Blockchain Infrastructure
News about: Layer 1s & Layer 2s, Interoperability Consensus Mechanisms, Data Storage & IPFS
BTCS Inc. Launches Builder+ to Enhance Ethereum Blockchain Infrastructure
Finance Yahoo | GlobeNewswire
"BTCS Inc. introduces 'Builder+', an innovative extension of our core Ethereum blockchain infrastructure operations, designed to provide scalable revenue growth leveraging our current Ethereum validator operations."
Bitcoin Infrastructure Builder Bitlight Labs' Seed Round
GlobeNewswire
"Gate Ventures, the venture capital arm of Gate.io crypto exchange, led the seed round for Bitlight Labs, focusing on utilizing RGB protocols to enhance the Bitcoin ecosystem with Layer 2 smart contract technology."
Wirex announced a partnership with Gateway.fm to scale its ZK-powered WPay network
BeInCrypto
"Wirex teams up with Gateway.fm, leveraging their PaaS, Presto, to enhance the scalability and efficiency of the recently launched WPay Decentralised Payment Network, aiming to improve transaction throughput and reduce Ethereum mainnet strain."
Digital Assets & Financial Innovations
News About: NFTs, DeFi, Real World Assets (RWA), DAOs, Token Standards
Moving Beyond Bitcoin ETFs to a Fully Tokenized Value Chain
CoinDesk | Allan Gulley
“The financial industry is evolving with the tokenization of assets, aiming to originate and settle all financial assets on-chain, including equities, fixed income, and alternative investments. This shift promises unprecedented efficiency, transparency, and programmability across the financial value chain.”
Inflows into Digital Asset Funds Resume, Led by BlackRock and Fidelity
Kitco News | Jordan Finneseth
“Digital asset funds, particularly those listed in the U.S., have seen significant inflows, with Bitcoin and newly listed spot BTC ETFs capturing the majority of these flows. This trend underscores the growing institutional interest and confidence in digital assets as a legitimate investment class.”
Goldman Sachs Foresees a Bright Future for Blockchain
Crypto Times | Kelvin Munene
“Goldman Sachs’ lead on digital assets, Matthew McDermott, shared insights on the potential of blockchain technology and digital assets to revolutionize the financial world. The focus on tokenization highlights the transformative impact blockchain could have on transaction efficiency, security, and liquidity.”
Web3
News About: Web3 & DWeb, Decentralized Identity
Philanthropy and Climate Change with Web3 and Art
CoinTelegraph
“Code Green, a project focused on leveraging blockchain technology for social and environmental activism, illustrates how Web3 and art can come together to reform philanthropy and combat climate change. The initiative demonstrates the power of NFTs and blockchain to mobilize resources and awareness for crucial causes, moving beyond traditional fundraising methods to a more collaborative and inclusive approach.”
Expansion in Web3 Gaming
Coindesk
Saltwater Games, a Web3 gaming company, has successfully raised $5.5 million in seed funding to enhance its operations and technology stack. This investment marks a significant step forward for the Web3 gaming sector, highlighting the growing interest and confidence in blockchain-based gaming platforms that promise to deliver innovative and immersive gaming experiences.
Innovations in Web3 Financial Services
YahooFinance
“'Build with Reltime', the world's first Web3 Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) suite, introduces a revolutionary approach to financial services. Offering over 250 APIs for various banking and financial operations, Reltime aims to bridge the gap between traditional banking and the decentralized world of Web3, providing customers with a seamless, secure, and efficient banking experience. This initiative underscores the transformative potential of Web3 technologies in reshaping the financial services landscape.”
Enterprise & Adoption
News About: Corporate Adoption & Public Markets
Global Crypto User Base Hits 580M, Following 34% Increase
Cryptonews | Jimmy Aki
"Crypto asset adoption is accelerating, with over half a billion people becoming users or owners in 2023, according to a Crypto.com report. This figure shows an increase of 34%, rising from 432 million people in January 2023 to 580 million by the end of the year."
Spot Bitcoin ETFs Approved: The Crypto Industry Reacts
CoinDesk | Daniel Kuhn, Ben Schiller, Elizabeth Napolitano
"In a milestone for crypto adoption, the SEC today gave the green light to the trading of Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). CoinDesk rounded up reaction from across the crypto industry to the news."
Rosario Tenants Pay Rent in BTC Under First Bitcoin Contract
Cryptonews | Trent Alan
"Argentina’s third most populated city Rosario recently saw an unprecedented rental agreement that signifies a major milestone for crypto adoption in the country. A local landlord and tenant signed Argentina’s first-ever Bitcoin rental contract."
Gaming/Metaverse
News About: Gaming & Metaverse
EA Sports Sets Sights on Building an Immersive Metaverse
NFT News Today | Ethan Lee
“EA Sports is planning to create an immersive metaverse within its gaming ecosystem, aiming to integrate virtual sports experiences into a comprehensive community and interactivity web, enhancing player engagement and broadening the digital sports experience.”
Roblox forecasts strong 2024 bookings; in-game spending gets holiday boost
Reuters
“Roblox has forecasted annual bookings above estimates after crossing $1 billion in quarterly bookings for the first time, driven by higher in-game purchases during the holiday season, indicating strong growth and engagement on its gaming platform.”
Unstoppable Domains and The Sandbox Partner to Launch New Metaverse Experience
Cryptonews | Sead Fadilpašić
“Unstoppable Domains has collaborated with The Sandbox, Tuschay Studios, and BoopGoop to introduce the Unstoppable Experience in the metaverse, marking its first venture into metaverse creation, offering users unique avatars and digital assets.”
Regulation & Compliance
News About: Regulation, Tax Implications, AML/KYC
China to introduce revised crypto AML regulations by 2025
Cointelegraph | PRASHANT JHA
“China plans to revise its Anti-Money Laundering (AML) laws by 2025, focusing on digital asset-related money laundering, marking the first significant update to the regulations since 2007 amid growing concerns over cryptocurrency's role in financial crimes.”
FSB Reveals 2024 Roadmap for Crypto Regulations and Cross-Border Payments
Cryptonews | David Pokima
“The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has outlined its 2024 roadmap focusing on steering crypto regulations and improving cross-border payments, emphasizing the need for global cooperation and financial market vulnerabilities monitoring.”
US lawmakers challenge SEC on crypto asset regulation
Cointelegraph | David Pokima
“U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns about the SEC's SAB 121, arguing that it discourages regulated banks from acting as crypto custodians by treating crypto holdings differently than other assets.”