Mind The Block | July Week 1

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

Mind The Block Headlines This Week

• OKX integrates Solayer for enhanced security
• Consensys acquires Wallet Guard for Metamask
• Germany transfers bitcoins to exchanges
• DWF Labs launches $20M Cloudbreak Fund
• Justin Sun plans gas-free stablecoin transfers
• Ubisoft partners with Double Jump.Tokyo
• Notcoin (NOT) surges 70% in three days
• Key Moving Averages in Bitcoin Trading

News

• OKX has integrated Solayer into its OKX Wallet, enhancing Solana’s security and providing tailored blockspace solutions.
• Ronin Network has launched PHPC, the first Philippine peso-pegged stablecoin on its network.
• Coinbase has experienced increased impersonation scams targeting at least four users, resulting in a $1.7 million theft.
• VanEck and 21Shares have updated their S-1 forms for spot Ethereum ETFs, with trading expected to start around July 15.
• Shardeum has partnered with Immunefi to launch its first bug bounty program before its mainnet launch.
• ZKM has announced the launch of GOAT Network, the first Bitcoin L2 to share network ownership.
• Crypto exchange WOO has partnered with Yei Finance to improve blockchain lending and borrowing solutions.

Extras By Mind The Block

• Puffer Finance has launched its based rollup solution, Puffer UniFi, to address liquidity fragmentation on the Ethereum blockchain.
• Celo has successfully launched its Dango Layer 2 testnet, marking the first major step towards joining the Ethereum ecosystem.
• Halliday has launched its public network, backed by major investors Hashed and Andreessen Horowitz.
• Lionel Messi has promoted Solana memecoin Water (WATER) on his Instagram story, promoting the project to his 504 million followers.
• How DePin Networks can decentralize law enforcement.
• Launchpool and XDC Network have announced a strategic alliance to boost Web3 innovation.
• AGII has announced advancements in AI-driven content generation featuring advanced AI models like Grok, Llama, and Gemini.
• The 2nd Global Web3 Roadshow ‘IXO™‘ will take place in Seoul on July 9 and 10.
• Valora, a peer-to-peer payment platform, has launched a ‘Mobile Stack’ as a launchpad for running Web3 applications on smartphones.
• IPOR Labs will showcase its IPOR Fusion DeFi Aggregation Engine at ETHcc7, the premier Ethereum event in Europe.
• Dubai Customs has launched a blockchain platform to streamline supply chain processes.
• Finsai Group plans to launch their Layer-1 Blockchain, MFEV, to revolutionize the fintech industry.
• Hong Kong-based crypto exchange HashKey has announced the launch date for its Ethereum layer-2 solution, HashKey Chain.
• Jupiter Exchange introduces Active Staking Rewards (ASR) for JUP holders, boosting voting power and participation.
• TOKEN2049 Singapore, set to host over 20,000 attendees from September 18-19, is set to finalize plans with a first round of speakers.

Major Companies Making Moves

• Consensys has acquired Wallet Guard, a browser extension for digital asset protection, to enhance Metamask security.
• Tangem has partnered with Visa to introduce a Visa payment card combined with a hardware wallet.
• VeChain has secured a patent for a mobile automated inventory system on the VeChainThor blockchain.
• Robinhood is acquiring Bitstamp, a global cryptocurrency exchange, with a change of control application submitted to the NYDFS.
• Cardano has released Node 9.0, the latest version of its validator node software, paving the way for the upcoming Chang hard fork.

Government, SEC & Regulation

• The German government has transferred thousands of bitcoins to exchanges and market makers.
• France and Hong Kong have announced a collaboration on wholesale central bank digital currency (wCBDC).
• Cboe has filed 19b-4 forms with the SEC for approval to list Solana ETFs following the Ether ETF’s lack of final approval in the US.
• Russia’s central bank encourages alternative payment systems, including digital assets, as Western sanctions disrupt cross-border payments.
• Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency is considering developing a domestic blockchain called Nigerium.
• DigitalX has received regulatory approval to list its spot Bitcoin ETF on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
• The US House of Representatives is set to reconsider the crypto regulation bill vetoed by Biden.

• South Korean regulators will launch full-scale investigations into “unfair crypto transactions” on July 19.
• Crypto intelligence platform Messari has declared independence from the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Taiwan’s central bank has announced no timeline for launching a digital currency, stating the process will be “huge and complex.”
• Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has introduced the Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Programme.

Raises & Major Investments rounds

• DWF Labs has launched the Cloudbreak Fund, a $20 million investment fund to support Chinese Web3 projects.
• Auros Ventures has announced a $50 million venture capital arm for early-stage digital asset projects over the next two years.
• Rome Protocol raised $9M in a funding round led by Hack VC, with participation from P2 Ventures and Hashkey Capital.

• Web3 startups have secured significant funding, reflecting growing interest and confidence in the space.
• Coinbase Ventures has invested $1 million in Ampleforth Foundation’s decentralized low-volatility commodity money, SPOT.

Trends & Narrative

• Freename, a leading Web3 domain service provider, is partnering with Fireblocks to offer global Web3 domain custody services.
• Play-to-earn (P2E) games failed to gain mass adoption due to complex gameplay and time investments.
• The Data Ownership Protocol is a significant initiative enhancing data privacy in Web3 using zk-SNARKs and ECDSA technologies.
• Base Dawgz (DAWGZ) has introduced an early staking mechanism for all $Dawgz holders joining its ICO.
• 1inch Labs has introduced the 1inch Developer Portal, a tool designed to simplify blockchain access for Web3 developers.
• Tron founder Justin Sun plans to develop a gas-free stablecoin transfer solution.

NFTs, Gaming, Metaverse

• Ubisoft has partnered with Web3 gaming company Double Jump.Tokyo will implement Web3 elements in its games.
• The popular Japanese anime and manga series Attack on Titan is set to join Ethereum game “The Sandbox“.
• McDonald’s has launched the “My Happy Place” metaverse in Singapore, a collaboration with Bandwagon Labs.
• Miomi Game is changing esports with Web3 Arenas, transforming them into interactive platforms for competitive gaming and social networks.
• Matter Labs denied claims of “insider minting” and claimed that all Libertas Omnibus NFT minters were eligible according to official criteria.
• Playbet.io is a new crypto casino and sportsbook for web3 gaming, powered by SoftSwiss and operating under a Curacao license.
• The Toledo Museum of Art will feature a special installation featuring non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in its final exhibition of Ethiopian art.
• CU and MiL.k have launched a metaverse game, Play CU X MiL.k, connecting the Web2 and Web3 spaces.

Onchain Data

• Solana price stabilizes above a key support level, with 35% upside potential.
• Telegram Coin Notcoin (NOT) has seen a 70% surge in price over the past three days.
• TRON price analysis shows notable growth in June and stability in early July, with $13.1 million withdrawn and 1.83 million active addresses.
• Chainlink has turned bullish, with its price surging by 4% in the last 24 hours.
• Aptos (APT) has experienced a 30% price decline due to broader cryptocurrency market downturns.

Educational Guides and Tips from Mind the Block

• Unveiling Moving Averages: Essential Tools for Bitcoin Trading.
• How Does Bitcoin Halving Influence Inflation Control?
• How to Restake on Symbiotic? How Does Symbiotic Work?
• What Is DePIN in Crypto? Top 10 DePIN Crypto Projects.
• What crypto investors should know about the IRS Tax Regime for 2025.

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