NuBank, the largest fintech bank in Latin America, has announced a groundbreaking move in the digital payments sector: the integration of Lightning payments in Bitcoin via Lightspark. 

This innovation will allow NuBank’s 100 million customers to make fast and secure transactions using the Bitcoin Lightning Network, marking a significant step forward in the adoption of cryptocurrencies throughout the region.

Let’s see all the details below. 

The future of digital transactions in Latin America: the bank NuBank adopts Bitcoin Lightning Network through Lightspark

As anticipated, Nu Holdings, known as Nubank, the largest fintech bank in Latin America, has announced a new strategic partnership.

The collaboration is with Lightspark, to integrate Bitcoin Lightning Network and Universal Money Addresses (UMA) into its platform. This agreement aims to significantly improve the services offered by Nubank.

Allowing in this way Bitcoin and fiat transactions almost in real-time and at low cost, according to the press release. David Marcus, CEO and co-founder of Lightspark, stated the following regarding this:

“We are excited to play a role in bringing Lightning to Nu’s 100 million customers and adding solutions to make their financial life simpler and more efficient. At Lightspark, we are pleased to enable Nubank to continue evolving its crypto solutions. It has also been fantastic to work with Nu’s talented team.”

The advanced technology of Lightspark, which includes SDK, API, and artificial intelligence tools, is designed to facilitate the integration and optimization of transactions. 

Efficient services, greater speed, and lower costs thanks to blockchain technology

This collaboration aligns with Nubank’s mission to provide efficient solutions and convenient services for its customers, while Lightspark aims to support the evolution of Nubank’s Bitcoin services, according to the official announcement.

Thomaz Fortes, executive director of Nubank Cripto, commented: 

“The partnership with Lightspark, which has developed an excellent technical solution for Bitcoin Lightning Network, is another step in Nubank’s mission to provide the best solutions for our customers and strengthen our long-term relationship with all of them. The future integration of Lightning underscores Nu’s ongoing mission to offer more efficient services with greater speed and lower costs through blockchain technology.”

Lightspark has also highlighted the importance of this collaboration, which represents a new milestone for Lightning Network. 

This partnership could potentially increase the overall adoption of Lightning Network and improve the Bitcoin experience for Nubank customers in Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. 

With over 100 million customers, Nubank is preparing to revolutionize the landscape of digital payments in Latin America, offering faster and more cost-effective solutions thanks to this innovative technology.

Brief focus on the price of Bitcoin

The price of Bitcoin has recently captured the market’s attention following a significant drop, going from $70,000 to less than $60,000 in recent weeks. 

This sudden drop has generated a negative sentiment among investors in cryptocurrencies, prompting various analyses and forecasts from industry experts.

A well-known cryptocurrency analyst, TechDev, shared his observations on a key Bitcoin indicator after its drop below $60,000. 

Using the social media platform X, TechDev highlighted that the two-week Gauss channel, an indicator of price peaks and momentum, has turned green. 

This signal could indicate an imminent parabolic move for Bitcoin, reflecting a trend similar to that observed in 2017, which led to a substantial increase in prices.

TechDev also examined the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator, which tracks the inflow and outflow of cash in the market. 

He noticed that Bitcoin has remained above its ascending trendline for the fourth consecutive time in his four-week chart analysis. 

This trend is reminiscent of the patterns observed at the end of 2016, at the beginning of 2013, and in 2011, suggesting a potential explosive movement.

These signals indicate that, despite the recent decline, there are possibilities for a significant recovery for Bitcoin.

London, United Kingdom, June 25th, 2024, Chainwire

Minutes Network is pleased to announce a ground-breaking collaboration that is set to bring 1.2 billion users to Minutes Network over the next 24 months.

In a strategic move that leverages Minutes Network`s rapid scaling technology with SEW´s AI-driven customer and workforce experience platforms, the extensive SEW base of over 1.2 billion consumers is now in the reachable userbase of Minutes Network.

Josh Watkins, Minutes Network CEO said “This is a huge moment for Minutes Network and leverages off the success and strength of World Mobile’s existing relationship with SEW. The integration of the Minutes Network SDK into SEW’s ecosystem and marketplace transforms our scale, reach and the revenue potential. We could not wish for a more supportive scaling partner and our internal technical work now has a singular objective to bring the entire user base online. Our first milestone will have 20million users live within the coming months.”

Watkins added, “This is our first scale integration, and it will be the first of many. We now have a growing slate of applications that have agreed to join Minutes Network and as we are ready to onboard them, we will make further announcements. This new collaboration has been secured due to the outstanding existing relationship between SEW and the World Mobile team.”

About SEW

Founded in 2012 and based in Irvine, California SEW is a technology company that provides digital customer experience and workforce engagement solutions for electric, water, and gas providers. SEW operates in 45 countries and has over 1.2 billion integrated mobile application users.  With its innovative and industry-leading cloud platforms, currently delivers the best Digital Customer Experiences (CX) and Workforce Experiences (WX), powered by AI, ML, and IoT Analytics to the global energy, water, and gas providers. Expanding the platform into the telecom sector is a natural progression to realize the vision to Engage, Empower, and Educate billions of people to save on their utilities services and prepare for the future.

Contact

CEO
Josh Watkins
Minutes Network Ltd
josh@minutesnetwork.io

New York City, New York, June 25th, 2024, Chainwire

PlayFi, an AI-powered data network and blockchain tailored for the gaming industry, today announces the launch of the PlayFi Airdrop Platform, which is now officially live. As PlayFi gears up for the launch of its $PLAY token later in 2024, this platform will serve as the primary hub for earning points and engaging with the PlayFi community.

“We’re incredibly excited to launch the PlayFi Airdrop Platform as a means to not only reward our community but also provide a comprehensive view of the revolutionary technology we’re building,” said Ben Beath, founder and CEO of PlayFi. “Our goal is to transform the way we interact with live content and streaming, and we want our community to feel this transformation firsthand.”

The PlayFi Airdrop Platform offers various ways for the community to engage and earn rewards:

Engagement and Rewards: Users can accumulate points by completing tasks, track their progress on a personal tally, and see their rankings on the community leaderboard. This system provides a real-time measure of involvement and influence within the PlayFi community.

Foundational Task Questing: Users complete these tasks to integrate into the PlayFi network and become eligible for the node license sale whitelist giveaway on Discord.

Daily Task Questing: Users can also earn points by sharing tweets, writing threads, or creating memes. New tasks are available daily.

Campaigns: Short-term campaigns offer users boosted points and special edition NFTs. 

​​3x airdrop boost: The first 10,000 node licenses purchased will get a 3x boost on the $PLAY airdrop allocation. This boost will immediately populate in your dashboard. There is no limit on the amount of licenses that can be bought to receive this boost.

For details on how to get started, visit the PlayFi Airdrop Platform, and join the PlayFi Discord to earn XP through events and interactions, unlocking new roles and tangible rewards.

“We encourage everyone to dive in, engage fully, and enjoy the rewards as we grow together. We’re transforming the way you interact with live content forever—and it all starts with $PLAY,” said Beath.

The PlayFi team is led by a 6x startup founder alongside builders who have impressive experience at Activision Blizzard, BumbleBear Games (developer of popular arcade game Killer Queen), Meta, BattleFly Game, and more. 

USers can follow PlayFi on X or visit PlayFi.ai to join the PlayFi Airdrop Platform and for continued updates.

About PlayFi

PlayFi is redefining gaming by integrating blockchain technology to enhance gameplay and community engagement. Through its cutting-edge PlayChain technology and AI-powered PlayBase network, PlayFi ensures a fast, secure, and scalable zkEVM blockchain solution, as well as optimal data processing and analysis tailored for the gaming industry. With a commitment to enhancing the gaming experience with web3, PlayFi is empowering developers, players, and studios across the globe to push the boundaries of innovation in an ever-evolving digital landscape and setting new standards in how games are played, developed, and monetized. For more information, visit playfi.ai.

Contact

Sr. PR Manager
Leslie Termuhlen
Serotonin
leslie@serotonin.co

This article was paid for*

A new meme coin – Pepe Unchained (PEPU) – is off to a strong start in its presale, raising close to $700k in just over a week. 

PEPU’s fundraising figures are considerably more impressive when considering the bearish broader market sentiment over the last month that has caused heavy corrections in large-cap meme coins. 

The new meme token’s strong early demand has impressed several smart money traders, many of whom are even calling PEPU the next PEPE alternative. 

Why PEPU Could Be The Next Pepe?

Pepe has emerged as the de facto meme coin leader during this bull cycle, even as Dogecoin still has a much higher market capitalization. The former has witnessed much higher gains – over 630% in the past year as compared to 80% for DOGE.

Experts do not expect this trend to reverse over the coming months, especially after the spot Ethereum ETFs start trading. PEPE shows a strong correlation with ETH and could therefore receive a significant boost from the recently approved ETFs. 

To extract maximum profitability in such a scenario, smart money traders have been on the lookout for additional Pepe The Frog-themed meme coins, and for good reason. Meme tokens tend to move in hordes, with newer tokens often acting as a beta play on the original. 

Already, new meme cryptos such as Pepecoin, PeiPei and PepeFork have seen notable success, even if only in the short term. However, these copycat coins do not offer any advantage over the original PEPE, with most smart money traders viewing them as nothing better than pump-and-dump tokens.

On the contrary, Pepe Unchained is aiming to be a significant improvement over the original, promising “double the staking rewards, double the PEPE and 100x the fun!”

Indeed, Pepe Unchained is launching its own Layer-2 blockchain, one that is entirely compatible with Ethereum. The move is expected to significantly reduce PEPU’s transaction costs and confirmation time while offering significantly higher staking rewards to early buyers. 

Unsurprisingly, this rare move has caught the attention of smart money traders and crypto influencers. Even the popular crypto educational platform 99Bitcoins – which has over 700k subscribers on X – recently praised this innovative concept and its high upside potential. 

Early Buyers Can Earn Upto 3000% Staking Rewards With Pepe Unchained

As previously mentioned, Pepe Unchained can offer much higher staking rewards than the industry standard, thanks to its native Layer-2 blockchain. 

In fact, the PEPU staking dashboard reveals that stakers are currently receiving an APY of over 3000%. 

Early buyers are set to benefit the most, considering the yield percentage will decrease as an increasing number of tokens are staked in the pool. Nevertheless, it is still expected to be much higher than Ethereum’s 2% to 5% APY.

This lucrative passive income is a major attraction for retail investors and serves as an incentive for long-term holding, consequently decreasing the likelihood of pump-and-dump price action.

According to the Pepe Unchained whitepaper, a significant 30% of the token supply has been allocated towards its staking rewards, which will be disbursed over a two-year period. 

Meanwhile, 20% of the supply has been reserved for the ongoing presale and marketing each. The remaining funds have been split equally amongst token liquidity, project finance and chain inventory. Investors can check out the project whitepaper here. 

Pepe Unchained Price Potential – Could PEPU Deliver 10x Returns?

As previously mentioned, Pepe The Frog-themed tokens have seen significant short-term growth, which bodes well for PEPU. However, there is a reason why experts are viewing PEPU as the next Pepe and not the other tokens. 

Owing to the heavy traffic on Ethereum, it is extremely costly to invest in ERC-20 meme coins, especially for retail investors. The trading fees on DEXs such as Uniswap can often go as high as over a hundred dollars. As a result, the aforementioned meme coins see limited retail investment and suffer heavily from whale manipulation. 

On the contrary, Pepe Unchained’s native Layer-2 blockchain is set to reduce the trading cost. In fact, investors can choose to buy PEPU by swapping any of ETH, BNB or USDT during the presale. 

Consequently, experts are projecting much higher retail involvement, which is already evident from its presale figures. 

Popular YouTube trading experts have even signalled at the possibility of 10x gains after PEPU’s launch, calling it the next Pepe.

Visit Pepe Unchained Presale

*Cryptonomist did not write the article or test the platform.

Allora Labs, previously known as Upshot and renowned for NFT valuations, recently concluded a significant round of financing, raising 3 million dollars in preparation for the launch of the mainnet of its own decentralized AI network. 

This latest funding brings the total investments raised by Allora to 35 million dollars to date.

The mainnet of Allora Labs for the Decentralized AI network

The transition from Upshot to Allora Labs reflects the company’s evolution in the field of digital valuations, now aiming to pioneer in the field of decentralized artificial intelligence. The initiative aims to leverage emerging technologies to improve and expand the applications of AI in critical areas, including NFT valuations and other forms of digital assets.

The recent funding round was led by strategic investors who recognized Allora’s potential in the rapidly expanding market of tecnologie blockchain and artificial intelligence. With an additional 3 million dollars in Allora’s coffers, the company is preparing to launch its mainnet, a crucial step towards expanding the capacità of its rete decentralizzata.

The decision to invest further in Allora Labs highlights the investors’ confidence in the modello di business and the company’s technical capabilities. This new iniezione di capitale not only supports the ongoing development of the mainnet, but also strengthens Allora’s position as an emerging leader in the integration of AI and blockchain.

The importance of financial support for technological development

The CEO of Allora Labs, in a recent statement, emphasized the crucial importance of financial support to accelerate technological development. The mainnet of Allora promises to revolutionize the digital valuation sector by introducing a decentralized approach that increases efficiency and reduces the costs associated with operations.

With a total capital now risen to 35 million dollars, Allora Labs is well positioned to tackle the challenges and leverage the opportunities in the global market of emerging technologies. The recent funding will allow the company to expand its research and development team, as well as accelerate the implementation of key mainnet features.

The landscape of emerging technologies sees more and more companies pushing towards the integration of blockchain and AI, seeking to capitalize on synergies that promise to transform entire sectors. Allora Labs stands out for its mission to democratize access to artificial intelligence through a decentralized network, opening new frontiers for innovative applications such as NFT evaluations.

With the global interest in blockchain technologies on the rise, the imminent launch of Allora’s mainnet is awaited with great interest by the sector. Investors, increasingly attentive to emerging opportunities, see in Allora Labs a pioneer capable of defining new standards in the relationship between AI and blockchain.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the financing of 3 million dollars marks a significant step for Allora Labs, consolidating its position in the emerging technologies market. With the mainnet in the launch phase, the company is preparing to transform the landscape of digital valuations and open new possibilities through its innovative decentralized AI network.

SPONSORED POST*

Coinbase is making the rounds in the crypto industry as it proceeds with the highly anticipated listing of the LayerZero (ZRO) altcoin, which recently launched into the markets. Famous market experts reveal ETFSwap (ETFS), selling fast in its viral ICO presale at a low price of $0.01831, as the next bullish altcoin to debut on Coinbase and other top exchanges in the coming weeks.

ETFSwap (ETFS) Is The Next 500x Altcoin To Be Listed On Coinbase

Famous crypto market experts tout ETFSwap (ETFS) as the next DeFi utility token meeting the criteria of a token listing on Coinbase, having identified its unmatched DeFi utilities and solutions paired up with a next-generation ETF trading platform. 

ETFSwap (ETFS) is a top-notch DeFi trading platform offering the lowest trading fees and mouth-watering discounts to smart traders and investors leveraging it for high profitability. The DeFi platform is open 24/7 and creates an inclusive trading environment for beginner and veteran ETF traders to build wealth. Smart ETF investors and traders enjoy up to 100x trading leverage to scale returns on tokenized ETF investments up to 45,000%. 

The DeFi platform provides unlimited access to various institutional-grade investment products and highly sought-after tokenized ETFs in the global finance market. Spot Ethereum, Bitcoin, equity, bond, and leveraged ETFs are among the many tokenized ETFs listed on the DeFi trading platform, and they have the potential to scale small investments into six figures. 

The DeFi trading platform is borderless and permissionless, allowing smart investors and traders to swap and trade various cryptocurrencies and tokenized ETFs in full DeFi mode without KYC registrations and onboarding formalities. Smart traders and investors leveraging the DeFi platform for trading and tokenized ETF investments are provided with next-level AI trading tools and profitable strategies customizable to their investment needs and risk appetite.

Smart investors with a low-risk trading appetite are covered as the DeFi platform features zero-risk investments, such as its asset staking and yield farming investment opportunities, which guarantee a passive income when investors provide liquidity and stake assets on the DeFi platform. Also, ETFSwap (ETFS) rewards its asset stakers with up to 87% in staking yields. 

Following the bullish precedence of Bitcoin and Ethereum, ETFSwap (ETFS) plans to launch its own ETF in 2025. An ETFSwap (ETFS) ETF is the icing on the cake for smart investors looking to increase investment profitability and benefit from generational wealth opportunities in the coming months.

Coinbase Lists LayerZero (ZRO) Altcoin Amid Market Uncertainty 

Earlier this week, the Coinbase crypto exchange and trading platform headlined major crypto news platforms when it expanded its cryptocurrency offerings to users by listing the highly anticipated LayerZero (ZRO) altcoin. At the time of LayerZero’s launch and listing on Coinbase, general market conditions were bearish as crypto analysts reported low trading volumes of most cryptocurrencies due to market-wide uncertainty.

However, LayerZero (ZRO) had a decent welcome from its launch on Coinbase as it rallied up to 100% from its listing price before bearishly retracing. LayerZero (ZRO) is forecasted by famous market experts to be among altcoins, including ETFSwap (ETFS), with a 500x potential to scale portfolios of early investors.

At press time, LayerZero (ZRO) trades at $3.04, a 16.20% price decline in the last 24 hours of trading on Coinbase.

Conclusion On ETFSwap As The Next Altcoin To Debut On Coinbase After LayerZero Token Listings

ETFSwap (ETFS) unparalleled DeFi utilities, coupled with its viral ICO presale, which records huge successes selling out fast at $0.01831, are placing it in the spotlight of top crypto exchanges, including Coinbase, vying for an ETFS listing after presale ends. ETFSwap’s (ETFS) grand listing on Coinbase, among other top exchanges, is expected to be bigger than LayerZero as top analysts forecast a 500x price rally during its token launch.

Position yourself for life-changing gains by investing in the presale, which is selling out fast at a takeoff price of $0.01831.

For more information about the ETFS presale:

Visit ETFSwap Presale

Join The ETFSwap Community

*This article was paid for. Cryptonomist did not write the article or test the platform.

In recent years, the world of cryptocurrencies has seen explosive growth, pushing major asset managers like BlackRock to reconsider their stance on Bitcoin and digital assets.

BlackRock, the giant in the investment industry with over 10 trillion dollars in assets under management, has recently made significant strides towards the adoption of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. This movement has been amplified by the success of their exchange traded fund (ETF) dedicated to bitcoin, which has quickly gained ground in the market.

Evolution of BlackRock’s approach towards Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies

The ETF by BlackRock, launched just four months ago, has already gathered a remarkable capital of 16.7 billion dollars. This success places it only 1 billion dollars away from the largest fund in the sector, Grayscale, which holds a total of 28 billion dollars in cryptocurrency assets. This accelerated growth has put BlackRock on the path to compete directly with Grayscale, despite the significant temporal and dimensional advantage of its competitor.

The journey of BlackRock towards cryptocurrencies has been marked by initial skepticism, common among many institutional investors. However, in recent years, the interest and demand from clients have driven BlackRock to explore this emerging sector more thoroughly. The decision to launch a ETF bitcoin was a direct response to this growing demand, offering investors a regulated vehicle to expose their portfolios to the main cryptocurrency.

This ETF has not only exceeded fundraising expectations but has also solidified BlackRock‘s role as one of the leading promoters of bitcoin among institutional investors. Its proximity to the top spot in the bitcoin ETF market is a clear signal of its ability to capitalize on emerging trends and adapt quickly to changing market conditions.

The role of ETFs in the institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies

The ETF have played a fundamental role in increasing institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. Unlike traditional direct investments in bitcoin, which can be complex and uncertain for many investors, the ETF offer a more accessible and regulated way to gain exposure to these digital assets. This approach has attracted a wide range of investors, from pension funds to investment banks, eager to leverage the growth potential of cryptocurrencies without exposing themselves to the operational and custody risks associated with direct trading.

Despite the rapid success of its ETF, BlackRock is still a few steps away from the market leader, Grayscale. Grayscale has enjoyed a decade of experience in the cryptocurrency sector and has accumulated a significant advantage in terms of assets under management. However, the dynamism and global reach of BlackRock could pose a serious threat to its leadership in the long term.

BlackRock not only has ambitions to become the largest bitcoin fund in the world, but it also aims to expand its presence in other segments of digital assets. Its ability to innovate and quickly scale new financial products could further catalyze the adoption of cryptocurrencies among institutional investors worldwide.

The rise of BlackRock in the ETF bitcoin market not only reflects a significant shift in institutional investment strategies but could also influence the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem. The interest and investment of a giant like BlackRock could increase the legitimization and adoption of cryptocurrencies globally, pushing towards greater regulation and integration into traditional financial markets.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the rapid approach of BlackRock to the title of the largest bitcoin fund in the world represents not only a financial success for the company, but also an important turning point in the evolution of cryptocurrencies as an asset class. With its ability to adapt and innovate, BlackRock continues to redefine the global investment landscape, opening new opportunities for institutional investors to participate in the cryptocurrency market in a regulated and secure manner.

Jack Mallers, CEO and founder of the financial app Strike, is bringing his invention to the United Kingdom, allowing the use of P2P payments in Bitcoin by leveraging Lightning Network technology.

Thanks to Strike, now residents in the UK, after completing the knowledge test “Appropriateness Assessment”, will be able to freely transfer Bitcoin through the “Send Globally” function. 

This is a big step forward for the mainstream adoption of both cryptocurrency and the L2 Lightning Network.

Let’s see all the details below.

The Strike app brings Bitcoin Lightning Network transfers to the United Kingdom

Strike, the financial app based on Bitcoin Lightning Network payments, has officially landed in the United Kingdom, significantly expanding its target market, which now includes 100 countries worldwide.

The news came directly from the post on the official X profile of Strike, where the section “Strike UK” was presented and all Bitcoin-enabled services were introduced in the largest island of Europe.

Announcing Strike UK

Today, we're launching Strike UK, expanding our full suite of Bitcoin services to all eligible customers in the UK

Buy #bitcoin, free on-chain withdrawals, a full-featured Lightning wallet and more. Get the best of #Bitcoin with @Strike

Wen UK? Now … pic.twitter.com/anVV3brJAR

— Strike UK (@strikebtc_uk) June 25, 2024

Starting today, the 67 million residents in the country will be able to use the app to buy, sell, send, withdraw, or make global payments in cryptocurrency, all at a reduced cost and with high execution speed guaranteed thanks to layer-2 Lightning Network technology.

Jack Mallers, CEO e fondatore di Strike ha utilizzato queste parole per descrivere l’espansione del suo progetto nel Regno Unito, che rappresenta la sesta economia mondiale:

“We are incredibly excited to offer our services in the United Kingdom, in compliance with local regulations for bitcoin and crypto companies. While some Bitcoin companies have withdrawn from the United Kingdom, we are expanding our presence, doubling our commitment to further Bitcoin adoption globally, and advancing financial innovation and inclusion in the United Kingdom.”

With immediate effect, users in the United Kingdom can deposit GBP within the Strike app (iOS and Android) without limitations from their bank account, automatically convert the FIAT currency into Bitcoin, schedule recurring purchases, and of course, cash out.

Signing up for the app is very simple and to create a Bitcoin wallet associated with a Lightning address, only an email format like username@strike.me is required, greatly simplifying the usual cryptographic registration process.

The company behind the visionary Jack Mallers has also revealed that customers can also transfer their Bitcoin within non-custodial wallets that use Lightning Network technology, taking advantage of instant payments.

In addition, Strike offers the possibility to execute free withdrawals on the chain, avoiding negative experiences with network congestion. However, this last function requires a confirmation time of about 24 hours.

The specialty of Strike, however, refers to the ability to execute transfers in any area of the world enabled with the app, taking advantage of the “send globally” feature that allows converting GBP into foreign currencies in eligible countries, including Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo, Philippines, Mexico, and Vietnam, using Bitcoin’s Lightning Network as the underlying technology.

The launch of Strike in the United Kingdom follows another recent expansion move by the payment company that in April made its debut in the European territory.

For Bitcoin, it is a great opportunity to expand its pool of active wallets and introduce the trustless qualities of the cryptocurrency to a new audience.

The stringent crypto regulation in the United Kingdom

The entry of Strike into the United Kingdom is not, however, exempt from specific regulatory obligations for crypto activities that exchange cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

All users UK who want to use the app to transfer money in BTC with Lightning technology must indeed pass a knowledge test called “Appropriateness Assessment”. 

This is a simple questionnaire in which investors must provide information about their financial situation and classify themselves within specific categories.

In detail users have two classification options: “Investitore con restrizioni” and “Investitore con un patrimonio netto elevato”.

The primi allocate less than 10% of their assets to high-risk investments, such as those in cryptocurrencies, while the secondi refer to individuals who have earned more than 100,000 pounds, equivalent to 127,000 dollars, or who have a net worth exceeding 250,000 pounds, equivalent to 317,000 dollars.

If none of these two options apply to a specific subject, the Strike app states: 

“If none of these statements apply to you, you are not eligible to use Strike at this time”.

Great news! @Strike has finally launched in the UK.

If (like us) you've been eager to get going with the app, please take a moment to watch the onboarding walkthrough below.

Because of @TheFCA's regrettable and in our view incorrect decision to label #Bitcoin as a 'restricted… https://t.co/nDwbvAFvel pic.twitter.com/4Hv26Hd7uc

— Freddie New (@freddienew) June 25, 2024

The regulatory obligations imposed in this matter by the “Financial Conduct Authority” of the United Kingdom (FCA), which considers Bitcoin as  a “limited investment on the mass market“, require investors to also complete a comprehension quiz on the risks associated with cryptocurrency investments  and wait 24 hours after passing it.

The same FCA in 2021 had banned the exchange of cryptographic derivatives and exchange-traded products to retail investors, limiting the country’s expansion in Bitcoin markets to only ETN that landed on the London Stock Exchange in March of this year.

The United Kingdom is seeking to regulate the crypto industry in parallel with Europe through the MiCA, sometimes even oppressing the development of the sector: in December, a new regulation for the supervision of the Digital Securities Sandbox was introduced with the aim of facilitating the adoption of digital assets in all financial markets under the supervision of The Bank of England and FCA. 

The result was not, however, as hoped, since some companies, including the famous exchange Bybit, found themselves forced to suspend their services in the country due to stringent impositions.

By the end of July, as supported by the Ministry of the Treasury Bim Afolami, a new regulatory framework for crypto activities could arrive, presumably more inclusive than the current one.

We hope that with Strike and with new legislation the United Kingdom can rediscover the passion for investments in cryptocurrencies and the freedom to trade Bitcoin without too many limitations with the support of the Lighting Network.

In the last 24 hours, the price of the main memecoins, contrary to the crypto market trend, has risen. 

It almost seems as if the capital fleeing from Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies in the crypto markets has poured into DOGE, SHIB, and other memecoins. 

The decline of the crypto market and the rebound of the memecoin price

According to the data from TradingView, from Sunday to today the overall market capitalization of cryptocurrencies has dropped by 4%, from almost 2.3 trillion dollars to just over 2.2 trillion.

During the night, however, it had pushed even lower, touching a -7.5% since Sunday, and dropping just above 2.140 billion dollars. 

The price of Bitcoin has dropped from $64,300 to about $61,000, but during the night it also fell below $59,000 for a brief moment. It is losing 5% compared to the end of last week.

Something similar happened also to the price of Ethereum, which fell from $3,500 to less than $3,380, or a -4% in the last 48 hours.

Although it is not a true and proper collapse, this decline has nevertheless affected a good part of the cryptocurrencies. 

However, according to the TradingView data, Bitcoin’s dominance has also decreased. Yesterday, before the start of the strong decline, it was around 55.5%, while now it has dropped to 54.6%. Last night, for a brief moment, it even fell below 54.3%.

This is still a decidedly high level, considering that at the beginning of the month it was just above 54%, but the drop in dominance last night is at least curious. 

The altcoin

That this decline has mainly affected the major cryptocurrencies is well highlighted by the so-called TOTAL3, which is the total market capitalization of the crypto market according to TradingView, but excluding Bitcoin, Ethereum, and the main stablecoins (USDT, USDC, etc.).

On Sunday, the TOTAL3 fluctuated between 595 and 600 billion dollars (Bitcoin alone capitalizes more than 1.200 billion dollars), while yesterday it had dropped to 570 billion.

However, during the course of last evening and last night, it marked a true rebound, which brought it back close to 600 billion dollars, that is, in line with Sunday’s figure. 

In other words, if we exclude Bitcoin and Ethereum, the other cryptocurrencies on average have already recovered all of yesterday’s losses.

Although the dominance of Bitcoin remains high, this latest dynamic shows that the capital fleeing from BTC and ETH likely stayed in the crypto markets yesterday and simply moved to other coins. 

The price performance of the main memecoins on the crypto market

In light of this, it is not surprising that the two main memecoins, DOGE of Dogecoin and SHIB of Shiba Inu, are recording respectively +5% and +3% compared to yesterday.

To tell the truth, it is not only the memecoin that are gaining compared to yesterday, but their rebound appears at least curious at this moment.

In fact, taking into consideration all the top 100 cryptocurrencies in the world, there are two among the top three for highest daily gains that are memecoins: WIF (dogwifhat) with +20% and BONK with +17%. Moreover, in both cases, these are tokens on the Solana blockchain.

A little further back there is another well-known memecoin, PEPE, with +11%, followed by FLOKI with +10%.

So today the memecoin sector is absolutely among the various sectors of the crypto market that is performing the best. Paradoxically, the two main memecoins, DOGE and SHIB, are not even among those that are performing the best. 

It should be noted, however, that these are only the performances of the last 24 hours, because it is enough to go back slightly further in time to understand that these are not stellar performances.

Dogecoin, Shiba Inu and the others 

For example, the price of DOGE on Sunday was around $0.125, while now it is $0.123. So today it is performing well, but yesterday it had not performed as well. 

SHIB is even showing a sharp decline compared to two days ago, with a cumulative loss of 4.5%. In this case, yesterday’s decline had extended to -10%, so today it has done nothing but bounce back without even recovering all the losses. 

Moreover, Dogecoin is at -26% compared to a month ago, and Shiba Inu at -30%.

A similar argument can also be made for the other four memecoins that are performing well today. 

WIF is at -36% compared to a month ago, and also at -7% compared to a week ago. Today’s +20% did nothing but recover yesterday’s losses. 

BONK is at -37% compared to a month ago, although in the last seven days it has recovered a good +9%.

PEPE is at -26% compared to a month ago, despite an excellent +13% in the last seven days, while FLOKI is at -25% compared to thirty days ago.

To find memecoin that are performing positively in the last four weeks, you need to look for some minor tokens, such as BRETT (which capitalizes only one and a half billion dollars). 

Practically all six of the main memecoins existing in the world at this moment are losing about 30% compared to a month ago, despite having recovered between 3% and 20% in the last 24 hours. 

From the Nomura Report, it emerged that in Japan, the majority of institutional investors intend to become ‘crypto investor’. Specifically, 54% of respondents said that in the next three years they will invest in cryptocurrencies. 

Japan: the majority wants to become a crypto investor in the next 3 years

According to what has been reported, it seems that in the next three years there will be an increase in crypto investors in Japan.

Specifically, 54% of respondents (the majority) stated that they intend to invest in cryptocurrencies. Not only that, 25% of companies reportedly have a positive impression of digital assets.

The survey was conducted by Nomura (NMR) and its subsidiary Laser Digital in April 2024, to understand the trends and future investment intentions in digital assets in the Japanese market. 

In practice, this survey involved more than 500 investment managers in Japan, coming from institutional investors, family offices, and public service companies in the country, with AUM ranging from a few hundred million yen to a few hundred billion yen.

The survey also showed that 62% of respondents consider cryptocurrency as a diversification opportunity. Not only that, many investors consider digital assets as an investment asset class.

Japan: 80% stated that they will become a crypto investor within a year

Narrowing the timeframe, the survey also stated that 80% of respondents intend to invest in crypto within a year. 

From the survey, it also emerged what the preferred allocation for digital assets will be by the respondents. It seems that the range is between 2% and 5% of assets under management (AUM).

In any case, for those who are already more involved in the crypto world, it seems that there is enthusiasm for the development of new products. Among others, crypto ETFs, or investment funds and staking and lending offers have been indicated as the main stimulating factors for future investments in cryptocurrencies.

And again, the survey also revealed that about half of the respondents would like to invest directly in Web3 projects or through venture capital funds.

The largest holder company of BTC in the country

Beyond the present optimistic data on the future of crypto in Japan, it has recently emerged that the largest holder company of Bitcoin in the country wants to continue accumulating BTC.

It is Metaplanet, an investment consulting company based in Japan, which announced the launch of a bond offering to raise funds to purchase additional bitcoin. 

Specifically, Metaplanet is already a holder of 9 million dollars in BTC and the goal is to raise 1 billion yen to buy another 6 million dollars in BTC. 

The Bitcoin sentiment index, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, has reached the lowest score in the last 18 months, dropping to “fear” levels. This weakening of market sentiment is fueled by two main concerns. 

That is, the possible sale of 8.5 billion dollars of Bitcoin by Mt. Gox and the recent significant outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States. The combination of these factors has generated uncertainty and fear among investors.  

Let’s see all the details below. 

Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index: Mt. Gox and the threat of an 8.5 billion dollar dump

As anticipated, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, which measures the market sentiment for Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency sector, has reached the lowest score in nearly 18 months.

The index dropped by 21 points on June 24, reaching the “fear” zone, marking one of the largest daily declines in recent years. 

This drastic drop reflects an increase in concerns among investors, which translates into significant uncertainty and volatility in the cryptocurrency market.

The last time the index was in the fear zone (a score between 24 and 50) was about seven weeks ago, on May 3. However, it has not touched a score below 30 since January 11, 2023. 

That is when Bitcoin was being traded at $17,200, just two months after the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange FTX. Last week, around this time, the score was 74 in the “greed” zone.

Outflows and fears of mass selling fuel the fear

The negative sentiment has arrived amidst the outflows from spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds: over 1 billion dollars in the last ten trading days. 

To this is added the news that Mt. Gox might be preparing to sell 8.5 billion dollars of Bitcoin to its creditors, while Germany has also started selling some of its Bitcoin reserves.

These combined factors have further fueled fear in the market, leading to a significant drop in the value of Bitcoin.

Despite these concerns, an executive from the cryptocurrency investment company Galaxy Digital believes that the market might be reacting slightly excessively to the concerns of Mt. Gox. 

However, other factors, such as the sale of Bitcoin by miners due to a declining network hashrate, may have further contributed to weakening market sentiment.

Will Bitcoin withstand the pressure?

Currently, Bitcoin is trading at around $60,300 after dropping to a seven-week low on June 24. The crucial question now is whether BTC’s price support at $60,000 can hold. 

The Crypto Fear and Greed Index takes into account market volatility (25%), trading volume (25%), Bitcoin dominance (10%), and trends (10%). In the past, it considered surveys (15%), but this metric is currently on hold.

The score has had a downward trend since it achieved a score of 90 “Extreme Greed” on March 5, when Bitcoin surpassed its previous all-time high price of $69,000 set in November 2021. 

This continuous decline in the index score suggests that investors are becoming increasingly cautious and uncertain about the future of Bitcoin and the cryptocurrency market in general.

The announcement of the imminent distribution of the Bitcoin (BTC) previously stolen from Mt. Gox in 2014 has sparked a mix of concern and speculation in the world of cryptocurrencies. However, recent comments and analyses suggest that fears of a significant negative impact on the market might be exaggerated.

History of Mt. Gox and the current context of the reimbursement with Bitcoin

Mt. Gox, once the largest crypto exchange in the world, collapsed in 2014 following a series of thefts that saw almost 850,000 BTC disappear from its coffers. After years of legal battles and judicial proceedings, the administrators of the failed exchange have finally reached a stage where they can begin to return the recovered Bitcoin to creditors.

In the recent announcement, the administrators indicated that the distribution of the recovered funds will begin in the first week of July. This move immediately raised questions about the potential selling pressure that could arise when these Bitcoins enter the market, given their high value – currently, the amount is around 10 billion dollars.

Despite the initial concerns, many traders and analysts now believe that the impact of these refunds might be less dramatic than expected. One of the main reasons for this reassurance is the anticipated behavior of the creditors, many of whom were affected by the hack years ago and might be inclined to hold onto their BTC holdings rather than sell them immediately.

According to a recent report by Galaxy Research, it is likely that a significant portion of the distributed Bitcoin will not be sold immediately. Many creditors acquired these Bitcoin at very low prices before the 2017 boom and, therefore, may not feel pressured to sell immediately due to tax considerations or the potential appreciation in the value of BTC.

Implications for the cryptocurrency market

The idea that many creditors might decide to hold onto their Bitcoin not only mitigates the fear of a massive sell-off, but could also further stabilize the market. The reduction in volatility and the lower selling pressure could attract new investors who were previously cautious.

Furthermore, the reintroduction of these Bitcoin into the market represents a sort of test for the maturity and resilience of the cryptocurrency market. A measured response to this distribution could strengthen investors’ confidence in the cryptocurrency financial system, showing that the market can absorb even significant events without undergoing extreme turbulence.

As we approach the start date of the distribution, it will be crucial to monitor several indicators. The trading activity, the trading volumes, and the reactions of major investors will all be critical indicators of the real impact of the reintroduction of these Bitcoins.

Investors would do well to stay informed and, if possible, to prepare to take advantage of the opportunities that could emerge from this unique situation. Investment strategies might need adjustments, especially if the market situation were to diverge from current forecasts.

Conclusion

The initial fears regarding the potential redemption of Bitcoin by Mt. Gox seem, at least for now, to be exaggerated. While the situation remains fluid and worthy of attention, the current outlook suggests that the cryptocurrency market might be more resilient than initially feared. This episode could not only test the resilience of the market but also strengthen the general confidence in cryptocurrencies as a mature and stable asset class.

On June 7th, the layer-2 ZKsync released an update that transforms ZKsync from a single chain to an “elastic chain”.

The team of Matter Labs, the leading development company behind the ZKsync network, stated it.

ZKsync announces the new Elastic Chain 

So for a few weeks now ZKsync has been calling itself Elastic Chain.

Thanks to the update on June 7 (v24), the roadmap leading to ZKsync 3.0 has been initiated, which is the project to make its ecosystem more interconnected. 

The Elastic Chain can be compared to the AggLayer of Polygon, another layer-2 of Ethereum.

Thanks to this innovation, ZKsync transforms from a single zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup chain to a network of multiple ZK chains with native interoperability among them, and a unified user experience. 

The objective is always to create a cross-chain ecosystem capable of making different chains interact with each other, something quite difficult to do currently. 

According to the ZKsync development team, the new architecture of the elastic chain provides seamless operation between the various chains, similar to how one can operate on a single blockchain.

For example, transactions will only require the confirmation of a single wallet, and there will no longer be a need to change networks or manually bridge assets.

The first rollup of the new Elastic Chain, ZKsync Era, has already been launched, and it serves as a fundamental layer of this new ecosystem that in the future will comprise over 20 chains. These are expected to be operational on the mainnet by the end of 2024, and should involve Lens Protocol, QuarkID, PlayFi, GRVT, Cronos zkEVM, Nodle, and other crypto projects. 

The Elastic Chain will be a consistent multichain environment, allowing intuitive operation on different chains in a manner similar to how it is currently done on a single chain. Additionally, interaction with smart contracts will be simplified thanks to the Ethereum Multi-Chain Address (EMCA) standard, designed to simplify the identification of addresses across various chains. 

ZKsync Era 

zkSync Era is a project launched in 2022 and that has now finally become a reality. 

Currently, it has a TVL of about 122 million dollars, which is slightly less than dYdX, but already more than Celo, EOS, MultiversX, or Fantom.

To tell the truth, however, most of this TVL was accumulated between April and July of last year, so much so that starting from July 2023 it had begun to lose some ground. 

After a new boom in March of this year, due to the boom of the crypto market, it started a descending phase again. However, with the update on June 7, it could start a new path capable of giving new life to the project.

ZKsync also has its own native token, ZK, launched precisely with the update on June 7.

The historical data on the markets is too limited to make a judgment, but from the launch price, it has lost 43% in about two weeks so far. 

On the other hand, the launch of this token was carried out with an airdrop, so it is more than natural that many of those who received it as a gift decided to monetize it immediately by using it to acquire stablecoin or other crypto.

Matter Labs

The company behind the ZKsync project is called Matter Labs.

Last year the company released its ZK Stack, a toolkit that allows developers to create their own custom blockchains based on ZKsync technology, and now with the update to v24 these chains will all be interconnected with each other. 

According to Matter Labs, the new Elastic Chain will be an infinitely extensible network of ZK chains interoperable with each other thanks to an intuitive and uniform user experience.

The new Elastic Chain will be composed of three main components, namely the “Native Token Vault”, the “Router condiviso” and the ZK Gateway. 

It is about smart contracts on Ethereum responsible for managing the state of the network and handling registrations. 

In particular, ZK Gateway is a middleware that connects the Ethereum blockchain to the ZKsync chains, allowing interoperability between the different chains. 

The project is quite complex, and at the current stage, it is aimed almost exclusively at developers. The hope is that it can become a shared development substrate to the point of becoming a standard in the future.

ZKsync aims for interoperability between chains with Elastic Chain 

Until now all the main blockchains have been designed to operate independently, autonomously, and disconnected from the others. 

For example, you cannot use the Ethereum network to move real BTC. 

The solutions currently in use to overcome this problem often involve the use of bridges, which, however, are not always secure, and above all, each works in its own way. 

To achieve widespread and easy-to-use interoperability between various blockchains, it is necessary to experiment with other solutions, such as ZKsync’s Elastic Chain or Polygon’s AggLayer. 

The goal is to allow even non-expert users to use multiple chains simultaneously in an easy and secure way, given that at the current state it is not easy at all, and there is always the risk that it might not even be particularly secure. 

To tell the truth, similar solutions have been under study for years, and so far no one has managed to produce an effective one. ZKsync and Polygon are not the only ones working on it, but probably those who already have several users operating on their platform certainly start from a point of advantage. 

Polygon, for example, has a TVL that exceeds 800 million dollars, and among Ethereum’s layer-2 solutions, it is surpassed only by Arbitrum (2.7 billion) and Coinbase’s Base (1.5 billion). 

Bitpanda has announced that it has added 500,000 new users to its crypto trading platform, just in Q2 2024. At the moment, the cryptocurrency broker enjoys the trust of 5 million retail investors. 

Bitpanda: new 500,000 users in Q2 2024 have joined the crypto trading platform

Bitpanda announced that, in the second quarter of 2024, as many as 500,000 new users registered on the crypto trading platform. The cryptocurrency broker has now reached a total of 5 million retail investors.

This milestone highlights the speed of growth and expansion of the crypto trading platform, compared to the past. 

In fact, the fintech unicorn Bitpanda, founded in 2014, reached 1 million users in 2019, 4 million in 2023, and 5 million in June 2024.

Regarding this, Eric Demuth, co-founder and CEO of Bitpanda, commented: 

“For a company of the size and history of Bitpanda, innovating and growing at the current pace is a testament to the quality of our team and our product. We are the largest and most regulated cryptocurrency company in Europe and we are committed to playing a leading role in shaping the future of cryptocurrencies in one of the most important markets in the world. 5 million users are a fantastic start, but it is only the beginning. This is a year of ambitions because it will define cryptocurrency for the future. We will not waste it.”

Bitpanda: the crypto trading platform reaches a revenue of over €100 million in Q1 2024

Another good news for Bitpanda concerns its revenue. In fact, the crypto trading platform has recorded over 100 million euros in revenue in the first quarter of 2024. 

These results are the fruit of a continuous investment by Bitpanda in new products and services as part of a strategy aimed at preparing for the next bull run. 

In 2022 and 2023, Bitpanda acquired several new licenses with major regulatory authorities such as BaFin, relaunched its whitelabel solution focused on B2B (Bitpanda Technology Solutions), and formed several industry-leading partnerships with well-known institutions such as Deutsche Bank, N26, LBBW, and Raiffeisen. 

Also Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, vice CEO of Bitpanda, commented as follows:

“We have the right products, we have a proven history of collaboration with regulatory authorities, we have the trust of our users and our partners, including Deutsche Bank, LBBW, and FC Bayern Munich, and we will remain absolutely focused on growth. It took us 5 years to reach our first million users. It took only 12 months to add our latest million users. In just the last 3 months, we have been joined by over 500,000 new investors. We know we are on the right path and, as we approach our 10th anniversary during the year, I know we will have much to celebrate.”

The offer of local IBANs for users in Germany

In this month of June, Bitpanda has made headlines for expanding its partnership with Deutsche Bank, managing to offer local IBANs for users in Germany. 

In practice, Bitpanda and Deutsche Bank collaborate to integrate transactional accounts into the B2C broker platform. In this way, it will be possible for the crypto broker to offer real-time payment solutions for incoming and outgoing transactions to users in Germany.

This API-based account solution will provide Bitpanda access to German IBANs, simplifying and improving the user experience and ensuring trust, speed, and efficiency. 

This article was paid for*

BigPump (PUMP) became the talk of the crypto town in March 2024 after it witnessed an almost 400% price pump within a few days of making its IEO debut. Amid its noticeable price rally, many early investors made massive amounts of profits. 

However, as the hype around the project faded away, the $PUMP price saw a deep correction and has struggled to recover. In this guide, we will analyze why $PUMP has been on a downtrend and try to suggest new low-cap crypto presales with both short and long-term potential. 

BigPump Token Price Crash

Launched around March 2024, BigPump ($PUMP) shocked the entire crypto community after it gathered an impressive $280 million from early investors, establishing itself as the biggest meme coin presale ever. 

BakerySwap, a DeFi entity on the Binance Smart Chain blockchain, hosted the presale for the project, which recorded 363k BNB, 9 million CAKE, 24 million BAKE, 1.5 billion 1CAT, and 73 billion IQ50 tokens being deposited in exchange for PUMP tokens.

$PUMP Presale Complete Successfully!

We’ve smashed records with over $280M participation, marking the biggest #memecoin presale ever!

363K $BNB, 9M $CAKE, 24M $BAKE, 1.5B #1CAT, and 73B #IQ50

Refund will be completed in 48 hours

Let's $PUMP it up and make… pic.twitter.com/utzC1uiWy8

— BakerySwap (@bakery_swap) March 22, 2024

One of the factors that contributed to BigPump’s historic presale outing is its meme coin status. Don’t forget that the token entered the market at a time when investors were showing great enthusiasm for meme coins that can deliver short-term gains. 

BigPump has an engaging meme theme that represents what every trader is always on the lookout for – a pump in the value of their invested crypto assets. As such, it rode in the wave of the meme coin craze to lure many degen investors to its presale. 

More so, the token’s presence on the BNB chain also enhanced its market appeal at that time. Renowned for its fast transaction speed and low fees, the blockchain network allowed BigPump’s early investors to engage in swift and less expensive transactions while buying the tokens. 

The combination of these factors provided $PUMP with more visibility, allowing it to secure multiple listings from Bitget, BingX, MEXC, and Gate.io among many others at launch. Also, the real buzz around its presale event was crucial to the token’s sensational bounce within four days of going live. 

Despite lasting only for a short time, many investors, especially those who bought $PUMP during its ICO period, made hefty returns. In fact, a whale recorded not less than $1.6 million in returns after selling 340.4 billion PUMP tokens for $5.08 million.

That being said, $PUMP has been underperforming in the past three months, dropping by over 185%. More so, according to CoinmarketCap, the token is down by about 37% in the last 14 days. 

BigPump’s prolonged downturn is caused by its lack of utility and the influx of new meme coin tokens competing for market share. Also, beyond the hype and headlines, BigPump has no long-term sustainability, making it susceptible to price crashes. 

Therefore, investors might need to go for top alternatives, like Pepe Unchained and Sealana with better potential upsides. Since these two projects are still live on presale, they offer the best early-moving opportunity for those seeking to increase their bags at a low cost.

Best BigPump Alternatives – Low-cap Crypto Presales

Pepe Unchained (PEPU)

Inspired by the popular Pepe trend, Pepe Unchained is a new meme coin that has been making waves since launching on presale. The project aims to free Pepe from the shackles of its confinement to the Ethereum blockchain that has continued to limit its full potential.

At its core, Pepe Unchained’s engaging lore tells the narrative of a Pepe character who was locked in his old layer 1 server room.  However, after coming up with a master plan, he broke his old chains and created a new one, known as “Pepe Unchained.”

With this interesting storyline, Pepe Unchained has clearly illustrated its mission to offer a cutting-edge layer 2 chain that will eliminate scalability, speed, and efficiency issues facing meme coins, particularly the ones built on layer 1 networks. 

Describing itself as the better version of Pepe, Pepe Unchained comes with advanced functionality so that traders can enjoy a swift transaction experience at a cheaper cost. Beyond its layer-2 blockchain utility, another exciting aspect of Pepe Unchained that has positioned it as a good alternative to BigPump is its staking mechanism. 

At press time, Pepe Unchained offers lucrative APY rewards of more than 4,000%, allowing early movers to compound their gains. Also, complementing its market appeal is its ambitious roadmap which features three realistic goals. 

According to Jacob Bury, a popular crypto YouTuber with over 40.9k subscribers, the implementation of the plans in Pepe Unchained’s roadmap will bring more utility integrations for $PEPU and boost its value at launch. 

Presently available for a discounted rate of $0.008032, Pepe Unchained is one of the best low-cap cryptos available to investors seeking 100x returns. Despite launching a few days ago, it has already gathered close to $500k from savvy investors. 

To stay updated about its future listings, follow Pepe Unchained on X or join its Telegram channel.

Buy Pepe Unchained Sealana (SEAL)

After raising more than $5 million from investors, Sealana has now entered the final 48 hours of its presale. Built on Solana, Sealana has captivated the imaginations of crypto whales and casual investors alike with its humorous lore. 

Drawing inspirations from the “World of Warcraft guy” on SouthPark, Sealana’s mascot presents the narrative of an overweight American seal character who jettisoned his handsome youthful figure after he became obsessed with trading Solana meme coins. 

In an attempt to find the next big thing in the bustling meme coin market, Sealana left his room in a big mess, cultivating a strong appetite for traders’ inspired Coke and canned tuna food. The fusion of pop cultural references along with comedy into its theme brings distinctive charm to the project.

However, Sealana has been weighing on the upcoming United States of America election through some of its memes. In recent weeks, some of Sealana’s memes feature some posters of Donald Trump and “Redneck Lives Matter.” As such, the token is tipped to soar as the momentum around the election thickens. 

Another key attraction for Sealana is its multichain structure. While it was originally developed on Solana, Sealana has hopped to other top networks like the BNB chain and Ethereum. Apart from bringing different meme coin communities together, this aspect of the project allows it to benefit from the growth of multiple chains. 

More so, the project’s adoption of a simple token distribution model also contributed to its viral success. Investors can either buy $SEAL through its presale widget or by sending the required number of SOL to a wallet address on its website. 

Famous YouTube channel, Cryptonews says Sealana can leverage its unique attributes to outperform some of its predecessors in the meme coin market. 

With just some hours left, investors still have one last chance to gain exposure to what could be the next big meme coin on Solana. 

For those buying with the widget, Sealana accepts ETH, SOL, USDT, USDC, and card payments. However, only SOL can be sent to the dedicated wallet. 

To stay updated about its future listings, follow Sealana on X or join its Telegram channel. 

Buy Sealana

*Cryptonomist did not write the article or test the platform.

The spot Bitcoin ETFs in the USA are recording outflows of 1.3 billion dollars in the last two weeks. The reason could be attributed to the market decline, with the price of BTC dropping to the current 60,000$. 

ETF su Bitcoin: registrati deflussi da 1,3 miliardi di dollari nelle ultime due settimane

According to the data from Farside Investors, it seems that in the last two weeks, the total outflow recorded by the spot Bitcoin ETFs in the USA has reached 1.3 billion dollars.

At the top is Grayscale with its GBTC which has recorded a total drop of 517.3 million dollars, still in the last two weeks. 

Looking at today’s data, then, Farside Investors reports with provisional data that the total outflow is 174.5 million dollars, with Grayscale continuing to be first in the ranking for outflows with 90.4 million dollars. 

Bitcoin ETF Flow (US$ million) – 2024-06-24

TOTAL NET FLOW: -174.5
(Provisional data)

IBIT: 0
FBTC: -35.2
BITB: -8.2
ARKB: -7.2
BTCO: -2.4
EZBC: -20.9
BRRR: 0
HODL: -10.2
BTCW: 0
GBTC: -90.4
DEFI: 0

For all the data & disclaimers visit:https://t.co/4ISlrCgZdk

— Farside Investors (@FarsideUK) June 25, 2024

“Bitcoin ETF flow (millions of dollars) – 2024-06-24: TOTAL NET FLOW: -174.5

(Provisional data). IBIT: 0; FBTC: -35.2; BITB: -8.2; ARKB: -7.2; BTCO: -2.4; EZBC: -20.9; BRRR: 0; HODL: -10.2; BTCW: 0; GBTC: -90.4; DEFI: 0.“

Except for the ETF su Bitcoin spot in the USA which are at zero, all the others that have recorded movements are all negative, that is, outflows.

ETF su Bitcoin: registrati continui deflussi mentre il prezzo di BTC è sceso fino a 60.000$

As anticipated, the main motivation behind this strong wave of outflows for the spot Bitcoin ETFs in the USA, is the drop in the price of BTC. 

In fact, at the time of writing, BTC is worth $60,699, in a dump of -7.6% over the last seven days and -12% compared to 30 days ago. 

The leader delle crypto sembra stia attraversando un periodo di bearish, anche se continuano a farsi sentire i suoi sostenitori. 

Recently, in fact, the co-founder of MicroStrategy, Michael Saylor, talked about how Bitcoin offers “economic immortality” and launched his future prediction that the price of BTC will reach 10 million dollars. 

As of today, the American business intelligence company, MicroStrategy is a holder of 214,400 BTC. 

Looking at Japan, recently the news arrived that Metaplanet, an investment consulting company, announced its intention to launch a bond offering to raise funds to buy another 6 million dollars in Bitcoin (BTC). 

The wonder of Goldman Sachs

Another important player in the global market is Goldman Sachs, which at the end of May, had released its opinions on spot Bitcoin ETFs, expressing wonder at its success. 

The head of assets at Goldman Sachs, Mathew McDermott, stated that after the approval by the SEC, Bitcoin ETFs have marked an important psychological turning point for the entire sector.  

From here, even the trend of the Wall Street giant seems to have changed, shifting from skepticism to a strong general acceptance. 

In this article, we address an analysis of the current limitations that DeFi on Bitcoin must face in order to grow significantly and compete with Ethereum and other established networks in the sector.

Despite the recent implementations of Ordinals, Runes, and BRC-20 tokens, Bitcoin remains a decentralized environment that is not very fluid and not very efficient for users who intend to seek a native yield.

Different protocols, including SolvBTC, Master Yield Market, and MetaID, aim to solve these problems through their own analyses and advanced approaches.

Let’s see everything in detail below.

The factors that limit the growth of DeFi on Bitcoin: the latest analyses

According to reports in the analyses of some experts in the crypto space, the development of DeFi on Bitcoin could be hindered by some fundamental factors that make the chain less appealing for users.

In the last year, the native implementations of Ordinals, Runes, and BRC-20 have systematically changed the way Bitcoin is viewed by the world of decentralized finance, thanks to the introduction of features considered technically impossible until recently.

In any case, this is still not enough to reach the same popularity and the same on-chain metrics as other more experienced networks in DeFi like Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana, etc.

From the analyses of Ryan Chow, founder of SolvBTC, it emerges that the current biggest limit is represented by the lack of an efficient native yield that can justify the transition from non-custodial wallet or CeFi to DeFi protocols.

In fact, users prefer to forgo a less significant yield and avoid risks of hacking and exploits, or rather they still prefer to enjoy lower yields but on more user-friendly platforms such as centralized ones.

The result is that a large portion of the Bitcoin supply remains unused, setting aside essential economic resources so that a flourishing ecosystem can be created.

Below is Chow’s comment on this topic during a recent interview:

“Currently, there are two key factors limiting the development of BTCFi, the lack of basic yield and the fragmentation of liquidity. These factors have led to a significant amount of inactive Bitcoin, unable to actively participate in the ecosystem”

Source: https://dune.com/cryptokoryo/runes

The reduction of cryptographic activities on Runes, Ordinals and BRC-20 with a low usage of currency used within the Bitcoin Defi is highlighted by the recent reduction of active wallets in the network.

From September 2023 onwards, smart investors preferred to buy satoshi before the price increase at the beginning of the year, and then wait for better times to move their stash again.

The lack of secure decentralized places to obtain a yield on one’s BTC positions and the excessive fragmentation of liquidity, have led to a situation where the metric of active wallets has reached its lowest value since 2015 with just over 5 million active entities monthly.

Source: https://dune.com/21co/bitcoin-key-metrics

The approach of SolVBTC, Master Yield Market and MetaID: analysis based on yield efficiency and scalability

To solve these problems that afflict the growth of DeFi on Bitcoin, some industry experts as well as owners of innovative cryptographic protocols, share their analyses and the approaches considered to be resolving.

Ryan Chow, founder of the SolvBTC platform, explains how within his protocol depositors can obtain significant income by committing their stake by doing liquid staking on the Ethereum blockchain.

In this way, the problem of liquidity fragmentation is solved by being able to rely on liquidity environments such as EVM, as well as offering a return worthy of the risk being taken.

➤ Why SolvBTC?

Fragmented liquidity is a major obstacle to the growth of BTCFi.

And it’s more prominent in BTC ecosystem.

SolvBTC tackles this problem by serving as a gateway to BTCFi on various chains. pic.twitter.com/SKMtLLp9pB

— Eli5DeFi (@eli5_defi) June 14, 2024

The recent partnership between SolvBTC and Ethena Vault has allowed the protocol to achieve a net APY of 15%.

The operation of this integration is as follows: users deposit native BTC within SolvBTC which are used as collateral to take stablecoins, which are then used in turn to mint USDe of Ethena and capture the yield from arbitrage on interest rates in the futures markets.

Here is what emerged from Chow’s analyses:

“I would like to take SolvBTC Ethena Vault as an example to explain how Solv brings a stable base yield and rich earning opportunities to Bitcoin users. Both Solv and Ethena provide bonus token incentives for this Vault, potentially increasing the overall yield even more.”

SolvProtocol has grown significantly since the beginning of the year, reaching a total TVL of 1.3 billion dollars among 292,000 users. The SolvBTC section alone captures 874 million dollars.

Source: https://defillama.com/protocol/solvbtc#information

Another protocol that helps DeFi on Bitcoin to emerge is Master Yield Market, where users can directly purchase and sources of Bitcoin yield resources from native blockchain DeFi protocols using Tether, Ethereum, and wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC).

This approach simplifies the experience of yield searching within the chain, offering a solution that is easy and low-effort.

In the meantime, other developers are focusing on increasing the underlying capacity of the Bitcoin blockchain to improve DeFi performance.

The developer Sunny Fung of MetaID believes that Bitcoin needs to improve in terms of scalability and network congestion, in view of a potential future growth of the DeFi sector.

From his analysis, it emerges that it is possible to mitigate the problem by grouping individual transactions into a single layer-2 application to save time and effort.

“MetaID introduces the concepts of Unified UTXO Chain and Unified Bitcoin Address, which effectively solves the problem of Bitcoin congestion and fully unleashes the potential of level 2 networks homogeneous with Bitcoin. As long as it is a Bitcoin sidechain, layer 2, or even BCH homogeneous with Bitcoin, MetaID can theoretically support it seamlessly.”

Fung argues that although Bitcoin was designed as a layer for the simple exchange of money, it could soon become the “best carrier for web3 applications” thanks to some key features of the chain such as high consensus, security, efficient on-chain data storage ( inscription on satoshi) and decentralization.

We remind you that all these approaches mentioned in the article involve operational risks that should not be excluded in the evaluations, especially regarding exposure to the USDe Vaults of Ethena (use of algorithmic stablecoin) and the use of second-layer networks that are less secure than the main Bitcoin network.

The American state of Louisiana has enacted a new crypto regulation that, among other things, prohibits the use of central bank digital currencies (CDBC). 

The new regulation also introduces rules for crypto miners and node operators.

The new crypto regulation of Louisiana against CBDCs

The new crypto regulation in Louisiana is the so-called Blockchain Basics Act, definitively approved on June 19. It will effectively come into force starting in August.

Technically, it is an amendment to a previous regulation that did not specifically concern the crypto and blockchain sector, while obviously the Blockchain Basics Act concerns precisely this sector. 

The text of the new law explicitly mentions both digital assets and cryptocurrencies. 

The same text among other things also explicitly states that it will be forbidden for government authorities to require the use, payment, or testing of the central bank digital currency. 

For the specific precision that with “central bank digital currency” it means precisely a digital currency, a digital medium of exchange or a digital monetary unit of account issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Fed) or by a federal agency, and that is made directly available to the consumer by such entities, or that is processed or validated directly by such entities. 

From this definition, the text excludes the digital versions of the already existing legal tender, or those issued by private entities. 

Louisiana: The ban of CBDC on the new crypto regulation

The paragraph dedicated to the CBDC is actually quite sparse. 

In fact, it only states that the use and testing of the central bank’s digital currency by government authorities is prohibited. 

Furthermore, it specifies that in the State of Louisiana, government authorities will neither accept nor require payments using the central bank digital currency, and they will not be able to participate in any test of the central bank digital currency of the Fed or any branch or agency of the federal government.

It would seem like a definitive statement from the masses banning the US CBDC even before it is created, but the fact that it was previously specified that digital versions of already existing legal tender currency should be excluded from the definition of CBDC perhaps leaves some room for maneuver. 

Obviously this exception refers to the current digital currency, which is just a digital version of the normal fiat currency already in use for a very long time. 

In this text for central bank digital currency, it actually means a new one, that is, a natively digital version and not collateralized in dollars. Instead, the current digital versions of the legal tender of the USA are in all respects collateralized in dollars. 

Such difference, however, may seem subtle, so it is not to be excluded that in the future a solution could be found to allow Louisiana to adopt the digital dollar as well. 

Mining

Another topic addressed by the Blockchain Basics Act is crypto mining. 

In particular, the State of Louisiana does not like mining companies owned by foreign entities. In fact, this new regulation prohibits foreign entities from acquiring or maintaining any participation in crypto mining operations conducted within the State.

So crypto mining is accepted, provided it is carried out by US companies. 

To achieve this, it mandates that, starting from the first of August, the mining companies currently engaged in the extraction of criptovalute in Louisiana, and controlled by foreign companies, will have a one-year window to get rid of foreign partners, who will have to completely transfer their shares to US companies. 

To achieve this, the Blockchain Basics Act provides for significant penalties that can reach up to 1 million dollars or 25% of the foreign entity’s stake. 

The nodes

The Blockchain Basics Act has also legislated on the holders of blockchain nodes. 

First of all, the text defines who the so-called node operators are, and what their role is within a blockchain network. It also specifies that, although nodes play a crucial role in maintaining a blockchain, they do not have the authority to alter or decide the outcome of transactions initiated by users.

Blockchain nodes are defined as computational devices that communicate with other similar devices or with participants in the blockchain ecosystem to maintain the consensus and integrity of that same blockchain, creating and validating transaction blocks. 

So in fact the new law says little about it, except that the nodes do not exercise discretion over user transactions. 

This in fact clarifies that if within a blockchain there are nodes capable of altering or deciding the outcome of user transactions, the network cannot be defined as a true blockchain. 

The consequences

The only concrete and immediate consequence of this law seems to be the obligation for foreign companies to sell all their shares of crypto mining companies operating in Louisiana to U.S. entities. 

Furthermore, in the event that the Fed were to concretely initiate the project of a natively digital dollar, Louisiana would completely cut itself off from it at first. 

One must not forget that Louisiana is certainly not one of the most advanced states in the USA, and it is also one of the poorest. 

Moreover, he is also one of the most traditionalist, and attached to his own origins. 

Finally, in November there are the elections, with which not only the new president of the United States of America will be chosen, but also a part of the congress will be renewed. It is definitely likely that this law released at this moment also has a strong propagandistic component. 

How are the coins Solana (SOL), Binance Coin (BNB), and VeChain (VET) performing within the crypto market? Let’s take a look below at an overview regarding their prices and the latest news about them. 

BNB under pressure: possible rebound or further decline?

BNB has recently continued to slide towards the immediate support of $560, indicating that the bears maintain the selling pressure.

If the price bounces off this level with strength, the bulls could defend it, bringing the BNB/USDT pair up to the 20-day EMA ($602), which will likely act as a strong obstacle. 

A decline from the 20-day EMA would increase the likelihood of a break below $560, pushing the pair towards $536. Buyers will need to push the price above the moving averages to suggest a weakening of the selling pressure. 

The bullish momentum could resume with a close above $635. 

Solana: bear in control

Recently, the bulls have not been able to push Solana (SOL) back into the descending channel pattern, indicating that the bears have turned the support line into resistance.

On June 23, the bear increased their selling pressure, trying to bring the SOL/USDT pair down to the critical support at $116. 

This level could attract solid buying from the bulls, but the recovery will likely face strong resistance at the 20-day EMA ($144). 

If the price drops from this level, the bears will attempt to push the price below $116, with a possible collapse to $100. On the upside, the buyers will need to overcome the 50-day SMA ($156) to pave the way for a surge towards $189.

Performance of the crypto VeChain: the comparison with Solana and BNB

The cryptocurrency market has experienced a significant decline, with Bitcoin (BTC) dropping to nearly $60,000, dragging down other assets like VeChain (VET), which has taken a hard hit. 

VET is down by 5.8% daily, 12.3% weekly, 22.6% over 14 days, and 31.5% monthly. The recent decline is likely due to the sale of holdings by BTC miners, with the mining price rising to $86,000.

The sale to record profits, along with a few new capital inflows and large withdrawals from BTC ETFs, has increased investor fatigue.

The forecasts for VeChain (VET) are therefore mixed. Captain Chavez predicts that VET could reach $1.37 within the next year, requiring a growth of 5600%. 

However, the researchers at Changelly do not see VET surpassing the $1 threshold at least until June 2032, with a maximum forecast of $1.02 for that month. 

Telegaon paints a more bull picture, predicting that VET will surpass $1 in 2027, reaching a maximum of $1.48. Despite Captain Chavez’s optimism, reaching $1 within the next year seems unlikely for VET, given the current lack of traction.

SPONSORED POST*

ORDI (ORDI) and Stacks (STX) have crashed after the meteoric rise of Bitcoin-related cryptocurrencies. The recent crypto crash has left many investors who missed the previous and current bullish search for their big opportunity.

 WW3 Shiba (WW3S), the world’s first SocialFi meme coin with real-world applications, has emerged as the great equalizer, making it the best new cryptocurrency to buy now.

Experts predict that WW3 Shiba is poised for 1,000X returns, starting with high presale gains. This is an opportunity that many retail investors have been waiting for. The fortunes of ORDI and Stacks are tied to Bitcoin. 

Although Bitcoin is expected to rally again, analysts claim that ORDI and Stacks lack high growth potential. WW3 Shiba also has a practical crypto roadmap that earns investors’ confidence.

ORDI Price Prediction: Altcoin at the Mercy of Bitcoin

Ordi is a Bitcoin-related cryptocurrency whose price is usually tied to that of the leading digital asset. In the first week of June, the ORDI price increased from $47 to a high of $65.2. However, the market went into a tailspin and lost 41% as it traded at $38.56.

Bitcoin ETF outflows have contributed to the decline in cryptocurrency prices. ORDI hit an all-time high of $96.17 on March 5. This leaves ORDI 60% down from its ATH. On a positive note, Bitcoin is expected to soar again when investor sentiment improves. Analysts have found it easy to make ORDI price predictions as they forecast the altcoin will fall to $30.

Stacks to Soar as Interest in Bitcoin DeFi Increases

The cryptocurrency industry is young and expected to undergo several changes and advancements in the future. Stacks, a layer-2 blockchain network has seen an increase in active users as interest in Bitcoin DeFi grows.

This is good news for Stacks holders as the U.S. recently approved Bitcoin ETFs, opening the door to more institutional capital. Stacks is trading at $1.64, down 16% on the monthly chart. Long-term Stacks holders will quickly point out that STX is up 176% in the past year. A bearish Stacks price prediction pegs STX at $1 in Q4.

1,000X Growth on the Cards for WW3 Shiba Investors

WW3 Shiba is a new altcoin that aims to stand out as a SocialFi meme coin with the potential for 1,000X growth. The new altcoin, which many analysts have described as a hidden crypto gem, will integrate blockchain gaming to create a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity for retail investors.

By building a robust play-to-earn platform, WW3 Shiba wants to capture a broader audience that includes traditional gamers and crypto enthusiasts. Players will earn digital assets and several in-game rewards.

Adding to the excitement is the fact that WW3 Shiba will mint only 4.3 billion WW3S tokens. The principles of supply and demand are projected to drive the token’s price up. WW3 Shiba holders will be eligible to earn passive income via staking rewards that will go as high as 90%. Analysts say that early investors will make 580% presale gains, with more profits expected after listing on centralized exchanges.

If you would like to find out more info about the presale:

Website: ww3shiba.com

Twitter: https://x.com/WW3SHIBA

Telegram: https://t.me/WW3SHIBA

*This article was paid for. Cryptonomist did not write the article or test the platform.