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January 2024

USDT rises as money laundering tool in SEA, UN says

A UN report reveals USDT’s growing role in money laundering and underground banking in Southeast Asia

CoinShares acquires Valkyrie expands ETF offerings

With the acquisition of Valkyrie Funds, CoinShares aims to strengthen its position in the competitive ETF market.

Ethereum ETFs gain support from BlackRock’s CEO

Support from BlackRock CEO Larry Fink boosts prospects for Ethereum ETFs.

Ethereum outperforms Bitcoin despite ETF debut

Ether’s price rises sharply, contrasting with Bitcoin’s stagnant performance despite recent ETF launches.

Bitfinity valued at US$130 mln ahead of launch

With its recent US$7 million funding, Bitfinity wants to enhance Bitcoin’s utility in DeFi and NFTs.

Hedera, Algorand unite for wallet recovery

The DeRec Alliance, involving HBAR and Algorand Foundations, aims to solve digital asset recovery challenges with a new protocol.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs launch in U.S. markets

Grayscale and BlackRock’s ETFs lead a bullish debut for newly listed Bitcoin ETFs.

USDC issuer Circle attempts public listing again: report

With the filing for an IPO, Circle aims to capitalize on the growing interest in crypto assets, despite recent industry setbacks.

Crypto milestone: SEC approves spot Bitcoin ETFs

SEC’s landmark decision approves 11 Bitcoin ETFs, heralding a new era for digital asset investments.

Ripple to be valued at US$11.3 bln following share repurchase

Ripple Labs’ tender offer aims to repurchase US$285 million shares, valuing the firm at US$11.3 billion and fortifying financial standing.

Restey immortalizes Gensler’s tweet on the Bitcoin blockchain

Billy Restey inscribes SEC’s Gensler tweet on Bitcoin blockchain, ensuring clarity after a false ETF approval claim rattles the crypto market.

SEC decision looms: Cboe pushes for Bitcoin ETFs

Cboe appeals to SEC for fast-tracking Bitcoin ETFs.

SEC’s cybersecurity in question after ETF tweet blunder

Following a misleading tweet about Bitcoin ETFs, Senators Vance and Tillis demand answers from the SEC regarding its cybersecurity measures.

Valkyrie CIO eyes US$400 mln inflow in the first week of Bitcoin ETF launch: The Block

Steven McClurg says Valkyrie Investments may be poised for a historic ETF launch this week, with the potential to inject up to US$400 million into the market.

Bitcoin ETF applicants make swift amendments to filings following SEC’s response

Imminent SEC decision on Bitcoin ETFs could mark a watershed moment for crypto, spearheaded by industry giants BlackRock and VanEck, reshaping the investment world.

November 2023

Creator economy, AI & the move to half a trillion dollars

Welcome to Forkast IQ, presented by Forkast’s Megha Chaddah, where we look beyond the headlines to get you insights that power smarter decisions. In this special edition, Forkast News spoke to one of the leaders of the Web3 industry, Yat Siu, co-founder and chairman of Animoca Brands.

Is Ethereum once again a victim of its own success?

A year after the Merge made Ethereum even more popular, the network now faces the perils of a staking-fueled liquidity crunch. What are the alternatives?

Why a16z chose London for its first non-US office

Silicon Valley venture giant Andreessen Horowitz plants flag in London: fuels UK’s ascent as a Web3 innovator.

UBS allows crypto ETFs for Hong Kong investors with at least US$2 mln assets

Three SFC-authorized crypto ETFs will be available on UBS’ Hong Kong platform.

UK & EU push ahead on stablecoins, HK approves another crypto exchange & Apefest marred by complaints

The UK’s crypto hub dream is coming to life while some attendees of Apefest 2023 in Hong Kong complaint on severe eye pain post-event.

Blackrock files for Ether ETF: ETH tops US$2,100

BlackRock’s Ether ETF filing comes as the U.S. SEC entered an eight-day window to potentially approve pending Bitcoin ETF applications.

Ether breaches US$2,000 as BlackRock registers iShares Ethereum Trust entity

Ether rose to an over six-month high of US$2,045.

SEC in talks with Grayscale for Bitcoin ETF: CoinDesk

The SEC has reportedly been in contact with Grayscale since its court victory in August.

Can spot Bitcoin ETFs push Hong Kong to the crypto throne?

Top blockchain and crypto news: Hong Kong mulls Bitcoin ETFs, Ordinals flip Ethereum NFTs, IPO comes full circle.

Bitcoin breaks US$36,000 as SEC enters potential ETF approval period

Bitcoin is up over 32% in the past month.

EBA proposes new liquidity guidelines for stablecoin issuers

The proposed guidelines will work as a liquidity stress test for stablecoin issuers, according to the EBA.

Circle reportedly considering 2024 IPO: Bloomberg

Circle has previously tried to go public through a blank-check deal back in 2022.

Ripple partners with Onafriq for African cross-border payment channels

The partnership aims to reduce the high costs and lengthy transfer times associated with traditional remittance payments.

What we can learn from the sunsetting of Reddit’s crypto rewards program

Reddit’s shortsightedness and fixation on profits ultimately led it to pull the plug on Community Points. But here’s why Reddit should still be commended.

Mitsubishi UFJ launches joint stablecoin study with Ginco, Progmat

The joint study aims to create the infrastructure for issuing regulatory-compliant stablecoins for improved cross-border settlement.

Bitcoin transaction fees reach 5-month high, Ordinals surpass 38 mln inscriptions

The last time Bitcoin transaction fees were this high was on June 6.

Moody’s unveils AI that predicts stablecoin depegging

The artificial intelligence service is designed to predict the depegging of stablecoins in 24-hours.

Bank of England, FCA to regulate sterling-denominated stablecoins

The central bank expects to release the final set of regulations by 2025.

SBF conviction closes “dark chapter” in crypto: Yat Siu

Siu said this marks the crypto industry’s evolution from the FTX collapse and the Terra-Luna meltdown.

Is Hong Kong really in the forefront of the global digital money race?

Hong Kong is charging ahead in its digital currency initiatives, but more must be done to address the e-HKD’s environmental impact and security concerns.

Bitcoin up 0.25% as U.S. jobs creation slows

Bitcoin was trading above US$34,000, as the decreasing job creation in the U.S. fueled hopes of another interest rate pause.

Okto pledges US$5 mln to support Vauld users

The US$5 million fund aims to help Vauld users who can’t withdraw their assets from the platform.

SOL up over 21% in a year since Alameda’s balance sheet hole came to light

SOL rose over 319% in 2023 so far, despite concerns around FTX’s lawsuit.

XRP approved by Dubai’s Financial Services Authority

The XRP token now stands to benefit from legal and regulatory clarity in the DIFC, according to the announcement.

PayPal subpoenaed by SEC over PYUSD Stablecoin

PayPal said that it is collaborating with the SEC’s request.

ProShares launches short Ether ETF

The new ETF will offer investors short exposure to Ether.

PayPal registers crypto service with UK FCA

The registration enables PayPal to advertise its crypto services to U.K. customers.

Tether offers US$610 mln debt financing facility to German Bitcoin miner Northern Data

Tether extends US$610 million loan to boost Northern Data’s AI and Bitcoin mining operations.

SBF trial drama fails to dampen Bitcoin’s meteoric October

Top blockchain and crypto news: Bankman-Fried’s memory lapses, betting on the return of NFTs, ETF dreams and Bitcoin’s Uptober

Circle to cease USDC minting for retail customers

Circle said the account closures do not apply to businesses or institutional Circle Mint accounts.

October 2023

‘Uptober’ narrative saved by spot Bitcoin ETF bounce

Often dismissed as coincidence, October has once again produced an upswing in the crypto market, with excitement around a potential U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF to thank for this year’s ‘Uptober.’

Singapore, Japan, Switzerland and U.K. to collaborate on digital assets pilots

The MAS said that its previous tokenization pilots demonstrated great potential benefits of the technology.

UK plans to introduce fiat-backed stablecoin rules in early 2024

The U.K. intends to introduce rules on fiat-backed stablecoins in early 2024, according to the government’s latest cryptocurrency policy update published on Monday.  See related article: Singapore, Thailand clarify crypto rules; NFTs become new cultural frontier Fast Facts See related article: Blockchain tech in Thailand gets boost from new pro-crypto lead

Standard Chartered’s Zodia Custody to launch in Hong Kong

The move is part of an Asia Pacific expansion effort by the cryptocurrency custodian.

Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank buys majority stake in Satang crypto exchange

The lender, known as K-bank, said it will also open three additional crypto subsidiaries.

Bitcoin ETF fever sends crypto prices up, SBF trial testimony, Nepal’s blockchain future

Bitcoin soars to its highest price in a year and a half as Grayscale’s legal victory against the U.S. SEC gets finalized.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs — crypto’s silver bullet?

Amid news, fake or otherwise, of an imminent approval for at least one spot Bitcoin ETF, Bitcoin’s price has skyrocketed. Could a year of pain in the crypto industry be over?

Parity Technologies, Polkadot blockchain developer, lays off 30% of staff

Parity CEO Björn Wagner said that despite the need for layoffs, the company’s financial health “remains robust.”

Dark Side of the $MOON: What the collapse of Reddit Community Points teaches us about Web3 tokenomics

To quell the uproar over the imminent death of a popular rewards program, Reddit is blaming ‘scalability’ and regulatory woes. But the real culprit is Reddit itself for failing to make its tokens sustainable, writes Fabio Galbi, CEO of VSC.

North America retains crypto crown even as US regulatory clouds loom: Chainalysis

The United States is the region’s top driver of crypto activity.

Philippines’ Coins.ph may have lost US$6 million worth of XRP in hack: The Block

Coins.ph, a cryptocurrency exchange based in the Philippines with millions of users, appeared to have lost 12.2 million XRP tokens, The Block reported on Friday.

Is TradFi’s entry into DeFi a turning point or a sign of greater battles ahead?

The pillars of Wall Street are muscling their way into crypto and decentralized finance. Who stands to benefit the most?

Bitcoin briefly rallies above US$30,000 following Grayscale’s new ETF application

Bitcoin gained over 10% this past week, boosted by Grayscale’s renewed spot Bitcoin ETF application.

Dubai’s crypto boom, Australia’s rules & Binance’s battles

Web3 leaders gather in the Future Blockchain Summit in Dubai and we take a deep dive on the woes of crypto’s largest exchange, Binance.

LBRY shuts down operations

LBRY issued a final goodbye to the crypto community before winding down operations.

SEC drops all charges against Ripple’s CEO Garlinghouse and co-founder Larsen

The XRP token rose over 6% on the day after the SEC dismissed the charges against Ripple’s top executives.

Grayscale files for new spot Bitcoin ETF on NYSE Arca

Grayscale said that its fund is ready to operate as an ETF upon regulatory approval.

Binance’s rollercoaster week: expansion, setbacks, and the ghost of FTX’s collapse

Top blockchain and crypto news: Is Japan a new frontier for Binance? AI art sweeps NFT sales. ETF buzz electrifies Bitcoin.

Lightning Labs to enable stablecoins on Bitcoin ecosystem with Taproot Assets

Taproot Assets will “accelerate the process of bringing Bitcoin to those billions of people,” according to Lightning Labs.

ECB to kick off digital euro preparation phase on Nov. 1

The central bank said that the preparation phase is not a decision on the issuance of a digital euro.

OFAC sanctions Gaza-based crypto exchange allegedly linked to Hamas

The U.S. takes action against 10 Hamas-linked entities, including Gaza-based money transfer business and crypto exchange Buy Cash.

UK emerges as world’s third-largest economy in terms of crypto transaction volume: Chainalysis

The U.K. is also listed as the 14th economy on Chainalysis’ Global Crypto Adoption Index.

Over 40% of Hong Kong investors shun digital assets post-JPEX Scandal, survey reveals

The survey aimed to measure the public attitude towards virtual asset investments, following the JPEX incident.

Trust Wallet’s TWT up 7%, leads top 100 cryptos in gains

TWT price rose over 15% during the past week, after Trust Wallet announced a major rebranding upgrade.

SUI Foundations denies supply manipulation allegations

SUI fell to a new all-time low on Wednesday following supply manipulation allegations, which the Sui Foundation denies.

Rampant scams highlight critical need for greater crypto literacy

The plight of the Philippines — which has a high rate of crypto adoption but is also plagued by fraud — offers a window into why the industry’s ‘do your own research’ mantra isn’t enough.

Binance freezes over 100 accounts on Israeli police request: Financial Times

Israeli police requested information on 200 additional crypto accounts.