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Stay Ahead with CryptoEQ's Latest Insights: Ethereum's Evolution & Crypto Trends 🚀 In our latest CryptoEQ/IQ Newsletter for the week ending April 1, 2024, we delve into the evolving landscape of Ethereum and the broader crypto market. The spotlight is on Ethereum's Dencun upgrade, particularly the introduction of "blob transactions" on Layer 2s like Coinbase's Base network. Despite an initial drop, gas fees have fluctuated, highlighting the balance between rising demand and network capacity. 🔹 Base Network's Strategy: After significant fee spikes, Base implemented a strategy to expand transaction capacity, aiming to keep costs low amidst growing demand—a critical move differing from Ethereum's Layer 1 approach. 🔹 The Rise of 'Blobscriptions': Inspired by Bitcoin's ordinal inscriptions, this trend is reshaping Ethereum transactions, creating a new market dynamic as supply and demand find equilibrium. Headlines & Highlights: Polygon zkEVM resumes after a brief outage, ensuring continuous operation. Circle's CCTP finds a new home on Solana, broadening its ecosystem. CFTC reaffirms ETH as a commodity, impacting regulatory landscapes. NEAR introduces seamless multichain transactions, enhancing user experience. BlackRock remains committed to a Spot Ether ETF, regardless of ETH's regulatory classification. Ethena Labs sets a date for its ENA token airdrop, marking a new phase for its users. Wormhole's W token is ready for claim, opening new opportunities for holders. SBF's 25-Year Sentence: A significant development in the crypto legal sphere. Chart of the Week: Witness the highest monthly BTC close ever, signifying a landmark moment in crypto valuation. Leading the Q1 2024 Crypto Returns: Meme coins emerge as top performers, underscoring the diverse investment landscape in crypto. For in-depth analysis, the latest trends, and strategic insights, visit the CryptoEQ Dashboard: https://buff.ly/3WRWZnr

🚀 As we bid farewell to 2023, reflecting on Ether Capital's journey and the #crypto ecosystem in general fills me with immense pride. The year has been marked by key themes that define our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and most significantly our belief in the long term potential of the asset class...   🌐 BUIDL: Building Key Infrastructure We launched and continued to improve our staking reporting and monitoring software. Having the right data is vital for institutional stakers like us who report audited financials. Zooming out, in 2023 the entire industry seemed focused on building the infrastructure needed to enable the next wave of users and use cases.   🔄 **Re-Orientation to a Lean Operating Model and Implementing a Share Buy Back** We doubled down on our commitment to #ether and staking and reoriented our operating model, striving for cash flow positivity and significant expense reduction. This strategic shift better preserves our Ether treasury while enhancing our agility to navigate the dynamic crypto landscape. Our Normal Course Issuer Bid (share buy-back) has been in place since June. The Company continues its commitment to its Normal Course Issuer Bid (NCIB) program. ⛓️ **Deploying In-House Staking** A major win for us was deploying our in-house staking infrastructure, and staking approximately 98% of our treasury ~ 45,440 Ether. This move reduces costs and positions us to be self-sufficient on our infrastructure. The autonomy gained opens avenues for tech experimentation and the creation of IP. 📊 **Metrics That Speak Volumes** Our stock price experienced a 100% increase from the start to the end of the year. Average staking yield of 5.3% (as at 11/10).  Total Ether treasury of 46,393 (as at 11/10)  #ether price is also up 90%+ 🌐 **Crypto/Ethereum Ecosystem Highlights 2023** Themes in the crypto ecosystem that have shaped our world in one way or another and what we’re watching closely going into 2024:  - The filing and imminent launch of Bitcoin spot ETFs in the U.S. market.  - The Shanghai upgrade in April rendered all staking rewards liquid, while the proliferation of liquid staking protocols, from Lido to Alluvial to RocketPool, provide diverse options for participants. - Concerns about network diversification to maintain Ethereum's neutrality underscored Ether Capital's vital role as an independent staker. And, of course, the trial and conviction of SBF for the FTX debacle unfolded and allowed the industry to start a fresh chapter. Amidst all this, stablecoins continued their relentless rise, cementing their place in the crypto ecosystem and their role as a bridge between traditional payment rails and blockchain. As we step into 2024, Ether Capital remains steadfast in its commitment to creating value for shareholders, and contributing to the dynamic evolution of the crypto space. Here's to another year of innovation, growth, and success! 🚀🌐 #YearInReview #CryptoJourney #EtherCapital #capitalmarkets

Dive into the future of Ethereum! 🚀 This 2023 report unveils Ethereum's transformation beyond crypto and NFTs. From resilience during crypto winter to post-Merge sustainability, explore key insights on business evolution, trends, and readiness. 🌐💼 Get ready to embrace Ethereum's impact on the business landscape. Share your thoughts! 💬🌟 Rejolut- A Web 3.0 Company #Ethereum2023 #BlockchainEvolution"

2024 is shaping up to be a watershed year for crypto, from the recent news of the approved Bitcoin ETF to new regulatory policy governing how crypto should be managed as it grows and more people engage with it. Strap yourself in as we delve into what 2024 holds for crypto 👇 Improved clarity and regulations 👩⚖️ This year we saw the introduction of the FCA (Financial Conduct Authorities) FinProm policies which have shaped the way in which we engage with UK users. Ramp will always welcome initiatives that protect and improve our users' experience, and we are proud to be working with FCA. The UK is not the only one making moves. In 2024 we are expecting regulatory changes in several other countries around the world, who have historically been crypto-positive. Ramp will continue in 2024 to work with regulatory bodies around the world to help shape a future for all in crypto. Gaming 🎮 For those in the know, this is an easy one: web3 gaming is set to grow exponentially in 2024. We have always been big advocates of gaming in web3 and even explored the idea, philosophy, and logistics behind how this could work in an ideal world just a few weeks ago in our blog post called "Is web3 the future of gaming?". If you want to find out more, check out our blog at https://ramp.network/blog! It truly feels like this year, web3 games are ready to ship fully developed top-tier products. We are so excited to see how the community reacts and if gaming can truly fulfill our expectations! Institutions 🏢 Obviously, we couldn't write this kind of post and not mention the Bitcoin ETF! It's safe to say that the idea has done really well to sell itself across the board. All of web3 stands to gain massively as a result of the recently approved Bitcoin ETF. In the coming weeks & months, we hope that the introduction of new ecosystem participants, alongside the validation from the SEC, to start benefitting those of us who have been building all throughout the last few years. But what do you think? Let us know your thoughts down below; we would love to hear what you have in mind for 2024 and how you think it will turn out! 👇

Coinbase just dropped its 2024 Crypto Market Outlook report 🔥 It's 83 pages long, so here are my 9 key takeaways for you: 1) Crypto Market Outlook Recession in the US in 2024 looks unlikely but it has a non-zero chance. The crypto market is rebounding and we are about to exit the bear market but it's still too early to celebrate. Factors such as BTC halving, the approval of BTC and ETH ETFs, and rate cuts by the Fed are some of the crucial factors that will be catalysts for a strong bull market. 2) Bitcoin is the King of Crypto Bitcoin is going to lead the crypto market, attracting more institutional dollars. It's expected to get more adoption and growing acceptance as an asset class by large financial institutions, opening a new era for mainstream adoption. 3) Less Infrastructure, More Consumer Facing Dapps 2023 was all about funding infra projects. This is likely to shift in 2024 as we will see more builders rolling out our consumer-facing dApps. Some key technical innovations such as account abstraction are going to play a crucial role in making these dApps user-friendly. 4) Proliferation of Chains There will be more focus on modular blockchains and an abundance of new L2s. Many of them will be catered towards specific applications (e.g. gaming). We will also see a rise of new specialized L1 chains that will compete with L2s. Overall, ETH and L2s in its ecosystem are expected to maintain their leading position. 5) Real World Asset (RWA) Tokenization More RWAs will come on chain, whether it's Treasuries, stock, private funds, real estate, etc. This will shake up many of the existing middlemen, giving people easier exposure to different asset classes. The speed of adoption will depend on the regulatory environment. 6) Web3 Gaming Will Be Back Web3 gaming which took a big hit during crypto winter will have a comeback, but in a different shape. There will be a shift away from the old model of 'play to earn' to more sustainable models. 7) Rise of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN) DePIN will be the new hot thing. Akash and Helium already demonstrated that it's possible, so we will be using real-world physical assets to build decentralized infrastructures. 8) Privacy and Decentralized Identity As ZK technologies become more common, they will enable us to build a decentralized on-chain identity that will protect our privacy. Practical applications can be not just in DeFi, but also in real-world fields such as healthcare. 9) Advances in Validator Tech Restaking, spearheaded by EigenLayer, will go big, allowing people to use their crypto to secure more chains at the same time. Also, distributed validator technologies (DVTs) will become more common, increasing the safety of the networks. P.S. Which point makes you most excited for 2024?

What is #Ethereum worth? We're looking at just that in the latest breakdown from our research team at Republic Crypto. tl:dr - ETH has many value layers that have emerged since Ethereum’s inception. - ETH valuation models should speak to each individual layer but also adapt as network economics evolve over time. - Scaling networks have been value-additive to Ethereum’s network valuation over the last 2 years. - RxR’s Metcalfe law-centric valuation models for ETH suggest ETH is trading below fair value by 27% once scaling network dynamics are factored in. ... Read the rest to understand how we measure the evolving value of the Ethereum network https://lnkd.in/gCuRTneu

Welcome to the Plexus weekly roundup where we dish out the TL;DR in crypto news for noobs and short-of-time Web3 vets alike. Here were the big stories last week: SEC vs. Consensys 🏛️ The SEC have filed a lawsuit against Consensys, claiming they have been running as an unregistered broker and selling unregistered securities through MetaMask Swaps since 2020. Allegedly, they raked in over $250 million in fees without proper registration. The SEC is looking for a permanent injunction and some hefty penalties. This could shake things up for MetaMask users big time. Solana ETF Filing 🌅 Just when we thought we could catch our breath from the Ethereum ETF excitement, Solana steps in to keep the party going, as if they knew we needed a little hopium hit. VanEck and 21Shares have filed for the first spot Solana ETFs in the U.S., right after Ethereum ETFs got the green light. Kraken Founder’s Big Bet 🤑 Jesse Powell, Kraken’s founder, just threw down a $1 million bet on Trump’s campaign. Powell and other crypto bigwigs like the Winklevoss twins and Cathie Wood are backing Trump, hoping for a more crypto-friendly vibe in the White House. Powell’s got beef with the current administration’s regulatory stance, which he says is killing U.S. competitiveness in the crypto game. Solana launch Blockchain Links (Blinks) 😉 Imagine Farcaster Frames but taken to the next level. Blinks are the latest buzz in the blockchain social space, allowing users to create and share links that are embedded with blockchain data. This innovation aims to integrate blockchain technology more seamlessly into everyday social interactions, making it easier for users to share and verify information securely. What did we miss?

After the apparent pro-crypto shift in US politics in May, there have been further positive developments on the US political and regulatory front. Support for the crypto industry is now included in the official Republican Party platform. Very importantly, the SEC dropped its investigation into Ethereum 2.0, deciding not to pursue charges that the proof-of-stake version of Ether is a security, and a federal judge ruled that the BNB token of the Binance Chain is not a security when traded in the secondary market. “At this point, proof-of-stake crypto assets appear to be out of the woods. Proof-of-work was already de facto not considered a security, but proof-of-stake cryptocurrencies have been challenged by the SEC. Now this risk has largely been removed,” Katalin Tischhauser, Sygnum Bank’s Head of Investment Research, says. Meanwhile VanEck and 21Shares filed to launch Solana ETFs. However, the market is divided on whether further ETFs can happen soon, considering they face significant hurdles. “It is not that likely to happen in the near future. If we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, they will probably be approved, but by the March 2025 final approval deadline of the filings, this is not likely,” Katalin Tischhauser says. The filings are a significant step but the hurdles are substantial because there needs to be a surveillable market that fits the SEC’s definition. For BTC and ETH, they referenced the CME futures market, however, there are no Solana futures and the CME stated last month that they had no plans to launch this product. Alternatively, the SEC’s stance on what they consider an acceptable “surveillable market” needs to shift. “An even bigger question is the potential demand for Solana ETFs. Ethereum has half the name recognition of Bitcoin, and Solana has much less than that among new types of investors, while those already familiar with crypto will be trading spot. I’m not suggesting that there would be no demand but it doesn’t look like a substantial amount that would create political pressure. However, if the world’s largest asset manager and leading ETF provider BlackRock filed, as some unsourced rumours suggest, that would change the picture,” Katalin Tischhauser says. 🎬 Watch this week's Sygnum research livestream “Is crypto decoupling from the global markets?” with Katalin Tischhauser here: https://lnkd.in/dWHzV7MM Dom Castley MBA MCIM, Fabian Dori, Lionel Vaucher, Markus Hämmerli, Stefan Edelmann, Olga Voldiner, Rico Müller, Juan Carlos Largo Castellà, Federico Pepe, Luca Burlando #SolanaETFs #solana #bitcoin Disclaimer: https://bit.ly/4edJA1v

🔗Tokenized Asset Coalition Formed to Accelerate Adoption of Real-World Assets on Blockchain Bringing traditional financial assets onto public blockchains has long been a goal for many in the crypto space. To serve as a steward of this burgeoning space, major players including Coinbase, Circle, and Aave have formed the Tokenized Asset Coalition (TAC). The coalition aims to accelerate the maturation of blockchain technology and expand the adoption of tokenized assets. #Blockchain #TokenizedAssets #Crypto ㅤㅤㅤㅤ Real-world assets (RWA), such as tokenized treasuries, have seen significant growth even in the bear market. While leading digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum have experienced significant price declines from their all-time highs, tokenized treasuries have grown nearly 500% this year, surpassing $600 million. #RWA #TokenizedTreasuries #CryptoMarket ㅤㅤㅤㅤ The newly formed TAC will focus on onboarding institutions into the tokenized asset space, emphasizing education and collaboration. The coalition believes that blockchain technology can offer significant cost savings for institutions and increase liquidity across asset classes. Vogelsang, CEO of Centrifuge and a founding member of TAC, sees this effort as finance’s next evolution and a way to push the industry forward. #DeFi #FinancialInnovation ㅤㅤㅤㅤ TAC is organizing its inaugural Real World Asset Summit on September 19 in New York, hoping to create impactful discussions and innovations similar to the ones that influenced the DeFi sector in 2019. Other founding members of the coalition include Goldfinch, Credix, RWA.xyz, and Base from Coinbase. #RealWorldAssetSummit #DeFiInnovation ㅤㅤㅤㅤ With TAC’s formation, the crypto industry takes another step toward the adoption of tokenized real-world assets on public blockchains, driving innovation, cost savings, and liquidity for institutions. #Tokenization #InstitutionalAdoption #CryptoRevolution (Source: The Defiant)