January 2023
China NFT platforms expand into Hong Kong in face of compliance risks on mainland
Hong Kong’s new digital asset-friendly policies could set the city up as the home for secondary NFT marketplaces from China as trading of ‘digital collectibles’ remains a gray area on the mainland.
What does the future hold for digital assets in 2023?
NFTs, tokenization and blockchain-based cross-border payments will see big paradigm shifts, but their success will depend on regulation, investment and adoption, writes Stephen Richardson of Fireblocks.
Stopping Scalpers
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour was met with a series of ticketing nightmares as scalpers tried to resell tickets for as high as US$22,000. But could NFTs have solved that problem?
Slumdog Millionaire composer A. R. Rahman tunes into metaverse
Indian music composer A. R. Rahman, who won Best Original Score at the Oscars for the movie Slumdog Millionaire, has launched the ‘Katraar’ metaverse platform to promote new music creations and other art forms.
NFT December sales surge to highest since June amid ‘tax-loss harvesting’
Slump in prices of some non-fungible tokens and other digital assets allows U.S. holders to take advantage of a loophole to reduce capital gains taxes.
Alameda Research transfers spark suspicions as SBF denies involvement
Top blockchain and crypto news: Where is Alameda Research’s money going? US tax loophole may give crypto investors a break. China’s blockchain momentum builds.
Magic Eden NFTs display explicit content, ‘Big Bang Theory’ images
Images on Magic Eden, the largest Solana-based non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, displayed pornographic content and popular sitcom series “The Big Bang Theory” on Tuesday Asia time instead of users’ NFTs.
December 2022
China state-backed NFT trading platform to launch on Jan. 1
“China Digital Asset Trading Platform,” a non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace developed by state-owned entities and a private sector firm, has been set for launch on Jan. 1, 2023, state media outlet China Daily reported on Tuesday. See related article: NFTs ruled virtual property in China, its sales protected by law Fast facts See related article: […]
A year to remember, a year to forget: Crypto highs and lows of 2022
From Terra and FTX crises to Ethereum’s triumphant Merge and China’s inventive NFT industry, Forkast reviews a rollercoaster year and its consequences.
Biggest blockchain trends for 2023 and beyond
After a year of new all-time highs for major cryptocurrencies in 2021, 2022 was a challenging year for Web3. Industry experts tell Forkast what crypto has in store for 2023 and beyond.
Top Solana NFT projects find new homes on Ethereum, Polygon
Top Solana-based NFT projects DeGods and Y00ts are moving away from the network, both projects announced on Twitter on Monday.
Blockchain gets religion? Taiwan temple mints NFTs of local sea goddess
A centuries old Taiwan temple dedicated to a popular goddess has latched onto non-fungible tokens or NFTs as a means for worshippers to get access to pilgrimages and other events.
To unwrap Web3’s promises, we must break the barriers to blockchain adoption
Despite blockchain’s potential, barriers to use still stand in the way, writes Andrew Vranjes of Blockdaemon. Solving security issues and reducing risk will be key.
NFTs may become the “Lego blocks” of Web3 in 2023, Gary Liu says
Gary Liu of Artifact Labs believes that NFTs will gain more utility and become the building blocks of Web3
How Web3 can make travel less stressful for future holidays
The travel sector has many pain points and is ripe for disruption, writes Freddie Hickman of Hyper SQ. Here’s what blockchain can do, from tracking baggage to letting you resell your no-longer-wanted air ticket.
Could NFTs have prevented Taylor Swift’s concert tickets debacle?
The trillion-dollar concert ticketing sector is plagued by scalping and other Web2-era problems, writes Ryan Kenny of SeatlabNFT. Here’s how blockchain can help fans and artists.
NFTs a safe haven?
Sales and value of NFTs sold has ticked up for the first time in seven months. Could this be a sign the NFT market is starting to mature?
Trader loses 70 ETH over bug in NFT marketplace Blur
A bug in the new bidding system of non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace Blur caused a user to lose 70 ETH by accidentally overbidding on an Art Gobbler NFT.
AAX’s future in doubt amid staff exodus and FTX contagion
Top blockchain and crypto news: AAX teeters on the brink. SBF hints at Congressional hearing no-show. Chinese court boosts NFT legitimacy.
NFT sales rise for first time in 7 months in November despite crypto price slump
NFT investors seemingly see opportunities in a month full of surprises and headwinds for the broader cryptocurrency market.
Coinbase disables NFT transfer on iOS app, citing hefty in-app fees
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has disabled its non-fungible token transfer feature for iOS users, citing a dispute over Apple’s in-app purchase policy.
November 2022
Grayscale holdings questioned amid crypto investment giant’s silence
Top blockchain and crypto news: Grayscale’s cryptic reserves. Binance rides to the rescue? China hit by protests and digital dissent.
China activists use NFTs, decentralized technology to counter censorship
Many are minting NFTs and posting articles on Matters, a decentralized content-sharing platform, amid protests across China against Covid-19 lockdowns that turned political.
Will the future metaverse amplify the good or the evils of the real world?
The metaverse has the potential to improve access to opportunities and create a better version of the offline world. How do we prevent it from perpetuating society’s ills?
NFT images of anti-lockdown protests in China flood OpenSea
Pictures taken from protests against China’s zero-Covid policy across the mainland are now for sale on OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, as non-fungible tokens (NFT). See related article: ‘Voice of April’ NFTs highlight Shanghai struggles amid lockdown Fast facts See related article: Bitcoin price follows slide in Asia equity markets amid growing China protests against […]
Fake crypto awards on the rise during football world cup: research
Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has warned against fraudsters taking advantage of football fans during the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Genesis jitters keep investors on edge as contagion risks grow
Top blockchain and crypto news: Fear stalks crypto as Genesis wobbles. FTX cleanup begins. China’s NFT scene shrinks.
Football most popular sport among crypto investors: KuCoin survey
Football is the most popular sport among crypto investors and 48% of fans among these investors are interested in trading fan tokens for sports teams during the FIFA World Cup, according to a new survey by Seychelles-based crypto exchange KuCoin.
NFT platform, art collective launch collaboration in aid of Ukraine
NFT platform laCollection has launched a series of collaborations with international artists to raise funds for Ukrainian cultural institutions.
Why fears of a dying NFT market are overblown
The NFT ecosystem is doing better than what selective data would have us believe, writes Long Do of Anomura. But the sector should know that people want more than just a pretty picture.
LG Electronics seeks Web3 talent for blockchain, NFT efforts
LG Electronics is recruiting chief technical officers (CTOs) to lead the company’s growing Web3 business.
Crypto asset manager HashKey gets Singapore’s in-principle license
HashKey Capital Singapore, an investment arm of Hong Kong-based HashKey Group, said on Friday that it received an in-principle approval for the Capital Markets Services license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
OpenSea unveils features to freeze stolen NFTs and malicious links
OpenSea will pilot a system that freezes the trading of NFTs involved in suspicious sales while it reviews the transaction.
Instagram to allow creators to mint and sell NFTs through the platform
Instagram will soon allow creators to mint and sell NFTs through the platform to buyers both on and off Instagram using an ‘end-to-end toolkit.’
NFT sales decline for sixth straight month despite tailwinds
While October saw the emergence of two very popular NFT collections, sales failed to break US$500 million in the lowest figures since July 2021.
October 2022
Ethereum’s LooksRare latest NFT marketplace to make creator royalties optional
LooksRare is the latest NFT marketplace to make paying creator royalty fees optional as the industry struggles amid an ongoing slump in the NFT market.
Gaming and NFTs will drive Web3 growth: Crypto.com COO
The future of the burgeoning Web3 sector will be gaming and non-fungible tokens, said Eric Anziani of global digital asset exchange Crypto.com.
More than just a JPEG? Digital Art Fair Hong Kong explores NFTs for data streaming and display
Pixelated pictures and cartoonish drawings have typically dominated the world of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), but some exhibits at Hong Kong’s Xperience art fair show new means of applying the technology.
How Europe’s MiCA can pave the way for crypto’s revival
Europe’s new MiCA framework for regulating crypto shows the good that can happen when government works with and not against the industry, writes Nick Saponaro of Divi Labs.
Singapore’s huge decision
Singapore’s High Court blocked any potential sale and transfer of ownership of the NFT BAYC 2162. What implications could that have globally?
Meta, Taiwan LGBT group launch NFTs for upcoming pride
Meta is collaborating with a Taiwan LGBT advocacy group and a local cryptocurrency exchange to issue charity NFTs as part of the Taiwan Pride celebration.
Singapore court issues ‘huge’ NFT decision, allows papers to be served via blockchain
The lead counsel for the plaintiff in the case has called Friday’s ruling a decision with implications for the global blockchain industry
Annie Yi’s NFTs
How are people using NFTs and blockchain technology to promote social causes?
Reddit NFT trading volume hits all-time daily high as avatars sell out
Reddit non-fungible token (NFT) avatar trade volumes hit an all-time high, with sales exceeding US$2.5 million in the past 24 hours.
Taiwan singer Annie Yi taps LGBT NFTs with artist son to advocate inclusion
The singer-actress and son Harrison Yu said they launched the Theirsverse NFT brand in New York to engage marginalized groups in the early building of Web 3.0.
Apple will not allow NFTs to unlock in-app features
Apple is allowing NFTs in applications, but will not allow them to be used to unlock in-app content or features.
South Korea’s MIR4 maker Wemade launches stablecoin
WEMADE, a South Korean blockchain game developer, recently launched its stablecoin, WEMIX$, for growing its blockchain ecosystem, which houses NFTs and DeFi.
The Lord of the Rings NFT comes with a Web3 AR movie journey in 4K
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. will launch Lord of The Rings non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on Eluvio, as part of the entertainment giant’s Web 3.0 movie experience coined “Movieverse.”
NFT marketplaces ditching standard royalty fees labeled “short-sighted”
After Solana’s Magic Eden marketplace said it was bowing to pressure and making payment of royalties “optional” to NFT creators, industry insiders tell Forkast the policy is wrongheaded and damaging.
Sachin Tendulkar joins NFT market Rario’s cricket legends roster
Sachin Tendulkar, Indian cricket legend and former captain of the national cricket team, has partnered with cricket non-fungible token (NFT) platform Rario to launch exclusive digital collectibles. See related article: 55,000 Meta Cricket League NFTs sell out in nine minutes Fast facts Rario has existing partnerships with cricket icons, like Zaheer Khan, Kevin Pietersen, Jonty […]
New IRS tax language tweaked to include NFTs
The IRS updated its annual income tax instructions in a Monday draft that does away with the taxable category “virtual currency” and replaces it with the term “digital assets,” which explicitly includes NFTs.
Magic Eden, largest Solana-based NFT platform, makes royalty fees optional
The platform said the move was in line with growing market trends, but some are concerned about what it means for the industry.
OpenSea begins support for Avalanche blockchain
OpenSea, the peer-to-peer non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace, has launched native support for the Avalanche blockchain, according to the platform’s verified Twitter account. See related article: Warner Music taps OpenSea NFT marketplace to guide artists to Web3 Fast facts Starting on Oct.12, content creators on Avalanche can display, list, and trade their NFTs on the world’s […]
Are NFTs securities? Bored Ape creator Yuga Labs faces SEC probe
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly probing Yuga Labs, Inc., the company behind the top-selling non-fungible token (NFT) collection Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), for its issuance of the digital assets, according to a Bloomberg report. See related article: SEC fines Kim Kardashian US$1.26 mln for promoting EthereumMax Fast facts The report […]
Vincent van Gogh Sites Foundation launches legendary artist into Web3
Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) can be used to preserve and spread fine art and cultural heritage, tapping into new generations of audiences and patrons, said stakeholders.
Apparel, luxury goods industry has most brands launching NFTs
The apparel and luxury goods industry is leading in tradable non-fungible token (NFT) adoption, with major brands launching their own NFT collections, according to a new research study by CoinGecko. See related article: Apes still rule among the bears: NFT market falls for fifth straight month Fast facts The independent cryptocurrency aggregator found the apparel […]
Is that bottle of ‘Grand Cru’ for real? An NFT can nose out the truth
The tradition-bound wine world is not always open to change, writes Sebastian Schier of vinID. But new technology can solve the age-old problem of wine fraud.
Joining The Sandbox metaverse: All the Cool Cats are doing it
Cool Cats Group LLC, the Web3 company behind the cartoon feline-based NFT collection Cool Cats, announced Thursday that it had received a strategic investment and partnership from Animoca Brands, owner of the metaverse platform The Sandbox. See related article: Asus launches NFT platform to plug into Web 3.0 Fast facts In a tweet, Cool Cats’ […]
CBDCs, tokens can integrate to existing payments systems, SWIFT claims
The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) said it had a breakthrough in enabling assets on distributed ledger technology networks, such as central bank digital currencies (CBDC) and tokens on the blockchain, to interact and flow with the existing financial infrastructure. See related article: SWIFT, Chainlink announce cross-chain interoperability partnership Fast facts In one […]
Asus launches NFT platform to plug into Web 3.0
Taiwanese laptop maker Asus has launched a non-fungible token (NFT) platform, marking its first attempt to venture into the burgeoning Web 3.0 industry, the company announced on Tuesday. See related article: Apple iPhone maker’s founder distances himself from crypto fraudsters using his image Fast facts Asus launched Art Black hole on Tuesday, a platform for […]
Japan’s PM announces NFT and metaverse expansion
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced plans to expand investments in non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the metaverse in a policy speech on Monday. See related article: Japan plans new crypto transfer rules to combat money laundering Fast facts Kishida says the country will further its investment in digital transformation and expand the use of Web3 […]
Solana NFT sales up 77% in September despite sluggish quarter
Non-fungible token (NFT) sales on Solana surged in September despite a sharp decline in the overall trading volume of NFTs in the third quarter. See related article: Instagram, Facebook users in 100 countries can crosspost NFTs: Meta Fast facts Solana NFT sellers pocketed more than US$126 million in September, a 77% month-over-month increase, according to […]
Dunamu, BTS’ Hybe launch first K-pop digital collectibles platform
Dunamu Inc., the mother company of South Korea’s largest crypto exchange Upbit, and Hybe Co., Ltd., the music agency behind K-pop mega group BTS, launched a K-pop digital collectible platform on Tuesday via their Los Angeles-based joint venture, LEVVELS Inc. See related article: Dunamu looks to K-pop group BTS NFTs to beat ‘Crypto Winter’ Fast […]
Apes still rule among the bears: NFT market falls for fifth straight month
‘Crypto Winter’ has touched all elements of the crypto market, and non-fungible tokens are no different.
September 2022
Warner Music taps OpenSea NFT marketplace to guide artists to Web3
Warner Music Group (WMG) has partnered with non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace OpenSea, to allow some of the entertainment conglomerate’s artists to build their fan base in Web 3.0. See related article: Warner Bros., Nifty’s release ‘Space Jam’ movie NFTs Fast facts WMG artists will get early access to OpenSea’s new “drop” product, an initiative that […]
Instagram, Facebook users in 100 countries can crosspost NFTs: Meta
Instagram and Facebook users in 100 countries can start sharing and crossposting their non-fungible tokens (NFTs) between the two platforms, Meta announced on Thursday. See related article: China’s ‘Instagram’ gets into virtual fashion with users strutting NFT clothes Fast facts Meta, the operator of the two social media platforms, said the feature is available to […]
ENS address registrations in September notch an all-time monthly high
The number of newly-registered Ethereum Name Service (ENS) addresses in September reached a monthly all-time high of 427,325 at the time of publication, despite total NFT trading volume falling 97% from January when sales peaked, according to data from Dune Analytics, a crypto analysis site. See related article: ENS domain name expires as developer is […]
Is crypto in a deep funk? Think again
Beyond the bear market, Web3 technology is shining bright in gaming and music, writes Hannes Graah of Gro. Are we at a tipping point for mass adoption?
Capital gains: How Web3 property rights can transform the digital economy
Digital ownership enabled by Web3 tech can challenge the monopolistic dynamics of Web2 and give people real equity, says Animoca Brands chief Yat Siu
Dunamu looks to K-pop group BTS NFTs to beat ‘Crypto Winter’
Dunamu Inc., the mother company of South Korea’s largest crypto exchange Upbit, will focus its future endeavors on Levvels, its Los Angeles-based non-fungible token (NFT) joint venture with Hybe Co., Ltd., the entertainment agency behind K-pop group BTS. See related article: Dunamu’s NFT venture with BTS’s HYBE to launch services later this year Fast facts […]
Naver and LINE launch NFT platform for K-pop fans
South Korea-based internet giant Naver Corp. launched its non-fungible token (NFT) platform, NOW.Drops, with LINE NEXT on Wednesday. The platform will let K-pop music fans create customized NFTs. See related article: Naver’s Zepeto metaverse starts blockchain initiative with Solana Fast facts NOW.Drops allows users to mint NFTs of their favorite musical acts that they crop […]
India’s WazirX introduces new ‘learn and earn’ campaign with The Sandbox
WazirX, India’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trade volume, has introduced a “learn and earn” campaign with The Sandbox, one of the biggest Ethereum-based metaverse game platforms. See related article: WazirX launches India’s first NFT marketplace Fast facts The campaign started Sept. 19, and the top five winners will get free passes for The Sandbox’s recently […]