Cryptocurrency

Decentraland, the first decentralized virtual social world, launched a powerful new desktop client today, signaling a new era for experiencing spatial environments. This beta release enhances performance, delivers a more immersive environment, and introduces new engaging features, setting the stage for future innovations and expanded creator tools. This milestone marks the shift away from a browser-based experience, replaced by a more stable, Unity-powered desktop client and the new Creator Hub, aligning with Decentraland’s vision for an interconnected metaverse. With this release, Decentraland is laying the groundwork for its next chapter, as the new desktop client and code base offer the capabilities needed to expand into VR and mobile experiences.The new desktop client serves as the cornerstone for this evolution, ensuring that Decentraland remains a top-tier platform for immersive, decentralized virtual experiences.The future of Decentraland and virtual social worlds starts now. Experience a revitalized, interactive digital environment by downloading the new desktop client available on Mac and Windows. For more information and to download the new client, users can visit Decentraland.About Decentraland Decentraland is the first decentralized, community-driven virtual social world. It empowers users to create, explore, and connect within an open, immersive digital landscape where they fully own their digital assets. Whether hosting virtual events or designing their digital identity, individuals can shape a world that prioritizes self-expression and freedom—free from the constraints of corporate control. Governed by its community through a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) and supported by a non-profit Foundation, Decentraland operates as an open-source, traversable world that encourages creativity, ownership, and innovation. By fostering collaboration and community, Decentraland is shaping the future of digital interaction, where individuals can truly own and build their digital lives.ContactJo Huntjo@serotonin.coThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

Starting October 1, 2024, all active users of miBA, the city’s digital platform for accessing government services and documents, received their own decentralized digital identity (DID). These DIDs are secured by QuarkID’s wallet and settled on Era, a Layer 2 blockchain powered by ZKsync. This initiative positions Buenos Aires as a pioneer in transforming government services through blockchain technology, setting a new global standard for privacy-focused digital identity.Empowering Citizens with Ownership and ControlIn a world where governments and institutions traditionally own and manage citizens’ data, Buenos Aires is turning the model upside down by giving citizens direct ownership of their personal information. Through QuarkID, individuals can now access, store, and share their verified credentials — like birth certificates or tax documents — securely and independently.This self-sovereign identity approach gives citizens control over their personal data. Rather than relying on physical documents that expose unnecessary information, such as a full name or address when proving one’s age, residents can now verify their credentials peer-to-peer through their mobile devices. This guarantees that no third party, including the government, can track when, how, or why a credential is being used.At the core of this initiative are QuarkID’s open-source digital trust framework powered by ZKsync’s zero-knowledge proof blockchain technology, which brings a new level of security, privacy, and transparency to how personal data is managed:Since the initial announcement of QuarkID in September 2023, Buenos Aires has worked closely with partners such as Extrimian to transition miBA’s centralized system to a decentralized one. QuarkID allows residents to view, download, and share documents while also serving as the login portal for all government systems to schedule appointments, carry out procedures, or submit requests. Citizens can now access any of the City’s systems (previously miBA login) by simply scanning a QR code—no password required.With the integration of QuarkID, miBA users will have access to over 60 digital documents and certificates, including but not limited to:In addition to its use in Buenos Aires, QuarkID has successfully conducted pilot programs in Mexico, Colombia, and Peru, and is slated for future adoption in other Argentine provinces, including Salta.As an open-source Digital Public Good, QuarkID invites developers, enterprises, and institutions to contribute to its continued growth. The framework offers a secure, decentralized infrastructure that can be adapted for secure logins, identity verification, and even loyalty programs across various industries.miBA is the digital platform for accessing services and documents issued by the Government of Buenos Aires. Used by more than 3.6 million residents, miBA offers secure access to government services, document viewing, and management, all from a mobile app. Now, with the integration of QuarkID technology, miBA is taking a major step toward self-sovereign digital identity, giving citizens more control and security over their personal data.About QuarkIDQuarkID is a digital protocol that implements a new trust framework for creating and managing digital identities and all their credentials in a decentralized manner, using asymmetric cryptography and the immutability of the blockchain to establish trust in a digital world. It is open-source and based on international standards such as those from W3C, Trust Over IP, and Decentralized Identity Foundation. It is designed to be interoperable with other protocols created around the world.About ExtrimianExtrimian is a leading company in Latin America specializing in digital identity solutions on the blockchain. Its mission is to empower individuals and organizations through decentralized technologies that allow full control over digital identity and personal data.About ZKsyncZKsync leverages cutting-edge zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to create secure, scalable, and interoperable blockchain solutions. Through its ZK Stack framework, ZKsync enables developers, enterprises, and financial institutions to deploy customizable ZK Chains, forming the Elastic (NYSE:ESTC) Chain ecosystem. This innovative network offers native, trustless interoperability, enhanced privacy, and unparalleled scalability while maintaining Ethereum’s security. ZKsync’s mission is to bring crypto to the mainstream, empowering millions of developers and billions of users with digital self-ownership and personal freedom. To learn more, users can visit zksync.io.ContactHenri Viesmgroup@matterlabs.devThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

According to the author, the asset that deserves such an honor right now is…silver, with the price of the metal destined to hit $50 an ounce, in his opinion. Although silver has previously been mentioned by Kiyosaki on a par with gold and Bitcoin, it has usually received less praise than the latter two. There are several reasons for this performance. From a technical point of view, it is the huge “cup and handle” pattern that usually plays on the bullish side and, once completed, can precede large upward price movements.Another reason is that gold is now hitting all-time highs on a daily basis, and that is when the fear of missing out drives traders and investors to chase beta in order to cut their own slice of the pie. On a more fundamental note, silver is in high demand today and is actively used in the medical, engineering, photographic, electronics and defense industries. At the same time, 95% of the world’s silver is used for industrial purposes. Combine this with the fact that there is very little silver in free circulation, and you have the perfect storm. For BTC and gold, the rise of silver may mean less attention and less volatility in general, but that remains to be seen.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Saylor also spoke unfavorably of OG Bitcoiners and all those who prefer to hold their private keys to Bitcoin wallets for fear that BTC stored with private custodians may be confiscated one day, similarly to gold in the 1930s.People started bringing in their gold and received $20.37 per ounce in return. This was a move to help the Federal Reserve issue more dollars during the Great Depression since it received more gold to back them with. However, the official reason was to prevent private gold hoarding.In a recent interview, Michael Saylor refuted the narrative that gold was confiscated, saying that people turned it in of their own free will, stating that when the gold was collected, Roosevelt devalued gold in terms of USD, making one ounce go for $35 rather than $20.37, as it had been before.Saylor stated that the fears of many OG Bitcoiners about the U.S. government confiscating BTC in the future from public custodians are groundless, since back in 1933, the U.S. was on the gold standard, and now it is not on the Bitcoin standard. He called these Bitcoiners “paranoid crypto anarchists” who defy governments and taxes.“And then it can drive the price of that Bitcoin lower by decreasing its utility,” Mow added. While the U.S. is not technically backed by Bitcoin, he said, the government still has an incentive “to degrade and attack Bitcoin” because it can print dollars forever, and BTC with its limited supply goes against this principle.This article was originally published on U.Today More

While speculation over a Donald Trump victory had initially boosted crypto prices, recent polls pointed to a tight race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, denting risk appetite. Broader risk-driven assets retreated, which in turn weighed on sentiment towards crypto. Strength in the dollar also pressured crypto prices, while safe haven demand saw gold hit record highs.Bitcoin fell 1.8% to $66,974.0 by 09:12 ET (13:12 GMT). The token had risen as far as $69,000, but failed to break above $70,000, which was expected to mark a bullish turn for the token. The world’s largest cryptocurrency was pulled off recent highs by increasing uncertainty over the U.S. elections, with just about two weeks left to the ballot. Improving odds for Trump had been a key driver of crypto’s price gains in the past week, especially given that the Republican candidate has maintained a largely pro-crypto stance. Encouraging comments from Harris- on potential crypto regulation- also buoyed sentiment.But analysts now saw the 2024 race as too close to call, sparking broader uncertainty in risk-driven markets and pushing traders more towards safe havens such as gold and the dollar. Prediction markets still leaned largely towards a Trump victory, with Polymarket showing Trump at a 63.7% chance over Harris’ 36.4% chance. Open interest (OI) in Bitcoin futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) has soared to a new all-time high as of Oct. 18, exceeding $12.26 billion. This represents a marked jump of over 36% in the past two weeks and tops the previous record, set in April, by more than 3.5%.The recent surge in OI represents a notable uptick from the levels seen during the summer, with the current figure being the highest since April 1, when CME’s OI reached $11.84 billion.This growing activity in CME futures suggests that institutional investors are increasing their positions, likely in anticipation of continued volatility or a potential rise in Bitcoin prices.Open interest refers to the total number of unsettled futures contracts. A record high in OI indicates a growing number of market participants engaging in Bitcoin futures trading.Bitcoin and broader risk-driven assets were also pressured by increasing conviction that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at a slower pace in the coming months.This notion put the dollar at near three-month highs and boosted Treasury yields, which in turn pressured speculative, risk-driven assets. Traders were also seen pricing in a higher terminal rate for the Fed. Broader crypto markets also retreated, tracking declines in Bitcoin. World no.2 crypto Ether fell 2.7% to $2,621.12.ADA and MATIC fell between 0.3% and 3%, while XRP lost 3.5%.Among meme tokens, DOGE slid 2.8%.Ambar Warrick contributed to this report.  More

Aventus, a leading provider of enterprise blockchain solutions and parachain on Polkadot, today confirms the launch of Aventus 2.0, an evolution of the Aventus Network aimed at establishing a stronger foundation for long-term growth and value capture. The update introduces several strategic initiatives designed to enhance network performance and stakeholder utility, including increasing transaction volume and overall network usage, expanding the ecosystem through successful partnerships with Layer 3 appchains, enhancing token holder engagement via a liquidity mining program, and reducing token supply via a burn mechanism. The vision for Aventus 2.0 was developed by MVP Workshop, a Blockchain Product Research & Development Studio who designed Polygon Edge and Astar Network, in collaboration with Scytale Digital and the Aventus Services team.Following the approval of a community governance proposal in which AVT token holders voted in favour of executing this vision, the Aventus Services team will implement the Aventus 2.0 plan over the next four months. This process underscores Aventus’s commitment to stakeholder-driven decision-making, ensuring that major network decisions are made through community consensus.Aventus 2.0 comprises three main components: About AventusAventus transforms how customers create trust and unlock growth, crafting pioneering Web3 solutions for brands, from creating more connected, integrated experiences to enhancing traceability, transparency, and product authentication. Founded in 2020, Aventus is the only trusted digital product extension platform that provides a secure and reliable Web3 environment for customers to launch market-leading programs and product activations. With deep industry expertise and a strong understanding of enterprise needs, Aventus delivers one the best feature sets of Web3 with the familiarity of Web2, driving significant brand reputation, trust, and enterprise growth for its customers. Its production-ready, end-to-end Blockchain-as-a-Service software is modular, scalable, and interoperable, giving clients the flexibility they need to respond to rapidly-evolving market opportunities.For more information, users can visit: www.aventus.io, and also their X, LinkedIn and Telegram.ContactHead of MarketingEllie HymanAventusellie.hyman@aventus.ioThis article was originally published on Chainwire More

Following its recent surge, traders are beginning to cash out or face forced liquidations, indicating hesitancy on the part of Bitcoin, which is frequently referred to as digital gold. According to the liquidation heatmap, Bitcoin comes in second, with $46.75 million in liquidated positions, while Ethereum leads with $57.43 million. This indicates that there are significant sell-offs occurring in both of the top assets. The fact that longs made up the majority of these liquidations shows how the market correction caught overly leveraged bulls off guard. The majority of liquidations on exchanges are attributed to Binance and OKX, indicating that traders on these platforms were placing extremely leveraged bets. Bitcoin tested the descending trendline resistance from earlier this year, but it was unable to make a significant break above it, according to our analysis of the price chart. The price experienced a steep retracement after reaching $68,000, indicating a possible rejection. In the event that the price is unable to recover momentum, the 50 EMA and 100 EMA may indicate consolidation or a brief correction. The next significant level of support for Bitcoin in this erratic climate is approximately $64,000, with additional downside risk if the bulls do not intervene quickly. If liquidation pressure increases, the market may be further dragged lower as the bearish sentiment continues to grow. On the upside, Bitcoin must recover and hold above $67,000 in order to restore confidence in a bullish continuation. All things considered, the current condition of the market is dubious, with price retracements and liquidation spikes fostering an unstable atmosphere. Because of the ongoing volatility, investors should exercise caution.This article was originally published on U.Today More

Polkadot’s platform allows developers to bypass the hassle of setting up their own bridges and apps, Tabrizi said. Instead, they inherit these features directly from the infrastructure, functioning like a Web3 cloud server.Polkadot provides native access to data availability systems at no extra cost, simplifying the development process. “It’s an all-in-one solution for building, just like you’d expect from a Web3 server,” he said.Polkadot’s system is one of the most energy-efficient and resilient in the blockchain space, Tabrizi added. It can produce blocks in just 0.5 seconds and secure up to 150,000 transactions per second (TPS) across 100 cores, rivaling top vertical scaling solutions without sacrificing resilience.Decentralization remains at the heart of Polkadot’s vision, and community participation continues to grow. Tabrizi shared that over 1,200 proposals have been made this year with a 32 million DOT turnout. Additionally, over 15,000 people completed free introductory courses, while hundreds of students at university level are learning to build Web3 systems through Polkadot’s programs.Polkadot’s ecosystem also hosts projects like Hydration, a DeFi chain controlled by its DAO, and Mythical, a gaming chain that ranked among the top four in NFT sales after switching from Ethereum to Polkadot. According to Tabrizi, the gaming company was attracted by Polkadot’s scalability and performance.Perhaps one of Polkadot’s most interesting projects is its partnership with Mandala to bring Indonesia’s government functions on-chain. “Polkadot is the only infrastructure that can scale to Indonesia’s needs, both today and in the future,” Tabrizi stated, elaborating on this collaboration with the world’s fourth-largest population.Tabrizi urged developers to get involved, noting that Polkadot offers open access to its tech and community, along with the best performance-to-price ratio for those ready to build in the Web3 space. More