Starknet v0.14.0 mainnet launch moved to August 18, STRK drops

  • Starknet v0.14.0 mainnet launch delayed to August 18, 2025.
  • The upgrade will add decentralisation, faster blocks, and EIP-1559 fees.
  • STRK price has dropped over 11% in a week amid launch uncertainty and market pressure.

Starknet has officially postponed the mainnet launch of its highly anticipated v0.14.0 upgrade to August 18, 2025.

This marks a slight delay from the previously expected date of July 28, as confirmed by updated version notes on the Starknet ecosystem’s developer channels.

Despite the excitement surrounding this significant technical milestone, the network’s native token, STRK, has seen a noticeable dip in price, leaving traders and investors wondering about the broader implications.

Mainnet launch date adjusted again

Initially, Starknet had communicated through its official social media channels that v0.14.0 would go live on mainnet by July 28.

The testnet version had already been released by the end of June, signalling that the rollout was progressing on track.

However, the most recent update indicates that the mainnet deployment will now happen on August 18.

While no specific reasons were given for the delay, industry observers suggest it could be part of additional testing or stability enhancements.

For a network transitioning to decentralised sequencing, getting things right is crucial.

Starknet’s move toward decentralisation isn’t just symbolic; it’s a foundational shift that alters how blocks are built, validated, and confirmed across the protocol.

Decentralisation takes centre stage in Starknet v0.14.0

Starknet v0.14.0 is being described by developers and community members alike as a technological leap forward.

One of its cornerstone upgrades is the introduction of distributed sequencers.

Instead of relying on a centralised block builder, three independent sequencers will now take turns producing blocks, reaching consensus through the Tendermint protocol.

This change not only enhances resilience but also aligns Starknet with the ethos of trustless systems.

Alongside decentralisation, the upgrade reduces block times dramatically, from about 30 seconds to just six seconds.

This makes Starknet significantly more competitive in the crowded Ethereum Layer 2 space, where fast and cheap transactions are increasingly non-negotiable for users and developers.

Beyond decentralisation and faster blocks, Starknet v0.14.0 brings several under-the-hood improvements aimed at creating a more robust and efficient ecosystem.

It introduces a new fee market based on Ethereum’s EIP-1559 model, providing more predictability in transaction costs.

V0.14.0 will also support pre-confirmed transactions, which should drastically improve the user experience for DeFi apps by reducing confirmation uncertainty.

The STRK token price slides

Although the technology is improving, STRK has struggled in the market.

Over the past 24 hours, the token dropped by 2.6% to $0.1322, with a 7-day loss of 11.7%.

Starknet price chart

This decline coincides with uncertainty around the launch timeline and broader bearish sentiment in the crypto market.

On-chain data shows STRK is now down 75% from its all-time high of $4.41 reached in February 2024.

However, the drop in price may not entirely reflect the strength of the network upgrade.

Historically, major protocol improvements tend to spark renewed investor interest after the upgrade successfully goes live.

If the launch on August 18 proceeds smoothly, a shift in sentiment could follow shortly after.

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BNB sets altcoin market abuzz amid major Wall Street treasury bets

  • BNB price rallied to new all-time highs amid major institutional interest.
  • After Nano Labs earlier in the day, CEA Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: VAPE) and 10X Capital are eyeing up to $1.25 billion to buy BNB.
  • Initiative could see BNB price explode in coming days.

BNB price soared to a new all-time high of $859 on Monday as an unprecedented institutional interest and strategic corporate investment bet in the digital asset emerged.

With Nano Labs doubling down on BNB earlier in the week, it was another Wall Street firm that added to the frenzy of publicly traded companies eyeing BNB.

That initiative is the plan to raise up to $1.25 billion for BNB by CEA Industries Inc. and 10X Capital – backed by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao’s YZi Labs.

BNB price hovered around $847 at the time of writing.

CEA Industries and 10X Capital’s takes bold BNB bet

On Friday, CEA Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: VAPE) and 10X Capital, backed by YZi Labs, announced a $500 million private placement.

The companies are looking to establish the largest publicly-listed BNB treasury company in the U.S.

The deal, which could reach $1.25 billion with exercised warrants, aims to acquire substantial BNB holdings, and will offer institutional and retail investors exposure to the BNB Chain ecosystem.

Led by David Namdar, co-founder of Galaxy Digital, and Russell Read, former chief investment officer of CalPERS, the initiative comes as BNB stands out.

The coin’s surge to a new all-time high puts these plans into sharper focus, bringing more attention to the cryptocurrency.

“Treasury companies have proven to be the cleanest, most transparent gateway for institutions to access digital assets. With BNB powering hundreds of millions of users globally, this marks the right time for a well-capitalized BNB treasury company to enter the U.S. market,” said Hans Thomas, founder and CEO of 10X Capital.

The PIPE has attracted over 140 subscribers, with both institutional and crypto-natives joining in.

Apart from YZi Labs, others are Pantera Capital, GSR, Borderless, Arrington Capital, Blockchain.com, Kenetic, and Protocol Ventures.

BNB, SOL, and XRP gains amid treasury strategies

BNB’s price surge aligns with broader market enthusiasm for digital asset treasuries.

Trading at $847 with a 4.6% daily gain and $3.9 billion in trading volume, BNB is eyeing a potential breakout to $1,000 or higher.

Much of the upside comes amid a surge in BNB treasury commitments- efforts also seen across Solana, XRP and Ethereum.

For BNB, such efforts include Nano Labs and Windtree Therapeutics, which recently revealed a $700 million commitment towards a BNB treasury strategy.

Elsewhere, VivoPower International has launched an XRP-focused treasury, while Upexi and DeFi Development Corp have its eyes on SOL as a treasury asset.

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PayPal launches “Pay with Crypto” to help US merchants accept digital asset payments

  • Businesses can now accept over 100 cryptocurrencies with near-instant conversions.
  • Pay with Crypto reduces transaction costs by up to 90%.
  • US merchants are now connected to a $4T market and over 650M crypto users

Indeed, the latest stablecoin regulation in the United States was a game-changer.

Besides bolstering bullish momentum, the GENIUS Act has seen many firms stepping deeper into the future of fintech.

To support the increasing cryptocurrency adoption, PayPal has rolled out Pay with Crypto.

The new product will allow US-based merchants to accept payments in over 100 different coins, including stablecoins, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana.

The best part. Businesses can automatically convert the received tokens to stablecoin or fiat with a 0.99% transaction fee.

The new feature reduces the costs traditionally linked to cross-border transactions.

Most businesses that operate internationally suffer from high fees, complex banking requirements, and delays.

PayPal aims to solve this through a smoother payment process.

It also unlocks global growth with a borderless customer base.

PayPal CEO and President Alex Chriss says:

Businesses of all sizes face incredible pressure when growing globally, from increased costs for accepting international payments to complex integrations. Today, we’re removing these barriers and helping every business of every size achieve its goals.

Solving the international payment crisis

Businesses globally lose billions yearly through international payment models.

Delayed settlements, unpredictable exchange rates, and credit card fees have dented global trade.

That is where Pay with Crypto comes in.

PayPal introduces instant crypto-to-stablecoin or fiat conversion in an already colossal financial infrastructure.
Furthermore, merchants will not have to worry about the technical side of digital asset transactions.

PayPal promises to handle everything, including minimizing volatility, to ensure simplicity without compromising speed and security.
Also, merchants can use PayPal’s Pay with Crypto to increase their profit margins.

For instance, they will enjoy up to 90% lower processing fees compared to credit cards.

Also, businesses that hold their funds as PYUSD (PayPal’s stablecoin) will earn rewards.

Chriss added:

Imagine a shopper in Guatemala buying a special gift from a merchant in Oklahoma City. Using PayPal’s open platform, the business can accept crypto, pay lower fees, and grow their business – all in one simple step.

What’s next?

All merchants in the US will access PayPal’s Pay with Crypto feature in the coming weeks, allowing them to receive payments in over 100 supported digital tokens.

Businesses can link with trusted wallets like Coinbase, Exodus, OKX, and MetaMask to enjoy instant conversion from crypto to stablecoins like USDT or fiat.

United States citizens will soon use digital currencies like ETH, BTC, and SOL to pay for goods and services.

Meanwhile, PayPal is establishing itself as a pioneer amid growing crypto adoption.

Recently, it integrated with Arbitrum to support PYUSD growth.

Moreover, OKX tapped PayPal to simplify cryptocurrency purchases across Europe.

These developments come as digital currencies gain ground in the financial landscape.

The global crypto market cap hovers at $3.93 trillion after correcting from recent highs above $4 trillion.

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