Ripple is set to join the stablecoin market, citing the sector's growing popularity and projected worth of $2.8 trillion by 2028. The company's stablecoin will be deployed on Ripple’s institutional-grade XRP Ledger and Ethereum later this year. It will be 100% backed by the US dollar, US short-term treasuries, and cash equivalents. Ripple's entry into the stablecoin market comes as Delaware-based venture firm VanEck also launched Agora to disrupt the sector. Ripple CTO David Schwartz believes the company's focus on stability and long-term market presence will set it apart in the competitive stablecoin market.

Polkadot parachains saw a record surge in new addresses in March, with over 400% growth surpassing 1.5 million. The majority of this increase is attributed to Asset Hub, contributing 1.3 million new addresses. Asset Hub, formerly Statemint, is a system parachain for issuing, managing, and using digital assets, including NFTs.

Several factors contributed to this surge. Circle's addition of Polkadot to its USDC-hosting chains list in late 2023, with the stablecoin generated on the Polkadot Asset Hub, may explain part of the new address increase. The anticipation of the major Polkadot 2.0 upgrade, expected later this year, could also be a factor.

The launch of new tokens on Polkadot via Asset Hub, including two meme coins, PINK and DED, may have had a more direct impact. PINK, the first meme coin on the chain, and DED, airdropped to DOT holders, have garnered significant followings. The Polkadot ecosystem continues to attract crypto users with its new projects, with the impact of the upcoming upgrade yet to be seen.

Ellipsis Labs, a decentralized finance (DeFi) company building on the Solana blockchain, has raised $20 million in a Series A funding round. The round was led by Paradigm, with participation from Electric Capital, which previously led Ellipsis Labs' $3.3 million seed round in August 2023. The funds will be used to expand the engineering team and accelerate the creation of a new financial ecosystem offering competitive financial products on high-throughput blockchains.

Ellipsis Labs' main product, Phoenix, is a decentralized exchange platform described as "the fastest on-chain Orderbook in DeFi," characterized by low protocol and network fees. It addresses the common liquidity issue in decentralized exchanges by allowing market makers to compete on quality of liquidity. Unlike other platforms, Phoenix does not incentivize market makers with extra tokens, instead focusing on proving the exchange system's self-sufficiency.

Co-founder Eugene Chen stated the decision to build on Solana was driven by the need for high throughput and low fees to support active liquidity. He also expressed skepticism towards the sustainability of profit incentives for automated market makers (AMMs), emphasizing the importance of a constant inflow of capital.

Crypto exchange Binance has announced it will cease support for Bitcoin NFTs on its marketplace from May 18, 2024. This decision comes just two months after the exchange enabled the buying, selling, and listing of Bitcoin NFTs. Binance has asked users to withdraw their Bitcoin NFTs from the marketplace before the deadline. From May 18, 2024, users will not be able to buy, deposit, bid on, or list NFTs on the Binance NFT Marketplace via the Bitcoin network. The platform will also stop supporting airdrops, benefits, or utilities associated with Bitcoin NFTs. This move follows asset manager Franklin Templeton's positive sentiment on the impact of Bitcoin NFTs on the Bitcoin ecosystem.

Franklin Templeton's Digital Asset Management Unit has released a report attributing the innovation on the Bitcoin network to Ordinals, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) inscribed on Bitcoin. The report notes the significant strides Ordinals have made since their introduction to the NFT market in February 2023, with a surge in trading volume observed in December 2023, surpassing Ethereum and Solana in NFT transaction volume.

However, the asset manager cautioned investors about the potential risks of investing in Ordinals, emphasizing that they could depreciate in value and are not insured.

In addition to Bitcoin NFTs, the report identifies the emergence of Bitcoin layer-2s and Bitcoin decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols as key drivers of innovation on the Bitcoin blockchain. New fungible token standards, such as BRC-20 and Runes, were also credited for fostering innovation on Bitcoin.

As per Dune Analytics, Bitcoin Ordinals have exceeded $3.1 billion in transaction volume. The Ordinals Marketplace currently boasts over 490k unique users and has facilitated over 2.3 million transactions to date.

In the rapidly evolving world of Web3, specialized marketing agencies are gaining traction. These firms understand the values, wants, and interests of Web3 audiences and help brands craft tailored messages and experiences. Web3 marketing agencies possess technical knowledge in blockchain, crypto wallets, tokens, and smart contracts, and have experience in building and engaging Web3 communities. They also have the creative ability to craft compelling narratives. Six Web3 marketing agencies that have been making waves recently include Chainstory, NinjaPromo, Lunar Strategy, Crowdcreate, Block Tides, and BDC Consulting. Each of these agencies brings unique strengths to the table, from strategic PR and narrative development to data-informed Web3 marketing strategies.

Zeus Network, a blockchain interoperability protocol aiming to connect Solana with other blockchains such as Bitcoin and Litecoin, has successfully raised $8 million in a funding round led by Mechanism Capital. Other participants included OKX Ventures, Animoca Ventures, Big Brain Holdings, Lemniscap, and The Spartan Group. The round was completed via a simple agreement for future equity (SAFE) at a valuation of $100 million.

The fundraising comes just before the launch of the $ZEUS token on April 4 via the Solana-based Jupiter’s LFG Launchpad. The token will be airdropped to various community members, with an initial allocation of 167.5 million out of a total supply of 1 billion. The Zeus Foundation will retain 20% of the initial supply, while 40% will be distributed to the community to support ecosystem growth.

Zeus Network's initial plans include the deployment of Apollo, a decentralized app aimed at bringing Bitcoin liquidity to Solana. The app, which was released on testnet four days ago, has already attracted over 40,000 users worldwide. The Zeus Layer, a cross-chain interoperability infrastructure, was built using a pluggable and programmable network of nodes on the Solana Virtual Machine.

Web3 infrastructure platform Raiinmaker has secured $7.5 million in a seed funding round co-led by Jump Capital and Cypher Capital. The round, which brings Raiinmaker's total funding to $12.5 million, also saw participation from Gate.io Labs, MEXC Global, Krypital Group, Launchpool, and New Tribe Capital. Raiinmaker's platform allows users to train AI agents and earn rewards on mobile devices, with rewards credited based on their impact on AI models.

The funding announcement precedes Raiinmaker's planned mainnet launch in April and the subsequent release of its native token, COIIN. Raiinmaker's technology has potential applications in sports, gaming, and entertainment sectors. The firm's funding success and upcoming developments reflect the growing intersection of AI and blockchain, with AI becoming a rapidly expanding segment within the blockchain industry.

VanEck Scion, the investment firm founded by Nick Van Eck, has raised $12 million in a seed round led by Dragonfly to launch Agora, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. The funding round also attracted participation from General Catalyst and Robot Ventures. Despite the dominance of Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC, the co-founders believe there is still room for a newcomer in the stablecoin market. Agora will initially be available outside the US, with the issuing entity based in The British Virgin Islands. The company aims to provide financial stability by pegging its value to assets like the dollar, backed by cash, Treasury bonds, and repurchase agreements.

Blockchain platform XION has raised $25 million in a funding round backed by Animoca Brands, Nomura's Laser Digital, Multicoin, Arrington Capital, Draper Dragon, Sfermion, GoldenTree, and others. XION aims to onboard the masses to Web3 by simplifying the process of building scalable, consumer-friendly apps on blockchains. The platform uses a Generalised Abstraction layer to remove technical barriers for all users and focuses on empowering developers to create engaging, consumer-centric applications leveraging blockchain technology. XION is the first blockchain to integrate USDC as its primary transactional currency, and it also features Meta Accounts for easy user onboarding. The funds will be used to accelerate platform development and expand its global ecosystem.

XION, a blockchain platform focused on onboarding the masses to Web3, has raised $25 million in a Series A funding round backed by Animoca Brands, Nomura’s Laser Digital, Multicoin, Arrington Capital, Draper Dragon, Sfermion, GoldenTree, and others. The platform aims to remove the complexities of building scalable consumer-friendly apps on blockchains by using a Generalised Abstraction layer, which creates secure, intuitive, and seamless user experiences.

XION enables developers to build, launch, and scale consumer-ready Web3 products from the ground up. Notably, it is the first blockchain to integrate USDC as its primary transactional currency, rather than launching a native token. The company believes this decision aids in predicting pricing across all interactions within its ecosystem. XION has also integrated Meta Accounts, allowing users to join its ecosystem using popular Web2 login methods like email and biometrics. The newly raised capital will be used to accelerate the development of XION's platform and global ecosystem, with the goal of making Web3 accessible to everyone.

Born Ready, the venture arm of metaverse platform Futureverse, has launched a $10 million fund to invest in Web3, metaverse, gaming, AI, and content sectors in the Asia-Pacific region. The fund is a collaboration between Futureverse and Korean-based Web3 and blockchain consulting firm Catalyze Research, aiming to advance ecosystem growth on Root Network.

Catalyze has been active in the Web3 space since 2017, investing in leading projects such as Matic Network (now Polygon), Biconomy, and Numbers Protocol. The company also provides support to startups exploring opportunities in metaverse, blockchain gaming, and web3, offering expertise in GTM strategy, marketing, and business development.

Futureverse and Catalyze plan to provide comprehensive strategic growth support to selected projects, driving exponential growth on The Root Network and unlocking opportunities for startups across the Asia-Pacific region, with a primary focus on Korea.

Midas Protocol, a real-world asset tokenization protocol enabling users to earn native interest from US treasury bills, has completed an $8.75 million funding round co-led by BlockTower Capital, Framework Ventures, and HV Capital. The round saw participation from Coinbase Ventures, GSR, Hack VC, Ledger, FJ Labs, Lattice Capital, and Theia Ventures, among others.

The company is introducing the $mTBILL, a stablecoin that will enable users to earn US T-Bills yield on-chain. Midas believes that for stablecoins to remain competitive, they must at least match the risk-free rate of return offered by US T-Bills. As traditional providers cannot legally distribute yield, Midas aims to fill this gap by offering exposure to yield, regulatory-compliant yield distribution, compatibility with DeFi protocols, and institutional-grade security.

Wilder World, a AAA massively multiplayer online (MMO) metaverse game, has launched on the Epic Games store and is now available for whitelisting. Players can explore Wiami, a virtual city where ancient wisdom meets futuristic innovation, and engage in activities such as exploring the metaverse city, competing in races, and socializing.

Dubbed the 'GTA of Web3', Wilder World challenges players to defy an authoritarian regime and defend Wiami. The game's first experience, a competitive racing game set in the Wiami universe, is currently in alpha testing and scheduled for wider release in 2024.

Built using Epic Games' Unreal Engine and in-game AI, Wilder World offers a next-gen gaming experience with stunning visuals and rich storytelling. The game also features a marketplace where players can buy, sell, and trade items, equipment, land, and avatars, actively participating in the game's economy. Wilder World's Web3 gaming features are powered by Polygon and Celestia blockchains, enabling infinite scalability.

Web3 AI training firm FLock has raised $6 million in a seed round co-led by Lightspeed Faction and Tagus Capital, with participation from DCG, OKX Ventures, Inception Capital, and Volt Capital. The funds will be used to expand the team and launch an upgraded testnet and federated learning client. FLock employs federated learning, a decentralized AI training mechanism that ensures data privacy.

The fundraising was executed using a simple agreement for future equity, leaving the FLock board of directors unchanged. FLock has also established an open leaderboard to encourage creativity and competition on its platform, with reward criteria for each AI agent derived from machine learning and sponsored training tasks. The company aims to democratize AI training and promote widespread governance participation while preserving user privacy.

Blockchain-based sci-fi card game Parallel has raised $35 million in a funding round featuring prominent Web3 investors such as Distributed Global, VanEck, Solana Ventures, Big Brain Holdings, Synergis, and Spartan Group. The funds will be used to expand the Parallel universe across new mediums and platforms. This announcement comes shortly after the game's open beta launch in late February, which introduced a new Universal Legendary card and various updates. Parallel previously raised $50 million in a funding round led by Paradigm, valuing the NFT gaming studio at $500 million. The game allows players to build decks and compete using various card classifications, each with different crafting costs.

Build on Bitcoin (BOB) has raised $10 million in a seed funding round led by Castle Island Ventures, with participation from Mechanism Ventures, Bankless Ventures, CMS Ventures, UTXO Management, Asymmetric, Antalpha, Web3.com Ventures, BTC Frontier Fund, and Zeeprime. The funds will be used to support the launch of BOB's first Bitcoin L2 with EVM compatibility, aiming to foster innovation in Bitcoin's dApp ecosystem.

BOB is developing a hybrid layer-2 blockchain platform powered by both Bitcoin and Ethereum networks. The company recently partnered with Marathon Digital-backed Anduro to develop ALYS, an Ethereum-compatible sidechain secured by Bitcoin's Proof-of-Work. BOB is also launching the first season of its Fusion program on March 27, giving users early access to its platform by locking tokens to earn Spice points, which are earned by interacting with and contributing to the BOB ecosystem.

MyShell, a platform for creators to build artificial intelligence (AI) agents and bots, has raised $11 million in a pre-Series A round led by Dragonfly. The round also saw participation from Delphi Ventures, Bankless Ventures, Maven11 Capital, Nascent, Nomad Capital, and OKX Ventures, as well as angel investors such as Balaji Srinivasan and Illia Polosukhin. The fundraising was executed via a structured agreement for future equity (SAFE) with token warrants.

MyShell is developing a Web3 AI platform that enables users to create various types of content, including voice cloning programs and text-to-speech bots. The platform currently has over 50,000 creators and more than one million registered users. MyShell plans to introduce token rewards in the future, with creators receiving tokens when their bots gain traction and consumers earning income by staking tokens on AI agents.

Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) provider peaq has raised $15 million in a funding round co-led by Generative Ventures and Borderless Capital. The funds will be used to expand peaq's ecosystem, which currently consists of over 20 DePINs, and accelerate the development of its modular DePIN functions and SDK. Peaq's infrastructure is utilized by protocols such as multi-chain machine IDs, AI agents, and data verification systems.

DePINs use smart contracts to enable autonomous interactions within physical infrastructures and are gaining popularity in the blockchain space due to the growing interest in tokenized real-world assets. Peaq's DePINs are employed by various applications, including Silencio, ELOOP, and Wingbits. The company is set to launch its mainnet in May, with a public offering and token listing expected in the coming weeks.

Fetch.ai, Ocean Protocol, and SingularityNET have announced plans to merge their tokens, forming the Artificial Superintelligence Alliance. The merger aims to create a decentralized alternative to existing AI projects controlled by Big Tech. The resulting entity will be valued at approximately $7.5 billion based on the combined fully diluted market capitalization of their tokens.

The three companies will submit the proposal for the merger to their respective governance members on March 27, 2024. The alliance will be led by SingularityNET CEO Ben Goertzel, with Fetch.ai CEO Humayun Sheikh serving as Chairman. Ocean Protocol representatives Bruce Pon and Trent McConaghy will join the leadership governance.

The companies will launch a unified token called $ASI, which will be used for securing the public network, as data access tokens, and unlocking computation without needing traditional banking and payment rails. The alliance aims to ensure ethical and transparent artificial intelligence and decentralize AI, taking on Big Tech and shifting the center of gravity of the AI world into the decentralized ecosystem.