UK lawmakers propose cryptocurrency regulation as gambling
In a new report, U.K. lawmakers suggest treating Bitcoin and Ether like gambling due to significant consumer financial risks.
Bitcoin slips below US$27,000, XRP leads gains in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin prices dropped below US$27,000 on Wednesday afternoon in Asia, while XRP gained the most after positive news for Ripple Labs on its lawsuit against U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
China’s top prosecuting body issues warnings, guidance about country’s NFT market
China’s top legal authority issued a commentary on Monday about the risks and potential in NFTs, highlighting the need for legislation.
Web3 needs to engage with local communities. Its future depends on it
Web3’s terrible user experience, scams and lack of diversity could be solved if its leaders take a cue from environmentalists and ‘act locally,’ writes Tim Williamson of NieuxCo.
XRP gains as SEC motion denied; NFT index down; US investors anticipate debt ceiling deal
Bitcoin prices fell on Wednesday morning in Asia but remained above the US$27,000 line. Ether gained but still posted a weekly drop. XRP led gainers among other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin history shows first financial transaction was almost an NFT
Internet sleuths unearth the first financial transaction on Bitcoin, showcasing the potential of NFTs.
Bitcoin, Ether fall, Solana leads declines; U.S. stock futures trade flat; Asian equities mixed
Bitcoin fell 0.58% while Ether dropped 0.36%. Solana was the biggest loser of the day, dropping 1.67%.
EU’s MiCA gets unanimous nod from European Council
European Union finance ministers unanimously approved MiCA, a set of cryptocurrency rules aiming to reshape the digital asset industry across the EU bloc.
SEC in no rush to respond to Coinbase calls for regulatory clarity
As part of the ongoing legal dispute between the two, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it would not be hurried into a response to Coinbase demands.
How DeFi can keep out bad apples while upholding crypto’s core ideals
Crypto users need not fear the increasing KYC/AML requirements around the world and loss of privacy, writes Kurt Hemecker of the Mina Foundation. Here’s why.
Bitcoin, Ether gains; Litecoin continues bull run; optimism a solution to US debt crisis can be reached
Bitcoin prices rose along with Ether, while Litecoin continues to lead gainers among other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin, Ether push higher, Litecoin biggest gainer in top 10 cryptos; U.S. stock futures, Asian equities gain
Bitcoin rose 2.07% to US$27,409 in 24 hours while Ether gained 1.27% to US$1,829. Litecoin was the biggest gainer of the day, rising 7.65%.
Head of U.S. DOJ crypto enforcement eyes crackdown on non-compliant crypto exchanges: FT
The U.S. Department of Justice is aiming to crack down on cryptocurrency exchanges that help criminals facilitate money laundering
Tokenization is changing the world, from finance to art
Fractionalizing assets on the blockchain opens up investment opportunities for the public and the capital market’s access to liquidity, writes Bob Ras. Here’s what’s holding it back.
China’s Fuzhou City offers cash, subsidies to attract blockchain companies, investment
China’s Fuzhou City on Friday unveiled a raft of policies to attract investment by blockchain-related companies, including rent subsidies and cash awards.
Binance exits Canada amid increased regulation in North America
Regulatory hurdles have once again hit Binance in North America, with the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange announcing on Friday that it would cease operations in Canada due to tightened crypto rules.
Bitcoin, Ether edge higher; Litecoin leads gainers; investors weigh impact of US debt crisis
Bitcoin prices rose on Monday morning in Asia to above US$27,000. Ether managed to rise above the US$1,800 support level as Litecoin leads gainers.
It’s a fight for the future of money in the US, says Christopher Giancarlo
The U.S. is resisting digitization of the dollar due to it being a threat to the country’s dominance over traditional financial system, said Christopher Giancarlo, former chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and author of “Crypto Dad: Fight for the Future of Money.”
Looking to expand Web3 activities into Japan? Watch the biggest firms for clues, says gaming protocol founder.
While the community might be small, there’s a growing buzz around Web3 in Japan, with overseas companies now taking note. For clues on how to make it big in the land of the rising sun, follow the lead of the nation’s largest firms, says Sebastien Guillemot, co-founder of Paima Studios.
Elon Musk’s NFT rocket launch. What has he done to Milady?
NFTs were ready for takeoff this week and Elon Musk’s tweet blasted it off.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin dips to US$26,166 as memecoins flood the blockchain
Bitcoin briefly fell to US$26,166 this week, as BRC-20 memecoins flooded the blockchain, raising network congestion issues. Market analysts told Forkast that a weekly close under US$26,111 signals more bearish momentum
Bitcoin, Ether fall along with most top 10 cryptos; U.S. futures rise ahead of debt ceiling negotiations
Bitcoin and Ether fell during Friday afternoon trading in Asia, along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, apart from the XRP token.
Binance.US may reduce founder Changpeng Zhao’s ownership stake: The Information
Binance.US is reportedly exploring ways to cut founder Changpeng Zhao’s ownership stake in the company, The Information reported on Thursday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Japan government’s crypto czar touts nation’s Web3 capabilities
Japan was an early believer in blockchain and cryptocurrencies until exchange hacks brought a crackdown. But that was then. Now the government has become a crypto cheerleader.
Bitcoin, Ether fall to month lows; Polygon leads losers; U.S. equity futures up as inflation cools
Bitcoin prices slid under US$27,000 on Friday morning in Asia. Ether fell below support at US$1,800 as all top 10 non-stablecoin tokens retreated.
Animoca Brands says it holds US$3.4 bln in assets
Animoca Brands revealed US$2.7 billion in off-balance sheet token reserves in its latest unaudited financial update.
Bitcoin network buckles under weight of BRC-20’s runaway success
Top blockchain and crypto news: Memecoin fever strains BTC network. Binance slams brakes on Bitcoin withdrawals. Chinese court allows crypto for repaying debt.
Bitcoin congestion issues continue amid BRC-20 memecoin, Ordinals surge
Bitcoin network faces heightened congestion with over 5 million inscriptions, exacerbating block space demand as BRC-20 tokens achieve a market cap milestone of $1 billion, contributing to increased activity on the network.
Bitcoin, Ether fall along with most cryptos; U.S. futures strengthen as inflation in April slowed
Bitcoin and Ether fell during Thursday afternoon trading in Asia, along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, with Polygon’s Matic leading losses for a second consecutive session.
Japan looks to regain its place in the cryptocurrency world pecking order
The three-day NexTech Week trade show kicked off Wednesday in Tokyo, celebrating all things technology, including blockchain and Artificial Intelligence.
China’s national blockchain research center aims to train 500,000 blockchain professionals
China’s national blockchain research center was launched in Beijing on Wednesday and plans to train over 500,000 blockchain professionals for the country.
South Korea sets May 26 trial date for Terraform Labs co-founder Daniel Shin, others
Terraform Labs co-founder Shin Hyun-seung and seven others will face trial on May 26 on charges of fraud related to the Terra-Luna crypto collapse.
Bitcoin drops on liquidity concerns, Ether dips; Polkadot leads winners; U.S. equity futures gain
Bitcoin fell on Thursday morning in Asia to trade around the US$27,500 mark. Ether led the losers in the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.
How ChatGPT is propelling memecoins to a new stratosphere
Thanks to generative AI, a struggling artist with no coding skills created tokens now worth $70 million. What does this mean for the rest of the crypto world?
Ernst & Young launches blockchain to track carbon credits and emissions
EY OpsChain ESG enables companies to better understand their carbon footprint by tracking carbon credits through tokenization.
Bitcoin, Ether prices fall; Asian equities, U.S. stock futures drop ahead of key inflation data
Bitcoin lost 0.43% while Ether dipped 0.60% in 24 hours. Polygon’s Matic token was the biggest loser and dropped 2.16%.
Hong Kong will have ‘tight’ crypto regulation, says HKMA chief Eddie Yue
Cryptocurrency firms moving to Hong Kong should expect tight regulations as part of the city-state’s new regulatory regime, said Eddie Yue.
Hong Kong’s OSL Asset Management wins license to offer blockchain, AI, Web3 investment products
Hong Kong-based OSL Asset Management Ltd said it won a local license to offer investment products in blockchain, Web3 and AI companies.
How blockchain gaming can break out of its niche and win over more people
It’s currently fashionable to publicly knock blockchain gaming, but behind closed doors, a growing number of developers are realizing its potential, writes Tim Dierckxsens of Venly.
Bitcoin, Ether edge up; Litecoin leads winners, Matic the losers; U.S. equity futures flat
Bitcoin edged higher on Wednesday morning in Asia to hold above the US$27,500 mark. Ether also gained. Other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded mixed.
Bitcoin, Ether fall; Polygon, Solana lead losers; Asian equities, U.S. stock futures drop
Bitcoin dropped 1.25% and Ether fell 0.25% in Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia. All other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies also dropped.
Bitcoin transaction fees surge, El Salvador users suffer consequences
Skyrocketing activity has led to a surge in average Bitcoin transaction fees — which rose to US$31.15 as of March 8 — exerting increasing pressure on users in low- and middle- income economies including Bitcoin-reliant communities in El Salvador, the first country to implement mass adoption of the digital currency.
Bitcoin falls below US$28,000, Ether declines, Litecoin slips further, US equity futures stall
Bitcoin fell below US$28,000 on Tuesday morning in Asia as memecoin hype clogged the network and drove up transaction fees. Ether and all other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens dropped.
Bittrex’s U.S. crypto exchange unit files for bankruptcy following closure, SEC lawsuit
U.S. crypto exchange Bittrex Inc. has filed for bankruptcy just days after closing operations following an SEC lawsuit and citing unclear crypto laws.
Why DAOs and collective collaboration are key for Web3 to realize its potential
Free of the hierarchies and power dynamics in traditional companies, DAOs can allow Web3 organizations to do better, writes Arjun Kalsy of Mantle.
Hong Kong NFT firm Artifact Labs raises US$3.25 mln in seed round
The startup, originally incubated by the South China Morning Post, has closed a financing round led by Blue Pool Capital and Animoca Ventures.
Bitcoin, Ether drop; Polkadot, XRP biggest losers; Asian equities gain
Bitcoin, Ether fell in Monday afternoon trade in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Polkadot and XRP led the losers in that list.
India not against blockchain tech, but cryptocurrency should be monitored, says FM
India is not against the blockchain technology, but currencies have to be monitored by either the government or the central bank, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday.
The metaverse is here. When will the party begin?
The metaverse is still a clunky world that makes users feel like they’re in a cartoon, writes Darin Myman of DatChat. How can we make it more inviting and useful?
Prosecutor says Terra-Luna fugitive Do Kwon should face trial in South Korea: WSJ
The prosecutor leading Korea’s investigation into the Terra-Luna project said its founder Do Kwon should be extradited to Seoul to face trial.
Binance resumes Bitcoin withdrawals after halting transactions twice in 12 hours
Binance resumed withdrawals of Bitcoin around Monday noon in Hong Kong after temporarily halting the service twice within 12 hours due to what the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange said was a “large volume of pending transactions.”
Bitcoin, Ether fall; XRP leads losers as top 10 tokens lose steam; US equity futures flat
Bitcoin fell in Monday morning trading in Asia after failing to breach the US$30,000 ceiling over the weekend. Ether dropped below the US$1,900 mark.
Largest banks should fill crypto void after lender failures, says Standard Chartered’s Geoff Kendrick
In the final installment of a three-part interview series, Geoff Kendrick, head of crypto research at Standard Chartered Bank, outlines the lender’s approach to crypto and why he thinks exploration of blockchain use cases is just beginning.
Central bank digital assets can legitimize risk in the crypto space, says Standard Chartered’s Geoff Kendrick
In the second installment of a three-part interview series, Geoff Kendrick, head of crypto research and EM FX West at Standard Chartered Bank, talks altcoins, stablecoins and the legitimization of crypto risk through central bank digital assets.
A tidal wave of wash sales makes up most NFT volume
CryptoSlam introduces new wash trade metrics to help traders and professionals uncover the truth behind NFT sales volumes across major blockchains.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin rises above US$29,000, Ether recaptures US$1,900
Bitcoin inched above US$29,000 on Friday, as concerns over the health of the banking system have been reignited. Industry experts tell Forkast that banking troubles could fuel Bitcoin values, which face significant resistance above US$29,500.
Bitcoin rises, Solana leads losses across top 10 cryptos, U.S. dollar slides amid banking sector concerns
Bitcoin rose while Ether fell in Thursday afternoon trade in Asia, with declines across most of the other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Solana’s SOL token was the biggest loser of the day.
Kenya eyes 3% tax on digital asset transfers
Kenya plans to impose a 3% tax on the transfer of digital assets for the coming budget year
China’s Henan state-owned investment group sets up US$22 mln metaverse fund
Henan Cultural Tourism Investment Group, a state-owned investment enterprise in Central China’s Henan province, has set up a 150 million yuan private equity investment fund to finance metaverse ventures.
How standardized smart financial contracts could prevent crypto’s next black swan
Many tokenized platforms have grave shortcomings, but if better standards could be adopted, the improved transparency can avert future crises, writes Ralf Kubli of the Casper Assn.
Bitcoin rediscovers its mojo as banks stumble, says Standard Chartered’s Geoff Kendrick
Against a backdrop of increasing turmoil in traditional banking, Bitcoin is on a four-month winning run that could, tailwinds permitting, soon turn into a surge.
Bitcoin, Ether dip following Europe’s rate hikes; US equity futures edge up despite banking woes
Bitcoin dipped below US$29,000 in Friday morning trading in Asia as rate hikes in Europe sent uncertainty to investors. Ether fell below US$1,900.
Israel confiscates suspicious Binance accounts allegedly linked to Islamic State: Reuters
Binance says it works closely with law enforcement to freeze funds and the news agency’s report left out “critical facts.”
Ethereum had over US$635 mln in NFT wash trades in April, CryptoSlam reveals
Nearly 60% of April NFT sales on Ethereum have been flagged as wash trades, with Blur marketplace’s token farming incentivizing the activity, CryptoSlam data shows.
Could Bitcoin mining make renewable energy more profitable?
Andrew Webber of Digital Power Optimization says more renewable energy would get built “if it was more profitable” and that’s where Bitcoin mining can help.
Bitcoin, Ether rise; ADA is day’s biggest gainer; investors await European Central Bank’s interest rate decision
Bitcoin and Ether rose in Thursday afternoon trade in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Cardano’s ADA token saw the day’s biggest gains.
Bitcoin back above $29,000, Ether gains; Matic leads winners on Polygon tools update
Bitcoin and Ether rose in early Thursday morning trading in Asia, with most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies mixed.
Fed hikes rates by a quarter point, Bitcoin drops 0.48%
Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, dropped 0.48% on Thursday, Hong Kong time, after the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee said it would raise interest rates by 25 basis points, as widely expected. The latest rate bump brings the target range to 5%-5.25%, the highest since September 2007. See related story: Bitcoin, Ether, […]
Bitcoin, Ether gain most among top 10 cryptos; U.S. stock futures mixed ahead of Fed’s rate decision
Bitcoin gained 2.18% in 24 hours while Ether rose 1.67%.
Crypto miner Bitdeer expands to Bhutan, partners state-owned investment arm
Singapore-headquartered cryptocurrency miner Bitdeer Technologies is planning to expand its mining operations to Bhutan and raise up to US$500 million for a fund through a new partnership with the Himalayan kingdom’s state-owned investment company Druk Holding and Investments.
Biden administration pushes for 30% electricity tax in swipe at crypto miners
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is campaigning for a tax on cryptocurrency miners equal to 30% of the cost of the power they use, citing what it calls “negative spillovers” from the industry.
Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin rise, BNB stumbles; US equity futures flat ahead of Fed interest rate decision
Bitcoin and Ether gained ground in Wednesday morning trading in Asia, with most other top 10 tokens mixed. Litecoin gained, BNB was the biggest loser.