May 2022
India’s CBDC plans; Stablecoins vs CBDCs
The Reserve Bank of India explores digital rupee options. Meanwhile, Terra’s new Luna coin drops significantly since launch.
Tezos, generative NFTs take spotlight at Art Basel, Hong Kong
The Tezos blockchain showcased the evolving relationship between art, technology and culture at a three-day interactive exhibition, The Ever-Evolving World of Art, at Art Basel, Hong Kong, which ended Sunday. See related article: How Asia’s generative NFT art is reshaping the global creative culture Fast facts The event featured NFT works from 22 international digital artists, […]
NFTs based on late Qing dynasty painter Wu Changshuo’s artwork sell out
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) featuring Chinese late Qing dynasty painter Wu Changshuo’s artwork debuted on Tencent’s Huanhe NFT platform on Thursday with all 28,000 copies selling out immediately after the drop, reflecting a still robust market for such assets in China. See related article: Chinese stock image agency VCG tests NFT marketplace Fast facts The Wu […]
Terra 2.0 delayed; India’s Non Fungible League
StepN limits their services in China. Meanwhile, Terra 2.0 poses questions relating to investor trust.
Move-to-earn app STEPN to limit service in China
STEPN on Friday said it would stop providing Global Positioning System (GPS) and Internet Protocol (IP) location services to users in mainland China starting mid-July. See related article: Chinese runners offer substitute running to earn STEPN’s GMT for commission Fast facts STEPN said the move was made to abide by Chinese regulations and that it […]
Chinese stock image agency VCG tests NFT marketplace
Visual China Group (VCG), China’s largest stock image provider, has started a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace that lets users outside of mainland China pay with Ether. See related article: China’s diktat against NFT flipping spawns an ingenious industry Fast facts The platform, dubbed “Vault by 500px,” went live with a beta version on Wednesday, and […]
Non-Fungible Man NFT hero coming to Comic Con India
Pop culture event Comic Con India (CCI) will dive into the metaverse with the launch of non-fungible token (NFT) collectibles Non-Fungible League. See related article: How the metaverse is closing the gap between virtual and reality Fast facts The Non-Fungible League will create and mint heroes for the metaverse, and will contain a series of […]
Moonbirds NFTs drained in US$1.5 mln phishing scam
Around US$1.5 million worth of 29 Moonbirds non-fungible tokens (NFT) were stolen in a phishing scam on Wednesday. See related article: Beeple’s Twitter account latest victim to phishing scam hacks Fast facts A phishing attack is where scammers use deceptive means to direct victims to malicious links to steal personal information. Twitter user @0xLosingMoney has […]
Terra cofounder Do Kwon’s taxing questions; China’s underground mining
Terra co-founder responds to office closure allegations. Meanwhile, China re-emerges as a crypto mining hub despite 2021 ban.
Looking to invest in vintage wine? There’s an NFT coming for that
Startup platform Farandole has a plan to transform the traditional wine industry with NFTs, cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
G7 calls for regulation; Bored Ape transfer blocked
South Korean LUNA investors file lawsuit against Terra. Meanwhile, Singapore’s High Court blocks sale of a Bored Ape NFT.
Singapore court’s blocking of NFT transfer tests legal oversight
In an exclusive interview with Forkast, the lawyer representing the claimant discusses what the result means for NFTs and digital ownership.
Sony Music’s RCA Records Web3 venture breaks into Greater China
Sony Music Entertainment has set up a new Greater China venture for its American label RCA Records to explore opportunities in streaming, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the metaverse. See related article: John Legend’s OurSong raises US$7.5 mln to fuel music NFTs Fast facts The new label, dubbed “RCA Records Greater China,” will make key hires […]
Getty Images to launch NFT marketplace with Candy Digital
Online image gallery Getty Images announced it will launch a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace and debut digital collectibles on the Ethereum Virtual Machine-based Palm sidechain. See related article: Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post to make NFTs to preserve history Fast facts See related article: From in-print to online to on-chain: How will Web 3.0 […]
Netflix Sweet Home producer to build K-drama metaverse in the Sandbox
The Sandbox metaverse has partnered with Studio Dragon, a Korean drama production company behind titles Crash Landing on You, Sweet Home and Kingdom: Ashin of the North, to build a K-drama metaverse. See related article: South Korea wants to be the physical home of the metaverse Fast facts The Sandbox said on Tuesday the pair […]
OpenSea delists Solana Okay Bears knockoff Not Okay Bears
Solana-based non-fungible token (NFT) collection Okay Bears copycat “Not Okay Bears” has been delisted from marketplace OpenSea after recording millions of dollars in sales. See related article: Okay Bears NFTs record sellout helps Solana net US$2B in sales Fast facts Not Okay Bears are mirror images of the 10,000 versions of the original, and have […]
Kakao’s Klaytn to build blockchain in China with BSN
Klaytn, South Korean internet giant Kakao’s public blockchain, will build an open-permissioned blockchain for China’s state-backed Blockchain-based Service Network’s (BSN) infrastructure for the Middle Kingdom’s domestic use. See related article: Resist the temptation on NFTs, Chinese state-backed developer says Fast facts Klaytn said on Tuesday it will take part in establishing the Chongqing Chain, a […]
Chinese runners offer substitute running to earn STEPN’s GMT for commission
Over 170 advertisements in Chinese tech titan Alibaba’s second-hand marketplace are offering running services to earn cryptocurrency GMT for STEPN users in exchange for fiat commissions. See related article: China’s diktat against NFT flipping spawns an ingenious industry Fast facts STEPN is a blockchain-based decentralized application that allows users to earn GMT cryptocurrency rewards by […]
How Yuga Labs’ NFT sale failed to put its community first
The ‘virtual land’ sale that broke Ethereum was also a fiasco for buyers. Should Yuga Labs have seen it coming and taken preventative action?
Terra plunges back to earth as UST stablecoin loses dollar peg
Top blockchain and crypto news: UST knocked out of Luna orbit. Making NFTs Instagrammable. China’s black market ‘digital collectibles’ trade.
Azuki fortunes reverse as sales soar after floor price drop
Azuki non-fungible token (NFT) sales rose by more than 800% in the past 24 hours after a 50% floor price dive due to rug pull allegations against the founder. See related article: Twitter hacker takes over verified accounts to promote fake Azuki NFT drop Fast facts More than US$50 million worth of Azukis have been […]
China’s diktat against NFT flipping spawns an ingenious industry
Despite Beijing’s rhetoric against speculation in non-fungible tokens, some in mainland China are trading on WeChat groups, spawning an industry that caters to the fervor over the asset class.
Instagram to support NFTs for crypto art
Instagram, the social media platform owned by Meta, plans to support non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for crypto art from several blockchain networks, with the pilot project happening as soon as Monday, CoinDesk reports. See related article: Bored Apes Instagram hack nets millions in stolen NFTs Fast facts Instagram will allow users to post and share NFTs […]
Global NFT Sales Rise; Hong Kong Embraces NFTs
Bitcoin falls as Nasdaq hits its worst drop since 2020. Meanwhile, NFT exhibitions are popping up in Hong Kong.
Bumper April helps NFTs break out of bear-market territory
The non-fungible token market posted a strong bounceback in April. As one industry watcher tells Forkast, the nature of the rebound points to more room for recovery.
NFT-backed loans gain traction, but what are the risks?
Non-fungible token financing is still at a nascent stage and comes with significant risks for lenders and borrowers.
Coinbase NFT marketplace is now open to all
Coinbase’s non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace has opened to all customers after the beta version was released to a select group of users in April, the Nasdaq-listed cryptocurrency exchange announced on Wednesday. See related article: Coinbase’s NFT market enters beta for select customers Fast facts Coinbase first announced its NFT marketplace in October 2021, and over […]
10 Bored Apes win features on Monkey Shoulder bottles for royalties
Luxury liquor non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace BlockBar has selected 10 Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) avatars to be featured on 100 Monkey Shoulder limited edition NFT bottles, earning rights to 5% of sales in royalties. See related article: BlockBar and Monkey Shoulder partner for BAYC exclusive NFTs Fast facts The 10 BAYCs selected by BlockBar […]
Bitcoin’s role in a recession; Virtual NFT vacations
KakaoBank reviews a partnership with a local crypto exchange. Meanwhile, an Indian travel company launches NFTs of travel landmarks.
Otherdeeds NFT sale puts Ethereum scalability in glaring spotlight
Top blockchain and crypto news: Otherdeeds debacle stings with gas fee spike. Algorand scores World Cup deal. Will China be forced to embrace Bitcoin?
My brief wondrous life as an Axie Infinity gamer
Crypto rookie Joel Stein dives into Axie Infinity and the curious economics of ‘play to earn.’ Will his teenage gaming dreams come true?
Wildlife conservatory Australia Zoo announces NFT project with Algorand
Australia Zoo, a wildlife conservatory related to the family of noted conservationist Steve Irwin, has announced a non-fungible token (NFT) series on the green blockchain Algorand to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Wildlife Warriors conservation project. See related article: Algorand becomes 2022 Qatar World Cup’s new blockchain partner Fast facts Created in partnership with […]
MakeMyTrip launches NFT collection of top Indian travel spots
Indian online travel company MakeMyTrip has launched a non-fungible-token (NFT) collection of Indian tourist destinations, becoming the first Indian travel brand to step into the NFT space. See related article: Is there a future for the NFT beyond digital art? Fast facts The NFT collection “Virtual Vacations!” aims at bringing to life “a kaleidoscopic meta-world […]
Kraken launches gas-free NFT marketplace
Global cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has announced the launch of its non-fungible token (NFT) platform, joining exchanges such as Binance and FTX to do so. See related article: NFT Marketplace Competition Heats Up Fast facts Sellers can list their NFTs in cryptocurrencies supported by Kraken, or in fiat currencies, such as USD, EUR, CAD, GBP and […]
Hockenheimring racetrack joins Animoca Brands’ REVV ecosystem
Blockchain unicorn Animoca Brands said it has signed a licensing deal to include the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg racetrack in its REVV Motorsport ecosystem of play-to-earn racing games. See related article: Need for Speed gets Hong Kong’s Animoca in driver’s seat Fast facts Animoca Brands will mint and sell non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that represent partial ownership of […]
Solana struggles under US$90 while NFT sales surge higher
Following a network outage over the weekend, Solana continued to trade below US$90 at 12 p.m. HKT on Tuesday, although Solana’s non-fungible token (NFT) secondary sales rebounded sharply, rising more than 95% in the past 24 hours. See related article: Solana loses consensus after bots flood network, SOL takes hit Fast facts Solana was trading […]
How NFTs can allow everyone to benefit from robots and automation
What are ‘machine NFTs’ and how could they help democratize the ownership of capital in a future ‘machine economy’? Max Thake of peaq explains.
BTC Markets partners with Australian Fashion Week for couture NFT
Australian crypto exchange BTC Markets Pty Ltd has partnered with the 2022 Australian Fashion Week (AFW) in launching a couture dress as a non-fungible token (NFT) in collaboration with local designer Daniel Avakian. See related articles: How high fashion is waking up to blockchain’s possibilities Fast facts The dress will be displayed physically during the […]
Solana loses consensus after bots flood network, SOL takes hit
Solana suffered another outage on Sunday Asia time, after the network lost consensus due to bots flooding the non-fungible token (NFT) minting tool “Candy Machine,” spamming more than six million transactions per second. See related article: Solana DeFi avoids meltdown as Wormhole loss replaced Fast facts The network was down for about seven hours before […]
Yuga Labs Otherside NFTs top US$285 mln; over US$175 mln in ETH gas guzzled
Yuga Labs’ long-awaited metaverse project Otherside debuted on Saturday in a non-fungible token (NFT) land sale to generate US$285 million but also clogged the Ethereum network to cost investors millions in gas fees. See relates article: Bored Apes creator to launch new metaverse ‘Otherside’ Fast facts Traders snapped up a limited supply of 55,000 “Otherdeeds” […]
April 2022
John Legend’s OurSong raises US$7.5 mln to fuel music NFTs
Our Happy Company, cofounded by musician John Legend, has raised US$7.5 million in its seed round, as the company looks to expand its music non-fungible token (NFT) platform OurSong. Watch explainer: What does Music have to do with NFTs? Fast facts The financing round was led by Infinity Ventures Crypto and Animoca Brands, the company […]
Ethereum’s revenue falls by 44% as average gas fee drops 88% on quarter: Q1 report
Ethereum’s network revenue from gas fees totaled US$2.4 billion in the first quarter of 2022, down 44% from US$4.34 billion in Q4 2021, while 87% of the revenue, or around US$2.1 billion worth of ETH tokens, were burned, according to Bankless’ Q1 report of the blockchain. See related article: Amount of Ether burnt since EIP […]
Chinese streaming service Bilibili debuts NFTs for foreign buyers
Bilibili, a video streaming platform popular with China’s Generation Z, Thursday announced a batch of Ethereum-based non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for sale overseas. See related article: Resist the temptation on NFTs, Chinese state-backed developer says Fast facts Bilibili said the NFTs will be a series of auto-generated characters with different features such as faces, clothes, skin […]
Flipkart launches innovation lab to explore future of e-commerce
Flipkart, the Indian e-commerce marketplace, plans to explore Web 3.0 and metaverse use cases including non-fungible-tokens, virtual storefronts, play-to-earn and other blockchain technologies under its new initiative, Flipkart Labs, the company said. See related article: Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com offers NFTs despite state media criticisms Fast facts Flipkart Labs, based in Bengaluru, will also serve […]
ApeCoin cracks US$26, now largest metaverse token ahead of Otherside
ApeCoin (APE) set a new high at US$26.70 on Friday morning Asia time, and is now the largest metaverse token by market cap, ahead of the launch of the Otherside on Saturday. See related article: What is ApeCoin and How It Made The Bored Apes Richer Fast facts The APE ecosystem’s governance token was trading […]
Singapore’s responsible crypto aim; Okay Bears storm the charts
Singapore says it wants to be a “responsible crypto hub”. Meanwhile, the Okay Bears lift Solana’s sales figures.
Tax authorities in China jump onto NFT bandwagon
More state departments in China are embracing NFTs, with tax bureaus in Shanghai and Chengdu releasing tokens based on Tencent’s blockchain. See related article: ‘Voice of April’ NFTs highlight Shanghai’s struggles amid harsh lockdown Fast facts Shanghai will drop 2,000 NFTs themed on its tax office mascot on Friday. Chengdu’s tax office dropped 1,000 NFTs […]
Okay Bears NFTs record sellout helps Solana net US$2B in sales
A record sellout of Okay Bears NFTs helped Solana emerge as a viable alternative to Ethereum, the preferred platform for most NFTs.
South Korean police arrest man behind NFT sale of cat-like character CatSle
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s cyber bureau has arrested a 26-year-old man for allegedly defrauding nine investors of 210 million KRW (US$165,798) over the sale of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) of a cat-like character named CatSle. See related article: S.Korean regulators to strengthen watch over NFTs and the metaverse Fast facts According to the police, the […]
What is ApeCoin and How It Made The Bored Apes Richer
Bored Ape Yacht Club owners rejoiced, as ApeCoin launched with a generous airdrop for the NFT collection’s holders. Learn what ApeCoin is and how it made the Bored Apes richer in this Forkast explainer.
Is Elon Musk’s Twitter grab good for crypto?
Top blockchain and crypto news: Tweet dreams come true for world’s richest man. Instagram scam hits Bored Apes. Bilibili tests China’s NFT boundaries.
‘Voice of April’ NFTs highlight Shanghai’s struggles amid harsh lockdown
As many as 600 NFTs featuring a montage of audio calls and complaints made by Shanghai residents as they interacted with medical staff and neighborhood compound managers have appeared on OpenSea.
55,000 Meta Cricket League NFTs sell out in nine minutes
Jump.trade, a gaming non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace by GuardianLink, sold 55,000 Meta Cricket League (MCL) collectibles within nine minutes of launching on Friday, Economic Times reported. See related article: NFTs are leveling up gaming and not all about money Fast facts Priced at $25 each, the Super Loot NFTs marked GuardianLink’s foray into the artificial […]
DOGE jumps on Twitter deal; Australian crypto ETFs delay
Dogecoin skyrockets as Elon Musk’s Twitter deal finalizes. Meanwhile, a Korean music platform registers NFTs patent.
Zombie Zoo Keeper, Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen maker team up for PikoZoo NFT
Pikotaro, the Japanese singer-songwriter and creator of the 2016 global sensation Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen (PPAP), is teaming up with famed nine-year-old non-fungible token (NFT) artist Zombie Zoo Keeper to create a unique NFT project. See related article: Japan’s messenger app LINE launches NFT marketplace Fast facts The new music video, named “Zombie Zoo to PIKOTARO DESU,” will […]
Bored Apes Instagram hack nets millions in stolen NFTs
Bored Ape Yacht Club’s (BAYC) official Instagram profile was hacked to promote a fraudulent phishing link to scam millions of dollars worth of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) from victims on Monday. See related article: Why NFT scams are on the rise — and how to stop them Fast facts OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, has banned […]
S.Korean music sharing platform to use NFTs for copyright protection
Koong World has been awarded a South Korean patent that utilizes non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and sound source information to enable artists to upload and share their works on its platform without fear of copyright infringement. See related article: What does Music have to do with NFTs? Fast facts The Korean Intellectual Property Office awarded Koong […]
BlockBar and Monkey Shoulder partner for BAYC exclusive NFTs
BlockBar, a luxury liquor brand non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, has partnered with whiskey distiller Monkey Shoulder on a range of exclusive collectibles for Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and BlockBar NFT holders. See related article: Hic Hic Hurray! Scottish distillery Ardbeg to release limited-edition whiskey NFTs Fast facts BlockBar will allow 10 BAYC owners to […]
University of the Philippines Twitter account hacked to promote NFT drop
Non-fungible token (NFT) scammers took control of the University of the Philippines’ official Twitter account on Monday evening, posting several tweets promoting a fake airdrop. See related article: Twitter hacker takes over verified accounts to promote fake Azuki NFT drop Fast facts The attackers renamed the Twitter account to “takashi murakami” — the name of […]
Chinese streaming service Bilibili enables NFT transfers
Bilibili, a video streaming platform popular with China’s Generation Z, Monday enabled non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to be transferred between users, becoming the second major Chinese tech firm to allow NFT transfers after Alibaba. See related article: China state-backed paper’s NFTs surge in price on second-hand market Fast facts Bilibili requires a 30-day gap between each […]
Indian farmers’ protest NFTs find no takers on OpenSea
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this report stated the NFT proceeds will be donated to NGO Atam Pargas. The NGO has reached out to Forkast to clarify it is not associated with the NFT project. Lekh-Haq, the organizer of the NFT has confirmed this correction to Forkast. Indian journalists and filmmakers launched farmers’ protest […]
NFTs are leveling up gaming and not all about money
NFT in gaming is not only for play-to-earn, writes Nicholas Douzinas of Ajuna Network. It should also be fun and foster human connections.
What is Axie Infinity and how is it ushering in gaming 3.0?
Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game that rewards players with cryptocurrencies and NFTs. Learn all about how Axie Infinity is creating a play-to-earn revolution in this Forkast explainer.
China’s sports brand Li Ning to showcase Bored Ape Yacht Club
Li Ning, a leading Chinese sportswear and equipment company headquartered in Beijing, is set to release a line of clothing featuring images of the Bored Ape Yacht Club #4102, as the brand looks to take advantage of the growing popularity of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). See related article: Chinese Communist Party paper to “develop” NFTs Fast […]
Crypto industry looks to the UAE; Crypto’s environmental concerns
More crypto players are eyeing the UAE as a hub. Meanwhile, a mysterious map sends Pudgy Penguin NFTs skyrocketing.
Be kind, rewind! South Korea’s Cyworld is back in Web 3.0 avatar
Time to dust off your Dotori. The social media platform that once reigned in South Korea is trying to make a grand comeback with in-game crypto, NFTs and the metaverse.
Pudgy Penguins’ NFT sales surge 500% on mystery map
Sales volume of the popular non-fungible token (NFT) series shot up about 519% in the past 24 hours, according to CryptoSlam data, after Pudgy Penguins teased an Antarctic map that resembles a gaming metaverse. See related article: New owner gives Pudgy Penguins NFTs happy feet Fast facts Penguin fans speculate the project is hinting at […]
NFT marketplaces responsible for keeping fakes out, Chinese court rules
Under Chinese copyright law, the court ruled a marketplace’s failure to ensure the uniqueness of an NFT constituted aiding infringement.
Coinbase’s NFT market enters beta for select customers
Coinbase’s non-fungible token (NFT) platform launched its beta version for select customers on Wednesday. See related article: Coinbase and Binance move to diversify; Stablecoins under scrutiny Fast facts Only a few customers of the three million on the waitlist can access the beta market, but it is also open for public view. The beta platform […]
Ashton Kutcher, Mark Cuban-backed startup sells autographs as NFTs
Ink, the Ashton Kutcher and Mark Cuban-backed Web 3.0 platform that allows artists and creators to sign, draw or write on any form of digital content into non-fungible tokens (NFTs), launched Wednesday. See related article: Warner Music is ready to play in The Sandbox metaverse Fast facts By digitally signing any existing photo, album cover, […]
Monkey eats dog, ApeCoin shines on Dogecoin’s big day
The Dogecoin community hoping for a price rally was disappointed on “Doge Day” as ApeCoin stole the spotlight with a 30% climb. See related article: Will the dog have its day on Doge Day? Fast facts DOGE investors were hoping to recreate last year’s success when DOGE rallied over 500% in the days leading to […]
World Bank rescue package throws lifeline to crypto markets
Top blockchain and crypto news: Crisis response brings crypto relief. North Korea’s Lazarus Group named in Ronin hack. NFTs face new risks in China.