Coronavirus

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.

As many as 600 NFTs featuring a montage of audio calls and complaints made by Shanghai residents as they interacted with medical staff and neighborhood compound managers have appeared on OpenSea.

Wuhan, the major city in central China where Covid-19 first emerged, has announced plans to embrace the metaverse in an effort to boost its pandemic-devasted economy. Fast facts The government of Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, will push ahead with integrating the metaverse, blockchain, big data, cloud computing, geospatial information and quantum technology […]

Crypto resilient to Omicron meanwhile Japan speeds up on CBDC

Fed chairman Jerome Powell signaled that tighter monetary policy may be coming, which sent Bitcoin price’s down slightly.

The impact was relatively short-lived, and many major tokens had already retraced most of their positions from Friday coming in Asia business hours.

China’s trial of e-CNY, the digital version of the national currency, the yuan, has extended to the insurance industry, with conglomerate Ping An encouraging medical staff in the southern city of Shenzhen to pay premiums for a Covid-19 insurance plan using the new currency. Fast facts One Ping An branch in Shenzhen is offering insurance […]

A team of doctors and engineers in Taiwan is developing a blockchain-based platform that could keep track of residents’ vaccination histories and health conditions.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Ethereum software company ConsenSys today announced the launch of a Covid-19 digital health passport.

The charity arm of Binance is sending 175 oxygen connectors to India to aid in the coronavirus relief effort.

Far from slowing down blockchain advances, the Covid pandemic may have accelerated the technology’s growth and adoption, blockchain experts say.

How can blockchain improve vaccine logistics? Forkast.News examines the frontiers of blockchain technology in this last article of a special five-part series.

Speeding Covid vaccines to market also led to confusion and waste. Here’s how blockchain can plug the gaps in the vaccine supply and distribution chain.

As Covid vaccines come to market, immunization programs are being undermined by disinformation and counterfeiting. Here’s how blockchain can help.

Blockchain amplifies the value of Covid testing and makes contact-tracing more effective. Here are some programs and apps now in use around the world.

Over the next few weeks, Forkast.News will publish a special 5-part series on blockchain’s growing role in the global battle against Covid. Here is an overview.

In Part 1 of a special series on blockchain, Covid and healthcare, Forkast.News examines how the technology fosters greater trust in traveler health records.

Acoer’s founder and CEO offers his predictions for 2021, including blockchain being used to track Covid vaccinations as well as in the war against fake news.

Here are the hottest blockchain news and trends that dominated Forkast.News headlines over the past 12 months. Let the countdown to 2021 begin!

Blockchain crowdfunding, tokenized ownership and NFTs are creating new opportunities for artists and museums in a time of immense financial struggles.

A blockchain-based health code system that can certify a visitor’s Covid-free status has reopened travel between Macau and mainland China

PwC and Crunchbase data show cryptocurrency industry M&A deals and venture capital funding already surpassing last year’s volumes, with investments shifting to Asia

Are US presidential candidate futures an accurate gauge of public opinion? Cryptocurrency exchange FTX’s TRUMP and BIDEN prices offer clues.

Massive public spending, supply chain disruptions and ballooning debt are a volatile mix for investors. Here’s why bitcoin should be part of a balanced portfolio in this pandemic economy.

Deals in mid-size firms that make up the engine of the economy were down as exits were put on pause — but fintech and broader tech sector still shine bright

By promoting transparency and data security, blockchain is poised to transform international trade. Dr. Geoff Jiang of Ant Group explains how.

As mass demonstrations rock the world, technologies like blockchain, social media and AI are escalating unrest and state crackdowns to the next level.

Here are our favorite and best-in-class apps for the decentralized work place. Plus, the Web3 dApps that could disrupt them.

In the blockchain world, decentralized workplaces are already the norm. As Covid forces more companies to do the same, here are our pro tips for executives and managers.

Covid-driven monetary policies are spurring growing investor interest in crypto assets and derivatives, says Richard Byworth, CEO of Diginex and EQUOS.io.

The $660 billion Paycheck Protection Program — intended to help America’s small businesses survive the pandemic — also gave financial aid to crypto firms accused of fraud, a Forkast.News investigation found.

Covid is accelerating telemedicine and patient data protection needs. Here’s how digital ledger applications can take healthcare to the next level.

Management guru Don Tapscott and his son Alex Tapscott — co-authors of the best seller, “Blockchain Revolution” — explain how blockchain’s “internet of value” can transform healthcare, the economy and more.

Brian Behlendorf, a longtime open-source evangelist, discusses China’s adoption of Hyperledger Fabric for its Blockchain Service Network (BSN), blockchain trends to watch, and more.

Sheila Warren, World Economic Forum’s head of blockchain policy, also discusses the growing importance of digital currencies and how America is falling behind.

While Asia is united in masking up, US and Europe remain fractured over face mask use. A viral immunologist and face mask expert explains the deadly consequences.

Robot nurses, machine attendants and cleaning bots are increasingly replacing humans in and out of hospitals, to protect front-line medical staff from deadly infections. Is this a good thing?

The former International Space Station commander also discusses how blockchain can lower space exploration costs, and more. Bonus: advice on enduring Covid and social isolation with grace.

AI’s ‘black box’ is inherently dangerous, and the technology is still a long way from being a solve-all solution, says Oxford researcher David Toman.

Could robot nurses, drones, facial recognition and other AI artillery help us win the war against Covid-19?

What lies ahead for the global economy, US-China geopolitics, emerging markets and sectors like real estate in the next 5 years? GreaterX’s unique focus group — ‘from farmers to a billionaire’ — offers a crystal ball.

How Visa, M-Pesa and Binance became wildly successful — and why even the greatest technology still requires thinking through how to get your product into the hands of your customers.

Short-term speculators are unimpressed by BTC’s recent performance. But Covid and geopolitical disruptions have not yet played out. What does it mean for investors?

Working from home heightens computer security risks and the need for good data governance. What are the best practices for safeguarding critical data?

Cinemas are closed, Netflix is here, but torrent providers renew their careers!

The Covid-battered economy and Magic Leap’s woes are blowing headwinds at the nascent industry. But AR software, ads and mobile platforms offer hope.

Covid-19’s disruption of global economies could speed up changes to financial systems around the world. Will cash become obsolete?

Other top news: TRON snags Covid aid. Free Telegram Open Network. China builds tech talent database. Bitmain’s civil war. Another win for Ripple.

Online teaching and presenting are not just for these Covid times, but part of a revolution in how we work and learn. Master these skills for career success.

David Jevans, CEO of CipherTrace, explains FATF’s global influence and recent enforcement actions that have proven to be expensive for those caught.

What can the blockchain industry do to adapt its work to the current crisis? Acknowledging the widening socio-economic divide would be a good start.

Asia’s first regulator-approved digital asset manager opens the door for wider cryptocurrency adoption.

Companies are holding off investing in emerging technology not only because of economic turmoil, but also structural biases against meaningful change.

Venture capital slowed as the coronavirus economy contracted. But out of the turmoil are still investment and fundraising opportunities.

Companies are decentralizing into purely digital workplaces to survive the pandemic. What are the long-term implications on the structure of employment and the technologies required for working from home?

Bitcoin’s tumbling prices during the coronavirus pandemic may be an opportunity to buy the dip.

The U.S. backed away from a digital dollar in its coronavirus relief package. But a tokenized dollar would be better for America — and bring us closer to a true central bank digital currency, says a director of the Digital Dollar Project.

Distributed ledger technology can help flatten the curve of Covid-19 through telemedicine, supply-chain security, rapid payments and more.

Investment totals are down, but deals are still being inked and alternative fundraising methods are flourishing. What kind of investments will thrive? And which ones will likely flop?

As Covid-19 roils markets and currencies, next-generation algorithmic stablecoins may offer a smoother ride.

Other top headlines from around the world: Microsoft wants to power mining with brain waves. Crypto exchanges Huobi and OKEx under fire. China shifts to digitally sweep ancestral graves.

Covid-19 has made online video meetings a career necessity. What are the do’s and don’ts for your next Zoom call? “We’re all television anchors and presenters now,” says Forkast.News editor-in-chief Angie Lau.

BTC’s recent tumbles and movements with the rest of market may be an anomaly and opportunity for investors.

In this newsletter and podcast, we bring you top headlines around the world, including: A new proposal to create a digital dollar. Coinbase’s legal chief heading U.S. Treasury. A Bitcoin-Red Cross coronavirus fundraiser in Italy. Universal basic income’s revival. Steem’s hard fork into Hive, and more.

Coronavirus’ impact on the U.S. economy might hasten the creation of a digital dollar.

Coronavirus fears spread panic as well as infection. Face masks, hand washing and social isolation are best practices.

Also: Blockchain voting after the Voatz debacle, IOTA limps back after cyber attack, smart cities in China, and Forkast.News insights to help you make sense of the top headlines.

Gold bars are unwieldy. Gold futures and ETFs carry risks. Can gold-backed crypto, or tokenized gold, be a safer hedge during the current market tumult?

CEO of Hedera Hashgraph explains how distributed ledgers can help front-line doctors and scientists in the battle against Covid-19, and how the emerging techology may be the future of international disaster relief.

Coronavirus fears are sending markets tumbling. Could tokenized gold, or gold-backed crypto, be the next-generation investment in times of economic trouble?

What are the best face masks to wear to protect against Covid-19, and how to wear them? Which masks are the worst and could increase your risk of illness? A medical doctor and face mask researcher explains all.

Public health coins could motivate more people to interact honestly with the health care system during crises like the coronavirus epidemic.