Altcoin News by Thebittimes.Com

Solana has partnered with Filecoin to boost its blockchain’s reliability and scalability. Bitcoin Dogs has raised over $1.7 million as the crypto community flock to the world’s first ICO on Bitcoin. Solana is looking to bolster its block chain network with a key partnership with decentralized storage platform Filecoin. Meanwhile, Bitcoin Dogs is storming through its presale as the crypto community takes note of its potential. Solana and Filecoin partner In one of the groundbreaking developments this week, Filecoin, the decentralized data storage marketplace and crypto platform, announced it had integrated with Solana, the block chain network home to a bustling token ecosystem. Filecoin said in a statement that the collaboration will see Solana tap into Filecoin’s infrastructure to bolster the reliability and scalability of its network. The partnership comes a few days after Solana suffered an outage and is a major move that signals the bloc...

Cybersecurity experts at Cybertrace have issued an alert concerning a sophisticated deep fake video featuring Australian mining tycoon and entrepreneur Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest endorsing a fraudulent crypto trading platform on social media. The deceptive video, discovered on Facebook, entices viewers to join a sham platform named “Quantum AI,” promising substantial daily earnings for “ordinary people.” Cybertrace identifies Quantum AI as a term frequently linked with scams and financial deceit. Dan Halpin, CEO of Cybertrace, expressed concerns to The Australian, suggesting that the deep fake’s convincing nature, attributed to its length and sales-oriented repetition, could easily mislead individuals. The counterfeit video manipulates Forrest’s appearance and mannerisms from a Rhodes Trust “fireside chat” in October, showcasing him promoting a fraudulent crypto trading software. Cybertrace Investigators have identified a #...

Animoca Brands invests in Telegram’s TON blockchain protocol and becomes its largest validator as it eyes GameFi development on the platform. Web3 investment firm Animoca Brands is set to become the largest validator of Telegram’s TON (The Open Network) blockchain and plans to deliver blockchain -based games to the messaging app’s 800 million strong user base. An announcement shared with Cointelegraph outlined how the partnership will involve the provision of funding, research, and an analytics platform for third-party TON ecosystem applications.  The value of Animoca’s investment was not disclosed at the time of publishing, but part of the investment is understood to have been made directly into Toncoin, which has been staked as part of the validator agreement. Related: Animoca still bullish on blockchain games, awaits license for metaverse fund Animoca has carried out extensive market research on TON’s wider ecosystem focused on the platform’s ability to drive cryptocurrency and...

Decentralized exchange Sushi will test native Bitcoin DeFi functionality that promises to allow users to swap BTC across 30 blockchain networks. DeFi platform Sushi has partnered with interoperability platform ZetaChain to explore the possibility of native Bitcoin swaps for its users across 30 different blockchain networks. Sushi’s deployment of its decentralized exchange (DEX) on ZetaChain is touted to enable trading of BTC without wrapping across several blockchains in what the team describes as a “native, decentralized and permissionless manner”. The integration is set to include Sushi’s v2 and v3 automated market makers and Sushi’s cross-chain swap SushiXSwap. ZetaChain core contributor Ankur Nandwani tells Cointelegraph that the partnership can bring Bitcoin’s vast user base to the DeFi sector in a native manner. He also countered arguments that suggest that bridging BTC without wrapping the assets on another chain is not possible. “There have already been early examples like TH...

In October, Bitcoin (BTC) reached a nearly 17-month high. Meanwhile, Latin America appears to be positioning itself as a blockchain hub, with the industry valued at over $500 billion in 2022. Notably, in Mexico, the world’s second-largest recipient of foreign remittances, there is a surge in crypto payments. This shift has also been observed in various economies across Latin and South America, where blockchain and cryptocurrencies are seen as secure, cost-effective, and user-friendly alternatives to traditional financial systems. Caracas Blockchain Week, held from Oct. 24 to 28, served as a gathering for industry professionals, including pioneers, thought leaders, startup founders, investors, partners, and projects. The event featured workshops, a hackathon, and an interactive conference highlighting projects and platforms in blockchain . These discussions showcased the potential of both emerging and established blockchain initiatives. You might also like: JPMorgan ...

Vitalik Buterin called the early Ethereum scaling solution Plasma “underrated” and a “significant security upgrade” for chains that would otherwise be validiums. Plasma, a once-prominent Ethereum layer 2 scaling solution, should be revisited by teams currently working on zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machines (EVMs), says Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. Invented in 2017, Plasma diverts data and computation — except deposits, withdrawals and Merkle roots — to an off-chain environment. It was superseded by optimistic and zero-knowledge (ZK)- rollups as the two solutions offered cheaper client-side data storage costs and security properties that “cannot be matched,” Buterin explained in a Nov. 14 X (Twitter) post. Exit games for EVM validiums: the return of Plasmahttps://t.co/QgyzXAl0wv — vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) November 14, 2023 Buterin said rollups remain the “gold standard ,” but Plasma is an “underrated design space” that shouldn’t be forgotten. “Plasma can be a sign...

dYdX completes the launch of its layer 1 proof-of-stake blockchain with the creation of its genesis block by chain validators. Decentralized cryptocurrency exchange dYdX has launched its layer 1 blockchain with the creation of its genesis block which will operate using native DYDX tokens. The dYdX Chain is set to distribute all fees to validators and stakers in USD Coin (USDC). This includes trading fees denominated in USDC as well as gas fees for DYDX-denominated transactions or USDC-denominated transactions. The proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain network was built using Cosmos’ software development kit and makes use of CometBFT as its consensus protocol. Validators stake DYDX in order to secure the blockchain and carry out governance operations of the network. The launch of the dYdX Chain network itself spanned a massive number of companies: @dydx_ops_subdao coordinating genesis & launch generally + hosting indexer & frontend @dydxfoundation coordinating community governan...

Janet Adams, the COO of SingularityNET, said that AGIs falling into the hands of military could pose existential threats to humanity. While the development of artificial general intelligence (AGI) comes with a truckload of benefits, it also comes with massive risks if the technology falls into the wrong hands. However, de centralization using blockchain technology might help prevent a catastrophe, according to Janet Adams, the chief operating officer of the artificial intelligence and Web3-focused project SingularityNET. At the Future Blockchain Summit event in Dubai, Cointelegraph sat down with Adams to learn about the risks of centralization when it comes to AGI and how decentralization holds the key to mitigating these risks. Cointelegraph's Ezra Reguerra with SingularityNET's Janet Adams at the Future Blockchain Summit in Dubai. Source: Ana Solana While AGI is still a conceptual version of AI that allows a machine to learn and think like a human being, its developme...

Circle taps into Ethereum layer 2 Polygon to provide USDC liquidity directly on the proof-of-stake scaling protocol. US dollar stablecoin issuer Circle has announced that it has begun minting USD Coin (USDC) native ly on Ethereum layer 2 scaling protocol Polygon. USDC is accessible to both users and developers without the need to bridge the stablecoin from Ethereum or other blockchain. Circle Mint and Circle’s developer API’s now support Polygon-based USDC, tapping into Polygon’s scaling capabilities. 1/ It’s official. #ItsStillStableSeptember and $USDC is now available native ly on @0xPolygon PoS mainnet! Learn the benefits of native USDC and how to switch from bridged USDC.e https://t.co/KcK55sT4KH pic.twitter.com/Gm6HjR62KW — Circle (@circle) October 10, 2023 According to the announcement from Circile, businesses and developers will be able to build decentralized applications (DApps) with USDC on Polygon. The new offering is touted to enable near-instant, low fee transacti...

Nansen analysts observed “unusual transactions between FTX and Alameda” in the days leading up to FTX’s bankruptcy. Blockchain data analysts from Nansen revisit the days leading up to the collapse of FTX, including the transfer of $4.1 billion worth of FTT token s between the exchange and Alameda Research. A Nansen report shared with Cointelegraph reveals unique observations from the blockchain analytics firm, which highlights the close relationship between the two companies founded by Sam Bankman-Fried. The former FTX CEO appears in court for the first time to face a litany of charges relating to the collapse of the FTX group. The collapse of FTX is widely reported to have been sparked by initial reports that flagged the significant, 40 percent share of Alameda’s $14.6 billion in assets held in FTT tokens in Sept. 2022. Nansen analysts revealed that they had observed dubious on-chain interactions between FTX and Alameda before these reports came to light. Between Sept. 28 and Nov. 1...

The move is part of a phased termination of BUSD support by February 2024. Crypto exchange Binance will cease borrowing and lending services for its native stablecoin Binance USD (BUSD) by October 25. According to the October 3 announcement, the exchange will close all outstanding BUSD loan and collateral positions by the end of the month. Users would still be able to borrow and lend on Binance using stablecoins such as Tether (USDT), Dai, TrueUSD (TUSD), and USD Coin (USDC). Currently, users can lend their BUSD on Binance at an estimated annual percentage yield of 3%.  On August 31, Cointelegraph reported that Binance will cease all services related to its BUSD stablecoin by 2024. Previously, on February 13, New York fintech firm Paxos, the issuer of the BUSD stablecoin, said it would end relations with Binance due to the latter's ongoing litigation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Paxos said it would end redemptions from BUSD to underlying U.S. cash and Treasu...

The Near Foundation treasury grew to $350 million under Flament's tenure. Marieke Flament, CEO of Near Foundation, the developer of the namesake community layer-one protocol, has resigned. According to the September 21 announcement, Chris Donovan, Near Foundation's general counsel, will replace Flament as the new CEO following the resignation. Flament gave no specific reason for her departure. Speaking on her tenure, Flament said:  "Two years ago, I had never heard of NEAR. Upon doing a bit of research and after several conversations it became clear that NEAR had a tremendous potential – fantastic tech, a diverse and vibrant community and a world of open possibilities, and so I joined." From 2021 to 2023, Flament claims that the daily active user count of Near Protocol grew from 50,000 to 3 million. Its Twitter followers also grew from 200,000 to over 2 million, citing more than 2,000 pieces of press coverage. Partnerships signed by Near during this period include S...

A recently resurfaced video shows Hal Finney discussing the possibility of zero-knowledge proofs at an annual cryptology conference in California some 25 years ago. Early Bitcoin (BTC) pioneer Hal Finney shared his vision for zero-knowledge proofs more than 25 years ago, a full decade before the launch of the first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin.  The video, purportedly from the Crypto ‘98 conference held on Aug. 26, 1998, in Santa Barbara, shows Finney discussing in detail, the concept of zero-knowledge proof s — a cryptographic technology that gained immense popularity decades later. ️ NEW: Bitcoin legend Hal Finney discusses Zero-Knowledge Proofs in a newly unearthed presentation, made 25 years ago at Crypto '98 in Santa Barbara. Have you ever heard @halfin's voice before? pic.twitter.com/HdddworTsg — Trust Machines (@trustmachinesco) September 20, 2023 Finney explains how one could hypothetically perform a zero-knowledge proof on a SHA-1 hash, describing the possibility ...

Digital securities firm Securitize will provide new alternative assets to major cryptocurrency firms like WisdomTree and Valkyrie Invest. Tokenized asset firm Securitize continues expanding investor access to private market alternative assets with the acquisition of the crypto currency fund manager Onramp Invest, which manages more than $40 billion in assets. Securitize is planning to simplify the access of registered investment advisors (RIA) to private equity, private credit and secondary asset classes with the acquisition of Onramp. The acquisition brings more than $40 billion in combined assets, which the Onramp platform handles for a community of RIAs across the United States. Onramp’s customer base Features some prominent firms in the crypto industry, including the exchange-traded (ETF) fund WisdomTree, asset manager Valkyrie Invest, the ETF firm Global X, crypto media Coindesk and others. As a result of the acquisition, RIAs will be able to offer their clients investment...

Visa’s innovative solution employs Ethereum’s ERC-4337 standard and the “Paymaster” smart contract, enabling off-chain gas fee settlement. In a potential transformative move for users, Visa, the payments solution provider, is testing an innovative solution enabling on-chain gas fees to be paid using a Visa card. Mustafa Bedawala, a product manager at Visa, presented the report, highlighting an observed challenge with crypto currency wallets; the ongoing requirement to oversee Ether (ETH) balances for covering gas fees. The standard Ethereum procedure involves users acquiring ETH from an exchange or on-ramp service and then transferring it to their wallets to cater to variable gas fees. This continuous adjustment of gas prices frequently leads to users either overspending or having insufficient ETH, introducing intricacies and challenges. Visa’s innovative solution employs Ethereum’s ERC-4337 standard and the “Paymaster” smart contract, enabling off-chain gas fee settlement. The proce...

Users can trade ETH/FDUSD with zero maker fee, while the standard taker fee will apply based on the user's VIP level. Crypto exchange Binance, on Thursday, August 3, announced that it would be opening trading for the Bitcoin/First Digital USD (BTC/FDUSD) and Ethereum/ First Digital USD (ETH/FDUSD) trading pairs alongside an updated zero-fee Bitcoin and Ethereum trading with newly added FDUSD stablecoin spot and margin pairs . As per the announcement, starting from 08:00 UTC on August 4, users will benefit from zero maker and taker fees for BTC/FDUSD spot and margin trades through the Zero-Fee Bitcoin Trading Program. Additionally, users can trade ETH/FDUSD with zero maker fee, while the standard taker fee will apply based on the user's VIP level. The trading volume for BTC/FDUSD spot and margin trading pairs is not included in the VIP tier volume calculation or the Liquidity Providers programs, enhancing the trading experience for users. “BNB discounts, referral rebate...

Investors and entrepreneurs can create and execute investment agreements directly on the blockchain. The venture capital world has long been known for its traditional approach to funding and investing in startups. However, the emergence of blockchain technology can potentially disrupt this industry and revolutionize the way venture capital operates. One significant aspect of this disruption is the tokenization of assets. Blockchain enables the creation of digital tokens representing ownership in assets or companies. This tokenization allows for fractional ownership and liquidity of traditionally illiquid assets, such as real estate or early-stage startups. It expands investment opportunities, enabling a wider range of investors to participate in ventures by owning tokens, even with small amounts of capital. Another key aspect is the use of smart contracts. These self-executing contracts with predefined rules and conditions are encoded on the blockchain . Smart contracts can eliminate...

Blockchain intelligence platform TRM Labs revealed that Tether (USDT) on the Tron network was being used for most of the transactions. Blockchain intelligence platform TRM Labs recently released a report that presents several case studies highlighting the use of crypto currency by ISIS affiliates across Asia. It linked on-chain connections between these groups and pro-ISIS fundraising campaigns in Syria. Published on July 21, the report indicated that there was “ mounting on-chain evidence” from the past twelve months that pro-ISIS networks in Tajikistan, Indonesia and Afghanistan have utilized crypto currency to help facilitate operations. According to TRM, the majority of transactions linked with the cases involved the use of Tether (USDT) on the Tron network (TRX). Extract from 'TRM Finds Mounting Evidence of Crypto Use by ISIS and its Supporters in Asia' report. Source: TRM Labs On July 21, Cointelegraph covered a presentation by Tara Annison, Elliptic’s former head of t...

The scheduled launch date for these futures contracts is set for July 31, pending regulatory review. On June 29, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group announced its plans to introduce Ether/Bitcoin Ratio futures . The launch of these futures contracts is slated for July 31, subject to regulatory review. Efficiently capture the relative value of ether and bitcoin in a single trade with Ether/Bitcoin Ratio futures , launching July 31. https://t.co/WDFhIt5rJ7 — CME Group (@CMEGroup) June 29, 2023 According to the announcement, the settlement of Ether/Bitcoin Ratio futures will be in cash, based on the final settlement price of CME Group’s Ether (ETH)  futures divided by the final settlement price of CME Group's Bitcoin (BTC) futures . Moreover, this new contract will adhere to the identical listing cycle observed in CME Group’s Bitcoin futures and Ether futures contracts. Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group’s global head of cryptocurrency products, emphasized the potential for...

During a panel at the Australian Blockchain Week, executives from Australia’s major banks explained why they added restrictions on payments to local crypto exchanges. Australia’s cryptocurrency industry banking woes will likely continue, with the government and major banks signaling no intention to back down against scams that “touch” crypto. During a panel at the Australian Blockchain Week on June 26, Sophie Gilder, managing director of blockchain and digital assets at Commonwealth Bank (CBA) shed light on the bank's restrictions on crypto exchange payments, noting it was put in place after seeing an alarming rate of scams that ended up involving cryptocurrency. “One in three of the dollars that are scammed from Australians touch crypto, one in three. So it's the single largest lever that we have to reduce this impact on our customers,” she said. Commonwealth Bank's Sophie Gilder speaking in a panel during Australian Blockchain Week. Source: Cointelegraph Nigel Dobson, ba...