Mastercard launches ‘next gen’ of blockchain payments startup program
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Fintech giant Mastercard has announced that five new startups have joined its Start Path Blockchain and Digital Assets program, reports Cointelegraph. The Start Path Blockchain and Digital Assets program is a fintech accelerator program that focuses on “exploring future use cases to scale new solutions with startups around the world.” Joining the program are crypto […]

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AI compute bottleneck: a case for decentralization
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The rapid development of AI over recent years, and particularly the rate at which Open AI seems to keep churning out new iterations of its GPT model, make it easy to assume that the technology will continue on a fairly linear trajectory as it matures – perhaps similar to the evolution of the internet. However, […]

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Central Bank Innovation Hub – new website and engagement form
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The Central Bank of Ireland’s Innovation Hub has launched a new web site, with new media for engagement. The CBI Innovation Hub describes it as “the first in a number of changes being rolled out as identified in the recent Consultation Paper 156 and is designed to be a much better user experience & provide […]

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Consensys is suing the SEC to defend the Ethereum ecosystem
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Consensys was founded on an era-defining mission: to empower people and communities through access to blockchain technologies, said the company in a statement. “We believe that advancing adoption of blockchain platforms like Ethereum will help reshape and enhance how future generations will manage economic, financial, social, political, and technological systems, creating a more equitable, transparent, […]

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After 6-year hiatus, Stripe to start taking crypto payments, starting with USDC stablecoin
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  Stripe, the fintech giant, continues to inch its way back into the cryptocurrency market, reports TechCrunch. The company has announced that it would let customers accept cryptocurrency payments, starting with just one currency in particular, USDC stablecoins, initially only on Solana, Ethereum and Polygon. This will be the first time that Stripe has taken […]

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Blockchain skills for business
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BlockW and the International Association of Trusted Blockchains (INATBA) has released one-page abstract from a larger report detailing the utility and skills associated with Web3. Available here, the 1-pager gives a digest of the skills model which provides practical guidance on adapting to the rapidly evolving blockchain industry. The main report emphasises the importance of education […]

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Ethereum liquid restaking drives DeFi TVL to $100bn in Q1 ’24
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When compared to the previous quarter, the total value locked (TVL) in decentralised finance (DeFi) approximately doubled during the first quarter of 2024, indicating that DeFi has witnessed tremendous growth from the previous quarter, reports Blockchain.news. It is possible to ascribe, at least in part, this spike to Ethereum’s liquid restaking activities, which have been […]

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BlackRock aware of RWAs as ‘multitrillion-dollar opportunity’
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The crypto markets’ focus on real-world asset (RWA) tokenisation has gained momentum throughout 2024, and multiple entities within the traditional finance (TradFi) industry are also integrating blockchain and asset tokenisation into their portfolios, reports Cointelegraph. Cointelegraph Markets spoke with Victor Sanchez and Alan Keegan, the co-founders of the RWA-focused blockchain project Kinto, to explore the […]

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What is DeSci and what are the working projects in the space?
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DeSci is short for Decentralised Science. Although this term might sound unfamiliar, the concept is straightforward. It involves leveraging blockchain technology to introduce a secure, open-source way for various aspects of scientific endeavors, from publication and ownership to sharing and even trading of scientific materials, reports Blockleaders. DeSci holds untapped potential when it comes to […]

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Web3 investment up 55% in Q1 as crypto VC interest rebounds
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The total investment in Web3 firms increased by 55% in the first quarter of 2024, signalling the return of venture capital (VC) interest to crypto, reports Cointelegraph. In addition to an increase of over 55% in total investment, the number of Web3 VC investment deals rose 36% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to […]

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Binance Academy introduces university-accredited programs with discount and rewards
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Binance Academy has recently unveiled a range of university-accredited programs in partnership with leading educational institutions in Europe, reports Blockchain.news. These programs are designed to provide learners with in-depth knowledge and understanding of blockchain technology and digital assets. The participating universities include the Prague University of Economics and Business (VŠE), the European Business Institute (EBI) […]

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Tether CEO: Stablecoin competition crucial for regulatory engagement
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Ripple’s move to launch its own stablecoin could add further legitimacy to the stablecoin landscape, according to Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, reports Cointelegraph. Speaking to Cointelegraph during Paris Blockchain Week, Ardoino said the stablecoin ecosystem needs healthy competition between big players to further legitimize the utility of fiat-backed tokens in the eyes of regulators. “First […]

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