THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ SEC’s Hester Peirce Proposes Cross-Border Sandbox for UK-US Crypto Firms

The proposal builds on the Digital Securities Sandbox (DSS) by the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which assesses distributed ledger technology (DLT) for securities processes.

Peirce suggests including US firms in the DSS, with a micro-innovation sandbox and an information-sharing agreement between UK and US regulators. This allows firms to innovate under consistent regulatory conditions.

The FCA’s sandbox has helped companies raise more capital and improve survival rates. It aids in understanding regulations and developing products. Regulators benefit by creating effective regulations and gaining fintech insights.



2️⃣ VeChain Shines at Amazon Web Services China Summit Energy Forum in Shanghai and Ready to Lead Sustainability Industry

VeChain took center stage at the Amazon Web Services (AWS) China Summit Energy Forum in Shanghai, showcasing its digital carbon management solution, VeCarbon. The event highlighted how cloud services and generative AI can drive global expansion and sustainable development.

VeChain uses AWS technology to offer CBAM product carbon accounting and compliance with the EU battery law carbon footprint requirements. The platform provides:

1. One-Stop Professional Service for CBAM Compliance: An efficient online system for quick product evaluation and carbon compliance management, essential for EU exports.
2. Comprehensive Carbon Management Platforms: These platforms address multi-tier supply chains and rigorous carbon accounting standards, providing transparent carbon footprint management, particularly for the electric vehicle (EV) battery sector.



3️⃣ Aptos Integrates Chainlink's CCIP and Data Feeds to Boost Decentralized App Development

Aptos, a Layer-1 blockchain, announced at Consensus 2024 that it is integrating Chainlink's Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and data feeds. This integration is part of Aptos joining Chainlink's SCALE program, making it the first blockchain using the Move coding language to utilize Chainlink's services.

This collaboration aims to enhance decentralized app (dApp) development on the Aptos network. Chainlink's CCIP will facilitate communication between different blockchain networks, addressing interoperability challenges in the digital asset economy. Previously, Chainlink's CCIP was instrumental in its partnership with SWIFT.



4️⃣ Hedera Becomes Founding Member of Crypto ISAC for Enhanced Trust and Security

Members include Aleo, Circle, Coinbase, Consensys, Evertas, Fireblocks, Kraken, and Offchain Labs. Crypto ISAC focuses on advancing security, sharing threat information, addressing vulnerabilities, and promoting best practices for risk mitigation. Hedera's participation aims to protect its network and foster a secure environment for decentralized applications and transactions.

Hedera’s involvement aligns with its commitment to security, collaborating with industry leaders to enhance the crypto ecosystem's safety, efficiency, and adoption. Crypto ISAC aims to provide a secure environment for private and public entities, develop a resilient global crypto industry, and prevent misuse of Web3 infrastructure.

Crypto ISAC's strategic objectives include creating a secure environment for information sharing, ensuring timely, accurate information dissemination, promoting high-security standards and resilience.

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ PayPal’s new stablecoin on Solana will offer ‘confidential transfers’

One notable extension initialized for PYUSD is “confidential transfers,” which will allow merchants to “provide confidentiality for transaction amounts to their consumers while maintaining visibility for regulatory purposes,”.

Additional programmability includes “transfer hooks” which allow the ability to call specific programs with each token transfer, enabling more control over the asset for wallets.

These include reduced development and testing, enterprise-ready “plug-and-play” abilities, and flexibility.



2️⃣ Mastercard Launches P2P Crypto Transactions Across 14 Countries

Mastercard has rolled out its initial pilot transaction for Mastercard Crypto Credential, a service that enables crypto transfers using aliases rather than blockchain addresses.

This service covers 14 countries, facilitating secure peer-to-peer transactions across different currencies and blockchains. It enhances trust and compliance by verifying interactions and supporting the Travel Rule, a regulatory requirement for transparency and prevention of illegal activities in cross-border transactions.

This marks a significant step toward broader adoption and usability of cryptocurrencies in the mainstream financial landscape.



3️⃣ ENS Labs Proposes Layer 2 Upgrade to Boost Efficiency

This move aims to boost accessibility and efficiency, particularly by enhancing transaction speed and reducing costs. ENS, known for simplifying blockchain addresses with identifiable names, intends to implement this upgrade, named 'ENSv2,' in phases to minimize disruptions to existing decentralized applications (dApps).

The anticipated benefits of ENSv2 include faster and more affordable username registrations, simplifying management of .eth domain names.

The decision to migrate parts of ENS to Layer 2 was influenced by the growth and advancements in the Layer 2 ecosystem. This strategic move not only addresses current challenges like gas fees and transaction speeds but also sets the stage for a more streamlined and optimized ENS based on years of experience at the forefront of blockchain innovation.



4️⃣ The NEAR Protocol Introduces NEAR Name Tokens As Digital Identities

These tokens, announced via the platform's official X account, offer cross-platform, multi-chain capabilities to enhance Web3 user experiences. Collaborating with D3, NEAR aims to bridge Web3 and traditional internet infrastructures, fostering interoperable and future-proof digital identities.

The unique feature of NEAR name tokens is the use of an asterisk (*) as a separator, like you*near, to distinguish them from NEAR accounts' ".NEAR" extension. This move ensures clarity and supports DNS integration, crucial for digital identity interoperability in the evolving Web3 landscape.



5️⃣ Israel starts digital shekel pilot

The Bank of Israel introduces the Digital Shekel Challenge to explore central bank digital currency (CBDC) development through a technological prototype. This initiative invites diverse sectors to innovate and develop applications for potential CBDC use, focusing on enhancing payment options and fostering collaboration between financial sectors and stakeholders.

The pilot program prioritizes original and innovative payment applications utilizing the digital shekel's API layer. Shauli Rejwan, founder of Masterkey VC, anticipates a focus on micropayments, digital trusts, and data products in the pilot's development phases.

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ PayPal expands PYUSD to Solana, targets payment use cases

PYUSD has been added to the Solana network, allowing users to perform transactions at a lower cost. The move seeks to expand the uses of PYUSD stablecoin as a payment method for small and daily purchases.

Making PYUSD available on the Solana Blockchain furthers Solana’s mission of enabling a digital currency with a stable value designed for commerce and payments.

PayPal and Venmo wallet users will have a chain-agnostic experience, meaning PYUSD balances will be unified regardless of the network holding the assets.



2️⃣ Coinbase, Circle, Kraken Join Crypto's New 'Neighborhood Watch' for Cyberthreats

Crypto ISAC, an industry group formed to guard against cyber threats, has revealed its founding members. Notable participants include Coinbase, Kraken, Circle, Consensys, the Solana Foundation, Fireblocks, and venture investor Ribbit Capital.

Launched earlier this month, Crypto ISAC is the second information security and analysis center for digital asset firms, following SEAL-ISAC's April debut. These centers share intelligence on cybersecurity vulnerabilities and incidents, aiming to prevent cybercrime and build industry credibility with governments and law enforcement. In 2023, hackers stole approximately $1.7 billion from crypto platforms.

The group's founding members also include Aleo, Arbitrum, Hedera, Red Balloon Security, and Trail of Bits.



3️⃣ New York Stock Exchange announces collaboration for Bitcoin options tracking

This cash-settled index will facilitate new avenues for options trading against Bitcoin, benefiting traditional traders and investors using the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index (XBX), the longest-running spot Bitcoin index.

The XBX tracks the real-time spot price of Bitcoin in U.S. dollars across multiple crypto exchanges. The NYSE, the world's largest stock exchange with a market capitalization of approximately $39 trillion, is positioning itself within the growing crypto market trend.

This collaboration arrives amid positive sentiment towards Bitcoin, marked by the recent approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF. A spot Bitcoin ETF allows general investors to gain exposure to Bitcoin without directly purchasing and storing the cryptocurrency, offering higher liquidity and easier trading during traditional market hours.



4️⃣ IOTA Digital Identity Method Now Resolvable via Decentralized ID Universal Resolver

The IOTA Foundation has announced significant progress in the development of the IOTA EVM (Economic Value Management). Recent updates reveal that the long-awaited MultiSignature Wallet has been successfully deployed and tested, making it accessible for users. Additionally, third-party RPC Nodes have been established and tested, supporting teams in deploying and testing applications on the IOTA EVM.

The Indexer/Subgraph solution is now operational, with teams actively building their subgraphs. Oracle providers have demonstrated seamless functionality, offering both Pull and Push Oracle services to EVM teams.

The growing adoption of the IOTA EVM is evident as numerous teams have joined the dedicated Builder Discord, leading to a surge in applications and opportunities within the ecosystem. The IOTA Ecosystem and BD Team are working to create a thriving DeFi (Decentralized Finance) and RWA (Real-World Assets) ecosystem, as reported by Crypto News Flash.

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ Polkadot Multisig: Streamlining Enterprise Operations with Signet Integration

The new technology is designed to offer financial workflow management for enterprise users. The team explains that Signet is designed to make blockchain operations and risk management best practices seamless for enterprises.

Facilitated by the Decentralized Futures Program (DF Grant) that was launched in collaboration with Polkadot and Web3 Foundation, the Polkadot Multisig will enable enterprise users the ability to manage their treasuries efficiently with an intuitive user interface.



2️⃣ Mind Network Teams Up with Chainlink to Develop FHE Interface Across Ethereum and Polygon

The decision hinges on the plan to demonstrate its privacy technology to financial institutions and regulated intermediaries in the financial market. For now, the testnet launch has been executed across Ethereum Sepolia, Arbitrum Sepolia, and Polygon Amoy.

Using the FHE, it could fortify cross-chain activity and lower security concerns while unleashing the value-flow of tokenized assets for web3 investors.

It is important to note that the partnership goes beyond the building of a layer of enhanced Web3 data privacy for institutions on top of CCIP. Both platforms have also entered into a strategic alliance to support Web3 developers working with Mind Network technology.



3️⃣  IOTA Digital Identity Method Now Resolvable via Decentralized ID Universal Resolver

This will allow easy integration of IOTA Identity in new and existing applications through an interoperable interface. IOTA unveiled its digital identity platform with an aim to work for identity for people, organizations, things, and objects acting as a unifying layer of trust between everyone and everything.

The universal resolver developed by the community at DIF is designed to resolve Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) across many different DID methods. The IOTA DID becomes the latest method to be added.

Organizations also get a great deal of benefits. Companies can comply with GDPR and gain trust by empowering users to control their data. Secure KYC/AML credentials to verify identity while keeping data with the user. Companies can leverage these verified credentials, reducing onboarding costs and fostering a more secure ecosystem.



4️⃣ EU Commission urged to prepare for blockchain and AI integration

Published on May 24, the report highlights blockchain's potential to securely store sensitive AI data and enable decentralized AI networks, which could benefit sectors like healthcare and finance.

The EUBOF also noted that AI could enhance smart contract functionality and predicted growth in the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Blockchain's interoperability and energy efficiency are expected to drive its adoption. Recommendations include positioning the EU as a global blockchain knowledge hub and addressing innovation challenges.

Simultaneously, the EU plans to amend regulations for the European High Performing Computer Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC) to support AI development, providing substantial funding for AI supercomputers and facilitating the creation of AI factories.

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ Polkadot’s new StorageHub parachain targets improved data storage efficiency

The network would be designed to serve as a public goods parachain, prioritizing larger data sets and file-based storage while upholding decentralization principles.

The network would be designed to seamlessly integrate with all Polkadot and Kusama parachains while enabling interoperability via cross-chain messaging (XCM). Thus, users can interact with StorageHub directly or through the existing parachains.

The project unfolds in two distinct phases. The initial eight-month period focuses on foundational development, laying the groundwork for the platform. Subsequently, a four-month phase is dedicated to rigorous testing, auditing, and optimization, ensuring reliability and seamless integration of components.



2️⃣ Avail integrates leading layer-2 networks to create more cost-efficient chains

Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, StarkWare and zkSync were revealed as new partners that will leverage Avail’s data availability layer and unification architecture. Avail said the collaboration aims to create more scalable, cost-efficient, composable chains that are able to onboard millions of users.

This is possible through Avail’s data availability (DA) layer, which will serve as the basis for the unification architecture through mathematical guarantees of data availability, along with a built-in validator ecosystem.

Limited data availability remains one of the blockchain industry’s biggest roadblocks to mainstream adoption and optimizing networks for mass usage. Without the proper amount of DA, scaling becomes bottlenecked.



3️⃣ The impact of BRICS expansion on the global economy

The BRICS 2024 summit in Russia’s Kazan region focuses on expansion and reducing reliance on the U.S. dollar.

New members like the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran, and Ethiopia are joining, aiming to make BRICS bigger and financially tougher. Currently, over 40 developing countries want in on BRICS, signaling a shift towards a more unified stance against the dollar-centric payment system.

As the bloc expands, the dollar’s reign as the king of cross-border payments could be ending. This shift could split global economic relations into two camps, making it tricky for some nations, especially those tied closely to Western interests, to navigate these new waters.



4️⃣ Web3 Revolution: Hedera and Blockchain Foundation Kickstart Nationwide Educational Crusade

This initiative, designed to explore critical aspects of responsible innovation, is set to unfold across several U.S. cities including Washington, DC; Boston, MA; Columbus, OH; and Anaheim, CA. The series will emphasize the interconnectedness of the burgeoning Web3 ecosystem with traditional financial systems, aiming to highlight the collaborative efforts needed to foster a secure and prosperous digital future.

The kickoff event for the series will feature prominent members from the Congressional Financial Literacy & Wealth Creation Caucus, including U.S. Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Young Kim (CA-40), and Wiley Nickel (NC-13). Esteemed leaders from the Aspen Institute, Consumer Reports, and the Alliance for Innovative Regulation will also contribute their insights.

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ Chainlink CCIP adapts to general availability

According to Sergey Nazarov, co-founder of Chainlink, the general availability of the Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol’s (CCIP) mainnet will streamline developers’ implementation, thereby strengthening cross-chain connectivity.

Any developer can now permissionlessly use CCIP to securely transfer onboarded tokens cross-chain, send arbitrary messages to smart contracts on another integrated blockchain, or simultaneously send data and value together through CCIP’s unique support for Programmable Token Transfers.



2️⃣ BNB Chain will enable native liquid staking on BSC

Enabling liquid staking on BSC will allow ecosystem participants to secure the network while keeping the liquidity of their assets.

With the feature, users can engage in decentralized finance activities without sacrificing the asset’s utility because they will have liquid staking tokens representing their staked crypto assets.

When BNB holders stake their tokens in the liquidity pool, they can receive liquidity provider tokens, which they can use in many activities within the ecosystem. Liquid staking and the maximum extractable value (MEV) optimization for the BNB Chain will be rolled out together.



3️⃣ BlackRock has ‘no commercial relationship’ with Hedera, HBAR sinks 32%

A BlackRock spokesperson confirmed the firm wasn’t directly involved in Archax and Ownera’s decision to tokenize shares of BlackRock’s ICS Treasury Fund on Hedera.

Archax CEO Graham Rodford also clarified later on X that it was his firm’s choice to put shares of BlackRock’s money market fund on Hedera but said BlackRock was “aware” that Archax was tokenizing shares of the fund.

Rodford further explained the nuance during an interview with crypto YouTuber Jesus Martinez.

“What we saw on Twitter was kind of pretty much close to the truth [...] Archax had clients that wanted to invest in the BlackRock money market fund. When they expressed an interest we opened an account at BlackRock so that we could,” explained Roford.

"With most of the investments we make, we want to tokenize them, we told them [BlackRock] we were going to and then just out of the good relationship with them we said 'hey we're putting out a press release, you guys happy to check it?' — so they checked it and gave their views on it," he explained.



4️⃣ World Economic Forum Says 98% of Central Banks Are Preparing To Launch CBDCs As Finance Enters ‘Next Phase’

The WEF, a Switzerland-based international organization focused on public-private cooperation, predicts in a new report that there could be 24 live CBDCs by 2030.

The World Economic Forum (WEF) argues that wholesale CBDCs (wCBDCs), which are restricted to large transactions between financial institutions, could address banking industry challenges related to interbank payments and securities transactions.

The WEF says wCBDCs are poised to improve cross-border transactions. The organization acknowledges, however, that the legal and regulatory elements needed to make widespread wCBDC use possible “have an unknown timeframe.”

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ Ledger Live to offer crypto swap, instant-buy services through MoonPay

As part of the collaboration, Ledger Academy will launch new self-paced crypto trading tutorials and other learning resources for its users, including content focused on MoonPay's services.

A Ledger x MoonPay Nano X hard wallet is also hitting online stores, commemorating the companies’ collaboration. The limited-edition purple hard wallet comes with a $25 crypto voucher from MoonPay. It will also soon include a one-year subscription to Ledger Recover, an ID-based key recovery service for hardwallet owners, according to the companies.



2️⃣ Starknet-powered AVNU Launches Paymaster Feature, Revolutionizing Gas Fees on Ethereum Layer-2

AVNU’s newly launched Paymaster feature aims to transform the way users interact with gas fees on Starknet, potentially making gas fees a thing of the past.

AVNU’s Paymaster, currently in beta, introduces a novel approach to paying gas fees on Starknet. While traditionally users could only pay gas fees using Ethereum (ETH) or Starknet’s native token (STRK), the Paymaster now allows payments in stablecoins USDC and USDT.

This feature is not just an addition but a transformative step towards abstracting gas fees entirely and also could revolutionize the dApp ecosystem, making transactions more accessible and affordable for users.



3️⃣ PayPal, EnergyWeb propose incentive program for bitcoin miners who go green

The PayPal Blockchain Research Group, in tandem with non-profit EnergyWeb, has developed a clean energy validation platform to monitor and reward less energy-intensive bitcoin mining operations

PayPal's proposed solution will distribute bitcoin to “green” bitcoin miners, or individuals who use low-carbon energy sources in their mining operations. Using low-carbon mining methods limits carbon emissions, slowing global warming. The mining process consumes an estimated 127 terawatt-hours (TWh) per year, or more than the energy used in Argentina.



4️⃣ Etherisc Partners with Chainlink CCIP to Revolutionize Cross-Chain Insurance Solutions

This integration spans across the Ethereum mainnet and Base, a layer-2 scaling solution built by Coinbase. Through Chainlink’s CCIP, Etherisc’s native token DIP now enjoys seamless and secure connectivity between the Ethereum network and the Base layer-2 network.

The collaboration between Etherisc and Chainlink underscores the importance of reliable, tamper-proof on-chain data in decentralized insurance. Chainlink’s proven track record in providing secure and reliable data oracles has enabled Etherisc to develop its products in a secure and efficient manner.

This marks the first use case of CCIP for Etherisc, paving the way for the creation of seamless multichain decentralized applications (dApps) for staking and accessing insurance solutions across various chains.

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ Tether USDT stablecoin goes live on TON blockchain

Tether Operations announced on April 19 the launch of its U.S. dollar-pegged Tether USDT stablecoin and the gold-pegged Tether Gold (XAUT) stablecoin on the TON blockchain.

The new USDT-TON development marks another milestone in Tether’s expansion across multiple blockchains, bringing its coverage to 15 blockchains, including Tron and Ethereum.

The launch of USDT and XAUT on TON will allow seamless value transfer, increasing activity and liquidity while offering users a financial experience that can match those found in the traditional financial system



2️⃣ Nodle is launching on zkSync to bring the fastest growing DePIN to Ethereum

Nodle’s  zkSync Era is a cutting-edge zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to scale Ethereum to a billion people, joining the Ethereum community.

The first initiative of Nodle’s DePIN launching on zkSync will be the deployment of its new Click camera app, the world's first Digital Trust Network. Click will be able to process transactions off-chain without sacrificing security and decentralization, while significantly increasing throughput and reducing transaction costs.

Furthering Nodle’s commitment to enter the Ethereum ecosystem, Nodle plans to build a ZK Stack hyperchain and natively integrate its ZK technology with zkSync in the coming months.



3️⃣ Polkadot’s Jam Upgrade: A Sneak Peek into a Potential Network Revamp

The Gray Paper outline of the much anticipated Join-Accumulate Machine (JAM) upgrade for the Polkadot (DOT) network has been unveiled by the founder, Gavin Wood, during a presentation on the Polkadot’s future at the Token2049 crypto conference in Dubai. JAM is designed to replace the Polkadot Relay Chain which has over the years addressed interoperability issues across different platforms.

JAM would allow Polkadot to run generic services, and smart contract logic which can process the results of execution on a core. With this upgrade, JAM would be able to address existing limitations while paving the way for enhanced functionality and efficiency across its networks.

With the introduction of new protocols in the algorithm, Polkadot users would enjoy reduced transaction costs, minimize latency, and improve the overall efficiency of the network. In addition to the integration of enhanced security and privacy features, the JAM protocol upgrade would unlock opportunities for developers and entrepreneurs who look forward to building on the network.



4️⃣ Stader adds Chainlink CCIP & Price Feeds for cross-chain liquid staking

The platform will leverage CCIP’s STT (Simplified Token Transfer) capabilities for ETHx cross-chain transfers. This will enable a secure and seamless cross-chain experience for users. In addition to this, Stader is also adding the Chainlink Price Feeds on Ethereum for ETHx adoption across the DeFi market.

The integration facilitated cross-chain ETGx transfers across Arbitrum, Ethereum, and Optimism. Now, the platform is using Chainlink’s product suite to promote ETHx adoption and staking across DeFi.

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ Aptos Labs collaborates with Microsoft, Brevan Howard and SK Telecom to build out institutional platform Aptos Ascend

Aptos Ascend is a digital asset management platform for financial institutions. The product will use Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing platform, as well as Azure OpenAI Service, a large language model that can undergird generative AI applications.

The institutional platform intends to spread decentralized finance to institutional capital via the Aptos network and globally augment tokenized asset liquidity among other endeavors, the release continues.



2️⃣ Kraken launches self-custodial mobile wallet and releases its open-source code

Kraken Wallet lets users manage their NFTs, tokens and DeFi positions across Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Optimism, Base, Arbitrum, Polygon and Dogecoin

The wallet also eschews all but necessary customer data collection in the name of privacy. Kraken holds no sign-in details, email addresses or know-your-customer information, and the firm hides user IP addresses.

Users can also connect to popular decentralized applications and access round-the-clock customer service support.The firm also released Kraken Wallet's code on the developer platform GitHub, stating that third-party review strengthens the wallet's security.



3️⃣ Ernst & Young Adopts Polygon PoS for OpsChain Contract Manager, Eyes Ethereum Mainnet Migration

EY has announced the launch of its EY OpsChain Contract Manager (OCM). This transformative, blockchain-enabled solution revolutionizes contract management, facilitating the execution of complex business agreements with enhanced confidentiality, improved time efficiency, and cost reduction. The system automatically enforces agreed terms, providing seamless integration and data synchronization across disparate business entities.

The decision to implement the Polygon PoS for the OpsChain Contract Manager underscores EY’s commitment to operational excellence and cost efficiency in preparation for a future migration to the Ethereum mainnet and a forthcoming layer-3 solution. Polygon PoS was chosen for its low transaction costs and high scalability, making it an ideal platform for testing and executing blockchain capabilities in a cost-effective manner.



4️⃣ Ondo Finance Brings Tokenized Treasuries to the Cosmos Ecosystem with Noble Integration

The first asset Ondo plans to issue natively via Noble is USDY, a tokenized note backed by short-term U.S. Treasuries offering a 5.2% annual yield, targeting the end of the second quarter of this year, a spokesperson told CoinDesk. USDY is currently available on Ethereum, Solana, Mantle and Sui.

Ondo's expansion to Cosmos means that its token offerings will be integrated to over 90 blockchains in the Cosmos ecosystem, boosting adoption for its products backed by U.S. Treasuries as a yield-earning savings, payment and collateral asset.

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ TikTok owner ByteDance's tech arm collaborating with Sui builders on web3 gaming, socialFi

BytePlus will collaborate with Mysten Labs to offer various services to Sui, including recommendation solutions and augmented reality products.

BytePlus offers several integral products for builders, including AI recommendation algorithm solutions and BytePlus CDN, a network of servers and data centers for accelerated delivery.

In addition, BytePlus will lend its data warehousing and AI-powered algorithmic tools to builders on the Layer 1 blockchain, supercharging their analytics and enabling them to scale infinitely.



2️⃣ South Korean Central Bank Accelerates Plans for CBDC Rollout

The Bank of Korea (BOK) is set to accelerate its Central Bank Digital Currency project, planning a pilot program with 100,000 participants to test the digital Korean Won by the end of 2024.

In collaboration with key regulatory bodies, the BOK will conduct usability experiments for its CBDC, aiming to establish a network that can create and circulate three types of tokens distinct from traditional cryptocurrencies.

The BOK intends to introduce two new digital currencies, focusing on practical applications such as deposit tokens and digital vouchers during a live transaction trial, while addressing concerns from the private sector about potential impacts on commercial activities.



3️⃣ ICP’s Schnorr integration ushers in Bitcoin DeFi era

ICP’s integration of threshold-Schnorr signatures will enable the protocol’s smart contracts to obtain addresses and authorize transactions directly to the Bitcoin blockchain.

Schnorr signatures are a specific type of digital signature named after mathematician Claus Schnorr. They work like a secret handshake between two parties, proving that one person has signed off on something without revealing their secret code.

The implementation will allow ICP smart contracts to sign Schnorr signatures to etch Bitcoin Runes, inscribe Ordinals in a decentralized manner, send, receive and bridge BRC-20 tokens directly on the Bitcoin base layer, sign taproot transactions and re-inscribe Ordinals.



4️⃣ Polkadot eyes $8.8 million sponsorship deal with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami

This move aims to capitalize on the football club’s extensive global reach and exposure while strategically showcasing the capabilities of the Polkadot ecosystem.

Moreover, it represents the latest strategic effort by the Polkadot community toward elevating the blockchain network’s visibility beyond the crypto industry through sports-related marketing endeavors.

Furthermore, the agreement entails Polkadot being designated Inter Miami CF’s official Blockchain Technology Partner. This includes amplifying the partnership through a dedicated landing page on the Polkadot website and implementing activation initiatives within the stadium. Additionally, the plan would create non-fungible tokens to engage with Inter Miami’s global fanbase.

I finally got around to adding more EWT.... I have also added CSM, AIR, MFAM, CRV..... I guess some others too..

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ ICP’s Schnorr integration ushers in Bitcoin DeFi era

The Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) plans to use advanced threshold cryptography to unlock decentralized finance capabilities and smart contract functionality on Bitcoin’s base layer.

Schnorr signatures are a specific type of digital signature named after mathematician Claus Schnorr. They work like a secret handshake between two parties, proving that one person has signed off on something without revealing their secret code.

The implementation will allow ICP smart contracts to sign Schnorr signatures to etch Bitcoin Runes, inscribe Ordinals in a decentralized manner, send, receive and bridge BRC-20 tokens directly on the Bitcoin base layer, sign taproot transactions and re-inscribe Ordinals.



2️⃣ Filecoin Foundation launches Chinese legal inquiry into STFIL incident

Withdrawals from the STFIL protocol stopped working in early April after a developer wallet made several unscheduled upgrades and moved $23 million worth of Filecoin (FIL) tokens to an address whose owner is unknown. On April 8, the STFIL team announced that core technical members was detained by local Chinese police and that the mysterious upgrades and transfers had occurred during these detentions.

This announcement left many users of STFIL wondering how they could recover funds. The foundation has not been able to confirm whether the police possess the funds, but they expect to know this information in “upwards of a week.” The foundation plans to allow its attorney to represent all staking providers and leasers in any court proceedings related to the incident.



3️⃣ Barclays, HSBC and Citi collaborate to pilot tokenized deposits in UK

In a commentary to Bloomberg, participating firms are expected to utilize the trial platform for a period of two to three years before the technology is commercially implemented. Alongside banks and Quant, payment systems such as Mastercard, NatWest, Nationwide, and others are also actively involved in the pilot.

Scheduled to continue until the summer of 2024, the experimentation phase will concentrate on various aspects, including assessing customer and business benefits, evaluating technical feasibility, and addressing the legal framework pertaining to the operation of a shared ledger settlement system.



4️⃣ Offchain Labs releases Arbitrum BOLD on testnet

Initially unveiled in August 2023, the Bounded Liquidity Delay, or BOLD, is a dispute protocol with interactive fraud proofs for optimistic rollups, which can be used across Arbitrum chains. BOLD lets users operate a validator node and help facilitate the network's consensus process.

It also implements defenses against delay attacks, or a cybersecurity threat in which a bad actor intentionally delays a system's normal functioning by disrupting data flow.

THE LATEST CRYPTO NEWS FROM CNS ⤵️

1️⃣ Hong Kong approves first Bitcoin and Ether ETFs

Hong Kong has become the latest country to approve spot exchange-traded funds (ETF) for Bitcoin and Ether, with local regulators issuing approvals to at least three local issuers.

At least three offshore Chinese asset managers, including Hong Kong units of Harvest Fund Management, Bosera Asset Management and China Asset Management (ChinaAMC), will launch their spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs soon. OSL Digital Securities, a licensed digital asset platform in Hong Kong, will act as the sub-custodian for at least one issuer, ChinaAMC.



2️⃣ Adidas partners with crypto fitness app Stepn, both NFTs and merch coming

The partnership will kick off with a batch of 1,000 NFTs called the Stepn x Adidas Genesis Sneakers collection. It's based on some of Adidas's "most iconic running silhouettes," according to a statement.

"This genesis collection is the first of a series of co-branded activities between Stepn and Adidas over a one-year partnership that will see further NFT drops and physical, wearable items on the roadmap," Stepn said in its statement.

The NFT collection is slated to drop later this week on April 17, via Stepn’s sister non-fungible token marketplace Mooar.



3️⃣ VeChain announces tokenized gloves in partnership with UFC — community responds

The gloves will contain VeChain near-field communication (NFC) chips that record fight data, proving the authenticity of each pair, the post stated. After the fight, the athletes will “donate and give away" their gloves, making them into collectors’ items. The chips inside each pair will allow a buyer to check the authenticity of the item via a VeChainThor network smart contract.

VeChain claimed that the system will help prevent fraud in the secondary market, which is a common problem for buyers who seek to own the gloves worn during particular fights. Also VeChain announced that an initial set of 12 exclusive gloves will be given to “A-list” celebrities, including Joe Rogan.



4️⃣ “The Fabled” Joins Immutable for a Groundbreaking Gaming Launch

This promising title is designed to blend the deep, engaging combat of Dark Souls with the rich storytelling akin to Skyrim, all powered by the cutting-edge web3 technology provided by Immutable.

Immutable’s platform is set to enhance player engagement by integrating web3 technology, which adds layers of interaction and ownership previously unseen in traditional gaming formats.

By leveraging Immutable’s robust technology, “The Fabled” is poised to offer a unique and immersive experience that goes beyond the game itself. Players can look forward to a game that not only challenges their skills but also immerses them in a narrative that evolves with their decisions.