Day: June 20, 2023

Yuga Labs announces HV-MTL Forge, a workshop-building game centered around Bored Ape Yacht Club’s robot NFTs, set to launch on June 29. Owners of Sewer Pass NFTs can access the Forge game, where they customize workshops to secure community votes. The game builds upon the success of Yuga Labs’ controversial Dookey Dash, which generated $110 million in NFT trades.

Ava Labs introduces AvaGPT, employing OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology to provide quick assistance to Avalanche users while ensuring complex queries are handled by their customer support. Through a partnership with Kapa AI, AvaGPT becomes an integral part of Ava Labs Core platform. However, Ava Labs acknowledges AI limitations and maintains transparency on the accuracy of chatbot information.

Crypto research and development firm Flashbots experiences major personnel changes amid raising funds at a $1 billion valuation. The company, known for its MEV-Boost middleware, faces challenges and aims to develop the SUAVE network, offering more accessible MEV extraction features to other blockchains.

Alibaba’s appointment of Joe Tsai, a known crypto enthusiast, as the company chair suggests potential increase in crypto-friendly endeavors. However, with China’s ambivalent relationship with blockchain and crypto, Tsai’s leadership may also put the company in a challenging position.

Bitmap Theory, a groundbreaking concept bridging the gap between Bitcoin and the metaverse, enables ownership claims over Bitcoin blocks and integrates them into the metaverse. This open-source standard offers new opportunities for community-driven 3D spaces, facing both potential benefits and challenges for blockchain integration and user privacy.

Slim Jim enters the Web3 space with its interactive “Meataverse,” offering free GigaJim NFTs to fans through the Ethereum scaling network, Polygon. This initiative highlights the potential impact of emerging blockchain technology on businesses across various industries.

NASDAQ-listed Bitcoin mining firm Iris Energy aims to increase its hash rate capacity by 63% to 9.1 EH/s by early 2024, utilizing its 80MW data center in Texas. The company’s shares surged 21% following the announcement, reflecting a growing interest in the blockchain industry. Iris Energy also explores opportunities in energy-intensive compute applications such as AI.

AI, like ChatGPT, tackles the chicken-or-egg conundrum with a concise “Egg,” aligning with scientific consensus. While AI’s potential to simplify and inform on philosophical debates is remarkable, it’s crucial to maintain human critical thinking and discourse for comprehensive understanding.

Polygon co-founder Mihailo Bjelic proposes an upgrade to the Polygon PoS network, suggesting a shift to a “zkEVM validium” version for increased security through zero-knowledge proofs. This upgrade would enable Polygon zkEVM for high-value transactions, offering lower fees and enhanced security from Ethereum’s features, targeting applications like Web3 gaming and social media.

EDX Markets, a digital asset market backed by Fidelity Digital Assets, Charles Schwab, and Citadel Securities, aims to bring competition, transparency, fairness, and safety to the crypto space. Unlike other exchanges, EDX Markets doesn’t custody customer assets and requires users to rely on financial intermediaries, appealing to regulators.

Binance is operating nodes on the Bitcoin Lightning Network to address network congestion and improve transaction speed. The integration aims to make Bitcoin transactions more efficient, but faces challenges, including centralization concerns. Meanwhile, Binance navigates a legal battle with the SEC.

The Polygon Labs engineering team proposed an upgrade to Polygon Proof-of-Stake (PoS) sidechain, transitioning to ‘zkEVM Validium,’ an Ethereum-secured Layer 2 network secured by zero-knowledge proofs. Targeted for Q1 2024, this upgrade aligns with Polygon 2.0’s vision and aims to enhance scalability, security, and interoperability within the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem.

President Joe Biden is set to meet with AI experts to discuss the future of artificial intelligence and the need for legislation and guidelines. This comes at a time when the U.S. government has yet to establish a comprehensive strategy for AI development and cryptocurrency regulation, while Europe, China, and the United Kingdom have already made progress in these areas. The meeting aims to address concerns on policy, regulation, and balancing innovation with safety and risk mitigation.

Škoda Auto partners with Near Protocol to launch “Škodaverse India,” a Web3 and NFT experience with low gas fees, multiplatform interoperability, and eco-friendliness. This marks Škoda’s entry into the Web3 space, offering unique digital assets, potential value appreciation, and exclusive perks tied to NFT ownership, highlighting growing adoption of blockchain technology in various industries.

Fortnite recently announced a collaboration with Nike and its NFT-driven .Swoosh Web3 platform. The partnership, “Airphoria,” allows in-game Nike-branded experiences in Fortnite Creative Mode. Users can participate in a Nike sneakerhunt and earn a free in-game accessory.

Polygon aims to make its primary chain compatible with zero knowledge (ZK) technology, potentially transforming it into a zkEVM validium and ensuring Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility. This upgrade could enhance security, eliminate reorgs, expedite transactions, and scale the blockchain more effectively. However, the complex integration may introduce unforeseen challenges.

The University of Nicosia (UNIC) introduces a Masters of Science in Metaverse degree, covering metaverse design and management, AR, VR, NFTs, blockchain, and more. While aiming to address the growing interest in metaverse technology, this ambitious program also sparks skepticism due to its nascent nature.

Web3 social media platforms struggle to disrupt legacy Web2 platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Despite their potential to offer economic motivators, Web3 platforms face challenges in reaching a critical mass of users and maintaining genuine engagement. Innovative methods for content delivery, curation, and engagement will be crucial for these platforms to succeed.