BitcoinOS released its whitepaper presenting innovative solutions addressing Bitcoin’s scalability and smart contract limitations.

The innovations include BitSNARK technology and Grail Rollup Bridges, facilitating seamless communication and asset movement between Bitcoin (BTC) and other blockchains.

Though not explicitly mentioned in the whitepaper, CASTL is a shared infrastructure concept that ensures the security and interoperability of these projects within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Unlike alternative approaches that create separate sidechains for defi on Bitcoin, BitcoinOS focuses on leveraging Bitcoin’s inherent capabilities for complex transactions and defi applications directly secured by the Bitcoin network.

The whitepaper aims to assist in reaching Bitcoin’s potential by enabling advanced functionalities like privacy-preserving transactions and smart contracts directly on Bitcoin through rollups.

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Consolidating functionalities eliminates the need for separate chains and tokens, positioning Bitcoin as a central hub for various crypto activities.

Moreover, BitcoinOS aims to future-proof technology by enabling zero-knowledge proofs and rollups directly on Bitcoin.

The whitepaper notes that “we are witnessing a move away from fragmented, experimental chains towards consolidation and rebundling,” with Bitcoin poised to become the dominant platform for crypto activities.

Essentially, the BitcoinOS whitepaper represents a notable shift towards Bitcoin reclaiming its central role in the cryptocurrency realm. It intends to consolidate diverse capabilities from various chains into Bitcoin, potentially positioning it as a versatile platform for various crypto activities.

BitcoinOS originates from the Sovryn defi community, benefiting from the experience and foresight cultivated within Sovryn. Sovryn has received support from investors like Galaxy Digital and General Catalyst, raising over $24 million.

Read more: Glassnode: Bitcoin’s issuance rate sinks lower than gold’s after fourth halving

Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol has transitioned into general availability, marking a step forward in enhancing cross-chain connectivity.

The protocol enables developers to conduct cross-chain token transfers and smart contract messaging across diverse blockchain networks. Additionally, it allows for function calls on smart contracts deployed across different blockchains, enhancing cross-chain smart contract interoperability.

According to Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink, the general availability of the Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol’s (CCIP) mainnet will streamline developers’ implementation, thereby strengthening cross-chain connectivity.

“CCIP is now starting to become the standard for both capital markets blockchain transactions across banks, as well as the way that secure Web3 cross-chain value and data is moved across public chains,” Nazarov said.

Cross-chain bridges play a crucial role in facilitating transactions between distinct blockchain networks and present significant vulnerability points in the crypto landscape. Chainlink (LINK) stands as one of the prominent entities addressing the issue of cross-chain interoperability, which remains a pressing challenge within the industry.

You might also like: Capital inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs total $31m

Recently, Chainlink introduced Transporter, a cross-chain messaging application that simplifies cross-chain crypto transfers through an intuitive user interface. Transporter utilizes CCIP, hailed as the sole cross-chain protocol to attain level-5 security, according to a representative from Chainlink.

Chainlink CCIP has officially entered general availability. Now, all developers can integrate #CCIP across all supported blockchain mainnets in a faster, easier, and more self-serve manner than ever before.https://t.co/VBQEBQViye pic.twitter.com/pgg4q2X7GW

— Chainlink (@chainlink) April 24, 2024

CCIP operates on nine blockchains, including Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, BNB Chain, Ethereum, Kroma, Optimism, Polygon, and WEMIX, with plans for further network integration. The protocol aims to assist financial institutions in leveraging the potential of tokenized assets, offering improved liquidity access for cross-chain assets.

According to the blog from Chainlink, CCIP is an integral component of the broader Chainlink platform, which allows financial institutions to access tokenized assets by addressing their requirements related to data management, cross-chain operations, regulatory compliance, and synchronization.

Read more: Uniswap down 17% as whales sell off, Hedera & Chainlink rival on the rise

Samourai Wallet founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill have been arrested by U.S. authorities for laundering over $100 million.

According to an April 24 press statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, federal prosecutors have indicted Rodriguez and Hill with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitter via crypto-mixing platform Samourai. 

Per the notice, Rodriguez was arrested on U.S. soil, while Hill was apprehended in Portugal and will be extradited to face trial. If convicted, Rodriguez faces a sentence of up to 20 years and Hill up to five years.

Samourai’s Wallet website, hosted in Iceland, was also seized, and the Google Play Store was petitioned to offboard the application. 

Samourai Wallet website seized | Source: U.S. DOJ

You might also like: Unveiling the shadows: FinCEN’s crackdown on crypto mixers

Authorities allege that the pair allowed more than $2 billion in unlawful transactions through the protocol, pocketing over $4.5 million in processing fees since 2015. The DOJ said Samourai’s creators marketed the platform as “focused on censorship resistance and black/grey circular economy,” offering bad actors a haven to operate clandestine activities. 

Private messages and social media posts attributed to Hill were cited as evidence to support the argument that Samourai knew criminals leveraged the tool and even encouraged it in some cases. 

The arrests are a continuation of an ongoing crackdown on crypto mixers believed to be used by threat actors like North Korea’s Lazarus to evade oversight and undermine law enforcement. 

Last month, federal prosecutors won a case against Bitcoin Fog founder Roman Sterlingov for facilitating over $400 million in illegal drug sales.

The DOJ also has a case against Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Roman Semenov, while other crypto mixers like Blender and Sinbad have been sanctioned.

Read more: Tornado Cash co-founder seeks dismissal of US crypto-laundering charges

According to an S&P report, a bipartisan stablecoin bill may give banks an advantage over other institutions and incentivize competition in the digital asset custody business.

If approved, the Lummis-Gillibrand Payment Stablecoin Act proposed on April 17 seems positioned to introduce regulatory clarity for the $157 billion-strong stablecoin market currently dominated by Tether (USDT). 

Stablecoins are fiat-pegged cryptocurrencies that offer stability in an otherwise volatile financial market. Such assets are typically tied to sovereign currencies like the U.S. dollar, such as Circle’s USD Coin (USDC), serving as gateways to on-and-off ramp liquidity. 

The bill would permit U.S. banks to issue fiat-pegged tokens with no threshold, but require service providers without a banking license to maintain a market cap under $10 billion. 

According to Andrew O’Neil, Managing Director and Co-Chair of S&P Global’s Digital Assets Research Labs, the regulatory framework will give banks an edge over other market participants and incentivize blockchain adoption in the financial sector through asset tokenization and digital bond issuance.

O’Neil said on-chain payment rails offer real-time and efficient settlement, citing BlackRock Ethereum-based fund as an example.

“Investment group Blackrock’s BUIDL fund provides a recent use case. The tokenized fund, which uses the Ethereum blockchain and invests in U.S. treasuries, has a liquidity pool denominated in the USDC stablecoin, for which investors can redeem share tokens via a smart contract, instantaneously and 24/7.”

Andrew O’Neil, Managing Director and Co-Chair of S&P Global’s Digital Assets Research Labs

You might also like: Circle facilitates USDC swap for BlackRock’s tokenized fund

Although the Lummis-Gillibrand bill will not impact existing U.S.-based products like PayPal USD, the framework does not authorize offshore entities like Tether. The terms could shake USDT’s presence in the market, but O’Neil noted that Tether’s activities and volume are predominantly out of the United States.

Additionally, decentralized stablecoins are not included in the regulations, so offerings like Maker’s DAI and Frax Finance’s FRAX fall out of the proposal’s purview. Policymakers likely prefer centralized systems like USDC as they mirror existing financial operations, O’Neil explained. 

Finally, the S&P report predicted an influx of new providers in the digital asset custody industry, especially with an update to SEC rules which no longer require custodians to report crypto-assets on their balance sheet. crypto.news reached out to O’Neil and the S&P for further comment on the bill and its impacts.

“That policy not only differs from the general treatment of financial assets held in custody, which are generally off-balance sheet, but creates a capital requirement that likely discourages financial institutions from providing digital asset custody in the U.S. The new rules would remove that barrier and could lead to greater competition.”

Andrew O’Neil, Managing Director and Co-Chair of S&P Global’s Digital Assets Research Labs

Read more: Coin Center says Senate-presented stablecoin bill poses risks to innovation and free speech

TON blockchain developers announced a 2.5-fold reduction in the commission for transactions within the network.

According to the project team, the size of the transaction costs will vary depending on the value of the native token in dollars. At a price of 1 Toncoin (TON), the commission for the first transaction with Jettons will be around $0.06, and for subsequent ones, $0.04.

Starting on April 16, transactions with USDT have and will continue to receive a special discount of 0.02 TON instead of 0.032 TON for the first transaction and 0.0145 TON for subsequent transactions.

In the next node update, the developers plan to introduce the ability to pre-compile smart contracts.

“This means that the most popular smart contracts, written in C++, will be embedded directly in the node, bypassing the need for TVM execution. This adjustment reduces resource consumption and, consequently, the fees associated with these contracts.”

TON announcement

Following the announcement, the price of TON fell by 2.4% to $5.55 at the time of writing. Toncoin has continued to decline in price shortly after updating its all-time high of $7.65 on April 11.

Source: CoinMarketCap

Over the past week, the coin has lost nearly 10% of its value despite recent announcements by Telegram founder Pavel Durov at the Token2049 conference in Dubai. Reports of support for the USDT stablecoin on the TON blockchain have also been announced.

On April 16, rumors appeared that the TON team was planning to reduce user transaction costs. This year, TON is also expected to introduce gas-free transactions, update the Wallet 5.0, and develop new Teleport cross-chain technology.

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Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Explore analysts’ predictions for BlockDAG to hit $10 by 2025 amid Solana’s Ecosystem Growth & understand how to hedge against Doge volatility.

The Solana Ecosystem exhibits remarkable resilience and growth in the wake of the Bitcoin halving event. At the same time, investors in Dogecoin may find value in diversifying their portfolios with assets like Shiba Budz to mitigate risks.

Meanwhile, fresh off the heels of the DAGpaper release, the BlockDAG team tantalizes enthusiasts with a moon-based keynote video teaser, amplifying the project’s anticipation. 

Advancing in its current batch 9, BlockDAG has garnered an impressive $20.1 million in its ongoing presale, with projections suggesting an imminent conclusion of the presale within the next three months. Additionally, there’s excitement over forecasts indicating a potential price surge to $10 by 2025. 

Solana ecosystem’s rally amid market fluctuations

Recently, geopolitical factors and the April 19 Bitcoin Halving event have triggered volatility in the crypto market. 

Despite a 17% drop last week, Solana (SOL) has rallied, fueled by growth in the Solana ecosystem and strategic integrations. Even after a challenging month, SOL’s market cap still exceeds $65 billion, maintaining its position as the fifth-largest globally.

This resilience is underscored by a surge in trading volume to $5.7 billion, indicating heightened interest. Key drivers of SOL’s recovery include the expansion and growth of the Solana ecosystem in Web3 gaming and a recent integration with Coinbase Wallet, which now facilitates the trading of over 50,000 Solana-based tokens.

You might also like: BlockDAG: Analyzing its 30,000x ROI potential amidst NFTFN & Bitbot presales

Optimizing risk: Balancing Dogecoin fluctuations

Dogecoin, a leading meme coin, is renowned for its strong community and media presence but is also marked by significant price volatility. This has created both challenges and opportunities for investors. To manage risks and potential profits, savvy investors are diversifying with new, Doge-like cryptos like Shiba Budz amid fluctuating markets. 

For those committed to meme cryptocurrencies, balancing a portfolio with both Dogecoin and Shiba Budz could be crucial for managing investment risks while capitalizing on their high-reward potential. Understanding Dogecoin price swings, influenced by speculative trading and media, is vital for devising effective investment strategies.

BlockDAG: Pioneering the future of blockchain with a $20.1M presale  

BlockDAG is emerging as a compelling investment prospect in the cryptocurrency presale market, bringing innovative tools and platforms that are set to transform user interaction with blockchain technology. 

Its ecosystem includes an Explorer Platform, a Low Code/No Code Platform for easy smart contract creation, and a Proof of Engagement Mobile Application. These tools not only enhance the user experience and scalability but also significantly reduce transaction fees.

Furthermore, the BlockDAG Payment Card integrates digital assets into everyday transactions, promoting wider adoption of cryptocurrencies. 

This card, along with the platforms for smart contract development, enables even those without extensive coding skills to create utility tokens, meme coins, and NFTs, thereby democratizing access to blockchain technology. Such advancements mark significant strides towards simplifying and expanding blockchain applications in the DeFi and supply chain sectors.

Moreover, emerging as the best presale, BlockDAG has reached stage 9, amassing an impressive $20.1 million in its ongoing presale. Following the release of DAGpaper and a mega appearance on the Las Vegas Sphere, BlockDAG now aims for the extraordinary as it dropped a moon-themed teaser for its upcoming keynote video.

BlockDAG, with a clear roadmap that includes a six-month mainnet launch and an ambitious $600 million revenue target for 2024, is recognized by analysts not only as crypto with a 1000x return potential but as one that could achieve up to 30,000x.

You might also like: BlockDAG’s $600m goal eclipses Solana’s downturn and SHIB’s burn strategy

The last say

The Solana ecosystem has experienced a rally driven by its inherent resilience. However, the fluctuations in Dogecoin prices, while potentially lucrative for some, often pose a risk for investors seeking more stable returns. 

On the other hand, the preview of BlockDAG’s upcoming keynote video reflects its commitment and forward-looking endeavours. 

This notable milestone highlights the steadfast confidence and backing from initial investors. In Batch 9, BlockDAG has secured over $20.1M million in funding and distributed over 8 billion coins in its presale. These remarkable figures firmly position it not only as crypto with 1000x returns but as one that can achieve up to 30,000x.

Website    Presale    Telegram   Discord

You might also like: BlockDAG’s moon-based keynote drives presale, outshines ETH, LINK

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. crypto.news does not endorse any product mentioned on this page. Users must do their own research before taking any actions related to the company.

Since the beginning of 2024, large Bitcoin holders have accumulated an additional 266,000 BTC.

According to Santiment analysts, this BTC value amounts to $17.5 billion. The company notes that whales with balances ranging from 1,000 BTC to 10,000 BTC received 1.24% of the total asset supply of 21 million during the mentioned period.

🐳 #Bitcoin's key whale tier holding 1K-10K $BTC are supporting this rise, and have now accumulated 266K more $BTC since the start of 2024. This translates to an accumulation of 1.24% of the entire supply. The crowd is also showing a high degree of #FOMO. https://t.co/fNSTOERzXo pic.twitter.com/qaJmQJfFca

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) April 24, 2024

Santiment also believes institutional investors are helping to reduce industry volatility. In addition, the mentioned market players supported the Bitcoin rate growth before the halving, which experts emphasize will significantly impact the asset’s value after the halving.

Many traders fear missing out (FOMO). Santiment said many users believe the Bitcoin rate should soon return to the $70,000 mark.

You might also like: Santiment: Micro Bitcoin wallets hit record holdings in November

CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju notes that new whales’ investments in Bitcoin are almost twice as high as those of older major players.

The expert classified whale addresses not associated with CEX and miners, with a balance of over 1,000 BTC. The new category included owners of coins less than 155 days old, with older ones exceeding this period.

The new whales' initial investment in #Bitcoin is almost twice the old whales' cumulative total. pic.twitter.com/SU5Aiw1nJB

— Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) April 23, 2024

The launch of spot crypto ETFs in the American market and the April halving, which reduced BTC issuance, were key factors contributing to the activation of newer whales.

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Strike, a Bitcoin-only app, has expanded support to European customers following massive regional demand and rising cryptocurrency prices. 

On April 24, Strike CEO Jack Mallers shared plans to power Bitcoin (BTC) adoption in Europe by allowing users to buy, sell, and send the leading crypto token across the continent. 

An official announcement said eligible European customers could buy BTC via bank accounts using uncapped Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) deposits. As of this writing, SEPA’s area consists of 36 countries, including all European Union member states, four countries in the European Free Trade Association, and the United Kingdom. 

Mallers also explained that Strike users can withdraw Bitcoin into self-custody or via the Lightning network to any supported wallet. 

Furthermore, the BTC-focused app will enable P2P transfers, allowing customers to engage in cross-border payments denominated in Bitcoin, euros within Europe, U.S. dollars in America, or Tether’s USDT in supported regions.

“Today marks another milestone in our global journey, but our work is far from over. We will continue to enter new markets, support more currencies, add payment methods, expand our services, and iterate on the experience.”

Jack Mallers, Strike CEO

Strike’s Bitcoin expansion spree

Strike’s foray into European markets coincides with heightened interest in BTC and crypto-related services from the region’s populace. As crypto.news reported earlier this month, the continent is a leader for Google searches regarding BTC technological upgrades and dominates the crypto-banking sector with over 60 banks offering digital asset services. 

However, Europe is only the latest destination for Strike. Last year, the firm moved its global headquarters to El Salvador, where it was looking to tap the Latin American market. The BTC platform also has a presence in the U.S. and across Africa, servicing more than 100 countries worldwide. 

Mallers, a vocal BTC maxi, has said that the cryptocurrency will hit $1 million due to its fundamental design and global hyperinflation. The founder backed up his belief by going all in BTC, supposedly holding zero USD. 

I no longer own any US dollars. Not even a penny.As an American millennial, I love our country but I oppose our money.I'm all in on #Bitcoin. Setting my sails toward prosperity or going down with the ship.I believe it's important to take a stance now more than ever 🫡 pic.twitter.com/XhWPfQzG3d

— Jack Mallers (@jackmallers) January 2, 2024

Read more: Strike CEO Jack Mallers goes all-in on Bitcoin, ditches US dollar

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Meme coins continue to be the talk of the town on Solana as Slothana (SLOTH) gears up to launch next week.

After a presale that’s raised over $15 million from retail traders, this irreverent project is hoping to make a splash and follow in the footsteps of previous viral meme coins.

SLOTH presale enters final days with DEX listing imminent. The stage is set for another meme coin to break out on Solana. And that coin could be Slothana, just days away from its open market debut.

This hilarious meme project, which is all about investors channeling their inner sloth, has been raking in SOL contributions for over a month.

Now, with the presale set to end on April 29, anticipation is building around where the SLOTH token will start trading. While the development team is keeping those listing details under wraps for now, those who follow Slothana’s Twitter account believe an announcement will come early next week.

This move would make sense since it would align with the presale’s conclusion. Moreover, the timing of Slothana’s launch looks ideal.

The Bitcoin halving has finally occurred, and investors now believe that a bull market is highly likely.

As such, SLOTH may be perfectly positioned to latch onto the upside if Slothana’s team can execute a successful DEX listing.

You might also like: Traders think Slothana could be the next big Solana meme coin

What is Slothana, and why all the hype?

But what is it about Slothana that has investors so excited?

The main reason is Slothana’s simple yet brilliant meme coin concept – which focuses on one of nature’s most laidback creatures.

There’s no utility or fancy use cases here.

Just a lazy mammal acting as Slothana’s mascot, helping it go viral on social media through a hilarious selection of memes and visuals.

It’s admittedly silly, yet charming nonetheless. And that’s precisely the simplicity that has produced exponential returns for countless meme coins in recent months.

Just look at the Slerf (SLERF) token launched in March – another sloth-themed meme project that briefly hit a market cap of over $520 million.

By tapping into this proven formula of a cute mascot with no utility, Slothana could be set to follow in SLERF’s footsteps.

Moreover, since SLOTH is entering the booming Solana meme coin ecosystem, it may quickly capture the attention of investors seeking the next token twitch’s explosive price potential.

You might also like: PEPE rises ahead of Coinbase listing as Slothana prepares for IEO

Could SLOTH be the next meme coin to explode on Solana?

Ultimately, the stars look to be aligning for Slothana to liftoff. With 1 SOL currently snagging 10,000 SLOTH in the presale, valuing each token around $0.0157, this new token has a prime opportunity to catch fire when it lists.

This is because meme coins have managed to shed their degenerate stigma in 2024.

They’re now a key part of the crypto market, with tier-one exchanges like Coinbase launching Pepe (PEPE) perpetual futures earlier this week.

There are also plans to launch Dogwifhat (WIF) perpetual. Against this backdrop of rapidly growing meme coin infrastructure, an offering as charming as Slothana looks set to benefit from the legitimization of these joke tokens.

When combined with SLOTH’s low presale price, soaring social media hype, and the growth of the Solana ecosystem, all the ingredients are there for the token to make a splash.

As such, investors are strapping in – hoping that SLOTH can be the next Solana-based meme coin to turn heads.

To learn more about this project, visit the Slothana website.

Read more: New meme coins listings to watch: Pepe, Slothana, Dogwifhat

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. crypto.news does not endorse any product mentioned on this page. Users must do their own research before taking any actions related to the company.

Binance burned 1.94 million Binance Coin tokens, removing them from circulation.

The cryptocurrency exchange Binance announced the completion of its 27th quarterly Binance Coin (BNB) token burn, removing $1.17 billion worth of coins from circulation. The volume of BNB destroyed was approximately 1.3% of the total supply of the asset.

The 27th quarterly $BNB token burn has been completed directly on BNB Smart Chain (BSC) during the ongoing BNB Chain Fusion.🔥1.94M #BNB has been burned 🔥View burn details ⬇️ https://t.co/N2pp3Lu5Sf pic.twitter.com/S9Jrm5eUdL

— BNB Chain (@BNBCHAIN) April 24, 2024

However, this time, the procedure did not include burning tokens as part of the Pioneer Burn program.

The BNB token’s price failed to react to the news about the burning of tokens. According to CoinMarketCap, in 24 hours, the token lost 0.9% from its previous value, falling to $600 at the time of writing.

Over the past week, the token’s price rose by 13% despite recent news about the U.S. seeking to impose a three-year jail sentence on Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.

Source: CoinMarketCap

BNB’s market capitalization dropped by 2.2% to $88 billion, while trading volumes increased slightly by 1.4%.

Before this, Binance removed approximately 2.14 million BNB worth $636 million from circulation in January. The volume of BNB destroyed was approximately 1.38% of the total supply of the asset.

During the launch of BNB in 2017, a commitment was made to destroy 100 million coins — half of the coin’s entire supply — through burning. The offer is automatically executed every quarter and calculated using the auto-burn formula.

Binance representatives explained that this provides a transparent, auditable, and objective process independent of the centralized exchange. In addition, BNB Chain continuously burns a portion of the gas fees on the blockchain in real-time.

You might also like: Binance loses 25% of Bitcoin market share as offshore markets shrinks

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Amid the market recovery, Cardano blockchain announces a new partnership with Huawei’s cloud. 

Aptos price plummets 21% as 25 million locked APT tokens are released. Meanwhile, Castula Network emerges as the next generation of Web3 DeFi crypto exchange, allowing users to buy, sell, and swap cryptocurrency instantly through its non-custodial crypto application.

With over 50,000 supported currency pairs, no need to connect a wallet, and free of custody, Castula Network is projected to set the DeFi space in a frenzy, with expectations of its presale selling out in the coming months.

You might also like: How to generate defi passive income through lending crypto

Cardano price up amid partnership with Huawei Cloud

Cardano recently announced its partnership with Huawei Cloud to advance its ecosystem by integrating Huawei’s robust cloud infrastructure. The move may empower developers to create innovative Web3 solutions on Cardano. Additionally, the partnership may improve the interoperability and scalability of Cardano’s cloud services.

As the Cardano community awaits more details and integration of this partnership, there is growing excitement about the potential benefits. 

The trading volume has had a 210% surge to stand at $1.2B, reflecting the excitement of the partnership. However, the new development has yet to reflect on the price of Cardano, as it has witnessed a 12% outflow in the last seven days. Analysts believe nothing has changed regarding Cardano coin price action. ADA is precisely where it should be, consolidating in the $0.55-$0.80 range before it breaks out to $1.70.

Aptos faces price correction amid major token release

Aptos’ price has experienced a lacklustre performance in the crypto market. With the anticipated upcoming supply, which is expected to increase the token supply by $300 million, the price of Aptos is still registering a significant decline. It had an over 21% decline in the past week, making it among the worst-performing cryptos, according to CoinMarketCap.

Aptos crypto released 24.84 million locked-up APT tokens on April 12. Of these tokens, $141 million was distributed to core contributors, $100 million to investors, $38 million to community members, and $16 million to ecosystem development. The released tokens only represent 6% of the current circulating supply; the move has significantly doubled its trading volume, with a staggering 198% at $520 million.

You might also like: Binance-backed defi protocol Velvet Capital suffers front-end attack

Castula Network (CNK): Next-gen web3 DeFi crypto exchange

Castula Network will be the next-generation Web3 DeFi exchange that enables users to buy, sell, and swap cryptos through its non-custodial crypto application. Leveraging infinite liquidity, users will swap cryptos in a simple, reliable, and fast solution.

Impressively, the platform has over 50,000 supported currency pairs, no need for connecting wallets, and is free of custody. While the DeFi market still needs help with increased scams, complex technology and protocols, and issues with multi-chain compatibility, Castula Network enters the DeFi space to solve these problems, bringing Web3 protocols to the masses.

Castula Network will not require KYC or account setup to initiate exchanges or swaps. As part of the ecosystem, Castula Network will incorporate a portfolio tracker where users can track their wallets, exchange accounts, and other assets, such as stocks. Moreover, users will be updated on market conditions with easily digestible charts and statistics, allowing them to analyze their performance and improve their results.

Interestingly, the CNK token will govern the Castula Network ecosystem, starting at an initial offering of $0.1. Holders of CNK tokens will have access to exclusive offers on services offered in the Castula ecosystem, such as discounts on trading and swapping fees initiated on the decentralized exchange (DEX). Castula Network provides a promising solution to address scalability and security challenges in the DeFi space.

Conclusion 

Aptos’s price is declining as its circulating token supply surges, potentially overriding its demand. Meanwhile, the Cardano ecosystem is excited over its partnership with Huawei Cloud, which offers speed, security, and unparalleled scalability. 

Castula Network, on the other hand, is celebrating the launch of its technical whitepaper and is poised to be the best crypto platform and the best DeFi coin to watch in 2024.

To learn more about this project, visit the Castula Network presale website or join the community via Telegram   Twitter

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Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. crypto.news does not endorse any product mentioned on this page. Users must do their own research before taking any actions related to the company.

Crypto security startup Fireblocks has rolled out public access to its dApp Protection and Transactions Simulation tool to bolster on-chain safety when moving assets. 

Following the introduction of spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs in U.S. markets and rising cryptocurrency prices leading into this year, decentralized finance has witnessed a fresh spate of institutional investment and detail adoption. 

According to DefiLlama, used have stashed over $100 billion in decentralized protocols for the first time since May 2022, signaling an appetite for crypto solutions and on-chain participation. 

Defi TVL around $100 billion | Source: DefiLlama

Fireblocks has also noticed a 75% uptick in institutional defi volume on its platform, valued at nearly $4.5 billion month-over-month. While this represents positive sentiment for the overall crypto market, it also incentivizes bad actors and paints a target on the digital asset industry. 

The crypto safety provider cited a CertiK study that points to over $500 million in stolen crypto wealth during this year’s opening months. A report shared with crypto.news argued that traders face obstacles when identifying potential risks due to complexities associated with defi transactions. 

You might also like: Fireblocks launches non-custodial wallet-as-a-service

Fireblocks’ solution

To combat this issue, Fireblocks expanded a suite of on-chain security guardrails to protect users engaging in blockchain operations. 

“A new proactive security approach for DeFi is required — one where traders and operations teams can automatically monitor malicious activity, identify high-risk threats across common attack vectors, and gain context into the impact of a contract call, all before approving a transaction or connecting with a dApp.”

Shahar Madar, Fireblocks’ VP for Security and Trust Products

Clients can access the dApp Protection and Transactions Simulation panel via Fireblocks’ browser extension, MetaMask Institutional, and WalletConnect. The aim is to give institutional customers real-time threat-detection tools capable of analyzing smart contract calls and initiating preventive measures. 

A company spokesperson said the security firm already scanned transactions worth over $10 billion during its beta phase to finetune its systems geared against malicious contract interaction. 

Read more: Fireblocks disclosed vulnerabilities for crypto wallets

Bitcoin’s fourth halving event has drawn significant attention to its comparison with gold regarding scarcity, as highlighted by Glassnode analysts.

According to Glassnode, this event marked a historic moment where Bitcoin’s (BTC) issuance rate fell below that of gold for the first time, emphasizing a pivotal shift in the narrative surrounding the two assets.

As reported, the halving event on Saturday reduced block subsidies, with the issuance dropping from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC per block. This translates to an issuance of approximately 450 bitcoin per day, further underlining the event’s impact on Bitcoin’s supply dynamics.

Yassine Elmandjra from ARK Investment Management echoed similar sentiments, noting that Bitcoin’s issuance rate post-halving is now lower than gold’s long-term supply growth.

Elmandjra’s analysis, as shared in the ARK Disrupt newsletter, emphasized the significant decrease in Bitcoin’s supply growth following the halving event, reinforcing its comparison with gold. Glassnode analysts further supported Elmandjra’s observation regarding the reduction in Bitcoin’s supply growth.

Bitcoin versus Gold issuance rate from Glassnode

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They suggested that while the halving events continue to affect Bitcoin’s available traded supply, the impact may diminish across cycles due to the asset’s expanding size and ecosystem.

Assessments such as these provide valuable insights into the evolving dynamics between Bitcoin and gold, shedding light on Bitcoin’s increasing scarcity compared to the traditional precious metal.

Today, Bitcoin’s price is down 2.5% and just plunged below $65,000 at the time of writing.

24-hour chart of BTC from TradingView

Read more: Bitcoin’s post-halving behavior: trends and analysis

On April 23, net daily capital inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs totaled $31.64 million.

According to SoSo Value, despite the decrease in asset inflows from $62 million on April 22 to $31 million on April 23, a positive trend has continued for the third trading day.

During this period, Bitcoin funds received $153.29 million from inflows.

Source: SoSo Value

A day earlier, BlackRock‘s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) crypto fund took first place in capital inflow. It added $37.92 million to its balance sheet, bringing funds under management to $15.48 billion.

In second place is an investment product from ARK Invest and 21 Shares with $33.28 million; in third place is the fund from Bitwise with $23.23 million. The rest of the Bitcoin ETFs received a total of $6.3 million.

However, outflows were recorded from VanEck’s HODL fund and BTCO from Invesco and Galaxy Digital, respectively, $1.88 million and $332,480.

For the spot Bitcoin ETF, IBIT has recorded capital inflows for 70 days. Thus, the product entered this indicator’s top 10 best exchange-traded funds.

$IBIT inflow streak currently at 69 DAYS. one more day and it moves into Top 10 and ties $JETS (a streak I was equally as fascinated by) altho streak ending today would be pretty hilarious, show financial gods have sense of humor via @thetrinianalyst pic.twitter.com/niDzfaKqgp

— Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) April 22, 2024

IBIT has total assets under management (AUM) of $18.18 billion. BlackRock has also added several new authorized partners for its spot Bitcoin ETF. Their participation allows investors to buy and redeem shares for fiat.

Meanwhile, on April 15, Hong Kong approved spot ETFs for Bitcoin and Ethereum. The HashKey Capital and Bosera Capital fund will begin trading in Hong Kong on April 30.

You might also like: Can Hong Kong’s spot Bitcoin ETFs boost BTC price?

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

DeeStream, the new streaming sensation, is causing a lot of noise in the web3 space, and rightly so.

DeeStream is the name at the center of every crypto conversation as investors consider their options in the face of the recent crypto dip. 

The coin, which is currently in stage two of its presale, has caught the attention of Dogecoin and Tron supporters.

Many crypto experts believe that DeeStream can bring in massive returns before the end of the year, but that is not all. DeeStream’s approach to the current challenges of the streaming industry has made Dogecoin and Tron holders buy into the project.

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Dogecoin sees a slight rise post-Dogecoin day

A big name in the meme coin industry and the largest one by market cap, Dogecoin has been one of the finest crypto projects of the year and a hot topic among the crypto communities. 

The coin has been bullish, with analysts predicting it could ride the momentum to even higher heights.

The Dogecoin community had been anticipating the Dogecoin day of April 20, but the subsequent rise has not exceeded expectations. 

Dogecoin Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated by the Dogecoin community. This celebration embodies the joyful and enthusiastic essence of the coin as a leading meme coin. It has been associated with significant increases in the price of Dogecoin in previous years.

With only a minimal increase in this year’s celebration, investors are skeptical about the future of Dogecoin.

Tron investors attracted to DeeStream

Tron continues to impose itself on the crypto sector with its blockchain-based approach to decentralizing the web and changing how digital content and entertainment are shared and monetized. The project has garnered a lot of attention since its launch in 2018.

The Tron community has established itself as a loyal and formidable army. However, with the rise of DeeStream, with the potential to bring in massive profit margins, Tron investors are contemplating moving into the new streaming platform.

You might also like: DeeStream presale draws Tether, Tezos investors amid BTC halving buzz

DeeStream has front-row seats in a booming market

The new decentralized streaming platform, DeeStream, is bursting into the streaming industry and bringing a Web3-powered revolution. Where Twitch and Kick have been dominant forces, DeeStream is set to not only make a name for itself but also be the most preferred streaming platform for streamers and their fans.

DeeStream is a first-of-its-kind innovation in the live-streaming industry. The live-streaming sector is currently valued at $160.55 billion, and analysts believe this industry could be hitting as high as $247 billion by 2027. With DeeStream having a first-mover advantage in this market, it is expected to make significant profits by the end of the year.

According to recent reports, there is a shifting trend to live-streamed content, and as DeeStream introduces a new decentralized option, it is well-positioned to make the most of the market. Investors have an early opportunity to buy into the project while it is in the second stage of its presale. A token is selling for a discounted price of only $0.06, which is the lowest it is expected to be.

The stage is set for a burgeoning live-streaming industry, and DeeStream is right at the center to reap the rewards.

To learn more about this project, visit the DeeStream presale website.  

Read more: USDC and Polkadot investors gear up for DeeStream milestone

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. crypto.news does not endorse any product mentioned on this page. Users must do their own research before taking any actions related to the company.

Lawyers for Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon appealed the Supreme Court of Montenegro’s decision to extradite the entrepreneur.

According to The Korea Times, the entrepreneur’s defense filed another appeal after Montenegrin authorities decided to extradite Do Kwon in mid-April.

The media claim that lawyers want to avoid handing Do Kwon over to U.S. authorities. Kwon’s lawyers prefer to seek extradition to South Korea, where the founder of Terraform Labs is also accused of fraud.

“Kwon’s lawyers in Montenegro appealed the Podgorica High Court’s ruling on April 10 that conditions for his extradition to both the U.S. and Korea were met.”

The Korea Times report

Yesterday, the U.S. SEC demanded that Do Kwon and his former company pay $5.3 billion. The claims were announced after Terraform Labs and the businessman were found guilty of deceiving investors and the collapse of the UST stablecoin.

The courts of Montenegro have been making and challenging various decisions regarding the extradition of Do Kwon for several months. In early March 2024, one of the authorities even approved sending the co-founder of Terraform Labs to South Korea. However, the prosecutor’s office appealed this decision.

Do Kwon and his business partner were arrested at Podgorica airport on March 23, 2023. The pair attempted to bypass passport control using fake documents and board a flight to Dubai.

You might also like: Montenegrin court approves Do Kwon’s extradition once again

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

As the Bitcoin halving approaches, investors focus on promising cryptocurrencies like TRON, Solana, and the rapidly rising KangaMoon for significant growth opportunities.

As the Bitcoin halving event draws closer, several investors are looking for promising cryptocurrency to invest in April. Three among those worth considering are TRON, Solana, and KangaMoon. While investors are still determining which to pick, these coins offer unique features and promising potential for growth.

KangaMoon (KANG), especially, is gaining attention with its successful presale, aiming for $7 million in presale funding. TRON faces challenges around $0.12, and Solana token recently dropped from $208 to $154. 

You might also like: Altcoin Sherpa remains bullish for BTC, while Dogwifhat, KangaMoon surge

KangaMoon to soon reach $6m in funding milestone  

The meme coin niche is getting more popular in the broader crypto market, and KangaMoon is causing a sensation as a new ICO with enticing features. Notably, KangaMoon has exceeded expectations in its presale as it nears the $5.5m presale revenue with projection to cross $6m by month-end. While it is arguably one of the most exciting new memecoin projects, the price of the native KANG token has surged by 290% from $0.005 to $0.0196.

Thanks to its community-focus approach, KangaMoon has now raised well over $5 million while boasting a rapidly-growing community, including over 20k registered members and over 6k token holders merely halfway in the fifth presale phase. 

Particularly, KangaMoon is a new meme coin project that blends social-fi elements, a community-driven approach, and GameFi’s Play-to-Earn (P2E) features. Users can participate in a gaming ecosystem dubbed “Kangaverse” and rack up rewards by engaging in battle contests with other players.

Besides, non-players can also place bets and earn rewards based on the battle outcomes. Winning these competitions allows investors to accumulate valuable assets, including the KANG token itself and other high-value in-game assets that can later be traded on a dedicated marketplace. Given its unique model, analysts think KANG price could surge by 10x when it hits top tier 1 exchanges later in Q2 and disrupt the burgeoning meme coin market.

You might also like: Crypto Rover suggests altcoins will surge: Chainlink, Floki, KangaMoon soar

TRON could reach new highs ahead of Bitcoin halving 

TRON’s market has been shaky lately, with its price struggling to stay above $0.12. Last week, it dropped by nearly 6%, from $0.108 to $0.124, and now it’s testing support at $0.11. The TRON coin started this downward trend a few months ago when its price fell from $0.14.

The coin’s value decreased by about 8% in the past month, trading within a price range of $0.12 and $0.11, and is trying to bounce back to reach new highs above $0.2. On a different note, IntoTheBlock, a company that analyzes crypto data, shared a big milestone for the TRON network: it now has over 100 million addresses with a balance. This development shows that more investors are using TRON, which is a good sign for its future and further price surges.

You might also like: Analyst: $1.70 breakout for Cardano; KangaMoon presale heats up as Solana dips

Solana might retest its monthly high before April ends

In the past month, Solana’s price saw a 10.42% drop in value, going from $208 to around $154. This steep fall could be because investors were worried about the upcoming Bitcoin halving in April. After reaching above $200, the Solana cryptocurrency went back down, showing a downward trend. 

In just one week, Solana’s value went down by more than 15%, trading within a price range of $123.9 and $183.3. If the price keeps going up, it might break through the $170 level, which could start a bigger upward trend. If things go well, Solana token could even go up to $190 or more, and if it keeps going up like this, it might get close to $200 soon.

To learn more about Kangamoon, visit the website or join the Telegram community. 

Read more: Crypto analyst predicts explosive gains for XRP; Toncoin and KangaMoon dominate the altcoin market

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. crypto.news does not endorse any product mentioned on this page. Users must do their own research before taking any actions related to the company.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

The Bitcoin Minetrix presale enters its final stage with an upcoming exchange listing, drawing significant investor interest and anticipation.

The presale for Bitcoin Minetrix (BTCMTX) – the mining platform that’s got everyone talking – is headed into the home stretch. And with an exchange listing just days away, investors are looking to acquire BTCMTX before the token hits the open market.

You might also like: Bitcoin Cash price surges; could Bitcoin Minetrix pump next?

Last call for BTCMTX presale

The final curtain is drawing on the presale for Bitcoin Minetrix – a stake-to-mine platform changing how investors earn Bitcoin. With the presale’s Stage 39 pushing towards its climax on Sunday at 12pm UTC, this could be investors’ last chance to stake a claim.

Because two days later, on April 30 at 10am UTC, presale buyers will be able to claim their purchased tokens before BTCMTX’s debut on major exchanges.

The buzz around these exchange listings has been high. As such, miners and investors are flocking to the presale, where BTCMTX tokens are priced at $0.0148.

Raising over $13 million in funding so far, it’s clear the presale has struck a chord with the investment community. And with the soft cap set at just over $15 million, there’s a growing belief that the remaining BTCMTX tokens could sell out soon.

YouTuber ClayBro seems to think so, stating that Bitcoin Minetrix has “huge capital gains potential.” ClayBro’s endorsement was backed up by Cilinix Crypto last month, who discussed whether BTCMTX could rally after launch.

You might also like: BTC breaks $63K, Bitcoin Minetrix raises over $11.5m in presale

Bitcoin Minetrix debuts stake-to-mine model

Bitcoin Minetrix has investors interested because it aims to bring cloud-based Bitcoin mining to the masses through its stake-to-mine model. Here’s how it works: Users stake their BTCMTX tokens to earn non-tradable mining credits over time.

These credits can be burned to receive legitimate BTC mining power from Bitcoin Minetrix’s rigs, with rewards flowing directly to users’ wallets. The more BTCMTX tokens that are staked, the more mining credits that are earned – it’s that simple.

Moreover, on top of stake-to-mine, Bitcoin Minetrix has a secondary staking protocol that provides estimated annual yields of 53%. For example, an investor could stake 10,000 BTCMTX tokens, and after one year, their token balance would have grown to 15,300.

All in all, with a massive 4 billion token supply and aggressive marketing ongoing, Bitcoin Minetrix’s team is positioning it as the next big player in decentralized mining.

You might also like: Ethereum soar above $3.2K, Bitcoin Minetrix flying in presale

Community rallies around Bitcoin Minetrix

Adding to the hype is that Bitcoin Minetrix has already been thoroughly scrutinized and approved by the blockchain auditor Coinsult. Their seal of approval should help ease any lingering doubts about Bitcoin Minetrix’s legitimacy.

Moreover, Bitcoin Minetrix has amassed a huge following of over 24,000 on Twitter and 14,000 on Telegram. These numbers testify to the growing demand for the platform’s stake-to-mine setup.

The buzz has spread through the crypto community, with Bitcoin Minetrix being featured on top-tier outlets like Cointelegraph and BeInCrypto. When outlets like these feature a project, the world pays attention – and that’s exactly what’s happening with Bitcoin Minetrix.

So, with just days before BTCMTX is listed on exchanges, the clock is ticking for investors to get in on the action. And with the Bitcoin halving piling even more pressure on miners, Bitcoin Minetrix’s features could be coming at the ideal time.

Those looking to learn more about Bitcoin Minetrix can visit the official website at bitcoinminetrix.com.

Read more: BTC adds 8%, Bitcoin Minetrix benefits from rally

Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. crypto.news does not endorse any product mentioned on this page. Users must do their own research before taking any actions related to the company.

Discover ways of funding blockchain projects. From bootstrapping to ICOs, learn how to secure funding for your venture and drive success.

Table of Contents

What is a blockchain fund, and how does it work?

Ways to fund your blockchain project

What is bootstrapping?

What is venture capital?

What is crowdfunding?

What are peer-to-peer loans?

What is an initial coin offering?

Final thoughts on funding blockchain

The success or failure of an entrepreneurial venture is closely tied to how much liquidity the startup has. That is no different in the crypto economy. You can develop the most innovative, world-changing technology, but if you run out of funding, you will have to close the shop. 

Fortunately, nowadays, several ways to fund your blockchain project do not involve begging your bank for a loan. This article will introduce five popular alternative ways to fund your blockchain venture that could make the difference between your project failing or succeeding.

What is a blockchain fund, and how does it work?

As mentioned above, a blockchain fund is the financial support for projects, startups, or initiatives built on blockchain technology. This funding is important in pushing forward blockchain technology research, development, and adoption. 

It usually works by leveraging decentralized networks, smart contracts, and cryptocurrencies to facilitate fundraising and investment activities. Most funding avenues involve some token creation and distribution as well as investor verification in line with know-your-customer (KYC) and anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.

Ways to fund your blockchain project

Funding blockchain projects works in several ways, including bootstrapping, venture capital, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer loans, and initial coin offerings (ICOs). 

Let us now take a closer look at each of these blockchain funding methods:

What is bootstrapping?

In the context of blockchain, bootstrapping refers to starting a new project or supporting its initial stages until it becomes self-sustaining from your pocket.

Some feel it is the easiest and most hassle-free way to fund your startup venture, especially if you and your team of developers are in a position to pool your funds together to get the project off the ground. 

The benefit of funding your startup is that you have no outside shareholders or private investors to answer to. Furthermore, bootstrapping your project will maintain your share in the company, which may one day be worth a lot of money.

Bootstrapping starts with using personal savings, credit cards, or income from a day job to finance the initial stages of the crypto project. It also prioritizes essential expenses and minimizes unnecessary costs. 

Bootstrapped crypto projects operate in a lean manner, staying flexible and adaptable to market changes. They often start with a minimum viable product (MVP) and gather customer feedback to improve over time.

Additionally, they emphasize generating revenue early on to fund further growth and development. This growth is organic through word-of-mouth, referrals, content marketing, and other cost-effective strategies.

As the project grows and generates more revenue, bootstrappers can gradually scale operations, hire additional staff, invest in marketing, or expand product offerings.

What is venture capital?

Venture capital is a form of private equity financing that funds startups and early-stage companies with high growth potential. This type of funding is quite popular in traditional financial circles and is also taking root in the blockchain sector. 

In the last few years, web3 startups have had more access to venture capital funding. For context, in the first quarter of 2022, venture funds raised more than $11 billion for 917 blockchain and crypto projects, according to a Pitchbook report. 

Source: Cryptorank

There was a downturn in funding in subsequent quarters. This downturn was mainly attributed to a bleak bear market. The downfall of major crypto companies like Terra, Celsius, and FTX also contributed to the slowing down of the crypto VC funding space. 

However, Q4 2023 recorded an upsurge in VC funding for crypto projects. It was propelled by the approval of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Additionally, the emergence of new blockchain use cases, such as real-world asset tokenization and DePIN networks, played a role in this uptick.

Having venture capitalists as investors means you will have to generate a profit sooner rather than later, as investors want to see returns. Also, some VCs like to take a more hands-on approach with their investments, which could mean you, as a founder, may only be calling some of the shots.

VC investors usually assess the potential of a project, its team, technology, and market fit before deciding to invest.

The investment process often broadly follows these steps:

Due diligence: VC firms conduct thorough due diligence on startups. They evaluate the project’s viability, technology, market trends, and competitive landscape.

Investment decision: If the project aligns with their investment thesis, VC firms negotiate terms such as valuation, equity, or token allocation with the startup.

Funding: Once terms are agreed upon, the VC firm provides capital to the crypto startup. In return, they receive equity or tokens.

Support and guidance: Beyond funding, VC firms offer mentorship, strategic advice, and networking opportunities to help the startup grow.

You might also like: What are crypto airdrops: how they work and where to find them

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding is a way for crypto projects to raise funds by collecting small contributions from many people, typically through an online platform. It’s like a digital version of fundraising, where people pool their resources to support ideas or initiatives they believe in.

Unlike traditional venture capital or angel investments, crypto crowdfunding removes the need for a third-party intermediary, allowing direct access to investors.

There are three main types of crowdfunding: reward-based, donation-based, and equity-based.

Rewards-based crowdfunding, as the name suggests, gives back to those who fund the project or startup with rewards. One of the most popular rewards-based crowdfunding platforms is the U.S.-based Kickstarter.

Donation-based crowdfunding is usually found in the non-profit sector and is a way for individuals or NGOs to fund a charitable project they are launching. In the for-profit space, donation-based crowdfunding is relatively rare.

Equity-based crowdfunding gives investors a small share in the company they are funding. Hence, startups can leverage online equity-based crowdfunding platforms such as Crowdfunder, CircleUp, and WeFunder instead of going public to raise money from private investors.

The crowdfunding process generally follows these steps: 

Project creation: A person or group with an idea for a crypto project creates a campaign on a crowdfunding platform such as Gitcoin or CoinStarter.

Campaign description: The creator then details the project, including its purpose, goals, timeline, and how the funds will be used. They may also offer rewards or incentives for different contribution levels to encourage people to participate.

Promotion: Next, the campaign creator promotes their crowdfunding campaign through social media, email, word-of-mouth, and other marketing channels to reach a wider audience and attract potential backers.

Contributions: Individuals interested in the crypto project can visit the crowdfunding platform and contribute. These contributions can range from minor to larger sums, depending on the contributor’s interest and financial capacity.

Funding goal: The campaign usually has a target goal representing the amount needed to achieve the project’s objectives. Some platforms use an “all-or-nothing” model, where the project must reach its goal to receive any funds, while others allow flexible funding, where the project gets all contributions regardless of whether the goal is met.

Campaign duration: Crowdfunding campaigns typically run for a set period, such as 30 days or 60 days. During this time, the campaign creator engages with backers, provides updates, and encourages more contributions to reach or exceed the funding goal.

Fund disbursement: If the campaign successfully reaches its funding goal, the crowdfunding platform processes the contributions and disburses the funds to the campaign creator, usually after deducting platform fees. The creator then uses the funds to execute the project as outlined in the campaign.

What are peer-to-peer loans?

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, or marketplace lending, is a form of borrowing and lending money directly between individuals or “peers” without involving traditional financial institutions like banks. 

It works well for those who do not like giving away a share of their company to outside investors and are comfortable taking on debt to fund their project. 

To secure a peer-to-peer loan, you must apply for your funding requirements to be listed on a peer-to-peer lending platform such as LendingClub or Prosper. 

Once your funding requirements and terms and conditions are agreed upon by both the startup and the P2P lending platform, the loan is listed, and individual investors can fund it. When the blockchain funding is full, the startup receives the money and repays it plus interest over the loan term in predetermined installments. All payments are handled through the peer-to-peer lending platform.

Peer-to-peer loans are a viable option for those struggling to receive a bank loan, which is the case for many crypto startups, and those who prefer not to give away equity in their new company.

What is an initial coin offering?

Finally, one of the most popular methods of funding a new blockchain project is through an initial coin offering. It is a fundraising method crypto projects use to raise capital by selling digital tokens or coins to investors.

These digital tokens act as an indirect stake in the project and track the startup’s performance. In that sense, ICOs are similar to stock IPOs, with the key difference being that the investors do not hold actual equity in the company. Instead, they hold a digital token that is indirectly linked to the project’s performance.

Source: Cryptorank

While launching digital token may seem daunting to some, platforms such as TokenMarket will handle the entire process for you for a fee. This makes fundraising via an ICO accessible to anyone looking to launch a new blockchain project.

To carry out an ICO, you first create a new digital token on a blockchain platform, often using Ethereum’s ERC-20 standard. These tokens represent ownership, utility, or other rights within the project’s ecosystem.

Next, publish a whitepaper detailing your project’s objectives, technology, team, tokenomics, use cases for the token, roadmap, and other relevant information. The whitepaper serves as a prospectus or business plan for potential investors.

After that, announce the token’s ICO, specifying the start and end dates of the token sale, the total supply of tokens, the token price, accepted cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) or Ethereum (ETH), and any bonuses or incentives for early investors. 

Once that is done, investors interested in your project’s potential can purchase its tokens during the ICO period. They send their contributions in cryptocurrencies to the project’s designated wallet address provided by the ICO.

After the ICO concludes, the project will distribute the purchased tokens to investors’ wallets based on the amount of cryptocurrency they contributed and the token allocation specified in the ICO terms.

The project can then use the raised funds to develop and implement its platform, technology, or services as outlined in the whitepaper. Token holders may participate in the project’s ecosystem, access services, receive rewards, or engage in governance activities, depending on the token’s utility.

Once the ICO is completed and tokens are distributed, the project may seek to list its tokens on crypto exchanges, allowing holders to trade their tokens and provide liquidity while potentially increasing its value based on market demand.

Final thoughts on funding blockchain

Funding blockchain projects is crucial for their success, as liquidity is vital in sustaining entrepreneurial ventures, especially in the crypto economy. 

Whether through bootstrapping, venture capital, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer loans, or ICOs, each funding method offers unique advantages and considerations. 

Bootstrapping provides independence but requires a personal financial commitment and strategic resource allocation. Venture capital brings expertise and resources but may involve relinquishing some control and meeting profit expectations. 

On its part, crowdfunding democratizes funding but requires effective marketing and engagement with backers, while peer-to-peer loans offer alternative financing without equity dilution but necessitate timely repayments. ICOs enable widespread investment but demand comprehensive planning and compliance. 

Choosing the right funding approach depends on your project goals, resources, and risk appetite. You will also need to carry out in-depth research into all possible avenues for bankrolling your crypto project to find what best suits your needs.

Read more: How to sell Bitcoin: a comprehensive guide

Two sources familiar with the matter say that the defunct cryptocurrency exchange FTX is looking to auction off the remainder of its Solana (SOL) token holdings.

Speaking to Bloomberg, the sources revealed that a “blind auction” is set to be held this week with an April 24 deadline. The result is slated to be announced the following day.

The development follows a report from FTX stating that it sold approximately $307.6 million worth of SOL and ZBC tokens in March. On April 5, the firm sold $1.9 billion worth of SOL tokens to multiple entities, such as Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Trading and Pantera Capital. The total figures for April are yet to be announced.

Mike Cagney, CEO of Figure Markets, previously confirmed that the auction was set to happen. His firm, which views the auction as an “investment opportunity,” is set to compete in it and is also raising funds for a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) to bid in the auction.

Other bidders include Figure Markets, Pantera Capital, and Abra. Abra CEO Bill Barhydt confirmed Abra’s involvement in an interview.  Meanwhile, sources familiar with Pantera have revealed that the firm is contemplating whether to bid directly in the auction or via the SPV route.

You might also like: Sam Bankman-Fried to aid class action lawsuit targeting FTX celebrity endorsers

The sales come in the aftermath of FTX’s collapse in November 2022. According to filings revealed last year, SOL made up the majority of FTX’s crypto holdings.

While the retail investors don’t directly benefit from the auction, some are looking to profit from the price swings that might transpire as a result of the massive exchange. At the time of writing, SOL was trading at $15.79, up 1.6% over the past 24 hours.

In related news, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has recently agreed to participate in a class-action lawsuit involving FTX investors and celebrity endorsers of the platform. Bankman-Fried is currently serving 25 years in prison for his role in the FTX collapse.

Read more: FTX straw donor Ryan Salame’s sentencing slated for May 28