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.
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?
Is DeFi’s breathtaking rise just like the ICO bubble?
DeFi’s explosive gains in 2020 may look like the 2017 ICO craze all over again. But Chyna Qu of DeFiner explains why the two are very different.
Why cybersecurity will be DeFi and blockchain’s next big challenge
DeFi’s explosive growth may be the cryptocurrency world’s biggest story in 2020. But is the industry ignoring risks and cybersecurity gaps?
October 2020
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.
Conflux launches Tethys mainnet in China with government thumbs up
Conflux Network enjoys special government status in some parts of China— and now it’s ready for mainnet launch.
Why DeFi’s exponential growth is not a bubble and will ‘keep soaring’
Risks, bugs and mistakes are a necessary part of DeFi’s evolution — just like the early days of the internet, writes Justin Banon of Boson Protocol
Why blockchain and crypto regulations are ‘necessary evil’ for US and Europe
Regulatory finesse toward cryptocurrency and DeFi will spur investment while not stifling innovation, says Alex Tapscott of Blockchain Research Institute
How China is embracing blockchain, from DCEP to BSN
Blockchain has become a national priority in China’s public and private sectors, in contrast to many Western governments’ approach to cryptocurrency.
Congested Ethereum hosts 96% of DeFi transactions. Who are its up-and-coming competitors?
2020 is banner year for DeFi as industry balloons by over $100 billion in volume from Q2 to Q3 — most of it riding on Ethereum, according to a new report
Is DeFi a $10 billion Ponzi scheme?
The risk of getting scammed is real, but DeFi also offers investors opportunities to earn yields in this pandemic economy, says Two Prime CEO Marc Fleury.
Arthur Hayes of BitMEX not likely to leave Hong Kong anytime soon, but DeFi faces crossroads
BitMEX’s CEO, who faces money-laundering charges, may be the beneficiary of Hong Kong’s political turmoil and current lack of an extradition treaty with US government
Why blockchain and crowdfunding are mutually beneficial technologies
The $14 billion global crowdfunding market is expected to triple by 2026. Here’s how blockchain is fueling this trend.
DeFi with Chinese characteristics? How China may centralize crypto finance
As Wild West DeFi surges to new heights with Chinese capital, China wants to build a separate digital finance network — in its own, tightly controlled image.
September 2020
What China’s New Era politics means for the digital economy and decentralized finance
Access to China’s cryptocurrency market will accelerate as long as the government can keep out criminal activity, writes James Gillingham of Finxflo.
Ep. 30 | DeFi gets fishier with Sashimiswap. MasterCard stages CBDC cosplay. IRS targets Monero and Bitcoin Lightning Network.
More top news: OKLink offers free cryptocurrency tracker. Trade fair in China introduces blockchain ideas to 20,000 companies.
How DeFi’s massive 8-fold growth brings scaling, gas fees challenges
In a special interview, Alchemy CEO Nikil Viswanathan discusses blockchain as the next internet, keen interest from investors like Charles Schwab, and the hottest cryptocurrency trend since ICOs.
DeFi is crypto’s latest craze, and it may soon challenge traditional banks
Excessive money printing and near-zero returns on bonds are making investors flock to fancy cryptocurrency derivatives and 8% yields. What’s the catch?
Conflux’s Open DeFi project aims to bridge East and West — with its own cryptocurrency in China
Despite China’s bans on crypto and ICOs, the permissionless blockchain protocol has also done a ‘regulatory compliant fundraise.’ How is Conflux pulling it off?
Will Ethereum 2.0’s launch be blockchain’s iPhone moment?
Released this week after much anticipation, Eth2 could finally become “the world’s computer” that the original Ethereum aspired to be. What challenges lie ahead?
August 2020
Joe Lubin of ConsenSys on acquiring Quorum: ‘a match made in blockchain heaven’
In a special Forkast.News interview, the CEO who co-founded Ethereum discusses the deal with JPMorgan, DeFi’s rise, and expectations for Ethereum 2.0.
Ep. 27 | YFI soars past bitcoin. ConsenSys acquires JPMorgan’s Quorum blockchain. OMG Network integrates Tether transfers.
Other top news: $50 billion in cryptocurrency leaves China. Severe flooding in Sichuan destroys bitcoin mining farms. DeFi in India.
Ep. 26 | US Fed taps MIT for CBDC research as China intensifies DCEP testing. YAM protocol soars before crashing.
Other top news: USPS explores blockchain for voting. Coinbase offers crypto loans. Huobi launches Global DeFi Alliance.
US authorities are taking aim at DeFi. Are crypto loans next?
DeFi crypto lending — a loosely regulated industry that grew by 700% last year — is catching investor attention. What do the IRS and SEC think?
July 2020
Lack of regulations and illiquidity are ‘major bottlenecks’ in India’s DeFi market
Regulatory uncertainties over crypto — coupled with Indians’ tendency not to rebel — have prevented decentralized finance from taking off in India despite the unbanked’s tremendous needs, says Siddharth Verma of Nuo Network.
June 2020
DeFi is ready for India, but are Indian authorities ready for crypto?
India and DeFi could be headed for a symbiotic relationship — unless the government cracks down on crypto again and forces a breakup.
April 2020
How IRS treats crypto staking: tax issues every crypto investor should know
Crypto tax expert Vamshi Vangapally explains the impact on coins like NEO, Stellar, VeChain, Ontology, Tezos and soon, ETH 2.0.
Ep. 10 | Ripple sues YouTube over scam videos. Hong Kong’s first regulator-approved bitcoin fund manager. Hacker messes with dForce.
Other top news: Courier giant YTO forms blockchain logistics lab. 224 more blockchain firms get official thumbs up. VC in Singapore, UK and US.
Why South Korea’s new law against bitcoin and other crypto could damage its DeFi sector
The financial watchdog’s ruling would prevent cash from being loaned out for bitcoin and other cryptocurrency. Forkast.News analyzes its likely impact on the sector.