March 2023
Bitcoin, Ether rise; relief for investors as major banks get liquidity lifeline
Bitcoin and Ether rallied by the end of Asian trading hours on Friday afternoon, together with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
Enterprise software giant Salesforce partners with Polygon for NFT-based loyalty programs
Salesforce has partnered with Polygon Labs to help its clients develop non-fungible token (NFT) based loyalty programs on the Polygon blockchain.
Bitcoin, Ether, other crypto gain with equities amid global fund injections to support banks
Bitcoin neared the US$25,000 mark on Friday morning in Asia. Cryptocurrencies gained as the U.S. and Europe moved to backstop troubled banks with cash.
Who should be held responsible for the Silvergate Bank and SVB crises?
As bank after bank topples, fingers are pointing everywhere. But crypto is not to be blamed for this unfolding crisis, writes Winston Hsiao of XREX.
Thailand Turns to Crypto
Thailand’s recent crypto tax waiver announcement could be a gamechanger in boosting Thailand’s economy.
India, UAE to collaborate on cross-border central bank digital currencies
The Indian central bank and the UAE will jointly run pilot programs on their central bank digital currencies, according to the Reserve Bank of India.
Bitcoin, Ether, Forkast 500 NFT index fall; euros rises amid Credit Suisse’s loan
Bitcoin and Ether declined by the end of Asian trading hours on Thursday afternoon, with all the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies also falling, apart from Binance’s BNB.
Ripple executives say XRP lawsuit ruling will have little impact on global business operations
The court ruling in a lawsuit brought by the SEC against Ripple will have minimal impact on the company’s business, APAC policy director Rahul Advani said.
South Korea cranks up pressure to extradite Do Kwon, founder of failed Terra-Luna stablecoin
South Korean prosecutors said they will expand cooperation with overseas legal agencies to facilitate the arrest and extradition of Do Kwon.
Bitcoin, Ether drop, other top cryptocurrencies retreat as bank liquidity concerns rise
Bitcoin and Ether dropped in Thursday morning trading in Asia along with most other leading tokens amid broader concerns about bank liquidity.
What the crypto industry should do to rebuild public trust
Many crypto users see losses as the cost of doing business. In fact, we can and must improve the sector’s deficiencies, writes Pelle Brændgaard of Notabene.
Web3 crowdfunding launchpad Poolz Finance hacked for US$390,000 on BSC, Polygon
Poolz Finance, a cross-chain crowdfunding launchpad for Web3 projects, has been exploited for US$390,000 worth of digital assets
Circle’s USDC bounces back after Silicon Valley Bank bust
Top blockchain and crypto news: USDC stabilizes after SVB collapse. Silvergate closes shop. China tightens financial supervision.
Bitcoin, Ether, Forkast 500 NFT index extend gains; U.S. banking crisis concerns ease as inflation slows to 6%
Bitcoin and Ether rose on Wednesday afternoon in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Solana and Polygon were the biggest gainers, both rising above 5% in the last 24 hours.
Anchorage Digital lays off 20% of staff amid low NFT demand, says bank unit not affected
Digital asset platform Anchorage Digital will lay off 75 employees as it restructures to meet regulation challenges.
Bitcoin, Ether continue run up; Solana, Dogecoin lead gainers; U.S. equities rebound
Bitcoin and Ether continued strong price gains, with most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies logging advances for the past seven days.
Bitcoin breaks US$26,000 as inflation cools in February
Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, rallied past the US$26,000 mark at 09:15 p.m. in Hong Kong, shortly after the release of the United States Consumer Price Index (CPI)
India imposes money laundering regulations on crypto industry
India’s crime fighting agencies have been investigating crypto exchanges and individuals on money laundering charges and have now put the onus on exchanges to report suspicious transactions.
Circle’s Disparte speaks on de-risking crypto from banking risks
The recent U.S. banks fallout is a stress test for both traditional finance and digital assets but to weather the storm side by side is a powerful opportunity, says Circle Chief Strategy Officer Dante Disparte.
Bitcoin, Ether extend gains as U.S. regulators take charge of banking industry turmoil
Bitcoin and Ether rose the most in the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization on Tuesday afternoon in Asia. Cryptocurrencies have been on a rebound since U.S. regulators took charge of the failures in the banking industry and moved to protect deposits across crypto-linked banks.
FBI investigating the collapse of Do Kwon’s Terra-Luna, WSJ reports
Former employees of Do Kwon’s Terraform Labs are being questioned by the FBI and U.S. prosecutors in New York.
Bitcoin jumps above US$24,000, leading crypto gains as U.S. acts to backstop banks
Bitcoin continued to gain in morning trading in Asia, as regulators acted to backstop the U.S. banking industry. Most of the top 10 cryptocurrencies gained.
Banks are bringing systemic risks to crypto, says Circle’s Disparte
The recent U.S. bank failures are proof that the banking system is introducing systemic risks to the crypto industry, not vice versa, says Circle chief strategy officer Dante Disparte.
Crypto banking crisis?
As the U.S. tries to head off a bank run, crypto is quickly running out of places to bank with.
Bitcoin, Ether gain after U.S. regulators take charge to shield deposits across crypto-related banks
Bitcoin and Ether gained in Monday afternoon trade in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, after U.S. regulators took charge of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, both with exposure to crypto industry, protecting deposits and confirming that no losses will be borne by the taxpayer.
Beware the perils of one-size-fits-all approach to crypto investing
The collapse of Voyager and Celsius highlights the risks of crypto investing apps and underscores the need for tailored user education, writes Jackson Zeng of Caleb & Brown.
Circle says US$3.3 bln USDC reserve at SVB available Monday, announces partnership with Cross River
Circle said the USDC reserve deposits held at the failed Silicon Valley Bank will be recovered when banks open on Monday.
Circle’s USDC stablecoin regains parity as regulators act to stop bank run risk
Circle said its $3.3 billion of USDC cash reserves at the collapsed Silicon Valley Bank will be available Monday after regulators stepped in to backstop deposits.
Bitcoin jumps more than 9% as U.S. acts to protect deposits at crypto-linked banks
Bitcoin and Ether led a rebound in cryptocurrencies in Asia morning trading as U.S. regulators backstopped banks with ties to the crypto industry.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin falls below US$20,000 as Silvergate collapse, rate hike concerns rise
Bitcoin fell below US$20,000 for the first time since Jan. 13 on the back of crypto bank Silvergate’s collapse and the U.S. Fed signaling higher than expected interest rate hikes.
Bitcoin, Ether, Forkast 500 NFT index close lower on the day
Bitcoin and Ether tumbled during Asia trading hours on Friday afternoon, with Dogecoin leading losses among the top 10 largest non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, pressured by crypto bank Silvergate’s liquidation
Bitcoin, Ether slump in broad sell-off amid Fed red flags on rates, Silvergate Bank failure
Bitcoin and other leading cryptocurrencies slid Friday morning in Asia, tracking equities amid red flags on interest rates and concern about fallout from the Silvergate collapse.
Why global coordination on crypto regulation is paramount
In the race to tame crypto’s excesses, we need to avoid regulatory clashes while DeFi draws lessons from TradFi, writes Rachel Lin of SynFutures.
Bitcoin, Ether fall amid interest rate hike fears, Silvergate liquidation; Forkast NFT 500 index slips 0.79%
Bitcoin and Ether fell in evening trading in Asia Thursday, with XRP the sole gainer in 24 hours among the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market cap.
Bitcoin crashes through US$22,000 floor as failure of Silvergate crypto bank hits market
The shuttering of Silvergate Bank was not unexpected, but it still drove Bitcoin and most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies lower on Thursday morning in Asia.
How Singapore’s crypto ambitions are taking shape and what other nations can learn
Unique in the world, Singapore is a big investor and player in digital assets while advancing regulations that favor institutions over individual crypto users, writes Danny Chong of Tranchess.
Silvergate teeters as regulators circle and crypto firms cut ties
Top blockchain and crypto news: Silvergate woes spark bankruptcy talk. LDO dips on false enforcement rumors. Chinese leaders push digital development.
Bitcoin, Ether fall amid U.S. Fed chair warning of more interest rate hikes; Forkast NFT 500 index slips 0.65%
Bitcoin and Ether fell in afternoon trading in Asia on Wednesday, with XRP the sole gainer among the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market cap.
Forkast 500 NFT index slips, BAYC NFTs leads in sales volume
The Forkast NFT 500 Index slipped 0.68% to 4,276.12 in the 24 hours through 4:45 p.m. in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
Fed’s Powell says stablecoins could have role in financial sector if properly regulated
Stablecoins could have a place in the U.S. financial services sector if appropriate regulation is put in place, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said on Tuesday at a hearing before Congress.
Bitcoin dips, Ether little changed, with top 10 crypto mixed following U.S. equity slump
Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies traded mixed on Wednesday morning in Asia, largely shrugging off the slump in U.S. equities overnight.
Ethereum validators win ‘short term’ as Blur, OpenSea rivalry drives up gas fees
Ethereum validators are benefiting from the increasingly heated competition between the two largest NFT marketplaces that is driving up gas fees, but the windfall may not last much longer.
Bitcoin, Ether inch up as investors await U.S. Fed chair’s comments; Forkast NFT 500 index dips 0.44%
Bitcoin and Ether gained in Tuesday afternoon trade in Asia, along with most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. Polygon’s Matic token led gains followed by XRP and Dogecoin.
Hong Kong’s crypto scam losses in 2022 more than double from 2021: SCMP
Crypto scams accounted for over half of Hong Kong’s losses from computer-related crimes in 2022.
China’s WeChat social media giant integrates digital yuan into payment platform
WeChat, China’s leading social networking and payment app, has integrated the digital yuan into its payment network, which may help adoption of the CBDC.
South Korea reports US$4.3 billion in illegal foreign transactions involving cryptocurrencies
The Korea Customs Service has identified US$4.3 billion worth of illegal foreign currency transactions last year involving cryptocurrencies.
Bitcoin, Ether little-changed in downtrend day; Forkast NFT 500 index dips
Bitcoin and Ether traded mostly flat in a downtrend move for most of the top 10 cryptocurrencies in Tuesday morning in Asia. The new Forkast NFT 500 index slipped.
Singapore police begin probe linked to Do Kwon’s Terraform Labs: Bloomberg
Singapore’s police have begun investigations linked to Terraform Labs that was co-founded by fugitive Do Kwon, according to a Bloomberg report.
Bitcoin gains, all other top 10 cryptos in the red amid Silvergate fallout
Bitcoin gained in Monday afternoon trade in Asia while all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization posted losses.
Bitcoin treads water below US$22,500, Ether dips with other top 10 cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin and other top 10 cryptocurrencies fell on Monday morning amid concern about the troubled crypto bank Silvergate.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bulls fight to keep Bitcoin above US$22,300, as industry experts predict ‘crab walk’
With 69% of Bitcoin supply in profit, BTC is struggling to stay above the US$22,300 support level. A daily close below US$22,300 could see Bitcoin retest the US$21,450 support level. Industry experts share their end-of-March Bitcoin price predictions with Forkast.
Ethereum core developers delay Shanghai hard fork to early April
The expected launch of the Shanghai hard fork has been delayed from late March to the first two weeks of April, according to Ethereum developers on Thursday.
Crypto’s March Pullback
Cryptocurrencies across the market took a hit this week despite performing well over the past year.
Bitcoin, Ether fall; Litecoin is biggest loser of day
Bitcoin and Ether fell by the end of Asian trading hours on Friday afternoon, together with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, weighed by the financial woes of crypto-focused bank Silvergate.
Why DAO governance is riddled with problems and voting is a farce
DAOs are supposed to be democratic, egalitarian and inclusive, but those ideals are far from the current reality, writes Awa Sun Yin of Namada.
Bitcoin falls below US$23,000, Ether slides in crypto price slump across the board
Bitcoin and Ether prices slumped in Friday morning trading in Asia, along with all other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.
CBDC: Boon Or Bane?
Critics fear CBDCs could mean the end of cryptocurrencies, and an increasing number of countries are racing to develop their own.
Australia’s central bank identifies CBDC use cases as it prepares pilot launch
Australia has outlined potential use cases and providers for a central bank digital currency (CBDC), with a pilot program to be launched in the coming months.
Japanese banks to launch, test stablecoins on ‘Japan Open Chain’
Three major banks in Japan will issue stablecoins on an Ethereum-compatible blockchain created by the blockchain-related tools developer G.U. Technologies.
Bitcoin, Ether fall along with most top 10 cryptos amid potential for larger interest rate hikes
Bitcoin and Ether fell during Asian trading hours on Thursday, along with all top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.
China’s digital yuan initiative gets cold reception from Hong Kong visitors
China is promoting digital yuan to Hong Kong visitors, but has not received much enthusiasm so far.
Bitcoin, Ether rise; Polygon leads rebound in top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies
Bitcoin and Ether rose in Thursday morning trading in Asia, along with all top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies. Polygon led the gains.
Singapore’s DDEx eyes security token offerings, mulls adding more cryptocurrencies
DBS bank’s digital exchange, which serves institutional clients, said macroeconomic conditions last year were not suitable for security token offerings (STO), but it will explore opportunities for such listings in 2023 and plans to add more crypto tokens.
Bitcoin Punks exceed 1,145 ETH in daily trading volume as Bitcoin Ordinals gain traction
Less than two months since the launch of the Ordinals protocol, Bitcoin Ordinals are gaining traction. Yuga Labs announced its first Bitcoin-native NFT collection, on the same day Bitcoin Punks saw over 1,145 ETH in trading volume. Industry commentators told Forkast what this could be for the Bitcoin network.
Creation of U.S. digital dollar would ‘crowd out’ crypto: ex-Biden adviser
A U.S. central bank digital currency would “crowd out” the cryptocurrency ecosystem and protect national security, according to an ex-top presidential adviser.
Visa not slowing down with crypto plans, says its crypto chief
American payments giant Visa is not slowing down its cryptocurrency plans despite last year’s bear market, according to the firm’s crypto head Cuy Sheffield.
Bitcoin, Ether rise along with most top 10 cryptos, amid ‘bull trap’ warning
Bitcoin and Ether gained in Wednesday afternoon trading in Asia, along with most other top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Asian equities mostly rose on Wednesday as investors digested economic recovery indications as Hong Kong ended its mask mandate.
Bitcoin, Ether fall; Polkadot leads losers among top ten tokens
Bitcoin fell in Wednesday morning trading in Asia, although held above the US$23,000 lower resistance line. Polkadot led the losers, while Litecoin rose.
Bitcoin’s price gains this year bring needed relief to cash-strapped crypto mining industry
Officials at Bitcoin mining companies say the rebound in prices so far this year for the world’s biggest cryptocurrency has thrown a lifeline to the industry after some miners sought protection from creditors last year amid the slump in the token’s price.