Word on the Block | Forkast.News

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.