The Luna Times - March Issue
Welcome back to our newsletter! As the leading Web3 PR agency, we bring you the latest updates and insights from the world of disruptive tech. Stay tuned as we share industry highlights, expert analysis, and the inside scoop on the trends shaping the future of digital innovation.
In this Issue, we'll dive into:?
What We’re Reading?
Your Monthly News Roundup - Powered by THE BYTELINE?
Trump Announces US Crypto Reserve with BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, and ADA
President Donald Trump announced the creation of a U.S. Crypto Strategic Reserve. The announcement caused a positive reaction in the market, with all cryptocurrencies experiencing significant gains. Most importantly, the move signals a major shirt in U.S. policy, suggesting a deeper government integration of cryptocurrencies into the financial systems. Read more on The Byteline.?
Bybit $1.5B theft: Crypto's biggest hack in history
Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit recently suffered a $1.5 billion theft, making it the largest crypto hack in history. Hackers targeted a “cold wallet,” primarily stealing Ether. The incident surpassed previous heists, highlighting ongoing security issues in the crypto sector and the need for stronger protective measures. Read more on The Byteline.
DTCC lists first Solana futures ETFs: SOLZ and SOLT
DTCC has listed the first Solana features as ETFs from Volatility Shares. While the listing allows for trading and settlement, it doesn’t mean SEC approval. The SEC is still reviewing spot SOLANA ETFs, and regulatory uncertainty remains due to concerns over Solana’s security classification. Read more on The Byteline.?
Bitcoin dips below $80K, Ethereum plunges 11% following Bybit hack
Following the recent $1.5 billion hack of Bybit, Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced significant downturns, with Bitcoin hitting below $80K and Ethereum dropping up to11% to $2,333. These declines are attributed to the security breach and broader financial market sell-off, raising concerns about the stability of the crypto ecosystem. Read more on The Byteline.?
Argentina's president faces fraud charges over crypto endorsement
Argentine president, Javier Milei, faces fraud charges after promoting $LIBRA, a cryptocurrency that later crashed, causing investor losses. Lawyer Jonatan Baldiviezo filed a complaint, alleging Milei misled investors. The President's Office denied involvement and removed the post to curb speculation, aimed criticism over the political backing of volatile digital assets. Read more on The Byteline.
Trump team targets stricter chip controls to curb China’s tech rise
The Trump administration is tightening semiconductor restrictions on China aiming to curb its tech rise. Talks with Japan and the Netherlands focused on limiting engineer support for chip equipment, while new proposals target Nvidia chip exports for AI and military use. Read more on The Byteline.?
Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going
We started February strong, filled with groundbreaking ideas and meaningful connections as we took part in some of the most prestigious conferences in web3. Here’s what we’ve been up to:??
Agora’s 14th Global Blockchain Congress (February 5-6, Dubai)
On February 5-6, we took part in Agora’s 14th Global Blockchain Congress in Dubai, a key investor-focused event known for its high-value, “speed dating” style engagements between investors and blockchain projects. Our very own Nikita Sachdev moderated a panel discussion titled “AI Meets Blockchain: Transforming the Future of Innovation”, alongside industry leaders Alex Scott , Belal Jassoma , Ivaylo Georgiev and Katie Evans .??
Consensus 2025 (February 16, Hong Kong)
Just a few days later, our management team of six jetted off to Hong Kong for one of the year’s most anticipated events: Consensus 2025 by CoinDesk - the first time the conference was held in Hong Kong.
We were thrilled to meet with industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries who stopped by our booth at the event. We are also excited to share that we secured 25 on ground media interviews in just two days! A massive shout out to our Managing Director, Lana Makhzoumi for her coordination to make this happen!
We also attended Crypto Fight Night (CFN) alongside Consensus, where the 2025 global series kicked off with their first event of the year. Blending crypto and boxing, the event drew elite attendees and garnered 600,000 global viewers. Be sure to check out the upcoming event on April 8-10 alongside Paris Blockchain Week!
But that’s not all – Luna PR also celebrated a major milestone - the launch of our very first ALPHA by Luna event series!
ALPHA side event (February 16, Hong Kong) Another conference, another successful side event. We welcomed over 350+ guests for an insightful panel discussion with industry leaders, sparking valuable conversations on the future of Web3. With stunning views from the 45th floor of Cardinal Point, the event provided the perfect setting for high-level networking alongside Consensus.
Thanks to our speakers: 乔穆灵 , Clara Tsao , Lingling JIANG , Sylvia T , Yat Siu , Phillip Lord , Tess Hau , Kevin He , BORGET Sebastien , Carlo Palomino and Nikita (Sachdev) Lord .?
Coinciding with Token 2049 Dubai, we will be hosting our third annual Crypto Polo Cup on Saturday, April 27, 2025, at the Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club, UAE. Join us for a unique event that brings together over 600+ curated attendees and allows high-quality networking in front of a real polo match played by professionals, consisting of family office members, sovereigns, and high-profile families in the UAE. If you are interested in deeper involvement, such as sponsoring a team or reserving a VIP table, more details can be found here: Sponsorship Information.
Tech Tuesday – Luna Special (February 18, Dubai)
This month we had a Luna PR Special at Tech Tuesday. The event took place at a new location, the renowned Belcanto restaurant at the Dubai Opera, setting the perfect stage to showcase our two clients.?
Thank you to our moderator Yousef Al Alami and congratulations to Gordon Einstein and his team for bringing together the web3 and emerging tech industry. Stay tuned for the next Luna PR Special on March 25, 2025!?
AIBC Eurasia (February 23-25, Dubai)
On February 25,? Luna PR’s Managing Director, Lana Makhzoumi, moderated a panel discussion at AIBC? Eurasia on Marketing for Blockchain Gamers and Entrepreneurs with Hrish Lotlikar, Ryan River,? and Faisal Zaidi.?
February 23 - March 2 – ETHDenver (USA)
To wrap up the month, we headed to ETHDenver, one of the largest and most influential gatherings in the blockchain space. With half of Luna PR’s clients based in the U.S., this market plays an important role in driving innovation, investment, and fostering growth. If you are based in the U.S. or planning to be, we’d love to connect!?
Showcasing Our Work
Certik Confirms Largest Crypto Heist at Bybit Loses $1.4 Billion in Hack
Bybit, one of the largest crypto exchanges, suffered a major hack in which an attacker took control of one of its digital wallets holding ether, stealing over $1.4? billion. Blockchain security firm Certik and researcher ZachXBT confirmed the loss, with Certik calling it the biggest crypto heist ever. Despite the attack, Bybit’s CEO, Ben Zhou, assured that the exchange can cover the losses. Read the article we secured in The Wall Street Journal.
Former CEO of Tether to launch new stablecoin
Reeve Collins, one of the original founders of Tether, is launching a new stablecoin protocol called Pi Protocol. Unlike traditional stablecoins such as USDT and USDC, Pi Protocol aims to offer yield to holders, likely generated through tokenized real-world assets. The stablecoin is expected to launch on Ethereum and Solana in the second half of 2025. Read more about it in the article we secured on Bloomberg.
Hubpay and Aquanow Unveil UAE’s First Regulated Crypto Payment Gateway for Businesses
In a significant move for digital finance, Hubpay and Aquanow partner to introduce the UAE’s first fully regulated crypto payment gateway for businesses and SMEs. The partnership enables businesses across sectors to accept cryptocurrency payments securely alongside traditional fiat transactions. Read the article we secured in Finextra.
Neiro Highlights Transparency as $LIBRA Memecoin Scandal Shakes Crypto Industry? The $LIBRA, which memecoin surged from $0.000001 to $5.2 after being promoted by Argentine President Javier Milei, quickly collapsed within hours due to insider manipulation, whipping out over $4 billion in investor funds. Aimed at the fallout, Neiro emphasized the need for transparency in the crypto space. Read the article we secured in La Republica.?
Employee of the Month - February?
Employee of the Month is one of our favorite announcements! We’re excited to announce that February’s Employee of the Month is Aziza Aytpaeva!
Since joining Luna PR as Business Development Manager, Aziza has been a driving force within our team, bringing positivity, creativity, and a can-do attitude that inspires those around her. Recently, she has gone above and beyond, contributing across multiple departments - most notably supporting the events team. Her dedication and impact have not gone unnoticed, making her truly deserving of this recognition. Congratulations, Aziza!
Where to find us
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Learn more about us: www.lunapr.io
Chief Business Development and Communications Officer at Swarm
2 周Great to meet and be on a panel with Luna PR founder Nikita (Sachdev) Lord
Digital communications and social media professional | Dubai-based ????
2 周Congrats on winning Employee of the Month AZIZA AYTPAEVA, truly well deserved ?? ?? ??
Finance and Accounts Professional | Specialist AR & AP Accounts | Financial forecasting and VAT compliance | Credit collection |GL Accountant
2 周Insightful