Author: NBTC
This is a segment from The Drop newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe. Sugartown — the “GameFi” platform that began its development while part of Zynga for years — is launching another NFT collection. Zynga is the mobile gaming studio behind games like FarmVille and Words With Friends. The studio sold off Sugartown to startup D20 Labs in a move that was reportedly part of a spinout last year. Zynga’s crypto-focused staff also moved to D20 Labs. Now, Sugartown’s latest drop is underway. The 9,999 “Cores,” which will live on the Abstract blockchain, resemble scientific tubes filled with a mysterious…
WazirX users await May 13 court hearing that could unlock frozen hacked funds. $230 million WazirX hack blamed on North Korea-linked Lazarus Group shocks crypto community. WazirX promises 85% fund return if Singapore court approves recovery plan this week. Yet remaining 15% of stolen funds still has no confirmed payout plan or timeline. After months of waiting and worry, WazirX users might finally get some good news. On May 13, 2025, the Singapore High Court is set to review the exchange’s recovery plan, nearly a year after a massive $230 million hack shook India’s biggest crypto platform. If approved, this…
PancakeSwap Infinity will get advanced, intelligent UX features, all built into the blockchain with Brevis partnership. Decentralized exchanges are one step closer to competing with centralized exchanges on user experience. On Monday, May 12, Brevis and PancakeSwap (CAKE) announced an integration that will enable decentralized, intelligent UX for its next-generation version, PancakeSwap Infinity. Formerly known as PancakeSwap v4, PancakeSwap Infinity will feature “Intelligent UX” powered by Brevis hooks. These hooks use zero-knowledge proofs to perform on-chain computations that allow PancakeSwap’s interface to adapt to individual users. You might also like: PancakeSwap v4 rebrands to PancakeSwap Infinity with major upgrade At…
The Bitcoin price today is trading around $102,300 after a volatile 48-hour stretch that saw a brief selloff below $101,000, followed by a modest recovery. Despite the rebound, signs of slowing momentum are building as BTC struggles beneath its recent peak of $105,787. What’s Happening with Bitcoin’s Price? BTC/USD price dynamics (Source: TradingView) Looking at the 4-hour chart, Bitcoin price action reveals that BTC remains above its 20 and 50 EMA lines—currently at $102,822 and $100,890 respectively—indicating that bulls still have near-term control. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) has slipped to 49, nearing neutral territory after forming a lower…
BlackRock has submitted an amended S-1 form to the U.S. SEC, proposing the inclusion of in-kind creation and redemption for its iShares Ethereum Trust ETF, ETHA. James Seyffart, a senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, was the first to share details of this filing on X, confirming that the asset manager made the move on May 9. He revealed that the amended form now includes language that would allow in-kind redemptions once the SEC approves. BlackRock Pushing for In-Kind Redemption: What Does It Mean? Seyffart, alongside fellow Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas, expects that the agency will approve in-kind processes at some…
CoinShares International Limited, a leading platform providing investment services for digital assets, has announced its latest partnership with Moneyfarm, a well-known digital asset manager. The partnership aims to provide the Italian customers with a seamless exposure to crypto assets in a comprehensively regulated environment. The platform disclosed this partnership on its official account on X. 🤝 We are extremely proud to announce our partnership with @moneyfarmITA 🇮🇹The partnership enables Moneyfarm’s clients to gain exposure to digital assets through the CoinShares’ physically-backed Bitcoin ETP, integrated within a professionally managed portfolio offering up to… pic.twitter.com/JZRV8nPVW3 — CoinShares (@CoinSharesCo) May 12, 2025 CoinShares…
OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman launched Worldcoin in 2023 to give people a digital identity to verify themselves securely and anonymously online. The idea behind the project required people to scan their irises and, in exchange for their personal data, the company would reward them with a small amount of cryptocurrency, which it believed would inspire more people to sign up. Altman expressed his intention for Worldcoin as a “proof of personhood” because AI could mimic human behavior and talk like them, making it more difficult to tell who or what is real online. He also wanted to close the gap…
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has appointed two crypto industry leaders as advisors, just weeks after the US Department of Justice under President Donald Trump dropped a high-profile corruption case against him. The move signals Adams’ renewed focus on digital finance and economic innovation as he works to reposition his administration following months of legal scrutiny. Adams names crypto advisors, announces NYC’s first digital finance summit Speaking at a press conference at Gracie Mansion on May 12, Adams tapped two new advisors, including June Ou, founder of the blockchain-focused firm Figure, and Richie Hecker, a tech investor and Traction…
Gibraltar has teamed up with exchange Bullish to introduce a regulated framework for crypto derivatives clearing, aiming to separate trading and settlement functions. Cryptocurrency exchange Bullish, backed by Peter Thiel, has partnered with the Government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission to create the regulatory framework for clearing and settling crypto derivative contracts. In a Tuesday press release, the exchange said it wants to bring the same level of risk management and oversight seen in traditional markets to the crypto space as there is currently “no regulation that specifically addresses the clearing needs of the crypto industry,” pointed…
In the world of blockchain, decentralization is the core principle. Yet, there’s a limitation built into most blockchains: they cannot access real-world data on their own. This is where blockchain oracles come in. These powerful systems act as bridges, feeding external information into blockchain networks so smart contracts can interact with the world beyond the chain. Whether it’s DeFi protocols calculating interest rates, NFT projects reacting to sports scores, or supply chains tracking product origins, blockchain oracles are the key enablers of smart contract utility. Let’s break down what they are, how they work, and why they matter. What Is…