Vitalik Buterin argues that as AI advances, cryptography alone is insufficient in protecting you from losing self-custodied crypto funds. One proposal he lays out, particularly effective for personal interactions, is the use of intricate security questions around shared experiences or information known just to the individuals involved. Pairing such strategies with code words, multiple verification channels, and transaction delays can create a robust, human-friendly security approach suited to this expanding threat.
Criticizing those upset by Sotheby's Ether Rocks descriptions, this thread argues the criticism reveals a lack of conviction in a decentralized future and an unnecessary concern for traditional validation.
This article dives into the latest trend of digital-asset startups replacing token airdrops with opaque loyalty points programs, attracting users and investment despite unclear benefits and potential regulatory risks.
Solana experienced a 5-hour outage last week. This post from the Solana team provides a detailed post-mortem on the event.
Digital ownership varies widely in meaning, encompassing rights to access, use, and control over online purchases, media, and data. This post walks through different definitions of digital ownership and how we should be thinking about it.
Kraken has reportedly secured regulatory approval from the Dutch Central Bank to conduct its operations in the Netherlands. This is yet another expansion for Kraken into the EU. It follows the firm's previous registrations in Spain, Italy, and Ireland and aligns with the forthcoming implementation of the EU's MiCA regulation.
Deus X Capital has collaborated with Bridgetower Capital to launch a new self-funded $250 million digital asset platform based in Abu Dhabi. The venture, Bridgetower Middle East, aims to support the growth of the digital and blockchain assets sector across the UAE and Middle East more widely. The company will offer services such as institutional staking, private equity, venture building, and a customizable web3 commerce platform to renowned brands. There are also plans for a potential public listing in Abu Dhabi.
Frax Finance is launching Fraxtal, an L2 blockchain that aims to offer rewards utilizing its unique Flox system. Users who stake veFXS using this new system will receive $FXTL points in an upcoming airdrop. As a part of this rollout, Fraxtal is partnering with established web3 infrastructure projects, promising a user-friendly, low-cost experience.
Herodotus and StarkWare recently unveiled the Cairo Verifier, a system aimed at verifying cryptographic proofs on L2s instead of the Ethereum mainnet. The system was designed to reduce verification costs, improve latency issues, and support L3 application deployment on Starknet. The Cairo Verifier extends STARK's security to L3s, offering the flexibility to customize elements like hash functions and consensus mechanisms for specific needs.
The concept of combining blockchain, AI, and gaming is gaining traction, resulting in novel game designs and gameplay experiences. This thread details how games use AI agents for competitive gaming and token gathering for users. Upstreet AI offers a virtual world with user-deployable AI agents and procedural questing. Modulus Labs used the Leela chess engine in cooperative gameplay. The intersection of these three technologies opens an unexplored design space that will revolutionize gaming.
This article discusses a bug that led to nine slots missing in the bloXroute max profit relay system, using the incident to examine the role of relays and how enshrined proposer-builder separation fits into such scenarios. ePBS wouldn't have prevented the bug and in the worst cases, it could revert back to the existing trust model. The best-case scenario for ePBS facilitates faster and trustless proposer payment.
Eigenlayer’s recent traction has sparked a fresh debate over a phenomenon called rehypothecation. The Eigenlayer platform aims to help other applications leverage the security of Ethereum rather than having to bootstrap their own, raising concerns about altering Ethereum's consensus layer. This post makes the case for a collaboration between Eigenlayer and Rocket Pool, a decentralized Ethereum Proof of Stake pool, to mitigate any risk to the protocol.
The Bitcoin Power Law, a predictive model for mapping out Bitcoin's price trajectory was developed by former physics professor Giovanni Santostasi. The model suggests a consistent pattern of growth, projecting a price of $210,000 in January 2026 and a long-term price of $1 million by 2033. Critics warn about models like this that create unrealistic investor expectations as financial markets are inherently unpredictable.
Eigenlayer has picked up quite a bit of momentum as of late. This thread makes a bullish case for a restaking protocol on top of Solana.
People often refer to Pudgy Penguins as the founders’ PFP, and it turns out it kind of is. This thread compiles a list of high-profile founders, VCs, and execs rocking Pudgy Penguin PFPs.
ENS is reportedly prioritizing R&D for Ethereum L2 solutions, debating between using existing networks like Optimism or launching its own "identity layer" for enhanced user privacy.
This post talks about how throughout history, individual investors have aligned around common trades or strategies, causing capital to pour into those strategies at unprecedented levels, with examples from Gamestop, Axie Infinity, and the Japanese carry trade
Ark 21Shares has amended its spot ether ETF filings, hinting at the possibility of staking as a component of the fund. This is a potential milestone in the cross-over of traditional finance and digital assets. Analysts predict that if ETFs hold Ethereum and are allowed to keep staking rewards, it could trigger significant growth in the staking industry. The final decision on the ether ETFs is due from the SEC in May.
Prometheum, the only U.S.-registered cryptocurrency securities platform, plans to start its business by holding customers' Ethereum starting next month, according to co-CEO Aaron Kaplan. The company, which recently cleared regulatory hurdles for its custody operation, aims to service a wide range of tokens and launch its trading operations by the second quarter of 2024.
Wormhole, a multi-chain bridge solution supporting 30+ blockchains, announced the upcoming launch of its native token, W. With an initial supply of 1.8 billion, the token allocation will include strategic stakeholders, community and launch, core contributors, ecosystem and incubation, strategic network participants, and the WormHole Foundation Treasury. The community piece of this will include an airdrop for which the snapshot has already been taken and will be one of the most anticipated airdrops of the year.
This litepaper details Treasure’s new decentralized gaming platform, Infinity Chains. The paper outlines the future of blockchain gaming and features an in-depth description of Treasure Chain, the main settlement layer for Infinity Chains' network. Key elements of this design include game-specific rollups and the role of MAGIC as the network's primary token. The project is aiming for a Q3’24 mainnet launch after a Q1’24 testnet implementation.
This tutorial, aimed at increasing users’ chances for airdrop rewards, provides a quick, cost-efficient guide to deploying smart contracts on EVM blockchains and minting NFTs in 15 minutes or less. It leverages user-friendly tools, accessible to individuals without prior coding knowledge. The steps include smart contract creation and deployment, setting up NFT claim conditions, uploading NFT metadata, and ultimately minting the NFT. The tutorial further simplifies the process by using predetermined files and websites.
Eigenlayer has reopened its deposits. This thread presents three strategies to optimize your chances for Eigenlayer airdrops. The strategies involve the use of KelpDAO, Stader, Pendle, EtherFi, Swell Network, Curve Finance, and Eigenpie. With these strategies, depositors can earn various rewards, including EigenLayer points, Kelp Miles points, EtherFi points, Swell points, and others.
Crypto financial services firm BitGo is acquiring Brassica, a company focused on infrastructure services for private securities and alternative investments, intending to adapt its services for crypto assets. The move is an attempt to bridge the gap between crypto and TradFi. BitGo will offer support for both traditional private securities and blockchain-based assets.
SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce is reportedly not giving up on her Token Safe Harbor Proposal designed to attract and support cryptocurrency innovation in the US. Peirce's plan would offer developmental teams a three-year grace period to build decentralized networks free from registration provisions of federal securities laws, assuming certain conditions are met. The proposal seeks to balance the concerns of crypto skeptics with the interests of innovators while addressing the lack of disclosure around token issuances.
According to this article, in 2023, the average crypto investor had only $887.60 in gains, which was surprisingly still better than 2022’s dismal average of a $7,000 loss.
MicroStrategy, labeled as the first bitcoin development company, posted weaker Q4 earnings, despite being the largest bitcoin holder.
OKX launched crypto exchange and digital wallet services in Argentina, offering peer-to-peer trading with local support and expanding its presence in Latin America.
Ethereum's Dencun upgrade, which introduces proto-danksharding, enhancing data throughput and reducing network costs, successfully tested on Holešky. It is now geared up for a mainnet launch.
MetaMask and Robinhood are rolling out a new integration that more closely ties the two services together to create a more seamless on-ramp and off-ramp user experience. This feature set allows MetaMask users to purchase crypto directly within the wallet utilizing Robinhood’s order flow. On Robinhood, it allows users to fund their accounts via balances in their MetaMask wallets and withdraw directly to those wallets as well.
Solana experienced a five-hour outage early yesterday, the fifth longest in the network's history and its eleventh in two years. Solana's engineering team released new validator software with a patch to resolve the issue. The problem was fixed once the validators upgraded their software to this updated version. Solana’s price held up surprisingly well despite the disruption, ending basically flat on the day.
Citrea announced a zero knowledge Bitcoin rollup that scales Bitcoin entirely through the use of zk proofs for on-chain verifiability within the network. It aims to upgrade Bitcoin without compromising its security or rewiring its consensus rules. Unlike sidechains, Citrea focuses on effectively utilizing Bitcoin blockspace, considering the constantly increasing demand for it. Citrea is yet another step towards scaling Bitcoin, which has come into focus as of late with the success of innovative Bitcoin tech like Ordinals.
The RabbitHole and Quest brands are merging to form a new platform, Boost, a distributed incentives network. The rebranded entity is focused on effectively distributing token incentives as a growth mechanism for protocols. Boost plans to function as the incentive layer across all chains, with the ability to track any on-chain transaction for their incentive systems. Beyond just the rebranding, Boost will also be launching its own L2 to be the decentralized hub for the network.
Pandora, a newly launched crypto token leveraging the new ERC404 standard, is causing a stir in the space. This blog breaks down what an ERC404 token is and why it’s interesting. Contrasting with traditional ERC20 (fungible tokens) and ERC721 (NFTs) standards, ERC404 establishes a hybrid between both types. 1 PANDORA consists of both a fungible token and an NFT giving optionality to the owner that includes fractionalization. It also unlocks some unique mechanics that were not possible with either traditional token standard before.
Dymension conducted its highly anticipated airdrop yesterday. This was a big payday for Celestia stakers, who earned a minimum of 205 DYM tokens per eligible wallet. As another important protocol in the Cosmos ecosystem, airdrop farmers are excited about the opportunity to farm for future Cosmos ecosystem airdrops via DYM staking. This guide walks through how to easily and securely stake your DYM so you can start farming.
This article tackles the topic of speculation in crypto and how it differs from pure gambling. Speculation functions as a method for handling uncertainties due to incomplete data, thus driving both human progress and markets, whereas gambling mimics speculation, which can be seen as detrimental when used on a large enough scale. The piece encourages the development of economies within our current infrastructure rather than incentivizing zero-sum gambling.
The SEC has expanded the definition of a 'dealer' in an attempt to bring more financial operations, including those dealing in crypto securities, under its jurisdiction. This 'dealer' rule could have significant implications for the digital assets industry, particularly DeFi. Unless exempted, those trading in a manner consistent with de facto market-making must register as dealers. The rule, opposed by some SEC Commissioners, officially goes into full effect in April 2025.
Mechanism Capital has apparently accumulated a position in Trump-related memecoins and NFTs, betting on his media presence due to elections and court cases to fuel attention and speculation.
SmolRefuel is an innovative tool that enables token swaps without initial ETH by using permits. It supports most tokens and ensures security with smart contract safeguards and value limits.
Monero, a privacy-focused coin, saw a sharp price drop after Binance announced its delisting, which sparked concerns about how much control the government has over Binance now.
Crypto commerce, not social media, is revolutionizing how transactions are made directly within apps and social platforms, enhancing user experience and accessibility.
Crypto venture firm Multicoin Capital is reportedly considering selling its FTX bankruptcy claim valued at approximately $100 million. This comes as the price of FTX bankruptcy claims has risen, with sales reaching up to 70 to 80 cents on the dollar. As the claims get closer to reaching breakeven, more firms and individuals are considering selling their claims to be able to put their capital to work instead of waiting out the claims process.
Severe winter storms have caused significant month-over-month reductions in Bitcoin production from miners. Major mining firms, such as Marathon Digital, Core Scientific, and Riot Platforms reported decreases in their output due to increased energy demands and related outages. Despite the downturn, some companies are planning to retain a larger proportion of their Bitcoin due to the upcoming 'Bitcoin halving', which will decrease blockchain mining rewards.
Pandora recently launched as the first token developed on a new experimental token standard, ERC404. This unique standard, which combines elements of ERC20s and ERC721s, supports native liquidity and fractionalization, and could pave the way for other future improvements in NFT collections. Although the standard has only recently been created, it has generated plenty of excitement in the NFT ecosystem for the potential innovations it could unlock.
GoDaddy, a leading internet domain registry, has partnered with ENS, a domain name protocol built on Ethereum, allowing users to link their web domains to their ENS addresses for free. Despite an ongoing court case between ENS and GoDaddy, both parties see the potential benefit of working with each other. GoDaddy even hopes to integrate other blockchains in the future.
Farcaster, a decentralized social protocol, recently introduced Frames, a feature allowing users to create mini apps within their Farcaster posts. Based on Facebook's OpenGraph Protocol, Frames streamline user interaction with content, eliminating the need for app or tab switching. They can enable a variety of use cases such as NFT mints, polls, video interaction, games, and shopping, simplifying the user experience.