Asia-Pacific

Ahead of Coinbase’s Nasdaq listing, Bitcoin surged to new highs in Asian trading hours. Ether, ADA and DOGE also reached new ATHs as altcoins soared.

XRP joins Wanchain’s DeFi ventures while Thai mobile bank explores the financial experiment. In Hong Kong, local police bust crypto scammers.

Meitu adds to its crypto treasury while Singapore and Hong Kong gear up for the NFT craze.

As Bitcoin and crypto market swells beyond $2 trillion, even crypto-friendly Singapore is warning the public about risks. Are more regulations coming?

Welcome to crypto’s latest catwalk. Publisher of Vogue Singapore and a Hong Kong exchange unveil plans to turn up the heat on Asia’s NFT market.

Government dismay at crypto frenzy in South Korea brings the country’s Bitcoin premium down a few notches. But despite threats and policy chills, it’s only got more South Koreans interested in the dizzying crypto world.

After surging to 21%, the higher prices that South Koreans pay for Bitcoin are now plunging. What role did Korean regulators and overseas traders play?

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Hong Kong is new test bed for China’s e-CNY digital currency. Decentraland’s token bridge to Polygon.

Are South Korea’s new cryptocurrency exchange regulations skewing its crypto market? Meanwhile, Upbit’s parent Dunamu surges on NYSE listing rumors.

Starting today, India’s crypto firms must report all cryptocurrency transactions to the government. What does this mean for India’s proposed crypto ban?

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Bitcoin prices rise as BTC and ETH options expire. DeFi market steps up as Elon Musk says, ‘Don’t defy DeFi.’

HashKey Group’s Angelina Kwan, a former regulator who helped write laws relevant to the crypto industry, also explains why Hong Kong leads the world in fintech regulations.

Young sailors are competing to win one Bitcoin in the Liberty Bitcoin Cup — a youth version of the America’s Cup — heading to Hong Kong in early 2022.

China’s new five-year plan — its blueprint for development — pours resources into ‘new infrastructure’ like blockchain technology and DCEP’s digital yuan.

Headlined by crypto art superstars Beeple and Robert Alice, the in-person exhibit also features works by Chinese artists. Next stop: Shanghai.

As interest in green bonds grow around the world, Asia is emerging as a hotbed of sustainable finance. Here’s why China will be leading the way.

New KPMG report outlines opportunities for investors as well as traditional banks with the rise of VASPs like cryptocurrency exchanges and custody services.

Other top blockchain and crypto news: Japan’s SBI Crypto opens mining pool to public. In China, more companies turn to crypto to boost bottom line.

OKEx will soon follow Binance in leaving South Korea’s cryptocurrency exchange market. Is this what FATF and Korean regulators intended?

Hong Kong Monetary Authority intensifies its CBDC efforts with a new study into ‘hybrid’ digital currencies and private CBDC-backed stablecoins.

Thailand’s central bank says it is ‘open’ to considering stablecoins but declares Terra’s THT to be illegal. What does this mean for Tether or USD Coin?

Boosted by state incentives, companies in China are filing more blockchain patent applications than anywhere else. But how many patents got awarded?

As central banks in China, Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand ramp up CBDC efforts, Bank of Japan is now planning a proof of concept for a digital currency.

Cardano’s ADA, up by 7,400% since last year, is now the 3rd most popular cryptocurrency in the world. Why is it called a ‘Ethereum killer’? Let’s find out.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: As China tightens vise on crypto, Beijing to host 60-artist crypto art exhibition featuring NFT superstar Beeple.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Ethereum takes up with Amazon, plans gas fee changes. China likely to increase blockchain spending.

As debate rages over whether India should ban private cryptos in favor of a central bank digital currency, a case could be made that India needs both.

One of world’s biggest bitcoin-producing regions will soon ban cryptocurrency mining to meet China’s clean air goals. Where will all those miners go?

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Goldman Sachs, more big banks line up behind bitcoin. Short-sellers probe crypto miners in China.

As China widens the e-CNY’s testing to Chengdu, the future of WeChat Pay and Alipay becomes complicated. What are the new CBDC’s pros and cons?

Cardano blockchain, a so-called ‘Ethereum killer,’ completes its Mary hard fork upgrade as ADA becomes 3rd largest cryptocurrency behind bitcoin and ether.

Inspired by bitcoin’s boom, companies with no business in crypto are pivoting to cryptocurrency mining. A New York investors lawsuit offers a cautionary tale.

Now that China’s censors are blocking Clubhouse, what are the popular audio networking app’s mainland members doing? VPNs are the new velvet ropes.

China, UAE, Hong Kong, Thailand and Bank for International Settlements collaborate on ‘m-CBDC Bridge’ digital currency project for cross-border payments.

Eugene Ng of Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange that recently expanded in Singapore, explains why the Lion City is good for doing crypto business.

Industry insiders warn that proposed rule to allow only ‘professional investors’ to buy and sell crypto could drive companies to crypto-friendlier shores.

Other top blockchain and crypto news: DeFi under Fed study. Andrew Yang, Wyoming vie for crypto attention. Hong Kong and India edge toward crypto bans.

Tesla’s bitcoin dive is recharging an already hot crypto market, worsening the run on new mining equipment and heating up the second-hand rig market.

India is moving toward banning all cryptocurrency and creating a state-backed digital rupee. But Tesla’s big bitcoin buy-in may be giving lawmakers pause.

Other top blockchain and crypto news: ETH hits new high with CME Ethereum futures. DeFi yawns at YFI attack. China steps up DCEP digital yuan tests.

Tai’an and WenChang chains join BSN China’s ‘Open Permissioned Blockchain Initiative’ as nation grows its blockchain network while maintaining controls.

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: India pushes CBDC and proposes banning crypto. Korea’s DeFi future. How does Bitmain’s drama end?

Singapore and Thailand launch the world’s first real-time cross-border digital payment system. Here’s what else is happening in Hong Kong and China.

BSN’s new digital payment network will be a boon to Ethereum, stablecoins and CBDCs like China’s DCEP digital yuan while keeping other cryptos out.

Now renamed e-CNY, China’s new digital yuan has now been tested by 250,000 shoppers in two cities. Is it finally close to launch?

China is investing heavily in blockchain technology in government, dwarfing US levels. Forkast.News examines the growing gap and the paths forward.

As China presses its digital currency closer to launch, a Shanghai test reveals features aimed at the 700 million Chinese without mobile phones or the internet.

In a special interview, Mance Harmon of Hedera Hashgraph explains how distributed ledger technology is helping quash fake news and warn Syrians about airstrikes.

With DCEP nearing launch, China is having a banner year in blockchain-related technologies. Here’s what’s hot in China and what’s too hot to touch.

In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, the financial regulatory lawyer and partner at King & Wood Mallesons offers her views on digital assets regulation, CBDCs and Asia’s digital transformation.

In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, Digital Asset’s co-founder and CEO offers his views on central bank digital currencies and blockchain developments in Asia.

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.

The founder of Ontology and co-founder of Onchain explains the path forward for central bank digital currencies and DeFi in China in 2021.

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.

In this edition of Forkast Forecasts, the co-founder and CEO of CoinDCX offers his views on the growth of crypto in India, regulation and CBDCs.

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.

Here are the hottest blockchain news and trends that dominated Forkast.News headlines over the past 12 months. Let the countdown to 2021 begin!

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.

Hong Kong is in talks to pilot-test China’s new digital currency. How would the e-CNY affect Hong Kong’s future cross-border payments with the mainland?

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.

Now that India no longer has a crypto banking ban, what are Indian attitudes toward cryptocurrency? CoinDCX surveys 11,000 people for answers.

In biggest test yet of China’s CBDC, 100,000 Suzhou residents will use e-RMB for holiday shopping. Hong Kong is also now laying groundwork for future.

Beijing put a stop this week to Fusang’s China Construction Bank bond listing on the Ethereum blockchain. What was the Chinese government afraid of?

India’s cryptocurrency ban rumor mill will surely rev up again when lawmakers meet for winter session. The CEO of Unocoin explains the worries.

After crackdowns on crypto exchanges, China is now freezing bank accounts. Why is the world’s largest bitcoin producer tightening the vise over its miners?

Hedera’s platform will help Hala Systems store evidence of war crimes in Syria and Yemen on the blockchain for future prosecution of those responsible

Cryptocurrency exchanges flying flags of convenience is sure to annoy China’s regulators and may no longer be a viable business strategy.

Thailand once marketed itself as a cryptocurrency frontier market and an alternative to Hong Kong and Singapore. What happened?

Other top blockchain and cryptocurrency news: Will TRUMP crypto losers get second chance? Hong Kong to regulate cryptocurrency exchanges.

A big trend now: Central banks exploring digital currencies that are ‘programmable money,’ says Charles d’Haussy of ConsenSys. Should users be concerned?

Hong Kong SFC lays out plan to regulate cryptocurrency exchanges to allow only institutional money. But retail users likely won’t be deterred.

After regulators intervened, Chinese fintech giant Ant Group will now return billions to investors over its withdrawn IPO. Did Jack Ma say something wrong?