Author: NBTC

This is a segment from The Drop newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe. Remember the “interoperability” gaming dream? Ubisoft is spinning up a Decentralized Verification Network (DVN) to verify crypto assets that are being moved or bridged from one blockchain to another. The company is using LayerZero’s tech — more specifically, its codebase and omnichain messaging protocol — in the deal. The game studio is running its own clients and nodes for its network, however. The DVN means Ubisoft can let players move their NFTs and in-game currencies from one chain to another, which makes them usable with other Ubisoft…

Bitcoin (BTC) supported investor sentiment by hovering around $95,000 as global trade tensions caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff maneuvers eased. The world’s largest cryptocurrency has been on a rally in recent weeks, and market leaders believe this could just be the beginning. Neil Wilson, an investment strategist at Saxo Bank, framed the current moment as a potential turning point. “The key moment: will risk assets continue to rally or will the sell-off begin again?” Wilson asked in a note to clients. In this context, six experts weighed in on Bitcoin’s direction, offering bullish price targets and macro-focused views.…

Ethereum price has been in a strong downward trend against Bitcoin, and a rare chart pattern points to more downside. Ethereum (ETH) dropped to 0.01890, its lowest level since January 2020 and 80% below its 2021 high. This decline comes as Ethereum continues to lose market share across key sectors of the crypto industry. DeFi Llama data shows that protocols in its network processed $56 billion in April, lower than Solana’s (SOL) $72 billion. Ethereum is also losing ground to layer-2 networks, which aim to improve scalability and speed without compromising security. You might also like: Can XRP price break…

⚈ A large XRP transfer to Coinbase by an unidentified whale suggests a potential sell-off, raising concerns about downward price pressure.⚈ XRP’s price has risen amid anticipation of ProShares launching three XRP futures ETFs on April 30, following SEC approval.⚈ XRP is trading at $2.30, with key support at $2.20 and resistance at $2.50, indicating potential for significant price movement in either direction. XRP’s recent short-term gains may be short-lived, as on-chain data suggests whale activity could signal an impending sell-off. Specifically, on April 28, a massive transfer of 29,532,534 XRP, worth approximately $68.7 million, was moved from an unknown…

XRP has been in the crypto world for over a decade, and despite many challenges, it’s still standing. Recently, Dan Tapiero—founder of 10T Holdings and a long-time investor—shared his thoughts on XRP, praising its ability to survive in a tough and fast-changing industry. In an interview with CoinDesk, he said that, “One very impressive thing about XRP is just how long it’s lasted, how many times it’s come under attack. It’s the Lindy effect—the longer it exists, the stronger it becomes.” A History of Scrutiny and Survival XRP’s journey has been anything but smooth. Its parent company, Ripple Labs, has…

Blockchain technology is open and transparent. Every transaction on a blockchain stays visible to everyone. This makes many people wonder: Since blockchain technology is public, how are the identities of users protected? It is a good question because privacy matters a lot. In normal banking, companies hide your information. But in blockchain, there is no single company to protect it. Still, users stay safe. Blockchains use public keys and private keys. These are long codes, not real names. So, nobody knows who owns which wallet unless you tell them. Some blockchains use extra privacy tools like special cryptography. This makes…

Cryptocurrency analysis company Alphractal pointed out notable movements in the Bitcoin market in its latest assessment. According to the company’s statement, at $95,000, large investors, namely whales, started to show interest in short positions again while closing their long positions. The innovative “Whale Position Sentiment” indicator developed by Alphractal analyzes transactions of $1 million and above on major exchanges and open interest size (Open Interest) together to reveal whale trends in the market. If this indicator shows a decrease while prices are rising, it means that whales are switching to short positions. Conversely, when the indicator rises, whales are switching…

Over the past few months, Ethereum has experienced a significant decline in user activity on its blockchain. This slowdown has reduced the network’s burn rate—a mechanism that helps decrease ETH supply over time. With fewer tokens being burned, ETH’s circulating supply has risen, putting inflationary pressure on the asset. As a result, the coin has struggled to maintain a stable price above the $2,000 level in recent months. Low Burn Rate Equals More Coins in Circulation According to Ultrasoundmoney, 72,927 ETH, valued at $134 million at current market prices, have been added to ETH’s circulating supply in the past month…

What Is the Internet Computer Protocol? Launched in May 2021 by the DFINITY Foundation, the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) is a specialized blockchain designed to operate as a “World Computer.” Unlike traditional blockchains focused on transactions or financial applications, ICP enables fully on-chain applications through its canister smart contracts. ICP uses a distinctive reverse gas model where developers, not users, cover computation costs. This approach eliminates user fees, making decentralized applications (dApps) more accessible. The Network Nervous System (NNS), a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), governs the system with the goal of creating an alternative to centralized cloud providers. These innovations…

Crypto payments startup Mesh is planning to roll out Apple Pay support for crypto transactions, allowing shoppers to pay with digital assets while settling transactions in stablecoins for merchants. The feature, unveiled during Token2049 in Dubai, converts crypto to stablecoins at checkout using Mesh’s proprietary SmartFunding technology. The system sidesteps the need for merchants to handle crypto directly, offering what Mesh calls a “plug-and-play” payment option through Apple Pay’s interface. This way, brick-and-mortar retailers and webshops can accept crypto payments without the need for building out the necessary infrastructure. Mesh plans to launch the feature later in the second quarter…