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IIT Madras conducts India’s first blockchain-based elections and plans to expand

Blocksight Staff

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IIT Madras conducts India's first blockchain-based elections, plans to scale up

Students at IIT Madras conducted India’s first student council elections using blockchain-based software, a feat that has earned a name in the India Book of Records and has the potential to positively disrupt the way we keep the elections.

Initially developed as a CSR initiative with the support of a major Indian technology company and the Department of Science and Technology, the project aimed to address the challenges of COVID-19, particularly in accessing medical records and monitoring health conditions in the regions.

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The software was first used for the 2022 student elections. The team has been constantly working on it to adapt it for general elections at the state and national levels.

The software used was developed by students of the Webops and Blockchain Club (W&BC) of the Center for Innovation (CFI), IIT Madras, the largest student-run ’24/7 innovation lab’ in India. The club has an overall goal of using technology as a catalyst for positive social change.

Because voting technology is the foundation of a democratic system, students wanted to optimize the existing technical infrastructure for voting within the college.

Professor Prabhu RajagopalAdvisor (Innovation and Entrepreneurship), Anirudh Varna4th year BTech student e Vijayaraja R2nd year MS (Entrepreneurship) students, all from IIT Madras, are the co-founders of the in-house startup Plenomewho commercialized this technology.

Both government and private organizations use Plenome software to manage land and health data.

Here is a short clip of how the digital voting experience for the IIT Madras Student Council elections unfolded using this blockchain-based software:

HOW BLOCKCHAIN ​​TECHNOLOGY CAN TAMPER-PROOF ELECTIONS

The journey towards India’s first blockchain-based student council elections began with the vision of W&BC students at IIT Madras.

“Blockchain as an election technology came to our mind when we were tinkering to improve electoral systems and make remote voting a reality,” explains Anirudh Varna, speaking to IndiaToday.in.

We were looking at 3 aspects in particular: how to make elections more transparent, verifiable and secure, to create an electoral infrastructure to possibly vote from anywhere,” he says.

Blockchain technology, renowned for its decentralized and immutable nature, has proven to be a game changer for electoral processes. The most interesting aspect lies in its ability to safeguard the sanctity of elections by making them completely secure and resistant to manipulation.

Unlike traditional methods, blockchain offers a shared but tamper-proof ledger managed by a network of nodes, ensuring trust and accountability in every transaction.

“It facilitates the process of recording transactions and tracking assets in a decentralized computer network,” says Anirudh.

“Blockchain systems run on a huge computer network across a large geographic area and can only be tampered with if most systems attack operations simultaneously, which is virtually impossible for any entity to orchestrate,” he explains.

“In addition to that, transactions recorded on a blockchain network are permanent and therefore cannot be changed by any single party,” he adds.

In addition to top-notch security, this technology can make elections much more convenient. Anirudh says the team has seen a significant cost reduction in the latest student elections conducted at IIT Madras compared to previous systems.

“On a national scale, we believe our system can save costs by making remote voting possible,” he says.

Therefore, by decentralizing power and eliminating single points of failure, blockchain offers redundancy, traceability, transparency and immutability, all of which are necessary to ensure security and integrity in an electoral system. This mitigates the risks of tampering and manipulation, fostering trust between stakeholders.

GROWTH FOR STATE AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS

The success of the IIT Madras student council elections paves the way for wider adoption of blockchain in electoral processes. The cofounders of startup Plenome aim to extend the system to state and national elections.

However, the journey to large-scale implementation involves overcoming technological, practical and logistical challenges.

“While improving the current infrastructure to work for millions of voters requires massive computer upgrades, improving cybersecurity and other factors, there are also practical issues, such as ensuring a good internet connection, making sure these systems are user-friendly to use and are effectively deployable across various geographies of India, all while being cost-effective,” explains Anirudh Varna.

However, the team aims to solve them iteratively to make it a reality in the general elections.

FUTURE PROSPECTS OF THE USE OF BLOCKCHAIN ​​IN ELECTIONS

The pioneering initiative has garnered widespread support from both students and teachers, signaling a paradigm shift in electoral practices.

“Further improvements to the system are underway based on user feedback. We aim to move to a fully modular framework for conducting elections, where any commission within an entity can conduct elections securely with a simple installation process,” says Anirudh Varna.

“In academia, numerous protocols, encryption algorithms and cryptographic proof mechanisms are being researched and are set to help the field of all decentralized technologies.” Anirudh explains.

Looking to the future, however, the trajectory of blockchain-based electoral systems extends far beyond academia. As businesses and governments recognize the potential of blockchain in securely managing any private data, the prospect of digitized election systems looms large.

“Some countries are developing ‘blockchain backbone’ systems for managing all public data, which also involves holding elections and recording data,” adds Anirudh.

The pioneering efforts of IIT Madras students in conducting India’s first blockchain-based student council elections have set a precedent for inclusive, transparent and secure elections, heralding a new era of digital democracy in India and beyond.

From advances in cryptography to decentralized protocols, the evolution of blockchain promises to redefine the democratic landscape, allowing citizens to exercise their voting rights anywhere, anytime.

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May 6, 2024

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We are the editorial team of Blocksight, where seriousness meets clarity in cryptocurrency analysis. With a robust team of finance and blockchain technology experts, we are dedicated to meticulously exploring complex crypto markets with detailed assessments and an unbiased approach. Our mission is to democratize access to knowledge of emerging financial technologies, ensuring they are understandable and accessible to all. In every article on Blocksight, we strive to provide content that not only educates, but also empowers our readers, facilitating their integration into the financial digital age.

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Ether Drops Further After ETF Launch

Blocksight Staff

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Bitcoin Surpasses $66,000 Thanks to Strong ETF Flows

Key points

  • Spot ether ETFs began trading in the U.S. today, with the funds initially having more than $10 billion in collective assets under management.
  • Analysts expect the launch of spot ether ETFs to have a net negative impact on the underlying price of ether in the near term, due to expected outflows from the pre-existing Grayscale Ethereum Trust.
  • Spot Bitcoin ETFs continue to see strong inflows, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone seeing more than $500 million in inflows on Monday.
  • Franklin Templeton, a spot ETF issuer on bitcoin and ether, has invested in a project that intends to bring Ethereum technology to Bitcoin.

Nine-point ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs)) started trading on the stock market on Tuesday, but all the optimism ahead of their approval did not translate into gains for the cryptocurrency markets.

Ether (ETH), the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain, dropped less than 1% around the $3,400 level as of 1:30 PM ET, while Bitcoin (BTC) fell more than 2% to around $66,000.

Ether ETFs’ Debut Isn’t as Flashy as Bitcoin ETFs’

Spot ether ETFs began trading at just over $10 billion assets under management (AUM)), according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart, most of that money is in the current Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) which has now been converted into an ETF.

“In the long term, Grayscale will simultaneously have the highest and lowest fees in the market. The asset manager’s decision to keep its ETHE fee at 2.5% could lead to outflows from the fund,” Kaiko Research said in a note on Monday.

Outflows from ETHE, if they occur, would be similar to those faced by Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) after spot bitcoin ETFs began trading in January of this year, most likely due to high fees for the two original funds. Grayscale’s existing fund charges 2.5% fees, while a new “mini” ether ETF will charge 0.15% and commissions for other ETFs are set at 0.25% or less.

Such outflows could impact the price of ether and market sentiment.

“There could be a pullback shortly after the launch of Ethereum spot ETFs, i.e. outflows from Grayscale Ether Trust could dampen market sentiment in the short term,” Jupiter Zheng, a partner at Hashkey Capital’s liquid fund, told The Block.

But Grayscale remains optimistic.

“Compared to the splashy debut of spot bitcoin ETPs in January, the launch of ethereum ETPs has been relatively muted,” said Zach Pandl, Grayscale’s head of research, adding that investors may be “undervaluing” ether ETFs that are “coming to the U.S. market in tandem with a shift in U.S. cryptocurrency policy and the adoption of tokenization by major financial institutions.”

Bitcoin ETF Inflows Continue to Rise

As for bitcoin, there is clearly no lack of demand for spot ETFs, such as BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBITS) recorded its sixth-largest day of inflows in its short history on Monday, at $526.7 million, according to data from Farside Investors. Daily inflows for the overall spot bitcoin ETF market also hit their highest level since June 5.

In particular, asset manager Franklin Templeton, which has issued both bitcoin and ether ETFs, appears to have decided to cover its back when it comes to Ethereum by investing in Bitlayer, a way to implement Ethereum technology on a second-layer Bitcoin network, according to CoinDesk.

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Spot Ether ETFs Start Trading Today: Here’s What You Need to Know

Blocksight Staff

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Spot Ether ETFs Start Trading Today: Here's What You Need to Know

Key points

  • Spot ether ETFs will begin trading on U.S. exchanges on Tuesday. Nine ETFs will trade on Cboe BZX, Nasdaq and NYSE Arca.
  • Ether ETFs offer investors exposure to the price of their underlying assets.
  • Commissions on these new ETFs generally range from 0.15% to 0.25%.
  • These ETFs do not provide exposure to Ethereum staking.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially approved nine ether spots (ETH)exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for trading on U.S. exchanges. Trading for these new cryptocurrency investment vehicles begins today. Here’s everything you need to know.

What new ether ETFs are starting to trade today?

Spot ether ETFs starting trading today can be found at Quotation, NYSE Arkand Cboe BZX. Here’s a breakdown of each ETF you can find on these three exchanges, along with the fund tickers:

Cboe BZX will list the Invesco Galaxy Ethereum ETF (QETH), the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF (CETH), the Fidelity Ethereum Fund (FETH), the Franklin Ethereum ETF (EZET) and the VanEck Ethereum ETF (ETHV).

Nasdaq will have the iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) created by BlackRock, which also operates the largest spot bitcoin ETF under the ticker IBIT.

NYSE Arca will list the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW) and the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE). The Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (ETH), which will begin trading on the same exchange.

How does an ether ETF work?

Spot ether ETFs are intended to offer exposure to the price of ether held by the funds. Ether is the underlying cryptocurrency of the Ethereal network, the second largest crypto network by market capitalization.

ETF buyers are buying shares of funds that hold ether on behalf of their shareholders. Different spot ether ETFs use different data sources when it comes to setting the price of ether. Grayscale Ethereum Trust, for example, uses the CoinDesk Ether Price Index.

None of the ETFs launching today include pointed etherwhich represents a potential opportunity cost associated with choosing an ETF over other options such as self-custody or a traditional cryptocurrency exchange.

Ether staking currently has an annual return of 3.32%, according to the Compass Staking Yield Reference Index Ethereum. However, it is possible that the SEC will eventually approve Ether staking held by ETFs.

How can I trade Ether ETFs?

ETFs can simplify the trading process for investors. In the case of cryptocurrencies, instead of taking full custody of the ether and taking care of your own private keysSpot ether ETFs allow investors to purchase the cryptocurrency underlying the Ethereum network through traditional brokerage accounts.

Today, not all brokers may offer their clients spot ETFs on cryptocurrencies.

What are the fees for ether ETFs?

The fees associated with each individual spot ether ETF were previously revealed In the S-1 OR S-3 (depending on the specific ETF) deposit associated with the offerings. These fees are 0.25% or less for all but one.

The Grayscale Ethereum Trust, which converts to an ETF, has a fee of 2.5%. The Grayscale Mini Ethereum Trust has the lowest fee at 0.15%. These fees are charged on an annual basis for the provider’s management of the fund and are in line with what was previously seen with spot bitcoin ETFs.

Brokers may also charge their own fees for cryptocurrency trading.

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Kamala Harris Odds Surge Amid $81M Fundraise. What Does It Mean for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies?

Blocksight Staff

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Kamala Harris Odds Surge Amid $81M Fundraise. What Does It Mean for Bitcoin and Cryptocurrencies?

Market odds and memecoins related to US Vice President Kamala Harris have soared as the latest round of donations tied to the Democratic campaign raised $81 million in 24 hours, bolstering sentiment among some traders.

The odds of Harris being declared the Democratic nominee have risen further to 90% on cryptocurrency betting app Polymarket, up from 80% on Monday and setting a new high.

Previously, in early July, bettors were only betting on 8%, but that changed on Saturday when incumbent President Joe Biden announced he would no longer run in the November election. Biden then approved Harris as a candidate.

Polymarket traders placed $28.6 million in bets in favor of Harris, the data showsThe second favorite is Michelle Obama.

Somewhere else, Memecoin KAMA based on Solanaa political meme token modeled after Harris, has jumped 62% to set a new all-time high of 2 cents at a market cap of $27 million. The token is up a whopping 4,000% from its June 18 low of $0.00061, buoyed primarily by the possibility of Harris becoming president.

As such, Harris has yet to publicly comment on cryptocurrencies or her strategy for the growing market. On the other hand, Republican candidate Donald Trump has expressed support for the cryptocurrency market and is expected to appear at the Bitcoin 2024 conference on Saturday.

However, some expect Harris or the Democratic Party to mention the sector in the coming weeks, which could impact price action.

“While he has not yet received the official nomination, there is consensus that last night’s development is in line with current Democratic strategy,” cryptocurrency trading firm Wintermute said in a Monday note emailed to CoinDesk. “Keep an eye on Democrats’ comments on this issue in the coming days.

“The prevailing assumption is that Harris will win the nomination and any deviation from this expectation could cause market volatility,” the firm added.

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Top 30x Cryptocurrency and Coin Presales Today: Artemis Coin at #1, Others Are: BlockDAG, 99Bitcoin, eTukTuk, and WienerAI

Blocksight Staff

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Top 30x Cryptocurrency and Coin Presales Today: Artemis Coin at #1, Others Are: BlockDAG, 99Bitcoin, eTukTuk, and WienerAI

The cryptocurrency market has seen a lot of growth and imagination lately, with new ventures popping up regularly. A critical pattern in this space is the rise of crypto pre-sales, which give backers the opportunity to get involved with promising projects early on. Artemis is a standout option for crypto investors looking to expand their portfolios amid the many pre-sales currently underway.

Cryptocurrency presales, commonly referred to as initial coin offerings (ICOs), allow blockchain ventures to raise capital by offering their local tokens to early backers before they become available on open exchanges. Investors can take advantage of these presales by purchasing tokens at a lower price. If the project is successful and the token’s value increases, investors stand to receive significant returns.

>>> Explore the best cryptocurrency pre-sales to buy now <<

The Ultimate List of the Top 5 Cryptocurrency Pre-Sales to Invest In

  1. Artemis: The aim of Artemis (ARTMS) will become the cryptocurrency equivalent of eBay or Amazon. The upcoming Phase 4 will see the launch of the Artemis Framework, which will serve as a stage for digital money exchanges where buyers, sellers, specialized organizations and those seeking administration can participate in coherent exchanges.
  2. DAG Block: uses Directed Acyclic Graph technology to increase blockchain scalability.
  3. 99bitcoin: operates as a crypto learning platform
  4. WienerAI uses AI-powered trading bots for precise market analysis.
  5. eTukTuk focuses on environmentally sustainable transportation options, such as electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

We have determined that Artemis is the best new cryptocurrency presale for investment after conducting extensive research. It presents itself as the unrivaled cryptocurrency presale choice currently open.

>> Visit the best cryptocurrency pre-sale to invest in now <<

Top 5 Crypto Pre-Sales and Best Cryptocurrencies for Investment Today

Artemis (ARTMS) is attempting to establish itself as the cryptocurrency version of eBay or Amazon. The Artemis Crypto System, which will act as a platform for cryptocurrency transactions, will be launched in Phase 4. Buyers, sellers, service providers, and requesters will all benefit from seamless trading with this system. Customers will be able to purchase things, such as mobile phones using digital money, as well as sell products such as involved bicycles and get paid in cryptocurrency. Additionally, crypto money can be used to pay for administrations such as clinical consultations, legitimate care, and freelance work. Artemis Coin will act as the main currency of the ecosystem, with Bitcoin and other well-known cryptocurrencies from various blockchain networks backing it.

Artemis Coin has increased in price from 0.00055 to 0.00101 from 0.00094. Artemis may be attractive to individuals looking to recoup losses in Bitcoin, as predicted by cryptocurrency analysts. At this point, it seems to present an interesting presale opportunity.

>>> Visit the best cryptocurrency pre-sale to invest in now <<

The world of digital currency pre-sales is an exciting and exciting opportunity that could open the door to game-changing blockchain projects. Projects in this article, like Artemis Coin, offer the opportunity to shape the future of various industries and the potential for significant returns as the industry develops.

However, it is imperative to approach these investments with caution, thorough research, portfolio diversification, and awareness of the risks. You can explore the digital currency pre-sale scene with greater certainty and increase your chances of identifying and profiting from the most promising venture opportunities by following the advice and methods in this article.

>>> Join the best cryptocurrency pre-sale to invest in now <<

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