Word on the Block

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), a venture capital firm based in Silicon Valley, opened its London office, the first outside the United States, on Nov. 2. In an exclusive interview with Forkast’s Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, Krishnan discusses the growing crypto ecosystem in the U.K., the excitement behind decentralized social media platforms, and the rising synergy between artificial intelligence and blockchain.

17 лист. 2023 р.

From tech monopolies to the synergy of AI and blockchain, Alex Tapscott, author of “Web3: Charting the Internet’s Next Economic and Cultural Frontier,” dissects the trajectories of the digital landscape. In a Word on the Block interview with Forkast Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, Tapscott said it’s time for investors to view blockchain technology for its innovation and not price movements of cryptocurrencies.

23 жовт. 2023 р.

A growing number of asset management companies are joining the race for the approval of a Bitcoin spot exchange-traded fund in the United States while the Securities and Exchange Commission keeps delaying its decision on existing applications. In a Word on the Block interview with Forkast Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, Steven McClurg, Chief Investment Officer and Co-Founder of Valkyrie, an asset management firm with a pending spot Bitcoin ETF application, said the approval for BTC spot ETFs in the U.S. might be imminent, potentially by the second quarter of 2024. Additionally, he addressed the SEC’s prior reservations, including custody and surveillance issues, stating that they have now been resolved.

18 вер. 2023 р.

Some of the largest traditional financial institutions in Australia have been limiting and blocking funds transfers to cryptocurrency exchanges citing rising scams and fraudulent activities. But Caroline Bowler, former bank employee and incumbent chief executive officer of BTC Markets, one of the oldest exchanges in the nation, said that she believes the nation can still be a crypto hub in the region due to the well-established and regulated local traditional financial infrastructure that crypto can easily be molded into. In a Word on the Block interview with Forkast Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, Bowler highlights the importance of all stakeholders including legislators, institutions, and the crypto industry in coming together to propel Australia into the blockchain economy.

16 серп. 2023 р.

The role of the stablecoin is to always ensure customers get a one-to-one redemption to the dollar, says Paolo Ardoino, chief technology officer of Tether, the firm stablecoin USDT, and its affiliate cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex. Scrutiny on the world’s largest stablecoin has been increasing in the past month due to the latest USDT depegging scare. In a Word on the Block interview with Forkast Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, Ardoino breaks down the USDT reserves, how the firm’s investment in U.S. treasuries is generating profits and discusses why secondary market traders can trigger USDT depegging concerns.

26 лип. 2023 р.

Cryptocurrency firms are being driven to explore friendlier jurisdictions due to a challenging regulatory climate in the U.S., says Neil Tan, chairman of the FinTech Association of Hong Kong. The city’s strategic position as a gateway to China, combined with its robust access to capital, are strengthening its ambitions to become a leader in the virtual assets arena. However, Hong Kong faces stiff competition as it vies with Dubai and Singapore. In a Word on the Block interview with Forkast Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, Tan explains why the comprehensive rules set by the city’s Securities and Futures Commission — including the facilitation of retail trading while ensuring investor protection — have become key attractions for these firms.

20 черв. 2023 р.

Christopher Giancarlo, the former chair of the CFTC, also known as ‘Crypto Dad’ said the U.S. is resisting digitization of the dollar due to it being a threat to the country’s dominance over the traditional financial system. Central Bank Digital Currencies or CBDCs are the future of money and countries that resist innovation will become irrelevant in the global financial landscape, said Giancarlo who is also the founder of the Digital Dollar Project. In a Word on the Block interview with Forkast Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau, Giancarlo expressed his disappointment over Washington’s hostility towards cryptocurrencies. His comments come in light of the recent enforcement actions against crypto by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

15 трав. 2023 р.

The recent U.S. banks fallout is a stress test for both traditional finance and digital assets but to weather the storm side by side is a powerful opportunity, says Circle Chief Strategy Officer Dante Disparte. Dante Disparte, the chief strategy officer and head of global policy at Circle Internet Financial, has spoken out about the need for greater collaboration between the cryptocurrency industry and banks. Circle is the co-founder and issuer of USDC, a dollar-backed stablecoin with a market capitalization of US$39.5 billion. However, the stablecoin broke its dollar peg over the weekend after it was revealed that Circle held US$3.3 billion in reserve deposits at SVB. As a result, USDC fell to as low as US$0.8774 before gaining its dollar parity on Monday. Tune in to the latest episode of Word on the Block with Forkast Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau for more.

29 бер. 2023 р.

Crypto and blockchain have seen everything this year. From the start with its all-time highs and its role in the Ukraine War to the year ending with the debacles of Terra Luna and the mess left by FTX and much more. These instances have left the industry edging more towards the importance of security and regulations in the space. We spoke with the Independent Community Bankers of America's Brian Laverdure to learn more about developments in crypto asset regulation and how they might help the industry rebound.

29 бер. 2023 р.

The recent U.S. banks fallout is a stress test for both traditional finance and digital assets but to weather the storm side by side is a powerful opportunity, says Circle Chief Strategy Officer Dante Disparte. Dante Disparte, the chief strategy officer and head of global policy at Circle Internet Financial, has spoken out about the need for greater collaboration between the cryptocurrency industry and banks. Circle is the co-founder and issuer of USDC, a dollar-backed stablecoin with a market capitalization of US$39.5 billion. However, the stablecoin broke its dollar peg over the weekend after it was revealed that Circle held US$3.3 billion in reserve deposits at SVB. As a result, USDC fell to as low as US$0.8774 before gaining its dollar parity on Monday. Tune in to the latest episode of Word on the Block with Forkast Editor-in-Chief Angie Lau for more.

14 бер. 2023 р.