The trading frenzy of memecoins like Pepe has caused an unwanted consequence for Bitcoin (BTC)—raising its transaction costs to their highest point in two years. On May 3, the total amount of fees paid on the Bitcoin blockchain reached $3.5 million, jumping about 400% from late April. This latest trend in the crypto ecosystem could potentially put pressure on an already vulnerable market, which is heavily influenced by these memes.
However, the increased transaction fees may also be a sign of a more extensive adoption of cryptocurrencies in general. As more and more people participate in various crypto transactions, the competition for miners’ services naturally increases, and so do the fees. It remains to be seen whether the high fees also indicate long-term sustainability for the market or are simply a short-term result of the memecoin craze.
On the flip side, skyrocketing gas fees on the Ethereum network have raised concerns over the crypto market’s long-term scalability. If fees continue to rise at their current rate, it may discourage new users from entering the market due to high transaction costs.
Another topic grabbing attention is the potential dangers posed by artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, an AI pioneer and former Google employee, has shared his concerns about the technology he helped develop over the past several years. According to Hinton, AI could pose a threat to humanity in the future as it learns unexpected behaviors from the massive amounts of data it analyzes. Unchecked AI development could lead to an increased number of fake photos, videos, and text flooding the internet and might also contribute to the development of lethal autonomous weapons.
On a more positive note, Microsoft recently announced new AI-powered features for its Bing chatbot and Edge web browser, including full access to the GPT-4 model—the same underlying engine that powers the ChatGPT Plus subscription service. Unlike OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus service, which costs $20 per month, Microsoft is offering these features at no additional cost to its users.
The future of AI and its impact on the world have safety implications, and there is no doubt that the rapid growth of technology in the space will continue to require careful monitoring and potential regulation to protect society from its dangers.
As for cryptocurrencies, while the memecoin frenzy could be seen as a sign of a growing interest in digital assets, it is essential to consider the increasing fees and potential scalability issues that may arise as more users enter the market. Hopefully, the crypto community will remain vigilant and offer solutions that tackle these challenges while ensuring a vibrant and growing market.
Source: Cointelegraph
