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Ava Labs head of product Nick Mussallem explained how Japanese company Loyalty Marketing is aiming to introduce Web3 to its 100 million users. Proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain platform Avalanche is expecting 5-10 million transactions on a subnet as a Japanese loyalty program company that claims to have 100 million users has partnered with the network to bring their mass-scale loyalty rewards program into a blockchain.  Cointelegraph’s Andrew Fenton interviewed Nick Mussallem, Ava Labs' head of product at the Korea Blockchain Week 2023, held in Seoul, South Korea. The duo spoke about various topics including the recently announced partnership with blockchain services provider PlayThink and Japanese points service provider Loyalty Marketing to onboard more than 100 million users into the Web3 space. Nick Mussallem at the Avalanche House area of the Korea Blockchain Week 2023. Source: Cointelegraph According to Mussallem, Loyalty Marketing is expecting up to 10 million mints for its...

This week’s episode of Market Talks discusses whether it will ever be “too late” to buy Bitcoin and why BTC could take over the financial world. On the latest episode of Cointelegraph’s Market Talks , host Ray Salmond spoke with Luke Broyles, a popular Bitcoin (BTC) advocate and content creator on YouTube and X (formerly Twitter). During the show, Broyles laid out his Bitcoin invest ment thesis and his unique perspectives on how the asset’s price could eventually rise into seven-figure territory. Broyles said that in 2020, he realized the bond market was broken. While searching for alternative invest ments, he discovered Bitcoin as a sound option. When asked about his Bitcoin invest ment strategy and how he stomachs the volatility, Broyles said:  “I do not own bonds. I have sold off 97% of my stocks over the past three years, and I’m selling off the last 3% this week actually, so it’s funny that you ask that. By the end of this week, the only three assets that I will own will be U.S. ...

A U.S. federal court recently used on-chain tech to lock criminals out of their crypto on the Jurat Network. Its founder, Mike Kanovitz, admits it could see hate from crypto purists. The founder of layer-1 blockchain Jurat has defended his protocol against potential haters, arguing that on-chain legal enforcement is a necessary trade-off for crypto mass adoption.  On Aug. 8, a U.S. District Court used Jurat’s on-chain enforcement tool to lock several sanctioned individuals out of their crypto accounts. These individuals were sanctioned for money laundering and using ransomware to extort cryptocurrency payments to benefit North Korea’s weapons program. A court just entered final judgment in a federal lawsuit and the court used @JuratNetwork to enforce its order on -chain ! The judge enjoined Russian and North Korean hackers from accessing their accounts, making $JTC the first crypto currency to comply with @USTreasury… — Mike Kanovitz (@MikeKanovitz) August 8, 2023 Speaking to C...

Blockware Solutions account executive David Gamble told Market Talks host Ray Salmond that the crypto market will hit a $10 trillion market cap in the next few years. On the latest episode of Market Talks , host Ray Salmond spoke with Blockware Solutions account executive David Gamble about the future of Bitcoin (BTC) mining, expectations for the cryptocurrency’s price , and his views on how the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector needs to evolve.  Gamble described himself as a staunch believer in DeFi, but he added that protocols within the industry need to find ways to incorporate tokenized real-world assets instead of relying on mercenary capital and the attraction of liquid staking. According to Gamble, the steady entry of institutional investors and even central bankers experimenting with tokenized bonds and other yield-bearing assets could be a step in the right direction. The best time to buy Bitcoin is now Bitcoin’s block reward halving is less than 300 days away, and many i...

The key supporting factors for the market are the adoption of blockchain technology and the demand for NFTs for transparency and traceability in the food industry. Nonfungible tokens (NFT) adoption is picking up steam across the food and beverage industry, with many fast-food chains displaying interest in this new asset class.  A report by ResearchAndMarkets.com states that the global food & beverage NFT market size is expected to reach USD 2,134.04 Million by 2032. These statistics have been evident as recently, Global fast-food brands , including Pizza Hut and Papa John’s, are discovering new ways to integrate NFTs into their marketing strategies.  The report states that the key supporting factors for the market are the adoption of blockchain technology and the demand for NFTs for transparency and traceability in the food industry. Unique ownership opportunities, using NFTs in virtual reality and video games, promotions and advertising from food companies and restaurants are o...

The high stakes of crypto applications mean developers often need to prioritize security — but that comes at the cost of poor user experience. The current state of Web3 user experience is akin to driving a manual transmission car — there’s more control, but most users will find it unnecessarily clunky, according to several UX design ers. Over the years, discussion around mainstream adoption of Web3 has centered around the need to improve crypto’s user experience and “ease of use.” However, in a July 12 Twitter post, Web3 UI/UX design er “0xDesigner” argued that certain properties of blockchain make it challenging to build easy-to-use Web2-like applications. Web2 vs Web3 UX I was asked by a reporter from a crypto publication about the disparity between web2 and web3 UX. It’s a meaningful line of questioning that isn't covered enough. So I’m going to share some half-baked thoughts in hopes that it triggers more discourse. Why is… — 0xDesigner (@0xDesigner) July 12, 2023 Acco...

Industry stakeholders seek clarity regarding the implications of taxation and its connection to the recognition of cryptocurrency and associated procedures. The president of the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria (SIBAN), Obinna Iwunna, has commented on the implementation progress of the Finance Act, 2023, signed into law on May 28. According to Iwunna, the successful execution of the law will be challenging due to its premature introduction. The act introduces a series of tax reforms aimed at modernizing the country’s fiscal framework. Among its provisions was the introduction of a 10% tax on gains from the disposal of digital assets, including crypto currencies. In a Cointelegraph interview, Iwunna criticized the idea of implementing a 10% tax on cryptocurrencies in the current uncertain climate, likening it to putting the cart before the horse. He highlighted the ongoing issue with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) instructing commercial banks not to facil...

Wolf von Laer, the CEO of Students for Liberty, spoke with Cointelegraph about the nature of the Bitcoin community and the need for more openness. Throughout recent years the world of crypto has been subject to as much scrutiny and volatility as it has innovation and growth.  A big component of the resilience of the industry has been the community that stands in support of the technology and its utility to transform digital finance. One of the most prominent crypto communities in the space is that surrounding Bitcoin (BTC), with millions of users in Reddit groups and conferences across the globe. At the Bitcoin Prague 2023 conference, Wolf Von Lare, CEO of Students for Liberty, spoke with Cointelegraph about the nature of the Bitcoin community and how there is a place for anyone. Cointelegraph reporter Joe Hall with panelists at Bitcoin Prague 2023. Source: Cointelegraph Von Lare says the Bitcoin community might not be “as welcoming,” as people at events can often come off too technic...

Check out these five tips for landing a tech job, including building your skills, networking, customizing your resume and more. In today's tech industry, there is a high demand for professionals with expertise in fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. Companies are seeking individuals with a combination of technical and soft skills, including strong communication, problem-solving, and collaboration abilities. Here are five tips to land a tech job. Build a strong online presence In the tech industry, having a strong online presence is crucial. This includes having a well-crafted LinkedIn profile, a personal website or blog, and active engagement on relevant online communities and forums. Many companies now use online platforms like LinkedIn to search for potential job candidates. By having a strong online presence, you increase your chances of being discovered by potential employers who are actively searching for candidates with y...

Paxful’s shutdown has left its global community heartbroken, but it has significantly impacted the Nigerian community, where it pioneered P2P crypto use. The shutdown of the peer-to-peer (P2P) cryptocurrency marketplace Paxful has left its worldwide community searching for alternatives, but it appears to have significantly affected the Nigerian crypto community.  On April 4th, Paxful declared that it would halt its operations. The reason for this decision, according to the founder and CEO Ray Youssef’s blog, was due to “key staff departures” and the regulatory environment. According to a study by Chainalysis’ 2020 Cryptocurrency Geography Report, Nigeria ranked eighth in crypto adoption and usage among 154 countries included in the study. Acceptance and usage of crypto in Nigeria were not as high until Paxful pioneered the use of peer-to-peer technology in the country, helping expand the crypto industry. A Nigerian crypto user, Emmanuel Susegh, told Cointelegraph that the shutdown o...

Through a new initiative, Cointelegraph Accelerator and the bitsCrunch Startup Program aim to help startups in the NFT data space by providing free data tools. As nonfungible token (NFT) trading volumes begin to pick up again in Q1 2023 and marketplaces battle it out for a piece of the pie, more projects are coming into the space to assist market actors with infrastructure and analytical tools. And with evidence of wash trading and other abuse by bad actors becoming apparent, there is a demand for forensic tools to aid traders and investors in making informed, financially secure decisions. Cointelegraph Accelerator is assisting in further developing the NFT sector by teaming up with bitsCrunch’s startup program to help Developers and Startups in their journey. Through the joint initiative, members will participate in and reap the benefits of both initiatives. Founded in 2013, Cointelegraph is a long-standing player in the world of cryptocurrency and blockchain media. Cointelegraph Acc...

Ted Cruz said it is “more important than ever” to ensure the financial privacy of American citizens is preserved. Republican Senator Ted Cruz has introduced a bill to block the United States Federal Reserve from launching a “direct-to-consumer” central bank digital currency (CBDC). In a March 21 statement, Cruz said he introduced the bill to prevent the Fed from developing a retail CBDC “which could be used as a financial surveillance tool by the federal government.” Cruz stated it’s “more important than ever” to ensure U.S. policy on digital currencies protects “financial privacy, maintain’s the dollar’s dominance and cultivates innovation,” and added: “CBDCs that fail to adhere to these three basic principles could enable an entity like the Federal Reserve to mobilize itself into a retail bank, collect personally identifiable information on users, and track their transactions indefinitely.” Cruz claimed the federal government has “no authority to unilaterally establish” a CBDC. “We ...

DLT Science Foundation opened its call for grant proposals, offering up to $5 million for eligible individuals or organizations. The non-profit organization DLT Science Foundation (DSF) has launched with the aim of fostering the adoption of distributed ledger technology (DLT).  In an announcement sent to Cointelegraph, the DSF highlighted that it will offer support in several areas including education, innovation and research. This means that it will create educational material, workshops and open innovation programs as well as grants and fellowships for academics. The organization will also be providing support through grants to members of its university network. The network includes universities like the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, the London School of Economics, the National University of Singapore, the University College London and the University of Zurich. The DSF is also supported by the open-source public ledger project Hedera. According to the announcement, Hedera w...

The firm said it received an investigative subpoena in December regarding its crypto listings, crypto custody and platform operations. Robinhood Markets has confirmed that it had received an investigative subpoena from the United States Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) over its digital asset business' crypto listings , custody and platform operations. In a 10-K filing, the brokerage said it received the investigative subpoena in December shortly after crypto exchange FTX filed for bankruptcy in November, and after "several other major cryptocurrency trading venues and lending platforms earlier in 2022," including Three Arrows Capital, Voyager Digital Holdings and Celsius Network. The investigative subpoena was in relation to its cryptocurrency listings and custody services, which they said came in response to the crypto bankruptcies last year: "In December 2022, following the 2022 Crypto Bankruptcies, we received an investigative subpoena from the SEC regardi...

One Ethereum bull hopes the launch will help onboard a host of other crypto companies and financial institutions onto Ethereum. The Ethereum community appears to have taken a bullish view of Coinbase’s newly announced layer-2 network, Base, which has been described as a “massive confidence vote” and a “watershed moment” for the blockchain network.  Secured on Ethereum and powered by layer-2 network Optimism, Base aims to eventually become a network for building decentralized applications (DApps) on the blockchain. The layer-2 network is currently in its testnet phase, according to Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. 0/ Hello world. Meet Base, an Ethereum L2 that offers a secure, low-cost, developer-friendly way for anyone, anywhere, to build decentralized apps. Our goal with Base is to make onchain the next online and onboard 1B+ users into the cryptoeconomy.https://t.co/Znuu3o3pJw — Base (@BuildOnBase) February 23, 2023 Members of the crypto community, such as Ryan Sean Adams, host...

Cointelegraph visited a grocery store and a luxury car club to learn how crypto has been adopted in Dubai. The city of Dubai has been very welcoming to the crypto space, providing the much-needed regulatory clarity to help the industry thrive. While this attracts native Web3 and crypto businesses to the emirate, even non-crypto businesses started integrating technologies like crypto, nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and even the metaverse into their operations.  Cointelegraph went to explore various parts of Dubai to find out how crypto and Web3 technologies have been integrated within some businesses in the emirate. Ordering groceries with cryptocurrencies Day To Day, one of the popular and most affordable grocery chains in Dubai, announced that it started to accept crypto payments last year. On Aug 8, local media outlet Khaleej Times reported that the hypermarket has started to accept crypto as payment in their online store and several of their branches throughout Dubai.  Cointelegraph re...

The goal of the new state-supported institution is to speed up the country’s industry through blockchain technology. Despite its ongoing crackdown on crypto, China continues to embrace blockchain technology — up to the point of launching the National Blockchain Technology Innovation Center in the capital city of Beijing.  According to the China Daily’s report from Feb. 8, the Center will create a research network with the local universities, think tanks and Blockchain businesses to carry out the inquiries into core Blockchain technologies. The fruits of this research will be used for further digitalization of China and, as emphasized in the report, its industry in particular. In charge of the new institution is the Beijing Academy of Blockchain and Edge Computing (BABEC) — an entity most famous for the development of Chang’an Chain or ChainMaker blockchain. This blockchain is already backed by an ecosystem of 50 business corporations, most of them — such as China Construction Bank...

Users will not be able to buy Bitcoin after Mar. 2, and the “Affirm Crypto Program” will officially shut down on Mar. 31. Max Levchin, the CEO of buy-now-pay-later company Affirm, has confirmed that they will be shutting down their “Affirm Crypto Program” amid dampening consumer spending and a changing macroeconomic environment. The CEO released a letter to shareholders on Feb. 8 alongside a 19% staff cut. He cited uncertain macroeconomic conditions and the need to offset some liabilities on the firm’s balance sheet as the two main reasons behind the decision: “In a period of increased economic uncertainty, we are doubling down on our core businesses, delaying projects with less certain revenue timelines, and aligning our operating expenses with revenue. Concurrent with reducing our workforce, we are sunsetting several initiatives, such as Affirm Crypto.” The firm’s chief financial officer Michael Linford said the decision was made to meet profitability goals. “We have taken decisive ...

From creating e-sports competitions with huge prize pools to making game tokens more relevant to holders, members of the community share their thoughts on GameFi. As the GameFi space continues its journey to attract gamers to a new gaming paradigm, community members shared their takes on what they think a mature GameFi project needs to succeed.  From creating e-sports competitions with huge prize pools to making the game tokens more relevant for the token holders, GameFi community members shared their takes on what the space needs. One Reddit user suggested that GameFi projects need to appeal to several target audiences. This includes whales who will provide funding, earners who are mostly kids and people from developing countries and those who play for fun that will leave good reviews for the game. Another community member pointed out the need to improve the reputation of the space. According to the Redditor, there are some that consider GameFi a scam and this needs to be changed. ...

In Huobi’s most recent industry report, dissects the most discussed crypto-related terms, countries with high levels of activity in the industry, regulations and more. Over the last year the crypto, and greater Web3 industry has seen a rollercoaster of loss, growth and innovation - and the data shows. In the latest industry report from cryptocurrency exchange Huobi, "Global Crypto Industry Overview and Trends", trends and stats were pulled from the industry on everything from nonfungible tokens (NFTs) and the metaverse, to centralized exchange (CEX) usage and regulations. Despite the turmoil of major events like the FTX collapse, LUNA’s implosion, and 3AC bankruptcy, the industry still accounted for approximately 320 million crypto users worldwide in the last year. While the total amount of investment and financing in the “primary market” surpassed $27.7 billion, the total amount of market capitalization of crypto assets shrank by over $2.2 trillion. 1. NFT becomes the most...