BITMAIN IPO MAKES CRYPTO INDUSTRY UNEASY 6562

Cryptocurrency mining giant Bitmain continues to gain attention over its initial public offering (IPO) as critics raise the alarm over its financial outlook. As Dut.Biz reported at the end of July, the manufacturer announced its plans to hold a $14 billion IPO before the end of 2018, having achieved Q1 profits of over $1 billion.

Since then, data about the offering to pre-IPO investors have raised suspicions over Bitmain’s prospects, doubts specifically focusing over its huge reserves of altcoin Bitcoin Cash (BCH), which would remain illiquid unless markets transformed prior to the IPO date.

“According to the Bitmain pre-IPO investor deck, they sold most of their [Bitcoin] for [Bitcoin Cash],” Blockstream CSO Samson Mow wrote on Twitter August 11.

The pre-ICO figures the company released last week saw many sources conclude its degree of investment in BCH could ultimately spook investors who understand the state of the altcoin’s liquidity and Bitmain’s role in preserving it.

Beyond BCH, Bitmain’s undisclosed but likely underwhelming Q2 performance, lack of competitiveness, unsuccessful recent product launch and the cryptocurrency bear market are all factors stacked against it.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Chainlink Price Feeds Go Live on Base Testnet, New Ethereum L2 Incubated by Coinbase 3473

Today, Chainlink Price Feeds are live on Base testnet, a new Ethereum L2 incubated by Coinbase. Base aims to offer developers a secure, low-cost way to easily build decentralized applications. With this integration, developers building on Base can have access to industry-standard Chainlink Data Feeds and other web3 services.

Base will also be participating in the Chainlink SCALE program, designed to make Chainlink data and services available to developers at a lower cost. As part of the program, Base will cover certain operating costs of Chainlink services on its network, and reduce the gas costs incurred by Chainlink nodes when submitting oracle reports on Base.

“We’re super excited to launch Base with collaborators such as Chainlink, and to join the Chainlink SCALE program to empower developers with the critical data and services they need to build their applications,” said Jesse Pollak, Base lead.

Chainlink SCALE is an initiative centered around sustainably accelerating the growth of blockchain and Layer-2 ecosystems. Its focus is providing L1s/L2s with increased access to high-quality, low-cost, and in-demand oracle services by enabling them to cover the operating costs (e.g. transaction gas fees) of Chainlink oracle networks for a period of time. As blockchain/L2 ecosystems in the Chainlink SCALE program mature, the operating costs of oracle networks can increasingly transition toward being fully covered by dApp user fees.

“We’re thrilled to support the testnet launch of Base and work with them on the SCALE program to support the ecosystem growth and long-term adoption of the Base Layer-2 network,” said Niki Ariyasinghe, Global Head of Blockchain Partnerships at Chainlink Labs. “By reducing the operating costs of oracle nodes, Base will be able to bootstrap its ecosystem’s growth and become a more attractive environment for building secure and scalable Web3 apps.”

This deployment of resources will help Base become a secure and high-utility layer-2 solution in the Ethereum ecosystem, while giving its ecosystem developers a wide range of highly reliable oracle services for an extended period of time. This will set a foundation for Base to be able to support secure, fully featured, and highly performant applications.

About Chainlink

Chainlink is the industry-standard Web3 services platform that has enabled trillions of dollars in transaction volume across DeFi, insurance, gaming, NFTs, and other major industries. As the leading decentralized oracle network, Chainlink enables developers to build feature-rich Web3 applications with seamless access to real-world data and off-chain computation across any blockchain and provides global enterprises with a universal gateway to all blockchains.

Learn more about Chainlink by visiting chain.link or reading the developer documentation at docs.chain.link.

Introducing AuraPool: The world’s first NFT marketplace for hashrate collectibles 3428

Cudo, the team behind the sustainable Cudos blockchain, Cudo Compute and Cudo Miner, has introduced the latest exciting addition to the Cudos ecosystem – AuraPool, an NFT marketplace for hashrate collectibles.

As a first-of-its-kind NFT marketplace, AuraPool connects NFT fans, digital art collectors, Bitcoin miners, casual gamers, and mining farms all via a frictionless platform that brings utility to the world of digital collectibles. AuraPool is the first tokenised infrastructure marketplace for the next generation of sustainable Bitcoin miners that brings clean energy to mining via hashrate collectibles.

The NFT marketplace fractionalises hashrate generated by renewable energy BTC farms with daily rewards that are then distributed directly to the holders digital wallet. With hardware managed by providers in the marketplace there is no expensive equipment or technical knowledge needed, making mining accessible for absolutely everyone who joins. In addition, AuraPool is developing a roadmap of exciting and interactive games, and user challenges for a more immersive and engaging experience, offering players the chance to challenge and win a percentage of hashrate from other players. AuraPool will be launching their in-platform games in the near future. NFT or CUDOS token holders will have voting power and can even help determine which games are built and go into development next.

The first hashrate collection to drop on AuraPool will launch in March. The artist behind the first collection is Delux3, a well-known artist and former designer at global apparel brand, Nike. Delux3 has a unique style that has been described as ‘refined street art’ thoughtfully composed with unexpected colour combinations that have deep tonal layers. As an established artist both within the mainstream art world and the Solana blockchain ecosystem, Delux3 brings his clear vision and abstract eye to the new hashrate collection for AuraPool.

AuraPool is built to be fully transparent, with each seller’s collection displaying maintenance costs. Users are also free to sell their collectibles on the open marketplace whenever they want. AuraPool’s strict due diligence process ensures that new BTC mining farms are financially sound, environmentally and sustainably responsible, and have a solid team in place before they are allowed to list their collections on the AuraPool marketplace. In line with Cudos’ Cosmos-based multichain philosophy, AuraPool also presents an opportunity for chains to unite under the multichain umbrella of the NFT marketplace.

As well as facilitating the viewing, buying, and trading of hashrate collections, users will also be introduced to gaming on the marketplace. By allowing users to battle each other for one another’s hashrate, AuraPool provides a rewarding gaming experience that opens up the marketplace for future metaverse function. NFT or CUDOS token holders will be given voting power that will determine which games will be built next. This integration of gaming into the world of cryptocurrency mining offers endless potential for players to hone their skills and strategy, creating an engaging and thrilling experience unlike any other.

Commenting on the latest Cudos-backed venture, CEO and Founder, Matt Hawkins of Cudos stated: “We believe that the future of the digital world lies in user-friendly and sustainable solutions. The Cudos ecosystem is set up to support cost-efficient ways of monetising underutilised computing hardware while furthering sustainability and social impact initiatives. The upcoming launch of our new sustainable marketplace – AuraPool, represents a major step in this direction, and we’re proud to be driving the crypto mining industry towards a more inclusive space. This also provides monetisation opportunities that are in line with our vision to create a cleaner, cheaper and a more equitable world”

The Cudos ecosystem provides a wide range of services, from cloud computing and data storage, to payment processing and secure online transactions. With its focus on sustainability, Cudos Ventures is committed to reducing carbon emissions and minimising its impact on the environment, making it the ideal choice for companies and individuals who are looking to make a positive difference in the world.

To keep up to date with the latest announcements, visit the AuraPool website: https://www.aurapool.io/

About Cudos

Cudos is powering the metaverse bringing together DeFi, NFTs and gaming experiences to realise the vision of a decentralised Web3, enabling all users to benefit from the growth of the network. We’re an interoperable, open platform launchpad that will provide the infrastructure required to meet the 1000x higher computing needs to create fully immersive, gamified digital realities. Cudos is a Layer 1 blockchain and Layer 2 community-governed compute network, designed to ensure decentralised, permissionless access to high-performance computing at scale. Our native utility token CUDOS is the lifeblood of our network and offers an attractive annual yield and liquidity for stakers and holders.

About Cudo Ventures

Cudos Ventures is a leading provider of innovative sustainable solutions for the digital world. With its cutting-edge technology and user-friendly interface, the company is committed to transforming the online landscape and making a positive difference in the world. Every day, our platforms deliver value to our users that boost revenues, increase margins and enable rapid responses to changing market dynamics and volatility.

House of Rare disrupts investing and trading of scarce collectibles, launching the first asset-backed NFT marketplace on Concordium blockchain 3765

The Concordium blockchain will be used to launch House of Rare’s asset-backed NFT marketplace for fine spirits, leveraging Concordium’s novel ID framework to ensure that end user have the necessary attributes for the purchase for vendors legal compliance, such as age and jurisdictions.

House of Rare pioneered real item-backed NFTs with their first collection – RAREtequila. The collection consists of 777 NFTs, each redeemable for a bottle of highend limited edition tequila. The future plan is to branch out into the world of fine wine, champagne and cigars as additional assets in the near future.

Noticing the legal nature of these assets the marketplace will be developed on the Concordium blockchain to leverage the user friendly and privacy conserving Concordium ID-Layer, to achieve compliance with local authorities. Zero-knowledge proofs will help to verify whether customers are old enough to purchase alcohol in their country of residence while protecting personal data.

Users and collection creators will have a full suite of features to their advantage that will facilitate a personalized and joyful experience on the marketplace. Each House of Rare NFT has a real-life 1:1 item, fully redeemable by the buyers. The trustworthy custody of these assets will be transparently disclosed. Collectors are thereby ensured their NFT has real-life value and is scarce. This is a crucial aspect that will provide security for collectors. Furthermore, House of Rare will offer full collection integration. This means that collectors have full customizability and whitelisting options on sites of collection creators.

Miguel Ortiz, CEO of House of Rare, says: “We decided to develop on Concordium because of its network structure. The ID-layer ensures that the end user has the necessary attributes for the purchase and is located in a jurisdiction where we can sell our products. The decentralized approach and privacy measures adopted by Concordium made it an obvious choice for us.”

“Asset-backed NFTs are the future of NFTs, unlocking fractional ownership, liquidity, and value transfer by linking real-world assets to digital ownership and expanding the universe of tokenized assets. Our partnership with House of Rare will tap into the huge potential of asset-backed NFTs,” says Torben Kaaber, Head of Commercial at Concordium.

Øverlay, the first RegDeFi token launchpad on Concordium ready for mass adoption 3835

The Beta-test whitelisting of Overlay, the first Regulated Decentralised Finance (RegDeFi) token launchpad on Concordium, has been successful. +800 more whitelists are filled!

Overlay and Concordium partnered with the goal to help protect users from fraud within a decentralized structure and currently around 300 testers have helped Overlay in getting ready to go live. More are joining every day as testers receive Overlay token $OVL, USDC and CCD in advance.

Testers access the project, stake $OVL, get a tier rank determined by the amount of $OVL held, and deposit USDC at the same time. Whether or not they can invest in the project will be decided by a smart contract lottery after two weeks. The probability of winning the lottery increases depending on the Tier rank. Nevertheless, USDC will be returned to those who do not win the lottery.

Concordium, the only layer-1 blockchain with a built-in self sovereign ID framework, enables Øverlay to combine the benefits of Centralized Finance (CeFi) with DeFi (Decentralized Finance), to provide a secure and flexible platform for capital raising through IDOs.

Concoridum’s zero-knowledge proof and ID layer, ensures the integrity of fundraising activities and Overlay’s compliance with regulations worldwide. Its IDO platform is designed to be user-friendly, allowing projects to easily launch and manage their fundraising activities.

In addition, Øverlay provides a fast and easy onboarding process and distribution of project tokens, along with a lucrative tier model and OVL credits, with staking also available. The platform is fully community-driven and the perfect choice for projects looking to raise capital and for investors looking for investment opportunities in the DeFi space.

Øverlay’s use of decentralized technologies ensures that funds are secure and protected from fraud, meanwhile its community-driven nature enables a robust ecosystem that supports projects and investors alike.

The platform also offers a flexible, performance-based token distribution model that incentivises early adopters and rewards long-term participants. Øverlay will continue to evolve and improve, with regular updates and new features aimed at enhancing the user experience and driving innovation in the DeFi space.

Wirex Wallet Becomes World’s First Non-Custodial Wallet Without Seed Phrase Vulnerability to Launch Stellar Blockchain 3632

Wirex has become the world’s first non-custodial wallet without seed phrase vulnerability to launch the Stellar blockchain. The addition will see XLM and USDC on Stellar added to the Wirex Wallet.

Today’s integration adds to the eight other blockchains already available on the Wirex Wallet, including BTC, ETH and AVAX. With over 5 million users of the Wirex custodial app, the company launched theWirex Wallet in December 2020. It offers users complete control over their cryptocurrencies and NFTs, utilising multi-party computation (MPC) technology without seed phrase vulnerability to address security concerns with traditional crypto wallets. An unparalleled user interface allows built-in cross-chain swaps and direct access to popular DeFi protocols.

With over 100+ tokens available to buy, exchange and sell in the platform, XLM and USDC were strategically chosen as the next listings on the Wirex Wallet. USDC is a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the US dollar with one of the largest market shares, whilst XLM is the native coin to Stellar used for transaction fees within Stellar blockchain.

Wirex and Stellar have been partnered for some time, sharing a goal of democratising access to crypto. Together, the two companies developed insightful research reports into crypto user behaviour to understand needs better, whilst in October last year, Wirex announced the launch of USDC on Stellar on their app on-stage at the Stellar Development Foundation’s Meridian event in Rome.

Pavel Matveev, CEO and Co-Founder of Wirex, said: “We’re delighted to work with Stellar to develop another world’s first across our platform, solidifying our reputation as an innovator. Integrating this complex non-EVM blockchain is a huge milestone for us, and is important in enabling more customers to access the benefits of more cryptos in a trusted and secure environment within the Wirex Wallet.”

XLM and USDC on Stellar will be available from today in the Wirex Wallet.

About Wirex

Wirex is a worldwide digital payment platform and regulated institution that has forged new rules in the digital payments space. In 2015, the firm developed the world’s first crypto-enabled payment card that gives users the ability to seamlessly spend crypto and traditional currencies in real life.

Founded in 2014 by CEOs and co-founders Pavel Matveev and Dmitry Lazarichev, Wirex was created to make the digital economy accessible to everyone. With over 5 million customers and rapid expansion into new territories, including the US, Wirex is uniquely placed to support and promote the mass adoption of a cashless society through creative solutions. To reflect the growth of the metaverse, throughout 2021, the company has continued to expand their offering into the CeFi and DeFi sectors.

wirexapp.com

Bitcoin of America Announces New ATM Kiosk Feature BillPay 3730

Bitcoin of America today announced BillPay, a new service offered through self-service ATMs. BillPay allows customers to pay utility bills through Bitcoin of America’s ATM kiosk, making paying bills more convenient. As an added bonus, if customers need cash, they have the option to easily sell their cryptocurrency, receive cash, and use it to make bill payments to their utility companies. Companies that can be paid through BillPay include Comed and Nicor. BillPay is currently available to customers using Bitcoin of America’s virtual currency kiosks in Illinois and Texas. This feature will be coming available to more states soon. Bitcoin of America is the first to offer bill payments through its ATM kiosks.

“We run our company to be valuable and to be a well run company for the long term”, says William Suriano, CLO at Bitcoin of America, on the success and innovations of the company.

Features and benefits of BillPay include:

  • Utility bill payment through BOA’s ATMs
  • Ease of selling cryptocurrency for cash to pay bills
  • Convenience of self-service bill payments

About Bitcoin of America

Bitcoin of America is one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world. The company ensures fast and hassle free transactions through their ATM machines, and offers industry-leading customer support. For more information about Bitcoin of America, visit https://www.bitcoinofamerica.org/.