February 2023
Paxos ordered to stop minting Binance stablecoin as SEC mulls legal action
Top blockchain and crypto news: Paxos halts BUSD issuance. Kraken faces disclosure charges. Beijing backs new blockchain research center.
Chinese NFT marketplace Jingtan eases asset transfer restrictions
Jingtan, one of China’s major NFT marketplace, has relaxed its rules on NFT transfer between users.
China’s international blockchain BSN Spartan gets new push in Middle East, Africa
Red Date Technology, the developer of China’s state-backed blockchain infrastructure Blockchain-based Service Network, has partnered Dubai-based Singularity Innovations to offer blockchain infrastructure services in the Middle East and Africa, as the Chinese blockchain network continues to go global.
Huobi to expand in Hong Kong as it bets on China
Huobi Global plans to expand its operations in Hong Kong, anticipating that Mainland China will soon follow the city’s recent pro-crypto shift, says Justin Sun.
China to set up national blockchain technology research center in Beijing
China has given the go-ahead to set up the National Blockchain Technology Innovation Centre in Beijing to run blockchain research and development, according to local media.
China tech giant Baidu reveals AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT
The AI chat bot party is heating up in China, with Baidu revealing its ChatGPT rival – ERNIE Bot.
Binance makes Korea comeback with GOPAX acquisition
Top blockchain and crypto news: GOPAX deal sees Binance return to South Korea. Inflation fight spooks crypto markets. Chinese liquor giant gives cheers to NFTs.
Beijing football club launches NFTs ahead of its virtual stadium launch
China’s Beijing Guoan Football Club has launched its first NFT collection, while building a virtual replica of its stadium.
Beijing regulator warns about NFT speculation, illegal fundraising. Crackdown coming?
Beijing’s market regulator warned that projects marketed in the country as non-fungible tokens or with metaverse-related concepts risk being involved in illegal fundraising or fraudulent activities.
Chinese liquor giant Moutai unveils NFTs linked to liquor bottles
Moutai launched NFTs that gives owners to purchase limited edition liquor.
China should reconsider its ban on cryptocurrencies, says former central bank official
China’s blanket ban on cryptocurrency trading can have the country miss critical opportunities for technological development, says former PBOC official.
China’s Suzhou city joins other regions in the country seeking to be metaverse hub
Suzhou has laid out plans to attract at least 200 companies in working with VR technology by 2025.
Digital yuan sales during Lunar New Year up from last year, online retailers say
Digital yuan sales at online retail platforms in China have surged during the Lunar New Year holidays fueled by local governments’ red packet coupons.
Bitcoin mining fund soars as BTC powers into 2023
Top blockchain and crypto news: BTC mining ETF outperforms. SBF under pressure as accusations mount. ‘China’s Instagram’ embraces NFTs.
January 2023
China’s ‘Instagram’ gets NFT makeover with Conflux
Xiaohongshu, or “Little Red Book,” a popular social media application widely described as the Chinese equivalent of Instagram, has integrated layer-1 public blockchain Conflux Network, allowing users to showcase their non-fungible tokens on their profile pages, Conflux announced on Thursday.
China’s Hainan province to step up NFT supervision
Hainan province, a popular tourist destination in South China, published a notice on Sunday vowing to step up oversight on non-fungible tokens, or “digital collectibles,” which authorities said come with risks of fraud, money laundering and illegal fundraising.
Will Genesis meet its maker amid creditors closing in?
Top blockchain and crypto news: Genesis bankruptcy begins. FTX chief ponders a reboot. China’s CBDC gets a smart-contract upgrade.
China NFT platforms expand into Hong Kong in face of compliance risks on mainland
Hong Kong’s new digital asset-friendly policies could set the city up as the home for secondary NFT marketplaces from China as trading of ‘digital collectibles’ remains a gray area on the mainland.
Markets: Bitcoin inches up, Ether slips; China posts 3% GDP growth for 2022
Bitcoin inched up and Ether slipped in Tuesday afternoon trading in Asia, with most other top 10 cryptocurrencies trading lower on the day.
Shanghai Two Sessions: metaverse development requires stronger supervision
Shanghai Two Sessions’ delegate urges stronger supervision in the metaverse industry, as metaverse fever continues.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether extend rise; Cardano leads gains in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin, Ethereum extended gains in afternoon trade in Asia on Monday along with the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Cardano rose the most in the last 24 hours, followed by Polygon, BNB and Dogecoin.
Crypto P2E game investments not protected by law, China court says
A Shanghai court ruled that investments in cryptocurrency-powered play-to-earn (P2E) games are not protected by law in China.
Alameda Research transfers spark suspicions as SBF denies involvement
Top blockchain and crypto news: Where is Alameda Research’s money going? US tax loophole may give crypto investors a break. China’s blockchain momentum builds.
December 2022
China state-backed NFT trading platform to launch on Jan. 1
“China Digital Asset Trading Platform,” a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace developed by state-owned entities and a private sector firm, has been set for launch on Jan. 1, 2023, state media outlet China Daily reported on Tuesday. See related article: NFTs ruled virtual property in China, its sales protected by law Fast facts See related article: […]
A year to remember, a year to forget: Crypto highs and lows of 2022
From Terra and FTX crises to Ethereum’s triumphant Merge and China’s inventive NFT industry, Forkast reviews a rollercoaster year and its consequences.
AAX’s future in doubt amid staff exodus and FTX contagion
Top blockchain and crypto news: AAX teeters on the brink. SBF hints at Congressional hearing no-show. Chinese court boosts NFT legitimacy.
Markets: Bitcoin back above US$17,000, Ether gains along with other top 10 crypto
Bitcoin traded above US$17,000 Monday morning in Asia, with all the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market cap gaining ground.
VPN in China may be at risk as users report connection issues on Twitter
VPN services, a reliable tool for Chinese internet users to bypass the Great Firewall, are reporting connectivity issues in the mainland after anti-lockdown protest content flooded Twitter.
November 2022
Grayscale holdings questioned amid crypto investment giant’s silence
Top blockchain and crypto news: Grayscale’s cryptic reserves. Binance rides to the rescue? China hit by protests and digital dissent.
China activists use NFTs, decentralized technology to counter censorship
Many are minting NFTs and posting articles on Matters, a decentralized content-sharing platform, amid protests across China against Covid-19 lockdowns that turned political.
NFT images of anti-lockdown protests in China flood OpenSea
Pictures taken from protests against China’s zero-Covid policy across the mainland are now for sale on OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, as non-fungible tokens (NFT). See related article: ‘Voice of April’ NFTs highlight Shanghai struggles amid lockdown Fast facts See related article: Bitcoin price follows slide in Asia equity markets amid growing China protests against […]
Bitcoin price follows slide in Asia equity markets amid growing China protests against Covid-19 lockdowns
Reports of civil disobedience, protests and clashes with the police in cities and universities in China are unnerving financial markets in Asia
Genesis jitters keep investors on edge as contagion risks grow
Top blockchain and crypto news: Fear stalks crypto as Genesis wobbles. FTX cleanup begins. China’s NFT scene shrinks.
China’s foreign exchange bureau urges stronger legislation to regulate crypto trade
China should integrate legislation on cryptocurrencies in order to better regulate crypto tradings, said Huang Hui, a deputy director of the Supervision and Inspection Department of State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
China’s state blockchain infrastructure Xinghuo BIF partners Malaysian MyEG to fuel global push
China’s state blockchain infrastructure Xinghuo Blockchain Infrastructure and Facility has signed an agreement with Malaysian digital service provider MY E.G. Services Berhad to own and operate an “international supernode,” as China continues its international blockchain push.
Hong Kong needs engineering talent to reclaim role as digital asset hub
Hong Kong’s latest FinTech policies indicate it wants to reclaim its position as a hub for cryptocurrencies and digital assets, but that means finding the right people for the job.
October 2022
US alleges Chinese spies used Bitcoin to bribe law enforcement officer
Two Chinese intelligence officers allegedly paid a double agent to help steal files related to a federal investigation into a China-based global telecom firm, reported to be Huawei.
‘Chinese Netflix’ iQIYI taps smart contract ERC-3475 to resolve copyright disputes
iQIYI, one of China’s largest online video platforms with over 100 million subscribers, is tapping Ethereum smart contract standard ERC-3475 to solve copyright-related issues, according to a press release on Sunday from the standard’s inventor, decentralized bond protocol DeBond.
Horizon Worlds fails to lift Meta as users stay away
Top blockchain and crypto news: Mark Zuckerberg’s empty metaverse. South Korea to roll out blockchain IDs. Macau bets on digital money.
One country, two systems? Hong Kong seems set to diverge from China on digital assets
Hong Kong seems set to put out a new welcome mat for the blockchain and crypto industries, but will it work after concern about regulatory restrictions convinced many cryptocurrency operators to leave?
Macau is betting on digital currency, CBDC as legal tender
The city of Macau, a special administrative region of China and home to a thriving casino industry, is seeking to grant digital currency status as legal tender, the Executive Council of Macau announced on Friday. See related article: Macao needs China’s heft in tech to introduce CBDC, official says Fast facts See related article: Macao […]
The evidence is in: Chinese courts use judicial blockchain platform to store data
China’s judicial blockchain platform has stored more than 2.6 billion pieces of evidence, a Supreme People’s Court spokesman said at a press conference on Thursday, according to a report by the local media Legal Daily. See related article: China has seen blockchain’s future and it doesn’t include cryptocurrencies Fast facts See related article: How blockchain […]
Tianjin boosts electricity rates to further punish underground crypto mining
Tianjin is the latest Chinese city to announce higher differential electricity rates in an effort to further discourage energy-intensive cryptocurrency mining, which the country banned in September 2021 but continues to exist in some pockets. See related article: Beijing banned crypto mining, so China miners went underground Fast facts See related article: China takes aim […]
Shenzhen leads China in cross-border CBDC transactions: report
Companies in Shenzhen in mainland China made up one-third of the transaction volume in a cross-border central bank digital currency (CBDC) bridge pilot project, according to a report by Chinese media outlet 21Caijing, citing Shenzhen’s local financial authority. See related article: Australia Senator proposes regulating Chinese banks in country using e-CNY Fast facts See related […]
China shuts 13 underground crypto trading apps, a year after ban
Regulators also targeted 23 crypto media websites and 440 bloggers.
Temperatures rise over alleged Celsius withdrawals ahead of bankruptcy
Top blockchain and crypto news: Celsius founder in hot water. European bank woes cast crypto shadow. Will BSN’s Chinese roots thwart its global ambitions?
China’s international blockchain push may face Huawei-like obstacles
China spent billions on its ‘belt and road’ infrastructure network to expand trade so what are its plans for a domestic and international digital infrastructure built on blockchain?
September 2022
Russia said to consider digital ruble settlements with China
Russia is planning to use its central bank digital currency (CBDC) in testing, the digital ruble, to carry out mutual settlements with China, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a senior Russian lawmaker. See related article: Is cryptocurrency a workaround for sanctions against Russia? Fast facts Anatoly Aksakov, head of the financial committee in Russia’s lower […]
China busts ‘world’s dumbest thieves’ in digital yuan money laundering case
Chinese authorities can track e-CNY wallet transaction history, if warranted, thanks to its ‘managed anonymity’ design.
China says it busted US$5.6B crypto money laundering ring
Chinese police said they have busted a criminal group that used cryptocurrencies to launder 40 billion yuan (US$5.6 billion) as authorities crack down on illicit fund flows in the country. See related article: China lashes out at crypto fraud on World Consumer Rights Day Fast facts Police in Hengyang, a county in China’s southern province […]
Chinese university sets up metaverse major, names department after metaverse
Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology has renamed its 25-year-old Information Engineering Department as the Metaverse Engineering Department. The university says it’s the first in China to offer a metaverse major, according to a local media report. See related article: South Korea and Meta to ramp up metaverse safety Fast facts See related article: […]
Gansu Province warns no crypto mining within national data centers
The Chinese province of Gansu says that it will “strictly prohibit crypto mining” in the server rooms for China’s mega digital Eastern Data and Western Computing infrastructure project, according to a policy document. See related article: GBA among regions for China’s blockchain-powered data hubs Fast facts See related article: China’s Zhejiang busts state-owned entities on […]
Huobi Technology considers name change
Crypto exchange Huobi Global’s Hong Kong-listed sister company, Huobi Technology Holdings, is proposing renaming the group to “New Huo Technology Holdings Limited,” while its sister company, the crypto exchange Huobi Global, is reportedly seeking a buyer for the majority of its company. See related article: Huobi-incubated Chinese NFT platform iBox ends international operations Fast facts […]
China to expand digital yuan trials within its most populous provinces
The entirety of the provinces of Guangdong, Jiangsu, Hebei and Sichuan will be piloting the e-CNY by end 2022, says central bank official.
China says blockchain patent applications make up 84% of world’s total
China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) claimed on Tuesday in a news conference that the country accounted for more than 84 percent of the world’s blockchain patent applications, despite the country’s ban on cryptocurrencies. See related article: Ant Group and Tencent obtain the most blockchain patents in China: report Fast facts See related […]
Australia Senator says China’s CBDC may threaten national security
Amid the worsening relationship with China, one Australian Senator is trying to address possible national security concerns that may arise from Beijing’s Central Bank Digital Currency project.
Binance launches Ethereum staking ahead of Merge upgrade
Top blockchain and crypto news: Binance bets on Ethereum Merge. What does Terra’s sudden resurgence mean? China seeks to expand e-CNY ecosystem.
Tencent Cloud, Strange Universe Technology to explore virtual space for enterprise
Tencent Cloud, the cloud computing services arm of the Chinese tech giant, on Tuesday, announced it signed a memorandum of understanding with Web 3.0 firm Strange Universe Technology to create and host virtual reality (VR) spaces for businesses. See related article: Tencent Cloud continues blockchain expansion with two new platforms Fast facts See related article: […]
China’s two systems for crypto: Trading is banned, but virtual assets can be protected
In a decision involving Litecoin, a Chinese court says there are no rules ‘that negate the protectability of cryptocurrency itself as virtual property.’
Filecoin service provider RRMine leaves China for Singapore
Tighter restrictions on cryptocurrency usage in China have prompted leading storage service platform RRMine Global to close its mainland China operations and move its headquarters to Singapore. See related article: China has seen blockchain’s future and it doesn’t include cryptocurrencies Fast facts “As Singapore has been one of the world’s most open economies for a […]
Chinese central bank should issue RMB stablecoin for metaverse: academic
China should issue a digital yuan-collateral stablecoin to establish an on-chain payment system for China’s metaverse, as the infrastructure developed by China itself is the key to ensuring national security, said influential academic Zhang Ping of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, an institution providing policy consultation to the Chinese State Council. See related article: Naver’s […]
Binance chief Changpeng Zhao reiterates Binance not a Chinese company
Binance founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao reiterated that Binance is not a Chinese company and it “was never incorporated in China,” as the country continues to ban cryptocurrency trading. See related article: Binance to help S. Korea’s Busan build first city-backed exchange Fast facts In a blog post published on Thursday, Zhao wrote that the […]
Director at China’s Securities Regulatory Commission deep-dives into Web 3.0 in new book, a year after China’s crypto ban
Nearly a year after China banned crypto trading and mining, the director of the Technology Supervision Bureau at Chinaøs Securities Regulatory Commission has published a book discussing Web 3.0 and blockchain technology. See related article: Shanghai turns to metaverse, NFTs to counter lockdown economic fallout Fast facts Yao Qian’s book “Web 3.0: Changes and Challenges […]
Markets: Bitcoin edges up; U.S. stocks, bonds post worst returns in 5 decades
Bitcoin and Ether made up some ground, with most other tokens in the crypto top 10 little changed in early Thursday morning trading in Asia. Bitcoin traded back above US$20,000 after falling through that resistance level overnight. Global macroeconomic headwinds continue to drag on both crypto and capital markets. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin trades […]
August 2022
Fed’s inflation fight batters crypto market as pressure mounts
Top blockchain and crypto news: Is crypto in for a long cold spell? Ava Labs lashes out at CryptoLeaks claims. China eyes blockchain power trading.
China exploring blockchain for energy trading
The National Energy Administration (NEA) will explore blockchain-based power trading platforms to facilitate electricity trading between self-contained power generation units and the state and national grids, according to a policy document released last Friday. see related article: The Bitcoin-energy connection intensifies Fast facts see related article: Here’s why Australia can’t use its empty deserts to mine […]
Taiwan to launch digital ministry, use Web 3.0 against Chinese cyberattacks
Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs will officially launch on Aug. 27, with information security and Web 3.0 technology as key focus areas to protect against Chinese cyberattacks amid escalating tensions between China and Taiwan. See related article: Taiwan completes trials of its prototype CBDC for retail use Fast facts The new ministry will be in […]
Huobi-incubated Chinese NFT platform iBox ends international operations
Its operations in mainland China are continuing as normal.
Shanghai Data Exchange launches untradeable NFTs
The Shanghai Data Exchange has debuted blockchain-based digital assets without allowing secondary trading, a day after the exchange began digital asset trading on Wednesday. See related article: Ant Group, JD.com, Tencent pledge to resist speculation of ‘digital collectibles’ Fast facts See related article: Beijing, Hengqin ramp up metaverse amid struggling economy
Beijing, Hengqin ramp up metaverse amid struggling economy
Following Shanghai’s plan to develop its metaverse industry, additional local Chinese governments are adding the metaverse to their economic blueprints. Two recent plans come from Beijing’s Tongzhou District and Hengqin near neighboring Macau, just as some of China’s tech companies are shrinking their businesses to face an economic downturn. See related article: Shanghai sees its […]
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether gain with most of crypto top 10; BNB slips, U.S. equities flat
Bitcoin gained along with most other top 10 tokens by market capitalization in early morning trading in Asia, though Ether was the pace leader with the larger climb. U.S. equities were little changed overnight. See related article: Markets: Bitcoin edges up, Ether posts biggest gain among top 10 tokens Fast facts Bitcoin added 0.6% to […]
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether gain; BNB best performer among top 10 tokens
Bitcoin and Ether rose with most of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization in Monday morning trading in Asia. The gains follow a flash crash last Friday afternoon that dragged the world’s leading cryptocurrency below US$21,000 on Saturday for the first time in almost a month. Bitcoin is still down about 12% in the […]