May 2021
Chainlink joins Hedera council in push to link DeFi with traditional finance
Chainlink, a data oracle, has joined the Hedera Governing Council, which oversees the distributed governance of the Hedera network, an enterprise-grade public network for the decentralized economy.
Rejecting traditional finance, some firms now turn to DeFi for growth capital
DeFi project Maple Finance is launching a $17 million lending pool to provide crypto startups with capital. Is this the start of a DeFi credit underwriting trend?
China shuts banks, finance firms out of cryptocurrency business
China has slapped a ban on finance sector businesses, including payment firms, from offering cryptocurrency services.
Will Singapore launch a people’s digital currency — and support DeFi?
As Singapore builds Project Dunbar, a cross-border multiple-CBDC platform, its government dives into DeFi learning and ponders a CBDC for the masses.
China Merchants Bank launches US$50M DeFi, dApp fund with Nervos
Privately owned Chinese lender continues to target blockchain opportunities as it remains shut out of Beijing’s digital yuan project.
What is Polkadot and why is it one of the hottest blockchains right now?
The final phase of Polkadot’s rollout — with parachains — just kicked off. Here’s what you need to know about Polkadot and parachains, and why it matters.
Led by Cardano ADA, green cryptos rise as Bitcoin, wider market sinks
ADA price holds strong as investors shift to greener cryptocurrencies and Cardano smart contracts get set to launch blockchain into DeFi and NFTs.
India’s demand for crypto ‘growing like crazy’ since ban attempt
It’s only a matter of time that digital currency ‘is going to overshadow all the other forms of money,’ says Neeraj Khandelwal of CoinDCX.
China’s miners on Tesla’s Bitcoin 180; Animoca Brands — a star is born | The Daily Forkast
Asia’s crypto industry reacts to Tesla backtracking Bitcoin payments, while Animoca Brands raises US$88,888,888 in a new funding round.
Ethereum prices break $4,000 for first time—what’s driving ETH’s surge?
Is it all those new Ethereum ETFs, rising demand for Ethereum from DeFi and NFTs, or lower gas fees fueling ETH’s price jump to yet another all-time high?
Open DeFi launches DAO: ‘Multi-chain DeFi is here to stay’
Since its launch by Conflux Network, a Shanghai-endorsed public chain, the East-West alliance has added over 30 members. Open DeFi now forms a DAO.
Report: 1.7 million DeFi users now on Ethereum, 50% more since Jan. 1
ConsenSys Codefi’s Q1 report on decentralized finance (DeFi) trends also saw 7x growth in stablecoins and predicts flashbots dominating the Ethereum network.
How Uniswap V3 and smartBCH seek to streamline DeFi, save on gas
The days of ‘DeFi’ being an insider buzzword are over. But gas fees remain high and the road bumpy. Will Uniswap V3 and smartBCH change anything?
As DeFi swells past US$140 billion, FATF stokes worries over KYC/AML
Fast-growing DeFi — still a largely unregulated industry — gives FATF an earful over its proposed ‘travel rule’ and expanded anti-money laundering rules.
Ethereum prices soar over $3,200, making Vitalik Buterin a billionaire
As ETH prices hit a new ATH and continue to the moon, Ethereum’s visionary creator Vitalik Buterin becomes the youngest ever crypto billionaire.
April 2021
Why more big investors are now seeking interest and yields in DeFi
As corporations plow billions into Bitcoin, a new business model involving decentralized finance is emerging for investors, says Alessio Quaglini of Hex Trust.
How open DeFi markets in Southeast Asia can drive financial inclusion
The ASEAN region has 290 million unbanked, and only 18% have access to credit. Here’s how decentralized finance (DeFi) can lift lives via mobile phones.
PancakeSwap and controversial SafeMoon turbo boost BSC past Ethereum
Is Binance Smart Chain’s meteoric rise from PancakeSwap and cryptocurrency SafeMoon sustainable, and is an ‘Ethereum killer’ now finally closer to reality?
Solana prices surge amid crypto crash as market seeks lower gas fees
Solana blockchain — a rising alternative to Ethereum for DeFi and NFTs — hit an all-time high this week while other cryptocurrencies stagnated. How come?
Ant Group shares exclusive database tech to grow China’s CBDC | The Daily Forkast
China’s internet giant Ant Group shares its OceanBase database for the e-CNY project. More investors try out DeFi platform PancakeSwap.
Blockchain’s green efforts and crypto carbon-nomics in Asia | The Daily Forkast
From institutions wanting carbon neutral Bitcoins, to tokenizing carbon credits — these are the latest green crypto trends in this region.
Macao considers e-CNY rollout; kimchi premium arbitrage on the rise | The Daily Forkast
Macao jumps into digital yuan feasibility studies while South Korean banks make moves to curb kimchi premium arbitrage.
IMF wants more crypto supervision in the Philippines | The Daily Forkast
IMF warns issues warnings against crypto exchanges in the Philippines as China extends tests of its digital yuan to its free trade zone, Hainan Province.
Asian DeFi Picks Up Steam; Hong Kong Scammers Use Crypto As Bait | The Daily Forkast
XRP joins Wanchain’s DeFi ventures while Thai mobile bank explores the financial experiment. In Hong Kong, local police bust crypto scammers.
What is the truth behind the decentralized finance hype?
DeFi is making the global financial system more inclusive, but ‘teach more and punish less’ regulations are needed for greater adoption, a WEF panel said.
Why DeFi will be the next big thing in global finance
Traditional finance is costly and inefficient, and too many people are left out. Could decentralized finance (DeFi) be the answer?
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.’
How blockchain technology’s landscape changed in the tumult of 2020
Far from slowing down blockchain advances, the Covid pandemic may have accelerated the technology’s growth and adoption, blockchain experts say.
March 2021
China opens digital currency door to all. NFTs go wild. Is Singapore’s Temasek buying virgin Bitcoin?
Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Bitcoin prices rise as BTC and ETH options expire. DeFi market steps up as Elon Musk says, ‘Don’t defy DeFi.’
Justin Sun: Next generation traders will prefer NFTs and DeFi
Gen Z and millennials will transform investing. Here’s why one of their own — TRON CEO Justin Sun — thinks NFTs and DeFi are the wave of the future.
How liquid staking can unlock cross-chain interoperability and DeFi value
The siloed nature of many older blockchains is holding back DeFi’s potential, writes Sarah Kim of Terra. But help with greater interoperability is on the horizon.
What’s in DeFi’s future — and what does it mean for traditional banks?
Will DeFi replace centralized finance, and how might regulators respond? An all-star panel with leaders from SEC, WEF, ConsenSys and USDC explains.
Will DeFi upend traditional finance and democratize capitalism?
GameStop’s drama is over, but it may signal big changes ahead for finance. Here’s why one former banker thinks ‘DeFi is going to absorb traditional finance.’
February 2021
Why crypto data aggregation will be essential to fintech in 2021
How will the rise in cryptocurrency drive banking and fintech innovation? Decentralized finance may offer a model, writes Christopher Brown of Zabo.
BNY Mellon, Jay-Z join bitcoin conga line. Will NFTs take over real world? Roadmap for Biden to take blockchain leadership.
Other top blockchain and crypto news: DeFi under Fed study. Andrew Yang, Wyoming vie for crypto attention. Hong Kong and India edge toward crypto bans.
How blockchain is transforming the investing and securities industry
Modern financial markets still rely on slow and inefficient plumbing from a bygone era, writes Oi Yee Choo of iSTOX. Here is how blockchain offers a system upgrade.
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.
GameStop sinks as ETH hits all-time high. Ray Dalio weighs in on crypto. Elon Musk, bitcoin’s new warrior.
Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: India pushes CBDC and proposes banning crypto. Korea’s DeFi future. How does Bitmain’s drama end?
As SEC goes after Ripple and Bitcoiin2Gen, is DeFi next in its line of fire?
Securities lawyers read the tea leaves of SEC’s lawsuits against Ripple XRP and Bitcoiin2Gen. Will DeFi be next for SEC enforcement actions or regulations?
January 2021
Binance’s CZ predicts bitcoin prices will go as high as $400,000 in 2021
The founder and CEO of the world’s largest crypto exchange explains why he thinks bitcoin prices will keep rising but DeFi won’t be as hot as it was in 2020.
Binance report: over 100 million people are now crypto users
About half of cryptocurrency users are hobbyists while 15% consider crypto their primary source of income, according to a survey of 61,000 crypto users.
74% of stablecoins are issued on Ethereum, according to new report
ConsenSys Codefi’s 4Q 2020 report on DeFi trends also predicts more ‘wrapped’ tokens, tranche lending products and Ethereum 2.0 derivatives in 2021.
Bitcoin and other crypto trends to watch in 2021
How high will bitcoin prices go — and will 2021 be the year of the bitcoin ETF and advanced crypto derivatives? Jay Hao of OKEx looks to the future.
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce is optimistic about crypto regulation in 2021
The SEC Commissioner doesn’t want the blockchain and cryptocurrency industry to obsess over regulations, but ‘think about how the technology can be used.’
Acoer’s Jim Nasr on using blockchain to track Covid vaccinations
Acoer’s founder and CEO offers his predictions for 2021, including blockchain being used to track Covid vaccinations as well as in the war against fake news.
Biden’s American Rescue Plan. Crypto’s regulatory outlook in 2021. How not to lose your bitcoin password (don’t ask Stefan Thomas).
Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Twitter’s blue sky initiative. In China, Conflux Network wins another government deal.
OKEx’s Jay Hao expects ‘more amazing developments from DeFi’ in 2021
OKEx CEO speaks candidly on how 2020 was difficult for his crypto exchange, and offers his predictions for DeFi, regulations and CBDCs in year to come.
How blockchain can usher in new era in crypto regulatory compliance
When it comes to issues over crypto regulations and compliance, answers could be found in blockchain technology, writes Rachid Ajaja of AllianceBlock.
Bitcoin is ‘better form of value’ than fiat, says Binance CEO CZ
In a special video interview, Binance CEO CZ also explains why — despite DeFi’s spectacular rise up to now — he thinks many current DeFi projects will fail.
‘Crypto Mom’ Hester Peirce calls for more regulatory coordination
In an exclusive interview, the SEC Commissioner shares her thinking on digital assets, DeFi and wanting her agency to ‘do better’ in the crypto space.
LUKSO’s Fabian Vogelsteller predicts NFT and ERC-20 uses will grow
The founder of LUKSO and former Ethereum developer offers his views on decentralization as a tool and the ERC-725 standard for blockchain-based identity.
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.
December 2020
Urszula McCormack of King & Wood Mallesons: data regulation will be a challenge for the virtual asset sector
In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, the financial regulatory lawyer and partner at King & Wood Mallesons offers her views on digital assets regulation, CBDCs and Asia’s digital transformation.
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.
Looking ahead: 5 predictions for crypto and blockchain in 2021
What will be hot in blockchain next year, and what will be the curveballs? Forkast.News consults top industry leaders and thinkers to bring you a crystal ball.
Ontology’s Jun Li on credit-based DeFi and more real assets coming to blockchain in 2021
The founder of Ontology and co-founder of Onchain explains the path forward for central bank digital currencies and DeFi in China in 2021.
Diginex’s Richard Byworth: Crypto borrowing and lending to increase 10-fold
In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, Diginex’s CEO offers his views on CBDC initiatives, crypto custody, and more growth in borrowing, lending of digital assets in the upcoming year.
Crypto Santa’s naughty and nice list for Christmas 2020
Who in blockchain is making the world a better place this year, and who deserves nothing under the tree? Santa’s helpers at Forkast.News tell all.
ConsenSys’ Charles d’Haussy: The ‘staking capital of the world’ will emerge in Asia in 2021
In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, the director of strategic initiatives at ConsenSys and author of “Block Kong” shares his views on CBDCs, stablecoins and Asia’s blockchain space.
Year in Review: 5 biggest blockchain and crypto stories of 2020
Here are the hottest blockchain news and trends that dominated Forkast.News headlines over the past 12 months. Let the countdown to 2021 begin!
World Economic Forum’s Sheila Warren expects ‘tremendous activity’ on China’s digital currency in 2021
In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, the head of Blockchain, Data and Digital Assets and member of the Executive Committee of the World Economic Forum shares her views on sovereign digital currencies, and the global regulatory landscape.
Sonic Capital’s Stefan Rust predicts a ‘Cambrian Explosion’ of tokens in 2021
In this edition of the Forkast Forecasts, the founder and CEO at Sonic Capital and former Bitcoin.com CEO shares his views on the growth of decentralized finance and big partnerships in the crypto community.
Blockchain Research Institute’s Alex Tapscott on stablecoins, DeFi and more
In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, the bestselling author offers his views on crypto regulations, DeFi’s rise and digital assets becoming mainstream.
Special report: The Unstoppable Rise of Digital Assets
In a special report for AAX, we examine the new generation of exchanges, custodians, regulations and asset classes now leveling the investment playing field.
ConsenSys’ Joe Lubin on Ethereum, DeFi and regulation in 2021
In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, the founder of ConsenSys shares his views on Ethereum 2.0, the dialogue with regulators and trends on DeFi adoption in the new year.
Forkast Forecasts for 2021: Mance Harmon of Hedera Hashgraph on China, DeFi and industry giants
In this inaugural Forkast Forecast, the co-founder and CEO of Hedera Hashgraph offers his views on China’s blockchain drive and what the industry will be like in 2021.
Why DeFi needs better KYC to curb money laundering
Despite anti-money laundering (AML) laws, many DeFi sites have weak know-your-customer practices. Experts point to BitMEX as a cautionary tale.
November 2020
Why DeFi is here to stay and its takeover in finance inevitable
Decentralized digital access to financial services like cryptocurrency trading, lending and borrowing is the wave of the future, writes James Wo of ETC Labs
After BitMEX, will CFTC go after more crypto exchanges and DeFi?
CFTC cracked down hard on BitMEX. Forkast.News investigates what other cryptocurrency exchanges, if any, might be next in its line of enforcement fire.
Blockchain is now on the front line against climate change
Blockchain technology is spurring more carbon credit trading while lowering costs for young investors to get involved, says Stefan Rust of Sonic Capital, in a special Forkast.News interview.
Everything you want to know about Bitcoin, Ethereum and DeFi for 2021
What is BTC’s price forecast, and will ‘Ethereum killers’ succeed? A brain trust of 30 experts mines the biggest cryptocurrency questions for answers.
Will Diginex’s backdoor Nasdaq listing start a crypto industry trend?
Diginex CEO Richard Byworth reveals that world’s largest cryptocurrency companies are now seeking his advice on going public. How did Diginex do it?