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    Syntropy changes name to Synternet, unveils Ethereum-Cosmos token bridge

    The vendor said the move aligns with the vision of the company’s investors, who’ve poured $10 million over 4 years, and the 16,500 holders of its $NOIA token. It comes hot on the heels of a new wave of funding from a host of leading blockchain-focused venture capitalists. The latest round of financing follows two previous capital injections. Syntropy secured $5 million during its seed funding, followed by an additional $4 million in May 2023. Syntropy focuses on delivering scalable on-chain data across DeFi protocols, applications, and enterprises. As a Layer-1 blockchain, Synternet also helps build data infrastructure essential for a unified Web3 landscape. However, the rebrand will not affect the $NOIA token, which remains operational on the Ethereum network without requiring action from holders.”Synternet isn’t just a rebrand; it’s a declaration of our vision for the future of blockchain,” said CEO Daniel Haudenschild. “We aim to lay the foundation for a decentralized web that is open, interoperable, and innovative.”CTO Jonas Simanavicius added that the engineering team is focused on developing technology to realize this vision, looking forward to expanding their decentralized applications (dApps) network in the coming months.Next up on its roadmap, Syntropy is set to launch the Synternet Blockchain. The company also plans to introduce a token bridge between Ethereum and Cosmos to speed up value transfers, along with upgrades to the user experience for both publishers and developers.Originally founded to optimize data transit on the internet using blockchain, Synternet has evolved as the Web3 ecosystem grew. The upcoming mainnet launch marks its transition to a Layer-1 project that connects isolated chains into a synchronized network.The Web3 Data Layer team now includes over 50 professionals, with a community nearing 100,000 across social platforms. More

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    Bandit Network’s Points SDK and Brave Ads Power Astar zkEVM’s Quest Platform “Yoki Origins”

    “Yoki Origins,” supported by Bandit Network and Brave Ads, introduces a gamified and rewarding experience for Astar zkEVM users, marking a significant milestone in Web3 adoption.Bandit Network, a leading provider of White-Labelled Quest solutions with Points SDK, proudly announces its collaboration with Astar Network to power the ongoing “Yoki Origins” journey. Launched on March 8th, this innovative user onboarding journey coincides with the mainnet release of Astar zkEVM, a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in the evolution of Web3 infrastructure.Astar zkEVM, leveraging Ethereum’s security and the Polygon CDK (Chain Development Kit), offers a secure and scalable platform for Web3 projects and enterprises. As the inaugural zero-knowledge EVM chain, Astar zkEVM unlocks access to Ethereum’s extensive developer resources and industry-standard infrastructure providers.Image Description: Yoki Origins Capsule Machine or Yo-Port powered by Bandit Network.The “Yoki Origins” journey, powered by Bandit Network’s White-Labelled Quest solutions with Points SDK promoted by Brave Ads, introduces users to the world of Astar zkEVM through interactive experiences inspired by Japanese Yokais. Participants engage with Capsule Machines, or “Yo-Ports,” to collect Yokis and artistic creations, fostering engagement and loyalty within the Astar ecosystem.”Bandit Network is thrilled to collaborate with Astar Network on the ‘Yoki Origins’ journey,” said Sandesh B Suvarna, Founder of Bandit Network. “Our White-Labelled Quest solutions with Points SDK, along with promotion through Brave, provide a seamless and engaging experience for users, allowing them to immerse themselves in the Astar ecosystem while celebrating Japanese culture and heritage.”Maarten Henskens, Head of Astar Network, commented, “Bandit Network’s platform with Brave Ads has been instrumental in bringing the ‘Yoki Origins’ journey to life. This collaboration underscores our commitment to delivering innovative and engaging experiences to our community as we continue to expand the capabilities of Astar zkEVM.”Image Description: Brave Ads for Yoki Origins powered by Bandit Network on Brave Browser.Luke Mulks, VP of Business Operations at Brave, highlights the integral role of Bandit Network’s solutions in partnership with Brave Ads, “We’re excited for Brave Ads to be collaborating with Bandit Network’s White-Labelled Quest solutions to bring awareness and growth for the Astar ecosystem. With collaborations like ‘Yoki Origins’, Brave Ads demonstrates the ability to use Quests as a growth accelerator.Brave Ads campaigns will elevate Quests beyond airdrop farmers, introducing Quests to millions of Brave Rewards users. In addition to earning BAT (LON:BATS) with their attention, Brave Rewards users will now be able to earn even more by participating in Quests through Astar and other participating Bandit Network partners advertising with Brave Ads.”Brave offers Web3 promotional opportunities through Brave Ads for advertisers that pay with BAT for their campaigns, facilitating growth and adoption within the broader Web3 ecosystem. Image Description: Yoki Origins – Japan Airlines Hakuhodo Yo-Port powered by Bandit Network.The “Yoki Origins” journey invites users to explore Astar zkEVM’s unique characters, participate in quests, and collect digital collectibles. Through interactive Capsule Machines, participants can obtain Yokis and artistic creations contributed by various artists, enterprises, and builders. The user journey aims to foster accessibility for individuals unfamiliar with Web3, incorporating social logins and credit card payments.Astar Network serves as a conduit for projects spanning enterprise, entertainment, and gaming to enter the Japanese market and beyond. By propelling global adoption of Web3, Astar aims to build an ecosystem fueled by both Polkadot and Polygon, positioning itself as a leading blockchain for the Japanese market.For more information about Bandit Network and the “Yoki Origins” journey, visit https://yoki.astar.network/en.About Bandit Network:Bandit Network is a leading provider of White-Labelled Quest solutions with Points SDK, offering a no-code platform for engaging and interactive experiences. With a focus on fostering user engagement and loyalty, Bandit Network empowers organisations to create immersive campaigns and events across various industries.Media Contact:Name: Sandesh B SuvarnaDesignation: FounderCompany: Bandit NetworkEmail: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeshbsuvarna/Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandeshsuvarnaTelegram: https://t.me/SandeshBSuvarnaName: Luke MulksDesignation: VP – Business OperationsCompany: BraveEmail: [email protected]: https://twitter.com/lukemulksTwitter: https://twitter.com/braveAdvertisers: https://ads.brave.com/This article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Freak Off Announces Upcoming Token Pre-Sale for Its Blockchain Racing and Breeding Game

    Freak Off, a groundbreaking play-to-earn web-based racing and breeding game, is excited to announce the upcoming pre-sale of its native token, Freak Off Token (FOT). This pre-sale represents a unique opportunity for early supporters to be part of a game-changing project in the blockchain gaming space.In Freak Off, players can own, breed, and race exotic creatures known as Freaks. Each Freak is unique, with its own set of traits determined by a complex DNA system that mirrors real-world genetics. This level of detail brings a depth to the gameplay that is rarely seen in other games, and creates over 1 billion possible combinations of Freaks.Players can breed their Freaks to create offspring with new traits, or fuse creatures to enhance abilities and customize looks, giving players the power to create Freaks that are truly unique.Freak Off offers a racing experience that is truly unpredictable and thrilling. The races are automated, meaning that once the Freaks are set on the track, the result is entirely up to their abilities. These racing mechanics allow for surprising victories and unexpected turns of events. To enhance the immersive experience, Freak Off also features an AI-generated commentary system that brings each race to life.The game utilizes smart contracts for all in-game transactions, providing transparency and security for players. The native token, Freak Off Token (FOT), is built on the Polygon blockchain, ensuring wide compatibility and easy integration with existing crypto wallets and exchanges.The Freak Off demo is already live on the website and the full launch details will be released soon.Shortly after the token pre-sale, an NFT sale featuring the unique Freaks will be launched. This is an opportunity for players to own a piece of the game and be able to participate in all activities including NFT breeding.FOT token holders gain exclusive access to special game features for their Freaks, such as limited race events, beauty contests, and advanced breeding and fusion options. Early buyers will benefit from several incentives:Freak Off is the source of this content. This Press Release is for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute investment advice or an offer to invest.ContactMarketing managerVesal [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Polish central bank reports loss of $5 billion dollars in 2023

    The zloty, which has firmed since an October parliamentary election and is currently worth about 25 cents, has had a significant impact on the central bank’s financial results as it influences the amount of reserves held, including those in foreign currencies. The central bank said in a statement released later on Wednesday that the negative result from exchange rate differences on the 2023 result amounted to 31.0 billion zlotys.Poland’s new ruling coalition, which took power late last year, wants to bring NBP chief Adam Glapinski before a state tribunal, partly over the bank’s performance.Glapinski has been accused by the new government of not being sufficiently independent of the nationalist previous government. He also faces accusations of breaking constitutional rules that prevented the bank from financing government borrowing during the COVID-19 pandemic, misleading the finance ministry about the bank’s results, and telling the finance ministry last August that the bank may make a 6-billion-zloty profit in 2023.Glapinski says he has always done his job independently of political influence. He says the difference between the August estimate of the bank’s results and the bank’s eventual loss was caused by the zloty strengthening since the election.($1 = 4.0409 zlotys) More

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    Research Reveals Mobile Devices as Catalysts for Efficient Decentralized Infrastructure Networks (DePINs)

    Researchers from the University of Zürich’s Communication Systems Group, in collaboration with the Acurast Association building on Polkadot and other ecosystems, have unveiled groundbreaking results in their latest study, “Performance Analysis of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks and Centralized Clouds.” This work demonstrates the viability of Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) as a robust alternative to traditional centralized cloud computing platforms.DePINs, leveraging blockchain technology and the Internet of Things (IoT), aim to enhance data sovereignty, reduce dependency on centralized models, and improve system resilience against potential failures. The research specifically highlights and evaluates Acurast, a new decentralized serverless cloud network that capitalizes on underutilized resources of smartphones to perform complex computing tasks with enhanced security and efficiency. Key Findings:This research marks a significant step toward understanding and harnessing the power of DePINs for computing. It opens up a real alternative to existing cloud providers for applications in all industries, especially where confidentiality is paramount.The full research paper is publicly available and has been accepted at the upcoming DePIN Workshop of the International Conference on Blockchain Technology (ICBC) 2024.About University of Zürich’s Communication Systems GroupThe Communication Systems Group (CSG) at the University of Zurich focuses on research and development in networked systems and communication mechanisms. The group is dedicated to advancing the state of the art in communication systems, network security, and infrastructure development.About Acurast AssociationThe Acurast Association is dedicated to breaking up the cloud monopoly with Acurast using mobile hardware, thereby democratizing and decentralizing the cloud. Allowing everyone to become a part of the cloud through their mobile devices. Providing developers with unrestricted, permissionless access to computing resources that are secure, cost-effective, and confidential.ContactCo-FounderPascal [email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Ukraine receives new EU funds, sees three more tranches in 2024

    Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said the EU, which has provided Ukraine with 31 billion euros, had become the biggest donor of budget financing to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The United States, which has approved billions of dollars in a new aid package to Ukraine, is also an important donor.”International support is a key to ensure macroeconomic stability and build a foundation for economic growth,” Marchenko said.Ukraine faces a $37 billion budget deficit this year and relies heavily on financial aid from its Western partners to be able to finance its social and humanitarian spending. Kyiv uses most of its state revenues to fund defence efforts as its troops fight a larger and better equipped Russian army.First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the government looked forward to final approval of the EU’s Ukraine Facility lending program worth 50 billion euros and hoped to receive three more tranches this year.”In fact, we are one step away from the launch of the program and full regular funding under the program,” said Svyrydenko.She said that following the final approval, Kyiv would be able to receive 1.89 billion euros in June and two more tranches worth about 4 billion euros in September and November.Ukraine will have to implement a number of reforms and meet other program indicators to be able to unlock the tranches. The steps include measures to improve transparency, fight corruption, improve business environment, and bring the country’s legislation closer to the EU.($1 = 0.9357 euros) More

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    German government nudges up 2024 GDP forecast to 0.3%

    The forecasts are part of the government’s spring projections, which Economy Minister Robert Habeck presented on Wednesday and Reuters published exclusively last week. “As the year progresses, we are now seeing signs of a slight economic upturn and that the economy is slowly emerging from its weak phase,” Habeck said during the presentation in Berlin.Private consumption is expected to contribute significant growth momentum thanks to the foreseen rise in real wages in a resilient labour market. In 2025, the government expects gross domestic product to grow by 1.0%, according to the projections. Inflation is expected to fall to 2.4% this year, versus a previous projection of 2.8%. Inflation was at 5.9% last year, taking its toll on private consumption. “Prices have fallen faster than many predicted,” Habeck said. For 2025, the government sees inflation falling further to 1.8%, below the 2% target of the European Central Bank. The German economy, Europe’s biggest, was the weakest among its large euro zone peers last year, as high energy costs, feeble global orders and record-high interest rates took their toll. Although inflation is expected to ease this year, growth is forecast to remain relatively weak. More