Ecosystem
Hong Kong Blockchain Ecosystem Feb 2020 - New Members
Hong Kong Blockchain Ecosystem Feb 2020 - New Members
B Squared Network Announces Seed Investments by HashKey Capital, OKX Ventures, IDG Capital
B² Network secures significant seed investments from top venture capitals for its innovative Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions, aiming to transform Bitcoin's utility and adoption in the crypto ecosystem.
Magic Eden Halts BRC-20 Trading Temporarily Amid Ordinals Expansion
Magic Eden temporarily suspended BRC-20 trading on October 22, 2023, to ensure user protection until certain BRC-20 regulations were agreed upon. Earlier in June, the platform had extended support for BRC-20 tokens, diving deeper into the Bitcoin ecosystem. Following the halt, trading resumed on July 13, 2023, with a promotional reduction in listing fees to 0.1% for new BRC-20 tokens for a month.
Hong Kong's Crypto Rise: Harbinger for China?
Hong Kong's rising status as a crypto hub amidst regulatory amicability sparks speculations on China's evolving stance towards digital assets. The significant crypto activity in Hong Kong, combined with its thriving Over-The-Counter market, reflects a conducive environment for both institutional and retail crypto engagements. As Hong Kong continues to bolster its crypto market, it might be hinting at China's exploratory approach towards understanding and possibly embracing digital assets in the long term.
Polkadot Developer Parity Technologies Reportedly Cuts Over 300 Staff This Week
Parity Technologies lays off over 300 employees amidst a strategic shift towards community-driven operations. The move comes as Polkadot faces ecosystem challenges, including a large upcoming supply event and a seeming lack of demand in parachain auctions. Community members have expressed mixed reactions, and concerns are rising on Polkadot's ability to maintain its market valuation in the medium term.
Animoca Brands subsidiary Darewise Entertainment Secures US$3.5M for Bitcoin Metaverse Ecosystem Token
Darewise Entertainment raised US$3.5 million via a token pre-sale on 17 October 2023, ahead of its Bitcoin metaverse ecosystem token launch, aimed at enhancing the development of its game Life Beyond. With significant backing from notable investors and strategic support from Horizen Labs for a 2024 token release, the project marks a substantial stride toward creating a Bitcoin-powered gaming metaverse.
Avalanche Foundation Unveils its $200M Ecosystem Fund
The Avalanche Foundation has unveiled its plans to fuel the growth of its ecosystem through Blizzard, a $200 million fund secured from its partners.
Japan's FSA Joins MAS' "Project Guardian" as First Overseas Regulator
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Japan has announced its participation in the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) "Project Guardian" initiative. This collaborative project, which was established by MAS in May 2022, aims to explore the feasibility of applying digital technologies to various asset classes while ensuring financial stability and integrity.
Sui Network Redirects Additional 40M SUI, Totaling 157 Million
The Sui Foundation has redirected an additional 40 million SUI tokens towards ecosystem and community development, adding to the previous 117 million SUI, making a total of 157 million SUI. This reallocation aims to bolster the DeFi ecosystem of Sui Network, which has shown a significant uptick in total value locked, marking over 100% increase in the last two months. The initiative follows a series of remarkable achievements by Sui, underscoring its commitment to fostering a robust ecosystem for decentralized applications and financial protocols.
Cambridge University Partners with 16 Financial Institutions to Develop Crypto Asset Ecosystem
The University of Cambridge has rolled out a multi-year research initiative with 16 key financial institutions like WorldBank, IMF, and MasterCard to shed more light on the rapidly evolving crypto-asset ecosystem.
NEAR Protocol Expands Gaming Ecosystem with Vortex Gaming Partnership, Strengthening Web3 Integration
NEAR Protocol has expanded its gaming ecosystem by partnering with Vortex Gaming, a Web3 subsidiary of INVEN, Korea's largest game media and community. This collaboration aims to attract more users and companies to the NEAR ecosystem while strengthening the NEAR game ecosystem. INVEN, with a monthly active user count of 7.2 million, brings valuable expertise and content to the partnership.
Report: TON and Telegram Forge Alliance in Q3 2023
The TON Ecosystem saw substantial growth and strategic alliances in Q3 2023. Notable highlights include a collaborative venture with Telegram, set to roll out the self-custodial wallet, TON Space, to Telegram's 800 million users, and a steady increase in TON accounts and on-chain active wallets. Various community initiatives and developer-centric events further illustrated TON's commitment to fostering a robust ecosystem, setting a solid foundation for its expansive vision in the crypto landscape.
BNB Chain and MetaMask Resolve Glitch Affecting opBNB Gas Fees
BNB Chain and MetaMask have successfully addressed a glitch that led to the display of inflated gas fees for opBNB transactions. The issue was rooted in MetaMask's default algorithm, which set a minimum recommended gas price based on averages across various Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks. This has been corrected, and users can now benefit from opBNB's lower gas fees for faster and more cost-effective transactions.
Zodia Custody and Parity Technologies Forge Strategic Partnership for Polkadot Ecosystem
Zodia Custody has partnered with Parity Technologies to enhance institutional access to the Polkadot ecosystem, a pioneering blockspace network. The partnership will provide custody services, staking DOT, and bridging the gap between traditional finance and digital assets. Zodia Custody will also support the ecosystem's sustained evolution through research and development, promoting global initiatives associated with Parity and Polkadot.
Kraken Brings Crypto Asset Liquidity to Skrill and Neteller
Paysafe, a leading specialized payments platform has chosen US-based cryptocurrency exchange Kraken as their crypto asset liquidity provider.
HK SFC Details JPEX Probe; CEO Affirms Hong Kong's Web3 Commitment
Hong Kong's SFC has provided a detailed timeline of its investigation into the fraudulent activities of the unlicensed virtual asset trading platform JPEX. Despite the ongoing case, SFC CEO Leung Fung-yee reaffirms that Hong Kong's commitment to developing a Web3 ecosystem will not waver.
Cosmos Hub Postpones Vote Date On New Security Model Proposal
After two respective postponements, the Cosmos' vote date to approve proposed changes to the network’s Hub has now been fixed to October 31.
Why Did John McAfee Abandon His Ghost Privacy Coin Project?
Crypto advocate and technology pioneer John McAfee recently announced on Twitter that he has abandoned his Ghost privacy coin project.
Cosmos Hub Votes to Reduce ATOM Inflation Rate to 10%
Cosmos Hub proposes reducing ATOM inflation rate from 14% to 10%, lowering annual staking yield from 19% to 13.4%, optimizing security expenses and introducing a liquid staking module.
SEC Chief to Testify Before House Committee on Crypto Oversight
SEC chief Gary Gensler will face questioning from the House Financial Services Committee on April 18 regarding his approach toward the crypto ecosystem. The committee will focus on Gensler's rulemaking and approach toward crypto assets and lay down a regulatory sphere for digital assets.
Report: OKX Ventures Boosts Ecosystem with Investments in Aark Digital, dappOS, and 0xScope
OKX Ventures reveals its September investments in Aark Digital, dappOS, and 0xScope, aimed at bolstering the crypto ecosystem covering Layer2 Derivatives, operating protocol, and knowledge graph protocol. These strategic investments are reflective of OKX Ventures’ continuous endeavor to fuel innovation amidst a rapidly evolving crypto landscape.
NFTs And Crypto Will Benefit From Apple Allowing Third-Party App Stores
Apple will allow third-party app stores on its devices to comply with EU anti-monopolistic rules. EU legislation will compel Apple to allow alternative app stores and applications outside the App Store, benefiting crypto app creators. The EU's Digital Markets Act regulates "gatekeepers" and ensures platforms operate fairly, prompting Apple to expand its ecosystem.
WEMIX and Mirana Ventures Fuel Chinese Blockchain Gaming with $30M Fund
WEMIX PTE. LTD. has invested in five Chinese game developers through a $30 million blockchain game-specialized fund, created with Mirana Ventures. This move aims to nurture blockchain gaming enterprises and expand the WEMIX3.0 ecosystem. The fund, part of a joint initiative with Mirana Ventures, an investment division of Bybit, has already utilized $6.4 million. The investees, working on diverse game genres, will feature their games on WEMIX PLAY, a blockchain game platform under WEMIX3.0.
Digital Currency Growth Brings "Opportunities and Challenges": IMF
A recent report by the IMF says the current evolution in the crypto ecosystem presents both opportunities and challenges for the broader financial ecosystem
Fantom's Evolution: From Technical Innovations to Ecosystem Expansion
Fantom continues to innovate despite facing challenges in its DeFi ecosystem. With planned technical upgrades and a focus on growing its developer community, the network aims for a robust and diversified blockchain ecosystem.
Serum Hits New All-Time High amid 900% Year-to-Date Increase
Serum (SRM), a decentralized exchange that operates on the Solana blockchain, set a new all-time high of $11.24 today.
DeFi Keeps Surging with Decentralized Finance’s Total Locked in Value at over $9 Billion
DeFi's value keeps surging with Decentralized Finance’s locked in value now at over $9 Billion
Union Bank of Philippines Cooperates with Hex Trust for Promoting Pilot Digital Assets Custody Service
Union Bank of Philippines (UnionBank) announced the bank has paired with Hong Kong-based Hex Trust to pilot digital assets custody service.
HashKey Group Secures $100 Million in Series A Funding
HashKey Group raised $100 million in a Series A financing round, reaching a pre-money valuation of $1.2 billion. The Hong Kong-based company plans to use the funds to enhance its Web3 ecosystem and expand its Hong Kong business.
Uniswap Expands Mobile Footprint with Android Wallet Launch
Uniswap has launched a beta version of its mobile wallet for Android on October 12, following the successful iOS app release in April. The Android wallet facilitates easier swaps on various chains without manual network switching, offers robust swap protection against frontrunning, and ensures a transparent fee structure for its users. The launch, part of a broader trend among decentralized exchanges, signifies the growing emphasis on mobile platforms in DeFi.
CoinFund Secures $158M for Seed IV Fund, Surpassing Initial Goal
According to Blockchain.News, CoinFund has successfully raised $158 million for its Seed IV Fund, exceeding its initial target of $125 million. This achievement underscores the firm's commitment to fostering innovation in the web3 ecosystem.
Binance Launches Feature to Implement Community Feedback in Roadmap Development
A new feature empowers users to provide in-depth feedback on product improvements and new features as Binance ramps up community participation in its ecosystem in 2023.
Benjamin Quinlan: New Chairman of FinTech Association of Hong Kong Shares Vision for FTAHK 2.0 and the Future of Asia's FinTech Ecosystem
The FinTech Association of Hong Kong has elected Benjamin Quinlan as Chairman to lead it through the next chapter of its mission to foster the FinTech ecosystem in Hong Kong and Asia.
Neopin Works with Cube Entertainment to Jointly Develop Metaverse Ecosystem
The blockchain platform Neopin has established a partnership with Cube Entertainment, the largest entertainment company in South Korea, to jointly develop the DeFi ecosystem of the Metaverse blockchain.
Coinbase Secures Major Payment Institution License from Singapore's Monetary Authority
Coinbase has obtained a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), marking a significant milestone in its expansion into the Asian market. The license will enable Coinbase to offer digital payment token services to both individual and institutional clients in Singapore. This move aligns with the company's strategy to tap into Singapore's growing crypto and Web3 ecosystem.
Flow Secures $3M Seed Funding To Build A Rollup Centric NFT Ecosystem
Introducing Flow: The Game-Changing NFT Ecosystem Set to Revolutionize the NFT Market. Aggregator Beta Launches on Ethereum Mainnet. Groundbreaking AI and Rollup-Centric Roadmap Unveiled; Anticipated Token Launch on April 30.
SEC Chair Calls for Open Dialogue in Pursuit of a Regulated Crypto Market
Gary Gensler will call on crypto stakeholders to come and talk to the SEC at his hearing with the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday
Ninety Eight Launches $25M Ecosystem Fund to Boost Web3 Startups in Asia
Ninety Eight, transitioning from Coin98 Finance, has launched a $25M Ecosystem Fund to support Web3 startups in Asia, leveraging the Viction blockchain and $C98 token.
dYdX Chain Audit Reveals Zero Critical Issues, Confirms Informal Systems
dYdX, a leading decentralized exchange platform, has cleared a comprehensive security audit by Informal Systems. The news was shared on the official dYdX Twitter account and reposted by founder Antonio, reinforcing the platform's commitment to user security and fund safety.
Payments Firm Wirex Integrates Avalanche Blockchain into Ecosystem for 4.5M Users
Regulated digital payments platform, Wirex, has integrated the Avalanche Blockchain into its network as it continues on its planned growth trajectory.
It is High Time to Rethink Holding Strategies as FTX Crisis Roams, Says Blockchain.com CEO
Speaking on CNBC’s “Closing Bell” Thursday, Blockchain.com CEO Peter Smith deemed the collapse of crypto exchange FTX as “a tragedy and total failure of governance.”
Tether's Blockchain Ecosystem Continues to Grow with USDT Launch on Bitcoin Cash Network
Tether’s USDT token, the world’s largest stablecoin by marketcap, has launched on the Bitcoin Cash network. USDT is also available on Algorand, EOS, Tron, Omni and the Liquid Network.
Aave Surpasses $1.7 Billion TVL Taking Number One Spot From Maker and Compound
Aave is taking the open finance sector by storm reaching number one on the Defi Pulse rankings, beating Maker and Compound.
Solana (SOL) Foundation Entrusts Hackathons and Accelerator Programs to Colosseum
The Solana Foundation is transferring management of its hackathons and accelerator programs to Colosseum, aiming to enhance the Solana ecosystem with substantial funding and developer support.
Huobi and Gala Games Form Partnership for Web3 Development
Cryptocurrency exchange Huobi Global has partnered with blockchain-based play-to-earn gaming platform Gala Games to invest in and list projects within the Gala ecosystem. The collaboration is expected to enhance Huobi's Web3 objectives and allow integration with Gala's layer-1 blockchain.
NEAR and Polygon Partner to Launch zkWASM
NEAR Foundation and Polygon Labs are collaborating on zkWASM, a zero-knowledge prover for WASM blockchains, to enhance interoperability with Ethereum and improve scalability and decentralization.
Blockchain Could Potentially Level the Playing Field for Startups and Entrepreneurs
The world of business is growing daily, in an article published by Brad Haddin, a privacy consultant, he pointed out that "there are 150 million startups in the world today with 50 million new startups launching every year.” This means that every day, an average of 137,000 companies have been founded by someone in the world. This number has risen since 2005, which is due to massive globalization and industrialization engaged in by different countries around the world.
Cosmos (ATOM) Community Contemplates Zero Inflation for ATOM Token
Cosmos's StakeLab proposes reducing ATOM's minimum inflation to 0%, aiming to align with other blockchain models and address issues like token overproduction and selling pressure. Nearly 95% of the community supports this significant change.
EOS Foundation Signs MoU with Busan City to Boost Blockchain Investments
Following its recent partnership with crypto exchanges such as Binance, FTX, and Huobi to help develop the blockchain infrastructure in the city and the country, Busan, a city in South Korea, has now signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with not-for-profit organization, EOS Network Foundation.
Unizen Secures $200m 'Capital Commitment' to Scale Up Trading Ecosystem
Centralized decentralized exchange Unizen has secured $200 million and plans to use the latest funding to build an infrastructure that would enable it to interconnect with other exchanges efficiently.
EigenLayer Announces Multi-Phased Mainnet Launch Strategy
EigenLayer is set to introduce a gradual rollout for its mainnet, emphasizing security and performance with a focus on operator and AVS integration.
OKX and Google Cloud Host Successful Hackathon for Decentralized Applications on OKT Chain
OKX, the second largest crypto exchange by trading volume and a leading Web3 technology company, has teamed up with Google Cloud to host the OKX Hackathon to drive growth and innovation of the blockchain ecosystem. The three-day event, held in Silicon Valley, aimed to encourage developers to build decentralized applications on OKT Chain, a leading layer 1 blockchain built on Cosmos.
Terraform Labs (Luna) Co-Founder Pleads US Court to Dismiss SEC's Fraud Allegations
Terraform Labs and co-founder Do Kwon are defending against fraud and securities allegations by the U.S. SEC, arguing their cryptocurrencies are not securities, amidst a wider legal battle between crypto firms and regulators following the Terra ecosystem's $40 billion downfall in 2022.
NEAR Foundation Announces 40% Workforce Reduction in Strategic Realignment
The NEAR Foundation has announced a 40% reduction in its workforce, impacting 35 team members, as part of a strategic realignment to focus on high-impact activities and further decentralize the ecosystem. Despite this change, the Foundation maintains strong financial health and a commitment to advancing key areas in the Web3 space.
US House Committee to Discuss Stablecoins Regulation
The US House Committee on Financial Services will conduct a hearing on April 19 to evaluate stablecoins’ position as a means of payment and whether the payment ecosystem needs supporting legislation. Circle's chief strategy officer and head of global policy, Dante Disparte, will testify at the hearing, which will focus on various stablecoins and their use in the payments landscape. A draft bill providing a framework for stablecoins in the United States was recently published in the House of Representatives document repository.
Aleph Zero Launches $50 Million Ecosystem Funding Program
Aleph Zero, a layer-1 privacy-enhancing blockchain, has launched a $50 million Ecosystem Funding Program to support developers in building on its platform and advancing blockchain adoption globally. The program offers grants, incubation, and acceleration, with successful applicants receiving up to $500,000 per project in grant funding, as well as access to a venture capital pool, infrastructure credits, and security design consultations. The program has already produced a range of successful projects during its pilot phase.
Radix and LayerZero Partner to Enhance Web3 Interoperability
Radix has partnered with LayerZero to integrate LayerZero with the Radix Babylon public network, encouraging cross-chain communication and asset transfers to the Radix ecosystem. Interoperability enables decentralized applications to collaborate and integrate, broadening the scope of features they offer, enhancing functionality, and improving security.
DWF Labs Renews Collaboration with DMCC to Propel MENA Blockchain Ecosystem Forward
DWF Labs, a leading research organization, has announced the renewal of its partnership with DMCC, the world's flagship free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise. This collaboration aims to drive innovation and growth within the MENA region's blockchain ecosystem, with a focus on supporting early-stage startups and providing access to global venture capital.
Flow Blockchain Proposes Full EVM Equivalence to Enhance Composability and Usability
Flow blockchain unveils proposal for full EVM equivalence, bridging Ethereum dApp ecosystem with Flow’s unique capabilities. The move aims to enhance composability, interoperability, and user experience across the blockchain space.
Upbit Announces Dunamu & Partners' Digital Asset Holdings for October 2023
Upbit discloses Dunamu & Partners' #Bitcoin holdings as of October 2023, holding 2,081.84950412 BTC with no sales transactions recorded, aligning with Upbit's transparency principle in digital asset trading.
Algorand Protocol Stateful Smart Contract Upgrade Targets Scalable DeFi Solutions and Dapps
Algorand is entering the decentralized finance (DeFI) ecosystem with its new highly scalable stateful smart contract capabilities.
Ash Environmental DAO Announces Ash Token Sale to Champion Social Good
Ash Environmental DAO has announced the dates of its token sale. The event will run from April 17 to May 7, giving participants the chance to purchase the Ash token and become part of a global ecosystem committed to funding high-impact innovations to address real-world challenges.
Here’s A Look at The Top Outlets For Blockchain Developers To Source Grants
Monetary grants are extremely important in any field - be it the arts, media, technology - especially nascent ones where there is a lot of scope for growth and development. For example, blockchain is one such domain which over the course of the last decade or so has seen an incredible output of innovation (ala smart contracts, decentralized finance, etc) from relatively independent developers working with limited resources.
Block.one to Provide over US$1.5 million in Grants to Promising Businesses Built on EOSIO
EOS VC is now accepting applications for its Grants Program. The venture capital arm of Block.one is aiming to empower developers to turn their visions for the EOSIO network into innovative realities.
HDAO Launches New Burning Mechanism, 50% of Tokens in Total to be Burnt
The foundation of HDAO (HKD.com DAO) announced to rolling out of a new burning mechanism aiming to destroy 50% of the total amount of HDAO tokens.
DeFi Liquidity Project Paradigm Labs Shuts Down, Unable to Find Niche in DEX Ecosystem
The ambitious DeFi liquidity project, Paradigm labs are shutting down its operations citing an inability to build a resilient business within the DEX ecosystem.
Crypto Valley Association: Establishing the World’s Best Ecosystem for Blockchain and DLT Businesses
On a mission to develop the world’s best ecosystem for blockchain and distributed ledger technology, the Crypto Valley Association (CVA) is an independent organization based in Zug Switzerland, supported by the government. With over 1500 members in over 56 countries, the association has been supporting the needs of startups and connecting players in the industry to build a cohesive ecosystem.
Covid-19 and DeFi — TokenInsights Releases Q2 2020 Report on Decentralized Ecosystem
TokenInsights has released their Q2 2020 DeFi industry report to shed some light on the fast-moving Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ecosystem and how it withstood the onslaught of the COVID-19 market.
Bitcoin Transaction Fees Altering its Ecosystem
Bitcoin (BTC) transaction fees entail the amount charged for your proceedings to be handled by a miner and approved by the Bitcoin network.
China Unveils Blockchain Services Network Aimed to Build Ecosystem Along with Hyperledger, Ethereum and EOS
Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, EOS, ChainSQL, WeBank’s FISCO BCOS, and Baidu’s Xuperchain are also planned to be added to the “ecosystem play,” and “internet environment,” as explained by Zhiguang Shan, the Chairman of the BSN’s Development Association. This network of blockchains will be available for those who are interested to take part in it, including small to medium-sized businesses.
Singapore to Pump $8.9 Million Into National Blockchain Ecosystem
The Singaporean government has deployed a US$ 8.9 million national blockchain initiative dubbed the Singapore Blockchain Innovation Program (SBIP).
Facebook’s Libra Creating Shadow Monetary Ecosystem Warns FAC
Facebook’s creation of cryptocurrency Libra will spawn a ‘shadow banking’ system outside of sanctioned financial markets according to US banks.
Beyond Startups—Championing for an Ecosystem to Drive Blockchain Forward
Tribe Accelerator is Singapore’s first government-backed blockchain accelerator, on a mission to bridge the gap between blockchain startups and the traditional world. Yi Ming Ng, the Managing Director at Tribe Accelerator, believes that blockchain is beneficial to a lot of businesses from different industries. However, there has been a lot of fear and speculation around cryptocurrencies in the traditional corporate world.