Author: Michelle Lazo

President Joe Biden’s lackluster debate performance last week has enhanced the chances of Donald Trump, a pro-crypto candidate, making a return to the White House. Despite this political shift, the market’s attention has been captivated by other factors.

Altcoins Struggle Amid Low Volatility

Bitcoin (BTC-USD) and Ether (ETH-USD) have experienced low volatility, creating a challenging environment for altcoins that typically thrive on market movements. According to David Zimmerman, a DeFi analyst at K33, the altcoin market has seen significant downturns, especially in sectors like GameFi tokens, while AI tokens have remained stagnant. This is despite a surge in new token launches, with an average of 250,000 new coins being introduced each month in the second quarter on Ethereum (ETH-USD) and major Ethereum-based layer-two chains.

“As majors continue to chop and pull back somewhat during this ‘low-vol summer’, the altcoin markets have been hit relatively hard,” Zimmerman noted in a Wednesday report. Memecoins have been a notable exception, growing to a $50 billion collective market capitalization. Tokens centered on the US political race and celebrities were the biggest drivers of this growth.

Market Metrics and Trends

A measure tracking the total crypto market capitalization excluding Bitcoin and Ether fell nearly 22% in the second quarter. “Altcoin beta is doing exactly what it is designed to do by outperforming – only it is to the downside in this case,” Zimmerman explained.

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Kraken, the renowned cryptocurrency exchange, is exploring the use of nuclear energy as a power source for its data centers. This move comes amidst an anticipated surge in decentralized finance and growing demand for its services.

Kraken Exploring Nuclear Power Solutions

Kraken’s chief technical officer, Vishnu Patankar, revealed in an exclusive interview with CoinDesk that the company is looking into partnerships with energy providers capable of supplying small modular reactors. These reactors, which can be co-located with data centers, offer a solution that is not constrained by space or weather conditions.

“With institutions moving into the crypto asset class and activity moving on-chain, the need for reliable fiat onramps continues to grow,” Patankar explained. “Bolstering our energy resiliency means we strengthen a direct avenue into the crypto ecosystem, supporting its continued growth.”

Addressing Energy Demands

The surge in demand from artificial intelligence and high-performance computing firms has highlighted the need for stable power supplies. Kraken is investigating nuclear power options in North America and Europe to secure its energy needs in response to this growing demand.

“Crypto’s round-the-clock and global nature means Kraken needs a constant supply of energy, particularly as we facilitate a larger proportion of global trading volumes,” Patankar stated. The 24/7 operation of the cryptocurrency market necessitates a reliable and scalable energy solution.

Industry Trends and Future Outlook

The exploration of nuclear energy is part of a broader trend among tech companies seeking reliable power sources for data centers. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that firms, including Amazon Web Services, are negotiating contracts with nuclear plants to meet their energy needs. This trend reflects the increasing power demands of AI and other tech industries.

Core Scientific (NASDAQ:CORZ), for instance, recently signed a deal with AI firm CoreWeave to supply infrastructure. Patankar emphasized that a nuclear backup would enable Kraken to continue operations during major local energy disruptions, adding redundancy and enhancing energy resiliency.

Anticipated DeFi Boom

Kraken is preparing for a significant increase in energy needs due to the expected boom in DeFi. The firm anticipates that its energy requirements could become exponentially higher as the crypto market expands.

While a final decision has not been made, Patankar confirmed that nuclear power is a strong contender. Alternatives like wind and solar energy present challenges due to their dependency on weather conditions and energy storage limitations.

Environmental Considerations

The cryptocurrency industry has faced criticism for its high energy consumption, particularly with proof-of-stake blockchains like Bitcoin. Although nuclear energy also has a negative perception for different reasons, it could be a more environmentally friendly solution. Any excess energy generated by reactors could be used to power cooling systems for data centers.

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Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has announced a new social project in Vietnam aimed at educating the public on secure cryptocurrency usage and fraud prevention. The initiative will use engaging posters and banners displayed in public areas like bus stops, subways, and street billboards to provide tips on detecting and avoiding crypto scams.

Raising Awareness About Crypto Scams

According to a report by payment platform Triple-A, approximately 21.2% of the Vietnamese population owns cryptocurrencies, ranking second globally after the UAE at 34.4%. However, awareness about the risks associated with digital assets remains low, leading to a surge in financial losses due to fraud, particularly among vulnerable groups. In 2023 alone, cryptocurrency-related investment frauds resulted in about $3.94 billion in losses, marking a significant 53% increase from the previous year.

Targeting Vulnerable Populations

Data indicates that most victims of investment scams are over 30 years old, with a notable number of complaints coming from individuals over 60. This demographic is particularly vulnerable due to limited access to timely and clear information. As the third most populous country in Southeast Asia, Vietnam faces similar challenges to other countries in the region regarding digital asset extortion.

Regional Trends and Impact

A 2023 report by the UN Human Rights Office highlights that Southeast Asia is plagued with crypto-related romance-investment scams, fraud, and illegal gambling. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated response measures had a drastic impact on illicit activities across the region, with many victims suffering multiple layers of exploitation.

Effective Social Advertising

Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, emphasized the importance of social advertising in addressing these issues: “Along with the advancement of technologies, the cryptocurrency market has faced several urgent issues that have tested many aspects of social, economic, and cultural life. One of the key tools for engaging with the public and raising awareness, including among vulnerable groups, is social advertising. This format has shown high effectiveness worldwide, for instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, where banners became a central element in informing citizens about the importance of precautionary measures.”

Bitget’s educational campaign in Vietnam aims to bridge the knowledge gap and reduce financial losses due to crypto scams by providing the public with crucial information in an accessible format.

Bitget’s Comprehensive Approach

Bitget’s initiative is part of a broader effort to promote safe cryptocurrency practices and protect users from fraud. The campaign will focus on providing practical advice and raising awareness through strategic placements of educational materials. This approach not only aims to inform but also to empower individuals to make safer investment decisions.

The Role of Public Spaces in Education

By leveraging high-traffic public spaces for their educational campaign, Bitget intends to reach a broad audience, including those who may not be actively seeking information about cryptocurrency safety. This method ensures that critical information is disseminated widely and effectively.

Global and Local Context

The increasing popularity of cryptocurrencies in Vietnam, coupled with a lack of adequate awareness about associated risks, underscores the importance of Bitget’s campaign. The initiative aligns with global efforts to enhance digital literacy and protect individuals from financial fraud, particularly in regions with high adoption rates and significant vulnerabilities.

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Bitcoin miner CleanSpark (NASDAQ:CLSK) announced a major acquisition, merging with Griid Infrastructure in a $155 million deal. CleanSpark will acquire all common shares of Griid Infrastructure, significantly enhancing its operational capacity by gaining access to 20 megawatts of Griid’s available power. The acquisition is projected to increase CleanSpark’s power capacity by over 400 MW within the next two years.

Strategic Expansion in Bitcoin Mining

CleanSpark CEO Zach Bradford emphasized the strategic advantages of the acquisition, stating, “Griid’s energy infrastructure in Tennessee complements CleanSpark’s existing operations in Georgia and Mississippi. This acquisition provides us with a clear and steady path over the next three years.” The deal is expected to bolster CleanSpark’s footprint in the Bitcoin mining industry.

In Georgia, CleanSpark has developed over 400 MW of power capacity supported by long-term power contracts. Additionally, the company operates power infrastructure in Mississippi and co-locates mining machines in New York. CleanSpark is also expanding with new mining facilities in Wyoming, aiming to increase its overall mining capacity and operational efficiency.

Market Reactions and Future Prospects

Following the announcement, Griid Infrastructure’s stock price fell sharply by 49% to $1.20 per share. Despite this decline, Griid’s stock has rallied 55% over the past month, indicating investor optimism about the company’s future. Meanwhile, CleanSpark’s stock experienced a modest increase of 0.44%, trading at $16.15 per share.

The merger is expected to bring significant benefits to CleanSpark, including increased power capacity and enhanced operational efficiency. The acquisition aligns with CleanSpark’s strategy to expand its mining capabilities and strengthen its position in the Bitcoin mining sector.

CleanSpark’s Growing Presence in the Industry

CleanSpark has been steadily growing its presence in the Bitcoin mining industry through strategic acquisitions and infrastructure development. The company’s robust power infrastructure in Georgia, Mississippi, and New York, coupled with the upcoming facilities in Wyoming, positions it well for future growth. By acquiring Griid Infrastructure, CleanSpark aims to further solidify its market position and enhance its mining operations.

Long-Term Benefits and Strategic Vision

The acquisition of Griid Infrastructure is seen as a strategic move that will provide CleanSpark with a reliable and scalable power supply. This is crucial for maintaining and expanding its mining operations. The additional 20 MW of power from Griid’s infrastructure will immediately enhance CleanSpark’s operational capacity, while the potential to increase power capacity by over 400 MW in the next two years sets the stage for substantial growth.

Conclusion

CleanSpark’s acquisition of Griid Infrastructure marks a significant step in the company’s expansion strategy. By enhancing its power capacity and operational efficiency, CleanSpark is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for Bitcoin mining. The strategic acquisition underscores CleanSpark’s commitment to scaling its operations and maintaining a competitive edge in the industry.

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MegaLabs, the leading developer behind the innovative Ethereum scaling protocol known as “MegaETH,” announced a successful $20 million seed funding round led by Dragonfly Capital. This new investment aims to advance MegaETH, a real-time blockchain designed for instantaneous transaction processing, capable of streaming 100,000 transactions per second with millisecond-level responsiveness.

MegaLabs Secures Funding to Revolutionize Real-Time Blockchain Speed

The funding round saw participation from Figment Capital, Folius Ventures, Robot Ventures, Big Brain Holding, Tangent, and Credibly Neutral. Notable angel investors included Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, Joseph Lubin, CEO of Consensys, Sreeram Kannan, creator of EigenLayer, and Hasu of Flashbots.

Yilong Li, co-founder of MegaLabs, explained the company’s vision: “We define a real-time blockchain as one that processes transactions immediately upon arrival and produces outputs at a very high frequency.”

Real-Time Blockchain Innovation

MegaETH’s ability to scale is attributed to two primary factors: its “heterogeneous blockchain architecture,” which enhances performance by allowing network nodes with various hardware configurations to specialize in specific tasks, and a “hyper-optimized EVM execution environment” that maximizes throughput, latency, and resource efficiency. This execution environment operates as a blockchain operating system compatible with Ethereum’s programming standards.

The concept of MegaETH was partly inspired by Vitalik Buterin’s 2021 blog post “Endgame,” where he discussed scaling Ethereum. Buterin expressed his enthusiasm for MegaETH’s potential: “Creating hyper-scalable EVM implementations is a key prerequisite for truly scaling Ethereum. I am excited to see brilliant developers taking on this challenge.”

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