April 2022
Why blockchain is the cornerstone of investing in our planet
Can blockchain embody the values of Earth Day? Consider its growing role in ESG and the energy-efficiency of newer crypto, writes Eddie Hui of MVGX.
Experts cut Bitcoin’s 2022 price outlook to slightly less bullish: report
A panel of 35 crypto professionals have grown collectively less confident on the year-end target price for Bitcoin, although they expect the dominant cryptocurrency to end significantly higher than current levels and even set a new all-time high, according to a report by Finder. See related article: Bitcoin crosses $47,000 mark as crypto surges in […]
Australia to list crypto spot ETFs; WazirX founders leave India
Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs are coming to Australia. Meanwhile, Dogecoin Day has fans hyped.
Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs landing in Australia next week
Australia’s mass retail appetite for cryptocurrency is about to be tested as two Bitcoin and one Ethereum spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have been approved for listing. See related article: New Australian ETF grants exposure to Bitcoin mining sector Fast facts All three ETFs are set to go live on Cboe (formally Chi-X) Exchange on April […]
Bitcoin mining difficulty drops amid market turmoil
Bitcoin miners saw a 1.26% drop in mining difficulty on Thursday, the third time this year, while the price fell to less than US$40,000. See related article: Cryptos slump over inflation, Shanghai lockdown and war concerns Fast facts The mining difficulty level is now at 28.23 trillion at block height 731,808, after it saw an […]
Bitcoin follows blue chips south amid market turmoil
Top blockchain and crypto news: Market contagion hits crypto. Ethereum developer pays price for bad Korea move. China whacks more crypto miners.
Cryptos slump over inflation, Shanghai lockdown and war concerns
Bitcoin and Ethereum were down more than 5% each in Asian trading hours as cryptocurrency markets slumped in lockstep with traditional assets.
Why fears of a market bubble don’t apply to Bitcoin
Crypto market downturns can dredge up bad memories of ICOs. What lessons can investors learn from the past — and how is Bitcoin different?
Coinbase India setback; Hong Kong’s Bitcoin ATMs
Coinbase’s launch in India is off to a rocky start. Meanwhile, Bitcoin ATMs grow in Hong Kong.
Bitcoin ATMs face existential threat in Hong Kong
Authorities in Hong Kong moving to block retail investors from accessing non-derivative crypto products could undermine the presence of Bitcoin ATMs in the city with the most crypto ATMs in Asia.
Jack Mallers’ Strike to bring Bitcoin shopping to Shopify
Jack Mallers announced at Bitcoin 2022 Strike’s integration with Shopify to enable merchants to accept Bitcoin payments through the Lightning Network. See related article: Twitter chief says integration of BTC Lightning Network “a matter of time” Fast facts Mallers also revealed the Bitcoin payments platform bagged partnerships with NCR, one of the world’s largest point-of-sale […]
Opensea’s Solana beta begins; Binance bails out Sky Mavis
Chinese state media calls for stronger regulations of NFTs. Meanwhile, Sky Mavis raises $150M to offset Ronin hack.
SEC comes around on Bitcoin ETFs
Oversight by the American commodities regulator of the Bitcoin futures ETF by Teucrium helped with the SEC approval.
Bitcoin down amid crypto carnival in Miami
News of officials planning to shrink the Fed’s balance sheet by US$95 billion a month weighed on risk assets globally including Bitcoin which dropped about 5% Thursday early morning Asia time. See related article: Bitcoin, crypto market on the rise along with global markets Fast facts Bitcoin fell as much as 4.7% on sell off […]
Lightning Labs raises $70m to bring stablecoins to Bitcoin
Lightning Labs raised $70 million in series B funding to build a stablecoin and asset protocol on the Bitcoin network. See related article: Will the growing regulatory heat on stablecoins stifle innovation? Fast facts Investors include Valor, Baillie Gifford, Goldcrest, Kingsway, Stillmark, Brevan Howard, NYDIG, and others. Elizabeth Stark, co-founder and CEO of Lightning Labs, […]
How Bitcoin could become the collateral layer for the digital asset economy
Bitcoin is now a reserve asset for Terra’s UST. What does this portend for the $186 billion stablecoins market?
March 2022
Terra’s US$10 billion Bitcoin Bet Sends LUNA to Record High
Terra’s LUNA, the eighth largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, reached a new all-time high of US$106.14 on Tuesday early afternoon Asia time, following a US$135 million purchase of Bitcoin.
Gaming fintech firm enables Bitcoin tips for streamers
Gaming fintech ZEBEDEE launched ZBD Streamer on Tuesday, enabling content creators to collect Bitcoin tips while live streaming on online platforms including Twitch and YouTube. See related article: PlayNFT plug-in to enable streamers to offer NFTs on Twitch Fast facts Viewers can send tips using a Bitcoin Lightning wallet, with an option to send custom […]
UAE becoming crypto hub; India’s tax bogeyman
The UAE is becoming the new crypto hub of the world. Meanwhile in India, high crypto taxes are scaring away young investors.
Bitcoin ETF rejection could trigger Greyscale to sue the SEC
Greyscale Investments might sue the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) if its filing to convert its US$30 billion Bitcoin trust into an exchange-traded fund (ETF) is rejected, company CEO Michael Sonnenshein told Bloomberg. See related article: Bitcoin price hits all-time high after ProShares ETF debut Fast facts The SEC’s deadline to approve or reject […]
Ukraine’s NFT museum; Bitcoin on the up.
Ukraine launches its NFT Museum of War. Meanwhile, Bitcoin passes $47,000 mark.
Mt. Gox may return Bitcoin worth over $6 billion, Karpeles says
The Japanese trustee for Mt. Gox is likely to distribute the remaining trove of Bitcoins held by the defunct cryptocurrency exchange sooner than later, former CEO Mark Karpeles tells Jake Adelstein in an exclusive interview for Forkast.
Bitcoin crosses $47,000 mark as crypto surges in Monday’s market
Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, crossed US$47,000 on Monday Asia time after a sudden spike, the first time since early January. See related story: Bitcoin wakes up to pass $40,000 before going back to sleep Fast facts Bitcoin has traded below US$45,000 since January, but broke out to trade at US$46,823 on Monday […]
Russia’s bitcoin for oil proposal; Crypto market makes gains
Russia considers a bitcoin for oil proposal. Meanwhile, crypto markets make gains after weeks of volatility.
Bitcoin, crypto market on the rise along with global markets
Volatility has been the name of the game in the past few months, but experts tell Forkast that may be coming to an end.
Bitcoin legal tender status meets stop sign in Malaysia
Malaysia’s deputy finance minister Shahar Abdullah turned down a proposal to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender on Thursday, calling cryptocurrency unfit for payments. See related article: Malaysia ministry: adopt crypto as legal tender to engage the young Fast facts Abdullah voiced concerns around cryptocurrencies’ price volatility and cyber security risks. Zahidi Zainul Abidin, the deputy […]
Russia proposes Bitcoin payments for oil and energy exports
Russia State Duma deputy and Energy Committee chairman Pavel Zavalny proposed Bitcoin and national currencies as payment options for energy exports to “friendly countries,” such as Turkey and China, at a press conference on Thursday. See related article: EU says crypto included in sanctions against Russia and Belarus Fast facts Zavalny proposed gold and Russia’s […]
Echoes of El Salvador as Malaysian minister calls for crypto adoption
Top blockchain and crypto news: Bitcoin buzz in Malaysia. Yuga Labs teases Otherside. Blockchain verdict in China.
Malaysia’s crypto proposal; Hong Kong’s 11-yr-old NFT coder
A Malaysian minister has proposed making Bitcoin a legal tender. Meanwhile in Hong Kong, an 11-year-old programmer makes his way into the NFT business.
The Flippening: When will Ethereum overtake Bitcoin?
Ethereum’s market value passing up Bitcoin’s may not be a matter of if, but when. Dr. Kosrow Dehnad and Joe Duncan offer a predictive model.
Crypto milestone on Wall St.: Goldman Sachs makes OTC Bitcoin trade
Goldman Sachs announced its first over-the-counter crypto options trade on Monday, becoming the first major U.S. bank to do so, marking a milestone for crypto adoption on Wall Street. See related article: Goldman Sachs: Bitcoin could reach $100K price by beating gold Fast facts The trade was in the form of a Bitcoin non-deliverable option […]
Bitcoin, crypto market in the green after Fed rate hike
Bitcoin and most of the top cryptocurrencies by market capitalization landed in the green on Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised interest rates on Wednesday. See related article: Is Bitcoin really a hedge against inflation? Fast facts The U.S. central bank hiked its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 basis points, for the first time […]
Renewables uptake: Bitcoin the problem or solution?
There is more to transitioning to renewable energy than one might expect, and in Australia, one Bitcoin mining company says the industry can play a role.
China highlights crypto crimes; Kazakh miners busted
Chinese authorities cracked down on crypto related crimes on Consumer Rights Day. Meanwhile in Kazakhstan, the former President’s brother was busted for illegal crypto mining operations.
Bitcoin wakes up to pass $40,000 before going back to sleep
Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, crossed the US$40,000-mark on Wednesday morning Asia time after a sudden surge before returning to its pre-surge price in less than two hours. See related article: Bitcoin leads market-wide downturn as Russia fears rise Fast facts Bitcoin’s price has remained steady for the past five days, and its […]
Singapore imposes sanctions; Bitcoin bucks market trend
Crypto exchange Binance has won a license to operate in Bahrain. Meanwhile in Southeast Asia, Singapore’s Monetary Authority has designated Russian banks amid growing sanctions.
EU votes against de facto Bitcoin mining ban
The European Parliament voted on Monday against a de facto ban on cryptocurrencies that rely on energy-intensive proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanisms, such as Bitcoin, from its proposed Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework. See related article: How serious is the threat of Bitcoin mining to the environment? Fast facts The Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs […]
Russians turn to crypto as Western sanctions hit the ruble
As Russia’s economy began to tank, data shows many turned to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies as a store of value and means of transacting.
Conflict currency: How crypto has become enmeshed in the war in Ukraine
Bitcoin and other cryptos are being used on both sides of the fight, raising ethical issues that cut to the core of decentralization, says AAX’s Ben Caselin
Korean exchanges block Russians; Crypto’s role in conflict
As the war in Ukraine enters it’s second week, we take a look at how cyptocurrencies and digital assets can play a role in a conflict.
Russian accounts frozen in Korea; China’s Two Sessions beckons
Crypto donations on the rise for Ukraine as Russian aggression continues. Meanwhile in Asia, China’s Two Session’s are set to begin – could Ukraine and crypto be a part of the agenda?
Bitcoin shores up Ukraine fighters amid Moscow’s money meltdown
Top blockchain and crypto news: Digital currency battling Russian invasion. Ethereum remains NFT projects’ chain of choice. China to lock up crypto traders.
Bitcoin, proof-of-work ban removed from European Union’s MiCA
The European parliament has scrapped wording from proposed legislation that would have banned cryptocurrencies that rely on the proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism, like Bitcoin. See related article: How serious is the threat of Bitcoin mining to the environment? Fast facts The European Parliament member in charge of spearheading the bill known as the Markets in […]
Russian ruble plunges; Ukraine DAO aids civilians
Sanctions on Russia have prompted a resurgence in the Crypto market as the Russian ruble takes a nosedive. And as the attack on Ukraine continues, a decentralized autonomous organization is created to support Ukrainian civilians who have joined military efforts.
USDT-RUB volume outpaces Bitcoin pair as Russia sanctions pile
The trading volume of the USDT-RUB pair spiked to a 10-month high and outpaced the ruble’s Bitcoin pair as international sanctions against Russia shake local financial stability. See related article: US asks crypto exchanges to comply with Russian sanctions: report Fast facts The daily trading volume of the BTC-RUB pair surged to over 3 billion […]
Crypto market gained $200B in the last 12 hours
The global cryptocurrency market cap recovered above US$2 trillion since dropping below the mark in mid-February, in a US$200 billion 12-hour run. See related article: Bitcoin, crypto market tank as Putin declares war on Ukraine Fast facts Bitcoin’s price jumped over US$2,000 in a 10-minute window from 6:30 am HKT Tuesday to mark a ceiling […]
February 2022
Will Bitcoin and Ethereum make a comeback in 2022?
Russia’s war on Ukraine is battering crypto prices, but what does the more distant future hold for BTC and ETH? Fintech experts offer predictions.
Ukraine crypto donations top $36M amid Russian invasion
Cryptocurrency donations to Ukraine through government and private channels have topped US$36 million as contributions continue to mount throughout the Russian invasion. See related article: Binance may join sanctions imposed on Russian targets Fast facts The Ukrainian government has received 113 BTC and 2,001 ETH, totaling almost US$10 million, as of press time. Binance has […]
India top court queries crypto legality over $2.6B Bitcoin scam
The Supreme Court of India has sought clarification from the government on the legality of cryptocurrencies in the country in the wake of surging Bitcoin scams, local media reported. See related article: Indian crypto scam investigated Fast facts A bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant asked additional solicitor general (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati […]
Is Bitcoin really a hedge against inflation?
Bitcoin’s recent slumps have been coupled with macroeconomic activities, bringing its status as an inflation hedge into question.
Bitcoin donations for Ukraine military surpass $1M
A charitable fundraising page for the Ukrainian military shut down on Patreon, while donations to the organization’s Bitcoin wallet accelerated to surpass US$1 million on Friday. See related article: Putin’s attack triples Ukrainian crypto exchange’s trading volume Fast facts Come Back Alive, a Kyiv-based nonprofit organization established in 2014, says funds will be used to […]
Putin’s attack triples Ukrainian crypto exchange’s trading volume
Trading volume in Ukrainian crypto exchange Kuna has more than tripled by Friday since Russia invaded the Eastern European nation, according to CoinGecko data. See related article: Bitcoin, crypto market tank as Putin declares war on Ukraine Fast facts The 24-hour trading volume at Kuna was at around US$1.5 million on Thursday morning Asia time, […]
Here’s why Australia can’t use its empty deserts to mine Bitcoin
Sunny skies and wide open spaces may seem the perfect place to mine Bitcoin using cheap solar power, but one industry insider tells Forkast there’s much more to it than that.
Russian attack hits crypto: MUFG to close blockchain venture
The crypto market tanks after Russian President Vladimir Putin announces a military operation in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Japan’s biggest financial group closes it’s blockchain payment venture.
Terra bullish trend continues; rest of crypto top 10 in red
Terra LUNA is continuing its bullish trend from where it left off on Wednesday, up almost 7% to trade at $59.39 on Thursday morning, Asia time. Fast facts See related article: Is Terra — whose LUNA coin is now at another all-time high — really where the smart money is? The currency has been as […]
Crypto losses not protected in China; India’s bitcoin premium
Chinese court reiterates its stance that the law cannot cover crypto losses. Meanwhile, Indian investors are paying double the South Korean kimchi premium.
Why India’s Bitcoin premium is now higher than South Korea’s
The RBI is casting a cloud of regulatory uncertainty over the local digital assets industry, but the nation’s Bitcoin premium shows India wants crypto.
Solana, Terra join Bitcoin in free fall as markets continue tumbling
Solana joined Bitcoin’s free fall along with other cryptocurrencies on Tuesday, after being among the few cryptos standing in the green during a red day in the crypto market on Monday. See related article: What Solana prices will be at the end of 2021 and beyond Fast facts Solana — currently at US$83.50 – is […]
‘Extreme fear’: Bitcoin continues bear run, while Solana is up
Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, continues to tank along with other cryptocurrencies in the global market, with investor sentiment at “extreme fear” at Bitcoin’s Fear and Greed Index. See related article: Bitcoin leads market-wide downturn as Russia fears rise Fast facts Bitcoin is currently down by almost 2% to trade at US$39,185. Bitcoin’s […]
Crypto market rebound is short-lived as Russia tensions loom
Investor relief at last week’s slight market rebound gave way to concerns over military tensions in Ukraine, sending crypto and traditional markets reeling.
Bitcoin leads market-wide downturn as Russia fears rise
Bitcoin led a market-wide sell-off Thursday night Asia time by losing almost 8% coming into business hours Friday Asia time, and was trading at US$40,578 at press time. See related article: Is Bitcoin’s rocky start to 2022 a sign of things to come? Fast facts All other major tokens were down around the same amount, […]
Crypto assets, stablecoins pose risk to global financial stability: FSB
The rapidly growing crypto market could pose a threat to global financial stability, according to a Financial Stability Board (FSB) report published on Wednesday. Fast facts The FSB, an international body that monitors and makes recommendations about the global financial system, identified vulnerabilities related to unbacked assets such as Bitcoin, stablecoins such as USDT and […]
Warren Buffett invests $1B in Bitcoin-friendly Nubank
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway purchased US$1 billion of Brazilian neobank Nubank Class A stock in Q4 2021 while selling billions of dollars of stock in Mastercard and Visa. Fast facts Buffett’s holding company dumped US$1.3 billion and US$1.8 billion from Mastercard and Visa, respectively, according to a Feb. 14 filing with the U.S. Securities and […]
HK watchdog’s NFT warning; DBS plans crypto expansion
HK watchdog’s sends out warning calling NFT a threat, meanwhile in Singapore DBS plans a crypto expansion
Bitcoin’s 30-day performance shows it’s not just another tech stock
As Bitcoin’s price movement began to mirror that of traditional markets, some likened it to tech stocks. Its recent price action shows otherwise.
Bitcoin outperforms tech stocks by 12% average in last 30 days
Bitcoin has continued to outperform traditional investment vehicles with the digital asset leading over major tech stocks in the last 30 days, according to Finbold. Fast facts Bitcoin outperformed the top six tech stocks by an average return on investment (ROI) of 12.24% as of Feb. 13. Bitcoin significantly outpaced Meta by 46.74%, followed by […]
Bitcoin hashrate reaches new ATH in 32% surge
Bitcoin’s hashrate reached an all-time high over the weekend, despite many miners being forced to move operations out of Kazakhstan. Fast facts The total Bitcoin hashrate surged by 31.7% to an all-time high of 248.11 exahashes per second in raw values on Saturday, according to data from Blockchain.com. The latest hashrate read at 209.63 EH/s […]
JPMorgan predicts $150,000 Bitcoin price in the long run
American banking giant JPMorgan predicts Bitcoin’s price will approach US$150,000 in the long term, strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou wrote in an investors note cited by Bloomberg. Fast facts Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, is currently trading at about US$43,830, but JPMorgan pegs its fair value at around US$38,000, about 15% lower than its current […]
US seizes $3.6B worth of Bitcoin stolen in 2016 Bitfinex hack
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has seized over US$3.6 billion worth of Bitcoin linked to crypto exchange Bitfinex’s hack that occurred in 2016, as the country ramps up efforts to combat crypto crime. Fast facts The DOJ said Tuesday in a statement that it has arrested two individuals for allegedly laundering proceeds of 119,754 […]
Year’s biggest rally pushes crypto market cap above $2 trillion
After a poor start to the year, the market needed some good news. Industry watchers urge caution.
January 2022
Russia’s finance ministry calls for crypto regulation, not ban
The Russian finance ministry called for the regulation of cryptocurrencies on Tuesday, opposing the central bank’s proposal last week to ban crypto mining and usage. Fast facts Ivan Chebeskov, director of the finance ministry’s financial policy department, told Russian outlet RBC that a ban on crypto transactions and mining could hamper the country’s growth in […]
Crypto mining’s Great Migration continues — out of Kazakhstan
Political chaos and power shortages are causing miners to flee a nation that only recently became the world’s second-largest Bitcoin producer.