BLOCKCHAIN
Blockchains incorporate several important features such as immutability, encryption and distributed storage, which combined makes secure peer-to-peer transactions possible and in turn has created the means to end human dependence on credit and thus credit intermediaries. Due to these features, blockchain has been referred to as ‘the Trust Machine’ and is forecasted to transfer the trust from agencies and institutions which are enforced by law to machine-based networks guaranteed by technology and mathematics.
Animoca Brands Cuts Metaverse Fund Target to $800M
Animoca Brands, a Hong Kong-based developer of blockchain gaming technology, has reduced its target for its metaverse fund by 20% to $800 million due to volatility in the crypto sector. The company's market capitalization has also fallen from $6 billion to below $2 billion, signaling a change in sentiment in the crypto industry.
CFTC Receives DeFi Crash Course
Crypto executives provided a DeFi crash course to the CFTC during their first Technology Advisory Committee meeting. Topics included blockchain technology, decentralization, digital identity, and exploits and vulnerabilities.
DeFiChain Becomes One of the First Blockchains to Fully Integrate Euro Coin, a Euro-backed Stablecoin
DeFiChain, the world’s leading blockchain on the Bitcoin network dedicated to bringing decentralized financial applications and services to everyone, has announced the debut of the Euro-backed stablecoin Euro Coin (EUROC) on its native blockchain. DeFiChain is one of the first blockchains to fully integrate a Euro-backed stablecoin.
Euler Finance Audited 10 Times Before $196 Million Attack
Euler Finance, an Ethereum-based lending protocol, underwent 10 audits from six different firms in two years before it suffered a $196 million flash loan attack. Despite this, the audits deemed the platform "nothing higher than low risk" with "no outstanding issues." The attack prompted Euler to launch a $1 million bounty for information leading to the hacker's arrest, only for them to move the funds through crypto mixer Tornado Cash.
Crypto Advocacy Group Calls on Regulators to Address De-Banking of Crypto Firms
The Blockchain Association has submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to U.S. financial regulators, seeking documents and communications that could reveal if regulators’ actions have contributed to the recent failures of banks that provide services to crypto firms. The association is investigating allegations of account closures and refusals to open new accounts by banks against crypto firms, which it believes should be treated like any other law-abiding business in the U.S.
Sberbank Executive Touts Blockchain for Russia
Sberbank executive Alexander Vedyakhin believes blockchain technology could help Russia solve current settlement issues, offering new capabilities for payment systems.
Cybersecurity Firm Halborn Warns of Zero-Day Vulnerabilities in Over 280 Blockchain Networks
Cybersecurity firm Halborn has warned of a vulnerability called "Rab13s" that could put over 280 blockchain networks at risk of zero-day exploits, potentially exposing at least $25 billion worth of crypto. The most critical vulnerability could allow an attacker to send malicious consensus messages to individual nodes, causing each to shut down and potentially enabling a 51% attack on the network. While Dogecoin, Zcash, and Litecoin have already implemented patches for the discovered vulnerabilities, hundreds of other networks remain at risk.
Solo Bitcoin Miner Wins Rare Block Reward Worth Over $150,000
A solo Bitcoin miner successfully mined the 780,112th block in the Bitcoin blockchain, earning a block reward of 6.25 BTC worth over $150,000. The miner was able to produce a valid hash after just two days of mining, a rare occurrence that typically takes solo miners months to achieve. The miner may have rented hashing power to produce the output hash, and they used the Solo CK Pool mining service to create a solo mining pool.
Privacy blockchain platform Aztec to shut down Aztec Connect
Privacy-oriented blockchain platform Aztec is set to shut down Aztec Connect, its network's privacy infrastructure serving as the encryption layer for Ethereum. Aztec will no longer run a sequencer from March 2024, and the current system will no longer publish rollup blocks processing Aztec Connect transactions.
Nigerian President-elect's Manifesto Includes Blockchain and Crypto Regulations
Nigerian President-elect Bola Tinubu has released a manifesto proposing the implementation of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in Nigeria's banking and finance sector. The manifesto suggests reforming existing Nigerian Security Exchange Commission regulations to create a more business-friendly framework for regulating digital assets. The proposed regulations would require digital asset companies to register with the SEC and comply with SEC regulations. The release of the manifesto coincides with the increasing adoption of cryptocurrencies in Nigeria, with the government hoping that the proposed SEC regulation reforms will attract more investors in the digital and economic sectors and stimulate economic growth.