Robinhood CEO Believes Cryptocurrencies Are Here To Stay 1259

Robinhood is by no means an ‘elder’ in the cryptocurrency industry, only opening up its cryptocurrency division in early January. Despite this, Robinhood’s co-CEO, Baiju Bhatt, believes that the cryptocurrency market has a strong future ahead of itself.

“Bitcoin Just Keeps on Coming Back”

During an interview with Yahoo Finance, Bhatt expressed his positive sentiments regarding the cryptocurrency market as a whole.

Bhatt pointed out that he believes that sovereign nations will adopt cryptocurrencies as a currency of choice. This statement is in line with what CFTC commissioner said earlier this week, also stating that he believes small nations ‘may become dependent on virtual assets for survival.’

With events like the recent Venezuelan hyperinflation becoming prevalent, smaller nations may begin to turn to cryptocurrencies as a decentralized and secure way to transfer value between individuals and entities.

When asked about his recent involvement in crypto, Bhatt stated:

“We have been thinking about it for a couple of years… We had been watching it (Bitcoin) over the years and we noticed one thing which we really looked at when considering when to offer it to our consumers, which is its resiliency. It has this tenacity to it where it just keeps on coming back.”

In January, Robinhood announced the creation of a cryptocurrency service which was well received by the public, with hundreds of thousands of consumers getting their names down on the early access mailing list.

However, once the official release of Robinhood Crypto occurred, it was met with mixed reviews. At the time, Robinhood Crypto was only open to a few U.S. states with support for only a few cryptocurrencies.

In fact, Robinhood only allows for users to trade cryptocurrencies and does allow for the deposit or withdrawal of cryptocurrencies, essentially making it just a price speculation platform.

However, the co-CEO also noted that he believes Bitcoin ‘is going to be something that is going to stick around for a while’ and has not given any regard to daily volatility in the market. 

It has also become apparent that Robinhood is working to expand their cryptocurrency service, successfully raising $363 million in May to help expand their product line.

Coinbase vs. RobinHood

If Robinhood, along with this capital influx, can offer cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals in more countries, its crypto service may begin to encroach on current market leaders. Drawing parallels between the Robinhood and Coinbase services, you can see that they are both aimed at retail consumers for mass adoption. Additionally, they are both fintech startups based in the heart of Silicon Valley, with similar goals and aspirations. 

Taking this into mind, Coinbase is evidently one of Robinhood’s largest competitors. Robinhood obviously has a step up against Coinbase’s fee structure, with the growing cryptocurrency service offering commission-free cryptocurrency trading, a welcome feature in a world of 3% fees.

Bhatt did acknowledge Coinbase’s fee structure during the aforementioned interview, despite commending Coinbase as a ‘great company.’

Bhatt said:

“We (Robinhood) think that we are good at building the best consumer products and making sure that we can offer them at the best prices. And while you may end up paying a fee of 4% perhaps more on Coinbase, on Robinhood it is free and we think our interface is easy to use as well.”

But, as of one week ago, Coinbase reached its six-year anniversary, becoming one of the most aged institutions in the cryptocurrency industry.

The team at this growing financial service may have a tough time taking the proper routes to ensure a successful transition to support high volume cryptocurrency trading, especially in such a volatile and unforgiving market. 

If Robinhood wants to take over Coinbase, its team will need to learn a lot and may need to offer a variety of other cryptocurrency related services to ensure that its foray into the cryptocurrency market is a resounding success. But many are rooting for Robinhood’s success because if this service succeeds, it will surely increase retail adoption through an easy to use fiat onramp.

Featured image from Shutterstock.

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Galxe Launches Galxe Passport V2, Boosting Privacy and Security for over 900K Passport Holders 1719

Galxe, the leading web3 infrastructure and digital identity network, today unveiled Galxe Passport V2, the next evolution in web3 identity management, now enhancing the security and privacy of nearly one million passport holders.

With the launch of Galxe Passport V2, users benefit from new features designed to redefine identity verification and management across the web3 ecosystem. As the premier identity solution provider in web3, Galxe continues to lead the industry by prioritizing robust security measures with seamless integration with the Galxe Identity Protocol, marking a full integration between Galxe Passport and the Identity Protocol to bring privacy protection features to all users.

“The release of Galxe Passport V2 marks a crucial step in our mission to onboard the world to web3, reinforcing the vital role of trust and security in digital interactions,” stated Harry Zhang, Co-Founder of Galxe. “By introducing key new features and integrating the passport with our Identity Protocol, leveraging Zero-Knowledge Proof technology, we are not just upgrading our technology–we are advancing a secure, privacy-focused framework that supports our vision of a user-centric web3 ecosystem. We are committed to providing a seamless experience that upholds the integrity of digital identities, making web3 accessible and safe for our community and our partners. With each innovation, we move closer to realizing a world where digital identity management is as natural as it is secure, ensuring that every user can navigate the web3 space with confidence.”

New Features and Upgrades to the Galxe Passport

  • Private Data Vault: A new, secure system for storing encrypted identity data and credentials, the Galxe Vault simplifies access to identity information while upholding the highest standards of privacy and security. This system allows users to manage their digital identities easily across various platforms, leveraging Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology to ensure complete privacy.
  • Facial Re-Verification: A major step forward in securing user identities, this feature introduces periodic facial verifications within the KYC processes, ensuring the continuity and authenticity of user identities. It targets the eradication of false KYC verifications by verifying biometrics against initial records, significantly reducing identity fraud and enhancing compliance.
  • Timestamped Verification: Strengthening the integrity of the verification process, this feature provides detailed timestamps for each successful verification, including the date and time of the first and last successful verifications, along with the total number of successful verifications. This adds a layer of transparency and security, making it a robust tool for authenticity assessments.

Seamless Transition and Enhanced Integration

The transition to Galxe Passport V2 will be seamless for all existing users, with the automatic upgrades to the new version. New users will directly experience the advanced capabilities of V2 from the outset, ensuring all users benefit from enhanced security and privacy features. To explore the upgraded features and capabilities of Galxe Passport V2 or to mint your own Passport today, visit https://app.galxe.com/passport.

About Galxe

Galxe is the leading web3 infrastructure and digital identity network, empowering seamless web3 experiences through modular AI, digital identity, and blockchain technologies. Central to the ecosystem, the Galxe Identity Protocol provides a foundational layer for secure and self-sovereign digital identity management. Alongside the protocol, Galxe’s product suite–Galxe Quest, Galxe Passport, Galxe Score, and Galxe Compass–supports the development of the next generation of web3 applications. With a vibrant community of over 20 million active users and partnerships with more than 5,000 brands, Galxe has proven itself as a pioneer and leader in digital identity solutions, fostering community growth, and enhancing user engagement. Dedicated to making web3 accessible to all, Galxe serves end-users and developers worldwide.

Galileo Protocol launches LEOX airdrop with 250,000 token reward pool 2264

In a significant move towards integrating blockchain technology with real-world assets, Galileo Protocol is thrilled to announce its LEOX token airdrop, designed to engage and expand its community. The airdrop features a generous pool of 250,000 LEOX tokens and offers participants a firsthand experience in a leading-edge RWA tokenisation ecosystem.

Exploring the Reward Pool

  • Fairdrop Pool: 150,000 LEOX dedicated to holders of Nebula and NFT communities who embody the web3 experience (CommuNFTy Pool).
  • Farmooor Pool: 100,000 LEOX allocated to active Galileo Marketplace participants.

Fairdrop Pool access

  1. Eligibility: Hold an unlisted Nebula or partner NFT (to be announced in early May) during the snapshot period (April 3rd – June 1st).
  2. Snapshot verification: Ensure NFTs are in your wallet during the June 1st snapshot.
  3. Receive LEOX Tokens: Tokens will be automatically distributed on June 15th to eligible wallets.

Farmooor Pool Access

  1. Marketplace registration: Sign up at the Galileo Marketplace and complete KYC verification.
  2. Social engagement: Share your sign up on your socials. Galileo will be adding a link input feature for participation.
  3. Active participation: Make purchases on the marketplace from April 3rd to September 30th.
  4. Final verification: Maintain active participation through the September 30th snapshot.
  5. Token distribution: Eligible participants will receive their tokens on October 31st.

Participation Benefits

This airdrop is more than a reward; it’s an invitation to explore the transformative potential of RWAs on the blockchain. Participants will gain early access to a platform that blends the physical and digital worlds, creating secure, transparent, and liquid markets for assets previously constrained by traditional boundaries.

Why Galileo Protocol?

Galileo Protocol stands at the forefront of the RWA blockchain movement, focusing on the tokenisation of tangible assets to enhance their usability, liquidity, and security in the digital age. Galileo Protocol not only supports the tokenisation of assets but also ensures their real-world applicability and integration.

Safety notice

Please interact only through official Galileo channels and verify all links before engaging. Remember, the Galileo team will never reach out via direct messaging first.

About Galileo Protocol

Dedicated to revolutionising asset management, Galileo Protocol uses blockchain technology to authenticate, tokenise, and mobilise real-world assets. This approach aims to unlock the value of physical assets and make them accessible in the crypto space, enhancing transparency and trust.

Join this forward looking journey with the Galileo Protocol’s LEOX airdrop. Step into the future of asset management and discover the full capabilities of Galileo Protocol’s RWA tokenisation platform.

Follow Galileo Protocol’s official channels

Telegram Group: @galileoprotocolcommunity
Discord Group: https://discord.gg/vQQPXXcKsv
Own a Nebula here: https://nebula.galileoprotocol.io/
Visit the Galileo Marketplace: https://app.galileoprotocol.io/

MetaComp Announces Strategic Partnership with Harvest Global Investments to Explore Bringing HK-Listed ETFs to Investors in Singapore and Beyond 2679

MetaComp Pte Ltd, a leading Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) licensed Singapore fintech company that specializes in blockchain technology and digital assets, and its affiliates (collectively referred as MetaComp), is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Harvest Global Investments Limited (HGI), a leading asset management company licensed with the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. HGI is among the pioneering Chinese asset management firms to establish subsidiaries abroad. The Memorandum of Understanding executed between MetaComp and HGI marks a significant step towards potentially broadening the accessibility of innovative financial products globally with special emphasis on the recently announced cryptocurrency spot ETFs which will be expected to start trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange from 30 April 2024 onwards. This follows the announcement by HGI that they have received authorization from Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission to launch the highly anticipated cryptocurrency ETFs.

The core of the partnership revolves around MetaComp and its affiliates’ commitment to make HGI’s cryptocurrency spot ETFs available, through MetaComp’s proprietary Client Assets Management Platform, also known as CAMP by MetaComp, utilizing its technological and market expertise to introduce these products under the appropriate regulatory framework to Singapore investors and beyond. This initiative not only aims to expand the global footprint of HGI’s ETFs but also allows MetaComp and its affiliate to enrich its wealth solution portfolio with highly sought-after financial products.

In addition to the crypto-ETF distribution, the collaboration will also explore opportunities for the integration of HGI’s various asset management solutions into MetaComp’s service offerings. MetaComp will also provide HGI access to its Digital Payment Token suite of services. Through the strategic collaborative efforts by both companies, they are hoping to forge a symbiotic relationship that will allow both companies to leverage on their strengths.

The alignment with HGI allows MetaComp to tap into the scale and expertise of a leading global financial player, significantly enhancing its service capabilities and market reach. This partnership is designed to serve not just the existing clientele of both entities but also to capture new segments eager for advanced financial solutions across traditional finance and crypto finance.

Dr Bo Bai, Chairman and Co-Founder of MetaComp shared: “This strategic alliance with Harvest Global Investments Limited reaffirms MetaComp’s commitment to being the bridge that links traditional finance with crypto finance. We are confident that our partnership with Harvest Global Investments Limited will prove to be mutually beneficial. With Harvest’s expertise in asset management and MetaComp’s robust capabilities in providing a comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions, we are poised to deliver unparalleled value to our clients and the market.”

For more detailed information on this partnership and to stay updated on future developments, please visit www.mce.sg.

About MetaComp Pte Ltd (www.mce.sg)

MetaComp is a leading Singapore-based digital asset platform that is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) under the Payment Services Act 2019. Operating under a P2B2C (platform-to-business, partners-to-clients) model, MetaComp provides an integrated end-to-end suite of services to its clients, empowering them to confidently enter the digital asset market with the much-needed safety, security, and compliance. Together with its parent company, Metaverse Green Exchange Pte. Ltd. (a MAS-licensed CMS holder permitted to carry out, inter alia, brokerage and custody services), MetaComp introduces its suite of services through CAMP by MetaComp, a regulated Client Assets Management Platform, allowing businesses to develop and scale their digital asset offerings through OTC and exchange trading services, fiat payment, digital asset custody and prime brokerage.

Hinkal Closes Strategic Funding Round to Advance Discreet Trading and Position Liquidation 3456

Hinkal, a multi-chain privacy layer for confidential decentralized finance (DeFi) transactions, today announced a $1.4 million strategic funding round led by SALT Fund, with participation from Draper Associates, SNZ and Peer VC. Additionally, Tal Cohen, CEO of Kraken US, joined the company advisory board.

The raise follows the close of Hinkal’s $4.1M seed funding round in November of 2023. With surging demand from institutional clientele, this strategic funding will be used to bring liquid funds, VCs, family offices and founders of projects to Hinkal’s confidential infrastructure.

As institutional investors expand their presence in crypto markets they are increasingly looking to decentralized exchanges to take advantage of price discovery and asset control these platforms provide. However, DeFi does not provide privacy these traders are accustomed to in traditional financial markets. As crypto analytics platforms have become more complex, the pseudonymous nature of DeFi presents risks of copy trading and front running for liquid funds, VCs, and protocol founders willing to liquidate their token positions.

“The influx of institutional capital into crypto markets is a landmark event for the maturity of the industry,” said Georgi Koreli, CEO of Hinkal. “Hinkal is solving a critical need in the crypto space by providing institutional investors with the additional layer of anonymity they require to participate in DeFi markets. This strategic funding round will allow us to accelerate the development and adoption of our groundbreaking privacy solution.”

Hinkal is a zero knowledge (ZK)-protocol that addresses these issues by enabling end-to-end and secure confidentiality for DeFi transactions. Leveraging a combination of self-custodial private addresses and relayers, Hinkal transforms the way on-chain trading operates as the only transaction that can be seen on block explorers or analytics platforms is the execution of a relayer – no wallet addresses attached. This allows liquid funds, VCs and retail investors to make confidential transactions within the protocol without experiencing price slippage or market impacts.

Additionally, Hinkal provides a best-in-class solution for venture capital and founding teams looking to liquidate vested tokens in a private and secure environment. As the industry has grown and matured, these stakeholders have traditionally struggled with token vesting and liquidations, as this process often results in adverse price impacts that dilute net settlement and sends mixed messages to the community. With Hinkal, VCs and teams can receive any vested token directly into a private Hinkal address and liquidate privately without these impacts to the market.

AJ Scaramucci, Founder and Managing Partner of the SALT Fund, commented on the news, “The SALT Fund is dedicated to supporting projects that drive innovation for institutional investors. Hinkal is a breakthrough protocol addressing crucial pain points for institutional funds, founders, and VCs alike by enabling them to execute private DeFi trading strategies and liquidate vested tokens in a way that doesn’t disrupt the broader market. This is a game-changer for the industry and will unlock significant value for these stakeholders.”

Underpinning Hikal is a full suite of compliance and security solutions to further support institutional users of DeFi protocols. Hinkal requires KYC(B) (Know Your Customer/Business) verification for users to prevent illicit parties from using the protocol while simultaneously providing a frictionless experience via reusable attestations at exchanges like Coinbase and Binance. Audited by major firms including Quanstamp and Zokyo, Hinkal provides a secure trading experience and real-time threat mitigation with Hexagate.

About Hinkal

Founded by Stanford grad Giorgi Koreli and his Ph.D. brother, Nika Koreli, Hinkal enables privacy of transactions and assets across core DeFi apps and functions, including trading, farming, staking, and lending through the use of stealth addresses and with high degree of compliance.

Hinkal is a ZK-based solution that provides a private smart contract wallet experience, allowing users to participate in their favorite dApps directly from their private addresses without the need to withdraw assets for obfuscation.

SKALE and Virtualness global partnership reimagines fan engagement for sports, creators, and enterprises using the power of blockchain 3771

Fans of Liga 1 & other organizations will have access to a superior experience on Virtualness with SKALE’s zero gas fees and instant finality.

SKALE Network, a gas-less EVM-compatible blockchain designed for secure Ethereum scaling, and Virtualness, a pioneering mobile-first platform powered by generative AI and blockchain, today announced a strategic partnership aimed at redefining digital engagement and empowering global sports fans, enterprises and creators alike.

With international athletic partnerships that include Liga 1, Asia’s largest and most prestigious football league, sports fans will have access to exclusive NFT moments, player cards, rewards, loyalty programs, real-world experiences, and exciting gamification on the Virtualness platform, all powered by the SKALE network. Fans who interact with clubs, players, and fellow supporters will foster a deeper connection with their favorite teams while experiencing the world’s fastest blockchain.

“Through our partnership with SKALE, we’re revolutionizing the NFT landscape by eliminating barriers to entry and making Web3 accessible to Web2 users paving the way for mass adoption,” said Kirthiga Reddy and Saurabh Doshi, Co-founders of Virtualness. “We are thrilled to partner with SKALE to provide our community with unparalleled access to NFTs, immersive digital experiences, and exclusive rewards.”

As part of the partnership, Virtualness’ hundreds of thousands of users will leverage SKALE’s high-throughput, zero gas fee transactions, and instant finality capabilities to enhance its platform’s performance and scalability. Additionally with SKALE, sports fans, enterprises, organizations and all Virtualness users alike can now mint for free, further democratizing the access to digital asset ownership.

“We look forward to supporting this new era of accessibility and empowerment for creators and organizations,” said Jack O’Holleran, Co-Founder of SKALE. “This partnership signifies our commitment to making blockchain more accessible and easy to use, enabling Virtualness users to more seamlessly interact with NFTs, ultimately revolutionizing how we engage with digital assets.”

The Virtualness platform, built on generative AI and blockchain technology, provides sports, enterprises, and creators, with a user-friendly interface for creating, minting, and showcasing digital goods and interacting directly with their communities. With SKALE, Virtualness will soon offer more on-chain assets such as player cards in the form of NFTs, prizes via SKALE tokens, and the transparent storage and sharing of game data such as leadership board scores and prize information.

With SKALE’s advanced blockchain architecture, Virtualness users can expect improved performance, faster transactions, and enhanced security, enabling them to unleash their creativity and reach new heights in the digital world.

The partnership between SKALE Network and Virtualness represents an evolution in digital engagement, offering creators and brands innovative blockchain opportunities to thrive in the digital economy while democratizing access to blockchain and welcoming newcomers into Web3.

The experience for web2 users is user-friendly and easy, with no crypto or blockchain knowledge required or needed. Together, SKALE and Virtualness are poised to revolutionize the way people create, share, and interact with digital content, unleashing new channels for creativity.

For more information, please check out SKALE.space.

About SKALE

SKALE, a gas-less EVM-compatible blockchain designed for secure Ethereum scaling is designed for a World-Class experience for games, NFT platforms, and Web3 applications. As of 2024, SKALE serves over 10 million monthly active users and saves billions in monthly gas fees with its innovative AppChain model. SKALE AppChains feature high performance, zero gas fees, enhanced security, and instant finality, making them ideal for a wide range of decentralized applications. With a commitment to driving the mass adoption of Web3 technologies, SKALE empowers developers and businesses to build scalable, efficient, and user-centric blockchain applications. On the SKALE network, developers can deploy their own EVM-compatible blockchain by unlocking advanced features such as AI/ML smart contracts, on-chain file storage, interchain messaging, and zero-cost minting. Harmonizing speed, security, and decentralization, SKALE was founded in 2018 by Jack O’Holleran and Stan Kladko, PhD.

For more information, users can visit SKALE.space or follow on Twitter.com/SKALENetwork.

About Virtualness

Virtualness is a mobile-first platform, powered by generative AI and blockchain, for users to create, mint, gift, share, and sell digital goods all in one place. Founded in 2022 by industry leaders Kirthiga Reddy and Saurabh Doshi, Virtualness serves as a platform for authenticated sports, brands, and media organizations to design and showcase branded blockchain goods, fostering direct community engagement and unlocking new monetization avenues. Virtualness has exclusive wins like being the authentication partner for Guinness World Record Women in Cloud milestone, and the Asian Academy Creative Award while also delighting fans with exclusive access to icons such as Jim Louderback, Taylor Lorenz. Education, personalization, discovery, integration with Web2 and Web3 platforms, and a mobile-first experience are all core to the platform. Funding led by Blockchange Ventures with participation from VCs f7 Ventures, Micron Ventures, Better Ventures, FalconX, Shorooq Partners, Impact Venture Capital, Oceans Ventures and angels like Carolyn Everson, Randi Zuckerberg, Nuseir Yassin (Nas Daily), Marina Mogilko, Nikki Farb, Shayamal Vallabhjee, Stacy Brown-Philpot, and other thought-leaders.

For more information,users can visit about.virtualness.io

BLAZE Investment Round Complete With Aim To Become Web3 Market Leader 4212

StoryFire stands at the forefront of innovation, spearheading a revolutionary amalgamation of SocialFi, GameFi, and DeFi, culminating in an unprecedented all-encompassing experience. Recently, the company successfully concluded the BLAZE token investment round, securing backing from prominent entities including GDA Capital, Genesis Capital, Octavia Ventures, and TGE Ventures.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Sam Hilder, CEO of StoryFire, emphasized in a recent press release, “Closing a successful funding round amidst the prevailing macroeconomic conditions, with such esteemed partners, is indeed exhilarating. We are deeply grateful for the trust our investors have placed in us.” Hilder further elucidated on the company’s strategic vision, affirming their commitment to crafting the ultimate Web3 platform through the StoryFire offering, eagerly anticipating the unveiling of their latest developments.

Leading the investment consortium, Genesis Capital, a private equity powerhouse, orchestrated the funding round. The company delineated its intentions to leverage the capital infusion to propel both developmental initiatives and marketing endeavors leading up to the imminent BLAZE token launch.

In a strategic move underscoring StoryFire’s steadfast commitment to the Web3 landscape, the company announced its purchase of assets from Tokens.com in February 2024, with it being that it has successfully closed the sale of Metaverse Group and Hulk Labs to StoryFire. The purchase entailed a disposition comprising a 15.3% equity stake in StoryFire, appraised at US$3.5 million, alongside an allocation of US$500,000 in BLAZE tokens. This strategic maneuver underscores StoryFire’s enduring presence within the Web3 domain, as it endeavors to fortify and expand its footprint across the entire Web3 ecosystem.

About StoryFire

The StoryFire platform, powered by the BLAZE token, will revolutionising the metaverse paradigm by combining SocialFi, GameFi, and DeFi into one unified experience.