U.S.-based cryptocurrency index fund, announced that its two Ethereum futures exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the Bitwise Ethereum Strategy ETF (AETH) and the Bitwise Bitcoin and Ether Equal Weight Strategy ETF (BTOP), will start trading on Monday, Oct. 2. See related article: Valkyrie CIO expects US spot Bitcoin ETF approval in Q2 2024 […]
Why regulated decentralized exchanges are the wave of crypto trading’s future
Bringing together the best parts of centralized and decentralized exchanges, RDEXs also take into account the inevitability of regulations.