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Between 2019 and 2024, China's exports surged by 43%, rising from $2.5 trillion to $3.6 trillion. Imports increased by 25%, growing from $2.1 trillion to $2.6 trillion. This rapid growth drove a 130% expansion in China's trade surplus, more than doubling from $430 billion to $990 billion.
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$BTC
$ETH
#China

Gold Prices Oscillate Around U.S. Money Market Fund Assets in the Last Ten Years.

China’s share of U.S. Treasury holdings declined steadily from a peak of 28.8% ($1.31 trillion) in June 2011 to 7.3% ($683 billion) in November 2025, marking its lowest share since 2001.
$BTC
$ETH
$BNB
#WhaleDeRiskETH

$BTC Bitcoin’s fall from its all-time high of $126,199 may be ongoing rather than complete. The correction is far from over, given the history of previous cycles. Following its 2017 and 2021 rallies, Bitcoin corrected between 70% and 75% from the all-time high.

If the pattern repeats itself, Bitcoin could slip to the $31,000 level, erasing all gains since October 2023. This is likely to occur if institutions are under pressure to shed their BTC holdings, Bitcoin Treasury companies sell Bitcoin, and capital rotates from Bitcoin to Gold, the prevailing safe haven.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is hovering around the $67,000 mark. The key question is: will Bitcoin drop further, and if so, when will that happen? It typically takes 2-3 months, and February could see Bitcoin bleed.

While there are talks of the end of the four-year cycle, if that is true, then Bitcoin could surprise traders and attempt a recovery. However, as of now, there aren’t enough catalysts to support a recovery.

Binance announced it had completed the purchase of 4,545 Bitcoin on Thursday. Purchases at this scale may not be sufficient to support demand and keep BTC above the  $60,000 threshold.

Two key levels to watch are the $60,000 support and the $70,000 resistance. A clean break above $70,000 could hint at a recovery in Bitcoin in the coming weeks.

Conversely, a firm breakdown below below $60,000 could trigger further liquidations and extend Bitcoin’s current bleed.

Investors see through US jobs data and Fed prospects, eyeing AI and Dollar decline

The story

Great jobs report – The US economy added 130K jobs in January, nearly double the early estimates, while the Unemployment Rate surprisingly dropped to 4.3%. Bond markets responded by pushing the pricing of the next Federal Reserve (Fed) interest rate cut out to July. Nevertheless, the US Dollar gained limited ground while Stocks edged higher. Some explained these moves by citing tomorrow's all-important US inflation report, or president Donald Trump's demand that the Fed cut interest rates anyway.

Why it matters

Bigger forces at play – First, the AI play continues sweeping markets off their feet. For some, like frontier model makers and memory chip providers, it's a win-win situation. For others, like legacy software firms, it's a lose-lose one. Outside equity markets, pressure on the US Dollar also seems persistent and somewhat disconnected from interest rate prospects. Trump’s tariff policy and his curbing of Fed independence appear to have a long-term impact. These larger trends may have increasing influence.

What’s next

Next disruptions – Yesterday, it was the real estate sector's turn to suffer from fresh AI technology that could steal its lunch. Which sector will it be today? The losers may continue piling up. On the currency front, tariffs are of interest. Wednesday’s House of Representatives’ vote against the president’s duties on Canada is symbolic, but it could influence Justices at the Supreme Court deliberating the legality of most of his tariffs. Certainty around levies could allow the Greenback to grind its way up – but that is far from guaranteed.
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#MarketSentimentToday

Nervos is an open-source modular blockchain network with a decentralized, permissionless, proof-of-work blockchain called CKB. CKB leverages a generalized version of Bitcoin’s UTXO model for accounting and a RISC-V instruction set-based virtual machine for transaction and smart contract execution.In 2024, the "BTCKB" initiative was launched to enable CKB to be a Bitcoin Layer 2 (L2). The key components of this initiative include the RGB++ protocol, UTXO Stack, and “CKB Lightning,” which will connect CKB to Bitcoin’s Lightning Network. 
Introduction
Bitcoin, recognized globally for its enduring presence, robust security, unmatched decentralization, and substantial market value, makes it a great platform for asset issuance. However, despite its numerous strengths, the Bitcoin blockchain operates with limitations; it is not Turing-complete and has significant performance constraints. This creates a pressing need for a flexible and programmable L2 solution that can go beyond Bitcoin's limitations.
Nervos (CKB) is an exemplary solution to this challenge. CKB is Turing-complete and stays true to Bitcoin's foundational principles, adopting the same PoW consensus mechanism and extending Bitcoin's UTXO model. This alignment allows for seamless integration and expansion, making CKB an ideal choice for those seeking to amplify the capabilities and performance of their Bitcoin L1 assets.
What Is Nervos (CKB)?
Nervos is an open-source modular blockchain network built from the ground up to ensure security, decentralization, flexibility, and interoperability. At its core is CKB, which stands for Common Knowledge Base, the foundation of the Nervos Network.
Launched in 2019, CKB has significantly evolved its role within the blockchain ecosystem. The CKB core team, in collaboration with the CKB Eco Fund, CELL Studio, and other key players within the Nervos ecosystem, launched the "BTCKB" initiative in 2024. 
The "BTCKB" initiative aims to tightly couple Bitcoin and CKB. By harnessing the power of their similarities, i.e., PoW consensus and the UTXO model, CKB can advance the Bitcoin blockchain with powerful new smart contract capabilities and bring Bitcoin L1 assets to CKB. 
CKB has been secured by ASICs mining since 2020, and the first halving of CKB issuance took place in 2023.
How Does It Work?
CKB is secured by PoW, and its specific consensus mechanism implementation is called NC-MAX, which is based on Bitcoin's Nakamoto consensus but optimized to remove bottlenecks that limit performance. NC-MAX is based on years of research by Dr. Ren Zhang and results in higher efficiency, throughput, and security for every joule of energy spent. 
CKB uses the Cell model (an extension of Bitcoin's UTXO model). This similarity enables a novel technology called “isomorphic binding,” which enables users to trustlessly transfer assets issued on Bitcoin's L1 to the CKB blockchain. 
In isomorphic binding, a Bitcoin UTXO is mapped to a Cell on CKB, and script constraints on both CKB and Bitcoin blockchains ensure the security of the asset and ownership transference. This process introduces Turing-complete smart contract scalability and performance to Bitcoin without the need for cross-chain transactions, bridges, or any compromise on security.
What Makes CKB Unique?
Compared to other Bitcoin L2s, CKB is more decentralized, secure (because of PoW consensus), and Bitcoin-compatible. It has a similar data structure (Cell and UTXO models) and a similar UX because users can use Bitcoin addresses and wallets to access CKB assets.
Cell model: Cells are the fundamental data structures of the CKB blockchain. They can store a wide range of data, from smart contracts to DOBs (Digital Objects). The Cell model facilitates Turing-complete smart contract functionality, underpinning a highly sustainable, flexible, and scalable programming environment.
CKB-VM: Powered by RISC-V instruction sets, CKB's virtual machine supports all current and prospective cryptographic primitives. This flexibility ensures that the CKB-VM can evolve alongside advancements in cryptographic technology, maintaining its relevance and security.
Layered architecture: CKB's architecture is characterized by its multi-layered approach, which can support a range of scalability solutions. This includes state channels, payment channels, sidechains, and even the capability to deploy EVM-compatible rollups. This layered architecture is pivotal in enhancing the network's throughput and efficiency while providing a robust framework for future innovations.
Account Abstraction: CKB features native or protocol-level account abstraction for flexible cryptographic operations without the need for protocol level changes, making the blockchain more user-friendly and accessible and encouraging broader adoption and use cases, such as the JoyID wallet.
Tokenomics: To ensure long-term sustainability, CKB has a dual issuance model. The primary issuance is the same as in Bitcoin, with a hard-capped supply and an issuance rate that halves every four years. The secondary issuance is uncapped and constant but directed at users storing data on CKB. The secondary issuance aims to solve the state explosion problem* plaguing smart contract platforms and to ensure miners have a predictable long-term block reward.
What Is the CKB Token?
CKBbyte token (CKB) is CKB's native token, serving a dual purpose: facilitating transactions (paying for transaction fees) and, more importantly, representing storage rights on the blockchain. Each CKB represents one byte of storage on the blockchain, which is capable of storing any type of data. 
This creates a natural demand among developers and users, making CKB a true store of value. As the network expands, so does the demand for CKB, likening it to fertile land—a scarce resource on which to build. Ownership of CKB equates to owning a piece of this digital landscape.
The CKB Ecosystem
CKB is a very flexible blockchain on which developers can build any type of application. Here are some examples of what has been built:
Decentralized Identities (DIDs): Leveraging CKB's robust support for various cryptographic primitives, DIDs (such as .bit) built on the CKB blockchain can support any blockchains' wallets, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, TRON, and Dogecoin to register and manage the identities.
Passkey Wallets: The Passkey technology, pioneered by the FIDO Alliance, revolutionizes identity verification by eliminating the need for traditional usernames and passwords. In a blockchain context, it can eliminate the need for seed phrases. Passkey technology allows users to authenticate their identity in a secure and straightforward manner. You can use this technology today on CKB using the JoyID wallet.
Spore DOBs: The Spore protocol infuses digital objects (DOBs) with enduring value backed by tokenomics, redeemable at any time. It ensures true on-chain ownership, privacy, creative freedom, and frictionless interaction. RGB++ Protocol: The RGB++ protocol is a new L1 asset standard for the Bitcoin blockchain. It allows for the seamless transfer of Bitcoin L1 assets to the CKB blockchain without needing a cross-chain bridge. Additionally, RGB++ can support moving assets issued on CKB to Bitcoin. 
How to Buy CKB on Binance
CKB has been available for trading on Binance since January 26, 2021. You can buy CKB directly via the Binance app or the official website using USDT, USDC, or TRY (Turkish Lira). For a detailed tutorial, please refer to this guide.
What’s Next for CKB?
During the HongKong Web3 Festival 2024, a lineup of projects scheduled for rollout in the coming months was shared:
UTXO Stack: The UTXO Stack is a platform for launching high-performance Bitcoin Layer 2 chains secured by CKB. It offers near-unlimited scalability without compromising network security, thus fostering the growth of the Bitcoin ecosystem.DeFi Expansion: AMM-based decentralized exchange, decentralized money markets, over-collateralized stablecoins (CDP), etc.
Lightning Network Integration: Connecting CKB with Bitcoin’s Lightning Network to achieve a bi-directional, censorship-resistant, permissionless, and trustless flow of assets across the two networks.
Nostr client with support of CKB Lightning Network and integrated with the RGB++ protocol.
Closing Thoughts
CKB is an ideal Bitcoin L2 that is steadfast in its adherence to the PoW consensus mechanism, extending Bitcoin’s UTXO model and achieving Turing-complete smart contracts. The Nervos network and its CKB token will likely continue to extend their influence within the broader Bitcoin ecosystem, contributing to its advancement and further adoption.
This content is presented to you on an “as is” basis for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Products mentioned in this article may not be available in your region. Where the article is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Binance Academy. Please read our full disclaimer for further details. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance Academy is not liable for any losses you may incur. This material should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use and Risk Warning.
$CKB
#ckb

Wormhole is a cross-chain interoperability platform powering multichain applications and bridges at scale.It supports seamless asset transfers, data retrieval, and secure cross-chain messaging across 30+ blockchains, facilitating over $68 billion in volume and more than 1.1 billion messages as of October 2025.Wormhole’s architecture prioritizes security and scalability via its decentralized Guardian Network of validators, running full nodes on every chain.The Wormhole product suite includes Native Token Transfers (NTT), Wrapped Token Transfers (WTT), Wormhole Settlement, Queries for data retrieval, and Wormhole Messaging.The W token is Wormhole’s native multichain governance and staking token, with a max supply of 10 billion and roughly 4.8 billion circulating.
What Is Wormhole?
Wormhole is a permissionless, modular interoperability protocol that connects isolated blockchain ecosystems. It enables developers to build seamless multichain applications by facilitating the secure transfer of assets, arbitrary data, and governance messages.
Wormhole’s messaging protocol securely transmits arbitrary data via Guardian-signed Verifiable Action Approvals (VAAs), uniting fragmented chains into an integrated Web3 landscape and enhancing decentralized application user experiences (UX).
Wormhole is trusted by institutional clients such as BlackRock and Apollo for tokenized assets and by Circle to enable USDC’s multichain liquidity via its innovative Native Token Transfers framework.
Wormhole Architecture
Wormhole’s architecture combines on-chain smart contracts with an off-chain decentralized Guardian Network to ensure secure, scalable cross-chain communication.

On-chain components:
Emitter: Smart contracts that publish messages.Core contracts: Record message events in transaction logs with identifiers (emitter address, sequence number).Transaction logs: Allow Guardians to observe and verify emitted messages.
Off-chain components:
Guardian network: Decentralized network of approximately 19 validators (leading Web3 firms) running full nodes on every supported chain to fully verify transaction state.Guardians sign verified messages creating Verifiable Action Approvals (VAAs).Relayers optionally deliver these signed VAAs to target chains, but these are non-trust assumptions since message authenticity solely depends on Guardian signatures.
Wormhole Products
Wormhole offers a variety of open-source protocols and developer tools to enable secure multichain asset transfers, data access, and governance.
Transfer products
Native Token Transfers (NTT): Enables direct transfer of native tokens across chains without conversion into wrapped assets. Wormhole’s model preserves tokens’ native properties, avoids dependence on liquidity pools, and eliminates slippage and MEV risks. NTT empowers projects with full control over token contracts, ownership, and upgradeability, making it ideal for DeFi governance, stablecoins, and institutional use cases.Wrapped Token Transfers (WTT): Uses a lock-and-mint mechanism to create wrapped token representations on destination chains. WTT contracts are managed by Wormhole Governance and are permissionless but not upgradeable by integrators. This method provides a fast, simple bridging solution for consumer apps, games, and wrapped token use cases.Wormhole Settlement: An intent-based, fast multichain transfer protocol that optimizes liquidity routes and enables institutional-grade cross-chain swaps without traditional bridge limitations.
Developer tools
Wormhole Connect: A plug-and-play bridging UI widget enabling applications to integrate cross-chain asset transfers with minimal setup. While users generally pay gas fees on destination chains, relayers or sponsored gas systems may be used selectively to improve UX.Wormhole Queries: Provides efficient, on-demand, batched cross-chain data retrieval, reducing gas consumption and complexity. Guardian attestations ensure secure, trusted data access across multiple networks.Wormhole Messaging: Modular protocol for decentralized cross-chain communication using signed VAAs, enabling developers to build complex multichain applications beyond asset bridging.
Multichain Applications Powered by Wormhole

Wormhole supports a growing ecosystem of over 200 projects leveraging its protocols, including:
Allbridge Core: Cross-chain stableswap with native stablecoin transfers on EVM and non-EVM chains.C3: Self-custodial exchange combining decentralization with centralized exchange performance.Hashflow: Multichain DEX enabling native trading across Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche, BNB Chain, Optimism, Polygon, Solana, and more.Jupiter: Leading Solana liquidity aggregator offering optimal token swap routes.Mayan: Cross-chain swap auction protocol built on Solana and Wormhole.Portal Bridge: xLabs’ asset and NFT bridge across 30+ chains powered by Wormhole.Synonym: Multichain decentralized money market integrated with Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP).Threshold Network: Decentralized threshold cryptography suite including tBTC for multichain Bitcoin transfers.Wombat: BNB Chain-native DEX focused on stablecoin swaps with minimal slippage.
Institutional clients such as BlackRock and Apollo utilize Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers framework to tokenize assets across blockchains, showcasing broad real-world adoption.
The W Token and MultiGov
The native governance and staking token “W” is deployed multichain across Solana, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base via Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers. W has a max supply of 10 billion tokens, with approximately 4.8 billion circulating as of October 2025.
W powers the Wormhole DAO’s cross-chain governance through the MultiGov framework, which employs a “hub-and-spoke” model combining token transfer, cross-chain messaging, timelock, and governor modules for decentralized decision-making. MultiGov is live on Ethereum, Solana, and Layer 2s, enabling:
Active, inclusive governance across chainsAccessible participation at low and inclusive gas costsDecentralized voting for token holders regardless of their blockchain of choiceFlexible DAO expansion to new networks
W token holders can stake tokens to earn yields targeting a 4% base return and influence protocol upgrades, including fee models, chain integrations, and security parameters.
Closing Thoughts
Wormhole is a cross-chain interoperability protocol that enables asset transfers, data sharing, and governance across more than 30 blockchains. Its architecture combines on-chain contracts with a decentralized Guardian Network to ensure security and scalability. 
The platform supports a range of products, including Native and Wrapped Token Transfers, Wormhole Settlement, and developer tools for bridging and data retrieval. The W token facilitates multichain governance through the MultiGov framework, allowing token holders to participate in decision-making and staking.
Disclaimer: This content is presented to you on an “as is” basis for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Products mentioned in this article may not be available in your region. Where the article is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Binance Academy. Please read our full disclaimer for further details. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance Academy is not liable for any losses you may incur. This material should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use and Risk Warning.
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#W

Disclaimer: This article is sponsored content and should not be considered as financial or investment advice. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the contributor/author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Binance Academy.
Key Takeaways
Astar Network supports multiple programming languages and virtual machines, simplifying the creation and deployment of decentralized applications (DApps).The recent launch of Astar's Layer 2 zkEVM, built with Polygon technology, enhances blockchain scalability and privacy, attracting companies like Japan Airlines and Mazda.Astar's DApp staking system rewards developers based on their DApps' performance, promoting innovation and growth within the network.
Introduction
Blockchain developers often struggle to find a network that can offer flexibility, interoperability, and robust security. Astar Network addresses this problem by providing a decentralized platform that supports multiple virtual machines and programming languages, enabling seamless development and deployment of decentralized applications (DApps) both on the Polkadot and Ethereum ecosystems. 
What Is Astar Network?
Astar Network is a multi-chain smart contract platform that allows developers to create and interact with DApps using various programming languages and frameworks, enhancing the flexibility and interoperability of blockchain applications. Its primary mission is to offer a scalable and secure infrastructure for the next generation of DApps, making it easier for developers to build and deploy applications with minimal friction.
How Does It Work?
Astar Network operates as both a Layer 1 and Layer 2 solution to enhance blockchain interoperability and scalability. Astar’s Layer 1 is secured by the Polkadot relay chain, which uses a Nominated Proof-of-Stake (NPoS) consensus algorithm to ensure security and decentralization. Astar's Layer 2 zkEVM, built with Polygon CDK technology, allows for the efficient execution of Ethereum-compatible smart contracts using zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs), enhancing performance and privacy. 
What Makes Astar Network Unique?
Astar Network stands out with its dual ecosystems, offering a Layer 1 secured by Polkadot’s NPoS and a Layer 2 zkEVM built with Polygon CDK technology. This setup allows developers to use multiple virtual machines, including the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and WebAssembly (Wasm), enabling them to deploy smart contracts written in popular languages like Solidity and Rust. The Layer 2 zkEVM enhances scalability and privacy through ZKPs, ensuring the efficient execution of Ethereum-compatible smart contracts.
Key advantages of Astar Network include its flexibility and interoperability, which simplify the development and deployment of DApps. By supporting cross-chain interactions and providing a secure, high-performance environment, Astar addresses problems like scalability, security, and developer accessibility. 
What Is the ASTR Token?
ASTR is the native token of the Astar Network. It is used for a variety of purposes within the network, such as transaction fees (gas), staking, governance, and incentivization.
Staking
Users can stake their ASTR tokens to participate in the DApp staking system. By
locking up their ASTR tokens, they can earn rewards in ASTR while supporting their favorite projects, builders, and the overall ecosystem. 
Builders can use these rewards to pay for development fees, build a community treasury, or fund other initiatives that will help them develop a sustainable business model. There are no limitations to how teams can use their ASTR rewards.
Governance
ASTR tokens are essential for the governance of the Astar Network. Token holders can use their ASTR to vote on important proposals and decisions that affect the future development and direction of the platform. Proposals may include changes to protocol parameters, the introduction of new features, or modifications to existing ones. 
Ecosystem incentives
ASTR tokens also serve as an incentive mechanism for developers and users within the
Astar network. For example:
Developers are incentivized to build DApps using the DApp staking system. Collaborators receive ASTR rewards for collecting on-chain transactions from users to create state transition proofs for validators. Stakers can receive rewards by locking their tokens on the Astar Portal or through Binance staking.
ASTR Tokenomics
Details:
Token ticker: $ASTRTotal initial supply: 7,000,000,000Token decimals: 18Inflation: ~665,000,000 yearly

Allocation:
30% for Users and Early Supporters20% for Parachain Auction in 20215% for Parachain Auction Reserve (Update: Community voted to burn this 5% allocation)10% for Protocol Development5% for On-Chain DAO5% for Marketing5% for Team (Employee Incentives)10% for Early Financial Backers10% for Foundation
Please note that the function and allocation of ASTR tokens is dynamic and may vary slightly based on network governance decisions and other factors over time.
Astar’s Ecosystem
The Astar Ecosystem is a network designed to support the development and deployment of various DApps. Several DApps and projects have gained more traction in Astar’s ecosystem:
ArthSwap. A decentralized exchange (DEX) built on Astar, offering seamless token swaps and liquidity provision. AstridDAO. A decentralized finance (DeFi) platform that provides stablecoin issuance and collateralized lending services. Astar Degens. An NFT-based community VC DAO, enabling users to democratically participate in investment opportunities while managing a robust treasury.
Goals of Astar Network
Connecting businesses with developers is one of the main goals of the Astar Network. This is done through event collaborations and partnerships with various companies worldwide, fostering innovation and practical applications of blockchain technology.
1. Hackathon sponsored by Toyota
In collaboration with Hakuhodo Key3, Toyota organized a hackathon leveraging Astar Network as the underlying infrastructure. The event attracted over 420 applicants, evenly split between international and Japanese participants. Twelve teams advanced past the first round, with five prizes awarded at the end. Participants worked alongside mentors from the Astar Foundation and Alchemy to create DAO tooling that could enhance management workflows for businesses collaborating with Toyota.
2. Sony Incubation Program
Working together with Sony Network Communications, the Astar Foundation ran a Web3 incubation program aimed at accelerating projects from around the world. The first round of the program concluded on June 18, 2023, with a Demo Day held at Sony’s offices in Tokyo and in the COSMIZE metaverse. 
3. Enterprise-grade solutions
The Astar Foundation has focused on integrating Web3 tooling for businesses and users. Companies can build their business on the Astar blockchain using platforms trusted by various enterprises, including Fireblocks and hardware wallets. Cold storage solutions like the Ledger Live app can be used to securely store and transfer assets from on-chain to platforms like Binance.
What’s Next for Astar Network?
The Astar Foundation, a key entity within the Astar ecosystem, is currently the main contributor and maintainer of the Astar Network source code. The foundation is leading the development of Astar Evolution, the next major milestone for the network. 
Closing Thoughts
Astar has established itself as a blockchain company in Japan that has partnered with various Japanese enterprises, such as Sony, NTT Docomo, and Toyota, driving forward Web3 adoption and integration across various industries in Japan. As Astar Network grows and solidifies its position as a smart contract platform, it remains dedicated to providing developers with the essential tools to build a better web. The commitment to on-chain staking and robust developer support is driving Astar network's global growth and the evolution of its ecosystem, ensuring that it grows in both scale and innovation.
This content is presented to you on an “as is” basis for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Products mentioned in this article may not be available in your region. Where the article is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Binance Academy. Please read our full disclaimer for further details. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance Academy is not liable for any losses you may incur. This material should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use and Risk Warning.
$ASTR
#ASTR

Radworks is pioneering a new era in open-source software development by creating a truly sovereign infrastructure for developers to host, collaborate and reward open source code, AI models and research. Its two flagship products, Radicle and Drips, offer peer-to-peer code collaboration and a toolkit for rewarding open source developers, respectively. 
By empowering developers and users with a truly decentralized infrastructure, Radworks is fostering a future where developer freedoms are preserved, and every individual has the power to contribute to and benefit from a global digital commons.
Introduction
In a world where digital infrastructure underpins every aspect of our lives, the importance of maintaining a resilient and open-source ecosystem cannot be overstated. The majority of this critical infrastructure is currently centralized, posing significant risks of censorship, privacy and security. 
Radworks addresses these challenges by building a sovereign developer stack designed to empower developers with greater control over their code and funding. This article explores the mission and workings of Radworks, its two products (Radicle and Drips), the role of the RAD token, and the future roadmap for the project.
What Is Radworks?
Radworks is a sovereign developer stack that includes two key technologies and products: Radicle and Drips. Radworks enables developers to securely host, collaborate on, and reward open-source code. The core philosophy behind Radworks is to provide developers with sovereignty over their code and resources, ensuring that no single entity can control or censor their work.
How Does Radicle Work?
Radicle is a sovereign peer-to-peer (P2P) network for code collaboration. It provides greater resilience and autonomy to developers by removing reliance on centralized platforms like GitHub.
The project was started in 2018 by co-founders Alexis Sellier and Ele Diakomichalis, who are former colleagues from Soundcloud. Sellier focused on infrastructure development, while Diakomichalis headed up the data science and data engineering team at Soundcloud. Following five years of dedicated development, the team officially launched Radicle v1.0 in March 2024.
Radicle, like GitHub, uses Git as its underlying version control system, but adds decentralized features like peer-to-peer gossip/networking and DID (Decentralized Identifiers) compatibility. Instead of relying on a centralized server, users can host their repositories locally or on the Radicle network, with code changes synchronized directly between peers. This means that there is no single entity controlling the network. Instead, users are in full control of their data and workflow.
In order to adapt Git to be fully peer-to-peer, the Radicle engineering team had to solve two major problems. 
1. Git assumes a trusted environment. Although Git is ostensibly designed to support peer-to-peer interactions, it inherently lacks the functionality required for deployment in a true peer-to-peer network. All existing deployments adhere to a client-server model. Specifically, Git has no way of verifying the authenticity of a repository following a ‘git clone’ operation, necessitating reliance on cloning from a trusted server. Radicle solves this by assigning verifiable, stable identities to repositories that can be verified locally, allowing repositories to be served by untrusted parties.
2. Handling conflicts in a P2P environment. Without an authoritative single source of truth such as a server, conflicts could arise. Conflict resolution between divergent paths to converge on the same state is important for seamless P2P collaboration. Radicle developed its own model for issues and pull requests (called “patches”), implemented via Collaborative Objects (COBs) explained below.

Source: Radicle.xyz
Radicle node:  All nodes are identified by unique Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) on the network; they can directly refer to each other via a public key and an address. Through Radicle’s gossip protocol, nodes exchange messages to discover and replicate repositories. When a secure connection is established between nodes, a fetch operation is initiated via Git to pull relevant objects into the node’s storage.
Radicle Storage: Storage employs a local-first design, eliminating the need for centralized servers. Radicle repositories are simply Git repositories stored on disk. Storage manages user identities, signatures and social artifacts like issues and patches. Users work with two copies: the working copy and the remote copy (in local storage), which are synced via Radicle’s git-remote-helper using typical developer workflow practices.
Collaborative objects (COBs): Radicle enhances Git by adding data structures called Collaborative objects. COBs represent social features and are directly in the repositories to facilitate conflict-free collaboration. There are three predefined COB types: issues (used for tracking bugs/feature requests), patches (used for proposing changes), and identities (used to represent identity documents), but users can customize new COB types. 
Interface: Radicle offers both a CLI and a web-interface. Users can access a hosted web interface that links to their local node, or set up their own. Features such as code browsing are still being improved on.
A comprehensive user guide is available on the project website. Additionally, Nader Dabit has created a video guide, “How to Replace GitHub with Radicle to Take Ownership of Your Code.”
How Does Drips Work?
Drips is the second flagship product of Radworks, designed to address the financial challenges of maintaining open-source software. It is a decentralized toolkit for rewarding open source projects within your ecosystem. Drips operates on the Ethereum blockchain, providing a transparent and efficient way to allocate resources.
Key features of Drips include:
An easy way to fund any GitHub repo: Drips allows individuals and projects to instantly support any repo on GitHub, even if they don't have any Ethereum address.A flexible way to distribute funds: Drips enables organizations to effortlessly distribute any ERC-20, continuously or as a one-time donation, without platform fees.A simple way for communities to allocate funds: Drips enables communities to collectively decide on which projects and people should receive what percentage of funds.Wide impact by default: Funds sent to projects via the Drips product are also split with their dependencies, amplifying their impact within the open-source community.Support for multiple projects: Drips currently supports over 180 projects across Web3 and traditional open-source ecosystems, demonstrating its versatility and impact.
Drips' continuous funding model contrasts with traditional one-off funding methods, fostering long-term sustainability for open-source projects.
What Makes Them Unique?
Radicle and Drips stand out for several reasons:
Decentralization: Both products are built on peer-to-peer or blockchain technologies, ensuring that no single entity can control or censor the network.Community Governance: Radworks employs on-chain and off-chain governance mechanisms, allowing the community to have a say in the platform's development and decision-making processes.Security and Sovereignty: By eliminating reliance on centralized servers and by leveraging cryptography, Radicle and Drips enhance security and give developers full control over their code and funding.Innovative Value Flows for developers: Drips' continuous funding model provides a sustainable way to support open-source projects, addressing a critical need in the developer community.
What Is The RAD Token?
The RAD token is the native token of the Radworks ecosystem. It plays a crucial role in the platform's governance and operations. By the end of 2024, some of its primary functions will include:
Governance (live): RAD holders can participate in the decision-making processes of the Radworks DAO, influencing the direction of the project.Staking and Incentives (by end of 2024): Node operators on the Radicle network can stake RAD tokens to the network in order to be able to provide storage and retrieval services, receiving compensation from network users.
What’s Next For Radworks?
Radworks has an ambitious roadmap for the future, with several key developments planned for 2024 and beyond:
Radworks Seed Network (RSN): Scheduled for 2024, RSN will introduce third-party gateway services, allowing professional infrastructure providers to run Radicle nodes. This will enhance the network's scalability and performance.Integration of Radicle and Drips: The Radworks team aims to create an additional client focused on Web3 communities that integrates Radicle and Drips. This will enable seamless funding and collaboration in one experience.Expansion of Governance: With an impending tokenomics update, RAD will expand to have a work token component, further enhancing its utility and value within the network.
These initiatives are expected to solidify Radworks' position as a leading force in decentralized software development.
Closing Thoughts
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the need for decentralized infrastructure has never been more critical. As the world grapples with increasing polarization and the politicization of technology—where debates on AI safety and code as free speech become battlegrounds—there's an urgent demand for platforms that champion resilience, freedom and user sovereignty. 
By empowering developers and users with a truly decentralized infrastructure, Radworks is fostering a future where developer freedoms are preserved, and every individual has the power to contribute to and benefit from a global digital commons.
This content is presented to you on an “as is” basis for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Products mentioned in this article may not be available in your region. Where the article is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Binance Academy. Please read our full disclaimer for further details. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance Academy is not liable for any losses you may incur. This material should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use and Risk Warning.
$RAD
#RAD

The ASI Alliance, formed by Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and Ocean Protocol, aims to accelerate the development of decentralized AGI and achieve ASI. The mission includes advancing AI research, promoting decentralized development, and democratizing AI technologies to ensure ethical and accessible growth.
The ASI Alliance challenges big tech dominance by emphasizing open-source solutions and decentralization. This approach ensures AI technologies are developed transparently and ethically, making cutting-edge innovations accessible to developers, researchers, and businesses.The alliance promotes decentralized AI development using Fetch.ai's autonomous agents, SingularityNET's open-source AGI initiatives, and Ocean Protocol's secure data exchange framework. This ensures AI advancements are inclusive, equitable, and ethically aligned, benefiting society as a whole.

Introduction
The Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) Alliance, formed by Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and Ocean Protocol, marks a significant milestone in the realm of decentralized AI. This strategic collaboration aims to accelerate the development of decentralized Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which is AI that surpasses human cognitive abilities, and ultimately achieve Artificial Superintelligence (ASI). This article delves into the fundamentals of the ASI Alliance, its mission, and its potential impact on the AI and blockchain ecosystems.
Background and Vision
The ASI Alliance unites three pioneering projects in AI and blockchain:
Fetch.ai: Focuses on creating autonomous agents capable of performing complex tasks, interacting with other agents, and providing valuable services without human intervention.SingularityNET: Aims to push past narrow AI and actively develop decentralized artificial general intelligence based on open-source initiatives and the unification of multiple developmental paradigms. Ocean Protocol: Provides a framework for secure and transparent data exchange, allowing AI models to access and utilize vast datasets for training and improvement.
Together, these projects aim to build a robust ecosystem that fosters advanced AI technologies' development and ensures their equitable distribution and ethical use. By pooling their resources and expertise, SingularityNET, Fetch.ai, and Ocean Protocol aim to foster innovation, transparency, and inclusivity in the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and beyond to Artificial Superintelligence (ASI).
The Mission of the ASI Alliance
The ASI Alliance is committed to advancing decentralized AI and developing artificial general intelligence by leveraging the unique strengths of each member project. The alliance aims to:
Accelerate AI Research and Development: By pooling resources and expertise, the ASI Alliance seeks to drive innovation in AI and AGI, making cutting-edge artificial general intelligence accessible to a broader audience.Promote Decentralized AI Development: Ensuring AI technologies are developed and deployed transparently and ethically, focusing on open-source solutions and decentralization.Democratize AI Development: Emphasizing open-source code and decentralization, ensuring AI development is accessible to all, not controlled by a few entities.
Key Components and Technologies
The ASI Alliance leverages several key components and technologies to achieve its mission:
AGI Layer - OpenCog Hyperon: OpenCog Hyperon is an open-source software framework designed to integrate multiple AI paradigms into a cognitive architecture, aimed at achieving and surpassing human-level artificial general intelligence (AGI)AI Agents: Fetch.ai's autonomous agents can perform a wide range of tasks, from data analysis to real-time decision-making, without human intervention.Data Exchange Framework: Ocean Protocol's secure and transparent data exchange framework enables AI models to access and utilize vast datasets, enhancing their accuracy and capabilities.
Impact on the AI Ecosystem
The ASI Alliance has the potential to significantly impact the AI ecosystem in several ways:
Increased Collaboration: By bringing together leading projects in AI and blockchain, the alliance fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing, accelerating the pace of innovation towards reaching artificial general intelligence.Improved Access to AI Technologies: The decentralized nature of the ASI Alliance ensures advanced AI technologies are accessible to a wider audience, including developers, researchers, and businesses.Ethical AI Development: The alliance's commitment to ethical and decentralized AI development helps ensure AI technologies are used responsibly and benefit society.
Closing Thoughts
The ASI Alliance represents a bold step forward in the quest for decentralized AI and artificial superintelligence. By uniting the resources and expertise of Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and Ocean Protocol, the alliance is well-positioned to drive innovation, promote ethical AI development, and create a more inclusive and equitable AI ecosystem. As the world continues to grapple with AI's challenges and opportunities, the ASI Alliance offers a promising vision for the future.
$A
#USNFPBlowout

The ASI Alliance, formed by Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and Ocean Protocol, aims to accelerate the development of decentralized AGI and achieve ASI. The mission includes advancing AI research, promoting decentralized development, and democratizing AI technologies to ensure ethical and accessible growth.The ASI Alliance challenges big tech dominance by emphasizing open-source solutions and decentralization. This approach ensures AI technologies are developed transparently and ethically, making cutting-edge innovations accessible to developers, researchers, and businesses.The alliance promotes decentralized AI development using Fetch.ai's autonomous agents, SingularityNET's open-source AGI initiatives, and Ocean Protocol's secure data exchange framework. This ensures AI advancements are inclusive, equitable, and ethically aligned, benefiting society as a whole.

Introduction
The Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) Alliance, formed by Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and Ocean Protocol, marks a significant milestone in the realm of decentralized AI. This strategic collaboration aims to accelerate the development of decentralized Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), which is AI that surpasses human cognitive abilities, and ultimately achieve Artificial Superintelligence (ASI). This article delves into the fundamentals of the ASI Alliance, its mission, and its potential impact on the AI and blockchain ecosystems.
Background and Vision
The ASI Alliance unites three pioneering projects in AI and blockchain:
Fetch.ai: Focuses on creating autonomous agents capable of performing complex tasks, interacting with other agents, and providing valuable services without human intervention.SingularityNET: Aims to push past narrow AI and actively develop decentralized artificial general intelligence based on open-source initiatives and the unification of multiple developmental paradigms. Ocean Protocol: Provides a framework for secure and transparent data exchange, allowing AI models to access and utilize vast datasets for training and improvement.
Together, these projects aim to build a robust ecosystem that fosters advanced AI technologies' development and ensures their equitable distribution and ethical use. By pooling their resources and expertise, SingularityNET, Fetch.ai, and Ocean Protocol aim to foster innovation, transparency, and inclusivity in the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and beyond to Artificial Superintelligence (ASI).
The Mission of the ASI Alliance
The ASI Alliance is committed to advancing decentralized AI and developing artificial general intelligence by leveraging the unique strengths of each member project. The alliance aims to:
Accelerate AI Research and Development: By pooling resources and expertise, the ASI Alliance seeks to drive innovation in AI and AGI, making cutting-edge artificial general intelligence accessible to a broader audience.Promote Decentralized AI Development: Ensuring AI technologies are developed and deployed transparently and ethically, focusing on open-source solutions and decentralization.Democratize AI Development: Emphasizing open-source code and decentralization, ensuring AI development is accessible to all, not controlled by a few entities.
Key Components and Technologies
The ASI Alliance leverages several key components and technologies to achieve its mission:
AGI Layer - OpenCog Hyperon: OpenCog Hyperon is an open-source software framework designed to integrate multiple AI paradigms into a cognitive architecture, aimed at achieving and surpassing human-level artificial general intelligence (AGI)AI Agents: Fetch.ai's autonomous agents can perform a wide range of tasks, from data analysis to real-time decision-making, without human intervention.Data Exchange Framework: Ocean Protocol's secure and transparent data exchange framework enables AI models to access and utilize vast datasets, enhancing their accuracy and capabilities.
Impact on the AI Ecosystem
The ASI Alliance has the potential to significantly impact the AI ecosystem in several ways:
Increased Collaboration: By bringing together leading projects in AI and blockchain, the alliance fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing, accelerating the pace of innovation towards reaching artificial general intelligence.Improved Access to AI Technologies: The decentralized nature of the ASI Alliance ensures advanced AI technologies are accessible to a wider audience, including developers, researchers, and businesses.Ethical AI Development: The alliance's commitment to ethical and decentralized AI development helps ensure AI technologies are used responsibly and benefit society.
Closing Thoughts
The ASI Alliance represents a bold step forward in the quest for decentralized AI and artificial superintelligence. By uniting the resources and expertise of Fetch.ai, SingularityNET, and Ocean Protocol, the alliance is well-positioned to drive innovation, promote ethical AI development, and create a more inclusive and equitable AI ecosystem. As the world continues to grapple with AI's challenges and opportunities, the ASI Alliance offers a promising vision for the future.
This content is presented to you on an “as is” basis for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Products mentioned in this article may not be available in your region. Where the article is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Binance Academy. Please read our full disclaimer for further details. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance Academy is not liable for any losses you may incur. This material should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use and Risk Warning.
$A
#ASI

Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain that uses the Move language, BFT consensus, and parallel execution to deliver faster and cheaper transactions.The network uses AptosBFT, a Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus protocol built on top of Proof of Stake (PoS).Aptos uses the Move programming language, designed to improve smart contract safety and resource management.
APT is the network’s native token. It’s used for transaction fees, staking, governance, and validator participation.
What Is Aptos?
Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain designed to deliver a scalable, upgradeable, and secure infrastructure for decentralized applications. The network uses Proof of Stake (PoS) with a Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus system to deliver fast and reliable transaction finality. 
To improve performance, Aptos features a parallel execution engine that can process multiple transactions simultaneously, which allows the network to support higher volumes of activity. Aptos also uses the Move programming language, a resource-oriented language that enhances smart contract safety and supports formal verification, providing developers with stronger tools to build secure applications.
History
Aptos was founded in 2021 by former Meta engineers Mo Shaikh and Avery Ching, who had previously worked on the Diem (formerly Libra) blockchain. When Diem was shut down due to regulatory challenges, Aptos Labs was launched to continue building on the technology.
The Aptos mainnet went live in October 2022. Since then, Aptos Labs has focused on advancing the network’s core technology, while the Aptos Foundation supports ecosystem growth by funding developers, running educational programs, and building partnerships to expand adoption.
How Aptos Works
AptosBFT
Aptos uses Proof of Stake (PoS), where validators stake APT tokens to participate in securing the network. They are responsible for proposing blocks, validating transactions, and keeping the blockchain running efficiently. On top of this, the network uses AptosBFT, a Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus protocol that allows validators to reach agreement on transactions. AptosBFT is designed to keep the network operational even if up to one-third of validators fail or act dishonestly. This approach aims to balance security with fast transaction processing.
Move programming language
Aptos smart contracts are written in Move, a programming language originally developed for the Diem blockchain project at Meta. Move is designed to work across different blockchains, providing developers with access to shared tools, libraries, and communities.
Move is unique because it employs a resource-oriented model, which treats digital assets as resources that cannot be copied or destroyed by mistake. This makes it harder for bugs or coding errors to cause asset losses. To add another layer of protection, Move comes with the Move Prover, a formal verification tool for smart contracts that can check if they behave as intended.
For developers, Move offers safety and flexibility. It helps enforce best practices in building secure applications, while still allowing room for innovation. Aptos also invests in growing the Move developer community, supporting open-source contributions, and encouraging builders to expand the language's capabilities across Web3.
Parallel execution engine
Most blockchains handle transactions sequentially, processing them one at a time. This straightforward design makes implementation easier, but it also restricts scalability, as the network can only process a limited number of transactions at once. As activity increases, this often results in congestion and slower transaction times.
Aptos uses Block-STM (Software Transactional Memory), a specialized execution engine that processes transactions in parallel. This means that instead of handling one transaction at a time, the system can execute multiple transactions simultaneously. After execution, Aptos validates the results. If two transactions try to modify the same resource and conflict, only those specific transactions are re-run, while the others remain unaffected. This design ensures that a single failed transaction won’t stop the chain. 
A built-in scheduler also helps Block-STM prioritize transactions efficiently, further boosting performance. As a result, Aptos can achieve much higher throughput compared to traditional sequential blockchains. The success of Block-STM has also influenced other blockchains, such as Polygon, Sei, and Starknet, which have adopted similar approaches to parallel execution.
Ecosystem
Aptos Build
Aptos Build is a developer toolkit from Aptos Labs that facilitates the creation, testing, and deployment of applications on the network. Developers can generate API keys in seconds and build blockchain indexers without writing code. They can also launch Non-Fungible Token (NFT) collections with a single click, sponsor transactions through a gas station, and simplify user onboarding without managing complex infrastructure.
Aptos Connect
Aptos Connect is a web-based, self-custodial wallet that requires no downloads or browser extensions. Instead of traditional private keys, it uses Aptos’s keyless accounts, allowing users to log in with social accounts like Google. The blockchain account is cryptographically linked to the login but never publicly tied to it, making onboarding simpler while ensuring users maintain full control of their assets.
Aptos Name Service (ANS)
Aptos Name Service provides human-readable .apt names to replace complex wallet addresses, making transactions easier to manage and share. This service enhances accessibility and usability across the Aptos ecosystem, with integrations that enable decentralized applications (DApps) to provide smoother, more intuitive experiences for users.
Aptos Assistant
Aptos Assistant is an AI-powered support tool built in partnership with Microsoft to simplify navigation of the Aptos ecosystem. It acts as a secure chatbot that can answer blockchain-related questions in simple terms. Users can rely on it for onboarding help, while developers can use it to find resources for building smart contracts and applications. 
Aptos Token
The APT token is the native token of the Aptos network. It’s used within the Aptos ecosystem for many purposes, including:
Gas fees: APT is used to pay for transaction fees when sending transactions or interacting with applications and smart contracts on the Aptos network.Staking: Holders can stake APT to help secure the network, either by delegating their tokens to validators or by running validator nodes directly. In return, they earn rewards distributed at each epoch.Validator operations: Running a validator requires staking APT. Validators participate in consensus, process transactions, and earn rewards for honest activity. Misbehavior or misconfiguration can result in penalties, including the loss of staked tokens.Governance: APT tokens grant holders the ability to participate in on-chain governance, enabling them to vote on protocol upgrades, parameter adjustments, and other decisions that shape the network's future.
Closing Thoughts
Aptos is a Layer 1 blockchain focused on scalability, and it builds on technology first developed for Meta’s Diem project. The network combines AptosBFT for fast and secure consensus, the Move programming language for safer smart contracts, and the Block-STM engine for parallel execution. Beyond the core protocol, Aptos expands its ecosystem with tools like Aptos Build, Aptos Connect, Aptos Name Service, and Aptos Assistant. These services are designed to make development easier and user onboarding more accessible.
$APT
#APT

The AVA token powers the AVA Smart Program, a Web3 travel loyalty program available on Travala.com.The AVA Smart Program offers up to 13% savings with crypto rewards, discounts, bonuses, and more.AVA is used to upgrade Smart memberships, receive payment discounts, and distribute rewards.
Introduction
Traditional travel loyalty programs can be restrictive, offering points that can only be used on one platform. The value of these points is devalued over time due to inflation, and points often expire if unused. AVA changes this, functioning as a travel loyalty ecosystem for Web3 travelers.
What Is AVA?
The AVA token powers the AVA Smart Program, a Web3 travel loyalty program that offers crypto rewards. Designed by the AVA Foundation, the program is available on Travala.com—the world’s leading Web3 travel platform with over 3,000,000 flights, hotels, and activities—and offers savings of up to 13% on every travel booking.
The overarching mission of the AVA Foundation is to create a decentralized, self-sufficient, and interconnected blockchain-based loyalty ecosystem with AVA at its core. The AVA Foundation aims to realize this mission by introducing the AVA Smart Program to partner projects in a cost-effective manner via a plug-and-play approach that provides participants with significantly greater utility, transparency, and autonomy over their rewards.

How Does AVA Work?
AVA is an ERC-20 token with bridge options available to BNB Chain and Solana. Users can activate their travel loyalty membership—the “Smart membership”—within the AVA Smart Program by locking the required amount of AVA tokens through the program.
Once activated, members receive various perks that increase with each membership tier. These perks include:
Up to 10% of every trip on Travala.com back in “giveback” rewards in AVA, Bitcoin, and more.Discounts of up to 5% on Travala.com.An extra up to 3% discount on Travala.com if booking in full with AVA.Up to 20% bonus AVA tokens per year on locked AVA by meeting quarterly requirements.Airdrop allocations for early-stage token partner projects.
The highest membership tier of the program, Smart Diamond, is activated with a Travel Tiger NFT and 2,500 AVA. It offers several premium perks, including additional quarterly Travel Credit rewards, airport lounge access, entry into travel giveaways, and more.
What Makes AVA Unique?
AVA’s real-world utility within one of the largest industries in the world sets it apart from other Web3 projects. Embodying the concept of customer loyalty programs using blockchain technology extends the applications of loyalty programs beyond that which can be achieved with traditional models.
By offering a suite of Web3 loyalty functions that can be greatly customized and refined, AVA aims to extend the value proposition of partner projects, increase customer retention and loyalty, and create an interconnected rewards ecosystem between all partner platforms.
What is the AVA Token?
The AVA utility token is specifically designed to: (1) power the AVA Smart Program, (2) offer payment alternatives on partner platforms, (3) generate token demand via the AVA Buyback Program, and (4) provide governance options for the community.
1. AVA Smart Program
AVA powers the AVA Smart Program via a combination of use cases, including using AVA to receive perks—such as discounts, memberships, exclusive benefits, and early access—and as a rewards token to offer AVA through givebacks, bonuses, and more.
2. Payments
In addition to the token’s loyalty reward capabilities, AVA is available as a payment option on various platforms. This enables loyalty program participants to seamlessly utilize AVA for partner goods and services, whether earned as rewards via the AVA Smart Program or acquired independently, creating an open loyalty economy rather than a closed one.
3. AVA Buyback Program
When giveback rewards are distributed within the AVA Smart Program, the AVA Foundation purchases AVA tokens on the open market equivalent to the USD value of all the AVA giveback rewards distributed to Smart members for travel bookings completed in the previous month. This generates sustained demand and growth for the AVA token, strengthening its utility, increasing its role within the ecosystem, and providing long-term benefits to the community resulting from ongoing demand.
4. Governance
Finally, AVA tokens are also used as a governance tool for the AVA community, with the number of AVA held by a community member representing their voting weight. By enabling loyalty program participants to vote on (and eventually submit) proposals relating to the AVA ecosystem, this function can help determine community sentiment about various topics.
The AVA Ecosystem
There are five primary functions within the AVA ecosystem that enable the ecosystem to sustain itself, adapt and grow. The AVA supply follows a token release schedule that introduces new tokens to the ecosystem every 3 months, up to a maximum of 100,000,000 AVA, which is expected to be reached in 2033. AVA that is contributed for each of these functions every 3 months but not spent accrues for future use.
Community Pool: The Community Pool funds proposals voted on and successfully passed by the community. Community Pool funds will be used only if proposals are passed.Ecosystem Incentives: The AVA in the Ecosystem Incentives wallet is used to support partners that adopt the AVA token. For example, loyalty benefits offered as part of the AVA Smart Program include AVA givebacks and AVA Smart Bonuses that are distributed from the Ecosystem Incentives wallet.Ecosystem Growth: Ecosystem Growth funds are used to undertake initiatives that provide growth opportunities for the AVA ecosystem, such as engaging in partnerships or expanding reach through paid marketing activities.Foundation Reserve: The Foundation Reserve contains AVA that is available for the AVA Foundation to use for the betterment of the AVA ecosystem with a long-term vision of progressive decentralization.AVA Smart Program Lockup: This function refers to the AVA locked in the AVA Smart Program by Smart members.
How to Buy AVA on Binance
AVA is available for purchase on Binance in one of two ways: via credit/debit card, or by trading against other cryptocurrencies. To purchase AVA with a credit or debit card, log in to Binance, then click ‘Buy Crypto’ on the top left-hand side of the Binance website. Select your currency, choose AVA, select from the payment options, and follow the prompts to complete your transaction.
Alternatively, you can trade AVA on Binance by navigating to Trade > Spot in the top left-hand side of the Binance website. Then, search for AVA in the search bar on the right-hand side of the trading chart and select either the AVA/USDT or AVA/BTC trading pair.
What’s Next for AVA
Beyond the ongoing function of developing further loyalty benefits for Smart members, one of the most game-changing initiatives in the loyalty program space will be the creation of the AVA Open Loyalty Protocol. The protocol will bring together the various loyalty features of the AVA Smart Program to create an interconnected loyalty ecosystem—the core objective of the AVA Foundation.
This model will enable a smart contract-based AVA Smart Program to function as the bridge between communities by seamlessly connecting partner projects with AVA Smart Program members using Web3 wallets. 
Members will be able to access the smart contract-based AVA Smart Program on participating platforms via their self-custody wallets, such as MetaMask or WalletConnect, and their membership will be tied to their wallets (as opposed to an email-based membership account on Web2 platforms).
Closing Thoughts
As the blockchain and Web3 landscape continues to mature, the AVA ecosystem endeavors to become a leading provider of Web3 membership value. By expanding the benefits offered by the AVA Smart Program, fostering a network of projects utilizing the AVA token, and innovating in the loyalty space using cutting-edge technology, the AVA Foundation seeks to achieve the creation of a vast, interoperable, and rewarding ecosystem.
This content is presented to you on an “as is” basis for general information and educational purposes only, without representation or warranty of any kind. It should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice, nor is it intended to recommend the purchase of any specific product or service. You should seek your own advice from appropriate professional advisors. Products mentioned in this article may not be available in your region. Where the article is contributed by a third party contributor, please note that those views expressed belong to the third party contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Binance Academy. Please read our full disclaimer for further details. Digital asset prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may go down or up and you may not get back the amount invested. You are solely responsible for your investment decisions and Binance Academy is not liable for any losses you may incur. This material should not be construed as financial, legal or other professional advice. For more information, see our Terms of Use and Risk Warning.
$AVA
#AVA

What Is EigenLayer?
EigenLayer is a protocol that enhances Ethereum's Proof-of-Stake system by allowing users to 'restake' their ETH.EigenLayer's approach uses modular security, enhancing the flexibility and functionalities of staked ETH through a concept called "restaking collective".Challenges include increased complexity, potential centralization risks due to staking pool dominance, and collusion threats within the module-based design.
Introduction
Ethereum transitioned from a Proof-of-Work (PoW) model to a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) system through a series of upgrades. In PoS, users stake their ETH tokens to secure the network. Essentially, they become validators who verify transactions and ensure network integrity. In return for their contribution, stakers earn rewards.
However, staked ETH is temporarily locked, limiting its accessibility. This is where EigenLayer steps in with its innovative approach. This article provides a quick overview of EigenLayer, its airdrops, core functionalities, pros and cons, and the key differences between traditional staking and EigenLayer staking.
What Is EigenLayer?
EigenLayer is a protocol built on top of the Ethereum blockchain. It introduced a concept called "restaking collective," allowing ETH stakers to support applications within the Ethereum ecosystem.
EigenLayer creates a dynamic marketplace for decentralized trust. Developers can benefit from the security provided by the collective pool of stakers, while stakers can support the development of their projects.
How Does EigenLayer Work?
Modules
EigenLayer introduces a modular security approach. It allows stakers to contribute their ETH to secure specific functionalities within the network. These functionalities are generally referred to as modules.
For example, a module might be dedicated to securing decentralized storage solutions like Arweave. Some modules could secure in-game items within blockchain-based games. Others could foster trust within DeFi applications like Aave.
Smart contracts
Ethereum stakers can restake their staked ETH via EigenLayer smart contracts, offering a new set of security and validation services to specific modules in the network. This is achieved by granting EigenLayer contracts the ability to set certain conditions on staked assets.
Restaking 
EigenLayer restaking can be done in two different ways: 
1. Solo staking. Users can operate their own nodes and actively validate transactions for the modules. This method is more suitable for advanced users.
2. Delegation. EigenLayer also allows delegating the node operation to other participants within the network. This is a convenient option for users who want to contribute to EigenLayer while avoiding the technical aspects. 
Staker diversity 
EigenLayer recognizes that stakers may have different preferences and capabilities. Some can have powerful computers suitable for solo staking, while others may prioritize convenience through delegation. 
Additionally, stakers may have different risk tolerance levels. EigenLayer allows modules to adjust their requirements to match specific stakers, fostering a more flexible network.
Actively Validated Services (AVS)
EigenLayer adopts Actively Validated Services (AVS) as specific services within the Ethereum ecosystem that require active validation and enhanced security. AVS can include high-stakes applications like decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, cross-chain bridges, and other critical infrastructure. By leveraging AVS, developers can ensure their applications receive the necessary security and validation from a dedicated pool of restakers, enhancing the overall trust and reliability of their services.
Traditional Staking vs. EigenLayer Staking
EigenLayer disrupts the traditional staking on Ethereum, offering a unique approach with its "restaking collective" concept. Let’s take a look at the key differences between traditional staking and EigenLayer staking.
Liquidity
In traditional staking, staked ETH becomes temporarily locked. While the staked ETH is locked, stakers can’t use it. In contrast, while the underlying ETH remains staked, EigenLayer allows users to leverage it for additional purposes. For example, stakers may use it to increase the security of various applications being built on Ethereum.
Participation and rewards
When it comes to traditional staking, participation is relatively straightforward. Essentially, users lock up their ETH and earn rewards based on the staking protocol they choose. 
In contrast, EigenLayer offers a wider range of participation options. Users can choose between solo staking or delegation. Delegation might be a better choice for users who don’t have advanced technical knowledge of cryptocurrencies. 
In addition, EigenLayer staking can potentially be more rewarding. Modules with higher security needs might offer greater rewards for stakers who secure them.
Security focus
In traditional staking, staked ETH directly contributes to the security of the Ethereum blockchain. In EigenLayer staking, security becomes modular. Users can contribute to the security of specific modules within the Ethereum ecosystem. The overall security of a module generally depends on the collective staking power directed towards it.
EigenLayer Airdrop
EigenLayer airdrops are set to occur in multiple seasons, each containing one or more phases. In total, EigenLayer allocated 15% of the total supply of EIGEN tokens to be distributed across all seasons.
Season 1 Phase 1
Season 1 of EigenLayer’s airdrop campaign started on May 10, 2024, with 6.7% of the total token supply. Its claim window will be open until September 7, 2024.
The first snapshot happened on March 15, 2024, with bonus airdrops allocated to users who have restaked ETH or LSTs on EigenLayer between March 15 and April 29.
To be eligible for the first phase of the airdrop, users had to meet specific criteria, such as:
Holding or staking LRT tokens for a certain period.Active participation in EigenLayer's governance processes.Contributing to the development or testing of EigenLayer modules.Engaging in community activities, such as participating in forums or social media discussions related to EigenLayer.
Season 1 Phase 2
Season 1 Phase 2 airdrop eligibility extends to DeFi users who participated in platforms such as Kelp, Pendle, Equilibrium, and others before March 15, 2024. This phase aims to reward long-term supporters and early participants in the network, fostering greater community engagement and participation.
To be eligible for the airdrop, users must have participated in the initial phase of EigenLayer's restaking program or be long-term supporters of the protocol. Specific eligibility criteria may include holding or staking LRT tokens, participation in network activities, or involvement in governance processes.
How to claim EigenLayer airdrops
Be wary of fake websites and phishing attacks. Make sure you are using the official websites and channels.

Eligible users can claim their airdropped tokens through the EigenLayer platform. The process involves connecting their wallet, verifying eligibility, and following the steps provided.
As of June 2024, the EIGEN tokens from the first airdrop season are not yet transferable but can be staked or delegated after being claimed.
Season 2
According to the EigenLayer Foundation, Season 2 has already started and any ecosystem participation beyond the March 15 snapshot will be considered for Season 2 airdrops. However, the details of Season 2 distribution are yet to be announced.
Enhanced Security for EigenDA
In June 2024, EigenLayer improved the security of EigenDA – its decentralized application (DApp) platform – to counteract Sybil and DDoS attacks.
Sybil attack prevention: Sybil attacks involve a malicious actor creating multiple identities to gain a disproportionate influence on the network. EigenLayer's enhanced security measures include stricter identity verification processes and mechanisms to detect and prevent malicious activities.
DDoS attack mitigation: Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks aim to overwhelm the network with a flood of traffic, causing service disruptions. To counter this, EigenLayer has implemented robust traffic filtering and rate-limiting mechanisms. These measures ensure that legitimate traffic is prioritized and that malicious traffic is effectively blocked, maintaining the availability and performance of the EigenDA platform.
Continuous monitoring: EigenLayer has also introduced continuous monitoring and threat detection systems to proactively identify and respond to potential security threats. This involves real-time analysis of network traffic, anomaly detection, and rapid incident response to address any emerging security issues.
Pros and Cons of EigenLayer
Pros
1. Enhanced security for DApps. By leveraging a pool of validators for various modules, EigenLayer strengthens the overall security of decentralized applications (DApps) built on those modules. This fosters a more trustworthy environment for users interacting with DApps.
2. Testing ground. EigenLayer acts as a platform for testing and validating new Ethereum functionalities before integrating them into the mainnet. This lets developers experiment with innovative ideas like danksharding, a core feature of the Ethereum Cancun upgrade.
3. Permissionless innovation. Developers no longer need to build their own validator sets to secure their applications. Instead, they can leverage the existing pool of secure validators offered by EigenLayer through restaking. This generally lowers the entry barrier for developers and fosters more innovation on Ethereum.
Cons
1. Complexity. EigenLayer introduces a new layer of complexity to the Ethereum ecosystem. Understanding how restaking works, choosing the right modules to participate in, and managing the technical aspects (for solo stakers) can be challenging for some users.
2. Centralization risks. While EigenLayer promotes decentralized trust, a few dominant staking pools may emerge, leading to a degree of centralization within the restaking collective.
3. Module collusion risks. ​​The modular design of EigenLayer offers flexibility but also introduces a potential risk of collusion between malicious actors controlling multiple modules.
Closing Thoughts
EigenLayer's "restaking collective" serves as a potential game-changer for decentralized trust on Ethereum. By enabling permissionless innovation and providing a testing ground for Ethereum features, EigenLayer may play a crucial role in shaping a future of robust, secure, and scalable decentralized applications.
$EIGEN
#EIGEN

What Is Gravity (G)?
Gravity is a fast, secure blockchain platform that connects different apps and blockchains, making it easier to build and use decentralized applications.Gravity supports fast transaction processing with sub-second confirmation times, ensuring smooth and efficient application operations.Gravity’s security is built on restaking, integrating protocols such as AptosBFT to provide strong network protection and reliability.Scalability and utility are enhanced through Gravity’s native token, G, which is a utility token for both Gravity and the Galxe ecosystem. The G token powers transactions, drives governance decisions, incentivizes growth, and facilitates payments.
Breaking Through Web3 Performance Limitations
The promise of blockchain technology is often overshadowed by performance bottlenecks—slow speeds, high fees, and scalability challenges. These issues limit blockchain’s ability to scale to mainstream use cases, keeping it stuck in a niche.
Existing blockchains, especially those using older consensus mechanisms, often face delays during periods of high demand, making them unsuitable for real-time applications like payments, gaming, and financial services.
Additionally, as blockchains become more congested, transaction fees rise, pushing costs higher for users and businesses. This creates a major barrier for everyday usage.
Gravity is a fast Layer 1 blockchain designed to tackle these limitations. By rethinking scalability and performance, Gravity unlocks new possibilities for decentralized applications, offering high-speed transactions, low costs, and seamless interoperability for a truly scalable Web3 future.
Gravity: The Ultra-Fast Parallel EVM Layer 1 Blockchain
Gravity sets a new benchmark for blockchain performance, allowing both developers and users to operate seamlessly without compromise. Its architecture supports up to 1 billion transactions per second, with sub-second transaction confirmation, ensuring fast, reliable operations even during high network traffic. 

For developers, Gravity provides a secure foundation with its “restaking” security model, which strengthens the network by leveraging the trust and stability of established blockchains like Ethereum. Non-technical users, on the other hand, benefit from a seamless experience, free from delays or technical complications. Whether you're deploying DeFi protocols, gaming DApps, or NFT marketplaces, Gravity’s performance ensures scalability and responsiveness at every level.
1 Gigagas per second throughput
Gravity’s network can process 1 billion gas units per second, thanks to a system that handles multiple transactions at once, rather than one at a time. This "parallel processing" allows the network to handle high volumes of transactions without slowing down, even when demand is at its peak. It also makes it possible to run more complex operations smoothly, ensuring that even the most demanding applications—like large-scale DeFi platforms or high-speed games—can function without delays. 
Sub-second finality
With advanced consensus mechanisms, Gravity delivers transaction confirmation in under a second, regardless of network load. This means interactions happen almost instantly, delays are minimized, and issues like failed transactions are avoided, ensuring a smoother and more reliable experience for users. 
Restaking-powered PoS security
Gravity enhances its security through restaking, which builds on the security foundations of well-known networks like Ethereum and Bitcoin. By combining their proven trust models with innovative restaking protocols, Gravity achieves enterprise-grade security, lowers costs through shared resources, and sets a new benchmark for decentralized protection and interoperability.
EVM compatibility
Gravity is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), enabling developers to easily migrate their projects from Ethereum without rewriting code. By supporting all Ethereum tools, libraries, and standards, Gravity reduces development time and costs while ensuring seamless integration with existing infrastructure.
Pipelined architecture
Gravity’s pipelined architecture optimizes blockchain operations by processing multiple transaction stages simultaneously, much like an assembly line where different stages of transactions are handled at the same time. This concept of parallel execution reduces bottlenecks, enhances resource efficiency, and delivers consistently high performance, creating a scalable foundation for future growth and innovation.
Read more on Gravity’s Litepaper here.
How Does Gravity Work? 
Gravity Chain is powered by an architecture centered around two key components: the Gravity SDK, which provides developers with essential tools and frameworks, and Gravity reth, a high-performance execution engine. Together, they work seamlessly to deliver exceptional efficiency and scalability.
The Gravity SDK serves as the backbone of the blockchain, refined from the Aptos chain and built on a robust Proof-of-Stake (PoS) framework. Its pipelined architecture enables parallel transaction processing, optimizing system resource usage to deliver maximum throughput and consistent performance. 
On the other hand, Gravity reth acts as the execution engine, designed for speed and scalability. It efficiently processes blocks proposed by the consensus layer using techniques like parallel execution and batched state computations, ensuring fast and seamless transaction processing, even during high network traffic. 
This mechanism is underpinned by the Gravity Consensus Engine Interface (GCEI), which links the Gravity SDK and Gravity reth. Serving as a coordinator, GCEI manages the flow of information between the layers, ensuring smooth, efficient operations. By separating block consensus from execution, Gravity minimizes bottlenecks and optimizes performance. 
This unique pipelined design enables Gravity to deliver high speed and reliability, providing a solid foundation for scalable, future-proof Web3 applications.
What Makes Gravity Unique?
Gravity is built to overcome the major performance barriers that have slowed blockchain adoption. For developers, it provides a platform for creating scalable, omnichain applications that allow smooth interactions across multiple blockchains. For users, Gravity ensures ultra-fast, reliable transactions with near-instant confirmations, offering a web2-level user experience while harnessing the decentralized strength of Web3.
Solving performance bottlenecks: With a throughput of 1 gigagas per second, Gravity can handle complex, resource-intensive applications without slowing down. This scalability ensures the network can grow with increasing demand, supporting new use cases while maintaining high speed and capacity.Uninterrupted user experience: Sub-second finality ensures transactions are confirmed in under a second, providing transaction speeds comparable to centralized systems, while maintaining the security and benefits of decentralization. This ensures a fast, seamless experience that keeps users engaged.Reliability through enhanced security: Gravity uses restaking protocols like EigenLayer and Babylon to provide enterprise-grade security while maintaining scalability. This approach strengthens the network’s resilience against threats, ensuring the stability needed for long-term adoption and making Gravity a reliable foundation for decentralized applications.
With these core capabilities, Gravity is set to redefine blockchain technology by pushing the boundaries of performance and scalability. By combining ultra-fast transactions, strong security, and seamless interoperability, it enables both developers and users to fully realize the potential of decentralized applications. 
What Is the G Token?
G is the native token on Gravity and the utility token for both Gravity and the Galxe ecosystem, powering transactions as the gas token and securing the network through staking. As the primary utility token across both ecosystems, G drives governance decisions, incentivizes growth, and facilitates payments. 
The utilities of G include:
Staking: Stake G to actively participate in governance, secure the network, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of both the Gravity and Galxe ecosystems. Additionally, G stakers can gain access to exclusive rewards, enhancing their participation in governance and network security while earning rewards from Galxe’s suite of applications.Governance: G DAO is governed by G holders, serving as a transparent, secure, and decentralized framework. G Token holders can submit proposals and vote on changes that directly impact both ecosystems, ensuring a collaborative decision-making process.Transacting: As the native gas token of Gravity Chain, G is used for executing and paying for all onchain transactions. Its role in transactions ensures the smooth operation of DApps on the network, while providing liquidity for cross-chain interactions.Payments: As the utility token in the Galxe ecosystem, G is used to pay fees for applications such as Galxe Quest. This allows users to seamlessly interact with Galxe’s applications, paying for services within a unified token framework.
G token is now available as the native token on Gravity Alpha Mainnet and as an ERC20 token on Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Base, offering compatibility across multiple blockchain networks for increased accessibility and usability.
What’s Next for Gravity? 
Gravity’s journey to revolutionize blockchain technology is structured across carefully planned stages, each designed to ensure performance, stability, and readiness for real-world adoption.
Devnet Phase 1: This initial phase tests real-time performance, validating the platform’s high-speed transactions, seamless interoperability, and core architecture under diverse conditions.Longevity Testnet: Focused on long-term stability, this phase simulates extended network activity to ensure resilience, optimize resource use, and prepare Gravity for enterprise-grade applications.Transition to Gravity Mainnet: The final stage evolves Gravity Alpha Mainnet into the fully operational Gravity Mainnet, equipped to support mass adoption with features like sub-second finality, omnichain interoperability, and unparalleled throughput.
An Omnichain Future
The Web3 ecosystem is poised for a future where blockchain interactions are seamless, unified, and user-friendly. Gravity is a reimagining of what decentralized technology can achieve when barriers are broken down. With its high-performance, scalable, and interoperable infrastructure, Gravity is laying the groundwork for the true potential of blockchain, making mass adoption a reality.
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$G
#GRAVITY

USDC is a digital dollar backed 100% by US dollars in the form of highly liquid cash and cash-equivalent assets, and is redeemable 1:1 for US dollars. It enables near-instant, frictionless transactions and is available on the world’s most important blockchain networks, making it a secure and stable currency for the digital age.
Introduction
USDC has emerged as the world’s largest regulated and reliable digital dollar. Issued by Circle, USDC seamlessly blends the stability of the US dollar with the efficiencies of blockchain. USDC is designed to be secure, stable, frictionless, and open. At a glance, USDC:
Moves faster and cheaper than fiat money.Offers near-instant 24/7 availability in more than 180 countries.Serves as a stable source of value that is fully reserved.Adheres to stringent US regulatory standards.
What Is USDC?
Launched in 2018 by Circle, a prominent global fintech company, USDC is designed to mirror the stability of the US dollar while leveraging the benefits of blockchain technology. Each USDC digital asset is fully reserved in order to maintain 1:1 value and redeemability with the US dollar. 
The purpose of USDC is to facilitate fast transactions, cost-effective payments, and frictionless trading opportunities in a global context. With its transparency and regulatory compliance, USDC has established itself as a trustworthy player in the cryptocurrency space.
How Does USDC Work?
USDC operates on most of the world’s major blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Solana, Sui, and more. As a fully reserved stablecoin, every issued USDC is backed by an equivalent US dollar or cash-equivalent assets held in regulated financial institutions. This means that holders can redeem their USDC at any time for the equivalent amount in USD, ensuring its stability as a digital dollar.
Technical aspects
While USDC is primarily built on Ethereum's blockchain as an ERC-20 token, it is also supported on many other blockchains to boost its widespread accessibility. USDC is natively issued on more than 15 blockchains according to their respective tokenization standards for seamless interoperability across each on-chain ecosystem.
Instant settlements
One of the standout features of USDC is its ability to facilitate near-instant settlements. Unlike traditional banking infrastructure, which can take several days to process transactions, USDC transactions can settle in mere seconds, and aren’t affected by banking hour limitations like nights, weekends, or holidays. This frictionless experience positions USDC as a powerful tool for peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions and cross-border payments among a multitude of additional use cases.
What Makes USDC Unique?
USDC distinguishes itself in the market through a combination of several unique value propositions:
Open and accessible: USDC connects people globally, designed to be accessible to everyone. With its near-instant availability, users can send, spend, save, and trade with USDC almost anywhere in the world, creating opportunities for financial inclusivity.
Regulation and transparency: Issued by Circle, USDC adheres to strict regulatory standards, ensuring that its reserves are well-managed and fully backed. Circle provides monthly attestation reports that confirm the status of USDC reserves, promoting a high level of trust among users.
Secure and frictionless: USDC provides a more secure way to exchange value compared to traditional payment methods. It moves seamlessly and securely around the world, enabling users to send USDC across borders in seconds, without the need for a bank account.
Cost efficiency: Transactions using USDC can be executed for as low as fractions of a cent, making it a cost-effective option for global payments compared to traditional methods that incur significant fees as payments are routed through multiple intermediaries.
What Are the Main Use Cases of USDC?
Send: USDC facilitates swift, affordable transactions for individuals and businesses, enabling P2P payments, remittances, and international commerce.
Spend: Users can spend USDC at a variety of merchants and service providers that accept cryptocurrency, making it a versatile payment method. It allows for seamless online purchases, bill payments, and even in-store transactions, giving users the ability to utilize their digital assets for everyday expenses.
Save: With a stable value relative to the US dollar, USDC can serve as a stable store of value, especially for those with limited access to traditional banking services and options for saving.
Trade: As a stablecoin designed to maintain 1:1 value to the US dollar, USDC provides a stable medium of exchange and store of value for crypto traders and DeFi participants.

Every day, increasing numbers of businesses and users embrace the stability, security, and low fees of USDC. As such, USDC is playing a vital role in shaping the future of digital finance, acting as a foundational building block for a new, interconnected financial ecosystem.
What’s Next for USDC?
Looking forward, USDC aims to expand its presence across more blockchain networks, enhancing interoperability and accessibility for users worldwide.

Circle is also focused on continuing to comply with evolving regulatory frameworks to ensure the sustainable growth of USDC as the world’s largest regulated and reliable digital dollar. Furthermore, developing additional financial applications for USDC in the DeFi space is a key focus, paving the way for more innovative uses of the stablecoin.
Closing Thoughts
USDC is a well-established stablecoin that is changing how we use money digitally. Whether you’re trading, running a business, or just exploring, it offers a reliable route to dive into the digital economy. If you’re looking for a stable, transparent, and accessible option in your crypto journey, USDC is for you.
$USDC
#USDC

Nonfarm Payrolls may revive Gold rally, further grind the Greenback

The story

Special warmup – All eyes are on US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) to be published today, Wednesday, an unusual timing for this indicator. That is the result of the short-lived government shutdown. Events preceding this publication were also abnormal: White House advisor Kevin Hassett signaled that figures would be weak, lowering expectations. Recent economic numbers have shown atrophy in the world’s largest economy, with the latest Retail Sales data showing the index remained flat in December 2025.
Why it matters
Lost muscle reflex – Our economic calendar points to a gain of 70K job positions last month, but Hassett’s words paint a darker outcome. While he lost the race to lead the Federal Reserve (Fed), Hassett retained his high-ranking job, which gives him early access to the data.

A negative number would have political implications, such as populist policies to curb firings, or blaming foreigners and slapping tariffs. Moreover, it would dampen expectations for global growth, even if the slowdown is not only the result of lower immigration to the US, but also AI – a source of productivity and economic expansion.
What’s next

Shake-out – A soft, yet positive headline NFP would boost Stocks and Gold while weakening the US Dollar, as it would cement a lower path of interest rates. However, a negative outcome could already trigger losses for major indices and revive safe-haven demand for the US Dollar. Gold would still benefit.

The Unemployment Rate – expected unchanged at 4.4% – is also important, as the Fed targets it as one of its two mandates.
$USDC
#NFP