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Lido Backers vs EigenLayer — TradingView News
I must admit to choking on my tequila drink a couple weeks ago after hearing the phrase “investable asset class” applied to the category of digital tokens known as meme coins. But for many investors and projects, the opportunity is being taken quite seriously. See our riff below.
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MEME RUSH! An industry source told me over margaritas a few weeks ago, “You’re starting to hear venture capital firms make the argument that meme coins are becoming an investable asset class.” What’s undeniable is that meme coins are popping, and there does appear to be a thriving industry in promoting them. In April alone, CoinMarketCap added 138 meme coins to its listings, versus 18 in the same month a year earlier, bringing the total to 2,229, with a market capitalization of more than $50 billion, as reported by our Omkar Godbole. Last week, VanEck, a crypto-friendly institutional investment firm, started a new Meme Coin Index, tracking prices of doggy-themed tokens dogecoin DOGEUSD and dogwifhat WWIF as well as other ridiculousness like BONK. Another dog token, FLOKI, shared the title sponsorship for a cricket series between Pakistan and Ireland. Crypto analysts are talking up the election-related meme coins TRUMP and BODEN, and tokens associated with the X-Men character Wolverine flooded several blockchains after TheRoaringKitty, the personality behind the GameStop meme stock frenzy, posted a related video on X. Even independent Bitcoin programmer Jimmy Song, often a vocal critic of non-Bitcoin token creation, wrote in a Substack post that he appreciated the “honesty” of the movement: “Meme coins obsoleted the VCs and ultimately brought some more honesty to the Nietzschean will-to-power games that were always being played.” Speaking of Bitcoin, the OG blockchain now has meme coins too, many of them created with the Runes protocol launched last month. Sovryn, a decentralized trading platform with Ethereum-compatible smart contracts and secured by Bitcoin through merge-mining on the Rootstock sidechain, announced Wednesday that it has created a fully-premined rune called POWA, airdropped the tokens to users and established pools for trading them. “Runes provide a way for projects to create and distribute tokens natively on the Bitcoin blockchain for memes,” Sovryn said in a press release.
STAKERS NOW RESTAKERS? Our Sam Kessler has the scoop: “The co-founders of Lido, the biggest liquid staking protocol on Ethereum, are secretly funding a competitor to EigenLayer, the buzzy “restaking” service that has emerged rapidly this year to become a powerful force in decentralized finance. According to several people with knowledge of the matter, the project is called Symbiotic and has drawn backing from not only the Lido co-founders, Konstantin Lomashuk and Vasiliy Shapovalov, through their venture firm Cyber Fund, but also Paradigm, the crypto venture capital firm that is one of Lido’s lead investors. CoinDesk also obtained internal Symbiotic documents that describe the project, which allows users to “restake” using Lido’s staked ether (stETH) token and other popular assets that are not natively compatible with EigenLayer.”
JUST IN: Two brothers have been arrested by the U.S. Department of Justice for attacking the Ethereum blockchain and stealing $25 million of cryptocurrency during a 12-second exploit, according to an indictment unsealed on Wednesday.
THE WORDS OF VITALIK. We’ve written quite a bit in The Protocol newsletter about just how prolific (and prolix) the Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin can be as a writer. It’s also true that when he writes, people tend to write a lot about whatever he writes – such as this opus on “multidimensional gas pricing,” which Decrypt covered. But apparently Buterin is also crazy fast as a scribbler, especially when it comes to banging out Ethereum improvement proposals on deadline, as chronicled on Tuesday by our Margaux Nijkerk. With time ticking down toward an important meeting to discuss new Ethereum wallet standards, it took Buterin just 22 minutes to draft EIP-7702, offered as a substitute for an earlier proposal, EIP-3074, that had drawn complaints from some developers. The hot-off-the-press publication drew plaudits from critics, with much of the Ethereum community quickly coming around in support of replacing the earlier effort with Buterin’s proposed solution.
The courtroom where Tornado Cash developer Alexey Pertsev was sentenced. (Camomile Shumba/CoinDesk)
Alexey Pertsev, 31, a developer of the coin mixer Tornado Cash, has been found guilty of money laundering by a Dutch judge, and was given 64 months of prison time. The case, along with other recent actions brought by prosecutors around the world, has raised questions about the extent of responsibility that developers might bear for any code they write. As reported by our Camomile Shumba, prosecutors in the Dutch case made the argument that Pertsev “should have at least suspected the criminal origins of illicit transactions on the Tornado Cash platform.”
Solana-based crypto trading protocol Cypher has endured its share of hacks and heists. But its latest loss was an inside job. On Tuesday, a pseudonymous developer known as Hoak admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrencies from Cypher’s hack reimbursement fund. “I took the funds and gambled them away,” Hoak said in a statement, blaming his activity on a “crippling gambling addiction.”
El Salvador set up a new website to track its $350 million bitcoin stockpile, Bitcoin Magazine reported.
Degen Chain, an Ethereum layer-3 blockchain dedicated to meme coins, came back online after a two-day outage. (Launched in March, Degen Chain is an “an ultra-low-cost L3 for the Degen community built with Arbitrum Orbit, Base for settlement, and AnyTrust for data availability,” according to a blog post at the time by Syndicate, the blockchain’s infrastructure partner.)
ICYMI: CoinDesk’s Danny Nelson takes a look inside the shadowy world of crypto influencers known as “key opinion leaders,” or KOLs, who invest in the projects they promote on social media – in return for the privilege of selling out before other investors.
Protocol Village
Top picks of the past week from our Protocol Village column, highlighting key blockchain tech upgrades and news.
Hyperbolic’s Proof of Sampling architecture (Zhang et al)
1. Hyperbolic, the two-year-old startup that math olympian Jasper Zhang leads focused on decentralized AI computing, said Thursday that it is introducing a protocol called “Proof of Sampling (PoSP),” aimed at addressing challenges with trust in decentralized AI networks. Hyperbolic was co-founded in 2022 by Zhang and Yuchen Jin, who holds a Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Washington.
2. Lens Lab, a part of the Stani Kulechov-led Avara and the team behind Lens Protocol, a Web3 social platform built on Polygon PoS, announced that it is now developing its own blockchain network, Lens Network. The new network will be built on Matter Labs’ ZK Stack, powered by zkSync on Ethereum. “The Lens Network will set a new baseline/precedent for how social networks should be built,” Alex Gluchowski, co-founder and CEO of Matter Labs, said in a press release.
3. Polkadot, the layer-1 chain ecosystem co-founded by Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood, has debuted Asynchronous Backing, according to the team: It sets the stage for Polkadot 2.0, “a wave of enhancements expected to significantly improve the scalability, cost, speed and flexibility of the network, and accelerate growth of decentralized applications,” according to the team. “Asynchronous Backing cuts block time in half (from 12 to 6 seconds) enables parallel transaction validation block production, and delivers up to 10x higher throughput for Polkadot’s parachain consensus protocol.”
4. Indian crypto exchange CoinDCX has expanded what started as the Okto wallet into an Okto ecosystem, which will include launching a blockchain, a token, and a points program starting Tuesday. The aim is to give global users a single-click mobile experience while traversing the Web3 space, its co-founders Neeraj Khandelwal and Sumit Gupta told CoinDesk in an interview.
5. Cyber, the just-unveiled rebranding for the developer formerly known as CyberConnect, has launched its own layer-2 network in the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem, describing it as the “first L2 for social.” According to the team, the new chain relies on “top modular solutions. Cyber integrates Optimism’s OP Stack, EigenDA and custom features to provide low fees, high TPS and a user-friendly experience.” According to a blog post: “AltLayer will manage the rollup’s technical launch, ongoing management, operations and future upgrades.”
EasyA Consensus Hackathon – Call for Participants
This year, Consensus is hosting its first ever in-person hackathon together with the world’s number 1 Web3 learning app, EasyA. This will be a three-day, multi-chain IRL hackathon with world-class sponsors from Sui to Stellar to Polkadot and beyond, and will attract the world’s best developers to build the future of Web3 and raise funding for their projects.
Projects launched by EasyA alumni are valued at over $2.5 billion. The EasyA Consensus hackathon is going to be 2024’s most important hackathon yet.
We have a few remaining spots left for hackers, so if you’re excited about participating, make sure you sign up here!
‘Liquid Vesting’ Is Oxymoronic Blockchain Feature That Lets Early Investors Sell Without Waiting
Avalanche Incubator Colony Lab Co-founders Wessal Erradi and Elie Le Rest (Colony Lab)
Even in anything-goes crypto trading, there are conventions designed to protect the little guy.
One of those is the vesting period – a window of time following a digital-token sale or airdrop where early investors, such as founders, project contributors and venture-capital backers, are locked up from dumping their allocations.
Projects typically do this so that the price of that token doesn’t crash immediately after a listing, say if big stakeholders were to sell right away. Another goal is to make sure insiders and early backers keep skin in the game, an assurance of good faith, as it were.
Now comes a new feature from Colony Lab, a developer and project incubator in the Avalanche blockchain ecosystem, called “liquid vesting.”
If it sounds like a workaround, that’s because it basically is. Have your bags and keep them too. Take liquidity now, without having to wait for the end of the vesting period.
Click here for the full article by CoinDesk’s Margaux Nijkerk
Money Center
Fundraisings
Data and Tokens
Runes Frenzy Fades
We covered last month’s launch of the Runes protocol atop Bitcoin, observing in real time as its instant popularity and uptake right after the bitcoin halving sent transaction fees to record levels, as users scrambled to mint new meme coins, competing to get transactions included in the suddenly-congested blockchain. (As a plug: I’m scheduled to interview Rodarmor onstage on May 31 at CoinDesk’s Consensus conference in Austin.) Even as recently as last week, Runes accounted for a majority of all transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain, outpacing the original bitcoin as well as Ordinals inscriptions and the rival fungible-token standard BRC-20.
But the Runes frenzy has now faded somewhat. Runes has been “written off as a flop, with waning interest failing to match the hype,” according to a report by the blockchain analysis firm Coin Metrics. The analysts noted, however, that there may still be hope for a resurgence: “Runes are yet to be validated in the form of listings on major exchanges, trading largely on niche collectibles platforms.” Transactions related to the new protocol appear to be ticking down:
Runes transactions of all types have shrunk since the launch around April 20. (@runes_is/Dune Analytics)
Calendar
May 18-27: Berlin Blockchain Week.
May 29-31: Consensus, Austin Texas.
May 29-31: Bitcoin Seoul.
June 11-13: Apex, the XRP Ledger Developer Summit, Amsterdam.
July 8-11: EthCC, Brussels.
July 25-27: Bitcoin 2024, Nashville.
Aug. 19-21: Web3 Summit, Berlin.
Sept. 19-21: Solana Breakpoint, Singapore.
Sept. 1-7: Korea Blockchain Week, Seoul.
Sept. 30-Oct. 2: Messari Mainnet, New York.
Oct. 9-11: Permissionless, Salt Lake City.
Oct. 21-22: Cosmoverse, Dubai.
Oct. 23-24: Cardano Summit, Dubai.
Oct. 30-31: Chainlink SmartCon, Hong Kong
Nov 12-14: Devcon 7, Bangkok.
Nov. 20-21: North American Blockchain Summit, Dallas.
Feb. 19-20, 2025: ConsensusHK, Hong Kong
News
Is Shiba Inu a good buy while trading below $0.01?
Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology and innovative new drugs in the weight loss market were major contributors to stock market gains for much of the past year.
While investors have reaped generous returns from owning mega-cap technology and some pharmaceutical stocks, it’s human nature to wonder what else is out there and where additional value can be found.
Investment alternatives how cryptocurrencies have gained massive popularity over the past decade or so — and one of the most curious cryptocurrencies, Shiba Inu (SHIB 2.08%), it may seem very tempting, as trades below a penny.
Let’s take a look at the Shiba Inu and find out if it’s a good buy right now.
What is Shiba Inu?
The first thing to know about cryptocurrency in general is that not all cryptocurrencies are created equal. Some of the most popular cryptocurrencies out there include Bitcoin, EthereumIt is Solana. While each of them still carries some degree of speculation, all of these currencies have achieved some form of real-world application.
For example, Bitcoin is now accepted as a means of payment in some online stores and retail establishments. In addition, many projects that revolve around non-fungible tokens (NFT) tend to rely on Ethereum, Solana, and other major cryptocurrencies.
Shiba Inuin turn, is in a totally different category.
That is, Shiba Inu is often affiliated with Dogecoin. Although Dogecoin has experienced some fleeting volatility in the past — largely thanks to some irreverent support from high-level personalitiesincluding Mark Cuban and Elon Musk — cryptocurrency is largely seen as a joke.
In investing, non-serious investments tend to fall under the category of a meme. Shiba Inu is no exception here. With little to no real-world utility, Shiba Inu is widely seen as a meme coin.
Should you buy Shiba Inu while it is selling for less than a penny?
Shiba Inu’s price dynamics closely follow the rules of supply and demand. At the moment, Shiba Inu has a total supply of 589 trillion tokens, and the coin is trading at just $0.000017.
With such an abundance of Shiba Inu coins available, the asset is anything but scarce. In other words, pretty much anyone can buy Shiba Inu if they want to. For this reason alone, it doesn’t have much appeal for investors looking to spot a profitable opportunity.
Given the lack of demand, it is not surprising to see that the Shiba Inu is trading for less than a penny. Unless a large number of institutional investors invested billions of dollars in purchasing Shiba Inu, I can’t imagine a world where the currency starts to gain traction in the market.
Since cryptocurrency is still considered a speculative investment, I consider it highly unlikely that large fund managers will buy Shiba Inu en masse.
Instead, I think Shiba Inu will continue to be the favorite among a small group of retail investors — specifically, inexperienced traders who follow the advice of online influencers or fake financial gurus.
If you are looking for exposure to cryptocurrency but can’t decide which coin to buy, there are many cryptocurrency stocks that could serve as a decent proxy. Companies like Coinbase, Robinhoodand even Microstrategy each offers investors some exposure to the cryptocurrency landscape, but with some degree of isolated risk.
So while Shiba Inu may seem cheap, there are many reasons why the coin’s value remains depressed. I think investors are better off moving on from Shiba Inu and considering more established cryptos or individual stocks operating in the crypto space.
Adam Spatacco has positions in Coinbase Global. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Coinbase Global, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
News
AI meme Raboo and crypto newbie ZRO
Disclosure: This article does not constitute investment advice. The content and materials presented on this page are for educational purposes only.
Raboo and ZRO are outperforming Dogecoin with unique features and growing investor interest.
In the evolving cryptocurrency market, Raboo (RABT) and ZRO are emerging as standouts, gaining significant traction among investors. These new coins are not only on the rise but are also outperforming the established meme coin, Dogecoin (DOGE).
Raboo’s unique integration of AI into meme culture and ZRO’s fresh approach are attracting a growing community of enthusiasts. This article delves deeper into the unique features of Raboo and ZRO, exploring how they are shaping the future of the crypto landscape and why they may offer compelling investment opportunities. Read on to discover the potential of these rising stars.
DOGE: The veteran memecoin
DOGE has a market cap of over $19 billion as of July 2024 and in this circulation, there is a supply of 145 billion DOGE. The price of the coin jumped 6% in the last 7 daysechoing the trend — increased investor interest and market recovery.
Although Dogecoin was initially created as a joke, it has still held up quite well, probably due to the fact that it has had a huge community since its inception and periodic endorsements from important people like Elon Musk, thus keeping this cryptocurrency relevant and moving.
Dogecoin’s current rise could also be driven by events such as increased institutional adoption and favorable developments around the Dogecoin Foundation. These events are generating more interest, with a halving likely in 2025. Analysts project that Dogecoin will trade within the $0.15 and $0.25 range in the near future.
ZRO: A Rising Star in the Crypto Universe
ZRO is the native token of LayerZero, a robust and promising newcomer to the cryptocurrency market, which has been attracting attention recently for its intrinsic value and recent market performance. LayerZero is a cross-chain interoperability protocol that allows blockchains to communicate seamlessly with each other, literally being a “blockchain of blockchains.” Ultra Light Nodes (ULNs) power this new development, verifying transactions and messages in a way that brings security and efficiency to chains like Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Avalanche. ZRO is up over 80% in the last 30 days, reaching $4.63 with a market cap of over $509 million.
While Dogecoin has been showing improved performance in the crypto scene recently, ZRO’s growth is very fast. Its strategic partnerships, such as the latest cooperation with Flare Network, extend it to 75 blockchains, greatly increasing its market position.
Analysts are bullish on ZRO and are pricing in long-term growth in the forecasts. While Dogecoin enjoyed community support and some celebrity endorsements, the focus that ZRO has placed on its technology development and practical applications gives it a distinct advantage in this increasingly competitive cryptocurrency landscape.
Raboo: Changing Memecoins with AI
Raboo (RABT) has quickly emerged as a significant player in the memecoin market, leveraging advanced AI technology to stand out from its competitors. The token’s unique approach includes a “Post-to-Earn” platform where users are rewarded for creating and sharing content, fostering dynamic community engagement. Raboo’s presale has been particularly successful, with tokens currently priced at $0.0048, representing a significant 233% increase since the presale began.
Despite Dogecoin’s established presence and recent price stability, Raboo’s rapid rise is remarkable. Analysts predict that Raboo could outperform Dogecoin, with expectations of a 100x return upon launch. This optimism is driven by Raboo’s unique technological capabilities and the growing appeal of its SocialFi features, which set it apart from more traditional memecoins.
Conclusion
Raboo and ZRO are emerging as strong contenders in the cryptocurrency market, outperforming the established Dogecoin with their unique features and strong community engagement. Raboo, with its AI-powered meme creation and “Post-to-earn” platform, offers a unique investment opportunity, especially for those looking to diversify their portfolios in the dynamic memecoin sector. ZRO’s focus on cross-chain interoperability also positions it well for future growth.
These developments highlight the evolving cryptocurrency landscape, where technological creativity and community-driven models are becoming increasingly important for success. Investors should consider Raboo for its high potential returns and innovative features.
For more information, visit the Raboo Pre-Order Website or follow the project at Telegram or X.
Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. crypto.news does not endorse any products mentioned on this page. Users should do their own research before taking any actions related to the company.
News
The Rise of Cryptocurrency ETFs: How to Invest in Digital Currency Without Buying Coins
The introduction of spot cryptocurrency ETFs offers a new and easy way for investors to gain exposure to digital currencies.
For much of crypto’s existence, those interested in purchasing digital assets would have to do so through cryptocurrency exchanges. But now, that’s starting to change.
If you’ve been hesitant to dive into crypto due to what can sometimes be a daunting and technical task when navigating cryptocurrency exchanges, now might be the perfect time to explore the new spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) available to investors.
What are spot ETFs?
A spot ETF is a financial instrument that allows investors to gain exposure to the price movements of an underlying asset – in this case, cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC -1.63%) and Ethereum (ETH -1.36%) — without directly owning the asset. These ETFs are traded on traditional stock exchanges, and their value is directly tied to the current (or spot) price of the cryptocurrency.
One of the main differences between owning a spot ETF and owning the actual cryptocurrency is the responsibility of custody. When you own cryptocurrency, you need to manage its storage and security, which involves using digital wallets and understanding private keys. With spot ETFs, the responsibility of custody falls on the fund manager, making it easier for investors to gain exposure to the asset without worrying about the complexities of secure storage.
In many ways, you can think of spot ETFs as gold ETFs. When people buy a gold ETF, they don’t actually receive gold coins or bars. Instead, they own shares that track the price movement of gold.
Another important distinction is trading hours. Cryptocurrencies can be traded 24/7, while spot ETFs are subject to the stock exchange’s trading hours. This means that you can only trade ETFs during market hours. These limited hours can lead to potentially missing out on significant price movements that occur outside of the market’s designated trading hours.
Options available today
Currently, the only options for investors looking for spot cryptocurrency ETFs are Bitcoin and Ethereum. These two cryptocurrencies stand out due to their significant value and established track records, positioning them as attractive options for integration into the stock market via ETFs. Bitcoin, often referred to as digital gold, was the first cryptocurrency (created in 2009) and the first to gain approval for a spot ETF. With nearly seven months of trading now under its belt, the approval of the 11th Spot Bitcoin ETFs was touted as one of the most successful ETF launches in history.
More recently, nine Ethereum spot ETFs have gained approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to begin trading on July 23. As the second most valuable cryptocurrency and the backbone of the decentralized finance (DeFi) economy, Ethereum was the next best candidate for a spot ETF launch.
While limited to two cryptocurrencies, as investors become more comfortable with digital currencies and ETFs continue to prove popular, we can expect to see more cryptocurrencies gaining ground as ETFs. The early stages of this expansion are already visible, with applications for Solana Spot ETFs starting to come in.
How to buy an ETF outright
Buying a spot ETF involves several steps and considerations, just like any other ETF investment. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do it:
- Start by researching the available Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Compare their fees, assets under management (AUM), and performance. ETFs with lower fees and higher AUM are generally more attractive, as they may offer better liquidity and lower costs.
- To buy ETFs, you need a brokerage account. If you don’t already have one, choose a brokerage that offers a wide range of ETFs, low fees, and a user-friendly platform.
- If you’re new to the brokerage, you’ll need to provide personal information and fund your account with money from your bank. Most brokerages offer multiple funding methods, including ACH transfers, wire transfers, and check deposits.
- Once your account is funded, use your broker’s search function to find the Bitcoin or Ethereum ETF you’ve decided to invest in. ETFs are usually identified by their ticker symbols, so knowing them can make your search easier.
- Decide how many shares of the ETF you want to buy. You can place a market order, which buys the ETF at the current market price, or a limit order, which sets a maximum price you are willing to pay. Review your order carefully before submitting it.
- Once you’ve purchased the ETF, monitor its performance and keep an eye on any news or developments related to cryptocurrencies and the ETF itself. Regularly reviewing your investment ensures that it aligns with your financial goals and risk tolerance.
An evolving landscape
The introduction of Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs marks a significant milestone in the evolution of cryptocurrency investing. These financial instruments offer a simpler and more accessible way to gain exposure to digital currencies without dealing with the complexities of cryptocurrency exchanges and direct ownership.
By following the steps to purchase these ETFs through a brokerage account, investors can seamlessly integrate digital currencies into their investment strategies. As the cryptocurrency market continues to mature, the availability and acceptance of spot ETFs is likely to expand, providing even more opportunities for investors to participate in this dynamic asset class.
RJ Fulton has positions in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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Trump raises over $4 million in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald J. Trump holds a campaign rally at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on July 20, 2024.
Bill Pugliano | Getty Images News | Getty Images
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Former President Donald Trump is heading to Tennessee this weekend to deliver a keynote speech at a major bitcoin conference. It looks like he’ll be in front of a supportive crowd.
Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has raised more than $4 million from a mix of digital tokens, a campaign aide told CNBC. Contributors have donated bitcoin, etherRipple’s XRP token, the stablecoin pegged to the US dollar USDC and several memecoins, according to a Federal Election Commission filing.
The more than 1,000-page report shows totals for the joint fundraising committee “Trump 47” from April 1 to June 30. The committee raised more than $118 million during that period, with payments going to the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and other parties, according to the filing.
At least 19 donors have contributed more than $2.15 million in bitcoin to the committee, the lawsuit shows. The contributors hail from 12 states, including some battleground states. Their professions include homemaker, U.S. military officer, missionary, painter, pizza sales representative and State Department security technician.
Crypto billionaire twins Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss led the charge, each contributing 15.57 bitcoins, or just over $1 million at the time of the donation. Since their contributions surpassed the $844,600 limit, the lawsuit indicates that the money was partially refunded. Mike Belshe, CEO of digital asset security firm BitGo, contributed $50,000 worth of bitcoin.
Tyler Winklevoss, CEO and co-founder of Gemini Trust Co., left, and Cameron Winklevoss, chairman and co-founder of Gemini Trust Co., speak during the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, Florida, U.S., on Friday, June 4, 2021.
Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images
In recent months, Trump has positioned himself as the pro-crypto candidate for president, a reversal from his previous stance during his time in the White House. Trump launched his latest collection of non-fungible tokens on the Solana blockchain in April and has since been making increasingly optimistic crypto commentary. Along the way, he has gained the support of several influential tech and crypto investors, including venture capitalists Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz.
Trump will be in Nashville on Saturday to deliver the keynote address at The Bitcoin Conference, which is being held at the Music City Center. He will also host a campaign fundraiser in the city on the same day, where tickets cost up to $844,600 per person.
Front-row tickets include a seat at a roundtable with Trump and cost the maximum donation amount allowed for individuals. the Trump Committee 47. The next tier includes a photo with the former president for $60,000 per person or $100,000 per couple, according to the invitation.
Brian Hughes, an adviser to the Trump campaign, said that of the more than $4 million in cryptocurrency raised, most of it came in bitcoin.
“Crypto innovators and others in the tech sector are under attack from Kamala Harris and the Democrats,” Hughes said, referring to the de facto Democratic nominee. “While the Biden-Harris Administration stifles innovation with more regulation and higher taxes, President Trump stands ready to encourage American leadership in this and other emerging technologies.”
Trump, the first major presidential candidate to accept donations in digital tokensYou can receive contributions in a variety of cryptocurrencies, including Dogecoin, Shiba Inu coin, XRP, USDC, and Ether.
Kraken founder and former CEO Jesse Powell has donated nearly $845,000 worth of ether. Stuart Alderotylegal director of Curlinggave $300,000 in XRP token. Alderoty recently attended a Trump fundraiser organized by venture capitalist David Sacks in San Francisco.
Former Messari CEO Ryan Selkis, who resigned last week from the company he co-founded after posting about “literal war” against Trump opponents, donated $50,000 in USDC.
So far, it appears that the Trump campaign is converting these contributions immediately to USDC and then liquidating the donations. In some cases, however, the campaign has chosen to keep the USDC.
Trump has personally promised to defend the rights of those who choose to self-custody their currencies, meaning they are not dependent on a centralized entity like Coinbase and instead use cryptocurrency wallets, which are sometimes beyond the reach of the IRS.
Trump also vowed at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington in May to keep Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, and “her henchmen” away from bitcoin holders. Warren is a vocal critic of cryptocurrencies.
Meanwhile, after a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida with about a dozen bitcoin mining executives who pledged their support, Trump declared that all future bitcoins will be minted in the US if he returns to the White House.
Trump has named Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, a move seen by many as a victory for the cryptocurrency sector. Vance has advocated for looser regulation of cryptocurrencies and revealed in 2022 that he personally holds bitcoin.
The Biden White House has stepped up regulation of cryptocurrencies, with the SEC stepping up its crackdown on the sector in recent years.
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