Kerner at Blockchain Coinvestors says Terra was a Ponzi strategy
The crypto community is still dealing with the fallout from the multibillion-dollar collapse of Terra-LUNA. At a Davos event organized by Forkast, we asked what caused the crash and if it was foreseeable.
How can I become a metaverse real estate mogul?
If buying a home is the American Dream and key to building wealth, what is that like in the metaverse? Crypto newcomer Joel Stein finds out.
Coinbase is the first crypto firm to make the Fortune 500 list
Nasdaq-listed Coinbase Global, Inc. became the first cryptocurrency company to make it to the Fortune 500 list of the biggest U.S. corporations on Monday. See related article: Coinbase blames India’s central bank for exit Fast facts Coinbase’s 2021 revenue of US$7.8 billion brought the company to the 437th rank in Fortune’s annual list. The top […]
S. Korea finance regulator to audit Terra and related exchanges
The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) of South Korea will perform an on-site inspection of Terraform Labs and financial services linked to TerraUSD (UST) or LUNA. See related article: Are we heading for a post-Terra crypto winter? Fast facts The FSS said at an emergency National Assembly meeting on Tuesday that the audit aims to prevent […]
Hydropower plant in China’s Hubei province fined for powering crypto mining
Chinese authorities have fined a hydropower plant in Central China’s Hubei province 43,493 yuan (US$6,528) for “illegally supplying electricity to virtual currency mining operations,” as the country continues to crack down on cryptocurrency operations. See related article: Beijing banned crypto mining, so China miners went underground Fast facts In addition to the fine, the authorities […]
Terra embezzlement alleged; RBI reiterates crypto warning
A Terra employee has been accused of embezzlement. Meanwhile, a crypto mining farm has been found in Russia’s oldest prison.
China’s BSN to launch overseas public chain without crypto support
China’s state-backed infrastructure Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) announced on Tuesday that it is preparing the launch of BSN Spartan on Aug. 31, a new international network for non-cryptocurrency public chains. See related article: Resist the temptation on NFTs, Chinese state-backed developer says Fast facts “We’re not against public chains, but we’re against crypto,” BSN developer […]
Beijing banned crypto mining, so China miners went underground
Authorities and Bitcoin miners play a cat-and-mouse game as miners find means to stay off the government radar and dodge crackdowns.
Are we heading for a post-Terra crypto winter?
Terra’s LUNA and UST implosion is dragging down an already ailing market. What do other developments suggest about crypto’s long-term future?
Russia uncovers a crypto mining farm in its oldest prison: report
A deputy warden of Russia’s oldest prison has allegedly mined cryptocurrency in the facility and is under investigation on suspicion of stealing electricity to do so, Bitcoin.com reported on Monday. See related article: To stay relevant, crypto regulations need to evolve, decentralize: Crypto Rising Fast facts The deputy manager of Butyrskaya prison in central Moscow […]
S.Korean police probe Terra employee for alleged embezzlement
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Cyber Crimes Investigations Unit revealed on Monday that it has received a report alleging a Terraform Labs employee was involved in embezzling corporate funds, according to local media reports. See related article: Terra’s S.Korean office closure ‘purely coincidental’: Do Kwon Fast facts The police are currently investigating the validity of the […]
Terra cofounder Do Kwon’s taxing questions; China’s underground mining
Terra co-founder responds to office closure allegations. Meanwhile, China re-emerges as a crypto mining hub despite 2021 ban.
Looking to invest in vintage wine? There’s an NFT coming for that
Startup platform Farandole has a plan to transform the traditional wine industry with NFTs, cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
To stay relevant, crypto regulations need to evolve, decentralize: Crypto Rising
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has shown that cryptocurrency regulations need to expand beyond the jurisdiction of a single government and blockchain technology can help with that, said panelists at ‘Crypto Rising,’ a series of virtual monthly events organized by Forkast.
Mastering the metaverse: TradFi’s space race to ‘the next internet’
Blockchain was once associated overwhelmingly with cryptocurrencies — and specifically its poster children, Bitcoin and Ethereum. The latter, in particular, has thrust the industry forwards into the realm of smart contracts integration. Ethereum started to bear fruit arguably most prominently last year amid a boom in non-fungible tokens (NFTs), while decentralized finance (DeFi) offered a […]
G7 calls for regulation; Bored Ape transfer blocked
South Korean LUNA investors file lawsuit against Terra. Meanwhile, Singapore’s High Court blocks sale of a Bored Ape NFT.
Australia’s Commonwealth Bank slams brakes on crypto services
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has paused the launch of crypto trading on its app amid heightened volatility in the crypto market, The Guardian reported. See related article: Commonwealth Bank first in Australia to offer crypto trading Fast facts Australia’s largest bank announced its plans to allow customers to trade up to 10 cryptocurrencies, […]
FTX.US forays into stock trading
Crypto exchange FTX.US has introduced FTX Stocks for select U.S. customers to allow stock trading and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through its app. See related article: FTX reaches US$32B valuation after closing $400M series C Fast facts FTX.US will provide commission-free stock market trading where orders will be routed to Nasdaq through its clearing firm Embed, […]
Terra, UST collapse pushes G-7 call for swift crypto regulation
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven (G-7) urged the Financial Stability Board (FSB) to accelerate crypto regulations following the downfall of the Terra blockchain and its terraUSD (UST) algorithmic stablecoin, Reuters reported. See related article: LUNA pumps and dumps repeatedly in weekend’s roller coaster run Fast facts The inter-governmental political forum — consisting of […]
Bitcoin correlation continues; Terra vote starts positively
Indian crypto traders may soon be able to pay the crypto tax using foreign exchanges. Meanwhile, the Terra revival plan vote finally goes live.
Bullish claims to offer world’s deepest liquidity for BTC/USD
The development will help institutional clients trade at scale, with better pricing and lower risk, within a regulated market environment, Bullish said. Fast facts An internal study of publicly available Coinbase and Binance data over a two-month period ending on May 8 showed Bullish offering deeper liquidity than peers, the cryptocurrency exchange operator said. The […]
Knock, knock Do Kwon, investors have quite a lot of questions for you
The man at the center of one of crypto’s biggest flops is trying to resurrect the Terra-LUNA project as his tribe of followers and out-of-pocket investors want to know what went wrong.
Terra was a ‘house of cards’: Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire
Jeremy Allaire, CEO of Circle, which issues the second-largest stablecoin USDC, claims to have foreseen Terra and algorithmic stablecoin UST’s collapse six months ago because it was “a house of cards.” See related article: Terra shuts down indefinitely after coming back online; LUNA, UST still on life support Fast facts “There were two things that […]
Terra commences voting on Do Kwon’s LUNA revival plan
A vote pertaining to Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon’s “updated and final” Terra revival plan was posted at 7:17 p.m. Wednesday Hong Kong time, with the majority favoring the proposal, while a preliminary vote was rejected in a landslide. See related article: No hard fork, governance vote in Kwon’s updated Terra revival proposal Fast facts […]
LUNA bull Novogratz breaks silence
Mike Novogratz, founder and CEO of crypto investment firm Galaxy Digital, broke his weeklong silence on the TerraUSD turmoil, claiming “the global macro backdrop has been brutal for all risk assets this year” and that the UST is “a big idea that failed.” See related article: Blood moon: Terra’s LUNA rescue plan panned by industry, […]
Indian crypto traders may pay tax for using foreign exchanges: report
The Indian government may impose a reverse charge goods and services tax (GST) on cryptocurrency investors using foreign exchanges, according to a local media report. See related article: India GST Council weighs 28% tax on crypto transactions Fast facts The reverse charge would levy a goods and services tax on the investor instead of the […]
Binance looks to add Germany to its license collection
Binance is looking to win a cryptocurrency license in Germany after becoming a regulated digital asset service provider in fellow G7 nation France, CEO Changpeng Zhao said. See related story: Binance wants to play ball with regulators Fast facts Zhao said at an event in Germany on Wednesday that the cryptocurrency exchange is expanding its […]
Bitcoin, crypto drop as stocks slump in the US
Bitcoin’s increasing correlation with risk assets meant it got caught up in the overnight market selloff in the U.S. Investors dumped shares of Target and Walmart after the American retailers cautioned about possibly taking a margin hit from not being able to pass on price increases to customers. See related article: Has Bitcoin become a […]
A bipartisan case for why the US needs a Web3 regulatory overhaul
In a special op-ed, 2 former CFTC chiefs and a crypto executive make the case for why the US must prioritize policies that support the new Web3 economy.
China’s mining re-emergence; Terra community wants answers
China’s nationwide ban on crypto mining has not affected it’s high mining hashrate. Meanwhile, Terra’s community become frustrated as they struggle to find answers.
Blood moon: Terra’s LUNA rescue plan panned by industry, investors
Top blockchain and crypto news: Terra puts down the fork. Bitcoin loses its shine in Singapore. China’s miners dig in.
Will ‘smart contracts’ rule the world? Maybe not in Singapore
Forkast sat down with Singapore’s biggest bank for insights into crypto regulations in the city-state. Singapore has a reputation for planning far ahead, so what’s in store for cryptocurrencies?
China banned Bitcoin mining and became world’s No.2 Bitcoin miner
The 2021 Bitcoin mining exodus has left underground miners thriving to push China’s hashrate share near to the top, new study finds.
Pakistani crypto exchange RAIN calls for tax on digital assets: report
Pakistani crypto exchange RAIN has urged the country’s finance ministry to regulate and impose a 15% tax on cryptocurrencies, local media reported. See related article: Pakistan takes a fresh look at cryptocurrency Fast facts RAIN told regulators that Pakistan can earn roughly US$90 million in taxes through a capital gains tax on cryptocurrency assets, according […]
Getty Images to launch NFT marketplace with Candy Digital
Online image gallery Getty Images announced it will launch a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace and debut digital collectibles on the Ethereum Virtual Machine-based Palm sidechain. See related article: Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post to make NFTs to preserve history Fast facts See related article: From in-print to online to on-chain: How will Web 3.0 […]
Indian financial watchdog warns against celebrity crypto endorsements
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has suggested that no prominent public figures, including celebrities and sports personalities, should endorse crypto products, according to local media reports. See related article: India’s crypto ads to get ‘highly risky’ banners starting April Fast facts Trading cryptocurrencies is not illegal in India, but the activity is […]
Terra hard fork proposed; Temasek ‘doesn’t own Bitcoin’
As Terra continues to crash, Do Kwon proposes a hard fork solution, Meanwhile, Singapore’s Temasek gets ready for tokenized assets.
S.Korean lawmaker proposes summoning Do Kwon to the National Assembly
South Korea’s ruling party lawmaker Yun Chang-hyun said Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon should be called in for a parliamentary hearing on the collapse of the company’s stablecoin and cryptocurrency. See related article: News of LUNA’s demise greatly exaggerated Fast facts Yun at Tuesday’s National Assembly session said investors had been damaged by the debacle […]
What’s the solution to Terra’s UST and LUNA crisis?
Terra’s LUNA and UST stablecoin implosions are roiling the crypto world and beyond. Picking up the pieces won’t be easy — nor finding a good path forward.
Singapore’s Temasek says doesn’t own Bitcoin, but prepping for tokenized assets
The Bitcoin community got a lift last year when it was reported Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund had bought Bitcoin. The company told Forkast in an interview that they do not own BTC, but they are keen on blockchain investments.
Kakao’s Klaytn to build blockchain in China with BSN
Klaytn, South Korean internet giant Kakao’s public blockchain, will build an open-permissioned blockchain for China’s state-backed Blockchain-based Service Network’s (BSN) infrastructure for the Middle Kingdom’s domestic use. See related article: Resist the temptation on NFTs, Chinese state-backed developer says Fast facts Klaytn said on Tuesday it will take part in establishing the Chongqing Chain, a […]
UST, LUNA mess hits S.Korean P2E tokens; stocks bleed red
TerraUSD (UST) and LUNA’s crash is causing tension among South Korean play-to-earn (P2E) projects and their tokens, such as C2X, a blockchain gaming project on the Terra mainnet developed by Com2uS. See related article: Do Kwon proposes Terra fork to ditch UST and ‘LUNA Classic’ Fast facts Local gaming giant Com2uS’s P2E cryptocurrency C2X saw […]
Indian economy at risk of ‘dollarization’ from cryptocurrencies: report
Parts of the Indian economy can lead to “dollarization” due to cryptocurrencies, which would be against the national interest, top officials of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) told a parliamentary panel, according to local media. See related article: India’s financial stability at risk from cryptos: IMF Fast facts Local media quoted unnamed officials in […]
Celsius Network’s mining arm plans public listing
Celsius Mining, a Bitcoin mining unit of cryptocurrency lender Celsius Network, is planning to go public, as the company doubles down on its mining business. See related article: SEC scrutinizing crypto lending by Celsius, Gemini, Voyager: reports Fast facts Celsius Mining said on Monday that it filed a Form S-1 draft registration with the U.S. […]
Chinese report slams LUNA; Terra’s LUNA revival plan response
Authorities in Asia use the LUNA debacle as rationale for oversight. Meanwhile, the LUNA community offers damage control solutions.
How Bitcoin in gaming could spur greater crypto use in the everyday economy
The future world will run on digital money—the most trusted being Bitcoin, writes André Neves of Zebedee. Here’s how gaming can bring BTC to the masses.
China state paper slams crypto and LUNA crash; applauds crypto ban
Chinese state-backed publication Economic Daily cited LUNA and UST’s crash to state cryptocurrencies “once again, proved its own risks and that it is a bubble” amid the Federal Reserve’s rate hike. See related article: Chinese runners offer substitute running to earn StepN’s GMT for commission Fast facts See related article: Tax authorities in China jump […]
Terra halts network; Do Kwon security concerns
Terra shuts down its networks indefinitely. Meanwhile, TerraLabs founder Do Kwon’s whereabouts are in question as his wife requests police protection.
Gimme shelter: Crypto companies head offshore as they hanker for regulation
A developmental shift in the cryptocurrency industry is ushering in geographical shifts among crypto companies, with a number of businesses abandoning locations once hailed as crypto hubs in favor of jurisdictions with regulatory regimes more to their liking. Forkast sat down with two of the crypto industry’s rainmakers who are among those spearheading this trend […]
News of LUNA’s demise greatly exaggerated
LUNA, the collateral used by Terraform Labs to back its TerraUSD (UST), has been in a freefall. But experts tell Forkast the crisis is likely to make the pioneering stablecoin stronger, and the community behind stablecoins better.
Do Kwon’s wife seeks police protection
The wife of the CEO of Terraform Labs sought protection after an unidentified individual visited their home in South Korea, local police told Forkast.
Can ETFs in Australia do for Bitcoin what they did for gold trading?
After the launch of three cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds on Thursday, Forkast spoke with company officials behind two of the funds, along with others in the industry, to see what the new investment platforms offer to investors.
Chinese runners offer substitute running to earn STEPN’s GMT for commission
Over 170 advertisements in Chinese tech titan Alibaba’s second-hand marketplace are offering running services to earn cryptocurrency GMT for STEPN users in exchange for fiat commissions. See related article: China’s diktat against NFT flipping spawns an ingenious industry Fast facts STEPN is a blockchain-based decentralized application that allows users to earn GMT cryptocurrency rewards by […]
Sam Bankman-Fried buys 7.6% of Robinhood; stock jumps
Sam Bankman-Fried, CEO of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has bought a 7.6% stake in Robinhood for US$648 million, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. See related article: Terra shuts down indefinitely after coming back online; LUNA, UST still on life support Fast facts Bankman-Fried bought the stake through a firm called […]
S.Korean president’s plan to raise crypto tax threshold hits road bump
The South Korean National Assembly Research Service (NARS) asserted a 20% tax on cryptocurrency gains set for 2023 must maintain a 2.5 million won (US$1,942.20) threshold, contradicting new president Yoon Suk-yeol’s initiative to raise the limit to 50 million won, according to a report released on Thursday. See related article: S.Korea finance minister nominee wants […]
Binance pulls the plug on TerraUSD (UST) trading pairs
The world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange will delist a number of trading pairs linked to TerraUSD (UST), an algorithmic stablecoin that has been in a freefall since earlier this week. See related article: Tether stabilizes after burning 3 billion tokens amid redemptions Fast facts Binance Friday said it will remove and cease the trading of several […]
Terra’s LUNA sacrifice; Australian crypto ETFs launch
Terra’s sacrifice of LUNA pushes the UST up to US$0.84. Meanwhile, South Korea plans the institutionalization of crypto.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, crypto at 2022’s lowest point
Bitcoin’s price has dipped to its lowest point since December 2020 amidst bearish cryptocurrency market sentiments to trade at US$28,652, according to CoinMarketCap data at press time. See related article: Terra LUNA’s sacrifice pushes UST to US$0.84 Fast facts The crypto bear run extended on Thursday, as China’s inflation rose by 1.5% in April from […]
Hong Kong police arrest suspect in nearly US$200,000 crypto theft
Hong Kong police announced on Tuesday the arrest of a 24-year-old who is suspected of stealing HK$1.5 million (US$191,076) in cryptocurrencies in a physical cash-to-crypto transaction. See related article: Hong Kong sees high engagement with crypto, Visa research shows Fast facts The police labeled the rare on-site cryptocurrency theft as a serious crime punishable by […]
Australia’s first Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs go live
Australia’s first three cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETF) launched on the Cboe exchange on Thursday, bringing Bitcoin and Ethereum products to the stock market. See related article: Launch of three crypto ETFs in Australia delayed Fast facts One of the funds, the Cosmos Purpose Bitcoin Access ETF (CBTC) from Cosmos Asset Management, tracks the Purpose Bitcoin […]
Coinbase blames India’s central bank for exit
The travails of the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., highlight the perilous path foreign companies have to brave in India’s evolving, but often ambivalent regulatory environment, especially when it comes to new technologies, and industries.
Yellen’s stablecoin warning; China’s e-CNY plans looking shaky
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen cites UST’s downfall as warning over stablecoins. Meanwhile, China postpones Asian Games and e-CNY rollout.
Terra plunges back to earth as UST stablecoin loses dollar peg
Top blockchain and crypto news: UST knocked out of Luna orbit. Making NFTs Instagrammable. China’s black market ‘digital collectibles’ trade.
KuCoin raises US$150 mln at US$10B valuation
The series B round, led by Jump Crypto, helped push the cryptocurrency exchange’s valuation to US$10 billion, KuCoin said.
Coinbase halted India services due to RBI’s ‘informal pressure’: Armstrong
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong admitted in Tuesday’s earnings call that the exchange disabled the unified payments interface (UPI) in India because of the central bank’s “informal pressure.” See related article: Coinbase snafu sets the cat among the crypto pigeons in India Fast facts Armstrong’s comments come a month after Coinbase suspended its India services three […]
Coinbase shares extend free fall on drop in crypto trading, loss
Coinbase shares are down some 80% from their 52-week high of US$368.90 a share on Nov. 9 through Monday, closing at US$72.99. The stock dropped 19.5% overnight after the U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange reported a Q1 net loss of US$430 million as trading volume declined 44%. See related article: Coinbase NFT marketplace is now open to […]
Bitcoin kimchi premium spikes to 2022 high before dropping to 3%
South Korea’s kimchi premium dropped to around 3.39% on Wednesday after climbing up to its highest since December, 6.28%, on Tuesday, according to CryptoQuant data. See related article: Korea’s Bitcoin kimchi premium explodes as Kakao rises on Upbit rumors Fast facts Kimchi premium describes the higher price gap between tokens on South Korean exchanges and […]
Terra’s UST loses dollar peg; Philippines expects Marcos Jr win
Coinhako becomes third Singaporean exchange to receive full license. Meanwhile, the blockchain industry reacts to Philippine election results.
Run on UST cuts the ground from under Terra’s feet
A probable run on terraUSD (UST) has weighed on the ability of the company and the non-profit behind the pioneering stablecoin project to defend its dollar peg.
CoinDCX investment arm to invest US$13 mln in Web3 startups
CoinDCX Ventures has pledged Rs 100 crore (US$13 million) to early stage cryptocurrency, blockchain and Web 3.0 startups over the next 12 months, cofounder Sumit Gupta announced on Tuesday. See related article: India’s crypto shakedown be damned, CoinDCX raises $135 million Fast facts Crypto exchange CoinDCX has vouched at least US$258,000 in blockchain and Web […]
India GST Council weighs 28% tax on crypto transactions
Indian tax authorities are exploring the implementation of a 28% goods and services tax (GST) on all cryptocurrency transactions, adding to a 30% tax on profits from crypto asset trading that kicked in on April 1, according to local media reports. See related article: After crypto, India wants to come after DeFi Fast facts The […]
Three Australian crypto ETFs to debut on Thursday after delays
Australia’s first cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are set to go live on Thursday May 12 on the country’s Cboe exchange after delays kept the financial products off the market for two weeks. See related article: Launch of three crypto ETFs in Australia delayed Fast facts Three funds were initially announced for listing in late April […]