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What future for the Bitcoin ecosystem? A new dawn of decentralized innovation is here
The Bitcoin ecosystem has evolved significantly over the past two years.
Initially, most activity on the Bitcoin blockchain was limited to transactions. However, with the advent of Layer 2 scaling solutions like the Lightning Network, permissionless communication layers like Solana’s Zeus Network, and the much-hyped Ordinal NFTs and Runes Protocol, Bitcoin’s on-chain activity has witnessed a huge increase.
As of this writing, the total number of Bitcoin transactions in the last 24 hours stands at 517K, up from an average of 271,000 in early 2023. Most interestingly, most of these transactions are driven by more recent innovations on the Bitcoin blockchain. For context, rune-related transactions currently account for the lion’s share of Bitcoin activity, accounting for nearly 80% of the total transaction share.
Source: Dune analysis
In the next section of this article, we will highlight key areas of innovation on the Bitcoin blockchain that are expanding the network’s use cases. Of course, most are still in the experimental and development stage, which means they are not without their shortcomings. But more importantly, these nascent Bitcoin niches are setting the stage for a new era of Bitcoin’s value proposition. Let’s dive into:
Bitcoin Layer 2 networks
Similar to Ethereum’s Layer 2 chains, Bitcoin L2 chains were introduced to solve the scalability problem. Today, the market capitalization of Bitcoin Layer 2 coins is a whopping $2.4 billion; Stack’s native token STX leads the pack with $2.2 billion, having recently hit $2.2 billion passed over 122,000 monthly active users.
So how is L2 transforming the utility of Bitcoin? For starters, Bitcoin Layer 2 networks like the Lightning Network have enabled instant Bitcoin payments. This is possible through the network’s payment channel infrastructure, which is designed to support off-chain micropayment transactions, ultimately reducing the workload on Bitcoin’s main blockchain.
On the other hand, the Stacks Layer 2 chain has made it possible to create smart contract DApps on the Bitcoin blockchain, thanks to the new Proof of Transfer (PoX) consensus. Second DeFi Blade, there is over $115 billion locked in the Stacks protocol; these funds come from several DApps, including Uwu Protocol (CDP) and Velar Protocol (Dexes).
Networks without bridges
Bridgeless networks designed to connect other blockchains with Bitcoin are another area of innovation that is fueling the expansion of Bitcoin’s use cases. Before the debut of bridging solutions like Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) that allowed the use of native BTC on Ethereum DApps, BTC stored on the Bitcoin blockchain was limited to a single blockchain environment.
This is no longer the case. Indeed, the Bitcoin integration ecosystem has grown beyond WBTC to now include more advanced chain-agnostic solutions. A good example of a project that is introducing a bridgeless solution for Bitcoin is Zeus network; this layer of permissionless communication is based on the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM). Technically, Zeus Network is designed to make transferring Bitcoin to Solana’s growing DeFi ecosystem as seamless as possible.
To enable this integration, Zeus Network pioneered a pluggable and programmable library called ZPL. This library features a modular and extensible architecture that allows developers to transfer Bitcoin-related assets, including BTC, ordinals, and runes in the form of ZPL assets. In particular, the first Zeus DApp APOLLO attracted over 40,000 users within the first four days of the testnet’s launch.
Sort them
Bitcoin ordinals have been the subject of discussion at the cryptocurrency town hall in the first and second quarters of 2023. As of this writing, the total number of Bitcoin ordinal enrollments since their inception is well over 67 million. But what exactly are ordinals, and how do they enhance Bitcoin’s value proposition as a blockchain that can store data?
The concept of ordinals is based on ordinal theory – the ordering system that assigns a unique number to each satoshi in circulation. Each Bitcoin comprises 100 million satoshis capable of storing arbitrary data (images, text, or other forms of data). This property is what facilitated the rise of ordinal NFTs as it is now possible to assign unique arbitrary data to a specific satoshi and track it on the Bitcoin blockchain.
Of course, like any new innovation, ordinals have some flaws. They have become notorious for causing huge spikes in Bitcoin on-chain fees, as occurred in April 2023 and most recently in December. Some Bitcoiners are too discuss they are unjustified given the blockchain space they are occupying.
That said, it would be ignorant to overlook the fact that ordinals use Bitcoin’s native blockchain to support a more intriguing area of development (Bitcoin NFTs), which could be huge given the interest in digital collectibles since the DeFi summer of 2021.
Runes
As mentioned in the introduction, rune-related transactions are currently driving the majority of activity on the Bitcoin blockchain. This Bitcoin protocol was launched as a more advanced alternative to the BRC20 token standard.
Basically, the Runes protocol allows developers to issue fungible tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain. What particularly stands out is the protocol’s use of Bitcoin’s Unspent Transaction Output (UTXO) model, which allows tokens to be created and issued using significantly smaller space than the BRC20 protocol.
To date, over 2,500 BTC have been raised as commissions related to minting, edicts, and rune carvings; the total number of cumulative users of the Rune wallet is also well exceeded 6 million with just two years of existence. A sign that there is serious interest in this particular niche of Bitcoin development and, given the statistics, we could see more growth in the near future.
Conclusion
While Satoshi’s main goal may have been to launch the most advanced (decentralized) form of money into the modern era, it seems that Bitcoin’s growth beyond its transaction value is inevitable. The increase in on-chain activity through alternative use cases is a testament to this statement, and what is even more intriguing is the attention that new Bitcoin developments are receiving from all cryptocurrency stakeholders, including developers, sales retail and investors.
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Ether Drops Further After ETF Launch
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.
News
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.
News
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
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
- 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.
- DAG Block: uses Directed Acyclic Graph technology to increase blockchain scalability.
- 99bitcoin: operates as a crypto learning platform
- WienerAI uses AI-powered trading bots for precise market analysis.
- 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.
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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.
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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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