According to Foresight News, the gaming-focused EVM blockchain Ronin Network has announced the launch of the Lucas (v2.6.2) upgrade and Shillin hard fork on the Ronin mainnet. The Lucas version implements Optimistic Fast Finality (REP-0003) and multiple protocol improvements under REP-0002. REP-0003 introduces a new fast finality mechanism aimed at increasing the speed of transaction confirmations on Ronin, while REP-0002 outlines the process of moving the Bridge to an independent application on Ronin, allowing it to be operated by its own set of operators without the need for validators to run it.

Ronin Network advises users running validators or RPC nodes on the mainnet to upgrade to Lucas before October 26th.

According to Foresight News, stock and cryptocurrency trading API service company Alpaca has raised $15 million in convertible notes from SBI Group. Alpaca CEO Yoshi Yokokawa stated that this strategic investment brings the total funding for the Y Combinator-backed startup to $120 million since its establishment in 2015, which will help accelerate Alpaca's expansion in Asia.

Alpaca launched its crypto API in October 2021, and its crypto business has not yet generated significant revenue. However, Yokokawa expects the crypto API business to grow as the cryptocurrency market recovers. Alpaca's crypto API allows businesses and developers to trade cryptocurrencies and stocks, as well as build applications that offer cryptocurrency and stock investment services within a single API.

Binance announced today that Binance Feed will now be known as Binance Square. The rebranding reflects the evolution of the platform from a content aggregator into a dynamic social platform equipped with user-generated content.

With the newly added feature, Binance users in most markets can now actively participate in discussions and generate their own content on Binance Square.

The platform has also introduced a unique monetization feature that benefits both creators and users. Creators can earn from content contributions through tipping, while users can receive incentives via crypto boxes and an affiliate commission program. Binance Square has further plans to enhance these monetization features and expand its offerings in the future.

Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the CEO and Founder of Binance, stated: "Binance Square's goal is to build a community-centric social platform, and today's announcement is a step towards that mission."CZ emphasized the platform's role in fostering knowledge sharing within the Web3 and crypto sectors.

Binance Square, previously Binance Feed, has so far hosted trending topics related to the crypto and Web3 ecosystem, with over 30,000 hashtags and more than 10 million monthly active users. It serves as a hub for thought leaders, influencers, crypto enthusiasts, developers, and projects to engage in current news, trends, and issues.

"Binance Square is a promising prototype of what blockchain-based social platforms can offer users and creators. The platform aims to resolve issues such as spam, fraud, and authentication. Our goal at Binance is to continue leveraging these innovative solutions to present more beneficial blockchain and crypto use cases," CZ added.