Paxful shuts Bitcoin exchange due to regulatory challenges, staff departures
Paxful Bitcoin exchange announced the indefinite suspension of the marketplace on Tuesday, citing regulatory challenges and staff departures.
Bitcoin trades above US$28,000, Dogecoin leads gains among top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, recovered to trade above US$28,000 on Tuesday afternoon in Asia.
Singapore’s Alchemy Pay eyes South Korea expansion with US$10 mln funding
Alchemy Pay is eyeing expansion in South Korea following its US$10 million funding from blockchain investment firm DWF Labs.
WonderFi, CoinSmart, Coinsquare to merge into Canada’s largest crypto trading platform
Three Canadian cryptocurrency companies announced a merger on Monday, creating Canada’s largest crypto asset trading platform with over 1.65 million registered users.
Bitcoin dips, Ether gains, Dogecoin soars following Twitter icon change
Bitcoin dipped below US$28,000 in mixed Tuesday morning trading in Asia. Ether rose. Dogecoin surged after Elon Musk switched the Twitter icon to Dogecoin’s Shiba Inu.
Bitcoin drops below US$28,000, Dogecoin biggest loser in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin fell and traded below US$28,000 in Monday afternoon trade in Asia. Ether and most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization also declined.
Web3 can change the world. Why aren’t more people on board?
Despite Web3’s vast potential, it’s still too clunky and opaque to most people, writes Miles Parry of MPCH Labs. Here’s what can make it more user-friendly.
Japan’s FSA steps up crypto regulation with warnings to Bybit, other exchanges
Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has been ordered to comply with Japan’s regulatory requirements and cease offering services to Japanese residents, after Japan’s Financial Services Agency issued a warning to the company over its registration process
S.Korea to expand probe on token listing bribes if it sees ‘more evidence’
Taking bribes in exchange for listing cryptocurrencies has been common practice among South Korean exchanges, one expert told Forkast.
Bittrex crypto exchange to shutter U.S. operations due to regulatory uncertainty
Seattle-based crypto exchange Bittrex, Inc. will wind down its U.S. operations from April 30, citing continued regulatory uncertainty in the region.
Bitcoin, Ether drop; US equities rise as inflation cools
Bitcoin dipped on Monday morning in Asia but held above US$28,000. Most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptos dropped following a week unsettled by regulatory woes.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin pops above US$29,000, market shrugs off Binance legal woes
With a U.S. regulator coming after Binance with a lawsuit and the seeming mounting pile of warnings and fines against other exchanges in the country, Bitcoin briefly skidded below US$26,677 only to rebound and pop up above US$29,000 on Thursday. Since then it has moved along the US$28,000 line, so what does this lawsuit by the heavyweight Commodity Futures Trading Commission mean for the broader crypto market?
Bitcoin, Ether fall; top 10 cryptos mixed; gold closes March 8% higher
Bitcoin and Ether fell during Asian trading hours on Friday, while the rest of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization were mixed, amid mounting allegations against Binance
Crypto platforms need regulation as form of investor protection: HK’s SFC chief
Government officials from Hong Kong and mainland China talked about cryptocurrencies at the Boao Forum in China, as both chase Web3 ambitions.
South Korea court rejects second arrest warrant request for Terraform Labs’ Daniel Shin
A South Korean court dismissed for the second time a request by prosecutors for an arrest warrant for Terraform Labs co-founder Daniel Shin.
Bitcoin fluctuates to hold US$28,000, Binance BNB token rises despite regulatory threat
Bitcoin dipped in Friday morning trading in Asia but held above US$28,000. The top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies traded mixed. Binance’s BNB led the winners.
Banking crisis shows why Bitcoin is needed more than ever
From the ashes of Lehman Brothers to this year’s bank failures, Bitcoin has proven itself as a necessary part of the global financial system, writes Mike Belshe, CEO of BitGo.
Bitcoin rises; Ether, other top 10 cryptos fall amid fresh Binance allegations
Bitcoin, the only gainer in the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, rose during Asian trading hours on Thursday.
HK-based venture fund hopes to raise US$100 mln for crypto investments: Bloomberg
Hong Kong-based asset management firm Plutus VC plans to raise US$100 million by the end of 2023 to fund investments in the cryptocurrency market, according to a Bloomberg report. The fundraising comes as the city moves to regain its status as an international finance and crypto hub.
Montenegro hints U.S. may get to extradite Terra fugitive Do Kwon ahead of South Korea
The U.S. may have gained an edge in a race with South Korea to extradite Terra chief Kwon Do-hyung from Montenegro on charges of fraud.
Hong Kong may license at least 8 crypto firms by year-end: former SFC regulator
Hong Kong may issue virtual asset trading licenses to at least eight cryptocurrency-related firms by the end of this year as part of the city’s new crypto licensing regime, said Angelina Kwan, chief executive officer of financial services firm Stratford Finance and a former regulator of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission.
Binance denies China ties, says it started relocating staff out of China in 2021
The Binance comments came in response to a Financial Times article that cited internal documents and said the company had close ties with China despite claims it had left the country in 2017 following a government crackdown.
Bitcoin climbs above US$28,000, XRP leads winners for the week, U.S. equities jump
Bitcoin edged above US$28,000 in Thursday morning in Asia amid a broad rally in most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.
SEC Chair urges more resources to regulate crypto and technology at House Subcommittee hearing
SEC Chair urges for increased funding to address challenges posed by crypto markets and rapid technological innovation during House Subcommittee testimony.
Binance concealed ‘extensive’ ties to China: Financial Times
Binance reportedly hid ties to China for years despite claiming to have left the country following Beijing’s regulatory clampdown in 2017.
Crypto exchange Fasset hopes to win Indonesia license next month
Dubai-based Fasset says Indonesia digital asset adoption is still in early stages, but the country’s young population is taking to crypto faster, encouraging exchanges to move in despite infrastructure constraints.
EU lawmakers impose €1,000 cap on anonymous crypto, cash transactions
European lawmakers have adopted legislation imposing a €1,000 (US$1,084) cap on anonymous cryptocurrency transactions, as part of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) package.
Binance faces legal battle as US regulator gets ready to rumble
Top blockchain and crypto news: Binance targeted in CFTC lawsuit. Law catches up with Do Kwon. Chinese banks bet on Hong Kong crypto.
Bitcoin rebounds above US$28,000, XRP leads gains among top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin rallied above US$28,000 in Wednesday afternoon trade in Asia after losing ground earlier in the week when U.S. regulators filed a lawsuit against Binance, the world’s biggest crypto exchange, for allegedly breaching trading rules.
Binance sees US$627 mln in net Ethereum outflow following CFTC lawsuit
Binance saw about US$627 million in net Ethereum-related withdrawals in the 24 hours through Tuesday morning, data from blockchain analytics platform Nansen showed.
Bitcoin holds ground amid Binance lawsuit, XRP continues run up, U.S. equities dip
Bitcoin rebounded in Wednesday morning trading in Asia along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. XRP led the winners.
Bankman-Fried charged with paying millions in bribes to Chinese government officials
Sam Bankman-Fried allegedly paid US$40 million in cryptocurrency bribes to at least one Chinese government official in November 2021.
Asia leads crypto regulations, innovation may leave the US, says Ripple’s Long
Asia-Pacific nation are leading the way in developing global cryptocurrency regulations that favor innovation, which is something that U.S. regulators should also take note of, said Ripple Labs Inc. President Monica Long
Bitcoin, Ether extend declines amid U.S. lawsuit against Binance; Asian equities mixed
Bitcoin and Ether continued to fall in Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia, along with most other top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, after regulators in the U.S. pulled up Binance, the world’s biggest crypto exchange, for allegedly violating trading mandates.
Binance rejects U.S. charges of violating trading rules, manipulating markets
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said the charges are “an unexpected and disappointing civil complaint” in response to the CFTC lawsuit filed on Monday against him and the world’s largest crypto exchange.
Montenegro to hold Terra-Luna fugitive Do Kwon for 30 days, says Yonhap News
Kwon Do-hyung will be held in Montenegro for a month on charges of using forged travel documents, South Korea’s Yonhap News reported.
Bitcoin, other crypto fall as U.S. sues Binance; U.S. equities gain as banks stabilize
Bitcoin fell Tuesday morning in Asia along with most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies after the U.S. filed a lawsuit against Binance.
Binance, Zhao sued by CFTC for alleged regulatory violations
Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao have been sued by the CFTC for allegedly violating derivative rules
Bitcoin rises, most top 10 cryptos drop, amid mixed signals on state of banking sector
Bitcoin rose while Ether and most of the other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies fell during afternoon trading in Asia on Monday.
What impact will Ethereum’s Shanghai upgrade have on ETH and crypto markets?
Despite the potential sell pressures after Ethereum’s upcoming hard fork, it’s more likely that ETH stakers will hold for the longer term, writes Bill Xing of Bybit.
China state-owned banks turn crypto-friendly in Hong Kong: Bloomberg
China banks in Hong Kong are offering services to crypto businesses, Bloomberg reported on Monday, as more digital asset firms operate in the city.
Bitcoin gains as investors diversify amid worries about banking system; U.S. equity futures rise
Bitcoin and the other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies rose on Monday morning in Asia, as investors diversify amid the ongoing banking turmoil.
Zipmex buyer misses payment, could risk US$100 million buyout: Bloomberg
Zipmex cryptocurrency exchange’s US$100 million venture capital buyout may be in danger, after buyer V Ventures missed the US$1.25 million payment due on March 23
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin hovers around US$28,000 as banking concerns return. Will it hit US$30,000?
As banking contagion worries reignited, Bitcoin traded firmly above US$28,000 for most of the week. Considering that Bitcoin was made for a potential banking crisis, industry experts are eyeing the US$30,000 mark for BTC.
Bitcoin, Ether, Forkast 500 NFT index rise; gold nears year-high over banking sector concerns
Bitcoin and Ether rose during Asian trading hours on Friday, along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, with Litecoin posting the biggest gains.
Hong Kong blockchain initiatives natural evolution for finance hub, says Signum Digital CEO
Hong Kong’s new crypto licensing regime isn’t the only bullish sign for the city’s digital asset industry, says Signum Digital, the first company to win a preliminary license to handle securitized tokens in the city.
Bitcoin rebounds above US$28,000 as equities gain in U.S. on Treasury easing bank worries
Bitcoin bounced back above US$28,000 on Friday morning in Asia amid a rebound in all top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies and gains in equities overnight.
Hong Kong may face backlog in virtual asset license applications as demand grows, former SFC regulator says
Angelina Kwan, who helped shape early Hong Kong automated trading services and internet trading regulation, told Forkast the upcoming virtual asset licensing regime is almost identical to that for traditional financial institutions.
South Korea confirms identity of man arrested in Europe as Terra-Luna fugitive Do Kwon, seeks extradition
South Korea’s police said they confirmed the identity of a man arrested in Montenegro, Europe, as the Terraform Labs co-founder Kwon Do-hyung, who is wanted on charges of fraud related to the collapse of the stablecoin and cryptocurrency project he led.
Bitcoin, Ether, Forkast 500 NFT index fall, gold rises, as Janet Yellen rules out broad bank deposit insurance
Bitcoin and Ether fell during Asian trading hours on Friday, along with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, with Binance’s BNB sustaining the biggest loss in the top 10.
South Korea arrests former Coinone exchange official for alleged crypto-listing bribery
A former employee of the Coinone exchange was arrested Tuesday on charges of accepting bribes in exchange for listing certain cryptocurrencies.
SEC warns Coinbase of potential legal action over staking, separately targets Tron founder Sun
The Securities and Exchange Commission has warned Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., it may face legal charges related to staking services and digital asset listings.
Bitcoin tracks equities lower on downbeat Fed, Treasury comments on banks
Bitcoin fell on Thursday morning in Asia, tracking equities lower after the U.S. Fed indicated interest rates could stay higher for longer.
Centralized intermediaries were cause of crypto failures in 2022, says Voorhees
If there was a lesson from the crypto implosions of 2022, it is the demonstration of the superiority of open code and decentralization over central intermediaries, argues Voorhees at DC Blockchain Summit.
Bitget invests US$30 mln in BitKeep wallet, becomes controlling shareholder
Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitget said it has invested US$30 million in decentralized multi-chain wallet BitKeep to become its controlling shareholder.
Bitcoin buoyed as bank busts spook investors
Top blockchain and crypto news: Banking woes boost Bitcoin. Arbitrum counts down to launch. Chinese billionaire faces US crypto scam charges.
Internal Revenue Service in U.S. solicits public opinions on proposed NFT taxes
The IRS intends to tax NFTs as collectibles in the U.S. and is soliciting public opinions on the proposal through June.
Texas legislature introduces bill to attract Bitcoin-related businesses, protect interests of same
The Texas legislature introduced a bill on Tuesday to attract more Bitcoin-related businesses and protect the rights of Bitcoin holders, miners, and developers.
Bitcoin moves above US$28,000, Ether gains, XRP surges, U.S. equities rally
Bitcoin held above US$28,000 on Wednesday morning in Asia amid a rebound in most top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. XRP led the winners.
Indian crypto exchange WazirX blocks over 2,400 accounts in 6 months
WazirX, India’s largest crypto exchange by trade volume, has blacklisted over 2,431 accounts between October 2022 and March 2023, based on its internal monitoring process as well as under the direction of law enforcement agencies (LEA).
Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; all eyes on U.S. interest rates
Bitcoin and Ether fell in Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia after rallying through the past week, while financial authorities injected cash into markets to ease liquidity pressures and took other steps to address concerns over a banking sector crisis in the U.S. and Europe.
Terraform Labs founder Daniel Shin again questioned by South Korea prosecutors over stablecoin collapse
Terraform Labs co-founder Shin Hyun-seung, also known as Daniel Shin, was again called in for questioning by South Korea’s prosecutors on Monday.
Bitcoin treads water, other crypto retreat ahead of U.S. Fed’s decision on interest rates
Bitcoin traded flat below US$28,000 on Tuesday morning in Asia. Most other top cryptocurrencies retreated ahead of a U.S. decision on interest rates.
Singapore to publish crypto, stablecoin consultation feedback by mid-2023
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) aims to publish cryptocurrency and stablecoin consultations feedback by the middle of this year, it said Monday.
Bitcoin rises past US$28,000, most other top 10 cryptos gain
Bitcoin traded above US$28,000 on Monday afternoon in Asia, a gain of 25% over last week, as a banking crisis in the U.S. and Europe prompted traders to see Bitcoin as a safe haven.
Singapore-based Crypto.com gets preparatory license to expand services in Dubai
Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com will soon be able to extend its services in Dubai, after it received a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) Preparatory License from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA).
How NFTs can protect creators and fortify their legal rights
The digital era has made piracy rampant and copyright enforcement difficult, but blockchain technology is shifting power back to creators, writes Wes Levitt of Theta Labs.
Taiwan’s financial supervisory commission will oversee crypto, chair says
Crypto in Taiwan remains largely unregulated, but lawmakers have requested the cabinet to appoint a regulator by May 16 to oversee all things crypto.
Crypto data provider Kaiko to move Asia HQ to Hong Kong from Singapore: Bloomberg
Paris-based Kaiko will move its Asian headquarters to Hong Kong as it sees growing crypto-related opportunities in the city.
Bithumb executive faces investigation over alleged bribery in South Korean crypto listing
South Korean prosecutors are investigating Lee Sang-jun, the CEO of Bithumb’s holding company, for alleged bribery in listing certain tokens on the platform.
Bitcoin leads crypto rally as central banks promise liquidity to stem rising bank risk
Bitcoin briefly breached US$28,000 at the weekend in a bullish run extending into Monday morning in Asia amid worries about bank risk.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin rises above US$26,000, as ‘store of value’ narrative strengthens amid bank failures
As the U.S. banking system stared into the pit of bank runs and collapsing share prices, the authorities acted swiftly to try and pull everything back from the edge. However, Bitcoin seemed unperturbed. Is this what a safe haven looks like?