1. Understand the Jolt zkEVM launched by a16z in one article
On April 9, 2024, the a16z crypto research and engineering team released a preliminary implementation of Jolt, a new SNARK design approach that is 2x faster than existing techniques, with more improvements to come.
Verifiable computation (commonly known as ZK) is a very powerful technology that applies to both blockchain and non-blockchain. It enables a computer (verifier) to delegate computation to another more powerful computer (prover) and have it efficiently verify that the computation was performed correctly. Click to read
2. Messari: Bitcoin report for the first quarter of 2024
Bitcoin (BTC) is the first consensus-based distributed peer-to-peer payment settlement network. Bitcoin (BTC) is the native asset of the Bitcoin blockchain and is the world's first digital currency without the control of a central bank or administrator. Bitcoin is often referred to as digital gold, and it has a predictable, stable, and autonomous monetary policy that gives it ideal value storage properties.
To ensure the security of its network, Bitcoin uses a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism to solve the "double-spending problem". PoW requires participants (miners) to contribute computing power to solve arbitrary mathematical puzzles in order to add new blocks to the blockchain. Bitcoin is rewarded to the miner who solves the puzzle first, thereby minting new Bitcoin. Click to read
3. What factors catalyzed TON’s sharp rise?
Toncoin (TON) continues its rally this month, becoming one of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap after surging 50% from its April lows, breaking its previous all-time high! What catalysts are driving TON’s outperformance?
The Open Network (TON) was originally created by the popular messaging app Telegram in 2018 as a competitor to Ethereum, but the company abandoned TON in 2020 after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against the company. Because the company raised $1.7 billion from the private placement, it argued that it was an unregistered security. Click to read
4. The Rollup co-founder: 2024 is the year of modular expansion of cryptocurrency
Modular blockchains have become the biggest zero-to-one innovation in crypto since Ethereum.
Following the highly anticipated launches of Celestia and Dymension, expectations are extremely high for upcoming modular ecosystem projects. With dozens of tokenless protocols preparing to launch on mainnet this year, and modular narratives seeping into every crevice of crypto media, I believe we are on the cusp of expansion similar to what happened after the birth of smart contracts.
5. Will there be a black swan before and after the Bitcoin halving?
Just when BTC (Bitcoin) was about to rise, breaking through the resistance line of the upper edge of the wedge (about $70,000) and occupying the position above $72k, the bears suddenly came back and pushed the bulls back into the wedge below $70,000. The bulls' breakout failed. The bears' confidence is roughly based on the following points: first, the US tax season is approaching; second, the Fed's tightening policy; third, the sluggish inflow of ETFs and the expansion of outflows. Click to read
