September 2023
Have we learned anything from Curve Finance and DeFi’s susceptibility to attacks?
The DeFi giant may have escaped a death spiral, but exploits and code problems like what it recently suffered are more commonplace — and preventable — than what the industry acknowledges.
PayPal’s stablecoin is a big step forward for crypto’s legitimacy but not much yet for the cause
PYUSD’s launch is injecting much-needed trust into crypto’s turbulent landscape, but its current form does not come with any of the benefits of real crypto, writes Danny Chong, co-founder of Tranchess.
SEC will load more charges on crypto exchanges and DeFi, says enforcement chief
The U.S. SEC will expand its regulatory enforcement onto crypto exchanges, intermediaries and decentralized finance (DeFi) entities.
Valkyrie CIO expects US spot Bitcoin ETF approval in Q2 2024
A growing number of asset management companies are joining the race for the approval of a Bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund in the United States while the Securities and Exchange Commission keeps delaying its decision on existing applications.
Weekly Market Wrap: Deutsche Bank’s crypto move propels Bitcoin to US$26,750
Bitcoin hit a weekly high of US$26,750 after Deutsche Bank announced plans to offer crypto custody services for institutional investors, days after Standard Chartered launched its own institutional crypto wing.
Why DAOs are choking on majority rule and failing their democratic ideals
To solve DAOs’ people problems with mismanagement and bad actors, they need to lean into automation — and take more matters out of human hands.
Weekly Market Wrap: ETF developments bolsters Bitcoin above US$26,000
Bitcoin returned to US$26,000 on Friday, bolstered by Ark Invest’s Ether ETF application and Grayscale’s continued efforts for its potential Bitcoin ETF.
U.S. CFTC charges three DeFi projects for illegal derivatives offerings
CFTC charged three U.S.-based decentralized finance protocols – Opyn, ZeroEx and Deridex – on Thursday for omitting necessary registrations .
Bitcoin ETF: The quiet 800-pound gorilla in the room is about to roar
The general public does not know this yet, but there is no longer any doubt that a Bitcoin spot ETF will come to the US market, writes Charlie McGlynn of XREX. It’s just a matter of when.
Bitcoin above US$26,000; JP Morgan working on blockchain payment system
Bitcoin rose Friday morning in Asia to above US$26,000, leading a rally across most top 10 cryptos. Ether gained but was still below US$1,650.
Toncoin leads gains in top 10 cryptos as Bitcoin, Ether slip; Google to allow NFT gaming ads
Toncoin led gainers in the top 10 cryptos after it saw stronger investor interest since the launch of its new programming language, Tact.
No bounce for Ether after Ark Invest files for its first U.S. spot Ether ETF
Bitcoin traded flat Wednesday morning in Asia below the resistance level of US$26,000. Ether also traded flat, hovering around US$1,600.
Bitcoin, Ether flat; US equities drop as rate hike concerns return
Bitcoin was trading flat below US$26,000 Wednesday morning in Asia. Ether edged up but remained below the US$1,650 mark.
Do you really trust the smart contracts in charge of your crypto?
Making sure the smart contracts behind DeFi platforms are thoroughly audited isn’t just a job for code developers — it’s also a must for ordinary investors.
Bitcoin, Ether remain under key levels; Sol leads gains in top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin and Ether have struggled to gain traction since the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) postponed its decision on seven Bitcoin ETF proposals.
SEC delays verdict on BlackRock’s ETF application; Will Bitcoin ETFs see light of day?
After Grayscale’s legal win, the SEC decided to postpone its decision on spot Bitcoin ETF applications. Will these proposals be greenlit? And when?
Weekly Market Wrap: Grayscale’s favorable court verdict, ETF hype fail to lift Bitcoin above US$28,000
While Grayscale’s favorable verdict over the SEC could pave the way for the first spot Bitcoin ETF in the U.S., it failed to bring Bitcoin above the US$28,000 support level.
August 2023
Grayscale triumphs over SEC: A David v. Goliath win in the crypto arena
Top blockchain and crypto news: U.S. court compels SEC to review Grayscale’s ETF application. SEC zooms in on NFTs. Asia’s richest man eyes blockchain, CBDCs
Uniswap securities violation charges dismissed by US court
A U.S. district court on Wednesday dismissed charges against a group of five firms for alleged securities violations on the Uniswap DeFi platform.
Crypto market gets boost from favorable court ruling for Grayscale against U.S. SEC
Prices of all cryptocurrencies rose on Wednesday after a U.S. court backed Grayscale on its Bitcoin ETF application, compelling the SEC to review its rejection of the application.
Court backs Grayscale, overturns SEC decision blocking Bitcoin ETF
In a landmark ruling, the court overturned the SEC’s previous decision, signaling potential tailwinds for other financial giants.
Friend.tech daily fees and buyers drop by over 90%
Friend.tech saw its daily revenue, fees and active buyers fall over 90% from its peak.
DeFi revenue remains resilient despite Curve Finance hack
Even as the value of assets in DeFi dips, service provider revenues stand strong, undeterred by the US$73 million Curve Finance breach, Forkast Labs data shows.
Bitcoin below US$26,000 with a new low of US$20,000 in the cards
Bitcoin fell Wednesday morning in Asia to trade below US$26,000. Ether also dropped as all other top 10 non-stablecoin tokens traded flat to lower.
Why FTX deserves a second chance
Despite the outrage against Sam Bankman-Fried and the now-bankrupt exchange, everyone would be better off with a relaunched FTX 2.0, writes Rachel Lin, CEO of SynFutures.
Bitcoin recovers after falling below $26,000 as the ETF excitement bubble bursts
Bitcoin stabilized Tuesday morning in Asia after dropping below the key US$26,000 support level over night. Ether also dipped but held the US$1,600 mark.
Bitcoin stabilizes as ETF enthusiasm tapers off
Bitcoin stabilized above the US$26,000 mark following last week’s sell-off. Top cryptos struggle to gain momentum as Bitcoin ETF applications continue to be delayed.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin falls below US$26,000 following Evergrande’s bankruptcy
Bitcoin fell over 10% this week and dipped to a two-month low following Evergrande’s bankruptcy filing.
Bitcoin steady at US$28,500; Dogecoin leads market decline in Asia
Global institutional intrigue in digital currencies grows but the cryptocurrency market shows no signs of rallying.
How AI, with blockchain, can transform everyday life: Opinion
Combining blockchain with AI, two of the greatest innovations of this era, will unlock myriad benefits for consumers and businesses alike, writes Eugen Kuzin.
Crypto’s fear and loathing: Will TradFi take over?
Moves by big financial institutions into digital assets are worrisome to crypto purists, but it could be just what crypto needs to shake off its doldrums, writes Konstantin Horejsi of Blocktrade.
Tokenization could bring mass adoption to crypto — or trigger disaster: Opinion
Tokenization is having a breakout year, but providers must learn from the past to prevent another FTX or Celsius-level crisis, writes Philipp Pieper of Swarm.
Bitcoin, Ether extend losses; most other top 10 cryptos fall
Bitcoin fell in Tuesday afternoon trading in Asia, dipping below the support level of US$29,000.
July 2023
South Korea crypto lender Delio says operations in peril amid prosecutor raids, lawsuit
Delio halted interest payments for all users on Monday, after announcing difficulties in providing services as usual.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin falls below US$30,000 as institutional interest in ETFs fails to lift markets
Bitcoin fell under US$30,000, despite the SEC accepting eight spot Bitcoin ETF applications for review this week. A weekly close under that psychological level could lead to more panic selling, industry experts told Forkast.
Bitcoin, Ether inch above key levels; Matic leads gainers
Bitcoin and Ether both recaptured key support levels. Institutional interest remains upbeat following a slew of Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications, industry experts told Forkast.
Bitcoin, Ether trade flat as buzz around Bitcoin ETFs and Ripple court ruling fades
Bitcoin edged higher on Thursday morning, along with most other top 10 cryptocurrencies, but the token looks to have lost support at the US$30,000 line.
Bitcoin, Ether, top 10 cryptos fall; SEC accepts Valkyrie’s spot Bitcoin ETF for review
Bitcoin and Ether both fell below key price levels earlier but returned above as investors remained optimistic after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accepted the second Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) application for review, from asset manager Valkyrie.
Bitcoin, Ether slip, top cryptos mixed, XRP biggest gainer after last week’s court win
XRP continued its rally after XRP issuer Ripple’s favorable ruling last week in its lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
SEC accepts BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF application for review
The U.S. SEC has accepted BlackRock’s application for a spot Bitcoin ETF, a major step for the potential launch of the country’s first spot Bitcoin ETF.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin rises past US$31,000, cryptos rally after Ripple’s win against U.S. SEC
Bitcoin rose to US$31,736 on Friday, bolstering Ethereum to above US$2,000, after the court ruled that the sale of XRP did not constitute a security. Bitcoin needs a close above US$31,000 to pave the way for US$32,500, market experts told Forkast.
Europe’s first spot Bitcoin ETF set to launch in July: FT
Europe’s first spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) is expected to be publicly listed this month, following a 12-month delay from the initially planned date
Bitcoin, Ether rise, top cryptos mixed, as investors await SEC response to Bitcoin ETF applications
Bitcoin and Ether rose during Thursday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, while most of the top altcoins were mixed, as investors await the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) response to spot Bitcoin ETF applications. See related article: Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin breaches US$31,195 following Fidelity’s spot Bitcoin ETF application Bitcoin, Ether rise, top 10 […]
Bitcoin, Ether slip but remain above key levels; top 10 cryptos mixed
Bitcoin and Ether fell during Tuesday afternoon trading in Hong Kong, while most of the top 10 non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies by market capitalization were mixed.
Bitcoin breaches US$31,000 on BlackRock’s updated ETF; Ether gains, Polygon leads winners
Bitcoin climbed above US$31,000 on Tuesday morning in Asia after Blackrock refiled its Bitcoin ETF application. Ether also gained amid institutional interest.
June 2023
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin breaches US$31,195 following Fidelity’s spot Bitcoin ETF application
Bitcoin briefly rose to US$31,195 after Fidelity filed its spot Bitcoin ETF application. Can the wave of institutional interest keep Bitcoin above US$30,500?
Bitcoin gains with all top 10 crypto, Fidelity confirms Bitcoin ETF bid, U.S. economy rebounds
All top 10 cryptocurrencies rose, led by Solana, as another financial heavyweight applied to offer a Bitcoin exchange-traded fund and data showed the U.S. economy in good health. Stocks rose.
Crypto gets a boost following reports of Fidelity’s imminent Bitcoin spot ETF filing
Top blockchain and crypto news: Fidelity Investment is reportedly close to filing its own Bitcoin ETF. NFT traders seek liquidity. Singapore eyes asset tokenization.
Bitcoin, all other top 10 cryptos lose ground; Azuki Elementals NFT disappoints investors
Bitcoin dropped but remained above US$30,000, with all other major cryptocurrencies falling, as investors reacted to news of MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin purchase and ARK Invest’s spot Bitcoin ETF plan.
Weekly Market Wrap: Bitcoin remains above US$30,000 as market shrugs off Prime Trust’s cease order
Bitcoin shrugged off Prime Trust’s cease order, as risk appetite was bolstered by several TradFi alumni entering the crypto space this week. Could we see more spot Bitcoin ETF applications next week?
Bitcoin slips but remains above US$30,000, amid crypto custodian Prime Trust’s cease order
Bitcoin remained above US$30,000, even as Nevada state regulators in the U.S. ordered crypto custodian Prime Trust to cease operations.
Why DeFi token airdrops are risky and how to make them more secure: Opinion
Having a crypto wallet is necessary to participate in a token airdrop, but wallets are also vulnerable to hacks and mishaps, writes Ravindra Kumar of Frontier.
Bitcoin surges above US$28,000 on institutional adoption; Ether gains; U.S. equity futures down
Bitcoin surged over 5% on Wednesday morning in Asia to breach the US$28,000 resistance level, leading a rally of the top 10 non-stablecoin tokens except XRP.
WisdomTree files new spot Bitcoin ETF application following BlackRock
New York-based asset manager WisdomTree has submitted a new application for a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund in the U.S., less than a week after BlackRock filed its application for a similar spot Bitcoin ETF.
BlackRock files for spot Bitcoin ETF, taps Coinbase as custodian
The ETF, if approved, would be the first publicly traded crypto product of its kind in the U.S., but the SEC just sued crypto exchanges for alleged securities violations and has rejected similar ETF applications in the past.
Why G7’s proposed crypto regulations will be bad for DeFi
FATF’s travel rule is looming over the crypto industry as an existential threat, writes Jack Jia of Unlimit. Here’s why it’s especially worrying to DeFi and self-custody wallet users.
What’s holding back DeFi and keeping the masses away
DeFi has the potential to revolutionize finance, but hacks, poor user experience, and a lack of a regulations make many wary, writes Arthur Firstov of Mercuryo.
May 2023
How NFT-financing can reshape the landscape of lending and borrowing
NFT-backed lending and borrowing can unlock liquidity and expand investment opportunities. Here are the best practices — and risks.
Why are so many VCs and startups flocking back to banks?
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and others led to predictions of big shifts away from centralized finance. James Wo examines why that hasn’t happened yet.
How DeFi can keep out bad apples while upholding crypto’s core ideals
Crypto users need not fear the increasing KYC/AML requirements around the world and loss of privacy, writes Kurt Hemecker of the Mina Foundation. Here’s why.
April 2023
Hacker exploits old Yearn Finance contract, steals $11.6 mln in stablecoins
A hacker took advantage of an old contract from Yearn Finance on Thursday to steal US$11.6 million in stablecoins.
How decentralized limit orders can transform crypto trading
On-chain limit orders offer an alternative to centralized exchanges by improving transparency and security, writes Ramani Ramachandran of Dfyn. What are the drawbacks?
The Web3 dilemma of data transparency vs. the need for user privacy — and a way to solve it
Storing personal information in a centralized place has been a honeypot for hackers, while decentralized identity allows for greater trust and data security, writes Caria Wei of Nuvo.
DeFi has a trust gap. What can rebuild its credibility?
Traditional institutions are testing crypto waters, but given last year’s market carnage, it’s not easy to gain their confidence, writes Simon Schaber of Spool.
The TradFi vs. DeFi rivalry is hitting a new peak — and that’s bad for everyone
Amid the current banking crisis, each side is exhibiting disdain for the other when neither holds the moral high ground, writes Rachel Lin of SynFutures.
March 2023
Centralized intermediaries were cause of crypto failures in 2022, says Voorhees
If there was a lesson from the crypto implosions of 2022, it is the demonstration of the superiority of open code and decentralization over central intermediaries, argues Voorhees at DC Blockchain Summit.
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.
Euler Finance loses nearly US$200 mln in exploit
Euler Finance, a decentralized finance lending protocol has lost approximately US$197 million in an exploit, according to online crypto security analysts.
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.
What Web3 must do if it wants to attract 1 billion users
Web3 is growing more rapidly than the early internet, writes Ken Timsit of Cronos Labs. But to achieve mainstream success, the following issues must be addressed.
Liquid staking TVL surpasses lending, becomes the second-largest among DeFi services
The total value of crypto assets deposited in liquid staking protocols rose to US$14 billion, surpassing lending services before Ethereum’s Shanghai update.
February 2023
Crypto exchanges face an existential challenge. What can bring users back?
Amid the rubble of FTX and other centralized exchanges, cross-chain technology and on-chain trading offer more trustworthy alternatives, writes Simon Harman of Chainflip.