First ETP for Near Protocol’s NEAR token unveiled on Sweden’s Spotlight Stock Market

  • Valour’s NEAR ETP will be available on Sweden’s Spotlight Stock Market.
  • Valour currently operates one of the largest Solana ETPs.
  • The crypto fund issuer also operates Bitcoin, Ether, and Internet Computer ETPs.

Crypto fund issuer Valour today announced the launch of an exchange-traded product (ETP) for Near Protocol’s native token, NEAR.

This groundbreaking ETP will be available on Sweden’s Spotlight Stock Market, offering retail and institutional investors the opportunity to gain exposure to the decentralized application development platform.

NEAR ETP joins Valour’s diverse portfolio of ETPs

Valour already operates one of the largest Solana ETPs, Valour Solana, and offers a suite of staking products, including ETPs for Bitcoin, Ether, and Internet Computer.

Valour’s head of product, Elaine Buehler, emphasized the significance of this new fund, highlighting its potential to grant investors access to an asset renowned for its transformative impact on decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Near Protocol, designed to tackle common blockchain development challenges such as user onboarding and multi-chain operations, boasts a market capitalization of approximately $6.8 billion. This positions NEAR among the top 20 digital assets globally, according to CoinMarketCap.

The launch of NEAR ETP comes amid a wave of regulatory approvals in the United States, where investment managers BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and VanEck recently received preliminary approval to list the first exchange-traded ETH products. Analysts predict this move will pave the way for more crypto exchange-traded products in the US, including potential Solana-based ETFs.

Valour’s parent company, DeFi Technologies, currently manages around $600 million in assets across various crypto-native strategies.

On July 16, DeFi Technologies expanded its footprint by acquiring trading desk Stillman Digital in an all-stock deal. This acquisition is expected to significantly enhance the Canadian crypto platform’s capabilities, potentially positioning it as a formidable competitor to larger entities like Galaxy Digital.

Valour’s new NEAR ETP represents a significant advancement for investors seeking exposure to innovative blockchain technologies, reinforcing the firm’s position at the forefront of digital asset investment products.

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StarkWare verifies first zero-knowledge proof on Bitcoin

  • StarkWare has verified the first zero-knowledge (ZK) proof on the Bitcoin.
  • It’s part of the core Starknet developer’s plans to scale Bitcoin for mass adoption.

StarkWare has achieved a historic feat by completing the first zero-knowledge proof verification on the Bitcoin network, according to the details posted on X on Wednesday.

The blockchain developer revealed that after months of exploring, its developers have managed to verify the first ZK proof using a new STARK verifier, Stwo Verifier on OP_CAT-enabled Bitcoin Signet. It’s the first of many steps in the quest to scale Bitcoin.

Scale Bitcoin for mass use

StarkWare announced in June that the company was looking to scale Bitcoin for mass adoption using ZK proofs. With the new scaling solution, dApps can decide to settle on Bitcoin or Ethereum.

“Starknet will become the first network to settle simultaneously on Bitcoin and Ethereum and scale Bitcoin to many thousands of transactions per second. This will happen within six months after the potential Bitcoin upgrade, OP_CAT,” StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson wrote.

StarkWare offered a $1 million application grant targeted at research efforts around an OP_CAT in June.

“My dream is to see Bitcoin attain the scale it needs to serve everyone, constantly. This involves opening it up to participation for all, without financial barriers to entry. I believe it must happen with steadfast adherence to Satoshi’s insistence on decentralization and security,” Ben-Sasson added.

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Poodlana raises over $666k within hours of launching

  • Poodlana has raised over $666k in presale in 3 hours.
  • Tokens are 100% unlocked after launch, with immediate DEX listing on Raydium once the presale concludes.
  • Poodlana presale participants can buy POODL tokens using BASE, SOL, BNB, ETH, USDT, or USDC.

Poodlana (POODL), dubbed “The Hermès of Crypto,” has made a grand entrance into the digital currency world, amassing an impressive $666,055.36 in its presale at press time.

This remarkable feat underscores the growing interest and enthusiasm for this new player in the cryptocurrency market.

POODL presale an exclusive 30-day affair

The Poodlana presale is an exclusive 30-day event expected to close on August 16, 2024. During this period, interested investors can use BASE, SOL, BNB, ETH, USDT, or USDC to purchase POODL tokens.

Currently priced at $0.02, Poodlana’s next stage price is set to increase to $0.023, promising early adopters a potentially lucrative opportunity.

Following the presale, Poodlana plans to list on Raydium, a decentralized exchange, within 60 minutes of the presale’s conclusion. This swift move ensures maximum visibility and liquidity, making Poodlana readily accessible to a broader audience.

Furthermore, in line with its commitment to transparency and fairness, all Poodlana tokens are 100% unlocked from day one. There are no lock-ups or vesting periods, allowing investors to trade their tokens freely.

What is Poodlana?

Poodlana is not just another cryptocurrency; it aims to create a chic community of trendsetters and tastemakers.

The project is dedicated to community building, featuring social media campaigns, engaging AMAs, and exclusive presale soirées. This strategy is designed to cultivate a loyal and stylish following, positioning Poodlana as a unique and glamorous digital asset.

Poodlana’s growth strategy includes partnerships with centralized exchanges, ensuring that even traditional traders can engage with this new cryptocurrency. This approach aims to broaden Poodlana’s reach and appeal, making it a prominent player in the market.

A comprehensive marketing campaign is also in the works, featuring collaborations with top influencers, high-end fashion brands, and lifestyle platforms. This blitz aims to spread the Poodlana gospel far and wide, drawing attention from various sectors and demographics.

Poodlana’s innovation extends to its staking platform, where holders can earn rewards, and its exclusive airdrops and bonuses tied to special events and milestones. This adds an extra layer of appeal for investors looking for more than just a digital asset.

With a total supply of 1,000,000,000 tokens, Poodlana has meticulously allocated its resources: 15% for marketing, 5% for partners, 5% for rewards, 50% for presale, 10% for the treasury, and 15% for liquidity.

Poodlana’s global outreach focuses on Asia, aiming for international partnerships and multi-language support to cater to a diverse audience. Additionally, Poodlana is committed to philanthropy, supporting animal welfare through dedicated initiatives.

If interested in this intriguing Solana-based fashion-inspired meme coin, visit the official website to participate in the presale.

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Grayscale launches Grayscale Decentralized AI Fund

  • Grayscale announced the launch of the Grayscale Decentralized AI Fund LLC on Wednesday, July 17.
  • The fund will initially have Near Protocol (NEAR), Filecoin (FIL), Bittensor (TAO), Livepeer (LPT) and Render (RNDR).

Grayscale has officially launched the Grayscale Decentralized AI Fund that will offer exposure to top cryptocurrencies in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

The fund will focus On AI areas such as chatbots and image generation, data storage, GPU computation and 3D rendering among others.

NEAR, RNDR and TAO among initial fund tokens

Grayscale announced the initial crypto investments will be Near Protocol (NEAR) at 32.99%, Filecoin (FIL) 30.59%, Bittensor (TAO) 2.92%, Livepeer (LPT), 8.64% and Render (RNDR) 24.86%. Grayscale will rebalance the new fund quarterly.

“The rise of disruptive technologies has created compelling opportunities for Grayscale’s investors since our 2013 inception, and we believe the launch of the Grayscale Decentralized AI Fund provides an opportunity to invest in Decentralized AI at its earliest phase,” Rayhaneh Sharif-Askary, Grayscale’s head of product & research, said.

According to Sharif-Askary, these AI-related protocols bring to the fore the key principles of decentralization, accessibility, and transparency. Given these features, the protocols have the potential to help mitigate fundamental risks that are likely to emerge as the world grapples with the proliferation of artificial intelligence technology.

Grayscale’s AI Fund will be available to eligible accredited investors only.

The AI crypto ecosystem is currently a $30 billion market that has other top AI tokens as the Internet Computer (ICP), Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET), and The Graph (GRT).

Akash Network (AKT) and AIOZ Network (AIOZ) also fall into this category of AI-focused crypto projects.

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OKX Wallet adds support for TON as Solciety’s presale hits $1M a month after launch

TL;DR

  • OKX Wallet has added support for TON as the Toncoin blockchain continues to gain momentum.
  • Solciety’s presale has officially surpassed $1 million roughly a month after launch.

OKX Wallet Adds Support for TON

Cryptocurrency exchange OKX announced on Wednesday that it has added support for the Toncoin (TON) network associated with the Telegram messaging app to OKX Wallet. 

According to the OKX team, TON is the 100th protocol supported by the OKX Wallet. Previously, OKX Wallet added support for the NEAR, Blast, and zkLink Nova chains. It also recently integrated Uniswap Labs’ trading APIs and launched a platform for Web3 game developers.

What is Solciety?

After its recent bearish performance, the cryptocurrency market is recovering, with BTC and other major altcoins up by more than 15% in the last seven days. Thanks to the increased inflow of funds into spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States, investors remain bullish about the crypto market. 

New projects continue to emerge to solve several pain points within the Web3 ecosystem. Solciety seeks to become a leader in the PolitiFi meme ecosystem as the US presidential elections draw closer. 

The project wants to become the very first political party of degens. According to the whitepaper, the team revealed that the meme coin is pegged to the only real-world currency: attention. Solciety will ensure that users would have a platform dedicated to spreading the degen gospel across the Twitterverse. 

Users can create meme coins easily with Solciety

A key feature of Solciety is that it enables users to create meme coins with ease. Meme coins have become an integral part of the crypto ecosystem. Shiba Inu, Dogecoin, Dogwifhat, Bonk, and Pepe are some of the highest-ranking cryptocurrencies and they are all meme coins. 

Solciety will launch the Meme Campaigner, a tool that allows users to create their own meme coins. With the Meme Campaigner, users will have access to over 200 traits, backgrounds, and fonts.

Users can create and share memes on Twitter to earn points. The earned points will be collected and the top ten users will earn presale tokens.

The funds raised from the presale will be channelled towards the development of new tools such as Solciety’s AR. The Augmented Reality tool will allow users to view their weird and wonderful meme creations layered over the real world.

Furthermore, part of the funds will go towards developing Solciety’s AI tool, which will be launched in the first quarter of 2025. The AI tool will make it possible for natural language programming to autogenerate captions and translate memes into other languages. Thus, easing the meme creation process for users.

Solciety’s presale hits $1m

The Solciety presale began a month ago and has already crossed an important milestone. The presale is currently in its fifth round and has $$1,009,585 of the required $1,402,708 for this round. 

Early investors enjoyed a heavily discounted price of $0.000963 in the first stage. In this fifth stage, the SCLTY token is going for $0.002289. The SLCTY token’s price will increase every 72 hours, with early investors enjoying a 125% increase in price before the presale ends. 

In terms of tokenomics, 30% of the tokens will be for presale investors, with a total of 3 billion tokens available for presale. 20% of the total token supply has been allocated to marketing and 10% to community rewards and incentive programs. Upon launch, liquidity will account for 17% of the total supply. 

Should you invest in Solciety before the presale ends?

The presale is already in its fifth stage and could end in the coming weeks. Historically, purchasing coins during presale is one of the best forms of investment in the crypto space. 

The presale could be the only time investors can purchase the Solciety tokens at a discount. It could become a leading PolitiFi coin as investors pay close attention to the presidential election in the United States. 

Thanks to its Meme Campaigner and other tools, Solciety could become a leading meme coin if it delivers on its promises.

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