DECENTRALIZED FINANCE
KyberSwap's Response to $48.8 Million Hack: Workforce Halved and Victim Reimbursement Plans
KyberSwap, after a $48.8M hack, has halved its workforce and launched a reimbursement plan for affected users, showcasing the resilience of DeFi.
Uniswap's Front-End Fees Surpass $1 Million
Uniswap's front-end fees exceed $1 million in 24 days, contributing 17.4% to its total fees, with an estimated annual revenue of $15.2 million.
Starknet Foundation Establishes DeFi Committee to Boost Ecosystem
Starknet Foundation has launched a DeFi Committee to bolster its DeFi ecosystem. Chaired by six experts, the committee will strategize and implement an on-chain liquidity incentive program, marking a strategic move for Starknet in the DeFi space.
Ripple CTO Advocates for Community Consensus on XRP Ledger's AMM Feature Integration
Ripple's CTO, David Schwartz, stresses the importance of community consensus for integrating the Automated Market Maker (AMM) feature on the XRP Ledger. Through discussions on X (formerly Twitter), Schwartz outlines a methodical approach to addressing concerns and urges validators to support the amendment only after achieving community agreement. The AMM feature, seen as a significant stride in decentralized finance on XRPL, was introduced in rippled version 1.12.0 alongside a potential clawback feature aimed at legal liability protection for developers. Schwartz's engagement exemplifies a balanced approach to evolving XRPL while preserving its decentralized character.
Sui Foundation Allocates Over $1M to 17 Emerging Projects
The Sui Foundation has earmarked over $1.05 million for 17 new projects aimed at bolstering the development and adoption of Sui. This initiative encompasses a wide range of sectors within the Sui ecosystem, including DeFi, gaming, and on-chain solutions, showcasing the foundation's dedication to fostering innovation and expanding the decentralized platform.
PureFi Introduces SafeTransact to Enhance Web3 Security
PureFi has launched SafeTransact, a new security method that examines blockchain transactions and notifies users of any suspicious activities. The system is designed to integrate with AMLSafe, a multi-crypto wallet from the same ecosystem. SafeTransact aims to improve the security of Web3 transactions and address the potential hacking threats to blockchain networks.
IOSCO to Consult on Crypto Regulation
The International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) plans to launch a consultation for its crypto asset regulation report in Q2 2023. The final recommendations are expected to be published by the end of 2023, with separate workflows dedicated to crypto assets and decentralized finance.
Ethereum Projects Launch MEV Blocker to Minimize Invisible Tax
27 Ethereum projects have launched MEV Blocker, a solution to reduce maximally extractable value (MEV), or Ethereum's invisible tax. MEV Blocker is a free tool developed to counter MEV bots that hijack transactions and inflate prices for users. It sends at least 90% of profits back to users and can protect them from frontrunning and sandwiching when using any Ethereum DApp.
Uniswap V3 Protocol License Expires, Allowing Developers to Fork Code
Uniswap V3 protocol’s Business Source License (BSL) has expired, allowing developers to fork the code and deploy their own decentralized exchange (DEX). The new “General Public License” now applies to the protocol. To fork the code, developers must use an “Additional Use Grant.”
AllianceBlock and Crunchbase Partner to Enhance Decentralized Business Data
AllianceBlock has partnered with Crunchbase to offer its business data to Data Tunnel users. The partnership will enable blockchain businesses and developers to create applications like default probability models, customer acquisition profiles, and untapped market maps using Crunchbase's investment, funding, and industry trends data. The AllianceBlock Data Tunnel is a public marketplace for standardized data that allows for the sharing and combination of information without intermediaries.
European Crypto Startups See Record VC Investment in 2022
Despite a challenging year for the crypto industry in 2022, VC investment in European crypto startups reached an all-time high of $5.7 billion, with decentralized finance startups seeing a 120% increase in investments. Europe is also home to the highest number of crypto startups, but lags behind the US in unicorns and startups with over $1 million in funding. Investment in financial service-based startups declined by 19% compared to 2021, while infrastructure grew by 24%. The EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulations are set for a final vote in April 2023.
Synthetix Secures $20M Investment from DWF Labs
Synthetix has secured a $20 million investment from Web3 investment and quantitative trading firm DWF Labs. The partnership will see DWF Labs tasked with increasing SNX token liquidity and market making across centralized and decentralized exchanges, with Synthetix’ perpetual futures integrated into DWF Labs’ trading business.
Aave Freezes Stablecoin Trading Amid Price Volatility
Lending protocol Aave has temporarily halted trading of stablecoins and set the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio to zero due to the recent price volatility on USD Coin (USDC) following its depegging on March 11. Aave's decision was based on an analysis by decentralized finance risk management firm Gauntlet Network, which recommended a temporary pause of all v2 and v3 markets. The LTV ratio determines how much credit can be secured using crypto as collateral and is calculated by dividing the amount of credit borrowed by the value of the collateral.
Crypto Industry Continues to Experience Hacks and Exploits: Can Increased Security Measures Help?
Despite recent recoveries, $4bn was lost to hacks, fraud, and scams in 2022. Increased security measures, such as DeFi and multi-signature wallets, can help.
Digital Currency and the Financial Inclusion Drive: The Journey So Far
With the digital currency ecosystem running toe-to-toe with traditional finance, here is a brief look into the journey thus far on the industry's financial inclusion drive.