USDT is being used by Venezuela and Russia to evade sanctions, raising US financial security risks. Its 2023 trading volume surpassed Visa’s, and Tether’s profits exceeded $6.2B. USDT is also facilitating $50M in monthly payments in Georgia.
Ethereum’s Pectra hard fork introduces EIP-7702 for gasless payments, EIP-7251 for flexible validator deposits (32-2048 ETH), and EIP-2935 for improved node performance. Enhancements aim to boost performance, security, and user experience. $ETH @Ethereum
Merlin Chain’s L2 protocol hits over $1.2B TVL, processes 12.7M+ transactions, supports 200+ dApps, and launches 1.9M addresses. Introduces $210M MERL Ecosystem rewards. Advanced security measures enhance scalability and transparency, solidifying its role in Bitcoin’s L2 ecosystem.
Crypto analyst ZachXBT criticizes many Layer 1 block explorers, calling for major improvements in functionality and user experience. Top-tier explorers include Blockchair for Bitcoin and OKLink for EVM chains, while Cosmos and Algorand explorers are deemed low-quality.
Balance raises $30M to innovate blockchain gaming with AI. Investors @a16z, @galaxyRTK, and @animocabrands back the platform to enhance infrastructure, expand the Web3 ecosystem, and support over 150 games for 4.2M users.
Blockchain and AI projects raised $821M in August, with $80M led by Story Protocol and $640M for AI startup Groq, now valued at $2.8B. Binance Labs was the most active investor, backing 11 startups.
Justin Bons raises concerns over $ETH Layer 2, citing centralization and downtime risks. He argues that scalable Layer 1 blockchains could ensure better security and decentralization. This debate may shape future blockchain scalability strategies.
CYBRO launches AI app on Blast Blockchain to optimize crypto investments, featuring AIBroker chatbot, one-click investments, and yield farming aggregator. CYBRO token offers reduced fees, cashback, and insurance. Security audited by Assure DeFi and Certik.
Giakaa Capital to host a key Web3 event at the India Blockchain Summit 2024 on Oct 19 in New Delhi. Over 5000 attendees expected, including key government reps and industry leaders. Potential investments may exceed $1 billion.
DTX Exchange launches testnet for its L1 blockchain, raising $1.8M post-launch. The VulcanX protocol aims to cut trading fees and support multi-channel trading, enhancing security and unifying traditional and decentralized assets.
ELFi Protocol launches a 50,000 USDC liquidation subsidy program, new trading contracts on DOGS token and TrumpWin, and a 100,000 USDC prize campaign for ELFi NFT holders. Innovative zero-risk stablecoin liquidity pools and re-collateralized LSD pools added.
TRON Blockchain celebrates 7 years of uninterrupted operation. With over $8.3B Total Value Locked (TVL), recent innovations include a meme coin platform and fee-free stablecoin transfers. This milestone highlights TRON’s reliability and growing influence in the blockchain space.
Solana Radar Hackathon (Sep 2-Oct 8, 2024) offers a $600K prize pool. Kumeka Team’s workshops start Aug 28 to boost Web3 skills. Top 15 teams get $250K pre-seed funding and join Colosseum’s accelerator program.
Sony ($SONY) launches Minato testnet for its Ethereum Layer-2 solution, Soneium, boosting stock price. The testnet, developed with Startale, enables high-volume app testing. Key partners like Astar Network and Chainlink may see positive price movements.
