September 2023
Weekly Market Wrap: Nomura’s Bitcoin Fund, Citigroup blockchain move fail to lift Bitcoin above US$27,000
Bitcoin remained below the US$27,000 mark, despite significant institutional players, like Japan’s largest bank, Nomura, launching a Bitcoin adoption fund earlier this week.
Bitcoin, Ether flat; altcoins drop amid FTX liquidation
Bitcoin dipped on Monday morning in Asia to trade at around US$26,500. Ether also moved lower but held the US$1,600 support level.
Binance.US cuts manpower, FTX liquidates crypto as people throng to TOKEN 2049
We bring you to one of the biggest crypto events in Asia.
Who’s who in the Sam Bankman-Fried trial?
FTX’s former CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, faces DOJ scrutiny with seven charges. Here are the six key figures in the coming crypto courtroom showdown.
FTX gets green light to sell US$3.4 billion in crypto assets
A U.S. bankruptcy court in Delaware approved failed crypto exchange FTX’s motion to sell its crypto assets at a court hearing on Wednesday.
Bitcoin, Ether bounce back; altcoins recover after FTX panic
Bitcoin rose on Wednesday morning in Asia to near US$26,000. Ether also bounced back to near US$1,600. All other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens logged gains.
Bitcoin, Ether lose key support levels; altcoins slide amid FTX liquidation woes
Bitcoin fell on Tuesday morning in Asia to hover above US$25,000 after briefly losing the key support level. Ether also slid to lose control of US$1,600.
Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; G20 eyes global crypto regulation
Bitcoin started the week below US$26,000 while Ether dropped to US$1,611. Toncoin and XRP lead losers in the last 24 hours.
FTX sues LayerZero Labs to recover US$21 million
FTX cryptocurrency exchange has filed a lawsuit against LayerZero Labs to recover $21.37 million allegedly withdrawn from the exchange illegally.
Former FTX exec Ryan Salame to forfeit US$1.5 billion after pleading guilty to charges
Salame pleaded guilty Thursday in New York to two criminal charges related to the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange last November.
The rise and continuing fall of Sam Bankman-Fried: A step-by-step guide to his case so far
The 9 key pieces of information you need to know ahead of the FTX founder’s first trial on Oct. 2
August 2023
N. Korean hackers may cash out stolen crypto; HKVAX gets SFC nod as UK crypto rules gets Royal Assent
Sam Bankman-Fried pleads not guilty to misusing customer funds. North Korean hackers could cash out US$40 million worth of stolen Bitcoins
Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyers granted unlimited prison visits; FTX tries to sell crypto holdings
Sam Bankman-Fried’s lawyers can visit him in jail on a daily basis, a U.S. district court ruled on Wednesday, while FTX’s new CEO wants to sell its crypto.
Sam Bankman-Fried pleads not guilty to misusing customer funds
Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of FTX, pleaded not guilty to a set of new charges tied to last year’s collapse of his crypto empire.
Why FTX deserves a second chance
Despite the outrage against Sam Bankman-Fried and the now-bankrupt exchange, everyone would be better off with a relaunched FTX 2.0, writes Rachel Lin, CEO of SynFutures.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried charged with stealing customer funds for political donations
The FTX founder faces charges of wire fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud and money laundering related to the exchange’s collapse in November.
BTC Markets CEO sees silver lining in Australian banks’ crypto clampdown
Australian banks are heightening scrutiny on digital asset exchanges and restricting crypto payments due to rising scams and frauds. Caroline Bowler, CEO of BTC Markets highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by the industry in the country.
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried jailed for witness interference
Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the collapsed crypto exchange FTX, was jailed Friday and his bail revoked ahead of his trial for fraud scheduled for October 2.
Hackers hit Curve, China announces blockchain link & is FTX back?
Welcome to Forkast IQ, presented by Angie Lau, where we look beyond the headlines to get you insights that power smarter decisions. Coming up on today’s show:
May 2023
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.
April 2023
Bankrupt FTX recovers US$7.3 billion in assets, considers resurrection of operations
The failed FTX cryptocurrency exchange has recovered around US$7.3 billion in assets and is considering the option of restarting its business.
FTX’s lack of financial controls complicates bankruptcy asset recovery, says legal filing
Former executives of the bankrupt crypto exchange FTX failed to install appropriate financial controls in the company, complicating the asset recovery process, the restructuring team of the failed exchange said.
What the US can learn from the Philippines to regulate crypto in a smarter way
The Philippines has licensing requirements and proactively monitors crypto firms, while the US regulates by enforcement only after consumers are already badly hurt, writes Robert De Guzman of Coins.ph.
March 2023
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.
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.
Crypto bank Silvergate to close, return all deposits; becomes latest victim of 2022 crypto turmoil
Silvergate Capital said Wednesday it will cease operations and liquidate its bank unit.
FTX’s Alameda sues Grayscale over crypto trusts
Alameda Research has filed a law suit against crypto conglomerate Digital Currency Group and its asset management business Grayscale over trust investments.
Circle joins Crypto.com, Coinbase in cutting ties with embattled crypto bank Silvergate
USDC issuer Circle said Friday that it is withdrawing from “certain services that involve” California-based cryptocurrency bank Silvergate.
Former executive Nishad Singh pleads guilty to criminal charges in FTX collapse
Nishad Singh, former engineering chief of bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, pleaded guilty to fraud and several other criminal charges at a hearing on Tuesday related to the collapse of the company, Bloomberg reported.
February 2023
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried hit with four more criminal charges
The founder of bankrupt cryptocurrency firm FTX.com Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has received another four criminal charges in a superseding indictment on Thursday.
DeFi Recovery Soon?
Lenders in the crypto sector are optimistic about DeFi’s recovery this year – but why is that?
FTX Japan resumes withdrawals through Liquid Japan web platform
FTX Japan, the Japanese subsidiary of Sam Bankman-Fried’s bankrupt FTX, resumed withdrawal of customer holdings on Tuesday.
Crypto hedge fund Galois Capital to close after losing US$40 mln in FTX
Cryptocurrency-focused hedge fund Galois Capital will close and return the remaining funds to investors after losing US$40 million worth of assets in the collapse of crypto exchange FTX.com
Former FTX executive Nishad Singh negotiating guilty plea on fraud charges: Bloomberg
Nishad Singh, a former executive at bankrupt Bahamas-based cryptocurrency exchange FTX.com, may be leaning towards pleading guilty to fraud charges for his involvement in the company’s last November
Judge says Bankman-Fried could ‘conceivably’ have bail revoked: CNN
There might be “probable cause” to believe that Sam Bankman-Fried engaged in witness tampering and other activities that could revoke his bail, says judge.
FTX Donations Clawback
The new leadership at FTX are threatening charitable and political organizations with lawsuits if they don’t return donated funds. Will this benefit ordinary depositors?
Sam Bankman-Fried banned from using VPNs while on bail: Bloomberg
Sam Bankman-Fried, the co-founder of the now-bankrupt FTX exchange, has been banned from using virtual private networks (VPNs) while out on bail, as the judge cited similar concerns to the co-founder’s use of encrypted messaging apps, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. See related article: Bankrupt FTX threatens legal action to claw back donations to politicians, charities […]
Why the crypto sector needs radical transparency in the post-FTX world
Self-custody is cumbersome and carries risks of seed phrases getting lost, but how can we ensure if a third-party custodian can be trusted?
Lessons from FTX: crypto investment risks and how to avoid them
The recent spate of crypto exchanges freezing customer accounts should be a wake-up call to investors everywhere. What can you do to better protect yourself?
Robinhood aims to buy-back its shares seized by Department of Justice in FTX failure
Robinhood Markets Inc., the U.S.-based financial services company, aims to purchase the 55 million of its shares that FTX-linked Emergent Fidelity Technologies bought in May 2022, according to its earnings report released Wednesday.
Alameda wallets activate, transfer millions in FTT tokens
Wallets linked to Alameda Research became active over the past week, transferring millions worth of FTX’s native token, FTT, according to Arkham Intelligence.
Binance suspends international U.S. dollar transfers, CEO indicates issues with banks
Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, will suspend all deposits and withdrawals of U.S. dollars at its international exchanges from Feb. 8.
Bankrupt FTX threatens legal action to claw back donations to politicians, charities
The move marks a shift in tone from December when recipients of FTX donations were requested to “voluntarily” return the funds.
Silvergate probed by US prosecutors over FTX, Alameda accounts: Bloomberg
U.S. prosecutors are investigating California-based cryptocurrency bank Silvergate Capital Corp. for how it handled accounts tied to now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX and its brokerage arm Alameda Research, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.
Bankrupt FTX held US$1.4B in cash at the end of 2022
Bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX.com had around US$1.4 billion in cash reserves at the end of 2022, according to a financial update released Tuesday.
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
Alameda Research sues Voyager Digital for US$445.8 mln
Alameda Research has sued bankrupt digital assets lender Voyager Digital to reclaim US$445.8 million worth in loan payments before FTX filed for its own bankruptcy.
Crypto’s Biggest Concern
There’s always the possibility of a bigger scam or a bigger hack this year than the ones we saw in 2022. So what can the crypto industry do to survive 2023?
What we must learn from FTX so that history does not repeat itself
Tighter regulations are necessary but not enough. The industry also needs to address its issues with custody and transparency, writes Chen Zhuling of RockX.
A crypto regulatory storm front is coming in 2023. Are we ready for it?
Laws to prevent another FTX blowup, crackdowns on crypto tax cheats, and a ruling on Ripple are likely imminent. A bull’s eye is also on DeFi, writes Gergo Varga of SEON.
Sam Bankman-Fried’s family members are not cooperating with FTX attorneys, court documents claim
Sam Bankman-Fried’s mother and brother are not cooperating with the FTX legal team’s investigations into the Bahamans-based exchange’s bankruptcy and misappropriation of customer funds
Apple, New York Times, Hong Kong Government listed among FTX creditors
Lawyers for the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, FTX.com, filed a document with a list of its institutional creditors on Thursday, which included major technology firms, publications and government bodies.
Bankrupt BlockFi’s financials show US$1.2 bln exposure to FTX, Alameda: report
Bankrupt BlockFi reportedly had over US$1.2 billion of assets tied to FTX.com and its sister trading firm Alameda Research
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.
Genesis’s trading arm moving funds on blockchain, bankrupt units reveal extent of liabilities
According to on-chain data, the trading arm of bankrupt crypto lending firm Genesis is still moving funds around on the blockchain.
2023 Should be the Year of Web3 Security
Despite 2022’s turbulent impact on the crypto industry, Immunefi CEO Mitchell Amador believes this year could encourage better Web3 security.
FTX chief John Ray mulls resurrection of collapsed crypto exchange
FTX is exploring options to revive its bankrupt international cryptocurrency exchange, FTX.com, CEO John Ray told the Wall Street Journal.
Digital Currency Group’s crypto brokerage Genesis Global Capital files for bankruptcy
Crypto brokerage firm Genesis Global Capital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Thursday in the Southern District of New York.
Former FTX U.S. CEO Sam Bankman-Fried rejects liquidators’ claim of recovered assets
Founder and former chief executive of FTX U.S., Sam Bankman-Fried, has rejected claims by the company’s current leadership made in a presentation on Tuesday that the team has only recovered US$181 million worth of funds from the exchange.
FTX says US$415 mln in crypto hacked since bankruptcy filing
Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX told creditors that it lost around US$415 million worth of cryptocurrencies to hacks since it filed for bankruptcy.
Monex Group expresses interest in bidding in upcoming sale of FTX Japan: Bloomberg
Tokyo-based online brokerage Monex Group Inc. indicated it may join the bidding for the Japan subsidiary of the failed FTX cryptocurrency exchange.
Alameda liquidators get liquidated while consolidating funds on DeFi lending platform Aave
Alameda Research liquidators were liquidated for US$72,000 from an on-chain position on decentralized finance (DeFi) lending platform Aave while trying to consolidate funds
Why is it harder to arrest Terra-Luna founder Do Kwon than FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried?
South Korea’s attempts to extradite the founder of the collapsed Terra-Luna stablecoin will remain hamstrung while the courts in Seoul dispute the charges against him.
Crypto.com announces 20% cut in headcount, cites post-FTX market conditions
Crypto.com will lay off 20% of its workforce, its co-founder and chief executive officer Kris Marszalek said Friday in a Twitter post.
FTX loses Miami Heat stadium sponsorship
National Basketball Association (NBA) team Miami Heat’s home arena will soon be renamed after a Florida judge ended the naming rights agreement between the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange, FTX.com, and Miami-Dade County
Bankrupt FTX exchange has recovered US$5 bln worth of ‘liquid’ assets, lawyers say
The names of the crypto exchange’s 9 million customers and creditors will remain sealed from the public for at least three months.
Digital Currency Group in spotlight over suspicious fund transfers
Top blockchain and crypto news: DCG under investigation. Lido DAO surges as Ethereum’s Shanghai upgrade looms. Hong Kong burnishes crypto credentials.
U.S. subpoenas hedge funds in Binance probe: report
Federal prosecutors have issued subpoenas to several U.S. hedge funds that have dealt with the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance Global Inc.
SEC objects to Binance’s US$1 bln deal to buy Voyager Digital’s assets
The U.S. SEC has objected to Binance’s U.S. affiliate’s proposed US$1 billion purchase of bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital’s assets.
Animoca Brands slashes Web3 fund target to US$1B: Bloomberg
Animoca Brands Corp. has scaled down the target amount for its Web 3.0 and metaverse investment fund to US$1 billion.
Silvergate cuts 40% of staff after facing US$8.1B in withdrawals amid FTX collapse
Cryptocurrency bank Silvergate Capital has laid off 40% of its staff, or about 200 employees, after the collapse of FTX.com, which sparked mass withdrawals of around US$8.1 billion.
U.S. authorities to seize US$460 mln of Robinhood shares in FTX fraud case
U.S. prosecutors are moving to seize the US$460 million worth of Robinhood Markets Inc., shares linked to Sam Bankman-Fried, the former chief executive officer of Bahamas-based bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX.com