Ether

Ether (ETH) is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, functioning as a fuel for operations within the network. It serves multiple purposes: as a digital currency, it can be bought, sold, and held as an investment; as a utility token, it's used to pay for transaction fees and computational services on the Ethereum network. Ether is integral to running decentralized applications (dApps) and executing smart contracts on Ethereum, providing the necessary resources for these operations. As Ethereum evolves, especially with upgrades like Ethereum 2.0, Ether's role remains central, facilitating not just transactions but also the broader ecosystem of decentralized finance (DeFi) and various blockchain-based applications.

Markets

First Mover Asia: Recycling Bad Actors in Crypto; Bitcoin Holds Below $40K

As traders speculate on the possible economic impact of coronavirus-related lockdowns in China, investors in the U.S. are betting on whether inflation might be nearing a peak.

By Sam Reynolds, Damanick Dantes, Bradley KeounApr 12, 2022

Oil prices back above $100 a barrel spoiled the enthusiasm that inflation might be peaking. (Creative Commons)

Finance

IDEG Asset Management, Coinbase Prime to Launch Actively Managed ETH Fund

The new fund will be part of IDEG’s TIMES thematic product suite.

By Aoyon AshrafApr 12, 2022

A digital screen displays the price of cryptocurrency Ethereum to U.S. dollar in Hong Kong, China, on Friday, March 25, 2022. Bitcoin climbed to more than $44,000 for the first time in almost a month, breaking out of its recent narrow trading range amid a renewal of risk appetite. Photographer: Paul Yeung/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Markets

First Mover Asia: Mark Karpeles’ UnGox Wants to Help Investors Assess the Risks of Crypto Products; Bitcoin Drops Below $40K

The CEO of the infamous Mt. Gox crypto exchange is re-entering the industry with a rating service. But is he in touch with the latest developments?; ether also falls.

By Sam Reynolds, Damanick Dantes, James RubinApr 11, 2022

Former Mt. Gox CEO Mark Karpeles (CoinDesk screenshot from conference livestream)

Markets

First Mover Asia: What’s in HSBC’s Metaverse Fund for Hong Kong, Singapore Private Banking Clients?; Bitcoin Declines

The financial services giant has been short on specifics, and the mystery underscores the difficulties in defining what belongs in such products; ether also falls.

By Sam Reynolds, Damanick Dantes, James RubinApr 10, 2022

Hong Kong skyline (Gary Yeowell/Getty Images)

Tech

Ethereum Gas Usage Rose in March as Ether Ran to $3.5K

ERC-20 token generation last month was 125% above February's levels, even as developers continue to build new projects on other blockchains.

By Shaurya MalwaApr 8, 2022

Markets

First Mover Asia: Bitcoin Set to Close Week Underperforming Major Japan, China Stocks

Investors in the region were more risk-averse this week amid fresh evidence of the U.S. central bank's commitment to hawkish monetary policy and an unsettled macroeconomic environment; cryptos were mixed.

By Sam Reynolds, Damanick Dantes, James RubinApr 7, 2022

Hong Kong's Exchange Square, home of the Hong Kong Exchange (See-ming Lee/Flickr)

Markets

First Mover Asia: South Korea's 'Kimchi Premium' Evaporates; Major Cryptos Tumble on Fed Minutes, Continued Global Uncertainty

The gap between bitcoin prices on Korean crypto exchanges and global counterparts has declined from 20% to about 3% over the past year; bitcoin and ether tumbled.

By Shaurya Malwa, Damanick Dantes, James RubinApr 6, 2022

The so-called kimchi premium has evaporated. (Shutterstock)

Markets

First Mover Asia: Singapore Wants More Control Over Crypto Companies That Call It Home but Aren’t There; Major Cryptos Drop

Many crypto companies, especially those with roots in Asia, choose to register their companies in Singapore, but the city-state has grown uncomfortable with the scale of this arrangement; bitcoin and ether fall.

By Sam Reynolds, Damanick Dantes, James RubinApr 5, 2022