Cryptocurrency

Foresight Ventures, the first and only crypto-focused VC bridging East and West, and Primitive Ventures, a frontier prop investment firm believing in financial populism and technolibertarianism, has unveiled its “GTM in Asia” report today. This comprehensive analysis explores Asia’s vibrant crypto markets, offering a critical guide for navigating the region’s unique challenges and opportunities.Asia is the heartbeat of the global crypto ecosystem, accounting for 60% of worldwide crypto users and contributing the largest share of global liquidity. The region’s dynamism stems from its diverse cultural philosophies, economic structures, and behavioral nuances.Key findings highlight:Forest Bai, Co-Founder of Foresight Ventures, noted:About Foresight VenturesForesight Ventures is the first and only crypto VC bridging East and West. With a research-driven approach and offices in the US and Singapore, they are a powerhouse in crypto investment and incubation. Their premier media network includes The Block, Foresight News, BlockTempo, and Coinness. Foresight Ventures aggressively invest in the most daring innovations. they are dedicated to partnering with visionary projects and top teams to help them succeed, reshaping the future of digital finance and beyond.For more information, users can visit: Website | Twitter | LinkedIn | Discord | LinktreeFor media requests, please contact media@foresightventures.com. About Primitive VenturesPrimitive Ventures is a multi-strategy investment firm led by industry veteran Dovey Wan. The firm believes in the cypherpunk spirit as the driving force behind financial populism and technolibertarianism. Over the past 10 years, Primitive Ventures has incubated and invested in over 50 unicorn protocols and on-chain economies, making it a trusted partner for the next generation of decentralized economy leaders. For more information, users can visit: Website | Twitter For media requests, please contact info@primitive.venturesContactPR teammedia@foresightventures.comThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

Lava Network, a protocol coordinating dapp and AI agent traffic on any blockchain, is announcing the listing of its $LAVA utility token on ByBit, KuCoin, Gate, and MEXC with trading beginning today, Thursday, January 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM UTC. Lava is a novel protocol providing users with a fast and reliable experience interacting with blockchain apps. At the heart of the system is the LAVA ($LAVA) token, which routes user traffic, such as DeFi transactions and data queries, between wallets, data providers, and blockchains. LAVA holders are integral to the network, staking their tokens to direct traffic to the fastest and most reliable providers. This drives superior performance and scalability across 40+ chains, with Lava processing over 100 billion transaction requests to date, making LAVA an essential tool for maintaining a high-performing network with minimal downtime. Key integrations with Lava Network include leading dApps and enterprises such as Keplr, Paraswap, Axelar, and Hypernative, all of which depend on LAVA to keep their user traffic flowing smoothly and efficiently.Strong Fundamentals Behind $LAVALava’s rapid growth is backed by its robust fundamentals. Since its Mainnet pre-launch in late July 2024, the network has secured over $3.5 million in ARR and $1m+ in onchain revenue. Its tokenomics model fosters long-term value: LAVA’s supply is capped at 1 billion tokens, with no inflationary mechanisms. All investor and team allocations are locked until 2026. LAVA’s tokenomics include a monthly burn mechanism that dynamically adjusts to attract more data providers to the network, with 1.5% of the total token supply burned so far.Lava also offers a first-of-its-kind revenue-sharing model where contributors can potentially earn rewards directly in the native tokens of supported blockchains. Over $1 million is currently being distributed in native tokens such as AXL, NEAR, and USDC, to LAVA stakers and data providers for securing and optimizing the protocol. Staking rewards can be explored at pools.lavanet.xyz, offering users a direct incentive to participate in the network’s growth.For more information, users can visit lavanet.xyz. About Lava NetworkLava Network enables 24/7 access to blockchain apps, with minimal downtime. Lava is a protocol which coordinates traffic from AI agents, apps and wallets on every blockchain. Lava aggregates RPC (NYSE:RES) providers and directs the flow of transactions and data queries such as your wallet balance, based on the speed and reliability of the provider. The protocol has secured $3.5m+ in revenue, with chains and apps like NEAR, Starknet, Filecoin, and Axelar already paying LAVA stakers and providers $1m+ to offer ultra-reliable service. ContactRachel McIntoshLava Networkrachel@angle42.coThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

Nexera announces the launch of its Layer 1 blockchain purpose-built to meet the demands of institutional on-chain capital markets. By embedding compliance, interoperability, and scalability at its core, Nexera Chain delivers a comprehensive solution for real-world asset tokenization, bridging traditional and decentralized finance.This innovative blockchain integrates advanced AI-driven tools for compliance, enabling automated Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), Know Your Transaction (JO:TCPJ) (KYT), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Travel Rule enforcement. Nexera Chain ensures every participant and transaction adheres to global regulatory standards, providing institutions with the confidence to operate in a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape. Its design aligns with the principles of frameworks such as the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), offering a strong foundation for compliance without compromising efficiency or innovation.Nexera Chain stands out by addressing the long-standing challenges of blockchain adoption in institutional markets. Its compliance-first infrastructure eliminates the inefficiencies and security gaps caused by fragmented solutions, ensuring seamless integration of regulatory requirements.The blockchain’s omnichain interoperability enables fluid connections across public and private networks as well as legacy systems. This removes barriers to liquidity and data flow, paving the way for institutions to scale their tokenization efforts while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and security.The platform also simplifies tokenization for developers and enterprises with its developer-friendly APIs, SDKs, and white-label solutions. These tools streamline the process of bringing both tangible and digital assets on-chain, ensuring compliance across the entire asset lifecycle.Central to Nexera Chain is the ERC-7208 standard, a universal framework for managing tokenized assets, data, and identity across multiple networks. By standardizing these components, ERC-7208 supports consistent cross-chain activity and unlocks new opportunities for businesses to innovate within a scalable, interoperable environment.With over $1 billion in aggregate value represented across the Nexera ecosystem, including applications in tokenized real estate, art, carbon credit, GPUs, and more, Nexera Chain demonstrates its ability to deliver measurable value. Its unified infrastructure bridges the gap between traditional financial systems and blockchain technology, creating a compliant, scalable, and efficient platform for institutional adoption.About Nexera ChainNexera Chain is the first compliance-ready Layer 1 blockchain purpose-built to meet the demands of institutional on-chain capital markets. By embedding compliance, interoperability, and scalability at its core, Nexera Chain delivers a comprehensive solution for real-world asset tokenization, bridging traditional and decentralized finance.ContactPR ManagerRamsey ShallalNexera Networkramsey@gelocubed.comThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

At 07:30 ET (12:30 GMT), Bitcoin fell 1.2% to $93,775.0, having fallen as low as $92,540.0 earlier in the session.The world’s largest cryptocurrency largely wiped out a new year rebound this week, tracking broader declines in risk-driven assets as traders braced for a slower pace of rate cuts in 2025. Broader crypto prices also retreated, although losses on Thursday were more biased towards Bitcoin after reports said the Department of Justice had received court approval to sell coins confiscated from the Silk Road marketplace.Media reports said that the DOJ had received court approval to sell roughly 69,370 Bitcoin seized from a crackdown on online black market Silk Road in 2014.The total value of the tokens amounts to about $6.5 billion, and represents a heavy dose of selling pressure on the world’s biggest cryptocurrency.The DOJ has sold off its confiscated crypto holdings in the past, and was recently seen mobilizing its Bitcoin hoard for a potential sale. Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) has a contract with the DOJ to handle the government’s crypto sales.The Bitcoin sale also quashed some hopes that the DOJ would convert its Bitcoin holdings into a strategic reserve under incoming President Donald Trump.Trump has vowed to create a national Bitcoin reserve, although it remains unclear how he will achieve this. Broader crypto prices fell in tandem with Bitcoin, as risk appetite was eroded by hawkish signals from the Fed.The minutes of the central bank’s December meeting reiterated the Fed’s plan to cut interest rates at a slower pace in 2025, amid resilience in the U.S. economy and concerns over sticky inflation.Policymakers were also seen expressing some concerns over inflation remaining underpinned by expansionary and protectionist policies under Trump, which could keep rates higher for longer.Higher rates bode poorly for speculative assets such as crypto, given that they weigh on investor appetite for risk-driven assets.Among altcoins, Ether fell 1.1% to $3,305.80 after clocking steep losses earlier in the week. XRP fell 0.8% to $2.3069, Solana, Cardano, and Polygon fell dropped during the session.(Peter Nurse contributed to his article.) More

Story harnesses Stability AI open models to connect creators and developers, pushing open-source AI innovationStory, the world’s intellectual property blockchain has announced its use of Stability AI’s cutting-edge models to usher in a new era of open-source AI development, that allows contributors – creators, developers, artists – to capture the value they create by contributing to the AI ecosystem. With the use of Stability AI’s technology, Story aims to address the critical challenge of properly attributing, tracking, and monetizing creative work generated via AI.Story is focused on addressing the lack of a clear path for creators to monetize their derivative works in the open-source ecosystem. Despite the incredible progress in AI, proper attribution and monetization for creators’ IP has not kept up with the rate of innovation.Story and its ecosystem applications will use Stability AI’s leading foundational image models to build AI applications that embed tracking of contributions across the AI development life cycle to enable fair compensation to all creators involved with a monetized output. Mahojin and ABLO are two AI applications building on Story that leverage Stability AI’s foundation models and Story’s blockchain technology. Mahojin, a search-to-generate AI remixing platform and ABLO, a collaborative AI platform that allows creators to design physical goods with leading brand IPs use Stability AI’s models to allow users to easily bring their creative vision to life and Story’s technology to enable better provenance and attribution across the AI stack. These two projects showcase real-world use cases and illustrate how to unlock new ways for creators to safeguard their IP and earn from their contributions in a dynamic, shared creative economy.By leveraging Stability AI’s cutting-edge models, Story is taking a key step toward creating a sustainable and fair internet in the age of AI.About Story​Story is the world’s IP blockchain, transforming IPs into networks that transcend mediums and platforms, unleashing global creativity and liquidity. Visit Story’s website to learn more.About PIP (Programmable IP) Labs:PIP Labs, an initial core contributor to the Story Network, is backed by investors, including a16z crypto, Endeavor, and Polychain. PIP Labs was co-founded by a serial entrepreneur with a $440M exit and Deepmind’s youngest PM with the veteran founding executive team with a diverse background in consumer tech, generative AI, and Web3 infrastructure. ContactHead of CommunicationsHVPIP Labshenri.vies@storyprotocol.xyzThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

The upward trendline that was established during its late 2024 rally has clearly broken out on the chart. Buyers appear to be losing steam, which indicates a loss of momentum. As overly leveraged positions are unwound, a noticeable increase in selling pressure has also resulted in significant liquidations in the futures market. Since the market is currently fragile, these liquidations have probably accelerated the decline.Many analysts view this dip as a healthy correction, and Bitcoin is still in a long-term bullish structure despite the retracement. The levels of $92,500 and $87,500 are important support levels to keep an eye on because they might serve as reentry points for buyers. On the other hand, resistance at $100,000 will probably be a major obstacle that will need to be overcome by strong market sentiment.There are challenges facing the larger cryptocurrency market as well, and macroeconomic uncertainty is one of them. But given Bitcoin’s solid foundation — which includes growing institutional interest and adoption — if the market as a whole stabilizes in the upcoming months, the $100,000 mark might be tested again.The main concern for the time being will be whether Bitcoin can hold onto its present support levels and steer clear of more significant corrections. Because of the continued liquidations and increased volatility, traders should exercise caution. When navigating such market conditions, patience and careful risk management are crucial, as always.After that, $0.00001750 becomes the next important support area. If neither level is maintained, SHIB may enter previously unheard-of bearish territory and lose most of its recent gains. The level of $0.00002350 is still the first resistance level that SHIB must overcome in order to have any chance of recovering.A break above this would target $0.00002500, a crucial level for reversing the market’s trend toward bullishness. Larger holders’ profit-taking and a more general market correction appear to be the main causes of the recent sell-off. Despite its downturn, SHIB’s speculative appeal and community-driven nature may pique buyers’ interest again if they see the decline as a chance.The ability of SHIB to hold the 200 EMA is critical going forward. A short-term recovery toward $0.00002350 could be triggered by a bounce from this level. However, if this support is not maintained, a longer downtrend is probably in store, with $0.00001750 serving as the next safety net. Traders should keep a close eye on the next sessions because the token’s next course will probably be determined by how it moves around these crucial levels. Because of the ongoing market volatility, it is advisable to proceed with caution.Over the past week, Bitcoin has lost 5.4% of its value, falling below the crucial $100,000 mark. Ethereum, which is currently trading at $3,365, is also experiencing a weekly decline of 8.42%. Solana has also been severely impacted, losing 8.92% during that same period. In light of this, XRP’s relative strength is highlighted by its capacity to hold and even climb.With resistance at $2.50 and strong support at $2.10, XRP is consolidating within a triangle pattern on the technical side. A break above $2.50 might push XRP closer to $3.00, a crucial technical and psychological level. If the $2.10 support is lost, there may be a retracement to $1.90, where the 100 EMA offers more support.Large volumes of liquidations have made the overall market’s weakness worse, but XRP seems to have fared better than most during this upheaval. Its recent performance points to rising investor confidence, which may be driven by its distinct market dynamics and hope for its usefulness.In the future, XRP’s capacity to maintain its momentum will rely on its ability to overcome the $2.50 resistance while monitoring market developments. In a market that is generally bearish, its current strength sets it apart and suggests that if general conditions improve, there may be more upside ahead.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Saylor captioned an AI-generated image of him holding a physical BTC with the words: “Everyone is going to want your Bitcoin.”It is interesting that this post collides with a significant milestone for the leading cryptocurrency, as today marks 16 years since Satoshi Nakamoto announced in 2009 that Bitcoin would have a hard-capped supply of 21 million.Currently, the supply of Bitcoin in circulation is estimated to be around 19.8 million, with the full supply set to be unlocked in 2140, according to Nakamoto’s algorithm.However, with the Bitcoin creator disappearing from the internet with allegedly one million BTC and many coins believed to be locked away forever in forgotten wallets, many believe that 21 million BTC will never be recovered.This highlights the fact that Saylor and MicroStrategy hold approximately 447,470 BTC, making them one of the largest corporate holders of Bitcoin. It is, indeed, a race where everyone wants their piece of the cryptocurrency pie, and as Saylor continues to buy BTC for eight weeks in a row, his desire is becoming a reality.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Glassnode’s post implies that some Bitcoin holders are selling, regardless of how long they have held onto the coin. This explains the current sell-off in the broader cryptocurrency market, a shift from the trend in December 2024, when the market experienced net accumulation.Analysts consider this a bearish sentiment as more investors seek to lock in profits. This could signal a downturn in the market that might extend the current price slump.As of this writing, Bitcoin is exchanging hands at $95,248.89, representing a 4.68% decline in the last 24 hours. The trading volume has registered an uptick of 46.66% to $69.99 billion, signaling increased activity on the market.Kiyosaki also highlighted the decreasing volume of Bitcoin left to be mined as less than two million. This emphasizes the need for investors to accumulate the asset now that the price has experienced a temporary decline.However, a Bitcoin critic, Peter Schiff, holds a different perspective on Bitcoin’s price action. He foresees a crash soon after buyers realize the U.S. government will not buy the coin.This article was originally published on U.Today More