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Is Bitcoin’s rocky start to 2022 a sign of things to come?

The 2022 crypto market has had a tough start as Bitcoin and Ethereum dipped below significant price points. But crypto experts say it’s not all doom and gloom.

China officially labels crypto mining as ‘obsolete’

China’s top economic planning body has officially designated crypto mining as “obsolete,” reinforcing government efforts to stamp out the industry entirely.  Fast facts

US central bank chief says he will tackle higher inflation

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will reiterate his pledge to prevent entrenched inflation, in testimony released before his Senate nomination hearing on Tuesday.  Fast facts “We will use our tools to support the economy and a strong labor market and to prevent higher inflation from becoming entrenched,” he said in a statement prepared for delivery. […]

Is the CFTC expanding its powers over crypto without authorization from Congress?

The CFTC is asserting greater regulatory powers over the crypto industry than ever before. But does the agency have the statutory backing to do so?
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Kazakhstan internet restoration still not enough for crypto miners, NetBlocks says

Limited restoration of internet access in Kazakhstan is not enough to bring the world’s second-largest crypto mining hub back fully online, according to internet tracker NetBlocks.  Fast facts Last week, internet access in the central Asian nation was shut off after protests over fuel prices spread across the country, resulting in more than 100 deaths […]

PayPal confirms exploring USD-backed stablecoin for payments

Payments giant PayPal confirmed it is exploring its own stablecoin after evidence of such a project was found in its iPhone app’s code. Fast facts “We are exploring a stablecoin; if and when we seek to move forward we will of course, work closely with relevant regulators,” PayPal’s Senior Vice President of Crypto and Digital […]

Blood, sweat and tiers: Why layer 2 remains the bedrock of Bitcoin development

How has layer-2 innovation saved Bitcoin from becoming a victim of its own success? Blockstream chief Adam Back explains.

Race to be crypto hotspot heats up in Miami, New York

What’s behind the crypto cheerleading by U.S. mayors? Are their city coins savvy moves — or will the bespoke crypto end up worthless?

Tendermint CEO Peng Zhong on how the Cosmos ecosystem is connecting a multi-chain world

In a special Q&A, a core contributor to the rapidly expanding Cosmos ecosystem discusses the ‘internet of blockchains’ and the new cross-chain economy.

Bitcoin’s biggest test may come at next TradFi sell-off

Traditional equities and global markets are due for a correction. Valkyrie CEO Leah Wald wonders whether Bitcoin would hold strong in a global sell-off.

The Sandbox metaverse names Mega City project partners

Gaming metaverse the Sandbox announced the partners for its upcoming Hong Kong-influenced virtual cultural hub.

Foxconn’s Taiwan subsidiary receives investment from Google for metaverse projects

The US tech giant will pour $40M via private placement in Ennoconn, as the iPhone supplier continues to dream big for metaverse.

Kazakh riots hit crypto miners amid internet blackout

Bitcoin hashrates tumble as miners unprepared for an outage, experts say.

Flash crash hits crypto market, but prices steady throughout Asia trading day

Bearish concerns over Federal Reserve rate hikes show a continued correlation with traditional markets, but industry watchers see changing dynamics at play.

LG to follow Samsung adding NFT features to flagship TVs

The ability to display, buy and even mint NFTs is seeping into mainstream products from South Korea’s largest corporations.

Former CFTC chair predicts Congress will push back on SEC’s crypto regulation

Christopher Giancarlo, AKA CryptoDad, expects legislators to get comfortable with crypto in 2022 and take a progressive approach to regulation

Tax authorities recover US$9M from India’s biggest crypto exchanges

Some of India’s largest crypto exchanges, including WazirX, blame ambiguity in the regulation of cryptocurrencies for missed tax payments.

China’s digital yuan app now publicly accessible, one step closer to launch

But e-CNY adoption remains an issue, with mobile payment platforms such as Alipay and WeChat Pay already ubiquitous.
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CBDCs and the year that may reshape crypto markets

Top blockchain and crypto news: CBDCs at the crossroads. A token gesture from Samsung. NFTs survive in China.

Chinese mining rig maker Canaan deploys 10K machines in Kazakhstan

Chinese cryptocurrency mining rig maker Canaan announced Tuesday that it has entered into multiple partnerships in Kazakhstan and deployed over 10,000 mining machines in the country, as the company steps up efforts to expand globally. Fast facts Canaan said in a statement it has successfully launched the last batch of mining machines online under its […]

Goldman Sachs: Bitcoin could reach $100K price by beating gold

Goldman Sachs, one of the world’s largest banks, joins the list of analysts predicting the price of Bitcoin could reach US$100,000, according to a report by Bloomberg. Fast facts According to Goldman Sachs estimates, Bitcoin’s float-adjusted market capitalization is just shy of US$700 billion, which accounts for a 20% share of the “store of value” […]

Bitcoin, Ethereum price level sluggish while NFT sales volume surges

The crypto market leaders are trading sideways so far in the new year. But NFT trading volume has exploded, with strong Q1 performance expected.

What are the 3 key trends in cybersecurity in 2022?

Cryptocurrency is fueling crimes like malicious mining and ransomware attacks, writes Andrew Brandt of Sophos. What can a company do to protect itself?

TradFi will push the envelope in 2022

Yuval Rooz of enterprise blockchain company Digital Asset Holdings, predicts traditional banks like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs will tokenize more assets to provide more privacy and scalability.

Crypto is presidential election campaign issue for South Korea

In South Korea, a new presidential administration will be chosen in March. Here’s where the four major candidates stand on Korea’s booming virtual asset space.
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‘Everything will be an NFT next year,’ says Circle chief of product

Rachel Mayers sees corporate and institutional interest in crypto and blockchain create an explosion in use cases and a whole new way of demonstrating consumer loyalty.

South China’s Guangxi region looks to cross-border e-CNY trade uses

Guangxi, China’s southern provincial-level region, is researching cross-border finance, supply-chain service platforms and e-CNY applications, according to a report by local state-run media Guangxi Daily. Fast facts The Guangxi autonomous region — often seen as a gateway for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) trade — plans to support cross-border circulation of capital, according to the […]
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Ignore the rise of Web3 credit unions at your peril

Today’s consumers are looking for more equitable financial services, writes Sean Rach of hi. Here’s how blockchain can offer a nonprofit banking alternative.

Top 5 NFT trends to watch in 2022

NFTs are finding novel uses across many sectors, from fashion to real estate. What industries stand to benefit most from this technology in the year ahead?

South Koreans required to report overseas crypto accounts

In South Korea, virtual asset investors with more than 500 million Korean won, or approximately US$418,935, worth of crypto assets in overseas accounts must report to their regional tax authorities beginning in 2023. Fast facts According to a new year guidebook by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, any resident or domestic corporation with overseas […]

Binance faces regulatory rebuke in Ontario, obtains preliminary approval in Bahrain

The world’s largest crypto exchange continues struggling to stay compliant, but it has seen some luck in the Middle East.

Happy birthday, Bitcoin! You’re still killing it

Love it or hate it, Bitcoin can be a powerful force for good — and it’s here to stay, writes Peter Vessenes, co-founder of The Bitcoin Foundation.

After a stellar year for Bitcoin and record crypto prices, what to expect in 2022

2021 was a big year for crypto. As we enter a new year, Forkast.News asks market watchers what might be in store for the next 12 months.

Japan’s Square Enix reveals blockchain gaming ambitions for 2022

Yosuke Matsuda, president of Square Enix — the game developer behind Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts — recently reiterated the company’s blockchain ambitions while acknowledging ongoing concerns about the new trend. Fast facts In a new year’s letter posted on the company website, Matsuda emphasized that incorporating blockchain technology into gaming holds “the […]

Blockchain interoperability will take center stage in 2022, Aventus CEO predicts

Aventus CEO Alan Vey also predicts the decentralized finance rally is just getting started. Which blockchains does he see growing massively in the new year?

Bitcoin at 13: The new age of crypto

With wider acceptance as a financial asset, a teenage Bitcoin may not see the explosive 200% average annual returns of the past, but also may experience less price volatility.

Top 5 blockchain trends for 2022 and beyond

Looking beyond this year’s headlines like El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption, here are the key developments in blockchain technology that will have lasting impact in the new year and beyond.

U.S. regulatory turf wars and a spot Bitcoin ETF are on their way in 2022

Perianne Boring of the Chamber of Digital Commerce sees agencies elbowing each other to oversee the crypto industry while investors start to pay big taxes.

South Korea crypto exchange underdogs: Where are they now?

A regulatory hurricane swept away half of South Korea’s crypto exchanges in 2021. Who are the survivors — and are there larger lessons for the rest of the world?

How to protect crypto privacy in the age of regulation

It’s a myth that crypto transactions are anonymous, writes Warren Paul Anderson of Discreet Labs. Confusing anonymity with privacy is what causes trouble.

Crypto in Asia: 5 top fintech regulatory stories of 2021

Countries acted to encourage — or discourage — cryptocurrency and other blockchain-based assets, sending markets wildly up and down.

DapperLabs’ NFL Moments will bring a new audience to NFTs

The years of investment and development in NFTs and the metaverse will bear fruit in 2022, according to Cryptoslam CEO Randy Wasinger.

The top 5 ‘Ethereum killers’ of 2021

Ethereum was game-chaging at its 2015 launch, but today it’s showing its age. As Eth2 upgrades slowly unfold, who are the top rivals trying elbow out the #2 blockchain?

Former Bitcoin.com CEO sees crypto prices plunging in 2022

In December 2020, Stefan Rust successfully predicted a ‘Cambrian Explosion’ of crypto tokens. Now he says 2022 will be when the crypto markets will be ‘flooring out.’

What lies ahead for crypto regulations in 2022

From China’s ban to FATF’s travel rule, crypto regulations have been top of mind this year. How might regulatory impulses and current trends play out?

How DeFi is devouring traditional finance, bit by bit

2021 will go down as the year the DeFi giant woke up, writes Derek Alia of Futureswap. What lies in store for decentralized finance in the year to come?

U.S. will be big elephant in the room in 2022, says WEF’s Sheila Warren

While China made a big moves in banning crypto this year, US lawmakers appear to be warming up to the industry, setting the stage for next year.

Looking ahead: 3 crypto predictions for 2022

As 2021 draws to a close, what are this year’s milestones and trends to watch in the year ahead? Forkast.News consults experts to find out.

What will the metaverse be like in 2022?

Animoca Brands chairman Yat Siu sees a mass migration to the ‘open metaverse’ while the ‘closed’ ones will fail. What does this godfather of blockchain gaming mean by that?

Year in cryptocurrency: biggest surprises of 2021

While increasing crypto adoption was predictable, 2021 also saw much that was unexpected. Here are the events that shocked even crypto natives.

Will a second country adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2022?

Bitcoin adoption soared in 2021 with El Salvador’s currency experiment with the help of the layer-2 scalers. Will Lightning strike twice in 2022? 

Blockchain Research Institute co-founder sees DeFi reaching trillion dollars in total value

Alex Tapscott of Ninepoint Partners also shares with Forkast.News his predictions for stablecoins and NFTs in 2022.

These e-CNY hard wallets might get people talking at the Winter Olympics

China prepares to show off its tech innovation muscles at the Beijing Winter Olympics as it unveils some unusual-looking wallets for its new digital yuan.
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Will 2022 be the year of crypto regulation?

Global shifts are underway in crypto regulations, writes Huong Hauduc of Bequant. How might the political and market forces play out next year?

Use cases for blockchain will expand beyond crypto, says SyncFab exec

Dennis Delgado, co-founder of a blockchain developer for supply chain management sees an explosion in new blockchains in 2022 for industry, logistics and manufacturing.

Crypto Santa’s naughty and nice list for Christmas 2021

Who in the crypto world deserves Santa love this year, and whose chimney should be snubbed? The elves at Forkast.News help the big man with his list.

Year in review: Top China blockchain news in 2021

China tries to stamp out Bitcoin mining while increasing its influence over blockchain technology and preparing the digital yuan for launch. What lies in store for 2022?
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Why I got a Bitcoin wallet, and how it can be used for crypto gift-giving and receiving

Curious to use Bitcoin but don’t know where to start? Forkast.News explains how.

What Sam Bankman-Fried thinks will happen with NFTs and crypto exchanges in 2022

Which blockchain sector will flourish, and what’s not yet ripe for mass adoption just yet? FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried offers his crystal ball in a special Forkast.News video.

Are liquidity miners mercenary capitalists or infrastructure providers?

Liquidity mining plays a unique role in the DeFi ecosystem. How does it work?

CBDC tracker shows U.S. falling further behind

Of the Big Four central banks, including those of the EU, UK and Japan, only the Federal Reserve has not progressed beyond research mode in central bank digital currencies.

Bitcoin sent by mistake, recipient will not be punished for keeping it: South Korea ruling

An investor who received $1.25M in Bitcoin by accident will not be criminally penalized, raising questions on the legal status of cryptocurrencies.

Does content moderation on platforms like OpenSea amount to censorship?

What are the responsibilities of blockchain companies when it comes to freedom of expression? A controversial cartoonist finds out the boundaries.

xSpend allows GameFi tokens, stablecoins to pay for real-world goods and services

Crypto finance platform XLD Finance wants to enable users to spend GameFi tokens and stablecoins to pay for real-world goods and services. Fast facts The company has launched its first project, xSpend, which allows users from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines to purchase mobile prepaid credits on the platform using GameFi tokens and stablecoins. Users may also pay Philippine-based […]

H&R Block claims trademark infringement by Square’s new name ‘Block’

U.S.-based tax preparation service company H&R Block has filed a trademark infringement case over Square’s new name, Block. Fast facts The lawsuit states: “Block brings this lawsuit to protect consumers from being deceived and to prevent a Silicon Valley tech company from stealing Block’s name.” According to a press release from H&R Block, fintech firm […]

Bitcoin’s price is a lie, says Morgan Creek Capital chief

Bitcoin’s current price is not indicative of the crypto’s future prospects, says Mark Yusko, who looks forward to the tokenization of everything.

How blockchain can transform the global shipping sector

Blockchain promotes trust and can greatly cut transaction costs, writes Edmund To of GSBN. So why is the shipping industry still clinging to paper documents?

New Cosmos, Mastercard projects to boost Ethereum scalability

With Ethereum usage at all-time high, a Cosmos ‘bridge’ to other blockchains and Mastercard rollups aim to solve a major problem plaguing the Eth network.

Regulators and the problem of unstable stablecoins

Federal regulators have turned their sights on stablecoins. But is the attempt to tame this digital currency too late?

The Forkast.News guide to last-minute blockchain and crypto gift ideas

Not yet done with your holiday shopping? Here are ideas for all the loved ones on your list, whether they are tech-savvy or merely crypto-curious.

Court in Beijing says losses caused by crypto mining deals not protected by law

In a contract dispute case, a Beijing court in Chaoyang district on Wednesday ruled a legal arrangement for Bitcoin mining to be invalid, signaling how China’s legal system may view future crypto-related disputes. Fast facts In May 2019, the plaintiff, Fengfu Jiuxin company, signed purchases and services contracts with blockchain technology company Zhongyan Zhichuang, with the latter […]

Venture capitalists are falling for play-to-earn gaming startups

Games like Axie Infinity are now the darlings of big investors. Does it matter that revenue is falling and many players earn less than the minimum wage?