Forkast.News is now Forkast Labs

Face masks helped tame Covid in Asia. Why is the West in hysterics over masking up?

While Asia is united in masking up, US and Europe remain fractured over face mask use. A viral immunologist and face mask expert explains the deadly consequences.

SEC ‘Crypto Mom’ Hester Peirce: US will lose out in crypto innovations if regulations remain in limbo

The US is gold standard for global financial regulations. But if US does not get its act together over crypto, other nations will emerge as leaders in this growing space.

Release the robots: reinforcements arrive on the Covid-19 battlefield

Robot nurses, machine attendants and cleaning bots are increasingly replacing humans in and out of hospitals, to protect front-line medical staff from deadly infections. Is this a good thing?

Crypto’s new dawn: the future of India’s burgeoning cryptocurrency landscape

India’s cryptocurrency market has vast potential — what’s holding it back? A continued lack of regulatory clarity as well as crypto education, says CoinDCX co-founder Neeraj Khandelwal.

Astronaut Chris Hadfield on blockchain’s next frontier: nodes in orbit, and settling the moon

The former International Space Station commander also discusses how blockchain can lower space exploration costs, and more. Bonus: advice on enduring Covid and social isolation with grace.

Bitmain drama escalates as co-founder registers new bank account, website

In this chapter in the saga of the troubled mining company, ousted co-founder Micree Zhan establishes new online presence
and

Ep. 20 | OKEx launches in Latin America. Cardano deploys Shelley. Crypto firms R3, IoTeX and iExec join Confidential Computing Consortium.

Other top news: US still dominates blockchain patents globally. First court case in China litigated with blockchain. VC in Indonesia and Singapore.

Vast majority of China’s top fintech startups are exploring blockchain

SCMP’s China Internet Report 2020 shows healthy fundraising and investment activity in tech sector despite ravages of Covid and US-China trade war.

Q&A: How blockchain is disrupting financial services

Mike Cagney, co-founder of Figure Technologies, explains how blockchain and digital assets are transforming consumer loans, banking, and more.

India remains in a ‘gray zone’ over crypto. Are lawmakers crippling innovation?

Will India ban crypto? Regulatory uncertainty is causing nation to miss out on economic benefits. Smart regulations, says Ripple, may provide a way forward.

Covid-19 intensifies AI rivalry between China and US—at what cost to civil liberties?

While China is pushing more artificial intelligence surveillance technologies into law enforcement and everyday life, the US is having a rethink.

US could pilot digital dollar quickly if project gets green light, says Accenture’s blockchain lead

The Digital Dollar Project offers a path forward for the US to create a central bank digital currency. But will the government accept private sector help?

Ep. 19 | Will PayPal and Venmo offer crypto trading? FC Barcelona kicks off fan token. USDC ditches Ethereum for Algorand.

Other top news: Chainlink embraced by China’s blockchain network. Could Justin Sun’s infamy outshine TRON 4.0? Fintech in Thailand and Singapore.

Why artificial intelligence is ‘dumb’ and needs more ethical and legal standards

AI’s ‘black box’ is inherently dangerous, and the technology is still a long way from being a solve-all solution, says Oxford researcher David Toman.

Five reasons why India is crying out for a crypto revolution

India could reap greater economic growth, cut down on corruption and more if it adopts a more progressive stance on cryptocurrency. A leading role in Asia is New Delhi’s for the taking.

Seeking a new job? Crypto firms are on a hiring hot streak right now.

Blockchain and cryptocurrency companies are rapidly expanding, and there’s a shortage of talented hires. That makes it a great time to consider a career in crypto.

Ep. 18 | Fed chair throws shade at Digital Dollar Project. Ripple elbows in on SWIFT. Compound dethrones MakerDao.

Other top news: China’s new blockchain cross-border payment platform for Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong. 5G for all in Shenzhen. Fintech VC in India.

How artificial intelligence wants to outsmart the coronavirus

Could robot nurses, drones, facial recognition and other AI artillery help us win the war against Covid-19?

Predictions and future thinking for this brave new Covid world

What lies ahead for the global economy, US-China geopolitics, emerging markets and sectors like real estate in the next 5 years? GreaterX’s unique focus group — ‘from farmers to a billionaire’ — offers a crystal ball.

China uses blockchain to ease cross-border finance barriers in Greater Bay Area

Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong have three legal and monetary systems. A new blockchain banking platform would unify the area into an economic hub.
and

Ripple proposes framework for India to regulate crypto assets

White paper by global blockchain payment platform urges Indian lawmakers to make cryptocurrency legal while providing mechanisms to root out bad actors.

Ep. 17 | Will India ban crypto again? VeChain wows Germany. Centrapay and bitcoin vending machines.

Other top news: Chinese high schoolers cram-studying bitcoin mining. Blockchain-powered lotteries in Cambodia. Startups in India, Singapore and UAE.

DeFi is ready for India, but are Indian authorities ready for crypto?

India and DeFi could be headed for a symbiotic relationship — unless the government cracks down on crypto again and forces a breakup.

China’s ‘Gaokao’ college entrance exam may have a question on bitcoin mining

10 million Chinese high schoolers will soon take the equivalent of the SAT or A-Levels, and it looks like they better study up on how crypto gets made.
and

Why China’s state media is rebuking Binance while lauding Huobi

Is it because Huobi has an in-house Communist Party relations office, while rival exchange Binance does not? Gather ’round for a Tale of the Two Cryptos.
and

China’s new DCEP could fast-forward the nation into a cashless society

The rest of the world may worry over the new e-RMB and what it could do to the US dollar. But inside China, will yet another digital payment system even matter? Forkast.News finds out what the laobaixing think.
and

Ep. 16 | Bitcoin and Black America. Is Coinbase watching you? Bitmain’s Game of Thrones.

Other top blockchain news: China sounds new warning against crypto. Brave browser brouhaha. Startups in Japan and Malaysia.

ConsenSys offers compliance suite for Ethereum tokens

Crypto and compliance is a hot topic these days, with Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin’s incubator joining the fray with a new toolset.

Distribution strategy may be the key to blockchain adoption

How Visa, M-Pesa and Binance became wildly successful — and why even the greatest technology still requires thinking through how to get your product into the hands of your customers.

How Congress is learning about blockchain, one bit of bitcoin at a time

Covid stimulus needs and China’s new CBDC have heightened interest in digital assets, but US lawmakers are still trying to make sense of new technologies. In an interview with Forkast.News, Perianne Boring of Chamber of Digital Commerce also discusses prospects for a U.S. digital dollar, and more.

Ep. 15 | Is China’s digital RMB ready for prime time? Making the case for a US CBDC. Blockchain comes to Minecraft.

More top news: China exploring blockchain to cure gaming addiction. LG joins Hedera Hashgraph. Startups in Japan, Singapore and the Philippines.

Bitcoin — from halvings to haven: why BTC may witness growth in 2020

Short-term speculators are unimpressed by BTC’s recent performance. But Covid and geopolitical disruptions have not yet played out. What does it mean for investors?

How to improve data security during Covid disruptions

Working from home heightens computer security risks and the need for good data governance. What are the best practices for safeguarding critical data?

Chris Giancarlo: digital dollar technology is coming ‘fast and furious.’ Can US seize the CBDC momentum?

Money is part of a nation’s financial infrastructure, and the dollar needs a digital upgrade for this changing world, says Giancarlo, former CFTC chair who now heads the Digital Dollar Project, in an exclusive interview with Forkast.News.

Digital dollar advocates lay out path to a US CBDC

Digital Dollar Project’s new white paper proposes a ‘third format of currency’ that would be interchangeable with paper money while preserving privacy. Is America ready for a government crypto dollar?

Contrarian wisdom on bitcoin mining. Also: how China’s DCEP could shake up the global financial system.

Adam Traidman of BRD discusses CBDCs in an age of intensifying US-China rivalries, and bitcoin halving’s surprising impact on crypto mining and profits.

Ep. 14 | Was that Satoshi? TRON 4.0 gets lukewarm reception. Blockchain Bill of Rights.

More top news: China pours billions into blockchain and other infrastructure. Ant Financial’s new smart contracts. VC in Singapore and India.

As Covid drives the world toward digital assets, what is the outlook for bitcoin and CBDCs?

Digital currencies will become increasingly common in the economy, with CBDCs as an ‘organic gateway.’ Should we worry about user privacy?

Former banker Mike Novogratz is ‘petrified’ of China’s new state-issued cryptocurrency, and ConsenSys’ Joseph Lubin agrees

Two titans of blockchain discuss China’s DCEP, Covid-inspired technology and more with Forkast.News Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, in video highlights from Ethereal Summit 2020.

China hopes its new digital currency will internationalize the RMB. When might that day come?

China’s new DCEP — the world’s first major central bank digital currency — just piloted in 4 cities. When it is ready for mass use, could it challenge the US dollar’s hegemony in global trade and finance?

What is China’s new CBDC, and what is it not?

The central bank’s cash-like DCEP sets the stage for China’s next-gen financial infrastructure. Will it threaten the US dollar’s global supremacy? A University of Chicago Booth professor explains.

Ep. 13 | Bitcoin bewitches JK Rowling. A Stellar start for Ukraine’s new CBDC. Investors drag Nvidia back to court over crypto sales.

Other top news: Fintech-friendly policies for Hong Kong-Shenzhen bay area. China makes blockchain jobs more respectable. VC in Singapore and S. Korea.

What does ‘universal basic income’ have to do with a digital dollar or a central bank digital currency?

Covid-19’s disruption of global economies could speed up changes to financial systems around the world. Will cash become obsolete?

Ep. 12 | Bitcoin halving elicits yawns. As China trials CBDC, Tim Draper predicts it will bomb. Is NEAR Ethereum’s new killer?

Other top news: TRON snags Covid aid. Free Telegram Open Network. China builds tech talent database. Bitmain’s civil war. Another win for Ripple.

Famed investor Tim Draper predicts both a digital dollar and Chinese DCEP “will bomb”

In an interview with Forkast.News, the billionaire venture capitalist also discusses globalism, regulatory arbitrage, the future of healthcare and why he thinks bitcoin is king.

Zooming from East to West: 10 tips for teaching and public speaking online

Online teaching and presenting are not just for these Covid times, but part of a revolution in how we work and learn. Master these skills for career success.

Ep. 11 | Crypto surges before bitcoin halving. China taps SenseTime for CBDC rollout. BitMEX shuts out Japan.

Other top news: IBM’s Covid medical supply network. China now has over 1,000 blockchain firms. Startups in Japan, India and Singapore.

How FATF’s anti-money laundering guidelines for cryptocurrency are putting the heat on banks and VASPs

David Jevans, CEO of CipherTrace, explains FATF’s global influence and recent enforcement actions that have proven to be expensive for those caught.

Will artificial intelligence replace humans in investing?

AI and big data can crunch more information than ever before. Can technology crush humans in finance the way it already has in the games of chess and Go?

Lessons from Covid: How the blockchain community can rise to its ideals

What can the blockchain industry do to adapt its work to the current crisis? Acknowledging the widening socio-economic divide would be a good start.

How IRS treats crypto staking: tax issues every crypto investor should know

Crypto tax expert Vamshi Vangapally explains the impact on coins like NEO, Stellar, VeChain, Ontology, Tezos and soon, ETH 2.0.

Ep. 10 | Ripple sues YouTube over scam videos. Hong Kong’s first regulator-approved bitcoin fund manager. Hacker messes with dForce.

Other top news: Courier giant YTO forms blockchain logistics lab. 224 more blockchain firms get official thumbs up. VC in Singapore, UK and US.

‘Enormous potential’: institutional investment in cryptos may be boosted by regulator’s approval of Hong Kong’s first bitcoin-tracking fund

Asia’s first regulator-approved digital asset manager opens the door for wider cryptocurrency adoption.

‘Unsettling limbo’: Covid has paralyzed tech investment. How will startups survive?

Companies are holding off investing in emerging technology not only because of economic turmoil, but also structural biases against meaningful change.

Liquidity is the new boss in town: RockTree LEX’s Omer Ozden on investment opportunities as Asia recovers from Covid-19

Venture capital slowed as the coronavirus economy contracted. But out of the turmoil are still investment and fundraising opportunities.

Celebrating Earth Day 2020 — and not letting Covid overshadow the Paris accords and blockchain climate solutions

A co-founder of the original Earth Day urges world leaders to not be complacent about the temporary dip in emissions and lose sight of urgent climate goals.

Ep. 9 | U.S. rethinks ‘digital dollar.’ China’s new national blockchain platform. Is Libra now a stronger rival to China’s CBDC?

Other top news: Bitcoin halving frenzy. New Huawei tech zone. Blockchain company busted for defective face masks. VC in Hong Kong and Canada.

What is ‘proof of work’ and how does that affect Bitcoin halving?

Forkast.News explains ‘proof of work’ — the DNA of Bitcoin — and and why most of the world’s cryptocurrency miners will soon be sweating a lot more for their coins.

Why central banks are pushing ahead with digital currencies

Central bank digital currencies could change government, the economy, and even society, writes Digivault CEO.

As China’s DCEP approaches launch, Facebook’s Libra pivots

This week has been one where big changes came fast and furious on the opposite sides of the central bank digital currency world.  First, alleged screenshots of a mockup of the People’s Bank of China central bank digital currency’s mobile app were published, giving the public a taste of the apparent functionality of the platform […]

Covid is disrupting the global workforce to its core. What will the future of work look like?

Companies are decentralizing into purely digital workplaces to survive the pandemic. What are the long-term implications on the structure of employment and the technologies required for working from home?

Ep. 8 | Reddit crypto awards, Ripple coupling with BoA, blockchain boozes up in China, and more

Also: Dozens of crypto firms sued in 11 class-action lawsuits. Bitcoin mining company Canaan bleeds red ink. Fintech funding in India, and more.

Why invest in Bitcoin when global markets are still a hot Covid mess?

Bitcoin’s tumbling prices during the coronavirus pandemic may be an opportunity to buy the dip.

How a tokenized digital dollar could modernize the American financial system

The U.S. backed away from a digital dollar in its coronavirus relief package. But a tokenized dollar would be better for America — and bring us closer to a true central bank digital currency, says a director of the Digital Dollar Project.

How healthcare uses blockchain to wage a smarter war against the coronavirus pandemic

Distributed ledger technology can help flatten the curve of Covid-19 through telemedicine, supply-chain security, rapid payments and more.

Ep. 7 | Binance buys CoinMarketCap, Toilet Paper Token skunks Bitcoin, China pulls ahead in patent race, and more

Other top news: Blockchain in TV and film. Going Dutch on Covid. Nodle’s new network. BMW tracking auto parts. House rentals in new intelligent city

VC deals are slowing in Covid-19 headwinds. Will we see bigger disruption?

Investment totals are down, but deals are still being inked and alternative fundraising methods are flourishing. What kind of investments will thrive? And which ones will likely flop?

Why South Korea’s new law against bitcoin and other crypto could damage its DeFi sector

The financial watchdog’s ruling would prevent cash from being loaned out for bitcoin and other cryptocurrency. Forkast.News analyzes its likely impact on the sector.

Safe havens like bitcoin and gold are sinking in this pandemic economy. Where can investors find shelter?

As Covid-19 roils markets and currencies, next-generation algorithmic stablecoins may offer a smoother ride.

How China hot-housed a new technology and 35,000 ‘blockchain’ companies bloomed

China is trying to grow its blockchain industry, but are all these startups for real? Forkast.News dives into the data to find the truth behind the numbers.

Ep. 6 | New blockchain arsenal to fight Covid-19, Zoom cancels Facebook, coronavirus wipes out Digital Farms, and more

Other top headlines from around the world: Microsoft wants to power mining with brain waves. Crypto exchanges Huobi and OKEx under fire. China shifts to digitally sweep ancestral graves.

How the FATF’s travel rule could push cryptocurrency into the mainstream

How are crypto companies complying with the travel rule, and what does it mean for decentralization and privacy? In a Forkast.News exclusive, industry experts analyze FATF’s impact on regulations around the world and what to expect next.