Singapore news
Binance custody partner clarifies Singapore licensing plans
Amid various reports about Binance trying to revive its crypto licensing plans in Singapore, the crypto exchange has come out to set the record straight. Binance told Cointelegraph that Ceffu, its "independent institutional custody partner," is the one looking to apply for an institutional crypto custody license when Singapore’s central bank opens up applications. Singapore has established itself as a hub for crypto businesses owing to its flexible tax policies, access to diverse tech talent, and its convenient location that allows companies to operate smoothly within the region in Asian time zones. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is expected …
Blockchain / March 2, 2023
Hodlnaut founders propose selling the firm instead of liquidation
The founders of the troubled cryptocurrency lender Hodlnaut are trying to save the business despite creditors insisting on its liquidation. On Feb. 28, Hodlnaut’s interim judicial managers released the sixth affidavit of Hodlnaut co-founder Simon Lee reportedly stating the company’s founders proposed selling the business as a better option for creditors than liquidating the firm. According to a report by Bloomberg, Lee said that he and Hodlnaut’s other co-founder Zhu Juntao have reached out to a number of “potential white knight investors.” Lee reportedly wrote that Hodlnaut co-founders are confident the company’s user base “can be acquired and on-boarded on …
Bitcoin / March 1, 2023
DBS Bank to offer cryptocurrency trading in Hong Kong
Singapore state-owned megabank DBS Group is planning to expand its cryptocurrency services to Hong Kong as the Chinese territory pushes to become a digital asset hub. DBS Bank plans to apply for a license to allow it to offer crypto trading services to Hong Kong customers, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 13. “We are planning to apply for a license in Hong Kong so that the bank could sell digital assets to our Hong Kong customers,” DBS Bank Hong Kong CEO Sebastian Paredes said. Paredes noted that DBS welcomes new crypto-related policies in Hong Kong, and is also “very sensitive” to …
Adoption / Feb. 13, 2023
3AC founder has 'chosen to ignore his duties' by not responding to subpoena, say bankruptcy lawyers
Three Arrows Capital founder Kyle Davies has not responded to a subpoena issued over Twitter aiming to gather information related to the firm’s assets. In a Feb. 7 filing with United States Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York, lawyers with the Latham & Watkins firm representing 3AC liquidators said Davies had “chosen to ignore his duties to Three Arrows” by failing to comply with the online subpoena. Courts in Singapore and the U.S. previously authorized the use of Twitter to issue subpoenas due to the whereabouts of 3AC founders Davies and Su Zhu being unconfirmed while their …
Regulation / Feb. 8, 2023
Troubled crypto lender Vauld gets extended creditor protection
Embattled crypto lending platform Vauld one more time gets the period of creditor protection from a Singapore court. The company should come up with a revival plan before Feb. 28. As reported by Bloomberg on Jan. 17, Vauld has been granted more than a month to close its negotiations with one of two digital-asset fund managers to take over the executive control of the tokens stuck on its platform. Apparently, the Singapore high court was satisfied by the company’s claim that the negotiations have entered to the “advanced stage.” In July 2022 the platform halted the withdrawals for its 800,000 …
Regulation / Jan. 17, 2023
Hodlnaut creditors reject the restructuring plan, prefer liquidation
The Singapore-based troubled crypto lender is looking at a possible liquidation as the firm's creditors have rejected the proposed restructuring plan and are seeking liquidation of the platform’s assets. The group of creditors rejected a restructuring plan offer that allowed the current directors to look over the operations of the firm during the restructuring phase. However, a Jan. 12 hearing rejected an application to remove the interim judicial managers, reported Bloomberg. The creditors believe restructuring plans are of no help, and it is in their best interest to wind down and liquidate the remaining assets of the firm. Algorand Foundation, …
Blockchain / Jan. 13, 2023
Singapore’s lobbyists oppose proposed blanket ban on lending crypto tokens
A crypto lobbying group based in Singapore has voiced its opposition to the proposal from the central bank to prohibit crypto firms from lending crypto tokens. On Oct. 26, Singapore's central bank issued consultation papers and proposed to ban digital payment token service providers from offering "any credit facility" to consumers. This includes either lending fiat or cryptocurrencies. However, the Blockchain Association of Singapore (BAS) believes that this may be overly restrictive. In a feedback document sent to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), BAS reportedly argued that a blanket ban could push crypto users to pursue lending their tokens …
Blockchain / Jan. 6, 2023
Three Arrows Capital founders subpoenaed on Twitter
Three Arrows Capital (3AC) founders Zhu Su and Kyle Davies were subpoenaed on Twitter on Jan. 5, after the liquidators granted permission from Singapore authorities following a United States bankruptcy court order. As reported by Cointelegraph, liquidators' lawyers have repeatedly failed to engage with the founders in recent months. “A communication protocol was agreed between the liquidators and founders but has not yielded satisfactory cooperation,” according to a hearing presentation. The subpoena requests Su and Davies to "furnish all documents available to you regardless of whether this information is possessed directly by you, your agents, representatives, employees, or investigators; or …
Blockchain / Jan. 5, 2023
Amber Group raises $300M to recover from FTX contagion
Amber has completed a new $300 million Series C funding round, led by blockchain-focused venture capital company Fenbushi Capital US, the firm announced on Twitter on Dec. 15. The new funding round comes as Amber has decided to pause its previous Series B funding and proceed with Series C instead due to FTX collapse. Prior to the failure of FTX, Amber was in process of completing an extension of its Series B at a $3 billion valuation. As previously reported, the company was planning to raise $100 million as part of the Series B funding, targeting to complete the round …
Bitcoin / Dec. 16, 2022
Crypto hotspots continue to thrive despite FTX collapse
The sudden failure of FTX has left many people questioning the impact this will have on the cryptocurrency ecosystem. For instance, it remains questionable whether or not crypto hotspots will continue to flourish or if there will be a decline in innovation. While it may be too soon to fully understand the impact of the FTX collapse, industry leaders within crypto-friendly geographies believe that the FTX failure will not hamper innovation. For example, Dubai — which has been dubbed as one of the most innovative regions for crypto and blockchain development — continues to see ecosystem activity. Most recently, The …
Adoption / Dec. 13, 2022
Amber Group ditches expansion plans after denying insolvency: Report
Cryptocurrency trading firm Amber Group is putting its expansion plans on hold despite the FTX contagion having “no disruption” to its daily operations, according to a senior executive. Amber has scrapped plans to expand in Europe and the United States as a consequence of exposure to the now-defunct exchange FTX and will focus on institutional clients in Asia, according to managing partner Annabelle Huang. Huang also said that Amber has been forced to deprioritize its new metaverse project due the FTX contagion, the Financial Times reported on Dec. 9. Apart from ditching its expansion plans, the firm has reportedly been …
Bitcoin / Dec. 9, 2022
Crypto is 'most mature' in these 2 countries, new Huobi report reveals
Bitcoin (BTC) and crypto are only used by 13.7% of Americans, but they generate more exchange volume than anyone else. The latest data compiled by exchange Huobi confirms that in 2022, the United States is the most “mature” crypto market. U.S., Vietnam lead the way on crypto Despite the heavy drawdowns in price for Bitcoin and altcoins this year, interest throughout the world remains “extremely active,” and the leaders may come as a surprise. In its latest annual report, Huobi Research, an affiliate of Huobi Global, revealed that the U.S. accounts for 9.2% of global centralized exchange (CEX) volume. When …
Bitcoin / Dec. 8, 2022