Maple Finance, a cryptocurrency lending firm, has introduced Syrup, a new loans platform and rewards token aimed at integrating institutional-friendly yield-bearing digital assets with the decentralized finance sector.

Maple’s Syrup platform offers users up to 15% yields by depositing Circle’s USDC stablecoin. Users receive LP tokens (syrupUSDC) and additional yield in the form of “Drips,” a loyalty payment derived from the usage of the SYRUP rewards token, as announced in a press release on Tuesday.

Holders of MPL, Maple’s native token, will be able to migrate to the SYRUP token on a one-for-one basis.

While many centralized crypto lending firms have struggled over the past few years, Maple has endured the bear market by maintaining a stringent approach, accepting deposits only from accredited investors with comprehensive know-your-customer checks. This method allows Maple to operate within the U.S. and serve regulation-conscious institutions, according to Maple co-founder Joe Flanagan.

“We aim to keep our institutional focus while staying true to our DeFi origins,” Flanagan said in an interview. “The launch of Syrup allows us to function within the broader DeFi ecosystem. This enables us to bring institutional-quality yields sourced from over-collateralized loans to the largest institutions and a DeFi audience.”

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Riot Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:RIOT) has made an unsolicited $950 million bid to acquire Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ:BITF), following the smaller Bitcoin miner’s rejection of a previous takeover proposal last month.

Riot offered $2.30 per share in cash and stock for Bitfarms, representing a 20% premium over Bitfarms’ trading price before Riot’s initial April offer, which was privately submitted to the board.

Riot has accumulated a 9.25% stake in Bitfarms, becoming its largest shareholder, according to a statement on Tuesday that confirmed an earlier Bloomberg News report.

Citing recent management turnover at Bitfarms as evidence of corporate governance issues, Riot announced plans to call for a shareholder vote to add new directors to Bitfarms’ board.

This bid is part of a trend of consolidation in the cryptocurrency mining sector, spurred by a Bitcoin code update known as “the halving,” which is expected to reduce revenue for miners significantly. Large-scale mining companies are seeking acquisitions to expand their operations and adapt to the industry’s evolving economics.

If successful, the merger would create the world’s largest Bitcoin miner based on projected computing power growth, significantly increasing Riot’s Bitcoin production capabilities alongside major players like Marathon Digital Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:MARA) and CleanSpark Inc. (NASDAQ:CLSK).

Bitfarms shares rose 3.3% in Toronto on Monday to C$2.86, approximately $2.10 USD, giving the company a market value of about $750 million. Riot’s shares rose 4% in New York on Friday, with a market capitalization of around $3 billion.

Management Changes

The potential deal follows Bitfarms’ dismissal of interim CEO Geoffrey Morphy, who has filed a lawsuit against the company seeking $27 million in damages for breach of contract.

Riot’s offer, made on April 22, was rejected by Bitfarms’ board without engaging in substantive discussions, according to Riot. Under the proposed terms, Bitfarms shareholders would own approximately 17% of the combined entity.

Riot also plans to request a special shareholder meeting to consider appointing new independent directors after Bitfarms’ annual meeting on May 31.

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Looking for the next cryptocurrency to hit $1 in 2024? With robust trading volumes in the crypto market, savvy traders are eyeing the best penny cryptos to buy right now. Identifying the next crypto to hit $1 involves considering factors like market capitalization, current price, and the problems each project aims to solve.

In this article, we’ve highlighted several cryptocurrencies at various stages of their journey. We’ve identified the top six cryptos likely to hit $1 in 2024 and categorized them into high-cap and low-cap coins.

Best Low-Cost Cryptos to Buy Now

While no one can definitively tell you which crypto to buy next, we’ve compiled a list of reputable projects with potentially promising price histories in their sub-$1 tokens. Let’s start with some of the higher-cap coins.

The Graph (GRT)

The Graph (GRT) focuses on making Web3 information more accessible online. By indexing all the information on the Ethereum network, The Graph aims to allow users to search for Ethereum data much like Google allows for Web2 searches. For instance, decentralized apps (dApps) needing historical and real-time price info for Ethereum or data from smart contracts can benefit from The Graph’s solutions. Currently trading at $0.31, GRT has a 24-hour volume of around $70,000 and a market cap above $3 billion. It’s up 28% on the month and 166% on the year.

Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR)

Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR) is a proof-of-stake distributed ledger similar to Ethereum but aims to be faster, more compliant, and more scalable. Scalability, a major issue in Web3, refers to making blockchain networks usable for more people without slowing down. HBAR, priced at $0.11, is up over 100% this year, with a market cap of $3.8 billion.

Stellar (XLM)

Stellar (XLM) aims to facilitate cheap cross-border payments, targeting peer-to-peer remittances for individuals and businesses. The project is popular and reputable, especially after partnering with IBM for industrial-level cross-border payments. XLM is currently trading at $0.10, maintaining a relatively stable price range between $0.07 and $0.16 over the past year. This stability can be attractive to traders, with the RSI at 44 indicating it is neither oversold nor overbought.

Promising Cheap Cryptocurrencies for 2024

Now, let’s explore more promising altcoins under $1 with smaller market caps that could be good buys for 2024. It’s important to remember that smaller market caps can mean increased price volatility and potential losses, so always conduct your own research and practice proper risk management.

Basic Attention Token (BAT)

Basic Attention Token (BAT) is linked to the Brave browser, which allows users to earn money for their data and interaction with ads or block them entirely. BAT is transforming online data ownership, making it user-centric rather than ad company-centric. Currently, BAT is trading at $0.23 with a market cap of around $368 million.

Harmony (ONE)

Harmony (ONE) aims to make blockchain transactions fast and secure, benefiting apps on Web3 protocols. Harmony’s Effective Proof-of-Stake (EPoS) ensures fast and secure transactions, with a focus on interoperability with other blockchain networks. ONE tokens fuel the network, currently trading at $0.02 with a market cap of $271 million, and have increased by 43% in the past year.

Flux (FLUX)

Flux (FLUX) provides decentralized cloud infrastructure, useful for Web3 developers who need computing power without the high costs of owning the hardware. Similar to Amazon Web Services (AWS) for Web2, FLUX offers discounted services for platform users. Trading at $0.94, FLUX is a strong candidate to hit $1 in 2024, with a market cap of $329 million and a 96% price increase over the past 12 months.

Choosing the Best Low Priced Cryptocurrencies to Invest In

While it’s tempting to invest in trending low-priced cryptocurrencies, it’s crucial to exercise caution in the crypto space. Use indicators like the RSI and MACD for insights into your chosen coin’s performance, and stay updated on relevant news, partnerships, and project developments. Remember the mantra: “never invest more than you can afford to lose.” We hope this list of cheap and promising cryptocurrencies helps in your search for the next crypto to explode in 2024!

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Memecoins linked to former US President Donald Trump and celebrity Caitlyn Jenner surged on Monday following Trump’s weekend endorsement of cryptocurrency.

Newly minted tokens like MAGA on Ethereum and JENNER on Solana experienced dramatic price increases, with JENNER soaring 500-fold in the last 24 hours.

MAGA Token’s Meteoric Rise

The MAGA token, named after Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, launched less than two weeks ago and has risen 150% in the last 24 hours. Its market value peaked at $300 million on Monday, with over $74 million in trading volume. Variants of MAGA and TRUMP tokens on Solana are also being launched on other blockchains, generating millions in trading volume.

JENNER Token Controversy

The JENNER token, associated with Caitlyn Jenner, saw almost $200 million in trading volume in the last 24 hours. However, there is skepticism about the token’s connection to the real Caitlyn Jenner, despite endorsements on her social media accounts. Jenner has not responded to requests for comment but has cautioned on social media that not all crypto investments are suitable for everyone and that there are inherent risks, including potential loss of value.

Trump’s Influence

Trump’s recent comments have significantly influenced the memecoin rally. Speaking at the Libertarian National Convention on Saturday, he pledged to protect self-custody rights for crypto owners and opposed the creation of a central bank digital currency. His shift from a previously negative stance on crypto to a supportive one has energized the memecoin market.

Political Memecoins

As the US presidential election approaches, political memecoins have become more prevalent. Earlier this year, tokens referencing political figures like US President Joe Biden and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell were launched. On Monday, major political memecoins saw mixed results: Jeo Boden fell 6%, while Doland Tremp gained over 15%.

Controversy and Speculation

Memecoin speculation has its critics, especially regarding tokens with offensive tickers promoting racist and sexist ideas. Several such tokens, particularly on Solana, were launched earlier this year and have drawn significant criticism.

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Bitcoin (BTC) whales, significant holders of the cryptocurrency, have reignited their purchasing activity after a brief pause following Bitcoin’s record high in March. According to market intelligence firm CryptoQuant, there has been a notable increase in the 30-day percentage change in whale address holdings, suggesting a renewed interest in accumulating Bitcoin at current price levels.

In March, whales had boosted their BTC holdings by more than 9.8%. While their accumulation persisted into April, the growth rate slowed to 4.2% by May 1, coinciding with a significant market downturn that saw Bitcoin’s price drop by over 20% to below $57,000. However, since reaching the market bottom, the accumulation rate has rebounded to 5.5% as of May 22, indicating a resurgence in whale interest.

During the market downturn in early May, whales reportedly acquired 47,000 BTC, as highlighted by CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju. The return of robust buying activity among Bitcoin whales suggests that they view current prices as advantageous for accumulation. Whales, typically defined as holders of Bitcoin addresses containing between 1,000 BTC and 10,000 BTC, excluding mining entities and crypto exchanges, tend to increase their buying during bull markets and decrease it during bearish phases.

Bitcoin is currently priced at $69,065, showing a 0.24% increase over the past 24 hours and a 3.58% rise over the week. The investment in Bitcoin by large investors, known as whales, has notably increased this year. Specifically, the amount of money they’ve put into Bitcoin has more than doubled, rising from $57 billion to $122 billion. This growth is calculated based on the realized cap of whale coins, which accounts for the total value of coins owned by whales at the moment of purchase, rather than their current market value.

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