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    Business bridles at cost of green transition

    Standard DigitalWeekend Print + Standard Digitalwasnow $85 per monthBilled Quarterly at $199. Complete digital access plus the FT newspaper delivered Monday-Saturday.What’s included Global news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts20 monthly gift articles to shareLex: FT’s flagship investment column15+ Premium newsletters by leading expertsFT Digital Edition: our digitised print editionWeekday Print EditionFT WeekendFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts10 monthly gift articles to shareGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit appFirstFT: the day’s biggest stories20+ curated newslettersFollow topics & set alerts with myFTFT Videos & Podcasts20 monthly gift articles to shareLex: FT’s flagship investment column15+ Premium newsletters by leading expertsFT Digital Edition: our digitised print editionEverything in PrintWeekday Print EditionFT WeekendFT Digital EditionGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresExclusive FT analysisPlusEverything in Premium DigitalEverything in Standard DigitalGlobal news & analysisExpert opinionSpecial featuresFirstFT newsletterVideos & PodcastsFT App on Android & iOSFT Edit app10 gift articles per monthExclusive FT analysisPremium newslettersFT Digital Edition10 additional gift articles per monthMake and share highlightsFT WorkspaceMarkets data widgetSubscription ManagerWorkflow integrationsOccasional readers go freeVolume discountFT Weekend Print deliveryPlusEverything in Standard DigitalFT Weekend Print deliveryPlusEverything in Premium Digital More

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    Bitcoin breaks $60,000 level while Memereum presale nears 25M tokens sold

    Memereum, a rising blockchain insurance, nears 25M tokens sold despite Bitcoin’s market movement to below $60,000 level.Bitcoin breaks $60,000 levelBitcoin went below $60,000, dropping to its lowest point since early May, its price was last down 7% at $59,562.54. Additionally, Bitcoin saw a jump in long liquidations.Memereum’s Presale SuccessDespite market’s uncertainty, Memereum’s presale continues to be in demand, recently breaking a record of 1M tokens sold in just a few hours, nearing 25M total tokens sold. Memereum’s team has also announced a new exchange listing on BitVenus.Staking Rewards ProgramMemereum states they have an automatic staking system with 183% annual percentage yield (APY). This yield aims to attract participants by providing notable rewards, positioning Memereum as an option for those interested in exploring new opportunities in the crypto space.Memereum PresaleWith the current presale price set at $0.04 and the launch price anticipated by the team to be potentially higher by 10x, Memereum offers an opportunity for early investors to enter at a low price with the potential for returns. The presale structure includes a strategic price increase every 72 hours, aiming to encourage early participation.About Memereum (MEME)The potential attraction to Memereum (MEME) can be attributed to its innovative approach in the blockchain sector and its growing community support. Memereum is the first blockchain insurance with an integrated DEX for supported token trading. Users can learn more about Memereum by clicking here.ContactBessie [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange Received Enormous $500,000 Donation From Bitcoin Whale

    During his most recent appearance in a Saipan court, Julian Assange reached a plea agreement that ended his 14-year legal battle. After being freed by a U.S. court under the terms of the plea agreement, Assange arrived in Australia. On Wednesday, just after the 52-year-old entered a guilty plea to an espionage charge in a Saipan court, his plane touched down in Canberra.Because of the judge’s decision Assange was free to leave. Judge Manglona said It seems that he will be able to leave the court room a free man with this pronouncement. Assange had taken a private plane from the U.K. to Saipan, which he was forced to pay for once the plea agreement was reached. Luckily he was able to receive over £300,000 in fiat donations and $500,000 in Bitcoin donations from an anonymous whale very quickly. Speaking to the court, Assange stated that he thought his charges under the Espionage Act went against his First Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution. He did admit,though, that it might be illegal to pressure sources to reveal classified material for publication. Assange must delete the material he gave to WikiLeaks in accordance with the terms of the plea deal.This article was originally published on U.Today More

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    Bybit Card Brings Apple Pay to Customers

    Bybit, the world’s second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, announces that Bybit Card brings its customers Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Pay, a safer, more secure and private way to pay that helps customers avoid handing their payment card to someone else, touching physical buttons or exchanging cash — and uses the power of iPhone to protect every transaction.Customers can hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near a payment terminal to make a contactless payment. Every Apple Pay purchase is secure because it is authenticated with Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcode, as well as a one-time unique dynamic security code. Apple Pay is accepted in grocery stores, pharmacies, taxis, restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, and many more places.Customers can also use Apple Pay on iPhone, iPad, and Mac to make faster and more convenient purchases in apps or on the web in Safari without having to create accounts or repeatedly type in shipping and billing information. Apple Pay makes it easier to pay for food and grocery deliveries, online shopping, transportation, and parking, among other things. Apple Pay can also be used to make payments in apps on Apple Watch. Security and privacy are at the core of Apple Pay. When customers use a credit or debit card with Apple Pay, the actual card numbers are not stored on the device, nor on Apple servers. Instead, a unique Device Account Number is assigned, encrypted, and securely stored in the Secure Element, an industry-standard, certified chip designed to store the payment information safely on the device.Apple Pay can be set on an iPhone by opening the Wallet app, tapping, and following the steps to add Bybit’s credit or debit cards. Once a customer adds a card to iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac, they can start using Apple Pay on that device right away. Customers will continue to receive all of the potential rewards and benefits offered by Bybit Card. For more information on Apple Pay, users can visit: http://www.apple.com/apple-pay/ For more information on Bybit Card, users can visit here.About BybitBybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving over 33 million users. Established in 2018, Bybit provides a professional platform where crypto investors and traders can find an ultra-fast matching engine, 24/7 customer service, and multilingual community support. Bybit is a proud partner of Formula One’s reigning Constructors’ and Drivers’ champions: the Oracle (NYSE:ORCL) Red Bull Racing team.ContactHead of PRTony [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Propeller Launches as First dApp Built on River Protocol

    New Web3 Community Platform Aims to Improve Product Feedback and User EngagementToday, LCA announces the launch of Propeller, the first decentralized application (dApp) built on the open-source communications protocol, River. Propeller is set to transform the way product teams engage with their users, gather meaningful product feedback, and build community.LCA, renowned for collaborating with top brands like Nike (NYSE:NKE), Reddit, Dropbox (NASDAQ:DBX), Opensea, and Moonpay, has been consistently developing innovative, community-centric products. Propeller represents an opportunity for legacy social platforms to step into the next phase of community collaboration, emphasizing purpose-built online spaces designed to meet the unique needs of specific communities.Propeller is a community platform aimed at enhancing user engagement and collaboration between users and product teams. By leveraging the capabilities of the River Protocol, Propeller is creating a new standard between companies and their most dedicated users, ensuring that every voice is heard and every contribution is recognized.For more information about Propeller and to see product examples, users can visit propeller.chat.To get started with River, users can visit river.build. About LCALCA is a product innovation agency under the Late Checkout holding company umbrella. Founded in 2020 by Greg Isenberg and Theo Tabah, LCA is the industry leader in developing ‘Community-Based Products’. Over the last 4 years they have partnered with some of the world’s most notable brands to define their futures and build products their communities love.About HNT Labs Here Not There Labs (HNT) is a web3 venture studio dedicated to digital communication innovation, helping online communities engage more efficiently and effectively. HNT Labs has built the on-chain communication platform, Towns, which is built on the open-source protocol, River. HNT is crafting novel communication models that empower online communities with programmable, self-governed spaces, fostering authentic and meaningful interactions. With a commitment to shaping the future of digital connectivity, HNT is supported by significant investment, including a $25.5 million Series A funding from notable firms like a16z crypto, Benchmark, and Framework.ContactPR ManagerRyleigh [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Copper & Sui partner to build out full institutional accessibility

    The integration with Sui includes custody support for L1 and L2, built-in staking support, and DeFi connectivity.Copper, a leader in digital asset custody, collateral management, and prime services, is excited to announce its latest integration with Sui, a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain and smart contract platform. The strategic partnership will enable robust custody infrastructure support for stablecoin and Real-World Asset (RWA) issuers on Sui such as Ondo (USDY), marking a significant advancement in connecting institutional finance to on-chain opportunities on the Sui Network.With Copper on board, the Sui ecosystem now has built additional foundational infrastructure necessary to enable institutional players to leverage Sui’s industry-leading decentralized technology platform, addressing the need for financial institutions seeking efficient treasury services for their tokens.“This strategic partnership, integrating Copper’s enterprise-grade custody tooling, exemplifies the continued maturation of the Sui ecosystem into a platform capable of supporting the heightened infrastructure needs of Sui’s institutional builders and users,” said Greg Siourounis, Managing Director of the Sui Foundation. “We are truly excited about the number and diversity of new projects and assets this partnership will enable for both the Copper and Sui ecosystems.”The first phase of support, encompassing SUI and native Sui-tokens is currently complete, making Copper a custodian for these assets. The immediate availability of Copper’s infrastructure on Sui means it is ready to serve the needs of large institutional traders and market makers today. Further features in staking and DeFi are in development and will be integrated soon, significantly expanding the functionality of Copper’s offerings on Sui.“We’re excited to be a part of the SUI ecosystem with Copper as custodian,” commented Dmitry Tokarev, CEO of Copper. “With staking and DeFi features currently in development, we’re looking forward to the evolution of this partnership.”ContactSui [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Airdrops are not risk-free promotions, new report shows

    What makes the airdrop marketing strategy so effective? Beyond the clear appeal of free tokens, crypto fund Node Capital warns that while effective for rapid wallet growth, airdrops can be expensive with limited long-term results if not executed properly.According to Node Capital’s “Airdropping: Some Truths” report, clear goals, communication, and a commitment of at least 10% of the token supply are crucial for success. The publication follows a review of top airdrops and their outcomes, offering guidance to help teams reach audiences and maintain engagement. These interactions may include activities such as joining a Telegram group, following the project’s social media accounts, or making small transactions within the project’s ecosystem.“Using many different Web3 platforms as real examples, they share the best metrics to track the particular goals set up for the airdrop.  Measuring wallet activity, collection timelines, how widespread the tokens are distributed, new token holders, and key metrics such as DAUs and MAUs are all important, but priority should be placed on the metrics that best reflect the airdrop goals,”  the report reads.Node Capital also highlights the importance of providing incentives for users to stay engaged beyond the initial attraction of free tokens. It advises measuring key metrics before, during, and after the airdrop to ensure the campaign meets its objectives. Creating an airdrop requires more than distributing tokens via social media, according to Node Capital. Platforms must clearly understand their goals, whether expanding the user base, encouraging user testing, converting token holders into active participants, or decentralizing the token-holding population.The guide also outlines best practices for measuring airdrop success, using various Web3 platforms as examples. Important metrics include wallet activity, collection timelines, token distribution, new token holders, daily active users (DAUs), and monthly active users (MAUs). Priority should be given to metrics that best reflect the airdrop goals.Additionally, Node Capital addresses the need for airdrops to fit within the platform’s tokenomics and the importance of a communication strategy to reach target audiences. It recommends handling complex aspects of airdrops, such as filtering out bad actors, preventing Sybil attacks, and ensuring the campaign reaches the ideal audience. More

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    Sri Lanka inks debt deal with creditor nations, including China

    COLOMBO (Reuters) -Sri Lanka on Wednesday signed agreements with creditor nations, including China, to restructure about $10 billion in bilateral debt, in a major step towards stabilising its crisis-hit economy.The move brings Sri Lanka closer to finalising a debt restructuring process, which was kicked off in September 2022 after its reserves hit their lowest levels and forced the island nation to default on its foreign debt for the first time in history.The deals will allow Sri Lanka to move forward with a $2.9 billion programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that is aimed at helping the island nation recover from its financial crisis.Sri Lankan officials in Paris inked the agreement with the Official Creditor Committee (OCC), which has 17 countries that have lent a combined $5.8 billion to the nation and is co-chaired by Japan, India and France.”This agreement grants significant debt relief, allowing Sri Lanka to allocate funds to essential public services & secure concessional financing for its development needs,” the president’s media office said in a statement.The country also signed a separate agreement to restructure $4.2 billion in debt from China EXIM Bank in Colombo, it added. The island nation, however, still needs to convince bondholders to restructure about $12.5 billion in international bonds.Sri Lanka’s dollar-denominated bonds slipped as much as 0.4 cents to trade around 60 cents, Tradeweb data showed. However, its international bonds have rallied over the past two months, adding around 5 cents, with a few trading at their strongest levels since late 2021.President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to address the nation later in the day and is expected to give more updates on Sri Lanka’s economy, his office said.Japan, which has backed the swift implementation of debt restructuring to underpin Sri Lanka’s economic recovery, emphasized the importance of comparable treatment by non-OCC official bilateral creditors and private creditors in the latest Paris Club annual report.”For future cases, we should encourage all official bilateral creditors to be a member of an OCC to achieve comparable treatment in a transparent and swift manner,” said Daiho Fujii, deputy vice minister for international affairs at Japan’s Ministry of Finance. More