According to Blockworks, two more protocols related to restaking have announced funding rounds this week, indicating venture investors' growing interest in EigenLayer's expanding ecosystem. Aligned Layer has secured a $20 million Series A funding round led by Hack VC, with participation from several smaller crypto-focused venture firms. The protocol plans to launch as an actively validated service (AVS) on EigenLayer. AVSs are products secured through EigenLayer's restaking, a method that allows staked ether to be utilized beyond securing Ethereum, thereby creating an additional layer of usage for the capital that ensures Ethereum's security. AVSs can be any blockchain-related protocol or service. The few that are already live on EigenLayer's mainnet include data availability, rollup creation, and oracle data. However, these AVSs have struggled to generate profits as EigenLayer has not yet enabled in-protocol payments. Aligned Layer is an EigenLayer-secured protocol for verifying zero-knowledge proofs, cryptographic proofs that validate a statement's truth without revealing the statement's content. Aligned Layer aims to reduce the cost of verifying zero-knowledge proofs. In other funding news, Othentic announced $4 million in seed funding led by Finality and Breyer Capital. Othentic provides a software stack that assists AVS developers in creating a distributed system based on EigenLayer's shared security model. According to Nader Dabit, the director of developer relations at Eigen Labs, Othentic 'simplifies AVS development on EigenLayer with pre-built components, reduced engineering overhead, and a faster time to market.' This week's largest fundraise was secured by Movement Labs, which raised a $38 million Series A led by Polychain. Movement Labs is launching a layer-2 named Movement, which utilizes the Move software stack developed by Facebook as part of its unsuccessful blockchain initiative. The programming language Move is currently used by layer-1 blockchains Aptos and Sui. Movement will be Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible, meaning programs written for Ethereum can be deployed on the layer-2. Interestingly, Movement Labs is run by young founders aged 21 and 24.

According to CryptoPotato, the Bitcoin network has achieved a new milestone with its daily transactions peaking at 927,000. This surpasses the previous record of 724,000 set in December 2023. The surge in transactions is attributed to the launch of Runes, a new token standard on the Bitcoin blockchain. Since its introduction following the halving on April 20, Runes has accounted for over two-thirds of all Bitcoin transactions, with more than 2.38 million transactions processed, making up 68% of the total. The data, sourced from a Dune Analytics dashboard shared by blockchain research firm Crypto Koryo, shows the significant adoption and usage of Runes alongside traditional Bitcoin transactions. These include ordinary peer-to-peer transactions, BRC-20s, and Ordinals. Runes experienced its highest activity on April 23, surpassing 750,000 transactions. However, the following day saw a significant decrease, with the transaction count dropping to 312,000, less than half of the previous day’s total. The new protocol, introduced by Ordinals Creator Casey Rodarmor, is promoted as a more efficient way to generate tokens on the Bitcoin network compared to BRC-20. However, some industry experts have expressed concerns. Nikita Zhavoronkov from Blockchair, for instance, criticized the amount of block space Runes transactions are occupying, suggesting that Bitcoin has deviated from Satoshi Nakamoto’s original vision as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. The industry appears to be divided on whether Runes will offer a sustainable revenue source for Bitcoin miners.

According to U.Today, the Shiba Inu token (SHIB) has experienced a significant decrease in the activity of its major players, often referred to as 'whales' in the cryptocurrency world. Key metrics reveal a substantial drop in the volume of large transactions of the popular meme cryptocurrency. Over the past 24 hours, the volume of these transactions fell by 42.86% to 3.56 trillion SHIB. This decline translates to a drop in transactions of a minimum size of $100,000 from $162.45 million to $91.87 million. During this period, there were 201 such transactions. The decrease in the activity of Shiba Inu whales is also reflected in the reduction of inflows and outflows to wallets that hold at least 0.1% of the circulating supply of the meme cryptocurrency. According to the Large Holders Inflow indicator, inflows to wallets of this scale decreased seven times overnight, reaching a value of only 501.2 billion SHIB. Similarly, outflows fell to 499.54 billion SHIB, marking an 86% decrease from the previous day. This drop in the activity of major SHIB players coincides with a less than inspiring price action of the second largest meme cryptocurrency. The price of the Shiba Inu token has printed the fourth lower high on the daily chart following the March price pump of almost 400%. This trend does not suggest a repeat of the successes of a month ago in the near future, at least until the price of the Shiba Inu token surpasses not only the March high but also the previous one, which was in early April. The decline in whale activity further supports this outlook, given that their actions play a crucial role in this cycle of liquidity and trend shifts.

According to U.Today, Anthony Scaramucci, the billionaire investor and founder of SkyBridge Capital, has recently emphasized the importance of Bitcoin (BTC) in a post. He highlighted that the United States dollar has not lost its appeal, despite its value decreasing from a dollar in 2020 to approximately 75 cents now. This reduction in the U.S. dollar's value, and in most fiat currencies, indicates that these Central Bank notes are not reliable as a store of value. Bitcoin's recorded compounded inflation rate of 25.14% is seen as a significant warning sign that investors should heed. Scaramucci advised his followers to consider buying Bitcoin as an escape from fiat's 'truflation.' His stance on Bitcoin is supported by many in the Bitcoin ecosystem. Industry leaders like Michael Saylor have lost faith in Bitcoin's overall purchasing power. Interestingly, Saylor's company, MicroStrategy Incorporated, began investing in Bitcoin in August 2020. This move has earned the company significant recognition as a major BTC promoter. With over 214,000 Bitcoin units in its portfolio and a substantial return on its investment, MicroStrategy has demonstrated that BTC is an asset worth everyone's attention. Unlike the U.S. dollar, which has been on a downward trend since 2020, Bitcoin has experienced comparatively bullish traction within the same period. In March, Bitcoin reached its all-time high above $73,000, establishing itself as a significant asset globally. MicroStrategy's shift from fiat reserve to Bitcoin has largely positioned it as a leading company. Currently, there are indications that MicroStrategy may be added to the S&P 500 list, bolstered by its embrace of Bitcoin.

According to U.Today, Dogecoin creator Billy Markus, also known as Shibetoshi Nakamoto, has shared his views on the transformation of Twitter following its acquisition by Elon Musk. Reflecting on the two-year anniversary of the merger, Markus highlighted a positive shift in his experience, particularly in terms of financial gains. The acquisition of Twitter by Musk was a significant turning point in the platform's evolution. The primary motive behind the move was believed to be leveraging Twitter's extensive influence, potentially transforming it into a super app with a robust financial base. Since the change in ownership, content creators have reported improved rewards, especially through increased visibility and engagement with their content. A comprehensive subscription system was introduced, enabling content creators to effectively monetize their work. Markus himself has adopted this model, offering exclusive content to subscribers for a nominal fee of $3 per month. However, Musk's tenure as Twitter's owner has not been without controversy. His views on censorship, political stances, and eccentric speeches have sparked intense debate within the community. Critics argue that Musk's influence could potentially shape the platform's content moderation policies and editorial direction, raising concerns about free speech and neutrality.

According to U.Today, Cardano enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the Chang hard fork, which is slated for the second quarter of 2024. This significant event is seen as a pivotal moment in Cardano's progression towards decentralized governance, marking the start of minimum-viable community-run governance within the blockchain ecosystem. The Chang hard fork plays a crucial role in kickstarting the process for Cardano's governance throughout 2024, which consists of three main stages. The first stage involves the introduction of delegate representatives (DReps), who will act as elected representatives responsible for advocating the interests of the Cardano community. This innovative approach to representation allows users to delegate their ADA holdings, thereby encouraging increased engagement and participation. Following this, the Cardano Constitution Convention will be held in Buenos Aires, where governance representatives from workshops around the globe will come together. They will work collaboratively to draft the first version of the Cardano Constitution, establishing the groundwork for community-led governance principles. The final stage of this process will be a community-wide vote on the approval of the Cardano Constitution. If ratified, the constitution will become the bedrock of decentralized governance mechanisms, steering the future course of the Cardano blockchain. In addition to these governance milestones, the Chang hard fork will also bring about two significant upgrades: Chang Upgrade Number One and Chang Upgrade Number Two. As detailed in CIP-1694, these upgrades will enable the implementation of governance features, including decentralized voting mechanisms and treasury withdrawals.

According to U.Today, MicroStrategy's engagement with Bitcoin has become a cornerstone of institutional cryptocurrency exposure. The company recently reported an unrealized profit of $6.2 billion. Despite appearing random and somewhat outdated, MicroStrategy's acquisition strategy is underpinned by a clear rationale. The firm has consistently expanded its Bitcoin holdings through strategic purchases, timing the market to maximize entry points and investing heavily during price declines. MicroStrategy's purchases often align with price drops, as demonstrated by the accumulation points highlighted on their portfolio's performance chart. This approach is somewhat akin to the widely used dollar-cost averaging strategy, where investors gradually increase their holdings as the asset's price decreases, thereby averaging the dollar cost of their position. MicroStrategy's proactive buying strategy has been identified as a market driver on multiple occasions. Their substantial market inflows frequently enhance Bitcoin's market sentiment, generating a ripple effect that resonates throughout the ecosystem. By steadily increasing its Bitcoin holdings, MicroStrategy not only strengthens its portfolio but also consolidates Bitcoin's market position. Examining Bitcoin’s price chart, resistance appears to be forming around the $65,000 level, a point where upward momentum has faltered. Overcoming this resistance could pave the way for further growth, potentially targeting the next resistance level near $68,000. Conversely, support seems solid around the $60,000 mark, which has historically facilitated price recoveries. If MicroStrategy maintains its purchasing momentum, Bitcoin could potentially break through current resistance levels due to new inflows. Any significant acquisition by the company typically coincides with heightened investor confidence and improved sentiment, which is precisely what Bitcoin requires at this time.

According to U.Today, the mysterious disappearance of Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, is marking its 13th anniversary. Nakamoto, who laid the foundation for Bitcoin's development and guided its early growth, abruptly ceased all communications and vanished in 2011. This event has remained one of the most enduring mysteries in the cryptocurrency world, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and speculation. On April 23, 2011, Nakamoto sent his final emails to fellow developers, stating he had 'moved on to other things' and that the cryptocurrency was in 'good hands.' Three days later, he completely disappeared. One of his final acts before disappearing was handing over a cryptographic key he had used to send network-wide alerts. This key was not just any piece of digital information, but a powerful symbol of trust and authority within the Bitcoin network, allowing Nakamoto to broadcast messages to all participants. The decision to relinquish this key was a clear message that Bitcoin was no longer under the control of its creator; it belonged to the community. This action aligns with Nakamoto's overarching vision for Bitcoin as a decentralized and trustless system, free from centralized control or authority. It symbolized the transition from centralized leadership to community-driven stewardship of the world's first cryptocurrency. Present-day Bitcoin operates as a decentralized system with no single, centralized location or controlling authority. Its technology and infrastructure do not rely on centralized entities, like banks and governments, to manage it. Nakamoto also removed his name from the software's copyright claim, releasing the source to all 'Bitcoin developers.'

According to U.Today, Cardano is on the verge of a significant breakthrough with the upcoming Ouroboros Genesis upgrade. This is a crucial step in Cardano's quest to achieve full peer-to-peer (P2P) node operations, a goal that has been diligently pursued by its community and developers. P2P networking is essential for the long-term decentralization, security, and resilience of blockchain, enabling participants to communicate, synchronize data, and reach consensus. The transition from the current hybrid model to full P2P networking for Cardano has been gradual, but the process is already in progress. In March 2023, Dynamic P2P automated the peer selection process. The node v.1.35.6 update enhanced communication between distributed nodes, simplified the operation of the relay and block-producing nodes, and removed the need for static configurations and manual input from stake pool operators. The final step towards full P2P node operations is expected to come with the forthcoming Ouroboros Genesis release. According to Cardano builder Input Output Global, the next and final step on the path to full P2P node operations is anticipated to come with the impending Ouroboros Genesis release. Ouroboros Genesis will be deployed as part of the Chang upgrade, which is expected to occur this summer. This will allow nodes to self-bootstrap from the live Cardano network. Currently, initial network entry requires synchronizing with a secure, trusted validator, usually a trusted fellow stake pool operator or another entity. Once synchronized, nodes use Ouroboros Praos to operate in a decentralized manner. Ouroboros Genesis is expected to further simplify the process when using Cardano-node's P2P capabilities, making the process entirely autonomous and eliminating the need for human interaction. Moreover, the transition to full P2P node operations is expected to enhance the scalability and throughput of the Cardano network, enabling it to support a broader range of applications and use cases.

According to U.Today, a Twitter user known as 'DogeDesigner', who is part of the DOGE and X teams, has issued a warning to the crypto community about the lack of association between Elon Musk's companies and any cryptocurrency. The user, who goes by the alias @cb_doge, emphasized that X, its Grok AI bot, its producer xAI, and Tesla have no connections with any cryptocurrency and urged users to stay vigilant against cryptocurrency scams. In other news, Elon Musk is reportedly in talks to secure a $6 billion investment for his xAI startup, which is valued at a pre-money valuation of $18 billion. This investment would give the investors control over a quarter of the company. The deal is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, barring any unforeseen changes in terms. Musk launched xAI 10 months ago to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Among the potential investors are Sequoia Capital and Future Ventures, co-founded by Musk’s friend Steve Jurvetson, a board member at SpaceX and former director at Tesla until 2020. Other investors are also from Musk's inner circle. Musk has plans to train Grok 3.0, stating that xAI requires 100,000 NVIDIA H100s for this purpose, while currently, they have approximately 20,000. Musk intends to use data from his other tech companies – Tesla, SpaceX, The Boring Company, and Neuralink – to further train xAI’s chatbot. Grok may potentially be implemented in Tesla cars to make them fully self-driving and could also be integrated into Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, in the future. The X/Twitter app, where Grok is implemented as a paid add-on, owns a stake in xAI. This move ensures that Musk's X company benefits financially from his AI bot, compensating for the significant losses in the company’s value Musk has experienced since he purchased Twitter for $44 billion in 2022.

According to U.Today, MicroStrategy Chairman Michael Saylor has stressed the need for maintaining perspective and focus in the face of Bitcoin's recent price fluctuations. Bitcoin, which reached a peak of $73,798 in mid-March, has since corrected by approximately 13%, with a 1.34% rise in the last 24 hours to $64,335. Earlier this week, Bitcoin experienced a drop from highs of $67,225 recorded on April 23. In a related development, investors pulled out a net $218 million from U.S. Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, marking one of the largest daily outflows. This was triggered by a reduced demand for risky assets, as optimism for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts waned. As Bitcoin's latest price movement settles, Saylor's advice resonates with those looking beyond the immediate horizon. His call to 'keep an eye on the ball' is seen as a mindset for navigating the volatile landscape of cryptocurrencies.

According to U.Today, Thomas Jordan, the chairman of the Swiss National Bank (SNB), has expressed skepticism over the idea of adding Bitcoin to the bank's reserves. Jordan, who has served as the longest-standing governor of a major central bank, stated that Bitcoin is not without risk. He emphasized that currency reserves should be liquid and sustainable. Recently, Bitcoin activist Yves Bennaim initiated a campaign to pass a constitutional amendment that would permit the SNB to hold Bitcoin as a reserve asset. Bennaim's goal is to gather 100,000 signatures to prompt a referendum. Despite expecting the referendum vote to fail due to the conservative nature of the Swiss populace, Bennaim, a self-proclaimed 'toxic Bitcoin maximalist', hopes to spark a wider discussion about the SNB. In 2014, 78% of Swiss voters rejected a proposal by conservative politicians to force the central bank to increase its gold reserves. The SNB currently holds total gold reserves of 1,040 tons, positioning it as one of the largest holders of the precious metal among major central banks. The bank also possesses foreign currency assets and financial assets in Swiss francs. In March, Jordan announced his intention to step down from his role after a 12-year tenure, marking a significant change in the bank's leadership. Jordan assumed the position of chairman of the Swiss National Bank in 2012.

According to U.Today, a notable figure in the Dogecoin community, Mishaboar, has issued a warning about meme coins claiming to possess intellectual property (IP). This warning comes at a time when the market is awash with a variety of meme coins, all competing for investor interest. Mishaboar emphasized the potential risks associated with meme coins that assert IP ownership. He stated that memes, which are decentralized, irrepressible, and uncontainable, cannot be created or reinforced by owning IPs and are owned by no one. Mishaboar further cautioned that these coins often assert IP ownership, which can be a deceptive strategy to draw in unsuspecting investors. He warned that there are thousands of tokens available for those who wish to gamble, and when tokens rely on claims such as 'we own the IP', it's merely a lure. This implies that they have nothing substantial to offer and are attempting to attract new buyers with empty promises. Mishaboar's caution serves as a call for vigilance within the Dogecoin community and the wider cryptocurrency market. As the number of meme coins continues to grow, investors may need to carry out comprehensive research, confirm the authenticity of these tokens, and not be swayed by the promise of quick gains. At the time of reporting, Dogecoin, the first and largest dog-themed cryptocurrency by market cap, was down 0.53% in the last 24 hours to $0.148, reflecting the sluggish trading activity in the cryptocurrency market. The demand for risky assets like cryptocurrencies has been somewhat dampened by reduced expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.

According to U.Today, NEAR Protocol (NEAR) has reported significant community and developer achievements, including a record user retention rate among L1 altcoins over the past year. The blockchain's major adoption metric reached 9.53%, according to data provider Artemis, outperforming all of its competitors. For comparison, Avalanche (AVAX) saw only 8.19% of users returning in 12 months on its C-chain, while BNB Chain's retention rate barely exceeded 7%. Even the largest blockchains by Total Value Locked (TVL), Ethereum (ETH) and Tron (TRX), failed to achieve a 5% user retention rate over the same period. NEAR Protocol currently hosts 19 active decentralized finance applications (DeFis) with a combined TVL of $306 million. The largest DeFis on NEAR by TVL include Burrow, LiNEAR Protocol, and Meta Pool Near, which operate in the areas of decentralized lending and liquid staking. In addition to its community and developer achievements, NEAR Protocol's core native cryptocurrency, NEAR, has been one of the best performers over the past week. According to CoinGecko, NEAR was the top-performing large altcoin and the fifth fastest-growing altcoin overall, with a seven-day growth rate of 26%. This performance was only surpassed by leading meme coins FLOKI, BONK, and PEPE, and the Hedera (HBAR) token, which was boosted by a major announcement. The recent rally in NEAR's price may be linked to potential AI integrations that are key to the use of NEAR Protocol in this burgeoning sector.

According to U.Today, Michael Saylor, the founder of MicroStrategy and a vocal Bitcoin supporter, recently shared his thoughts on the tactics of Bitcoin's mysterious creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. Saylor's comments sparked a wave of reactions from the crypto community, with many expressing support and admiration for both Saylor and Bitcoin. Saylor tweeted, 'Satoshi created a way, gave it away, and walked away,' which was met with responses such as 'That's the way,' 'A lesson to be learned in this! Study #Bitcoin and keep your head down,' and 'A very selfless act.' However, not all responses were positive. Some criticized the current state of Bitcoin after Nakamoto left it in the hands of the BTC core developers. Critics also targeted Saylor, with comments like 'And people like you ruined it,' 'He created a way, did not give it away and never walked away. you are still new in this,' and 'And then btc core devs manipulated by malicious state actors changed it from p2p cash to a settlement network.' In related news, Samson Mow, the CEO of Jan3, a company focused on helping nation-states adopt Bitcoin, recently quoted the Bitcoin white paper written by Nakamoto. Mow highlighted Bitcoin's ability to maintain privacy, contrasting it with traditional banking methods. According to Nakamoto's white paper, Bitcoin keeps public keys anonymous, allowing the public to see that a transaction is taking place without linking it to any individual.

According to U.Today, XRP is currently at a critical support level of $0.51, facing a period of decreasing volume and technical uncertainty. The threat of a 'death cross' — a technical chart pattern where the 100-day EMA crosses below the 200-day EMA, often interpreted as a bearish signal for future price movements, further complicates the outlook. The RSI is currently below 50, suggesting a bearish market sentiment. If XRP fails to hold the $0.51 support, the next target could be the $0.45 support level, a point that marks the lows of previous major sell-offs. Ethereum's recent patterns on the price chart hint at growing strength in its market trend. The so-called 'higher low' on the chart indicates a potential shift away from bearish sentiment. If Ethereum continues to create these higher lows, it could form a strong trendline to act as support. Ethereum is reinforced by an ascending trading volume, a sign of increasing interest and a bullish indicator. If Ethereum maintains this trajectory and its support holds firm, it might aim at higher resistance levels. The next key resistance lies around $3,400, a breach of which could open up the path toward the $3,500 mark and beyond. Bitcoin is currently caught in a tight trading range, between its 50-day and 100-day EMAs. This technical situation can often foreshadow a surge in volatility, suggesting that Bitcoin could see significant price movements soon. Bitcoin is trading between the 50-day EMA at approximately $64,000 and the 100-day EMA at around $59,500. These levels act as short-term resistance and support levels, respectively. If Bitcoin can sustain a breakout above the 50-day EMA, it might target higher resistance near the $70,000 mark. Conversely, a drop below the 100-day EMA could see it testing further support around the $50,000 level. If Bitcoin fails to maintain its position above the $65,500 support level, it could enter a bearish phase, potentially falling toward lower support at $59,000.

According to U.Today, the Shiba Inu (SHIB) community has seen a significant increase in the coin's burn rate, with a large number of meme coins being removed from the circulating supply. This comes following an announcement from the SHIB team about a major upgrade to Shibarium, scheduled to take place in less than a week. In the past 24 hours, the SHIB community has disposed of 45,168,738 Shiba Inu meme coins, leading to an 88.32% increase in the daily SHIB burn rate. The three largest transactions accounted for 35,852,170, 6,261,928, and 1,000,000 SHIB being sent to unspendable blockchain addresses. To date, the SHIB community has burned a total of 410,726,100,388,767 SHIB, with a circulating supply of 582,881,498,855,693 SHIB remaining. The 419 trillion meme coins have been permanently locked in the SHIB burn wallet, the blockchain address holding the largest amount of SHIB. In addition to this, 6,392,400,755,539 SHIB are currently locked in staking DeFi platforms and exchanges, effectively being 'temporarily burned' as they are not circulating in the market. Since January, the SHIB team has been testing a new automated burn mechanism on Puppynet, the Shibarium testnet, which they have referred to as a new epoch in SHIB burns. Earlier this week, the official account of the Shiba Inu token announced a scheduled hard fork of the Shibarium chain on May 2. This major upgrade is expected to significantly increase the speed of new block production and make transaction fees predictable, ensuring equality for all users. The hard fork will also introduce new possibilities for Shibarium users and simplify engagement with this Layer-2 blockchain. In other news, the SHIB team has recently raised $12 million for the development of a Layer-3 blockchain on top of Shibarium, aimed at enhancing security and privacy for its users and their transactions.

According to U.Today, Ripple's Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, recently reminisced about his first tweet, which he posted 15 years ago when he joined the social media platform, Twitter. The XRP community showered Schwartz with supportive and appreciative comments. Schwartz's first tweet, 'The passive voice will be used by me!', was posted two months after he created his account in 2009. This tweet set the tone for his humorous and engaging interaction style with his community. In 2022, Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk for $44 billion and rebranded as X, introducing longer posts, live video streams, and monetization options for content creators. Schwartz has been an active user of the platform since its early days, often using it to engage with the XRP community. In a separate tweet in mid-April, Schwartz revealed what could make him leave Ripple. He stated that he has been with the company all these years because he enjoys his work. However, if the fun aspect disappears, he would consider leaving and investing his time and effort in another project. Schwartz, who owns about 2% of the company's stock, clarified that he could theoretically quit now as he doesn't need to continue working for Ripple. Despite this, he admitted that he is not a billionaire and believes that choosing Ripple shares over XRP was a mistake. Ripple co-founders Chris Larsen, Arthur Britto, and Jed McCaleb opted to receive 20 billion XRP between them. However, in 2020, the SEC sued Ripple and Larsen for selling XRP as unregistered securities to institutional investors. The lawsuit against Larsen and CEO Garlinghouse was dropped three years later, but the legal battle between the SEC and Ripple Labs is still ongoing.