Author: NBTC

In the first quarter of 2024, approximately $43.8 billion, or 76% of the decentralized finance yield market, earned an annual percentage yield (APY) of about 5% in very low-risk contracts. Staking played a crucial role in the resurgence of decentralized finance, bolstered by the Ethereum network’s transition to a Proof-of-Stake model. The bridging sector experienced a 51% increase in total value locked (TVL), rising from $94.8 million to $143.6 million. Three-Quarters of Defi Yield Market in Very Low-Risk Contracts In the first quarter of 2024, decentralized finance (defi) investors generally favoured security over the pursuit of high yields. According to…

The deputy governor of the Bank of Israel, Andrew Abir, has initiated mixed reactions after his recent views on central bank digital currency (CBDC). Though the effects of CBDC on commercial banks have usually been perceived as a threat, Abir in a speech posted on the central bank’s site, viewed CBDC differently. Competition driving innovation in Israeli banking sector Competition in the Israeli banking sector, which has resulted from over a decade of efforts, has brought about some benefits, but “we still have a long way to go,” Abir said. As the Bank of Israel raised interest rates to fight…

The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating whether the Ethereum Foundation’s sale of ETH since the September 2022 “Merge” constitutes an unregistered securities offering in violation of US law, according to Fortune. If the reports are true, then this investigation — just ahead of the SEC’s May deadline for a decision on an Ethereum spot ETF (more on that later) — raises the question: Did Ethereum’s switch to proof-of-stake transform it into a security? The short answer is “no.” The slightly longer answer is “still probably no.” ETH tokens are not, in and of themselves, “securities” in the way that…

Andre Cronje, co-founder of Fantom (FTM) altcoin and Fantom Foundation, has proposed a plan to issue memecoins on the network in a safer and more equitable way. Although the ongoing memecoin craze on the Solana and Base networks has generated millions of dollars in profits for platform owners and users, it also poses risks for the community and investors. FTM Founder Wants Memecoins to Be Issued on the Phantom Network Cronje’s proposed plan involves issuance of tokens through the Fantom Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the development and maintenance of the Fantom blockchain, as one of the signatories controlling…

Recent advancements in financial innovation have laid bare shortcomings in current U.S. policy regarding stablecoins, which fails to strike the delicate balance of promoting financial innovation without sacrificing consumer protections or necessary regulation. As the global financial leader, the United States finds itself at a crossroads: we can either be the central player in managing a new generation of financial technology — promoting dollar dominance, protecting consumers and preventing illicit finance — or we can leave it to other countries to provide a framework for us. Leaving it up to other countries would be a grave mistake — the United…

The crypto markets have been bleeding red in recent days, a stumble ahead of the Bitcoin halving currently expected on late Friday—but gaming tokens have taken some of the hardest hits, with some notable tokens down by more than 30% and hitting all-time low prices. The price of BTC is down by over 12% this week, falling to around $61,500 as of this writing after being above $71,000 earlier this week. And Ethereum has fallen by almost 15% over the last week, currently at just $3,000. Many major tokens have marked even more substantial drops this week, with Solana plunging…

0xScope, a prominent player in the Web3 AI technology arena, has partnered with AI Society to lay the groundwork for integrating artificial intelligence and crypto. The partnership represents a joint commitment to cutting-edge AI methods that help innovators make rapid steps toward better-for-business technological change. 0xScope has positioned 0xScope as an innovation leader in the coin and AI domain. 📣 Introducing our latest partner: @AISocietyLabs!🤝 With this partnership, 0xScope and AI Society will work together on solutions that advance Web3 AI technology. Excited to share more updates soon!We welcome AI Society as the newest member of the 0xScope ecosystem. https://t.co/WU4fiLBiVr…

Streaming platform Movies Plus announced this week it has added Bitcoin to its payment options, allowing subscribers to pay using the leading digital currency. With this move, the firm has joined the list of companies that accept Bitcoin as a payment method, including Wikipedia and Microsoft. BREAKING 🚨 Movies Plus becomes the first streaming platform to accept Bitcoin! You can now pay for your Movies Plus subscription in Bitcoin! Click the 🔗 in our bio and see for yourself. pic.twitter.com/34UbbRh7Ct — Movies Plus (@MyMoviesPlus) March 12, 2024 To streamline Bitcoin payments, Movies Plus has collaborated with Flash, a payment processor…

Decentralized finance (DeFi) has emerged as a dominant force in the blockchain space, surpassing stablecoins in daily transactions and concluding the first quarter with approximately 7 million daily transactions, reveals the “OnChain Report Q1 2024” by QuickNode and Artemis. All major DeFi protocol categories, including Liquid Staking, Lending, Bridges, Yield, and Derivatives, have seen their total value locked (TVL) increase two to threefold during Q1 2024. The first quarter marked the beginning of what the report calls ‘DeFi Summer part 2,’ with a staggering 291% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) increase in user activity. This resurgence has sparked optimism and a strategic shift…

P2 Ventures, a blockchain-focused venture capital firm spun out late last year from developer Polygon Labs, has committed $50 million to support startup founders in a move that could kindle new projects in the Polygon ecosystem. The investment by P2 Ventures will go to founders through Hadron FC, a founder program with campuses in Dubai and New York, according to a press release. The program comes with mentorship, legal and regulatory assistance, networking opportunities and “comprehensive support to navigate the complexities of startup development and raise capital,” the release said. Among the initial 36 projects onboarding, several “engaged in a…