Decentralization - Forkast

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June 2022

Crypto lending platforms, DeFi seem to be having an Animal Farm moment

In a decentralized society envisaged under crypto, everybody is reportedly equal. But as the market strains under considerable stress, it’s showing some are more equal than others.

Lachlan Keller — June 24, 2022 | 3:53 pm HKT

April 2022

Word on the Block

How decentralization is making everyone their own CEO

The emancipatory promise of decentralization has been both evangelized and excoriated. The Algorand Foundation’s Jason Lee explains why we should be believers.

Forkast.News — April 1, 2022 | 8:04 pm HKT

March 2022

The future is decentralized: How Web3 can reshape the world

As the public tires of Big Tech’s privacy abuses, Web3’s premise of decentralization has never looked better, writes Edward Chen of Huobi.

Edward Chen — March 4, 2022 | 11:05 am HKT

February 2022

Binance’s investment in Forbes is a wake-up call for the crypto industry

When the world’s biggest crypto exchange acquires a major stake in the business publication it once sued for defamation, should we worry?

Nick Saponaro — February 24, 2022 | 11:04 am HKT

Crypto adoption may rise as industry self-regulates

Crypto regulations are lagging the market’s needs, and the industry should help create order to gain greater public trust, writes Imgesu Cetin of Defy Trends.

Imgesu Cetin — February 2, 2022 | 3:03 pm HKT

January 2022

The rising tide of decentralization in mass movements

Alternative approaches to governance have never been more important, writes Alexander Filatov of TON Labs. Here is how DAOs can change the world.

Alexander Filatov — January 19, 2022 | 9:03 pm HKT

Happy birthday, Bitcoin! You’re still killing it

Love it or hate it, Bitcoin can be a powerful force for good — and it’s here to stay, writes Peter Vessenes, co-founder of The Bitcoin Foundation.

Peter Vessenes — January 3, 2022 | 7:01 pm HKT

December 2021

The Daily Forkast

Crypto fall continues; Is DeFi really decentralized?

Crypto fall continues meanwhile, is DeFi really decentralized?

Forkast.News — December 14, 2021 | 8:30 pm HKT

The Daily Forkast

Crypto hit in market sell off; Bitget reportedly suspended by MAS

Crypto hit in market sell off, also Bitget reportedly suspended by MAS

Forkast.News — December 6, 2021 | 8:30 pm HKT

November 2021

Why a decentralized metaverse is Web 3.0’s new frontier

The metaverse is a convergence of the physical and digital worlds, writes Gloria Wu of Ontology. How can the metaverse escape Web 2.0’s failings?

Gloria Wu — November 30, 2021 | 4:12 pm HKT

How will decentralized hosting change the future of social media? | Part 2

As social media’s influence on broader society continues to grow, decentralized platforms will mean less central moderation — for better or worse.

Lachlan Keller — November 24, 2021 | 4:55 pm HKT

What decentralization can offer Web 3.0 and social media | Part 1

How blockchain technology can usher in the next stage of the internet and social media, through decentralized hosting and integration with cryptocurrency.

Lachlan Keller — November 22, 2021 | 12:03 pm HKT

Solana Breakpoint 2021 celebrates price ATH, technology and projects to come on the emerging blockchain

Rounding out an impressive year for the world’s No. 5 blockchain, Solana held its first global offline conference in Lisbon this week. Here’s a look at some of the key moments.

Lachlan Keller — November 12, 2021 | 4:32 pm HKT

Thinking big: Blockchain paradigm shift may upend the social contract

Trust, data privacy and job elimination are some of the challenges that society will face as blockchain ushers in Web3.0, according to Don Tapscott.

Jocelyn Yang — November 10, 2021 | 9:03 am HKT

Disrupting the status quo: Why the world needs decentralization

The familiarity of centralized systems may feel comforting, but decentralized technologies like blockchain are the wave of the future, writes Corey Petty of Status.

Corey Petty — November 5, 2021 | 9:05 pm HKT

Fashion, art, games and community: What does a decentralized metaverse mean for you?

The idea of the metaverse has gone from the realm of science fiction to the latest business model of major companies from Facebook to Nike. What do metaverses powered by blockchain look like, and why is there so much interest in Decentraland?

Lachlan Keller — November 5, 2021 | 5:26 pm HKT

The Future Rules

Why archiving the internet is vital and how a decentralized web can help | Ep. 6

Why archiving the internet is vital for the future, how a decentralized web can help, and why looking at history is a good way to predict the future

Forkast.News — November 3, 2021 | 9:02 pm HKT

Back up Hong Kong: How blockchain has quietly become history’s hard drive

In a city where memories disappear every day, people are turning to blockchain to preserve news archives — so the first drafts of history will survive.

Hsiuwen Liu — November 2, 2021 | 7:02 pm HKT

FastForkast headlines

Barbados to open embassy in the metaverse

October 2021

Polkadot founder Gavin Wood: Decentralization and security are not optional in the search for scalability

More decentralization is being planned for Polkadot as its much-anticipated rollout draws close with the first batch of parachain slot auctions starting on Nov. 11.

Michelle Lim — October 28, 2021 | 3:33 pm HKT

The Future Rules

How to protect digital privacy and freedom of expression | Ep. 4

The importance of digital privacy, freedom of expression and civil liberties and how Web 3 can protect them.

Forkast.News — October 6, 2021 | 9:01 pm HKT

September 2021

The Future Rules

Why decentralization can help solve the content moderation problem | Ep. 3

Why is content moderation a cosmically huge problem, do humans need to be involved and how can the decentralized web ensure it’s a place for everyone.

Forkast.News — September 22, 2021 | 9:00 pm HKT

The Future Rules

What decentralization means for internet censorship | Ep. 2

What was internet censorship like in the early days, how has it changed, and what role does decentralization play.

Forkast.News — September 8, 2021 | 9:05 pm HKT

What are public, private and permissioned blockchains?

What are the different kinds of blockchain, and how do they compare? Learn all about public, private and permissioned platforms in this Forkast.News explainer.

Zoltan Vardai — September 8, 2021 | 7:02 am HKT

August 2021

Why honest centralization is superior to chaotic decentralization

Are DAOs and decentralization always beneficial for the group or the user? Antoni Trenchev of Nexo urges you to think again.

Antoni Trenchev — August 11, 2021 | 7:03 pm HKT

Word on the Block

Are DAOs a new way for companies to go public?

As more crypto companies go public, some are returning to a decentralized business model. ShapeShift CEO Erik Voorhees explains the ethos and reasons why.

Forkast.News — August 7, 2021 | 5:06 pm HKT

FastForkast headlines

Twitter’s Bluesky announces new project lead

Microsoft, Alibaba to build antipiracy system on Ethereum

Decentralized music streaming platform Audius reaches 5M users

July 2021

How blockchain can transform social media | Part 2

Why is social media’s current centralization problematic, and what would a decentralized Twitter or Facebook look like?

Dr. Kosrow Dehnad and Joe Duncan — July 16, 2021 | 7:05 pm HKT

Why decentralization is essential for protecting user data and privacy

Centralized data management is outdated and vulnerable to hacking, says Li Jun of Ontology. Here’s how blockchain can make data more secure.

Jun Li — July 6, 2021 | 7:02 pm HKT

June 2021

Decentralized theme parks promise kids virtual prizes to earn as they learn

Prototype launches in Hong Kong, with children able to collect digital currency and NFTs instead of arcade coupons.

Lucas Cacioli — June 29, 2021 | 9:16 am HKT

How DeFi exchanges like SynFutures may challenge TradFi and CeFi

Singapore-based decentralized exchange SynFutures has closed a $14 million series A round to bring crypto derivatives to new users around the world.

Michelle Lim — June 18, 2021 | 12:55 pm HKT

The internet paradigm shift is here: Are you prepared for Web 3.0?

Permissionless, open source and decentralized, Web 3.0 will transform computing and data storage. Maria Paula Fernandez of Golem Network explains how.

María Paula Fernandez — June 16, 2021 | 7:03 pm HKT

Plasm Network closes $10M fundraise to bolster Polkadot ambitions

With Kusama slot parachain auctions underway, the first starting next week, Plasm and Shiden networks prepare for a multi-chain future with Polkadot.

Michelle Lim — June 11, 2021 | 8:00 pm HKT

FastForkast headlines

Singapore DeFi derivatives exchange SynFutures closes US$14M fund raise

Airbnb to face decentralized rival as Dtravel launches

May 2021

FastForkast headlines

Spanish healthcare group Biziondo to accept Bitcoin payments

April 2021

How blockchain technology can improve trust in democratic elections

Loss of faith in elections may be at an all-time high around the world. Here is how blockchain voting and decentralization can restore public trust.

Joan Arús — April 27, 2021 | 5:12 pm HKT

The Daily Forkast

ASEAN+1 pledge to advance blockchain; Paypal to launch wallet in China | The Daily Forkast

Six blockchain groups in the Asia-Pacific form a consortium, aiming to champion blockchain advocacy in the region.

Forkast.News — April 21, 2021 | 10:05 pm HKT

DeFi insurance: Why buy coverage for your digital assets?

Insurance policies for DeFi can cover losses from theft to smart contract issues. But do read the fine print — and know the industry is ‘self-regulated.’

Azeem Ahmed — April 5, 2021 | 12:01 pm HKT

March 2021

What does Weibo’s takedown of Binance & Huobi mean for crypto in China?

China’s Twitter-like platform disabled the crypto exchanges’ accounts on the same day China vowed to ‘crack down’ on businesses that sound like crypto.

Kelly Le — March 12, 2021 | 3:55 pm HKT

February 2021

Capitol riot: Is political extremism tarnishing blockchain by association?

Decentralized apps like DLive are gaining attention since the violent attack on the US Capitol. How will this affect the wider adoption of blockchain DApps?

James Wo — February 19, 2021 | 7:05 pm HKT

Binance Labs invests in Plasm Network to expand Polkadot

Plasm Network, a leading DApps hub on Polkadot and first parachain on its Rococo testnet, secures $2.4 million to build out the growing Polkadot ecosystem.

Michelle Lim — February 9, 2021 | 8:00 am HKT

Uproar over WhatsApp and user privacy shows need for new data economy

Sharing user data in exchange for free services is not necessarily a bad thing, writes Henri Pihkala of Streamr. The key is transparency and user consent.

Henri Pihkala — February 5, 2021 | 2:25 pm HKT

January 2021

The Current Forkast

Tether prosecution delayed again. Bitcoin’s false ‘double-spend’ rumors. Brave sends 24 million users to Web 3.0 via IPFS.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: BIS touts digital currencies. China’s blockchain network to add CBDCs as payment option.

Forkast.News — January 27, 2021 | 8:03 pm HKT

Forkast Forecasts 2021

SpaceChain’s Zee Zheng on bitcoin going mainstream and blockchain in space

In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, SpaceChain’s CEO offers his predictions for 2021 on bitcoin’s growing importance and blockchain in space.

Forkast.News — January 4, 2021 | 7:35 pm HKT

Why crypto’s decentralized exchanges will continue their rise in 2021

Do you trust third parties with your finances? Alex Zha of MXC Exchange explains the benefits of decentralized exchanges (DEX) and problems that remain.

Alex Zha — January 4, 2021 | 3:01 pm HKT

December 2020

DeFi explained: The guide to decentralized finance

What is DeFi and how does it work? What are its benefits and risks? Forkast.News explains everything you need to know about one of the hottest, most lucrative and controversial crypto trends.

Jimmy Aki — December 30, 2020 | 4:04 pm HKT

November 2020

Explainers Video

Filecoin explained: Decentralizing cloud storage for Web 3.0

AWS is down again? Protocol Labs’ Filecoin — an ‘Airbnb for cloud storage’ — is a response to the risks inherent in centralized data storage and cloud giants

Forkast.News — November 26, 2020 | 5:00 pm HKT

Online salon with Filecoin to explore future of cloud storage and Web 3.0

Forkast.News and Decrypt Media host an exclusive live video discussion with the Filecoin team to explore the next frontier in cloud storage

Forkast.Studio — November 19, 2020 | 7:10 pm HKT

October 2020

Word on the Block

Filecoin mainnet launch brings Web 3.0 apps to the mainstream

After some early turbulence, Filecoin is now opening up applications like video streaming and social networks that used to exist only in centralized Web 2.0.

Forkast.News — October 31, 2020 | 8:20 pm HKT

What’s up with Filecoin and the uproar over its miners?

Miners’ complaints with economic model are resulting in early rewards release and falling FIL prices. What happened to 800,000 coins?

Bryan Michael Galvan — October 19, 2020 | 7:01 pm HKT

Word on the Block

Power over Bitcoin is held by a few. Is it at risk of a 51% attack?

In a special interview, Konstantin Richter of Blockdaemon also discusses the critical role of government in encouraging greater blockchain adoption.

Forkast.News — October 5, 2020 | 7:01 pm HKT

Space Race’s success prompts Filecoin to announce Space Race 2 | Space Race Episode 3

Space Race miners accumulate 230 PiB of storage as independent miners show why they’re the day-to-day heroes.

Yohan Yun — October 2, 2020 | 7:10 pm HKT

September 2020

Space Race miners challenged with rapid network upgrades | Space Race Episode 2

Miners have accumulated over 215 PiB of storage power in Filecoin’s Space Race, but daily updates have been slowing them down.

Yohan Yun — September 14, 2020 | 5:13 pm HKT

HackFS kickstarts project development in Web 3.0

The end of HackFS signals the start of Space Race as developers prep for the global decentralization of storage nodes in the era of Web 3.0.

Yohan Yun — September 9, 2020 | 5:30 pm HKT

Filecoin’s mainnet aims for the clouds of Web 3.0

Web 2.0 gave users the power to engage with other users and contribute content to the network, but data is still stored in centralized databases. Web 3.0 wants to end all of that.

Yohan Yun — September 4, 2020 | 11:37 pm HKT

August 2020

Why decentralization and democratic governance are blockchain myths

Many blockchain protocols claim to be decentralized, but industry practices show the opposite. Even Bitcoin is largely controlled by a few.

Konstantin Richter — August 31, 2020 | 7:01 pm HKT

May 2020

Lessons from Covid: How the blockchain community can rise to its ideals

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.

Ariana Fowler — May 1, 2020 | 8:05 pm HKT

April 2020

Covid is disrupting the global workforce to its core. What will the future of work look like?

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?

Charlie Morris — April 16, 2020 | 8:04 pm HKT

March 2020

Video conferencing in style in these turbulent times: a TV anchor’s guide to how to shine on Zoom

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.

Angie Lau — March 30, 2020 | 12:01 pm HKT

Blockchain in telecom: ‘blockchain phones’ need to evolve to be taken seriously

In the third installment of this special three-part Forkast.News series, we look at some phones on the market that bill themselves as ‘blockchain’ but are only doing a disservice to the industry.

Sam Reynolds — March 13, 2020 | 5:05 am HKT

January 2020

Q&A with CEOs of Digital Asset & R3: China, US aren’t in tech arms race

After their panel on how blockchain technology is changing the world of finance and enterprise at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2019, Digital Asset cofounder and CEO Yuval Rooz and R3 CEO David Rutter answered follow-up questions.

Forkast.News — January 23, 2020 | 10:01 am HKT

Indonesia’s decentralized island society makes blockchain a must-have | Opinion

Indonesia is a country of 17,508 islands and 260 million people, including 171 million internet users. It’s a huge market, dominated by the digital economy that’s ripe for blockchain disruption.

Pandu Sastrowardoyo and Jean-Daniel Gauthier — January 16, 2020 | 10:06 pm HKT