Why big investors are pouring money into blockchain data analytics for crypto
Nansen, a Singapore startup, is the latest darling of venture capitalists like Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) bullish on the growing field of crypto analytics.
Samsung Asset Management launches metaverse fund
Samsung Asset Management, South Korea’s biggest asset manager, has launched a fund tied to a virtual world known as the metaverse.
Bitcoin hashrate falls to lowest in 22 months amid China mining clampdown
Bitcoin’s hashrate fell to 58.7971 exa hashes per second on Sunday — the lowest point since August 2019.
Singapore central bank joins IMF, World Bank to push state digital currencies
The Monetary Authority of Singapore is inviting proposals for retail central bank digital currency innovations to improve payment services.
Special Series, Part 2: China lays digital groundwork for a new Silk Road
How China’s deployment of the digital yuan intertwines economics with geopolitics and concrete with virtual infrastructure, from Cambodia to the Caribbean.
South Korean crypto exchange fee revelations deal blow to sector’s credibility
Payment for listings raises questions over integrity of cryptocurrencies’ credit scores as compliance deadline nears.
Kazakhstan’s Bitcoin gold rush gathers pace as Chinese miners keep piling in
As China shuts down crypto mining over environmental concerns, miners are moving next door to Kazakhstan, one of the most coal-rich countries in the world.
Hong Kong to press ahead with digital dollar, e-CNY plans
Hong Kong’s financial secretary has reiterated the city’s determination to develop digital versions of the Hong Kong dollar and the mainland Chinese yuan.
Lawmaker clarifies Paraguay won’t try to make Bitcoin legal tender
Lawmaker Carlos Rejala tamped down speculation that Paraguay might follow El Savador’s footsteps in making Bitcoin legal tender.
Special series, Part 1: China bets on the blockchain
Long before most governments, the Asian superpower saw the potential in Bitcoin’s technology to spawn the next internet and a new form of money.
China sets out stall with digital yuan. Here comes the sales pitch
Urged on by the authorities, banks have wasted little time in putting e-CNY infrastructure in place, but now comes the hard part — getting people to use it.
Australian blockchain project targets construction sector traceability
Accountancy giant KPMG is partnering with Australian property group Mirvac to create a blockchain platform to track the provenance of buildings.
Mining rig maker Bitmain halts sales amid flood of second-hand machines
Chinese crypto mining rig maker Bitmain has decided to suspend global spot sales of its Antminer machines, as some of its clients are reselling their rigs.
Following forced closure, Hong Kong’s Apple Daily preserved on blockchain
A tech-savvy activist is using blockchain technology to preserve content from Hong Kong’s Apple Daily, which was yesterday forced by the government to shut down.
China’s Ant Group launches blockchain-boosting transmission network
Ant Chain, Ant Group’s technology brand, has launched a new blockchain communication technology at Ant Chain’s first developer conference.
South Korea points to crypto regulation efforts after calls for watchdog to quit
South Korea’s presidential office has reacted defensively to a petition calling for the chief of the country’s main finance sector regulator to step down over comments he made about cryptocurrencies.
Australian auction house begins accepting crypto for all items
Auction house Lloyds Auctions Australia has begun accepting cryptocurrency for all purchases on its marketplace.
Chinese crypto mining rig maker Bitmain suspends sales as prices drop
Chinese mining rig maker Bitmain has stopped selling in-stock cryptocurrency mining equipment amid a plunge in the prices following a shutdown of major mining pools in China.
South Korean crypto exchange Upbit in dock in trading tech case
South Korean crypto exchange Upbit — the country’s biggest — is facing a lawsuit filed by a university foundation alleging patent infringement.
Indian crypto investors could be stung by 2% foreign operator levy
Indian cryptocurrency investors could face a 2% levy on transactions made through foreign-owned crypto exchanges operating in the country.
Chinese payment giant Alipay starts selling NFTs
Chinese payment app Alipay has started selling non-fungible token artwork, finding buyers for a combined 8,000 editions of two artworks within one day.
U.S. Treasury nominees pledge beefed-up crypto AML enforcement
Two nominees to the U.S. Treasury Department have promised, if they are confirmed in their posts, to implement new regulations relating to cryptocurrency.
New crypto mining hot spots emerge; Korea crypto controversy escalates | The Daily Forkast
The next generation of mining hot spots are shaping out in the aftermath of China’s mining exodus as Upbit’s delisting generates new enemies.
Chinese crypto miners head west as Beijing’s crackdown gains pace
Kazakhstan offers nearby bolthole as North America and Europe beckon.
South Korean crypto exchange Upbit to sue Pica Project after delisting coin
South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Upbit is preparing legal action against crypto coin issuer Pica Project, whose tokens it has delisted from its platform.
Chinese central bank orders lenders to cut cryptos’ financial lifelines
The People’s Bank of China has told the country’s big banks and other finance sector heavyweights to cut off financing sources for cryptocurrency transactions.
Over 3,000 ATMs in Beijing now support digital yuan withdrawals
Two of China’s largest state-owned banks, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), are now offering two-way exchange between fiat cash yuan and e-CNY digital currency through more than 3,000 ATMs in Beijing, according to reports in local media. Over 3,000 ATMs in Beijing managed by ICBC […]
S. Korean banks start crypto exchange reviews as contract renewals loom
South Korean lenders have started money laundering risk assessments of the country’s “big four” cryptocurrency exchanges, with which they have contracts to provide real-name accounts.
Bitcoin hashrate plunges as Chinese crypto mining crackdown hits Sichuan
The Bitcoin hashrate plunged over the weekend following a clampdown on cryptocurrency mining by the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan.
Paraguay may adopt Bitcoin as lawmaker seeks to follow El Salvador
Following El Salvador’s move to become the first country in the world to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender, a Paraguayan congressman has announced plans to do the same in the South American nation next month.
Survey: Crypto investing gender gap is narrowing in Australia
The number of Australian women investing in cryptocurrency has grown this year from 7% in January to 11% in June.
WazirX CEO: India’s crypto industry trying to keep ‘clean’ for regulators
Crypto literacy of Indian regulators is evolving and crypto players are trying to keep industry clean via self-regulations, says Nischal Shetty of WazirX.
As Shanghai gives away digital yuan, we hit the streets with a man spending it
Money may be easy to part with when it’s free, but as Shanghai’s first experimental e-CNY giveaway shows, it’s not so easy finding shops to take it.
Crypto clampdown hits Sichuan; Dtravel launches Airbnb rival | The Daily Forkast
China’s crypto clampdown reaches Sichuan. A sneak preview into how China’s digital yuan works.
Chinese crypto mining ban coming to Sichuan — reports
Miners face imminent shutdown as power companies told to cut electricity, according to multiple reports.
U.S. securities watchdog’s regulatory agenda turns blind eye to crypto
Dashing hopes of greater regulatory clarity for the cryptocurrency industry, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s recently released annual regulatory agenda does not mention Bitcoin or cryptocurrency regulations.
‘China’s Robinhood’ halts CME crypto futures services amid sector clampdown
Chinese stock trading app Futu Niuniu has suspended Chicago Mercantile Exchange cryptocurrency futures services and stopped supplying crypto market information.
New Singapore telco to offer contract-free, blockchain-backed services
Gorilla Mobile, Singapore’s newest mobile virtual network operator, is set to roll out blockchain technology to offer contract-free services.
Angry Aussie crypto investors eye Binance class action
Australian investors adversely impacted by repeated system failures on Binance are considering taking a class action lawsuit to recoup their losses.
U.S. Republican Party to accept donations in cryptocurrency
The National Republican Congressional Committee in the US will begin accepting donations in cryptocurrency.
South Korean crypto exchanges face ban on listing own tokens
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission today revealed plans to ban cryptocurrency exchanges in the country from listing their own coins.
How Singapore and Cambodia see digital currencies for cross-border use
In a recent conference, central bankers from Cambodia and Singapore discuss how digital currencies are transforming existing payment systems for the better.
Singapore’s PSB Academy launches Ethereum-hosted blockchain diploma
PSB Academy, a private education institution in Singapore, ACCESS, a crypto non-profit, and learning platform Skilltree today announced the launch of a blockchain diploma program.
El Salvador feels confused over salary payments in Bitcoin
The El Salvadorean Department of Labor and Social Welfare has had to clarify it is not within its purview to determine whether salaries can be paid in Bitcoin.
Survival race of SK exchanges; Ethereum powers digital passports in HK | The Daily Forkast
50 crypto exchanges apply for ISMS in South Korea while Hong Kong sees the birth of a blockchain passport for Covid vaccinations.
Blockchain-powered air quality sensor test launches in Hong Kong
France-based PlanetWatch, which records air quality data on Algorand’s blockchain, has launched its first test sensor in Hong Kong.
China’s public Chang’An Chain gets upgrade to accelerate processing
Chinese homegrown public blockchain platform Chang’An Chain has been equipped with 96-core blockchain-specific chips, and 23 companies joined its ecosystem yesterday.
India reviews cryptocurrency ‘ban’ legislation
The Indian government and leading industry stakeholders are reviewing elements of legislation that proposed a ban on cryptocurrencies.
South Korean crypto exchanges race to comply with strict new rules
Fifty South Korean crypto exchanges have applied for certification under the country’s Information Security Management System — the first step in meeting stringent new crypto exchange regulations.
R3 and ASEAN network partner on CBDC sandbox for banks and fintechs
The ASEAN Financial Innovation Network (AFIN) is partnering with enterprise software firm R3 on a central bank digital currency (CBDC) sandbox.
Yunnan mining ban clarified; Korean exchanges start ‘coin thinning’ | The Daily Forkast
Chinese authorities provide more details on its notice issued to the local mining industry while South Korean exchange start ‘coin thinning’.
Chinese province of Yunnan puts crypto mining under the microscope
Following rumors of a possible ban on cryptocurrency mining in the province last week, its energy regulator has clarified an approach to the industry that looks set to rein in rogue operators.
ConsenSys, Hong Kong university launch Ethereum-powered Covid passport
The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Ethereum software company ConsenSys today announced the launch of a Covid-19 digital health passport.
Thailand tightens rules for crypto exchanges and bans meme, fan, NFT tokens
Thailand’s securities regulator has announced new rules for cryptocurrency exchanges in the country, including a ban on utility tokens and meme tokens.
African P2P Bitcoin trading roars ahead of other regions
Africa has emerged as the region with the highest growth in P2P Bitcoin trading volume over the past six months.
Ant, Ping An, Tencent Cloud win top slots in Chinese blockchain ranking
Ant Group, Ping An Group and Tencent Cloud ranked as the top three among 50 leading Chinese industrial blockchain enterprises in 2020.
El Salvador’s BTC remittances in May quadruple from last year
Bitcoin transactions in El Salvador during May increased by more than four times compared to a year ago, yet fiat remittances still represent the vast majority of transactions in the country.
Yunnan warns miners over power use; WazirX faces gov’t heat | The Daily Forkast
China’s crypto mining crackdown continues while Indian finance authorities probe one of the nation’s largest exchange WazirX.
China reveals e-CNY wallet specifications
China’s central bank has unveiled four specifications of digital wallets for the country’s state-issued digital currency, the e-CNY.
Hundreds of Bitcoin mining rigs seized in Malaysia police raids
Four people have been arrested and more than 400 Bitcoin mining machines seized by police in the Malaysian city of George Town.
Who’ll blink first in India’s crypto stand-off?
India’s central bank has clarified that cryptocurrencies are not illegal, but that does little to prevent lenders from refusing to provide crypto-related services.
As blockchain becomes widely used in banking, what are its security risks?
Blockchain provides greater data transparency and security than ever before, but the technology is not immune to cyber attacks and data breaches.
SK govt assists crypto exchanges; Aus firm accepts crypto for rent | The Daily Forkast
South Korean government is holding on-site visits to help crypto exchanges get regulated while an Aussie business wants crypto for rent.
Indian crypto exchange WazirX in probe over US$382M in suspect transactions
India’s Enforcement Directorate has issued a show cause notice to cryptocurrency exchange WazirX for alleged foreign exchange violations involving 27.9 billion rupees (US$382 million).
Foreign crypto exchanges eye India despite regulatory uncertainty
Despite regulatory uncertainty over cryptocurrency trading in India, some of the world’s largest crypto exchanges are looking to enter the market.
Australian serviced office firm to accept rent in crypto
Australian serviced office firm Business Hub will accept cryptocurrency as payment for rent on serviced office space and other business services as of July 1.
IMF targets El Salvador’s Bitcoin adoption, citing financial and legal concerns
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will meet with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to finalize discussions around a pandemic relief loan to support the Central American nation. In a Thursday press briefing, IMF spokesman Garry Rice also implied that El Salvador’s decision to make Bitcoin a national currency will be a focus of the meeting for the IMF team.
Singapore’s GIC takes 8% stake in HK’s digital asset company BC Group
GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, is investing in BC Group—the parent company of OSL, Hong Kong’s first licensed cryptocurrency exchange.
Bitcoin hot in Singapore; China crypto mining bans widen | The Daily Forkast
El Salvador’s adoption of Bitcoin has the world buzzing. Can Singapore be next? China mining crackdown continues.
Hashrate drops as Chinese crypto mining ban extended to more provinces
Cryptocurrency mining prohibition in Xinjiang and Qinghai follows Inner Mongolia ban.
BIS, Swiss and French central banks team up for CBDC Project Jura
The BIS, together with the central banks of France and Switzerland, are collaborating on a wholesale central bank digital currency experiment for cross-border settlements.
South Korea cracks down on suspicious crypto exchange accounts
South Korea’s main finance sector regulator has launched an investigation of accounts operated by crypto exchanges under false or third-party names.