News from the blockchain world | episode 37 ???
"News from the blockchain world" are here! ?? Are you excited? We are! Because after a long crypto winter, more and more things are coming back to life! ??
From this edition you will learn a.o.:
? Will 2023 see continued growth in stablecoins?
? Is an AI smarter than average crypto investor?
? Which show did launch NFT?
? How does the fee sharing mechanism work on OasisSwap?
? Who is investing in DeFi protocol Infinity?
Have great time reading - see you next week!
??? Business?
?? Mysten Labs CEO is seeking to raise over $100 million for a web3 fund
Mysten Labs CEO and co-founder Evan Cheng is raising money for a venture capital fund focused on web3 investments. Cheng is in the early stages of pitching the fund to limited partners and is seeking to secure more than $100 million.
?? Sony Network and Astar partner for web3 incubation program.
Sony Network and Astar Network have partnered to launch a web3 incubation program. The program will support projects that focus on the utility of NFTs and DAOs. The incubation programs will run from mid-March to mid-June of 2023.
?? Gate.io integrates with Copper’s ClearLoop network amid fresh focus on custody.
Crypto exchange Gate.io is partnering with digital asset custody firm Copper.co to fully integrate with its ClearLoop solution. The integration will allow Gate.io's clients to settle trades and transactions more efficiently and securely, while also providing enhanced transparency and accountability for asset custody.
?? Coinmetro Acquires Ignium, a tokenization platform for SMEs.
CoinMetro, a digital asset exchange and trading platform, has acquired Ignium, a blockchain-based fundraising platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Ignium's platform offers SMEs a way to raise funds through the issuance of tokenized securities that are compliant with regulatory requirements.
?? Abu Dhabi to back the growth of Web3 startups with $2B.
Abu Dhabi's technology ecosystem, Hub71, has announced a new initiative called "Hub71+ Digital Assets," with a capital backing of over US$2 billion. This project aims to advance Web3-based innovations, such as blockchain technology and metaverse applications.
?? Softbank has partnered with Oasys, a gaming-optimized blockchain built for gamers.
Oasys aims to create a new gaming ecosystem that utilizes blockchain technology to provide greater transparency and fairness for players. SoftBank's role as a validator will involve verifying transactions on the blockchain and ensuring that the gaming ecosystem operates securely and efficiently.
?? Celsius chooses NovaWulf’s bid to exit from bankruptcy.
Crypto lender Celsius Network has chosen NovaWulf Digital Management as the sponsor for its proposed restructuring plan. The investment advisory firm will take over the operations of a new company and most customers estimated to recover up to 70% of their funds.
?? Wirex Becomes Global Partner of Visa
Wirex, a crypto payments platform, has signed a long-term strategic global partnership with payments company network, Visa. This includes "becoming a member of Visa in APAC and the UK that will allow Wirex to directly issue crypto-enabled debit and prepaid cards themselves" The agreement between Wirex and Visa will "support further collaboration in major markets, including APAC, UK, Europe and the USA".
?? Venom Blockchain and DAO Maker will jointly incubate "useful" Web3 startups.
Venom Foundation, the first Layer-1 blockchain licensed by the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), has partnered with DAO Maker to incubate web3 startups focused on real-world use cases.
?? Brazil's Oldest Bank Takes a Leap into the Future with Crypto Tax Payment Options.
Banco do Brasil, the oldest bank in Brazil, has announced a major step forward in the world of digital assets. The bank has partnered with Brazil-based crypto exchange Bitfy to allow residents to pay their taxes using digital assets as a payment option.
??? Products?
?? eBay NFT platform KnownOrigin launches creator smart contract.
KnownOrigin, a non-fungible token (NFT) platform owned by eBay, has launched a creator smart contract that will enable artists to earn royalties from the sales of their artwork. The smart contract will automatically pay a percentage of the sale price to the artist every time their artwork is resold on the KnownOrigin platform.
?? Conflux Network to Build Blockchain-Based SIM Cards in Partnership With China Telecom
Blockchain protocol Conflux Network has partnered with China Telecom, the second-largest wireless carrier in China, to build blockchain-based SIM cards. The BSIM card will manage and store users' public and private keys in the card, allowing for encrypted storage and key retrieval. The first BSIM pilot program will be launched in Hong Kong later this year, followed by pilots in key mainland China locations. Conflux's native CFX tokens surged over 20% following the announcement of the partnership.
?? Digital asset platform Bakkt Bets on B2B, Pivots from Consumer products.
Digital asset platform Bakkt is shifting its focus towards business-to-business B2B services after struggling to gain traction with its consumer-facing cryptocurrency products. The company is now offering enterprise solutions for trading, storing, and managing digital assets, as well as merchant services that allow businesses to accept cryptocurrencies as payment.
?? Wallmer launches an all-in-one decentralized ecosystem for safe and easy managing crypto.
Crypto platform Wallmer builds its own ecosystem to securely store, track and exchange popular cryptocurrencies using a single interface. The firm hopes that its ecosystem will attract both beginners and advanced cryptocurrency users through its ease of use and wide range of features.
?? First "Unitized" Stablecoin Protocol: Unitas Foundation Releases Whitepaper.
The Unitas Foundation has released a whitepaper for the first unitized stablecoin protocol, which aims to offer a new approach to stablecoin stability. Unitas' unitized stablecoins are decentralized and over-reserved with exogenous USD stablecoins (e.g., USDT, USDC, Dai, etc.); Unitas stablecoins are pegged to emerging market currencies.
?? Shopify launches suite of blockchain commerce tools for merchants.
Crypto-friendly e-commerce giant Shopify has launched a new suite of blockchain tools. The tools will allow merchants to track their products through the supply chain, ensuring greater transparency. The suite includes a set of APIs and pre-built integrations that will allow merchants to easily and securely connect with blockchain networks and access data on their products.
??? Technology?
?? Unlock Protocol Announces NFT Airdrop by Email Capability.
Unlock Protocol has announced a new feature that allows NFT airdrops via email. With this feature, creators will be able to send NFTs directly to their users' email inboxes. This means that ticketing, loyalty programs and more can be run on-chain without having to direct users through clunky crypto on-boarding processes. The new functionality is intended to streamline the NFT distribution process and increase their reach.
?? How does the fee sharing mechanism work on OasisSwap?
One of the unique features of OasisSwap dex is its revenue-sharing mechanism, which allows users to earn a portion of the exchange's trading fees by staking its native ROSE token. The revenue-sharing model is designed to incentivize long-term holding of ROSE tokens and foster a sense of community ownership in the exchange.
??? Legal?
?? Senate Republican drafting Proof-of-Reserve legislation.
According to the draft, Companies holding customer digital assets in the U.S. would be required to post independently audited proofs-of-reserves on a quarterly basis, making them public through publication on the Treasury Department’s website.
?? Stanford University’s Larry Kramer and Andreas Paepcke co-signed Sam Bankman-Fried’s bond.
Stanford University academics Larry Kramer and Andreas Paepcke co-signed FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried's $250 million bond. The names of the academics were previously redacted from court documents. A judge unsealed the names on Wednesday, siding with news organizations that filed a motion on the issue.
?? Ripple's Legal Expert Claims 3-Year Headstart in SEC Lawsuit for Favorable Resolution.
A legal expert representing Ripple in its ongoing lawsuit with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has claimed that the company's early engagement with regulators gives it a three-year head start in achieving a favorable resolution. Ripple has been embroiled in a legal battle with the SEC since 2020.
?? Binance banking problems highlight a divide between crypto firms and banks.
Binance has faced restrictions from traditional banks due to the high risks associated with cryptocurrency transactions. This has led to the development of crypto-specific banking solutions to cater to the unique needs of the crypto industry. However, the lack of widespread adoption of such solutions has created obstacles for crypto firms to conduct business with traditional banks, resulting in a divide between the two industries.
?? Coinbase Ready to Fight SEC over Crypto Staking Service.
Brian Armstrong, Coinbase CEO, has vowed to defend his exchange's crypto staking program Coinbase Earn in court if necessary. "Coinbase's staking services are not securities," Armstrong tweeted on Feb. 13. "We will happily defend this in court if needed". So far, only Ripple has decided to fight the SEC in court.
?? Is the SEC Going to Outlaw Staking on All Centralized Exchanges?
According to BeInCrypto, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly planning to outlaw staking services offered by centralized exchanges. While staking is legal, the SEC is concerned that exchanges are offering staking as an investment opportunity without registering with the agency.
?? UK Police Raid Crypto ATM Sites — Regulator Says No Crypto ATMs Have Been Approved.
Police in the U.K., in collaboration with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), have raided several sites allegedly hosting cryptocurrency ATMs. “No crypto ATM operators currently have FCA registration,” the British financial regulator stressed.
?? India Having 'Detailed Discussions' With G20 Members on Crypto Regulation.
India is engaging in detailed discussions with G20 member countries on the regulation of cryptocurrencies. India is reportedly seeking to establish a common approach to crypto regulation among G20 members, with a focus on mitigating the risks of money laundering and other illicit activities.
?? Aussie crypto billionaire alleges ex associate embezzled millions.
Ed Craven, a cryptocurrency billionaire and co-founder of Stake.com, has accused a former business associate, Christopher Freeman, of embezzling tens of millions of dollars of company-owned cryptocurrency and "siphoning away assets."
?? Plea or life sentence? What to expect from Bankman-Fried trial.
Sam Bankman-Fried has maintained his innocence on mainstream and social media. The federal sentencing guidelines recommend life in prison if he is found guilty, but he could receive a lesser sentence if he pleads guilty and cooperates with the authorities. He can therefore continue negotiations with the Justice Department and the Manhattan prosecutors, which could result in a deal at any time.
??? Security?
?? USP Stablecoin Loses Dollar Peg as DeFi Protocol Platypus Suffers $8.5M Attack.
DeFi protocol Platypus Finance suffered a flash-loan attack, blockchain security firm CertiK tweeted. The potential loss in the exploit is $8.5 million. Platypus USD (USP), the protocol’s stablecoin, lost its price peg to the dollar as a result of the exploit, falling to 48 cents.
?? Binance and Huobi freeze $1.4M in crypto linked to North Korean hackers.
Binance and Huobi have frozen accounts linked to the $100 million Harmony Horizon bridge attack on Jun. 24, 2022. Around $1.4 million worth of crypto was frozen by the trading platforms. The investigation was carried out by blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. Lazarus Group is believed to have stolen well over $2 billion in crypto.
?? Chinese crypto scams targeting Filipinos to work for them.
Chinese cryptocurrency scam networks operating in Southeast Asia are targeting Filipinos for their English language and computer skills, according to a Philippine foreign ministry official.?Filipino recruits, particularly women, are used to develop online relationships with targets, usually Westerners, to trick them into investing in cryptocurrency.
?? Phantom wallet adds authentication standards support to protect against phishing.
Phantom crypto wallet has added support for “Sign In With” standards for Web3 authentication. The standards are aimed to enhance users’ security in interactions with dApps and protect users from phishing attacks.
??? Investments?
?? Zion, "Web5 Social Network", Releases v2 App and Announces $6M in Funding.
According to the founders, Zion aims to break down the barriers between the virtual world and reality by creating a digital space that reflects human reality in a more comprehensive way than previous platforms. The new version of the app is expected to include a number of new features, such as the ability to create accounts for businesses, the ability to create and manage groups, and expanded privacy and security functionality.
?? Web3 Messaging Platform Salsa Raises $2M.
Salsa, a Web3-based communication platform, has raised $2 million in a Seed round from investors including Framework Ventures, CoinFund and CoinShares. Salsa aims to bring together various cryptocurrency-related functions, such as wallets, exchanges and management tools, in one place with real-time communication capabilities.
?? Game studio Unagi raises $5 million to expand Ultimate Champions and move beyond sports
Web3 gaming studio Unagi secured $5 million in a seed round led by Sisu Game Ventures. Founded in 2021, Unagi made a name for itself with the launch of its Ultimate Champions game, which is a free-to-play fantasy football game that's reminiscent of old school football collectible card games from brands such as Topps or Panini.
领英推荐
?? Web3 tooling startup Nefta raises $5M in seed round at $32.5M valuation.
Nefta, a web3 infrastructure startup, raised $5 million in a seed funding round. The startup was founded last year to provide tools to businesses looking to enter and grow in the web3 space. These tools include bespoke APIs, software development kits and white-label services to help businesses integrate digital assets, multi-chain wallets and custom marketplaces.
?? Web3 security firm, Stelo Labs, raises $6M.
Stelo Labs, a web3 security company, raised $6 million in a seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The startup launched its Stelo extension in September to help users protect their wallets from scams and phishing attacks. Since September, it has protected thousands of wallets with a collective amount worth over $100 million.
?? Web3 communication protocols platform, Sending Labs raises $12.5M.
Sending Labs develops decentralized communication products and protocols for developers to add messaging to their Web3 apps. Alongside the funding, the company also launched two flagship products in beta test mode, including a full-featured Web3 encrypted decentralized group chat called SendingMe and a software development kit called SendingNetwork.
?? Orb Labs Raises $4.5M Seed.
Orb Labs has raised $4.5 million in a seed round led by Bain Capital Crypto. The funds are to be used to develop solutions to enable interoperability between different blockchain networks.
?? NFEX Raises $3M Seed Round to Build NFT Derivatives DEX.
NFEX has completed a $3 Million seed round led by ABCDE Capital and included investment from other well-known institutions including Amber Group and Firestone Ventures. NFEX is a decentralized derivatives exchange that offers perpetual swaps trading across popular blue chip NFTs and other crypto assets.
?? Crypto index platform Alongside raises $11M in a round led by a16z.
Alongside offers investors an index of cryptocurrencies that are weighted according to market capitalization. The platform allows investors to buy and sell the index in the form of an exchange-traded product (ETP), which is designed to provide exposure to the cryptocurrency market without the need for investors to hold individual coins.
?? Nomura’s crypto arm invests in DeFi protocol Infinity.
Laser Digital, the crypto subsidiary of Japanese banking giant Nomura, has announced a strategic investment in decentralised finance protocol Infinity. Infinity is an Ethereum-based protocol designed to advance institutional DeFi or whats called "Hybrid Finance".
?? Blockchain cybersecurity firm, Ironblocks, Announces $7 Million Fundraise.
Ironblocks, blockchain cybersecurity platform, announced that it has raised $7 million dollars in seed funding. Last year saw a record amount of money stolen from DeFi protocols by hackers, more than $3.9 billion. Ironblocks aims to stem the tide with a novel smart contract-based security solution.
?? Monad Labs Aims to Create Next ‘Ethereum Killer’ After Raising $19M.
The company aims to develop a next-generation blockchain that would be faster, cheaper and more efficient than Ethereum. Monad will launch on a testnet in the coming months, with the mainnet deployment planned for later this year.
?? Taurus Announces $65M To Digitize Securities.
Taurus, a Switzerland-based fintech company focused on digital asset infrastructure, announced on Tuesday it raised $65 million in Series B funding. The round was led by Credit Suisse. Taurus issues and manages tokenized assets and has built a software solution that allows banks to offer clients custody and trading services.
?? SolanaMonkeyBusiness bought by Hadeswap.
HadeSwap, a DeFi platform, has acquired SolanaMonkeyBusiness, a leading NFT marketplace on the Solana blockchain. The move comes as NFT market consolidation continues, with large players acquiring smaller platforms to strengthen their market position.
?? No-code web3 platform Caldera raises $9M.
Caldera has raised $9 million in two funding rounds led by Sequoia and Dragonfly Capital. The company offers a decentralized infrastructure that enables businesses to develop blockchain-based applications with improved security and scalability. The platform is designed to be easy to use, with a drag-and-drop interface that eliminates the need for complex programming skills.
?? Fibonacci Chain received 10 Million USD investment from American SoftBank Capital.
American Softbank Capital announced that it would lead the investment of 10 million dollars in the Fibonacci Chain. The Fibonacci Chain is a public chain system based on blockchain technology, adopting a DPOS + S-BFT consensus mechanism. It supports smart contracts and is compatible with EVM, allowing developers to develop decentralized applications on it.
?? Tower Pop has raised $2.1 million for Omega Royale, a play-to-mint mobile game.
Tower Pop raised $2.1 million for its play-to-mint mobile game. The round was led by Play Ventures, Agnitio Capital and backed by angel investor Santiago R. Santos. Play-to-mint gives NFTs to gamers who are the "most dedicated" to the game and rank the highest.
?? Swiss VC invests in Fastagge, a blockchain AI startup from Kenya.
Fastagger Inc, an AI and blockchain start-up based in Kenya, has received an investment from Swiss blockchain investor CVVC. The CEO of Fastagger, Mutembei Kariuki, said the funding will be used to further develop the company's AI and blockchain technology expertise.
?? Yield earning plaftorm, MoodMiner, Secures $3 Million.
MoodMiner, the innovative technology startup specializing in yield-earning platforms, has announced that it has raised $3 million in its latest Series A funding round. The funds will be used to further the growth and expansion of the company. MoodMiner offers a user-friendly platform for individuals looking to grow their wealth through passive income.
?? C3 exchange Raises $6M in Seed Funding.
C3 is a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange that gives investors the freedom to choose how they want to custody their funds, either through a wide range of non-custodial wallets covering multiple blockchains or by using their preferred custodian. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its business reach.
??? Others?
?? Binance mints 50M TrueUSD days after Paxos ordered stop issuing BUSD.
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has minted nearly $50 million worth of TrueUSD (TUSD) The transaction took place on Feb. 16, according to data from Etherscan. Binance CEO Chanpeng "CZ" Zhao said in a Feb. 14 Twitter Spaces that Binance would look to "diversify" its stablecoin holdings away from BUSD.
?? Will 2023 See Continued Growth in Stablecoins?
The total market capitalization of stablecoins has grown from $5 billion in January 2020 to over $100 billion in February 2023. Experts predict that the growth of stablecoins will continue in 2023 as more users and businesses look for a more stable and reliable way to hold and transact cryptocurrencies. However, concerns remain around the regulatory and legal implications of stablecoins, and the need for greater transparency and oversight in their issuance and use.
?? Hong Kong issues 800M HKD in tokenized green bonds.
Hong Kong issued 800 million Hong Kong dollars (roughly $100 million) in tokenized green bonds under its Green Bond Programme. The bonds were underwritten by four banks. They are aimed at financing environmentally friendly projects and will be offered to both institutional and retail investors.
?? NFT Marketplace Blur's Token Reaches $500M Trading Volume After Airdrop
Blur is a relatively new NFT platform that was launched in October 2022. It has managed to attract significant interest in a short period of time, especially after the recent airdrop, which generated $500M in trading volume in 24 hours.
?? Fox Entertainment’s 'Masked Singer' show launches NFT.
Fox Entertainment, in partnership with Binance, has launched NFT for fans of its show "The Masked Singer". The new experience is called "The Masked Singer NFT Experience" and is designed to give fans of the show access to exclusive content and merchandise using a token-based system. Fans will be able to purchase and trade NFTs featuring various characters from the show and gain access to special events.
?? UK think tank launches a crusade against ‘surveillance’ CBDCs
The Tax Reform Council has launched a campaign against the Bank of Englands plan to introduce a central bank digital currency. The nonprofit organization warns that such a move could seriously harm individual privacy and lead to intrusive changes to the taxation system. The think tank shares similar concerns to the U.K. Bitcoin community, which has been vocal in its criticism of CBDCs.
?? Lido DAO mulls proposals to sell or stake $30 million worth of ETH.
Lido DAO is considering proposals to sell or stake $30 million worth of ETH, that is part of the treasury. The move comes as the project faces increasing demand for its services, leading to a shortage of staked ETH. According to The Block, Lido DAO is considering selling the ETH to accredited investors or using it to support its liquidity pool.
?? Binance CEO: Crypto industry will probably move to non-dollar stablecoins.
Binance CEO, Changpeng, Zhao said the crypto industry will "probably" start using euro, yen, or Singapore dollar-based stablecoins in the future. CZ gave the statement in answer to a question about using gold as a standard of value instead of U.S. dollar.
?? Siemens issues $64M digital bond on a public blockchain.
Siemens has become one of the first companies in Germany to issue a digital bond on a public blockchain. The bond was sold directly to investors without the need for central clearing and paper-based global certificates. Siemens aspires to position itself as a pioneer in the ongoing development of digital solutions for the capital and securities markets.
?? Ukraine Speeds Up Digital Hryvnia Project, Plans Pilot for This Year.
Ukraine Speeds Up Digital Hryvnia Project, Plans Pilot for This Year. Initial plan was to start the pilot phase in 2024 but the government now wants do that this year. The first blockchain transactions with the digital hryvnian have been already conducted. Despite ongoing conflict with Russia, Fedorov recently confirmed Kyivs "very ambitious plan" to make Ukraine the most digitalized country in next two years.
?? Bittrex Global Launches AI Network.
AI Network, a leading Korea-based AI blockchain Layer 1, is proud to announce its listing on Bittrex Global. AI Network is on a mission to create an ‘Internet for AI’ that connects GPUs with developers globally, building an AI ecosystem for both AI developers and open-source program creators.
?? Paxos ceases issuance of Binance USD stablecoin amid regulatory crackdown.
Paxos has halted the issuance of the BUSD, a dollar-pegged stablecoin used on the Binance cryptocurrency exchange. Paxos made the decision following increased regulatory scrutiny on stablecoins by US authorities. Paxos said in a statement that it will stop issuing new BUSD on Feb. 21. and that it will end its relationship with Binance for the branded stablecoin BUSD.
?? Cointelegraph launches Markets & Research, new YouTube channel.
Cointelegraph has launched a new YouTube channel aimed at providing crypto enthusiasts with the latest market analysis and insights. The channel will feature a wide range of content, including live streams, interviews, and technical analysis, with a focus on providing real-time updates and in-depth coverage of the cryptocurrency market.
?? Binance withdrawals and BUSD redemptions surge post Paxos crackdown.
Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has seen a surge of withdrawals over the last 24 hours. Investors appear to be spooked over recent news of regulatory action against Paxos and its stablecoin Binance USD (BUSD) At the same time, the BUSD token has recorded significant redemptions, with 342 million BUSD burned.
?? The most-searched early-stage crypto projects according to CryptoRank.
CryptoRank has revealed the list of the most searched early stage crypto projects. The rankings are based on data collected from various sources, including search engines, social media, and online forums. The list includes both well-known and lesser-known projects in the crypto space.
?? Domain for Valentine's Day? Unstoppable Domains and hi were holding a promotion.
To celebrate Valentine's Day, Unstoppable Domains and hi, the web3 platform, announced an "exclusive drop of love-themed premium web3 domains". The 250 domains were available at prices ranging from $20 to $100,000, and were on sale for 48 hours, until February 15. The sale was the first opportunity to purchase .hi domains.
?? Why Estonia's EU "Digital Residency" Is Popular In China And Taiwan?
An Estonian e-residency that gives holders access to the country's government services and business networks has growing takeup in both mainland China and Taiwan. For both business and political reasons. China accounts for the fifth largest contingent of digital residents after Russia, Ukraine, Germany and Finland, and the number one that's not on the European continent.
?? PayPal Puts Stablecoin on Hold Amid Closer Regulatory Scrutiny.
Paypal has put its plans to launch a stablecoin on hold due to increased regulatory scrutiny. The company had previously announced plans to launch a digital currency pegged to the value of the US dollar, but has now decided to wait until the regulatory environment becomes clearer.
??? Loosely?
?? Is an AI smarter than average crypto investor?
A Reddit user decided to investigate this. AI was smart enough to double-check transaction details. It advised to check block explorer and do some research about transaction but it there is no mention about dust attacks or any other scams. 20% APR on stablecoins seems sus even for an AI. It's a shame this AI wasn't around before LUNA... User discussion suggests that while AI can be a valuable tool for making investment decisions, it may not necessarily be superior to human intuition and experience in all situations.
?? According to a Valentine's Day survey, crypto makes you more attractive.
According to a new study by Binance, crypto could have a positive impact on one’s attractiveness. 83% of participants said liking crypto was an "attractive feature in a relationship" 70% said they would be more inclined to go on a date with someone if they found out they were interested in crypto...
??? The more you know?
?? The role of crypto in cross-border payments.
Much of the non-crypto world doesn't realize or agree with the upsides of using crypto for cross-border transactions. This article compares different cross-border payment options and explains how they work.