Aurelia Butler

Another trending topic during these historic times is how decentralization and control of financial systems have played vital roles. For what it’s worth, many governments may have to rethink their stances on the adoption and implementation of cryptocurrency, as well as how it should be run in respect to matters of national security.The ongoing invasion of Ukraine by Russia, has the world holding its breath, unable to look away. The U.S. and other countries are currently walking on eggshells because it could lead to a World War, which nations are trying to avoid; so they have taken the most peaceful approach to justice they can manage – financial sanctions. These sanctions are designed to cripple Russian decision-makers, power players, and the Russian banking system at large. Further reports indicate that many countries, including the U.S. and Japan, have cut ties with the Russian economy and businesses, even moving to revoke the access of Russian financial institutions to the SWIFT payment system. Likewise, private-sector payment giants Mastercard (NYSE:MA) and Visa (NYSE:V) have blocked many Russian financial institutions from accessing their networks. As sanctions continue to roll in, it is safe to say that the Russian economy is bearish at the moment, and the “bear” is angry.What the Russia-Ukraine War Means for the Hybrid Crypto EconomyComing back to the main point of contention, and away from the traditional structures of economy and finance, the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces has become a defining moment for the crypto economy with clear geopolitical ramifications for the crypto economy and cryptofinance in the wider context of global conflicts.Interestingly, many see the ongoing war as the first challenge of its kind for the emerging crypto industry. Ukrainians have been receiving aid in the form of cryptocurrency donations, while Russian oligarchs are exchanging their wealth into cryptocurrency to avoid them being frozen or confiscated.Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov appealed to centralized cryptocurrency exchanges in a tweet on February 27th to freeze digital wallets linked to Russian addresses to prevent Russia making financial transactions and payments through alternative means.Now, to comprehend why the ongoing trend is a big deal, the structure of cryptocurrency exchanges and how they could potentially be used as an evasive tool capable of enabling countries like Russia (in this context) to bypass financial sanctions imposed upon them must first be understood.Understanding the Role of Centralization Amidst a Booming DeFi EconomyThink of crypto exchanges as banks for cryptocurrency that enable access to digital assets. They are broadly divided into two categories: centralized and decentralized exchanges. Centralized exchanges are not too different from traditional banks. Technically, they work as intermediaries between the buyer and seller – a basic banking setup. Likewise, these exchanges have rules and regulations, and are generally considered to be easy-to-use platforms that take custody of user funds. They typically require compliance with ‘Know Your Customer (KYC)’ processes, which requires information from users similar to traditional financial institutes. These were the exchanges that the Ukrainian vice prime minister was addressing in his tweet.Decentralized exchanges (DEXs), on the other hand, eliminate the intermediary entirely and work as peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplaces where smart contracts and atomic swaps are used to conduct transactions. This also means that traders are accountable for their own money and are responsible for it if it is lost, such as when their private keys are compromised, or funds are sent to the wrong address. The majority of the exchanges created between 2020 and 2021 have been decentralized. Sadly, many decentralized exchanges have no “guardrails” for entering the market, making them largely unregulated.Now take all of this and put it into the perspective of the Russia-Ukraine war and the latter’s vice prime minister’s tweet on the 27th. It seems a nigh-impossible task to shut down the accounts and actions of users in the decentralized structure. To do so would require targeting market participants directly, as exchanges have no centralized system with which to track users. Federov realized this and further announced that the “Ukrainian crypto community is ready to provide a generous reward for any information about crypto-wallets of Russian and Belarusian politicians and their surroundings,” which could therefore be used in a decentralized manner. By finding the individual wallets belonging to key Russian players, the opposition intends to hunt down and cripple their individual ability to transfer digital assets away from oversight to the anonymous benefits that come with decentralized exchanges.The Role of Hybrid Financial EcosystemsThe financial sanctions have expanded beyond the initial controlled financial battleground to now include the crypto economy, which is largely beyond the grasp of central authorities.As a result, the question of controlling the crypto economy is becoming a global issue. But perhaps it isn’t as bad as we think? Well, let’s take a look at the advantages of centralization and decentralization before forming a judgement:The Benefits of CentralizationThe Benefits of DecentralizationThe ImpactIn October 2008, an esoteric white paper, published online under the pseudonym ‘Satoshi Nakamoto’, birthed the idea of a digital currency that could not be controlled by one leader or government, an idea that was widely accepted. It became a Robin Hood-like solution to help the disenfranchised get around the ruthless and highly profitable banking system.“What is needed is an electronic payment system based on cryptographic proof instead of trust, allowing any two willing parties to transact directly with each other without the need for a trusted third party,” an industry expert once said. It has been nearly 14 years since that white paper was published, and we’re fairly sure that Nakamoto did not intend the two parties to include Russian Oligarchs ready to burn a democratic nation to the ground. Of course, that may seem a little dramatic unless you live in Ukraine, then you realize it’s the reality of the situation.At the core of the ongoing war – like something out of a SciFi movie, and against all expectations – various cryptocurrencies are playing a major role in times of war, and serving both sides to different ends. On one hand, they are facilitating the provision of aid to refugees in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, but on the other hand, they are providing Russian oligarchs, perhaps including Putin himself, with a way to get around the sanctions placed upon them by the West and NATO.It is clear why these sanctions are happening, with many hailing them as an alternative to World War III, and the threat of a nuclear war, with Putin. It is likely that there is nothing anyone can do to stop Putin or the oligarchs from using Bitcoin, Ethereum, or any of the blockchain-based currencies, at least for now.“Neither dictators nor human rights activists will encounter any censor on the Bitcoin network,” Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research at investment manager ‘VanEck’, told Bloomberg in a report.Four U.S. Democratic senators reportedly have signed a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, asking how digital assets could be included in the sanctions. “We are seeking information on the steps the Treasury is taking to enforce sanctions compliance by the cryptocurrency industry,” the lawmakers wrote in the letter, further reinforcing what the Ukrainian prime minister said in his Tweet.For the time being, crypto exchanges are restricting a small number of individuals and activities. Binance, for example, has agreed to target Russian clients who have been sanctioned by the West, but the exchange has stated that it would not freeze the accounts of ordinary Russians, as many have requested. Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) insisted last week that it would “not impose a blanket ban on all Coinbase transactions using Russian addresses,” but stated that it would limit accounts and activities associated with sanctioned individuals. While this caused uproar among the general public, many questioned why they would not shut down Russian cryptocurrency addresses completely. However, to do so would go against the ideals of creating a decentralized means of payment, but then, so does targeting specific sanctioned individuals.Currently, the world is being exposed to the reality that society as a whole is moving into a new age, one in which we must decide whether the rules we have laid down need sometimes be broken. In the case of the ongoing war, the situation could be compared to one of good vs. evil, Russia vs. Ukraine, and in this context, DEX vs. CEX. However, the fact remains that the reality has been written in every white paper since 2008; we just chose to ignore the signs and must instead face the truth. It is here and we are not sure how to deal with it.EMAIL NEWSLETTERJoin to get the flipside of cryptoUpgrade your inbox and get our DailyCoin editors’ picks 1x a week delivered straight to your inbox.[contact-form-7]
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The crypto gaming ecosystem has grown at an astonishing rate, with players increasingly earning a passive income from completing quests, trading non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and winning in-game battles. One of the most popular play-to-earn releases, Axie Infinity, recently surpassed $4 billion in lifetime sales.Gamified finance might seem like an odd concept but it’s quickly found an audience, and releases are becoming slicker as creative studios invest in gameplay that can satisfy hardcore players. It was a matter of time before a classic first-person shooter game came to the blockchain realm, and if its developers are to be believed, the soon-to-be-released Epic War will exceed all expectations.A Cinematic Shoot ‘Em UpEpic War professes to be the first ever scifi blockchain-based FPS featuring Triple-A graphics, and its appeal lies in its marriage of artistic innovation and sophisticated free-to-play-to-earn integrations. Rather than being built on a single network, the 3D shooter will go live on several of them (BSC, Solana, Polygon and NEAR) in a bid to put players in the driver’s seat.Characterised by its vividly diverse environments and a vast in-game economy, Epic War is conceived as a massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game (MMORTS), one that compels gamers to join the revolutionary army and throw themselves into dangerous missions against both ‘monster bosses’ and other players in the Open World Gameplay like Elden Ring.Set in a scorched and hostile wasteland as a result of nuclear holocaust on Planet Kepler-22b, Epic War plays out at breakneck pace as players do their best to shoot down a seemingly never-ending parade of gruesome monsters and evil forces. Along the way, they can earn tokens and NFTs by completing weekly/monthly challenges or winning over the battle matches as well as by trading and renting sought-after materials (maps, weapons, gears, etc) via the integrated peer-to-peer marketplace. Players can also craft their very own NFTs and stake assets to earn yield.While successful gamers in the console world are afforded little more than bragging rights, success in Epic War is different: the more effective your tankers, snipers and nukers are on the battlefield, the more powerful your character becomes, and the better your prospects of winning rare items like epic weapons and powerful gears. All scifi warriors are customisable and the Unity Engine-powered gameplay ensures the action never lets up.Free-to-Play, Free-to-EarnThe real-time strategy game was co-developed by a team of blockchain lab and game studios from Vietnam to Japan, ensuring a pleasant synergy between the title’s gaming and crypto elements. Where the latter is concerned, the native $EWAR token functions as a default single currency and is used to purchase all goods in the game. Tokens can also be converted via crypto exchanges and cashed out, or used to influence the game’s direction itself. Yes, like other gamefi releases, Epic War gives token-holders oversight privileges through its eponymous DAO Council.While the vast majority of play-to-earn games require participants to part with an initial fee, Epic War seeks to popularise a free-to-play, free-to-earn model. Without surrendering a cent, players can enjoy PvE gameplay, qualify for random NFT drops, sell or rent materials, and earn token rewards for their endeavours on Planet Kepler-22b. Fully paid-up players, meanwhile, get to battle other players and even make token bets on the outcome of battles.Designed to be enjoyed on PC and mobile, Epic War will soon debut its beta PvE and PvP version which gives players a chance to check out the integrated marketplace and staking mechanism. Thereafter, a full launch is expected in Q3 before the first PvP tournament commences in earnest before the year is out.In all likelihood, first-person shooters will become just as popular in gamefi as they were elsewhere. After all, who doesn’t love slaying two-headed mutants with shoulder cannons? The nightmarish Epic War builds on what has gone before, bringing lucrative defi mechanisms into a state-of-the-art gaming realm. Lock and load.Continue reading on CoinQuora More

A group of experts in different areas develops this world: design, cryptocurrencies, management, marketing and web design that includes programmers, backend and frontend web developers, graphic designers, illustrators, content creators, creatives, and social media experts. They have previous experience working on this matter. They are a group of 30 people that have the skills needed to create that rare and unique art collection of NFTs.The universe they created is named The Nifty Way Galaxy Project, conformed of Nifties, the aliens of the galaxy. These aliens are specials because they are a society that has been watching the human race since years ago, and they are attracted by their behavior and their look, that is the reason why the dressed and act like humans. It is a world with 10,000 aliens that imitate the humans very well, but they also look very different between them, they have different characteristics and clothes, each one of them has a complete different thought about what fashion is, so it is detailed in the designs. They are detailed pieces of art. Each of the works of art features an extraterrestrial, cartoon-style design.However, those are not the unique things that makes them special. The owners of these tokes will be rewarded with limited-rare NFT collections and merchandise, surprise airdrops, engaging and interactive activities, mystery quests, ETH prizes and more exciting perks of ownership. The company launched the initial Nifties at 0.07 ETH with a second wave available at 0.09 ETH after those are sold.The project has great growth in Latin American community, but aims to grow around the world. It is important to know that an algorithm randomly selects and generates each token and sorts all the traits based on rarity statistical probabilities and restrictions, this ensures the exclusivity of each Niftie.Since the receptivity of this collection has been very positive, the team is studying to create a new collection with the same Nifties but with new updates, such as 3D designs. Currently, they are studying to add this collection to the Metaverse in order to keep growing and satisfying more and more NFT enthusiasts.Anyone is capable of having a rare and unique Niftie through the most known wallets: Metamask and Binance, using Ethereum and Tether.To know more about The Nifty Way Galaxy Project, visit: https://www.theniftywaygalaxy.com/Disclaimer: Any information written in this press release does not constitute investment advice. CoinQuora does not, and will not endorse any information on any company or individual on this page. Readers are encouraged to make their own research and make any actions based on their own findings and not from any content written in this press release. CoinQuora is and will not be responsible for any damage or loss caused directly or indirectly by the use of any content, product, or service mentioned in this press release.Continue reading on CoinQuora More

This token split will bring QUICK’s price more in line with the price of other DEX tokens making the asset more appealing to investors who are impacted by unit bias. As one member of the DEX’s senior staff explains, “QUICK’s price per unit is significantly higher than other DEX tokens, while its market cap pales in comparison.”QUICK’s meager $69.43 million market cap (as of March 1st, 2022) is not an accurate reflection of the token’s adoption or utility. When comparing QUICK to other DEX tokens like UNI, SUSHI, OSMO, and CAKE, the discrepancy becomes very clear. QUICK’s low market cap may be related to its short supply.Despite compelling evidence that suggested this was the case, some QUICK holders still opposed the split, claiming that redenominating the asset wouldn’t improve the token’s poor price performance. In the little over 24 hours since the decision to split was made final, the naysayers appear to have been wrong. QUICK’s price is up over 6% in 24 hours and over 15% in 7 days. This marks the asset’s largest percent gain since December 2021 when it rapidly increased by over 56% in a single day following StrongNode’s announcement that they would launch a syrup pool on QuickSwap where holders could stake QUICK to earn SNE. With a market cap of $59.39 million and a 24-hour trading volume of $11.21 million (according to crypto.com), QUICK is outperforming the market for the first time in a long time. The asset’s sharp upwards spike began on March 13th, approximately one day after the DEX’s governance vote had begun. While it is still possible that this recent upwards trend is unrelated to the decision to split, the timing of this increase aligns with stock market trends. When Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) announced a 5:1 stock split in August 2020, shares rose 81% before the split happened and another 42% in the following months.If Tesla is any indicator of what could come next for QUICK, the sky’s the limit. Assets with low market cap like QUICK’s can appreciate in mere moments with large market buys. Of course, there’s no guarantee that QUICK will perform like Tesla, but time will tell. Continue reading on CoinQuora More