Crypto and blockchain has seen everything this year. From the start with it’s all time highs and it’s 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 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.

Macros and microeconomics have taken a hit on the industry, leading venture capitalists and investors to take a more cautious path when investing. But some believe the opposite, now is the time to seize the opportunity. Why should we be investing during the crypto winter? What value can you get out of this? And what should we be investing in? Get the answer to all these questions & more in the latest episode of Word on the Block

As China’s dominance in the world of blockchain grows, the question that everybody is asking is - can one be tracked by this technology? Watch what Yifan He, who is building Chinese Blockchain Based Service Network or BSN & taking it to the world, has to say in this conversation with Forkast’s Angie Lau. Find out why he doesn’t believe in cryptocurrencies & why non-crypto blockchains are going to be what traditional industry & systems back on. And what are the synergies and links there are, if any, between the Digital Yuan & BSN.

China now has an over 80% share in blockchain patent applications worldwide. This shift in China’s strategy comes even though crypto currencies are frowned upon in the country. Even though crypto currencies are one of the most popular applications of blockchain technology globally, China has taken a different route as it develops Blockchain Base Service Network or BSN. How exactly does BSN work? Is it linked to existing public chains? Or is it developing in isolation? Is BSN China’s connection to global blockchains? And how does it operate without crypto currencies? What is NTT & how does one use it?

Blockchain and cryptocurrencies have been around for a little bit more than a decade, but compared to the insituationals companies they are still in their infancy. But as blockchain and crypto grows, more and more institutional players are joining the fields. You know things are getting serious when one of the oldest ventures joins the game supporting ventures that disrupt the way we invest and work in. When did they realise that they would no longer turn a blind eye to these disruption? What made them join forces and build infrastructure on it? Will this pave the way for more institution to join in? Get all these answers and much more on the latest episode of Word on the Block where we are join by Alex Mansion of Standard Charted Ventures.

The right policy structure is critical for success. As the blockchain & cryptocurrency sectors grow & break through barriers set by traditional industry, having the right guardrails in place will be essential to help it get to the next level. So which agency or agencies need to develop policies for the crypto industry? What are the rules that need to be written? How do we ensure the policy architecture does not stifle innovation? Are cryptocurrencies securities or commodities? And does any one country in the world have the lead in formulating crypto policy? Get the answers to these questions and a whole lot more in this conversation between Tomicah Tillemann and Forkast’s Angie Lau.

Hong Kong based crypto unicorn Animoca Brands has invested in over 340 web3 projects and companies so far, and more are coming. We find out how they find the right ventures to back and what challenges and opportunities they are spotting in this age of the crypto chill. And why are they participating in the Open Metaverse Alliance, what exactly is it and why do we need it.

NFTs have become ubiquitous, but they are a lot more than just a picture. They are a way to prove provenance, secure authenticity and a whole lot more. And Artifact Labs, which originated within the realms of one of Hong Kong’s oldest newspapers SCMP, is using NFTs to preserve Asia’s historic moments. Find out the challenges they’ve faced along the way as well as their thoughts on the Chinese NFT landscape. And what are the missing pieces in the crypto regulatory puzzle and what can be done better.

The world of finance is male dominated and this is true of the web3 world as well. Per a McKinsey report, all male teams snagged 85% of venture funding in the US in 2018, compared to a measly 2% by all female founding teams. How can this equation be made more equal? How can women get access to a more inclusive financial system and what needs to change? Forkast’s editor in chief Angie Lau speaks to Wendy Diamond who leads the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization or WEDO, that is trying to solve these exact problems that women across the world face when it comes to accessing, participating and using the existing financial ecosystem.

While there are thousands of blockchains around, most of them work in their own galaxy and interoperability is still a challenge. However, Cosmos is trying to change that by creating an internet of blockchains. How exactly are they creating that internet & what challenges are they facing as they try to create a system that could operate over the next few decades? And why is uplifting grassroot communities and creating systems that support local economies top of Cosmos agenda? Find out the answer to all these questions and more in the latest episode of Word on the Block.

We are just about beginning to scratch the surface of what a metaverse could be & the opportunities it presents. A world where our digital avatar is our identity & we can do things without being restricted by location or access. Forkast’s Editor in Chief Angie Lau chats with Sandra Helou, the cofounder of Metapolis to understand not just the opportunities but the challenges & difficulties a metaverse could present & how to navigate through this new landscape. She believes decentralization can exist with accountability.

The Metaverse is coming but are we prepared? What are the opportunities and challenges this new alternate reality presents? And what role will demographic gravity play in easing us into the Metaverse? Will rules of the real world apply in the virtual one and what will it take to be a responsible corporate leader in it? And what could be the social and societal ramifications of living a digitally immersive life? Forkast chats with one of South East Asia’s largest banks to find out how it is getting ready to engage in this new world.

There are thousands of blockchains in the crypto universe, but Tezos has emerged as the chain of choice for artists & creators across the globe. What’s driving artists to TZ and how is that changing the world of NFTs & art? Tezos is also among a select few private blockchains that have made their way into China, what’s been their experience so far & where do they go from here? You’d find the answers to these questions & a whole lot more in this exclusive chat between Forkast’s editor-in-chief Angie Lau & TZ APAC’s Katherine Ng.

The crypto markets maybe in the throes of the bear market, but those building foundational level technology are still hard at work. We discuss how blockchain technology has evolved over the years & how it’s changing the way industries operate. How open source projects enable diversity & the need for permissionless & hybrid blockchains. And the role of the Linux Foundation in nurturing the blockchain technology of tomorrow.

An old boy’s club - that’s how the world of finance & investing is often seen. And unfortunately the crypto ecosystem is looking no different. What will it take to make the world of Crypto more inclusive? Is there a need for gender focussed policy action? And who are the female changemakers in Web3 who are shattering the glass ceiling? Get the answer to all these questions as NEAR Foundation & Forkast launch the Women in Web3 Changemakers 2022.

Name, Image & Likeness, or NIL law has given many student-athletes a chance to monetize their talent. How has it changed the lives of these high school & college sportsmen & women? And is it making fans invest in their future? How is the recent chill in crypto air impacting platforms that are helping build a business based on NIL? And what’s the future of digital currencies? Get the answer to all these questions in this conversation between Forkast Editor in Chief Angie Lau, Ben Armstrong & Aaron Murray

Chaos, doubt & FUD has taken hold of crypto investors as we deal with the contagion from collapsing crypto hedge funds & exchanges. And the ripples from Terra’s de-peg have shaken the world of stablecoins with allegations & rumors now at Circle’s doorstep. How is the issuer of the world’s second-largest stablecoin, USDC fairing? Are its assets safe? Are USDC holders safe in case of bankruptcy? How has USDC managed to increase its market capitalization in these chilly times? And what are the company’s plans for the crypto winter? Get all the inside details on this exclusive one-on-one conversation between Jeremy Fox-Geen, Chief Financial Officer of Circle, and Forkast’s Editor-in-Chief, Angie Lau.

Vignesh Sundaresan, more popularly known as “Metakovan” changed the face of NFTs with his $69 million purchase of Beeple’s “Everydays: The First 5000 Days”. Why did he pay $69 million for the NFT? What drives his investment thesis? And what value do NFTs hold? Find out in this exclusive conversation with Forkast’s Editor-in-chief Angie Lau, as he talks about the people who have inspired him and his crypto journey.

Japan was among the first the world to introduce crypto-linked regulations in 2017. The country has now passed a law that clarifies the legal status of stablecoins, but what exactly does it mean? And what needs to be done to hasten institutional adoption of digital currencies? And what can other countries learn from Japan’s experience of regulating digital assets? Forkast’s editor-in-chief Angie Lau talks to Phillip Gillespie, CEO of B2C2 that is looking to bridge the gap between cryptocurrencies and traditional finance by providing crypto liquidity to institutions.

One in three people in the world are gamers but only a fraction of them are in Web 3.0 gaming. What will it take to bring them into blockchain gaming? And what’s missing from the current spectrum of blockchain games? Singapore-based gaming startup Ethla's CEO Wui Ngiap Foo talks about the gaps & opportunities they are spotting in gaming. And how they are looking to onboard the next billion users into crypto.