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BITCOIN SPOT ETF NET INFLOWS NOW TOTAL OVER $4 BILLION SINCE LAUNCH

Net inflows to the newly launched spot bitcoin ETFs have reached over $4 billion in the first month since their launch, far surpassing bitcoin issuance rates from mining. This buy pressure has tipped Bitcoin past the $50k mark. The bitcoin halving, just three months away, is set to reduce bitcoin's inflation to 1%. Current investment trends are yielding a daily ETF inflow 4.6 times higher than average bitcoin issuance post-halving, creating even greater buy pressure on the asset.

UPCOMING HIGH-LEVEL EU FINANCIAL POLICY TALKS COULD STEER CRYPTO OVERSIGHT

EU Officials are planning to discuss digital finance, including cryptocurrencies, in an upcoming Financial Services Committee meeting in April. The talks may impact future policy and rules for crypto and a potential digital euro. The committee, which promotes policy coordination among EU states, will seek feedback on priorities and challenges concerning digital finance in the next five years. An informal document suggests that the EU is aiming to be at the global forefront of digital finance.

SP1: A PERFORMANT, 100% OPEN-SOURCE, CONTRIBUTOR-FRIENDLY ZKVM

Succinct Labs has introduced Succinct Processor 1, an advanced zero-knowledge virtual machine that supports the execution of arbitrary programs compiled through Rust or any LLVM-compiled language. The open-source SP1 promises performance improvements over existing zkVMs, with the alpha version already up to 28 times faster for certain programs. It is designed to foster collaboration and aims to transform the current paradigm of specialized teams building their own custom zero-knowledge stacks.

VERTEX EDGE — THE FUTURE OF LIQUIDITY IS SYNCHRONOUS

Vertex is launching Vertex Edge, an upgrade to its trading engine that assembles liquidity from multiple supported blockchain networks. With this, Vertex aims to overcome the fragmentation of liquidity in decentralized finance (DeFi), ensuring efficient trading across multiple chains. The system works by aggregating liquidity on a single decentralized exchange interface, enabling efficient order matching between different chains. Vertex Edge represents a significant departure from traditional cross-chain solutions that divide liquidity across separate platforms.

DYMENSION DEEP DIVE

This thread provides a deep dive into Dymension, a project that facilitates the launch of RollApps. As a delegated Proof-of-Stake blockchain, Dymension offers security, interoperability, and liquidity, drawing on its coin, $DYM. It executed its airdrop well and $DYM’s price has responded positively due to that. Dymension, along with Celestia, is another building block necessary to achieve the modular blockchain architecture vision.

VANECK'S CRYPTO AI REVENUE PREDICTIONS BY 2030

This report from asset management firm VanEck predicts a boom in AI x crypto protocols and applications with projections of revenues hitting $10.2 billion by 2030. The firm anticipates that AI adoption with crypto incentives could enhance AI model security and efficiency. In addition to incentive alignment, the report also predicts that crypto will be instrumental in proving what is authentic in an increasingly AI-content-filled world. AI x crypto has been somewhat of a meme over the past year, but VanEck makes it clear that they see great potential in the use cases it enables over the long term.

STARKWARE CEO DISMISSES STARKNET AIRDROP, TOKEN UNLOCKS CONTROVERSY: 'WE BUILD DIFFERENT'

Starkware CEO Eli Ben-Sasson defended the firm's decision to allow investors and contributors to sell off their STRK tokens less than two months after launch, contrary to typical airdrop rules that enforce a one-year lock-up period. Despite concerns of instability and potential lawsuits, Ben-Sasson affirms faith in his team's commitment to the project, declaring the structure representative of Starkware's unconventional approach. He views the shorter lock period as a deserved reward for core contributors' efforts.

WHY FARCASTER SUCCEEDS

Farcaster has been all the rage lately with much of Crypto Twitter logging in there in the past couple of weeks to try it out. This thread goes over some of Farcaster’s recent metrics, which have been booming as the web3 social app has taken off. It also provides some background on the team and why it may be the web3 social app that succeeds.

THIS GAMING STARTUP TRIES TO SHOW ‘AI + CRYPTO’ IS NOT A FAD

AI x crypto has created the perfect confluence of narratives in the past few months with crypto having a resurgence and the AI market still red hot. This gaming startup wants to prove that AI x crypto is more than just a narrative and unlocks real innovation.

SATOSHI-ERA BITCOIN FUNCTION 'OP_CAT' DUSTED OFF AS DEVELOPMENT FERVOR GROWS

Some bitcoin developers are proposing reviving Bitcoin's early OP_CAT code, which could enable smart contract-like functionality and layer-2 innovations.

JEROME POWELL URGES FOR STABLECOIN REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

Jerome Powell is advocating for a legislative framework for stablecoins and CBDCs, emphasizing the Federal Reserve's commitment to regulation and the need for Congressional authorization.

GENSLER SAYS SEC'S APPROVAL OF SPOT BITCOIN ETFS IN JANUARY WAS 'CABINED'

Gary Gensler appeared on CNBC yesterday and made it clear that the Bitcoin ETF approval was very specific and does not mean approval for ETH ETFs are imminent.

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CRYPTO GAMING PLATFORM PLAYDAPP LOSES $290 MILLION WORTH OF TOKENS IN TWO EXPLOITS

PlayDapp, a crypto gaming and NFT platform, has been exploited twice within the past few days. A hacker minted 1.79 billion PLA tokens worth over $290 million and then laundered the funds via crypto exchanges. The gaming platform failed in its attempt to negotiate the return of the stolen funds for a $1 million reward. PlayDapp is currently working with law enforcement, crypto exchanges, and blockchain forensic firms to mitigate the situation.

RIPPLE TO BUY NEW YORK CRYPTO TRUST COMPANY TO EXPAND U.S. OPTIONS

Ripple is set to acquire Standard Custody & Trust Co., a move that could expand the firm's business operations within the US. The deal, still subject to regulatory approval, can potentially move Ripple beyond its established role as a payments network. The acquisition follows Ripple's purchase of another custody business and signals the firm's intent to confront regulatory uncertainties and stiff competition.

BITSTAKE: A PROOF OF STAKE BRIDGE BASED ON BITVM

This paper introduces Bitstake, which unlocks the ability to compute anything on bitcoin. It is an upgraded version of a permissioned optimistic bridge that relies on a 1-of-N trust model, incorporating new proof of stake protocols for selecting bridge participants. The system allows anyone to partake in the bridging process, providing they hold enough stake, increasing accessibility while maintaining security.

LEADERLESS AUCTIONS

A new concept called Leaderless Auctions could be the solution for "last look" problems that arise in decentralized auctions. Leaderless Auctions require participants to commit all their bids simultaneously, making for a more even playing field. Auction results can be finalized on-chain and efficiently verified via signature aggregation. The protocol has limitations such as latency variations and undisguised public bids.

ORDINALS & BTC DEFI: START HERE

Both Ordinals and BTCFi have been gaining momentum in the space over the past year, sparking a wave of innovation building on bitcoin. This guide provides an overview of different Ordinals and BTC DeFi projects to check out. It attempts to provide a good launching point for those new to the bitcoin landscape.

WEB3 SECURITY: IN-DEPTH

This post emphasizes the importance of smart contract security in web3. It explains what roles audits and bug bounty programs play in security and how they differ from each other. Auditing and community-based bug bounty programs are integral parts of the security process. Bug bounty programs attract cybersecurity experts to identify system vulnerabilities, while comprehensive audits root out inconsistencies and logical errors.

AS ETHERROCKS HIT SOTHEBY’S, WHO IS LAUGHING HARDEST?

Sotheby's auction house will auction EtherRock NFTs, a move that has caused a bit of a stir in both the traditional art space and the crypto scene. Launched before NFTs became widespread, EtherRocks are simply clipart images of rocks and are considered both an absurdity and a commentary on the nature of valuables. These 'useless' items have sparked controversy, highlighting debates about what the NFT space should represent. However, they are not all that different from other forms of modern art.

SOLANA-BASED DEFI, AIRDROPS PROPEL CRYPTO WALLET PHANTOM’S USER BASE TO NEW HEIGHTS

Crypto wallet Phantom has seen its active user base increase by 220% to 3.2 million monthly in the past year, bolstered by attention from massive airdrops in the Solana ecosystem. The popularity of Solana memecoins and Phantom’s especially smooth interface as an entry point to crypto contributed to the boom. Phantom's CEO is planning for further growth before turning attention to revenue. They anticipate that crypto wallets will do more than simply buy, hold, and sell crypto in the future.

THY STRENGTH BEFITS BITCOIN - BOB LOUKAS

This post summarizes Bob Loukas’ latest thoughts on Bitcoin and where we may be in the cycle. Loukas makes the case for a left-translated (or shorter) cycle this time around.

ARE YOU READY FOR CRYPTO TAX SEASON?

This article explains how this year, with the IRS intensifying crypto taxation scrutiny, US crypto investors need to declare holdings on forms 1040, 1099-MISC, and 1099-B.

ENS COMMUNITY MULLS $300,000 SETTLEMENT WITH MANIFOLD IN ETH.LINK DOMAIN DISPUTE

ENS Labs is considering paying a $300,000 settlement to Manifold Finance over the eth.link domain dispute. To help with this, the ENS DAO is voting on a $750,000 legal fee reimbursement back to the Labs team.

CZ SENTENCING POSTPONED UNTIL END OF APRIL

CZ's sentencing for his money laundering case is being delayed to April 30. He is facing up to 18 months in prison and has already paid $50 million in fines on top of Binance paying $4.3 billion in penalties.

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FRANKLIN TEMPLETON JOINS ETHEREUM ETF RACE

Franklin Templeton has thrown its hat into the ring with an application to the SEC for an Ethereum ETF. It is entering the race alongside major competitors like BlackRock and Fidelity. This follows the firm's launch of a bitcoin ETF, which has seen less demand than its rivals so far. The SEC has continued to delay decisions on Ethereum ETFs, fueling speculation about what this could mean for Ethereum. Most people expect a final decision on the applications by May.

SPOT BITCOIN ETFS SAW $1.1 BILLION OF INFLOWS LAST WEEK, COINSHARES SAYS

Bitcoin ETFs recorded an all-time high weekly inflow of $1.1 billion last week, bringing the cumulative inflow to $2.8 billion since their launch in January. Asset management firms BlackRock and Fidelity are leading these inflows. The broader crypto investment product landscape hit $59 billion in AUM, the highest that figure has been since early 2022.

DN404: DIVISIBLE NFT STANDARD

The latest ERC404 meta, dubbed the "Divisible NFT" standard, or DN404, is a promising hybrid of ERC20/721 tokens. Unlike its predecessor ERC404, DN404 operates with two contracts allowing for actions as both fungible and non-fungible tokens without breaching any standards. A concept for this standard is available in an open source repo but it has not been audited yet.

MEVAUCTION, A NEW SYSTEM TO AUCTION BLOCKSPACE

This thread details a novel system called mevAuction to auction blockspace. mevAuction allows multiple winners per block while retaining compatibility with the existing standard, mev-boost. The new model splits blockspace into two sections, offering a greater level of accessibility and efficiency. The design is currently undergoing testing on the Holesky testnet.

meme now!

ARE SOLANA AIRDROPS STILL WORTH FARMING?

This post explores whether Solana airdrops are still worth farming given the ecosystem’s meteoric rise over the past few months and the farming competition that comes with that. It outlines 5 major Solana projects - Parcl, Kamino Finance, Beoble, Drift Protocol, and Tensor - and concludes that farming these protocols can still be worthwhile, especially for those with smaller portfolios.

SPECULATION ON NARRATIVES COMES IN WAVES

This post discusses the speculative waves that are associated with narrative trends, highlighting recent narratives like Friend.tech, Ordinals, and telegram trading bots. While there may be a sharp decline after an initial wave of hype, innovation-driven narratives often experience subsequent waves driven by different catalysts. Those interested in capitalizing on trends should monitor narrative developments post-initial hype to be prepared to ride a possible second wave.

PETER THIEL’S FOUNDERS FUND MADE $200 MILLION CRYPTO INVESTMENT BEFORE BULL RUN

Billionaire Peter Thiel's venture capital firm, Founders Fund, reportedly bought $200 million worth of bitcoin and ether between the end of Summer and early Autumn last year. The move represents renewed attention from institutional investors on cryptocurrencies, following the crash of 2022. It followed the hype that ensued after BlackRock initially filed for its Bitcoin ETF in mid-Summer of last year.

AS SPOT BITCOIN ETF VOLUMES CONTINUE TO RISE, BITWISE ASSET MANAGEMENT PREDICTS A HIGH CEILING FOR GROWTH

In this article, the CIO of Bitwise, one of the firms that rolled out a spot Bitcoin ETF, gives some interesting insight into what’s going on behind the scenes with these ETFs. The inflows into the new funds have beat expectations and the strength in demand is predicted to continue over the next 18 months. This could end up being the biggest ETF launch ever.

ON BTC FLOWS THIS YEAR

This post provides an analysis of what BTC inflows could look like this year, considering components like household income, ETF inflows, and GDP growth in the analysis.

PUDGY PENGUINS APPROACH BORED APE FLOOR PRICES, BUOYED BY CEO’S EXPANSIVE APPROACH

Pudgy Penguins have been on a tear over the past year and a half, propelled by Luca Netz’s innovative approach to IP, which helped turn the struggling collection around. They are now close to surpassing Bored Ape floor prices.

WINTERMUTE AND THE BLOCK LAUNCH CRYPTO PRICE INDEX

Wintermute and The Block teamed up to launch the GMCI 30 index to track top 30 cryptocurrencies by market cap.

UNIVERSAL PLASMA AND DA CHALLENGES

This article discusses some of the challenges that Layer 2s have with data availability and goes over one of the potential solutions to those challenges, Optimistic DA.

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NY ATTORNEY GENERAL TRIPLES HER ACCUSATIONS AGAINST GEMINI, DCG, SEEKS $3B

New York Attorney General Letitia James increased the restitution demand from Gemini Trust and Digital Currency Group to $3 billion over alleged fraud with its Gemini Earn product. Initially, the lawsuit sought only $1.1 billion for allegedly swindling investors. This increase comes from additional investors coming forth claiming they had been defrauded. The complaint accuses Gemini of falsely promoting Earn as a highly liquid investment and misleading investors about Genesis Capital's creditworthiness.

AS SAM BANKMAN-FRIED AWAITS PRISON SENTENCE, FTX CUSTOMERS AWAIT A SURPRISE

Ex-FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is set to be sentenced next month for fraud charges related to the sudden collapse of his crypto exchange. His former customers are looking forward to full reimbursements of their lost funds. The firm's bankruptcy lawyers expect to fully repay its customers following a resurgence in the crypto market and appreciation of FTX's venture investments. Even with ongoing complexities in disbursing the recovered funds, this positive development is a far better outcome than most had expected.

CELLMATES: A NEW FRACTIONALIZED NFT DESIGN

A new token called CellMates is rolling out a hybrid ERC-20 and ERC-721 token that, similarly to ERC404, provides an aspect of fungibility to NFTs, making them tradeable on both NFT marketplaces and DEXs. Unlike ERC404s and other tokens, this approach allows the same NFT to be traded and retain its attributes and rarity. This differs from the reroll technique that ERC404s utilize upon NFT transfer.

STTIA EXPANSION: STRIDE EXPANDS TO THE MODULAR ECOSYSTEM WITH HYPERLANE

Stride, a protocol focused on liquid staking, has successfully launched stTIA, which has quickly become one of Celestia's largest time lock tokens. Stride's unique focus produces high security and uptime, making it the perfect hub for TIA and stTIA. Hyperlane, an adaptable interoperability solution, is used to interact with the modular ecosystem. Stride and Hyperlane's collaboration on this design promises to provide stTIA access to non-IBC chains within the next two months.

CRITIQUING DEPIN: FALSE HOPE OR REAL DAWN?

This article provides an in-depth analysis of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) and the latest developments in the vertical. It delves into DePIN's conceptual breakdown and its complexities and opportunities and presents case studies on Helium's 5G network and io.net AI/ML. Despite challenges remaining in the space, there is optimism around DePIN's future and its potential to surpass traditional physical infrastructures due to key success factors such as value anchors, token incentives, and strong community engagement.

SOLANA & ETHEREUM TRANSACTION FEE MECHANISMS: PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE SOLANA’S TFM

This article investigates transaction fee market mechanisms (TFMs) and issues on both Ethereum and Solana. It discusses how Ethereum's EIP-1559 fee mechanism could not exactly be ported to Solana due to the different engineering and performance goals of the two blockchains. This led to the development of the Program Rebatable Account Write fees and a proposal for the implementation of per-account local fee markets. Continued research and experimentation are needed to improve the efficiency and user-friendliness of TFMs.

FTX FILES TO SELL SUBSIDIARY ACQUIRED FOR $10 MILLION TO COINLIST FOR $500,000

The FTX estate is reportedly planning to sell its subsidiary Digital Custody Inc. to CoinList for $500,000 despite acquiring it for $10 million in 2022. The sale is financed by Terence Culver, the former CEO of Digital Custody. According to FTX's lawyers, the reason for the sale is the company's inability to revive FTX.US, which rendered Digital Custody useless to its business. The deal allows FTX time to find a better offer.