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    UK footwear chain Shoe Zone blames Budget for shop closures

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    Canada’s political turmoil

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    dTRINITY Launches Subsidized Stablecoin Lending Protocol on Fraxtal L2

    dTRINITY, a next-generation stablecoin liquidity protocol, has announced its mainnet debut on the Fraxtal L2 network. The platform is designed to lower interest expenses and improve yields for stablecoin users, addressing the key challenge of rising credit costs in DeFi.At the core of dTRINITY is a protocol-native stablecoin (dUSD), which serves as the unified liquidity layer between its money markets (dLEND, an Aave v3 fork) and external liquidity pools (e.g., Curve). dUSD is backed 1:1 by an on-chain collateral reserve consisting of stablecoins such as USDC, FRAX, and DAI, as well as yieldcoins like sFRAX and sDAI. Exogenous yields from the reserve are redirected to fund ongoing interest rebates for dUSD borrowers on dLEND, based on their outstanding debts, which reduces the effective borrowing cost. This mechanism not only stimulates borrowing demand but also drives more sustainable utilization and yields for dUSD lenders.dTRINITY is launching on Fraxtal as its genesis network in a strategic collaboration with Frax to optimize ecosystem liquidity and user incentives. Fraxtal is an EVM-equivalent rollup with a scalable smart contract platform and efficient execution environment powered by the OP stack. Users can take advantage of Fraxtal’s fast transaction speed, low gas fees, robust network security, and unique blockspace rewards, further enhancing their benefits.In the near future, dTRINITY plans to expand to Ethereum and other emerging blockchains, strengthening cross-chain liquidity and interoperability with Fraxtal as the network scales.Key Features of dTRINITY:For more information, users can visit dtrinity.org and follow @dTRINITY_DeFi on X.Disclaimer: dTRINITY is not available to residents of Belarus, Canada, Cuba, Haiti, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia (including Crimea), Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, the USA, the UK, Venezuela, and other prohibited jurisdictions. The information contained herein should not be considered legal, business, financial, or tax advice. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Digital assets and DeFi protocols carry significant risks, including the potential for loss of funds. Users should conduct their own research and seek professional advice before interacting with digital assets and DeFi protocols.About dTRINITYdTRINITY is the world’s first subsidized lending protocol, designed to reduce borrowing costs and enhance yields for stablecoin users in DeFi. The protocol is powered by dUSD, a decentralized stablecoin backed 1:1 by an on-chain yieldcoin reserve. Exogenous yields from the reserve are used to fund ongoing interest rebates for dUSD borrowers, lowering their effective borrowing rates. dTRINITY is now live on the Fraxtal L2, and it will be expanded to Ethereum plus other networks in the future.ContactCore ContributorKory HoangTrinity Foundation Ltdhello@dtrinity.orgThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Sophon Mainnet Goes Live with $500M TVL and Strategic Industry Collaborations

    Sophon has launched its mainnet, introducing the first-ever Validium on ZKsync powered by Avail DA. With over $500M in Total (EPA:TTEF) Value Locked (TVL) through the Sophon farming program, and a growing ecosystem of established partners, Sophon is paving the way for scalable, consumer-focused blockchain applications.The launch comes with significant community support: over 120,000 node licenses purchased by more than 5,800 unique participants are now open for claiming. The SOPH token deploys today in a non-transferable state, with all transactions free for users during this initial phase. Node holders will begin getting rewards from January 1st, with full token transferability and trading expected in Q1 2025.Launch Partners Driving AdoptionSophon’s consumer-first approach focuses on delivering user experiences that encourage mainstream crypto engagement. Debuting with industry leaders selected for their ability to bring blockchain benefits to everyday users:Sophon understands that mainstream users prioritize experiences and value over the underlying blockchain technology. By focusing on entertainment applications that naturally benefit from blockchain’s capabilities, Sophon is creating an ecosystem where the technology enhances rather than complicates the user experience.This vision is reinforced through strategic collaborations with industry pioneers, like Beam, which is launching the first gaming-focused fund and accelerator in Abu Dhabi with a target size of $150M. Sophon is a strategic partner in this accelerator, supporting the advancement of blockchain-based gaming. Additionally, Sophon has seeded the $40M Tactical Compute initiative, targeting projects building at the intersection of crypto and AI. These partnerships ensure Sophon is not just building infrastructure – it’s contributing to the growth of the entire ecosystem.History in the makingSophon’s mainnet launch is the first-ever Validium on ZKsync to leverage an external data availability layer powered by Avail, bringing unmatched scalability, security, and savings. By using Avail’s modular application development stack to create its own Light Nodes, Sophon ensures high performance, maintaining full decentralization and data availability, working to set a new standard for modular blockchain designs. Sophon is the ultimate platform for next-gen entertainment applications, spanning everything from gaming to AI-powered experiences. It’s primed to be the go-to destination for entrepreneurs and major players in the entertainment industry looking to build their products onchain, offering users novel ways to earn, engage, and enjoy themselves.To learn more about Sophon, users can visit sophon.xyzMedia Contact: Oskari Tempakka (oskari@sophon.xyz)About AvailThe Avail Network is a modular application development stack designed to establish blockchains as the verification system for the Internet. By addressing key challenges in rollup scalability, interoperability, and usability, Avail provides a foundational Data Availability (DA) layer built on the same technology planned for Ethereum’s danksharding roadmap, including KZG Commitments and Data Availability Sampling (DAS). Avail is led by Polygon’s former co-founder Anurag Arjun and research lead Prabal Banerjee. Start your Avail journey today at availproject.org.To learn more about Avail, users can visit availproject.orgMedia Contact: Luke Richardson (luke@clpr.agency)About ZKsyncZKsync is the pioneering zero-knowledge technology powering the next generation of builders with limitless scale. Secured by math and designed for native interoperability, ZKsync enables the elastic network, an ever-expanding ecosystem of customizable chains. Deeply rooted in its mission to advance personal freedom for all, the ZKsync technology makes digital self-ownership universally available. To learn more about ZKsync, users can visit http://www.zksync.ioContactAnnu ShekhawatAvailannu@availproject.orgThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    ‘The Window to Accumulate Bitcoin Is Rapidly Closing’: Samson Mow Warns

    In his tweet, he mentioned the most recent Bitcoin purchases made by Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy business intelligence firm, revealing the main reason for that hasty accumulation.Mow suggested that those entities or retail investors who still plan to buy Bitcoin should lower their time preference and act quickly before Bitcoin soars into a price range where only a few will be able to buy it.Mow added that the strategy implemented by Saylor is worth following since it helps to add more value to shareholders: “I would do the exact same thing. This is value accretion for shareholders.”The JAN3 boss commented on a tweet, in which a Bitcoiner said that his coworker has been asking if it is not too late to buy BTC. Quoting this tweet, Mow said: “If they have to ask, it’s still early.”However, in a comment, he added that once Bitcoin either replaces the U.S. dollar or becomes its official equivalent in the U.S., which means that prices and bills would be counted in Satoshis, it is then too late to buy BTC: “It will be late when your utility bill arrives and it’s denominated in sats.”Several times this year, Samson Mow shared a prediction that soon Bitcoin will pass the price and adoption line, after which users will only be able to earn BTC, not buy it. This week, Bitcoin soared to hit a new all-time high above the $107,000 level.This article was originally published on U.Today More

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    UK borrowing costs climb as ‘stagflation’ fear stalks gilt market

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    Sonic Labs Launches the Sonic Mainnet: EVM-Compatible, Verifiable 10,000 TPS, and Sub-Second Finality

    Sonic Labs today announced the launch of the Sonic mainnet, an EVM-compatible layer-1 blockchain platform that offers developers attractive incentives and powerful infrastructure.With 10,000 transactions per second (TPS), sub-second finality, and a native, decentralized gateway to Ethereum, Sonic empowers developers to build the next generation of applications on unparalleled infrastructure and liquidity.Developed by the same team behind Fantom, Sonic and its S token deliver a significant leap forward from both Fantom and FTM. Through a one-to-one upgrade process from FTM to S, existing FTM holders can seamlessly start using Sonic.Sonic leverages proven expertise to establish itself as a DeFi hub by revolutionizing developer incentives while providing users with smooth user experiences and access to vast amounts of liquidity.Fee Monetization: Developers Come FirstFee Monetization (FeeM) on Sonic rewards developers with up to 90% of the network fees generated by their applications, adopting the Web2 ad-revenue strategies popularized by platforms like YouTube. While many blockchains offer limited developer incentives and primarily focus on value extraction, Sonic addresses this issue effectively through its FeeM model.Fantom to Sonic: Upgrading FTM to SFantom and its FTM token are officially transitioning to Sonic and the S token. Sonic Labs is facilitating the transition by offering a dedicated upgrade portal on MySonic that allows FTM holders to seamlessly upgrade their FTM to S on a one-to-one basis.Sonic Gateway: Secure, Decentralized InteroperabilityWith the rise of cross-chain activity, secure and trustless bridges are more crucial than ever. Traditional layer-1 and layer-2 bridging solutions often rely on centralized systems, risking billions in potential losses.The Sonic Gateway addresses these challenges as a decentralized and trustless bridge between Ethereum and Sonic, offering:Sonic Airdrop: Distributing the S TokenTo encourage network growth, Sonic Labs is distributing 190.5 million S tokens through an airdrop program focusing on both users and developers. The program includes two incentive structures:Sonic is an EVM layer-1 platform that offers developers attractive incentives and powerful infrastructure. The chain provides over 10,000 TPS, sub-second confirmation times, and a secure gateway to Ethereum for enhanced liquidity and asset security.For more information, users can visit Sonic’s official website and follow Sonic’s Twitter.ContactSonic Labspress@soniclabs.comThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

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    Holyhead port closure risks ‘shortages’ in Ireland, hauliers warn

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