🎸Metallica's official X account appears to have hit a sour note, getting hacked to promote a Solana token, METAL. The token was announced on June 26, with claims of a partnership with Ticketmaster. But wait, there's more! The posts also claimed a collaboration with fintech firm MoonPay. Both Ticketmaster and MoonPay are yet to strum any chords about this. The band's website is also silent on the token. Looks like someone's playing a solo here. Stay tuned for more updates on this headbanging story! 🤘

🚀 Brazilian neobank Nubank, backed by Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway, is partnering with payments platform Lightspark to bring the Bitcoin Lightning Network to its 100 million customers. This integration is a "significant milestone" for the Lightning Network, promising to boost network usage. Lightspark, co-launched by former PayPal president David Marcus, will also integrate the Universal Money Address standard, offering users an email-like address for money transfers. Nubank's crypto services, including trading of 14 cryptocurrencies and access to USD Coin, were launched in May 2022. Stay tuned for more electrifying updates! ⚡

🎉 Nebraskan Rep. Mike Flood has been instrumental in pushing cryptocurrency legislation through Congress, securing bipartisan support for the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act (FIT21) and a proposal to repeal SEC rule SAB-121. FIT21 allows crypto projects to certify their tokens as commodities, moving them from SEC to Commodity Futures Trading Commission regulation. Flood's experience in the Nebraska Legislature and passion for digital assets have driven his focus on the crypto industry. He believes that states should play a significant role in regulating digital assets, fostering innovation, and meeting consumer demand.

🚀 Memecoins have blasted off, leading the crypto industry with a jaw-dropping 1,834% return in H1 2024. Real-world asset tokenization is not far behind, with a 214% return. AI blockchain projects and DePINs have also made a splash with 72% and 59% returns respectively. Bitcoin and Ether are still the cool kids, with 50% and 45% returns. Layer-1 platforms are also in the green with a 43% return. Gaming and DeFi are trailing but still in the game with 19% and 3% returns. Layer-2, however, is feeling the blues with a 41% loss. Meanwhile, Solana is the new hotspot for memecoin launches, earning the title of the "MacOS of blockchain". Real-world asset tokenization is the talk of the town, with potential to bring a whopping $874 trillion onchain. Buckle up folks, it's a wild ride!

In a twist of political strategy, US politicians are using cryptocurrency to divert attention from less favorable news. Republican Matt Gaetz, under investigation for misconduct, introduced a bill for IRS to accept Bitcoin for tax payments. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, facing legal challenges, announced his campaign would accept crypto donations and plans to boost US Bitcoin mining if reelected. Even President Biden, criticized for his stance on crypto, reportedly attended a roundtable on digital assets. In this election year, it seems crypto is the new political football. 🏈

🚨 Former Hydrogen Technology CEO, Michael Kane, has been sentenced to 45 months in prison for crypto price manipulation. His ex-colleague, Shane Hampton, will also be doing the tango behind bars for 35 months. This marks the first time a federal jury has classified a cryptocurrency as a security. The SEC had previously sued Kane and his company, alleging they manipulated the volume and price of Hydro (HYDRO) tokens. The verdict? A whopping $2.8 million in penalties. The takeaway? The SEC isn't afraid to flex its muscles when it comes to crypto market integrity. 💪🏾

🎵 K-pop stars, get ready to blockchain your way to better pay! Ava Labs, the brains behind the Avalanche blockchain, is set to jazz up intellectual property management for South Korean K-pop artists. With the K-pop industry set to hit a high note at $20 billion by 2031, the need for artist protection is louder than ever. Enter blockchain, the tech superstar that promises transparency and efficiency, ensuring artists don't get played by recording companies. Plus, it's not just about the money, money, money - blockchain can also help artists protect their creations from copyright violations and AI content scrapers. Rock on, blockchain! 🎵

📉 Bitcoin (BTC) took a nosedive to a six-week low, but don't fret! Buyers swooped in like superheroes, pushing the price back above $62,000. The $60,000 zone acted as a safety net, catching our falling star. Analyst Jelle predicts a run back to $63,500 before the week is out. If that happens, we might see a green week after a red Monday. The last time Bitcoin's daily RSI was this low, BTC was trading at $26,000. Could this be a summer shakeout? Meanwhile, "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" author Robert Kiyosaki sees the dip as a chance to buy more. So, hold on to your hats, folks! The rollercoaster ride isn't over yet. 🎢

🚀 Ethereum layer-2 Blast network is set to rain tokens on its early adopters on June 26! A whopping 17% of the total supply will be airdropped, with 7% going to users who bridged Ether or US Dollar Blast to the network. Another 7% will reward those who've been busy building DApps on Blast. The Blur Foundation gets 3% for future airdrops. Top 1,000 wallets will vest their airdrop for six months, so no quick sell-offs here! Since its launch in November, Blast's total value locked has rocketed to over $2.9 billion. Let's see how this token shower shakes things up! 💦💰

📉 Tether (USDT) supply growth has taken a nosedive this June, growing less than 1.5% compared to the 5% growth in April and May. This suggests a liquidity drought in the crypto markets, with Bitcoin and Ethereum feeling the squeeze. USDT trading volumes have also taken a tumble, from a high of $767.22 billion in March to a mere $53.55 billion on June 24. Meanwhile, Bitcoin has been on a diet, shedding over $540 million last week. As traditional financial markets start to "price out" global growth expectations, the crypto market might need to buckle up for some turbulence. But hey, who doesn't love a rollercoaster ride, right? 🎢

🚀 CoreWeave is supercharging its deal with Bitcoin miner Core Scientific, adding a whopping $1.225 billion to the pot! Core Scientific is set to revamp its Austin, Texas facilities to provide an extra 70 MW of infrastructure for CoreWeave by 2025. But wait, there's more! Another 70 MW is on the cards, on top of the 200 MW agreed upon in June. Core Scientific's CEO, Adam Sullivan, is all about future-proofing, aiming to build data centers that can handle tomorrow's computing needs. Meanwhile, Canadian miner Hive Digital Technologies is also eyeing AI for extra revenue, reporting an 8% YoY revenue increase. Game on!

📉 Ether (ETH) price dips to a monthly low, despite the upcoming spot ETH ETF launch. Analysts predict the ETF may not attract substantial inflows due to current market conditions. Ethereum's revenue is also deemed "minuscule" compared to its market cap, and yields from Ether staking are lower than US Treasury bonds. High Ethereum network fees and reduced demand for ETH leverage add to the challenges. Despite these, Ethereum remains the leader in total value locked and decentralized app volumes. However, the Ether futures premium fell below the 10% threshold, indicating a shift in sentiment. Analysts suggest ETH surpassing $3,700 in the near term appears slim. 😅

🚀Crypto in a slump? Don't let your coins gather dust! Cointelegraph suggests 5 ways to earn passive income with your crypto. 1. Staking: Support a proof-of-stake protocol and earn, but beware, it requires technical expertise. 2. Crypto Savings Account: Earn interest on your crypto deposits, often higher than traditional banks. 3. Yield Farming: Lend your crypto to a liquidity pool on a decentralized exchange. High yields, but high risks too. For more, check out their YouTube channel. Remember, no risk, no reward! 😎

📣 VanEck's Ethereum ETF is one step closer to trading, thanks to a recent filing with the SEC. Bloomberg's Eric Balchunas predicts trading could start as early as July 2, 2024, based on the speedy approval of VanEck's Bitcoin ETF. However, SEC Chair Gary Gensler suggests it might take until September 2024. This unexpected approval might be due to political winds, as crypto becomes a hot topic for the 2024 elections. With 52 million Americans holding crypto, pro-crypto voters are a force to be reckoned with. So, will we see an Ethereum ETF sooner than expected? Stay tuned!

🤖AI-generated deepfakes are causing a stir in the political world, but blockchain might be the superhero we didn't know we needed! Blockchain's immutable ledgers could be used to validate the authenticity of media content, putting a stop to the deepfake menace. Moreover, the crypto industry could provide a solution to online identity validation, using biometric authentication and zero-knowledge proofs. And as AI agents become more advanced, cryptocurrencies, especially stablecoins, could facilitate their financial transactions. So, while AI keeps us on our toes, blockchain is here to save the day! 🦸‍♂️

🏛️ Solana’s Colosseum has bagged a whopping $60M to fuel its startup accelerator program! This fund aims to attract more developers and startups into the Solana ecosystem, offering a cool $250,000 pre-seed investment and a VIP pass to Solana’s network of mentors and venture funds. Since 2024, Colosseum has been the gladiator in the arena, leading Solana’s hackathons and attracting over 60,000 participants. The result? A staggering 4,000 products launched and over $600M raised in venture funding. So, if you're a startup looking to make it big in the crypto world, it's time to step into the Colosseum! 💪

🎉 Bitcoin (BTC) is back in the game, folks! After a rough tumble to a seven-week low of $58,500, our digital hero has dusted itself off and climbed back to a cool $62,000. The market's pulse quickened as BTC's Relative Strength Index hit its lowest since August 2023. But fear not, the range held where it needed to, according to trader Daan Crypto Trades. Despite the largest net selling day in over a year, BTC long liquidations for June 24 were under $150 million. So, keep your eyes on the prize and remember, what goes down must come up... or something like that. 😄

🎮 Aethir, a decentralized cloud infrastructure provider, has teamed up with MetaGravity, creators of the HyperScale Engine, to boost the development of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN). This partnership is set to revolutionize the 3D internet and gaming industry by simplifying game development and making it more efficient. The collaboration will allow game developers to scale back-end simulation infrastructure and front-end pixel streaming capability simultaneously. The tech duo aims to develop the third-generation internet, characterized by decentralized ownership and control. Game on!

Crypto in Iceland is heating up, but it's not quite erupting yet! 🌋 Gulli Gislason, CIO at Viska Digital Assets, says the 2008 banking crisis and a national airdrop of Auroracoin sparked interest in crypto. But, the country is still early in its adoption journey. Good news? Iceland's abundant renewable energy makes it a hot spot for Bitcoin mining. Bad news? Rising demand for electricity and regulatory constraints are causing energy shortages. But Gislason remains optimistic, believing the country is waking up to the need for more power plants. So, Iceland's crypto scene might just be a sleeping volcano, ready to make a big splash!

🎶 Artists are hitting the high notes with Web3, using NFTs and the metaverse to engage fans like never before. Gala Music, a blockchain-powered music streaming platform, is leading the band with partnerships including Anderson .Paak and Snoop Dogg. Fans get exclusive access to remixed music, tokens, and signed memorabilia. Even the likes of Megadeth are creating online worlds to interact with their community, likened to a "virtual mosh pit". Artists like Macy Gray and Snoop Dogg are singing praises for this new way to launch music and directly interact with fans. So, ready to join the blockchain bandwagon? 🎵