Seven free learning paths to help you become a Web3 developer
Image source: MidJourney, Derivative By soaringcrowz
Preface
For most people, learning Web3 technology development and becoming a Web3 engineer is a desirable job; however, there are countless courses available, with prices ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands. For novices, choosing a course becomes a The most painful thing is that after all, you have to spend money to study. Most people need to choose carefully to avoid making mistakes.
But, do newbies need to spend money to learn? The answer must be no. In fact, many people have become Web3 development engineers through self-study.
The Evolution of Ethereum: The Pectra Upgrade, A Faster, Safer, and More Convenient Blockchain Experience
Image source: MidJourney, Derivative By soaringcrowz Introduction As the world's second-largest cryptocurrency and a leading smart contract platform, Ethereum plays a crucial role in the blockchain world. To continuously improve performance, security, and scalability, Ethereum has been conducting regular upgrades. According to the core developer meeting held last Thursday (1/16), the highly anticipated Pectra upgrade is confirmed to take place this March; this will mark another important milestone in the development history of Ethereum, symbolizing its move towards a more efficient and user-friendly blockchain network.
The blockchain revolution is underway! Comprehensive analysis of the key highlights of the "2025 Digital Asset Outlook Report"
Image source: MidJourney, Derivative By soaringcrowz Preface It took me a while to read The Block Research’s (2025 Digital Assets Outlook Report). It should be a report of relatively good quality in the wave of "review and outlook" at the end of the year. Moreover, the content of each chapter is also very complete. This article has organized some of this report and combined it with my views to provide it for your reference. Next, let us take a look at the huge potential and application scenarios of blockchain technology from the impact of the overall economy to the vigorous development of various tracks!
The frenzy of AI token projects, looking at the four major categories at once, is it a new investment opportunity? Or another bubble?
Image source: MidJourney, Derivative By soaringcrowz Preface
Recently, AI projects have become the hottest topic in the cryptocurrency industry. Whether it is X or major media, there should be a lot of content related to AI Agent... so Steady Lads invited Ejaaz to appear on the show to lead readers to understand the current status and future trends of AI projects in a simple and easy-to-understand way. Steady Lads Podcast - Why AI is the Trade of the Cycle w/ Ejaaz The interview begins by noting the burgeoning market for AI token projects, which has reached a total market capitalization of $177 billion. However, like yesterday’s article, all three believe that most AI token projects are still in their early stages and have limited actual functions, and they even directly nicknamed them “gambling robots”.
Avalanche Network Welcomes Major Upgrade! Unlocking the 'Everything Blockchain' Ecosystem with Avalanche9000
Image source: MidJourney, Derivative By soaringcrowz Introduction In recent years, blockchain technology has flourished, and application scenarios have become increasingly diverse, but the design of a single main chain often faces scalability bottlenecks and performance limitations, making it difficult to meet the growing user demands. To this end, Avalanche has launched the Avalanche9000 upgrade, which is a major network architectural reform aimed at establishing a scalable, high-performance, and seamlessly interconnected 'Everything Network' through multiple interconnected Layer1 blockchains.
【Cobra warns that a new Bitcoin soft fork will appear next year】 Cobra, the administrator of bitcoin.org, warns that some developers plan to push for a user-activated soft fork (UASF) in 2025 to include Check Template Verify (CTV) in Bitcoin. This improvement, proposed by Jeremy Lubin as part of BIP 119, aims to enhance transaction security and introduce 'covenants' that allow users to set conditions for Bitcoin spending, such as vault functionalities.
CTV can restrict funds to flow only to specific addresses and provide the ability to cancel transactions to avoid operational errors. However, this upgrade may affect the fungibility of Bitcoin and increase code complexity, bringing security risks. This controversial upgrade might be implemented through UASF, determined by the node community's decision to adopt it, but it has not yet gained widespread consensus.
Supporters believe that CTV offers practical features and should be included in Bitcoin Core, while opponents are concerned about its necessity and potential risks. Cobra stated that this move might be driven by non-Bitcoin Core developers to avoid legal liabilities. He predicts that the future of Bitcoin may face a significant divide between 'hardliners' and 'improvers', and this UASF might serve as the catalyst.
[Yuga Labs acquires tokenproof to promote NFT innovation] Yuga Labs announced the acquisition of Web3 tokenization service provider tokenproof, aiming to promote the popularization of cryptocurrency and NFT applications. On December 3, tokenproof founder Fonz O said on the X platform that the service has been integrated into Yuga Labs, and some teams will join The Workshop, the R&D department of Yuga Labs. He mentioned that years of cooperation with Yuga Labs laid the foundation for this integration and expressed confidence in the future. He revealed that ApeFest inspired tokenproof to develop an NFT ownership verification infrastructure.
Although Fonz O will not join Yuga Labs, he promises to continue developing in the crypto and NFT industry and will participate in future ApeFests as Ape. His humorous response to the purchase price sparked heated discussions among users. Greg Solano, CEO of Yuga Labs, praised the tokenproof team and said that the two parties have cooperated to solve the problems of NFT security and efficiency. This integration will bring more innovation and convenience to users. He confirmed that the tokenproof team will join The Workshop to assist in technology development.
It is worth noting that Yuga Labs reorganized in April 2024 and laid off some employees, and this acquisition is regarded as part of its business integration and innovation plan.
【Wall Street Mining Company BTC Digital Deploys 2,000 Bitmain T21 Miners】 BTC Digital Ltd. (NASDAQ: BTCT) announced that its collaboration with mining equipment manufacturer BITMAIN is progressing smoothly, with plans to deploy 2,000 of the latest model T21 miners at its North American facilities within the next 3 to 6 months.
Each T21 miner has a computing power of 190 terahashes and consumes 3610 watts. Once deployment is complete, BTCT's total computing power will increase to 600 petahashes, nearly three times its current capacity. The company is actively managing logistics, installation, and network optimization to ensure that the miners operate on schedule.
This upgrade will enhance mining efficiency and output, solidifying its position in the global cryptocurrency market. BTCT also plans to expand its partnerships to achieve business scale expansion.
BTCT's CEO stated that the introduction of the T21 miners is an important milestone in business development, not only enhancing mining capacity and energy efficiency but also creating greater value for the company, and emphasized that they will continue to deepen their cooperation with BITMAIN to advance the cryptocurrency industry.
【Bitcoin ETF inflows hit record $6 billion; analysts set target at $100,000】 Bitcoin ETF inflows have reached a new high, indicating that a breakthrough of $100,000 is imminent, with institutional funds playing a significant role. In November, Bitcoin ETF inflows reached $6.1 billion, marking the highest monthly record since the launch of the spot Bitcoin ETF in January, showcasing investors' increased confidence in this asset and a tendency to opt for safer regulated ETFs. As institutional interest continues to grow, this trend may persist into December, further driving Bitcoin prices to new highs.
The influx of ETF funds shows an enhanced appeal of Bitcoin as a regulated market instrument, laying the groundwork for a potential new rally by the end of the year. Analyst Rekt Capital predicts a target price for Bitcoin at $100,068, noting that it has just completed a retest of previous highs and may enter a consolidation phase next.
Currently, the Bitcoin price is $94,940, with support at $89,800. Based on the current bullish momentum, the likelihood of breaking below this level is low. If this support can be maintained, further increases are expected in the coming weeks. If bullish momentum continues to strengthen, Bitcoin could break through the psychological barrier of $100,000, setting a new all-time high, which would become an important milestone for the market. Meanwhile, the inflow of ETF funds might serve as a key driving force.
However, if Bitcoin fails to break above $100,000 and loses momentum, prices may retreat to the $89,800 support area, further undermining bullish market expectations.
【The extreme volatility of MicroStrategy is 2.5 times that of Bitcoin, is it dangerous for investors?】 MicroStrategy (MSTR) stock's volatility is currently 2.5 times that of Bitcoin, providing potential high-yield opportunities for options traders. This year, MicroStrategy's stock has soared 500% due to investor preference for its Bitcoin holdings, compared to a 124% increase in Bitcoin.
Data shows that MSTR's 30-day implied volatility (IV) is 140.86%, significantly higher than Bitcoin's 55.65%. The increase in implied volatility drives up options premiums, increasing the income from writing (selling) call or put options. Investors use a "covered call strategy" to write options at strike prices above the current price, earning additional premium income.
This strategy combines with spot holdings so that even if the market rises, spot gains can offset potential losses from options contracts. However, high volatility also brings risks, as the limitations imposed by options may cause investors to miss out on higher returns. Traders generally believe that MicroStrategy's high volatility makes the expected return on options trading potentially 2.5 times that of Bitcoin, but caution is advised in dealing with potential risks.
[Is DeFi expected to return in midsummer? Aave deposits exceed $31.4 billion] As a leader in decentralized finance (DeFi), Aave has recently reached an important milestone. Its net deposits exceeded US$314 billion, a 50% surge from US$209 billion in early November. An additional US$104 billion was added in just 30 days, showing that the market is lending to it. There is a strong demand for functions and the deposit size exceeds that of many American commercial banks.
Marc Zeller, founder of Aave Chan Initiative, said that this growth is consistent with the expanded functional scale of the entire lending agreement industry, further solidifying Aave’s leadership position in the DeFi industry. The proposal currently under consideration by the Aave community plans to adjust the governance structure and allocate a portion of the protocol revenue to token holders, which is expected to be ultimately voted on by AAVE holders.
Recent highlights include: 1. Net deposits have grown significantly, demonstrating the market’s confidence in Aave. 2. The value of AAVE’s native token has increased significantly, and investor interest has increased. 3. The proposed governance changes may bring more benefits to token holders.
With the rapid growth of net deposits, Aave’s position in the DeFi industry has been further consolidated. In the future, benefiting from the increase in token value and optimization of governance, Aave's development prospects are worth looking forward to.
【Victory for the Crypto Market? XRP Market Cap Briefly Surpasses BlackRock】 Driven by the cryptocurrency bull market, the price of Ripple (XRP) soared to $2.67, with its market cap reaching $158.5 billion, surpassing 88% of the stocks in the S&P 500 index.
In the past week, XRP's market cap increased from $75.3 billion to $158.5 billion, surpassing Solana and Tether, ranking 61st in the S&P 500 index and outperforming 88% of the 503 stocks. Its market cap has surpassed asset management giant BlackRock ($158 billion) and Uber ($154 billion). As of the time of writing, XRP's market cap has retreated to $153 billion but remains higher than Palantir ($151 billion), Pfizer ($146 billion), and Citigroup ($136 billion).
The rise in XRP is attributed to news of a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and rumors of Elon Musk investing in XRP. Additionally, new partnerships and the potential for an XRP ETF further boosted market optimism. This marks a historic high since XRP's market cap reached $131.7 billion in 2018.
【Is Bitcoin Recently Undergoing a Severe Washout? QCP Capital Explains the Main Reasons】 Bitcoin experienced a significant pullback this week due to the U.S. government's transfer of 10,000 BTC related to the Silk Road case. QCP Capital stated that this move led to a shift in market sentiment, with the short-term volatility curve leaning towards put options, indicating that traders are increasing hedging or bearish bets.
The Bitcoin market is sensitive to such large-scale transfers, which are often seen as potential sell signals, exacerbating short-term uncertainty and volatility. The transfer of assets involved in the Silk Road case has reignited market attention, and further pressure may influence the price movement of Bitcoin.
Meanwhile, traditional stock markets continue to strengthen, with the S&P 500 index reaching an all-time high for the 54th time this year, showcasing the resilience of the overall financial market. QCP analysis points out that the crypto market and stock market are showing contrasting trends, with the stock market thriving due to economic optimism while Bitcoin faces short-term resistance.
Despite this, the market is still observing potential future price corrections and their impact on the crypto market. Traders need to closely monitor market dynamics and adjust risk strategies to cope with volatility.
【IOTA Price Surge: Can It Replicate XRP's Successful Path and Reach $1?】 IOTA's price surged 60% to $0.5427 following news of the Rebased upgrade, reaching a new high since May 2022 and rising for five consecutive weeks. If the upgrade plans are approved, it will introduce smart contracts, increase transaction speeds to 50,000 per second, and offer stakers an annual percentage yield (APY) of 10% to 15%. This improvement aims to attract more developers to the DeFi, gaming, and NFT industries.
Technical analysis shows that IOTA's price has broken through the neckline resistance level of $0.4143, forming a triple bottom reversal pattern, and has risen above the 50-week and 25-week moving averages. The current target price is $0.6300 (23.6% Fibonacci retracement level), and if this point is breached, the price could further rise to $1, representing a potential increase of 70% from the current price.
However, if IOTA falls below the support level of $0.4100, it may indicate weakening momentum, and caution is advised regarding future price volatility. This upgrade brings significant positive news for IOTA, and its market performance is worth close attention from investors.
[South Korea declares martial law: UPBIT political turmoil causes BTC/KRW currency pair to plummet 30%] South Korean President Yoon Seok-yue declared martial law and gave the military greater power to maintain order as opposition actions paralyzed the government. This move exacerbates political instability and has a significant impact on the economy and people's rights.
After the news broke, the price of BTC/KRW on Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, plunged 30%, reflecting investor panic. As an important hub for global crypto trading, the political crisis in South Korea has raised questions about the resilience of the local market and the stability of the infrastructure. Although the global price of Bitcoin has not been significantly affected, analysts have warned that if the situation in South Korea worsens, it may have a knock-on effect on global markets.
Martial law has caused the South Korean won to weaken against major currencies and increase volatility in the cryptocurrency market. Financial analysts advise investors to operate with caution and pay attention to further government policies to respond to possible market changes. Although martial law has been implemented in South Korea's history, the impact this time is more profound. The decentralized nature of cryptocurrency provides possibilities for market recovery that are different from traditional finance.
The current plunge in BTC/KRW highlights the impact of political uncertainty on investor sentiment. The global crypto market is relatively stable, but the development of the situation in South Korea remains a key factor. Investors need to remain vigilant and adopt risk aversion strategies to cope with current challenges and uncertainties.
The annual summary is out! Sure enough, the advantage of being in the square is that it is full of topics. Although compared with other big V, the traffic is not worth mentioning, but at least it is a sure thing.
[Is everyone optimistic about Dogecoin? Any chance of reaching $10 next year? 】 Dogecoin (DOGE) recently traded at around $0.4, and despite the stagnation, the market remains optimistic about its potential. Some analysts believe that DOGE is on track to break through the $10 target, which would require an increase of 2,233% from current prices.
Prominent analyst Dima James Potts predicts that DOGE will break through $10 during this bull run and could reach $24 by 2025. He speculates on a gradual upward trend in price based on historical patterns on the DOGE weekly chart. Another analyst, Gladiator, believes that DOGE's current trend is similar to the last bull market, and it is expected that it may rise to the range of $5 to $10 in the first quarter of next year.
Analysts at Changelly predict that DOGE has the potential to reach $10 in the long term. The lowest price in 2040 is likely to be $9.35, with an average price of $9.84 and a high of $11.19. AI tool ChatGPT also predicts that if DOGE continues to be widely used and driven by Bitcoin and Ethereum, it may exceed $10 before 2030.
Analyst Ali Martinez said a break above the top of the weekly rising wedge for DOGE would provide further support for the $10 target. However, its inflation pattern is a challenge. With 5 billion new tokens added every year, achieving the $10 target requires a high market capitalization. The current circulating supply is 147 billion, which requires a market capitalization of $1.47 trillion; if the supply increases to 152 billion, a market capitalization of $1.52 trillion is required.
Despite the challenges, DOGE is seen as having the potential to reach $10, driven by growing retail and institutional demand and the support of Elon Musk. As of now, the price of DOGE is $0.4285, an increase of 148.85% in the past 30 days, and a single-day increase of 6.41%.
【Analyst Analysis FTM Price, Optimistic About a 18,000% Increase to $150 Next Year】 According to technical analysis from TradingView, the price of Fantom (FTM) could skyrocket 18,000% before 2025, reaching $150. This aggressive prediction is based on its historical price trends and technical pattern analysis. Technical analysis shows that the price of Fantom has retraced 70% from its historical high of $3.46 in 2021, but has recently broken through resistance levels, with market momentum turning bullish. In the 10-day Fantom/TetherUS chart, RSI and price have simultaneously broken through, indicating a transition into a bullish reversal phase.
The core of the analysis is the "bull flag pattern" in Fantom's long-term trend. In 2021, the price of Fantom soared from $0.015 to $3.46, an increase of thousands of times. If the bull flag pattern reappears, Fantom is expected to achieve another 18,000% increase, possibly reaching $150. However, the analysis warns that the upward process may be accompanied by corrections of up to 80%. Convergence indicators in the technical chart further support this prediction, with $3 being seen as the first major resistance level; breaking through this area will validate the bullish trend.
As of now, Fantom is quoted at $1.03, with a trading range over the past 7 days between $1.29 and $0.987, and has risen over 61% in the past 30 days. Analysts point out that achieving an 18,000% increase will require capital inflow far exceeding the scale of 2021. Overall, while this prediction is highly challenging, Fantom may stand out during bull markets and altcoin seasons, with its long-term price growth still worth looking forward to.
【Really super happy! Japan's Metaplanet will raffle Bitcoin, rewarding shareholders】 Metaplanet announced a partnership with SBI VC Trade to launch a shareholder benefits program, distributing Bitcoin (BTC) through a lottery to enhance shareholder value and attract new investors.
Shareholders who hold at least 100 shares of Metaplanet stock as of December 31 will be eligible to participate in the lottery. Individuals or companies that open new accounts with SBI VC Trade from November 18, 2023, to March 31, 2025, can also participate. Participants must complete registration on the dedicated website by March 31, 2025.
The total prize amount is approximately 30 million yen (about $199,500), which will be distributed to 2,350 winners, specifically: ・50 people will each receive 100,000 yen (about $664) in Bitcoin; ・100 people will each receive 30,000 yen (about $200) in Bitcoin; ・2,200 people will each receive 10,000 yen (about $66.5) in Bitcoin.
Following the announcement, Metaplanet's stock price (MTPLF) rose 4.58% to $16. Additionally, the company plans to sell stock subscription rights to EVO Fund to raise $62 million to increase Bitcoin reserves for better financial management. An announcement on November 28 stated that Metaplanet will issue 29,000 units, each granting the right to purchase 100 shares of common stock, with a total value of approximately 178 million yen.
This move not only emphasizes Metaplanet's strategic support for cryptocurrencies but also provides shareholders with the opportunity to participate in the Bitcoin market, enhancing market attention and corporate value.
[The person in charge of Shiba Inu celebrates the massive return of Shiba Inu Coin, with an annual growth rate of 274%] Shiba Inu (SHIB) has been a recent bright spot, setting a new 30-day high as the bull market returns. Kusama shared the latest progress on the X platform and responded to critics: "How else can [you] FUD this token?"
Recent data shows SHIB up 2.2% on the hour and 19.6% in 24 hours, bringing its weekly gain to 16.8%. It rose 28.8% over the last 14 days and climbed 77.9% over the 30 days, showing a strong monthly performance. SHIB has gained 274.7% since the beginning of the year, firmly establishing itself as one of the top performing cryptocurrencies.
Transaction volume increased significantly. On December 1, SHIB’s trading volume reached $7 billion, surpassing AVAX, TRX, TON, and XLM combined to become one of the most traded coins. Core developer Kaal Dhairya highlighted the milestone on the X platform, while CoinMarketCap data shows that SHIB’s 24-hour trading volume reached $6.08 billion.
Market watchers speculate that Shiba Inu’s current accumulation phase could trigger a price breakout. Analyst SHIB Knight predicts that the price could surge to $0.000037, while Nebraskangooner noted that SHIB displays a symmetrical triangle pattern, which will further solidify the bullish trend if the price breaks above the upper trendline. Shiba Inu's strong performance and high trading volume show its potential in a bull market, with the market anticipating future gains.