Mind The Block | December Week 1

Mind The Block: Your Weekly Dose of Web3 News and Insights

Mind The Block Headlines This Week

• Coinbase integrates Apple Pay for crypto
• Microsoft integrates Ripple and Ethereum into Azure
• US government moves $2B Silk Road Bitcoin
• Public com raised $135M in a Series D funding round
• Web3 ensures privacy, trust, and business survival
• Ancient8 secures Optimism grant to boost on-chain gaming
• Cardano (ADA) rallies 300%, hits $1.29
• Where to invest cryptocurrency during a Bull Run?

News

• Coinbase has integrated Apple Pay into its Coinbase Onramp service, allowing users to convert fiat into crypto.
• Crypto Life has integrated Solana as a payment option for its digital asset-loaded cards.
• Ethena has partnered with Derive.xyz, an on-chain options platform, to enhance liquidity and drive growth for both protocols.
• Orderly Network has integrated Solana into its omnichain orderbook, introducing omnichain DeFi trading to users.
• BitGo has launched its first retail crypto platform, offering individual users secure trading, staking, custody, and lending services.
• Glacier Network, the first data-centric blockchain, has partnered with SolidProof to enhance data-centric innovation and security through AI and Web3 sectors.
• Ripple’s established fund in Japan and Korea aims to foster innovation on the XRPL.
• Portal, a leader in Web3 liquidity, has introduced Portal Hub and Portal Wallet to address fragmentation in the Web3 ecosystem.

Extras By Mind The Block

• Ctrl Wallet, a self-custody wallet, has launched a multichain wallet to address the challenges of crypto traders managing multiple wallets.
• EverValue introduces a new mining-backed model in DeFi, combining Bitcoin backing with EVA to create new valuation standards.
• Dtcpay will phase out support for Bitcoin and Ether payments by January 2025, focusing solely on stablecoin payments.
• Streamr and JDI have partnered to launch the Terminal Multi-Miner.
• Ripple CLO Stuart Alderoty has petitioned the cryptocurrency industry to avoid hiring attorneys involved in anti-crypto initiatives.
• Fuse Network has announced a strategic partnership with Stargate, a cross-chain asset bridge, to enhance interoperability and liquidity across its ecosystem.
• Line Next is partnering with Web3 development firm Kaia to create a mini-game platform embedded in Line Messenger.
• Cronos (CRO) Mainnet is set for a major Pallene upgrade to enhance transaction processing and leverage the latest Cosmos SDK and CometBFT.
• Dai Lo has acquired Fractal Network, a multi-layer network, marking a pivotal moment for privacy innovation.
• Renta Network and Openfabric AI are partnering to revolutionize property rental.

Major Companies Making Moves

• Microsoft integrates Ripple and Ethereum into Azure Blockchain Services.
• DWF Labs plans to relocate its headquarters from Singapore to Abu Dhabi to expand its Middle East crypto operations.
• Sonic Labs is preparing for the public launch of its layer-1 blockchain, Sonic, following its successful completion of the Genesis milestone.
• Bitget has launched BitEXC, a trading platform tailored for Vietnam’s expanding cryptocurrency market.

Government, SEC & Regulation

• Chainlink and 21X are partnering to launch Europe’s first EU-regulated tokenized securities market.
• US government wallet has transferred nearly $2 billion of Bitcoin to a new address.
• South Korean politicians have agreed to implement a two-year moratorium on crypto taxation.
• The European Central Bank (ECB) is considering dropping offline digital euro payments if it cannot agree with smartphone manufacturers on secure chip integration.
• The UAE is leading the blockchain revolution by implementing progressive policies and regulatory frameworks.
• Australia is considering adopting a tax reporting standard for digital currencies into its local legislation.
• The Bharat Web3 Association (BWA) has launched the Alliance for Blockchain and Crypto Defence (ABCD) to combat growing cybersecurity threats.
• Morocco’s government has drafted new regulations after consulting with the World Bank to end a seven-year digital asset ban.
• Coinbase withdrew its pre-application to enter the Turkish market, joining other trading platforms that have backed out.
• Bolivia’s Central Bank has reported a 100% increase in crypto activity after lifting a blanket ban on crypto operations.
• Cambodia has blocked access to 16 cryptocurrency exchange websites, including major platforms like Binance, Coinbase, and OKX.
• The Australian Supreme Court has ruled that Bitcoin qualifies as property in a landmark case.

Raises & Major Investments rounds

• Commission-free social investing platform Public com raised $135M in a Series D funding round led by Accel.

• USDX.money secured $45 million in its latest funding round, raising its valuation to $275 million.
• DWF Labs has allocated $20 million to support memecoin projects across various blockchains, promoting inclusivity and interoperability.
• London-listed Bitcoin miner Argo Blockchain has raised £4.2m through a share sale to an institutional investor.
• Union Labs raised $12M in a Series A funding round led by gumi Cryptos Capital (gCC) and LongHash Ventures.

Trends & Narrative

• Self-custody wallets, which give users control over their digital assets, face increasing regulatory challenges.
• Web3 is crucial for businesses to adapt to future trends. It offers greater privacy, data control, and user trust, ensuring long-term survival.
• VYUG is launching The Ultimate Blockchain Tour in India, combining the metaverse and blockchain through immersive virtual events.
• Russian experts warn that BRICS payment plans could impact global crypto markets, with Bitcoin (BTC) popularity likely to remain high in the short term.
• Blockchain can help secure AI in the face of skepticism, as it provides transparent, auditable records of AI decisions.

NFTs, Gaming, Metaverse

• Gen Sol, a South Korean Web3 gaming and animation platform, has partnered with IOTA Rebased to transform its ecosystem.
• Illuvium, a leader in blockchain-based gaming, has partnered with G-SHOCK to launch the Illuvium Beyond x G-SHOCK Wave 3 Collection.
• Ancient8 has secured a major Optimism’s Governance Fund grantto empower builders and transform onchain gaming.
• Nike’s NFT arm, RTFKT, will shut down in January 2025 after launching its final collection, BLADE DROP.
• The crypto bull market has seen a resurgence in Metaverse tokens like The Sandbox and Decentraland.
• Yuga Labs has acquired the tech team of Tokenproof, a Web3 tokenization service, to enhance its NFT infrastructure.

Onchain Data

• Cardano (ADA) has experienced a 300% rally, reaching a two-year high at $1.29. However, profit-taking among retail investors raises concerns.
• Tron (TRX) has reached a new all-time high, surpassing the 2018 milestone of $0.22.
• Ski Mask Dog (SKI) has surged by 5647% in a month, reaching a market cap of $131.39 million.
• Aptos (APT) is expected to reach a price of $17.93 by December 8, 2024, a 29.92% increase in the next five days.
• ONDO’s price surged 40% to a new all-time high, driven by institutional interest and speculation over Binance’s spot listing.

Educational Guides and Tips from Mind the Block

• What is the Monero “halving”? Explaining the Monero mining rewards schedule.
• Polkadot Blockchain Academy announces a three-week developer course in Switzerland.
• What is a cryptocurrency, and how does it work?
• 5 passive income strategies using FXGuys’ staking model.
• Where to invest cryptocurrency during a Bull Run?

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