roadrunner

According to Mastercard, the payments giant has launched non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that grant access to the Mastercard Artist Accelerator program, designed to support emerging musicians. Developed in collaboration with Polygon, the NFT project highlights Mastercard’s intent to embrace Web3 technologies. Mastercard Launches Second NFT Offering In January, Mastercard announced its partnership with Polygon to support up-and-coming artists through the Mastercard Artist Accelerator program. During the NFT.NYC conference, the company unveiled NFTs that provide entry to this program. “Until the end of the month, music and Web3 enthusiasts can redeem Mastercard Music Pass NFT,” the company stated on Wednesday. When unveiling the music artist program, Mastercard did not reveal the participating musicians, as they had not been chosen yet. The selected artists are R&B soul singer Young Athena, Venezuelan vocalist Manu Manzu, Nigerian-based artist LeriQ, pop sensation Emily Vu, and West Indian hip-hop/pop-soul artist Cocoa Sarai. Mastercard notes that these artists will receive guidance from five experts and access to an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered music studio by Warpsound. “[The artists can] kickstart their content creation, obtain mentorship, and acquire tips for using blockchain to monetize their work and build a fan community within the Web3 environment,” elaborated Mastercard’s announcement. Fans can redeem the Mastercard Music Pass NFT until the end of this month. This marks the company’s second NFT offering since June 2022 when it collaborated with Moonpay, Nifty Gateway, Candy Digital, The Sandbox, Immutable X, Spring, and Mintable to provide NFTs for cardholders. Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard’s chief marketing and communications officer and president, stated that the company’s goal is to help people and partners worldwide understand blockchain and digital assets better while also demonstrating how Mastercard technology can support this ecosystem. “We also believe that Web3 has the potential to powerfully connect people and build communities around shared passions,” added the Mastercard executive. What are your thoughts on the use of NFTs to support emerging artists and musicians? Share your opinions in the comments section below. View the full article

Bitcoin moved above $30,000 on April 11, as bullish sentiment returned to cryptocurrency markets. Markets surged after data in China showed that consumer prices had hit an 18-month low. Ethereum was also higher on the news, moving closer to $2,000. Bitcoin Bitcoin (BTC) raced above $30,000 for the first time in ten months, as markets reacted to the latest inflation data from China. Consumer prices in China rose by 0.7% in March, which is the slowest increase since September 2021. Following a low of $28,189.27 to start the week, BTC/USD raced to an intraday high of $30,160.48 earlier today. This move saw bitcoin climb to its strongest point since June 9, and comes as the 10-day (red) moving average avoided a downward cross with its 24-day (blue) counterpart. In addition to this, the relative strength index (RSI) moved above a key resistance point of 68.00, and is currently tracking at 71.05. The next visible ceiling appears to be at the 73.00 mark, and as a result, bulls may begin to secure profits, slowly vacating earlier positions. Ethereum Ethereum (ETH) was also back in the green on Tuesday, with prices once again trading above $1,900. ETH/USD hit a peak of $1,936.73 earlier in today’s session, less than 24 hours after trading at a low of $1,848.16. As a result of Tuesday’s surge in price, the world’s second largest cryptocurrency neared its highest point since last August. Looking at the chart, today’s move coincided with the RSI breaking out of a ceiling at the 61.00 mark. At the time of writing, price strength is at a reading of 64.04, with an upcoming resistance point at 65.00. Should ETH move beyond this point, there is a good chance that ETH will move back above $2,000. Register your email here to get weekly price analysis updates sent to your inbox: Will ethereum move to $2,000 this week? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. View the full article

A Layer two (L2) project, called Cryptogpt, which leverages ZK-rollup technology and artificial intelligence (AI), has announced that its team has raised $10 million in capital from a Series A funding round. The crypto and AI firm disclosed that the new funds would be used to expand into the largest Asian markets, and the company now has a valuation of $250 million. Cryptogpt Startup Raises $10 Million; Startup Now Has a $250 Million Post-Valuation Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a popular subject in 2023 as AI projects, such as Midjourney and Chatgpt, along with many other programs, have seen a surge in demand. This has sparked a significant rise in value for a number of AI-related cryptocurrency and blockchain projects this year. According to statistics from cryptoslate.com, at the time of writing, 77 AI-focused cryptocurrencies are worth $3.48 billion. On April 10, an L2 project called Cryptogpt announced that it raised $10 million in a Series A financing round. “Cryptogpt receives $10M strategic investment from largest Asian market maker to expand into biggest Asian markets,” the Cryptogpt Twitter account told its 243,200 social media followers. “New funding at a $250M valuation from DWF Labs positions $GPT both financially and strategically with the most established layer-2 developments in Web3,” the company added. Cryptogpt’s L2 network uses a native token called GPT, and the team asserts that GPT is a multi-value gas token that has high demand as fuel for network transactions. Over the past 30 days, GPT has gained 41.64%, with 14.79% of the increase recorded during the past 24 hours. Statistics show there is a circulating supply of three billion GPT, and the ERC20 version of GPT has 3,557 holders. Ten of the top GPT holders command 82.95% of the circulating supply. On April 10, Cryptogpt’s native token was trading for prices between $0.0672 to $0.0751 per unit. The AI project also introduced a chatbot called “Alex” during the first week of March. “Cryptogpt releases 1st product: Alex, [a] key to infinite knowledge of the internet,” the team said at the time. “Today, we release our AI chatbot Alex — your companion in the Cryptogpt ecosystem that can answer any question [and] complete creative tasks.” Cryptogpt also detailed that Alex is “powered by Openai models,” the company behind the popular AI application Chatgpt. What are your thoughts on the increasing intersection between artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency, and do you see this trend continuing to grow in the future? Share your thoughts about this subject in the comments section below. View the full article

PRESS RELEASE. The Seasonal Tokens economy has gone through its second change of season. Like bitcoin, the four tokens – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter – go through regular halvings of the supply from mining. Every nine months, the rate of production of one of the tokens is cut in half. On the 6th of March, the Summer halving took place. Summer went from being produced at the fastest rate of the four tokens, to the slowest. As the market adjusts to the lower rate of supply after a halving, the token that was previously the cheapest gradually becomes the most expensive. This happened with Spring after its halving in June of last year. The same process is now unfolding with Summer. Autumn tokens, which are now produced at the fastest rate of the four, have become the cheapest token, and can be expected to remain that way until the Autumn halving in December. Meanwhile, Summer is rising and is now tied with Winter for second place. The tokens are designed to slowly cycle around each other in price so that traders can take advantage of the predictable price changes and accumulate holdings over time. The rule for successful trading is simple: Always trade tokens for more tokens of a different type. This eliminates the risk of making a loss, measured in tokens, and it guarantees that the total number of tokens held increases with every trade. Before June 2022, a trader could get between 40% and 60% more tokens in total by trading Winter for Spring. After November, when Spring was the most expensive of the four, those traders could trade Spring for Summer and gain more tokens in total once again. Over the coming months, Summer will tend to become the most expensive token, giving traders a third chance to increase their holdings without spending more money. Like bitcoin, the tokens become harder to obtain over time, making them suitable for use as a store of value. Unlike bitcoin, however, holders have a way to get more coins without speculating. A trader could try to get more bitcoins by selling when the bitcoin price is expected to fall, but the price might rise instead, leaving the trader with fewer bitcoins overall. Trying to accumulate bitcoins by trading necessarily involves gambling, and comes along with a risk of loss. The predictable cycles in the relative prices of the four Seasonal Tokens make it possible to accumulate tokens through trading without the risk of ending up with fewer tokens. The total number of tokens a trader owns will increase and never decrease whenever they trade tokens for more tokens. A trader who started with 5 Autumn tokens and traded them for Spring and then Summer could exchange the Summer tokens for 10 or more Autumn tokens today. Regardless of the prices of the tokens measured in dollars or BTC, it’s better to have 10 Autumn tokens than to have 5. Trading tokens for more tokens is better than the buy-and-hold strategy. With most cryptocurrencies, holders rely on price appreciation to make a profit. With Seasonal Tokens, the tokens don’t need to appreciate in price for holders to benefit. Prices that cycle around each other predictably are just as good as prices that go up over the long term. Traders can try it out for themselves without putting any money at risk by using the Seasonal Tokens Trading Simulator. It compresses ten years of price oscillations into a 5-minute simulation, letting traders see how fast their holdings can grow over the next ten years as they trade tokens based on the changing seasons. Traders who want to accumulate tokens with real value can add the tokens to MetaMask using the buttons on the Seasonal Tokens website. After that, other digital currencies can be swapped for Seasonal Tokens inside MetaMask. The tokens are also listed on two centralized exchanges, Coinstore.com and CoinsBit.io, where they can be traded for USDT. Seasonal Tokens are the first digital assets designed specifically for seasonal trading. They allow traders to predictably beat the market by actively managing their portfolio of tokens. Instead of powerlessly hoping that their assets will appreciate over time, traders can use Seasonal Tokens to gain control of their portfolio’s performance. Seasonal trading outperforms buy-and-hold as a strategy for building wealth, and these tokens make it possible to use this superior strategy in cryptocurrency trading for the first time. Visit the website at seasonaltokens.org to learn more. https://twitter.com/Seasonal_Tokens https://seasonal-tokens.medium.com/ https://discord.gg/Q8XZgJEDD3 https://www.reddit.com/r/SeasonalTokens/ This is a press release. Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to the promoted company or any of its affiliates or services. Bitcoin.com is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in the press release. View the full article

Bank walks are a new liquidity movement phenomenon identified by analysts, characterized by a slow drift of deposits to take advantage of better yield opportunities. Such “walks” might prove to be pernicious to the banking system, as they cannot be stopped and have effects on credit availability. What Are ‘Bank Walks’? Bank walks, so called by analysts due to their slow action when compared to bank runs, are slow movements of deposits caused by the constant search for higher yields. According to an ongoing study titled “Destabilizing Digital Bank Walks,” they “cannot be stopped by any deposit insurance and that will undermine the stability of the banking system in the months to come.” The study remarks that regulators often consider deposits as sticky, meaning they are composed of the savings of depositors, and don’t move often. This means that banks can put part of these deposits into treasuries of a determined maturity. However, the study found that these deposits, as a consequence of digital banking, are not so sticky as they were once considered, and can move around the financial system freely. This exposes banks to losses derived from the sale of treasuries and other instruments before their maturity, and banks can only absorb so much of the losses before defaulting. Alleged Negative Effect on Credit Subsequently, bank walks are said to have a negative effect on the availability of credit. The slow siphoning of funds to higher yield alternatives such as money market funds operating the U.S. Federal Reserve reverse repo, could lead to a credit crunch. There are currently more than $2 trillion in funds that are part of this facility, which was created back in 2013. According to Jim Bianco, president of Bianco Research, a market analysis firm, the United State Fed’s upcoming interest rate decision could be decisive in the further development of a “bank powerwalk.” On April 9, he stated: If the Fed decides to raise rates again, next month, money market funds will soon be advertising yields with a five handle. That will turn the bank walk into a ‘bank powerwalk.’ Bianco added that this outflow of deposits is likely to affect small companies that employ the majority of the workforce of the country, which are served best by small and medium-size banks. What do you think about the concept of bank walks and their hypothetical effect on credit? Tell us in the comment section below. View the full article

PRESS RELEASE. Tokyo, Japan, April 11th 2023, Chainwire. TemDAO is a world heritage project that seeks to protect and preserve cultural assets through donations and democracy. The project, powered by the $TEM token, ensures the long-term sustainability of global cultural sites. Recently, TemDAO has made notable donations for preservation efforts in Ukraine, Turkey, and other regions worldwide. These actions aim to help communities preserve their existence and their global heritage. The team underlines the importance of recognizing the significance of preserving the world’s shared cultural history. TemDAO aims to positively impact global culture through its unique strategy and solutions. The Team’s Strategy for World Heritage and Cultural Assets Protection TemDAO has an innovative strategy for protecting world heritage and cultural assets. The project intends to empower individuals and organizations to stimulate projects that preserve these important resources. As a current initiative, the TemDAO team is working with Ninna-ji temple, one of the temples in Kyoto, Japan. There are many temples in Kyoto, but they have the problem of aging and need to be repaired or rebuilt. Ninna-ji Temple and TemDAO are working together to attempt to reconstruct the temple through donations. The project relies on transparent transactions in which all expenses are recorded on-chain, making corruption impossible and allowing for offering special utilities to collaborators who agree with their aims. The proposed utility is the right to stay in a special part of the temple. That room has an important historical significance, where an old emperor used to live. Wouldn’t it be historic to be able to stay in the same room and experience the same feelings? TemDAO is exploring the possibility of connecting the world of Buddhism at Ninna-ji Temple with the reality of their DAO to achieve sustainable protection and restoration of Ninna-ji Temple. A System Fueled by Democracy and the $TEM Token TemDAO is a platform that utilizes blockchain technology to facilitate the protection and maintenance of global heritage sites. It features two forms of democratic governance: off-chain voting, known as ‘soft’ governance, and on-chain voting. The $TEM token serves as the fuel for this system, with multiple use cases: It allows holders to lock $TEM. The operation enables the community to govern fundraising proposals and decide fund allocation. It enables the community to pay commission fees for IP-NFT trading. Staking $TEM creates a pool for fundraising and project reviews. Depositing $TEM allows users to become nodes that review projects while deterring cheating. The $TEM token distribution aims to provide incentives for all stakeholders in a democratic manner. Specifically, most of the tokens (62%) go to the ecosystem. This includes participants in World Heritage or cultural asset protection and funds for equipment and repairs. Additionally, 14% of the tokens help the team push its marketing efforts. The same quantity (14%) goes to developing the platform and its supporting services. The remaining 10% is in the hands of TemDAO stakeholders, such as the team, investors, prospective employees, and strategic partners. TemDAO’s decentralized governance mechanism preserves world history by balancing token utility and fund allocation. The Project’s Recent Donations for World Heritage Preservation The TEM project team has recently donated to several organizations to support the people and communities affected by global events. All of these donations were made from $TEM profits. In particular, they have donated funds to aid Ukraine following the Russian invasion of 2022. The team donated for relief efforts after an earthquake hit Turkey in February 2023. The team has contributed to NPOs and NGOs such as “Save the Children,” “Binance Charity,” and others through these donations. The project’s mission is to make sure that the world’s heritage is preserved and protected. In such a context, donations represent a direct way of contributing to this goal. The project team is committed to ensuring their donations are put to good use. About TemDAO TemDAO is a world heritage protection and development DAO accelerator. The project provides a large ecosystem of resources and support to fund, govern, and develop cultural properties worldwide. TemDAO uses a decentralized, democratic governance system powered by the $TEM token. This approach preserves and maintains world heritage sites through off-chain and on-chain voting processes and more. The team has recently partnered with the Giving Block, a popular name in the world of crypto charities. The Giving Block has gradually built a reputation as the go-to platform for nonprofits looking to accept cryptocurrency donations. This partnership is a great opportunity for TemDAO to enhance its mission of protecting the world’s precious heritage sites and accelerating its fundraising efforts. The project’s recent donations go in the same direction, providing relief and support to communities affected by global crises. By doing so, TemDAO ensures the preservation of the world’s heritage for future generations. TemDAO’s website and social media pages below provide more information about the platform, its features, and how it works. Twitter | Telegram Contact Marketing Director Kei Sugimura info@temdao.io This is a press release. Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to the promoted company or any of its affiliates or services. Bitcoin.com is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in the press release. View the full article

Investment bank MPS Capital Services has warned that the U.S. economy will be in a recession by year-end. The firm’s strategist predicts that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by an additional 25 basis points, warning that the central bank’s monetary tightening “will drag down on the economy.” Strategist’s Recession and Rate Hike Predictions Luca Mannucci, head of Market Strategy at MPS Capital Services, has warned that the U.S. will be dragged into a recession by year-end and the U.S. dollar will plunge as much as 5% against other currencies in the second half of this year, Bloomberg reported Thursday. MPS Capital Services is an Italian corporate and investment bank, part of the banking group that includes Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena SpA. The strategist was quoted as saying: We expect the recession in the U.S. by year-end … The tightening of the monetary policy will drag down on the economy. Mannucci predicts that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by an additional 25 basis points, while the European Central Bank (ECB) is expected to increase rates by at least two quarter-points. He expects the U.S. dollar to depreciate by about 3% against the euro in the coming months due to the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes, the news outlet conveyed, noting that the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index has already dropped 1.6% this year, and it has fallen approximately 10% from September’s record high. The MPS strategist further warned that the failure of several regional U.S. banks, along with the issues faced by Credit Suisse, could result in tighter credit conditions and hurt the economy. Many people have predicted a recession in the U.S. The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Neel Kashkari, says the current banking crisis has pushed the U.S. economy closer to a recession. Economist David Rosenberg has warned of a “crash landing” and an impending recession for the U.S. economy. Gold bug Peter Schiff cautioned that the U.S. will face a financial crisis and a “much more severe recession” than the Fed recognizes. Meanwhile, billionaire “bond king” Jeffrey Gundlach foresees “painful outcomes” in the next recession. What do you think about the predictions by the MPS strategist? Let us know in the comments section below. View the full article

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Investor Advisory Committee has advised the SEC to “aggressively” assert authority over crypto assets that are securities. The advisory committee believes that “virtually all, if not all, crypto tokens are securities,” urging the regulator to “make crypto asset-related enforcement a top priority.” SEC Urged to ‘Aggressively’ Assert Authority Over Crypto Securities The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Investor Advisory Committee (IAC) submitted its view on the regulation of crypto assets to the SEC on Thursday. The committee was established under Section 911 of the Dodd-Frank Act to advise the securities watchdog on regulatory priorities. In their letter to SEC Chairman Gary Gensler, IAC Chair Christopher Mirabile and Vice Chair Leslie Van Buskirk explained that they are submitting the view articulated “as a consensus of the IAC members.” They wrote: We believe that virtually all, if not all, crypto tokens are securities and that they, as well as the platforms and custodians dealing with them, are subject to regulation under the federal securities laws to protect investors. Gensler also believes that all crypto tokens, other than bitcoin, are securities. He has repeatedly urged crypto trading and lending platforms to come in and register with the SEC. “Many investors recently have suffered significant losses as a result of their investments in crypto assets. It is estimated that these losses have been more than $2 trillion,” the IAC letter details. The committee further pointed out that numerous well-known cryptocurrency companies have either filed for bankruptcy or are on the verge of doing so, while others have faced both civil and criminal charges. The letter adds that crypto assets “have also been subject to notable levels of fraud and abuse” and “the semi-anonymous and borderless nature of crypto transactions make them well-suited for various illegal activities such as money laundering and tax evasion.” Calling on the SEC to “Aggressively continue to assert authority over crypto assets that are securities” and “make crypto asset-related enforcement a top priority,” the IAC wrote: The SEC should continue to be aggressive in bringing enforcement actions against companies that are violating the federal securities laws in the crypto space, including, issuers, custodians and those acting as unregistered platforms that offer trading in crypto asset investments. In addition, the IAC advised the SEC to “Seek appropriate additional appropriations from Congress where needed to adequately oversee the crypto securities industry.” Lastly, the advisory committee urged the SEC to continue to provide guidance on crypto assets, noting that the regulator should educate investors on crypto risks and conduct examinations of broker-dealers and investment advisors to ensure proper standards of care. What do you think about the SEC Investor Advisory Committee urging the securities regulator to “aggressively” assert authority over “virtually all” crypto tokens? Let us know in the comments section below. View the full article

Harry Dent, economist and author of several best-selling books, has warned that the biggest crash in our lifetime is “going to hit between now and about mid-June.” He stressed: “People are going to know this is not a big correction — it is a major crash, one that you have not seen … in your lifetime.” Harry Dent’s ‘Biggest Crash’ Warning The founder of HS Dent Investment Management and author of several best-selling books, Harry Dent, warned in an interview with David Lin, published Friday, that the biggest crash in our lifetime will likely happen by mid-June. Dent stressed: We won’t see this again. We will not see a bubble economy, our kids will probably not even see a bubble economy decades and decades from now … It happens once in a lifetime at most. He explained that the biggest crash that he is predicting is what the 2008-2009 crash should have been, noting that the S&P 500 was down 57% at that time. “About a year and a half into that crash, central banks just stepped in and just started printing money at unprecedented rates … So that recession didn’t really do its job of flushing out the greatest debt bubble in history,” Dent described, adding: I am predicting as much as 86% [decline] for the S&P 500 in this crash and 92% on the Nasdaq … Bitcoin will go down more like 95%, 96%. Dent expects the crypto market to crash alongside stocks, with BTC falling 95%-96% from its November 2021 high. “Bitcoin will fall from $69,000 to about three to four thousand,” he said, adding that “It’s exactly what Amazon and the dot-coms did.” The economist has repeatedly warned about the biggest crash in a lifetime. He pointed out that after his previous warning, the Nasdaq went down 38% in October last year. “That’s just the first wave down. There’s two more to follow … We have already started the next wave down which could take the Nasdaq down to $8,000 just in this next wave, not the end of it. That’s gonna be down a little over 50%,” he detailed. “That’s when people are going to know this is not a big correction — It is a major crash, one that you have not seen … in your lifetime, and the one that even the millennials will not see a bigger crash than this,” Dent opined. Addressing why the recent crash happened later than he previously predicted, the economist clarified that the reason was due to central banks declaring war on recession. “Never before … have central banks declared war, literal war, on recession, and said: ‘We will not let the economy fall.'” However, Dent noted that even with all the unprecedented money printing, “we keep falling back into the recession.” He stressed: “The economy underneath is really really weak and really needs to get rid of a lot of really bad debt and zombie companies and the central banks won’t let the economy do its thing … The central banks have declared war on the free market. That’s the problem.” The economist cautioned, “We are about to hit this third wave,” emphasizing that he does not believe that the Federal Reserve will be able to stop it. “I think it’s going to creep up on them before they can reverse the tightening,” he predicted, adding: We have not cleaned up the massive debts and overvaluations of the biggest financial assets bubble in everything. We have never had a financial asset bubble in everything like this. This bubble has not been allowed to burst and clear out its excesses which we need to do. And I think we are into that process now. Noting that the Federal Reserve overstimulated the economy, and now they have to “tighten strong,” Dent stressed that the Fed has “pushed up interest rates and tightened” more recently than they ever did since the early 80s. “So this is serious tightening,” he exclaimed. “Now they’re tightening and they’re thinking well the economy underneath can handle it.” However, Dent argued: “No, the economy underneath has been weak since 2008 and does not get strong until a few years from now.” Dent further explained that what looks like a correction will turn into “a crash more like 1929 to 1932, down 86% on the S&P 500,” emphasizing that it is his “best forecast at this time.” The economist clarified: “You get a first wave down, a second wave bounce which we’ve seen, we’re already into the third wave just starting.” He elaborated: The third wave is usually the strongest and hardest wave and I think most of that’s going to happen between now and the end of the year. And the biggest part of that third wave of the third wave. It’s going to hit between now and mid-June. “It’s not easy to time the market as most people know, but this is so important that I am timing the market,” Dent said. What do you think about Harry Dent’s predictions? Let us know in the comments section below. View the full article

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon says the U.S. banking crisis is not over and “there will be repercussions from it for years to come.” The executive added that recent bank failures “have significantly changed the market’s expectations,” and the odds of a recession have increased. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon on U.S. Economy, Recession, and Banking Crisis Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, shared his concerns regarding the U.S. economy, recession, and the banking crisis in his annual letter to shareholders, published last week. The letter followed the recent collapse of several major banks in the U.S., including Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. Calling recent bank failures a “banking crisis,” Dimon warned: The current crisis is not yet over, and even when it is behind us, there will be repercussions from it for years to come. “Recent events are nothing like what occurred during the 2008 global financial crisis (which barely affected regional banks),” the JPMorgan boss explained. “At that time, there was enormous leverage virtually everywhere in the financial system.” In contrast, he noted: “This current banking crisis involves far fewer financial players and fewer issues that need to be resolved.” Commenting on the Federal Reserve’s efforts to curb inflation and future take hikes, Dimon opined: If we have higher inflation for longer, the Fed may be forced to increase rates higher than people expect despite the recent bank crisis. In addition, he cautioned that quantitative tightening (QT) “may have ongoing impacts that might, over time, be another force, pushing longer-term rates higher than currently envisioned. This may occur even if we have a mild — or not-so-mild — recession, as we saw in the 1970s and 1980s.” Dimon explained that the failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse “have significantly changed the market’s expectations, bond prices have recovered dramatically, the stock market is down, and the market’s odds of a recession have increased.” He emphasized: While this is nothing like 2008, it is not clear when this current crisis will end. Nonetheless, the JPMorgan executive insisted that the current economy is “pretty good” but reiterated that there are “storm clouds ahead.” What do you think about JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s view of the economy and the banking crisis? Let us know in the comments section below. View the full article

Emmanuel Macron, president of France, clarified his position on the future of Europe and its relations with China and the U.S. in the short term. Returning from his visit to Beijing, Macron believes that Europe should avoid getting caught up in a conflict between the U.S. and China, and reduce its reliance on the U.S. dollar to avoid becoming “vassals,” applying his concept of “strategic autonomy.” Emmanuel Macron Believes Europe Should Remain Autonomous Regarding U.S. and China French President Emmanuel Macron recently revealed his stance on the current geopolitical and macroeconomic issues Europe is facing, standing in the middle of the Russia-Ukraine war and a possible Taiwan conflict. At his return from a three-day visit to China, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Macron stated that Europe commonly gets caught in third-party affairs that affect its possibilities of developing “strategic autonomy.” Macron also noted that this behavior of the European Union bloc is reducing it to be considered mere backers of the U.S. On this, he told Politico: The paradox would be that, overcome with panic, we believe we are just America’s followers. As part of his “strategic autonomy” determination, Macron acknowledged Europe had no possibility of influencing the future of a possible conflict in Taiwan, and that any attempt to do so would only increase the tensions between the parties. Analysts believe that the doctrine of strategic autonomy has to do more with the U.S. than with countries like China and Russia. About this, Cui Hongjian, director of European studies at the China Institute of International Studies, explained: It means Europe does not want to be eclipsed in the ‘great power’ rivalry and it needs to have its own say on security, defense and foreign policy issues that have usually been controlled by the U.S. Avoiding ‘Vassal’ Status by Reducing Dependence on the U.S. Dollar Macron also stated that Europe had become dependent on the U.S. on the energy and military front, proposing to boost the development of European alternatives. Macron also criticized the dependence that the bloc has on the U.S. dollar, explaining it might hurt them in the future. On how this dependence might affect Europe, Macron declared: If the tensions between the two superpowers heat up we won’t have the time nor the resources to finance our strategic autonomy and we will become vassals. While European countries have not been targeted by U.S. dollar-centric sanctions, European companies often complain that they can’t conduct business with sanctioned countries and entities due to the risk of being targeted by secondary sanctions. China, Russia, and other countries of the BRICS bloc are currently working on developing alternatives to the use of the U.S. dollar for conducting these activities. President Xi had made calls to the European bloc before, asking it to “stand against hegemonism, unilateralism and attempts to decouple economies or sever supply chains,” in a call against adopting or supporting these sanctions. What do you think about President Macron’s stance on the dollar dependence of Europe? Tell us in the comments section below. View the full article

Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki has issued a warning about the potential demise of the U.S. dollar and the looming threat of hyperinflation. He has expressed concern that the USD may lose its value and “become toilet paper.” Further, the famous author is saddened by U.S. authorities bringing criminal charges against former President Donald Trump. He stated: “As crime runs rampant in our cities & voters demand ‘defund the police.’ I am crying. America is dying.” Robert Kiyosaki’s USD and Hyperinflation Warnings The author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki, has shared his concerns about the future of the United States, hyperinflation, and the potential collapse of the U.S. dollar. Rich Dad Poor Dad is a 1997 book co-authored by Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. It has been on the New York Times Best Seller List for over six years. More than 32 million copies of the book have been sold in over 51 languages across more than 109 countries. In an “emergency podcast” that he hosted on Wednesday with guest Andy Schectman, the owner of precious metal dealer Miles Franklin, Kiyosaki explained that the U.S. has violated monetary laws, such as Gresham’s laws. “America has been violating all of these laws of money for all of these years, and the world says: ‘We’ve had enough of this.’ So, they’re joining the BRICS: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa.” The Rich Dad Poor Dad author stressed: So, there’s gonna be quadrillions of dollars coming back, and the ramifications of that are possibly … hyperinflation. While holding a dollar bill and waving it around, Kiyosaki emphasized: “That means 70% of the world’s population that used to use the dollar are going to take this dollar bill and say: ‘We don’t want it anymore.'” He continued: And this thing [U.S. dollar] goes to trash. This becomes toilet paper. This little dollar here. Because there’s so much of it out there. Sharing Kiyosaki’s sentiment, Schectman detailed: “The United States and their actions have done more to destroy themselves, ourselves, itself in the past few years than any external enemy could have ever done because we weaponize our source of power, which is the U.S. dollar, and we have driven most of the world away from it as a result.” Moreover, Kiyosaki is disappointed at the direction America is headed. Commenting on the decision of U.S. authorities to bring criminal charges against former President Donald Trump, the Rich Dad Poor Dad author tweeted Tuesday: “Tragic day in America. My friend, the former president of the United States is being arraigned in NYC courts. His sons Don jr and Eric are also extremely close friends.” Kiyosaki opined: As crime runs rampant in our cities & voters demand ‘defund the police.’ I am crying. America is dying. Trump pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts of falsifying business records. He became the first former president to be charged with criminal activity. Kiyosaki has issued multiple warnings regarding the potential downfall of the U.S. dollar and its status as the world’s reserve currency. He has also cautioned that a crash landing could be imminent, with stock, bond, and real estate markets crashing. What do you think about the warnings by Rich Dad Poor Dad author Robert Kiyosaki? And, do you think the U.S. dollar or America is dying like he said? Let us know in the comments section below. View the full article

PRESS RELEASE. It truly is time to rejoice now that .btc domains have come to Bitcoin. BTCDomain is a user-friendly domain system built on Bitcoin that allows users to begin registering, trading, and searching .btc domain names. By combining Ordinals and Zero-Knowledge (ZK) technologies, they can securely store all of their metadata on the Bitcoin network while consistently maintaining the integrity of their domain registrar and resolver. Why Are Blockchain Domains Important? A domain serves as a symbol of an individual’s personal identity. The simplicity of using a.btc domain for transactions not only prevents transfer errors caused by complicated wallet addresses, but it also protects users from clipboard replacement attacks, which change wallet addresses during the copy-paste process and is one of the most common and recurring fraudulent acts. A memorable domain name is also essential for effective marketing and brand awareness for businesses and brands. A distinctive domain name can therefore provide a significant competitive advantage for brands looking to stand out in an age of information overload. Put simply, a great domain name could potentially make all the difference in an age where online competition is at an all time high. Storing Data On The Bitcoin Network First and foremost, it is important to remember that the Bitcoin network does not support smart contracts. Bitcoin’s embedded programming language is Bitcoin Script, which allows for programmable payment functionality. However, it is not a Turing-complete programming language; its definition and functions are primarily intended for completing various payment scenarios and are incapable of handling more complicated business logic. So, how does BTCDomain actually store data on the BTC network? The solution is to use ordinals technology. Ordinals distinguish these Satoshis by assigning sequential numbers to 1 BTC, which is equivalent to 100 million Satoshis. Satoshis can be assigned a stable identifier by using their sequence numbers. Ordinals refer to this “attachment” action as “inscribing,” which is similar to the process of minting Ethereum NFTs. Moreover, because all inscription data is stored on the blockchain rather than on external storage such as IPFS or AWS S3, it is truly decentralized and preserved in the blockchain alongside all other Bitcoin transactions. To achieve this, .btc domains are inscribed as formatted JSON text onto the Bitcoin mainnet, with each domain being a unique inscription that is akin to a BTC NFT. Do Not Trust, Just Verify Here is an example of how to decode satoshi.btc data from the Bitcoin Network. Click the genesis transaction history of satoshi.btc or use any Bitcoin explorer to examine transaction “4d8cf99819690c37fcd62b63f3b7f357da71fd7f5c0de058f60180545f44fc63”.Turn it into JSON view. After this step, simply copy the second part in “witness” part and then paste it into any “hex to string converter” tool. If done correctly, it becomes possible to see the metadata of this satoshi.btc. Users’ domain metadata will be securely stored within the Bitcoin network for as long as it exists. Furthermore, each Bitcoin full node maintains a copy of a user’s valuable domain name, ensuring its longevity and accessibility. Also, you could search more domain’s metadata via btcdomains.io. Using “Inscription id” without the “i0” at the end as transaction hash, you could examine any registered domain’s metadata on the bitcoin chain. Unlocking .btc Domain Trading with Bitcoin Transactions & PSBT If the question revolves around how to trade .btc domains, the answer is found in Bitcoin transactions. Users’ domains are linked to Satoshis via their sequence numbers, as previously stated. When users send Satoshis to someone else, the associated inscription is also transferred. This procedure makes domain trading easier. Also, ‘Partially Signed Bitcoin Transactions’ (PSBT) are a useful feature of Bitcoin. This feature allows users to trade selected Satoshis with anyone who has a specific amount of BTC. They can participate in user-friendly trading on Ordinals trading platforms such as MagicEden by leveraging PSBT. Overall, the trading experience is indeed comparable to Ethereum, with the main point of difference being that this is for Bitcoin instead. Bolstering Security & Trust With Zero-Knowledge Tech In order to address the concerns about malicious data servers and the need for high trust in domains, it is critical to consider the potential consequences of a server misusing its power and redirecting BTC to unintended recipients. To address this issue, BTCDomain uses ZK technology. Using advanced mathematical methods, ZK technology ensures a trustworthy computing environment. It enables programs to run on a single computer and generate both output and a ZK proof. Anyone can confidently confirm that the program was executed without tampering by verifying the ZK proof. This additional layer of protection can keep data servers from performing unauthorized actions. Put simply, ZK technology creates a trusted environment which protects against malicious behavior and ensures transaction integrity. When combined with Ordinal’s ability to make Bitcoin a data-available chain, it allows for the creation of a system that functions similarly to smart contracts while relying solely on Bitcoin. Users can hence have greater confidence in the system’s security and reliability with ZK technology in place. BTCDomain: Pioneering A New Era Of Decentralized Domains & Enhanced Security On Bitcoin To sum it up, by introducing the innovative concept of .btc domains, BTCDomain is revolutionizing the Bitcoin ecosystem. In this way, BTCDomain creates a decentralized, safe, and user-friendly environment for registering, trading, and searching.btc domain names by leveraging Ordinals and Zero-Knowledge technologies. This breakthrough has the potential to reshape individuals’ and businesses’ online identities, making transactions more simple and secure. Besides that, the frictionless trading experience of inscriptions via Bitcoin transactions and PSBT, combined with the robust security provided by ZK technology, pave the way for a new era in the blockchain domain landscape. BTCDomain thus ushers in a bright future for the Bitcoin network by combining the benefits of Ordinals and ZK technology, one that bears a strong resemblance to smart contract functionality while remaining true to Bitcoin’s decentralized nature. In conclusion, embracing BTCDomain is a significant step toward greater adoption and usability because it bridges the gap between blockchain and the traditional Internet infrastructure. For additional information and regular updates, visit the official website along with the Twitter, Discord, Medium, and GitHub channels. This is a press release. Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to the promoted company or any of its affiliates or services. Bitcoin.com is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in the press release. View the full article

Following the collapse of Silvergate Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, and Signature Bank, cryptocurrency companies have been seeking new banking partners in the United States. According to a recent report citing “sources familiar with the matter,” Binance US, the American subsidiary of the cryptocurrency exchange, is having difficulty finding a U.S. banking partner. Unnamed Sources Say Binance Has Unsuccessfully Sought to Establish U.S. Banking Partners The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Saturday that Binance US is experiencing difficulty in finding a U.S. banking partner. Currently, Binance US customers have been informed that “certain USD deposit services will be temporarily unavailable.” Binance US stated that it was “transitioning to a new banking partner,” and services would resume once the process was complete. However, sources quoted by WSJ reporters Caitlin Ostroff, Rachel Louise Ensign, and Alexander Osipovich indicate that Binance has faced challenges in finding a banking partner. The report states that Binance US has allegedly attempted to establish connections with several specific banks following the collapse of the three crypto-friendly U.S. banks. Ostroff’s, Louise Ensign’s, and Osipovich’s report adds: Binance US has unsuccessfully sought to establish direct banking relationships with banks including Cross River Bank, the New Jersey-based lender that serves some crypto and financial-technology firms, and Customers Bancorp Inc., a Pennsylvania-based regional bank, in recent months, the people said. The reporters further spoke with a spokesperson from Binance US, who stated, “We work with multiple U.S.-based banking and payment providers and continue to onboard new partners while upgrading our internal systems to create a more stable fiat platform and offer additional services.” It is uncertain whether other cryptocurrency businesses are facing similar issues in finding banking partners, but the crypto exchange Bittrex recently closed its U.S. operations, citing excessive regulatory oversight in the United States as the reason for the shutdown. On March 27, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit against Binance Holdings Ltd., the parent company of Binance US, alleging violations of trading and derivatives rules. The lawsuit also includes Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and the company’s former chief compliance officer, Samuel Lim. The WSJ report on Saturday stated that “among the reasons that some banks were hesitant to do business with Binance US was concern over regulatory risk,” according to sources familiar with the matter. What do you think the future holds for cryptocurrency exchanges in terms of partnering with traditional banking institutions, especially in light of increased regulatory scrutiny? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. View the full article

Two Republican lawmakers from Texas, senator Bryan Hughes and representative Mark Dorazio, have introduced legislation to create a gold-backed digital currency that could be enacted by the state legislature. The policymakers believe that this currency could greatly benefit the Lone Star State and, as an alternative digital currency, it could provide Texas residents with the ability to circumvent a central bank digital currency (CBDC). S.B. No. 2334 Introduces the Establishment of a Digital Currency Backed by Gold in Texas In recent times, U.S. lawmakers have been discussing the reimposition of the gold standard, and just recently, Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene advocated for its return. Specific bureaucrats have also been vehemently against the creation of a central bank digital currency (CBDC), and politicians such as Ted Cruz, Ron DeSantis, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Greene have opposed CBDCs. Now, two Texas lawmakers have introduced a bill (S.B. No. 2334) that would enable the state to establish a gold-backed digital currency. “The comptroller shall establish a digital currency that is backed by gold so that each unit of the digital currency issued represents a particular fraction of a troy ounce of gold held in trust,” the Texas bill states. “The trustee shall maintain enough gold to provide for the redemption in gold of all units of the digital currency that have been issued and are not yet redeemed for money or gold,” explain the bill’s sponsors, Hughes and Dorazio. The gold standard has long been removed from the United States, and if the bill gains traction, the U.S. Treasury Department may not approve Texas’s attempt to create a digital currency backed by gold. The U.S. government has also suppressed private creations of gold-backed alternative currencies, as it shut down Bernard von NotHaus’s Liberty Dollar headquarters on March 18, 2007. At that time, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized roughly nine tons of gold and silver that backed the Liberty Dollars. In the same year that the Liberty Dollar was shut down, a U.S. federal grand jury also closed down the e-gold digital currency project operated by Gold & Silver Reserve Inc. (G&SR). However, the gold-backed digital currency proposed in the Texas bill would be operated by the state government. Despite this, 13 different states have attempted to create alternative, state-run, gold-backed currencies over the last 14 years, but all of these attempts have been unsuccessful. The proposed gold-backed digital currency in Texas would be held in a trust controlled by the state’s comptroller. The bill notes that “certain money and deposits held in the trust are not subject to legislative appropriation.” Furthermore, the Texas lawmakers note that by “establishing the digital currency, the comptroller shall establish a means to ensure that a person who holds the digital currency can easily transfer or assign the digital currency to any other person electronically.” What do you think about Texas’s attempt to create a gold-backed digital currency and how it could potentially affect the future of alternative currencies in the United States? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below. View the full article

China’s relationship with Saudi Arabia is growing as the country’s Cabinet has agreed to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The diplomatic move made by the kingdom began with a memorandum of understanding in September, and at the end of March, Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet approved the decision to become a dialogue partner. The Cabinet’s decision followed Saudi Arabia’s resumption of its relationship with Iran in a deal brokered by China. Riyadh Joins China’s SCO; Kingdom Ends 7-Year Breakup With Iran China, a member of the BRICS bloc, has been strengthening its relationship with Saudi Arabia recently. Several reports indicate that the Cabinet in Riyadh has approved a decision to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The SCO is a union of Eurasian states established by China, and it is the world’s largest political, economic, and military alliance. Members include India, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, among others. In September 2022, Oilprice.com author Simon Watkins was the first to report that Saudi Arabia initiated a memorandum of understanding to join the SCO. Amid Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet approval to join the SCO, the country revealed a renewed relationship with Iran and plans to reduce daily oil production. Senior Saudi and Iranian diplomats recently met in China to restore the two countries’ relationship. Iran reported that it would reopen embassies and consulates, and the two regions would revive trade deals. However, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Bill Burns emphasized in a report published by The Washington Post that the United States feels “blindsided” by Riyadh’s moves to work with Iran. On April 6, Saudi and Iranian officials met in Beijing and resumed flights and visa issuance for citizens between the two countries after a seven-year breakup. Iran is also among nine dialogue partners, including Turkey and Qatar, as an SCO observer member. The United States’ request to become an SCO observer was denied in 2005. The SCO is led by Secretary-General Zhang Ming and is headquartered in Beijing. While China and Saudi Arabia’s relationship has grown deeper, the Kingdom’s bond with Russia has strengthened during the same period. Six days ago, Bitcoin.com News reported that Saudi leaders had announced oil production cuts with members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The Russian Federation also said it would participate in oil production cuts, joining hands with Riyadh, and has been collaborating with Saudi Arabia in this manner since December 2016. The following year, Saudi leaders and Russia grew closer when king Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud visited in 2017. The bond between the two nations has also grown stronger since Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman coordinated a deal to release ten prisoners of war in September. BRICS Countries Increase Political Maneuvers The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) have significantly increased the pace of their political maneuvers over the past month. For instance, China settled a bilateral deal with Brazil to purchase Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in their respective national currencies. At the same time, the BRICS bloc has emerged as the world’s largest gross domestic product (GDP) group. India has announced that it will facilitate international trade settlements in rupees under the latest foreign trade policy framework enacted on April 1. Russia’s deputy chairman of the State Duma, Alexander Babakov, revealed that the BRICS bloc plans to meet and discuss a new reserve currency issued by BRICS. When the United States was denied observer status by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in 2005, Russia and China expressed concern about the U.S. presence in Central Asia. At the time, SCO members believed that the U.S. had not shown sufficient commitment to the organization’s principles and goals to justify granting observer status. Over the past 17 years, the relationship between the United States and China and Russia has deteriorated significantly. While China has been seeking to form new alliances in Africa, U.S. vice president Kamala Harris visited Africa last week, according to a New York Times report. The meeting, the NYT reported, was “intended to send a simple message to its governments and people — China is not your friend. The United States is.” Russia, too, has been working with several African nations, and it has been suggested that Africa’s relationships with China and Russia could lead to a cold war with the United States. ​​What do you think the implications of Saudi Arabia joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a dialogue partner will be for the region and the world? Share your thoughts in the comments below. View the full article

PRESS RELEASE. RenQ Finance has recently announced the launch of the fourth stage of its fundraising plan on its official website, following the successful completion of stage 3. The project has already raised a total of $5 million in a short period of time since its launch. The latest update reveals that the Stage 4 fundraising has reached an impressive milestone, with $5M raised in total, of which already $200K in the last 24 hours. This presale event is part of an 8-stage fundraising plan to raise close to $20 million for the platform. RenQ Finance Presale Hits Impressive Targets: Raises $5M+ in Total and $200K in the Last 24 Hours RenQ Finance’s Stage 4 presale event has been met with tremendous enthusiasm from the cryptocurrency community as investors seek to participate in the platform’s growth, which has already reached Stage 4 to raise $5M and more, to add another $200K, just in the last 24 hours. This presale stage is particularly significant as it marks the halfway point of the platform’s 8-stage fundraising plan, which aims to raise close to $20 million. During this stage, investors can purchase RenQ Finance’s native token, which provides access to a range of services and benefits on the platform. The RENQ token is currently priced at $0.035 USDT during the fourth stage of the presale, and its price will increase gradually after each stage’s hard cap is met. The fourth stage will conclude upon reaching $6,675,000, equivalent to approximately 234,000,000 RENQ tokens sold. In the subsequent stage, the price for one RENQ token will increase to 0.04 USDT, and by the final stage (Stage 8), the token price will surge to $0.055. RenQ Finance’s success in raising over $5 million to date is a testament to the platform’s commitment to innovation and the growing demand for decentralized finance solutions. RenQ Finance’s Stage 4 presale event is currently ongoing, and investors can participate by visiting the company’s official website. With the project’s impressive track record and good plans, RenQ Finance is poised to become a leading player in the DeFi space, offering a decentralized platform that empowers cryptocurrency traders worldwide. To buy and hold RENQ tokens, you will need a wallet like MetaMask or Trust Wallet. Holders of RENQ tokens will have exclusive access to all future activities within the RenQ ecosystem, and there will be no vesting period. This means that users will receive their tokens once the presale ends. It’s important to note that the earlier you invest, the more opportunities you’ll have to benefit from the growth potential of the RenQ platform. About RenQ Finance RenQ Finance is a trailblazing all-in-one platform that offers unparalleled solutions for cryptocurrency investors worldwide. Their primary focus is creating a completely decentralized DeFi platform to help traders easily manage their daily crypto activities. RenQ Finance strives to provide users with direct trading options via their wallet app while revolutionizing decentralized trading. Innovation is at the core of RenQ Finance, which continuously develops tools for cryptocurrency traders. These include a cryptocurrency data aggregator, perpetual futures, a vault, a lending protocol, a DeFi and NFT Launchpad, and multiple forums. RenQ Finance aims to build a thriving community that can significantly contribute to the development of the entire RenQ ecosystem. RenQ Finance has an exciting roadmap, with plans to launch its mainnet in Q1 of 2024. The company is launching DeFi services, including a mobile wallet app and a desktop wallet plugin. These options offer users valuable features such as margin loans and ERC-271 positions. RenQ Finance is dedicated to creating a decentralized platform that provides a comprehensive suite of services to cryptocurrency investors worldwide. With its innovative tools and active community, RenQ Finance is well-positioned to lead the DeFi space in the future. Stay Informed Stay informed and up-to-date with RenQ Finance’s current token presale by connecting with the company on the official website and various social media platforms. Take advantage of the chance to learn about RenQ Finance and stay in the loop with their latest updates! Visit the links below for more information about RenQ Finance (RENQ): Website: https://renq.io Whitepaper: https://renq.io/whitepaper.pdf This is a press release. Readers should do their own due diligence before taking any actions related to the promoted company or any of its affiliates or services. Bitcoin.com is not responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in the press release. View the full article

Sales of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) increased this week, with $179.64 million in sales over the last seven days. NFT sales rose 7.28% and transactions grew by 2.29% during this period, but the number of digital collectible buyers decreased by 4.34%. NFT Sales Improve This Week, Rising 7.28% Higher Sales of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have trended higher this week, increasing by 7.28%, with $179.64 million in sales recorded over the past seven days. Of the total sales, $111.62 million, or 62.35%, came from NFT sales on the Ethereum blockchain, cryptoslam.io stats show. Solana’s NFT sales were the second-largest this week, accounting for $20.66 million, or 11.54%, of the week’s total sales. This week, sales of Ethereum-based NFTs increased by 8.68%, while sales of Solana-based NFTs dropped by 20.88%. NFT sales on Ethereum and Solana were followed by sales on the Polygon, Arbitrum, and Cardano blockchains. Two blockchains that saw notable increases over the last seven days include BNB Chain, which was up 19.73%, and Panini, which increased by 29.53%. Theta blockchain NFT sales rose by 232.96%, but the increase only accounted for $2,805 in NFT sales this week. The top-selling NFT collection this week is Nakamigos, with $11.29 million in sales, up 76% compared to the previous week. Other top-selling collections this week include Otherdeed, Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), Cryptopunks, and Mutant Ape Yacht Club (MAYC). Sales for Otherdeed are down 20.67%, BAYC sales dropped 22.75%, Cryptopunks rose 34.80%, and MAYC sales slid 6.33% over the last seven days. Azuki sales took the sixth position this week, with sales up 90.54% compared to the previous week, with $4.29 million in sales. The most expensive NFT sold over the last seven days was Cryptopunk #3,990, which sold for $444,033 two days ago. The second most expensive NFT sale was Azuki #3,194, which was purchased for $415,485 three days ago. Cryptopunk #3,810 sold for $414,105 roughly 24 hours ago, and Azuki #9,185 sold seven hours ago for $373,678. The top three NFT marketplaces in terms of sales volume for this past week were Blur, Opensea, and the Immutable X market, respectively. What do you think the future holds for the NFT market? Will it continue to grow, or is this just a passing trend? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. View the full article

Cardano rose for a second straight session to start the weekend, as the token continued to move away from a key price floor. Cryptocurrency markets were marginally higher in today’s session, with the global market up 0.56% as of writing. Solana continued to consolidate on Saturday. Cardano (ADA) Cardano (ADA) rose for a second consecutive session, as the token moved away from a recent support point. Following a low of $0.3783 on Friday, ADA/USD jumped to an intraday peak at $0.3902 to start the weekend. As a result of the move, cardano moved further away from a recent floor at $0.3775, following a failed breakout attempt. From the chart, it appears that bulls rejected the breakout after the 14-day relative strength index (RSI) bounced from a floor at 55.00. At the time of writing, the index is tracking at 56.96, with a ceiling at 60.00 a potential target for traders. Should they reach this destination, there is a good chance that ADA will be trading above $0.4000. Solana (SOL) After a volatile week of trading, solana (SOL) entered the weekend marginally higher, however price uncertainty was also high. SOL/USD reached a top at $20.71 to start the weekend, a day after sitting at a low of $20.33. Saturday’s activity sees solana continue to hover close to a long-term floor at $20.15, and this comes following a crossover of moving averages (MA). The 10-day (red) MA moved below its 25-day (blue) counterpart earlier in the week, however was unable to extend its distance from this trendline. This comes as the 14-day RSI remains close to a point of support of its own, at the 46.00 mark. Until a breakout of this floor occurs, or there is a move above resistance, it is likely that SOL will continue to trend sideways. Register your email here to get weekly price analysis updates sent to your inbox: Do you expect solana to rally this weekend? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. View the full article

Bitcoin was back above $28,000 on Saturday, as markets continued to react to the latest nonfarm payrolls (NFP) report. Figures released on Friday showed that 236,000 jobs were added to the U.S. economy last month. Ethereum was also back in the green to start the weekend. Bitcoin Bitcoin (BTC) surged back above the $28,000 level on Saturday, as markets continued to react to the latest NFP report. Payrolls came in at 236,000, which was marginally lower than the 240,000 sum many were anticipating. BTC/USD rose to an intraday high of $28,159.86 earlier in today’s session, less than 24 hours after trading at a low of $27,824.15. Looking at the chart, it appears that the increase in price comes as the relative strength index (RSI) bounced from its floor at 58.00 As of writing, the index is tracking at 59.07, which has helped delay an inevitable downwards cross with the 10-day (red) moving average and its 25-day (blue) counterpart. BTC is trading at $28,024.28 at the time of writing. Ethereum Ethereum (ETH) started today’s session in the green, as prices attempted to move back towards the $1,900 level. Following a low of $1,845.99 on Friday, ETH/USD climbed to a peak of $1,879.11 to start the weekend. The move saw the world’s second largest cryptocurrency snap a two-day losing streak, after staying above a floor at $1,830. Despite the slight increase in price, ethereum’s price strength remains below a key support point at 61.00. As of writing, the 14-day RSI is tracking at 60.42, and should a breakout occur, there will be a greater chance of price moving above $1,900. Register your email here to get weekly price analysis updates sent to your inbox: Will ethereum continue to consolidate this weekend? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. View the full article

As the world of digital assets continues to evolve, the rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) has taken the crypto space by storm. From art to music and virtual real estate, NFTs have revolutionized how we perceive value and ownership in the digital world. Among the most promising applications of this technology are NFT domains – unique, personalized digital assets that could very well replace traditional domain names. With the NFT market set for a resurgence, now is the perfect time to invest in these digital assets and secure your online presence. Quik.com, a leading platform for NFT domains, makes it easier than ever to mint, buy, and sell these valuable digital properties. Visit Quik.com Now. The Resurgence of NFTs While the NFT market experienced a boom in early 2021, experts predict another surge in demand and value in the near future. As blockchain technology and decentralized platforms become more mainstream, the use cases for NFTs expand beyond collectibles and digital art. NFTs can potentially revolutionize gaming, fashion, real estate, and more industries. This growing interest in NFTs will likely bring more attention to NFT domains, as businesses and individuals recognize the benefits of owning a unique and memorable online address. Why NFT Domains Will Outshine Traditional Domain Names NFT domains offer a range of advantages over traditional domain names, making them a superior choice for forward-thinking entrepreneurs, investors, and creators. Here are a few reasons why NFT domains are poised to take over: Ownership and control: Unlike traditional domain names, which require yearly renewal fees and can be revoked by central authorities, NFT domains provide true ownership and control. Once minted, your NFT domain is stored securely on the blockchain, granting you full control without the risk of losing your digital property. Unique and non-fungible: NFT domains are unique and non-fungible assets, meaning they cannot be replaced with another domain of the same name. This distinctiveness makes NFT domains more valuable than traditional domains, which are fungible and can be replaced with an identical name. Decentralized and secure: Blockchain technology offers a decentralized and secure platform for NFT domains, reducing the risks of fraud and hacking. Additionally, decentralized platforms support the development of Web3 applications and ensure that your online presence remains in your hands. Versatile use cases: NFT domains can be used for various purposes, from accessing decentralized websites and applications to serving as digital addresses for cryptocurrency wallets. With the rise of the metaverse and the growing adoption of blockchain technology, NFT domains are positioned to become indispensable in the digital world. Quik.com: The Ultimate Platform to Mint Your NFT Domain Quik.com is a user-friendly platform to help you mint, buy, and sell NFT domains. With its wide range of options and intuitive interface, you can find the perfect NFT domain to represent your unique online identity. Quik.com ensures a safe and secure transaction environment and provides resources and support to help users navigate the NFT domain landscape. If you want to capitalize on the rising value of NFT domains and stake your claim in the digital world, Quik.com makes it simple and affordable. Don’t miss this opportunity to stand out in an increasingly crowded digital landscape and establish your online presence with a one-of-a-kind NFT domain. Seize Your Digital Real Estate with Quik.com The future of digital real estate lies in NFT domains, and with the resurgence of NFTs just around the corner, there’s no better time to invest in these unique and valuable assets. By minting an NFT domain with Quik.com, you’re not only securing your online presence, but you’re also taking part in a revolutionary movement that’s shaping the future of the internet. Invest in Your Online Future with NFT Domains The digital world constantly evolves, and NFT domains are at the forefront of this change. By minting an NFT domain, you’re securing a unique and memorable online address and investing in the future of digital assets. With the NFT market poised for a resurgence and the growing adoption of blockchain technology, there’s never been a better time to join the revolution and stake your claim in the digital landscape. Don’t miss the opportunity to establish your online presence and participate in the exciting world of NFT domains. Visit Quik.com today and discover how easy it is to mint your very own NFT domain. The future of the internet is decentralized, and it’s time for you to own your piece of digital real estate. Visit Quik.com Now. To help you get started on your NFT domain journey, check out the following resources provided by Quik.com: NFT Domains Explained, FAQs: This resource delves into the world of NFT domains, explaining what they are and how they differ from traditional domains. It also addresses frequently asked questions, making it an essential read for users new to NFTs. How to Choose the Best NFT Domain?: Discover tips and best practices for selecting the ideal NFT domain to meet your needs, from researching market trends to checking domain history. How to Sell NFT Domains: A Step-by-Step Guide: Learn how to monetize your NFT domains by selling them on Quik.com. This detailed guide covers everything from setting up a wallet to listing your domain for sale. Metaverse Domains Cryptocurrency News Web3 Domains Unstoppable Domains Alternative ENS Domains Alternative Where to Buy NFT Domains It’s time to take control of your online presence and harness the power of NFT domains. Head over to Quik.com now and mint your very own NFT domain, unlocking the limitless potential of your digital real estate. Make your mark on the internet with a personalized NFT domain representing your unique identity and vision, and secure your place in the rapidly evolving digital world. This is a sponsored post. Learn how to reach our audience here. Read disclaimer below. View the full article

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has acknowledged the push that China is making to dethrone the dollar as a reserve currency. In a post published on Truth Social, Trump stated that if this comes to happen, it would be the biggest defeat in the history of the U.S. in the last 200 years. Donald Trump Alerts About China’s Push Against the U.S. Dollar Donald Trump, former president of the U.S. has recognized the recent moves that China and other countries including Russia and Saudi Arabia are taking to undermine the influence of the dollar in worked markets. In a post published in Truth Social, the social platform founded by Trump, he acknowledged these developments, stating: China is trying to displace the U.S. dollar as the number one currency throughout the world. If this happens, and under Biden’s leadership it probably will, this would be the biggest defeat for our country in its history. Furthermore, Trump stated that if this comes to happen, the U.S. will be reduced to second-tier status. “Unthinkable three years ago,” he added. Trump’s statements come after he openly criticized the economic policies of President Biden in a speech given after his arrest on Mar-a-Lago. He blasted the performance of the current administration, stating that the country was ‘going to hell,’ and that the economy was “crumbling” with inflation rates being “out of control.” Trump also referred specifically to the U.S. dollar in its speech, stating: Our currency is crashing and will soon no longer be the world standard which will be our greatest defeat frankly in 200 years; there will be no defeat like that. That will take us away from being even a great power. China Making Moves China and other nations like Russia and India have been making moves to either support the Chinese yuan as an international settlement currency or to power the use of national currencies for the same purpose. As part of the Xi-Putin meeting on March 22, Putin stated he supported the use of the Chinese yuan to settle payments with emergent economies in Latam, Africa, and other Asian nations. Also, in its new trading guidelines, India introduced a new option for settling international payments in Indian Rupees to help countries facing a dollar crunch. BRICS, a bloc in which China is present, is also working in a new currency that will be discussed in the next BRICS summit in August, according to State Duma Deputy Chairman Alexander Babakov. What do you think about Donald Trump’s statements on China and its moves to substitute the U.S. dollar as world currency? Tell us in the comments section below. View the full article

The U.S. luxury brand Ralph Lauren has said customers can now pay via crypto at its Miami Design District location. The store has also been designated the luxury brand’s focal point for Web3 promotions. Bitcoin, ethereum, and polygon are among the cryptocurrencies that are accepted at Ralph Lauren’s new store in Miami. Miami Store Ralph Lauren’s Web3 Promotions Focal Point United States luxury brand Ralph Lauren said on April 5 that it will accept crypto payments at its new store in Miami. According to a statement released by Bitpay, Ralph Lauren customers can now pay at this store using BTC, ETH, MATIC, and twelve other cryptocurrencies. Introducing our new #RLMiami store, the first Ralph Lauren store to accept cryptocurrency as a form of payment. In partnership with @BitPay, customers can make purchases with different cryptocurrencies including #Bitcoin, #Ethereum and #MATIC by @0xPolygonLabs and more. pic.twitter.com/YUHhsDRexB — Ralph Lauren (@RalphLauren) April 4, 2023 Explaining Ralph Lauren’s decision to accept crypto payments at Miami Design District located store, the statement said: This store provides customers with new ways to engage with the brand and shop, including accepting cryptocurrency as a payment method. The Miami Design District location is the first Ralph Lauren retail store to accept crypto payments. Customers can pay for all of Ralph Lauren’s elevated looks straight from their preferred crypto wallets. Meanwhile, in addition to accepting crypto payments, Ralph Lauren said it will implement an activation experience that utilizes non-fungible tokens (NFTs). According to reports, Ralph Lauren has since designated the Miami store as its focal point for Web3 promotions. David Lauren, the luxury brand’s chief innovation officer, said his company chose to accept crypto payments at the Miami store because “it is one of the most Web3-friendly cities in the world and has a vibrant community of startups, brands and luxury consumers.” He also suggested that the company plans to open similar stores in Europe, North America and Asia. What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. View the full article

Peter Schiff, economist and known gold bug, believes that the current price uptick that gold is currently experiencing will extend in the future, surprising stock traders. Schiff stated that gold stocks were the new tech stocks and that Wall Street’s indifference regarding these would lead to massive market capitulation. Peter Schiff Warns of Gold Rally: ‘It’s Real’ Peter Schiff, the chief economist of Europac and gold permabull, believes that a gold bull market brewing will take the precious metal to even higher prices than it reached. Motivated by the recent breakout that took gold prices to break the $2,000 mark on April 4, Schiff stated: Senior miners still need to rise by over 20% and juniors by over 25% to hit new 52-week highs. The divergence is due to negative sentiment. Investors still don’t believe the rally is real. It’s real and will be spectacular. Schiff had warned about this breakout before, also stating that other inflation hedges, including bitcoin, would come down with precious metals going up in price instead. Schiff also profiled gold stocks as the new tech stocks, warning investors to “either prepare for this new reality or suffer the consequences.” ‘Capitulation Will Be Epic’ Schiff details the dynamics that gold and gold-related stocks face in Wall Street markets, often being ignored by investors who prefer other alternatives. He believes that Wall Street has a bearish bias on gold-related stocks that will affect it in the long term. He declared: When gold prices are low they don’t want to buy gold stocks as they think gold prices will fall lower. When gold prices are high they don’t want to buy gold stocks as they expect prices to sell off. Capitulation will be epic. Several analysts have tried to explain the rush in gold prices that the market is currently facing. On March 18, TD Securities’ global head of commodity strategy Bart Melek told that the expected upcoming dovish policies of the U.S. Federal Reserve were beneficial to gold prices. In the same way, Jan van Eck, CEO of investment management firm Vaneck, established a relation between the progressive abandonment of the U.S. Federal Reserve tightening policies and growth in the interest of gold and bitcoin. “We are at the very beginnings of what could be a several-year cycle in gold, and I also put bitcoin in that category as well,” he stated in an interview with CNBC on March 27. What do you think about Peter Schiff and his predictions for the gold market? Tell us in the comment section below. View the full article

On April 6, 2023, Bitcoin’s difficulty rose 2.23% higher at block height 784,224, touching another all-time high. It’s the fourth consecutive difficulty increase on the Bitcoin network since Feb. 24, and the protocol’s current difficulty is 47.89 trillion, which is only 2.11 trillion away from reaching the 50 trillion range. Bitcoin Difficulty Jumps 2.23% Higher Bitcoin’s current difficulty of approximately 47.89 trillion is an all-time high, meaning it has never been harder for bitcoin miners to find blocks. The current Bitcoin protocol difficulty level mandates that miners execute roughly 47.89 trillion computations via a trial-and-error approach to discover a cryptographic hash value that fulfills the predetermined criteria for every appended block in the blockchain. The difficulty rise on April 6 was the fourth increase in the last 41 days or since block height 778,176. The increase on Thursday was 2.23% higher than the previous two weeks, and the level of difficulty will remain at 47.89 trillion until on or around April 20. Despite the difficulty rise, the hashrate is still running high at 340.61 exahash per second (EH/s), and last month, the hashrate tapped 400 EH/s on March 23. Statistics from coinwarz.com indicate the network reached an all-time high of 414.33 EH/s on March 25, 2023, at block height 782,408. At the current hashrate of 340 EH/s, block intervals are still under the ten-minute mark, at eight minutes and 29 seconds to nine minutes and eight seconds on Thursday evening at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Over the past three days, 463 blocks were discovered, with Foundry USA finding 159 blocks using 117.66 EH/s, or roughly 34.34% of the global network. Antpool captured 95 blocks over the same period, with 70.30 EH/s, or 20.52% of the network’s hashpower. The average hashrate over the previous difficulty adjustment period was approximately 342.50 EH/s. What do you think about Bitcoin’s fourth consecutive difficulty increase? Share your thoughts about this subject in the comments section below. View the full article