Terra cryptocurrency fugitive Do Kwon flew to Serbia last month, South Korean prosecutor says
Interpol fugitive Kwon Do-hyung flew to the Republic of Serbia last month, South Korean prosecutors told Forkast, confirming local media reports.
SEC advises public firms to disclose crypto risks
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has advised publicly-listed firms to disclose their exposure to the cryptocurrency market, in light of the fallout of the FTX collapse.
Wemade to buyback US$10 mln in WEMIX after delisting verdict
Wemade, a S.Korean blockchain game maker, announced that it will buyback and burn US$10 million worth of its WEMIX token to stabilize its value.
U.S. considering bill to require crypto miners to report carbon emissions
U.S. cryptocurrency miners would be required to report greenhouse gas emissions under a new bill submitted to the Senate, reflecting criticism the industry is adding to use of fossil fuels blamed for global warming.
Hong Kong’s virtual asset licensing regime to take effect next June
Hong Kong passed the amendment to the bill that includes a licensing regime VASP on Wednesday, which will come into effect on June 1, 2023.
South Korea’s Wemade shares drop, WEMIX token plunges after delisting verdict
The South Korean blockchain game maker’s WEMIX cryptocurrency will be removed from the country’s four major cryptocurrency exchanges that collectively account for more than 95% of the country’s crypto trading volume.
S.Korea court dismisses Wemade’s injunction, local exchanges to delist WEMIX
A Seoul court has dismissed the injunction filed by Wemade Co. Ltd. to stop four local digital asset exchanges from delisting WEMIX cryptocurrency
Hong Kong’s race to launch first crypto-linked ETF begins
Three Hong Kong-based asset management firms have applied for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking Bitcoin and Ethereum futures for retail investors.
S.Korea central bank puts hand up to regulate stablecoins
The Bank of Korea (BOK) claimed it needs the authority to monitor and supervise stablecoins, according to the South Korean central bank’s report published on Monday.
Majority of ‘wealthy’ South Koreans say no plan to invest in crypto, cite lack of trust
The majority (58.3%) of South Koreans with assets of 1 billion Korean won (US$760,000) said they don’t plan to invest in cryptocurrencies.
DeFi regulation: it’s not a matter of if, but when
The push to regulate DeFi is stronger than ever, and the sector would be wise not to fight but participate in that inevitability, writes Michael Shing of XREX.
Innovation vs Regulation
Innovation and regulation are mutually exclusive in the world of crypto – and in the aftermath of the FTX collapse, getting the balance right is key.
Australian crypto exchange Swyftx cuts 40% of jobs amid fallout from FTX collapse
Australian cryptocurrency exchange Swyftx cut 90 staff members — or 40% of its workforce — to prepare for a “worst-case scenario” in the market from the collapse of FTX.com.
Sam Bankman-Fried ‘not sure’ if he will testify before Congress on Dec. 13
Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and former chief executive officer of failed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, tweeted on Monday morning Hong Kong time that he may not testify before the U.S. Congress on Dec. 13.
Wemade in talks with Binance for custody of WEMIX cryptocurrency
Wemade Co. Ltd. said its in talks to have Binance Institutional Services take custody of its native cryptocurrency, WEMIX.
Digital ID Ready?
As the Philippine government ties to roll out a hugely ambitious ID system, we take a look at how blockchain could make data more secure.
S.Korea court to settle MIR4 maker Wemade, WEMIX legal battle
Following a hearing on Friday, the court is expected to finalize its decision on an injunction Wemade filed against four exchanges.
S. Korea energy conglomerate builds US$84 mln metaverse fund
Daesung’s venture capital subsidiary recently established a fund worth 110 billion Korean won (US$84.5 million) for expanding investments into metaverse startups.
FTX collapse will blunt activities of North Korea hackers, analyst says
The collapse of FTX.com and its far-reaching impacts will hinder North Korea’s ability to profit from cryptocurrency hacks, says one analyst.
South Korea’s Shinhan Bank starts ‘metaverse’ services, according to local media
Shinhan has opened a metaverse to provide financial and non-financial services, claiming to be the first bank in the country to provide such a platform.
Indonesia central bank releases whitepaper on digital rupiah, to develop wholesale CBDC first
Indonesia’s central bank has released a whitepaper detailing plans for its central bank digital currency (CBDC), as the country looks to “advance digital transformation.”
It’s time for more institutions to adopt blockchain and crypto: Opinion
Despite the myriad benefits of blockchain and cryptocurrency, institutional interest remains mixed in Asia Pacific. What lessons should the industry learn from 2022 to overcome the barriers to adoption?
Philippines’ Blockchain Future
The Philippines might have moved on from Axie Infinity and other NFT collections, but its still steaming ahe
Binance re-enters Japan with acquisition of regulated Sakura Exchange BitCoin
Binance returned to the Japanese market with the acquisition of regulated crypto exchange Sakura Exchange BitCoin (SEBC), according to a blog post on Wednesday. See related article: Binance to help S. Korea’s Busan build first city-backed exchange Fast facts See related article: Crypto exchange Binance in regulators’ crosshairs as scrutiny mounts
Philippine Blockchain Week: Blockchain adoption struggles in the Philippines as businesses ‘invest to survive’
Blockchain adoption in the Philippines is struggling because businesses are focused on survival, according to Dr. Donald Lim, lead convenor at Philippine Blockchain Week in Manila.
S.Korea requests warrant to bring Terra-Luna cofounder Daniel Shin into custody
A court in South Korea will review if prosecutors are allowed to arrest and bring Terraform cofounder Daniel Shin and seven others into custody, for charges including fraud.
Swiss crypto bank SEBA Bank expands to Hong Kong
Swiss crypto bank SEBA Bank announced on Wednesday the opening of its Hong Kong office to serve global institutional clients as part of its Asia-Pacific expansion. See related article: Hong Kong said it remains upbeat on digital assets after FTX debacle Fast facts See related article: Hong Kong needs engineering talent to reclaim role as […]
S. Korea’s Wemade files injunction against country’s top 4 crypto exchanges
The blockchain game maker fights delisting of its symbolic WEMIX crypto token.
S. Korea releases ethical guidelines for the metaverse
South Korea’s science ministry released a guideline of core ethical principles for metaverse application participants.
Markets: Bitcoin, Ether gain as China eases Covid rules amid protests; Dogecoin jumps
Bitcoin and Ether both rose in Wednesday morning trading in Asia, with all other non-stablecoin top 10 cryptocurrencies also gaining ground as China on Tuesday said it will relax some Covid rules in response to protests.
India to roll out retail CBDC on Dec. 1
India will launch its retail CBDC pilot on Thursday with plans to gradually expand trials, the RBI announced on Tuesday.
ECB’s Christine Lagarde: Further crypto regulation ‘absolute necessity’ following FTX collapse
Christine Lagarde of the European Central Bank said regulating cryptocurrency in the EU is an “absolute necessity” following the collapse of Bahamas-based exchange FTX.com.
Blockchain is transforming capital markets, and Singapore is leading the way: Opinion
Asset tokenization and DeFi hold tremendous potential for the finance sector, writes Han Kwee Juan of DBS Bank. Here’s how the Singaporean government is at the forefront of change.
U.S., S. Korea applied for over 75% of world’s metaverse patents: report
Companies based in the U.S. and South Korea have filed for more than 75% of patent applications related to the metaverse, VR and AR.
Nigeria seeks distinction between digital assets and crypto
Nigeria seeks to advance digital asset trading in the country but is drawing a distinction between digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
Australian fintech firm launches new AUD stablecoin, AUDE
Australian blockchain fintech startup Ettle Pty Ltd. has completed the first transaction on its recently launched Australian dollar-pegged stablecoin, AUDE.
Singapore’s Matrixport eyes US$100 mln fundraiser at US$1.5 bln valuation
Singapore-based crypto lender Matrixport is hoping to raise US$100 million at a valuation of US$1.5 billion, according to a Bloomberg report citing unnamed sources.
S.Korean Wemade’s stock falls 30% after exchanges announce WEMIX token delisting; CEO blames Upbit exchange
The delisting poses a great obstacle to the game maker’s growing blockchain empire, while Wemade’s CEO blames the crypto exchange
Singapore police say they are investigating crypto lender Hodlnaut on fraud allegations
Singapore’s white-collar crime unit is investigating Hodlnaut on allegations of fraud, according to a statement on the website of the Singapore police dated Nov. 23.
Russia plans launch of national crypto exchange
Russian lawmakers aim to launch a national cryptocurrency exchange, supported by the country’s Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Russia.
Scam Center Slavery?
It’s no secret that crypto scams and fraud are abundant – but those doing the scamming might be victims of something even more sinister.
Hex Trust bags virtual asset license from Dubai
Digital asset custodian Hex Trust received the MVP license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority on Nov. 24.
Chinese mafia forcing Filipinos to work for crypto scams, says Philippine Senator
The organized crime gangs victimize both the trafficked and those that get scammed, according to the official
The crash and burn of FTX: What lessons does it teach us?
As FTX victims and creditors sift through the pieces, how much of this blowup should regulators have seen coming — and could it happen again?
Japan’s central bank to test digital yen with three megabanks: report
The Bank of Japan, the country’s central bank, will conduct experiments with three megabanks and regional banks on a digital yen, according to a report by Nikkei on Wednesday.
India’s CoinSwitch launches platform to enable multi-exchange trading with single login
Indian crypto exchange CoinSwitch has launched CoinSwitch Pro, a multi-exchange trading platform that lets users trade crypto assets in Indian Rupees across multiple exchanges with a single login.
Singapore’s DBS bank completes intraday repurchase transaction on JPMorgan’s blockchain-based platform
Singapore-based DBS bank, the largest lender in Southeast Asia, has said it is the first bank in Asia to complete an intraday repurchase transaction on a blockchain-based network.
S.Korea’s top regulator says digital assets, virtual assets are different
While the crypto industry grapples with the definition of blockchain-based digital tokens, South Korea wants to nail down the terminology.
S.Korea’s Ifland metaverse launches globally in 49 countries
South Korea’s telecommunications giant SK Telecom (SKT) is launching its Ifland metaverse in 49 countries in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
New York State passes two-year moratorium on some crypto mining facilities
New York became the first U.S. state to enact a temporary ban on new cryptocurrency mining permits at fossil fuel plants, despite lobbying against the measure.
Regulators should seek greater disclosure from stablecoin issuers: HK monetary authority researchers
Regulators should seek more disclosure from stablecoin issuers, as stablecoins could transmit risk from markets to traditional finance, according to researchers at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority
Huobi plans Southeast Asia, Europe, Caribbean expansion
Huobi Global, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, plans to ramp up its investments in Southeast Asia and Europe as part of its global expansion, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.
Hong Kong residents spend most time online globally: NordVPN survey
Hong Kong residents spend the most time online – almost half of their lives – mainly watching videos on YouTube followed by scrolling through social media channels, according to a new survey by virtual private network provider NordVPN.
Thai crypto exchange eyes Hong Kong for possible public share sale in 2024: report
Bitkub, one of the largest crypto exchanges in Thailand, is aiming to list in Hong Kong as early as 2024 when it goes public.
FTX Japan readies for resumption of withdrawals by end-2022: report
FTX Japan, a subsidiary of the now-bankrupt FTX.com, is preparing to resume withdrawals by the end of 2022 to Japanese customers, said an unnamed FTX Japan executive to local broadcaster NHK
Singapore’s central bank says not possible to protect local users from FTX fallout
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said on Monday that it was not possible for the central bank to protect local users from FTX’s collapse as the crypto exchange operated offshore and was not licensed by MAS.
S. Korea mulls requirement for digital asset exchanges to compensate sudden withdrawal suspension
South Korea’s FSC is considering a requirement that crypto exchanges offset investor losses for the sudden suspension of withdrawal services.
S.Korea examines exchange native tokens after FTX meltdown
S.Korean authorities are looking into self-issued cryptocurrencies that may exist within local exchanges following FTX.com’s FTT-led liquidity crisis.
South Korea, Singapore, Japan biggest users of FTX pre-collapse, says CoinGecko
South Korea, Singapore and Japan were the biggest users of FTX.com based on the number of monthly unique visitors from January to October 2022
Taiwan’s top three crypto exchanges say operations unaffected amid FTX fallout
Taiwan’s three largest cryptocurrency exchanges have said their operations were unaffected by the fallout of FTX and will work to release proof of assets as soon as possible.
HK crypto over-the-counter service Genesis Block to end trading: Reuters
Genesis Block, a cryptocurrency over-the-counter trading service in Hong Kong, will close its trading portal on Dec. 10, Reuters reported on Friday citing an email the company sent to customers.
Bahamas regulator orders transfer of all FTX digital assets to government wallet
The Securities Commission of The Bahamas (Commission) on Nov. 12 ordered the transfer of all digital assets of FTX Digital Markets to a digital wallet controlled by the Commission, for “safekeeping,” in an announcement on Nov. 17.
Terra cofounder Daniel Shin denies $100 mln LUNA cashout: report
Terra cofounder Daniel Shin reportedly told S.Korean prosecutors during an investigation on Thursday that he did not sell LUNA at a high point.
FTX contagion in S.Korea: GOPAX halts Genesis-backed DeFi
S.Korean crypto exchange GOPAX halted withdrawal of principal and interest payments in its DeFi service which brokers products from Genesis.
Australia to revamp cryptocurrency rules after FTX collapse
The country is one of the first to say it will act to set up regulations to prevent a collapse similar to FTX, which filed for bankruptcy protection and froze the assets of hundreds of thousands of investors.
New FTX chief says lack of controls at bankrupt exchange ‘unprecedented’
John J. Ray III, a Chicago-based lawyer and the new CEO of now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, has criticized the lack of “appropriate corporate governance” across FTX Group companies under Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder and former CEO of FTX.
China’s state blockchain infrastructure Xinghuo BIF partners Malaysian MyEG to fuel global push
China’s state blockchain infrastructure Xinghuo Blockchain Infrastructure and Facility has signed an agreement with Malaysian digital service provider MY E.G. Services Berhad to own and operate an “international supernode,” as China continues its international blockchain push.
Taiwan’s Crypto Future
Taiwan’s economy has taken a hit due to lowered demand for its number one export and repercussions of the Chinese Mainland’s zero-COVID policies. How has that shifted the Taiwanese government’s attitude towards crypto?
Indian crypto exchange CoinSwitch says proof of reserves shows sufficient reserves to match clients’ stake
Indian crypto exchange CoinSwitch’s proof of reserves summary, that was shared on Thursday, stated that as of Nov. 4, the exchange’s overall holdings of crypto and fiat balances in Indian Rupees (INR) exceeded those held by the exchange on behalf of its users.
How Hong Kong and Singapore can make Asia the center of crypto’s future
Yes, there is rivalry between the two global finance hubs. But their strengths are also complementary for Asia to become an even bigger crypto powerhouse, writes Lily Z. King.
Singapore’s Temasek writes off US$275 mln in FTX
Temasek says its belief in Sam Bankman-Fried may have been ‘misplaced.’
Binance gets Abu Dhabi regulator’s nod to offer crypto custody services
Binance, world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has obtained Financial Services Permission from Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), to provide custody to professional clients in and from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center of the UAE’s capital.