South Korea arrests head of Bithumb crypto exchange for alleged embezzlement
A South Korean court approved the prosecutor’s request to issue an arrest warrant for Kang Jong-hyun for alleged embezzlement.
Markets: Bitcoin breaks US$24,000 ceiling after Fed says ‘disinflationary process’ started in U.S. economy
Bitcoin rose above US$24,000 for the first time since mid-August in Thursday morning trading in Asia before sliding back slightly.
Crypto hackers stole record US$3.8 bln in 2022, mostly from DeFi and cross-chain bridges: Chainalysis
Hackers stole at least US$3.8 billion in cryptocurrencies throughout 2022, a record-breaking year for crypto heists, says blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis.
Bankrupt FTX held US$1.4B in cash at the end of 2022
Bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX.com had around US$1.4 billion in cash reserves at the end of 2022, according to a financial update released Tuesday.
Cardano’s Djed stablecoin locks US$10 mln in reserves on its first day
Djed, a Cardano-based algorithmic stablecoin, has collected over US$10 million in its reserves within the first 24 hours since it was launched on Wednesday.
Markets: Bitcoin stays above US$23,000; Cardano leads gains in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin traded above US$23,000 throughout Wednesday afternoon trading in Asia, while Ethereum and other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies were mixed. Cardano led gains with 2.03% followed by XRP’s 1.13%.
Digital yuan sales during Lunar New Year up from last year, online retailers say
Digital yuan sales at online retail platforms in China have surged during the Lunar New Year holidays fueled by local governments’ red packet coupons.
Bitcoin mining fund soars as BTC powers into 2023
Top blockchain and crypto news: BTC mining ETF outperforms. SBF under pressure as accusations mount. ‘China’s Instagram’ embraces NFTs.
New Bitcoin protocol may shake up the NFT market
Bitcoin has long been the world’s largest cryptocurrency blockchain, but non-fungible tokens or NFTs were always the domain of Ethereum. A new protocol could change that, and some in the Bitcoin community are not too pleased.
Bitcoin miner Greenidge Generation cuts NYDIG debt 78% to US$17 million
Troubled U.S.-based Bitcoin mining firm Greenidge Generation Holdings Inc. has restructured more of its debt to investment management service provider NYDIG and investment bank B. Riley Commercial Capital, the company announced on Tuesday.
Judge rules secondary sale of LBC does not classify as security in SEC vs LBRY appeal
In the SEC’s case against decentralized publishing platform LBRY Inc., the judge ruled that the secondary sale of LBC does not qualify as a security.
Markets: Bitcoin climbs back above US$23,000 as most top 10 crypto tokens gain ground
Bitcoin prices broke back above US$23,000 in Wednesday morning trading in Asia.
Hong Kong to mandate stablecoin licensing as early as this year
The HKMA said in a consultation conclusion that algorithmic stablecoins will not be allowed in the city.
Celsius misled investors, spent customer funds, bankruptcy examiner claims
Celsius Network may have misled its investors and spent customer funds, an independent examiner said in a Tuesday court filing.
Alameda Research sues Voyager Digital for US$445.8 mln
Alameda Research has sued bankrupt digital assets lender Voyager Digital to reclaim US$445.8 million worth in loan payments before FTX filed for its own bankruptcy.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether drop; Dogecoin rebounds
Bitcoin and Ethereum prices fell during Tuesday afternoon trading in Asia along with most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. Dogecoin was the exception in that list as it rebounded from morning losses.
January weekly crypto product investment reaches highest since July, says CoinShares report
Digital asset investment products reached US$117 million in the week ending Jan. 27 — the highest since July 2022 — with nearly all of that going into Bitcoin.
South Korea regulator recommends unified crypto disclosure system to protect investors
South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service has recommended a unified system for mandatory disclosure from issuers of cryptocurrencies.
Judge rules Sam Bankman-Fried’s $250 mln bail co-signers should be named
A U.S. federal judge has granted motions to reveal the identities of the two unnamed co-signers of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s US$250 million bail bond.
What we must learn from FTX so that history does not repeat itself
Tighter regulations are necessary but not enough. The industry also needs to address its issues with custody and transparency, writes Chen Zhuling of RockX.
Bitcoin falls in broad crypto pull back ahead of U.S. Fed meeting on interest rates
Bitcoin fell along with Ether and all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies in Tuesday morning trading in Asia, wiping out most of Monday’s gains.
Valkyrie’s WGMI Bitcoin Miners ETF named best-performing U.S. fund, surges 105% in 2023
Valkyrie’s Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin Miners exchange-traded fund (ETF), WGMI, has been the best-performing fund of 2023 so far, rising over 105% throughout January.
Bitcoin trades higher in Nigeria amid cashless economy drive
Bitcoin price was trading at a premium in Nigerian cryptocurrency exchanges on Monday following the central bank’s limit on ATM cash withdrawals.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether extend gains; Solana leads among top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin and Ethereum were up in Monday afternoon trading in Asia, while all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies were mixed. Solana led gains at 5.08%.
Bitcoin mining difficulty hits new all-time high with 4.7% rise
Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 4.68% on Sunday, hitting an all-time high, as the networks’ hashrate also continued to increase.
China’s ‘Instagram’ gets NFT makeover with Conflux
Xiaohongshu, or “Little Red Book,” a popular social media application widely described as the Chinese equivalent of Instagram, has integrated layer-1 public blockchain Conflux Network, allowing users to showcase their non-fungible tokens on their profile pages, Conflux announced on Thursday.
S.Korea to adopt crypto tracking software in the first half of 2023
The South Korean Ministry of Justice (MOJ) announced Thursday that it will adopt a cryptocurrency tracking system within the first half of 2023.
China’s Hainan province to step up NFT supervision
Hainan province, a popular tourist destination in South China, published a notice on Sunday vowing to step up oversight on non-fungible tokens, or “digital collectibles,” which authorities said come with risks of fraud, money laundering and illegal fundraising.
Biden administration urges U.S. congress to pursue crypto regulation
Four senior officials in U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration called for Congress to “step up its efforts” in regulating the cryptocurrency market.
Markets: Bitcoin closes in on US$24,000, lifts crypto top 10
Bitcoin was up on Monday morning in Asia, reaching its highest price in five months. Ether also rose along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies, with Solana and Litecoin posting the biggest gains.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s family members are not cooperating with FTX attorneys, court documents claim
Sam Bankman-Fried’s mother and brother are not cooperating with the FTX legal team’s investigations into the Bahamans-based exchange’s bankruptcy and misappropriation of customer funds
DOJ, FBI hack Hive Network, save US$130 mln from crypto ransomware attacks
The FBI and the DOJ have concluded a month-long disruption campaign against the Hive ransomware group, preventing victims from having to pay US $130 million.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin rebounds above $23,000. Can it maintain momentum?
Bitcoin this week broke through the US$23,000 price ceiling for the first time since Aug. 2022. Can the benchmark cryptocurrency maintain its momentum? Industry commentators share their views with Forkast on what the market is telling investors and the signals from the U.S. Federal Reserve on interest rates.
Markets: Bitcoin up, Ether down; MATIC tops gains among top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin was up and Ether was down by the end of Asian trading hours on Friday afternoon when most of the top coins fell slightly. Polygon’s MATIC saw the biggest gains among the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies
More bad news for South Korea’s Bithumb exchange with “Kimchi coin” manipulation allegations
Prosecutors raided the Bithumb crypto exchange on Thursday on allegations of price manipulation and fraudulent transactions in local tokens,
Are weak DAOs inviting attacks and manipulation?
Decentralized autonomous organizations suffer from faulty code and lax governance, which the unscrupulous can easily exploit, writes Michael Lewellen of OpenZepplin.
Markets: Bitcoin dips but holds above US$23,000, Ether slips, Polygon biggest gainer in top 10
Bitcoin and Ether gave up some of their January gains in Friday morning trading in Asia, though both are still higher for the week.
Coinbase fined US$3.6 mln by Dutch central bank
The Dutch central bank (DNB) has fined U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase €3.3 million (US$3.6 million) for failing to obtain correct registrations
Apple, New York Times, Hong Kong Government listed among FTX creditors
Lawyers for the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, FTX.com, filed a document with a list of its institutional creditors on Thursday, which included major technology firms, publications and government bodies.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether up; ADA posts most gains among top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin and Ether were up during Asia trading hours on Thursday afternoon as many markets in Asia returned from the Luna New Year break. Cardano’s ADA led the rally among top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
World Economic Forum’s digital asset head expects real-world blockchain adoption in 2023
Cryptocurrencies post the Terra-Luna, FTX failures were a debated topic at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos in the week through Jan. 20, with some authorities calling for a doubling down on regulations. Others had a more nuanced view.
An open letter to Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Your shotgun approach to crypto is dangerous for America
FTX’s implosion is spurring a regulatory scramble to rein in the crypto sector. But one influential US lawmaker may do more harm than good, writes Kadan Stadelmann, CTO of Komodo.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether prices rise as crypto market stages rebound; Solana biggest gainer among top 10
Bitcoin and Ether rebounded in Thursday morning trading in Asia amid broad gains in the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.
DCG-owned Luno exchange to axe 35% of its staff
Cryptocurrency exchange Luno, the London-based trading platform owned by venture capital firm Digital Currency Group (DCG), will let go of 35% of its global workforce
EU looks to place limit on banks holding crypto
European Union lawmakers have voted in favor of a draft bill that imposes stricter capital requirements on banks holding crypto assets.
Bankrupt BlockFi’s financials show US$1.2 bln exposure to FTX, Alameda: report
Bankrupt BlockFi reportedly had over US$1.2 billion of assets tied to FTX.com and its sister trading firm Alameda Research
Will Genesis meet its maker amid creditors closing in?
Top blockchain and crypto news: Genesis bankruptcy begins. FTX chief ponders a reboot. China’s CBDC gets a smart-contract upgrade.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; Solana, Cardano biggest losers in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin and Ethereum fell in Wednesday afternoon trading in Asia, as Solana and Cardano led losses among the other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Blockstream says it raised US$125 million to expand Bitcoin mining operations
Blockchain infrastructure firm Blockstream Corporation Inc. on Tuesday said it raised US$125 million from convertible note and secured loan financing to expand its Bitcoin mining operations and meet strong demand for what it called “institutional hosting services.”
Binance says it erroneously mixed customer funds with collateral for Binance-issued tokens
Binance Holdings Ltd., the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, acknowledged it mistakenly stored customer funds in the same wallet holding collateral for its Binance-pegged tokens, known as B-Tokens
Japan’s financial regulator aims to lift ban on foreign stablecoins by June this year
Japan plans to introduce regulations by June this year that will allow domestic investors to trade certain stablecoins from overseas.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether dip as investors take profits; earnings reports, economic data rattle equities
Bitcoin and Ether fell in Wednesday morning trading in Asia, along with the other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies as investors seemed to be taking profits after the strong gains in crypto prices since the start of the year.
Regulators should not legitimize ‘purely speculative’ crypto activity: Singapore’s monetary authority chief
Regulators should not legitimize “purely speculative” activity in crypto markets following the collapse of FTX, said Monetary Authority of Singapore Chairmen.
Markets: Bitcoin rises above US$23,000; Polkadot, BNB lead gains across top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin broke the US$23,000 resistance line in Tuesday afternoon trading in Asia, with most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization also higher.
Bankrupt crypto lender Genesis ‘optimistic’ about resolving creditor dispute: Reuters
Genesis Global Capital’s lawyers are confident about resolving their disputes with creditors this week, with the goal of emerging from Chapter 11 in May.
Ethereum’s Shanghai Mainnet moves one step closer as “Shadow Fork” goes live
Software developers for Ethereum, the world’s second-largest blockchain, on Monday said they successfully deployed a copy of the blockchain — or “shadow fork” — to run tests of the upcoming Shanghai hardfork upgrade scheduled for March.
Why Islamic finance is thriving despite global market storms
While much of the world economy remains mired in winter doldrums, it’s springtime for the Islamic finance sector. Mohammed AlKaff AlHashmi of Islamic Coin explains why.
India’s CoinDCX exchange says crypto tax rules are reducing government revenue
India announces its full year budget on Feb. 1, the last before general elections in 2024, and the cryptocurrency and digital asset industry is lobbying the government for changes in tax rules, among others.
Binance says Signature Bank no longer supports crypto exchange transactions of under US$100,000
Signature Bank will not handle transactions of less than US$100,000 for crypto exchange customers starting in February, according to exchange giant Binance.
U.S.’ first nuclear-powered Bitcoin mining center to open in Q1
The U.S. will open its first nuclear-powered data center offering Bitcoin mining in the first quarter of the year.
Crypto ads should include risk warnings, says South African advertising regulation group
Crypto ads airing in South Africa must warn potential investors of risks, according to new guidelines by the country’s Advertising Regulatory Board (ARB).
Markets: Bitcoin slips, remains above US$22,000; Dogecoin leads gains
Bitcoin dipped 0.89% in Monday afternoon trading in Asia but remained above a four-month high of US$22,00, while all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization were mixed.
Why Europe’s DORA regulation is a band aid but not a cure
EU’s new Digital Operational Resilience Act aims to help firms withstand cyberattacks. Monica Oravcova of Naoris Protocol explains why it doesn’t go far enough.
Binance Charity to fund over 30,000 Web3 scholarships in 2023
Binance Charity Fund, the philanthropic arm of the world’s largest crypto exchange, Binance Global Inc., has announced it is funding 30,665 Web3 scholarships in 2023.
Genesis’s trading arm moving funds on blockchain, bankrupt units reveal extent of liabilities
According to on-chain data, the trading arm of bankrupt crypto lending firm Genesis is still moving funds around on the blockchain.
Markets: Bitcoin holds at four-month high above US$22,000, crypto market cap back over US$1 trillion
Bitcoin traded little changed Monday morning in Asia, holding above a four-month high of US$22,000 amid a broader rally over the weekend, helped by comments from a U.S. Federal Reserve official backing a smaller interest rate increase at the central bank’s meeting at the end of this month.
2023 Should be the Year of Web3 Security
Despite 2022’s turbulent impact on the crypto industry, Immunefi CEO Mitchell Amador believes this year could encourage better Web3 security.
Crypto is second most owned asset class for young women after cash: report
Cryptocurrency is the second most owned asset class for women after cash, according to an Etoro report
Accelerator Graviton to help Indian Web3 start-ups get funding
India-focused accelerator Graviton has announced an initiative to help Indian Web 3.0 start-ups get up to US$50,000 in funding
Crypto lender Nexo to pay US$45 mln to settle U.S. SEC charges
Crypto lender Nexo Capital has agreed to pay US$45 million in a settlement with the SEC and the NASAA, over allegations of failing to register its lending product,
Markets: Bitcoin dips below US$21,000
Bitcoin slipped below US$21,000 in Friday afternoon trade in Asia while prices of other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies were mixed.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin up over 21% in best weekly performance since Feb. 2021. Bull run or bull trap?
Bitcoin’s price has had its best weekly run up since February 2021 in the seven days through Jan. 18, but is that the start of a bull run or setting up the optimists for a sucker punch? Experts share their predictions with Forkast.