Sierra Leone and United Nations Agencies to Develop Blockchain Platform 2132

President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone announced today at the 73rd Session of the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) a partnership that brings together leading technology nonprofit Kiva, the U.N. Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) for the launch of a bold, new initiative designed to give the country’s seven million citizens, most of whom have no credit history or formal identity, access to financial services.

The centerpiece of the partnership is the new Kiva Protocol, which will create and establish a national digital identification system using distributed ledger technology (DLT). The system will help ensure that every citizen in Sierra Leone has secure and complete ownership of their personal data and information.

“Through this implementation, Sierra Leone is setting out to build one of the most advanced, secure credit bureaus. It could serve as a model for both developing and developed nations in the future and has the potential to radically change the landscape of financial inclusion,” said Xavier Michon, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNCDF.

“The Government of Sierra Leone has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with UNDP, UNCDF and Kiva on strengthening our National Digital Identification and Credit Reference Bureau process,” said President Maada Bio. “Sierra Leone will now modernize its Credit Reference Bureau and radically transform its financial inclusion landscape.”

Globally, 1.7 billion adults are unbanked and unable to access the financial services they need to improve their lives and their families’ futures. Two of the major barriers to accessing financial services are a lack of formal identification and a lack of verifiable credit history.

The new Kiva Protocol is designed to address these barriers by issuing digital identification to all citizens and enabling formal and informal financial institutions to contribute to a person’s verifiable credit history. Currently, unbanked people cannot leverage financial transactions from the ‘informal economy,’ such as credit with a local shopkeeper, to build their credit history. The Kiva Protocol will capture a wide range of financial transactions—from bank loans to credit with a local shopkeeper—to help people access the financial services they need, including loans for businesses, education or basic medical services.

Kiva, the international nonprofit that has crowdfunded more than $1.2 billion in loans for people in more than 80 countries, is building the system that will record these transactions using distributed ledger technology. For 13 years, Kiva has worked to provide financial access to the unbanked and underserved, becoming a trusted name with strong partnerships across the global microfinance industry. The organization identified that a systems-level change in identification and credit history has the potential to unlock massive amounts of capital for the populations they serve, so began the hunt for a solution.

“With this partnership in Sierra Leone, we hope to carve a path to a system of global identity and federated credit history,” said Kiva CEO Neville Crawley. “This can unlock capital for the populations who need it most, allowing lenders to massively increase services and the flow of funds to the world’s unbanked.”

Rollout of the Sierra Leone project is planned for 2019, after continued ongoing implementation discussions.

For more information, visit kiva.org/protocol

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MapleStory Universe Unveils Nexpace Protocol Today 3089

NEXPACE, a blockchain subsidiary of Nexon Group focused on expanding IP, today unveiled its proprietary NXPC token for the MapleStory Universe. NXPC aims to bolster both the in-game experience for users and support the overall MapleStory Universe ecosystem by enabling community contributors to take part in item creation in-game, a role traditionally reserved for game service providers.

NXPC’s innovative protocol is designed to foster sustainable ecosystem growth by balancing in-game item distribution while encouraging active user participation. With NXPC, contributors can interact with in-game items within MapleStory Universe, promoting a natural flow of community-driven growth. Supported by blockchain technology, items can be seamlessly integrated into the ecosystem, offering incentives for the community to participate and engage actively.

Sunyoung Hwang, Executive Director of NEXPACE, said: “The introduction of NXPC and blockchain technology to the 21-year legacy of MapleStory IP underscores our confidence in their transformative ability to revolutionise the gaming experience for all. The NXPC token aligns user incentives with the long-term growth of the ecosystem by distributing the ability to create items to contributors, fostering a continuous virtuous cycle of enjoyable experiences and growth of the IP. We look forward to our robust pipeline ahead, including releasing new information on the tokens within the year, as well as the various updates on the ecosystem and the PC MMORPG MapleStory N.”

The supply of IP items that can be redeemed through NXPC is limited per cycle, which is renewed on a regular basis, balancing the flexibility and the health of the in-game economy. The element of scarcity also reinforces the mutual increase in IP item value and NXPC value over time in a sustainable manner, laying the foundation for the long-term growth of the MapleStory Universe.

To elucidate NXPC mechanics, MapleStory Universe has introduced ‘Token Comics,’ which serves to demystify blockchain technology while strategically expanding the MapleStory Universe ecosystem. The comics act as a bridge between the gaming culture and blockchain innovation, providing an engaging medium to introduce complex concepts of digital ownership. Through this educational series, MapleStory Universe aims to enhance community engagement and cultivate awareness of its mission to reshape the future of online games with blockchain innovations.

About NEXPACE

NEXPACE is an IP-expanding project based on blockchain technology that utilises NFTs. The goal of NEXPACE is to bring creators and users together, fostering an innovative games community where members can experience various games and content developed by other members. With its blockchain technology, NEXPACE provides transparent and secure services, encouraging creators to freely express their ideas while users enjoy these fresh inventions. This represents the philosophy and ambition of NEXPACE.

MapleStory Universe Official Links
Official Website: msu.io
Official X: x.com/MaplestoryU
Official Medium: medium.com/@MaplestoryU
Official Discord: discord.gg/MaplestoryUniverse
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MapleStoryU
Official Facebook: www.facebook.com/MapleStoryU.Official/

Portal to Bitcoin announces three major integrations with Bitlayer, Sovryn, and Tari ahead of upcoming testnet launch 4416

Portal to Bitcoin, the groundbreaking platform dedicated to unlocking Bitcoin liquidity through the only truly trustless solution, proudly announces major strategic integrations with Bitlayer, Sovryn, and Tari as additional core components of its impending testnet launch.

“We are thrilled to announce the launch of our incentivized testnet and our union with these three outstanding partners, a significant step in our mission to unlock the full potential of Bitcoin liquidity,” said Chandra Duggirala, CEO of Tides Network and Core Contributor of Portal to Bitcoin. “Our commitment to providing a trustless solution is at the heart of everything we do, and our use of the Lightning Network and atomic swaps is a testament to this. This testnet is a crucial phase in our development, allowing us to fine-tune our platform while engaging with our community and rewarding their participation. We believe that Portal to Bitcoin will transform the way users interact with their Bitcoin, providing a secure, efficient, and user-friendly experience.”

Bitlayer is a Bitcoin sidechain/L2 solution that enhances scalability and privacy for blockchain transactions. By integrating Bitlayer, Portal to Bitcoin will be able to offer even faster transaction speeds and improved privacy features. Bitlayer’s BitVM-based technology allows for more efficient processing of transactions, reducing the load on the main Bitcoin blockchain and ensuring that users can enjoy a seamless experience.

“We’re thrilled to integrate with Portal to Bitcoin to bring top-level BTC-FI solutions to market,” said Charlie Hu, Bitlayer co-founder. “Killer applications like Portal will revolutionize the Bitcoin ecosystem, bringing highly sought after financial instruments to the most decentralized, most renowned, and most capital-injected blockchain in the world.”

This integration means that users will benefit from the combined strengths of the Portal Network and Bitlayer, providing a robust and efficient transaction environment. Enhanced privacy features will also ensure that user transactions remain confidential, further bolstering the security of our platform.

Sovryn is the leading Bitcoin Defi project to integrate the Sovryn Dollar (DLLR), an aggregated, BTC-backed stablecoin. The integration of DLLR into the Portal DEX will make it one-click tradable with native BTC using atomic swaps, with no bridges, wrappers or custodians. Sovryn users will also be able to trade against native Runes, Ordinals and other L1 and L2 assets, without the risk of pseudo-custodial solutions. Portal and Sovryn aim this partnership to boost the growth of their respective communities. The Sovryn team shared, “We’re excited Sovryn users will also be able to trade against native Runes, Ordinals and other L1 and L2 assets, without the risk of pseudo-custodial solutions. Portal and Sovryn aim for this partnership to boost the growth of their respective communities.”

Tari is an L1 focused on digital assets and the creation and management of digital assets such as tickets, loyalty points, and in-game items. The integration of Tari with Portal to Bitcoin opens up new possibilities for the tokenization and exchange of digital assets. Users will be able to trade these assets seamlessly, using Bitcoin as the settlement layer.

The Tari Team shared, “Tari teaming up with Portal to Bitcoin is like peanut butter and jelly, but for crypto. This dynamic duo is opening up new possibilities for tokenizing and exchanging digital assets, making Portal to Bitcoin the ultimate bridge between Bitcoin, Ethereum, and yep, Tari! Get ready, because this smooth way to move value between chains is bringing the future right to us!”

This integration not only expands the utility of Bitcoin within our platform but also bridges the gap between traditional digital assets and the world of cryptocurrencies. By leveraging Tari’s protocol, we can offer users a broader range of functionalities and use cases, making Portal to Bitcoin a versatile and comprehensive DeFi solution.

Portal to Bitcoin stands at the vanguard of DeFi innovation, offering users a revolutionary way to access Bitcoin liquidity without relying on centralized intermediaries or custodians. The platform achieves this through a unique integration of the Lightning Network and atomic swaps, ensuring complete security and decentralization. This combination of technologies allows users to conduct transactions and exchanges in a fully trustless environment, maintaining complete control over their assets. The result is a revolutionary approach to unlocking bitcoin liquidity, and is the only fully trustless solution in the marketplace.

At the core of Portal to Bitcoin’s capabilities is the Lightning Network, a second-layer protocol designed to enable instant, low-cost Bitcoin transactions. By utilizing the Lightning Network, Portal to Bitcoin significantly enhances the speed and efficiency of Bitcoin transfers, allowing users to move their assets swiftly and with minimal transaction fees. This is especially beneficial for traders and users who require quick access to their funds.

In addition to the Lightning Network, Portal to Bitcoin employs atomic swaps to facilitate direct peer-to-peer exchanges between Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Atomic swaps are smart contract-based transactions that allow users to exchange one cryptocurrency for another without the need for a trusted third party. This eliminates counterparty risk and enhances the security of the exchange process. Users can trade directly from their wallets, ensuring that they remain in control of their assets throughout the transaction.

About Portal to Bitcoin

Portal to Bitcoin, formerly known as Portal DeFi, conceived by a team of veteran Bitcoin and AI engineers, is dedicated to empowering financial self-sovereignty. Portal is the only custody-less interoperability protocol for Bitcoin. Portal enables fast, low cost atomic swaps between native Bitcoin assets like BTC, Ordinals, and Runes, to L2s and other L1s. With Portal’s technical breakthroughs, there is no bridging or wrapping. User funds are always safe. Portal is backed by Coinbase Ventures, OKX Ventures, Gate.io, Arrington Capital, and many other prominent investors. For more information, visit https://portaltobitcoin.com.

StakeVault.Network to Launch Validator Services for ETH, ATOM, TIA, and SUI 4827

StakeVault.Network (SVN) is set to expand its validator services to major blockchain networks, including Ethereum (ETH), Cosmos (ATOM), TIA, and SUI, in the near future. This expansion aims to provide users with secure and efficient staking services, enhancing the security and performance of each network.

Discover StakeVault.Network

StakeVault.Network is a project dedicated to offering cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure. It provides validator services that support the operation and security of networks through user-held crypto assets. In today’s rapidly evolving blockchain technology landscape, there is a pressing need for secure, efficient, and scalable solutions for staking and node validation. These processes are crucial for strengthening network security, achieving consensus, and promoting decentralized governance across blockchain ecosystems.

Despite significant advancements, existing node validation and staking solutions often face scalability limitations, insufficient security measures, and a lack of user-friendly interfaces, hindering widespread adoption. StakeVault.Network aims to redefine the staking environment by introducing a robust, scalable, and secure platform to address these challenges, positioning itself as a game-changer in the industry.

Revolutionary Validator Solutions

StakeVault.Network offers comprehensive and customized solutions to address the challenges of staking and node validation. The platform implements advanced node authentication mechanisms to ensure that only reliable nodes participate, enhancing security through multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring. Its efficient staking mechanism minimizes energy consumption while maximizing network security and participation, and a dynamic reward distribution model ensures fair and transparent rewards.

The user-centric design provides an intuitive interface and simplified staking process, encouraging broad participation. By promoting reliability and empowerment through a transparent economic model and community governance, StakeVault.Network supports the healthy development of the platform.

Expanding Horizons (ETH, ATOM, TIA, SUI)

SVN will provide validator services on the following major blockchain networks:

Ethereum (ETH): Founded by Vitalik Buterin in 2015, Ethereum is a decentralized platform with smart contract functionality. It serves as the foundation for decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and many decentralized applications (DApps) have been developed on it.

Cosmos (ATOM): Cosmos aims to provide interoperability between blockchains with its native token, ATOM. It envisions an “Internet of Blockchains” and offers a software development kit (SDK) for creating independent blockchains.

TIA (Celestia): Celestia offers a modular blockchain focused on specific functionalities, addressing the trilemma of decentralization, scalability, and security. It uses Data Availability Sampling (DAS) for efficient block verification.

SUI: SUI is a layer 1 blockchain network designed for fast and low-cost transactions. It adopts the unique programming language “Sui Move.” SUI has expanded its ecosystem through partnerships with major companies.

Power of SVN Token

The SVN token is a crucial component of the StakeVault.Network ecosystem. Token holders can participate in decision-making processes and earn staking rewards in SVN tokens. Additionally, SVN tokens are used to pay for services and transaction fees, supporting the economic activities within the ecosystem.

About Us
Website: https://stakevaultnet.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/StakeVaultNet
Telegram: https://t.me/StakeVaultNetwork

MetaBeat Partners with FZF Ventures to Lead Web3 Music Innovation 5303

FZF Ventures, a specialist firm in blockchain and cryptocurrency market investments, and MetaBeat, a Fan-to-Earn Kpop Music NFT Platform, officially announced their strategic partnership. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in both companies’ efforts to leverage blockchain technology and the burgeoning digital asset market.

FZF Ventures, known for its proactive investments in high-growth areas within the blockchain sector, recently unveiled the establishment of a dedicated cryptocurrency fund, as reported by Binance News. This move underscores FZF Ventures’ commitment to expanding its foothold in the dynamic world of blockchain and cryptocurrency, seeking promising ventures that contribute to industry innovation and growth.

MetaBeat stands out in the Web3 music industry with its innovative Fan-to-Earn model, which integrates NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and social finance (socialfi) features. As Kpop continues to captivate global audiences, MetaBeat’s platform offers fans unique opportunities to engage directly with their favorite artists through digital collectibles and community-driven initiatives.

In a statement, FZF Ventures highlighted Kpop’s global influence and its potential to drive advancements within the Web3 music industry. The firm recognizes MetaBeat’s distinct ecosystem and its strategic alignment with these transformative trends. By including MetaBeat in its investment portfolio, FZF Ventures aims to catalyze significant growth for the platform, fostering new avenues for artist-fan interactions and expanding the adoption of blockchain technology in entertainment.

The partnership between FZF Ventures and MetaBeat is not just a financial investment but a strategic alignment aimed at harnessing the power of blockchain to reshape the music industry’s landscape. As both entities look ahead, synergies in technology, community engagement, and market expansion are set to define their collaborative journey in the evolving digital economy.

This collaboration underscores a broader trend where blockchain and NFT platforms like MetaBeat are poised to redefine how fans interact with content and creators, emphasizing decentralization, transparency, and new monetization models. With MetaBeat at the forefront of innovation in Kpop music and FZF Ventures’ strategic backing, the partnership signals a promising future at the intersection of music, technology, and finance.

Website: https://metabeat.io/
X: https://x.com/MetaBeatOffl

The Solana Surge: How Print Protocol is Revolutionizing DeFi with Secure Trading and Revenue Sharing 5353

As the Solana Summer and the overall crypto market continue to evolve, the landscape of decentralized finance (DeFi) remains in constant flux. The period of late 2023 and early 2024 marked a significant resurgence in the crypto markets, with Solana ($SOL) at the forefront, reminiscent of past booms in the blockchain industry.

One of the standout phenomena driving this resurgence was the wave of Solana memecoins, notably $BONK and $WIF, which ignited a meme-mania across the community. This surge in activity not only drew considerable attention to the Solana blockchain but also solidified its reputation as a prime destination for developers and investors alike.

Why Solana? Why Now?

For those new to the world of DeFi and Solana, understanding the basics is crucial. Solana is like a super-fast, magical playground where people can create and trade digital tokens safely and quickly. Now, these tokens are getting more popular and valuable, especially with fun, catchy names like $BONK and $WIF.

Print Protocol on Solana seamlessly integrates into this burgeoning ecosystem by offering unique features designed to empower everyday investors. At the heart of this platform is PrintDex, a decentralized exchange (DEX) that prioritizes user security and fairness. PrintDex incorporates sophisticated anti-bot mechanisms and maximum wallet limits, ensuring that users can trade tokens without the fear of being overwhelmed by large wallet dumps that can destabilize markets. This means that even those new to crypto trading, the average Joe, can engage in trading with confidence and peace of mind, knowing their investments are safeguarded against manipulative practices and constant dumping.

Moreover, PrintDex goes beyond just providing a safe trading environment. By holding $PRINT tokens, users can benefit from an innovative H2E (Hold to Earn) model, and a Revenue Share Model, where they earn a share of the revenue generated by PrintDex. This model transforms passive holding into a lucrative venture, offering a steady rewards stream derived from the exchange’s trading activities. As a result, Print on Solana not only democratizes access to secure trading but also allows investors to share in the success and growth of the platform, making it a compelling choice for both seasoned traders and newcomers alike.

Why Print?

Through all the chaos and memes the team at $PRINT (@PrintProtocol) figured out the first ever auto-rewards token to reward holders in $SOL, to the success of a 30M MC all-time-high. Before $PRINT launched in late January of this year, a taxed token had never existed on-chain, let alone one with a working auto-rewards script. Using Token-2022, a token program on the Solana Blockchain, the team was able to bring something innovative to Solana users.

As 2024 has passed, Print Protocol has continued its long-term development, putting their focus into continued innovation through a relatively unexplored feature of Solana, Transfer Hook Extensions.

All of this has led to the team recently rolling out ‘PrintDEX’ (https://www.printdex.io/), the first ever Decentralized Exchange on Solana to offer maximum transaction limits, max wallet limits, taxes and more, all through Token-2022 support and transfer hook extensions.

In addition to rewarding holders through an 8% token tax, the team has also recently implemented Revenue Sharing through transactional fees on the DEX. A nominal 0.0005 $SOL fee is accumulated for every transaction on PrintDEX with 60% going directly back to holders in $SOL.

As development on the DEX continues, the backend team at $PRINT hold public X/Twitter spaces a few times a month to update the community and discuss the outlook for Print Protocol. The team will be in attendance at Solana Breakpoint this fall and continues to build robust partnerships and support within the Solana community.

Learn more about Print Protocol here:
X: https://x.com/PrintProtocol
X: https://x.com/printdexSol
Telegram: https://t.me/printsolana
Website: https://printsolana.com/
DEX: https://www.printdex.io/

Dora Announces Progression Into A Unified Multichain and MultiVM Explorer 6187

Dora 2.0 Update Allows searchability across 10+ chains alongside bridging, and swapping across all supported chains & expansion into new VM ecosystems

Dora, the unified search, discovery, & action engine for the multichain world, is excited to announce a series of significant upgrades to its services, which will provide Dora users with a unified search view, and actions interface to enable bridging and swapping for more than 10 chains, including Ethereum, Base, Rari, Xai, Palm Network, Gnosis, Scroll, and more. Current blockchain services can be highly siloed, with significant barriers or friction for interoperability, innovation and liquidity. The launch of the Dora 2.0 Update is a key step in Dora’s vision to support the progression towards a multichain and multiVM world by providing an unfragmented and unified multichain experience. Due to Dora’s recent agreement with Movement and Fluent, Dora will also progress to be the first multiVM block explorer. This will make Dora the only block explorer that allows users to not only search EVM chains but also review their SVM, Wasm, and Move interactions within the same interface, streamlining the user experience and reducing the complexity of managing and reviewing transactions.

The announcement encompasses three key updates:

  • Dora Search – Unified Multichain Search Capabilities: Dora 2.0 allows Dora to seamlessly integrate new chains into their platform, progressing Dora from a single chain search engine to a unified multichain discovery engine, with initial support for over 10 chains.
  • Dora Actions – Multichain, bridging, and swapping: Dora 2.0 will provide Dora users a unified interface for onchain actions, called Dora Action. This will support bridging, and swapping across all chains that integrate with Dora, providing a seamless user experience.
  • Dora Profiles – Multichain Portfolio View: Starting in Q3 2024 Dora 2.0 will offer users visibility on all their transactions, collections and interactions across the multichain world in one unified view.
  • Dora MultiVM Discovery Engine & Block Explorer: Starting in Q3 2024, Dora 2.0 is expanding into new Virtual Machine Ecosystems such as Move with Movement, and SVM & Wasm with Fluent, becoming the first unified MultiVM block explorer & search engine.

“Dora 2.0 is a key step in our vision to provide an unfragmented and unified multichain and now multiVM experience,” said Bunny, CEO and Co-Founder of Dora. “We believe that mass adoption of crypto is contingent on reducing the barriers and frictions between the constantly growing number of chains. Users should be able to access any ecosystem they want without having to undertake the technical complexities to get onboarded into a new chain. We look forward to continuing to expand the number of chains supported on Dora in the coming weeks and months, and continuing Dora’s expansion into multiVM with Movement, Fluent, and other virtual machines .”

As part of the Dora’s new capacity for multichain bridging, minting and swapping, Dora is proud to partner with Privy as a wallet service provider and Decent for the execution of cross-chain swaps and transactions.

“Dora is consistently on the cutting edge of crypto, and they pioneered the first multichain block explorer with real-time latency. This was a generational leap ahead for the industry but especially so for a few groups – in particular, we’ve heard from many gaming and NFT customers that those 2 qualities are especially important when it comes to how they build their product and community. We are excited to expand into the MultiVM world with them.” Kevin Li, Goldsky CEO & Co-Founder

“At SimpleHash, we strongly believe that Dora is at the forefront of the crypto world, leading the charge with a superior user experience and being multichain native – their values align with ours, which is why we’re so proud to support them,” said SimpleHash Founder, Olly Wilson. “They’re doing important work to make navigating the world of crypto and onboarding the next wave of a billion users easier. We look forward to continuing our work into new VM ecosystems like Movement & Fluent.”

The announcement follows Dora’s recent closure of a $5.5M Early Stage Funding Round co-led by Dragonfly and Lemniscap.

About Dora

Dora is the Unified Discovery Engine for the Multichain World. We collaborate with a multitude of blockchain networks and rollup teams to provide comprehensive block explorer and search solutions. Our mission is to enhance the accessibility of on-chain data through innovative search capabilities, driving discovery and mass adoption of blockchain technology.

For more information, users can visit about.ondora.xyz