Blockchain Infrastructure
News about: Layer 1s & Layer 2s, DePIN and more
Render Network Moves From Ethereum to Solana Blockchain
Cryptonews | Joel Frank
"3D content rendering platform Render Network has relocated from the Ethereum blockchain to Solana in order to benefit from the latter’s high throughput and lower transaction costs... 'Moving Render’s core infrastructure to Solana is a watershed moment that unlocks major new capabilities like real-time streaming and dynamic NFTs,' commented Jules Urbach, the Render Network’s founder"
What Is Optimism? Using Rollups to Help Scale Ethereum
Decrypt | Robert Stevens
"Optimism helps Ethereum users save on gas fees by rolling up batches of transactions, using a technology known as optimistic rollups... Optimism speeds up Ethereum transactions and cuts their costs by settling them on another blockchain using advanced data compression techniques."
Polkadot Ecosystem Expands as Circle Introduces Native USDC Stablecoin
Cryptonews | Jimmy Aki
"Stablecoin issuer Circle has announced the official launch of USDC, the second largest stablecoin by market cap, in the Polkadot Asset Hub parachain... 'Now, every parachain in Polkadot’s ecosystem can access USDC natively without the need of a bridge,' said Polkadot on Twitter."
Digital Assets & Financial Innovations
News About: NFTs, DeFi, Real World Assets (RWA), DAOs, Token Standards
Digital Asset Regulation: Improving Blockchain Security, Compliance
Mastercard Newsroom
Mastercard is focusing on making digital assets safer through initiatives like the Multi-Token Network, aimed at enhancing security and compliance within blockchain ecosystems. The company emphasizes the need for clear regulatory guidance and private sector innovations to support the broader adoption of blockchain technology, highlighting the potential for more efficient cross-border payment solutions.
Lido's Rising TVL and MakerDAO's TVL Dispute
“Lido has reportedly overtaken MakerDAO with the highest Total Value Locked (TVL) in the DeFi space. However, this ranking has been disputed by MakerGrowth, claiming that Defi Llama's data does not account for over $1 billion of TVL from various collateral options. Despite this, Lido's model, which offers liquid Ether staking without the traditional 32 ETH minimum, has seen high demand, particularly since Ethereum's shift to proof-of-stake (PoS). This has allowed Lido to significantly benefit in terms of fee revenue, especially post-Merge.”
Web3
News About: Web3 & DWeb, Decentralized Identity
Bosch's Collaboration with Fetch.ai and DePIN Technology
Blockworks | Macauley Peterson
“Bosch is working alongside Fetch.ai to advance privacy-preserving data sharing and self-sovereign identities within the mobility and automotive sectors. This collaboration is part of the MoveID project, which aims to enable vehicles and mobility infrastructure to operate autonomously and interact in a decentralized manner. Bosch's initiative seeks to leverage Web3 technologies to enhance data sovereignty, privacy, and security, moving away from centralized cloud technologies dominated by giants like Google and Amazon. This effort includes exploring token incentives to encourage the deployment of decentralized devices and services, with flexibility for payments to settle on various blockchains, including Fetch.ai's Cosmos-based blockchain and others.”
Ocean Protocol's Participation in the Gaia-X moveID Initiative
CrowdFund Insider | Omar Faridi
“Ocean Protocol has joined the Gaia-X moveID initiative, a consortium focused on creating decentralized data sharing and digital ID solutions for mobility use cases. This project aims to enable secure, verifiable digital IDs for all mobility participants, allowing for interaction without the need for centralized intermediaries. Ocean Protocol will contribute its decentralized data marketplace technology, including Compute-to-Data and data pricing mechanisms, to the moveID infrastructure. This collaboration involves other leading Web3 projects and is geared towards building a hyper-connected mobility infrastructure leveraging self-sovereign device identities.”
Enterprise & Adoption
News About: Corporate Adoption & Public Markets
Casper Labs' 2023 Enterprise Blockchain Report
Yahoo!Finance |
“Report highlights a robust interest in blockchain adoption among global business leaders in the US, UK, and China. Despite a persistent knowledge gap, with many conflating blockchain with cryptocurrency, nearly 90% of businesses are exploring blockchain to some degree, and a significant majority are planning investments in blockchain solutions within the next year. This indicates a strong drive towards integrating blockchain into business operations for increased efficiency and transparency.”
Challenges and Solutions for Enterprise Blockchain Adoption
Coin Telegraph | Nitin Kumar
“A detailed analysis underscores several key challenges to enterprise blockchain adoption, including the scarcity of skilled developers, the nascent stage of protocol management as a discipline, legal and financial concerns over holding cryptocurrencies, and operational risks associated with new technologies. However, strategies such as adopting low-code/no-code platforms, leveraging EVM-compatible blockchains for easier developer acquisition, and fostering multichain environments are seen as viable paths to overcoming these obstacles. Ensuring interoperability, paying in fiat to sidestep regulatory uncertainties, and integrating Web3 with existing Web2 infrastructures are recommended to smooth the transition to blockchain.”
Coreum's Adoption of the ISO20022 Standard
Coin Telegraph | Anatol Hooper
“Coreum is redefining enterprise blockchain by integrating the ISO 20022 global standard, aiming to address transactional inefficiencies, high fees, and energy consumption concerns. ISO 20022 facilitates clear and consistent financial messaging across borders, making Coreum's blockchain infrastructure particularly suited for financial applications requiring high throughput and interoperability with traditional banking systems. Coreum's approach, including an ISO 20022 simulator for transaction testing, positions it as a scalable, secure, and interoperable solution for enterprise-grade blockchain applications.”
Gaming/Metaverse
News About: Gaming & Metaverse
Promising Metaverse Projects of 2024
MetaversePlanet
“Infinite Launch has unveiled five new metaverse projects that are catching the eye of enthusiasts and investors alike. These projects, expected to launch through Initial DEX Offerings (IDOs), include:
Bullieverse: A fantasy metaverse island offering extraordinary gaming experiences and play-to-earn models using Unreal Engine.
Battle of Guardians: A multiplayer NFT fighting game set across multiple realms, built on the Solana network.
Arenum: Innovating as the next step in Web3 infrastructure, Arenum focuses on Mobile E-sports Tournaments and offers incentives for both developers and players.
Colizeum: A cloud-based platform facilitating tokenized tournament games on the Cardano blockchain, aiming to simplify play-to-earn economies for game developers.
GalaxyBlitzGame: A strategy war game integrating NFTs as main assets, allowing players to engage in space and land dominance wars.”
Top Metaverse Games to Explore in 2024
InfluencerHub
“The gaming metaverse continues to expand, with several notable games leading the charge:
Axie Infinity: Continues to grow, offering a vibrant world where players breed, raise, collect, and battle fantasy creatures known as Axies.
Decentraland: Provides a decentralized virtual reality platform where users can buy land, create, and monetize content and applications.
Sandbox: A user-generated platform allowing players to create, own, and monetize their gaming experiences in a virtual world.
Illuvium: Positioned as a AAA quality, blockchain-based RPG where players hunt and capture deity-like creatures in an expansive open world.
Star Atlas: A visually stunning space exploration game built on Unreal Engine 5 and leveraging the Solana blockchain for a comprehensive metaverse experience.”
Moonray - A Bitcoin Metaverse Game
Decrypt | Andrew Hayward
“Moonray, a Bitcoin metaverse game built on the Stacks network, has raised $3.5 million. Stacks, which settles transactions to the Bitcoin blockchain, enables Moonray to offer NFT-driven metaverse experiences. This action RPG plans to use NFTs for in-game collectibles, skins, and weapons, purchasable with Bitcoin. The game emphasizes the value of owning in-game assets on a blockchain, highlighting the security and decentralization benefits of Bitcoin.”
Regulation & Compliance
News About: Regulation, Tax Implications, AML/KYC
U.S. Regulation Overview
CoinDesk
“The U.S. Congress is grappling with cryptocurrency regulation, indicating that a comprehensive regulatory framework might not be established until after 2024. Despite this, we can expect further developments through court rulings and policies from regulatory agencies. The SEC's approval of 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs marks a significant step, showcasing regulatory willingness to integrate crypto into mainstream financial systems. However, the industry faces challenges, such as regulatory scrutiny and the need for clearer guidelines to foster growth and innovation.”
Global Perspective
BrittanicaMoney
“Globally, cryptocurrency regulation varies significantly, with countries adopting diverse approaches. Some regions, like Canada and the UK, have implemented frameworks to oversee crypto trading platforms and ensure compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures. Others, like El Salvador, have taken bold steps by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender. These varied approaches underscore the complex, evolving nature of global crypto regulation.”
Impact and Challenges
CoinDesk
“Regulatory efforts aim to protect investors, deter illicit activities, and promote industry maturity. Effective regulation can enhance market participation by boosting investor confidence and facilitating innovation. However, the industry faces challenges, including the potential for regulations to limit market access, stifle innovation, and create jurisdictional enforcement complexities. Balancing the need for oversight with the dynamic, innovative nature of the crypto industry remains a key challenge for regulators and industry participants alike.
As the crypto industry continues to grow and evolve, staying informed about regulatory developments is crucial for investors, companies, and other stakeholders. The ongoing dialogue between the crypto industry and regulatory bodies will likely shape the future of digital assets, aiming for a regulatory environment that supports innovation while ensuring market integrity and investor protection.”