September 2021
XinFin’s XDC Network and Tradeteq partner on NFTs for trade finance
Singapore-based blockchain protocol eXchange inFinite (XinFin) and trade finance distribution platform Tradeteq today announced their partnership to tokenize trade finance assets into non-fungible tokens (NFTs), according to a company statement shared with Forkast.News. Fast facts Atul Khekade, co-founder of XinFin, told Forkast.News in an interview that traditional trade finance assets that are typically paper-based such […]
Why DeFi holds the key to metaverse success
A profound shift is underway in online culture, writes Anndy Lian of BigOne Exchange. Here’s how decentralized finance might one day power the NFT and metaverse economy.
The9 teams up with Polygon and Protocol Labs on new NFT platform, game projects
The9 Ltd., a Chinese gaming company that pivoted earlier this year to cryptocurrency mining — along with Polygon and Protocol Labs — are forming an ecosystem collaboration on The9’s non-fungible token (NFT) platform NFTSTAR and GameFi play-to-earn projects. Fast facts The company said in a statement released on Thursday that NFTSTAR and The9’s GameFi projects will […]
Former US Treasury advisor predicts no ‘real action’ from Fed on CBDC
While a US digital dollar is stuck at pole position, China’s digital yuan is nearing the finish line. Michael B. Greenwald of Tiedemann Advisors explains why it matters to the future global economy.
As big investors pour $930M into 2 NFT startups, what do the tea leaves say for the rest?
Marquee investors like Softbank and Andreessen Horowitz are heaping love on Sorare and Dapper Labs. What does this mean for the future of the non-fungible tokens sector?
VC names jump in on NFTs; Crypto investors brush off Evergrande
VC names jump in on NFTs meanwhile crypto investors brush off Evergrande
After Evergrande, will virtual real estate be the next alternative asset class?
The property market is increasingly expensive and out of reach for today’s younger generation. Digital land sales may hit home with some buyers.
How crypto enthusiasts in Asia are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival this year
From crypto-embossed mooncakes to mooncake NFTs to gatherings in the metaverse, how Asia’s crypto fans are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Why Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson says DeFi is ‘up for grabs’
As Cardano’s Alonzo upgrade goes live, founder Charles Hoskinson of IOHK calls DeFi a ‘bubble.’ How does he think the regulation that is sure to come will reshape DeFi in the future?
NFT charity auction to benefit low-income families in Singapore
Blockchain Association Singapore (BAS) and Singapore’s National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) U Care Fund today announced their inaugural non-fungible token (NFT) charity auction event, Blockchain For Good, which will take place Oct. 4 to 10. Fast facts The charity initiative — supported by a wide range of companies including Singapore Airlines, Amazon Web Services Inc., […]
Insider trading scandal rocks world’s biggest NFT platform OpenSea
As the trading volume in non-fungible tokens begins to slow down from recent record heights, leading NFT marketplace OpenSea has been rocked by an insider trading scandal involving a senior team member. Fast facts The company, dubbed “the eBay of NFTs,” issued a statement yesterday acknowledging it became aware on Tuesday that an employee had […]
Litecoin unloved at Walmart. Cardano’s Alonzo upgrade. China takes aim at NFTs.
Top blockchain and crypto news: Walmart dispels Litecoin hoax. Cardano’s real work begins. Beijing bears down on NFTs.
2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou to sell torch NFTs supported by Alipay
Despite widespread criticism of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that has emerged in Chinese state-owned media, the 2022 Asian Games has announced the sale of its first NFT collection. Fast facts Organizers of the games, set to take place in September 2022 in Hangzhou, the capital city of the eastern province of Zhejiang, announced in a social […]
FTX hit by hack rumor; Korea updates crypto death note
FTX hit by hack rumor meanwhile Korea updates crypto death note
Huobi Ventures bets on DeFi and gaming in $10M GameFi fund
Huobi Ventures, the investment arm of cryptocurrency exchange Huobi, today announced the launch of a US$10 million “GameFi” fund to invest in early-stage projects that integrate blockchain gaming and decentralized finance (DeFi). Fast facts Huobi’s new GameFi fund follows the launch of its US$100 million DeFi fund in May and comes amid increasing mainstream interest […]
Mets owner, hedge fund mogul Steve Cohen backs NFT platform Recur
Florida-based non-fungible token (NFT) platform Recur announced it has received backing from Steve Cohen, owner of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, in its US$50 million series A funding round. Fast facts The financing round, which valued Recur at a US$333 million post-money valuation, was led by Digital, a metaverse investment platform backed by Cohen’s […]
China-run media outlet criticizes NFT platform as a payment risk
In the latest response to a growing interest in non-fungible tokens, Beijing Business Today faults an art marketplace.
China state mouthpiece criticizes NFT mania
A sister paper of the People’s Daily, Securities Times, published an opinion piece to criticize non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as hype and suggested the digital assets should serve the real economy by tokenizing actual assets. Fast facts The article offers as an example Justin Sun’s NFT purchase of a digital avatar for US$10.5 million and the […]
Miss Universe Thailand, NFTs join in world first
The Miss Universe Thailand 2021 pageant has partnered with Bangkok-based crypto exchange Bitkub to feature non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as part of the competition, Bitkub announced. Bitkub claims the event will mark the first NFT beauty pageant. Fast facts Bitkub will mint NFT collectible cards of the pageant contestants. The company also will provide participants with […]
Alibaba’s Tmall sells out mooncake NFTs
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba is sparing no efforts in riding the non-fungible token (NFT) wave, with its online retailer Tmall selling out a new collection of NFTs featuring mooncakes — a signature snack made to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival that falls on Sept. 21 this year. Fast facts Tmall has issued “mooncake NFTs” built with […]
Searching for Asia’s ‘hidden treasures’ in NFTs and GameFi
Why is Axie Infinity so popular, and what is the potential of play-to-earn gaming? Two venture capitalists share insights on Asia’s special place as GameFi’s hub.
Cardano smart contracts set for Sunday: CrossTower launches in India
Cardano smart contracts set for Sunday also CrossTower launches in India
Cardano set for Alonzo launch, smart contracts and NFTs to come
Cardano’s Alonzo hard fork will bring smart contracts and NFT support to the world’s third-largest blockchain. What will it mean for the crypto market?
‘Pororo the Little Penguin’ NFTs and metaverse theme park underway
The Sandbox, Animoca Brand’s subsidiary for decentralized virtual gaming, announces partnership with animation studio in Korea.
Why Algorand’s price is on a two-year high right now
Algorand’s ALGO cryptocurrency prices have surged by 90% over the past seven days, crossing the US$2 mark and hit a two-year high of US$2.44 today, according to CoinGecko data. ALGO, ranked the 17th largest cryptocurrency by market value, has not seen such price heights since its launch in 2019. Fast facts Algorand is an open-source, […]
Korea crypto damage assessed; Initium’s news based NFTs sell out
Korea crypto damage assessed meanwhile Initium’s news based NFTs sell out
C.R.E.A.M. Finance integrates 6 NFT tokens as part of DeFi bridge strategy
C.R.E.A.M. Finance, a Taipei-based decentralized finance (DeFi) lending platform, on Sept. 8 announced its support of six metaverse and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that will allow users to borrow and lend against the assets. Fast facts NFTs, unique digital assets whose authenticity and ownership are tracked on a blockchain, have seen exponential growth over the past […]
Former Hong Kong news site issues NFTs to preserve history
Initium Media, also known as 端傳媒, is turning to blockchain technology to grow revenue and to ensure controversial news does not get forgotten — or tampered with.
Riding the NFT trend: questions to consider before investing in these hot digital assets
As non-fungible tokens break into the mainstream, experts advise buyers to do research and watch for a correction.
Solana hits all time high: FTX’s NFT marketplace spammed
Solana hits all-time19 high as FTX’s NFT marketplace spammed
FTX’s NFT platform spammed by fish; SBF’s test NFT sells for $270,000
FTX is the latest crypto exchange to join the NFT bandwagon. “Make your own NFTs,” CEO Sam Bankman-Fried tweeted.
NFL flags NFTs, crypto sponsorships for teams while it huddles on a digital game plan
The American football league’s 32 teams cannot sell NFTs or accept backing from crypto trading firms — at least for now.
The world of crypto opens up life-changing earning opportunities for Indian tweens and teens
Gajesh Naik and Laya Mathikshara, two Indian 13-year-olds, are getting global recognition — and making astronomical sums — through their ventures in crypto and NFTs.
TV series ‘Men of the House’ to be fully financed by NFTs
TokenSociety.io, a non-fungible token minting platform and marketplace for the entertainment industry, has completed its first NFT Drop for the pilot episode of “Men of the House,” a situation comedy TV series, the company announced today. Fast facts The pilot episode of “Men of the House” is completely financed through the sale of its NFTs […]
Imagining a global digital wallet and the future it can hold
As governments and citizens embrace digital currencies of all kinds, from Bitcoin to CBDCs, here’s what the world and daily life could look like.
Fractional ownership of the Doge meme hits $400M valuation
What does it mean to own an NFT? Furthermore, what does it mean to own a billionth of an NFT? For Doge lovers, it might be a good investment, or barking mad.
OKEx launches NFT marketplace and DeFi hub
OKEx, the world’s second-largest crypto derivatives exchange by trading volume, is amplifying its decentralized finance (DeFi) efforts by launching its DeFi Hub, along with a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace. Fast facts OKEx has launched DeFi Hub, a platform that offers users the ability to view and manage decentralized assets across major blockchain networks and DeFi […]
Jack Dorsey’s Bitcoin bourse. Are NFTs in bubble trouble? China banks on e-CNY.
Top blockchain and crypto news: Does TBD stand for Twitter Boss Decision? NFTs’ ballooning interest. How billions in e-yuan are coursing through China.
Blockchain game MIR4 gains global popularity despite ban at home in South Korea
The multiplayer online role-playing game is widely popular elsewhere, while Korea bans play-to-earn crypto and NFT trading.
Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan is launching his own NFT collection
Prominent Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan will release his own non-fungible token collection later this year. Fast facts The NFTs will be rolled out on BeyondLife.club, a joint venture between Indian film production company Rhiti Entertainment and Guardian Link, a decentralized legitimacy protocol for NFT exchanges. BeyondLife.club allows users to buy NFTs with credit cards or […]
Dogecoin spawns more pups with Doge NFT split into tokens for resale
Dogecoin keeps spawning pups, and this time, it could be quite a litter. In yet another spinoff of the crypto industry’s biggest meme, fractionalized ownership of the non-fungible token (NFT) of the original Shiba Inu image that launched Dogecoin is up for sale today in the form of $DOGE tokens, Bloomberg reports. Fast facts Ownership […]
August 2021
The9 launches NFT platform; HK SFC issues crypto warning
The9 launches NFT platform meanwhile HK SFC issues crypto warning
Some NFT creators and investors have a lucky number
A fascination with 8s could be related to the fact that the Chinese pronunciation of the number 8 or “Ba” is similar to that of “發” or “Fa,” which stands for wealth and prosperity.
Crypto is going mainstream—and the likes of Paypal and Snoop Dogg are leading the way
Though crypto is not yet part of daily life, it may be a matter of time, writes Simon Yu of StormX. Here are the keys to the industry’s long-term success.
Chinese gaming company The9 expands into NFT business
The9 Ltd., a Chinese gaming company that pivoted earlier this year to cryptocurrency mining, unveils plans to get into non-fungible token business, reflecting the company’s ambition to ramp up its blockchain-based operation. Fast facts Nasdaq-listed The9 has announced that its Singapore-based subsidiary NFTSTAR Singapore Pte. Ltd. will launch a NFT trading and community platform NFTSTAR […]
Mutant Ape NFTs collect $140 million on OpenSea market
Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) — one of the hottest non-fungible token projects at the moment — released its Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC) NFTs over the weekend through a free airdrop to existing Bored Ape holders as well as a public auction of 10,000 Mutant Apes. The price for Mutant Apes started at three […]
How a Hong Kong newspaper is remaking history with NFTs
The South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s paper of record for 118 years, is experimenting with NFTs and metaverse technology to bring its storied past into the future.
AAX to launch its own NFT marketplace, following other crypto exchanges
Amid the immense growth in the non-fungible token market, leading Singapore-based crypto exchange AAX is planning to launch its own NFT marketplace in the “near future,” according to a press release shared with Forkast.News. Fast facts In preparation for the launch, AAX is running a campaign in which its users can auction NFTs for charity […]
HK football team launches NFTs; Food concept offers crypto mooncakes
HK football team launches NFTs; Food concept offers crypto mooncakes
Bitcoin bulls brace. CryptoPunks’ pulling power. China’s crypto lawfare.
Top blockchain and crypto news: Is another Bitcoin bull run coming soon? Punks rocking NFTs. Why crypto contracts may not be enforceable in China.
Hong Kong’s Resources Capital Football Club kicks off NFT goals
The team joins a growing number of football clubs around the world launching non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as they look to engage fans and generate new revenue streams.
Vogue Singapore catwalks to a metaverse with NFT launch
The magazine unveils two digital-only covers as well as fashion, beauty and design NFTs, all for sale in a new metaverse.
Fetch.ai brings AI and machine learning to NFT creators
Fetch.ai, an artificial intelligence lab based in the British city of Cambridge, today announced the launch of its new non-fungible token (NFT) platform, Colearn Paint, that will allow creators to automatically generate NFTs using a machine learning algorithm. Fast facts Alongside the surge in NFT sales over the past year, NFT marketplaces have proliferated. According […]
Professor jailed for crypto scam; Cryptopunks trading volume soars
Professor jailed for crypto scam while Cryptopunks trading volume soars
CryptoPunk NFTs smash records as VISA purchases a CryptoPunk for US$150K
CryptoPunks sales volume increased by over 1,100% in the last 24 hours
Poly Network offers hacker a job: NFTs support Afghan families
Poly Network offers hacker a job meanwhile NFTs support Afghan families
OpenSea dumps Pepe the Frog NFT series
Despite having verified it, and with investors already spending millions on the project, OpenSea has delisted the NFT series after being notified by its creator.
NFTs used to raise funds for displaced Afghan families
With the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan capturing headlines around the world, Jack Butcher, the founder of New York-based graphic design agency Visualize Value, has partnered with the Cooperative for American Remittances (CARE) humanitarian charity to launch a non-fungible token fund to provide “care packages” to displaced Afghan families. Fast facts The NFT care packages are […]
Alibaba launches new auction service as it doubles down on NFTs
Accessibility of Alibaba Auction through Tencent’s WeChat service hints at closer relationship between two longtime rivals.
How NFTs could be the future standard for trading and investing
Non-fungible tokens are taking the art and collectibles world by storm. But more valuable uses for NFTs lie just around the corner, writes Ilja Laurs of Dappscape.
U.S., Indonesia drive NFT wave, DappRadar report shows
A new report by DappRadar shows that interest in NFTs has come mainly from the United States and Indonesia, and that Russia and India have a presence in the market as well. Fast facts DappRadar, an NFT and decentralized finance and decentralized app store and a data provider, revealed this month in its user behavior […]
Tencent unit QQ Music sells first NFTs
Chinese tech giant Tencent’s music streaming arm, QQ Music, has jumped on the non-fungible token bandwagon and over the weekend sold out its first NFT featuring popular Mando-pop singer Tiger Hu. Fast facts QQ Music, one of China’s major music entertainment platforms, plans to roll out a slew of music NFTs. Over the weekend, all […]
Poly Network recovers assets; Rario launches cricket NFT platform
Poly Network recovers assets meanwhile Rario launches cricket NFT platform
AppWorks raises US$150M as it trains its sights on Southeast Asia
Taiwanese VC firm attracts big investors as it bets on future of region and staying-power of NFTs.
Chinese payment giant Alipay finds buyers for new NFTs
Alipay, one of China’s major payment apps, has again rolled out non-fungible token artworks designed as wallpapers for users’ payment code pages, with a total of 80,000 copies of two editions combined having sold out within a day. Fast facts Alipay yesterday started selling two editions of artworks — built on its own Ant Chain […]
Cricket NFT platform Rario launches on Polygon
Rario, an officially licensed cricket non-fungible token startup built on the Polygon blockchain, has announced its integration with Polygon’s NFT platform, Polygon Studios. Fast facts Polygon Studios, an NFT-focused gaming and metaverse hub, was launched last month by Indian Ethereum scaling platform Polygon to facilitate Web 3.0 gaming and fuel mainstream adoption of NFTs. It […]
TZ APAC in Tezos blockchain adoption push in Asia
TZ APAC, an entity supporting the Tezos blockchain ecosystem in Asia-Pacific, this week announced a “strategic commitment” to the region as it bolsters its efforts to grow the Tezos ecosystem. Fast facts TZ APAC intends to deploy capital and resources across the region towards business development, marketing and project management to drive adoption of the […]
NFT trade takes off. Tether’s bankable reserves. Tencent targeted in China.
Top blockchain and crypto news: NFT wave buoys OpenSea. Are dollars and sense a lifeline for Tether? Tencent gets a target on its back.
NFTs and the music industry: K-pop’s new token economy | Part 2
K-pop superstars Brave Girls, Se7en and A.C.E. are among the latest to jump on the non-fungible token bandwagon. Are fans buying it?
HK artists embrace NFT’s; NFTs new top K-Pop merchandise
Hong Kong artists embrace NFTs. NFT’s to become must-have merchandise for K-Pop fans. And an Indonesian resort offers NFT timeshares. We’ll have more on that story — and other news shaping the cryptocurrency and blockchain world — in this episode of The Daily Forkast, August 10th. Transcript Welcome to The Daily Forkast, August 10th 2021. […]
Hong Kong artists embrace NFTs as OpenSea trading volume explodes
Despite speculation that the NFT market is cooling, OpenSea continues to post record transaction volumes, and Hong Kong artists are getting in on the action.
Unocoin offers bitcoin vouchers; Alonzo upgrade onboards users
Unocoin offers bitcoin vouchers as Alonzo upgrade onboards users