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Marathon to host 73,000 Bitcoin miners in Texas as Chinese exodus looms

Marathon Digital Holdings has announced a deal with Compute North to host 73,000 of Marathon’s Bitcoin miners at a new data center in Texas.

What will happen if Hong Kong bans retail investors from trading crypto?

Hong Kong is poised to ban small investors from buying cryptocurrencies, while making exchanges get licences. Industry experts discuss how this might play out. 
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Hong Kong split on retail crypto ban; Korean conglomerate on custody | The Daily Forkast

Hong Kong reacts to the region’s pending legislation on limiting crypto investment to professional investors while a conglomerate enters South Korea’s crypto custody scene.

Bitcoin dominance rises to 45% as altcoins crash over China crypto crackdown

As the crypto sell-off continued over the weekend, Bitcoin once again proved its resilience relative to other cryptocurrencies in not bleeding as much.

Bitcoin price plunges and altcoins sell-off as crypto market decline intensifies

Bitcoin and altcoin prices take heavy hits and sell-off deepens as more bad news, including a blatant DeFi exit scam, continue battering crypto markets.

Bybit crypto derivatives exchange launches cloud mining for Ether

Crypto exchange Bybit is launching cloud mining to provide exposure to Ether. What happens when Ethereum moves from proof of work to proof of stake?

South Korea forges ahead on its digital currency development

Kicking the digital won’s development into higher gear, Bank of Korea is calling for bids to be a technology supplier for its digital currency (CBDC) project.

China announces plan to crack down on Bitcoin mining

The price of Bitcoin fell by over 10% following an announcement by China’s State Council today that it is planning to crack down on Bitcoin mining and trading and “resolutely prevent the transmission of individual risks to society.” Fast Facts: The 51st meeting of the State Council Financial Stability and Development Committee called for the […]

Hong Kong to close crypto exchanges to all but ‘professional investors’

Cryptocurrency exchanges in Hong Kong will have to obtain licenses from the territory’s markets regulator and limit their service offerings to “professional investors”, according to the results of a consultation published today.

How NFTs could trigger lawsuits and anti-money laundering regulation

Non-fungible tokens may be a boon for art and sports collectibles, but the technology is also spawning a host of thorny regulatory and legal issues.
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Crypto market rebound; Sotheby’s next NFT auction eyes millennials | The Daily Forkast

The crypto market has rebounded after one of its biggest crashes. Bitcoin is a ‘safe haven’ for many investors.

Solana gets Coinbase listing after SOL prices surge amid crypto market crash

Coinbase Pro adds Solana’s native token, opening the doors for US investors after SOL outperforms Bitcoin and most other cryptos amid market crash.

Singapore’s DBS Bank says no investment discussion can omit Bitcoin

Diversification to allocate funds to Bitcoin is an “opportunity that (fiat) money cannot buy”, says DBS Bank’s chief investment officer.

S. Korean crypto exchange Bithumb distances itself from scandal-hit ex-chairman

Bithumb, one of South Korea’s biggest cryptocurrency exchanges, is attempting to disassociate itself from its former chairman amid fears that its links to him may pose a threat to its license to operate.

Bank on change: DeFi’s challenge to traditional finance and fintech

As mainstream finance embraces decentralized finance, neither it nor its younger challengers are likely to escape the evolutionary forces at work.

Thailand’s The Brooker Group still bullish on crypto, planning US$3M investment in DeFi

The Booker Group announced that it now holds approximately US$35 million in crypto and plans to invest US$3 million into DeFi in Q2.

What’s really behind the Bitcoin market crash? Tether USDT lifts veil on reserves. Facebook-backed Diem going to California.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: BlockFi’s accidental BTC millionaires. China’s Inner Mongolia asks citizens to report illegal crypto mining.

Crypto chaos continues; mass BTC liquidations in exchanges across Asia | The Daily Forkast

Mass liquidations are observed across exchanges as the crypto market continues to struggle. Meanwhile, institutions explore DeFi.

Chainlink joins Hedera council in push to link DeFi with traditional finance

Chainlink, a data oracle, has joined the Hedera Governing Council, which oversees the distributed governance of the Hedera network, an enterprise-grade public network for the decentralized economy.

South Korea switches course on crypto amid backlash over regulator’s remarks

Newly elected South Korean Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum appears to be leading an embrace of the cryptocurrency sector among lawmakers.

Illegal crypto mining in Inner Mongolia’s crosshairs as reporting hotline set up

The Chinese region of Inner Mongolia is urging members of the public to report all cases of cryptocurrency mining, setting up a reporting hotline, an office address and an email address to solicit tips for law enforcement authorities.

Rejecting traditional finance, some firms now turn to DeFi for growth capital

DeFi project Maple Finance is launching a $17 million lending pool to provide crypto startups with capital. Is this the start of a DeFi credit underwriting trend?

Digital dollar’s values to fortify USD hegemony, says ex-CFTC chair

Former CFTC chairman Chris Giancarlo and Accenture’s David Treat are not in a CBDC race, but a ‘contest’ to develop money that reflects societal values.

Bitcoin long positions worth $1.5 billion liquidated amid crypto crash

Around US$1.5 billion of Bitcoin long positions were liquidated today across some of the world’s top crypto exchanges, including Binance and FTX, according to Bybt data.

Australia seeks fresh submissions on cryptocurrency rules

In a paper released today by a Senate committee, the Australian government announced it is seeking help in establishing a crypto regulatory framework.

XRP whale moves coins worth US$93M to unknown wallet, price dips

XRP’s price has slumped almost 7% in the past 24 hours after a so-called whale transferred US$93 million of the cryptocurrency to an unknown wallet on May 18, according to blockchain analytics platform WhaleAlert.

China-based SOS announces activation of 6,039 mining rigs for ETH, BTC

Qingdao-headquartered tech company SOS Ltd. has announced the launch of more than 6,000 ETH and BCT mining rigs, claiming 90% renewable energy sources.

China’s new crypto ban shouldn’t stoke fear, says Conflux network co-founder

Fan Long, a co-founder of Chinese public blockchain network Conflux, says China’s latest broadside against the use of cryptocurrencies in the financial sector should not be interpreted as a sign that Beijing is intent on shutting down digital currencies.

Riot Blockchain’s Bitcoin mining revenue soars 881% to US$23.2M

American Bitcoin miner Riot Blockchain’s mining revenue skyrocketed almost tenfold to US$23.2 million in the first quarter of 2021, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

China shuts banks, finance firms out of cryptocurrency business

China has slapped a ban on finance sector businesses, including payment firms, from offering cryptocurrency services.

Will Singapore launch a people’s digital currency — and support DeFi?

As Singapore builds Project Dunbar, a cross-border multiple-CBDC platform, its government dives into DeFi learning and ponders a CBDC for the masses.

China Merchants Bank launches US$50M DeFi, dApp fund with Nervos

Privately owned Chinese lender continues to target blockchain opportunities as it remains shut out of Beijing’s digital yuan project.

What is Polkadot and why is it one of the hottest blockchains right now?

The final phase of Polkadot’s rollout — with parachains — just kicked off. Here’s what you need to know about Polkadot and parachains, and why it matters.

New coin launch seeks to curb Elon Musk’s influence over crypto markets

A group of cryptocurrency developers has launched a new coin named $STOPELON, aiming to limit Elon Musk’s influence over the cryptocurrency market.

Elon Musk slips down rich list as Tesla’s stock loses shine

Tesla founder Elon Musk has lost his position as the world’s second-richest person following a 2.2% decline in the electric carmaker’s share price.

Audience fave ‘Charlie bit me’ video to be auctioned off as NFT

The home video that has been viewed more than 880 million times is set to be sold as NFT to highest bidder — and then deleted forevermore from YouTube.

Led by Cardano ADA, green cryptos rise as Bitcoin, wider market sinks

ADA price holds strong as investors shift to greener cryptocurrencies and Cardano smart contracts get set to launch blockchain into DeFi and NFTs.

Elon Musk Dogecoin tweet draws ire of crypto heavyweights

A tweet about Dogecoin by Tesla founder Elon Musk provoked a terse response from high-profile figures in the cryptocurrency industry on Sunday. Fast Facts: Musk responded to a tweet in which Twitter user @itsALLrisky claimed that Dogecoin was superior to Bitcoin, tweeting back: “Ideally, Doge speeds up block time 10X, increases block size 10X & drops […]

New York’s Bitcoin mining showdown sets stage for battles elsewhere

A dispute over a Bitcoin mine’s environmental impact leads to a push to ban crypto mines in New York state. Will other places follow Albany’s lead?

India’s demand for crypto ‘growing like crazy’ since ban attempt

It’s only a matter of time that digital currency ‘is going to overshadow all the other forms of money,’ says Neeraj Khandelwal of CoinDCX.

S. Korea facing backlash for banning police from owning crypto

To improve public trust, South Korea is barring police officers from buying cryptocurrency. Could this presage a broader clampdown on crypto in the country?

DBS Bank rolls out crypto estate planning for the ultra-rich

What will happen to your Bitcoin keys and crypto wallets when you die? Southeast Asia’s largest bank will now take care of it all for the super wealthy.

CZ bites back at Binance probe sensationalism — ‘Anyways. Back to work’

Yet another U.S. regulatory probe of leading crypto exchange Binance is underway, but CEO Changpeng Zhao isn’t impressed with news headlines.

Coinsource wins Alaska Bitcoin ATM license

Bitcoin ATM provider Coinsource is expanding in Alaska after receiving the state’s first and only Alaska Money Transmitter License. Coinsource joins four other operators of Bitcoin ATMs — known as BTMs — in Alaska, none of which have such a license. The Alaska Division of Banking and Securities license provides a guarantee that money transmitters […]

Binance faces U.S. probe amid money-laundering, tax suspicions

Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange, is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service over alleged illegal activities. Officials responsible for investigating money laundering and tax breaches have interviewed individuals familiar with Binance’s activities, according to a report by Bloomberg. In March, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission said it […]

NFT player Animoca hits unicorn status with $89 million capital raise

Animoca Brands’ valuation tops US$1 billion as it charges forward in the NFT and blockchain gaming space with $88,888,888 in new funding.

Crypto markets crash as Tesla stops taking Bitcoin for payments

Elon Musk drops ‘fossil fuel’ Twitter bomb on Bitcoin, triggering a BTC price crash and dragging down Ethereum, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu.

How FTX crypto exchange won over 1 million investors and grew 25-fold

FTX crypto derivatives exchange pioneered TRUMP crypto futures and now dwarfs Coinbase in trading volume. Is going public in FTX’s near future?

Facebook reins in crypto ambitions with Diem stablecoin plan

Facebook’s much-anticipated foray into cryptocurrency has got off to a modest start, with the project it is backing confirming that it will launch a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. The social media giant had announced ambitious plans to launch a global digital currency named Libra in partnership with Visa and PayPal in 2019, but […]

US dollar dominance waning as CBDCs enter global spotlight

Global US dollar reserves touched a 25-year low in Q4 2020, according to a new IMF report. Will a digital euro and e-RMB muscle in?

ICP takes crypto world by storm. Will Ethereum be the next Bitcoin? Goldman Sachs launches crypto trading desk.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: How Dogecoin copycat SHIB coin vaulted into crypto’s top 20. China unveils fingerprint ID for digital yuan.

Ethereum market cap now half trillion dollars as Ether price hits ATH of $4,360

Ethereum prices rally to new all-time high as Bitcoin’s dominance keeps sliding. Is Ethereum’s upcoming EIP 1559 upgrade boosting its value proposition?

China’s new digital yuan wallet with fingerprint ID causes privacy worries

Chutian Dragon and IDEX Biometrics offer DCEP digital currency wallets with fingerprint recognition. The companies say the feature enhances security.

Thailand’s Brooker Group bets US$48 million on DeFi, decentralized apps

Bangkok-headquartered financial consultancy and capital manager The Brooker Group is set to invest US$48 million in a portfolio of decentralized applications and decentralized finance tokens, a move that will see the company commit around half of its assets to the sector. The firm has identified what it describes in a press release as “huge” growth […]

FTX CEO on tokenized stocks; South Korean police officers want crypto | The Daily Forkast

FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried joins Forkast.News to share how the exchange is able to provide new financial products while still satisfying regulators.

How S. Korea and Singapore are grappling with crypto investor protection

As retail interest in crypto grows, countries around the world are grappling with consumer protection. Asia offers a window into the array of policy responses.
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Alpha Finance Lab launches oracle aggregator to boost scalability, flexibility

Alpha Finance Lab has developed an oracle aggregator with data from oracle providers Band Protocol and Chainlink to address challenges related to scalability, flexibility and security as the decentralized finance landscape continues its rapid evolution. A data oracle is a platform that combines and integrates real-world data and application programming interfaces that control smart contracts. […]

SNL lights too bright for Dogecoin; ESG investments join crypto | The Daily Forkast

Dogecoin is on its weekend hangover as trading volumes in India’s WazirX for DOGE reaches new heights. Meanwhile, ESG investments tackle crypto.

Philippine power firm looks to regulators to drive blockchain electricity trade

The head of a Philippine electricity generator and distributor says that blockchain-enabled trading of electricity can thrive in the country, so long as the right regulatory environment exists.   Emmanuel Rubio, president and CEO of Aboitiz Power, told the Manila Bulletin blockchain offered an opportunity in the electricity market, particularly in unleashing the potential of […]

Ethereum prices break $4,000 for first time—what’s driving ETH’s surge?

Is it all those new Ethereum ETFs, rising demand for Ethereum from DeFi and NFTs, or lower gas fees fueling ETH’s price jump to yet another all-time high?

Barking at the moon: SpaceX lunar launch to be funded by Dogecoin

Canadian manufacturing and logistics firm Geometric Energy Corporation has announced that its Doge-1 Mission to the Moon — the first commercial lunar payload in history — will be paid for in its entirety with the meme-inspired cryptocurrency Dogecoin. The moonshot will involve a collaboration between Geometric Space Corporation mission management and SpaceX that will carry […]

New Asian investment portfolio offers exposure to Canada’s Bitcoin ETFs

Aqumon’s SmartGlobalC aims to meet the rapidly growing demand for Bitcoin exposure for traditional investment portfolios in Asia.

Philippine bank, fintech XLOG to offer blockchain-based logistics financing

Union Bank’s financial supply chain platform to be integrated with XLOG’s logistics platform. Union Bank of the Philippines and fintech firm XLOG have teamed up to offer the Philippines’ first blockchain-powered supply chain financing solution embedded in a logistics platform. “We are firm believers in how blockchain technology can bridge gaps in different industries. We […]

Crypto gets AI treatment as BlockBank rolls out robots

Financial artificial intelligence firm seeks to use technology to mitigate risks in complex, volatile trading environment. BlockBank, which develops artificial intelligence for both decentralized and traditional, centralized finance, is using its technology to bring AI-enabled analytics and risk management practices to the crypto space. The company is working to offer a built-in fiat currency gateway […]

BCH gets the nod from Japan; Digital yuan travels to the countryside | The Daily Forkast

While Bitcoin Cash surges, we visit a Japanese coffee shop owner who just started accepting BCH as payment.

Ripple’s XRP sales increased over 90% in 1Q 2021

XRP sales by Ripple accounted for 0.07% of global XRP volume. Ripple says its sales were to support on-demand liquidity customers.

Citi mulls crypto services launch as clients embrace Bitcoin

Currency-trading giant says crypto trading, custody and financing all under consideration amid growing demand from asset managers, hedge funds. Citigroup is considering launching cryptocurrency services following a surge in interest in digital currencies among its clients, according to a report by the Financial Times. The report cited Citi’s global head of foreign exchange, Itay Tuchman, […]

How R3 is growing Corda’s reach with China’s Blockchain Services Network

R3’s Corda — one of the most widely used blockchains of Corporate America — is coming to China. What does it mean for the US and Europe?

High-end Miami condos to be city’s first flats with crypto price tag

Developer of Arte by Antonio Citterio partners with blockchain platform to allow buyers to pay with cryptocurrency. Sapir Corp, the developer of the Surfside district condominium, has teamed up with blockchain and securities trading platform SolidBlock to allow buyers of the luxury residences to purchase them using cryptocurrency. The partnership between Sapir Corp and SolidBlock […]

Bitcoin vs. Bitcoin Cash: Everything an investor needs to know

With Bitcoin Cash prices rising in advance of its May 15 network upgrade, investors want to know: What’s the difference between Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin?

Open DeFi launches DAO: ‘Multi-chain DeFi is here to stay’

Since its launch by Conflux Network, a Shanghai-endorsed public chain, the East-West alliance has added over 30 members. Open DeFi now forms a DAO.

Polkadot, Kusama parachain anticipation builds amid uncertainty over launch date

Appetite for auction remains robust despite delays, pressure on Polkadot token. Since the Polkadot mainnet launch in 2020, the planned launch of the network’s eponymous and Kusama parachains has generated much eager anticipation. Yet delays to the auction of slots that have put pressure on Polkadot’s native token appear not to have dampened enthusiasm for […]