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Binance France under investigation for money laundering: CoinDesk

Binance France is reportedly under investigation for “aggravated” money laundering and the illegal provision of digital asset services.

Weekly Market Wrap: Crypto lawsuits, Hinman and a rare rate hike pause

Bitcoin dipped below US$25,000 for the first time in three months, as the SEC’s lawsuits continued to erode crypto investor appetite. Bitcoin needs to hold above US$24,000 to avoid more bearish momentum, industry experts told Forkast.

Bitcoin remains above US$25,000; NFT sales down; Asian, European markets gain with U.S. futures mixed

Bitcoin, Ether and most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptos rose in Friday afternoon trading in Asia after weeklong slump.

BlackRock files for spot Bitcoin ETF, taps Coinbase as custodian

The ETF, if approved, would be the first publicly traded crypto product of its kind in the U.S., but the SEC just sued crypto exchanges for alleged securities violations and has rejected similar ETF applications in the past.

Asia lays out a welcome mat for crypto, while US bars its door

As the US escalates its crackdowns on digital asset companies, it’s also losing its dominance in crypto — to Asia’s advantage, writes Henry Liu of BTSE.

Bitcoin edges up after slump, Ether little-changed, other top 10 tokens continue bumpy ride

Bitcoin edges up but still stuck below US$26,000. Ether was little changed amid a weekly fall, while other top 10 crypto were mixed.

SEC lawsuit sees Binance.US wobble, trading platforms delist cryptos

Top blockchain and crypto news: Binance.US at risk. Ex-SEC official’s comments complicate Ripple suit. Hong Kong lawmaker aims to entice exchanges.

Bitcoin below US$25,000; all top 10 cryptos fall

Bitcoin and Ether extended losses in Thursday afternoon trade in Asia amid U.S. regulator’s clampdown on top crypto exchanges.

Hong Kong Monetary Authority urges banks to service crypto firms: Financial Times

HKMA is urging lenders including HSBC, Standard Chartered and Bank of China to service crypto exchanges. Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Bitcoin mining difficulty rises 2.18% to record amid increasing competition among miners

A higher difficulty reading indicates it is more competitive to mine Bitcoin, reducing profit. The network’s hashrate also increased to a record high. 

Bitcoin, Ether, top 10 crypto in red amid thinner trading, Fed warning of more rate hikes

Bitcoin fell below US$25,000 support at one stage, while other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies dropped as the Fed warned of more interest rate hikes this year.

Back to the physical: China metaverse seeks to boost real-world economy

The final story in a three-part series on Asia metaverse developments looks at China’s national strategy, which has seen dozens of cities and provinces release spending plans and training schemes to adopt this digital world in real-world industries. China’s initiatives, however, face challenges from regulation and global competition.

Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; XRP drops most among top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin and Ether continued to slide amid lawsuits against top crypto exchanges in the U.S.

How low can NFTs go?

SEC scrutiny sends NFT market into downturn. Traders liquidate or hold off as Forkast 500 NFT Index hits all-time low amidst crypto turbulence.

XRP reverses gains after document release in SEC lawsuit vs Ripple

Prices of XRP, which powers some of Ripple Labs’ payment services, reversed gains that followed the release of internal SEC documents related to the lawsuit against Ripple.

How American courts have become central to crypto law

To date, none of the 30-plus crypto bills in Congress have become law, so judges are stepping up to fill the void. What does this mean for crypto in America?

Bitcoin, Ether retreat; BNB leads gainers on U.S. court ruling, top 10 crypto mixed

Bitcoin trading remains stuck under the US$26,000 resistance line. Ether dips while other top 10 crypto were mixed.

Bitcoin rises above US$26,000; all other top 10 cryptos gain as U.S. regulatory battle rumbles on

All top 10 cryptos, including Binance’s BNB, gained on Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia for the first time this week amid ongoing lawsuits with the U.S. SEC.

Binance.US says SEC’s motion to freeze exchange’s assets may end its operations

The operations of cryptocurrency trading platform Binance.US, “would quickly grind to a halt” if a court rules in favor of an SEC request last week to freeze the firm’s assets, the company said Monday in a court filing.

The SEC has spoken: The future of finance is not in America

The SEC’s one-two punch of Coinbase and Binance couldn’t have come at a better time for Hong Kong and Singapore, as US crypto firms look to shift to friendlier shores, writes Hamilton Keats of Krayon Digital.

Bitcoin edges up, but stuck under US$26,000; Ether slides with Solana, BNB; top 10 mixed

Bitcoin rose but failed to break through US$26,000. Ether slipped, while other top 10 crypto were mixed as SEC chair Gary Gensler doubled down on reasons for suing U.S. crypto exchanges.

Bitcoin stays below US$26,000 in mixed market, Binance’s BNB biggest loser in 24 hours

BNB token of crypto exchange Binance dropped 5.5% in 24 hours amid lawsuits against the exchange by the U.S. SEC.

Hong Kong legislator encourages Coinbase to set up shop in city under new crypto rules

Local legislator suggests global cryptocurrency exchanges such as U.S.-based Coinbase set up operations in Hong Kong as the city’s new licensing regime for crypto retail trading took effect on June 1.

Bitcoin, Ether little changed after weekend slump; Solana, Cardano lead the losers

Bitcoin fell below US$26,000, while Solana, Cardano and BNB posted hefty weekly losses after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission targeted exchanges with lawsuits.

Weekly Market Wrap: SEC crackdown on Binance, Coinbase ‘can’t stop’ Bitcoin as it trades above US$26,000

Bitcoin recovered above the US$26,000 psychological level after a brief dip, as investors seemingly shrugged at the SEC’s crackdown on Binance and Coinbase. The quick crypto recovery could be a sign of a maturing asset class, industry experts told Forkast.

EU’s MiCA crypto rules published in official journal

The Official Journal of the European Union published on Friday the European Union’s landmark Markets in Crypto Assets law (MiCA), stating that the regulation would enter into force in 20 days from the date of publication.

Binance.US suspends U.S. dollar deposits, to pause fiat withdrawal channels

Binance.US, a cryptocurrency trading platform set up by Binance chief Changpeng Zhao to serve U.S. clients, said on Friday that it has suspended U.S. dollar deposits to protect customers amid intensifying regulatory pressure.

The Moment3 to launch NFTs with Alibaba’s e-commerce platform AliExpress

AliExpress, the global online platform of China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, will launch NFTs on June 25 working with NFT project “the Moment3!”.

Bitcoin, Ether rise amid ‘swoon-soar’ trading after SEC lawsuits against Binance, Coinbase

Bitcoin fails to break US$27,000 ceiling. Binance’s BNB gained 2%, even as latest SEC filing alleges customer funds were moved to private accounts, a charge Binance rejected.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler offered to advise Binance in 2019: CNBC

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler allegedly offered to serve as an advisor to Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, in 2019, according to a CNBC report on Wednesday that cited documents filed by the regulator. 

Binance moved billions of dollars in client funds to accounts of company officials, SEC says in new filing

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has submitted a new court filing to support its lawsuit against the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.

Why the US is waging war on Binance, Coinbase

Top blockchain and crypto news: Binance, Coinbase in SEC firing line. Solana NFTs slump as Bitcoin’s surge. New dawn in Hong Kong crypto regulations.

Bitcoin, Ether gain while most top 10 cryptos fall, pressured by SEC lawsuits

Bitcoin and Ether rose but most top 10 cryptos were unable to escape the gravity of the SEC’s lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase.

Bitcoin falls below US$27,000; Ether, all top 10 cryptos slide amid SEC lawsuit fallout

The SEC lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase have sent alt coins tumbling. Binance’s BNB lost 15.7% over the past week.

U.S. court orders SEC to respond to Coinbase’s rulemaking petition

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been ordered on Tuesday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to respond to cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase’s pending petition for rulemaking within seven days. 

Bitcoin, Ether fall; most top 10 cryptos rise following SEC’s lawsuit against Coinbase

Most top 10 cryptos rebounded, despite the SEC suing Coinbase exchange a day after it sued Binance’s U.S. arm.

China state media covers SEC’s lawsuit against Binance, CEO Changpeng Zhao

CCTV, China’s largest national TV broadcaster, ran about a minute-long segment on Tuesday flagging SEC’s lawsuit against Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao.

Why lack of diversification is cripping to the crypto market

Small cryptos often rise and fall with BTC and ETH — the market’s two biggest players. The concentration risk is profound, and here’s why you should care.

SEC sues Coinbase for violating securities rules a day after Binance lawsuit

The U.S. SEC sued Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., for allegedly breaching securities rules, less than 24 hours after the regulator sued Binance on similar charges. 

Crypto industry reacts to SEC’s lawsuit against Binance

The SEC sued Binance on Monday, amid mounting regulatory scrutiny of crypto exchanges. Industry experts shared insights on what this could mean for Binance and how it could drive crypto innovation out of the U.S.
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MUFG enables bank-backed stablecoin issuance amid new Japanese regulations

MUFG, Japan’s leading bank, is pioneering the crypto industry by supporting stablecoin issuance on the Progmat Coin platform, offering an alternative route for entry and exit in the volatile cryptocurrency market.

Bitcoin, Ether skid; BNB drops more than 10% after U.S. securities regulator sues Binance

All top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies took a sharp fall Tuesday morning in Asia, after the SEC sued Binance over alleged securities violations.

Binance, US platform, CEO face SEC lawsuit over alleged securities violations

The U.S. regulator alleges Binance and its leader of unregistered offers, sale of tokens, defrauding investors and manipulating trade volumes.

Bitcoin dips below US$27,000, Litecoin biggest loser

Bitcoin drops below US$27,000 on Monday amid mixed crypto market. Litecoin, BNB see losses while XRP, Tron, Solana gain.

Montenegro court approves second bail request for Terra-Luna founder Do Kwon

A court in Montenegro approved a second bail request for Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon, who faces allegations of using fake passports.

Bitcoin little-changed around US$27,000, Ether treads water; Solana, XRP gain

Bitcoin, Ether traded little changed Monday morning in Asia, along with most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. However, both Solana and XRP rose.
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Hong Kong’s crypto rules offer level playing field, investor protection, says OSL exchange executive

OSL is one of only two digital assets trading platforms in Hong Kong licensed to offer services to professional investors.

Bitcoin rises above US$27,000, Litecoin leads gains among top 10 cryptos

Bitcoin gained 1.08% on Friday afternoon and Ether strengthened 1.78%.

What’s holding back DeFi and keeping the masses away

DeFi has the potential to revolutionize finance, but hacks, poor user experience, and a lack of a regulations make many wary, writes Arthur Firstov of Mercuryo.

Bitcoin dips under US$27,000, Ether falls, Litecoin leads winners, U.S. equities bounce back

Bitcoin fell Friday morning in Asia to trade below US$27,000. Ether and most other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded flat to lower. Litecoin gained.

What’s next for crypto miners after US debt ceiling deal?

Top blockchain and crypto news: Miners dodge tax bullet. Blur, Binance heat up NFT lending. Chinese cities’ plans reveal nationwide Web3 ambition.

Bitcoin drops below US$27,000 with Cardano leading losses

Bitcoin fell 1.36% to US$26,805 in 24 hours. Ether slipped 0.82% to US$1,854.

Bitcoin mining difficulty rises 3.4% to all-time high as hashrate jumps

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 3.4% on Thursday to an all-time high, as the network’s hashrate also increased to a record high.

Bitcoin logs monthly loss, Ether retreats, XRP leads losers, U.S. equities slide

Bitcoin fell on Thursday morning in Asia to post the first monthly loss of the year. Ether and all other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens also traded lower.

Hong Kong to be digital asset rules sandbox for China, says former city regulator

Virtual assets will receive the same regulatory clarity in Hong Kong as their real-world counterparts, says former Hong Kong SFC regulator Angelina Kwan.

Bitcoin, Ether in red, XRP lone gainer in top 10

A downturn impacted Bitcoin and Ether, along with the majority of top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies in Wednesday’s Hong Kong trading session. XRP remained the sole exception, maintaining its positive performance from the morning.

Tether stablecoin issuer taps Uruguay for Bitcoin mining using renewable energy

Tether, the issuer of the world’s most traded stablecoin, will invest in power generation and Bitcoin mining in Uruguay to tap the country’s renewable energy resources, the company said on Tuesday.

UAE and Hong Kong central banks to collaborate on crypto regulation

The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority have agreed to strengthen cooperation in regulating virtual assets.

Bybit crypto exchange follows Binance in exiting Canada amid tightened rules

Dubai-headquartered Bybit said it will exit the Canadian crypto market and stop accepting new accounts from Wednesday, citing a “recent regulatory development.”

Bitcoin, Ether flat; XRP jumps; U.S. equity futures mixed ahead of debt ceiling vote

Bitcoin traded flat on Wednesday morning in Asia, after briefly breaching US$28,000. Ether dipped while other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded mixed.

The Flippenings: Bear to Bull Market and Ethereum NFTs to Bitcoin Ordinals

China’s possible entry into NFTs, Russia’s crypto payments, and new token standards fuel market optimism.

XRP edges past Bitcoin, Ether with Tuesday’s largest gains

Bitcoin and Ether inched up during Tuesday afternoon trading hours in Hong Kong, while the rest of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization were mixed.

U.S. congressman says crypto mining tax scrapped in debt ceiling deal

A proposed tax on electricity used by cryptocurrency miners in the U.S. has been scrapped in the deal to raise the country’s debt ceiling, according to Republican congressman Warren Davidson.

Bitcoin, Ether dip; XRP rises; U.S. equity futures gain as debt ceiling worries fade

Bitcoin fell in Tuesday morning trading in Asia. Ether and most other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens also logged losses, while XRP gained.

How NFT-financing can reshape the landscape of lending and borrowing

NFT-backed lending and borrowing can unlock liquidity and expand investment opportunities. Here are the best practices — and risks.

Hong Kong Web3 industry forms new associations to push crypto hub ambition

Leaders in Hong Kong’s Web3 industry announced the formation of two new associations, Hong Kong Licensed Virtual Assets Association (HKLVAA) and Web3 Harbour, on Monday.

Singapore’s Temasek cuts employee compensation for failed FTX investment decision

Temasek, Singapore’s state-owned investment firm, said on Monday that it has cut the pay of senior management and the investment team involved in the decision to invest in the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange.

Bitcoin drops below US$28,000, Tron’s deflation slows losses

Bitcoin couldn’t maintain its Monday morning gains as the world’s largest cryptocurrency dropped below US$28,000 in the afternoon.
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Beijing releases Web3 white paper, highlights challenges in talent, rules

Beijing’s local government on Saturday released a white paper outlining plans and challenges for development of the city’s Web 3.0 industry.

Bitcoin back above US$28,000 as cryptos rebound on positive debt ceiling talks

Bitcoin moved back above US$28,000 on Monday morning in Asia, leading a rally among all top 10 non-stablecoin tokens. Ether reclaimed the US$1,900 level.

Bitcoin and Ethereum: Two titans battle for NFT supremacy

Unpacking the NFT disparity at Veecon & BTC Miami 2023: established ETH vs emerging BTC. CryptoSlam seeks to bridge the gap.

Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin weighed down by debt ceiling uncertainty

Bitcoin traded above US$26,000 as the uncertainty around the U.S. debt ceiling negotiations caused global concerns over a potential governmental default. Crypto markets will stay muted until a deal is reached, Industry experts told Forkast.