Asia-Pacific

Coinbase’s launch in India is off to a rocky start. Meanwhile, Bitcoin ATMs grow in Hong Kong.

Authorities in Hong Kong moving to block retail investors from accessing non-derivative crypto products could undermine the presence of Bitcoin ATMs in the city with the most crypto ATMs in Asia.

The governing body overseeing India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) said it isn’t aware of any cryptocurrency exchange using the platform, hours after Coinbase said users could use the same to buy and trade cryptocurrencies.  See related article: SEC threatens to sue Coinbase over high-yield savings account Fast facts Nasdaq-listed Coinbase launched crypto trading services in […]

Shinhan Bank became South Korea’s first domestic lender to trial real-name corporate accounts for cash-to-crypto transactions, paving the way for an institutional crypto boom in the peninsula. See related article: South Korean banks find workaround to cash in on crypto services Fast facts Local regulations permit only licensed and bank-partnered crypto exchanges to offer cash-to-crypto […]

By offering China’s digital currency in trial as a payments option in all pilot areas, payments giant WeChat Pay is paving the way for the wider adoption of the digital yuan in the world’s most advanced digital payments market. See related article: China’s digital yuan is now in 23 cities Fast facts WeChat Wednesday said […]

Chinese state media calls for stronger regulations of NFTs. Meanwhile, Sky Mavis raises $150M to offset Ronin hack.

The Economic Daily, a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, called for stricter regulation of “digital collectibles” as investors continue to speculate in non-fungible tokens (NFTs). See related article: Ant Group, JD.com, Tencent pledge to resist speculation of ‘digital collectibles’ Fast facts See related article: WeChat bans NFT accounts, citing ‘crypto speculation’

South Korea’s Kakao Group acquires SEBC. Meanwhile in India, an MP reveals the government’s plans for the crypto industry,

Top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Britain’s crypto gamble. WAVES crashing. China’s big digital yuan push.

John Tsang Chun-wah, the city’s longest-serving Financial Secretary, will launch 3,000 non-fungible tokens (NFT) of his portrait, becoming Hong Kong’s first civil servant to profit from the trend. See related article: Hong Kong Exchange to trial digital assets trading in ‘Diamond’ pilot Fast facts Tsang is the longest-serving Financial Secretary since the handover. He lost […]

The television station in China’s Shandong province plans to build a “digital collectibles” trading platform and issue its own non-fungible tokens (NFTs), becoming the latest state-run media outlet to join the trend. See related article: WeChat bans NFT accounts, citing ‘crypto speculation’ Fast facts Shandong Television has started developing its own blockchain to run its […]

Kakao Piccoma, the group’s Japanese digital-comics subsidiary, acquired a major stake in Sakura Exchange BitCoin (SEBC) as part of its global expansion. See related article: Kakao Games rebrands subsidiary to focus on crypto, blockchain, Web 3.0 Fast facts Kakao Piccoma bought out SEBC Holdings’ stake for an undisclosed amount and said it will incorporate crypto […]

Singapore on Tuesday passed a law requiring virtual asset service providers to be licensed if they do business overseas, according to Bloomberg.  See related article: How Singapore is reimagining its ‘Asian crypto hub’ image Fast facts The new legislation is an attempt by The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to ensure that it has adequate […]

India needs to discourage people from investing in cryptocurrencies and digital assets, a senior MP from the ruling party told Forkast in an exclusive interview.

Indonesia will tax income from crypto trading at 0.1% and impose an additional value added tax (VAT) of 0.1% on crypto transactions starting May. See related article: Indonesian regulators play catch-up as crypto investment soars Fast facts The tax rate is lower than the 11% tax that the Indonesian government levies on other goods and […]

RockX Tuesday said it raised US$6 million in series A funding, valuing the crypto staking platform serving institutional and high net worth investors at about US$30 million. Fast facts The funding was led by digital asset platform Amber Group and other crypto industry leaders including Matrixport, Primitive Ventures, FBG Capital, Draper Dragon, IMO Ventures, Alpha […]

Singapore’s approach may seem increasingly anti-crypto to some, but not to those tracking its policies closely. Danny Chong of Tranchess explains what’s going on.

Singapore’s largest lender won’t expand cryptocurrency trading on its exchange to retail investors any time soon due to “regulatory restrictions” in the island state. See related article: How Singapore is reimagining its ‘Asian crypto hub’ image Fast facts CEO Piyush Gupta said that regulatory agencies are “rightfully concerned” about holding back cryptocurrency trading for retail […]

India’s long-awaited crypto tax comes into effect. Meanwhile, China expands the digital yuan program.

The Korea Federation of Banks (KFB) may request South Korea’s incoming presidential administration to approve local banks servicing cryptocurrencies, according to a leaked draft report. See related article: South Korea’s largest financial group mulls crypto ETFs Fast facts KFB, the largest body representing domestic lenders, wrote in its report that banks should be permitted to […]

Residents in five more Chinese cities were able to access digital yuan wallets starting Thursday, marking a major development for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) globally.  See related article: Asian Games set for digital yuan, metaverse pilots, tech firm claims Fast facts See related article: Digital yuan pilot attracts Chinese province bordering Russia

India’s 30% flat levy on all capital gains made on cryptocurrencies kicked in on April 1 in a development likely to stifle the relatively nascent industry in the country. See related article: India’s crypto tax will incur losses for government, says WazirX CEO Fast facts Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has been facing investor backlash over […]

NFTs accounts banned from WeChat due to “crypto speculation”. Meanwhile, Zilliqa on the rise after Metapolis announcement.

WeChat has blocked more than a dozen accounts belonging to non-fungible token (NFT) marketplaces from its social media platform, citing prevention of “crypto speculation.” See related article: China state-backed paper’s NFTs surge in price on second-hand market Fast facts When visited, the banned accounts of the NFT marketplaces displayed a message from WeChat: “No legal […]

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is voicing concerns over the adoption of cryptocurrencies in India, suggesting it poses significant risks to the country’s financial stability, local media report. See related article: Killing it softly or regulating to innovate? India at the crypto crossroads Fast facts Crypto assets pose significant risks, including to financial stability in […]

Alibaba makes a $60M metaverse bet on AR glasses maker Nreal. Meanwhile, Axie’s Ronin blockchain gets hacked.

Top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Dubai’s crypto caravan. Mt. Gox unlocked. Digital yuan in play again.

A district government in Maharashtra, India, has started stamping 65,000 caste certificates through LegitDoc, a document-verifying system on the Polygon blockchain.  See related article: India releases ‘National Strategy on Blockchain’ for e-governance Fast facts In India, caste certificates are used by marginal communities such as tribes to gain access to certain government benefits and subsidies.  […]

Sushil Kumar Modi, a member of Parliament (MP), has urged India’s finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to consider raising the capital gains tax on crypto income to over 30%, the flat rate scheduled to kick in from April 1.  See related story: India’s tax bogeyman is scaring off young crypto investors Fast facts The minister argued […]

The Hong Kong Exchange (HKEX) Tuesday revealed plans to launch “Diamond,” a trading platform to pilot digital assets in 2022.  See related article: China’s e-CNY pilot to boost Hong Kong as offshore yuan trading center Fast facts See related article: Hong Kong to propose bill to license crypto exchanges

Bharti Airtel Ltd., India’s largest wireless telecom services provider by active users, is planning to cash in on the metaverse by leveraging its upcoming fifth-generation radio waves (5G) network, according to local media reports.  See related article: Who are the biggest players in the metaverse today? Fast facts Airtel is seeking partnerships with content providers […]

The UAE is becoming the new crypto hub of the world. Meanwhile in India, high crypto taxes are scaring away young investors.

Xiamen has revealed its three-year action plan to nurture its cluster of metaverse firms involved in non-fungible tokens (NFTs), VR/AR, chips and related hardware with over 100 million yuan (US$15 million) in revenue, according to the local government’s working plan. See related article: ‘Metaverse’ enters government radar at China’s Two Sessions Fast facts See related […]

The country’s attempt to profit from digital asset gains puts off new investors to the asset class, even as existing ones redeploy funds into traditional assets.

Australian crypto exchange BTC Markets has partnered with Mastercard to allow its customers to make direct debit, prepaid or credit card payments to purchase cryptocurrencies from the platform. See related article: Mastercard partners with Australian exchange for crypto card Fast facts The move is part of a broader trend by payments giants like Mastercard and […]

Ukraine launches its NFT Museum of War. Meanwhile, Bitcoin passes $47,000 mark.

The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) has announced its highly anticipated AU$250 million (US$187 million) blockchain project has been delayed for release until late 2023 at the earliest. See related article: Australian Securities Exchange to launch crypto-related ETF Fast facts CHESS, or Clearing House Electronic Subregister System, was initially slated for a blockchain upgrade by April […]

A Hangzhou-based data firm has confirmed that it is working on the application of the digital yuan and the metaverse in the upcoming 2022 Asian Games.  See related article: China’s digital yuan app now publicly accessible, one step closer to launch Fast facts See related article: 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou to sell torch NFTs […]

South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) is recruiting extended reality, artificial intelligence, and non-fungible token (NFT) experts for its upcoming boot camp designed to train future metaverse professionals.  See related article: South Korea wants to be the physical home of the metaverse Fast facts MSIT is launching what it calls the nation’s first […]

Chinese state-backed real estate giant Greenland Group has formed a partnership, through its financial arm, with Singapore-based digital securities exchange MetaVerse Green Exchange (MVGX), to offer cross-border digital carbon credits trading services. See related article: China eyes blockchain for carbon trading Fast facts The partnership will allow accredited, institutional investors to trade digital carbon credits […]

Russia considers a bitcoin for oil proposal. Meanwhile, crypto markets make gains after weeks of volatility.

India’s crypto tax represents both a threat to the industry and an opportunity to create a regulatory framework to support it, says Polygon’s Jaynti Kanani.

Flexibility allowed in new rule requiring crypto companies to comply with anti-money laundering guidelines leads to some confusion.

South Korea’s financial watchdog has passed on the compliance of private cryptocurrency wallets to exchanges, as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) travel rule went into effect on Friday. See related article: FATF updates regulatory guidance for crypto industry Fast facts “The travel rule only regulates transactions among individuals. There isn’t any rule pertaining to […]

EarnU, a play-to-earn crypto sports and esports prediction platform, has forayed into India, to target betting Indians looking to earn crypto rewards for correct predictions.  See related article: How sports and crypto are knocking it out of the park Fast facts EarnU is a game that is free to play for BETU token holders.  While […]

China’s anti-graft watchdog has warned that authorities are keeping a close eye on possible corruption behind underground cryptocurrency mining that persists even after the government banned the sector.  See related article: China ousts former official for supporting crypto mining, corruption Fast facts The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) of the Chinese Communist Party said […]

Chinese telecom ZTE registers metaverse-related trademarks. Meanwhile, Bollywood star gets chased over NFT taxes.

With explosive growth in the past 12 months, the non-fungible token industry is getting too big to ignore IP licenses, experts say.

Cryptocurrency payments will be banned in Thailand starting April 1, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on Wednesday.  See related article: Thailand eases crypto tax burden until 2023 to promote industry Fast facts The SEC said price volatility, lack of customer safeguards, money laundering and cyber theft risks drove the decision to ban cryptocurrencies […]

Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan is in the crosshairs of Indian tax authorities again, this time for NFT sales.

Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE has successfully registered a number of metaverse-related English trademarks. See related article: ‘Metaverse’ enters government radar at China’s Two Sessions Fast facts ZTE’s trademarks fall under the scientific equipment and communication services categories, setting the stage for the firm to provide related services in the metaverse. The partially state-owned Chinese […]

South Korean megacorporation SK Group’s information technology-investment arm, SK Square, is preparing to launch a cryptocurrency this year to build a blockchain-based virtual economy that would link its group of information and communications technology (ICT) businesses. See related article: South Korea wants to be the physical home of the metaverse Fast facts SK Square established […]

Malaysia’s Fusang defers their IPO. Meanwhile, Blockchain Week Australia looks into intellectual property rights.

Top blockchain and crypto news: Bitcoin buzz in Malaysia. Yuga Labs teases Otherside. Blockchain verdict in China.

Blockchain gaming unicorn Animoca Brands co-founder and executive chairman Yat Siu said Web 3.0 needs rapid adoption in order to become more decentralized at Australia Blockchain Week in Melbourne on Wednesday. See related article: FTX heads Down Under as Australia looks to crypto industry Fast facts “If people don’t move into the space quickly enough, […]

China’s state-backed Blockchain-based Service Network (BSN) has announced the addition of “Zhong Yi Chain,” developed by telecommunications giant China Mobile, to its open permissioned blockchain ecosystem to bolster the growth of home-grown non-fungible tokens (NFTs). See related article: BSN to integrate CasperLabs’ chain to support NFT issuance in China Fast facts The new chain serves […]

A Malaysian minister has proposed making Bitcoin a legal tender. Meanwhile in Hong Kong, an 11-year-old programmer makes his way into the NFT business.

Inspired by the success of Beeple, Miguel Wang created CryptoTigers to generate pixelated tiger images for the Year of the Tiger.

Sichuan and Inner Mongolia are two regions that recently announced their first cases using blockchain-stored evidence, local media reports. See related article: How blockchain technology is shaking up courtrooms in Asia Fast facts See related article: Court in China says trading in cryptocurrency ‘not protected by law’

In a move that may adversely impact crypto adoption in the country, India’s government said its pending tax law for virtual digital assets will not allow offsetting gains on one crypto with losses from another. See related article: India may impose 28% GST on crypto transactions Fast facts India’s government plans to collect a 30% […]

The Korea Forest Service is starting a tree-planting campaign in the metaverse in conjunction with fintech company Dunamu — for every tree planted in the metaverse, it will plant two trees in the fire-affected mountain forest of Andong. See related article: South Korea places $185M bet on the metaverse Fast facts An event is planned […]

South Korea prepares for the imposition of FATF travel rule heat up. Meanwhile in Australia, reforms are set to be introduced for the crypto sector.

Bahamas-based crypto exchange FTX announced the establishment of an Australian branch on Monday Asia time as part of the company’s global expansion plans. See related article: New crypto regulation — including tax reform — coming to Australia Fast facts FTX Australia will be headquartered in the nation’s financial capital Sydney and will be fully licensed […]

Australian senator Andrew Bragg called for “urgent” regulation of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) under the nation’s Corporations Act as part of his Digital Services Act proposal at Blockchain Week Australia on Monday.  See related article: ​​New crypto regulation — including tax reform — coming to Australia Fast facts DAOs can replace companies and are therefore […]

Financial Action Task Force (FATF) travel rule compliance service providers VerifyVASP and CODE have signed a memorandum of understanding to link their services before the rule goes into full effect in South Korea this Friday. See related article: South Korean crypto businesses scramble to meet FATF travel rule Fast facts The two entities are backed […]

The Indian government is working to determine whether cryptocurrencies can be classified as goods or services, which can impose a different taxation scheme on digital assets, local media reported. See related article: India’s crypto tax will incur losses for government, says WazirX CEO Fast facts Government officials believe crypto trading is similar to gambling and […]

Sweeping reforms are coming to Australia’s crypto sector, including a new tax system, additional protections for investors, and regulation for crypto exchanges and brokers. See related article: Australia on track for a crypto boom by 2030, EY report says Fast facts The Australian government will release documents relating to the regulation on Monday as it […]

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine rages on and sanctions continue to mount, Russia-based bank Sberbank obtains a crypto license from the Central Bank of Russia. Meanwhile in China, social media platform Weibo allows its users to mint NFTs of their social media posts.

Capital control limiting outflows may be less of an issue in the future with e-CNY being a ‘controllable currency,’ experts say.

Weibo, a social media platform known as the Chinese equivalent of Twitter with 249 million daily active users, launched its non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace TopHolder on Thursday, allowing users to mint their original posts into NFTs and sell them. See related article: Zuckerberg confirms NFTs coming to Instagram Fast facts Users will need to pass […]

South Korean financial institution Shinhan Financial Group’s credit card subsidiary announced Friday that all of its employees are headed to the Gather.town metaverse for training on data usage in business operations. See related article: S. Korean, S. African banks team up for stablecoin-based remittances Fast facts Shinhan Card employees will complete missions on the metaverse […]

Tokyo-based mobile financial platform Kyash has raised US$41.2 million (about 4.9 billion yen) in its Series D funding joined by Jack Dorsey’s Block. See related article: After Facebook’s name change to Meta, Square has now become Block Fast facts Kyash has accumulated a total funding of about US$107.7 million since its launch in 2015, which […]