Aurelia Butler

Validators selected for the program will receive nominations from the Web3 Foundation, the development agency for Polkadot. The process boosts their visibility and involvement in the network, while also opening up opportunities for staking rewards.The application window is open until October 31, 2024. Validators can apply for up to two nodes per network and are allowed to share information about their services on the Polkadot Forum to gain community nominations. The selection process will consider various factors, such as technical skills, reliability, and active engagement in Polkadot’s governance and community discussions.Selected validators will be part of a four-month cohort starting in November 2024. Their performance during this time will be evaluated, with a chance to extend their participation based on the review.The program will run for an initial four-month period starting in November 2024, with the possibility of extension based on performance.The team behind Polkadot says the Decentralized Nodes Program addresses challenges in blockchain networks, particularly issues of centralization and security. They believe that a wider distribution of validators makes the network more resilient to attacks or failures. Validators in the Polkadot network are computer nodes or servers responsible for verifying the validity of parachain blocks assigned to them. They also take part in consensus with other validators through a hybrid protocol that separates the finality gadget from the block production process. Validators earn rewards for successfully validating blocks, but they are also “slashed” (fined) for any bad behavior. Anyone can apply to become a candidate for validator elections. Polkadot’s nominated proof of stake (NPoS) protocol regularly selects the active validator set based on the amount of stake supporting each candidate. This stake can come from the candidate’s own self-stake or from backing by nominators.  More

WhiteBIT’s recent campaign has set a new benchmark in blockchain marketing by seamlessly integrating cryptocurrency into everyday experiences, capturing the excitement of football while bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds.In spite of this, as of 2023, there are over 300 million cryptocurrency users worldwide, with approximately 5% of the global population owning some form of digital currency. This rapid growth is fueled by increasing institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and technological advancements like decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Yet, for cryptocurrency to achieve mainstream acceptance, companies must continue to innovate in ways that lower entry barriers for new users.That’s where companies like WhiteBIT are stepping in, using innovative strategies to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds. With its roots in Ukraine, WhiteBIT has grown into one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in Europe, continuously expanding its reach and pioneering new ways to integrate digital assets into daily life. The latest initiative— ATB, one of Ukraine’s largest supermarket chains with 1228 stores and about 4 million customers a day. The country’s largest private business ranked among the top 250 global retailers by Deloitte. Grab Your Groceries and Collect CryptoOne of the most significant barriers to widespread cryptocurrency adoption is the perception that it is too complex or inaccessible to the average person. WhiteBIT’s June 2024 campaign challenged this narrative by taking crypto out of niche digital spaces and bringing it into a familiar, everyday context—grocery shopping. By launching a football-themed collectible card initiative within ATB stores, WhiteBIT leveraged national passions, retail familiarity, and digital rewards, transforming the crypto experience into something tangible and approachable.The cards, categorized as Regular, Legendary, and Epic, offered varying degrees of rarity, mimicking the thrill of chance that has long driven consumer interest in collectibles. Furthermore, the digital bonuses—ranging from 0.5 USDT for purchasing Epic card packs to 250,000 USDT for completing full card collections—added a layer of financial incentive, blending entertainment with tangible rewards.By combining traditional retail with blockchain technology, this initiative introduced a unique proposition: opportunity of getting a crypto bonus while shopping for everyday essentials. For 4 million daily ATB customers, purchasing a football card for 20 UAH (approximately $0.55) was no longer just a nostalgic nod to their childhood but also a seamless entry into the world of cryptocurrency. Through this collaboration, WhiteBIT not only engaged sports enthusiasts but also introduced the concept of digital currency to new users who might not have otherwise interacted with it. Measuring Campaign Effectiveness: Key Metrics and Their Marketing SignificanceThe campaign’s key objectives—boosting brand awareness, engaging a previously “cold” audience unfamiliar with crypto, and supporting national sentiment around Euro 2024—were all met with remarkable success. By embedding itself into a cultural and retail context, WhiteBIT gained national visibility, while positioning itself as a user-friendly entry point into the world of crypto.The campaign delivered outstanding results, drawing substantial engagement from customers. A total of 231,938 players took part in the promotion, showcasing the broad appeal of the initiative. Impressively, 15,000 of these participants completed their entire football card collections, each earning a bonus of 5 USDT, contributing to a total of 100,000 USDT distributed in rewards.The WhiteBIT campaign was meticulously crafted to achieve several strategic objectives, each contributing to the broader goals of both companies:Strategic ObjectivesFor more information, users can visit: https://whitebit.com/[email protected] article was originally published on Chainwire More