Lưu trữ cho từ khóa: Web3

Công nghệ

GoPlus partners with Neo for node-level security on Neo X Sidechain

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Web3 security platform GoPlus has partnered with Neo’s EVM-compatible sidechain, Neo X, to enhance node-level security.

This makes Neo (NEO) X the first blockchain to integrate GoPlus’ Security Module, which delivers a basic layer of protection for users on the sidechain, according to a press release shared with crypto.news. 

The integration introduces an on-chain firewall through the GoPlus User Security Module (USM), which automatically screens transactions based on users’ customized security preferences.

Essentially, this new system automatically checks transactions for risks and blocks dangerous ones, helping to keep users’ assets safe. By blocking risky transactions in real time, Neo X will improve and secure interactions while bolstering asset protection.

USM details 

The USM operates as a bridge between user transactions and GoPlus’s SecWare services. When a transaction occurs, it is assessed in real time by GoPlus’s AI-powered security system, which decides whether to proceed or block the action based on its safety assessment.

Designed as a modular solution, GoPlus’ USM can be integrated with any blockchain to improve user protection and combat various threats. By partnering with Neo X, GoPlus offers an end-to-end security solution, ensuring node-level security while maintaining Neo X’s permissionless and decentralized nature.

John Wang, Head of Eco-Growth at Neo, highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating that it combines with Neo’s upcoming anti-MEV feature to provide “unprecedented levels of security and fairness.”

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Theo Crypto News

Công nghệ

DIA reimagines oracles architecture with Rollup-based ‘Lumina’

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Oracle network DIA, designed to offer data feeds for any token and real-world asset on any blockchain, is set to transform the oracle architecture with the launch of ‘Lumina’.

The testnet for the Rollup-based network will launch soon. Meanwhile, Lumina’s launch will also expand the utility of DIA’s native token, according to a press release sent to crypto.news on Sept. 11.

Why Lumina?

The blockchain oracles market is dominated by Chainlink (LINK) and Pyth Network (PYTH). But Lumina eyes penetration by addressing one of web3’s most persistent issues – the need for data infrastructure that’s decentralized and trustless.

DIA claims Lumina brings this kind of advanced infrastructure to the oracles market.

Zygis Marazas, the head of product at DIA, noted that Lumina consolidates four years of innovation in the oracle space into one robust product.

“Lumina is the culmination of four years of web3 infrastructure innovation cast into one product. It lays the foundation for our vision of a truly decentralized and trustless oracle network that maximizes security and trust while retaining the flexibility to serve any use case.”

Zygis Marazas, head of product at DIA.

Advanced oracle infrastructure

Lumina’s design utilizes a modular architecture, enabling it to offer advanced oracle capabilities. This extends across its data sourcing, verification, storage, and delivery of data feeds. Notably, the network’s oracle operations run on Lasernet, the native layer 2 rollup of DIA.

In its first rollout, Lumina will go live on the Lasernet testnet. This first phase also includes a staking campaign for early adopters. The mainnet launch and live staking are scheduled for phase two, with the open mainnet launch set for phase three.

As DIA prepares for Lumina, it aims to enhance its growth potential through key integrations. The platform currently boasts more than 50 layer 1 and 2 integrations, while its cross-chain oracle ecosystem provides data feeds for over 200 decentralized applications.

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Theo Crypto News

DeFi

SUPER rallies over 17%, breaking key resistance ahead of a new SuperVerse game launch

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SuperVerse’s token, SUPER, surged over 17% in the past day, driven by the upcoming launch of a new Web3 action game on its platform.

The surge has spotlighted SuperVerse (SUPER) as the top-performing cryptocurrency among the top 300 digital assets by market value and elevated its price from $0.731 to $0.855.

This is the highest the token has been since June 13, with its market capitalization leaping to $385 million, positioning it as the 153rd largest digital asset globally, according to CoinGecko data.

SuperVerse (formerly SuperFarm) is a decentralized autonomous organization that connects blockchain game developers and players. Its native token, SUPER, is used for governance, fundraising, payments, and transactions within blockchain-based games across multiple blockchains, facilitated by its LayerZero infrastructure.

A key factor behind SUPER’s recent rally is the upcoming release of a new web3 public game on the SuperVerse platform, launching on Sep. 12. The combat-focused territorial warfare game, offering 30 million tokens in rewards, has sparked bullish sentiment around SUPER as the launch date approaches.

Another factor driving SUPER’s price is the recent growth of TON Station, a web3 gaming platform by SuperVerse on The Open Network (TON) blockchain, which has now exceeded 6.3 million users.

The renewed optimism led to a 330% increase in trading volume within 24 hours, boosting the bullish momentum for SUPER.

Data from Coinglass shows that SUPER’s daily open interest jumped by 147%, reaching $28 million at the time of writing. This, along with an increase in trading volume, indicates heightened investor activity, potentially contributing to the token’s continued rally.

SuperVerse’s price has broken above the upper Bollinger Band, which is currently at $0.8338, with the price standing at $0.8551. This breakout suggests strong bullish momentum, as the token has surpassed the typical resistance provided by the upper band.

Notably, SUPER has also moved above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average, with the Relative Strength Index nearing overbought territory. However, with the price moving above the upper Bollinger Band, further upward movement is possible, particularly if the strong buying interest persists.

If the upward trend continues, traders should watch for a breakout above $0.90 with strong volume which could push the token toward $1.00. However, caution is warranted due to the overbought RSI, as this could lead to a potential pullback or consolidation phase. In case of a reversal, the middle Bollinger Band at $0.70 may act as the first support level.

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Theo Crypto News

DeFi

SocialFi, web3, and UX: Cracking the trillion dollar creator economy | Opinion

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SocialFi is a web3 industry attempt at solving the problem of monetizing digital content—the genuine issue affecting millions of talented creators worldwide.

From the perspective of daily users, it might be hard to see creators struggling. However, despite producing quality content daily, the overwhelming majority do not make any money at all. Many SocialFi projects have been launched in the last couple of years, aiming to solve this very monetization part by rewarding every digital interaction for both creators and users. Unfortunately, most seem to have missed the mark by leaning too heavily on aspects of decentralization rather than offering real-world solutions to existing problems. 

The origins of mass interest in this space occurred during the pandemic lockdowns. With the idea of pursuing a passion-based career becoming more mainstream, the future of social monetization was catapulted into a new growth phase. This was also a time when the crypto industry saw a mass influx of retail investors, with industry narratives steering towards building pragmatic, real-world solutions. This led to significant advancement in the SocialFi movement, and plenty has been achieved since then in terms of on-chain innovation, tokenized community governance, integration of NFTs, and other DeFi products that authentically bridge issues around creator monetization and user rewards. 

Yet, as a sector claiming to be the future of the trillion-dollar creator and freelancer economy, the modest market cap of SocialFi tokens is over $2 billion. This indicates that the sector has a long way to go in establishing itself into a global financial ecosystem. Contrast this with DeFi’s market cap (around $70 billion) or even of NFTs (around $62 billion), and it’s clear that SocialFi has a long road ahead. 

Thankfully, there are signs that SocialFi platforms and the utility tokens that power them have a bright future. This is seen in the significant volume of new users willing to join a newly launched SocialFi platform. Sure, many of these users are only there for the free rewards, but that’s the current norm for web3, whether they like it or not.

The benefits of SocialFi

To benefit from such early user traction, builders in SocialFi must be real with themselves when designing a product. The reality is that very few creators care about (or will even benefit from) decentralized content ownership or on-chain proof of IP rights. Although this is a USP widely marketed in web3, it only benefits the top 1% of celebrity creators in the world. 

What about the masses? What USP will win their attention and loyalty? The answer to this holds the solution for how SocialFi platforms can finally win market share from Big Tech’s platforms, and central to this is building hybrid ecosystems. This means fusing blockchain features (such as tokenization) with non-blockchain architecture, providing an intuitive and seamless user experience for the masses. 

While DeFi and blockchain technologies have a variety of clear benefits and value, mass adoption won’t happen if web2 users are required to get past the web3 wall of creating a digital wallet, store a 20-word seed phrase, and interact with an unfamiliar user experience. If creating an account is harder than starting an Instagram account, you’ve already lost 95% of all potential users. From a user experience standpoint, people cannot be held back by the intimidating web3 gates. 

Appealing to the masses

The winners in this space will focus on the narrative that appeals to the masses, building a community of real creators, empowering them with web3 education, and implementing real-world token utility into a seamless user experience. That’s the formula for SocialFi’s success. 

Without a doubt, the SocialFi community is tackling these challenges, and 2024 remains a crucial year for projects in this space. The current wave of innovation is the most exciting one, as projects roll out user-centric features that focus on user experience and build upon the value that traditional platforms have already created for the creator community. Tokens matter, but as a secondary driver of growth, and should only exist as a medium to enhance the user experience. This realization will shape the sector moving forward.

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Theo Crypto News

Altcoin

FRIEND surges 60% as FriendTech dismisses shutdown rumors

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Social media platform Friend.Tech says it has no plans to shut down its web app, reassuring users that smart contract changes will not impact current functionality or fees.

Web3 social media platform Friend.Tech has reassured users that it has no plans to discontinue its web app, following concerns that recent changes to its smart contracts might signal a shutdown.

In a Sept. 10 post on X, the platform’s developers confirmed that the app will continue to function as usual and that there will be no impact on current operations or the introduction of new fees due to the changes made to its Base-based smart contracts.

The statement comes after Friend.Tech appeared to be effectively shuttered on Sept. 8, when developers transferred control of the platform’s smart contracts to Ethereum‘s null address, basically locking the system in place, preventing future updates to the platform.

Launched in August 2023, Friend.Tech quickly gained traction by allowing users to purchase “keys.” Their holders get access to closed channels and exclusive content. After registration, platform users can start selling their shares to other participants or buying “keys” to the accounts they are interested in.

The platform experienced a surge in user activity early on, with daily earnings even surpassing Ethereum’s at one point. The model, which allowed users to trade keys to access private feeds, created a unique monetization avenue for influencers in the web3 space.

However, user activity has declined since its peak, and the platform has struggled to maintain momentum. Despite these challenges, Friend.Tech emphasized that while no new features will be introduced due to the contract changes, the platform will remain fully operational. The reassurance has positively impacted the platform’s native token, (FRIEND), which soared by 60%, reaching $0.097 following the statement.

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Công nghệ

Gaming blockchains dominate the industry, and their number will grow | Opinion

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Gaming remains a key driving force behind web3, accounting for nearly one-third of dApps’ daily active audience. Its evolution is fueled by market demand: as millions of users embrace GameFi, blockchain games struggle to handle the load—and build new solutions like game-oriented blockchains to meet growing needs. This further simplifies UX and user onboarding, which will inevitably attract a wave of new players—sparking further growth in the number and quality of gaming-first blockchain networks.

How the idea for gaming blockchains popped up

Blockchain gaming is growing at a record pace. In May 2024, the number of daily unique active wallets in the industry hit the three million mark, setting a new all-time high. Just two months later, GameFi’s dUAW reached a new ATH of four million. It is roughly one-third of the daily users in the entire dApp market, which amounts to 15 million.

It wasn’t always that way. In the early days of Ethereum (ETH), blockchain games were mainly a niche for geeks who were so enthusiastic that they were ready to put up with numerous inefficiencies and poor user experience. Developers realized the ecosystem couldn’t grow like this: constant congestion crises plagued GameFi, forcing users to wait hours for their transactions to be approved, sometimes paying tens of dollars in fees. It became apparent that gaming blockchains had to become more scalable.

Another issue with building games on Ethereum L1 was the lack of control over the development process and the inability to adapt the network to the games’ needs. This led game studios to the idea of creating dedicated and GameFi-oriented blockchains.

The gaming chain pioneers

One of the first blockchains built with scalability in mind was WAX. In 2017, it was initially conceived to make e-commerce transactions faster, but then gained a strong gaming focus: today, WAX closes the top ten gaming blockchains by daily active wallets with 132,000 dUAW and partners with Amazon Prime Gaming and Epic Games Store. 

Many GameFi-oriented L1 blockchains have appeared since then, but one of them stands out—Ronin. By 2020, Sky Mavis, a company known for creating the pioneering Axie Infinity game, shifted to building an L1 ecosystem rather than just a specific game title. The studio migrated its leading games, Axie Infinity and Pixels, to Ronin and focused on developing the network.

The team released Ronin’s testnet roughly two years before Ethereum’s Merge, when scaling plans for the industry’s largest dApp network were still vague. At the time, Ethereum was still leveraging the PoW consensus algorithm, so Ronin’s proof-of-authority and later delegated proof-of-stake were a breakthrough—they reduced energy consumption to near zero and introduced faster block times and transaction fees below $0.001.

Ronin’s efforts have paid off. Today, the ecosystem features 15 games and promises that more are coming. In June 2024, the number of daily active users on the network surpassed that of any other blockchain, including Tron and Solana, reaching the two million mark.

The launch of GameFi-oriented blockchains boosted the industry but didn’t solve all of its problems. Building a dedicated blockchain is time-consuming and expensive, and it doesn’t allow devs to quickly integrate all the innovations that pop up along the way. That’s why the industry players have turned their attention to Layer-2 and Layer-3 infrastructure.

Exploring the potential of new layers for gaming

Soon after Ronin was launched, Ethereum embarked on its journey toward scaling. Optimism, Arbitrum, and other L2s emerged, significantly reducing gas fees and increasing throughput in the Ethereum ecosystem. Some of these networks took steps to strengthen GameFi, adapting their infrastructure for game developers.

The next step in this evolution was the emergence of L3 networks—and this is where it gets really exciting. They cut the block time to 100-300 ms and achieved near-instant transaction finality, opening the way to processing thousands of transactions per second (compared to Ethereum L1’s 12-15 TPS). In addition to the drop in block time and transaction fees, the simplicity of deploying L3s and their customizability created unparalleled opportunities for game development within the Ethereum ecosystem.

Gaming-focused L3s leverage the recent web3 innovations to take the blockchain gaming experience to the next level. For example, PlayBlock, a GameFi L3 blockchain that runs on top of Arbitrum Orbit, uses account abstraction to remove multiple transaction approvals, ensuring uninterrupted gameplay. Relayer technology allows the network to sponsor users’ transactions, introducing a completely gasless experience for players. Self-custodial wallet based on the ERC-4337 standard eliminates the seed phrase and private key management hassle. 

Simply put, gamers on the newest L3s don’t need to manage their wallets, confirm multiple transactions, and pay gas fees. This removes all the complexities typically associated with blockchain gaming, making it accessible to millions of web2 natives who were previously put off by GameFi.

More gaming blockchains are to come 

L2/L3 chains are a priority for GameFi-oriented developers today as they ensure unprecedented scalability and customizability. Another perk is the speed of innovation they can afford: large networks like Ethereum can’t implement groundbreaking changes quickly, while smaller ecosystems have the flexibility to do so.

Corporations give another boost to the industry as some of them are tapping into gaming networks: Sony Group recently announced the launch of Soneium blockchain, an Ethereum Layer-2 focused on security and user-friendly gameplay. It’s quite possible that we will soon see similar blockchains from Ubisoft, Rockstar, or Epic Games, considering Ubisoft’s plans for web3.

Compared to L1 solutions, L2s and L3s require much less effort to launch. For instance, there are rollup-as-a-service solutions that allow for the quick launch of new customizable L3 networks. Thanks to the interest of major players and existing infrastructure, we are likely to see the birth of new gaming-focused blockchains soon, allowing GameFi to go mainstream.

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Theo Crypto News

Công nghệ

Investing in MENA’s crypto future: Opportunities and challenges | Opinion

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With a tech-savvy population, progressive regulatory frameworks, and ambitious government-led initiatives, significant strides are being made across the Middle East when it comes to nurturing blockchain and crypto innovation. This year, I had the pleasure of attending the Satoshi Roundtable and the Token 2049 summit in Dubai, two flagship gatherings on the global web3 events circuit. In addition to showcasing the latest milestones and breakthroughs across the web3 landscape, the events served as a celebration of the region’s rapid ascension as a thriving hub of web3 activity, and the energy in the air was palpable.

In recent years, MENA has earned a stellar reputation for hosting high-quality events, attracting the best and brightest across web3. Since the launch of Lemniscap seven years ago, we have been actively identifying and backing pre-trend narratives and up-and-coming web3 solutions, both from an infrastructure and consumer layer perspective. 

The MENA region has presented exceptional investment avenues within emerging verticals, and as blockchain technology continues to evolve, the Middle East’s appetite for web3 growth will undoubtedly create a breeding ground for the most innovative and disruptive projects to thrive.

Phygital: The intersection of blockchain and physical assets

In my mind, one of the most intriguing investment plays in the Middle East is the ‘Phygital’ space, representing the confluence of blockchain technology with physical assets. This convergence has the potential to revolutionize industries such as real estate, art, and luxury goods—three sectors that are already booming across MENA. Blockchain’s immutable ledger and smart contract functionality provide a powerful framework for creating transparent and secure systems for managing and trading physical assets. For instance, tokenizing real estate on blockchain platforms allows for fractional ownership, making it easier for investors to buy and sell shares in high-value properties.

In a region where real estate investment is a major driver of wealth, particularly in countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, this is opening up a world of opportunities for smaller investors who may not have had access to such high-value assets previously. We’ve seen how the UAE’s real estate sector is benefiting from deployments of blockchain technology, with properties being bought and sold using Bitcoin (BTC), which provides international investors with a more seamless and transparent way to invest in MENA property markets. Additionally, by tokenizing art and collectibles, owners can secure proof of authenticity, trace provenance, and even trade portions of high-value pieces—not only democratizing access to valuable assets but also reducing fraud, a key concern in these markets.

While there is substantial upside to the Phygital space, the infrastructure for seamless integration between digital and physical assets is still evolving. Secure and verifiable connections between blockchain-based digital tokens and their corresponding physical assets are challenging to establish, requiring reliable tracking systems, such as IoT devices or RFID technology. Ambiguity around legal frameworks and regulatory standards for tokenized physical assets may also restrict growth in the short term, but once these issues are ironed out, the Phygital growth trajectory will be expansive.

Web3 gaming

Governments in countries across the MENA region are actively fostering innovation within the gaming sector, recognizing the ‘first mover’ opportunity to accommodate web3 gaming platforms, which are ascending in popularity. These platforms empower players with real ownership of in-game assets by utilizing NFTs and play-to-earn models. 

Dubai, in particular, has established its credentials as a leading hub for web3 gaming development, boosted by the recent launch of The Dubai Program for Gaming 2033—with a mandate to create 30,000 new jobs in the burgeoning sector. Gaming is one of the high-potential verticals in terms of crypto adoption among consumers, but it’s one of the most difficult ones to get right. Complex blockchain integrations, including slow transaction times, high gas fees, and difficult onboarding processes for non-crypto users, still hinder the overall web3 gaming experience. These barriers make it challenging for mainstream gamers to engage with web3 games, limiting adoption fully.

For example, high Ethereum transaction fees often deter in-game purchases or NFT trades, while complex wallet setups discourage casual users. However, with advancements such as Layer-2 scaling solutions and gasless transaction models, these issues can be resolved. Simplified onboarding through user-friendly wallets and seamless integration with blockchain infrastructure can significantly improve user experiences. Once these obstacles are overcome, web3 gaming can attract millions of players, unlocking massive opportunities for growth and player-owned economies. Looking ahead, we are excited to pursue exemplary investment opportunities that expand the realm of onchain gaming.

DePINs

Decentralized physical infrastructure networks represent another promising frontier for VCs surveying the web3 space across the Middle East, which is renowned for its vast energy resources, presenting unique opportunities for DePIN deployments—using blockchain technology to enable decentralized networks that support physical infrastructure. 

With many Middle Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, investing heavily in renewable energy to diversify away from oil, VCs have a timely opening to back projects that could redefine how energy is managed and distributed in the region. Last year, a branch of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council introduced a new blockchain-powered carbon tracking and trading platform, enabling companies to offset their carbon footprints more effectively and transparently, so there is clear buy-in at the highest level for blockchain-centric sustainability measures to take hold.

While DePIN is demonstrating exceptional promise, the success of DePIN projects in MENA will depend on the region’s ability to build and maintain robust physical networks that can support decentralized applications, which requires significant investment in physical assets and technology. The cost of infrastructure development will be high, and projects may take years to mature fully, but the roadmap for success is there.

From a VC perspective, the Middle East offers a conveyor belt of highly attractive opportunities for targeted investments within the blockchain space. The replication of initiatives like the UAE’s Digital Government Strategy 2025 across the MENA region will go a long way towards promoting digital and blockchain integrations across core government departments, which, in turn, will have a ripple effect across the rest of the tech and investor ecosystem.

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Theo Crypto News

Công nghệ

Sony’s Soneium could set the blockchain pace — is BlackRock preparing to follow?

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How will Sony’s Soneium stack up against existing blockchain giants, especially if BlackRock makes its anticipated move into the market?

Sony has long been synonymous with innovation, and now it’s making a bold entry into the blockchain world with its latest initiative: Soneium.

On Aug. 23, Sony Block Solutions Labs — a collaboration between Sony Group and Singapore-based Startale Labs — announced the launch of this new project. 

Just a few days later, on Aug. 28, Sony further introduced the “Minato” testnet for Soneium, along with an incubation program aimed at onboarding developers to the new platform.

Soneium will be built on Ethereum (ETH) and the OP Stack from Optimism (OP), a highly customizable toolkit that enables developers to create their own networks with ease. 

According to Jun Watanabe, Chairman of Sony Block Solutions Labs, Sony views blockchain as a way to enrich lives and elevate creativity to new heights. With Soneium, the company aims to unlock new business opportunities and use cases, offering value that’s unique to web3 technology.

It’s important to note that Sony’s journey into web3 didn’t begin with Soneium. The company has been steadily expanding its footprint in the crypto space, including the acquisition of the Japanese crypto exchange WhaleFin — now rebranded as S.BLOX Co. — and Amber Japan, a digital asset trading services provider.

But what exactly is Soneium, how does it compare to its rivals, and what can we expect from this project in the future?

Understanding Soneium’s core purpose

As a public blockchain, Soneium operates on an open network, inviting participants from all walks of life to engage without limitations.

What makes Soneium stand out is its role as a layer-2 solution for Ethereum. This means it builds on Ethereum’s existing infrastructure, aiming to solve two of the biggest challenges in blockchain today: slow processing speeds and high transaction fees.

By handling data processing on its own layer, Soneium helps alleviate these issues, making the blockchain experience faster and more affordable.

One of the most exciting aspects of Soneium is its support for advanced smart contracts, which are crucial for creating decentralized applications, or dApps.

Developers will also have access to a suite of third-party tools designed to simplify the process of developing and launching apps on the Soneium network. This makes it a promising platform for innovation, offering endless possibilities for what can be built on the blockchain.

The recent launch of the Soneium testnet, known as Minato, marks a key step in this journey.

Minato is designed to mirror the conditions of the mainnet, providing a realistic environment for developers to test high-volume applications. This is essential for ensuring that when these apps go live, they perform smoothly under real-world conditions.

As claimed, Minato also plays a critical role in community building. Early access to the testnet allows developers and creators to gather valuable feedback, which is key to refining their projects.

Users, too, benefit from this early access as they get to experience and influence the future of these applications without risking their own assets. That’s because Minato uses a test version of crypto assets for in-app payments, creating a risk-free environment that encourages exploration and engagement with web3 technologies.

Supporting the Soneium Minato testnet is Astar Network, a blockchain platform known for its multi-chain capabilities. Astar is providing initial liquidity and a variety of fungible and non-fungible digital assets, helping to fuel the early stages of Soneium’s ecosystem.

In addition to Astar, a host of other prominent blockchain projects and companies will be early experimenters on the network, including Circle (the issuer of USDC), Optimism, Alchemy, The Graph (GRT), and Chainlink (LINK).

Soneium is also rolling out a builder-focused program called Soneium Spark, designed to attract visionary developers and creators, offering access to crucial infrastructure, mentorship, and industry partnerships.

Moreover, Sony is offering investments of up to $100,000 per team. Soneium Spark’s incubation period kicks off in mid-October and runs through the upcoming months.

Soneium’s battle for dominance

Soneium has already begun forging key collaborations that could give it an edge in the highly competitive layer-2 space.

One of the most notable partnerships is with Pyth Network, a decentralized data infrastructure known for providing real-time, high-fidelity price feeds. 

This collaboration means that all projects building on Soneium from the start will have access to Pyth’s reliable market data, a critical component for applications in decentralized finance, web3 games, NFT marketplaces, entertainment services, and more.

However, Soneium is entering a crowded and fiercely competitive layer-2 landscape, where it will face off against established players.

One of the most prominent rivals is Base, which recently hit a key milestone — 1 million daily active addresses. Base is known for its strong backing by Coinbase, one of the most recognized names in the crypto space. But Base isn’t the only competitor in the field.

Polygon (MATIC) is another key player, known for its scalability and low-cost transactions. Polygon has become a go-to layer-2 solution for many developers, especially those looking to build scalable dApps without sacrificing security.

Then there’s Stacks (STX), which brings smart contracts and dApps to Bitcoin (BTC), offering unique opportunities for developers who want to leverage Bitcoin’s security while building on a layer-2 network.

Mantle (MNT), another emerging layer-2 solution, focuses on modular design and ease of integration, making it attractive for developers seeking flexibility and efficiency.

Each of these layer-2 networks has its strengths, and Soneium will need to carve out its niche to stand out.

Traditional giants embracing blockchain

The layer-2 blockchain space, already competitive with players like Base, Polygon, and others, could soon become even more intense.

The latest buzz suggests that BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, might be gearing up to launch its own layer-2 blockchain network.

According to a report from Token Terminal, BlackRock is seriously considering this move as a natural extension of its growing involvement in the blockchain space, where it already manages a portfolio of blockchain-related products, including the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), and investments in Circle and Securitize, which oversees the on-chain money market fund BUIDL.

The only piece missing in BlackRock’s crypto puzzle is its own blockchain network—a move that seems increasingly likely.

If BlackRock does launch its own layer-2 blockchain, it would follow a similar path to what Coinbase has done with Base. This would allow BlackRock to streamline the recordkeeping of its $10 trillion in assets under management across different asset classes on a single, global, interoperable, and transparent ledger.

The potential benefits are immense: 24/7 operational capital markets, improved transparency and investor access, lower fees, and faster settlements. However, challenges like the cost of blockchain implementation and regulatory uncertainties remain significant hurdles.

Sony’s Soneium and BlackRock’s potential layer-2 blockchain might be targeting different segments — Sony with its focus on entertainment and gaming, and BlackRock with its financial products — but the underlying strategy is similar: leveraging blockchain to stay ahead in an increasingly digital world.

As the layer-2 space evolves, the entry of traditional companies like Sony and BlackRock could likely make the competition even more exciting and intense. Sony’s journey with Soneium is just beginning, and while the path is uncertain, the opportunities for growth and innovation are vast.

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Theo Crypto News

Công nghệ

Alchemy acquires Romania-based Web3 infrastructure firm Bware Labs

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Alchemy has acquired Bware Labs, the Romania-based blockchain infrastructure platform and application programming interface services provider.

Web3 infrastructure platform Alchemy disclosed the acquisition in an announcement on Aug. 29, highlighting Bware Labs’ growth trajectory and suite of blockchain infrastructure and API services as additions that will help Alchemy execute on its product roadmap.

Path to expansion into Europe

According to Alchemy, acquiring Romania-based Bware provides a path towards Alchemy’s expansion into Europe. The company’s presence in Europe, which leads in the overall regulation of crypto via its MiCA rules, also offers the pathway to entry into other markets.

Europe is also a growing force in the web3 market, with a talent pool that Alchemy can tap into via the Bware Labs footprint, the firm added.

While Alchemy will take over Bware’s business, the expectation is that the deal will not impact respective companies’ customers. Operations will continue as normal for Bware’s Blast API and blockchain validator businesses, with integration into Alchemy’s product suite set to occur in the coming months.

INFRA token

Notably, Alchemy says it will not take over the INFRA protocol. The INFRA token powers the Bware ecosystem, including the Blast staking protocol.

The token is available on the Ethereum (ETH), Avalanche (AVAX) and MultiversX (EGLD) blockchains and has a total supply of 100 million and current circulating supply of over 4.4 million.

In its announcement, Bware said its team “will be stepping away” from its role as the protocol’s core contributor.

“The proxy that sends API requests to the protocol has been deprecated. If you participated in the testnet the related tokens will continue to vest, but you may cease your participation in the protocol as there will not be further rewards.”

Alchemy.

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